AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT Dated as of February 1, 2006 among

Contract Categories: Business Finance - Credit Agreements
EX-4.1 2 dex41.htm AMENDED & RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT Amended & Restated Credit Agreement

Exhibit 4.1

 


AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

Dated as of February 1, 2006

among

SCHOOL SPECIALTY, INC.

as the Borrower,

THE SUBSIDIARIES OF THE BORROWER IDENTIFIED HEREIN,

as the Guarantors,

M&I MARSHALL & ILSLEY BANK,

as Syndication Agent

SUNTRUST BANK

and

HARRIS TRUST & SAVINGS BANK,

as Co-Documentation Agents

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer,

and

THE OTHER LENDERS PARTY HERETO

Arranged By:

BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC,

as Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Book Manager

 



TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS    1
1.01    Defined Terms.    1
1.02    Other Interpretive Provisions.    22
1.03    Accounting Terms.    23
1.04    Rounding.    23
1.05    References to Agreements and Laws.    23
1.06    Times of Day.    24
1.07    Letter of Credit Amounts.    24
ARTICLE II THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS    24
2.01    Revolving Loans.    24
2.02    Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans.    26
2.03    Letters of Credit.    27
2.04    Swing Line Loans.    33
2.05    Prepayments.    36
2.06    Termination or Reduction of Aggregate Revolving Commitments.    37
2.07    Repayment of Loans.    37
2.08    Interest.    37
2.09    Fees.    37
2.10    Computation of Interest and Fees.    38
2.11    Evidence of Debt.    38
2.12    Payments Generally.    39
2.13    Sharing of Payments.    40
ARTICLE III TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY    41
3.01    Taxes.    41
3.02    Illegality.    42
3.03    Inability to Determine Rates.    42
3.04    Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy.    43
3.05    Funding Losses.    43
3.06    Matters Applicable to all Requests for Compensation.    44
3.07    Survival.    44
ARTICLE IV GUARANTY    45
4.01    The Guaranty.    45
4.02    Obligations Unconditional.    45
4.03    Reinstatement.    46
4.04    Certain Additional Waivers.    46
4.05    Remedies.    46
4.06    Rights of Contribution.    47
4.07    Guarantee of Payment; Continuing Guarantee.    47
ARTICLE V CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS    47
5.01    Conditions of Initial Credit Extension.    47
5.02    Conditions to all Credit Extensions.    49
5.03    Further Conditions to the Borrowing of Incremental Term Loans.    49
ARTICLE VI REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES    50
6.01    Existence, Qualification and Power.    50


6.02    Authorization; No Contravention.    51
6.03    Governmental Authorization; Other Consents.    51
6.04    Binding Effect.    51
6.05    Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.    51
6.06    Litigation.    52
6.07    No Default.    52
6.08    Ownership of Property; Liens.    52
6.09    Environmental Compliance.    53
6.10    Insurance.    53
6.11    Taxes.    53
6.12    ERISA Compliance.    54
6.13    Subsidiaries.    54
6.14    Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act; Public Utility Holding Company Act.    54
6.15    Disclosure.    55
6.16    Compliance with Laws.    55
6.17    Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.    55
6.18    [Reserved].    56
6.19    Perfection of Security Interests in the Collateral.    56
6.20    Business Locations.    56
6.21    Labor Matters.    56
ARTICLE VII AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS    56
7.01    Financial Statements.    56
7.02    Certificates; Other Information.    57
7.03    Notices.    59
7.04    Payment of Obligations.    59
7.05    Preservation of Existence, Etc.    60
7.06    Maintenance of Properties.    60
7.07    Maintenance of Insurance.    60
7.08    Compliance with Laws.    60
7.09    Books and Records.    60
7.10    Inspection Rights.    61
7.11    Use of Proceeds.    61
7.12    Additional Subsidiaries.    61
7.13    ERISA Compliance.    61
7.14    Pledged Assets.    62
7.15    Real Property.    62
ARTICLE VIII NEGATIVE COVENANTS    63
8.01    Liens.    63
8.02    Investments.    65
8.03    Indebtedness.    66
8.04    Fundamental Changes.    67
8.05    Dispositions.    67
8.06    Restricted Payments.    68
8.07    Change in Nature of Business.    68
8.08    Transactions with Affiliates and Insiders.    68


8.09    Burdensome Agreements.    69
8.10    Use of Proceeds.    69
8.11    Financial Covenants.    69
8.12    Prepayment of Other Indebtedness, Etc.    70
8.13    Organization Documents; Fiscal Year; Legal Name, State of Formation and Form of Entity.    71
8.14    Ownership of Subsidiaries.    71
ARTICLE IX EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES    71
9.01    Events of Default.    71
9.02    Remedies Upon Event of Default.    73
9.03    Application of Funds.    74
ARTICLE X ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT    75
10.01    Appointment and Authorization of Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent.    75
10.02    Delegation of Duties.    76
10.03    Liability of Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent.    76
10.04    Reliance by Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent.    76
10.05    Notice of Default.    76
10.06    Credit Decision; Disclosure of Information by Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent.    77
10.07    Each of Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent in its Individual Capacity.    77
10.08    Successor Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent.    78
10.9    Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim.    79
10.10    Collateral and Guaranty Matters.    79
10.11    Other Agents; Arrangers and Managers.    80
ARTICLE XI MISCELLANEOUS    80
11.01    Amendments, Etc.    80
11.02    Notices and Other Communications; Facsimile Copies.    81
11.03    No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies.    83
11.04    Attorney Costs, Expenses and Taxes.    83
11.05    Indemnification by the Loan Parties.    83
11.06    Payments Set Aside.    84
11.07    Successors and Assigns.    85
11.08    Confidentiality.    87
11.09    Set-off.    88
11.10    Interest Rate Limitation.    88
11.11    Counterparts.    88
11.12    Integration.    88
11.13    Survival of Representations and Warranties.    88
11.14    Severability.    89
11.15    Tax Forms.    89
11.16    Replacement of Lenders.    90
11.17    Release of Collateral and Guarantees.    91
11.18    Governing Law.    91
11.19    Waiver of Right to Trial by Jury.    92
11.20    USA PATRIOT Act Notice.    92
11.21    No Novation.    92


SCHEDULES

2.01

   Commitments and Pro Rata Shares

2.03

   Existing Letters of Credit

6.13

   Subsidiaries

6.17

   IP Rights

6.20(a)

   Locations of Real Property

6.20(b)

   Locations of Tangible Personal Property

6.20(c)

   Location of Chief Executive Office

6.20(e)

   Changes in Legal Name, State of Formation and Structure

8.01-1

   Liens Existing on the Closing Date

8.01-2

   Securitization Related Property

8.02

   Investments Existing on the Closing Date

8.03

   Indebtedness Existing on the Closing Date

11.02

   Certain Addresses for Notices

11.07

   Processing and Recordation Fees

EXHIBITS

A

   Form of Loan Notice

B

   Form of Swing Line Loan Notice

C-1

   Form of Revolving Note

C-2

   Form of Incremental Term Loan Note

C-3

   Form of Swing Line Note

D

   Form of Compliance Certificate

E

   Form of Assignment and Assumption

F

   Form of Joinder Agreement

G

   Form of Incremental Term Loan Commitment Agreement


AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

This AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT is entered into as of February 1, 2006 among SCHOOL SPECIALTY, INC., a Wisconsin corporation (the “Borrower”), the Guarantors (defined herein), the Lenders (defined herein) and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer.

Pursuant that Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of April 11, 2003 (as amended, modified and supplemented, the “Existing Revolving Credit Agreement”) among the Borrower, the Subsidiaries of the Borrower identified therein, the lenders identified therein and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, the lenders party thereto agreed to provide $250 million in credit facilities to the Borrower.

Pursuant that Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of August 31, 2005 (as amended, modified and supplemented, the “Existing Term Loan Credit Agreement”) among the Borrower, the Subsidiaries of the Borrower identified therein, the lenders identified therein and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, the lenders party thereto agreed to provide $100 million in term loan credit facilities to the Borrower.

The Borrower has requested that the credit facilities provided pursuant to the Existing Revolving Credit Agreement and the Existing Term Loan Credit Agreement be amended and restated on the terms and conditions set forth herein. The Lenders have agreed to the Borrower’s request and this Agreement is given in amendment to, restatement of and substitution for the Existing Revolving Credit Agreement and the Existing Term Loan Credit Agreement.

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

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

1.01 Defined Terms.

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

2003 Convertible Subordinated Note Documents” means the 2003 Convertible Subordinated Notes, the 2003 Convertible Subordinated Note Indenture and all other documents, instruments and agreements relating thereto, in each case as amended, modified and supplemented from time to time in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

2003 Convertible Subordinated Note Indenture” means the Indenture dated as of July 18, 2003 between the Borrower and BNY Midwest Trust Company, as amended by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 8, 2004 and as amended, modified and supplemented from time to time after the date hereof in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

2003 Convertible Subordinated Notes” means those Convertible Subordinated Notes of the Borrower due 2023.

Acquisition”, by any Person, means the acquisition by such Person, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of all or any substantial portion of the Property of another Person or at least a


majority of the Voting Stock of another Person, in each case whether or not involving a merger or consolidation with such other Person and whether for cash, property, services, assumption of Indebtedness, securities or otherwise.

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

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

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

Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified. “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-Related Persons” means the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, in each case together with its Affiliates (including, in the case of Bank of America in its capacity as the Administrative Agent, the Arranger), and the officers, directors, employees, agents and attorneys-in-fact of such Persons and Affiliates.

Agents” means the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent.

Aggregate Incremental Term Loan Commitments” means the Incremental Term Loan Commitments of all the Lenders.

Aggregate Revolving Commitments” means the Revolving Commitments of all the Lenders. The initial amount of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments in effect on the Closing Date is THREE HUNDRED FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS ($350,000,000).

Agreement” means this Credit Agreement, as amended, modified, supplemented and extended from time to time.

Applicable Rate” (a) in the case of the Incremental Term Loans, the percentage per annum determined on or prior to the applicable Incremental Term Loan Borrowing Date as set forth in the applicable Incremental Term Loan Commitment Agreement and (b) in the case of the Revolving Loans and Letters of Credit, the following percentages per annum, based upon the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 7.02(b):

 

Pricing Tier

  

Consolidated Total

            Leverage Ratio            

  

Commitment

Fee

   

Letter of Credit Fee and

Eurodollar Loans

   

Base

Rate Loans

 

I

   £ 2.75:1.0    0.150 %   0.625 %   0.00 %

II

   > 2.75:1.0 but £ 3.25:1.0    0.175 %   0.750 %   0.00 %

III

   > 3.25:1.0 but £ 3.75:1.0    0.200 %   1.00 %   0.00 %

IV

   > 3.75:1.0 but £ 4.25:1.0    0.225 %   1.25 %   0.00 %

V

   > 4.25:1.0 but £ 4.75:1.0    0.250 %   1.50 %   0.25 %

VI

   > 4.75:1.0    0.375 %   1.75 %   0.50 %

 

2


Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the fifth Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate (together with the related financial statements required by Section 7.01(a) or Section 7.01(b), as applicable) is delivered pursuant to Section 7.02(b); provided, however, that if a Compliance Certificate is not delivered when due in accordance with such Section, then Pricing Tier VI shall apply as of the fifth Business Day after the date on which such Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered and shall continue to apply until the first Business Day immediately following the date such Compliance Certificate is actually delivered. The Applicable Rate in effect from the Closing Date through the fifth Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 7.02(b) for the fiscal quarter ending January 28, 2006 shall be determined based upon Pricing Tier IV.

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.

Assignment and Assumption” means an Assignment and Assumption substantially in the form of Exhibit E.

Attorney Costs” means and includes all fees, expenses and disbursements of any law firm or other external 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, (b) in respect of any Synthetic Lease, 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, and (c) in respect of any Securitization Transaction of any Person, the outstanding principal amount of such financing, after taking into account reserve accounts and making appropriate adjustments, determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable judgment.

Audited Financial Statements” means the audited consolidated and consolidating balance sheets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2005, and the related consolidated and consolidating statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal years of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including the notes thereto, in each case as set forth in the Borrower’s Form 10K for such fiscal year.

Availability Period” means, with respect to the Revolving Commitments, the period from and including the Closing Date to the earliest of (a) the Maturity Date, (b) the date of termination of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments pursuant to Section 2.06, 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 9.02.

 

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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% or (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 the “prime rate” announced by Bank of America shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change.

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

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

Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous 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 2.01.

Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the state where the Administrative 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.

Businesses” means, at any time, a collective reference to the businesses operated by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries at such time.

Capital Stock” means (i) in the case of a corporation, capital stock, (ii) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock, (iii) in the case of a partnership, partnership interests (whether general or limited), (iv) in the case of a limited liability company, membership interests and (v) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.

Cash Collateralize” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(g).

Cash Consideration” means, with regard to any Acquisition, all consideration for such Acquisition consisting of (a) cash (including the aggregate amount of cash payments reasonably anticipated to be payable in connection with any deferred purchase price obligation (including any earn-out obligation) as determined by the Borrower in good faith at the time of the consummation of such Acquisition, and (b) assumed Indebtedness (other than purchase money Indebtedness (including obligations in respect of capital leases or Synthetic Leases) included in Section 8.03(c)).

Cash Equivalents” means, as at any date, (a) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support thereof) having maturities of not more than twelve months from the date of acquisition, (b) Dollar denominated time deposits and certificates of deposit of (i) any Lender, (ii) any domestic commercial bank of recognized standing having capital and surplus in excess of $500,000,000 or (iii) any bank whose short-term commercial paper rating from S&P is at least A-1 or the equivalent thereof or

 

4


from Moody’s is at least P-1 or the equivalent thereof (any such bank being an “Approved Bank”), in each case with maturities of not more than 270 days from the date of acquisition, (c) commercial paper and variable or fixed rate notes issued by any Approved Bank (or by the parent company thereof) or any variable rate notes issued by, or guaranteed by, any domestic corporation rated A-1 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by S&P or P-1 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by Moody’s and maturing within six months of the date of acquisition, (d) repurchase agreements entered into by any Person with a bank or trust company (including any of the Lenders) or recognized securities dealer having capital and surplus in excess of $500,000,000 for direct obligations issued by or fully guaranteed by the United States in which such Person shall have a perfected first priority security interest (subject to no other Liens) and having, on the date of purchase thereof, a fair market value of at least 100% of the amount of the repurchase obligations and (e) Investments, classified in accordance with GAAP as current assets, in money market investment programs registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, which are administered by reputable financial institutions having capital of at least $500,000,000 and the portfolios of which are limited to Investments of the character described in the foregoing subdivisions (a) through (d).

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

(a) any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person or its subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except that a person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all Capital Stock 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 thirty-five percent (35%) of the Capital Stock of the Borrower entitled to vote for members of the board of directors or equivalent governing body of the Borrower 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

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

(c) the occurrence of a “Designated Event” (or any comparable term) under any Subordinated Indebtedness.

Closing Date” means the date hereof.

Closing Date Projections” has the meaning specified in Section 5.01(e).

 

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Collateral” means a collective reference to all real and personal Property with respect to which Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent are purported to be granted pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the Collateral Documents. The Collateral does not include Securitization Related Property.

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

Collateral Documents” means a collective reference to the Security Agreement, the Pledge Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement, and such other security documents as may be executed and delivered by the Loan Parties pursuant to the terms of Section 7.14.

Commitment” means, as to each Lender, the Revolving Commitment of such Lender and/or the Incremental Term Loan Commitment of such Lender.

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

Consolidated Capital Expenditures” means, for any period, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, all capital expenditures, as determined in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, that Consolidated Capital Expenditures shall not include (a) expenditures made with proceeds of any Involuntary Disposition to the extent such expenditures are used to purchase Property that is the same as or similar to the Property subject to such Involuntary Disposition or (b) Permitted Acquisitions.

Consolidated EBITDA” means, for any period for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, an amount equal to Consolidated Net Income for such period plus the following to the extent deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income: (a) Consolidated Interest Charges for such period, (b) the provision for federal, state, local and foreign income taxes payable by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period and (c) the amount of depreciation and amortization expense for such period, all as determined in accordance with GAAP, but excluding any extraordinary gains or losses and related tax effects thereon.

Consolidated EBITDAR” means, for any period for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the sum of (i) Consolidated EBITDA for such period plus (ii) Consolidated Rental Expense for such period, all as determined in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Fixed Charges” means, for any period for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, an amount equal to the sum of (i) the cash portion of Consolidated Interest Charges for such period plus (ii) Consolidated Rental Expense for such period, all as determined in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Fixed Charges Coverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (i) Consolidated EBITDAR for the period of the four fiscal quarters most recently ended for which the Borrower has delivered financial statements pursuant to Section 7.01(a) or (b) to (ii) Consolidated Fixed Charges for the period of the four fiscal quarters most recently ended for which the Borrower has delivered financial statements pursuant to Section 7.01(a) or (b).

Consolidated Funded Indebtedness” means Funded Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis determined in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Interest Charges” means, for any period for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, all interest expense of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period determined in accordance with GAAP (including, without limitation, (a) the portion of rent expense of the Borrower and

 

6


its Subsidiaries with respect to such period under capital leases that is treated as interest in accordance with GAAP and (b) the implied interest component under Synthetic Leases and Securitization Transactions).

Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the net income of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period as determined in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Net Worth” means, as of any date of determination, consolidated shareholders’ equity of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of such date determined in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Rental Expense” means, for any period for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, rental expenses under operating leases, as determined in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Senior Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) the sum of (i) Consolidated Funded Indebtedness as of such date minus (ii) Subordinated Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis determined in accordance with GAAP to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of the four fiscal quarters most recently ended for which the Borrower has delivered financial statements pursuant to Section 7.01(a) or (b).

Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Funded Indebtedness as of such date to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of the four fiscal quarters most recently ended for which the Borrower has delivered financial statements pursuant to Section 7.01(a) or (b).

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.”

Credit Extension” means each of the following: (a) a Borrowing and (b) a 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 Letter of Credit Fees, an interest rate equal to (i) the Base Rate plus (ii) the Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to Base Rate Loans plus (iii) 2% per annum; provided, however, that with respect to a 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, in each case to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws and (b) when used with respect to Letter of Credit Fees, a rate equal to the Applicable Rate plus 2% per annum.

Defaulting Lender” means any Lender that (a) has failed to fund any portion of the Loans, participations in L/C Obligations or participations in Swing Line Loans required to be funded by it

 

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hereunder within one Business Day of the date required to be funded by it hereunder, (b) has otherwise failed to pay over to the Administrative 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 (c) has been deemed insolvent or become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding.

Disposition” or “Dispose” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (including any Sale and Leaseback Transaction) of any Property by the Borrower or any Subsidiary (including the Capital Stock of any Subsidiary), 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, but excluding (i) the sale, lease, license, transfer or other disposition of inventory in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, (ii) the sale, lease, license, transfer or other disposition of machinery and equipment no longer used or useful in the conduct of business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, (iii) any sale, lease, license, transfer or other disposition of Property by the Borrower or any Subsidiary to any Loan Party, (iv) any Involuntary Disposition, (v) any Disposition by the Borrower or any Subsidiary constituting a Permitted Investment, (vi) any sale, lease, license, transfer or other disposition of Property by any Foreign Subsidiary to another Foreign Subsidiary, (vii) any sale, transfer or other disposition of Securitization Related Property by the Borrower or any Subsidiary pursuant to the Permitted Securitization Transaction and (viii) the issuance of any Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.03.

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

Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of any political subdivision of the United States.

Eligible Assignee” means (a) a Lender; (b) an Affiliate of a Lender; (c) an Approved Fund; and (d) any other Person (other than a natural person) approved by (i) the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender, and (ii) unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower (each such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, “Eligible Assignee” shall not include the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries.

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

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

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

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

 

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ERISA Event” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) a withdrawal by the 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 the 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; or (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 the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate.

