$100,000,000

EX-2.1 4 a06-11175_1ex2d1.htm AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

Exhibit 2.1

 

EXECUTION COPY

 

 

$100,000,000

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

among

 

SEROLOGICALS CORPORATION,

as Borrower,

 

 

The Several Lenders from Time to Time Parties Hereto,

 

 

LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

and

 

REGIONS BANK,

as Co-Documentation Agents,

 

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

as Syndication Agent,

 

 

and

 

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent

 

 

Dated as of May 2, 2006

 

 

 

 

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

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1.

 

DEFINITIONS

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

1.1

 

Defined Terms

 

1

1.2

 

Other Definitional Provisions

 

20

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2.

 

AMOUNT AND TERMS OF COMMITMENTS

 

21

 

 

 

 

 

2.1

 

Term Commitments

 

21

2.2

 

Procedure for Term Loan Borrowing

 

21

2.3

 

Repayment of Term Loans

 

21

2.4

 

Revolving Commitments

 

22

2.5

 

Procedure for Revolving Loan Borrowing

 

22

2.6

 

Swingline Commitment

 

23

2.7

 

Procedure for Swingline Borrowing; Refunding of Swingline Loans

 

23

2.8

 

Commitment Fees, etc.

 

24

2.9

 

Termination or Reduction of Revolving Commitments

 

25

2.10

 

Additional Revolving Commitments

 

25

2.11

 

Optional Prepayments

 

26

2.12

 

Mandatory Prepayments and Commitment Reductions

 

26

2.13

 

Conversion and Continuation Options

 

27

2.14

 

Limitations on Eurodollar Tranches

 

27

2.15

 

Interest Rates and Payment Dates

 

27

2.16

 

Computation of Interest and Fees

 

28

2.17

 

Inability to Determine Interest Rate

 

28

2.18

 

Pro Rata Treatment and Payments

 

29

2.19

 

Requirements of Law

 

31

2.20

 

Taxes

 

32

2.21

 

Indemnity

 

33

2.22

 

Change of Lending Office

 

33

2.23

 

Replacement of Lenders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 3.

 

LETTERS OF CREDIT

 

33

 

 

 

 

 

3.1

 

L/C Commitment

 

33

3.2

 

Procedure for Issuance of Letter of Credit

 

34

3.3

 

Fees and Other Charges

 

34

3.4

 

L/C Participations

 

34

3.5

 

Reimbursement Obligation of the Borrower

 

34

3.6

 

Obligations Absolute

 

35

3.7

 

Letter of Credit Payments

 

35

3.8

 

Applications

 

36

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 4.

 

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

36

 

 

 

 

 

4.1

 

Financial Condition

 

36

4.2

 

No Change

 

37

 



 

4.3

 

Existence; Compliance with Law

 

37

4.4

 

Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations

 

37

4.5

 

No Legal Bar

 

37

4.6

 

Litigation

 

38

4.7

 

No Default

 

38

4.8

 

Ownership of Property; Liens

 

38

4.9

 

Intellectual Property

 

38

4.10

 

Taxes

 

38

4.11

 

Federal Regulations

 

38

4.12

 

Labor Matters

 

38

4.13

 

ERISA

 

39

4.14

 

Investment Company Act; Other Regulations

 

39

4.15

 

Subsidiaries

 

39

4.16

 

Use of Proceeds

 

39

4.17

 

Environmental Matters

 

39

4.18

 

Accuracy of Information, etc

 

40

4.19

 

Security Documents

 

41

4.20

 

Solvency

 

41

4.21

 

Senior Indebtedness

 

41

4.22

 

Certain Documents

 

41

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 5.

 

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

 

41

 

 

 

 

 

5.1

 

Conditions to Initial Extension of Credit

 

41

5.2

 

Conditions to Each Extension of Credit

 

44

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 6.

 

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

 

44

 

 

 

 

 

6.1

 

Financial Statements

 

44

6.2

 

Certificates; Other Information

 

45

6.3

 

Payment of Obligations

 

46

6.4

 

Maintenance of Existence; Compliance

 

46

6.5

 

Maintenance of Property; Insurance

 

46

6.6

 

Inspection of Property; Books and Records; Discussions

 

46

6.7

 

Notices

 

46

6.8

 

Environmental Laws

 

47

6.9

 

Additional Collateral, etc

 

48

6.10

 

Further Assurances

 

49

6.11

 

OFAC and BSA Compliance

 

49

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 7.

 

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

 

49

 

 

 

 

 

7.1

 

Financial Condition Covenants.

 

49

7.2

 

Indebtedness

 

50

7.3

 

Liens

 

52

7.4

 

Fundamental Changes

 

53

7.5

 

Disposition of Property

 

54

7.6

 

Restricted Payments

 

54

7.7

 

Investments

 

55

 



 

7.8

 

Optional Payments and Modifications of Certain Debt Instruments

 

56

7.9

 

Transactions with Affiliates

 

57

7.10

 

Sales and Leasebacks

 

57

7.11

 

Swap Agreements

 

57

7.12

 

Changes in Fiscal Periods

 

57

7.13

 

Negative Pledge Clauses

 

57

7.14

 

Clauses Restricting Subsidiary Distributions

 

57

7.15

 

Lines of Business

 

58

7.16

 

Amendments to Acquisition Documents

 

58

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 8.

 

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

 

58

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 9.

 

THE AGENTS

 

61

 

 

 

 

 

9.1

 

Appointment

 

61

9.2

 

Delegation of Duties

 

61

9.3

 

Exculpatory Provisions

 

61

9.4

 

Reliance by Administrative Agent

 

61

9.5

 

Notice of Default

 

62

9.6

 

Non-Reliance on Agents and Other Lenders

 

62

9.7

 

Indemnification

 

62

9.8

 

Agent in Its Individual Capacity

 

63

9.9

 

Successor Administrative Agent

 

63

9.10

 

Co-Documentation Agents and Syndication Agent

 

63

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 10.

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

63

 

 

 

 

 

10.1

 

Amendments and Waivers

 

63

10.2

 

Notices

 

65

10.3

 

No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies

 

66

10.4

 

Survival of Representations and Warranties

 

66

10.5

 

Payment of Expenses and Taxes

 

66

10.6

 

Successors and Assigns; Participations and Assignments

 

67

10.7

 

Adjustments; Set-off

 

70

10.8

 

Counterparts

 

70

10.9

 

Severability

 

71

10.10

 

Integration

 

71

10.11

 

GOVERNING LAW

 

71

10.12

 

Submission To Jurisdiction; Waivers

 

71

10.13

 

Acknowledgements

 

71

10.14

 

Releases of Guarantees and Liens

 

72

10.15

 

Confidentiality

 

72

10.16

 

WAIVERS OF JURY TRIAL

 

72

10.17

 

Designated Senior Indebtedness

 

73

10.18

 

USA PATRIOT Act Notice

 

73

 



 

SCHEDULES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.1(a)

Commitments

 

 

4.4

Consents, Authorizations, Filings and Notices

 

 

4.15

Subsidiaries

 

 

4.19

UCC Filing Jurisdictions

 

 

7.2(d)

Existing Indebtedness

 

 

7.3(f)

Existing Liens

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXHIBITS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A

Form of Guarantee and Collateral Agreement

 

 

B

Form of Compliance Certificate

 

 

C

Form of Closing Certificate

 

 

D

Form of Assignment and Assumption

 

 

E-1

Form of Legal Opinion of King & Spalding LLP

 

 

E-2

Form of Legal Opinion of Philip A. Theodore

 

 

E-3

Form of Legal Opinion of Bryan Cave LLP

 

 

F

Form of Exemption Certificate

 

 

 



 

AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of May 2, 2006, among SEROLOGICALS CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the several banks and other financial institutions or entities from time to time parties to this Agreement (the “Lenders”), LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION and REGIONS BANK, as co-documentation agents (in such capacity, the “Co-Documentation Agents”), BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as syndication agent (in such capacity, the “Syndication Agent”), and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as administrative agent.

 

W I T N E S S E T H :

 

WHEREAS, the Borrower is a party to the Credit Agreement, dated as of October 14, 2004 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Existing Credit Agreement”), with the Lenders parties thereto, LaSalle Bank National Association, as documentation agent, Bank of America, N.A., as syndication agent, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as administrative agent;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto hereby agree that on the Restatement Date (as defined below) the Existing Credit Agreement shall be, and hereby is, amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

 

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS

 

1.1                                 Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the terms listed in this Section 1.1 shall have the respective meanings set forth in this Section 1.1.

 

ABR”:  for any day, a rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/16 of 1%) equal to the greater of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day and (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day plus ½ of 1%. For purposes hereof:  “Prime Rate” shall mean the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as its prime rate in effect at its principal office in New York City (the Prime Rate not being intended to be the lowest rate of interest charged by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. in connection with extensions of credit to debtors). Any change in the ABR due to a change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate shall be effective as of the opening of business on the effective day of such change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate, respectively.

 

ABR Loans”:  Loans the rate of interest applicable to which is based upon the ABR.

 

Acquisition”:  as defined in Section 5.1.

 

Acquisition Documentation”:  collectively, the Purchase Agreements and all schedules, exhibits and annexes thereto and all side letters and agreements affecting the terms thereof or entered into in connection therewith.

 

Adjustment Date”:  as defined in the Pricing Grid.

 

Administrative Agent”:  JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., together with its affiliates, as the arranger of the Commitments and as the administrative agent for the Lenders under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, together with any of its successors.

 



 

Affiliate”:  as to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” of a Person means the power, directly or indirectly, either to (a) vote 10% or more of the securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors (or persons performing similar functions) of such Person or (b) direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether by contract or otherwise.

 

Agents”:  the collective reference to the Syndication Agent, the Co-Documentation Agents and the Administrative Agent.

 

Aggregate Exposure”:  with respect to any Lender at any time, an amount equal to (a) until the Original Closing Date, the aggregate amount of such Lender’s Commitments at such time and (b) thereafter, the sum of (i) the aggregate then unpaid principal amount of such Lender’s Term Loans and (ii) the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Commitment then in effect or, if the Revolving Commitments have been terminated, the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Extensions of Credit then outstanding.

 

Aggregate Exposure Percentage”:  with respect to any Lender at any time, the ratio (expressed as a percentage) of such Lender’s Aggregate Exposure at such time to the Aggregate Exposure of all Lenders at such time.

 

Agreement”:  as defined in the preamble hereto.

 

Applicable Margin”:  for each Type of Loan, the rate per annum set forth under the relevant column heading below:

 

 

 

ABR Loans

 

Eurodollar Loans

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans

 

0.375

%

1.375

%

Term Loans

 

0.375

%

1.375

%

 

; provided, that on and after the first Adjustment Date occurring after the Restatement Date, the Applicable Margin will be determined pursuant to the Pricing Grid.

 

Application”:  an application, in such form as the relevant Issuing Lender may specify from time to time, requesting such Issuing Lender to open a Letter of Credit.

 

Approved Fund”:  as defined in Section 10.6(b).

 

Asset Sale”:  any Disposition of property or series of related Dispositions of property (excluding any such Disposition permitted by Section 7.5, other than clause (l) thereof) that yields gross proceeds to any Group Member (valued at the initial principal amount thereof in the case of non-cash proceeds consisting of notes or other debt securities and valued at fair market value in the case of other non-cash proceeds) in excess of $15,000,000.

 

Assignee”:  as defined in Section 10.6(b).

 

Assignment and Assumption”:  an Assignment and Assumption, substantially in the form of Exhibit D.

 

Available Revolving Commitment”:  as to any Revolving Lender at any time, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (a) such Lender’s Revolving Commitment then in effect over (b) such

 

2



 

Lender’s Revolving Extensions of Credit then outstanding; provided, that in calculating any Lender’s Revolving Extensions of Credit for the purpose of determining such Lender’s Available Revolving Commitment pursuant to Section 2.8(a), the aggregate principal amount of Swingline Loans then outstanding shall be deemed to be zero.

 

Benefited Lender”:  as defined in Section 10.7(a).

 

Board”:  the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States (or any successor).

 

Borrower”:  as defined in the preamble hereto.

 

Borrowing Date”:  any Business Day specified by the Borrower as a date on which the Borrower requests the relevant Lenders to make Loans hereunder.

 

Business”:  as defined in Section 4.17(b).

 

Business Day”:  a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to close, provided, that with respect to notices and determinations in connection with, and payments of principal and interest on, Eurodollar Loans, such day is also a day for trading by and between banks in US Dollar deposits in the interbank eurodollar market.

 

Capital Expenditures”:  for any period, with respect to any Person, the aggregate of all expenditures by such Person and its Subsidiaries (other than any 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) for the acquisition or leasing (pursuant to a capital lease) of fixed or capital assets or additions to equipment (including replacements, capitalized repairs and improvements during such period) that are required to be capitalized under GAAP on a consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Subsidiaries.

 

Capital Lease Obligations”:  as to any Person, the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP and, for the purposes of this Agreement, the amount of such obligations at any time shall be the capitalized amount thereof at such time determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Capital Stock”:  any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of a corporation, any and all equivalent ownership interests in a Person (other than a corporation) and any and all warrants, rights or options to purchase any of the foregoing.

 

Cash Equivalents”:  (a) marketable direct obligations issued by, or unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States Government or issued by any agency thereof and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition; (b) certificates of deposit, time deposits, eurodollar time deposits or overnight bank deposits having maturities of 12 months or less from the date of acquisition issued by any Lender or by any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof having combined capital and surplus of not less than $500,000,000, or any bank whose short-term commercial paper rating from S&P is at least A-2 or the equivalent thereof or from Moody’s is at least P-2 or the equivalent thereof (any such

 

3



 

bank being an “Approved Bank”); (c) commercial paper and variable or fixed rate notes issued by any Approved Bank (or by the parent company thereof) or any commercial paper or variable or fixed rate notes issued by, or guaranteed by, any domestic corporation rated A-2 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by S&P or P-2 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by Moody’s) and maturing within 270 days from the date of acquisition; (d) repurchase obligations of any Lender, Approved Bank, or recognized securities dealer having capital and surplus in excess of $500,000,000, having a term of not more than 90 days, with respect to securities issued or fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government; (e) securities with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition issued or fully guaranteed by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States, by any political subdivision or taxing authority of any such state, commonwealth or territory or by any foreign government, the securities of which state, commonwealth, territory, political subdivision, taxing authority or foreign government (as the case may be) are rated at least A by S&P or A by Moody’s; (f) securities with maturities of 12 months or less from the date of acquisition backed by standby letters of credit issued by any Lender or any Approved Bank; (g) money market mutual or similar funds that invest exclusively in assets satisfying the requirements of clauses (a) through (f) of this definition; or (h) money market funds that (i) comply with the criteria set forth in SEC Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (ii) are rated AAA by S&P and Aaa by Moody’s and (iii) have portfolio assets of at least $500,000,000.

 

CDN Dollar”: freely transferable lawful currency of Canada (expressed in dollars).

 

Co-Documentation Agents”:  as defined in the preamble hereto.

 

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

 

Collateral”:  all property of the Loan Parties, now owned or hereafter acquired, upon which a Lien is purported to be created by any Security Document.

 

Commitment”:  as to any Lender, the sum of the Term Commitment and the Revolving Commitment of such Lender.

 

Commitment Fee Rate”:  0.3% per annum; provided, that on and after the first Adjustment Date occurring after the Restatement Date, the Commitment Fee Rate will be determined pursuant to the Pricing Grid.

 

Commonly Controlled Entity”:  an entity, whether or not incorporated, that is under common control with the Borrower within the meaning of Section 4001 of ERISA or is part of a group that includes the Borrower and that is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

 

Compliance Certificate”:  a certificate duly executed by a Responsible Officer substantially in the form of Exhibit B.

 

Conduit Lender”:  any special purpose corporation organized and administered by any Lender for the purpose of making Loans otherwise required to be made by such Lender and designated by such Lender in a written instrument; provided, that the designation by any Lender of a Conduit Lender shall not relieve the designating Lender of any of its obligations to fund a Loan under this Agreement if, for any reason, its Conduit Lender fails to fund any such Loan, and the designating Lender (and not the Conduit Lender) shall have the sole right and responsibility to deliver all consents and waivers required or requested under this Agreement with respect to its Conduit Lender, and provided, further, that no Conduit Lender shall (a) be entitled to receive any greater amount pursuant to Section 2.19, 2.20, 2.21 or 10.5 than the designating Lender would have been entitled to receive in respect of the extensions of credit made by such Conduit Lender or (b) be deemed to have any Commitment.

 

4



 

Confidential Information Memorandum”:  the Confidential Information Memorandum dated March 2006 and furnished to certain Lenders.

 

Consolidated Current Assets”:  at any date, all amounts (other than cash and Cash Equivalents) that would, in conformity with GAAP, be set forth opposite the caption “total current assets” (or any like caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries at such date.

