CREDIT AGREEMENT Dated as of October 8, 2008 among QUIDEL CORPORATION as Borrower, BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer, U.S. BANK N.A., as Syndication Agent and The Other Lenders Party from time to timehereto BANC OFAMERICA SECURITIES LLC, as Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Book Manager

EX-10.1 2 a08-25918_1ex10d1.htm EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

 

Execution Version

 

Published CUSIP Number: [                ]

 

 

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

Dated as of October 8, 2008

 

among

 

QUIDEL CORPORATION

 

as Borrower,

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as Agent, Swing Line Lender
and
L/C Issuer,

 

U.S. BANK N.A., as Syndication Agent

 

and

 

The Other Lenders Party from time to time hereto

 

BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC,

 

as

 

Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Book Manager

 

 



 

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

1

 

 

 

1.1

Defined Terms

1

 

 

 

1.2

Other Interpretive Provisions

27

 

 

 

1.3

Accounting Terms

28

 

 

 

1.4

Rounding

28

 

 

 

1.5

Times of Day

29

 

 

 

1.6

Letter of Credit Amounts

29

 

 

 

ARTICLE II

THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS

29

 

 

 

2.1

Committed Loans

29

 

 

 

2.2

Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans

29

 

 

 

2.3

Letters of Credit

31

 

 

 

2.4

Swing Line Loans

40

 

 

 

2.5

Prepayments

43

 

 

 

2.6

Termination or Reduction of Commitments

46

 

 

 

2.7

Repayment of Loans

46

 

 

 

2.8

Interest

47

 

 

 

2.9

Fees

47

 

 

 

2.10

Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate

48

 

 

 

2.11

Evidence of Debt

49

 

 

 

2.12

Payments Generally

49

 

 

 

2.13

Sharing of Payments

51

 

 

 

2.14

Increase in Commitments

52

 

 

 

ARTICLE III

TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

53

 

 

 

3.1

Taxes

53

 

 

 

3.2

Illegality

56

 

 

 

3.3

Inability to Determine Rates

56

 

 

 

3.4

Increased Costs

57

 

 

 

3.5

Compensation for Losses

58

 

 

 

3.6

Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders

59

 

 

 

3.7

Survival

59

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS

59

 

 

 

4.1

Conditions of Initial Credit Extension

59

 



 

4.2

Conditions to all Credit Extensions

63

 

 

 

ARTICLE V

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

64

 

 

 

5.1

Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws

64

 

 

 

5.2

Authorization; No Contravention

64

 

 

 

5.3

Governmental Authorization; Other Consents

64

 

 

 

5.4

Binding Effect

64

 

 

 

5.5

Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect

65

 

 

 

5.6

Litigation

65

 

 

 

5.7

No Default

65

 

 

 

5.8

Ownership of Property; Liens

66

 

 

 

5.9

Environmental Compliance

66

 

 

 

5.10

Insurance

66

 

 

 

5.11

Taxes

66

 

 

 

5.12

ERISA Compliance

66

 

 

 

5.13

Subsidiaries; Equity Interests

67

 

 

 

5.14

Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act; Public Utility Holding Company Act

68

 

 

 

5.15

Disclosure

68

 

 

 

5.16

Compliance with Laws

68

 

 

 

5.17

Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc

68

 

 

 

5.18

Rights in Collateral; Priority of Liens

69

 

 

 

5.19

Solvency

70

 

 

 

5.20

Casualty, Etc

70

 

 

 

5.21

No Medicare/Medicaid Receivables

70

 

 

 

ARTICLE VI

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

70

 

 

 

6.1

Financial Statements

71

 

 

 

6.2

Certificates; Other Information

71

 

 

 

6.3

Notices

74

 

 

 

6.4

Payment of Obligations

74

 

 

 

6.5

Preservation of Existence, Etc

74

 

 

 

6.6

Maintenance of Properties; Application of Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds

75

 

 

 

6.7

Maintenance of Insurance

77

 



 

6.8

Compliance with Laws and Contractual Obligations

77

 

 

 

6.9

Books and Records

78

 

 

 

6.10

Inspection Rights

79

 

 

 

6.11

Use of Proceeds

78

 

 

 

6.12

Financial Covenants

78

 

 

 

6.13

Additional Guarantors

78

 

 

 

6.14

Collateral Records

79

 

 

 

6.15

Cash Management System

79

 

 

 

6.16

Security Interests

79

 

 

 

6.17

Compliance with Environmental Laws

80

 

 

 

6.18

Further Assurances

80

 

 

 

6.19

Material Contracts

81

 

 

 

6.20

Medicare/Medicaid Receivables

81

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

81

 

 

 

7.1

Liens

81

 

 

 

7.2

Investments

82

 

 

 

7.3

Indebtedness

83

 

 

 

7.4

Fundamental Changes

84

 

 

 

7.5

Dispositions

84

 

 

 

7.6

Restricted Payments

85

 

 

 

7.7

Change in Nature of Business

86

 

 

 

7.8

Transactions with Affiliates

86

 

 

 

7.9

Burdensome Agreements

86

 

 

 

7.10

Use of Proceeds

87

 

 

 

7.11

Foreign Subsidiaries; OSC

87

 

 

 

7.12

Capital Expenditures

87

 

 

 

7.13

Amendments of Organization Documents

87

 

 

 

7.14

Accounting Changes

88

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII

EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

88

 

 

 

8.1

Events of Default

88

 

 

 

8.2

Remedies Upon Event of Default

90

 

 

 

8.3

Application of Funds

91

 

 

 

ARTICLE IX

AGENT

92

 



 

9.1

Appointment and Authority

92

 

 

 

9.2

Rights as a Lender

92

 

 

 

9.3

Exculpatory Provisions

92

 

 

 

9.4

Reliance by Agent

93

 

 

 

9.5

Delegation of Duties

93

 

 

 

9.6

Resignation of Agent

94

 

 

 

9.7

Non-Reliance on Agent and Other Lenders

95

 

 

 

9.8

No Other Duties, Etc

95

 

 

 

9.9

Agent May File Proofs of Claim

95

 

 

 

9.10

Collateral and Guaranty Matters

96

 

 

 

9.11

Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements

96

 

 

 

ARTICLE X

MISCELLANEOUS

97

 

 

 

10.1

Amendments, Etc

97

 

 

 

10.2

Notices and Other Communications; Facsimile Copies

98

 

 

 

10.3

No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies

100

 

 

 

10.4

Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver

101

 

 

 

10.5

Payments Set Aside

102

 

 

 

10.6

Successors and Assigns

103

 

 

 

10.7

Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality

107

 

 

 

10.8

Right of Set-off

107

 

 

 

10.9

Interest Rate Limitation

108

 

 

 

10.10

Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness

108

 

 

 

10.11

Survival of Representations and Warranties

108

 

 

 

10.12

Severability

109

 

 

 

10.13

Replacement of Lenders

109

 

 

 

10.14

Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc

109

 

 

 

10.15

Waiver of Right to Trial by Jury

110

 

 

 

10.16

California Judicial Reference

111

 

 

 

10.17

No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility

111

 

 

 

10.18

Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents

111

 

 

 

10.19

USA PATRIOT Act

112

 



 

SCHEDULES

 

2.1

Commitments and Pro Rata Shares

4.1

Deposit Accounts and Securities Accounts

5.5

Material Indebtedness and Other Liabilities

5.9

Environmental Matters

5.13

Subsidiaries and Other Equity Investments

5.17(a)

IP Rights

5.17(b)

Material Intellectual Property Licenses

5.18

Existing UCC and IP Filings

7.1

Existing Liens

7.3

Existing Indebtedness

10.2

Agent’s Office, Certain Addresses for Notices

 

EXHIBITS

 

A-1

Form of Committed Loan Notice

A-2

Form of Swing Line Loan Notice

B

Form of Note

C

Form of Guaranty

D

Form of Compliance Certificate

E

Form of Assignment and Assumption

F

Form of Security Agreement

G

Form of Landlord Waiver

H

Form of Deposit Account Control Agreement

I

Form of Securities Account Control Agreement

J

Form of Solvency Certificate

K

Form of Opinion of Counsel to Loan Parties

 



 

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of October 8, 2008 among QUIDEL CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (“Borrower”), each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, “Lenders” and individually, a “Lender”), U.S. BANK N.A., as Syndication Agent, and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer.

 

Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide a revolving credit facility, and the Lenders are willing to do so on the terms and conditions set forth herein.  In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS.

 

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

 

Acquisition” means any transaction or series of related transactions for the purpose of or resulting, directly or indirectly, in (a) the acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets of a Person, or of any business unit or division of a Person, or of any significant portion of any business unit or division if such portion exceeds $5,000,000 in the aggregate, (b) the acquisition of all of the Equity Interests of any Person, or otherwise causing any Person to become a wholly-owned Subsidiary, or (c) a merger or consolidation or any other combination with another Person.

 

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

 

Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.  “Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise.  “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a Person shall be deemed to be Controlled by another Person if such other Person possesses, directly or indirectly, power to vote 10% or more of the securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors, managing general partners or the equivalent.

 

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

 

Agent’s Office” means Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 10.2, or such other address or account as Agent may from time to time notify Borrower and Lenders.

 

Agent-Related Persons”  means Agent, together with its Affiliates, and the officers, directors, employees, agents and attorneys-in-fact of such Persons and Affiliates.

 

1



 

Aggregate Commitments” means the Commitments of all Lenders.

 

Agreement” means this Credit Agreement.

 

Applicable Rate” means from time to time, the following percentages per annum, based upon the Funded Debt to EBITDA Ratio (the “Financial Covenant”) as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the Agent pursuant to Section 6.2(b).

 

Applicable Rate

 

Pricing
Level

 

Funded Debt to EBITDA
Ratio

 

Commitment
Fee

 

Eurodollar Rate
Margin
or Standby
Letters of Credit

 

Base Rate
Margin

 

1

 

Greater than 2.50:1.00

 

0.50

%

2.75

%

1.75

%

2

 

Less than or equal to 2.50:1.00 but greater than or equal to 2.00:1.00

 

0.45

%

2.50

%

1.50

%

3

 

Less than 2.00:1.00 but greater than or equal to 1.50:1.00

 

0. 40

%

2.25

%

1.25

%

4

 

Less than 1.50:1.00 but greater than or equal to 1.00:1.00

 

0.35

%

1.75

%

0.75

%

5

 

Less than 1.00:1.00

 

0.30

%

1.50

%

0.50

%

 

Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Financial Covenant shall become effective commencing on the 5th Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 6.2(b); provided, however, that if no Compliance Certificate is delivered when due in accordance with such Section, then, upon the request of the Required Lenders, Pricing Level 1 shall apply commencing on the 5th Business Day following the date such Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered to but excluding the date such Compliance Certificate is received by Agent and, thereafter, the pricing level indicated by such Compliance Certificate until such pricing level is required to be adjusted pursuant to the terms of this definition.  The Applicable Rate in effect from the Closing Date through the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 6.2(b) for the reporting period ending on September 30, 2008 shall be determined based upon Pricing Level 5.

 

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

 

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

 

2



 

Asset Sale” means the sale by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to any Person other than Borrower or its wholly-owned Guarantors of (i) any of the stock of any of Borrower’s Subsidiaries (other than directors’ qualifying shares to the extent required by law),  (ii) substantially all of the assets of any division or line of business of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iii) any other assets (whether tangible or intangible) of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (other than (a) inventory and Cash Equivalents sold in the ordinary course of business, (b) sales, assignments, transfers or dispositions of accounts in the ordinary course of business for purposes of collection, (c) subleases of real property leases no longer necessary to the business of Borrower and its Subsidiaries, (d) non-exclusive licenses of immaterial IP Rights in the ordinary course of business for not less than fair market value, (e) non-exclusive licenses of IP Rights in the ordinary course of business solely in connection with cooperative agreements with third parties for further development of such IP Rights, (f) dispositions for fair value of equipment that is obsolete, worn-out or no longer used or useful in the business of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, (g) dispositions by means of trade-in, of equipment used in the ordinary course of business, so long as such equipment is replaced, substantially concurrently, by like-kind equipment and (h) any such other assets to the extent that the aggregate value of such assets sold in any single transaction or related series of transactions is equal to $100,000 or less).

 

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

 

Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 10.6(b)), and accepted by Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit E or any other form approved by Agent.

 

Attorney Costs” means and includes all reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of any law firm or other external counsel and, without duplication, the allocated cost of internal legal services and all expenses and disbursements of internal counsel.

 

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

 

Audited Financial Statements” means the audited consolidated balance sheet of Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year of Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including the notes thereto.

 

Availability Period” means the period from and including the Closing Date to the earliest of (a) the Maturity Date, (b) the date of termination of the Aggregate Commitments pursuant to Section 2.6, and (c) the date of termination of the Commitment of each Lender to make Loans and of the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions pursuant to Section 8.2.

 

3



 

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

 

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

 

Base Rate Committed Loan” means a Committed Loan that is a Base Rate Loan.

 

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

 

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

 

Borrowing” means a Committed Borrowing or a Swing Line Borrowing, as the context requires.

 

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 or the state where Agent’s Office is located and, if such day relates to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, means any such day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank Eurodollar market.

 

Capital Expenditures” means, with respect to any period, the aggregate of all expenditures of Borrower and its Subsidiaries during such period determined on a consolidated basis that, in accordance with GAAP, are or should be included in “acquisition of property and equipment” or similar items reflected in the consolidated statement of cash flows of Borrower and its Subsidiaries; provided that Capital Expenditures shall not include any expenditures (i) to the extent made with Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds in accordance with Section 2.5(d)(ii) or with Net Asset Sale Proceeds in accordance with Section 2.5(d)(i), (ii) constituting tenant improvements under leases to the extent reimbursed or required to be reimbursed by the landlord with respect thereto within one year of expenditure (and, if required to be reimbursed, which are in fact so reimbursed within such period), or (iii) which constitute a Permitted Acquisition permitted under Section 7.2(f) or an Investment permitted under Section 7.2(h) or (i).

 

Cash” means money, currency or a credit balance in a Deposit Account.

 

Cash Collateral” means the Cash deposited with the Agent as collateral when Borrower Cash Collateralizes L/C Obligations.

 

Cash Collateralize” has the meaning specified in Section 2.3(g).

 

Cash Equivalents” means, as at any date of determination, (i) marketable securities (a) issued or directly and unconditionally guaranteed as to interest and principal by the United

 

4



 

States government or (b) issued by any agency of the United States the obligations of which are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, in each case maturing within one year after such date; (ii) marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision of any such state or any public instrumentality thereof, in each case maturing within one year after such date and having, at the time of the acquisition thereof, one of the two highest ratings obtainable from either Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) or Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”); (iii) commercial paper maturing no more than one year from the date of creation thereof and having, at the time of the acquisition thereof, a rating of at least A-1 from S&P or at least P-1 from Moody’s; (iv) certificates of deposit or bankers’ acceptances maturing within one year after such date and issued or accepted by any Lender or by any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia that (a) is at least “adequately capitalized” (as defined in the regulations of its primary Federal banking regulator) and (b) has Tier 1 capital (as defined in such regulations) of not less than $100,000,000; and/or (v) shares of any money market mutual fund that (a) has at least 90% of its assets invested continuously in the types of investments referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) above and (b) has net assets of not less than $500,000,000.

 

Cash Management Agreement” means any agreement to provide cash management services, including treasury, depository, overdraft, credit or debit card, electronic funds transfer and other cash management arrangements.

 

Cash Management Bank” means any Person that, at the time it enters into a Cash Management Agreement, is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, in its capacity as a party to such Cash Management Agreement.

 

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

 

Change of Control” means, with respect to any Person, an event or series of events by which:

 

(a)           any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person or its subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except that a person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all securities that such person or group has the right to acquire (such right, an “option right”), whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) directly or indirectly, of 30% or more of the equity securities of such Person entitled to vote for members of the board of directors or equivalent governing body of such Person on a fully diluted basis (and taking into account all such securities that such person or group has the right to acquire pursuant to any option right); or

 

5



 

(b)           during any period of 24 consecutive months, a majority of the members of the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of such Person cease to be composed of individuals (i) who were members of that board or equivalent governing body on the first day of such period, (ii) whose election or nomination to that board or equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clause (i) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body or (iii) whose election or nomination to that board or other equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body (excluding, in the case of both clause (ii) and clause (iii), any individual whose initial nomination for, or assumption of office as, a member of that board or equivalent governing body occurs as a result of an actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents for the election or removal of one or more directors by any person or group other than a solicitation for the election of one or more directors by or on behalf of the board of directors).

 

Closing Date” means the first date all the conditions precedent in Section 4.1 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 10.1.

 

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

 

Collateral” shall mean any and all assets and rights and interests in or to property of Borrower and each of the other Loan Parties, whether real or personal, tangible or intangible, in which a Lien is granted or purported to be granted to Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties pursuant to the Collateral Documents.

 

Collateral Documents” means the Security Agreement, the Control Agreements, the Landlord Waivers, and all agreements, instruments and documents now or hereafter executed and delivered in connection with this Agreement pursuant to which Liens are granted or purported to be granted to Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties in Collateral securing all or part of the Obligations each in form and substance satisfactory to Agent.

 

Commitment” means, as to each Lender, its obligation to (a) make Committed Loans to Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1, (b) purchase participations in L/C Obligations and (c) purchase participations in Swing Line Loans, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.1 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

 

Committed Borrowing” means borrowing consisting of simultaneous Committed Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.1.

 

Committed Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.1.

 

Committed Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Committed Borrowing, (b) a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of Eurodollar

 

6



 

Rate Loans, pursuant to Section 2.2(a), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1.

 

Compliance Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit D.

 

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

 

Control” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Affiliate.”

 

Control Agreement” means an agreement, satisfactory in form and substance to Agent substantially in the form of Exhibit H or Exhibit I, as applicable, (with such changes that are reasonably acceptable to Agent) and executed by the financial institution or securities intermediary at which a Deposit Account or Securities Account, as the case may be, is maintained, pursuant to which such financial institution or securities intermediary confirms and acknowledges Agent’s security interest in such account and agrees that the financial institution or securities intermediary, as the case may be, will comply with instructions originated by Agent as to disposition of funds in such account, without further consent by Borrower or the applicable Subsidiary, as the case may be.

 

Credit Extension” means each of the following:  (a) a Borrowing and (b) an L/C Credit Extension.

 

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

 

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

 

Default Rate” means (a) when used with respect to Obligations other than L/C Fees, Secured Hedge Agreements and Secured Cash Management Agreements, an interest rate equal to (i) the Base Rate plus (ii) the Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to Base Rate Loans plus (iii) 2% per annum; provided, however, that with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus 2% per annum, and (b) when used with respect to L/C Fees, a rate equal to the Applicable Rate plus 2% per annum, in all cases to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

 

Defaulting Lender” means any Lender that (a) has failed to fund any portion of the Committed Loans, participations in L/C Obligations or participations in Swing Line Loans required to be funded by it hereunder within one Business Day of the date required to be funded by it hereunder unless such failure has been cured, (b) has otherwise failed to pay over to Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within one Business Day of the date when due, unless the subject of a good faith dispute or unless such failure has

 

7



 

been cured, or (c) has been deemed insolvent or become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding.

 

Deposit Account” means a demand, time, savings, passbook or similar account maintained with a Person engaged in the business of banking, including a savings bank, savings and loan association, credit union or trust company.

 

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

 

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

 

Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

 

Dormant Foreign Subsidiary” means Quidel Deutschland, GmbH, Metra Biosystems, GMBH, Metra Biosystems, Limited (UK) and Metra Biosystems, Quidel Limited (Italy).

 

EBITDA” means for any period, an amount determined for Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis equal to: net income, less income or plus loss from discontinued operations and extraordinary items, plus income taxes, plus interest expense and debt issuance costs and commissions, discounts and other fees and charges associated with initial incurrence of any Indebtedness, plus non-cash stock compensation expenses, plus depreciation, plus amortization (including amortization of inventory write-ups and deferred revenue adjustments), plus transaction expenses or other initial non cash or fair value adjustments related to any merger, acquisition or joint venture, and non-recurring and non-cash charges associated with any impairment analysis required under Financial Accounting Standards No. 142 and 144; provided that EBITDA shall be determined after giving effect on a pro forma basis to any Permitted Acquisitions that have been consummated to the extent either Agent has approved the financial statements of the applicable acquired Persons or assets or such financial statements are audited by a national accounting firm reasonably acceptable to Agent (and in either case giving effect to pro forma adjustments as determined by the Board of Directors of Borrower in good faith and approved by Agent).

 

Eligible Assignee” means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under Section 10.6(b)(iii), (v) and (vi) (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 10.6(b)(iii)).

 

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

 

8



 

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

 

Environmental Permit” means any permit, approval, identification number, license or other authorization required under any Environmental Law.

 

Equity Interests” means, with respect to any Person, all of the shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person or warrants, rights or options for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of such shares (or such other interests), and all of the other ownership or profit interests in such Person (including partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not such shares, warrants, options, rights or other interests are outstanding on any date of determination.

 

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

 

ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control with Borrower within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code (and Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code for purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the Code).  Any former ERISA Affiliate of Borrower or its Subsidiaries shall continue to be considered an ERISA Affiliate within the meaning of this definition with respect to the period such entity was an ERISA Affiliate of Borrower or its Subsidiaries and with respect to liabilities arising after such period for which Borrower or its Subsidiaries could be liable under the Code or ERISA.

 

ERISA Event” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) a withdrawal by Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization; (d) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate, the treatment of a Plan amendment as a termination under Sections 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (e) an event or condition which constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (f) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate; (g) the occurrence of an act or omission which could give rise to the imposition on Borrower, its Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA

 

9



 

Affiliates of material fines, penalties, taxes or related charges under Chapter 43 of the Code or under Sections 409, 502(c), (i) or(l) or 4071 of ERISA in respect of any Plan; (h) the assertion of a material claim (other than routine claims for benefits) against any Plan other than a Multiemployer Plan or the assets thereof, or against Borrower, its Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates in connection with any Plan; (i) receipt from the Internal Revenue Service of notice of failure of any Plan to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code, or the failure of any trust forming part of a Plan to qualify for exemption from taxation under Section 501(a) of the Code; or (j) a determination that any Pension Plan is, or is expected to be, in “at-risk” status (within the meaning of Section 303(i)(4)(A) of ERISA or Section 430(i)(4)(A) of the Code).