Eurodollar Base Rate” means, for any Interest Period with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Loan:

(a) the rate per annum equal to the rate determined by the Administrative Agent to be the offered rate that appears on the page of the Telerate screen (or any successor thereto) that displays an average British Bankers Association Interest Settlement Rate for deposits in Dollars (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period, determined as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period, or

(b) if the rate referenced in the preceding clause (a) does not appear on such page or service or such page or service shall not be available, the rate per annum equal to the rate determined by the Administrative Agent to be the offered rate on such other page or other service that displays an average British Bankers Association Interest Settlement Rate for deposits in Dollars (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period, determined as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period, or

(c) if the rates referenced in the preceding clauses (a) and (b) are not available, the rate per annum (rounded upward to the next 1/100th of 1%) determined by the Administrative Agent as the rate of interest 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 4:00 p.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period.

Eurodollar Rate” means for any Interest Period with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, a rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (a) the Eurodollar Base Rate for such Eurodollar Loan for such Interest Period by (b) one minus the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage for such Eurodollar Loan for such Interest Period.

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

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

 

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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.

Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 9.01.

Excluded Property” means, with respect to any Loan Party, (a) any leased real or personal Property unless requested by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, (b) any personal Property (including, without limitation, motor vehicles) in respect of which perfection of a Lien is not either (i) governed by the Uniform Commercial Code or (ii) effected by appropriate evidence of the Lien being filed in either the United States Copyright Office or the United States Patent and Trademark Office, unless requested by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, (c) any Property which, subject to the terms of Section 8.09, is subject to a Lien permitted under Section 8.01(i) pursuant to documents which prohibit such Loan Party from granting any other Liens in such Property, (d) any lease, license or other contract if the grant of a Lien in such lease, license or contract in the manner contemplated by the Loan Documents is prohibited by the terms of such lease, license or contract and would result in the termination of such lease, license or contract, but only to the extent that (i) after reasonable efforts, consent from the relevant party or parties has not been obtained and (ii) any such prohibition could not be rendered ineffective pursuant to the UCC or any other applicable law (including Debtor Relief Laws) or principles of equity and (e) at any time the Permitted Securitization Transaction is outstanding, any Securitization Related Property that is subject to the Permitted Securitization Transaction.

Existing Letters of Credit” means the letters of credit outstanding on the Closing Date and identified on Schedule 2.03.

Existing Revolving Credit Agreement” has the meaning specified in the recitals hereto.

Existing Term Loan Credit Agreement” has the meaning specified in the recitals hereto.

Facilities” means, at any time, a collective reference to the facilities and real properties owned, leased or operated by the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

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 on the Business Day next succeeding such day; provided that (a) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%) charged to Bank of America on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent.

Fee Letter” means the letter agreement dated December 7, 2005 among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Arranger.

Foreign Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 11.15(a)(i).

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

 

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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 business.

Funded 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 for borrowed money, whether current or long-term (including the Obligations) and all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments;

(b) all purchase money Indebtedness;

(c) the principal portion of all obligations under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to Property purchased by such Person (other than customary reservations or retentions of title under agreements with suppliers entered into in the ordinary course of business);

(d) all obligations arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments;

(e) all obligations in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business);

(f) Attributable Indebtedness in respect of capital leases and Synthetic Leases;

(g) all obligations in respect of Sale and Leaseback Transactions that constitute liabilities under GAAP (including all such obligations designated as sale-leaseback financing or any comparable term on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP);

(h) Attributable Indebtedness in respect of Securitization Transactions;

(i) all preferred stock or other equity interests providing for mandatory redemptions, sinking fund or like payments prior to the Maturity Date;

(j) all Funded Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Funded Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on, or payable out of the proceeds of production from, Property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the obligations secured thereby have been assumed;

(k) all Guarantees with respect to funded Indebtedness of the types specified in clauses (a) through (i) above of another Person; and

(l) all funded Indebtedness of the types referred to in clauses (a) through (j) above 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 joint venturer, except to the extent that Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to such Person.

 

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For purposes hereof, the amount of any obligation arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments shall be the maximum amount available to be drawn thereunder.

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, consistently applied and as in effect from time to time.

Governmental Authority” means any nation or government, any state or other political subdivision thereof, any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, administrative tribunal, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.

Guarantee” means, as to any Person, (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation payable or performable by another Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance of such Indebtedness or other obligation, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity or level of income or cash flow of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation, or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) any Lien on any assets of such Person securing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed by such Person. 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.

Guaranty” means the Guaranty made by the Guarantors in favor of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders pursuant to Article IV hereof.

Guarantors” means each Domestic Subsidiary and each other Person that joins as a Guarantor pursuant to Section 7.12, together with their successors and permitted assigns.

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.

Incremental Term Loan” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(b)(i).

Incremental Term Loan Borrowing Date” means any Business Day on which Incremental Term Loans are incurred pursuant to Section 2.01(b), which dates shall not occur after the Maturity Date.

Incremental Term Loan Commitment” means, as to each Lender, any commitment to make Incremental Term Loans provided by such Lender pursuant to Section 2.01(b)(ii), in such amount as

 

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agreed to by such Lender in the respective Incremental Term Loan Commitment Agreement and as set forth opposite such Lender’s name in Schedule 2.01 (as modified from time to time in accordance with Section 2.01(b)(iii)) directly below the column entitled “Incremental Term Loan Commitment”, as the same may be terminated or reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.05.

Incremental Term Loan Commitment Agreement” means and includes each Incremental Term Loan Commitment Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit G executed in accordance with Section 2.01(b)(ii).

Incremental Term Loan Lender” shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.01(b)(iii).

Incremental Term Loan Note” has the meaning specified in Section 2.11(a).

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 Funded Indebtedness;

(b) net obligations under any Swap Contract;

(c) all Guarantees with respect to outstanding Indebtedness of the types specified in clauses (a) and (b) above of any other Person; and

(d) all Indebtedness of the types referred to in clauses (a) through (c) above 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 joint venturer to the extent such Indebtedness is recourse to such Person.

For purposes hereof 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.

Indemnified Liabilities” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.05.

Indemnitees” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.05.

Intercreditor Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Intercreditor Agreement dated as of the Closing Date among the Borrower, the Collateral Agent and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as agent under the Permitted Securitization Transaction, as amended, modified, supplemented, restated and replaced from time to time.

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 seven days thereafter (if available to all Lenders) or one, two, three or six months thereafter, each option as selected by the Borrower in its Loan Notice; provided that:

 

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(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.

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

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 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, or (c) an Acquisition. 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.

Involuntary Disposition” means any loss of, damage to or destruction of, or any condemnation or other taking for public use of, any Property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

IP Rights” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.17.

IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

Joinder Agreement” means a joinder agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit F executed and delivered by a Domestic Subsidiary in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.12.

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

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

 

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L/C Issuer” means (a) JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. in its capacity as issuer of those Existing Letters of Credit issued by it and (b) Bank of America in its capacity as issuer of all other 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 undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all Unreimbursed Amounts, including all L/C Borrowings.

Lender” means each of the Persons identified as a “Lender” on the signature pages hereto and their successors and assigns and, as the context requires, includes the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender.

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

Letter of Credit” means any letter of credit issued hereunder and shall include the Existing Letters of Credit. A Letter of Credit may be a commercial letter of credit or a standby letter of credit.

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

Letter of Credit Expiration Date” means the day that is thirty days prior to the Maturity Date then in effect (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day).

Letter of Credit Fee” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(i).

Letter of Credit Sublimit” means an amount equal to the lesser of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments and $15,000,000. The Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Revolving Commitments.

Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, collateral assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge, or preference, priority or other security interest or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, 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 the Borrower under Article II in the form of a Revolving Loan, Swing Line Loan or an Incremental Term Loan.

Loan Documents” means this Agreement, each Note, each Letter of Credit, each Letter of Credit Application, each Joinder Agreement, the Collateral Documents, each Request for Credit Extension, each Incremental Term Loan Commitment Agreement, each Compliance Certificate, the Fee Letter and each other document, instrument or agreement from time to time executed by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any Responsible Officer thereof and delivered in connection with this Agreement.

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

 

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Loan Parties” means, collectively, the Borrower and each Guarantor; any of whom may be referred to as a “Loan Party”.

Material Adverse Effect” means (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the operations, business, properties, liabilities (actual or contingent), condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the ability of any Loan Party to perform its obligations under any Loan Document; 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.

Maturity Date” means (a) with respect to all Loans other than the Incremental Term Loans, February 1, 2011 and (b) with respect to any Incremental Term Loan the maturity date for such Incremental Term Loan set forth in the Incremental Term Loan Commitment Agreement relating thereto.

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

Multiemployer Plan” means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the 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.

Note” or “Notes” means the Revolving Notes, the Swing Line Note and/or the Incremental Term Loan Notes, individually or collectively, as appropriate.

Obligations” means all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Loan Party arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan or Letter of Credit, 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 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. The foregoing shall also include (a) all obligations under any Swap Contract between any Loan Party and any Lender or Affiliate of a Lender that is permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 8.03(d) and (b) all obligations under any Treasury Management Agreement between any Loan Party and any Lender or Affiliate of a Lender.

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

Outstanding Amount” means (i) with respect to any Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of any Loans 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.

 

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Participant” has the meaning specified in Section 11.07(d).

PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

Pension Plan” means any “employee pension benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), other than a Multiemployer Plan, that is subject to Title IV of ERISA and is sponsored or maintained by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or to which the 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 Acquisitions” means Investments consisting of an Acquisition by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, provided that (i) in the case of an Acquisition of the Capital Stock of another Person, the board of directors (or other comparable governing body) of such other Person shall have duly approved such Acquisition, (ii) in the case of an Acquisition for which the aggregate consideration exceeds $25,000,000, the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a Pro Forma Compliance Certificate demonstrating that, upon giving effect to such Acquisition on a Pro Forma Basis, the Loan Parties would be in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.11 as of the most recent fiscal quarter for which the Borrower has delivered financial statements pursuant to Section 7.01(a) or (b), (iii) the aggregate Cash Consideration paid by the Borrower or any Subsidiary for any such Acquisition (other than any Proposed Acquisition) shall not exceed $50,000,000, and (iv) the aggregate Cash Consideration paid by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for all such Acquisitions (other than the Proposed Acquisitions) shall not exceed $300,000,000 during the term of this Agreement, provided that if both Proposed Acquisitions are consummated, then the aggregate Cash Consideration paid by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for all such Acquisitions shall not exceed $15,000,000 during the twelve month period following the consummation of the latter of the Proposed Acquisitions.

Permitted Investments” means, at any time, Investments by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries permitted to exist at such time pursuant to the terms of Section 8.02.

Permitted Liens” means, at any time, Liens in respect of Property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries permitted to exist at such time pursuant to the terms of Section 8.01.

Permitted Securitization Transaction” means (a) the Securitization Transaction governed by (i) the Receivables Sale Agreement dated as of November 22, 2000 between the Borrower and New School, Inc., (ii) the Receivables Purchase Agreement dated as of November 22, 2000 among New School, Inc., as Seller, the Borrower, as Servicer, Falcon Asset Securitization Corporation and Bank One, NA (Main Office Chicago), as Agent, and (iii) such other agreements and documents executed or delivered under or in connection with the aforementioned agreements, in the case of (i), (ii), and (iii) as amended, modified and supplemented prior to the Closing Date and as amended, modified and supplemented after the Closing Date in a manner permitted pursuant to the terms hereof (provided that such agreements and documents shall not be amended or modified in a way which is materially detrimental to the Lenders without the prior written approval of the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders) and (b) any other Securitization Transaction, provided that (i) the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders shall be reasonably satisfied with the structure and documentation for any such transaction and that the terms of such transaction, including the discount applicable to the accounts receivable which are subject of such financing and any termination events, shall be (in the good faith understanding of the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders) consistent with those prevailing in the market at the time

 

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of commitment thereto for similar transactions involving a receivables originator/servicer of similar credit quality and a receivables pool or other similar characteristics and (ii) the documentation for such transaction shall not be amended or modified in a way which is materially detrimental to the Lenders without the prior written approval of the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders.

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 the Borrower or, with respect to any such plan that is subject to Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code or Title IV of ERISA, any ERISA Affiliate.

Pledge Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Pledge Agreement dated as of the Closing Date executed in favor of the Collateral Agent by each of the Loan Parties, as amended, modified, restated or supplemented from time to time.

Pro Forma Basis” means, for purposes of calculating the financial covenants in Section 8.11 (including for purposes of determining the Applicable Rate), that any Disposition, Involuntary Disposition, Acquisition or incurrence of any Incremental Term Loan shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the most recent four fiscal quarter period preceding the date of such transaction for which the Borrower has delivered financial statements pursuant to Section 7.01(a) or (b). In connection with the foregoing, (a) with respect to any Disposition or Involuntary Disposition, (i) income statement and cash flow statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the Property disposed of shall be excluded to the extent relating to any period occurring prior to the date of such transaction and (ii) Indebtedness which is retired shall be excluded and deemed to have been retired as of the first day of the applicable period and (b) with respect to any Acquisition, (i) income statement items attributable to the Person or Property acquired shall be included to the extent relating to any period applicable in such calculations to the extent (A) such items are not otherwise included in such income statement items for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP or in accordance with any defined terms set forth in Section 1.1 and (B) such items are supported by financial statements or other information reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (ii) any Indebtedness incurred or assumed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary (including the Person or Property acquired) in connection with such transaction and any Indebtedness of the Person or Property acquired which is not retired in connection with such transaction (A) shall be deemed to have been incurred as of the first day of the applicable period and (B) if such Indebtedness has a floating or formula rate, shall have an implied rate of interest for the applicable period for purposes of this definition determined by utilizing the rate which is or would be in effect with respect to such Indebtedness as at the relevant date of determination.

Pro Forma Compliance Certificate” means a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower containing reasonably detailed calculations of the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.11 as of the most recent fiscal quarter end for which the Borrower has delivered financial statements pursuant to Section 7.01(a) or (b) after giving effect to the applicable transaction on a Pro Forma Basis.

Pro Forma Statements” has the meaning specified in Section 5.01(e).

Proposed Acquisitions” means the Acquisition of a science education company and an early childhood education company, each as disclosed to the Administrative Agent prior to the Closing Date and provided that, in each case, such Acquisition is consummated prior to July 31, 2006.

Pro Rata Share” means, as to each Lender, (a) with respect to such Lender’s Revolving Commitment at any time, a fraction (expressed as a percentage, carried out to the ninth decimal place),

 

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the numerator of which is the amount of the Revolving Commitment of such Lender at such time and the denominator of which is the amount of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments at such time; provided that if the commitment of each Lender to make Revolving Loans and the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 9.02, 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 and (b) with respect to such Lender’s outstanding Incremental Term Loans at any time, a fraction (expressed as a percentage, carried out to the ninth decimal place), the numerator of which is the principal amount of the Incremental Term Loans held by such Lender at such time and the denominator of which is the aggregate Incremental Term Loans at such time. The initial Pro Rata Share of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.

Property” means any interest of any kind in any property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, or tangible or intangible.

Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.07(c).

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

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

Required Lenders” means, at any time, Lenders holding in the aggregate more than 50% of (a) the unfunded Commitments and the outstanding Loans, L/C Obligations and participations therein or (b) if the Commitments have been terminated, the outstanding Loans, L/C Obligations and participations therein. The unfunded Commitments of, and the outstanding Loans held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.

Responsible Officer” means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, or 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 of the 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 of any option, warrant or other right to acquire any such Capital Stock, but excluding (i) any “phantom” dividend that does not involve the distribution of any cash, property or obligations and (ii) any dividend payments or other distributions payable solely in the Capital Stock of the Person making such dividend or distribution.

Revolving Commitment” means, as to each Lender, its obligation to (a) make Revolving Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01, (b) purchase participations in L/C Obligations, and (c) purchase participations in Swing Line Loans, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01 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.

 

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Revolving Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(a).

Revolving Note” has the meaning specified in Section 2.11(a).

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

Sale and Leaseback Transaction” means, with respect to the Borrower or any Subsidiary, any arrangement, directly or indirectly, with any person whereby the Borrower or such Subsidiary shall sell or transfer any property, real or personal, used or useful in its business, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and thereafter rent or lease such property or other property that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property being sold or transferred.

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

Securitization Related Property” means the Property identified on Schedule 8.01-2.

Securitization Transaction” means any financing transaction or series of financing transactions (including factoring arrangements) pursuant to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary may sell, convey or otherwise transfer, or grant a security interest in, accounts, payments, receivables, rights to future lease payments or residuals or similar rights to payment to a special purpose subsidiary or affiliate of any Person, including the parent of such Person.

Security Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Security Agreement dated as of the Closing Date executed in favor of the Collateral Agent by each of the Loan Parties, as amended, modified, restated or supplemented from time to time.

Special Purpose Subsidiary” means New School, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

Subordinated Indebtedness” means (a) the 2003 Convertible Subordinated Notes and (b) any other Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary which by its terms is expressly subordinated to the Obligations in a manner and to an extent satisfactory to the Required Lenders, provided that the Required Lenders hereby approve the manner and extent of subordination of any issuance of senior subordinated notes of the Borrower if (i) the terms of subordination thereof are substantially similar to the terms of subordination of the 2003 Convertible Subordinated Notes and (ii) the Administrative Agent consents to the terms of subordination.

Subordinated Indebtedness Documents” means all documents, instruments and agreements governing or otherwise relating to any Subordinated Indebtedness, as amended, modified and supplemented from time to time in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

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 Capital Stock having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than Capital Stock having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are at the time beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower.

 

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

Swing Line Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(a).

Swing Line Loan Notice” means a notice of a Borrowing of Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(b), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit B.

Swing Line Note” has the meaning specified in Section 2.11(a).

Swing Line Sublimit” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $25,000,000 or (b) the Aggregate Revolving Commitments. The Swing Line Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Revolving Commitments.

Synthetic Lease” means any synthetic lease, tax retention operating lease, off-balance sheet loan or similar off-balance sheet financing arrangement whereby the arrangement is considered borrowed money indebtedness for tax purposes but is classified as an operating lease or does not otherwise appear on the balance sheet under GAAP.

Threshold Amount” means $5,000,000.

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

 

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Treasury Management Agreement” means any agreement governing the provision of treasury or cash management services, including deposit accounts, funds transfer, automated clearinghouse, zero balance accounts, returned check concentration, controlled disbursement, lockbox, account reconciliation and reporting and trade finance services.

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

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 Internal Revenue Code for the applicable plan year.

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

Unreimbursed Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(c)(i).

Voting Stock” means, with respect to any Person, Capital Stock issued by such Person the holders of which are ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, entitled to vote for the election of directors (or persons performing similar functions) of such Person, even though the right so to vote has been suspended by the happening of such a contingency.

Wholly Owned Subsidiary” means any Person 100% of whose Capital Stock is at the time owned by the Borrower directly or indirectly through other Persons 100% of whose Capital Stock is at the time owned, directly or indirectly, by the Borrower.

1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions.

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

(a) The meanings of defined terms are equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.

(b)     (i) The words “herein,” “hereto,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document shall refer to such Loan Document as a whole and not to any particular provision thereof.

(ii) Article, Section, Exhibit and Schedule references are to the Loan Document in which such reference appears.

(iii) The term “including” is by way of example and not limitation.

(iv) The term “documents” includes any and all instruments, documents, agreements, certificates, notices, reports, financial statements and other writings, however evidenced, whether in physical or electronic form.

(c) 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.”

 

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

1.03 Accounting Terms.

(a) Except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein, 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 most recent Audited Financial Statements; provided, however, that calculations of Attributable Indebtedness under any Synthetic Lease or the implied interest component of any Synthetic Lease shall be made by the Borrower in accordance with accepted financial practice and consistent with the terms of such Synthetic Lease.

(b) Together with each Compliance Certificate, the Borrower will provide a written summary of any changes in GAAP that materially impact the calculation of the financial covenants in Section 8.11 contained in such Compliance Certificate to the extent such changes are not disclosed by the Borrower in any SEC filing made prior to or concurrent with the delivery of such Compliance Certificate. If at any time any change in GAAP would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either the Borrower or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided that, until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP.