 

Consolidated Current Liabilities”:  at any date, all amounts that would, in conformity with GAAP, be set forth opposite the caption “total current liabilities” (or any like caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries at such date, but excluding (a) the current portion of any Funded Debt of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and (b) without duplication of clause (a) above, all Indebtedness consisting of Revolving Loans, Swingline Loans or L/C Obligations to the extent otherwise included therein.

 

Consolidated EBITDA”:  for any period, Consolidated Net Income for such period plus, without duplication and to the extent reflected as a charge in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period (other than in the case of clause (j) below), the sum of (a) income tax, franchise tax and net worth tax expense, (b) interest expense (including, without limitation, interest expense with respect to Capital Lease Obligations and Specified Swap Agreements), amortization or writeoff of debt discount and debt issuance costs and commissions, discounts and other fees and charges (including all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to Letters of Credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and net costs under Swap Agreements in respect of interest rates to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP) associated with Indebtedness (including the Loans and the Letters of Credit), (c) depreciation and amortization expense, (d) amortization of intangibles (including, but not limited to, goodwill) and organization costs, (e) any extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring non-cash expenses or losses (including, whether or not otherwise includable as a separate item in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period, non-cash losses on sales of assets outside of the ordinary course of business) and non-recurring losses relating to early extinguishment of Indebtedness, (f) fees and expenses in respect of the Acquisition or any other Permitted Business Acquisition and the financing thereof in an amount incurred not exceeding $5,000,000 in the aggregate for any such acquisition for all periods, (g) non-cash expenses during such period resulting from the grant of Capital Stock interests to management and employees of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, (h) all other non-cash expenses or losses of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries for such period (excluding any such charge that constitutes an accrual of or a reserve for cash charges for any future period), (i) nonrecurring integration and reorganization costs and expenses related to the Acquisition or any other Permitted Business Acquisition in an amount incurred not exceeding $5,000,000 in the aggregate for any such acquisition for all periods, and (j) payments received by any Group Members in respect of business interruption insurance, minus, (a) to the extent included in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period, the sum of (i) interest income, (ii) any extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring income or gains (including, whether or not otherwise includable as a separate item in the statement of such Consolidated Net Income for such period, gains on the sales of assets outside of the ordinary course of business), (iii) income tax credits (to the extent not netted from income tax expense) and (iv) any other non-cash income and (b) any cash payments made during such period in respect of items described in clause (e) above subsequent to the fiscal quarter in which the relevant non-cash expenses or losses were reflected as a charge in the statement of Consolidated Net Income, all as determined on a consolidated basis. For the purposes of calculating Consolidated EBITDA for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters (each, a “Reference Period”) pursuant to any determination of the Consolidated Leverage Ratio, Consolidated Senior Debt Ratio and the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, (i) if at any time during such Reference Period the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall have made any Material Disposition, the Consolidated EBITDA for such Reference Period shall be reduced by an amount equal to the Consolidated EBITDA (if positive) attributable to the property that is the subject

 

5



 

of such Material Disposition for such Reference Period or increased by an amount equal to the Consolidated EBITDA (if negative) attributable thereto for such Reference Period and (ii) if during such Reference Period the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall have made a Material Acquisition, Consolidated EBITDA for such Reference Period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Material Acquisition occurred on the first day of such Reference Period. As used in this definition, “Material Acquisition” means any acquisition of property or series of related acquisitions of property that (a) constitutes assets comprising all or substantially all of an operating unit of a business or constitutes all or substantially all of the common stock of a Person and (b) involves the payment of consideration by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in excess of $10,000,000; and “Material Disposition” means any Disposition of property or series of related Dispositions of property that yields gross proceeds to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of $10,000,000. Such calculations shall take into account all Indebtedness incurred or assumed, or repaid, as the case may be, in connection with such Material Acquisition or Material Disposition, effective as of the first day of such Reference Period, and may include operating and other expense reductions and other adjustments for such period resulting from any Material Acquisition that is being given pro-forma effect to the extent that such operating and other expense reductions and other adjustments would be permitted pursuant to Article XI of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio”:  for any period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDA for such period less the aggregate amount actually paid by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries during such period on account of Capital Expenditures (excluding (i) the principal amount of Indebtedness (other than any Loans) incurred in connection with such expenditures, and (ii) any such expenditures made based on the Net Cash Proceeds of any Recovery Event or any issuance or sale of Capital Stock that are not required to be used pursuant to this Agreement as a mandatory prepayment under Section 2.12) to (b) Consolidated Fixed Charges for such period.

 

Consolidated Fixed Charges”:  for any period, the sum (without duplication) of (a) Consolidated Interest Expense for such period and (b) scheduled payments made during such period on account of principal of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (including scheduled principal payments in respect of the Term Loans, but excluding any payment of principal of the Convertible Senior Subordinated Debentures).

 

Consolidated Interest Expense”:  for any period, total cash interest expense (including that attributable to Capital Lease Obligations) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period with respect to all outstanding Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (including all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and net costs under Swap Agreements in respect of interest rates to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP).

 

Consolidated Leverage Ratio”:  as at the last day of any period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Debt on such day to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for such period.

 

Consolidated Liquidity”:  at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate amount of unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries at such time plus (b) the aggregate amount of Excess Revolving Credit Availability at such time.

 

Consolidated Net Income”:  for any period, the consolidated net income (or loss) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that there shall be excluded (a) the income (or deficit) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower or is merged into or consolidated with the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, (b) the income (or deficit) of any Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Borrower) in which the Borrower

 

6



 

or any of its Subsidiaries has an ownership interest, except to the extent that any such income is actually received by the Borrower or such Subsidiary in the form of dividends or similar distributions and (c) the undistributed earnings of any Subsidiary of the Borrower to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Subsidiary is not at the time permitted by the terms of any Contractual Obligation (other than under any Loan Document) or Requirement of Law applicable to such Subsidiary.

 

Consolidated Senior Debt”:  all Consolidated Total Debt other than (a) the Convertible Senior Subordinated Debentures and (b) any other subordinated Indebtedness.

 

Consolidated Senior Debt Ratio”:  as of the last day of any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Senior Debt on such day to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for such period.

 

Consolidated Total Debt”:  at any date, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries at such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

Continuing Directors”:  the directors of the Borrower on the Restatement Date, after giving effect to the Acquisition and the other transactions contemplated hereby, and each other director, if, in each case, such other director’s nomination for election to the board of directors of the Borrower is recommended by at least 51% of the then Continuing Directors.

 

Contractual Obligation”:  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.

 

Convertible Senior Subordinated Debentures”:  the 4.75% Convertible Senior Subordinated Debentures of the Borrower due 2033 issued pursuant to the Indenture.

 

Default”:  any of the events specified in Section 8, whether or not any requirement for the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both, has been satisfied.

 

Disposition”:  with respect to any property, any sale, lease, sale and leaseback, assignment, conveyance, transfer or other disposition thereof (but excluding any disposition occurring in connection with a Recovery Event). The terms “Dispose” and “Disposed of” shall have correlative meanings.

 

 “Domestic Subsidiary”:  any Subsidiary of the Borrower organized under the laws of any jurisdiction within the United States.

 

Environmental Laws”:  any and all foreign, Federal, state, local or municipal laws, rules, orders, regulations, statutes, ordinances, codes, decrees, requirements of any Governmental Authority or other Requirements of Law (including common law) regulating, relating to or imposing liability or standards of conduct concerning protection of human health or the environment, as now or may at any time hereafter be in effect.

 

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

 

7



 

Eurocurrency Reserve Requirements”:  for any day as applied to a Eurodollar Loan, the aggregate (without duplication) of the maximum rates (expressed as a decimal fraction) of reserve requirements in effect on such day (including basic, supplemental, marginal and emergency reserves) under any regulations of the Board or other Governmental Authority having jurisdiction with respect thereto dealing with reserve requirements prescribed for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency Liabilities” in Regulation D of the Board) maintained by a member bank of the Federal Reserve System.

 

Eurodollar Base Rate”:  with respect to each day during each Interest Period pertaining to a Eurodollar Loan, the rate per annum determined on the basis of the rate for deposits in US Dollars for a period equal to such Interest Period commencing on the first day of such Interest Period appearing on Page 3750 of the Telerate screen as of 11:00 A.M., London time, two Business Days prior to the beginning of such Interest Period. In the event that such rate does not appear on Page 3750 of the Telerate screen (or otherwise on such screen), the “Eurodollar Base Rate” shall be determined by reference to such other comparable publicly available service for displaying eurodollar rates as may be selected by the Administrative Agent or, in the absence of such availability, by reference to the rate at which the Administrative Agent is offered US Dollar deposits at or about 11:00 A.M., New York City time, two Business Days prior to the beginning of such Interest Period in the interbank eurodollar market where its eurodollar and foreign currency and exchange operations are then being conducted for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period for the number of days comprised therein.

 

Eurodollar Loans”:  Loans the rate of interest applicable to which is based upon the Eurodollar Rate.

 

Eurodollar Rate”:  with respect to each day during each Interest Period pertaining to a Eurodollar Loan, a rate per annum determined for such day in accordance with the following formula (rounded upward to the nearest 1/100th of 1%):

 

Eurodollar Base Rate

1.00 - Eurocurrency Reserve Requirements

 

Eurodollar Tranche”:  the collective reference to Eurodollar Loans under a particular Facility the then current Interest Periods with respect to all of which begin on the same date and end on the same later date (whether or not such Loans shall originally have been made on the same day).

 

Event of Default”:  any of the events specified in Section 8, provided that any requirement for the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both, has been satisfied.

 

Excess Revolving Credit Availability”:  at any time, the amount equal to (a) the Total Revolving Commitments at such time minus (b) the Total Revolving Extensions of Credit at such time.

 

 “Excluded Domestic Subsidiary”:  any Domestic Subsidiary (other than any Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower having assets with a book value greater than $1,000,000) designated as such by the Borrower in a written notice delivered to the Administrative Agent; provided that at no time shall the amount of all Investments made at or prior to such time by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor in Excluded Domestic Subsidiaries exceed $5,000,000 in the aggregate; and provided, further, that any Excluded Domestic Subsidiary shall cease to be an Excluded Domestic Subsidiary upon receipt by the Administrative Agent of a written notice from the Borrower revoking such designation.

 

8



 

Excluded Foreign Subsidiary”:  any Foreign Subsidiary in respect of which the pledge of all of the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary as Collateral would, in the good faith judgment of the Borrower, result in adverse tax consequences to the Borrower.

 

Existing Credit Agreement”:  as defined in the preamble hereto.

 

Existing Target Credit Facilities”: the collective reference to (a) the promissory note, dated March 11, 2005, made by LINCO Diagnostic Services, Inc. in favor of Cass Commercial Bank, in the principal amount of $700,000, with a maturity date of November 11, 2009 (Loan #: 1512400), (b) the promissory note, dated October 20, 2004, made by LINCO Diagnostic Services, Inc. in favor of Cass Commercial Bank, in the principal amount of $500,000, with a maturity date of January 20, 2010 (Loan #: 1501900), (c) the promissory note, dated April 29, 2003, made by LINCO Diagnostic Services, Inc. in favor of Cass Commercial Bank, in the principal amount of $500,000, due upon Cass Commercial Bank’s demand (Loan #: 1462800), (d) the promissory note, dated April 29, 2003, made by Linco Research, Incorporated in favor of Cass Commercial Bank, in the principal amount of $500,000, due upon Cass Commercial Bank’s demand (Loan #: 1462900) and (e) the promissory note, dated April 29, 2003, made by Linco Research, Incorporated in favor of Cass Commercial Bank, in the principal amount of $500,000, due upon Cass Commercial Bank’s demand (Loan #: 1463000).

 

Facility”:  each of (a) the Term Commitments and the Term Loans made thereunder (the “Term Facility”) and (b) the Revolving Commitments and the extensions of credit made thereunder (the “Revolving Facility”).

 

Federal Funds Effective Rate”:  for any day, the weighted average of the rates on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by federal funds brokers, as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the average of the quotations for the day of such transactions received by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. from three federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

 

Fee Payment Date”:  (a) the third Business Day following the last day of each March, June, September and December and (b) the last day of the Revolving Commitment Period.

 

Foreign Subsidiary”:  any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

 

Fundamental Change”:  a “Fundamental Change” (or any other defined term having a similar purpose) as defined in the Indenture.

 

Funded Debt”:  as to any Person, all Indebtedness of such Person that matures more than one year from the date of its creation or matures within one year from such date but is renewable or extendible, at the option of such Person, to a date more than one year from such date or arises under a revolving credit or similar agreement that obligates the lender or lenders to extend credit during a period of more than one year from such date, including all current maturities and current sinking fund payments in respect of such Indebtedness whether or not required to be paid within one year from the date of its creation and, in the case of the Borrower, Indebtedness in respect of the Loans.

 

Funding Office”:  the office of the Administrative Agent specified in Section 10.2 or such other office as may be specified from time to time by the Administrative Agent as its funding office by written notice to the Borrower and the Lenders.

 

9



 

GAAP”:  generally accepted accounting principles in the United States as in effect from time to time, except that for purposes of Section 7.1, GAAP shall be determined on the basis of such principles in effect on the date hereof and consistent with those used in the preparation of the most recent audited financial statements referred to in Section 4.1(b). In the event that any “Accounting Change” (as defined below) shall occur and such change results in a change in the method of calculation of financial covenants, standards or terms in this Agreement, then the Borrower and the Administrative Agent agree to enter into negotiations in order to amend such provisions of this Agreement so as to reflect equitably such Accounting Changes with the desired result that the criteria for evaluating the Borrower’s financial condition shall be the same after such Accounting Changes as if such Accounting Changes had not been made. Until such time as such an amendment shall have been executed and delivered by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders, all financial covenants, standards and terms in this Agreement shall continue to be calculated or construed as if such Accounting Changes had not occurred. “Accounting Changes” refers to changes in accounting principles required by the promulgation of any rule, regulation, pronouncement or opinion by the Financial Accounting Standards Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants or, if applicable, the SEC.

 

Governmental Authority”:  any nation or government, any state or other political subdivision thereof, any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government, any securities exchange and any self-regulatory organization (including the National Association of Insurance Commissioners).

 

Group Members”:  the collective reference to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

 

Guarantee and Collateral Agreement”:  the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, dated as of October 14, 2004 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified), executed and delivered by the Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor, substantially in the form of Exhibit A, and as reaffirmed as of the Restatement Date.

 

Guarantee Obligation”:  as to any Person (the “guaranteeing person”), any obligation, including a reimbursement, counterindemnity or similar obligation, of the guaranteeing Person that guarantees or in effect guarantees, or which is given to induce the creation of a separate obligation by another Person (including any bank under any letter of credit) that guarantees or in effect guarantees, any Indebtedness, leases, dividends or other monetary obligations (the “primary obligations”) of any other third Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including any obligation of the guaranteeing person, whether or not contingent, (i) to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor, (ii) to advance or supply funds (1) for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation or (2) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor, (iii) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation or (iv) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the owner of any such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof; provided, however, that the term Guarantee Obligation shall not include endorsements of instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business. The amount of any Guarantee Obligation of any guaranteeing person shall be deemed to be the lower of (a) an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such Guarantee Obligation is made and (b) the maximum amount for which such guaranteeing person may be liable pursuant to the terms of the instrument embodying such Guarantee Obligation, unless such primary obligation and the maximum amount for which such guaranteeing person may be liable are not stated or determinable, in which case the amount of such Guarantee Obligation shall be such guaranteeing person’s maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the Borrower in good faith.

 

10



 

Indebtedness”:  of any Person at any date, without duplication, (a) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such Person for the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of such Person’s business which are not more than 90 days past due or are being disputed in good faith), (c) all obligations of such Person evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or other similar instruments, (d) all indebtedness created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement with respect to property acquired by such Person (even though the rights and remedies of the seller or lender under such agreement in the event of default are limited to repossession or sale of such property), (e) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (f) all obligations of such Person, contingent or otherwise, as an account party or applicant under or in respect of acceptances, letters of credit, surety bonds or similar arrangements (other than trade letters of credit), (g) the liquidation value of all mandatorily redeemable preferred Capital Stock of such Person, (h) all Guarantee Obligations of such Person in respect of obligations of the kind referred to in clauses (a) through (g) above, (i) all obligations of the kind referred to in clauses (a) through (h) above secured by (or for which the holder of such obligation has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property (including accounts and contract rights) owned by such Person, whether or not such Person has assumed or become liable for the payment of such obligation, and (j) for the purposes of Section 8(e) only, all obligations of such Person in respect of Swap Agreements. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness expressly provide that such Person is not liable therefor.

 

Indenture”:  the Indenture, dated as of August 20, 2003, between the Borrower and The Bank of New York with respect to the Convertible Senior Subordinated Debentures, together with all instruments and other agreements entered into by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries in connection therewith.