 

Eurodollar Base Rate” has the meaning specified in the definition of Eurodollar Rate.

 

Eurodollar Rate” means for any Interest Period with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, a rate per annum determined by Agent pursuant to the following formula:

 

Eurodollar Rate =

Eurodollar Base Rate

1.00 – Eurodollar Reserve Percentage

 

Where,

 

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

 

Eurodollar Reserve Percentage” means, for any day during any Interest Period, the reserve percentage (expressed as a decimal, carried out to five decimal places) in effect on such day, whether or not applicable to any Lender, under regulations issued from time to time by the FRB for determining the maximum reserve requirement (including any emergency, supplemental or other marginal reserve requirement) with respect to Eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency liabilities”).  The Eurodollar Rate for each outstanding Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be adjusted automatically as of the effective date of any change in the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage.

 

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

 

Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 8.1.

 

10



 

Excluded Accounts” means, collectively, (i) that certain Deposit Account of Borrower numbered IBAN DE22533400240395549900 maintained with Commerzbank AG, and (ii) that certain Deposit Account of Borrower numbered IBAN 03204 20501 000000046037 maintained with Banca di Legnano.

 

Excluded Taxes” means, with respect to Agent, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of Borrower hereunder, (a) taxes imposed on or measured by its overall net income (however denominated), and franchise taxes imposed on it (in lieu of net income taxes), by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the Laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable Lending Office is located, (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which Borrower is located, and (c) in the case of a Foreign Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by Borrower under Section 10.13), any United States withholding tax that (i) is required to be imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender pursuant to the Laws in force at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party hereto (or designates a new Lending Office) or (ii) is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s failure (other than as a result of a Change in Law) to comply with Section 3.1(e)(ii), except to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new Lending Office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from Borrower with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to Section 3.1(c).

 

Existing Credit Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 4.1(a)(x).

 

Facilities” means any and all real property (including all buildings, fixtures or other improvements located thereon) now, hereafter or heretofore owned, leased, operated or used by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective predecessors or Affiliates.

 

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

 

Fee Letter” means the letter agreement, dated September 24, 2008, among Borrower, Agent and the Arranger.

 

First Priority Lien” means, with respect to any Lien purported to be created in any Collateral pursuant to any Collateral Document, that (i) such Lien is perfected and has priority over any other Lien on such Collateral and (ii) such Lien is the only Lien (other than Liens permitted pursuant to Section 7.1) to which such Collateral is subject.

 

11



 

Foreign Lender” means any Lender that is organized under the Laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which Borrower is resident for tax purposes (including such a Lender when acting in the capacity of the L/C Issuer).  For purposes of this definition, the United States, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.

 

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

 

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

 

Funded Debt” means all outstanding Indebtedness for borrowed money and other interest-bearing Indebtedness, including current and long term Indebtedness, less the non-current portion of Subordinated Indebtedness.

 

Funded Debt to EBITDA Ratio” means, as at any date of determination, the ratio of Funded Debt as at such date to EBITDA for the consecutive four fiscal quarters ending on the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter.

 

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

 

Governing Body” means the board of directors or other body having the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person that is a corporation, partnership, trust or limited liability company.

 

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

 

Governmental Authorization” means any permit, license, registration, authorization, plan, directive, accreditation, consent, order or consent decree of or from, or notice to, any Governmental Authority.

 

Guarantee” means, as to any Person, any (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation payable or performable by another Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the

 

12



 

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

 

Guarantor” or “Subsidiary Guarantor” means, collectively, Pacific Biotech, Inc., a California corporation, Metra Biosystems, Inc., a California corporation, Osteo Sciences Corporation, an Oregon corporation and Litmus Concepts, Inc., a California corporation, and any other Subsidiary of Borrower that executes and delivers a counterpart of the Guaranty from time to time after the Closing Date in accordance with Section 6.13.

 

Guaranty” or “Subsidiary Guaranty” means the Subsidiary Guaranty made by the Guarantor in favor of Agent and for the benefit of the Lenders, substantially in the form of Exhibit C.

 

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

 

Hedge Bank” means any Person that, at the time it enters into Swap Contract permitted under Article VII, is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, in its capacity as a party to such Swap Contract.

 

Hostile Acquisition” means the acquisition of the capital stock or other Equity Interests of a Person through a tender offer or similar solicitation of the owners of such capital stock or other Equity Interests which has not been approved (prior to such acquisition and which approval remains in effect) by resolutions of the Governing Body of such Person.

 

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

 

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

 

13



 

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

 

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

 

(d)           all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business) including any purchase price adjustments with respect to any Permitted Acquisition and any earn-out obligations when and upon the time at which the earn-out becomes certain and non-contingent as to payment obligation;

 

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

 

(f)            capital leases and Synthetic Lease Obligations;

 

(g)           all obligations of such Person to purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise make any payment in respect of any Equity Interest in such Person or any other Person, valued, in the case of a redeemable preferred interest, at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid dividends; provided that this clause (g) shall not include obligations of Borrower to purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise acquire for value Equity Interests upon the exercise of any stock options of Borrower to the extent (and only to the extent) that such purchase, redemption or acquisition for value would be permitted under Section 7.6(d)(ii); and

 

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

 

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

 

Indemnified Taxes” means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.

 

Information” has the meaning specified in Section 10.7.

 

Interest Charges” means, for any period, for Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the sum of (a) all interest, premium payments, debt discount, fees, charges and related expenses of Borrower and its Subsidiaries in connection with borrowed money (including capitalized interest) or in connection with the deferred purchase price of assets, in each case to the extent treated as interest in accordance with GAAP and (b) the portion of rent

 

14



 

expense of Borrower and its Subsidiaries under capital leases that is treated as interest in accordance with GAAP.

 

Interest Coverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) EBITDA for the period of the four prior fiscal quarters ending on such date to (b) Interest Charges for such period.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Investment” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect acquisition or investment by such Person, whether by means of (a) the purchase or other acquisition of capital stock or other securities of another Person, (b) a loan, advance or capital contribution to, Guarantee or assumption of debt of, or purchase or other acquisition of any other debt or equity participation or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person and any arrangement pursuant to which the Person Guarantees Indebtedness of such other Person, or (c) the purchase or other acquisition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of assets of another Person that constitute a business unit.  For purposes of covenant compliance, the amount of any Investment shall be the amount actually invested, without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the term “Investment” shall include, without limitation, any Acquisition.

 

IP Collateral” means, collectively, the IP Rights that constitute Collateral under the Security Agreement.

 

15



 

IP Filing Office” means the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office or any successor or substitute office in which filings are necessary or, in the opinion of Agent, desirable in order to create or perfect Liens on any IP Collateral.

 

IP Rights” has the meaning specified in Section 5.17.

 

IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

ISP” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the “International Standby Practices 1998” published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance).

 

Issuer Documents” means with respect to any Letter of Credit, the L/C Application, and any other document, agreement and instrument entered into by the L/C Issuer and Borrower (or any Subsidiary) or in favor of the L/C Issuer and relating to any such Letter of Credit.

 

Landlord Waiver” means any landlord waiver, mortgagee waiver, bailee letter or any similar acknowledgement agreement of any landlord in respect of any Real Property Asset or other location where any Collateral is located, substantially in the form of Exhibit G annexed hereto, with such changes thereto as may be agreed to by Agent in the reasonable exercise of its discretion.

 

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

 

L/C Advance” means, with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s funding of its participation in any L/C Borrowing in accordance with its Pro Rata Share.

 

L/C Application” means an application and agreement for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit in the form from time to time in use by the L/C Issuer.

 

L/C Borrowing” means an extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any Letter of Credit which has not been reimbursed on the date when made or refinanced as a Borrowing.

 

L/C Credit Extension” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the issuance thereof or extension of the expiry date thereof, or the increase of the amount thereof.

 

L/C Expiration Date” means the day that is seven days prior to the Maturity Date then in effect (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day).

 

L/C Fee” has the meaning specified in Section 2.3(i).

 

16



 

L/C Issuer” means Bank of America in its capacity as issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, or any successor issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder.

 

L/C Obligations” means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate amount available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all Unreimbursed Amounts, including all L/C Borrowings. For purposes of computing the amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.6.  For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the ISP, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” in the amount so remaining available to be drawn.

 

L/C Sublimit” means an amount equal to $25,000,000.  The L/C Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Commitments.

 

Leasehold Property” means any leasehold interest of any Loan Party as lessee under any lease of real property.

 

Lender” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto and, as the context requires, includes the Swing Line Lender and the L/C Issuer.

 

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

 

Letter of Credit” means any letter of credit issued hereunder.  A Letter of Credit may be a commercial letter of credit or a standby letter of credit.

 

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

 

Loan” means an extension of credit by a Lender to Borrower under Article II in the form of a Committed Loan or a Swing Line Loan.

 

Loan Documents” means this Agreement, each Note, each Issuer Document, the Fee Letter, each Collateral Document and the Guaranty.

 

Loan Parties” means, collectively, Borrower and each Person (other than Agent, the L/C Issuer or any Lender) executing a Loan Document including, without limitation, each Guarantor and each Person executing a Collateral Document.

 

Material Adverse Effect” means (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the operations, business, properties, liabilities (actual or contingent), or condition (financial or otherwise) of Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (b) a material

 

17



 

impairment of the rights and remedies of Agent or any Lender under the Loan Documents, or of the ability of any Loan Party to perform its obligations under any Loan Document to which it is a party; or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against any Loan Party of any Loan Document to which it is a party.

 

Material Contract” means any agreement or arrangement to which any Loan Party is a party (other than the Loan Documents) with respect to which breach, termination, nonperformance or failure to renew could reasonably be expected to result in the loss of 5% or more of revenue for Borrower and its Subsidiaries in any twelve month period or could reasonably be expected to have any other Material Adverse Effect; provided that the term “Material Contract” shall not include any ordinary course distribution agreement that does not include material defined purchase requirements.

 

Material Intellectual Property License” means any Material Contract that is a license relating to intellectual property owned, held or used by any Loan Party.

 

Material Subsidiary” means each Subsidiary of Borrower now existing or hereafter acquired or formed by Company which has total assets of greater than $250,000.

 

Maturity Date” means October 8, 2013; provided, however, that if such date is not a Business Day, the Maturity Date shall be the next preceding Business Day.

 

Medicaid” means that government-sponsored entitlement program under Title XIX, P.L. 89-97 of the Social Security Act, which provides federal grants to states for medical assistance based on specific eligibility criteria, as set forth on Section 1396, et seq. of Title 42 of the United States Code.

 

Medicare” means that government-sponsored insurance program under Title XVIII, P.L. 89-97, of the Social Security Act, which provides for a health insurance system for eligible elderly and disabled individuals, as set forth at Section 1395, et seq. of Title 42 of the United States Code.

 

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

 

Net Asset Sale Proceeds,” with respect to any Asset Sale, means Cash payments (including any Cash received by way of deferred payment pursuant to, or by monetization of, a note receivable or otherwise, but only as and when so received) received from such Asset Sale, net of any bona fide direct costs and expenses incurred in connection with such Asset Sale, including (i) sale, use or other transaction taxes and income taxes paid or payable by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries as a direct result thereof (provided that with respect to income taxes that are payable by Borrower or such Subsidiary, the amount shall be limited to income taxes reasonably estimated to be actually payable by Borrower or such Subsidiary within two years of the date of such Asset Sale as a result of any gain recognized in connection with such Asset Sale) and (ii) payment of the outstanding principal amount of, premium or penalty, if any, and interest on any Indebtedness (other than the Loans) that is (a) secured by a Lien on the stock or assets in

 

18



 

question and that is required to be repaid under the terms thereof as a result of such Asset Sale and (b) actually paid at the time of receipt of such Cash payment to a Person that is not an Affiliate of any Loan Party or of any Affiliate of a Loan Party.

 

Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds” means any Cash payments or proceeds received by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (i) under any business interruption or casualty insurance policy in respect of a covered loss thereunder or (ii) as a result of the taking of any assets of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries by any Person pursuant to the power of eminent domain, condemnation or otherwise, or pursuant to a sale of any such assets to a purchaser with such power under threat of such a taking, in each case net of any bona fide direct costs and expenses incurred by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with any such event described in clause (i) or (ii) above, including (a) any actual third party costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses) incurred in connection with the adjustment or settlement of any claims of Borrower or such Subsidiary in respect thereof, (b) sale, use or other transaction taxes and income taxes paid or payable by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries as a direct result thereof (provided that with respect to income taxes that are payable by Borrower or such Subsidiary, the amount shall be limited to income taxes reasonably estimated to be actually payable by Borrower or such Subsidiary within two years of the date of such event as a result of any gain recognized in connection with such event) and (c) payment of the outstanding principal amount of, premium or penalty, if any, and interest on any Indebtedness (other than the Loans) that is (A) secured by a Lien on the stock or assets in question and that is required to be repaid under the terms thereof as a result of such event and (B) actually paid at the time of receipt of such Cash payment to a Person that is not an Affiliate of any Loan Party or of any Affiliate of a Loan Party.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

19



 

organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.

 

OSC” means Osteo Sciences Corporation, an Oregon corporation.

 

Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp or documentary Taxes or any other excise or property Taxes arising from any payment made hereunder or under any other Loan Document or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

Outstanding Amount” means (i) with respect to Committed Loans and Swing Line Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Committed Loans and Swing Line Loans, as the case may be, occurring on such date; and (ii) with respect to any L/C Obligations on any date, the amount of such L/C Obligations on such date after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension occurring on such date and any other changes in the aggregate amount of the L/C Obligations as of such date, including as a result of any reimbursements of outstanding unpaid drawings under any Letters of Credit or any reductions in the maximum amount available for drawing under Letters of Credit taking effect on such date.

 

Participant” has the meaning specified in Section 10.6(d).

 

PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

 

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

 

Permitted Acquisition” means an Acquisition with respect to which all of the following conditions shall have been satisfied (or Requisite Lenders shall have otherwise approved such Acquisition):

 

(a)           the Person, division or business being acquired (the “Target”) shall be in such lines of business such that Borrower will be in compliance with Section 7.7 after giving effect to such Acquisition; provided that this clause (a) shall not apply to the extent no Person, division or business is being acquired in connection with such Acquisition;

 

(b)           such Acquisition shall not be a Hostile Acquisition;

 

(c)           the assets so acquired shall be transferred free and clear of any Liens (except to the extent permitted by Section 7.1), no Indebtedness shall be incurred, guaranteed, assumed or consolidated in connection with such Acquisition (except to the extent permitted by Section 7.3), and, if assets so acquired shall be owned by a Subsidiary (after giving effect to such Acquisition),  Agent shall have received Lien searches reasonably satisfactory to Agent with respect to the assets of, and Equity Interests in, any business being acquired

 

20



 

(d)           the Total Consideration paid or payable with respect to such Acquisition (excluding consideration paid or payable with Equity Interests of Borrower) shall not exceed $50,000,000;

 

(e)           before and after giving effect to such Acquisition, (i) all representations and warranties contained in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct on and as of the date of consummation of such Acquisition and (ii) no Default or Event of Default shall exist, including with respect to the covenants contained in Section 6.12, before and after giving effect to such Acquisition, based on the financial statements most recently delivered to Agent pursuant to Sections 6.1(a) or 6.1(b) as adjusted on a pro forma basis including the Target based on pro forma assumptions reasonably acceptable to Agent;

 

(f)            Agent shall have received a First Priority Lien in substantially all of the personal property and mixed property assets being acquired (except for Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.3(e)) and all filings, recordings and other actions with respect thereto shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to Agent and, in the case of an Acquisition of the type described in clauses (b) or (c) of the definition thereof, Agent shall have received an opinion of counsel in each applicable jurisdiction reasonably satisfactory to it to the effect that Agent has been granted a perfected security interest in such assets and as to such other matters as Agent may reasonably require;

 

(g)           to the extent any representation or warranty herein makes reference to one or more of the Schedules to this Agreement, Borrower shall make revisions to such Schedules, in each case as of the date of the consummation of such Acquisition and notwithstanding that such representation or warranty may expressly state that it is made as of an earlier date, reasonably acceptable to Agent, solely to take into account the consummation of such Acquisition;

 

(h)           Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall have obtained all material permits, licenses, authorizations or consents from all Governmental Authorities and all material consents of other Persons, in each case that are necessary in connection with such proposed Acquisition or the continued operation of the business being acquired in such proposed Acquisition, prior to or concurrently with the consummation thereof, and each of the foregoing shall be in full force and effect;

 

(i)            subject to the waiver by Required Lenders in their reasonable discretion, all applicable waiting periods with respect to such proposed Acquisition shall have expired without any action being taken or threatened by any competent authority which would restrain, prevent or otherwise impose adverse conditions on such Acquisition (including the Pre-Merger/Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, as amended), and no action, request for stay, petition for review or rehearing, reconsideration or appeal with respect to any of the foregoing shall be pending, and the time for any applicable Governmental Authority to take action to set aside its consent on its own motion shall have expired;

 

(j)            Agent shall have received a certificate from Borrower’s insurance broker or other evidence satisfactory to it that all insurance required to be maintained pursuant to Section 6.7 is in full force and effect with respect to any tangible assets being acquired in such

 

21



 

Acquisition and that Agent on behalf of the Lenders has been named as additional insured, mortgagee and loss payee thereunder to the extent required under Section 6.7;

 

(k)           after giving effect to such Acquisition, the sum of (i) the amount by which the Aggregate Commitments exceeds Total Outstandings plus (ii) the amount of cash held by Borrower and its Subsidiaries, shall equal at least $25,000,000;

 

(l)            such Acquisition shall be made by Borrower or a wholly-owned Subsidiary of Borrower and if such Acquisition involves acquisition of the Equity Interests of any Person, such Acquisition shall be for 100% of the outstanding Equity Interests of such Person and such Person shall be a Person incorporated or organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof;

 

(m)          to the extent that the Target has rights to any Medicare or Medicaid receivables, prior to the closing of such Acquisition, (i) Borrower shall have given prior written notice of such to Agent and Lenders and (ii) Borrower shall have complied with Section 6.20 with respect to such Acquisition and Target; and

 

(n)           (i) at least ten Business Days prior to the closing of such Acquisition, Borrower shall have delivered to Agent and each Lender all available financial statements of the Target (provided that this clause (i) shall not apply to the extent no Person, division or business is being acquired in connection with such Acquisition (whether directly or pursuant to a merger, consolidation or other combination)) and, if requested by Agent or any Lender, (ii) within five Business Days prior to the closing of such Acquisition, Borrower shall have delivered to Agent and any Lender, such other documents and agreements relating to such Acquisition as Agent or such Lender may reasonably request, and (iii) on or prior to the closing date of such Acquisition, Borrower shall have delivered to Agent and each Lender (1) a copy of the purchase agreement pursuant to which such Acquisition will be consummated, (2) unless waived by Agent in its reasonable discretion, a consent to the assignment of such purchase agreement to Agent for collateral purposes, which consent shall be in form and substance satisfactory to Agent; (3) a copy of each material services agreement, consulting agreement, lease, credit or financing agreement or other material agreement relating to such Acquisition to be in effect after the consummation of such Acquisition, (4) unless waived by Agent in its reasonable discretion, if an opinion of counsel to the sellers is obtained by any Loan Party in connection with such Acquisition, the same opinion also addressed to Agent and the Lenders or a letter permitting them to rely thereon, (5) such other information or reports as Agent may reasonably request with respect to such Acquisition, and (6) an executed officer’s certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Agent and Requisite Lenders certifying that such Acquisition satisfies all of the conditions set forth in this definition and attaching thereto a Compliance Certificate.

 

Permitted Stock Repurchase” means Borrower’s purchase, redemption or other acquisition of the shares of its common stock for solely cash consideration (a “Stock Repurchase”) with respect to which all of the following conditions shall have been satisfied:

 

(a)           both before and after giving effect to such Stock Repurchase, no Default or Event of Default shall exist or shall be caused thereby;

 

22



 

(b)           Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be in actual and pro forma compliance with the covenants contained in Section 6.12 before and after giving effect to such Stock Repurchase, and upon the request of Agent, Borrower shall have delivered to Agent a Compliance Certificate demonstrating such compliance and a certificate executed by a Responsible Officer of Borrower certifying as to compliance with clauses (a) and (c) of this definition; and

 

(c)           after giving effect to such Stock Repurchase, the sum of (i) the amount by which the Aggregate Commitments exceeds Total Outstandings plus (ii) the amount of cash held by Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall equal at least $25,000,000.

 

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

 

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

 

Pledged Collateral” has the meaning given such term in the Security Agreement.

 

Pro Rata Share” means, with respect to each Lender at any time, a fraction (expressed as a percentage, carried out to the ninth decimal place), the numerator of which is the amount of the Commitment of such Lender at such time and the denominator of which is the amount of the Aggregate Commitments at such time; provided that if the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.2 or the Aggregate Commitments have expired, then the Pro Rata Share of each Lender shall be determined based on the Pro Rata Share of such Lender immediately prior to such termination and after giving effect to any subsequent assignments made pursuant to the terms hereof.  The initial Pro Rata Share of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.1 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.

 

Real Property Asset” means, at any time of determination, any interest then owned by any Loan Party in any real property.

 

Register” has the meaning specified in Section 10.6(c).

 

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

 

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

 

Request for Credit Extension” means (a) with respect to a Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Committed Loans, a Committed Loan Notice, (b) with respect to an L/C Credit Extension, a L/C Application, and (c) with respect to a Swing Line Loan, a Swing Line Loan Notice.