(c) Notwithstanding the above, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that all calculations for purposes of determining compliance with the financial covenants in Section 8.11 and determining the Applicable Rate shall be made on a Pro Forma Basis.

1.04 Rounding.

Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the 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).

1.05 References to Agreements and Laws.

Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (a) references to Organization Documents, agreements (including the Loan Documents) and other contractual instruments shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications thereto, but only to the extent that such amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications are not prohibited by any Loan Document; and (b) references to any Law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such Law.

 

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1.06 Times of Day.

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

1.07 Letter of Credit Amounts.

Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to mean the maximum face amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all increases thereof contemplated by such Letter of Credit or the Letter of Credit Application therefor, whether or not such maximum face amount is in effect at such time.

ARTICLE II

THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS

2.01 Revolving Loans.

(a) Revolving Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make loans (each such loan, a “Revolving Loan”) to the Borrower in Dollars from time to time on any Business Day during the Availability Period in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Borrowing of Revolving Loans, (i) the Total Revolving Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Revolving Commitments and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving 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 Revolving Commitment. Within the limits of each Lender’s Revolving Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.01. Revolving Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein, provided, however, all Borrowings made on the Closing Date shall be made as Base Rate Loans.

(b) Incremental Term Loans.

(i) Subject to this Section 2.01(b) and the other terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender with an Incremental Term Loan Commitment severally agrees to make a term loan or term loans (each an “Incremental Term Loan” and, collectively, the “Incremental Term Loans”) to the Borrower in Dollars during the period from the Closing Date to the Maturity Date in an aggregate amount not to exceed such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Aggregate Incremental Term Loan Commitment, provided that (A) each such Incremental Term Loan shall be incurred on an Incremental Term Loan Borrowing Date and (B) the aggregate initial principal amount of all Incremental Term Loans made by any Lender shall not exceed such Lender’s Incremental Term Loan Commitment at the time of incurrence thereof. Amounts repaid on the Incremental Term Loans may not be reborrowed. Incremental Term Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein.

(ii) So long as no Default or Event of Default then exists or would result therefrom, the Borrower shall, in consultation with the Administrative Agent, have the right to request on one or more occasions after the Closing Date and prior to the Maturity Date that the Lenders or, subject to the right of first refusal referred to in clause (B) below, other Persons qualifying as an Eligible Assignee, provide Incremental Term Loan Commitments and, subject to the terms and

 

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conditions contained in this Agreement and the relevant Incremental Term Loan Commitment Agreement, make Incremental Term Loans pursuant thereto, it being understood and agreed, however, that (A) no Lender shall be obligated to provide an Incremental Term Loan Commitment as a result of any request by the Borrower, until such time, if any, as (x) such Lender has agreed in its sole discretion to provide an Incremental Term Loan Commitment and executed and delivered to the Administrative Agent an Incremental Term Loan Commitment Agreement as provided in Section 2.01(b)(iii) and (y) the other conditions set forth in Section 2.01(b) shall have been satisfied, (B) the Borrower shall first offer each Lender the right to provide such Incremental Term Loan Commitments and each Lender shall have ten (10) Business Days from the date of receipt of notice by the Administrative Agent of the proposed terms of such Incremental Term Loan to decide whether to provide an Incremental Term Loan Commitment (it being understood and agreed that the failure to respond within such 10 Business Day period shall be deemed an election by a Lender not to participate in such Incremental Term Loan), (C) any Lender (or, after the 10 Business Day exercise period referenced above has lapsed, any other Person which will qualify as an Eligible Assignee) may so provide an Incremental Term Loan Commitment without the consent of any other Lender, (D) each provision of Incremental Term Loan Commitments pursuant to this Section 2.01(b)(ii) for any Lender shall be in an amount of at least $5,000,000, (E) the sum of the aggregate unfunded Incremental Term Loan Commitments plus the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Incremental Term Loans shall not at any time exceed ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS ($100,000,000), (F) the Applicable Rate with respect to any such Incremental Term Loan and the fees payable to any Lender providing an Incremental Term Loan Commitment shall be as set forth in the relevant Incremental Term Loan Commitment Agreement, (G) in no event shall the Maturity Date of such Incremental Term Loan be earlier than the Maturity Date of the Revolving Loans, (H) the scheduled principal payments with respect to the Incremental Term Loans shall be as set forth in the applicable Incremental Term Loan Commitment Agreement, provided that in no event shall the weighted average life to maturity of such Incremental Term Loan be less than the weighted average life to maturity of the Revolving Loans, (I) the applicable Incremental Term Loan shall only be permitted hereunder if (x) the Borrower shall have delivered a Pro Forma Compliance Certificate to the Administrative Agent demonstrating that, upon giving effect on a Pro Forma Basis to the incurrence of such Incremental Term Loan, the Loan Parties would be in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.11 as of the most recent fiscal quarter end for which the Borrower has delivered financial statements pursuant to Section 7.01(a) or (b), and (y) no Default or Event of Default shall exist at the time or would exist after giving effect to the incurrence of such Incremental Term Loan, and (J) all actions taken by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.01(b) shall be done in coordination with the Administrative Agent.

(iii) At the time of any provision of Incremental Term Loan Commitments pursuant to this Section 2.01, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each Lender or other Eligible Assignee (each an “Incremental Term Loan Lender”) which agrees to provide an Incremental Term Loan Commitment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Incremental Term Loan Commitment Agreement (appropriately completed), with the effectiveness of such Lender’s Incremental Term Loan Commitment to occur upon the date set forth in such Incremental Term Loan Commitment Agreement (and subject to any conditions set forth therein not in contravention of the terms hereof) following delivery thereof to the Administrative Agent and the payment of any fees required in connection therewith. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Incremental Term Loan Lender as to the effectiveness of each Incremental Term Loan Commitment Agreement, and at such time Schedule 2.01 shall be deemed modified to reflect the Incremental Term Loan Commitments of such Lenders.

 

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2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans.

(a) Each Borrowing, each conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (i) three Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans or of any conversion of Eurodollar Rate Loans to Base Rate Loans, and (ii) on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans. Each telephonic notice by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.02(b) must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower or any other individual designated by the Borrower in writing to the Administrative Agent (together with an incumbency certification for such individual). Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof. Except as provided in Sections 2.03(c) and 2.04(c), each Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. Each Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting a Borrowing, a conversion of 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 Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Loans are to be converted, and (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto. If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Loan in a Loan Notice or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Loans shall be made as, or converted to, 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 the Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans in any such Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month.

(b) Following receipt of a Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its Pro Rata Share of the applicable Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans described in the preceding subsection. In the case of a Borrowing, each Lender shall make the amount of its Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in the applicable Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 5.02 (and, if such Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section 5.01), the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of Bank of America with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the Borrower; provided, however, that if, on the date a Borrowing of Revolving Loans, there are L/C Borrowings outstanding, then the proceeds of such Borrowing shall be applied, first, to the payment in full of any such L/C Borrowings, and second, to the 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 the 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 the Required Lenders may demand that any or all of the then outstanding Eurodollar Rate Loans be converted immediately to Base Rate Loans.

 

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

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

2.03 Letters of Credit.

(a) The Letter of Credit Commitment.

(i) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (A) the L/C Issuer agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the other Lenders set forth in this Section 2.03, (1) from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date until the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, to issue Letters of Credit in Dollars for the account of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, and to amend or renew Letters of Credit previously issued by it, in accordance with subsection (b) below, and (2) to honor drafts under the Letters of Credit; and (B) the Lenders severally agree to participate in Letters of Credit issued for the account of the Borrower; provided that the L/C Issuer shall not be obligated to make any L/C Credit Extension with respect to any Letter of Credit, and no Lender shall be obligated to participate in any Letter of Credit if as of the date of such L/C Credit Extension, (x) the Total Revolving Outstandings would exceed the Aggregate Revolving Commitments, (y) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving 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 would exceed such Lender’s Revolving Commitment or (z) the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations would exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower’s ability to obtain Letters of Credit shall be fully revolving, and accordingly the 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. All Existing Letters of Credit shall be deemed to have been issued pursuant hereto, and from and after the Closing Date shall be subject to and governed by the terms and conditions hereof.

(ii) 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;

 

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(B) subject to Section 2.03(b)(iii), the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur more than twelve months after the date of issuance or last renewal, unless the L/C Issuer has approved such expiry date;

(C) the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur after the Maturity Date, unless the L/C Issuer has approved such expiry date;

(D) the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of the L/C Issuer applicable to borrowers generally; or

(E) such Letter of Credit is in an initial amount less than $50,000 (or such lesser amount as may be approved by the L/C Issuer) or is to be denominated in a currency other than Dollars.

(F) a default of any Lender’s obligations to fund under Section 2.03(c) exists or any Lender is at such time a Defaulting Lender hereunder, unless the L/C Issuer has entered into satisfactory arrangements with the Borrower or such Lender to eliminate the L/C Issuer’s risk with respect to such Lender.

(iii) 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.

(iv) The L/C Issuer shall be under no obligation to issue or amend any Letter of Credit if the L/C Issuer has received written notice from any Lender, the Administrative Agent or any Loan Party, on or prior to the Business Day prior to the requested date of issuance or amendment of such Letter of Credit, that one or more applicable conditions contained in Article V shall not then be satisfied.

(b) Procedures for Issuance and Amendment of Letters of Credit; Auto-Renewal Letters of Credit.

(i) Each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be, upon the request of the Borrower delivered to the L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) in the form of a Letter of Credit Application, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Such Letter of Credit Application must be received by the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. at least three Business Days (or such later date and time as the L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in its sole discretion) prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be. In the case of a request for an initial issuance of a Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the L/C Issuer: (A) the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (B) the amount 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; and (G) such other matters as the L/C Issuer may require. In the case of a request for an amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the L/C Issuer (A) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (B) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (C) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (D) such other matters as the L/C Issuer may require.

 

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(ii) Promptly after receipt of any Letter of Credit Application, the L/C Issuer will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has received a copy of such Letter of Credit Application from the Borrower and, if not, the L/C Issuer will provide the Administrative Agent with a copy thereof. Upon receipt by the L/C Issuer of confirmation from the Administrative Agent that the requested issuance or amendment is permitted in accordance with the terms hereof, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the L/C Issuer shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the Borrower 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) If the Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the L/C Issuer may, in its sole and absolute discretion, agree to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic renewal provisions (each, an “Auto-Renewal Letter of Credit”); provided that any such Auto-Renewal Letter of Credit must permit the L/C Issuer to prevent any such renewal 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 “Nonrenewal Notice Date”) in each such twelve-month period to be agreed upon at the time such Letter of Credit is issued. Unless otherwise directed by the L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to the L/C Issuer for any such renewal. Once an Auto-Renewal 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 renewal of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the Letter of Credit Expiration Date; provided, however, that the L/C Issuer shall not permit any such renewal if (A) the L/C Issuer has determined that it would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its renewed form under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of Section 2.03(a)(ii) or otherwise), or (B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is two Business Days before the Nonrenewal Notice Date from the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 5.02 is not then satisfied.

(iv) Promptly after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter of Credit to an advising bank with respect thereto or to the beneficiary thereof, the L/C Issuer will also deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment. The Administrative Agent shall provide each Lender a quarterly report of the outstanding Letters of Credit and the amount of each Lender’s respective participation therein.

(c) Drawings and Reimbursements; Funding of Participations.

(i) Upon receipt from the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of any notice of drawing under such Letter of Credit, the L/C Issuer shall notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent thereof. Not later than 11:00 a.m. on the date of any payment by the L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit (each such date, an “Honor Date”), the Borrower shall reimburse the L/C Issuer through the Administrative Agent in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing. If the Borrower fails to so reimburse the L/C Issuer by such time, the Administrative

 

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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, the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans to be disbursed on the Honor Date in an amount equal to the Unreimbursed Amount, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified in Section 2.02 for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments and the conditions set forth in Section 5.02 (other than the delivery of a Loan Notice). Any notice given by the L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.03(c)(i) may be given by telephone if immediately confirmed in writing; provided that the lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice.

(ii) Each Lender (including the Lender acting as L/C Issuer) shall upon any notice pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) make funds available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer at the Administrative Agent’s Office in an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of the Unreimbursed Amount not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in such notice by the Administrative Agent, whereupon, subject to the provisions of Section 2.03(c)(iii), each Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Loan to the Borrower in such amount. The Administrative 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 Borrowing of Base Rate Loans because the conditions set forth in Section 5.02 cannot be satisfied or for any other reason, the 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 the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(ii) shall be deemed payment in respect of its participation in such L/C Borrowing and shall constitute an L/C Advance from such Lender in satisfaction of its participation obligation under this Section 2.03.

(iv) Until each Lender funds its Revolving Loan or L/C Advance pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) to reimburse the L/C Issuer for any amount drawn under any Letter of Credit, interest in respect of such 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 Revolving Loans or L/C Advances to reimburse the L/C Issuer for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit, as contemplated by this Section 2.03(c), shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the L/C Issuer, the 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 Revolving Loans pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 5.02 (other than delivery by the Borrower of a Loan Notice). No such making of an L/C Advance shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the 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 the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing

 

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provisions of this Section 2.03(c) by the time specified in Section 2.03(c)(ii), the L/C Issuer shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the L/C Issuer at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. A certificate of the L/C Issuer submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (vi) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(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 2.03(c), if the Administrative Agent receives for the account of the L/C Issuer any payment in respect of the related Unreimbursed Amount or interest thereon (whether directly from the Borrower or otherwise, including proceeds of Cash Collateral applied thereto by the Administrative Agent), the Administrative Agent will distribute to such Lender its Pro Rata Share thereof (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Lender’s L/C Advance was outstanding) in the same funds as those received by the Administrative Agent.

(ii) If any payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) is required to be returned under any of the circumstances described in Section 11.06 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the L/C Issuer in its discretion), each Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer its Pro Rata Share thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned by such Lender, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect.

(e) Obligations Absolute. The obligation of the 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, any other Loan Document or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto;

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

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

(iv) any payment by the L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate that does not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; or any payment made by the L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit to any Person purporting to be a

 

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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, the Borrower.

The 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 the Borrower’s instructions or other irregularity, the Borrower will immediately notify the L/C Issuer. The 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 the 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, any Agent-Related Person nor any of the respective correspondents, participants or assignees of the L/C Issuer shall be liable to any Lender for (i) any action taken or omitted in connection herewith at the request or with the approval of the Lenders or the Required Lenders, as applicable; (ii) any action taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct; or (iii) the due execution, effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any document or instrument related to any Letter of Credit or Letter of Credit Application. The 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 the 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, any Agent-Related Person, nor any of the respective correspondents, participants or assignees of the L/C Issuer, shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in clauses (i) through (v) of Section 2.03(e); provided, however, that anything in such clauses to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrower may have a claim against the L/C Issuer, and the L/C Issuer may be liable to the Borrower, to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or exemplary, damages suffered by the Borrower which the Borrower proves were caused by the L/C Issuer’s willful misconduct or gross negligence or the L/C Issuer’s willful or grossly negligent 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. If, as of the Maturity Date, any Letter of Credit may for any reason remain outstanding and partially or wholly undrawn, the Borrower shall immediately Cash Collateralize the then Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to such Outstanding Amount determined as of the date of such L/C Borrowing or the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, as the case may be). For purposes hereof, “Cash Collateralize” means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative 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

 

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satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer (which documents are hereby consented to by the Lenders). Derivatives of such term have corresponding meanings. The Borrower hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the L/C Issuer and the 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.

(h) Applicability of ISP98 and UCP. Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the L/C Issuer and the Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued (including any such agreement applicable to an Existing Letter of Credit), (i) the rules of 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) 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 (the “ICC”) at the time of issuance (including the ICC decision published by the Commission on Banking Technique and Practice on April 6, 1998 regarding the European single currency (euro)) shall apply to each commercial Letter of Credit.

(i) Letter of Credit Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance with its Pro Rata Share (i) a Letter of Credit fee for each commercial 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) and (ii) a Letter of Credit fee 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) (each such fee a “Letter of Credit Fee”). Such Letter of Credit Fees shall be computed on a quarterly basis in arrears. Such Letter of Credit Fees shall be due and payable on the first Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. If there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the daily maximum amount of each Letter of Credit shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, while any Event of Default exists, all Letter of Credit Fees shall accrue at the Default Rate.

(j) Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to L/C Issuer. The Borrower shall pay directly to the L/C Issuer for its own account a fronting fee with respect to each Letter of Credit in the amounts and at the times specified in the Fee Letter. In addition, the 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 customary fees and standard costs and charges are due and payable on demand and are nonrefundable.

(k) Conflict with Letter of Credit Application. In the event of any conflict between the terms hereof and the terms of any Letter of Credit Application, the terms hereof shall control.

2.04 Swing Line Loans.

(a) The Swing Line. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swing Line Lender agrees to make loans (each such loan, a “Swing Line Loan”) to the Borrower in Dollars from time to time on any Business Day during the Availability Period in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of the Swing Line Sublimit, notwithstanding the fact that such Swing Line Loans, when aggregated with the Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount of Revolving Loans and L/C Obligations of the Swing Line Lender in its capacity as a Lender of Revolving Loans, may exceed the

 

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amount of such Lender’s Revolving Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Swing Line Loan, (i) the Total Revolving Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Revolving Commitments, and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving 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 Revolving Commitment, and provided, further, that the 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, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.04, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.04. Each Swing Line Loan shall be a Base Rate Loan. Immediately upon the making of a Swing Line Loan, each 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 Borrowing of Swing Line Loans shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. on the requested borrowing date, and shall specify (i) the amount to be borrowed, which shall be a minimum principal amount of $100,000, or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof, and (ii) the requested borrowing date, which shall be a Business Day. Each such telephonic notice must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent of a written Swing Line Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower or any other individual designated by the Borrower in writing to the Administrative Agent (together with an incumbency certification for such individual). Promptly after receipt by the Swing Line Lender of any telephonic Swing Line Loan Notice, the Swing Line Lender will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has also received such Swing Line Loan Notice and, if not, the Swing Line Lender will notify the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) of the contents thereof. Unless the Swing Line Lender has received notice (by telephone or in writing) from the Administrative Agent (including at the request of any Lender) prior to 2:00 p.m. on the date of the proposed Borrowing of Swing Line Loans (A) directing the Swing Line Lender not to make such Swing Line Loan as a result of the limitations set forth in the proviso to the first sentence of Section 2.04(a), or (B) that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Article V is not then satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Swing Line Lender will, not later than 3:00 p.m. on the borrowing date specified in such Swing Line Loan Notice, make the amount of its Swing Line Loan available to the 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 the Borrower (which hereby irrevocably requests and authorizes the Swing Line Lender to so request on its behalf), that each Lender make a Base Rate 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 Loan Notice for purposes hereof) and in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.02, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified therein for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the unutilized portion of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments and the conditions set forth in Section 5.02. The Swing Line Lender shall furnish the Borrower with a copy of the applicable Loan Notice promptly after delivering such notice to the Administrative Agent. Each Lender shall make an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of the amount specified in such Loan Notice available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds for the account of the Swing Line Lender at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the day

 

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specified in such Loan Notice, whereupon, subject to Section 2.04(c)(ii), each Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Loan to the Borrower in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the Swing Line Lender.

(ii) If for any reason any Swing Line Loan cannot be refinanced by such a Borrowing of Revolving Loans in accordance with Section 2.04(c)(i), the request for Base Rate Loans submitted by the Swing Line Lender as set forth herein shall be deemed to be a request by the Swing Line Lender that each of the Lenders fund its risk participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan and each Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.04(c)(i) shall be deemed payment in respect of such participation.

(iii) If any Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.04(c) by the time specified in Section 2.04(c)(i), the Swing Line Lender shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the Swing Line Lender at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. A certificate of the Swing Line Lender submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (iii) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(iv) Each Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Loans or to purchase and fund risk participations in Swing Line Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right that such Lender may have against the Swing Line Lender, the 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 Revolving Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 5.02. No such purchase or funding of risk participations shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the 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 of such payment (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Lender’s risk participation was funded) in the same funds as those received by the Swing Line Lender.