 

Insolvency”:  with respect to any Multiemployer Plan, the condition that such Plan is insolvent within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA.

 

Insolvent”:  pertaining to a condition of Insolvency.

 

Intellectual Property”:  the collective reference to all rights, priorities and privileges relating to intellectual property, whether arising under United States, multinational or foreign laws or otherwise, including copyrights, copyright licenses, patents, patent licenses, trademarks, trademark licenses, technology, know-how and processes, and all rights to sue at law or in equity for any infringement or other impairment thereof, including the right to receive all proceeds and damages therefrom.

 

Interest Payment Date”:  (a) as to any ABR Loan (other than any Swingline Loan), the last day of each March, June, September and December to occur while such Loan is outstanding and the final maturity date of such Loan, (b) as to any Eurodollar Loan having an Interest Period of three months or less, the last day of such Interest Period, (c) as to any Eurodollar Loan having an Interest Period longer than three months, each day that is three months, or a whole multiple thereof, after the first day of such Interest Period and the last day of such Interest Period, (d) as to any Loan (other than any Revolving Loan that is an ABR Loan and any Swingline Loan), the date of any repayment or prepayment made in respect thereof and (e) as to any Swingline Loan, the day that such Loan is required to be repaid.

 

Interest Period”:  as to any Eurodollar Loan, (a) initially, the period commencing on the borrowing or conversion date, as the case may be, with respect to such Eurodollar Loan and ending one, two, three or six months thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its notice of borrowing or notice of

 

11



 

conversion, as the case may be, given with respect thereto; and (b) thereafter, each period commencing on the last day of the next preceding Interest Period applicable to such Eurodollar Loan and ending one, two, three or six months thereafter, as selected by the Borrower by irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 A.M., New York City time, on the date that is three Business Days prior to the last day of the then current Interest Period with respect thereto; provided that, all of the foregoing provisions relating to Interest Periods are subject to the following:

 

(i)                                   if any Interest Period would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless the result of such extension would be to carry such Interest Period into another calendar month in which event such Interest Period shall end on the immediately preceding Business Day;

 

(ii)                                the Borrower may not select an Interest Period under the Revolving Facility that would extend beyond the Revolving Termination Date or an Interest Period under the Term Facility that would extend beyond the date final payment is due on the Term Loans;

 

(iii)                             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 a calendar month; and

 

(iv)                            the Borrower shall select Interest Periods so as not to require a payment or prepayment of any Eurodollar Loan during an Interest Period for such Loan.

 

Investments”:  as defined in Section 7.7.

 

Involuntary Disposition” means any loss of, damage to or destruction of, or any condemnation or other taking for public use of, any property of any Loan Party.

 

Issuing Lender”:  (a) JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. or any affiliate thereof or (b) any other Lender from time to time designated by the Borrower as an Issuing Lender with the consent of such Lender and the Administrative Agent, in each case in its capacity as issuer of any Letter of Credit.

 

L/C Commitment”:  $25,000,000.

 

L/C Obligations”:  at any time, an amount equal to the sum of (a) the aggregate then undrawn and unexpired amount of the then outstanding Letters of Credit and (b) the aggregate amount of drawings under Letters of Credit that have not then been reimbursed pursuant to Section 3.5.

 

L/C Participants”:  with respect to any Letter of Credit, the collective reference to all the Revolving Lenders other than the Issuing Lender that issued such Letter of Credit.

 

Lake Placid Facility”: the Borrower’s research products manufacturing facility located in Lake Placid, New York.

 

Lawrence Facility”: the Borrower’s cell culture manufacturing facility located in Lawrence, Kansas.

 

Lenders”:  as defined in the preamble hereto; provided, that unless the context otherwise requires, each reference herein to the Lenders shall be deemed to include any Conduit Lender.

 

Letters of Credit”:  as defined in Section 3.1(a).

 

12



 

Lien”:  any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge or other security interest or any other security agreement of any kind or nature whatsoever in respect of property of any Person (including any deposit arrangement, preference, priority, preferential arrangement, conditional sale or other title retention agreement, and any capital lease, in any such case having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

 

Loan”:  any loan made by any Lender pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Loan Documents”:  this Agreement, the Security Documents, the Notes and any amendment, waiver, supplement or other modification to any of the foregoing.

 

Loan Parties”:  each Group Member that is a party to a Loan Document.

 

Majority Facility Lenders”:  with respect to any Facility, the holders of more than 50% of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Term Loans or the Total Revolving Extensions of Credit, as the case may be, outstanding under such Facility (or, in the case of the Revolving Facility, prior to any termination of the Revolving Commitments, the holders of more than 50% of the Total Revolving Commitments).

 

Material Adverse Effect”:  a material adverse effect on (a) the business, operations, property or financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or (b) the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or the rights or remedies of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders hereunder or thereunder.

 

Materials of Environmental Concern”:  any gasoline or petroleum (including crude oil or any fraction thereof) or petroleum products or any hazardous or toxic substances, materials or wastes, defined or regulated as such in or under any Environmental Law, including asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls and urea-formaldehyde insulation.

 

Moody’s”:  Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (or any successor thereto).

 

Multiemployer Plan”:  a Plan that is a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

 

Net Cash Proceeds”:  (a) in connection with any Asset Sale or any Recovery Event, the proceeds thereof in the form of cash and Cash Equivalents (including any such proceeds as and when received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or purchase price adjustment receivable or otherwise, but only as and when received), net of attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, investment banking fees, amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness secured by a Lien expressly permitted hereunder on any asset that is the subject of such Asset Sale or Recovery Event (other than any Lien pursuant to a Security Document) or otherwise subject to mandatory prepayment as a result of such event, any reserves established to fund contingent liabilities reasonably estimated to be payable within the following 36-month period and that are directly attributable to such event (as determined reasonably and in good faith by the Borrower), and other customary fees and expenses actually incurred in connection therewith, and net of taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements) and (b) in connection with any issuance or sale of Capital Stock or any incurrence of Indebtedness (other than any issuance or sale of Capital Stock of a Foreign Subsidiary by any Group Member to, or incurrence of Indebtedness by any Group Member payable to, any other Group Member), the cash proceeds received from such issuance or incurrence, net of attorneys’ fees, investment banking

 

13



 

fees, accountants’ fees, underwriting discounts and commissions and other customary fees and expenses actually incurred in connection therewith.

 

Non-Consenting Lender”: as defined in Section 10.1.

 

Non-Excluded Taxes”:  as defined in Section 2.20(a).

 

Non-U.S. Lender”:  as defined in Section 2.20(d).

 

Notes”:  the collective reference to any promissory note evidencing Loans.

 

Obligations”:  the unpaid principal of and interest on (including interest accruing after the maturity of the Loans and Reimbursement Obligations and interest accruing after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy, or the commencement of any insolvency, reorganization or like proceeding, relating to the Borrower, whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding) the Loans and all other obligations and liabilities of the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or to any Lender (or, in the case of Specified Swap Agreements, any affiliate of any Lender), whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to become due, or now existing or hereafter incurred, which may arise under, out of, or in connection with, this Agreement, any other Loan Document, the Letters of Credit, any Specified Swap Agreement or any other document made, delivered or given in connection herewith or therewith, whether on account of principal, interest, reimbursement obligations, fees, indemnities, costs, expenses (including all fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent or to any Lender that are required to be paid by the Borrower pursuant hereto) or otherwise.

 

Original Closing Date”:  October 14, 2004.

 

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

 

Participant”:  as defined in Section 10.6(c).

 

PBGC”:  the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation established pursuant to Subtitle A of Title IV of ERISA (or any successor).

 

Permitted Business Acquisition”:  any acquisition of all or substantially all the assets of, or the shares or other equity interests in, a Person or a division, line of business or other business unit of a Person, if immediately after giving effect thereto:  (a) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, (b) any acquired or newly formed corporation, partnership, association or other business entity shall be a Wholly Owned Subsidiary, or a Domestic Subsidiary in which an Investment is permitted (and to the extent permitted) pursuant to Section 7.7, and all actions required to be taken, if any, with respect to such acquired or newly formed Subsidiary under Section 6.9 shall have been taken and (c)(i) the Borrower and the Subsidiaries shall be in compliance, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such acquisition (without regard to the making of any earn-out payments), with the covenants contained in Section 7.1 recomputed as at the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries as if such acquisition and related financings or other transactions (without regard to the making of any earn-out payments) had occurred on the first day of each relevant period for testing such compliance, and, if the amount of such investment or series of related investments exceeds $15,000,000 (without regard to the making of any earn-out payments, but, for

 

14



 

the avoidance of doubt, including all Indebtedness assumed in connection with such investment or series of related investments), then the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent an officers’ certificate to such effect, together with all relevant financial information for such Subsidiary or assets, and (ii) any acquired or newly formed Subsidiary shall not be liable for any Indebtedness (except for Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.2).

 

Person”:  an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, business trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture, Governmental Authority or other entity of whatever nature.

 

Plan”:  at a particular time, any employee benefit plan that is covered by ERISA and in respect of which the Borrower or a Commonly Controlled Entity is (or, if such plan were terminated at such time, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.

 

Pricing Grid”:  the table set forth below.

 

Consolidated

 

Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans

 

Term Loans

 

 

 

Leverage
Ratio

 

Applicable Margin for Eurodollar
Loans

 

Applicable Margin for ABR
Loans

 

Applicable Margin for
Eurodollar Loans

 

Applicable Margin for
ABR Loans

 

Commitment
Fee Rate

 

>3.50:1.00

 

1.875

%

0.875

%

1.875

%

0.875

%

0.450

%

>3.00:1.00 and £3.50:1.00

 

1.625

%

0.625

%

1.625

%

0.625

%

0.375

%

>2.50:1.00 and £3.00:1.00

 

1.375

%

0.375

%

1.375

%

0.375

%

0.300

%

>2.00:1.00 and £2.50:1.00

 

1.125

%

0.125

%

1.125

%

0.125

%

0.250

%

£2.00:1.00

 

1.000

%

0.000

%

1.000

%

0.000

%

0.225

%

 

For the purposes of the Pricing Grid, changes in the Applicable Margin resulting from changes in the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall become effective on the date (the “Adjustment Date”) that is three Business Days after the date on which financial statements are delivered to the Lenders pursuant to Section 6.1 and shall remain in effect until the next change to be effected pursuant to this paragraph. If any financial statements referred to above are not delivered within the time periods specified in Section 6.1, then, until the date that is three Business Days after the date on which such financial statements are delivered, the highest rate set forth in each column of the Pricing Grid shall apply. In addition, at all times while an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the highest rate set forth in each column of the Pricing Grid shall apply. Each determination of the Consolidated Leverage Ratio pursuant to the Pricing Grid shall be made in a manner consistent with the determination thereof pursuant to Section 7.1.

 

Pro Forma Balance Sheet”:  as defined in Section 4.1(a).

 

Projections”:  as defined in Section 6.2(c).

 

15



 

Properties”:  as defined in Section 4.17(a).

 

Purchase Agreements”:  collectively, the Stock Purchase Agreement and the Real Estate Purchase Agreement.

 

Real Estate Purchase Agreement”:  the Purchase and Sale Agreement dated as of March 23, 2006, between Upstate Group, LLC and Paragon Properties, L.C.

 

Recovery Event”:  any settlement of or payment in respect of any property or casualty insurance claim or any condemnation proceeding relating to any asset of any Group Member in excess of $5,000,000.

 

Refunded Swingline Loans”:  as defined in Section 2.7.

 

Register”:  as defined in Section 10.6(b).

 

Regulation U”:  Regulation U of the Board as in effect from time to time.

 

Reimbursement Obligation”:  the obligation of the Borrower to reimburse each Issuing Lender pursuant to Section 3.5 for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender.

 

Reinvestment Deferred Amount”:  with respect to any Reinvestment Event, the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds received by any Group Member in connection therewith that are not applied to prepay the Term Loans or reduce the Revolving Commitments pursuant to Section 2.12(c) as a result of the delivery of a Reinvestment Notice.

 

Reinvestment Event”:  any Asset Sale or Recovery Event in respect of which the Borrower has delivered a Reinvestment Notice.

 

Reinvestment Notice”:  a written notice executed by a Responsible Officer stating that no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and that the Borrower (directly or indirectly through a Subsidiary) intends and expects to use all or a specified portion of the Net Cash Proceeds of an Asset Sale or Recovery Event to acquire (whether through a purchase or other acquisition of assets or Capital Stock, directly or pursuant to a merger, consolidation or amalgamation) or repair assets useful in its business.

 

Reinvestment Prepayment Amount”:  with respect to any Reinvestment Event, the Reinvestment Deferred Amount relating thereto less (i) any amount expended prior to the relevant Reinvestment Prepayment Date to acquire, construct or repair assets useful in the Borrower’s business, and (ii) any amount required to be expended thereafter pursuant to a Contractual Obligation entered into prior to such Reinvestment Prepayment Date with respect to such acquisition, construction or repair.

 

Reinvestment Prepayment Date”:  with respect to any Reinvestment Event, the earlier of (a) the date occurring 24 months after such Reinvestment Event and (b) the date on which the Borrower shall have determined not to, or shall have otherwise ceased to, acquire or repair assets useful in the Borrower’s business with all or any portion of the relevant Reinvestment Deferred Amount.

 

Reorganization”:  with respect to any Multiemployer Plan, the condition that such plan is in reorganization within the meaning of Section 4241 of ERISA.

 

16


 


 

Reportable Event”:  any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than those events as to which the thirty day notice period is waived under subsections .27, .28, .29, .30, .31, ..32, .34 or .35 of PBGC Reg. § 4043.

 

Required Lenders”:  at any time, the holders of more than 50% of (a) until the Original Closing Date, the Commitments then in effect and (b) thereafter, the sum of (i) the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Term Loans then outstanding and (ii) the Total Revolving Commitments then in effect or, if the Revolving Commitments have been terminated, the Total Revolving Extensions of Credit then outstanding.

 

Requirement of Law”:  as to any Person, the Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws or other organizational or governing documents of such Person, and any law, treaty, rule or regulation or determination of an arbitrator or a court or other Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.

 

Responsible Officer”:  the chief executive officer, president or chief financial officer of the Borrower, but in any event, with respect to financial matters, the chief financial officer of the Borrower.

 

Restatement Date”: the date on which the conditions precedent set forth in Section 5.1 shall have been satisfied, which date is May 2, 2006.

 

Restricted Payments”:  as defined in Section 7.6.

 

Revolving Commitment”:  as to any Lender, the obligation of such Lender, if any, to make Revolving Loans and participate in Swingline Loans and Letters of Credit in an aggregate principal and/or face amount not to exceed the amount set forth under the heading “Revolving Commitment” opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 1.1(a) or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender became a party hereto, as the same may be changed from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof. The original amount of the Total Revolving Commitments is $50,000,000.

 

Revolving Commitment Period”:  the period from and including the Original Closing Date to the Revolving Termination Date.

 

Revolving Extensions of Credit”:  as to any Revolving Lender at any time, an amount equal to the sum of (a) the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Loans held by such Lender then outstanding, (b) such Lender’s Revolving Percentage of the L/C Obligations then outstanding and (c) such Lender’s Revolving Percentage of the aggregate principal amount of Swingline Loans then outstanding.

 

Revolving Lender”:  each Lender that has a Revolving Commitment or that holds Revolving Loans.

 

Revolving Loans”:  as defined in Section 2.4(a).

 

Revolving Percentage”:  as to any Revolving Lender at any time, the percentage which such Lender’s Revolving Commitment then constitutes of the Total Revolving Commitments or, at any time after the Revolving Commitments shall have expired or terminated, the percentage which the aggregate principal amount of such Lender’s Revolving Loans then outstanding constitutes of the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Loans then outstanding, provided, that, in the event that the Revolving Loans are paid in full prior to the reduction to zero of the Total Revolving Extensions of

 

17



 

Credit, the Revolving Percentages shall be determined in a manner designed to ensure that the other outstanding Revolving Extensions of Credit shall be held by the Revolving Lenders on a comparable basis.

 

Revolving Termination Date”:  May 2, 2012.

 

S&P”:  Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (or any successor thereto).

 

SEC”:  the Securities and Exchange Commission, any successor thereto and any analogous Governmental Authority.

 

Security Documents”:  the collective reference to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and all other security documents hereafter delivered to the Administrative Agent granting a Lien on any property of any Person to secure the obligations and liabilities of any Loan Party under any Loan Document.

 

Single Employer Plan”:  any Plan that is covered by Title IV of ERISA, but that is not a Multiemployer Plan.