 

23



 

Required Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having more than 50% of the Aggregate Commitments or, if the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.2, Lenders holding in the aggregate more than 50% of the Total Outstandings (with the aggregate amount of each Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans being deemed “held” by such Lender for purposes of this definition); provided that the Commitment of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders; provided further that (i) if at any time there are only two Lenders, then Required Lenders must comprise both of such Lenders and (ii) if at any time there are three or more Lenders, then Required Lenders must comprise at least three Lenders.

 

Responsible Officer” means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, treasurer or assistant treasurer of a Loan Party.  Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Loan Party and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Loan Party.

 

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

 

Secured Cash Management Agreement” means any Cash Management Agreement that is entered into by and between any Loan Party and any Cash Management Bank.

 

Secured Hedge Agreement” means any Swap Contract permitted under Article VII that is entered into by and between any Loan Party and any Hedge Bank.

 

Secured Parties” means, collectively, Agent, the Lenders, the L/C Issuer, the Hedge Banks, the Cash Management Banks, each co-agent or sub-agent appointed by the Agent from time to time pursuant to Section 9.5, and the other Persons the Obligations owing to which are or are purported to be secured by the Collateral under the terms of the Collateral Documents.

 

Securities Account” means an account to which a financial asset is or may be credited in accordance with an agreement under which the Person maintaining the account undertakes to treat the Person for whom the account is maintained as entitled to exercise the rights that comprise the financial asset.

 

Security Agreement” means the Security Agreement by and among Borrower, Guarantors, the Agent and each of the other grantors party thereto executed and delivered on the

 

24



 

Closing Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit F annexed hereto, as such Security Agreement may thereafter be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Solvency Certificate” means an officer’s certificate of each Loan Party substantially in the form of Exhibit J with appropriate attachments.

 

Solvent”, with respect to any Person, means that as of the date of determination both (i)(a) the then fair saleable value of the tangible and intangible property of such Person, including Equity Interests owned by such Person, is (1) greater than the total amount of liabilities (including contingent liabilities) of such Person and (2) not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liabilities on such Person’s then existing debts as they become absolute and due considering all financing alternatives and potential asset sales reasonably available to such Person; (b) such Person’s capital is not unreasonably small in relation to its business or any contemplated or undertaken transaction; and (c) such Person does not intend to incur, or reasonably believe that it will incur, debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they become due; and (ii) such Person is “solvent” within the meaning given that term and similar terms under applicable laws relating to fraudulent transfers and conveyances.  For purposes of this definition, the amount of any contingent liability at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in light of all of the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

 

Stock Repurchase” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Permitted Stock Repurchase”.

 

Subordinated Indebtedness” means unsecured Indebtedness incurred by Borrower or any Subsidiary, the terms of which Indebtedness (including the covenants, events of default and  subordination provisions thereof) and all documentation relating thereto shall be in form and substance satisfactory to Agent and Required Lenders, it being understood that there shall be no payments of any kind thereunder (other than payment of scheduled interest, the amounts and frequency of which are acceptable to Agent and other Required Lenders and other payments (if any) acceptable to Agent and Required Lenders)  prior to the seventeen month anniversary after the Maturity Date then in effect and all payments thereunder shall be subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations pursuant to subordination provisions acceptable to Agent and Required Lenders in their sole discretion.

 

Subordinated Liabilities” means liabilities subordinated to the Obligations in a manner acceptable to Agent in its sole discretion.

 

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

 

25



 

Subsidiary Guarantor” or “Guarantor” means, collectively, Pacific Biotech, Inc., a California corporation, Metra Biosystems, Inc., a California corporation, Osteo Sciences Corporation, an Oregon corporation and Litmus Concepts, Inc., a California corporation, and any other Subsidiary of Borrower that executes and delivers a counterpart of the Guaranty from time to time after the Closing Date in accordance with Section 6.13.

 

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

 

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

 

Swing Line Borrowing” means a borrowing of a Swing Line Loan pursuant to Section 2.4.

 

Swing Line Lender” means Bank of America in its capacity as provider of Swing Line Loans, or any successor swing line lender hereunder.

 

Swing Line Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.4(a).

 

Swing Line Loan Notice” means a notice of a Swing Line Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.4(b), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2.

 

Swing Line Sublimit” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $15,000,000 and (b) the Aggregate Commitments.  The Swing Line Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Commitments.

 

Synthetic Lease Obligation” means the monetary obligation of a Person under (a) a so-called synthetic, off-balance sheet or tax retention lease, or (b) an agreement for the use or

 

26



 

possession of property creating obligations that do not appear on the balance sheet of such Person but which, upon the insolvency or bankruptcy of such Person, would be characterized as the indebtedness of such Person (without regard to accounting treatment).

 

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

 

Total Consideration” means, with respect to any Acquisition, (without duplication) the sum of (a) the total amount of cash paid in connection with such Acquisition, (b) all Indebtedness incurred in connection with such Acquisition, (c) the amount of direct and contingent liabilities assumed in connection with such Acquisition (excluding normal trade payables, accruals and indemnities), (d) the amount of Indebtedness payable to the seller in connection with such Acquisition and (e) the amounts paid or to be paid under any covenant not to compete, consulting agreements, “earn-up” or “earn-out” agreements and other deferred or contingent payment obligations in connection with such Acquisition, as reasonably estimated by Borrower and satisfactory to the Agent in its reasonable discretion.

 

Total Outstandings” means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans and all L/C Obligations.

 

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

 

UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in any applicable jurisdiction.

 

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

 

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

 

Unreimbursed Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.3(c)(i).

 

1.2          Other Interpretive Provisions.  With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:

 

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

 

27



 

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

 

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

 

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

 

1.3          Accounting Terms.

 

(a)           All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP applied on a consistent basis, as in effect from time to time, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the Audited Financial Statements, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein.

 

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

 

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

 

28



 

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

 

1.6          Letter of Credit Amounts.  Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the stated amount of such Letter of Credit in effect at such time; provided, however, that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any Issuer Document related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at such time.

 

ARTICLE II  THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS.

 

2.1          Committed Loans.  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make loans (each such loan, a “Committed Loan”) to Borrower from time to time, on any Business Day during the Availability Period, in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lender’s Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Committed Borrowing, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Committed Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment.  Within the limits of each Lender’s Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.1, prepay under Section 2.5, and reborrow under this Section 2.1.  Committed Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein.

 

The amount of each Lender’s Commitment is set forth opposite its name on Schedule 2.1 annexed hereto and the original Aggregate Commitment is $120,000,000; provided that the amount of the Commitments of each Lender shall be adjusted to give effect to any assignments of such Commitments pursuant to Section 10.6 and shall be reduced from time to time by the amount of any reductions thereto made pursuant to Section 2.5 or Section 2.6.  Each Lender’s Commitment shall expire immediately and without further action on the Maturity Date and all Loans and all other amounts owed hereunder with respect to the Loans and the Commitments shall be paid in full no later than that date.

 

2.2          Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans.

 

(a)           Each Committed Borrowing, each conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be made upon Borrower’s irrevocable notice to Agent, which may be given by telephone.  Each such notice must be received by Agent not later than 8:00 a.m. (i) three Business Days (in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans) prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans or of any conversion of Eurodollar Rate Loans to Base Rate Committed Loans, and (ii) on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Committed Loans.  Each telephonic notice by Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.2(a) must be confirmed promptly by delivery to Agent of a written Committed Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of Borrower.  Each Borrowing of, conversion

 

29



 

to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof.  Except as provided in Sections 2.3(c) and 2.4(c), each Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof.  Each Committed Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether Borrower is requesting a Committed Borrowing, a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Committed Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Committed Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Committed Loans are to be converted, and (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto.  If Borrower fails to specify a Type of Committed Loan in a Committed Loan Notice or if Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Committed Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base Rate Loans.  Any such automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Eurodollar Rate Loans.  If Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans in any such Committed Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month.

 

(b)           Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its Pro Rata Share of the applicable Committed Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by Borrower, Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans described in the preceding subsection.  In the case of a Committed Borrowing, each Lender shall make the amount of its Committed Loan available to Agent in immediately available funds at Agent’s Office not later than 10:00 a.m. on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice.  Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.2 (and, if such Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section 4.1), Agent shall make all funds so received available to Borrower in like funds as received by Agent either by (i) crediting the account of Borrower on the books of Bank of America with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) Agent by Borrower; provided, however, that if, on the date the Committed Loan Notice with respect to such Borrowing is given by Borrower, there are L/C Borrowings outstanding, then the proceeds of such Borrowing first, shall be applied, to the payment in full of any such L/C Borrowings, and second, shall be made available to Borrower as provided above.

 

(c)           Except as otherwise provided herein, a Eurodollar Rate Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurodollar Rate Loan.  During the existence of a Default, no Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as Eurodollar Rate Loans without the consent of the Required Lenders, and during the existence of an Event of Default, the Required Lenders may demand that any or all of the then outstanding Eurodollar Rate Loans be converted immediately to Base Rate Loans and Borrower agrees to pay all amounts due under Section 3.5 in accordance with the terms thereof due to any such conversion.

 

30



 

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

 

(e)           After giving effect to all Committed Borrowings, all conversions of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Committed Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than 6 Interest Periods in effect with respect to Committed Loans.

 

2.3          Letters of Credit.

 

(a)           The Letter of Credit Commitment.

 

(i)            Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (A) the L/C Issuer agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the Lenders set forth in this Section 2.3, (1) from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date until the L/C Expiration Date, to issue Letters of Credit for the account of Borrower or its Subsidiaries, and to amend or extend Letters of Credit previously issued by it, in accordance with subsection (b) below, and (2) to honor drawings under the Letters of Credit; and (B) the Lenders severally agree to participate in Letters of Credit issued for the account of Borrower or its Subsidiaries and any drawings thereunder; provided that after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension with respect to any Letter of Credit, (x) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, (y) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Committed Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment, and (z) the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations shall not exceed the L/C Sublimit.  Each request by Borrower for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be a representation by Borrower that the L/C Credit Extension so requested complies with the conditions set forth in the proviso to the preceding sentence.  Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, Borrower’s ability to obtain Letters of Credit shall be fully revolving, and accordingly Borrower may, during the foregoing period, obtain Letters of Credit to replace Letters of Credit that have expired or that have been drawn upon and reimbursed.

 

(ii)           The L/C Issuer shall not issue any Letter of Credit, if:

 

(A)          subject to Section 2.3(b)(iv), the expiry date of such requested commercial Letter of Credit would occur more than twelve months after the date of issuance or last extension or such standby Letter of Credit would occur more than twenty-four months after the date of

 

31



 

issuance or last extension, unless the Required Lenders have approved such expiry date; or

 

(B)           the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur after the L/C Expiration Date, unless all the Lenders have approved such expiry date.

 

(C)           the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur after the Maturity Date, unless Borrower shall have Cash Collateralized 105% of the maximum aggregate L/C Obligations of such Letter of Credit upon the issuance of such Letter of Credit.

 

(iii)          The L/C Issuer shall be under no obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if:

 

(A)          any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain the L/C Issuer from issuing such Letter of Credit, or any Law applicable to the L/C Issuer or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over the L/C Issuer shall prohibit, or request that the L/C Issuer refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon the L/C Issuer with respect to such Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which the L/C Issuer is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date, or shall impose upon the L/C Issuer any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Closing Date and which the L/C Issuer in good faith deems material to it;

 

(B)                                the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate any Laws or one or more policies of the L/C Issuer;

 

(C)           except as otherwise agreed by Agent and the L/C Issuer, such Letter of Credit is in an initial stated amount less than $100,000, in the case of a commercial Letter of Credit, or $500,000, in the case of a standby Letter of Credit;

 

(D)          such Letter of Credit is to be denominated in a currency other than Dollars; or

 

(E)           a default of any Lender’s obligations to fund under Section 2.3(c) exists or any Lender is at such time a Defaulting Lender hereunder, unless the L/C Issuer has entered into satisfactory arrangements with Borrower or such Lender to eliminate the L/C Issuer’s risk with respect to such Lender.

 

32



 

(iv)          The L/C Issuer shall not amend any Letter of Credit if the L/C Issuer would not be permitted at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof.

 

(v)           The L/C Issuer shall be under no obligation to amend any Letter of Credit if (A) the L/C Issuer would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof, or (B) the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit does not accept the proposed amendment to such Letter of Credit.

 

(vi)          The L/C Issuer shall act on behalf of the Lenders with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith, and the L/C Issuer shall have all of the benefits and immunities (A) provided to Agent in Article IX with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by the L/C Issuer in connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and Issuer Documents pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the term “Agent” as used in Article IX included the L/C Issuer with respect to such acts or omissions, and (B) as additionally provided herein with respect to the L/C Issuer.

 

(b)       Procedures for Issuance and Amendment of Letters of Credit; Extension of Letters of Credit.

 

(i)            Each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be, upon the request of Borrower delivered to the L/C Issuer (with a copy to Agent) in the form of a L/C Application, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of Borrower.  Such L/C Application must be received by the L/C Issuer and Agent not later than 8:00 a.m. at least two Business Days (or such later date and time as Agent and the L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in their sole discretion) prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be.  In the case of a request for an initial issuance of a Letter of Credit, such L/C Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the L/C Issuer:  (A) the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (B) the amount thereof; (C) the expiry date thereof; (D) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof; (E) the documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (F) the full text of any certificate to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (G) the purpose and nature of the requested Letter of Credit; and (H) such other matters as the L/C Issuer may require.  In the case of a request for an amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such L/C Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the L/C Issuer (A) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (B) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (C) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (D) such other matters as the L/C Issuer may require.  Additionally, Borrower shall furnish to the L/C Issuer and Agent such other documents and information pertaining to such requested Letter of Credit issuance or amendment, including any Issuer Documents, as the L/C Issuer or Agent may require.

 

33



 

(ii)           Promptly after receipt of any L/C Application at the address set forth in Section 10.2 for receiving L/C Applications and related correspondence, the L/C Issuer will confirm with Agent (by telephone or in writing) that Agent has received a copy of such L/C Application from Borrower and, if not, the L/C Issuer will provide Agent with a copy thereof.  Unless the L/C Issuer has received written notice from any Lender, Agent or any Loan Party, at least one Business Day prior to the requested date of issuance or amendment of the applicable Letter of Credit, that one or more applicable conditions contained in Article IV shall not then be satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the L/C Issuer shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the account of Borrower (or the applicable Subsidiary) or enter into the applicable amendment, as the case may be, in each case in accordance with the L/C Issuer’s usual and customary business practices.  Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit, each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the L/C Issuer a risk participation in such Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the product of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share times the amount of such Letter of Credit.

 

(iii)          Promptly after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter of Credit to an advising bank with respect thereto or to the beneficiary thereof, the L/C Issuer will also deliver to Borrower and Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.

 

(iv)          If Borrower so requests in any applicable L/C Application, the L/C Issuer may, in its sole and absolute discretion, agree to issue a standby Letter of Credit that has automatic extension provisions (each, an “Auto-Extension Letter of Credit”); provided that any such Auto-Extension Letter of Credit must permit the L/C Issuer to prevent any such extension at least once in each twelve-month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a day (the “Non-Extension Notice Date”) in each such twelve-month period to be agreed upon at the time such Letter of Credit is issued.  Unless otherwise directed by the L/C Issuer, Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to the L/C Issuer for any such extension.  Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has been issued, the Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the L/C Issuer to permit the extension of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the L/C Expiration Date; provided, however, that the L/C Issuer shall not permit any such extension if (A) the L/C Issuer has determined that it would not be permitted, or would have no obligation, at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its revised form (as extended) under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of clause (ii) or (iii) of Section 2.3(a) or otherwise), or (B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is seven Business Days before the Non-Extension Notice Date (1) from Agent that the Required Lenders have elected not to permit such extension or (2) from Agent, any Lender or any Loan Party that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.2 is not then satisfied, and in each such case directing the L/C Issuer not to permit such extension.

 

34



 

(v)           If Borrower so requests in any applicable L/C Application, the L/C Issuer may, in its sole and absolute discretion, agree to issue a Letter of Credit that permits the automatic reinstatement of all or a portion of the stated amount thereof after any drawing thereunder (each, an “Auto-Reinstatement Letter of Credit”).  Unless otherwise directed by the L/C Issuer, Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to the L/C Issuer to permit such reinstatement.  Once an Auto-Reinstatement Letter of Credit has been issued, except as provided in the following sentence, the Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the L/C Issuer to reinstate all or a portion of the stated amount thereof in accordance with the provisions of such Letter of Credit.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such Auto-Reinstatement Letter of Credit permits the L/C Issuer to decline to reinstate all or any portion of the stated amount thereof after a drawing thereunder by giving notice of such non-reinstatement within a specified number of days after such drawing (the “Non-Reinstatement Deadline”), the L/C Issuer shall not permit such reinstatement if it has received a notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is seven Business Days before the Non-Reinstatement Deadline (A) from Agent that the Required Lenders have elected not to permit such reinstatement or (B) from Agent, any Lender or Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.2 is not then satisfied (treating such reinstatement as an L/C Credit Extension for purposes of this clause) and, in each case, directing the L/C Issuer not to permit such reinstatement.

 

(c)       Drawings and Reimbursements; Funding of Participations.

 

(i)            Upon receipt from the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of any notice of a drawing under such Letter of Credit, the L/C Issuer shall notify Borrower and Agent thereof.  Not later than 11:00 a.m. on the Business Day after the date of any payment by the L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit (each such date of payment, an “Honor Date”), Borrower shall reimburse the L/C Issuer through Agent in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing plus accrued interest on the amount of such drawing (which interest shall accrue from the Honor Date to the time of reimbursement as if the amount of such drawing were a Base Rate Loan).  If Borrower fails to so reimburse the L/C Issuer by such time, Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the Honor Date, the amount of the unreimbursed drawing (the “Unreimbursed Amount”), and the amount of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share thereof.  In such event, Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans to be disbursed on the Business Day after the Honor Date in an amount equal to the Unreimbursed Amount, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified in Section 2.2 for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the Aggregate Commitments and the conditions set forth in Section 4.2 (other than the delivery of a Committed Loan Notice).  Any notice given by the L/C Issuer or Agent pursuant to this Section 2.3(c)(i) may be given by telephone if immediately confirmed in writing; provided that the lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice.

 

35



 

(ii)           Each Lender (including a Lender acting as L/C Issuer) shall upon any notice pursuant to Section 2.3(c)(i) make funds available to Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer at the Agent’s Office in an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of the Unreimbursed Amount not later than 11:00 a.m. on the Business Day specified in such notice by Agent, whereupon, subject to the provisions of Section 2.3(c)(iii), each Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Committed Loan to Borrower in such amount.  Agent shall remit the funds so received to the L/C Issuer.

 

(iii)          With respect to any Unreimbursed Amount that is not fully refinanced by a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans because the conditions set forth in Section 4.2 cannot be satisfied or for any other reason, Borrower shall be deemed to have incurred from the L/C Issuer an L/C Borrowing in the amount of the Unreimbursed Amount that is not so refinanced, which L/C Borrowing shall be due and payable on demand (together with interest) and shall bear interest at the Default Rate.  In such event, each Lender’s payment to Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.3(c)(ii) shall be deemed payment in respect of its participation in such L/C Borrowing and shall constitute an L/C Advance from such Lender in satisfaction of its participation obligation under this Section 2.3.

 

(iv)          Until each Lender funds its Committed Loan or L/C Advance pursuant to this Section 2.3(c) to reimburse the L/C Issuer for any amount drawn under any Letter of Credit, interest in respect of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of such amount shall be solely for the account of the L/C Issuer.

 

(v)           Each Lender’s obligation to make Committed Loans or L/C Advances to reimburse the L/C Issuer for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit, as contemplated by this Section 2.3(c), shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the L/C Issuer, Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever; (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided, however, that each Lender’s obligation to make Committed Loans pursuant to this Section 2.3(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.2 (other than delivery by Borrower of a Committed Loan Notice).  No such making of an L/C Advance shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of Borrower to reimburse the L/C Issuer for the amount of any payment made by the L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit, together with interest as provided herein.

 

(vi)          If any Lender fails to make available to Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.3(c) by the time specified in Section 2.3(c)(ii), the L/C Issuer shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is

 

36



 

immediately available to the L/C Issuer at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the L/C Issuer in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the L/C Issuer in connection with the foregoing.  If such Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Committed Loan included in the relevant Committed Borrowing or L/C Advance in respect of the relevant L/C Borrowing, as the case may be.  A certificate of the L/C Issuer submitted to any Lender (through Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (vi) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

(d)       Repayment of Participations.

 

(i)            At any time after the L/C Issuer has made a payment under any Letter of Credit and has received from any Lender such Lender’s L/C Advance in respect of such payment in accordance with Section 2.3(c), if Agent receives for the account of the L/C Issuer any payment in respect of the related Unreimbursed Amount or interest thereon (whether directly from Borrower or otherwise, including proceeds of Cash Collateral applied thereto by Agent), Agent will distribute to such Lender its Pro Rata Share thereof in the same funds as those received by Agent.

 

(ii)           If any payment received by Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.3(c)(i) is required to be returned under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.5 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the L/C Issuer in its discretion), each Lender shall pay to Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer its Pro Rata Share thereof on demand of Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned by such Lender, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect.  The obligations of the Lenders under this clause shall survive payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

 

(e)           Obligations Absolute.  The obligation of Borrower to reimburse the L/C Issuer for each drawing under each Letter of Credit and to repay each L/C Borrowing shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all circumstances, including the following:

 

(i)            any lack of validity or enforceability of such Letter of Credit, this Agreement, or any other Loan Document;

 

(ii)           the existence of any claim, counterclaim, set-off, defense or other right that Borrower or any Subsidiary may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), the L/C Issuer or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by such Letter of Credit or any agreement or instrument relating thereto, or any unrelated transaction;

 

37



 

(iii)          any draft, demand, certificate or other document presented under such Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under such Letter of Credit;

 

(iv)          any payment by the L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate that does not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; or any payment made by the L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit to any Person purporting to be a trustee in bankruptcy, debtor-in-possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver or other representative of or successor to any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit, including any arising in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law; or

 

(v)           any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, including any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, Borrower or any Subsidiary.