(ii) If any payment received by the Swing Line Lender in respect of principal or interest on any Swing Line Loan is required to be returned by the Swing Line Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 11.06 (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 the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate. The Administrative Agent will make such demand upon the request of the Swing Line Lender.

 

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(e) Interest for Account of Swing Line Lender. The Swing Line Lender shall be responsible for invoicing the Borrower for interest on the Swing Line Loans. Until each Lender funds its Revolving Loans that are Base Rate Loans or risk participation pursuant to this Section 2.04 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. The Borrower shall make all payments of principal and interest in respect of the Swing Line Loans directly to the Swing Line Lender.

2.05 Prepayments.

(a) Voluntary Prepayments of Loans.

(i) Revolving Loans and Incremental Term Loans. The Borrower may, upon notice from the Borrower to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (A) three Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans, and (B) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Loans; (ii) any such prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof (or, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding); (iii) any such prepayment of Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof (or, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding); and (iv) any prepayment of the Incremental Term Loan shall be applied ratably to the remaining principal amortization payments. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Type(s) of Loans to be prepaid. The Administrative 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 the Borrower, the 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 3.05. Each such prepayment shall be applied to the Loans of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares.

(ii) Swing Line Loans. The Borrower may, upon notice to the Swing Line Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at any time or from time to time, voluntarily prepay Swing Line Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. on the date of the prepayment, and (ii) any such prepayment shall be in a minimum principal amount of $100,000 or a whole multiple of $50,000 in excess thereof. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein.

(b) Mandatory Prepayments of Loans. If for any reason the Total Revolving Outstandings at any time exceed the Aggregate Revolving Commitments then in effect, the Borrower shall immediately prepay Revolving Loans and/or the Swing Line Loans and/or Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations in an aggregate amount equal to such excess; provided, however, that the Borrower shall not be required to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations pursuant to this Section 2.05(b) unless after the prepayment in full of the Revolving Loans and Swing Line Loans the Total Revolving Outstandings exceed the Aggregate Revolving Commitments then in effect.

 

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2.06 Termination or Reduction of Aggregate Revolving Commitments.

The Borrower may, upon notice from the Borrower to the Administrative Agent, terminate the Aggregate Revolving Commitments or from time to time permanently reduce the Aggregate Revolving Commitments to an amount not less than the Outstanding Amount of Revolving Loans, Swing Line Loans and L/C Obligations; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. five Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction and (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. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any such notice of termination or reduction of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments. Any reduction of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments shall be applied to the Revolving Commitment of each Lender according to its Pro Rata Share. All commitment fees accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments shall be paid on the effective date of such termination.

2.07 Repayment of Loans.

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

(b) The Borrower shall repay each Swing Line Loan on the earlier to occur of (i) demand by the Swing Line Lender and (ii) the Maturity Date.

(c) The Borrower shall repay the outstanding principal amount of the Incremental Term Loans in accordance with the terms of the applicable Incremental Term Loan Commitment Agreement.

2.08 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 sum of (A) the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period plus (B) the Applicable Rate; (ii) each Base Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate; and (iii) each Swing Line Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.

(b) Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, the Borrower shall pay interest on the principal amount of all outstanding Obligations at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

(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.

2.09 Fees.

In addition to certain fees described in subsections (i) and (j) of Section 2.03:

(a) Commitment Fee. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance with its Pro Rata Share, a commitment fee equal to the product of (i) the Applicable Rate times (ii) the actual daily amount by which the Aggregate Revolving Commitments

 

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exceed the sum of (y) the Outstanding Amount of Revolving Loans and (z) the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations. The commitment fee shall accrue at all times during the Availability Period, including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Article V is not met, and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the 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) The Borrower shall pay to the Arranger and the Administrative Agent for their own respective accounts fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the Fee Letter. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall be non-refundable for any reason whatsoever.

(ii) The 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.

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.

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 the Administrative Agent in the ordinary course of business. The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Credit Extensions made by the Lenders to the Borrower and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error. Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a promissory note, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records. Each such promissory note shall (i) in the case of Revolving Loans, be in the form of Exhibit C-1 (a “Revolving Note”), (ii) in the case of Incremental Term Loans, be in the form of Exhibit C-2 (an “Incremental Term Loan Note”) and (ii) in the case of Swing Line Loans, be in the form of Exhibit C-3 (a “Swing Line Note”). Each Lender may attach schedules to its Note and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.

 

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

2.12 Payments Generally.

(a) All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in Dollars and in immediately available funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date specified herein. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its 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 the Administrative Agent after 2:00 p.m. shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue.

(b) Subject to the definition of “Interest Period”, if any payment to be made by the Borrower shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be.

(c) If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, L/C Borrowings, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i) first, toward costs and expenses (including Attorney Costs and amounts payable under Article III) incurred by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, (ii) second, toward repayment of interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties, and (iii) third, toward repayment of principal and L/C Borrowings then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal and L/C Borrowings then due to such parties.

(d) Unless the Borrower or any Lender has notified the Administrative Agent, prior to the date any payment is required to be made by it to the Administrative Agent hereunder, that the Borrower or such Lender, as the case may be, will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower or such Lender, as the case may be, has timely made such payment and may (but shall not be so required to), in reliance thereon, make available a corresponding amount to the Person entitled thereto. If and to the extent that such payment was not in fact made to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds, then:

(i) if the Borrower failed to make such payment, each Lender shall forthwith on demand repay to the Administrative Agent the portion of such assumed payment that was made available to such Lender in immediately available funds, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such amount was made available by the Administrative Agent to such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect; and

(ii) if any Lender failed to make such payment, such Lender shall forthwith on demand pay to the Administrative Agent the amount thereof in immediately available funds, together with interest thereon for the period from the date such amount was made available by the

 

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Administrative Agent to the Borrower to the date such amount is recovered by the Administrative Agent (the “Compensation Period”) at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in the applicable Borrowing. If such Lender does not pay such amount forthwith upon the Administrative Agent’s demand therefor, the Administrative Agent may make a demand therefor upon the Borrower, and the Borrower shall pay such amount to the Administrative Agent, together with interest thereon for the Compensation Period at a rate per annum equal to the rate of interest applicable to the applicable Borrowing. Nothing herein shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fulfill its Commitment or to prejudice any rights which the Administrative Agent or the Borrower may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder.

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

(e) If any Lender makes available to the Administrative 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 the Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in Article V are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender within one Business Day, without interest (provided that if such funds are not returned to such Lender within one Business Day, the Administrative Agent shall pay interest thereon from the date one Business Day after the Lender makes such funds available to the Administrative Agent to the date such funds are returned at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate).

(f) The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Loans and to fund participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan or to fund any such participation 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.

(g) 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, other than as expressly provided elsewhere herein, any Lender shall obtain on account of the Loans made by it, or the participations in L/C Obligations or in Swing Line Loans held by it (but not including any amounts applied by the Swing Line Lender to outstanding Swing Line Loans), any payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise of any right of set-off, or otherwise) in excess of its ratable share (or other share contemplated hereunder) thereof, such Lender shall immediately (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase from the other Lenders such participations in the Loans made by them and/or such subparticipations in the participations in L/C Obligations or Swing Line Loans held by them, as the case may be, as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender to share the excess payment in respect of such Loans or such participations, as the case may be, pro rata with each of them; provided, however, that if all or any portion of such excess payment is thereafter recovered from the purchasing Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 11.06 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the purchasing Lender in its discretion), such purchase shall to that extent be rescinded and each other Lender shall repay to the purchasing Lender the purchase price paid therefor, together with an amount equal to such paying Lender’s ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the

 

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amount of such paying Lender’s required repayment to (ii) the total amount so recovered from the purchasing Lender) of any interest or other amount paid or payable by the purchasing Lender in respect of the total amount so recovered, without further interest thereon. The Borrower agrees that any Lender so purchasing a participation from another Lender may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, exercise all its rights of payment (including the right of set-off, but subject to Section 11.09) with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were the direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation. The Administrative Agent will keep records (which shall be conclusive and binding in the absence of manifest error) of participations purchased under this Section and will in each case notify the Lenders following any such purchases or repayments. Each Lender that purchases a participation pursuant to this Section shall from and after such purchase have the right to give all notices, requests, demands, directions and other communications under this Agreement with respect to the portion of the Obligations purchased to the same extent as though the purchasing Lender were the original owner of the Obligations purchased.

ARTICLE III

TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

3.01 Taxes.

(a) Subject to Section 11.15, any and all payments by any Loan Party to or for the account of the Administrative Agent or any Lender under any Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any and all present or future taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, assessments, fees, withholdings or similar charges, and all liabilities with respect thereto, excluding, in the case of the Administrative Agent and each Lender, taxes imposed on or measured by its overall net income, 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 the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, is organized or maintains a lending office (all such non-excluded taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, assessments, fees, withholdings or similar charges, and liabilities being hereinafter referred to as “Taxes”). If any Loan Party shall be required by any Laws to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable under any Loan Document to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, (i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section), each of the Administrative Agent and such Lender receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) such Loan Party shall make such deductions, (iii) such Loan Party shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant taxation authority or other authority in accordance with applicable Laws, and (iv) within thirty days after the date of such payment, such Loan Party shall furnish to the Administrative Agent (which shall forward the same to such Lender) the original or a certified copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof or if no receipt is available, other evidence of payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(b) In addition, the Borrower agrees to pay any and all present or future stamp, court or documentary taxes and any other excise or property taxes or charges or similar levies which arise from any payment made under any Loan Document or from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document (hereinafter referred to as “Other Taxes”).

(c) If the Borrower shall be required to deduct or pay any Taxes or Other Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable under any Loan Document to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, the Borrower shall also pay to the Administrative Agent or to such Lender, as the case may be, at the time

 

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interest is paid, such additional amount that the Administrative Agent or such Lender specifies is necessary to preserve the after-tax yield (after factoring in all taxes, including taxes imposed on or measured by net income) that the Administrative Agent or such Lender would have received if such Taxes or Other Taxes had not been imposed.

(d) The Borrower agrees to indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender for (i) the full amount of Taxes and Other Taxes (including any Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted by any jurisdiction on amounts payable under this Section) paid by the Administrative Agent and such Lender, (ii) amounts payable under Section 3.01(c) and (iii) any liability (including additions to tax, penalties, interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto, in each case whether or not such Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. Payment under this subsection (d) shall be made within thirty days after the date the Lender or the Administrative Agent makes a demand therefor.

(e) If any Loan Party is required to pay any amount to any Lender or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 3.01, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts (consistent with legal and regulatory restrictions) to change the jurisdiction of its Lending Office so as to eliminate any such additional payment which may thereafter accrue, if such change in the reasonable judgment of such Lender is not otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender.

3.02 Illegality.

If any Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Eurodollar Rate Loans, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Eurodollar Rate Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all Eurodollar Rate Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans, either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted. Each Lender agrees to designate a different Lending Office if such designation will avoid the need for such notice and will not, in the good faith judgment of such Lender, otherwise be materially disadvantageous to such Lender.

3.03 Inability to Determine Rates.

If the Administrative Agent determines that for any reason 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 that 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 the Lenders of funding such Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower and all Lenders. Thereafter, the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, the 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 Borrowing of Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein.

 

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3.04 Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy.

(a) If any Lender determines that as a result of the introduction of or any change in or in the interpretation of any Law, or such Lender’s compliance therewith, there shall be any increase in the cost to such Lender of agreeing to make or making, funding or maintaining Eurodollar Rate Loans or (as the case may be) issuing or participating in Letters of Credit, or a reduction in the amount received or receivable by such Lender in connection with any of the foregoing (excluding for purposes of this subsection (a) any such increased costs or reduction in amount resulting from (i) Taxes or Other Taxes (as to which Section 3.01 shall govern), (ii) changes in the basis of taxation of overall net income or overall gross income by the United States or any foreign jurisdiction or any political subdivision of either thereof under the Laws of which such Lender is organized or has its Lending Office, and (iii) reserve requirements utilized, as to Eurodollar Rate Loans, in the determination of the Eurodollar Rate), then from time to time upon demand of such Lender (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amounts as will compensate such Lender for such increased cost or reduction.

(b) If any Lender determines that the introduction of any Law regarding capital adequacy or any change therein or in the interpretation thereof, or compliance by such Lender (or its Lending Office) therewith, has the effect of reducing the rate of return on the capital of such Lender or any corporation controlling such Lender as a consequence of such Lender’s obligations hereunder (taking into consideration its policies with respect to capital adequacy and such Lender’s desired return on capital), then from time to time upon demand of such Lender (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amounts as will compensate such Lender for such reduction.

3.05 Funding Losses.

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

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

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

(c) any assignment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 11.16;

including any loss of anticipated profits and any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained. The Borrower shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.

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

 

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3.06 Matters Applicable to all Requests for Compensation.

(a) If any Lender or the Administrative Agent determines that it is entitled to compensation under this Article III, such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, shall give prompt notice thereof to the Borrower. A certificate of the Administrative Agent or any Lender claiming compensation under this Article III and setting forth the additional amount or amounts to be paid to it hereunder shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. In determining such amount, the Administrative Agent or such Lender may use any reasonable averaging and attribution methods.

(b) Upon any Lender’s making a claim for compensation under Section 3.01 or 3.04, the Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 11.16.

(c) Upon the request and at the expense of the Borrower, each Lender to which the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.04 shall reasonably afford the Borrower the opportunity to contest, and shall reasonably cooperate with the Borrower in contesting, the imposition of any Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such payment; provided that (i) such Lender shall not be required to afford the Borrower the opportunity to so contest unless the Borrower shall have confirmed in writing to such Lender its obligation to pay such amounts pursuant to this Agreement and (ii) the Borrower shall reimburse such Lender for its reasonable attorney’s and accountant’s fees and disbursements incurred in so cooperating with the Borrower in contesting the imposition of such Taxes or Other Taxes.

(d) If a Lender changes its applicable lending office (other than pursuant to paragraph (e) below) or engages in a combination with another financial institution and the effect of the change or combination, as of the date of the change or combination, would be to cause the Borrower to become obligated to pay any additional amount under Section 3.01 or Section 3.04, the Borrower shall not be obligated to pay such additional amount.

(e) If a condition or an event occurs that would, or would upon the passage of time or giving of notice, result in the payment of any additional amount to any Lender by the Borrower pursuant to Section 3.01 or Section 3.04, such Lender shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and shall take such steps as may reasonably be available to it and acceptable to the Borrower to mitigate the effects of such condition or event (which shall include efforts to rebook the Loans held by such Lender at another lending office, or through another branch or an affiliate, of such Lender); provided that such Lender shall not be required to take any step that, in its reasonable judgment, would be disadvantageous to its business or operations or would require it to incur additional costs (unless the Borrower agrees to reimburse such Lender for the reasonable incremental out-of-pocket costs thereof).

3.07 Survival.

All of the Borrower’s obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Commitments and repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.

 

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ARTICLE IV

GUARANTY

4.01 The Guaranty.

Each of the Guarantors hereby jointly and severally guarantees to each Lender, each Affiliate of a Lender that enters into a Swap Contract or a Treasury Management Agreement, and the Administrative Agent as hereinafter provided, as primary obligor and not as surety, the prompt payment of the Obligations in full when due (whether at stated maturity, as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration, as a mandatory cash collateralization or otherwise) strictly in accordance with the terms thereof. The Guarantors hereby further agree that if any of the Obligations are not paid in full when due (whether at stated maturity, as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration, as a mandatory cash collateralization or otherwise), the Guarantors will, jointly and severally, promptly pay the same, without any demand or notice whatsoever, and that in the case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any of the Obligations, the same will be promptly paid in full when due (whether at extended maturity, as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration, as a mandatory cash collateralization or otherwise) in accordance with the terms of such extension or renewal.

Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein or in any other of the Loan Documents, Swap Contracts or Treasury Management Agreements, the obligations of each Guarantor under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be limited to an aggregate amount equal to the largest amount that would not render such obligations subject to avoidance under the Debtor Relief Laws or any comparable provisions of any applicable state law.

4.02 Obligations Unconditional.

The obligations of the Guarantors under Section 4.01 are joint and several, absolute and unconditional, irrespective of the value, genuineness, validity, regularity or enforceability of any of the Loan Documents, Swap Contracts or Treasury Management Agreements, or any other agreement or instrument referred to therein, or any substitution, release, impairment or exchange of any other guarantee of or security for any of the Obligations, and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, irrespective of any other circumstance whatsoever which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety or guarantor, it being the intent of this Section 4.02 that the obligations of the Guarantors hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances. Each Guarantor agrees that such Guarantor shall have no right of subrogation, indemnity, reimbursement or contribution against the Borrower or any other Guarantor for amounts paid under this Article IV until such time as the Obligations have been paid in full and the Commitments have expired or terminated. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is agreed that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the occurrence of any one or more of the following shall not alter or impair the liability of any Guarantor hereunder, which shall remain absolute and unconditional as described above:

(a) at any time or from time to time, without notice to any Guarantor, the time for any performance of or compliance with any of the Obligations shall be extended, or such performance or compliance shall be waived;

(b) any of the acts mentioned in any of the provisions of any of the Loan Documents, any Swap Contract or Treasury Management Agreement between any Loan Party and any Lender, or any Affiliate of a Lender, or any other agreement or instrument referred to in the Loan Documents, such Swap Contracts or such Treasury Management Agreements shall be done or omitted;

(c) the maturity of any of the Obligations shall be accelerated, or any of the Obligations shall be modified, supplemented or amended in any respect, or any right under any of the Loan Documents, any Swap Contract or Treasury Management Agreement between any Loan Party and any Lender, or any Affiliate of a Lender, or any other agreement or instrument referred to in the Loan Documents, such Swap Contracts or such Treasury Management Agreements shall be waived or any other guarantee of any of the Obligations or any security therefor shall be released, impaired or exchanged in whole or in part or otherwise dealt with;

 

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(d) any Lien granted to, or in favor of, the Administrative Agent or any Lender or Lenders as security for any of the Obligations shall fail to attach or be perfected; or

(e) any of the Obligations shall be determined to be void or voidable (including, without limitation, for the benefit of any creditor of any Guarantor) or shall be subordinated to the claims of any Person (including, without limitation, any creditor of any Guarantor).

With respect to its obligations hereunder, each Guarantor hereby expressly waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, protest and all notices whatsoever, and any requirement that the Administrative Agent or any Lender exhaust any right, power or remedy or proceed against any Person under any of the Loan Documents, any Swap Contract or any Treasury Management Agreement between any Loan Party and any Lender, or any Affiliate of a Lender, or any other agreement or instrument referred to in the Loan Documents, such Swap Contracts or such Treasury Management Agreements, or against any other Person under any other guarantee of, or security for, any of the Obligations.

4.03 Reinstatement.

The obligations of the Guarantors under this Article IV shall be automatically reinstated if and to the extent that for any reason any payment by or on behalf of any Person in respect of the Obligations is rescinded or must be otherwise restored by any holder of any of the Obligations, whether as a result of any proceedings in bankruptcy or reorganization or otherwise, and each Guarantor agrees that it will indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender on demand for all reasonable costs and expenses (including, without limitation, fees and expenses of counsel) incurred by the Administrative Agent or such Lender in connection with such rescission or restoration, including any such costs and expenses incurred in defending against any claim alleging that such payment constituted a preference, fraudulent transfer or similar payment under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law.

4.04 Certain Additional Waivers.

Without limiting the generality of the provisions of this Article IV, each Guarantor hereby specifically waives the benefits of N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 26-7 through 26-9, inclusive, to the extent applicable. Each Guarantor further agrees that such Guarantor shall have no right of recourse to security for the Obligations, except through the exercise of rights of subrogation pursuant to Section 4.02 and through the exercise of rights of contribution pursuant to Section 4.06.