 

Solvent”:  when used with respect to any Person, means that, as of any date of determination, (a) the amount of the “present fair saleable value” of the assets of such Person will, as of such date, exceed the amount of all “liabilities of such Person, contingent or otherwise”, as of such date, as such quoted terms are determined in accordance with applicable federal and state laws governing determinations of the insolvency of debtors, (b) the present fair saleable value of the assets of such Person will, as of such date, be greater than the amount that will be required to pay the liability of such Person on its debts as such debts become absolute and matured, (c) such Person will not have, as of such date, an unreasonably small amount of capital with which to conduct its business, and (d) such Person will be able to pay its debts as they mature. For purposes of this definition, (i) ”debt” means liability on a “claim”, and (ii) ”claim” means any (x) right to payment, whether or not such a right is reduced to judgment, liquidated, unliquidated, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, disputed, undisputed, legal, equitable, secured or unsecured or (y) right to an equitable remedy for breach of performance if such breach gives rise to a right to payment, whether or not such right to an equitable remedy is reduced to judgment, fixed, contingent, matured or unmatured, disputed, undisputed, secured or unsecured.

 

Specified Sale and Leaseback Transaction”:  any sale and leaseback transaction involving assets of the Borrower as to all such transactions having an aggregate book value not to exceed $30,000,000.

 

Specified Swap Agreement”:  any Swap Agreement entered into by the Borrower and any Lender or affiliate thereof in respect of interest rates.

 

Stock Purchase Agreement”:  the Stock Purchase Agreement among Upstate Group, LLC, the Ronald L. Gingerich Revocable Living Trust dated May 23, 1995, and Ronald L. Gingerich dated as of March 23, 2006.

 

Subsidiary”:  as to any Person, a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which shares of stock or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power (other than stock or such other ownership interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) to elect a majority of the board of directors or other managers of such corporation, partnership or other entity are at the time owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise

 

18



 

qualified, all references to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” in this Agreement shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower.

 

Subsidiary Guarantor”:  each Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower other than any Excluded Domestic Subsidiary.

 

Subsidiary Non-Guarantor”:  any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

Swap Agreement”:  any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall be a “Swap Agreement”.

 

Swingline Commitment”:  the obligation of the Swingline Lender to make Swingline Loans pursuant to Section 2.6 in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed $5,000,000.

 

Swingline Lender”:  JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as the lender of Swingline Loans.

 

Swingline Loans”:  as defined in Section 2.6.

 

Swingline Participation Amount”:  as defined in Section 2.7.

 

Syndication Agent”:  as defined in the preamble hereto.

 

Target”:  the collective reference to Linco Research, Incorporated, a Missouri corporation, and LINCO Diagnostic Services, Inc., a Missouri corporation.

 

Term Commitment”:  as to any Lender, the obligation of such Lender, if any, to make a Term Loan to the Borrower in a principal amount not to exceed the amount set forth under the heading “Term Commitment” opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 1.1(a). The original aggregate amount of the Term Commitments is $50,000,000.

 

Term Lender”:  each Lender that has a Term Commitment or that holds a Term Loan.

 

Term Loan”:  as defined in Section 2.1.

 

Term Percentage”:  as to any Term Lender at any time, the percentage which such Lender’s Term Commitment then constitutes of the aggregate Term Commitments (or, at any time after the Original Closing Date, the percentage which the aggregate principal amount of such Lender’s Term Loans then outstanding constitutes of the aggregate principal amount of the Term Loans then outstanding).

 

Toronto Facility”: the Borrower’s cell culture manufacturing facility located in Toronto, Ontario.

 

19



 

Total Revolving Commitments”:  at any time, the aggregate amount of the Revolving Commitments then in effect.

 

Total Revolving Extensions of Credit”:  at any time, the aggregate amount of the Revolving Extensions of Credit of the Revolving Lenders outstanding at such time.

 

Transferee”:  any Assignee or Participant.

 

Type”:  as to any Loan, its nature as an ABR Loan or a Eurodollar Loan.

 

United States”:  the United States of America.

 

Upstate”: Upstate Group, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Borrower.

 

US Dollar Amount”:  in respect of an amount all or a portion of which is denominated in CDN Dollars or US Dollars, the sum of (a) the portion thereof denominated in US Dollars, plus (b) the US Dollar Equivalent of the portion thereof denominated in CDN Dollars.

 

US Dollar Equivalent”:  at any time for the determination thereof, with respect to any amount of CDN Dollars, the amount of US Dollars which could be purchased with such amount of CDN Dollars at the spot rate of exchange therefor as quoted by the Administrative Agent as of 12:00 noon (New York City time) on the date of any determination thereof for purchase on such date.

 

US Dollars” and “$”:  dollars in lawful currency of the United States.

 

Wholly Owned Subsidiary”:  as to any Person, any other Person all of the Capital Stock of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares required by law) is owned by such Person directly and/or through other Wholly Owned Subsidiaries.

 

Wholly Owned Guarantor”:  any Subsidiary Guarantor that is a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower.

 

1.2                                 Other Definitional Provisions. (a)  Unless otherwise specified therein, all terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined meanings when used in the other Loan Documents or any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto or thereto.

 

(b)                                 As used herein and in the other Loan Documents, and any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto or thereto, (i) accounting terms relating to any Group Member not defined in Section 1.1 and accounting terms partly defined in Section 1.1, to the extent not defined, shall have the respective meanings given to them under GAAP, (ii) the words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”, (iii) the word “incur” shall be construed to mean incur, create, issue, assume, become liable in respect of or suffer to exist (and the words “incurred” and “incurrence” shall have correlative meanings), (iv) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, Capital Stock, securities, revenues, accounts, leasehold interests and contract rights, and (v) references to agreements or other Contractual Obligations shall, unless otherwise specified, be deemed to refer to such agreements or Contractual Obligations as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

20



 

(c)                                  The words “hereof”, “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in this Agreement, shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement, and Section, Schedule and Exhibit references are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified.

 

 

(d)                                 The meanings given to terms defined herein shall be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of such terms.

 

SECTION 2.  AMOUNT AND TERMS OF COMMITMENTS

 

2.1                                 Term Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each Term Lender severally agrees to make a term loan (a “Term Loan”) to the Borrower on the Restatement Date in an amount not to exceed the amount of the Term Commitment of such Lender. The Term Loans may from time to time be Eurodollar Loans or ABR Loans, as determined by the Borrower and notified to the Administrative Agent in accordance with Sections 2.2 and 2.13.

 

2.2                                 Procedure for Term Loan Borrowing. The Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent irrevocable notice (which notice must be received by the Administrative Agent prior to 10:00 A.M., New York City time, one Business Day prior to the anticipated Restatement Date) requesting that the Term Lenders make the Term Loans on the Restatement Date and specifying the amount to be borrowed. Upon receipt of such notice the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Term Lender thereof. Not later than 12:00 Noon, New York City time, on the Restatement Date each Term Lender shall make available to the Administrative Agent at the Funding Office an amount in immediately available funds equal to the Term Loan or Term Loans to be made by such Lender. The Administrative Agent shall credit the account of the Borrower on the books of such office of the Administrative Agent with the aggregate of the amounts made available to the Administrative Agent by the Term Lenders in immediately available funds.

 

2.3                                 Repayment of Term Loans. The Term Loan of each Lender shall mature in 23 consecutive quarterly installments, each of which shall be in an amount equal to such Lender’s Term Percentage multiplied by the amount set forth below opposite such installment:

 

Installment

 

Principal Amount

 

September 30, 2006

 

$

1,666,666.67

 

December 31, 2006

 

$

1,666,666.67

 

March 31, 2007

 

$

1,666,666.67

 

June 30, 2007

 

$

1,250,000.00

 

September 30, 2007

 

$

1,250,000.00

 

December 31, 2007

 

$

1,250,000.00

 

March 31, 2008

 

$

1,250,000.00

 

June 30, 2008

 

$

1,875,000.00

 

September 30, 2008

 

$

1,875,000.00

 

December 31, 2008

 

$

1,875,000.00

 

March 31, 2009

 

$

1,875,000.00

 

June 30, 2009

 

$

1,875,000.00

 

September 30, 2009

 

$

1,875,000.00

 

December 31, 2009

 

$

1,875,000.00

 

March 31, 2010

 

$

1,875,000.00

 

June 30, 2010

 

$

2,500,000.00

 

 

21



 

Installment

 

Principal Amount

 

September 30, 2010

 

$

2,500,000.00

 

December 31, 2010

 

$

2,500,000.00

 

March 31, 2011

 

$

2,500,000.00

 

June 30, 2011

 

$

3,750,000.00

 

September 30, 2011

 

$

3,750,000.00

 

December 31, 2011

 

$

3,750,000.00

 

March 31, 2012

 

$

3,750,000.00

 

 

2.4                                 Revolving Commitments. (a)  Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each Revolving Lender severally agrees to make revolving credit loans (“Revolving Loans”) to the Borrower from time to time during the Revolving Commitment Period in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding which, when added to such Lender’s Revolving Percentage of the sum of (i) the L/C Obligations then outstanding and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of the Swingline Loans then outstanding, does not exceed the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Commitment. During the Revolving Commitment Period the Borrower may use the Revolving Commitments by borrowing, prepaying the Revolving Loans in whole or in part, and reborrowing, all in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof. The Revolving Loans may from time to time be Eurodollar Loans or ABR Loans, as determined by the Borrower and notified to the Administrative Agent in accordance with Sections 2.5 and 2.13.

 

(b)                                 The Borrower shall repay all outstanding Revolving Loans on the Revolving Termination Date.

 

2.5                                 Procedure for Revolving Loan Borrowing.  The Borrower may borrow under the Revolving Commitments during the Revolving Commitment Period on any Business Day, provided that the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent irrevocable notice (which notice must be received by the Administrative Agent prior to 11:00 A.M., New York City time, (a) three Business Days prior to the requested Borrowing Date, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, or (b) one Business Day prior to the requested Borrowing Date, in the case of ABR Loans) (provided that any such notice of a borrowing of ABR Loans under the Revolving Facility to finance payments required by Section 3.5 may be given not later than 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the date of the proposed borrowing), specifying (i) the amount and Type of Revolving Loans to be borrowed, (ii) the requested Borrowing Date and (iii) in the case of Eurodollar Loans, the respective amounts of each such Type of Loan and the respective lengths of the initial Interest Period therefor. Each borrowing under the Revolving Commitments shall be in an amount equal to (x) in the case of ABR Loans, $1,000,000 or a whole multiple thereof (or, if the then aggregate Available Revolving Commitments are less than $1,000,000, such lesser amount) and (y) in the case of Eurodollar Loans, $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof; provided, that the Swingline Lender may request, on behalf of the Borrower, borrowings under the Revolving Commitments that are ABR Loans in other amounts pursuant to Section 2.7. Upon receipt of any such notice from the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Revolving Lender thereof. Each Revolving Lender will make the amount of its pro rata share of each borrowing available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Borrower at the Funding Office prior to 12:00 Noon, New York City time, on the Borrowing Date requested by the Borrower in funds immediately available to the Administrative Agent. Such borrowing will then be made available to the Borrower by the Administrative

 

22



 

Agent crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of such office with the aggregate of the amounts made available to the Administrative Agent by the Revolving Lenders and in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent.

 

2.6                                 Swingline Commitment. (a)  Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Swingline Lender agrees to make a portion of the credit otherwise available to the Borrower under the Revolving Commitments from time to time during the Revolving Commitment Period by making swing line loans (“Swingline Loans”) to the Borrower; provided that (i) the aggregate principal amount of Swingline Loans outstanding at any time shall not exceed the Swingline Commitment then in effect (notwithstanding that the Swingline Loans outstanding at any time, when aggregated with the Swingline Lender’s other outstanding Revolving Loans, may exceed the Swingline Commitment then in effect) and (ii) the Borrower shall not request, and the Swingline Lender shall not make, any Swingline Loan if, after giving effect to the making of such Swingline Loan, the aggregate amount of the Available Revolving Commitments would be less than zero. During the Revolving Commitment Period, the Borrower may use the Swingline Commitment by borrowing, repaying and reborrowing, all in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof. Swingline Loans shall be ABR Loans only.

 

(b)  The Borrower shall repay to the Swingline Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Swingline Loan on the earlier of the Revolving Termination Date and the first date after such Swingline Loan is made that is the 15th or last day of a calendar month and is at least two Business Days after such Swingline Loan is made; provided that on each date that a Revolving Loan is borrowed, the Borrower shall repay all Swingline Loans then outstanding.

 

2.7                                 Procedure for Swingline Borrowing; Refunding of Swingline Loans. (a) Whenever the Borrower desires that the Swingline Lender make Swingline Loans it shall give the Swingline Lender irrevocable telephonic notice confirmed promptly in writing (which telephonic notice must be received by the Swingline Lender not later than 1:00 P.M., New York City time, on the proposed Borrowing Date), specifying (i) the amount to be borrowed and (ii) the requested Borrowing Date (which shall be a Business Day during the Revolving Commitment Period). Each borrowing under the Swingline Commitment shall be in an amount equal to $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. Not later than 3:00 P.M., New York City time, on the Borrowing Date specified in a notice in respect of Swingline Loans, the Swingline Lender shall make available to the Administrative Agent at the Funding Office an amount in immediately available funds equal to the amount of the Swingline Loan to be made by the Swingline Lender. The Administrative Agent shall make the proceeds of such Swingline Loan available to the Borrower on such Borrowing Date by depositing such proceeds in the account of the Borrower with the Administrative Agent on such Borrowing Date in immediately available funds.

 

(b)  The Swingline Lender, at any time and from time to time in its sole and absolute discretion may, on behalf of the Borrower (which hereby irrevocably directs the Swingline Lender to act on its behalf), on one Business Day’s notice given by the Swingline Lender no later than 12:00 Noon, New York City time, request each Revolving Lender to make, and each Revolving Lender hereby agrees to make, a Revolving Loan, in an amount equal to such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Percentage of the aggregate amount of the Swingline Loans (the “Refunded Swingline Loans”) outstanding on the date of such notice, to repay the Swingline Lender. Each Revolving Lender shall make the amount of such Revolving Loan available to the Administrative Agent at the Funding Office in immediately available

 

23



 

funds, not later than 10:00 A.M., New York City time, one Business Day after the date of such notice. The proceeds of such Revolving Loans shall be immediately made available by the Administrative Agent to the Swingline Lender for application by the Swingline Lender to the repayment of the Refunded Swingline Loans. The Borrower irrevocably authorizes the Swingline Lender to charge the Borrower’s accounts with the Administrative Agent (up to the amount available in each such account) in order to immediately pay the amount of such Refunded Swingline Loans to the extent amounts received from the Revolving Lenders are not sufficient to repay in full such Refunded Swingline Loans.

 

(c)                                  If prior to the time a Revolving Loan would have otherwise been made pursuant to Section 2.7(b), one of the events described in Section 8(f) shall have occurred and be continuing with respect to the Borrower or if for any other reason, as determined by the Swingline Lender in its sole discretion, Revolving Loans may not be made as contemplated by Section 2.7(b), each Revolving Lender shall, on the date such Revolving Loan was to have been made pursuant to the notice referred to in Section 2.7(b), purchase for cash an undivided participating interest in the then outstanding Swingline Loans by paying to the Swingline Lender an amount (the “Swingline Participation Amount”) equal to (i) such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Percentage times (ii) the sum of the aggregate principal amount of Swingline Loans then outstanding that were to have been repaid with such Revolving Loans.

 

(d)                                 Whenever, at any time after the Swingline Lender has received from any Revolving Lender such Lender’s Swingline Participation Amount, the Swingline Lender receives any payment on account of the Swingline Loans, the Swingline Lender will distribute to such Lender its Swingline Participation Amount (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Lender’s participating interest was outstanding and funded and, in the case of principal and interest payments, to reflect such Lender’s pro rata portion of such payment if such payment is not sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on all Swingline Loans then due); provided, however, that in the event that such payment received by the Swingline Lender is required to be returned, such Revolving Lender will return to the Swingline Lender any portion thereof previously distributed to it by the Swingline Lender.

 

(e)                                  Each Revolving Lender’s obligation to make the Loans referred to in Section 2.7(b) and to purchase participating interests pursuant to Section 2.7(c) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (i) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right that such Revolving Lender or the Borrower may have against the Swingline Lender, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (ii) the occurrence or continuance of a Default or an Event of Default or the failure to satisfy any of the other conditions specified in Section 5, (iii) any adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower, (iv) any breach of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any other Revolving Lender or (v) any other circumstance, happening or event whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing.

 

2.8                                 Commitment Fees, etc. (a)  The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender a commitment fee for the period from and including the date hereof to the last day of the Revolving Commitment Period, computed at the Commitment Fee Rate on the average daily amount of the Available Revolving Commitment of such Lender during the period for which payment is made, payable quarterly in arrears on each Fee Payment Date, commencing on the first such date to occur after the date hereof.

 

(b)                                 The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent the fees in the amounts

 

24



 

and on the dates as set forth in any fee agreements with the Administrative Agent and to perform any other obligations contained therein.