 

Borrower shall promptly examine a copy of each Letter of Credit and each amendment thereto that is delivered to it and, in the event of any claim of noncompliance with Borrower’s instructions or other irregularity, Borrower will immediately notify the L/C Issuer.  Borrower shall be conclusively deemed to have waived any such claim against the L/C Issuer and its correspondents unless such notice is given as aforesaid.

 

(f)        Role of L/C Issuer.  Each Lender and Borrower agree that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit, the L/C Issuer shall not have any responsibility to obtain any document (other than any sight draft, certificates and documents expressly required by the Letter of Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such document or the authority of the Person executing or delivering any such document.  None of the L/C Issuer, Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of the L/C Issuer shall be liable to any Lender for (i) any action taken or omitted in connection herewith at the request or with the approval of Lenders or the Required Lenders, as applicable; (ii) any action taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct; or (iii) the due execution, effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any document or instrument related to any Letter of Credit or Issuer Document.  Borrower hereby assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee with respect to its use of any Letter of Credit; provided, however, that this assumption is not intended to, and shall not, preclude Borrower’s pursuing such rights and remedies as it may have against the beneficiary or transferee at law or under any other agreement.  None of the L/C Issuer, Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of the L/C Issuer, shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in clauses (i) through (v) of Section 2.3(e); provided, however, that anything in such clauses to the contrary notwithstanding, Borrower may have a claim against the L/C Issuer, and the L/C Issuer may be liable to Borrower, to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or exemplary, damages suffered by Borrower which Borrower proves were

 

38



 

caused by the L/C Issuer’s willful misconduct or gross negligence or the L/C Issuer’s willful failure to pay under any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary of a sight draft and certificate(s) strictly complying with the terms and conditions of a Letter of Credit.  In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, the L/C Issuer may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, and the L/C Issuer shall not be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason.

 

(g)           Cash Collateral.  Upon the request of Agent, (i) if the L/C Issuer has honored any full or partial drawing request under any Letter of Credit and such drawing has resulted in an L/C Borrowing, or (ii) if, as of the L/C Expiration Date, any L/C Obligation for any reason remains outstanding, Borrower shall, in each case, immediately Cash Collateralize the then Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations.  Sections 2.3(a), 2.5 and 8.2(c) set forth certain additional requirements to deliver Cash Collateral hereunder.  For purposes hereof, “Cash Collateralize” means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to Agent, for the benefit of the L/C Issuer and the Lenders, as collateral for the L/C Obligations, cash or deposit account balances pursuant to documentation in form and substance satisfactory to Agent and the L/C Issuer (which documents are hereby consented to by Lenders).  Derivatives of such term have corresponding meanings.  Borrower hereby grants to Agent, for the benefit of the L/C Issuer and Lenders, a security interest in all such cash, deposit accounts and all balances therein and all proceeds of the foregoing.  Cash Collateral shall be maintained in blocked, non-interest bearing deposit accounts at Bank of America.  If at any time Agent determines that any funds held as Cash Collateral are subject to any right or claim of any Person other than Agent or that the total amount of such funds is less than the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, Borrower will, forthwith upon demand by Agent, pay to Agent, as additional funds to be deposited as Cash Collateral, an amount equal to the excess of (x) such aggregate Outstanding Amount over (y) the total amount of funds, if any, then held as Cash Collateral that Agent determines to be free and clear of any such right and claim.  Upon the drawing of any Letter of Credit for which funds are on deposit as Cash Collateral, such funds shall be applied, to the extent permitted under applicable Laws, to reimburse the L/C Issuer.

 

(h)           Applicability of ISP and UCP.  Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the L/C Issuer and Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued, (i) the rules of the ISP shall apply to each standby Letter of Credit, and (ii) the rules of the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, as most recently published by the International Chamber of Commerce at the time of issuance shall apply to each commercial Letter of Credit.

 

(i)            L/C Fees.  Borrower shall pay to Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance with its Pro Rata Share an L/C fee (the “L/C Fee”) (i) for each commercial Letter of Credit equal to the then applicable commercial letter of credit fees of the L/C Issuer then in effect, and (ii) for each standby Letter of Credit equal to the Applicable Rate times the daily maximum amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit (whether or not such maximum amount is then in effect under such Letter of Credit).  For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.6.  L/C Fees shall be (i) computed on a

 

39



 

quarterly basis in arrears and (ii) due and payable on the first Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the L/C Expiration Date and thereafter on demand.  If there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the daily maximum amount available to be drawn under each standby Letter of Credit shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, upon the request of the Required Lenders, while any Event of Default exists, all L/C Fees shall accrue at the Default Rate.

 

(j)            Fronting Fee and Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to L/C Issuer.  Borrower shall pay directly to the L/C Issuer for its own account a fronting fee with respect to (i) each commercial Letter of Credit, at the rate specified in the Fee Letter, computed on the amount of such Letter of Credit, and payable upon the issuance thereof, (ii) with respect to any amendment of a commercial Letter of Credit increasing the amount of such Letter of Credit, at a rate separately agreed between Borrower and the L/C Issuer, computed on the amount of such increase, and payable upon the effectiveness of such amendment, and (iii) with respect to each standby Letter of Credit, at the rate per annum specified in the Fee Letter, computed on the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit on a quarterly basis in arrears.  Such fronting fee shall be due and payable on the tenth Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December in respect of the most recently-ended quarterly period (or portion thereof, in the case of the first payment), commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the L/C Expiration Date and thereafter on demand.  For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.6.  In addition, Borrower shall pay directly to the L/C Issuer for its own account the customary issuance, presentation, amendment and other processing fees, and other standard costs and charges, of the L/C Issuer relating to letters of credit as from time to time in effect.  Such individual customary fees and standard costs and charges are due and payable on demand and are nonrefundable.

 

(k)           Conflict with Issuer Documents.  In the event of any conflict between the terms hereof and the terms of any Issuer Document, the terms hereof shall control.

 

(l)            Letters of Credit Issued for Subsidiaries.  Notwithstanding that a Letter of Credit issued or outstanding hereunder is in support of any obligations of, or is for the account of, a Subsidiary, Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the L/C Issuer hereunder for any and all drawings under such Letter of Credit.  Borrower hereby acknowledges that the issuance of Letters of Credit for the account of Subsidiaries inures to the benefit of Borrower, and that Borrower’s business derives substantial benefits from the businesses of such Subsidiaries.

 

2.4               Swing Line Loans.

 

(a)           The Swing Line.  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swing Line Lender agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the other Lenders set forth in this Section 2.4, to make loans (each such loan, a “Swing Line Loan”) to Borrower from time

 

40



 

to time on any Business Day during the Availability Period in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of the Swing Line Sublimit, notwithstanding the fact that such Swing Line Loans, when aggregated with the Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount of Committed Loans and L/C Obligations of the Lender acting as Swing Line Lender, may exceed the amount of such Lender’s Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Swing Line Loan, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Committed Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment, and provided, further, that Borrower shall not use the proceeds of any Swing Line Loan to refinance any outstanding Swing Line Loan.  Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.4, prepay under Section 2.5, and reborrow under this Section 2.4.  Each Swing Line Loan shall be a Base Rate Loan.  Immediately upon the making of a Swing Line Loan, each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the Swing Line Lender a risk participation in such Swing Line Loan in an amount equal to the product of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share times the amount of such Swing Line Loan.

 

(b)           Borrowing Procedures.  Each Swing Line Borrowing shall be made upon Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Swing Line Lender and Agent, which may be given by telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and Agent not later than 10:00 a.m. on the requested borrowing date, and shall specify (i) the amount to be borrowed, which shall be a minimum of $500,000, and (ii) the requested borrowing date, which shall be a Business Day.  Each such telephonic notice must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Swing Line Lender and Agent of a written Swing Line Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of Borrower.  Promptly after receipt by the Swing Line Lender of any telephonic Swing Line Loan Notice, the Swing Line Lender will confirm with Agent (by telephone or in writing) that Agent has also received such Swing Line Loan Notice and, if not, the Swing Line Lender will notify Agent (by telephone or in writing) of the contents thereof.  Unless the Swing Line Lender has received notice (by telephone or in writing) from Agent (including at the request of any Lender) prior to 11:00 a.m. on the date of the proposed Swing Line Borrowing (A) directing the Swing Line Lender not to make such Swing Line Loan as a result of the limitations set forth in the first proviso to the first sentence of Section 2.4(a), or (B) that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Article IV is not then satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Swing Line Lender will, not later than 12:00 noon on the borrowing date specified in such Swing Line Loan Notice, make the amount of its Swing Line Loan available to Borrower.

 

(c)       Refinancing of Swing Line Loans.

 

(i)             The Swing Line Lender at any time in its sole and absolute discretion may request, on behalf of Borrower (which hereby irrevocably authorizes the Swing Line Lender to so request on its behalf), that each Lender make a Base Rate Committed Loan in an amount equal to such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the amount of Swing Line Loans then outstanding.  Such request shall be made in writing (which written request shall be deemed to be a Committed Loan

 

41



 

Notice for purposes hereof) and in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.2, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified therein for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the unutilized portion of the Aggregate Commitments and the conditions set forth in Section 4.2.  The Swing Line Lender shall furnish Borrower with a copy of the applicable Committed Loan Notice promptly after delivering such notice to Agent.  Each Lender shall make an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of the amount specified in such Committed Loan Notice available to Agent in immediately available funds for the account of the Swing Line Lender at Agent’s Office not later than 10:00 a.m. on the day specified in such Committed Loan Notice, whereupon, subject to Section 2.4(c)(ii), each Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Committed Loan to Borrower in such amount.  Agent shall remit the funds so received to the Swing Line Lender.

 

(ii)           If for any reason any Swing Line Loan cannot be refinanced by such a Committed Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.4(c)(i), the request for Base Rate Committed Loans submitted by the Swing Line Lender as set forth herein shall be deemed to be a request by the Swing Line Lender that each of the Lenders fund its risk participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan and each Lender’s payment to Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.4(c)(i) shall be deemed payment in respect of such participation.

 

(iii)          If any Lender fails to make available to Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.4(c) by the time specified in Section 2.4(c)(i), the Swing Line Lender shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the Swing Line Lender at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Swing Line Lender in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Swing Line Lender in connection with the foregoing.  If such Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Committed Loan included in the relevant Committed Borrowing or funded participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan, as the case may be.  A certificate of the Swing Line Lender submitted to any Lender (through Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (iii) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

(iv)          Each Lender’s obligation to make Committed Loans or to purchase and fund risk participations in Swing Line Loans pursuant to this Section 2.4(c) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the Swing Line Lender, Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of

 

42



 

the foregoing; provided, however, that each Lender’s obligation to make Committed Loans pursuant to this Section 2.4(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.2.  No such funding of risk participations shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of Borrower to repay Swing Line Loans, together with interest as provided herein.

 

(d)           Repayment of Participations.

 

(i)            At any time after any Lender has purchased and funded a risk participation in a Swing Line Loan, if the Swing Line Lender receives any payment on account of such Swing Line Loan, the Swing Line Lender will distribute to such Lender its Pro Rata Share thereof in the same funds as those received by the Swing Line Lender.

 

(ii)           If any payment received by the Swing Line Lender in respect of principal or interest on any Swing Line Loan is required to be returned by the Swing Line Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.5 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Swing Line Lender in its discretion), each Lender shall pay to the Swing Line Lender its Pro Rata Share thereof on demand of Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate.  Agent will make such demand upon the request of the Swing Line Lender.  The obligations of the Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

 

(e)           Interest for Account of Swing Line Lender.  The Swing Line Lender shall be responsible for invoicing Borrower for interest on the Swing Line Loans.  Until each Lender funds its Base Rate Committed Loan or risk participation pursuant to this Section 2.4 to refinance such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of any Swing Line Loan, interest in respect of such Pro Rata Share shall be solely for the account of the Swing Line Lender.

 

(f)            Payments Directly to Swing Line Lender.  Borrower shall make all payments of principal and interest in respect of the Swing Line Loans directly to the Swing Line Lender.

 

2.5          Prepayments.

 

(a)           Voluntary Prepayments.  Borrower may, upon notice to Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Committed Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; but with accrued interest thereon and any amounts due under Section 3.5, provided that (i) such notice must be received by Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (A) three Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans and (B) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans; (ii) any prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof; and (iii) any prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof or, in each case, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding.  Each such notice shall specify the date and amount

 

43



 

of such prepayment and the Type(s) of Committed Loans to be prepaid and, if Eurodollar Rate Loans are to be prepaid, the Interest Period(s) of such Loans.  Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of such prepayment.  If such notice is given by Borrower, Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein.  Any prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest thereon, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.5.  Each such prepayment shall be applied to the Committed Loans of Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares.

 

(b)           Borrower may, upon notice to the Swing Line Lender (with a copy to Agent), at any time or from time to time, voluntarily prepay Swing Line Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. on the date of the prepayment, and (ii) any such prepayment shall be in a minimum principal amount of $100,000.  Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment.  If such notice is given by Borrower, Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein.

 

(c)           Mandatory Prepayments from Excess Utilization.  If for any reason the Total Outstandings at any time exceed the Aggregate Commitments then in effect, Borrower shall immediately prepay Loans but with accrued interest thereon and any amounts due under Section 3.5, and/or Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations in an aggregate amount equal to such excess; provided, however, that Borrower shall not be required to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations pursuant to this Section 2.5(c) unless after the prepayment in full of the Loans the Total Outstandings exceed the Aggregate Commitments then in effect.

 

(d)           Mandatory Prepayments and Mandatory Reductions of Commitments.  The Loans shall be prepaid and/or the Aggregate Commitments shall be permanently reduced in the amounts and under the circumstances set forth below, and all such prepayments and/or reductions to be applied as set forth below or as more specifically provided in Section 2.5(e)(ii):

 

(i)            Mandatory Prepayments and Reductions From Net Asset Sale Proceeds.  No later than the date of receipt by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of any Net Asset Sale Proceeds in respect of any Asset Sale, Borrower shall either (1) prepay Loans and/or permanently reduce the Aggregate Commitments in accordance with Section 2.5(e)(ii), in each case, in an aggregate amount equal to such Net Asset Sale Proceeds or (2), so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and to the extent that the aggregate Net Asset Sale Proceeds from the Closing Date through the date of determination that are so reinvested or proposed to be so reinvested under this Section 2.5(d)(i) do not exceed $3,000,000, deliver to Agent an officer’s certificate setting forth (x) that portion of such Net Asset Sale Proceeds that Borrower or such Subsidiary intends to reinvest in equipment or other productive assets of the general type used in the business of Borrower and its Subsidiaries within 180 days of such date of receipt and (y) the proposed use of such portion of the Net Asset Sale Proceeds

 

44



 

and such other information with respect to such reinvestment as Agent may reasonably request, and Borrower shall, or shall cause one or more of its Subsidiaries to, promptly and diligently apply such portion to such reinvestment purposes; provided, however, that, pending such reinvestment, such portion of the Net Asset Sale Proceeds shall be applied to prepay outstanding Loans (without a reduction in the Aggregate Commitments) to the full extent thereof.  In addition, Borrower shall, no later than 180 days after receipt of such Net Asset Sale Proceeds that have not theretofore been applied to the Obligations hereunder or that have not been so reinvested as provided above, make an additional prepayment of the Loans (and/or the Aggregate Commitments shall be permanently reduced) as set forth above in the full amount of all such Net Asset Sale Proceeds.

 

(ii)           Prepayments and Reductions from Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds.  No later than three (3) Business Days following the date of receipt by Agent, Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of any Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds that are required to be applied to prepay the Loans and/or reduce the Aggregate Commitments pursuant to Section 6.6(b), Borrower shall either (1) prepay Loans and/or permanently reduce the Aggregate Commitments in accordance with Section 2.5(e)(ii), in each case, in an aggregate amount equal to such Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds or (2), so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and to the extent that the aggregate Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds from the Closing Date through the date of determination that are so reinvested or proposed to be so reinvested under this Section 2.5(d)(ii) or under Section 6.6(b)(ii) do not exceed $10,000,000, deliver to Agent an officer’s certificate setting forth (x) that portion of such Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds that Borrower or such Subsidiary intends to reinvest in equipment or other productive assets of the general type used in the business of Borrower and its Subsidiaries within 180 days of such date of receipt and (y) the proposed use of such portion of the Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds and such other information with respect to such reinvestment as Agent may reasonably request, and Borrower shall, or shall cause one or more of its Subsidiaries to, promptly and diligently apply such portion to such reinvestment purposes; provided, however, that, pending such reinvestment, such portion of the Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds shall be applied to prepay outstanding Loans (without a reduction in the Aggregate Commitments) to the full extent thereof.  In addition, Borrower shall, no later than 180 days after receipt of such Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds that have not theretofore been applied to the Obligations hereunder or that have not been so reinvested as provided above, make an additional prepayment of the Loans (and/or the Aggregate Commitments shall be permanently reduced) as set forth above in the full amount of all such Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds.

 

(e)           Application of Prepayments and Reductions of Aggregate Commitments.

 

45



 

(i)            Application of Voluntary Prepayments by Type of Loans.  Any voluntary prepayments pursuant to Section 2.5(a) shall be applied as specified by Borrower in the applicable notice of prepayment; provided that in the event Borrower fails to specify the Type of Loans to which any such prepayment shall be applied, such prepayment shall be applied to repay Base Rate Loans to the full extent thereof before application to Eurodollar Rate Loans, in each case in a manner that minimizes the amount of any payment required to be made by Borrower pursuant to Section 3.5.

 

(ii)           Application of Mandatory Prepayments by Type of Loans.  Except as provided in Section 2.5(c), any amount required to be applied as a mandatory prepayment of the Loans and/or a reduction of the Aggregate Commitments shall be applied first to prepay the Loans to the full extent thereof and to permanently reduce the Aggregate Commitments by the amount of such prepayment, and second, to the extent of any remaining portion of such amount, to further permanently reduce the Aggregate Commitments to the full extent thereof.  Any mandatory prepayments pursuant to this Section 2.5 shall be applied as specified by Borrower in written notice to Agent; provided that in the event Borrower fails to specify the Type of Loan to which any such prepayment shall be applied, such prepayment shall be applied to repay Base Rate Loans to the full extent thereof before application to Eurodollar Rate Loans, in each case in a manner that minimizes the amount of any payment required to be made by Borrower pursuant to Section 3.5.  Any mandatory reduction of the Aggregate Commitments pursuant to this Section 2.5(e) shall be in proportion to each Lender’s Pro Rata Share.

 

2.6          Termination or Reduction of Commitments.  Borrower may, upon notice to Agent, terminate the Aggregate Commitments, or from time to time permanently reduce the Aggregate Commitments; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by Agent not later than 8:00 a.m. five Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction, (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, (iii) Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Aggregate Commitments if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Total Outstandings would exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (iv) if, after giving effect to any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments, the L/C Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit exceeds the amount of the Aggregate Commitments, such Sublimit shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such excess.  Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any such notice of termination or reduction of the Aggregate Commitments.  Any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments shall be applied to the Commitment of each Lender according to its Pro Rata Share.  All fees accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Aggregate Commitments shall be paid on the effective date of such termination.

 

2.7          Repayment of Loans.

 

(a)           Borrower shall repay to Lenders on the Maturity Date the aggregate principal amount of Committed Loans outstanding on such date.

 

46



 

(b)           Borrower shall repay each Swing Line Loan on the earlier to occur of (i) the date ten Business Days after such Loan is made and (ii) the Maturity Date.

 

2.8          Interest.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

2.9          Fees.  In addition to certain fees described in subsections (i) and (j) of Section 2.3:

 

(a)           Commitment Fee.  Borrower shall pay to Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance with its Pro Rata Share, a commitment fee equal to the Applicable Rate times the actual daily amount by which the Aggregate Commitments exceed the sum of (i) the Outstanding Amount of Committed Loans and (ii) the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations.  The commitment fee shall accrue at all times during the Availability Period,

 

47



 

including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Article IV is not met, and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and on the Maturity Date.  The commitment fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears, and if there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the actual daily amount shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect.

 

(b)           Other Fees.

 

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

 

(ii)           Borrower shall pay to the Lenders such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified.  Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

 

2.10        Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate.

 

(a)           All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans when the Base Rate is determined by Bank of America’s “prime rate” shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed.  All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365-day year).  Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid, provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.12(a), bear interest for one day.  Each determination by Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

 

(b)           If, as a result of any restatement of or other adjustment to the financial statements of Borrower or for any other reason, Borrower or the Lenders determine that (i) the Funded Debt to EBITDA Ratio as calculated by Borrower as of any applicable date was inaccurate and (ii) a proper calculation of the Funded Debt to EBITDA Ratio would have resulted in higher pricing for such period, Borrower shall immediately and retroactively be obligated to pay to Agent for the account of the applicable Lenders or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, promptly on demand by Agent (or, after the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, automatically and without further action by Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer), an amount equal to the excess of the amount of interest and fees that should have been paid for such period over the amount of interest and fees actually paid for such period.  This paragraph shall not limit the rights of Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, under Section 2.3(c)(iii), 2.3(i) or 2.8(b) or under Article VIII.  Borrower’s obligations under this

 

48



 

paragraph shall survive the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.

 

2.11        Evidence of Debt.

 

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

 

(b)           In addition to the accounts and records referred to in subsection (a), each Lender and Agent shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice accounts or records evidencing the purchases and sales by such Lender of participations in Letters of Credit.  In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by Agent and the accounts and records of any Lender in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.

 

2.12        Payments Generally.

 

(a)           (i)        General.  All payments to be made by Borrower shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by Borrower hereunder shall be made to Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the Agent’s Office in Dollars and in immediately available funds not later than 11:00 a.m. on the date specified herein.  Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its Pro Rata Share (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s Lending Office.  All payments received by Agent after 11:00 a.m. shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue.  If any payment to be made by Borrower shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be.