4.05 Remedies.

The Guarantors agree that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, on the other hand, the Obligations may be declared to be forthwith due and payable as provided in Section 9.02 (and shall be deemed to have become automatically due and payable in the circumstances provided in said Section 9.02) for purposes of Section 4.01 notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such declaration (or preventing the Obligations from becoming automatically due and payable) as against any other Person and that, in the event of such declaration (or the Obligations being deemed to have become automatically due and payable), the Obligations (whether or not due and payable by any other Person) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for purposes of Section 4.01. The Guarantors acknowledge and agree that their obligations hereunder are secured in accordance with the terms of the Collateral Documents and that the Lenders may exercise their remedies thereunder in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

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4.06 Rights of Contribution.

The Guarantors agree among themselves that, in connection with payments made hereunder, each Guarantor shall have contribution rights against the other Guarantors as permitted under applicable law. Such contribution rights shall be subordinate and subject in right of payment to the obligations of such Guarantors under the Loan Documents and no Guarantor shall exercise such rights of contribution until all Obligations have been paid in full and the Commitments have terminated.

4.07 Guarantee of Payment; Continuing Guarantee.

The guarantee in this Article IV is a guaranty of payment and not of collection, is a continuing guarantee, and shall apply to all Obligations whenever arising.

ARTICLE V

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS

5.01 Conditions of Initial Credit Extension.

The obligation of each Lender to make its initial Credit Extension hereunder is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

(a) Loan Documents. Receipt by the Administrative Agent of executed counterparts of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, each property executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party and, in the case of this Agreement, by each Lender.

(b) Organization Documents, Resolutions, Etc. Receipt by the Administrative Agent’s of the following, each of which shall be originals or facsimiles (followed promptly by originals), dated as of a recent date before the Closing Date and in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:

(i) copies of the Organization Documents of each Loan Party certified to be true and complete as of a recent date by the appropriate Governmental Authority of the state or other jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, where applicable, and certified by a secretary or assistant secretary of such Loan Party to be true and correct as of the Closing Date;

(ii) such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party as the Administrative Agent may require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party (including any designation by the Borrower of individuals authorized to sign Loan Notices); and

(iii) such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that each Loan Party is duly organized or formed, and is validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in its state of organization or formation.

 

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(c) Opinion of Counsel. Receipt by the Administrative Agent’s of favorable opinions of counsel to the Loan Parties, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, dated as of the Closing Date, and in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(d) Perfection and Priority of Liens. The Lenders shall have received satisfactory evidence that the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, shall have a valid and perfected first priority Lien in the Collateral (subject to Permitted Liens).

(e) Financial Statements. The Administrative Agent shall have received:

(i) the Audited Financial Statements;

(ii) interim quarterly financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal quarter ending October 29, 2005;

(iii) the projections of the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for fiscal years ending April 29, 2006, April 28, 2007 and April 26, 2008 (collectively, the “Closing Date Projections”); and

(iv) such other information as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.

(f) No Material Adverse Change. There shall not have occurred a material adverse change since April 30, 2005 in the business, assets, liabilities (actual or contingent), operations, financial condition or prospects of the Borrower, together with its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

(g) Closing Certificate. Receipt by the Administrative Agent of a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying that the conditions specified in Section 5.01(f) and Sections 5.02(a), (b) and (c) have been satisfied.

(h) Evidence of Insurance. Receipt by the Administrative Agent of copies of insurance policies or certificates of insurance of the Loan Parties evidencing liability and casualty insurance meeting the requirements set forth in the Loan Documents, including, but not limited to, naming the Collateral Agent as additional insured (in the case of liability insurance) or loss payee (in the case of hazard insurance) on behalf of the Lenders.

(i) Intercreditor Agreement. Receipt by the Administrative Agent of the Intercreditor Agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and duly executed by, and delivered to, the parties thereto.

(j) Delivery of Amendments to Permitted Securitization Transaction. Receipt by the Administrative Agent of copies of amendments to the agreements governing the Permitted Securitization Transaction conforming the financial covenants therein to the financial covenants in this Agreement and otherwise in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

(k) Fees. Receipt by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders of any fees required to be paid on or before the Closing Date.

(l) Attorney Costs. Unless waived by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall have paid all Attorney Costs of the Agents to the extent invoiced prior to or on the Closing Date,

 

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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 the Borrower and the Agents).

Without limiting the generality of the provisions of Section 11.05, for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 5.01, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.

5.02 Conditions to all Credit Extensions.

The obligation of each Lender to honor any Request for Credit Extension (including making any Incremental Term Loan) is subject to the following conditions precedent:

(a) The representations and warranties of the Borrower and each other Loan Party contained in Article VI 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 in all material respects 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 5.02, the representations and warranties contained in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 6.05 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 7.01.

(b) No Default shall exist, or would result from such proposed Credit Extension.

(c) There shall not have been commenced against the Borrower or any Subsidiary an involuntary case under any applicable Debtor Relief Law, now or hereafter in effect, or any case, proceeding or other action for the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of such Person or for any substantial part of its Property or for the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and such involuntary case or other case, proceeding or other action shall remain undismissed.

(d) The Administrative 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.

Each Request for Credit Extension submitted by the Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Sections 5.02(a), (b) and (c) have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.

5.03 Further Conditions to the Borrowing of Incremental Term Loans.

The obligation of any Lender to make an Incremental Term Loan is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions (in addition to the conditions set forth in Section 5.02):

 

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(a) Incremental Term Loan Notes. If requested by such Lender, on or prior to any Incremental Term Loan Borrowing Date the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender an Incremental Term Loan Note.

(b) Payment of Fees. Receipt by such Lender of any fees required to be paid on or before the Incremental Term Loan Borrowing Date.

(c) Opinions of Counsel. On any Incremental Term Loan Borrowing Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received favorable opinions of counsel to the Loan Parties, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, dated as of the Incremental Term Loan Borrowing Date, and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(d) Organizational Documents, Resolutions, Etc. On any Incremental Term Loan Borrowing Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received documents and certificates of the types referred to in Sections 5.01(b) for each Loan Party, dated as of a recent date before such Incremental Term Loan Borrowing Date and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:

(e) Compliance with the Senior Subordinated Notes. On the Incremental Term Loan Borrowing Date, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate dated as of the Incremental Term Loan Borrowing Date certifying that the Incremental Term Loan Commitment Agreement and the incurrence of all Incremental Term Loans pursuant thereto are, and when incurred or issued will be, permitted under the Subordinated Indebtedness Documents and shall constitute both “Senior Debt” and “Designated Senior Debt” thereunder.

(f) Attorney Costs. Unless waived by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall have paid all Attorney Costs of the Agents to the extent invoiced prior to or on the Incremental Term Loan Borrowing 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 the Borrower and the Agents).

ARTICLE VI

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

The Loan Parties represent and warrant to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

6.01 Existence, Qualification and Power.

Each Loan Party (a) is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company 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 its assets and carry on its business and (ii) execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and (c) is duly qualified and is licensed and in good standing under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification or license; except in each case referred to in clause (b)(i) or (c), to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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6.02 Authorization; No Contravention.

The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is party, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and do not (a) contravene the terms of any of such Person’s Organization Documents; (b) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien under, (i) any Contractual Obligation to which such Person is a party (except to the extent that the 2003 Convertible Subordinated Notes are convertible as of the date hereof through maturity thereof and the 2003 Convertible Subordinated Note Documents provide that upon conversion the Borrower shall satisfy in cash the portion of its Conversion Obligation (as defined in the 2003 Convertible Subordinated Note Indenture) equal to the Accreted Principal Amount (as defined in the 2003 Convertible Subordinated Note Indenture) of the 2003 Convertible Subordinated Notes to be converted pursuant to such Conversion Obligation) 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 (including, without limitation, Regulation U or Regulation X issued by the FRB).

6.03 Governmental Authorization; Other Consents.

No approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is necessary or required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, other than (i) those that have already been obtained and are in full force and effect and (ii) filings to perfect the Liens created by the Collateral Documents.

6.04 Binding Effect.

This Agreement and each other Loan Document has been duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party that is party thereto. This Agreement and each other Loan Document constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of each Loan Party that is party thereto, enforceable against each such Loan Party in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable Debtor Relief Laws or by equitable principals relating to enforceability.

6.05 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 the 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 the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof, including liabilities for taxes, commitments and Indebtedness.

(b) The unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries dated October 29, 2005 and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the fiscal quarter ended on that date, in each case as set forth in the Borrower’s Form 10Q for such fiscal quarter (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 the 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; and (iii) show all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness.

 

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(c) From April 30, 2005 to and including the Closing Date, there has been no Disposition by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any Involuntary Disposition, of any material part of the business or Property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and no purchase or other acquisition by any of them of any business or property (including any Capital Stock of any other Person) material in relation to the consolidated financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in each case, which is not reflected in the foregoing financial statements or in the notes thereto and has not otherwise been disclosed in writing to the Lenders on or prior to the Closing Date.

(d) The Closing Date Projections are based upon reasonable assumptions made known to the Lenders and upon information not known to be incorrect or misleading in any material respect.

(e) The financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a) and (b) have been prepared in accordance with GAAP (except as may otherwise be permitted under Section 7.01(a) and (b)) and present fairly (on the basis disclosed in the footnotes to such financial statements) in all material respects the consolidated and, in the case of consolidating annual financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a), consolidating, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of such date and for such periods.

(f) Since April 30, 2005 there has been no event or circumstance that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.06 Litigation.

There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of the Loan Parties after due and diligent investigation, threatened or contemplated, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against the 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 (b) is reasonably likely to be determined adversely to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and, if determined adversely, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.07 No Default.

(a) Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is in default under or with respect to any Contractual Obligation that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) No Default has occurred and is continuing.

6.08 Ownership of Property; Liens.

Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries 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 the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is subject to no Liens, other than Permitted Liens.

 

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6.09 Environmental Compliance.

Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect:

(a) Each of the Facilities and all operations at the Facilities are in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws, and there is no violation of any Environmental Law with respect to the Facilities or the Businesses, and there are no conditions relating to the Facilities or the Businesses that could give rise to liability under any applicable Environmental Laws.

(b) None of the Facilities contains, or has previously contained, any Hazardous Materials at, on or under the Facilities in amounts or concentrations that constitute or constituted a violation of, or could give rise to liability under, Environmental Laws.

(c) Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary has received any written or verbal notice of, or inquiry from any Governmental Authority regarding, any violation, alleged violation, non-compliance, liability or potential liability regarding environmental matters or compliance with Environmental Laws with regard to any of the Facilities or the Businesses, nor does any Responsible Officer of any Loan Party have knowledge or reason to believe that any such notice will be received or is being threatened.

(d) Hazardous Materials have not been transported or disposed of from the Facilities, or generated, treated, stored or disposed of at, on or under any of the Facilities or any other location, in each case by or on behalf the Borrower or any Subsidiary in violation of, or in a manner that would be reasonably likely to give rise to liability under, any applicable Environmental Law.

(e) No judicial proceeding or governmental or administrative action is pending or, to the knowledge of the Responsible Officers of the Loan Parties, threatened, under any Environmental Law to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is or will be named as a party, nor are there any consent decrees or other decrees, consent orders, administrative orders or other orders, or other administrative or judicial requirements outstanding under any Environmental Law with respect to the Borrower, any Subsidiary, the Facilities or the Businesses.

(f) There has been no release or, threat of release of Hazardous Materials at or from the Facilities, or arising from or related to the operations (including, without limitation, disposal) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with the Facilities or otherwise in connection with the Businesses, in violation of or in amounts or in a manner that could give rise to liability under Environmental Laws.

6.10 Insurance.

The Property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Borrower, in such amounts, with such deductibles and covering such risks as are customarily carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in localities where the Borrower or the applicable Subsidiary operates.

6.11 Taxes.

The 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 those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings

 

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diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP. There is no proposed tax assessment against the Borrower or any Subsidiary that would, if made, have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.12 ERISA Compliance.

(a) Each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code and other federal or state Laws. Each Plan that is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS or an application for such a letter is currently being processed by the IRS with respect thereto and, to the best knowledge of the Loan Parties, nothing has occurred which would prevent, or cause the loss of, such qualification. Each Loan Party and each ERISA Affiliate have made all required contributions to each Plan subject to Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code, and no application for a funding waiver or an extension of any amortization period pursuant to Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code has been made with respect to any Plan.

(b) There are no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Loan Parties, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan that could be 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) no Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan (other than premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA); (iv) no Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability (and no event has occurred which, with the giving of notice under Section 4219 of ERISA, would result in such liability) under Sections 4201 or 4243 of ERISA with respect to a Multiemployer Plan; and (v) no Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Sections 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA.

6.13 Subsidiaries.

Set forth on Schedule 6.13 is a complete and accurate list as of the Closing Date of each Subsidiary, together with (i) number of shares of each class of Capital Stock outstanding and (ii) number and percentage of outstanding shares of each class owned (directly or indirectly) by the Borrower or any Subsidiary. The outstanding Capital Stock of each Subsidiary is validly issued, fully paid and, subject to Section 180.0622 of the Wisconsin General Statutes in the case of any Subsidiary formed under the laws of the State of Wisconsin, non-assessable and is not subject to any outstanding options, warrants, rights of conversion or purchase or any other similar rights with respect thereto.

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

(a) The 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. Following the application of the proceeds of each Borrowing or drawing under each Letter of Credit, not more than 25% of the value of the assets (either of the Borrower only or of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis) subject to the provisions of Section 8.01 or Section 8.05 or subject to any restriction contained in any agreement or instrument between the Borrower and any Lender or any Affiliate of any Lender relating to Indebtedness and within the scope of Section 9.01(e) will be margin stock.

 

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(b) None of the 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 or is controlled by any Person that is or is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

6.15 Disclosure.

No report, financial statement, certificate or other information furnished (whether in writing or orally) by or on behalf of any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Loan Parties represent only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time.

6.16 Compliance with Laws.

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

6.17 Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.

The Borrower and its Subsidiaries own, or possess the legal right to use, 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, except for Permitted Liens and any defects in title that could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Set forth on Schedule 6.17 is a list of all IP Rights registered or pending registration with the United States Copyright Office or the United States Patent and Trademark Office and owned by each Loan Party as of the Closing Date. Except for such claims and infringements that could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, no claim has been asserted and is pending by any Person challenging or questioning the use of any IP Rights or the validity or effectiveness of any IP Rights, nor does any Loan Party know of any such claim, and, to the knowledge of the Responsible Officers of the Loan Parties, the use of any IP Rights by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or the granting of a right or a license in respect of any IP Rights from the Borrower or any Subsidiary does not infringe on the rights of any Person. As of the Closing Date, none of the IP Rights owned by any of the Loan Parties is subject to any licensing agreement or similar arrangement except as set forth on Schedule 6.17.

 

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6.18 [Reserved].

6.19 Perfection of Security Interests in the Collateral.

The Collateral Documents create valid security interests in, and Liens on, the Collateral purported to be covered thereby, which security interests and Liens are currently perfected security interests and Liens, prior to all other Liens other than Permitted Liens.

6.20 Business Locations.

(a) Set forth on Schedule 6.20(a) is a list of all real property located in the United States that is owned or leased by the Loan Parties as of the Closing Date.

(b) Set forth on Schedule 6.20(b) is a list of all locations where any tangible personal property of any Loan Party is located as of the Closing Date (other than those locations set forth on Schedule 6.20(a)).

(c) Set forth on Schedule 6.20(c) is the chief executive office location of each Loan Party as of the Closing Date.

(d) The exact legal name and state of formation of each Loan Party is as set forth on the signature pages to this Agreement.

(e) Except as set forth on Schedule 6.20(e), no Loan Party has during the five years preceding the Closing Date (i) changed its legal name, (ii) changed its state of formation, or (iii) been party to a merger, consolidation or other change in structure.

6.21 Labor Matters.

There are no collective bargaining agreements or Multiemployer Plans covering the employees of the Borrower or any Subsidiary as of the Closing Date and neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary has suffered any strikes, walkouts, work stoppages or other material labor difficulty within the last five years.

ARTICLE VII

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, the Loan Parties shall and shall cause each Subsidiary to:

7.01 Financial Statements.

Deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and detail satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:

(a) as soon as available, but in any event within ninety days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a consolidated and consolidating, balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year, and the related consolidated and consolidating, statements of income or operations, retained earnings, 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

 

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by a report and opinion of Deloitte & Touche, LLP or other independent certified public accountants 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; and

(b) as soon as available, but in any event within forty-five days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a consolidated and consolidating balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter, and the related consolidated and consolidating statements of income or operations, retained earnings, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the 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 the Borrower as fairly presenting in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

7.02 Certificates; Other Information.

Deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and detail satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:

(a) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Section 7.01(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 any of the financial covenants contained in Section 8.11 or, if any such Default shall exist, stating the nature and status of such event;

(b) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 7.01(a) and (b), a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower;

(c) within three (3) Business Days after the first quarterly board of directors meeting of each fiscal year (but in any event by no later than June 30 of each year), the annual business plan and budget of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries containing, among other things, projected financial statements for each quarter of the next fiscal year;

(d) within three (3) Business Days after the first quarterly board of directors meeting of each fiscal year (but in any event by no later than June 30 of each year), a capital expenditures budget for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;

(e) within 45 days after the end of each fiscal quarter, a report of capital expenditures and Dispositions (including Sale and Leasebacks Transactions and the terms thereof) and reinvestment of net proceeds thereof for the fiscal quarter and including information for the fiscal year-to-date and a comparison against both the prior fiscal year and the capital budget, in form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, demonstrating, among other things, compliance with the provisions of Sections 8.05 and Section 8.11(e);

 

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

(g) promptly after the same are available, (i) copies of each annual report, proxy or financial statement or other report or communication sent to the stockholders of the Borrower, and copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which the Borrower may file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or to a holder of any Indebtedness owed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in its capacity as such a holder and not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto and (ii) upon the request of the Administrative Agent, all reports and written information to and from the United States Environmental Protection Agency, or any state or local agency responsible for environmental matters, the United States Occupational Health and Safety Administration, or any state or local agency responsible for health and safety matters, or any successor agencies or authorities concerning environmental, health or safety matters;

(h) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 7.01(a) and (b), a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower (i) listing (A) all applications, if any, for Copyrights, Patents or Trademarks (each such term as defined in the Security Agreement) made since the date of the prior certificate (or, in the case of the first such certificate, the Closing Date), (B) all issuances of registrations or letters on existing applications for Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks (each such term as defined in the Security Agreement) received since the date of the prior certificate (or, in the case of the first such certificate, the Closing Date), and (C) all material Trademark Licenses, Copyright Licenses and Patent Licenses (each such term as defined in the Security Agreement) entered into since the date of the prior certificate (or, in the case of the first such certificate, the Closing Date), and (ii) attaching the insurance binder or other evidence of insurance for any insurance coverage of the Borrower or any Subsidiary that was renewed, replaced or modified during the period covered by such financial statements; and

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

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a) or (b) or Section 7.02(f) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 11.02; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on IntraLinks/IntraAgency or another relevant website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that: (i) the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent or any Lender that requests the Borrower to deliver such paper copies until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent or such Lender and (ii) the Borrower shall notify (which may be by facsimile or electronic mail) the Administrative Agent and each Lender of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in every instance the Borrower shall be required to provide paper copies of the Compliance Certificates required by Section 7.02(b) to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders. Except for such Compliance Certificates, the Administrative Agent shall have no

 

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obligation to request the delivery or to maintain copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Borrower with any such request for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such documents.

The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent will make available to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks or another similar electronic system (the “Platform”) and (b) certain of the Lenders may be “public-side” Lenders (i.e., Lenders that do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities) (each, a “Public Lender”). The Borrower hereby agrees that (w) all Borrower Materials that are to be made available to Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States federal and state securities laws (provided, however, that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 11.07); (y) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated as “Public Investor;” and (z) the Administrative Agent 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 marked as “Public Investor.” Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall be under no obligation to mark any Borrower Materials “PUBLIC.”