 

2.9                                 Termination or Reduction of Revolving Commitments. The Borrower shall have the right, upon not less than three Business Days’ notice to the Administrative Agent, to terminate the Revolving Commitments or, from time to time, to reduce the amount of the Revolving Commitments; provided that no such termination or reduction of Revolving Commitments shall be permitted if, after giving effect thereto and to any prepayments of the Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans made on the effective date thereof, the Total Revolving Extensions of Credit would exceed the Total Revolving Commitments. Any such reduction shall be in an amount equal to $1,000,000, or a whole multiple thereof, and shall reduce permanently the Revolving Commitments then in effect.

 

2.10                           Additional Revolving Commitments. The Borrower may request, in minimum amounts of $5,000,000, at any time and from time to time that the existing Revolving Lenders increase their respective Revolving Commitments and/or that additional Lenders be added to this Agreement as Revolving Lenders with Revolving Commitments until such time as the Total Revolving Commitments are equal to $100,000,000; provided, that (i) at the time of the relevant request, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and that the representations and warranties of the Borrower shall continue to be accurate in all material respects, and (ii) any such additional Lender shall be approved by the Administrative Agent, Issuing Lenders and Swingline Lender (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed). Each existing Revolving Lender shall have the right (but not the obligation) to increase its Revolving Commitment based on its Revolving Percentage (with a pro rata right of overallotment extended to the existing Revolving Lenders) on the same terms and conditions being offered to any additional Revolving Lenders. By its signature of a confirmation of its increased or additional Revolving Commitment in a form satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (and subsequent to its delivery of a completed or revised Administrative Questionnaire to the Administrative Agent), each increasing or additional Revolving Lender shall be a “Revolving Lender” for all purposes hereunder with its increased or additional Revolving Commitment, and Schedule 1.1(a) shall be automatically amended to reflect any such additional Revolving Lender’s new Revolving Commitment and any such increasing Revolving Lender’s new Revolving Commitment. Upon increasing its Revolving Commitment or becoming a “Revolving Lender” hereunder, each Revolving Lender shall automatically be responsible for its Revolving Percentage of the Aggregate Exposure and shall pay to the Administrative Agent its Revolving Percentage of the Revolving Loans (with interest rates applicable thereto as are agreed with the Borrowers) which shall then be applied to prepay amounts outstanding to the other Revolving Lenders.

 

2.11                           Optional Prepayments. The Borrower may at any time and from time to time prepay the Loans, in whole or in part, without premium or penalty, upon irrevocable notice delivered to the Administrative Agent no later than 11:00 A.M., New York City time, three Business Days prior thereto, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, and no later than 11:00 A.M., New York City time, one Business Day prior thereto, in the case of ABR Loans, which notice shall specify the date and amount of prepayment and whether the prepayment is of Eurodollar Loans or ABR Loans; provided, that if a Eurodollar Loan is prepaid on any day other than the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, the Borrower shall also pay any amounts owing pursuant to Section 2.21. Upon receipt of any such notice the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each relevant Lender thereof. If any such notice is given, the amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein, together with

 

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(except in the case of Revolving Loans that are ABR Loans and Swingline Loans) accrued interest to such date on the amount prepaid. Partial prepayments of Term Loans and Revolving Loans shall be in an aggregate principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple thereof. Partial prepayments of Swingline Loans shall be in an aggregate principal amount of $100,000 or a whole multiple thereof.

 

2.12                      Mandatory Prepayments and Commitment Reductions. (a) In the event the Consolidated Leverage Ratio then exceeds 3.00:1.00, if any Capital Stock shall be issued by any Group Member (other than any Capital Stock sold to management of any Group Member in connection with option or other compensation arrangements or issued to another Group Member), an amount equal to 50% of the Net Cash Proceeds thereof shall be applied toward the prepayment of the Term Loans as set forth in Section 2.12(d) not later than the Business Day following receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds.

 

(b)                                 In the event the Consolidated Leverage Ratio then exceeds 3.00:1.00, if any Indebtedness shall be incurred by any Group Member (excluding any Indebtedness incurred in accordance with Section 7.2), an amount equal to 50% of the Net Cash Proceeds thereof shall be applied toward the prepayment of the Term Loans as set forth in Section 2.12(d) not later than the Business Day following receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds.

 

(c)                                  If on any date any Group Member shall receive Net Cash Proceeds from any Asset Sale or Recovery Event then, unless a Reinvestment Notice shall be delivered in respect thereof, such Net Cash Proceeds shall be applied toward the prepayment of the Term Loans as set forth in Section 2.12(d) not later than the Business Day following receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds; provided, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds of Asset Sales that may be excluded from the foregoing requirement pursuant to a Reinvestment Notice shall not exceed $15,000,000 in any fiscal year of the Borrower and (ii) on each Reinvestment Prepayment Date, an amount equal to the Reinvestment Prepayment Amount with respect to the relevant Reinvestment Event shall be applied toward the prepayment of the Term Loans as set forth in Section 2.12(d).

 

(d)                                 The application of any prepayment pursuant to Section 2.12 shall be made, first, to ABR Loans and, second, to Eurodollar Loans, in each case in accordance with Section 2.18(b). Each prepayment of the Loans under Section 2.12 shall be accompanied by accrued interest to the date of such prepayment on the amount prepaid.

 

(e)                                  If at any time the US Dollar Amount of the Total Revolving Extensions of Credit or the US Dollar Amount of the L/C Obligations exceed 105% of the Total Revolving Commitments or the L/C Commitment, respectively, as a result of the fluctuation of currency values, the Borrower shall immediately repay the aggregate outstanding Revolving Loans or reimburse any drawings under Letters of Credit, to the extent required to eliminate such excess. If any such excess remains after repayment in full of the aggregate outstanding Revolving Loans and reimbursement in full of any drawings under Letters of Credit, the Borrower shall provide cash collateral for Letters of Credit, to the extent required to eliminate such excess, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

2.13                      Conversion and Continuation Options. (a)  The Borrower may elect from time to time to convert Eurodollar Loans to ABR Loans by giving the Administrative Agent prior irrevocable notice of such election no later than 11:00 A.M., New York City time, on the Business Day preceding the proposed conversion date, provided that any such conversion of Eurodollar Loans may only be made on the last day of an Interest Period with respect thereto. The Borrower may elect from time to time to convert ABR Loans to Eurodollar Loans by giving the Administrative Agent prior irrevocable notice of such election no later than 11:00 A.M., New York City time, on the third Business Day preceding the proposed conversion date (which notice shall specify the length of the initial Interest Period therefor), provided that no ABR Loan under a particular Facility may be converted into a

 

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Eurodollar Loan when any Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent or the Majority Facility Lenders in respect of such Facility have determined in its or their sole discretion not to permit such conversions. Upon receipt of any such notice the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each relevant Lender thereof.

 

(b)                                 Any Eurodollar Loan may be continued as such upon the expiration of the then current Interest Period with respect thereto by the Borrower giving irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, in accordance with the applicable provisions of the term “Interest Period” set forth in Section 1.1, of the length of the next Interest Period to be applicable to such Loans, provided that no Eurodollar Loan under a particular Facility may be continued as such when any Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent has or the Majority Facility Lenders in respect of such Facility have determined in its or their sole discretion not to permit such continuations, and provided, further, that if the Borrower shall fail to give any required notice as described above in this paragraph or if such continuation is not permitted pursuant to the preceding proviso such Loans shall be automatically converted to ABR Loans on the last day of such then expiring Interest Period. Upon receipt of any such notice the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each relevant Lender thereof.

 

2.14                      Limitations on Eurodollar Tranches. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, all borrowings, conversions and continuations of Eurodollar Loans and all selections of Interest Periods shall be in such amounts and be made pursuant to such elections so that, (a) after giving effect thereto, the aggregate principal amount of the Eurodollar Loans comprising each Eurodollar Tranche shall be equal to $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and (b) no more than ten Eurodollar Tranches shall be outstanding at any one time.

 

2.15                      Interest Rates and Payment Dates. (a)  Each Eurodollar Loan shall bear interest for each day during each Interest Period with respect thereto at a rate per annum equal to the Eurodollar Rate determined for such day plus the Applicable Margin.

 

(b)                                 Each ABR Loan shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the ABR plus the Applicable Margin.

 

(c)                                  (i) If all or a portion of the principal amount of any Loan or Reimbursement Obligation shall not be paid when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), all outstanding Loans and Reimbursement Obligations (whether or not overdue) shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to (x) in the case of the Loans, the rate that would otherwise be applicable thereto pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section plus 2% or (y) in the case of Reimbursement Obligations, the rate applicable to ABR Loans under the Revolving Facility plus 2%, and (ii) if all or a portion of any interest payable on any Loan or Reimbursement Obligation or any commitment fee or other amount payable hereunder shall not be paid when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), such overdue amount shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the rate then applicable to ABR Loans under the relevant Facility plus 2% (or, in the case of any such other amounts that do not relate to a particular Facility, the rate then applicable to ABR Loans under the Revolving Facility plus 2%), in each case, with respect to clauses (i) and (ii) above, from the date of such non-payment until such amount is paid in full (as well after as before judgment).

 

(d)                                 Interest shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date, provided that interest accruing pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section shall be payable from time to time on demand.

 

2.16                      Computation of Interest and Fees. (a)  Interest and fees payable pursuant hereto shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year for the actual days elapsed, except that, with respect to ABR Loans the rate of interest on which is calculated on the basis of the Prime Rate, the

 

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interest thereon shall be calculated on the basis of a 365- (or 366-, as the case may be) day year for the actual days elapsed. The Administrative Agent shall as soon as practicable notify the Borrower and the relevant Lenders of each determination of a Eurodollar Rate. Any change in the interest rate on a Loan resulting from a change in the ABR or the Eurocurrency Reserve Requirements shall become effective as of the opening of business on the day on which such change becomes effective. The Administrative Agent shall as soon as practicable notify the Borrower and the relevant Lenders of the effective date and the amount of each such change in interest rate.

 

(b)                                 Each determination of an interest rate by the Administrative Agent pursuant to any provision of this Agreement shall be conclusive and binding on the Borrower and the Lenders in the absence of manifest error. The Administrative Agent shall, at the request of the Borrower, deliver to the Borrower a statement showing the quotations used by the Administrative Agent in determining any interest rate pursuant to Section 2.15(a).

 

2.17                      Inability to Determine Interest Rate. If prior to the first day of any Interest Period:

 

(a)                                  the Administrative Agent shall have determined (which determination shall be conclusive and binding upon the Borrower) that, by reason of circumstances affecting the relevant market, adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period, or

 

(b)                                 the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Majority Facility Lenders in respect of the relevant Facility that the Eurodollar Rate determined or to be determined for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders (as conclusively certified by such Lenders) of making or maintaining their affected Loans during such Interest Period,

 

the Administrative Agent shall give telecopy or telephonic notice thereof to the Borrower and the relevant Lenders as soon as practicable thereafter. If such notice is given (x) any Eurodollar Loans under the relevant Facility requested to be made on the first day of such Interest Period shall be made as ABR Loans, (y) any Loans under the relevant Facility that were to have been converted on the first day of such Interest Period to Eurodollar Loans shall be continued as ABR Loans and (z) any outstanding Eurodollar Loans under the relevant Facility shall be converted, on the last day of the then-current Interest Period, to ABR Loans. Until such notice has been withdrawn by the Administrative Agent, no further Eurodollar Loans under the relevant Facility shall be made or continued as such, nor shall the Borrower have the right to convert Loans under the relevant Facility to Eurodollar Loans.

 

2.18                      Pro Rata Treatment and Payments. (a)  Each borrowing by the Borrower from the Lenders hereunder, each payment by the Borrower on account of any commitment fee and any reduction of the Commitments of the Lenders shall be made pro rata according to the respective Term Percentages or Revolving Percentages, as the case may be, of the relevant Lenders.

 

(b)                                 Each payment (including each prepayment) by the Borrower on account of principal of and interest on the Term Loans shall be made pro rata according to the respective outstanding principal amounts of the Term Loans then held by the Term Lenders. The amount of each principal prepayment of the Term Loans shall be applied to reduce the then remaining installments of the Term Loans pro rata based upon the respective then remaining principal amounts thereof. Amounts repaid or prepaid on account of the Term Loans may not be reborrowed.

 

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(c)                                  Each payment (including each prepayment) by the Borrower on account of principal of and interest on the Revolving Loans shall be made pro rata according to the respective outstanding principal amounts of the Revolving Loans then held by the Revolving Lenders.

 

(d)                                 All payments (including prepayments) to be made by the Borrower hereunder, whether on account of principal, interest, fees or otherwise, shall be made without setoff or counterclaim and shall be made prior to 12:00 Noon, New York City time, on the due date thereof to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Lenders, at the Funding Office, in US Dollars (except as otherwise provided in Section 3.5) and in immediately available funds. The Administrative Agent shall distribute such payments to the Lenders promptly upon receipt in like funds as received. If any payment hereunder (other than payments on the Eurodollar Loans) becomes due and payable on a day other than a Business Day, such payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day. If any payment on a Eurodollar Loan becomes due and payable on a day other than a Business Day, the maturity thereof shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless the result of such extension would be to extend such payment into another calendar month, in which event such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day. In the case of any extension of any payment of principal pursuant to the preceding two sentences, interest thereon shall be payable at the then applicable rate during such extension.

 

(e)                                  Unless the Administrative Agent shall have been notified in writing by any Lender prior to a borrowing that such Lender will not make the amount that would constitute its share of such borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender is making such amount available to the Administrative Agent, and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. If such amount is not made available to the Administrative Agent by the required time on the Borrowing Date therefor, such Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent, on demand, such amount with interest thereon, at a rate equal to the greater of (i) the Federal Funds Effective Rate and (ii) a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, for the period until such Lender makes such amount immediately available to the Administrative Agent. A certificate of the Administrative Agent submitted to any Lender with respect to any amounts owing under this paragraph shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. If such Lender’s share of such borrowing is not made available to the Administrative Agent by such Lender within three Business Days after such Borrowing Date, the Administrative Agent shall also be entitled to recover such amount with interest thereon at the rate per annum applicable to ABR Loans under the relevant Facility, on demand, from the Borrower.

 

(f)                                    Unless the Administrative Agent shall have been notified in writing by the Borrower prior to the date of any payment due to be made by the Borrower hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment to the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower is making such payment, and the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be required to, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Lenders their respective pro rata shares of a corresponding amount. If such payment is not made to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower within three Business Days after such due date, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to recover, on demand, from each Lender to which any amount which was made available pursuant to the preceding sentence, such amount with interest thereon at the rate per annum equal to the daily average Federal Funds Effective Rate. Nothing herein shall be deemed to limit the rights of the Administrative Agent or any Lender against the Borrower.

 

2.19                      Requirements of Law. (a)  If the adoption of or any change in any Requirement of Law or in the interpretation or application thereof or compliance by any Lender with

 

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any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any central bank or other Governmental Authority made subsequent to the date hereof:

 

(i)                      shall subject any Lender to any tax of any kind whatsoever with respect to this Agreement, any Letter of Credit, any Application or any Eurodollar Loan made by it, or change the basis of taxation of payments to such Lender in respect thereof (except for Non-Excluded Taxes covered by Section 2.20 and changes in the rate of tax on the overall net income of such Lender);

 

(ii)                   shall impose, modify or hold applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan or similar requirement against assets held by, deposits or other liabilities in or for the account of, advances, loans or other extensions of credit by, or any other acquisition of funds by, any office of such Lender that is not otherwise included in the determination of the Eurodollar Rate; or

 

(iii)                shall impose on such Lender any other condition;

 

and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Lender, by an amount that such Lender deems to be material, of making, converting into, continuing or maintaining Eurodollar Loans or issuing or participating in Letters of Credit, or to reduce any amount receivable hereunder in respect thereof, then, in any such case, the Borrower shall promptly pay such Lender, upon its demand, any additional amounts necessary to compensate such Lender for such increased cost or reduced amount receivable. If any Lender becomes entitled to claim any additional amounts pursuant to this paragraph, it shall promptly notify the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of the event by reason of which it has become so entitled.

 

(b)                                              If any Lender shall have determined that the adoption of or any change in any Requirement of Law regarding capital adequacy or in the interpretation or application thereof or compliance by such Lender or any corporation controlling such Lender with any request or directive regarding capital adequacy (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority made subsequent to the date hereof shall have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or such corporation’s capital as a consequence of its obligations hereunder or under or in respect of any Letter of Credit to a level below that which such Lender or such corporation could have achieved but for such adoption, change or compliance (taking into consideration such Lender’s or such corporation’s policies with respect to capital adequacy) by an amount deemed by such Lender to be material, then from time to time, after submission by such Lender to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of a written request therefor, the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such corporation for such reduction.