 

(ii)           Borrower Account.  On each date when the payment of any principal, interest or fees are due hereunder or under any Note, Borrower agrees to maintain on deposit in an ordinary checking account maintained by Borrower with Agent (as such account shall be designated by Borrower in a written notice to Agent from time to time, the “Borrower Account”) an amount sufficient to pay such principal, interest or fees in full on such date.  Borrower hereby authorizes

 

49



 

Agent (A) to deduct automatically all principal, interest or fees when due hereunder or under any Note from Borrower Account, and (B) if and to the extent any payment of principal, interest or fees under this Agreement or any Note is not made when due to deduct any such amount from any or all of the accounts of Borrower maintained at Agent.  Agent agrees to provide written notice to Borrower of any automatic deduction made pursuant to this Section 2.12(a)(ii) showing in reasonable detail the amounts of such deduction.  Lenders agree to reimburse Borrower based on their Pro Rata Share for any amounts deducted from such accounts in excess of amount due hereunder and under any other Loan Documents.

 

(b)           (i)        Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Agent.  Unless Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Committed Borrowing of Eurodollar Rate Loans (or, in the case of any Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, prior to 9:00 a.m. on the date of such Committed Borrowing) that such Lender will not make available to Agent such Lender’s share of such Committed Borrowing, Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.2 (or, in the case of a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, that such Lender has made such share available in accordance with and at the time required by Section 2.2) and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to Borrower a corresponding amount.  In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing available to Agent, then the applicable Lender and Borrower severally agree to pay to Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by Agent in connection with the foregoing, and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans.  If Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to Agent for the same or an overlapping period, Agent shall promptly remit to Borrower the amount of such interest paid by Borrower for such period.  If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing to Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Committed Loan included in such Committed Borrowing.  Any payment by Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to Agent.

 

(ii)           Payments by Borrower; Presumptions by Agent.  Unless Agent shall have received notice from Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to Agent for the account of the Lenders or the L/C Issuer hereunder that Borrower will not make such payment, Agent may assume that Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, the amount due.  In such event, if Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for

 

50



 

each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

 

A notice of Agent to any Lender or Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this subsection (b) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

 

(c)           Failure to Satisfy Conditions Precedent.  If any Lender makes available to Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Article II, and such funds are not made available to Borrower by Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in Article IV are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.

 

(d)           Obligations of Lenders Several.  The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Committed Loans, to fund participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans and to make payments pursuant to Section 10.4(c) are several and not joint.  The failure of any Lender to make any Committed Loan, to fund any such participation or to make any payment under Section 10.4(c) on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Loan or purchase its participation.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

51



 

(ii)           the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to (x) any payment made by Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or (y) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Committed Loans or subparticipations in L/C Obligations or Swing Line Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section shall apply).

 

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

 

2.14        Increase in Commitments.

 

(a)           Request for Increase.  Provided there exists no Default, upon notice to Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders), Borrower may from time to time, request an increase in the Aggregate Commitments by an amount (for all such requests) not exceeding $75,000,000; provided that (i) any such request for an increase shall be in a minimum amount of $10,000,000, and (ii) Borrower may make a maximum of three such requests.  At the time of sending such notice, Borrower (in consultation with Agent) shall specify the time period within which each Lender is requested to respond (which shall in no event be less than ten Business Days from the date of delivery of such notice to the Lenders).

 

(b)           Lender Elections to Increase.  Each Lender shall notify Agent within such time period whether or not it agrees to increase its Commitment and, if so, whether by an amount equal to, greater than, or less than its Pro Rata Share of such requested increase.  Any Lender not responding within such time period shall be deemed to have declined to increase its Commitment.

 

(c)           Notification by Agent; Additional Lenders.  Agent shall notify Borrower and each Lender of the Lenders’ responses to each request made hereunder.  To achieve the full amount of a requested increase and subject to the approval of Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender (which approvals shall not be unreasonably withheld), Borrower may also invite additional Eligible Assignees to become Lenders pursuant to a joinder agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Agent and its counsel.

 

(d)           Effective Date and Allocations.  If the Aggregate Commitments are increased in accordance with this Section, Agent and Borrower shall determine the effective date (the “Increase Effective Date”) and the final allocation of such increase.  Agent shall promptly notify Borrower and the Lenders of the final allocation of such increase and the Increase Effective Date.

 

(e)           Conditions to Effectiveness of Increase.  As a condition precedent to such increase, Borrower shall deliver to Agent a certificate of each Loan Party dated as of the Increase Effective Date (in sufficient copies for each Lender) signed by a Responsible Officer

 

52



 

of such Loan Party (i) certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by such Loan Party approving or consenting to such increase, and (ii) in the case of Borrower, certifying that, before and after giving effect to such increase, (A) the representations and warranties contained in Article V and the other Loan Documents are true and correct on and as of the Increase Effective Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 2.14, the representations and warranties contained in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 5.5 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 6.1, and (B) no Default exists.  Borrower shall prepay any Committed Loans outstanding on the Increase Effective Date (and pay any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.5) to the extent necessary to keep the outstanding Committed Loans ratable with any revised Pro Rata Shares arising from any nonratable increase in the Commitments under this Section.

 

(f)            Conflicting Provisions.  This Section shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.13 or 10.1 to the contrary.

 

ARTICLE III                 TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY.

 

3.1          Taxes.

 

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

 

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

 

(ii)           If Borrower or Agent shall be required by the Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes, including both United States Federal backup withholding and withholding taxes, from any payment, then (A) Agent shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by Agent to be required based upon the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection (e) below, (B) Agent shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with the Code, and (C) to the extent that the withholding or deduction is made on account of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes, the sum payable by Borrower shall be increased as necessary so that after any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) Agent, Lender or L/C Issuer, as the case may be, receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such withholding or deduction been made.

 

53



 

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

 

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

 

(d)           Evidence of Payments.  Upon request by Borrower or Agent, as the case may be, after any payment of Taxes by Borrower or by Agent to a Governmental Authority as provided in this Section 3.1, Borrower shall deliver to Agent or Agent shall deliver to Borrower, as the case may be, the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of any return required by Laws to report such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to Borrower or Agent, as the case may be.

 

(e)           Status of Lenders; Tax Documentation.

 

(i)            Each Lender shall deliver to Borrower and to Agent, at the time or times prescribed by applicable Laws or when reasonably requested by Borrower or Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable Laws or by the taxing authorities of any jurisdiction and such other reasonably requested information that would entitle such Lender to an exemption from, or reduction of, applicable Taxes in respect of all payments to be made to such Lender by Borrower pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise to establish such Lender’s status for withholding tax purposes in the applicable jurisdiction; provided, however, that such Lender is legally entitled to complete, execute and deliver such documentation and in such Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would not materially prejudice the legal position of such Lender.

 

(ii)           Each Foreign Lender that is entitled under the Code or any applicable treaty to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax with respect to payments hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall deliver to Borrower and Agent (in such number of copies as shall be reasonably requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the request

 

54



 

of Borrower or Agent, but only if such Foreign Lender is legally entitled to do so), whichever of the following is applicable:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(f)            Treatment of Certain Refunds.  Unless required by applicable Laws, at no time shall Agent have any obligation to file for or otherwise pursue on behalf of a Lender or the L/C Issuer, or have any obligation to pay to any Lender or the L/C Issuer, any refund of Taxes withheld or deducted from funds paid for the account of such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be.  If Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer determines, in its sole discretion, that it has received a refund of any Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by Borrower or with respect to which Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section, it shall pay to Borrower an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by Borrower under this Section with

 

55



 

respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund), provided that Borrower, upon the request of Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer, agrees to repay the amount paid over to Borrower (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer in the event Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority.  This subsection shall not be construed to require Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes that it deems confidential) to Borrower or any other Person.

 

3.2          Illegality.  If any Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Eurodollar Rate Loans, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate, or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, Dollars in the London interbank market, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to Borrower through Agent, any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Eurodollar Rate Loans or to convert Base Rate Committed Loans to Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended until such Lender notifies Agent and Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist.  Upon receipt of such notice, Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all Eurodollar Rate Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans, either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans.  Upon any such prepayment or conversion, Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted and all amounts due under Section 3.5 in accordance with the terms thereof due to such prepayment or conversion.

 

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

 

56



 

3.4          Increased Costs.

 

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

 

(i)            impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender (except any reserve requirement reflected in the Eurodollar Rate) or the L/C Issuer;

 

(ii)           subject any Lender or the L/C Issuer to any tax of any kind whatsoever with respect to this Agreement, any Letter of Credit, any participation in a Letter of Credit or any Eurodollar Rate Loan made by it, or change the basis of taxation of payments to such Lender or the L/C Issuer in respect thereof (except for Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes covered by Section 3.1 and any change in the rate of any Excluded Tax payable by such Lender or the L/C Issuer); or

 

(iii)          impose on any Lender or the L/C Issuer or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Rate Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein;

 

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

 

(b)           Capital Requirements.  If any Lender or the L/C Issuer determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or the L/C Issuer or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company, if any, regarding capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by the L/C Issuer, to a level below that which such Lender or the L/C Issuer or such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time Borrower will pay to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the L/C Issuer or such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

 

57



 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(c)           any assignment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period thereof as a result of a request by Borrower pursuant to Section 10.13;

 

including any loss of anticipated profits and any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained.  Borrower shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.  For purposes of calculating amounts payable by Borrower to Lenders under this Section 3.5, each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Eurodollar Rate Loan made by it at the Eurodollar Base Rate used in determining the Eurodollar Rate, as applicable, for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the London interbank eurodollar market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such Eurodollar Rate Loan was in fact so funded.

 

58



 

3.6          Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.

 

(a)           Designation of a Different Lending Office.  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.4, or Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender, the L/C Issuer, or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender or the L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 3.1, or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.2, then such Lender or the L/C Issuer shall, as applicable, use reasonable efforts to designate a different Lending Office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender or the L/C Issuer, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.1 or 3.4, as the case may be, in the future, or eliminate the need for the notice pursuant to Section 3.2, as applicable, and (ii) in each case, would not subject such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be.  Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender or the L/C Issuer in connection with any such designation or assignment.

 

(b)           Replacement of Lenders.  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.4, or if Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.1, Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 10.13.

 

3.7          Survival.  All of Borrower’s obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, repayment of all other Obligations hereunder, and resignation of Agent.

 

ARTICLE IV  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS.

 

4.1          Conditions of Initial Credit Extension.  The obligation of the L/C Issuer and each Lender to make its initial Credit Extension hereunder is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)           Closing Documents.  Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or facsimiles (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party, each dated the Closing Date (or, in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before the Closing Date) and each in form and substance satisfactory to Agent and each of the Lenders:

 

(i)            executed counterparts of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, sufficient in number for distribution to Agent, each Lender and Borrower;

 

(ii)           a Note executed by Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting a Note;

 

(iii)          such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party as Agent may require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each

 

59



 

Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party;

 

(iv)          such documents and certifications as Agent may reasonably require to evidence that each Loan Party is duly organized or formed (including copies of Organization Documents of each Loan Party certified by the Secretary of State of its jurisdiction of incorporation), and that each Loan Party is validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(v)           a favorable opinion of counsel to the Loan Parties substantially in the form of Exhibits K annexed hereto acceptable to Agent addressed to Agent and each Lender, as to the matters set forth in such Exhibits and such other matters concerning the Loan Parties and the Loan Documents as the Required Lenders may reasonably request;

 

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

 

(vii)         a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of Borrower certifying (A) that the conditions specified in Sections 4.2(a) and (b) have been satisfied, and (B) that there has been no event or circumstance since June 30, 2008 that has had or could be reasonably expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(viii)        evidence that all insurance required to be maintained pursuant to the Loan Documents has been obtained and is in effect and that Agent on behalf of Lenders has been named as additional insured and/or loss payee thereunder to the extent required under Section 6.7;

 

(ix)           a duly completed Compliance Certificate as of June 30, 2008, signed by a Responsible Officer of Borrower;

 

(x)            evidence that (A) all commitments under the Credit Agreement dated as of January 31, 2005 among Borrower, Bank of America, as agent and l/c issuer and the lenders from time to time party thereto (as amended, the “Existing Credit Agreement”) have been or concurrently with the Closing Date are being terminated pursuant to a payoff letter in form and substance satisfactory to Agent, (B) all outstanding amounts thereunder have been or concurrently with the Closing Date are being paid in full, (C) any Liens securing obligations under the

 

60



 

Existing Credit Agreement have been or concurrently with the Closing Date are being released, and (D) arrangements satisfactory to Agent have been made with respect to any letters of credit outstanding thereunder;

 

(xi)           an officers’ certificate of each Loan Party dated the Closing Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit J annexed hereto and with appropriate attachments, in each case demonstrating that, after giving effect to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents, such Loan Party on a consolidated basis will be Solvent; and

 

(xii)          such other assurances, certificates, documents, consents or opinions as Agent, the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender or the Required Lenders reasonably may require.

 

(b)           Fees.  Any fees required to be paid on or before the Closing Date (whether pursuant to the terms hereof, the Fee Letter or otherwise) shall have been paid.

 

(c)           Attorneys’ Fees.  Unless waived by Agent, Borrower shall have paid all Attorney Costs of Agent to the extent invoiced prior to or on the Closing Date, plus such additional amounts of Attorney Costs as shall constitute its reasonable estimate of Attorney Costs incurred or to be incurred by it through the closing proceedings (provided that such estimate shall not thereafter preclude a final settling of accounts between Borrower and Agent).

 

(d)           Closing Date.  The Closing Date shall have occurred on or before October 8, 2008.

 

(e)           No Litigation.  No action, suit, investigation or proceeding shall be pending or threatened in any court or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority that purports or could reasonably be expected to (i) have a Material Adverse Effect on Borrower, or (ii) affect any transaction contemplated hereunder or the ability of Borrower or any other Loan Party to perform their respective obligations under the Loan Documents to which they are a party.

 

(f)            Security Interests in Personal and Mixed Property.  Agent shall have received evidence satisfactory to it that each Loan Party shall have taken or caused to be taken all such actions, executed and delivered or caused to be executed and delivered all such agreements, documents and instruments, and made or caused to be made all such filings and recordings (other than the filing or recording of items described in clauses (iii), (iv) and (v) below) that may be necessary or, in the opinion of Agent, desirable in order to create in favor of Agent, for the benefit of Lenders, a valid and (upon such filing and recording) perfected First Priority Lien (except for Liens permitted under clauses (b) through (i) of Section 7.1) on the entire personal and mixed property Collateral.  Such actions shall include the following:

 

(i)            Delivery to Agent of each Collateral Document, including the Security Agreement, duly executed by each Loan Party;

 

(ii)           Stock Certificates; Instruments.  Delivery to Agent of (a) certificates (which certificates shall be accompanied by irrevocable undated

 

61



 

stock power, duly endorsed in blank and otherwise satisfactory in form and substance to Agent) representing all Equity Interests pledged pursuant to the Security Agreement, and (b) all promissory notes or other instruments (duly endorsed, where appropriate, in a manner satisfactory to Agent) evidencing any Collateral;

 

(iii)          Lien Searches and UCC Termination Statements.  Delivery to Agent of (a) the results of a recent search, by a Person satisfactory to Agent, of all effective UCC financing statements and all judgment and tax lien filings (or similar filings in the applicable foreign jurisdictions) which may have been made with respect to any personal or mixed property of Borrower or any Subsidiary that is a Loan Party, together with copies of all such filings disclosed by such search, and (b) UCC termination statements (or similar terminations in the applicable foreign jurisdictions) duly executed by all applicable Persons for filing in all applicable jurisdictions as may be necessary to terminate any effective UCC financing statements (or similar filings in the applicable foreign jurisdictions) disclosed in such search (other than any such financing statements in respect of Liens permitted to remain outstanding pursuant to the terms of this Agreement).

 

(iv)          UCC Financing Statements.  Delivery to Agent of UCC financing statements, with respect to all personal and mixed property Collateral of such Loan Party, for filing in all jurisdictions as may be necessary or, in the opinion of Agent, desirable to perfect the security interests created in the Collateral pursuant to the Collateral Documents;

 

(v)           Cover Sheets, Etc.  Delivery to Agent of all cover sheets or other documents or instruments required to be filed with any IP Filing Office in order to create or perfect Liens in respect of any IP Collateral, together with releases duly executed (if necessary) of security interests by all applicable Persons for filing in all applicable jurisdictions as may be necessary to terminate any effective filings in any IP Filing Office in respect of any IP Collateral (other than any such filings in respect of Liens permitted to remain outstanding pursuant to the terms of this Agreement); and

 

(vi)          Delivery to Agent of evidence that all other action that Agent may deem necessary or desirable in order to perfect the Liens created under the Security Agreement has been taken (including receipt of any payoff letters, Landlord Waivers to the extent obtained prior to the Closing Date and Control Agreements to the extent obtained prior to the Closing Date).

 

(g)           [Reserved].

 

(h)           Financial Statements; Business Plan.  On or before the Closing Date, Agent shall have received copies of (i) the Audited Financial Statements, (ii) the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of Borrower and its Subsidiaries dated June 30, 2008, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations and cash flows for the fiscal quarter ended on such date, and (iii) a business plan and budget of Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a

 

62



 

consolidated basis, including forecasts prepared by management of Borrower, of consolidated balance sheets and statements of income or operations and cash flows of Borrower and its Subsidiaries on an annual basis for the five years following the Closing Date.

 

(i)            Material Intellectual Property Licenses.  On or before the Closing Date, Agent shall have received copies of all documentation evidencing Material Intellectual Property Licenses.

 

(j)            Other Information and Certifications.  Agent shall have received, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to it, all such reports, audits or certifications as it may reasonably request.

 

Without limiting the generality of the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 9.3, for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4.1, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.

 

4.2          Conditions to all Credit Extensions.  The obligation of each Lender to honor any Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans) is subject to the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)           The representations and warranties of Borrower and each other Loan Party contained in Article V or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct on and as of the date of such Credit Extension, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 4.2, the representations and warranties contained in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 5.5 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 6.1.

 

(b)           No Default shall exist, or would result from such proposed Credit Extension or from the application of the proceeds thereof.

 

(c)           After giving effect to the proposed Credit Extension, (i) Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments then in effect, (ii) if the proposed Credit Extension is a Swing Line Loan, the Outstanding Amount of Swing Line Loans shall not exceed the Swing Line Sublimit, and (iii) if the proposed Credit Extension is a Letter of Credit, the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations shall not exceed the L/C Sublimit.

 

(d)           Agent and, if applicable, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.

 

63



 

Each Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting a conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans) submitted by Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Sections 4.2(a), (b) and (c) have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.

 

ARTICLE V  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

 

Borrower represents and warrants to Agent and the Lenders that:

 

5.1          Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws.  Each Loan Party and each Material Subsidiary thereof (a) is duly organized or formed, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority and all requisite governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to (i) own or lease its assets and carry on its business and (ii) execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, (c) is duly qualified and is licensed and in good standing under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification or license, and (d) is in compliance with all Laws; except in each case referred to in clauses (a) (as to the good standing of Loan Parties other than Borrower) (b)(i), (c) or (d) of this Section 5.1, to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.2          Authorization; No Contravention.  The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is party, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and do not and will not (a) contravene the terms of any of such Person’s Organization Documents; (b) conflict with in any material respect or result in any material breach or contravention of, or the creation of any material Lien under, or require any payment to be made under (i) any Contractual Obligation to which such Person is a party or (ii) any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Person or its property is subject; or (c) violate any Law applicable to any Loan Party.

 

5.3          Governmental Authorization; Other Consents.  Except for filings necessary to perfect Liens granted under the Loan Documents and other immaterial filings with any Governmental Authority, no approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is necessary or required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

5.4          Binding Effect.  This Agreement has been, and each other Loan Document, when delivered hereunder, will have been, duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party that is party thereto.  This Agreement constitutes, and each other Loan Document when so delivered will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against each Loan Party that is party thereto in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or by equitable principles.

 

64



 

5.5          Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.

 

(a)           The Audited Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; (ii) fairly present, in all material respects, the financial condition of Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; and (iii) show all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof required to be disclosed under GAAP, including material liabilities for taxes, commitments and Indebtedness.

 

(b)           The unaudited consolidated balance sheet of Borrower and its Subsidiaries dated June 30, 2008, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the fiscal quarter ended on that date (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein, and (ii) fairly present, in all material respects, the financial condition of Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby, subject, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), to the absence of footnotes and to normal year-end audit adjustments.  Schedule 5.5 sets forth all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the date of such financial statements, including material liabilities for taxes, commitments and Indebtedness.

 

(c)           Since the date of the Audited Financial Statements, there has been no event or circumstance, in the aggregate, that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(d)           The consolidated forecasted balance sheets, statements of income and cash flows of Borrower and its Subsidiaries delivered pursuant to Section 4.1 or Section 6.1 were prepared in good faith on the basis of assumptions which Borrower believed were fair in light of the conditions existing at the time of delivery of such forecasts, and represented, at the time of delivery, Borrower’s best estimate of its future financial condition and performance (it being understood that projections are subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond Borrower’s control, and that no assurance can be given that projections will be realized).

 

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

 

5.7          No Default.  Neither any Loan Party nor any Subsidiary thereof is in default under or with respect to any Contractual Obligation that could, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  No Default has occurred

 

65



 

and is continuing or is reasonably likely to result from the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

5.8          Ownership of Property; Liens.  Each of Borrower and each Subsidiary has good record and marketable title in fee simple to, or valid leasehold interests in, all real property necessary or used in the ordinary conduct of its business, except for such defects in title as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  The property of Borrower and its Subsidiaries is subject to no Liens, other than Liens permitted by Section 7.1.