7.03 Notices.

(a) Promptly (and in any event within two Business Days) notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender of the occurrence of any Default.

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

Each notice pursuant to this Section 7.03 shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto. Each notice pursuant to Section 7.03(a) shall describe with particularity any and all provisions of this Agreement and any other Loan Document that have been breached.

7.04 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 the Borrower or such Subsidiary; and (b) all lawful claims which, if unpaid, would by law become a Lien upon its property diligently conducted and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by the Borrower or such Subsidiary.

 

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7.05 Preservation of Existence, Etc.

(a) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence and good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section 8.04 or 8.05; (b) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (c) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges, permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (d) preserve or renew all of its material registered patents, trademarks, trade names and service marks, except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

7.06 Maintenance of Properties.

(a) Maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear and Involuntary Dispositions excepted; (b) make all necessary repairs thereto and renewals and replacements thereof; and (c) use the standard of care typical in the industry in the operation and maintenance of its facilities.

7.07 Maintenance of Insurance.

Maintain in full force and effect insurance (including worker’s compensation insurance, liability insurance, casualty insurance and business interruption insurance) with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Borrower, in such amounts, with such deductibles and covering such risks as are customarily carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in localities where the Borrower or the applicable Subsidiary operates. The Collateral Agent shall be named as loss payee or mortgagee, as its interest may appear, and/or additional insured with respect to any such insurance providing coverage in respect of any Collateral, and each provider of any such insurance shall agree, by endorsement upon the policy or policies issued by it or by independent instruments furnished to the Collateral Agent, that it will give the Collateral Agent thirty (30) days prior written notice before any such policy or policies shall be altered or canceled.

7.08 Compliance with Laws.

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

7.09 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 the 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 the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be.

 

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7.10 Inspection Rights.

Permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent and each Lender to visit and inspect any of its properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records (other than materials protected by the attorney-client privilege or materials which the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may not disclose without violation of a confidentiality obligation binding upon them), and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, officers, and independent public accountants, all at the expense of the Lenders and at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice to the Borrower; provided, however, that when an Event of Default exists the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Borrower at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice. The Loan Parties agree that the Administrative Agent, and its representatives, may conduct an annual audit of the Collateral, at the expense of the Loan Parties.

7.11 Use of Proceeds.

Use the proceeds of the Credit Extensions (a) to finance working capital, capital expenditures and other general corporate purposes, (b) to refinance Indebtedness outstanding under the Existing Revolving Credit Agreement and the Existing Term Loan Credit Agreement, and (c) to finance Permitted Acquisitions, provided that in no event shall be the proceeds of the Credit Extensions be used in contravention of any Law or of any Loan Document.

7.12 Additional Subsidiaries.

Within thirty (30) days after the acquisition or formation of any Subsidiary:

(a) notify the Administrative Agent thereof in writing, together with (i) jurisdiction of formation, (ii) number of shares of each class of Capital Stock outstanding, (iii) number and percentage of outstanding shares of each class owned (directly or indirectly) by the Borrower or any Subsidiary and (iv) number and effect, if exercised, of all outstanding options, warrants, rights of conversion or purchase and all other similar rights with respect thereto; and

(b) if such Subsidiary is a Domestic Subsidiary, cause such Person to (i) become a Guarantor by executing and delivering to the Administrative Agent a Joinder Agreement or such other document as the Administrative Agent shall deem appropriate for such purpose, and (ii) deliver to the Administrative Agent documents of the types referred to in Sections 5.01(b) and (d) and favorable opinions of counsel to such Person (which shall cover, among other things, the legality, validity, binding effect and enforceability of the documentation referred to in clause (a)), all in form, content and scope reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Special Purpose Subsidiary shall not be required to be a Guarantor or grant a security interest in its Property to secure the Obligations.

7.13 ERISA Compliance.

Do, and cause each of its ERISA Affiliates to do, each of the following: (a) maintain each Plan in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code and other federal or state law; (b) cause each Plan that is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code to maintain such qualification; and (c) make all required contributions to any Plan subject to Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

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7.14 Pledged Assets.

Each Loan Party will (i) cause all of its owned and leased real and personal Property (subject, in the case of owned real Property, to Section 7.15) other than Excluded Property to be subject at all times to first priority, perfected and, in the case of real Property, title insured Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent to secure the Obligations pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Collateral Documents or, with respect to any such Property acquired subsequent to the Closing Date, such other additional security documents as the Collateral Agent shall reasonably request, subject in any case to Permitted Liens and (ii) deliver such other documentation as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request in connection with the foregoing, including, without limitation, appropriate UCC-1 financing statements, real estate title insurance policies, surveys, environmental reports, landlord’s waivers, certified resolutions and other organizational and authorizing documents of such Person, favorable opinions of counsel to such Person (which shall cover, among other things, the legality, validity, binding effect and enforceability of the documentation referred to above and the perfection of the Collateral Agent’s Liens thereunder) and other items of the types required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(d), all in form, content and scope reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent. Without limiting the generality of the above, the Loan Parties will cause (a) 100% of the issued and outstanding Capital Stock of each Domestic Subsidiary and (b) 65% (or such greater percentage that, due to a change in an applicable Law after the date hereof, (1) could not reasonably be expected to cause the undistributed earnings of such Foreign Subsidiary as determined for United States federal income tax purposes to be treated as a deemed dividend to such Foreign Subsidiary’s United States parent and (2) could not reasonably be expected to cause any material adverse tax consequences) of the issued and outstanding Capital Stock entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.956-2(c)(2)) and 100% of the issued and outstanding Capital Stock not entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.956-2(c)(2)) in each Foreign Subsidiary directly owned by the Borrower or any Domestic Subsidiary to be subject at all times to a first priority, perfected Lien in favor of the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Collateral Documents or such other security documents as the Collateral Agent shall reasonably request.

7.15 Real Property.

If the Borrower or any Domestic Subsidiary at any time owns any real property (including real property owned on the Closing Date and real property acquired after the Closing Date), the Borrower will, or will cause such Subsidiary to, either:

(a) sell or otherwise dispose (including by way of a Sale and Leaseback Transaction) such real property within 18 months from the date of acquisition, in the case of any such real property with a fair market value of less than $5 million, and within 12 months from the date of acquisition in the case of any such real property with a fair market value of $5 million or more (the applicable disposition period with respect to any such real property is the “Disposition Period”); or

(b) in the event that any such real property is not sold or otherwise disposed of prior to the end of the Disposition Period:

(i) in the case of any real property with a fair market value of $5 million or more, the Borrower or such Subsidiary will prior to the end of the Disposition Period (or, if the Disposition Period for any real property expired prior to the Closing Date, then prior to the date sixty (60) days after the Closing Date) (A) cause such real property to be

 

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released from any mortgage Lien thereon and (B) grant a Lien on such real property in favor of the Collateral Agent to secure the Obligations and deliver to the Collateral Agent such other items as required pursuant to Section 7.14;

(ii) in the case of any real property with a fair market value of less than $5 million, to the extent the fair market value of all such real properties exceeds $15 million in the aggregate, the Borrower or such Subsidiary will prior to the end of the Disposition Period (or, if the Disposition Period for any real property expired prior to the Closing Date, then prior to the date sixty (60) days after the Closing Date) cause a sufficient number of such real properties to be released from any mortgage Liens thereon and grant mortgage Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent to secure the Obligations and deliver to the Collateral Agent such other items as required pursuant to Section 7.14, such that after giving effect thereto the fair market value of such real properties not subject to the mortgage Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent to secure the Obligations does not exceed $15 million in the aggregate.

7.16 Landlord Lien Waivers.

The Credit Parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain landlord lien waivers, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, for (i) each distribution center leased by any Loan Party (for purposes hereof, a distribution center is any location leased by a Loan Party with more than 100,000 square feet) and (ii) for any other location leased by a Loan Party if requested by the Administrative Agent.

ARTICLE VIII

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, no Loan Party shall, nor shall it permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly:

8.01 Liens.

Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its Property, 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 8.01-1 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 8.03(b);

(c) Liens (other than Liens imposed under ERISA) for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or levies 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) statutory Liens of landlords and Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen and suppliers and other Liens imposed by law or pursuant to customary reservations or

 

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retentions of title arising in the ordinary course of business, provided that such Liens secure only amounts not yet due and payable or, if due and payable, are unfiled and no other action has been taken to enforce the same or are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings for which adequate reserves determined in accordance with GAAP have been established;

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

(f) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, licenses 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 (or appeal or other surety bonds relating to such judgments) not in excess of the Threshold Amount (except to the extent covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer has acknowledged in writing its obligation to cover), unless any such judgment remains undischarged for a period of more than sixty consecutive days during which execution is not effectively stayed;

(i) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.03(c); provided that (i) such Liens do not at any time encumber any Property other than the Property financed by such Indebtedness, (ii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the purchase price of the Property being acquired and (iii) such Liens attach to such Property concurrently with or within ninety days after the acquisition thereof;

(j) Liens securing purchase money Indebtedness (including obligations in respect of capital leases or Synthetic Leases) permitted under Section 8.03(b); provided that such Liens do not at any time encumber any Property other than the Property financed by such Indebtedness;

(k) leases, licenses or subleases granted to others not interfering in any material respect with the business of the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

(l) any interest of title of a lessor under, and Liens arising from UCC financing statements (or equivalent filings, registrations or agreements in foreign jurisdictions) relating to, leases permitted by this Agreement;

(m) Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements permitted under Section 8.02;

(n) normal and customary rights of setoff upon deposits of cash in favor of banks or other depository institutions;

(o) Liens of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent in foreign jurisdictions) on items in the course of collection;

 

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(p) Liens of sellers of goods to the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries arising under Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code or similar provisions of applicable law in the ordinary course of business, covering only the goods sold and securing only the unpaid purchase price for such goods and related expenses;

(q) Liens on Securitization Related Property created or deemed to exist in connection with the Permitted Securitization Transaction, but only to the extent that such Liens are subject to the Intercreditor Agreement; and

(r) mortgage Liens on the real Property of any Person acquired after the Closing Date, provided that (i) such Liens secure Indebtedness permitted by Section 8.03(h); (ii) such Liens existed prior to such acquisition and were not created in anticipation thereof, and (iii) such Liens are not extended to any other Property after such acquisition.

8.02 Investments.

Make any Investments, except:

(a) Investments held by the Borrower or such Subsidiary in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents;

(b) Investments existing as of the Closing Date and set forth in Schedule 8.02;

(c) Investments consisting of loans to employees, directors or officers in connection with the cashless exercise of stock options, provided that such loans are repaid in full on the date of issuance with the proceeds from the sale of the stock purchased with the loan proceeds.

(d) Investments consisting of advances or loans to directors, officers and employees for travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous business purposes made in the ordinary course of business on terms consistent with past practices of the Borrower in an aggregate principal amount (including Investments of such type set forth in Schedule 8.02) not to exceed $2,000,000 at any time outstanding;

(e) advances or loans to customers or suppliers that do not exceed $5,000,000 in the aggregate at any one time outstanding;

(f) Investments by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates in connection with the Permitted Securitization Transaction;

(g) Investments by any Foreign Subsidiary in another Foreign Subsidiary;

(h) Investments in any Person that is a Loan Party prior to giving effect to such Investment;

(i) 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 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;

(j) Investments received as consideration for Dispositions permitted under Section 8.05;

 

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(k) Guarantees permitted by Section 8.03;

(l) Permitted Acquisitions; and

(m) Investments not permitted in the foregoing clauses in an amount not to exceed $10,000,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding.

8.03 Indebtedness.

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

(a) Indebtedness under the Loan Documents;

(b) Indebtedness set forth in Schedule 8.03 (and renewals, refinancings and extensions thereof on terms and conditions not materially less favorable to the applicable debtor(s));

(c) purchase money Indebtedness (including obligations in respect of capital leases or Synthetic Leases) hereafter incurred to finance the purchase of fixed assets, provided that (i) the aggregate principal amount of all such Indebtedness shall not exceed $10,000,000 at any one time outstanding, (ii) such Indebtedness when incurred shall not exceed the purchase price of the asset(s) financed and (iii) no such Indebtedness shall be refinanced for a principal amount in excess of the principal balance outstanding thereon at the time of such refinancing;

(d) Indebtedness under the Permitted Securitization Transaction; provided that the Attributable Indebtedness thereunder shall not exceed $175,000,000 at any time outstanding;

(e) obligations (contingent or otherwise) of the 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;

(f) intercompany Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.02;

(g) Subordinated Indebtedness consisting of:

(i) Indebtedness evidenced by the 2003 Convertible Subordinated Notes (and renewals, refinancing and refundings of the then outstanding principal amount thereof, provided that (A) the terms of subordination thereof shall be customary for similar subordinated indebtedness issuances but in any event shall not be less favorable to the Lenders than the terms of subordination contained in the 2003 Convertible Subordinated Note Documents and (B) the other terms and conditions thereof shall not be less favorable to the Lenders than the terms and conditions contained in the 2003 Convertible Subordinated Note Documents); and

 

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(ii) other Subordinated Indebtedness, provided that (A) the Borrower shall have delivered a Pro Forma Compliance Certificate to the Administrative Agent demonstrating that, upon giving effect on a Pro Forma Basis to the incurrence of such Subordinated Indebtedness, the Loan Parties would be in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.11 as of the most recent fiscal quarter end for which the Borrower has delivered financial statements pursuant to Section 7.01(a) or (b), and (B) no Default or Event of Default shall exist at the time or would exist after giving effect to the incurrence of such Subordinated Indebtedness;

(h) mortgage Indebtedness assumed in connection with a Permitted Acquisition, and any refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension thereof, provided that (i) such Indebtedness was in existence as of the date of the acquisition and was not incurred or assumed in contemplation thereof, and (ii) the amount of any such mortgage Indebtedness shall not be increased in connection with any refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension (exclusive of reasonable premiums, fees and expenses in connection therewith);

(i) unsecured Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $5,000,000 at any one time outstanding;

(j) obligations arising under surety bonds and similar instruments entered into in the ordinary course of business in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $15 million at any one time outstanding; and

(k) Guarantees with respect to Indebtedness permitted under this Section 8.03.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 8.03 or otherwise, the Special Purpose Subsidiary shall not contract, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness other than Indebtedness existing from time to time under the Permitted Securitization Transaction.

8.04 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; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 8.04 but subject to the terms of Sections 7.12 and 7.14, (a) the Borrower may merge or consolidate with any of its Subsidiaries provided that the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving corporation, (b) any Loan Party other than the Borrower may merge or consolidate with any other Loan Party other than the Borrower, (c) any Foreign Subsidiary may be merged or consolidated with or into any Loan Party provided that such Loan Party shall be the continuing or surviving corporation, (d) any Foreign Subsidiary may be merged or consolidated with or into any other Foreign Subsidiary, (e) any Subsidiary may merge with any Person that is not a Loan Party in connection with a Disposition permitted under Section 8.05 or a Permitted Acquisition provided that, if such transaction involves the Borrower, the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving corporation, and (g) any Wholly Owned Subsidiary may dissolve, liquidate or wind up its affairs at any time provided that such dissolution, liquidation or winding up, as applicable, could not have a Material Adverse Effect.

8.05 Dispositions.

Make any Disposition unless (a) such transaction does not involve the sale or other disposition of a minority equity interest in any Subsidiary, (b) such transaction does not involve a sale or other disposition of

 

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receivables other than receivables owned by or attributable to other Property concurrently being disposed of in a transaction otherwise permitted under this Section 8.05, (c) the aggregate net book value of all of the assets sold or otherwise disposed of by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in all Dispositions in any fiscal year of the Borrower shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of Consolidated Net Worth as of the end of the immediately preceding fiscal year, (d) the aggregate amount of consideration (other than consideration consisting of cash, Cash Equivalents and Indebtedness assumed) received in all Dispositions in any fiscal year of the Borrower shall not exceed three and one-third percent (3.33%) of Consolidated Net Worth as of the end of the immediately preceding fiscal year (it being understood that in the case of any deferred purchase price obligations, including earn-out obligations, for purposes of this clause (d) the amount of such deferred purchase price obligations shall be the good faith estimate made by the Borrower at the time of such Disposition), and (e) in the case of any Disposition in which the aggregate net book value of all assets subject thereto exceeds $15,000,000, no later than five (5) Business Days prior to such Disposition, the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a Pro Forma Compliance Certificate demonstrating that, upon giving effect on a Pro Forma Basis to such transaction, the Loan Parties would be in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.11 as of the most recent fiscal quarter end for which the Borrower has delivered financial statements pursuant to Section 7.01(a) or (b).

8.06 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 (directly or indirectly) to any Loan Party;

(b) the Borrower may convert Subordinated Indebtedness into equity and may repurchase Subordinated Indebtedness to the extent permitted by Section 8.12; and

(c) the Borrower may make any other Restricted Payments, provided that (i) the aggregate amount of all such Restricted Payments made during the term of this Agreement shall not exceed the sum of (A) $50 million plus (B) an amount up to $75 million equal to the aggregate amount of Net Cash Proceeds received by the Borrower from issuance of Subordinated Indebtedness after the Closing Date, (ii) no Default shall exist at the time of making any such Restricted Payment, and (iii) prior to making any such Restricted Payment, the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a Pro Forma Compliance Certificate demonstrating that, upon giving effect on a Pro Forma Basis to such Restricted Payment, the Loan Parties would be in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 8.11 as of the most recent fiscal quarter end for which the Borrower has delivered financial statements pursuant to Section 7.01(a) or (b).

8.07 Change in Nature of Business.

Engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on the Closing Date or any business substantially related or incidental thereto.

8.08 Transactions with Affiliates and Insiders.

Enter into or permit to exist any transaction or series of transactions with any officer, director or Affiliate of such Person other than (a) transactions between Loan Parties, (b) transactions identified on SEC filings made prior to the Closing Date, (c) intercompany transactions expressly permitted by Section 8.01, Section 8.02, Section 8.03, Section 8.04, Section 8.05 or Section 8.06, (d) reasonable compensation and

 

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reimbursement of expenses of officers and directors and (e) except as otherwise specifically limited in this Agreement, other transactions which are entered into in the ordinary course of such Person’s business on terms and conditions substantially as favorable to such Person as would be obtainable by it in a comparable arms-length transaction with a Person other than an officer, director or Affiliate.

8.09 Burdensome Agreements.

(a) Enter into or permit to exist any Contractual Obligation that encumbers or restricts on the ability of any such Person to (i) pay dividends or make any other distributions to any Loan Party on its Capital Stock or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, (ii) pay any Indebtedness or other obligation owed to any Loan Party, (iii) make loans or advances to any Loan Party, (iv) sell, lease or transfer any of its Property to any Loan Party, (v) pledge its Property (other than Excluded Property) pursuant to the Loan Documents or any renewals, refinancings, exchanges, refundings or extension thereof or (vi) act as a Loan Party pursuant to the Loan Documents or any renewals, refinancings, exchanges, refundings or extension thereof, except (in respect of any of the matters referred to in clauses (i)-(v) above) for (1) this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (2) any document or instrument governing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 8.03(c), provided that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets constructed or acquired in connection therewith, (3) any Permitted Lien or any document or instrument governing any Permitted Lien, provided that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets subject to such Permitted Lien, (4) customary restrictions and conditions contained in any agreement relating to the sale of any Property permitted under Section 8.05 pending the consummation of such sale, (4) any document or instrument governing Subordinated Indebtedness and (5) any document or instrument governing the Permitted Securitization Transaction, provided that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the Special Purpose Subsidiary and its Property.

(b) Enter into or permit to exist any Contractual Obligation that prohibits or otherwise restricts the existence of any Lien upon any of its Property in favor of the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of the Lenders) for the purpose of securing the Obligations, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or requiring the grant of any security for any obligation if such Property is given as security for the Obligations, except (i) any document or instrument governing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 8.03(c), provided that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets constructed or acquired in connection therewith, (ii) in connection with any Permitted Lien or any document or instrument governing any Permitted Lien, provided that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets subject to such Permitted Lien, (iii) pursuant to customary restrictions and conditions contained in any agreement relating to the sale of any Property permitted under Section 8.05, pending the consummation of such sale, (iv) any document or instrument governing Subordinated Indebtedness and (v) any document or instrument governing the Permitted Securitization Transaction, provided that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the Special Purpose Subsidiary and its Property.