 

(c)                                  A certificate in reasonable detail as to the calculation of any additional amounts payable pursuant to this Section submitted by any Lender to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section, the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to this Section for any amounts incurred more than six months prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided that, if the circumstances giving rise to such claim have a retroactive effect, then such six-month period shall be extended to include the period of such retroactive effect. The obligations of the Borrower pursuant to this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

 

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2.20                      Taxes. (a) All payments made by the Borrower under this Agreement shall be made free and clear of, and without deduction or withholding for or on account of, any present or future income, stamp or other taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees, deductions or withholdings, now or hereafter imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by any Governmental Authority, excluding net income taxes and franchise taxes (imposed in lieu of net income taxes) imposed on the Administrative Agent or any Lender as a result of a present or former connection between the Administrative Agent or such Lender and the jurisdiction of the Governmental Authority imposing such tax or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein (other than any such connection arising solely from the Administrative Agent or such Lender having executed, delivered or performed its obligations or received a payment under, or enforced, this Agreement or any other Loan Document). If any such non-excluded taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees, deductions or withholdings (“Non-Excluded Taxes”) or Other Taxes are required to be withheld from any amounts payable to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder, the amounts so payable to the Administrative Agent or such Lender shall be increased to the extent necessary to yield to the Administrative Agent or such Lender (after payment of all Non-Excluded Taxes and Other Taxes) interest or any such other amounts payable hereunder at the rates or in the amounts specified in this Agreement, provided, however, that the Borrower shall not be required to increase any such amounts payable to any Lender with respect to any Non-Excluded Taxes (i) that are attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the requirements of paragraph (d) or (e) of this Section or (ii) that are United States withholding taxes imposed on amounts payable to such Lender at the time such Lender becomes a party to this Agreement, except to the extent that such Lender’s assignor (if any) was entitled, at the time of assignment, to receive additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to such Non-Excluded Taxes pursuant to this paragraph.

 

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

 

(c)                                  Whenever any Non-Excluded Taxes or Other Taxes are payable by the Borrower, as promptly as possible thereafter the Borrower shall send to the Administrative Agent for its own account or for the account of the relevant Lender, as the case may be, a certified copy of an original official receipt received by the Borrower showing payment thereof. If the Borrower fails to pay any Non-Excluded Taxes or Other Taxes when due to the appropriate taxing authority or fails to remit to the Administrative Agent the required receipts or other required documentary evidence, the Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent and the Lenders for any incremental taxes, interest or penalties that may become payable by the Administrative Agent or any Lender as a result of any such failure.

 

(d)                                 Each Lender (or Transferee) that is not a “U.S. Person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code (a “Non-U.S. Lender”) shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (or, in the case of a Participant, to the Lender from which the related participation shall have been purchased) two copies of either U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or Form W-8ECI, or, in the case of a Non-U.S. Lender claiming exemption from U.S. federal withholding tax under Section 871(h) or 881(c) of the Code with respect to payments of “portfolio interest”, a statement substantially in the form of Exhibit F and a Form W-8BEN, or any subsequent versions thereof or successors thereto, properly completed and duly executed by such Non-U.S. Lender claiming complete exemption from, or a reduced rate of, U.S. federal withholding tax on all payments by the Borrower under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Such forms shall be delivered by each Non-U.S. Lender on or before the date it becomes a party to this Agreement (or, in the case of any Participant, on or before the date such Participant purchases the related participation). In addition, each Non-U.S. Lender shall deliver such forms promptly upon the obsolescence or invalidity of any form previously delivered by such Non-U.S. Lender. Each Non-U.S. Lender shall promptly notify the Borrower at any time it determines that it is no longer in a position to provide any previously delivered certificate to the Borrower (or any other form of certification adopted by the U.S. taxing authorities for such purpose). Notwithstanding any other

 

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provision of this paragraph, a Non-U.S. Lender shall not be required to deliver any form pursuant to this paragraph that such Non-U.S. Lender is not legally able to deliver.

 

(e)                                  A Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of non-U.S. withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments under this Agreement shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate, provided that such Lender is legally entitled to complete, execute and deliver such documentation and in such Lender’s judgment such completion, execution or submission would not materially prejudice the legal position of such Lender.

 

(f)                                    The Administrative Agent and each Lender agree to cooperate with the Borrower, at the Borrower’s sole cost and expense, with any application or other request to, or proceeding with, the applicable Governmental Authority for a refund of any Excluded Taxes or Other Taxes that are subject to the indemnity pursuant to this Section 2.20. If the Administrative Agent or any Lender determines that it has received a refund of any Non-Excluded Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the Borrower or with respect to which the Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.20, it shall pay over such refund to the Borrower (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Borrower under this Section 2.20 with respect to the Non-Excluded Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent or such Lender and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund); provided, that the Borrower, upon the request of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent or such Lender in the event the Administrative Agent or such Lender is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. This paragraph shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes which it deems confidential) to the Borrower or any other Person.

 

(g)                                 The agreements in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

 

2.21                      Indemnity. The Borrower agrees to indemnify each Lender for, and to hold each Lender harmless from, any loss or expense that such Lender may sustain or incur as a consequence of (a) default by the Borrower in making a borrowing of, conversion into or continuation of Eurodollar Loans after the Borrower has given a notice requesting the same in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, (b) default by the Borrower in making any prepayment of or conversion from Eurodollar Loans after the Borrower has given a notice thereof in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement or (c) the making of a prepayment of Eurodollar Loans on a day that is not the last day of an Interest Period with respect thereto. Such indemnification may include an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest that would have accrued on the amount so prepaid, or not so borrowed, converted or continued, for the period from the date of such prepayment or of such failure to borrow, convert or continue to the last day of such Interest Period (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or continue, the Interest Period that would have commenced on the date of such failure) in each case at the applicable rate of interest for such Loans provided for herein (excluding, however, the Applicable Margin included therein, if any) over (ii) the amount of interest (as reasonably determined by such Lender) that would have accrued to such Lender on such amount by placing such amount on deposit for a comparable period with leading banks in the interbank eurodollar market. A certificate in reasonable detail as to the calculation of any amounts payable pursuant to this Section submitted to the Borrower by any Lender

 

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shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. This covenant shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

 

2.22                      Change of Lending Office. Each Lender agrees that, upon the occurrence of any event giving rise to the operation of Section 2.19 or 2.20(a) with respect to such Lender, it will, if requested by the Borrower, use reasonable efforts (subject to overall policy considerations of such Lender) to designate another lending office for any Loans affected by such event with the object of avoiding the consequences of such event; provided, that such designation is made on terms that, in the good faith judgment of such Lender, cause such Lender and its lending office(s) to suffer no economic, legal or regulatory disadvantage, and provided, further, that nothing in this Section shall affect or postpone any of the obligations of the Borrower or the rights of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.19 or 2.20(a).

 

2.23                      Replacement of Lenders. The Borrower shall be permitted to replace any Lender that (a) requests reimbursement for amounts owing pursuant to Section 2.19 or 2.20(a) or (b) defaults in its obligation to make Loans hereunder, with a replacement financial institution; provided that (i) such replacement does not conflict with any Requirement of Law, (ii) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such replacement, (iii) prior to any such replacement, such Lender shall have taken no action under Section 2.22 so as to eliminate the continued need for payment of amounts owing pursuant to Section 2.19 or 2.20(a), (iv) the replacement financial institution shall purchase, at par, all Loans and other amounts owing to such replaced Lender on or prior to the date of replacement, (v) the Borrower shall be liable to such replaced Lender under Section 2.21 if any Eurodollar Loan owing to such replaced Lender shall be purchased other than on the last day of the Interest Period relating thereto, (vi) the replacement financial institution, if the replaced Lender is a Revolving Lender or if such replacement financial institution is not already a Lender, shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (vii) the replaced Lender shall be obligated to make such replacement in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.6 (provided that the Borrower shall be obligated to pay the registration and processing fee referred to therein), (viii) until such time as such replacement shall be consummated, the Borrower shall pay all additional amounts (if any) required pursuant to Section 2.19 or 2.20(a), as the case may be, and (ix) any such replacement shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any rights that the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any other Lender shall have against the replaced Lender.

 

SECTION 3.                            LETTERS OF CREDIT

 

3.1                                 L/C Commitment. (a) Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each Issuing Lender, in reliance on the agreements of the other Revolving Lenders set forth in Section 3.4(a), agrees to issue letters of credit (“Letters of Credit”) for the account of the Borrower on any Business Day during the Revolving Commitment Period in such form as may be approved from time to time by such Issuing Lender; provided that no Issuing Lender shall have any obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if, after giving effect to such issuance, (i) the L/C Obligations would exceed the L/C Commitment or (ii) the aggregate amount of the Available Revolving Commitments would be less than zero. Each Letter of Credit shall (i) be denominated in US Dollars or CDN Dollars and (ii) expire no later than the earlier of (x) the first anniversary of its date of issuance and (y) the date that is five Business Days prior to the Revolving Termination Date, provided that any Letter of Credit with a one-year term may provide for the renewal thereof for additional one-year periods (which shall in no event extend beyond the date referred to in clause (y) above).

 

(b)                                 No Issuing Lender shall at any time be obligated to issue any Letter of Credit if such issuance would conflict with, or cause such Issuing Lender or any L/C Participant to exceed any limits imposed by, any applicable Requirement of Law.

 

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3.2                            Procedure for Issuance of Letter of Credit. The Borrower may from time to time request that an Issuing Lender issue a Letter of Credit by delivering to such Issuing Lender at its address for notices specified herein an Application therefor, completed to the satisfaction of such Issuing Lender, and such other certificates, documents and other papers and information as such Issuing Lender may request. Upon receipt of any Application, an Issuing Lender will process such Application and the certificates, documents and other papers and information delivered to it in connection therewith in accordance with its customary procedures and shall promptly issue the Letter of Credit requested thereby (but in no event shall such Issuing Lender be required to issue any Letter of Credit earlier than three Business Days after its receipt of the Application therefor and all such other certificates, documents and other papers and information relating thereto) by issuing the original of such Letter of Credit to the beneficiary thereof or as otherwise may be agreed to by such Issuing Lender and the Borrower. Such Issuing Lender shall furnish a copy of such Letter of Credit to the Borrower promptly following the issuance thereof. Each Issuing Lender shall promptly furnish to the Administrative Agent, which shall in turn promptly furnish to the Lenders, notice of the issuance of each Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender (including the amount thereof).

 

3.3                            Fees and Other Charges. (a) The Borrower will pay a fee on all outstanding Letters of Credit at a per annum rate equal to the Applicable Margin then in effect with respect to Eurodollar Loans under the Revolving Facility, shared ratably among the Revolving Lenders and payable quarterly in arrears on each Fee Payment Date after the issuance date. In addition, the Borrower shall pay to each Issuing Lender for its own account a fronting fee of 0.125% per annum on the undrawn and unexpired amount of each Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender, payable quarterly in arrears on each Fee Payment Date after the issuance date.

 

(b)                                 In addition to the foregoing fees, the Borrower shall pay or reimburse each Issuing Lender for such normal and customary costs and expenses as are incurred or charged by such Issuing Lender in issuing, negotiating, effecting payment under, amending or otherwise administering any Letter of Credit.

 

3.4                            L/C Participations. (a) Each Issuing Lender irrevocably agrees to grant and hereby grants to each L/C Participant, and, to induce such Issuing Lender to issue Letters of Credit, each L/C Participant irrevocably agrees to accept and purchase and hereby accepts and purchases from such Issuing Lender, on the terms and conditions set forth below, for such L/C Participant’s own account and risk an undivided interest equal to such L/C Participant’s Revolving Percentage in such Issuing Lender’s obligations and rights under and in respect of each Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender and the amount of each draft paid by such Issuing Lender thereunder. Each L/C Participant agrees with each Issuing Lender that, if a draft is paid under any Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender for which such Issuing Lender is not reimbursed in full by the Borrower in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such L/C Participant shall pay to such Issuing Lender upon demand at such Issuing Lender’s address for notices specified herein (but, in the case of any such Letter of Credit denominated in CDN Dollars, not prior to the conversion to US Dollars referred to in Section 3.5) an amount equal to such L/C Participant’s Revolving Percentage of the amount of such draft, or any part thereof, that is not so reimbursed. Each L/C Participant’s obligation to pay such amount shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (i) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right that such L/C Participant may have against such Issuing Lender, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (ii) the occurrence or continuance of a Default or an Event of Default or the failure to satisfy any of the other conditions specified in Section 5, (iii) any adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower, (iv) any breach of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any other L/C Participant or (v) any other circumstance, happening or event whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing

 

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(b)                                 If any amount required to be paid by any L/C Participant to an Issuing Lender pursuant to Section 3.4(a) in respect of any unreimbursed portion of any payment made by such Issuing Lender under any Letter of Credit issued by it is paid to such Issuing Lender within three Business Days after the date such payment is due, such L/C Participant shall pay to such Issuing Lender on demand an amount equal to the product of (i) such amount, times (ii) the daily average Federal Funds Effective Rate during the period from and including the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to such Issuing Lender, times (iii) a fraction the numerator of which is the number of days that elapse during such period and the denominator of which is 360. If any such amount required to be paid by any L/C Participant pursuant to Section 3.4(a) is not made available to an Issuing Lender by such L/C Participant within three Business Days after the date such payment is due, such Issuing Lender shall be entitled to recover from such L/C Participant, on demand, such amount with interest thereon calculated from such due date at the rate per annum applicable to ABR Loans under the Revolving Facility. A certificate of the relevant Issuing Lender submitted to any L/C Participant with respect to any amounts owing under this Section shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.

 

(c)                                  Whenever, at any time after an Issuing Lender has made payment under any Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender and has received from any L/C Participant its pro rata share of such payment in accordance with Section 3.4(a), such Issuing Lender receives any payment related to such Letter of Credit (whether directly from the Borrower or otherwise, including proceeds of collateral applied thereto by such Issuing Lender), or any payment of interest on account thereof, such Issuing Lender will distribute to such L/C Participant its pro rata share thereof; provided, however, that in the event that any such payment received by such Issuing Lender shall be required to be returned by such Issuing Lender, such L/C Participant shall return to such Issuing Lender the portion thereof previously distributed by such Issuing Lender to it.

 

3.5                            Reimbursement Obligation of the Borrower. If any draft is paid under any Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall reimburse the Issuing Lender that issued such Letter of Credit for the amount of (a) the draft so paid and (b) any taxes, fees, charges or other costs or expenses incurred by such Issuing Lender in connection with such payment, not later than 12:00 Noon, New York City time, on (i) the Business Day that the Borrower receives notice of such draft, if such notice is received on such day prior to 10:00 A.M., New York City time, or (ii) if clause (i) above does not apply, the Business Day immediately following the day that the Borrower receives such notice. Each such payment shall be made to such Issuing Lender at its address for notices referred to herein in the currency in which such Letter of Credit is denominated (except that, in the case of any Letter of Credit denominated in CDN Dollars, in the event that such payment is not made to such Issuing Lender within three Business Days of when such payment is due, upon notice by such Issuing Lender to the Borrower, such payment shall be made in US Dollars, in an amount equal to the US Dollar Amount of the amount of such payment) and in immediately available funds. Any conversion by any Issuing Lender of any payment to be made by the Borrower in respect of any Letter of Credit denominated in CDN Dollars into US Dollars in accordance with this Section 3.5 shall be presumptively correct in the absence of manifest error; provided, that upon the request of the Borrower or any Lender, such Issuing Lender shall provide to the Borrower or such Lender a certificate including reasonably detailed information as to the calculation of such conversion. Interest shall be payable on any such amounts from the date on which the relevant draft is paid until payment in full at the rate set forth in (x) until the Business Day next succeeding the date of the relevant notice, Section 2.15(b) and (y) thereafter, Section 2.15(c).

 

3.6                            Obligations Absolute. The Borrower’s obligations under this Section 3 shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances and irrespective of any setoff, counterclaim or defense to payment that the Borrower may have or have had against any Issuing Lender, any beneficiary of a Letter of Credit or any other Person. The Borrower also agrees with each Issuing Lender that such Issuing Lender shall not be responsible for, and the Borrower’s Reimbursement

 

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Obligations under Section 3.5 shall not be affected by, among other things, the validity or genuineness of documents or of any endorsements thereon, even though such documents shall in fact prove to be invalid, fraudulent or forged, or any dispute between or among the Borrower and any beneficiary of any Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender or any other party to which such Letter of Credit may be transferred or any claims whatsoever of the Borrower against any beneficiary of such Letter of Credit or any such transferee. No Issuing Lender shall be liable for any error, omission, interruption or delay in transmission, dispatch or delivery of any message or advice, however transmitted, in connection with any Letter of Credit, except for errors or omissions found by a final and nonappealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Issuing Lender. The Borrower agrees that any action taken or omitted by an Issuing Lender under or in connection with any Letter of Credit or the related drafts or documents, if done in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct, and in accordance with the duties and obligations expressly set forth herein, shall be binding on the Borrower and shall not result in any liability of such Issuing Lender to the Borrower.