 

5.9          Environmental Compliance.  Borrower and its Subsidiaries conduct in the ordinary course of business a review of the effect of existing Environmental Laws and claims alleging potential liability or responsibility for violation of any Environmental Law on their respective businesses, operations and properties, and as a result thereof Borrower has reasonably concluded that, except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 5.9, such Environmental Laws and claims could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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

 

5.11        Taxes.  Borrower and its Subsidiaries have filed all Federal, state and other material tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all Federal, state and other material taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges levied or imposed upon them or their properties, income or assets otherwise due and payable, except (a) those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP and (b) immaterial taxes.  There is no proposed tax assessment against Borrower or any Subsidiary that would, if made, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.12        ERISA Compliance.

 

(a)           Each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other Federal or state Laws.  Each Plan that is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS or an application for such a letter is currently being processed by the IRS with respect thereto or the remedial amendment period to file such application has not expired and, to the best knowledge of Borrower, nothing has occurred which would prevent, or cause the loss of, such qualification.  Borrower and each ERISA Affiliate have made all required contributions to each Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code in all material respects, and no application for a funding waiver or an extension of any amortization period pursuant to Section 412 of the Code has been made with respect to any Plan.

 

66



 

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

 

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

 

5.13        Subsidiaries; Equity Interests.  As of the Closing Date, no Loan Party has any Subsidiaries other than those specifically disclosed in Part (a) of Schedule 5.13, and all of the outstanding Equity Interests in such Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by a Loan Party in the amounts specified on Part (a) of Schedule 5.13 free and clear of all Liens except those created under the Collateral Documents.  No Loan Party has any equity investments or owns any Equity Interests in any other corporation or entity other than those specifically disclosed in Part (b) of Schedule 5.13 (and those not yet required to be set forth on an update to Schedule 5.13 pursuant to Section 6.2(g)).  Set forth on Part (c) of Schedule 5.13 is a complete and accurate list of all Loan Parties (other than those not yet required to be set forth on an update to Schedule 5.13 pursuant to Section 6.2(g)), showing as of the Closing Date (as to each Loan Party) the jurisdiction of its incorporation, the address of its principal place of business and its U.S. taxpayer identification number or, in the case of any non-U.S. Loan Party that does not have a U.S. taxpayer identification number, its unique identification number issued to it by the jurisdiction of its incorporation.  The copy of the charter of each Loan Party and each amendment thereto provided pursuant to Section 4.1(a)(iv) or any amendments or modifications thereto delivered after the Closing Date (which amendments or modifications comply with Section 7.13) is a true and correct copy of each such document, each of which is valid and in full force and effect.  Neither the book value nor the fair market value of the total assets of OSC (without netting against its liabilities and without taking into account any intercompany loan (if any) receivable by OSC as of the Closing Date and described in Schedule 7 of the Security Agreement) exceeds $10,000 and OSC does not and will not engage in any operations or business other than owning its IP Rights. Neither the book value nor the fair market value of the total assets of any Dormant Foreign Subsidiary (without netting against its liabilities and without taking into account any intercompany loan (if any) receivable by such Dormant Foreign Subsidiary as of the Closing Date and described in Schedule 7 of the Security Agreement) exceeds $100,000 and none of the Dormant Foreign Subsidiaries engages in or will engage in any operations or business.

 

67



 

5.14        Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act; Public Utility Holding Company Act.

 

(a)           Borrower is not engaged and will not engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the FRB), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock.  No part of the proceeds of any Credit Extensions hereunder will be used for “purchasing” or “carrying” “margin stock” as so defined or for any purpose which violates, or which would be inconsistent with, the provisions of Regulations U or X of the FRB.

 

(b)           None of Borrower, any Person Controlling Borrower, or any Subsidiary (i) is a “holding company,” or a “subsidiary company” of a “holding company,” or an “affiliate” of a “holding company” or of a “subsidiary company” of a “holding company,” within the meaning of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, or (ii) is or is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

5.15        Disclosure.  Borrower has disclosed to Agent and Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which it or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, and all other matters known to it, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.  No report, financial statement, certificate or other information furnished (whether in writing or orally) by or on behalf of any Loan Party to Agent or any Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder or under any other Loan Document (in each case, as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time.

 

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

 

5.17        Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.

 

(a)           Borrower and its Subsidiaries own, or possess the right to use in all material respects, all of the trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, patents, patent rights, franchises, licenses and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “IP Rights”) that are reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses, without conflict with the rights of any other Person, and Schedule 5.17(a) sets forth a complete and accurate list of all such IP Rights owned or used by Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries (other than those held or used pursuant to a license and those not yet required to be set forth on an update to Schedule 5.17 pursuant to Section 6.2(g));

 

68



 

(b)           To the best knowledge of Borrower, no slogan or other advertising device, product, process, method, substance, part or other material now employed, or now contemplated to be employed, by Borrower or any Subsidiary infringes in any material respect upon any rights held by any other Person; and

 

(c)           Borrower has provided to Agent documentation evidencing all Material Intellectual Property Licenses (except those not yet required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.2(h)) and each such Material Intellectual Property License is in full force and effect in all material respects and no Loan Party is in breach of any such Material Intellectual Property License or any provision of such documentation in any material respect.  Schedule 5.17(b) sets forth a complete and accurate list of all Material Intellectual Property Licenses (other than those not yet required to be set forth on an update to Schedule 5.17 pursuant to Section 6.2(g) or (h)).

 

(d)           No claim or litigation regarding any of the foregoing is pending or, to the best knowledge of Borrower, threatened, which, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.18        Rights in Collateral; Priority of Liens.

 

(a)           Borrower and each other Loan Party own the property (or rights or interest therein) granted by it as Collateral under the Collateral Documents, free and clear of any and all Liens in favor of third parties, except for Liens permitted under Section 7.1.  The execution and delivery of the Collateral Documents by Loan Parties and the delivery to Agent of the Pledged Collateral (all of which Pledged Collateral has been so delivered) are effective to create in favor of Agent for the benefit of Lenders, as security for the respective Obligations (as defined in the applicable Collateral Document in respect of any Collateral), a valid and perfected First Priority Lien on all of the Collateral, subject to Liens permitted under clauses (b) through (i) of Section 7.1, and all filings and other actions necessary or desirable to perfect and maintain the perfection and first priority status of such Liens have been duly made or taken and remain in full force and effect, subject to Liens permitted under clauses (b) through (i) of Section 7.1, other than the filing of any UCC financing statements delivered to Agent for filing (but not yet filed), the periodic filing of UCC continuation statements in respect of UCC financing statements filed by or on behalf of Agent and other action described in Section 4(b) of the Security Agreement.  Upon the proper filing of UCC financing statements, and the taking of the other actions required by the Required Lenders as described in Section 4(b) of the Security Agreement, the Liens granted pursuant to the Collateral Documents will constitute, subject to Liens permitted under clauses (b) through (i) of Section 7.1, valid and enforceable first, prior and perfected Liens on the Collateral in favor of Agent, for the ratable benefit of Agent and Lenders.

 

(b)           No Governmental Authorization is required for either (i) the pledge or grant by any Loan Party of the Liens purported to be created in favor of Agent pursuant to any of the Collateral Documents, or (ii) the exercise by Agent of any rights or remedies in respect of any Collateral (whether specifically granted or created pursuant to any of the Collateral Documents or created or provided for by applicable law), except for filings or recordings contemplated by Section 5.18(a) and except as may be required, in connection with the

 

69



 

disposition of any Pledged Collateral, by laws generally affecting the offering and sale of securities and in connection with the disposition of any government receivables.  As of the Closing Date, Borrower and its Subsidiaries have received no written notice of any pending or threatened condemnation proceeding, exercise of the power of eminent domain by any Governmental Authority, or any similar proceeding affecting any Facility or any interest therein.  As of the Closing Date, to the best of Borrower’s knowledge, after due investigation and inquiry, no such proceeding is pending, contemplated or threatened.

 

(c)           Except such (i) as may have been filed in favor of Agent as contemplated by Section 5.18(a), (ii) as set forth on Schedule 5.18 annexed hereto or (iii) financing statements related to Liens permitted by Section 7.1(b), (h) or (i), (A) no effective UCC financing statement, fixture filing or other instrument similar in effect covering all or any part of the Collateral is on file in any filing or recording office, and (B) no effective filing granting Liens covering all or any part of the IP Collateral is on file in any IP Filing Office.

 

(d)           The pledge of the Pledged Collateral pursuant to the Collateral Documents does not violate Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; provided that the foregoing does not address Agent’s obtaining a Form U-1 from Borrower.

 

(e)           All information supplied to Agent by or on behalf of any Loan Party with respect to any of the Collateral (in each case taken as a whole with respect to any particular Collateral) is accurate and complete in all material respects.  All representations and warranties of the Loan Parties set forth in the Collateral Documents are true and correct.

 

5.19        Solvency.  As of the Closing Date, the Loan Parties, together with their Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, are Solvent.

 

5.20        Casualty, Etc.  Neither the businesses nor the properties of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries are affected by any fire, explosion, accident, strike, lockout or other labor dispute, drought, storm, hail, earthquake, embargo, act of God or of the public enemy or other casualty (whether or not covered by insurance) that, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.21        No Medicare/Medicaid Receivables.  As of the Closing Date, neither Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries has rights to any Medicare or Medicaid receivables.  After the Closing Date, neither Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries has rights to any Medicare or Medicaid receivables other than Medicare or Medicaid receivables not exceeding at any time $5,000,000 in the aggregate, provided that Loan Parties shall be in compliance with the requirements of Section 6.20 at any time that any Loan Party has any rights to any Medicare or Medicaid receivables.

 

ARTICLE VI  AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.

 

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, Borrower shall, and shall (except in the case of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.1, 6.2, 6.3 and 6.11) cause each Subsidiary to:

 

70



 

6.1          Financial Statements.  Deliver to Agent and each Lender, in form and detail satisfactory to Agent and the Required Lenders:

 

(a)           as soon as available, but in any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of Borrower, a consolidated balance sheet of Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of an independent certified public accountant of nationally recognized standing reasonably acceptable to the Required Lenders, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and shall not be subject to any “going concern” or like qualification or exception or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit;

 

(b)           as soon as available, but in any event within 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of Borrower, a consolidated balance sheet of Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations and cash flows for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of Borrower’s fiscal year then ended, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and certified by a Responsible Officer of Borrower as fairly presenting the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes; and

 

(c)           as soon as available, but in any event not more than 30 days after the end of each fiscal year of Borrower, forecasts prepared by management of Borrower, in substantially the form provided at closing, of consolidated balance sheets and statements of income or operations and cash flows of Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a quarterly basis for the immediately following fiscal year.

 

As to any information contained in materials furnished pursuant to Section 6.2(d), Borrower shall not be separately required to furnish such information under Section 6.1(a) or (b) above, but the foregoing shall not be in derogation of the obligation of Borrower to furnish the information and materials described in Sections 6.1(a) and (b) above at the times specified therein.

 

6.2          Certificates; Other Information.  Deliver to Agent and each Lender, in form and detail satisfactory to Agent and the Required Lenders:

 

(a)           concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Section 6.1(a), a certificate of its independent certified public accountants certifying such financial statements and stating that in making the examination necessary therefor no knowledge was obtained of any Default under the financial covenants set forth herein or, if any such Default shall exist, stating the nature and status of such event;

 

71



 

(b)           concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 6.1(a) and (b), a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of Borrower;

 

(c)           promptly after any request by Agent or any Lender, copies of any detailed audit reports, management letters or recommendations submitted to the board of directors (or the audit committee of the board of directors) of Borrower by independent accountants in connection with the accounts or books of Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any audit of any of them;

 

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

 

(e)           promptly upon request by Agent, but no more than once per fiscal year unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, a certificate from Borrower’s insurance broker(s) in form reasonably satisfactory to Agent outlining all material insurance coverage maintained as of the date of such certificate by Borrower and its Subsidiaries;

 

(f)            promptly, and in any event within five Business Days after receipt thereof by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof, copies of each notice or other correspondence received from the SEC (or comparable agency in any applicable non-U.S. jurisdiction) concerning any investigation or possible investigation or other inquiry by such agency regarding financial or other operational results of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof;

 

(g)           as soon as available after the end of each fiscal year, but in any event within 30 days after the end of each fiscal year of Borrower, (i) a report supplementing Schedule 5.17(a), setting forth (A) a list of registration numbers for all patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names and copyrights awarded to Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof during such fiscal year and (B) a list of all patent applications, trademark applications, service mark applications, trade name applications and copyright applications submitted by Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof during such fiscal year and the status of each such application; and (ii) a report supplementing Schedule 5.13 containing a description of all changes in the information included in such Schedules as may be necessary for such Schedules to be accurate and complete, each such report to be signed by a Responsible Officer of Borrower and to be in a form reasonably satisfactory to Agent;

 

(h)           concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Section 6.1(a) and (b), documentation evidencing any Material Intellectual Property License entered into during the period covered by such financial statements and a report supplementing Schedule 5.17(b) with respect to each such license; and

 

72



 

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

 

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.1(a) or (b) or Section 6.2(d) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 10.2; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on Borrower’s behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by Agent); provided that:  (i) Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to Agent or any Lender that requests Borrower to deliver such paper copies until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by Agent or such Lender and (ii) Borrower shall notify Agent and each Lender (by telecopier or electronic mail) of the posting of any such documents and provide to Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents.  Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in every instance Borrower shall be required to provide paper copies of the Compliance Certificates required by Section 6.2(b) to Agent.  Except for such Compliance Certificates, Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery or to maintain copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by Borrower with any such request for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such documents.

 

Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) Agent and/or the Arranger will make available to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of Borrower hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting 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 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.  Borrower hereby agrees that it will use commercially reasonable efforts to identify that portion of 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,” Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized Agent, the Arranger, the L/C Issuer 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 Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws (provided, however, that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 10.7); (y) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Side Information;” and (z) Agent and the Arranger shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Side Information.”

 

73



 

6.3          Notices.  Promptly after any Responsible Officer or any other officer (including without limitation any senior vice president, executive vice president or any other vice president) of any Loan Party obtains knowledge or receives notice thereof, notify Agent and each Lender:

 

(a)           of the occurrence of any Default;

 

(b)           of any matter that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, including (i) any breach or non-performance of, or any default under, a Contractual Obligation of Borrower or any Subsidiary; (ii) any dispute, litigation, investigation, proceeding or suspension between Borrower or any Subsidiary and any Governmental Authority; or (iii) the commencement of, or any development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting Borrower or any Subsidiary, including pursuant to any applicable Environmental Laws, that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(c)           of the occurrence of any ERISA Event;

 

(d)           of any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices by Borrower or any Subsidiary, including any determination by Borrower referred to in Section 2.10(b); and

 

(e)           of any loss or termination of any Material Intellectual Property License.

 

Each notice pursuant to this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of Borrower setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto.  Each notice pursuant to Section 6.3(a) shall describe with particularity any provisions of this Agreement and any other Loan Document that have been breached.

 

6.4          Payment of Obligations.  Pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable, all its obligations and liabilities, including (a) all Tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it or its properties or assets, unless the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by Borrower or such Subsidiary; (b) all lawful claims which, if unpaid, would by law become a Lien upon its property, except for Liens permitted under Section 7.1; and (c) all Indebtedness, as and when due and payable, but subject to any subordination provisions contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing such Indebtedness, except to the extent that (i) such unpaid claims, obligations and liabilities under clauses (a), (b) and (c) do not exceed $500,000 individually or in the aggregate and (ii) in the case of such claims under clause (b), such claims, if unpaid, would not become a Lien that is not permitted under Section 7.1.

 

6.5          Preservation of Existence, Etc.  (a) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence and good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section 7.4 or 7.5; (b) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges, permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) preserve or renew all of its registered

 

74



 

patents, trademarks, trade names and service marks, the non-preservation of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.6          Maintenance of Properties; Application of Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds.

 

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

 

(b)           Application of Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds.

 

(i)            Business Interruption Insurance.  Upon receipt by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of any business interruption insurance proceeds constituting Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds, (a) so long as no Event of Default or Default shall have occurred and be continuing,  Borrower or such Subsidiary may retain and apply such Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds for working capital purposes, and (b) if an Event of Default or Default shall have occurred and be continuing, Borrower shall apply an amount equal to such Net Insurance/ Condemnation Proceeds to prepay the Loans (and/or the Aggregate Commitments shall be reduced) as provided in Section 2.5(d)(ii); provided that if Borrower makes a written request to Lenders through Agent requesting that it not be required to apply such an amount to prepay the Loans (and/or to reduce the Aggregate Commitments), then Borrower shall not be required to apply such an amount to prepay the Loans (and/or to reduce the Aggregate Commitments) so long as Required Lenders in their sole discretion consent to such request in writing within 30 days of such request (and Lenders hereby agree to respond to such request in a timely fashion).

 

(ii)           Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds Received by Borrower.  Upon receipt by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of any Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds other than from business interruption insurance, (a) so long as no Event of Default or Default shall have occurred and be continuing, Borrower shall, or shall cause one or more of its Subsidiaries to, promptly and diligently apply such Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds to pay or reimburse the costs of repairing, restoring or replacing the assets in respect of which such Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds were received or, to the extent not so applied, to either (1) prepay the Loans (and/or the Aggregate Commitments shall be reduced) as provided in Section 2.5(d)(ii), or (2) so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and to the extent that aggregate Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds so reinvested or proposed to be reinvested under this Section 6.6(b)(ii) or Section 2.5(d)(ii) from the Closing Date through the date of determination do not exceed $10,000,000, deliver to Agent an officer’s certificate setting forth (x) that portion of such Net

 

75



 

Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds that Borrower or such Subsidiary intends to reinvest in equipment or other productive assets of the general type used in the business of Borrower and its Subsidiaries within 180 days of such date of receipt and (y) the proposed use of such portion of the Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds and such other information with respect to such reinvestment as Agent may reasonably request, and Borrower shall, or shall cause one or more of its Subsidiaries to, promptly and diligently apply such portion to such reinvestment purposes; provided, however, that, pending such reinvestment, such portion of the Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds shall be applied to prepay outstanding Loans (without a reduction in the Aggregate Commitments) to the full extent thereof, and (b) if an Event of Default or Default shall have occurred and be continuing, Borrower shall apply an amount equal to such Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds to prepay the Loans (and/or the Aggregate Commitments shall be reduced) as provided in Section 2.5(d)(ii); provided that if Borrower makes a written request to Lenders through Agent requesting that it not be required to apply such an amount to prepay the Loans (and/or to reduce the Aggregate Commitments), then Borrower shall not be required to apply such an amount to prepay the Loans (and/or to reduce the Aggregate Commitments) so long as Required Lenders in their sole discretion consent to such request in writing within 30 days of such request (and Lenders hereby agree to respond to such request in a timely fashion).

 

(iii)          Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds Received by Agent.  Upon receipt by Agent of any Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds as loss payee, (a) if and to the extent Borrower would have been required to apply such Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds (if it had received them directly) to prepay the Loans and/or reduce the Aggregate Commitments, Agent shall, and Borrower hereby authorizes Agent to, apply such Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds to prepay the Loans (and/or the Aggregate Commitments shall be reduced) as provided in Section 6.6(b)(ii); provided that if Borrower makes a written request to Lenders through Agent requesting that it not be required to apply such an amount to prepay the Loans (and/or to reduce the Aggregate Commitments), then Borrower shall not be required to, and Agent shall not, apply such an amount to prepay the Loans (and/or to reduce the Aggregate Commitments) so long as Required Lenders in their sole discretion consent to such request in writing within 30 days of such request (and Lenders hereby agree to respond to such request in a timely fashion) and (b) to the extent the foregoing clause (a) does not apply (or does not require prepayment of the Loans and/or reduction of the Aggregate Commitments) and (1) the aggregate amount of such Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds received (and reasonably expected to be received) by Agent in respect of any covered loss does not exceed $10,000,000, Agent shall deliver such Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds to Borrower, and Borrower shall, or shall cause one or more of its Subsidiaries to, promptly apply such Net Insurance/ Condemnation Proceeds to the costs of repairing, restoring, or replacing the assets in respect of which such Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds were received or to reinvest such proceeds in productive assets of the general type used in the business of Borrower and its Subsidiaries within 180 days

 

76



 

of such date of receipt in accordance with the requirements of clause (ii) above, and (2) if the aggregate amount of Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds received (and reasonably expected to be received) by Agent in respect of any covered loss exceeds $10,000,000, Agent shall hold such Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds as Collateral under the Security Agreement and, so long as Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries proceeds diligently to repair, restore or replace the assets of Borrower or such Subsidiary in respect of which such Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds were received or to reinvest such proceeds in productive assets, Agent shall from time to time disburse to Borrower or such Subsidiary from the Collateral Account, to the extent of any such Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds remaining therein in respect of the applicable covered loss, amounts necessary to pay the cost of such repair, restoration, replacement or reinvestment after, where applicable the receipt by Agent of invoices or other documentation reasonably satisfactory to Agent relating to the amount of costs so incurred and the work performed (including, if required by Agent, lien releases and architects’ certificates); provided, however that if at any time Agent reasonably determines (A) that Borrower or such Subsidiary is not proceeding diligently with such repair, restoration or replacement or (B) that such repair, restoration, replacement or reinvestment cannot be completed with the Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds then held by Agent for such purpose, together with funds otherwise available to Borrower for such purpose, or that such repair, restoration, replacement or reinvestment cannot be completed within 180 days after the receipt by Agent of such Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds, Agent shall, and Borrower hereby authorizes Agent to, apply such Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds to prepay the Loans (and/or the Aggregate Commitments shall be reduced) as provided in Section 2.5(d)(ii).

 

6.7          Maintenance of Insurance.  Maintain with reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of Borrower, insurance with respect to its properties and business against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by Persons engaged in the same or similar business, of such types and in such amounts (after giving effect to any self-insurance compatible with the following standards) as are customarily carried under similar circumstances by such other Persons and providing for not less than 30 days’ prior notice to Agent of termination, lapse or cancellation of such insurance.  Each such insurance policy shall (a) in the case of each such insurance policy other than each business interruption and casualty insurance policy, name Agent for the benefit of Lenders as an additional insured thereunder as its interests may appear and (b) in the case of each business interruption and casualty insurance policy, contain a loss payable clause or endorsement, satisfactory in form and substance to Agent, that names Agent for the benefit of Lenders as the loss payee thereunder for any covered loss and provides for at least 30 days prior written notice to Agent of any modification or cancellation of such policy.