8.10 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.

8.11 Financial Covenants.

(a) Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio. Permit the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower to be greater than (i) for the fiscal quarter ending on or about

 

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January 28, 2006 and the fiscal quarter ending on or about April 29, 2006, 5.00:1.0, (ii) for each fiscal quarter ending thereafter, (A) 4.25:1.0 if such fiscal quarter is the third or fourth fiscal quarter of the Borrower’s fiscal year and (B) 5.0:1.0 if such fiscal quarter is the first or second fiscal quarter of the Borrower’s fiscal year.

(b) Consolidated Senior Leverage Ratio. Permit the Consolidated Senior Leverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower to be greater than (i) for the fiscal quarter ending on or about January 28, 2006 and the fiscal quarter ending on or about April 29, 2006, 3.25:1.0, (ii) for each fiscal quarter ending thereafter, (A) 3.0:1.0 if such fiscal quarter is the third or fourth fiscal quarter of the Borrower’s fiscal year and (B) 3.75:1.0 if such fiscal quarter is the first or second fiscal quarter of the Borrower’s fiscal year.

(c) Consolidated Fixed Charges Coverage Ratio. Permit the Consolidated Fixed Charges Coverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower to be less than 3.0:1.0.

(d) Consolidated Capital Expenditures. Consolidated Capital Expenditures for any fiscal year shall not exceed $25,000,000 plus up to $5,000,000 of the unused amount available for Consolidated Capital Expenditures under this Section 8.11(d) for the immediately preceding fiscal year (excluding any carry forward available from any prior fiscal year); provided, however, that with respect to any fiscal year, Consolidated Capital Expenditures made during such fiscal year shall be deemed to be made first with respect to the applicable limitation for such fiscal year and then with respect to any carry-forward from the immediately preceding fiscal year.

8.12 Prepayment of Other Indebtedness, Etc.

(a) Amend or modify any of the terms of any Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than Indebtedness arising under the Loan Documents) if such amendment or modification would add or change any terms in a manner materially adverse to the Borrower or any Subsidiary (including in the case of any Subordinated Indebtedness, any amendment or modification that would shorten the final maturity or average life to maturity or require any payment to be made sooner than originally scheduled or increase the interest rate applicable thereto).

(b) Amend or modify any of the subordination provisions of any Subordinated Indebtedness.

(c)     (i) With respect to any Subordinated Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, make (or give any notice with respect thereto) any prepayment, redemption, defeasance or acquisition for value of (including without limitation, by way of depositing money or securities with the trustee with respect thereto before due for the purpose of paying when due), or refund, refinance or exchange of such Subordinated Indebtedness other than (A) regularly scheduled payments of interest (provided that such payment of interest does not violate the subordination provisions of the Subordinated Debt Documents), (B) the conversion of any Subordinated Indebtedness into equity; (C) the satisfaction in cash of the Borrower’s conversion obligation under any Subordination Indebtedness and the repurchase of any Subordinated Indebtedness pursuant to any mandatory repurchase provision, provided that the aggregate principal amount of all payments pursuant to this clause (C) shall not to exceed $10 million; and (D) any refund or refinance permitted by Section 8.03(g).

(ii) With respect to any Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than Subordinated Indebtedness which is subject to the limitations set forth in clause (i) above), make (or give any notice with respect thereto) any voluntary or optional payment or prepayment or redemption or acquisition for value of (including without limitation, by way of depositing money or securities with the trustee with respect thereto before due for the purpose of paying when due),

 

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refund, refinance or exchange of such Indebtedness other than (i) Indebtedness arising under the Loan Documents, (ii) Indebtedness having an interest rate in excess of the Base Rate and (iii) provided no Default or Event of Default shall exist immediately prior or after giving effect thereto on a Pro Forma Basis, other Indebtedness not exceeding $250,000 in any instance and $500,000 in the aggregate in any calendar year.

(d) Enter into any agreement, instrument or other document creating, evidencing or relating to any Indebtedness which provides that such Indebtedness is “Designated Senior Debt” for purposes of the Senior Subordinated Note Documents.

8.13 Organization Documents; Fiscal Year; Legal Name, State of Formation and Form of Entity.

(a) Amend, modify or change its Organization Documents in a manner materially adverse to the Lenders.

(b) Change its fiscal year.

(c) Without providing thirty (30) days prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, change its name, state of formation or form of organization.

8.14 Ownership of Subsidiaries.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, (i) permit any Person (other than the Borrower or any Wholly Owned Subsidiary) to own any Capital Stock of any Subsidiary, except to qualify directors where required by applicable law or to satisfy other requirements of applicable law with respect to the ownership of Capital Stock of Foreign Subsidiaries, (ii) permit any Subsidiary to issue or have outstanding any shares of preferred Capital Stock or (iii) create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any Capital Stock of any Subsidiary, except for Permitted Liens.

ARTICLE IX

EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

9.01 Events of Default.

Any of the following shall constitute an Event of Default:

(a) Non-Payment. Any 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 commitment fee or other 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.

(i) Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 7.01, 7.02 or 7.03 and such failure continues for five Business Days; or

 

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(ii) Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 7.05(a), 7.10, 7.11, 7.12, or Article VIII; or

(c) Other Defaults. Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in subsection (a) or (b) above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for thirty days after the earlier of (i) a Responsible Person of any Loan Party becoming aware of such failure or (ii) notice thereof to any Loan Party by the Administrative Agent; or

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

(d) Cross-Default. (i) The Borrower or any Subsidiary fails to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise) in respect of any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness under the Loan Documents 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 the Threshold Amount; or (ii) The Borrower or any Subsidiary fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event (other than an Involuntary Disposition which is covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer does not dispute coverage and which does not constitute a default) occurs, the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness to be demanded or to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity; or (iii) There occurs under any Swap Contract an Early Termination Date (as defined in such Swap Contract) resulting from (A) any event of default under such Swap Contract as to which the 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 the Borrower or any Subsidiary is an Affected Party (as so defined) and, in either event, the Swap Termination Value owed by the Borrower or such Subsidiary as a result thereof is greater than the Threshold Amount; or

(e) Insolvency Proceedings, Etc. The Borrower or any Subsidiary 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 sixty 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 sixty calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or

(f) Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment. (i) The 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 the Borrower or any Subsidiary and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within thirty days after its issue or levy; or

 

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

(h) ERISA. (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrower under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount, or (ii) the 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 the Threshold Amount; or

(i) Invalidity of Loan Documents. Any Loan Document, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect or ceases to give the Lenders any material part of the Liens purported to be created thereby; 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

(j) Change of Control. There occurs any Change of Control; or

(k) Subordinated Indebtedness. (i) Any of the Obligations for any reason shall fail to be “Senior Debt” (or any comparable term) under, and as defined in, any Subordinated Indebtedness Document; (ii) any Indebtedness other than the Obligations shall constitute “Designated Senior Debt” (or any comparable term) under, and as defined in, any Subordinated Indebtedness Document; or (iii) the subordination provisions of any Subordinated Indebtedness Document shall, in whole or in part, terminate, cease to be effective or cease to be legally valid, binding and enforceable against any holder of such Subordinated Indebtedness.

9.02 Remedies Upon Event of Default.

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

(a) declare the 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 the Borrower;

 

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(c) require that the 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 the 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 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 the Borrower to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations as aforesaid shall automatically become effective, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

9.03 Application of Funds.

After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 9.02 (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 9.02), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:

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

Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest) payable to the Lenders (including 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 and L/C Borrowings, fees, premiums and scheduled periodic payments, and any interest accrued thereon, due under any Swap Contract between any Loan Party and any Lender, or any Affiliate of a Lender, to the extent such Swap Contract is permitted by Section 8.03(d), ratably among the Lenders (and, in the case of such Swap Contracts, Affiliates of Lenders) in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third held by them;

Fourth, (a) payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans and L/C Borrowings, (b) breakage, termination or other payments, and any interest accrued thereon, due under any Swap Contract between any Loan Party and any Lender, or any Affiliate of a Lender, to the extent such Swap Contract is permitted by Section 8.03(d), (c) payments of amounts due under any Treasury Management Agreement between any Loan Party and any Lender, or any Affiliate of a Lender and (d) Cash Collateralize that portion of L/C Obligations comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit, ratably among the Lenders (and, in the case of such Swap Contracts, Affiliates of Lenders) in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them; and

 

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

Subject to Section 2.03(c), amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to clause Fourth above shall be applied to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they occur. If any amount remains on deposit as Cash Collateral after all Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount shall be applied to the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above.

ARTICLE X

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT

10.01 Appointment and Authorization of Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent.

(a) Each Lender hereby irrevocably appoints, designates and authorizes each of the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and each other Loan Document and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to it by the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained elsewhere herein or in any other Loan Document, neither the Administrative Agent nor the Collateral Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein, nor shall the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent have or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Lender or participant, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Agreement or any other Loan Document or otherwise exist against the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, the use of the term “agent” herein and in the other Loan Documents with reference to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable Law. Instead, such term is used merely as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between independent contracting parties.

(b) Each Lender authorizes and directs the Collateral Agent, on behalf of such Lender, to enter into (i) the Intercreditor Agreement, (ii) any intercreditor agreement that is in addition to, or replacement of, the Intercreditor Agreement provided such intercreditor agreement is (A) entered into in connection with a Permitted Securitization Transaction and (B) in substantially the same form as the Intercreditor Agreement, (iii) the Pledge Agreement and (iv) the Security Agreement.

(c) 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 (i) provided to the Administrative Agent in this Article X 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 the applications and agreements for letters of credit pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the term “Administrative Agent” as used in this Article X and in the definition of “Agent-Related Person” included the L/C Issuer with respect to such acts or omissions, and (ii) as additionally provided herein with respect to the L/C Issuer.

 

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10.02 Delegation of Duties.

Each of the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent may execute any of its duties under this Agreement or any other Loan Document by or through agents, employees or attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel and other consultants or experts concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. Neither the Administrative Agent nor the Collateral Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agent or attorney-in-fact that it selects in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct.

10.03 Liability of Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent.

No Agent-Related Person shall (a) be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by any of them under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions contemplated hereby (except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct in connection with its duties expressly set forth herein), or (b) be responsible in any manner to any Lender or participant for any recital, statement, representation or warranty made by any Loan Party or any officer thereof, contained herein or in any other Loan Document, or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or the validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or for any failure of any Loan Party or any other party to any Loan Document to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder. No Agent-Related Person shall be under any obligation to any Lender or participant to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or to inspect the properties, books or records of any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof.

10.04 Reliance by Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent.

Each of the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any writing, communication, signature, resolution, representation, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telegram, facsimile, telex or telephone message, electronic mail message, statement or other document or conversation believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person or Persons, and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including counsel to any Loan Party), independent accountants and other experts selected by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable. Each of the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under any Loan Document unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the Required Lenders as it deems appropriate and, if it so requests, it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Lenders against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. Each of the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document in accordance with a request or consent of the Required Lenders (or such greater number of Lenders as may be expressly required hereby in any instance) and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all the Lenders.

10.05 Notice of Default.

The Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default, except with respect to defaults in the payment of principal, interest and fees required to be paid to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders, unless the Administrative Agent shall have received written notice from a Lender or the Borrower referring to this Agreement, describing such

 

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Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of default.” The Administrative Agent will notify the Lenders of its receipt of any such notice. Each of the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent shall take such action with respect to such Default as may be directed by the Required Lenders in accordance with Article IX; provided, however, that unless and until the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, has received any such direction, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable,may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Default as it shall deem advisable or in the best interest of the Lenders.

10.06 Credit Decision; Disclosure of Information by Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent.

Each Lender acknowledges that no Agent-Related Person has made any representation or warranty to it, and that no act by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent hereafter taken, including any consent to and acceptance of any assignment or review of the affairs of any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by any Agent-Related Person to any Lender as to any matter, including whether Agent-Related Persons have disclosed material information in their possession. Each Lender represents to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent that it has, independently and without reliance upon any Agent-Related Person and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of and investigation into the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Loan Parties and their respective Subsidiaries, and all applicable bank or other regulatory Laws relating to the transactions contemplated hereby, and made its own decision to enter into this Agreement and to extend credit to the Borrower and the other Loan Parties hereunder. Each Lender also represents that it will, independently and without reliance upon any Agent-Related Person and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and to make such investigations as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties. Except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent herein, neither he Administrative Agent nor the Collateral Agent shall have any duty or responsibility to provide any Lender with any credit or other information concerning the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition or creditworthiness of any of the Loan Parties or any of their respective Affiliates which may come into the possession of any Agent-Related Person.

10.07 Each of Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent in its Individual Capacity.

Bank of America and its Affiliates may make loans to, issue letters of credit for the account of, accept deposits from, acquire equity interests in and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust, financial advisory, underwriting or other business with each of the Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates as though Bank of America were not the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or the L/C Issuer hereunder and without notice to or consent of the Lenders. The Lenders acknowledge that, pursuant to such activities, Bank of America or its Affiliates may receive information regarding any Loan Party or its Affiliates (including information that may be subject to confidentiality obligations in favor of such Loan Party or such Affiliate) and acknowledge that the Administrative Agent shall be under no obligation to provide such information to them. With respect to its Loans, Bank of America shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any other Lender and may exercise such rights and powers as though it were not the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, and the terms “Lender” and “Lenders” include Bank of America in its individual capacity.

 

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10.08 Successor Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent.

(a) The Administrative Agent may resign as Administrative Agent upon thirty days’ notice to the Lenders; provided that any such resignation by Bank of America shall also constitute its resignation as L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender. If the Administrative Agent resigns under this Agreement, the Required Lenders shall appoint from among the Lenders a successor administrative agent for the Lenders, which successor administrative agent shall be consented to by the Borrower at all times other than during the existence of an Event of Default (which consent of the Borrower shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed). If no successor administrative agent is appointed prior to the effective date of the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent may appoint, after consulting with the Lenders and the Borrower, a successor administrative agent from among the Lenders. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as successor administrative agent hereunder, the Person acting as such successor administrative agent shall succeed to all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender and the respective terms “Administrative Agent”, “L/C Issuer” and “Swing Line Lender” shall mean such successor administrative agent, Letter of Credit issuer and swing line lender, and the retiring Administrative Agent’s appointment, powers and duties as Administrative Agent shall be terminated and the retiring L/C Issuer’s and Swing Line Lender’s rights, powers and duties as such shall be terminated, without any other or further act or deed on the part of such retiring L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender or any other Lender, other than the obligation of the successor L/C Issuer to issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or to 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. After any retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder as Administrative Agent, the provisions of this Article X and Sections 11.04 and 11.05 shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Administrative Agent under this Agreement. If no successor administrative agent has accepted appointment as Administrative Agent by the date thirty days following a retiring Administrative Agent’s notice of resignation, the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation shall nevertheless thereupon become effective and the Lenders shall perform all of the duties of the Administrative Agent hereunder until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor agent as provided for above.

(b) The Collateral Agent may resign as Collateral Agent upon thirty days’ notice to the Lenders. If the Collateral Agent resigns, the Required Lenders shall appoint from among the Lenders a successor collateral agent for the Lenders, which successor collateral agent shall be consented to by the Borrower at all times other than during the existence of an Event of Default (which consent of the Borrower shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed). If no successor collateral agent is appointed prior to the effective date of the resignation of the Collateral Agent, the Collateral Agent may appoint, after consulting with the Lenders and the Borrower, a successor collateral agent from among the Lenders. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as successor collateral agent hereunder, the Person acting as such successor collateral agent shall succeed to all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Collateral Agent, the terms “Collateral Agent” shall mean such successor collateral agent, and the retiring Collateral Agent’s appointment, powers and duties as Collateral Agent shall be terminated without any other or further act or deed on the part of the Collateral Agent or any other Lender. After any retiring Collateral Agent’s resignation hereunder as Collateral Agent, the provisions of this Article X and Sections 11.04 and 11.05 shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Collateral Agent under this Agreement. If no successor collateral agent has accepted appointment as Collateral Agent by the date thirty days following a retiring Collateral Agent’s notice of resignation, the retiring Collateral Agent’s resignation shall nevertheless thereupon become effective and the Lenders shall perform all of the duties of the Collateral Agent hereunder until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor agent as provided for above.

 

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10.9 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim.

In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or L/C Obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, 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 and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel (including reasonable and actual fees and expenses of counsel) and all other amounts due the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.03(i) and (j), 2.09 and 11.04) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

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

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel (including reasonable and actual fees and expenses of counsel), and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 11.04.

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

10.10 Collateral and Guaranty Matters.

(a) The Lenders irrevocably authorize the Collateral Agent, at its option and in its discretion:

(i) to release any Lien on any Collateral granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document (A) upon termination of the Commitments and payment in full of all Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations) and the expiration or termination of all Letters of Credit, (B) that is transferred or to be transferred as part of or in connection with any Disposition permitted hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any Involuntary Disposition, or (C) as approved in accordance with Section 11.01;

(ii) to subordinate any Lien on any Property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such Property that is permitted by Section 8.03(c); and

Upon request by the Collateral Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Collateral 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 10.10.

 

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(b) The Lenders irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion, 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. Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty pursuant to this Section 10.10.

10.11 Other Agents; Arrangers and Managers.

None of the Lenders or other Persons identified on the facing page or signature pages of this Agreement as a “syndication agent,” “documentation agent,” “co-agent,” “book manager,” “lead manager,” “arranger,” “lead arranger” or “co-arranger” shall have any right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement other than, in the case of such Lenders, those applicable to all Lenders as such. Without limiting the foregoing, none of the Lenders or other Persons so identified shall have or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Lender. Each Lender acknowledges that it has not relied, and will not rely, on any of the Lenders or other Persons so identified in deciding to enter into this Agreement or in taking or not taking action hereunder.

ARTICLE XI

MISCELLANEOUS

11.01 Amendments, Etc.

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

(a) no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

(i) extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 9.02) without the written consent of such Lender (it being understood and agreed that a waiver of any condition precedent set forth in Section 5.02 or of any Default or Event of Default or of a mandatory reduction in Commitments is not considered an extension or increase in the Commitments of any Lender);

(ii) postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment 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;

(iii) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or L/C Borrowing, or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; provided, however, that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend the definition of “Default Rate” or to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the Default Rate;

 

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(iv) change Section 2.13 or Section 9.03 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;

(v) 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 directly affected thereby;

(vi) release all or substantially all of the Collateral without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; or

(vii) release the Borrower or, except in connection with a merger or consolidation permitted under Section 8.04 or a Disposition permitted under Section 8.05, all or substantially all of the Guarantors, from its or their obligations under the Loan Documents without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;

(b) prior to the termination of the Revolving Commitments, unless also signed by Lenders (other than Defaulting Lenders) holding in the aggregate at least a majority of the Revolving Commitments, no such amendment, waiver or consent shall, (i) waive any Default for purposes of Section 5.02(b), (ii) amend, change, waive, discharge or terminate Sections 5.02 or 9.01 in a manner adverse to such Lenders or (iii) amend, change, waive, discharge or terminate Section 8.11 (or any defined term used therein) or this Section 11.01(b); or

(c) unless also signed by the L/C Issuer, no amendment, waiver or consent shall affect the rights or duties of the L/C Issuer under this Agreement or any Letter of Credit Application relating to any Letter of Credit issued or to be issued by it;

(d) unless also signed by the Swing Line Lender, no amendment, waiver or consent shall affect the rights or duties of the Swing Line Lender under this Agreement; and

(e) unless also signed by the Administrative Agent, no amendment, waiver or consent shall affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document;

provided, however, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, (i) the Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto and (ii) 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.