 

3.7                            Letter of Credit Payments. If any draft shall be presented for payment under any Letter of Credit, the Issuing Lender that issued such Letter of Credit shall promptly notify the Borrower of the date and amount thereof. The responsibility of an Issuing Lender to the Borrower in connection with any draft presented for payment under any Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender shall, in addition to any payment obligation expressly provided for in such Letter of Credit, be limited to determining that the documents (including each draft) delivered under such Letter of Credit in connection with such presentment are substantially in conformity with such Letter of Credit.

 

3.8                            Applications. To the extent that any provision of any Application related to any Letter of Credit is inconsistent with the provisions of this Section 3, the provisions of this Section 3 shall apply.

 

SECTION 4.                            REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

To induce the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to enter into this Agreement and to make the Loans and issue or participate in the Letters of Credit, the Borrower hereby represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and each Lender that:

 

4.1                            Financial Condition. (a) The unaudited pro forma consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at January 1, 2006 (including the notes thereto) (the “Pro Forma Balance Sheet”), copies of which have heretofore been furnished to each Lender, has been prepared giving effect (as if such events had occurred on such date) to (i) the consummation of the Acquisition, (ii) the Loans to be made on the Restatement Date and the use of proceeds thereof and (iii) the payment of fees and expenses in connection with the foregoing. The Pro Forma Balance Sheet has been prepared based on information believed by the Borrower to be the best information available to the Borrower as of the date of delivery thereof, and presents fairly in all material respects on a pro forma basis the estimated financial position of Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at January 1, 2006, assuming that the events specified in the preceding sentence had actually occurred at such date.

 

(b)                                 The audited consolidated balance sheets of the Borrower as at December 28, 2003, January 2, 2005 and January 1, 2006, and the related consolidated statements of income and of cash flows for the fiscal years ended on such dates, reported on by and accompanied by an unqualified report from Deloitte & Touche LLP, present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial condition of the Borrower as at such dates, and the consolidated results of its operations and its consolidated cash flows for the respective fiscal years then ended. The audited combined balance sheets of the Target as at December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2005, and the related combined statements of income and of cash

 

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flows for the fiscal years ended on such dates, reported on and accompanied by an unqualified report from Ruben Brown LLP, present fairly in all material respects the combined financial condition of the Target as at such dates, and the combined results of its operations and its combined cash flows for the respective fiscal years then ended. All such financial statements, including the related schedules and notes thereto, have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied consistently throughout the periods involved (except as approved by the aforementioned firm of accountants and disclosed therein). As of January 1, 2006, the Group Members taken as a whole had no material Guarantee Obligations, contingent liabilities and liabilities for taxes, or any long-term leases or unusual forward or long-term commitments, including any interest rate or foreign currency swap or exchange transaction or other obligation in respect of derivatives, that were not reflected in the most recent audited financial statements referred to in this paragraph or in the notes thereto. During the period from January 1, 2006 to and including the Restatement Date there has been no Disposition by any Group Member of any material part of its business or property.

 

4.2                            No Change. Since January 1, 2006, there has been no development or event that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

4.3                            Existence; Compliance with Law. Each Group Member (a) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, (b) has the power and authority, and the legal right, to own and operate its property, to lease the property it operates as lessee and to conduct the business in which it is currently engaged, (c) is duly qualified as a foreign corporation or other organization and in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification and where the failure to be so qualified and in good standing could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (d) is in compliance with all Requirements of Law except to the extent that the failure to comply therewith could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

4.4                            Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations. Each Loan Party has the power and authority, and the legal right, to make, deliver and perform the Loan Documents to which it is a party and, in the case of the Borrower, to obtain extensions of credit hereunder. Each Loan Party has taken all necessary organizational action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which it is a party and, in the case of the Borrower, to authorize the extensions of credit on the terms and conditions of this Agreement. No consent or authorization of, filing with, notice to or other act by or in respect of, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is required in connection with the Acquisition and the extensions of credit hereunder or with the execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any of the Loan Documents, except (i) consents, authorizations, filings and notices described in Schedule 4.4, which consents, authorizations, filings and notices have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect and (ii) the filings referred to in Section 4.19. Each Loan Document has been duly executed and delivered on behalf of each Loan Party party thereto. This Agreement constitutes, and each other Loan Document upon execution will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of each Loan Party party thereto, enforceable against each such Loan Party in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles (whether enforcement is sought by proceedings in equity or at law).

 

4.5                            No Legal Bar. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the issuance of Letters of Credit, the borrowings hereunder and the use of the proceeds thereof will not violate any Requirement of Law or any material Contractual Obligation of any Group Member and will not result in, or require, the creation or imposition of any Lien on any of their respective properties or revenues pursuant to any Requirement of Law or any such

 

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Contractual Obligation (other than the Liens created by the Security Documents). No Requirement of Law or Contractual Obligation applicable to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

4.6                            Litigation. No litigation, investigation or proceeding of or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority is pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened by or against any Group Member or against any of their respective properties or revenues (a) with respect to any of the Loan Documents or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or (b) that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

4.7                            No Default. No Group Member is in default under or with respect to any of its Contractual Obligations in any respect that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

 

4.8                            Ownership of Property; Liens. Each Group Member has title in fee simple to, or a valid leasehold interest in, all its real property, and good title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, all its other property, and none of such property is subject to any Lien except as permitted by Section 7.3.

 

4.9                            Intellectual Property. Each Group Member owns, or is licensed to use, all Intellectual Property necessary for the conduct of its business as currently conducted, except where, individually or in the aggregate, any failure to own or have licenses for such Intellectual Property 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 Intellectual Property or the validity or effectiveness of any Intellectual Property, nor does the Borrower know of any valid basis for any such claim, except where any such claim could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The use of Intellectual Property by each Group Member does not infringe on the rights of any Person, except where, individually or in the aggregate, any such infringement could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

4.10                      Taxes. Each Group Member has filed or caused to be filed all Federal, state and other material tax returns that are required to be filed and has paid prior to delinquency thereof all taxes shown to be due and payable on said returns or on any assessments made against it or any of its property and all other taxes, fees or other charges imposed on it or any of its property by any Governmental Authority (other than any the amount or validity of which are currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which reserves in conformity with GAAP have been provided on the books of the relevant Group Member or as to which any failure to pay could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect).

 

4.11                      Federal Regulations. No part of the proceeds of any Loans, and no other extensions of credit hereunder, will be used (a) for “buying” or “carrying” any “margin stock” within the respective meanings of each of the quoted terms under Regulation U as now and from time to time hereafter in effect for any purpose that violates the provisions of the Regulations of the Board or (b) for any purpose that violates the provisions of the Regulations of the Board. If requested by any Lender or the Administrative Agent, the Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender a statement to the foregoing effect in conformity with the requirements of FR Form G-3 or FR Form U-1, as applicable, referred to in Regulation U.

 

4.12                      Labor Matters. Except as, in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect:  (a) there are no strikes or other labor disputes against any Group Member pending or, to the knowledge the Borrower, threatened; (b) hours worked by and payment

 

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made to employees of each Group Member have not been in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act or any other applicable Requirement of Law dealing with such matters; and (c) all payments due from any Group Member on account of employee health and welfare insurance have been paid or accrued as a liability on the books of the relevant Group Member.

 

4.13                      ERISA. Neither a Reportable Event nor an “accumulated funding deficiency” (within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA) has occurred during the five-year period prior to the date on which this representation is made or deemed made with respect to any Plan, and each Plan has complied with the applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code, except where, individually or in the aggregate, such occurrence or non-compliance has not resulted and could not reasonably be expected to result in a material liability to the Group Members taken as a whole. No termination of a Single Employer Plan has occurred, and no Lien in favor of the PBGC or a Plan has arisen, during such five-year period, except where, individually or in the aggregate, such termination or Lien has not resulted and could not reasonably be expected to result in a material liability to the Group Members taken as a whole. The present value of all accrued benefits under each Single Employer Plan (based on those assumptions used to fund such Plans) did not, as of the last annual valuation date prior to the date on which this representation is made or deemed made, exceed the value of the assets of such Plan allocable to such accrued benefits by a material amount. Neither the Borrower nor any Commonly Controlled Entity has had a complete or partial withdrawal from any Multiemployer Plan that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a material liability under ERISA, and neither the Borrower nor any Commonly Controlled Entity would become subject to any material liability under ERISA if the Borrower or any such Commonly Controlled Entity were to withdraw completely from all Multiemployer Plans as of the valuation date most closely preceding the date on which this representation is made or deemed made. No such Multiemployer Plan is in Reorganization or Insolvent.

 

4.14                      Investment Company Act; Other Regulations. No Loan Party is an “investment company”, or a company “controlled” by an “investment company”, within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. No Loan Party is subject to regulation under any Requirement of Law (other than Regulation X of the Board) that limits its ability to incur Indebtedness.

 

4.15                      Subsidiaries. Except as disclosed to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower in writing from time to time after the Restatement Date, (a) Schedule 4.15 sets forth the name and jurisdiction of incorporation of each Subsidiary and, as to each such Subsidiary, the percentage of each class of Capital Stock owned by any Loan Party and (b) there are no outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, rights or other agreements or commitments (other than those granted to employees or directors and directors’ qualifying shares) of any nature relating to any Capital Stock of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, except as created by the Loan Documents.

 

4.16                      Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Term Loans shall be used to finance a portion of the Acquisition and to pay related fees and expenses. The proceeds of the Revolving Loans and the Swingline Loans, and the Letters of Credit, shall be used to finance the working capital needs and general corporate purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including to refinance certain existing Indebtedness, provided that no proceeds of any Revolving Loan shall be used to make any payment of principal of the Convertible Senior Subordinated Debentures if, after giving effect to such payment, the Borrower’s Consolidated Liquidity would be less than $40,000,000.

 

4.17                      Environmental Matters. Except as, in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect:

 

(a)                                  the facilities and properties owned, leased or operated by any Group Member (the “Properties”) do not contain, and have not previously contained, any Materials of Environmental

 

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Concern in amounts or concentrations or under circumstances that constitute or constituted a violation of, or could give rise to liability under, any Environmental Law;

 

(b)                                 no Group Member has received or is aware of any notice of violation, alleged violation, non-compliance, liability or potential liability regarding environmental matters or compliance with Environmental Laws with regard to any of the Properties or the business operated by any Group Member (the “Business”), nor does the Borrower have knowledge or reason to believe that any such notice will be received or is being threatened;

 

(c)                                  Materials of Environmental Concern have not been transported or disposed of from the Properties in violation of, or in a manner or to a location that could reasonably be expected to give rise to liability under, any Environmental Law, nor have any Materials of Environmental Concern been generated, treated, stored or disposed of at, on or under any of the Properties in violation of, or in a manner that could reasonably be expected to give rise to liability under, any applicable Environmental Law;

 

(d)                                 no judicial proceeding or governmental or administrative action is pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened, under any Environmental Law to which any Group Member is or will be named as a party with respect to the Properties or the Business, 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 Properties or the Business;

 

(e)                                  there has been no release or threat of release of Materials of Environmental Concern at or from the Properties, or arising from or related to the operations of any Group Member in connection with the Properties or otherwise in connection with the Business, in violation of or in amounts or in a manner that could reasonably be expected to give rise to liability under Environmental Laws;

 

(f)                                    the Properties and all operations at the Properties are in compliance, and have in the last five years been in compliance, with all applicable Environmental Laws, and there is no contamination at, under or about the Properties or violation of any Environmental Law with respect to the Properties or the Business; and

 

(g)                                 no Group Member has assumed any liability of any other Person under Environmental Laws.

 

4.18                      Accuracy of Information, etc. No statement or information contained in this Agreement, any other Loan Document, the Confidential Information Memorandum or any other document, certificate or statement furnished by or on behalf of any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders, or any of them, for use in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, contained as of the date such statement, information, document or certificate was so furnished (or, in the case of the Confidential Information Memorandum, as of the date of this Agreement), any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained herein or therein not misleading. The projections and pro forma financial information contained in the materials referenced above are based upon good faith estimates and assumptions believed by management of the Borrower to be reasonable at the time made, it being recognized by the Lenders that such financial information as it relates to future events is not to be viewed as fact and that actual results during the period or periods covered by such financial information may differ from the projected results set forth therein by a material amount. As of the date hereof, the representations and warranties contained in the Acquisition Documentation are true and correct in all material respects. There is no fact known to any Loan Party that could reasonably be

 

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expected to have a Material Adverse Effect that has not been expressly disclosed herein, in the other Loan Documents, in the Confidential Information Memorandum or in any other documents, certificates and statements furnished to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders for use in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents.

 

4.19                      Security Documents. The Guarantee and Collateral Agreement is effective to create in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, a legal, valid and enforceable security interest in the Collateral described therein and proceeds thereof. In the case of the Pledged Stock described in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, when stock certificates representing such Pledged Stock are delivered to the Administrative Agent, and in the case of the other Collateral described in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement in which a security interest may be perfected by filing a financing statement or other governmental filing, when financing statements and other filings specified on Schedule 4.19(a) in appropriate form are filed in the offices specified on Schedule 4.19(a), the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement shall constitute a fully perfected Lien on, and security interest in, all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties in such Collateral and the proceeds thereof, as security for the Obligations (as defined in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement), in each case prior and superior in right to any other Person (except, in the case of Collateral other than Pledged Stock, Liens permitted by Section 7.3).

 

4.20                      Solvency. Each Loan Party is, and after giving effect to the Acquisition and the incurrence of all Indebtedness and obligations being incurred in connection herewith and therewith, and to all rights of contribution, subrogation and indemnity of the Subsidiary Guarantors, will be and will continue to be, Solvent.

 

4.21                      Senior Indebtedness. The Obligations constitute “Senior Indebtedness” and “Designated Senior Indebtedness” of the Borrower under and as defined in the Indenture.

 

4.22                      Certain Documents. The Borrower has delivered to the Administrative Agent a complete and correct copy of the Acquisition Documentation and the Indenture, including any amendments, supplements or modifications with respect to any of the foregoing.

 

SECTION 5.                            CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

 

5.1                                 Conditions to Initial Extension of Credit. The agreement of each Lender to make the initial extension of credit requested to be made by it is subject to the satisfaction, prior to or concurrently with the making of such extension of credit on the Restatement Date, of the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)                                  Credit Agreement; Guarantee and Collateral Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall have received this Agreement executed and delivered by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and each Person listed on Schedule 1.1(a) and duly acknowledged by each Subsidiary Guarantor and each Issuer (as defined in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement), if any, that is not a Loan Party.

 

(b)                                 Acquisition, etc. The following transactions shall have been consummated, in each case on terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:

 

(i)             The acquisition by Upstate of all of the outstanding equity interests in the Target and the real property described in the Real Estate Purchase Agreement (the “Acquisition”) shall have been consummated in accordance with the respective terms of

 

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the Purchase Agreements for an aggregate purchase price not exceeding $80,000,000 (excluding any earn-out premium and subject to working capital adjustments as set forth in the Stock Purchase Agreement), and no provision of the Purchase Agreements shall have been waived, amended, supplemented or otherwise modified in a manner materially adverse to the interests of the Borrower or the Lenders.

 

(ii)          (A) The Administrative Agent shall have received satisfactory evidence that all commitments under the Existing Target Credit Facilities shall have been terminated and all amounts thereunder shall have been paid in full and (B) satisfactory arrangements shall have been made for the termination of (1) all Liens granted in connection therewith and (2) any other Lien relating to former Indebtedness of the Target.

 

(c)                                  Pro Forma Balance Sheet; Financial Statements. The Lenders shall have received (i) the Pro Forma Balance Sheet, (ii) audited consolidated financial statements of (A) the Borrower for the 2003, 2004 and 2005 fiscal years and (B) the Target for the 2004 and 2005 fiscal years and (iii) unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of the Borrower for each fiscal quarter ended after the date of the latest applicable financial statements delivered pursuant to clause (ii) of this paragraph as to which such financial statements are available, and such financial statements shall not, in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent, reflect any material adverse change in the consolidated financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or the Borrower, the Target and their respective Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as reflected in the financial statements or projections contained in the Confidential Information Memorandum.

 

(d)                                 Projections. The Administrative Agent shall have received projections through 2011 that are satisfactory to it.

 

(e)                                  Approvals. All governmental and third party approvals necessary or, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, advisable in connection with the Acquisition, the continuing operations of the Group Members and the transactions contemplated hereby shall have been obtained and be in full force and effect, and all applicable waiting periods shall have expired without any action being taken or threatened by any competent authority that would restrain, prevent or otherwise impose material adverse conditions on the Acquisition or the financing contemplated hereby.