 

6.8          Compliance with Laws and Contractual Obligations.

 

(a)           Comply in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except in such instances in which (i) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted; or (ii) the

 

77



 

failure to comply therewith could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b)           Comply in all material respects with all Contractual Obligations, except in such instances in which the failure to comply therewith could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.9          Books and Records.  (a)  Maintain proper books of record and account, in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with GAAP consistently applied shall be made of all financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be; and (b) maintain such books of record and account in material conformity with all applicable requirements of any Governmental Authority having regulatory jurisdiction over Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be.  Borrower shall maintain at all times books and records pertaining to the Collateral in such detail, form and scope as Agent or any Lender shall reasonably require.

 

6.10        Inspection Rights.  Permit representatives and independent contractors of Agent and each Lender to visit and inspect any of its properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, officers, and independent public accountants and to conduct up to two collateral audits during any twelve month period, all at the expense of Borrower and at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice to Borrower; provided, however, that when an Event of Default exists Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of Borrower at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice.

 

6.11        Use of Proceeds.  Use the proceeds of the Credit Extensions (i) on the Closing Date, to refinance certain existing Indebtedness, and (ii) for working capital and other general corporate purposes (including, without limitation, Capital Expenditures and Permitted Acquisitions) not in contravention of any Law or of any Loan Document.

 

6.12        Financial Covenants.

 

(a)           Funded Debt to EBITDA Ratio.  Maintain on a consolidated basis a Funded Debt to EBITDA Ratio not exceeding 3.00:1.00 as of the end of each fiscal quarter of Borrower.  This ratio will be calculated at the end of each reporting period for which this Agreement requires Borrower to deliver financial statements, using the results of the four-fiscal quarter period ending with that reporting period.

 

(b)           Interest Coverage Ratio.  Maintain on a consolidated basis an Interest Coverage Ratio not less than 3.50:1.00 as of the end of each fiscal quarter of Borrower.  This ratio will be calculated at the end of each reporting period for which this Agreement requires Borrower to deliver financial statements, using the results of the four-fiscal quarter period ending with that reporting period.

 

6.13        Additional Guarantors.  Notify Agent at the time that any Person becomes a Material Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary, and promptly thereafter (and in any event

 

78



 

within 30 days), cause such Person to (a) become a Guarantor by executing and delivering to Agent a counterpart of the Guaranty or such other document as Agent shall deem appropriate for such purpose, and (b) execute and deliver to Agent a counterpart of the Security Agreement and take such further actions and execute all such further documents and instruments as may be necessary or, in the opinion of the Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, except for Liens permitted under clause (b) through (i) of Section 7.1, a valid perfected First Priority Lien on all of the personal and mixed property assets of such Material Subsidiary described in the applicable forms of Collateral Documents.  In addition, Borrower shall, or shall cause the Subsidiary that owns the Equity Interests of such Person to, execute and deliver to Agent a supplement to the Security Agreement and to deliver to Agent all certificates representing such Equity Interests of such Person (accompanied by irrevocable undated stock powers, duly endorsed in blank) and deliver to Agent documents of the types referred to in clauses (iii) and (iv) of Section 4.1(a) and favorable opinions of counsel to the Loan Parties and such Person addressed to Agent and Lenders (which shall cover, among other things, the legality, validity, binding effect and enforceability of the documentation referred to in this Section 6.13), all in form, content and scope reasonably satisfactory to Agent.

 

6.14        Collateral Records.  To execute and deliver promptly, and to cause each other Loan Party to execute and deliver promptly, to Agent, from time to time, solely for Agent’s convenience in maintaining a record of the Collateral, such written statements and schedules as Agent may reasonably require designating, identifying or describing the Collateral.  The failure by Borrower or any other Loan Party, however, to promptly give Agent such statements or schedules shall not affect, diminish, modify or otherwise limit the Liens on the Collateral granted pursuant to the Collateral Documents.

 

6.15        Cash Management System.  Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its Domestic Subsidiaries to, at all times after the 180th day after the Closing Date use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain all of their respective Deposit Accounts, Securities Accounts and their respective treasury management arrangements, depository and other cash management arrangements with Bank of America, N.A. or other institutions providing a Control Agreement in form attached hereto or otherwise acceptable to Agent.  Borrower shall not establish or maintain, and shall not permit any of its Domestic Subsidiaries to establish or maintain, any Deposit Account or Securities Account (other than Deposit Accounts maintained at Bank of America, N.A. and other than Excluded Accounts) unless Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, has (i) executed and delivered to Agent a Control Agreement with respect to such Deposit Account or Securities Account and (ii) taken all other steps necessary or, in the opinion of Agent, desirable to ensure that Agent has a perfected security interest in such account.

 

6.16        Security Interests.

 

(a)           General Covenant.  To, and to cause each other Loan Party to, (i) in the exercise of Borrower’s commercial reasonable judgment, defend the Collateral against all claims and demands of all Persons at any time claiming the same or any interest therein, (ii) comply with the requirements of all state and federal laws in order to grant to Agent and Lenders valid and perfected first priority security interests in the Collateral (except for Liens permitted under clauses (b) through (i) of Section 7.1), with perfection, in the case of any investment property or deposit account (other than Excluded Accounts), being effected by

 

79



 

giving Agent control of such investment property or deposit account, rather than by the filing of a UCC financing statement with respect to such investment property, and (iii) do whatever Agent may reasonably request, from time to time, to effect the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including filing notices of liens, UCC financing statements, fixture filings and amendments, renewals and continuations thereof; cooperating with Agent’s representatives; keeping stock records; obtaining waivers from landlords and mortgagees and from warehousemen and their landlords and mortgages; and, paying claims which might, if unpaid, become a Lien on the Collateral.  Agent is hereby authorized by Borrower to file any UCC financing statements covering the Collateral whether or not Borrower’s signatures appear thereon.

 

(b)           Landlord Waivers.  (i) On or before January 6, 2009 or such later date as Agent may agree in its sole discretion, deliver to Agent a fully executed Landlord Waiver with respect to each Leasehold Property of any Loan Party and (ii) on or before the date that any Loan Party enters into any lease with respect to any Leasehold Property after the Closing Date, deliver to Agent a fully executed Landlord Waiver with respect to such Leasehold Property of such Loan Party.

 

(c)           Cash Management Documentation.  On or before the date that is 30 days after the Closing Date or such later date as Agent may agree in its sole discretion, deliver to Agent fully executed Control Agreements with respect to each Loan Party’s Deposit Accounts and Securities Accounts (other than such Deposit Accounts maintained with Bank of America, N.A. and other than Excluded Accounts), each of which Deposit Accounts and Securities Accounts as of the Closing Date are set forth on Schedule 4.1; provided that if the form of the Control Agreement materially differs from Exhibit H or I, as the case may be, then at the reasonable request of Agent, Borrower shall concurrently deliver with such Control Agreement an opinion of counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Agent.

 

6.17        Compliance with Environmental Laws.  Each Loan Party shall at all times use all commercially reasonable efforts to remain in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws.  Each Loan Party shall promptly take, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries promptly to take, any and all actions necessary to (i) cure any violation of applicable Environmental Laws by such Loan Party or its Subsidiaries that could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, and (ii) make an appropriate response to any Environmental Liability of such Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries and discharge any obligations it may have to any Person thereunder where failure to do so could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.18        Further Assurances.  At any time or from time to time upon the request of Agent, each Loan Party will, at its expense, promptly execute, acknowledge and deliver such further documents and do such other acts and things as Agent may reasonably request in order to effect fully the purposes of the Loan Documents.  In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, each Loan Party shall take such actions as Agent may reasonably request from time to time to ensure that the Obligations are guarantied by the Guarantors and are secured by a First Priority Lien (subject to the Liens permitted by Section 7.1) on substantially all of the assets of Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries and all of the outstanding Equity Interests of Borrower

 

80



 

and its Subsidiaries (subject to the express limitations contained in the Loan Documents, including with respect to foreign Subsidiaries).

 

6.19        Material Contracts.  Except as could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, perform and observe all the terms and provisions of each Material Contract to be performed or observed by it, maintain each such Material Contract in full force and effect, enforce each such Material Contract in accordance with its terms, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to do so.

 

6.20        Medicare/Medicaid Receivables.  Conduct its business so as not to obtain any rights to any Medicare or Medicaid receivables; provided that Loan Parties may obtain and hold rights to Medicare or Medicaid receivables not exceeding at any time $5,000,000 in the aggregate, so long as (i) at least 30 days prior to obtaining any rights to Medicare or Medicaid receivables, such Loan Party shall have given prior written notice to Agent and Lenders of the fact that it is planning to obtain such rights and in such notice describe the proposed transaction pursuant to which such Loan Party will receive rights to such receivables (whether pursuant to an Acquisition or otherwise) and (ii) prior to the earlier of such Loan Party obtaining any such rights to Medicare or Medicaid receivables or the consummation of such transaction, (A) Borrower shall have put into place collateral arrangements with respect to such receivables, including control agreements and segregation of proceeds, as may be required by Agent and, in each case, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent and (B) any representations, covenants, defaults and associated definitions related to such receivables and matters related thereto as may be required by Agent shall have been added to this Agreement pursuant to documentation in form and substance satisfactory to Agent (and Agent and the Lenders shall have received such certificates and opinions of counsel as may be required by Agent in connection therewith).  Each Lender, Agent and Borrower hereby agree that notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 10.1 or any other provision of the Loan Documents, any such additions to this Agreement may be added by Agent and Borrower pursuant to such documentation without obtaining the consent of Required Lenders or any other Lender so long as such additions do not reduce the obligations of Borrower under this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE VII  NEGATIVE COVENANTS.

 

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly:

 

7.1          Liens.  Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than the following:

 

(a)           Liens pursuant to any Loan Document;

 

(b)           Liens existing on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 7.1 and any renewals or extensions thereof, provided that the property covered thereby is not increased and any renewal or extension of the obligations secured or benefited thereby is permitted by Section 7.3(b);

 

81



 

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

 

(d)           carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business which are not overdue for a period of more than 30 days or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person in accordance with GAAP;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(h)           Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 8.1(h) or securing appeal or other surety bonds related to such judgments; and

 

(i)            Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.3(e); provided that (i) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed by such Indebtedness and (ii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the cost or fair market value, whichever is lower, of the property being acquired, constructed or improved on the date of acquisition.

 

7.2          Investments.  Make or own any Investments, except:

 

(a)           Investments held by Borrower or such Subsidiary in the form of Cash Equivalents or short-term marketable debt securities;

 

(b)           advances to officers, directors and employees of Borrower and Subsidiary Guarantors in an aggregate amount not to exceed $250,000 at any time outstanding, for travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary business purposes;

 

(c)           Investments owned by Borrower as of the Closing Date in the Equity Interests of any wholly-owned Subsidiary as described on Schedule 5.13;

 

(d)           Investments consisting of extensions of credit in the nature of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising from the grant of trade credit in the ordinary course of

 

82



 

business, and Investments received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from financially troubled account debtors to the extent reasonably necessary in order to prevent or limit loss; and

 

(e)           Guarantees permitted by Section 7.3;

 

(f)            Permitted Acquisitions by Borrower or any wholly-owned Subsidiary Guarantor;

 

(g)           Investments consisting of extensions of credit or capital contributions by Borrower to wholly-owned Subsidiary Guarantors so long as such Investments consisting of extensions of credit are evidenced by promissory notes pledged to Agent under the Collateral Documents;

 

(h)           Investments in Persons other than Subsidiaries not exceeding at any time an aggregate outstanding amount of $5,000,000; and

 

(i)            additional Investments not exceeding at any time an aggregate outstanding amount of $10,000,000.

 

7.3          Indebtedness.  Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:

 

(a)           Indebtedness under the Loan Documents;

 

(b)           Indebtedness outstanding on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 7.3 and any refinancings, refundings, renewals or extensions thereof; provided that the amount of such Indebtedness is not increased at the time of such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension except by an amount equal to a reasonable premium or other reasonable amount paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such refinancing and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder;

 

(c)           Guarantees of Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder of Borrower or any wholly-owned Subsidiary Guarantor;

 

(d)           obligations (contingent or otherwise) of Borrower or any Subsidiary existing or arising under any Swap Contract, provided that (i) such obligations are (or were) entered into by such Person in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of directly mitigating risks associated with liabilities, commitments, investments, assets, or property held or reasonably anticipated by such Person, or changes in the value of securities issued by such Person, and not for purposes of speculation or taking a “market view;” and (ii) such Swap Contract does not contain any provision exonerating the non-defaulting party from its obligation to make payments on outstanding transactions to the defaulting party;

 

(e)           Indebtedness in respect of capital leases, Synthetic Lease Obligations and purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets (including equipment) within the limitations set forth in Section 7.1(i); provided, however, that the aggregate amount of all such Indebtedness at any one time outstanding shall not exceed $5,000,000;

 

83



 

(f)            Indebtedness incurred by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries arising from agreements providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations in connection with Permitted Acquisitions or permitted Dispositions of any business, assets or Subsidiary of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;

 

(g)           Indebtedness of any wholly-owned Subsidiary Guarantor to Borrower or to any other wholly-owned Subsidiary Guarantor so long as such Indebtedness is evidenced by promissory notes pledged to Agent under the Collateral Documents; and

 

(h)           other unsecured Indebtedness not exceeding $10,000,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding.

 

7.4          Fundamental Changes.  Merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person, or Dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person, except that, so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom:

 

(a)           any Subsidiary may merge with (i) Borrower, provided that Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving Person, or (ii) any one or more other Subsidiaries, provided that when any wholly-owned Subsidiary is merging with another Subsidiary, the wholly-owned Subsidiary shall be the continuing or surviving Person, and, provided further that if a Guarantor is merging with another Subsidiary, the Guarantor shall be the surviving Person; and

 

(b)           any Subsidiary may Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to Borrower or to another Subsidiary; provided that if the transferor in such a transaction is a wholly-owned Subsidiary, then the transferee must either be Borrower or a wholly-owned Subsidiary and, provided further that if the transferor of such assets is a Guarantor, the transferee thereof must either be Borrower or a Guarantor.

 

7.5          Dispositions.  Make any Disposition or enter into any agreement to make any Disposition, except:

 

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

 

(b)           Dispositions of inventory and Cash Equivalents in the ordinary course of business and sales, assignments, transfers or dispositions of accounts in the ordinary course of business for purposes of collection;

 

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

 

(d)           Dispositions of property by Borrower to any of its wholly-owned Subsidiary Guarantors or by any Subsidiary to Borrower or to a wholly-owned Subsidiary

 

84



 

Guarantor; provided that if the transferor of such property is Borrower or a Guarantor, the transferee thereof must either be Borrower or a wholly-owned Guarantor;

 

(e)           Dispositions permitted by Section 7.4 and Dispositions of Cash Equivalents permitted by Section 7.2;

 

(f)            licenses of IP Rights in the ordinary course of business;

 

(g)           subleases of leased properties no longer needed by Borrower and its Subsidiaries and not material to the operation of Borrower and its Subsidiaries; and

 

(h)           Dispositions not otherwise permitted hereunder if (i) at the time of any Disposition, no Event of Default or Default shall exist or shall result from such Disposition, (ii) the aggregate sales price of such Disposition shall be paid in cash, and (iii) the proceeds from Dispositions under this clause (h) since the Closing Date shall not exceed $500,000 in the aggregate.

 

provided, however, that any Disposition pursuant to clauses (a) through (h) (other than clause (d)) shall be for fair market value.

 

7.6          Restricted Payments.  Declare or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, or incur any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to do so, except that:

 

(a)           each Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments to Borrower and to wholly-owned Subsidiary Guarantors (and, in the case of a Restricted Payment by a non-wholly-owned Subsidiary, to Borrower and any Subsidiary and to each other owner of capital stock or other Equity Interests of such Subsidiary on a pro rata basis based on their relative ownership interests) and any Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor may make Restricted Payments to any other Subsidiary and to each other owner of capital stock or other Equity Interests of such Subsidiary on a pro rata basis based on their relative ownership interests;

 

(b)           Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor may declare and make dividend payments or other distributions payable solely in the common stock or other common equity interests of such Person;

 

(c)           Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor may purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire shares of its common stock or other common equity interests or warrants or options to acquire any such shares with the proceeds received from the substantially concurrent issue of new shares of its common stock or other common equity interests;

 

(d)           Borrower may (i) repurchase or redeem for value Equity Interests of Borrower held by present or former officers, directors or employees (or their transferees, estates or beneficiaries under their estates) upon their death, disability, retirement, severance or termination of employment or service or pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan, agreement or arrangement, provided that the aggregate amount of all such repurchases or redemptions for value under this clause (i) shall not exceed $2,000,000 in any one fiscal year, and (ii) make repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon the exercise of stock options if the Equity Interests

 

85



 

represent a portion of the exercise price thereof or upon the vesting of restricted stock, restricted stock units or performance share units to the extent necessary to satisfy tax withholding obligations attributable to such vesting; and

 

(e)           Borrower may make any Permitted Stock Repurchase; provided that, after giving effect to such Permitted Stock Repurchase, the aggregate amount of cash paid or payable for all Permitted Stock Repurchases consummated during the term of this Agreement commencing on the Closing Date shall not exceed $50,000,000.

 

7.7          Change in Nature of Business.  Engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by Borrower and its Subsidiaries on the date hereof or any business substantially related or incidental thereto.  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, OSC shall not at any time engage in any business other than owning its IP Rights and none of the Dormant Foreign Subsidiaries shall engage in any business.

 

7.8          Transactions with Affiliates.  Enter into any transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of Borrower, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, other than on fair and reasonable terms substantially as favorable to Borrower or such Subsidiary as would be obtainable by Borrower or such Subsidiary at the time in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate, provided that the foregoing restriction shall not apply to (i) transactions between or among Borrower and any of its wholly-owned Subsidiary Guarantors or between and among any wholly-owned Subsidiary Guarantors or between and among Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors, (ii) customary fees, indemnification and reimbursement of directors, officers and employees of Borrower and its Subsidiaries, (iii) any Investment permitted by Section 7.2(b), (c), (e) or (g), (iv) Restricted Payments permitted by Section 7.6, (v) officer and employee compensation (including bonuses) and other benefits (including retirement, health, stock option and other benefit plans) and indemnification and reimbursement arrangements with respect to such Persons, in each case, in the ordinary course of business or (vi) ordinary course expenses not exceeding $250,000 in any fiscal year in connection with continuing the non-operational status of and/or dissolution of the Dormant Foreign Subsidiaries.

 

7.9          Burdensome Agreements.  Enter into any Contractual Obligation (other than this Agreement or any other Loan Document) that (a) limits the ability (i) of any Subsidiary to make Restricted Payments to Borrower or any Guarantor or to otherwise transfer property to Borrower or any Guarantor, (ii) of any Subsidiary to Guarantee the Indebtedness of Borrower or (iii) of Borrower or any Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on property of such Person; provided, however, that clause (i) and clause (iii) shall not prohibit any restriction on transfer or negative pledge incurred or provided in favor of any holder of Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.3(e) solely to the extent any such restriction on transfer or negative pledge relates to the property financed by or the subject of such Indebtedness; or (b) requires the grant of a Lien to secure an obligation of such Person if a Lien is granted to secure another obligation of such Person.  Notwithstanding the forgoing, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may enter into a Contractual Obligation (a) that has restrictions described in clause (a) above by reason of customary provisions restricting assignments, subletting or other transfers contained in leases, licenses, joint venture agreements and similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business, in each case, relating solely to the assets subject to such lease or license or assets

 

86



 

relating solely to the assets of such joint venture, (b) that has restrictions described in clause (a)(i) above to the extent such restriction only restricts assignments of such contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business, (c) that has restrictions described in clause (a) above by virtue of customary provisions in asset sale and stock sale agreements and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business permitted under the terms of this Agreement to the extent such restriction only restricts the transfer of ownership interests in the assets or stock that is to be sold pursuant thereto, pending the sale of such assets and (d) that has restrictions described in clause (a) above by virtue of restrictions on cash or deposits or net worth imposed by suppliers or landlords under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business.

 

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

 

7.11        Foreign Subsidiaries; OSC.  Make any Investments in OSC, any Dormant Foreign Subsidiary or any other foreign Subsidiary after the Closing Date, Guarantee any obligations of OSC, any Dormant Foreign Subsidiary or any other foreign Subsidiary after the Closing Date, or otherwise transfer any assets (including the repayment of any intercompany payables) to OSC, any Dormant Foreign Subsidiary or any other foreign Subsidiary after the Closing Date.

 

7.12        Capital Expenditures.  Make or become legally obligated to make any Capital Expenditure, except for Capital Expenditures not exceeding, in the aggregate for Borrower and it Subsidiaries during each fiscal year set forth below, the amount (the “Base Amount”) set forth opposite such fiscal year:

 

Fiscal Year

 

Amount

 

2008

 

$

6,000,000

 

2009

 

$

7,000,000

 

2010

 

$

7,500,000

 

2011

 

$

8,500,000

 

2012

 

$

9,000,000

 

2013

 

$

9,500,000

 

 

provided that the Base Amount for any fiscal year shall be increased by an amount equal to the excess, if any, (but in no event more than 50%) of the Base Amount for the immediately preceding fiscal year (prior to any adjustments in accordance with this proviso) over the actual amount of Capital Expenditures for such previous fiscal year.

 

7.13        Amendments of Organization Documents.  No Loan Party shall nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, agree to any amendment, restatement, supplement or other modification to, or waiver of, any of its Organization Documents after the Closing Date without in each case obtaining the prior written consent of Requisite Lenders to such amendment, restatement, supplement or other modification or waiver, other than an amendment, restatement,

 

87



 

supplement or other modification or waiver that is not adverse in any material respect to the interests of the Lenders.