Notwithstanding the fact that the consent of all the Lenders is required in certain circumstances as set forth above, (x) each Lender is entitled to vote as such Lender sees fit on any bankruptcy reorganization plan that affects the Loans, and each Lender acknowledges that the provisions of Section 1126(c) of the Bankruptcy Code supersedes the unanimous consent provisions set forth herein and (y) the Required Lenders shall determine whether or not to allow a Loan Party to use cash collateral in the context of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding and such determination shall be binding on all of the Lenders.

11.02 Notices and Other Communications; Facsimile Copies.

(a) General. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, all notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing (including by facsimile transmission). All

 

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such written notices shall be mailed, faxed or delivered to the applicable address, facsimile number or (subject to subsection (c) below) electronic mail address, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:

(i) if to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 11.02 or to such other address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number as shall be designated by such party in a notice to the other parties; and

(ii) if to any other Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire or to such other address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number as shall be designated by such party in a notice to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender.

All such notices and other communications shall be deemed to be given or made upon the earlier to occur of (i) actual receipt by the relevant party hereto and (ii) (A) if delivered by hand or by courier, when signed for by or on behalf of the relevant party hereto; (B) if delivered by mail, four Business Days after deposit in the mails, postage prepaid; (C) if delivered by facsimile, when sent and receipt has been confirmed by telephone; and (D) if delivered by electronic mail (which form of delivery is subject to the provisions of subsection (c) below), when delivered; provided, however, that notices and other communications to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Article II shall not be effective until actually received by such Person. In no event shall a voicemail message be effective as a notice, communication or confirmation hereunder.

(b) Effectiveness of Facsimile Documents and Signatures. Loan Documents may be transmitted and/or signed by facsimile. The effectiveness of any such documents and signatures shall, subject to applicable Law, have the same force and effect as manually signed originals and shall be binding on all Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders. The Administrative Agent may also require that any such documents and signatures be confirmed by a manually signed original thereof; provided, however, that the failure to request or deliver the same shall not limit the effectiveness of any facsimile document or signature.

(c) Limited Use of Electronic Mail. Electronic mail and internet and intranet websites may be used only to distribute routine communications, such as financial statements and other information as provided in Section 7.02, and to distribute Loan Documents for execution by the parties thereto, and may not be used for any other purpose.

(d) Reliance by Administrative Agent and Lenders. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Loan Notices and Swing Line Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof. All telephonic notices to and other communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

 

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11.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies.

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

11.04 Attorney Costs, Expenses and Taxes.

The Borrower agrees (a) to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent for all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the development, preparation, negotiation and execution of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and any amendment, waiver, consent or other modification of the provisions hereof and thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby are consummated), and the consummation and administration of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including all Attorney Costs and costs and expenses in connection with the use of Intralinks, Inc. or other similar information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement, and (b) to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent and each Lender for all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement, attempted enforcement, or preservation of any rights or remedies under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (including all such costs and expenses incurred during any “workout” or restructuring in respect of the Obligations and during any legal proceeding, including any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law), including all Attorney Costs. The foregoing costs and expenses shall include all search, filing, recording, title insurance and appraisal charges and fees and taxes related thereto, and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and the cost of independent public accountants and other outside experts retained by the Administrative Agent or any Lender. All amounts due under this Section 11.04 shall be payable within ten Business Days after demand therefor. The agreements in this Section shall survive the termination of the Commitments and repayment of all other Obligations.

11.05 Indemnification by the Loan Parties.

(a) Indemnification by the Loan Parties. Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Loan Parties agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Agent-Related Person, each Lender and their respective Affiliates, directors, officers, employees, counsel, agents and attorneys-in-fact (collectively the “Indemnitees”) from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, demands, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses and disbursements (including Attorney Costs) of any kind or nature whatsoever which may at any time be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against any such Indemnitee in any way relating to or arising out of or in connection with (a) the execution, delivery, enforcement, performance or administration of any Loan Document or any other agreement, letter or instrument delivered in connection with the transactions contemplated thereby or the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, (b) any Commitment, 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), (c) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property currently or formerly owned or operated by the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any other Loan Party, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any other Loan Party, or (d) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory (including any investigation of, preparation for, or defense of any pending or threatened claim, investigation, litigation or proceeding) and regardless of

 

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whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto and whether brought by any Indemnified Party or any third party (all the foregoing, collectively, the “Indemnified Liabilities”); provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, demands, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements 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. No Indemnitee shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by others of any information or other materials obtained through IntraLinks or other similar information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement, nor shall any Indemnitee have any liability for any indirect or consequential damages relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or arising out of its activities in connection herewith or therewith (whether before or after the Closing Date).

(b) Reimbursement by Lenders. To the extent that the Loan Parties for any reason fail to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section to be paid by them to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), the L/C Issuer or any Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors and of such Affiliates of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), the L/C Issuer or such Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors and of such Affiliates, 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 the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or the L/C Issuer in its capacity as such, or against any Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors and of such Affiliates of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or L/C Issuer in connection with such capacity. The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 2.12(f).

(c) Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, no Loan Party shall assert, and each Loan Party 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 shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed by it 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.

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

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

11.06 Payments Set Aside.

To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of any Loan Party is made to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent or any Lender exercises its right of set-off, and such payment or the proceeds of such set-off or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the

 

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Administrative Agent or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such set-off had not occurred, and (b) each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect.

11.07 Successors and Assigns.

(a) 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 the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of 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 Indemnitees) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

(b) Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more Eligible Assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitments 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 (i) except 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 or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund (as defined in subsection (g) of this Section) with respect to a Lender, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $5,000,000 unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); (ii) 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 rights in respect of Swing Line Loans; and (iii) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee in the amount, if any, required as set forth in Schedule 11.07, and the Eligible Assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire. Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the Eligible 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 3.01, 3.04, 3.05, 11.04 and 11.05

 

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with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment). Upon request, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with subsection (d) of this Section.

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

(d) Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person or the Borrower or any of the 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) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to Section 11.01 that directly affects such Participant. Subject to subsection (e) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 11.09 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender.

(e) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 3.01 or 3.04 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 3.01 unless the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 11.15 as though it were a Lender.

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

 

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(g) 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 thirty days’ notice to the Borrower and the Lenders, resign as L/C Issuer and/or (ii) upon thirty days’ notice to the Borrower, resign as Swing Line Lender. In the event of any such resignation as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, the 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 the 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 and obligations of the L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c)). If Bank of America resigns as Swing Line Lender, it shall retain all the rights of the Swing Line Lender provided for hereunder with respect to Swing Line Loans made by it and outstanding as of the effective date of such resignation, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(c).

11.08 Confidentiality.

Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (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; (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process; (d) to any other party to this Agreement; (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the enforcement of rights hereunder; (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any Eligible Assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective Eligible Assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any direct or indirect contractual counterparty or prospective counterparty (or such contractual counterparty’s or prospective counterparty’s professional advisor) to any credit derivative transaction relating to obligations of the Loan Parties; (g) with the consent of the Borrower; (h) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (ii) becomes available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower; or (i) to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any other similar organization or any nationally recognized rating agency that requires access to information about a Lender’s or its Affiliates’ investment portfolio in connection with ratings issued with respect to such Lender or its Affiliates. In addition, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may disclose the existence of this Agreement and information about this Agreement to market data collectors, similar service providers to the lending industry, and service providers to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in connection with the administration and management of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, the Commitments, and the Credit Extensions. For the purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from any Loan Party relating to any Loan Party or its business, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by any Loan Party; provided that, in the case of information received from a Loan Party after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified in writing 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.

 

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11.09 Set-off.

In addition to any rights and remedies of the Lenders provided by law, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, each Lender and any Affiliate of a Lender is authorized at any time and from time to time, without prior notice to the Borrower or any other Loan Party, any such notice being waived by the Borrower (on its own behalf and on behalf of each Loan Party) to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held by, and other indebtedness at any time owing by, such Lender to or for the credit or the account of the respective Loan Parties against any and all Obligations owing to such Lender hereunder or under any other Loan Document, now or hereafter existing, irrespective of whether or not the Administrative Agent or such Lender shall have made demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such Obligations may be contingent or unmatured or denominated in a currency different from that of the applicable deposit or indebtedness. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent after any such set-off and application made by such Lender; provided, however, that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application.

11.10 Interest Rate Limitation.

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

11.11 Counterparts.

This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

11.12 Integration.

This Agreement, together with the other Loan Documents, comprises the complete and integrated agreement of the parties on the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersedes all prior agreements, written or oral, on such subject matter. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and those of any other Loan Document, the provisions of this Agreement shall control; provided that the inclusion of supplemental rights or remedies in favor of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders in any other Loan Document shall not be deemed a conflict with this Agreement. Each Loan Document was drafted with the joint participation of the respective parties thereto and shall be construed neither against nor in favor of any party, but rather in accordance with the fair meaning thereof.

11.13 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

 

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relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any 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.

11.14 Severability.

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

11.15 Tax Forms.

(a) (i) Each Lender that is not a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code (a “Foreign Lender”) shall deliver to the Administrative Agent, prior to receipt of any payment subject to withholding under the Internal Revenue Code (or upon accepting an assignment of an interest herein), two duly signed completed copies of either IRS Form W-8BEN or any successor thereto (relating to such Foreign Lender and entitling it to an exemption from, or reduction of, withholding tax on all payments to be made to such Foreign Lender by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement) or IRS Form W-8ECI or any successor thereto (relating to all payments to be made to such Foreign Lender by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement) or such other evidence satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent that such Foreign Lender is entitled to an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. withholding tax, including any exemption pursuant to Section 881(c) of the Internal Revenue Code. Thereafter and from time to time, each such Foreign Lender shall (A) promptly submit to the Administrative Agent such additional duly completed and signed copies of one of such forms (or such successor forms as shall be adopted from time to time by the relevant United States taxing authorities) as may then be available under then current United States laws and regulations to avoid, or such evidence as is satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of any available exemption from or reduction of, United States withholding taxes in respect of all payments to be made to such Foreign Lender by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement, (B) promptly notify the Administrative Agent of any change in circumstances which would modify or render invalid any claimed exemption or reduction, and (C) 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 that the Borrower make any deduction or withholding for taxes from amounts payable to such Foreign Lender.

(ii) Each Foreign Lender, to the extent it does not act or ceases to act for its own account with respect to any portion of any sums paid or payable to such Lender under any of the Loan Documents (for example, in the case of a typical participation by such Lender), shall deliver to the Administrative Agent on the date when such Foreign Lender ceases to act for its own account with respect to any portion of any such sums paid or payable, and at such other times as may be necessary in the determination of the Administrative Agent (in the reasonable exercise of its discretion), (A) two duly signed completed copies of the forms or statements required to be provided by such Lender as set forth above, to establish the portion of any such sums paid or

 

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payable with respect to which such Lender acts for its own account that is not subject to U.S. withholding tax, and (B) two duly signed completed copies of IRS Form W-8IMY (or any successor thereto), together with any information such Lender chooses to transmit with such form, and any other certificate or statement of exemption required under the Internal Revenue Code, to establish that such Lender is not acting for its own account with respect to a portion of any such sums payable to such Lender.

(iii) The Borrower shall not be required to pay any additional amount to any Foreign Lender under Section 3.01 (A) with respect to any Taxes required to be deducted or withheld on the basis of the information, certificates or statements of exemption such Lender transmits with an IRS Form W-8IMY pursuant to this Section 11.15(a) or (B) if such Lender shall have failed to satisfy the foregoing provisions of this Section 11.15(a); provided that if such Lender shall have satisfied the requirement of this Section 11.15(a) on the date such Lender became a Lender or ceased to act for its own account with respect to any payment under any of the Loan Documents, nothing in this Section 11.15(a) shall relieve the Borrower of its obligation to pay any amounts pursuant to Section 3.01 in the event that, as a result of any change in any applicable law, treaty or governmental rule, regulation or order, or any change in the interpretation, administration or application thereof, such Lender is no longer properly entitled to deliver forms, certificates or other evidence at a subsequent date establishing the fact that such Lender or other Person for the account of which such Lender receives any sums payable under any of the Loan Documents is not subject to withholding or is subject to withholding at a reduced rate.

(iv) The Administrative Agent may, without reduction, withhold any Taxes required to be deducted and withheld from any payment under any of the Loan Documents with respect to which the Borrower is not required to pay additional amounts under this Section 11.15(a).

(b) Upon the request of the Administrative Agent, each Lender that is a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code shall deliver to the Administrative Agent two duly signed completed copies of IRS Form W-9. If such Lender fails to deliver such forms, then the Administrative Agent may withhold from any interest payment to such Lender an amount equivalent to the applicable back-up withholding tax imposed by the Internal Revenue Code, without reduction.

(c) If any Governmental Authority asserts that the Administrative Agent did not properly withhold or backup withhold, as the case may be, any tax or other amount from payments made to or for the account of any Lender, such Lender shall indemnify the Administrative Agent therefor, including all penalties and interest, any taxes imposed by any jurisdiction on the amounts payable to the Administrative Agent under this Section, and costs and expenses (including Attorney Costs) of the Administrative Agent. The obligation of the Lenders under this Section shall survive the termination of the Commitments, repayment of all other Obligations hereunder and the resignation of the Administrative Agent.

11.16 Replacement of Lenders.

Under any circumstances set forth herein providing that the Borrower shall have the right to replace a Lender as a party to this Agreement, the Borrower may, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, replace such Lender by causing such Lender to assign its Commitments and outstanding Loans (with the assignment fee to be paid by the Borrower in such instance) pursuant to Section 11.07(b) to one or more other Lenders or Eligible Assignees procured by the Borrower. The Borrower shall (x) pay in full all principal, interest, fees and other amounts owing to such Lender through the date of replacement (including any amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.05), (y) provide appropriate

 

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assurances and indemnities (which may include letters of credit) to the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender as each may reasonably require with respect to any continuing obligation to fund participation interests in any L/C Obligations or any Swing Line Loans then outstanding, and (z) release such Lender from its obligations under the Loan Documents. Any Lender being replaced shall execute and deliver an Assignment and Assumption with respect to such Lender’s Commitments and outstanding Loans and participations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans.

11.17 Release of Collateral and Guarantees.

(a) The Administrative Agent hereby agrees with the Borrower that the Administrative Agent shall, upon the request of the Borrower, 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 (provided that the Administrative Agent may require that the Borrower deliver a certificate to the Administrative Agent certifying that such transaction is permitted under the Loan Documents and the Administrative Agent may rely conclusively on any such certificate, without further inquiry).

(b) The Collateral Agent hereby agrees with the Borrower that the Collateral Agent shall, upon the request of the Borrower:

(i) release any Lien on any Collateral granted to or held by the Collateral Agent under any Loan Document (A) upon termination of the Commitments and payment in full of all Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations) and the expiration or termination of all Letters of Credit, (B) that is transferred or to be transferred as part of or in connection with any Disposition permitted hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any Involuntary Disposition (provided that the Collateral Agent may require that the Borrower deliver a certificate to the Collateral Agent certifying that such Disposition is permitted under the Loan Documents and the Collateral Agent may rely conclusively on any such certificate, without further inquiry), or (C) as approved in accordance with Section 11.01; and

(ii) to subordinate any Lien on any Property granted to or held by the Collateral Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such Property that is permitted by Section 8.03(c).

11.18 Governing Law.

(a) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN SUCH STATE; PROVIDED THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH LENDER SHALL RETAIN ALL RIGHTS ARISING UNDER FEDERAL LAW.

(b) ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT MAY BE BROUGHT IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA SITTING IN CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, OR OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF SUCH STATE, AND BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE BORROWER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH LENDER CONSENTS, FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THOSE COURTS. THE BORROWER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH LENDER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION, INCLUDING ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OR BASED ON THE GROUNDS OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS, WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE BRINGING OF ANY

 

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ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN SUCH JURISDICTION IN RESPECT OF ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR OTHER DOCUMENT RELATED THERETO. THE BORROWER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND EACH LENDER WAIVES PERSONAL SERVICE OF ANY SUMMONS, COMPLAINT OR OTHER PROCESS, WHICH MAY BE MADE BY ANY OTHER MEANS PERMITTED BY THE LAW OF SUCH STATE.

11.19 Waiver of Right to Trial by Jury.

EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING UNDER ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO OR ANY OF THEM WITH RESPECT TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED THERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER FOUNDED IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE; AND EACH PARTY HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY, AND THAT ANY PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR A COPY OF THIS SECTION WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE SIGNATORIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

11.20 USA PATRIOT Act Notice.

Each Lender that is subject to the Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the 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 the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Act.

11.21 No Novation.

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or anything else to the contrary, this Agreement is given in amendment, restatement and substitution for, and is not in payment or satisfaction of, the Existing Revolving Credit Agreement and the Existing Term Loan Credit Agreement and there is no novation of the Existing Revolving Credit Agreement and the Existing Term Loan Credit Agreement.

[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

 

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

 

BORROWER:    SCHOOL SPECIALTY, INC. a Wisconsin corporation
   By:  

/s/ Mary M. Kabacinski

   Name:   Mary M. Kabacinski
   Title:   Chief Financial Officer
GUARANTORS:    CHILDCRAFT EDUCATION CORP., a New York corporation
  

CLASSROOMDIRECT.COM, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

   BIRD-IN-HAND WOODWORKS, INC., a New Jersey corporation
   SPORTIME, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
   GLOBAL VIDEO, LLC, a Wisconsin limited liability company
   PREMIER AGENDAS, INC., a Washington corporation
   FREY SCIENTIFIC, INC., a Delaware corporation
   AMALGAMATED WIDGETS, INC., a Wisconsin corporation
   SAX ARTS & CRAFTS, INC., a Delaware corporation
   CALIFONE INTERNATIONAL, INC., a Delaware corporation
   DELTA EDUCATION, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
   By:  

/s/ Mary M. Kabacinski

   Name:   Mary M. Kabacinski
   Title:   Treasurer

[SIGNATURE PAGES CONTINUE]


ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT    
AND COLLATERAL AGENT:   BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
  as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent
  By:  

/s/ Anthea Del Bianco

  Name:   Anthea Del Bianco
  Title:   Vice President
LENDERS:   BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
  as a Lender, L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender
  By:  

/s/ J. Casey Cosgrove

  Name:   J. Casey Cosgrove
  Title:   Vice President
  SUNTRUST BANK
  By:  

/s/ Robert Bugbee

  Name:   Robert Bugbee
  Title:   Director
  HARRIS N.A.
  By:  

/s/ Ronald V. Redd

  Name:   Ronald V. Redd
  Title:   Vice President
  M&I MARSHALL & ILSLEY BANK
  By:  

/s/ Leo D. Freeman

  Name:   Leo D. Freeman
  Title:   Vice President
  JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
  By:  

/s/ Sabin A. Hashmy

  Name:   Sabin A. Hashmy
  Title:   Vice President
  CHARTER ONE BANK, N.A.
  By:  

/s/ Michael Dolson

  Name:   Michael Dolson
  Title:   Vice President
  U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
  By:  

/s/ Karen Weathers

  Name:   Karen Weathers
  Title:   Vice President

[SIGNATURE PAGES CONTINUE]


  ALLIED IRISH BANKS, P.L.C.
  By:  

/s/ Joseph S. Augustini

  Name:   Joseph S. Augustini
  Title:   Vice President
  ASSOCIATED BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
  By:  

/s/ Stephen E. Pasowicz

  Name:   Stephen E. Pasowicz
  Title:   Vice President
  ST. FRANCIS BANK
  By:  

/s/ Paul W. Jelacic

  Name:   Paul W. Jelacic
  Title:   Vice President
  FIFTH THIRD BANK
  By:  

/s/ Mark R. Long

  Name:   Mark R. Long
  Title:   Vice President
  THE BANK OF NEW YORK
  By:  

/s/ Louis Serio

  Name:   Louis Serio
  Title:   Vice President
  OAK BROOK BANK
  By:  

/s/ Henry Wessel

  Name:   Henry Wessel
  Title:   Vice President