 

7.14        Accounting Changes.  Make (a) any material change in accounting policies or reporting practices, except as permitted by GAAP, or (b) any change in fiscal year.

 

7.15        Excluded Accounts.  Maintain a collective balance of more than $275,000 in the aggregate in the Excluded Accounts at any time.

 

ARTICLE VIII  EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES.

 

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

 

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

 

(b)           Specific Covenants.  Borrower fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.5 (as to existence), 6.10, 6.11, 6.12, 6.13, 6.15 or 6.16 or Article VII; or

 

(c)           Other Defaults.  Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in any other subsection of this Section 8) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for 30 days after the earlier of (i) any Responsible Officer or any other officer (including without limitation any senior vice president, executive vice president or any other vice president) of any Loan Party becoming aware of such failure or (ii) receipt by Borrower or any other Loan Party of notice from Agent or any Lender of such failure; or

 

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

 

(e)           Cross-Default.  (i) Borrower or any Subsidiary (A) fails to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise) in respect of any Indebtedness or Guarantee (other than Indebtedness hereunder and Indebtedness under Swap Contracts) having an aggregate principal amount (including undrawn committed or available amounts and including amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit arrangement) of more than $10,000,000, or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or Guarantee or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event occurs, the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness or the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Guarantee (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness to be demanded

 

88



 

or to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity, or such Guarantee to become payable or cash collateral in respect thereof to be demanded (except for due on sale clauses in Indebtedness relating to capital leases permitted under Section 7.3(b) or 7.3(e)); or (ii) there occurs under any Swap Contract an Early Termination Date (as defined in such Swap Contract) resulting from (A) any event of default under such Swap Contract as to which Borrower or any Subsidiary is the Defaulting Party (as defined in such Swap Contract) or (B) any Termination Event (as so defined) under such Swap Contract as to which Borrower or any Subsidiary is an Affected Party (as so defined) and, in either event, the Swap Termination Value owed by Borrower or such Subsidiary as a result thereof is greater than $10,000,000 and, in the case of clause (B) above, such amount is not paid within 10 days; or

 

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

 

(g)           Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment.  (i) Borrower or any Subsidiary becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of any such Person and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within 30 days after its issue or levy; or

 

(h)           Judgments.  There is entered against Borrower or any Subsidiary (i) a judgment or order for the payment of money in an aggregate amount exceeding $1,000,000 (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer does not dispute coverage), or (ii) any one or more non-monetary judgments that have, or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and, in either case, (A) enforcement proceedings are commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order, or (B) there is a period of 30 days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect; or

 

(i)            ERISA.  (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in liability of Borrower under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of $2,500,000, or (ii) Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount in excess of $2,500,000; or

 

89



 

(j)            Invalidity of Loan Documents; Failure of Security.  (i) Any Loan Document, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect; or any Loan Party or any other Person contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any Loan Document; or any Loan Party denies that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Loan Document, or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any Loan Document or (ii) the Agent shall not have or shall cease to have a valid and perfected First Priority Lien in any Collateral (other than Liens permitted under clauses (b) through (i) of Section 7.1 and items of Collateral deemed immaterial by Agent in its sole discretion) purported to be covered by the Collateral Documents, in each case for any reason other than failure of Agent or any Lender to take any action within its control; or

 

(k)           Change of Control.  There occurs any Change of Control with respect to Borrower; or

 

(l)            Material Adverse Effect.  There occurs any event or circumstance that has a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

(m)          Loss of ISO 9001 Certifications.  Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall have ceased to have maintained in full force and effect each of their respective International Organization for Standardization (“ISO”) 9001 and ISO 13485:2003 certifications (other than due to the sale of any such ISO 9001 or ISO 13485:2003 certification pursuant to a Disposition permitted under this Agreement and other than due to any voluntary shutdown of plants by any Loan Party for reasons other than the loss of the applicable ISO 9001 or ISO 13485:2003 certification).

 

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

 

(a)           declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;

 

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

 

(c)           require that Borrower Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to the then Outstanding Amount thereof); and

 

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

 

provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions shall

 

90



 

automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, and the obligation of Borrower to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations as aforesaid shall automatically become effective, in each case without further act of Agent or any Lender.

 

8.3          Application of Funds.  After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.2 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable and the L/C Obligations have automatically been required to be Cash Collateralized as set forth in the proviso to Section 8.2), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall be applied by Agent in the following order:

 

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

 

Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest) payable to the Lenders and their Affiliates (including Attorney Costs and amounts payable under Article III), ratably among them in proportion to the amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;

 

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

 

Fourth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans and L/C Borrowings and the Swap Termination Value and other amounts owing to Lenders and their Affiliates under Secured Hedge Agreements and Secured Cash Management Agreements, ratably among the Lenders and their Affiliates in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them;

 

Fifth, to Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer, to Cash Collateralize that portion of L/C Obligations comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit; and

 

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

 

Subject to Section 2.3(c), amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to clause Fifth above shall be applied to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they occur.  If any amount remains on deposit as Cash Collateral after all Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount shall be applied to the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Obligations arising under Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements shall be excluded from the application described above if Agent has not received written notice thereof, together with such supporting documentation as Agent may request, from the applicable Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank, as the case may be.  Each Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank not a party to the Credit Agreement that has given the notice contemplated by the preceding sentence shall, by such

 

91



 

notice, be deemed to have acknowledged and accepted the appointment of Agent pursuant to the terms of Article IX hereof for itself and its Affiliates as if a “Lender” party hereto.

 

ARTICLE IX  AGENT.

 

9.1          Appointment and Authority.

 

(a)           Each of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer hereby irrevocably appoints Bank of America to act on its behalf as Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.  The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, and Borrower shall not have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.

 

(b)           Agent shall also act as the “collateral agent” under the Loan Documents, and each of the Lenders (including in its capacities as a potential Hedge Bank and a potential Cash Management Bank) and the L/C Issuer hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes Agent to act as the agent of such Lender and the L/C Issuer for purposes of acquiring, holding and enforcing any and all Liens on Collateral granted by any of the Loan Parties to secure any of the Obligations, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto.  In this connection, Agent, as “collateral agent” and any co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact appointed by Agent pursuant to Section 9.5 for purposes of holding or enforcing any Lien on the Collateral (or any portion thereof) granted under the Collateral Documents, or for exercising any rights and remedies thereunder at the direction of Agent), shall be entitled to the benefits of all provisions of this Article IX and Article X (including Section 10.4(c), as though such co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact were the “collateral agent” under the Loan Documents) as if set forth in full herein with respect thereto.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(b)           shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the

 

92



 

Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents), provided that Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law; and

 

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

 

(d)           Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 10.1 and 8.2) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct.  Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given to Agent by Borrower, a Lender or the L/C Issuer.

 

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

 

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

 

9.5          Delegation of Duties.  Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or

 

93



 

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

 

9.6          Resignation of Agent.  Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and Borrower.  Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, with, at all times other than during the existence of an Event of Default, the consent of Borrower (which consent of Borrower shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States.  If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Agent may on behalf of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, appoint a successor Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above; provided that if Agent shall notify Borrower and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (a) the retiring Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any collateral security held by Agent on behalf of the Lenders or the L/C Issuer under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Agent is appointed) and (b) all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender and the L/C Issuer directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Agent as provided for above in this Section.  Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Agent, and the retiring Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section).  The fees payable by Borrower to a successor Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between Borrower and such successor.  After the retiring Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 10.4 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Agent was acting as Agent.

 

Any resignation by Bank of America as Agent pursuant to this Section shall also constitute its resignation as L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender.  Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Agent hereunder, (i) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender, (ii) the retiring L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender shall be discharged from all of their respective duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, and (iii) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to the retiring L/C Issuer to effectively assume the obligations of the retiring L/C Issuer with respect to such Letters of Credit.

 

94



 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(a)           to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, L/C Obligations and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and Agent under Sections 2.3(i) and (j), 2.9 and 10.4) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

 

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

 

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and the L/C Issuer to make such payments to Agent and, if Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, to pay to Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due Agent under Sections 2.9 and 10.4.

 

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

 

95



 

9.10        Collateral and Guaranty Matters.  Each of the Lenders (including in its capacities as a potential Cash Management Bank and a potential Hedge Bank) and the L/C Issuer irrevocably authorize Agent, at its option and in its discretion,

 

(a)           to release any Lien on any property granted to or held by Agent under any Loan Document (i) upon termination of the Aggregate Commitments and payment in full of all Obligations (other than (A) contingent indemnification obligations and (B) obligations and liabilities under Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements as to which arrangements satisfactory to the applicable Cash Management Bank of Hedge Bank shall have been made) and the expiration or termination of all Letters of Credit (other than Letters of Credit as to which other arrangements satisfactory to Agent and the L/C Issuer shall have been made), (ii) that is sold or to be sold as part of or in connection with any sale permitted hereunder or under any other Loan Document, or (iii)  if approved, authorized or ratified in writing in accordance with Section 10.1;

 

(b)           to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty if such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary as a result of a transaction permitted hereunder; and

 

(c)           to subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted by Section 7.1(i).

 

Upon request by Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing Agent’s authority to release or subordinate its interest in particular types or items of property, or to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty pursuant to this Section 9.10.  In each case as specified in this Section 9.10, Agent will, at Borrower’s expense, execute and deliver to the applicable Loan Party such documents as such Loan Party may reasonably request to evidence the release of such item of Collateral from the assignment and security interest granted under the Collateral Documents or to subordinate its interest in such item, or to release such Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents and this Section 9.10.

 

9.11        Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements.  No Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank that obtains the benefits of Section 8.3, any Guaranty or any Collateral by virtue of the provisions hereof or of any Guaranty or any Collateral Document shall have any right to notice of any action or to consent to, direct or object to any action hereunder or under any other Loan Document or otherwise in respect of the Collateral (including the release or impairment of any Collateral) other than in its capacity as a Lender and, in such case, only to the extent expressly provided in the Loan Documents.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article IX to the contrary, Agent shall not be required to verify the payment of, or that other satisfactory arrangements have been made with respect to, Obligations arising under Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements unless Agent has received written notice of such Obligations, together with such supporting documentation as Agent may request, from the applicable Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank, as the case may be.

 

96



 

ARTICLE X  MISCELLANEOUS.

 

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

 

(a)           waive any condition set forth in Section 4.1(a) without the written consent of each Lender;

 

(b)           extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 8.2) without the written consent of such Lender;

 

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

 

(d)           reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or L/C Borrowing, or (subject to clause (iv) of the second proviso to this Section 10.1) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document, or change the manner of computation of any financial ratio (including any change in any applicable defined term) used in determining the Applicable Rate that would result in a reduction of any interest rate on any Loan or any fee payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; provided, however, that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary (i) to amend the definition of “Default Rate” or to waive any obligation of Borrower to pay interest or L/C Fees at the Default Rate or (ii) to amend any financial covenant hereunder (or any defined term used therein) even if the effect of such amendment would be to reduce the rate of interest on any Loan or L/C Borrowing or to reduce any fee payable hereunder;

 

(e)           change Section 2.13 or Section 8.3 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender;

 

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

 

(g)           release any Guarantor from the Guaranty or release the Liens on all or substantially all of the Collateral except in accordance with the terms of any Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender; and,

 

provided further, that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the L/C Issuer in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the L/C Issuer under this Agreement or any Issuer Document relating to any Letter of Credit issued or to

 

97



 

be issued by it; (ii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Swing Line Lender in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Swing Line Lender under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; (iii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; and (iv) the Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder, except that the Commitment of such Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender.

 

If any Lender does not consent to a proposed amendment, waiver, consent or release with respect to any Loan Document that requires the consent of each Lender and that has been approved by the Required Lenders, Borrower may replace such non-consenting Lender in accordance with Section 10.13; provided that such amendment, waiver, consent or release can be effected as a result of the assignment contemplated by such Section (together with all other such assignments required by Borrower to be made pursuant to this paragraph).

 

10.2        Notices and Other Communications; Facsimile Copies.

 

(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 Borrower, Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.2; and

 

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

 

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

 

(b)           Electronic Communications.  Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or the

 

98



 

L/C Issuer pursuant to Article II if such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as applicable, has notified Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication.  Agent or 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 Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.

 

(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 BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM BORROWER MATERIALS.  NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM.  In no event shall Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent Parties”) have any liability to Borrower, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of Borrower’s or Agent’s transmission of Borrower Materials through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided, however, that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to Borrower, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages).

 

(d)           Change of Address, Etc.  Each of Borrower, Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.  Each other Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to Borrower, Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender.  In addition, each Lender agrees to notify Agent from time to time to ensure that 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

 

99



 

“Private Side Information” or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public Lender’s compliance procedures and applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws, to make reference to Borrower Materials that are not made available through the “Public Side Information” portion of the Platform and that may contain material non-public information with respect to Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal or state securities laws.

 

(e)           Reliance by Agent, L/C Issuer and Lenders.  Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Committed Loan Notices and Swing Line Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of 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.  Borrower shall indemnify Agent, the L/C Issuer, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of Borrower.  All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with Agent may be recorded by Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

 

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

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against the Loan Parties or any of them shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, Agent in accordance with Section 8.2 for the benefit of all the Lenders and the L/C Issuer; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (b) the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender from exercising the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (c) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 10.8 (subject to the terms of Section 2.13), or (d) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to any Loan Party under any Debtor Relief Law; and provided, further, that if at any time there is no Person acting as Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to Agent pursuant to Section 8.2 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b), (c) and (d) of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 2.13,

 

100



 

any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders.

 

10.4        Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

 

(a)           Costs and Expenses.  Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Agent and its Affiliates (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for Agent), in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the L/C Issuer in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer), and shall pay all fees and time charges for attorneys who may be employees of Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer, in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or (B) in connection with Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit.

 

(b)           Indemnification by Borrower.  Borrower shall indemnify Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), the Arranger, each Lender and the L/C Issuer, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), and shall indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee from all fees and time charges and disbursements for attorneys who may be employees of any Indemnitee, incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by Borrower or any other Loan Party arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or, in the case of Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by the L/C Issuer to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by Borrower or any other Loan Party or any of Borrower’s or such Loan Party’s directors, shareholders or creditors, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or

 

101



 

related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or (y) result from a claim brought by Borrower or any other Loan Party against an Indemnitee for material breach of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if Borrower or such Loan Party has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

(c)           Reimbursement by Lenders.  To the extent that Borrower for any reason fails to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section to be paid by it to Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), the L/C Issuer or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to Agent (or any such sub-agent), the L/C Issuer or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s Pro Rata Share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount, provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against Agent (or any such sub-agent) or the L/C Issuer in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for Agent (or any such sub-agent) or L/C Issuer in connection with such capacity.  The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 2.12(d).

 

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

 

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

 

(f)            Survival.  The agreements in this Section shall survive the resignation of Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.

 

10.5        Payments Set Aside.  To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of Borrower is made to Agent, the L/C Issuer or any Lender, or Agent, the L/C Issuer or any Lender exercises its right of set-off, and such payment or the proceeds of such set-off or any part thereof

 

102



 

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

 

10.6        Successors and Assigns.  (a) Generally.  The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an Eligible Assignee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this Section, or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (f)  of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void).  Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in subsection (d) of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

(b)           Assignments by Lenders.  Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans (including for purposes of this subsection (b), participations in L/C Obligations and in Swing Line Loans) at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

 

(i)            Minimum Amounts.

 

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

 

(B)           in any case not described in subsection (b)(i)(A) of this Section, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered

 

103



 

to Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $5,000,000 unless each of Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided, however, that concurrent assignments to members of an Assignee Group and concurrent assignments from members of an Assignee Group to a single Eligible Assignee (or to an Eligible Assignee and members of its Assignee Group) will be treated as a single assignment for purposes of determining whether such minimum amount has been met.

 

(ii)           Proportionate Amounts.  Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans or the Commitment assigned, except that this clause (ii) shall not apply to the Swing Line Lender’s rights and obligations in respect of Swing Line Loans;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(C)           the consent of the L/C Issuer (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment that increases the obligation of the assignee to participate in exposure under one or more Letters of Credit (whether or not then outstanding); and

 

(D)          the consent of the Swing Line Lender (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment.

 

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

 

104



 

(v)           No Assignment to Borrower.  No such assignment shall be made to Borrower or any of Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries.

 

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

 

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by Agent pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.1, 3.4, 3.5, and 10.4 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment.  Upon request, Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender.  Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with subsection (d) of this Section.

 

(c)           Register.  Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of Borrower, shall maintain at Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts of the Loans and L/C Obligations owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”).  The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and Borrower, Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary.  The Register shall be available for inspection by Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

(d)           Participations.  Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, Borrower or Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person or Borrower or any of Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans (including such Lender’s participations in L/C Obligations and/or Swing Line Loans) owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) Borrower, Agent,  the Lenders and the L/C Issuer shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.  Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to Section 10.1

 

105



 

that affects such Participant.  Subject to subsection (e) of this Section, Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.1, 3.4 and 3.5 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section.  To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.8 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender.

 

(e)           Limitations upon Participant Rights.  A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 3.1 or 3.4 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 Borrower’s prior written consent.  A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 3.1 unless Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of Borrower, to comply with Section 3.1(e) as though it were a Lender.

 

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

 

(g)           Resignation as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender after Assignment.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if at any time Bank of America assigns all of its Commitment and Loans pursuant to subsection (b) above, Bank of America may, (i) upon 30 days’ notice to Borrower and the Lenders, resign as L/C Issuer and/or (ii) upon 30 days’ notice to Borrower, resign as Swing Line Lender.  In the event of any such resignation as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, Borrower shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a successor L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender hereunder; provided, however, that no failure by Borrower to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of Bank of America as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be.  If Bank of America resigns as L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Committed Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.3(c)).  If Bank of America resigns as Swing Line Lender, it shall retain all the rights of the Swing Line Lender provided for hereunder with respect to Swing Line Loans made by it and outstanding as of the effective date of such resignation, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Committed Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.4(c).  Upon the appointment of a successor L/C Issuer and/or Swing Line Lender, (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, and (b) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to Bank of America to effectively assume the obligations of Bank of America with respect to such Letters of Credit.

 

106



 

10.7        Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality.  Each of Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates’ respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, advisors and representatives (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or any Eligible Assignee invited to be a Lender pursuant to Section 2.15(c) or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to Borrower and its obligations, (g) with the consent of Borrower or (h) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (y) becomes available to Agent, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than Borrower.

 

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

 

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

 

10.8        Right of Set-off.  If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, the L/C Issuer and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender, the L/C Issuer or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of Borrower against any and all of the obligations of Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, irrespective of

 

107



 

whether or not such Lender or the L/C Issuer shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of Borrower may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Lender or the L/C Issuer different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness.  The rights of each Lender, the L/C Issuer and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, the L/C Issuer or their respective Affiliates may have.  Each Lender and the L/C Issuer agrees to notify Borrower and Agent promptly after any such setoff and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 10.8, if at any time any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any of their respective Affiliates maintains one or more deposit accounts for Borrower into which Medicare and/or Medicaid receivables are deposited, such Person shall waive the right of setoff set forth herein.

 

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

 

10.10      Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract.  This Agreement and the other Loan Documents constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof.  Except as provided in Section 4.1, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by Agent and when Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy or other electronic imaging means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

10.11      Survival of Representations and Warranties.  All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof.  Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding.

 

108



 

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

 

10.13      Replacement of Lenders.  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.4, or if Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.1, if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or if any other circumstance exists hereunder that gives Borrower the right to replace a Lender as a party hereto, then Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 10.6), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:

 

(a)           Borrower shall have paid to Agent the assignment fee specified in Section 10.6(b);

 

(b)           such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and L/C Advances, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 3.5) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);

 

(c)           in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.4 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.1, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter; and

 

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

 

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

 

10.14      Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

 

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

 

(b)           SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION.  BORROWER IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

 

109



 

AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE CENTRAL DISTRICT OF SUCH STATE, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH CALIFORNIA STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW.  NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT AGENT, ANY LENDER OR THE L/C ISSUER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST BORROWER OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

 

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

 

(d)           SERVICE OF PROCESS.  EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 10.2.  NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

 

10.15      Waiver of Right to Trial by Jury.  EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).  EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN

 

110



 

DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

 

10.16      California Judicial Reference.  If any action or proceeding is filed in a court of the State of California by or against any party hereto in connection with any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (a) the court shall, and is hereby directed to, make a general reference pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure Section 638 to a referee (who shall be a single active or retired judge) to hear and determine all of the issues in such action or proceeding (whether of fact or of law) and to report a statement of decision, provided that at the option of any party to such proceeding, any such issues pertaining to a “provisional remedy” as defined in California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1281.8 shall be heard and determined by the court, and (b) notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, the non-prevailing party shall be solely responsible to pay all fees and expenses of any referee appointed in such action or proceeding.

 

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

 

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

 

111



 

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

 

112



 

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

 

 

 

 

QUIDEL CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ John M. Radak

 

 

 

 

 

Name:  John M. Radak

 

 

 

 

 

Title:  Chief Financial Officer

 



 

 

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as

 

 

Agent

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Tiffany Shin

 

 

 

 

 

Name:  Tiffany Shin

 

 

 

 

 

Title:  Assistant Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender, L/C
Issuer and Swing Line Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Geoffrey C. Wilson

 

 

 

 

 

Name:  Geoffrey C. Wilson

 

 

 

 

 

Title:  Vice President

 



 

 

 

U.S. BANK N.A., as Syndication Agent and a
Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Maureen Sullivan

 

 

 

 

 

Name:  Maureen Sullivan

 

 

 

 

 

Title:  Vice President

 



 

 

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Camille Farnsworth-Schrader

 

 

 

 

 

Name:  Camille Farnsworth-Schrader

 

 

 

 

 

Title:  Vice President

 



 

 

 

UNION BANK OF CALIFORNIA, N.A., as a
Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Glenn Fortin

 

 

 

 

 

Name:  Glenn Fortin

 

 

 

 

 

Title:  Vice President