 

(f)                                    Lien Searches. The Administrative Agent shall have received the results of a recent lien search in each of the jurisdictions where assets of the Target and its Subsidiaries are located, and such search shall reveal no liens on any of the assets of the Target and its Subsidiaries except for liens permitted by Section 7.3 or discharged on or prior to the Restatement Date pursuant to documentation satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(g)                                 Fees. The Lenders and the Administrative Agent shall have received all fees required to be paid, and all expenses for which invoices have been presented (including the reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel), on or before the Restatement Date. All such amounts will be paid with proceeds of Loans made on the Restatement Date and will be reflected in the funding instructions given by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent on or before the Restatement Date.

 

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(h)                                 Closing Certificate; Certified Certificate of Incorporation; Good Standing Certificates. The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) a certificate of the Borrower and each Person comprising the Target, dated the Restatement Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit C, with appropriate insertions and attachments, including the articles or certificate of incorporation of each such Loan Party certified by the relevant authority of the jurisdiction of organization of each such Loan Party, and (ii) a long form good standing certificate for each such Loan Party from its jurisdiction of organization.

 

(i)                                     Legal Opinions. The Administrative Agent shall have received the following executed legal opinions:

 

(i)             the legal opinion of King & Spalding LLP, counsel to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, substantially in the form of Exhibit E-1;

 

(ii)          the legal opinion of Philip A. Theodore, Vice President, General Counsel of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, substantially in the form of Exhibit E-2;

 

(iii)       the legal opinion of Bryan Cave LLP, special Missouri counsel to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, substantially in the form of Exhibit E-3.

 

(iv)      to the extent consented to by the relevant counsel, each legal opinion, if any, delivered in connection with the Acquisition Agreement, accompanied by a reliance letter in favor of the Lenders; and

 

(v)         the legal opinion of such other special and local counsel as may reasonably be required by the Administrative Agent.

 

Each such legal opinion shall cover such other matters incident to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require.

 

(j)                                     Pledged Stock; Stock Powers; Pledged Notes. The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) the certificates representing the shares of Capital Stock of the Target and its Subsidiaries pledged pursuant to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, together with an undated stock power for each such certificate executed in blank by a duly authorized officer of the pledgor thereof, (ii) each promissory note (if any) pledged to the Administrative Agent by the Target and its Subsidiaries pursuant to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement endorsed (without recourse) in blank (or accompanied by an executed transfer form in blank) by the pledgor thereof and (iii) with respect to any Capital Stock of any Foreign Subsidiary of the Target and its Subsidiaries pledged pursuant to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, evidence that such pledge of such Capital Stock has been duly noted, if necessary or appropriate under applicable law, in the transfer or registry records of such Foreign Subsidiary.

 

(k)                                  Filings, Registrations and Recordings. Each document (including any Uniform Commercial Code financing statement) required by the Security Documents or under law or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to be filed, registered or recorded in order to create in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, a perfected Lien on the Collateral related to the Target and its Subsidiaries described therein, prior and superior in right to any other Person (other than with respect to Liens expressly permitted by Section 7.3), shall be in proper form for filing, registration or recordation.

 

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(l)                                     Insurance. The Administrative Agent shall have received insurance certificates satisfying the requirements of Section 5.2(b) of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

 

5.2                            Conditions to Each Extension of Credit. The agreement of each Lender to make any extension of credit requested to be made by it on any date (including its initial extension of credit) is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)                                  Representations and Warranties. Each of the representations and warranties made by any Loan Party in or pursuant to the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of such date as if made on and as of such date, except for representations and warranties expressly stated to relate to a specific earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties were true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date.

 

(b)                                 No Default. No Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on such date or after giving effect to the extensions of credit requested to be made on such date.

 

(c)                                  Pro Forma Compliance. If all or any part of the proceeds of such extension of credit are to be used to make any payment of principal of the Convertible Senior Subordinated Debentures, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries shall be in compliance, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such extension of credit and such payment, with the covenants contained in Section 7.1 recomputed as at the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries as if such extension of credit and such payment had occurred on the first day of each relevant period for testing such compliance, and the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent an officers’ certificate certifying (i) such compliance with the covenants contained in Section 7.1 and (ii) compliance with the Consolidated Liquidity requirement set forth in Section 4.16.

 

Each borrowing by and issuance of a Letter of Credit on behalf of the Borrower hereunder shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower as of the date of such extension of credit that the conditions contained in this Section 5.2 have been satisfied.

 

SECTION 6.                            AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

 

The Borrower hereby agrees that, so long as the Commitments remain in effect, any Letter of Credit remains outstanding or any Loan or other amount is owing to any Lender or the Administrative Agent hereunder, the Borrower shall and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to:

 

6.1                            Financial Statements. Furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

 

(a)                                  as soon as available, but in any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a copy of the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at the end of such year and the related audited consolidated statements of income and of cash flows for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous year, reported on without a “going concern” or like qualification or exception, or qualification arising out of the scope of the audit, by Deloitte & Touche LLP or other independent certified public accountants of nationally recognized standing; and

 

(b)                                 as soon as available, but in any event not later than 45 days after the end of each of the first three quarterly periods of each fiscal year of the Borrower, the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at the end of such quarter and

 

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the related unaudited consolidated statements of income and of cash flows for such quarter and the portion of the fiscal year through the end of such quarter, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous year, certified by a Responsible Officer as being fairly stated in all material respects (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments).

 

All such financial statements shall be complete and correct in all material respects and shall be prepared in reasonable detail and in accordance with GAAP applied (except as approved by such accountants or officer, as the case may be, and disclosed in reasonable detail therein) consistently throughout the periods reflected therein and with prior periods.

 

6.2                            Certificates; Other Information. Furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender (or, in the case of clause (f), to the relevant Lender):

 

(a)                                  concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Section 6.1(a), a written statement of the independent certified public accountants reporting on such financial statements stating that in making the examination necessary therefor no knowledge was obtained of any Default or Event of Default, except as specified in such written statement (it being understood that such written statement shall be limited to the items that independent certified public accountants are permitted to cover in such written statements pursuant to their professional standards and customs of the profession);

 

(b)                                 concurrently with the delivery of any financial statements pursuant to Section 6.1, (i) a certificate of a Responsible Officer stating that, to the best of each such Responsible Officer’s knowledge, each Loan Party during such period has observed or performed all of its covenants and other agreements, and satisfied every condition contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party to be observed, performed or satisfied by it, and that such Responsible Officer has obtained no knowledge of any Default or Event of Default, in each case except as specified in such certificate and (ii) in the case of quarterly or annual financial statements, (x) a Compliance Certificate containing all information and calculations necessary for determining compliance by each Group Member with the provisions of this Agreement referred to therein as of the last day of the fiscal quarter or fiscal year of the Borrower, as the case may be, and (y) to the extent not previously disclosed to the Administrative Agent, a description of any change in the jurisdiction of organization of any Loan Party and a list of any material Intellectual Property, or any material registrations of, or applications to register, any Intellectual Property within the United States, in each case acquired by any Loan Party since the date of the most recent report delivered pursuant to this clause (y);

 

(c)                                  as soon as available, and in any event no later than 60 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a projected consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the end of the following fiscal year, the related consolidated statements of projected cash flow, projected changes in financial position and projected income and a description of the underlying assumptions applicable thereto, and, as soon as available, significant revisions, if any, of such projections with respect to such fiscal year (collectively, the “Projections”), which Projections shall in each case be accompanied by a certificate of a Responsible Officer stating that such Projections are based on estimates, information and assumptions as set forth therein or otherwise, in each case believed to be reasonable, and that such Responsible Officer has no reason to believe that such Projections are incorrect or misleading in any material respect;

 

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(d)           no later than five Business Days prior to the effectiveness thereof, copies of substantially final drafts of any proposed amendment, supplement, waiver or other modification with respect to the Indenture or the Acquisition Documentation;

 

(e)           within five days after the same are sent, copies of all financial statements and reports that the Borrower sends to the holders of any class of its debt securities or public equity securities and, within five days after the same are filed, copies of all financial statements and reports that the Borrower may make to, or file with, the SEC; and

 

(f)            promptly, such additional information regarding the operations, business or financial condition of the Group Members as any Lender may from time to time reasonably request.

 

6.3         Payment of Obligations. Pay, discharge or otherwise satisfy at or before maturity or before they become delinquent, as the case may be, all its material obligations of whatever nature, except where the amount or validity thereof is currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and reserves in conformity with GAAP with respect thereto have been provided on the books of the relevant Group Member, or where the failure to pay, discharge or otherwise satisfy such obligations could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.4         Maintenance of Existence; Compliance. (a)(i)  Preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its organizational existence and (ii) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except, in each case, as otherwise permitted by Section 7.4 and except, in the case of clause (ii) above, to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (b) comply with all Contractual Obligations and Requirements of Law except to the extent that failure to comply therewith could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.5         Maintenance of Property; Insurance. (a)  Keep all property useful and necessary in its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted and (b) maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies insurance on all its property in at least such amounts and against at least such risks (but including in any event public liability, product liability and business interruption) as are usually insured against in the same general area by companies engaged in the same or a similar business.

 

6.6         Inspection of Property; Books and Records; Discussions. (a)  Keep proper books of records and account in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with GAAP and all Requirements of Law shall be made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities and (b) permit representatives of any Lender (i) to visit and inspect any of its properties and examine and make abstracts from any of its books and records at any reasonable time and as often as may reasonably be desired, provided that, so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, reasonable prior written notice thereof shall have been given to the Borrower and such activities shall be conducted without undue interference or interruption of the Group Members’ business and operations, and (ii) to discuss the business, operations, properties and financial and other condition of the Group Members with officers and employees of the Group Members and with their independent certified public accountants, provided that, so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, any discussions with such accountants shall be held only after prior written notice to the Borrower and, at the Borrower’s election, with the Borrower’s participation in such discussions.

 

6.7         Notices. Promptly give notice to the Administrative Agent and each Lender of:

 

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(a)           the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default;

 

(b)           any (i) default or event of default under any Contractual Obligation of any Group Member or (ii) litigation, investigation or proceeding that may exist at any time between any Group Member and any Governmental Authority, that in either case, if not cured or if not dismissed or terminated, as the case may be, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(c)           any litigation or proceeding affecting any Group Member (i) in which the amount of actual damages sought from such Group Member is $5,000,000 or more and not covered by insurance, (ii) in which material injunctive or similar relief is sought or (iii) which relates to any Loan Document;

 

(d)           the following events, as soon as possible and in any event within 30 days after the Borrower knows or has reason to know thereof:  (i) the occurrence of any Reportable Event with respect to any Plan, a failure to make any required contribution to a Plan, the creation of any Lien in favor of the PBGC or a Plan or any withdrawal from, or the termination, Reorganization or Insolvency of, any Multiemployer Plan or (ii) the institution of proceedings or the taking of any other action by the PBGC or the Borrower or any Commonly Controlled Entity or any Multiemployer Plan with respect to the withdrawal from, or the termination, Reorganization or Insolvency of, any Plan; and

 

(e)           any development or event that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Each notice pursuant to this Section 6.7 shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the relevant Group Member proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

6.8         Environmental Laws. (a) Comply in all material respects with, and ensure compliance in all material respects by all tenants and subtenants, if any, with, all applicable Environmental Laws, and obtain and comply in all material respects with and maintain, and ensure that all tenants and subtenants obtain and comply in all material respects with and maintain, any and all licenses, approvals, notifications, registrations or permits required by applicable Environmental Laws. For purposes of this paragraph (a), noncompliance by the Borrower or any Subsidiary with any applicable Environmental Law shall be deemed not to constitute a breach of this covenant provided that, upon learning of any actual or suspected noncompliance, the Borrower or such Subsidiary shall promptly undertake all reasonable efforts to achieve compliance, and provided further that, in any case, such noncompliance, and any other noncompliance with Environmental Laws, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b)           Conduct and complete all investigations, studies, sampling and testing, and all remedial, removal and other actions required under Environmental Laws and promptly comply in all material respects with all lawful orders and directives of all Governmental Authorities regarding Environmental Laws; provided, however, that no violation of this paragraph (b) shall be deemed to have occurred if the Borrower or any Subsidiary promptly challenges in good faith any such order or directive of any Governmental Authority in a manner consistent with all applicable Environmental Laws and pursues such challenge or challenges diligently, and the pendency of such challenges, in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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6.9         Additional Collateral, etc. (a) With respect to any property acquired after the Restatement Date by any Group Member (other than (i) any real property, (ii) any property described in paragraph (b) or (c) below, (iii) any property subject to a Lien expressly permitted by Section 7.3(g) or 7.3(j), (iv) property acquired by any Excluded Foreign Subsidiary and (v) any interests in joint ventures subject to restrictions as to the granting of Liens thereon as permitted by Section 7.13) or Excluded Domestic Subsidiary) as to which the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, does not have a perfected Lien, promptly (i) execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent such amendments to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or such other documents as the Administrative Agent deems necessary or advisable to grant to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, a security interest in such property and (ii) take all actions necessary or advisable to grant to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, a perfected first priority security interest in such property (subject to such exceptions as are expressly permitted by the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement), including the filing of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements in such jurisdictions as may be required by the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or by law or as may be requested by the Administrative Agent.

 

(b)           With respect to any new Domestic Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Domestic Subsidiary) created or acquired after the Restatement Date by any Group Member (which, for the purposes of this paragraph (c), shall include any existing Domestic Subsidiary that ceases to be an Excluded Domestic Subsidiary), promptly (i) execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent such amendments to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement as the Administrative Agent deems necessary or advisable to grant to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, a perfected first priority security interest in the Capital Stock of such new Subsidiary that is owned by any Group Member, (ii) deliver to the Administrative Agent the certificates representing such Capital Stock, together with undated stock powers, in blank, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the relevant Group Member, (iii) cause such new Subsidiary (A) to become a party to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, (B) to take such actions necessary or advisable to grant to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders a perfected first priority security interest in the Collateral described in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement with respect to such new Subsidiary, including the filing of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements in such jurisdictions as may be required by the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or by law or as may be requested by the Administrative Agent and (C) to deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of such Subsidiary, substantially in the form of Exhibit C, with appropriate insertions and attachments, and (iv) if requested by the Administrative Agent, deliver to the Administrative Agent legal opinions relating to the matters described above, which opinions shall be in form and substance, and from counsel, reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(c)           With respect to any new Excluded Domestic Subsidiary created or acquired after the Restatement Date by any Group Member, unless such actions are prohibited by the terms of the organizational documents or other Contractual Obligations of such Group Member, promptly (i) execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent such amendments to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement as the Administrative Agent deems necessary or advisable to grant to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, a perfected first priority security interest in the Capital Stock of such new Subsidiary that is owned by any Group Member, (ii) deliver to the Administrative Agent the certificates representing such Capital Stock, together with undated stock powers, in blank, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the relevant Group Member and (iii) if requested by the Administrative Agent, deliver to the Administrative Agent legal opinions relating to the matters described above, which opinions shall be in form and substance, and from counsel, reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(d)           With respect to any new Foreign Subsidiary created or acquired after the Restatement Date by any Group Member (other than by any Group Member that is a Foreign Subsidiary), promptly (i) execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent such amendments to the Guarantee and

 

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Collateral Agreement as the Administrative Agent deems necessary or advisable to grant to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, a perfected first priority security interest in the Capital Stock of such new Subsidiary that is owned by any such Group Member (provided that in no event shall more than 66% of the total outstanding voting Capital Stock of any Excluded Foreign Subsidiary be required to be so pledged), (ii) deliver to the Administrative Agent the certificates representing such Capital Stock, together with undated stock powers, in blank, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the relevant Group Member, and take such other action as may be necessary or, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent, desirable to perfect the Administrative Agent’s security interest therein, and (iii) if requested by the Administrative Agent, deliver to the Administrative Agent legal opinions relating to the matters described above, which opinions shall be in form and substance, and from counsel, reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

6.10       Further Assurances. At the request of the Administrative Agent, execute any and all further documents, financing statements, agreements and instruments, and take all such further actions (including the filing and recording of financing statements and other documents), which may be required under any applicable law, or which the Administrative Agent may otherwise reasonably request, to effectuate the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents or to grant, preserve, protect or perfect the Liens created or intended to be created by the Security Documents or the validity or intended priority of any such Lien, all at the expense of the Loan Parties.

 

6.11       OFAC and BSA Compliance. (a) Ensure that no person who owns a controlling interest in or otherwise controls the Borrower or any Subsidiary is or shall be listed on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Person List or other similar lists maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), the Department of the Treasury, or included in any Executive Orders, (b) not use or permit the use of the proceeds of the Loans to violate any of the foreign asset control regulations of OFAC or any enabling statute or Executive Order relating thereto, and (c) comply with any Bank Secrecy Act laws and regulations, as amended, applicable to any of them.

 

SECTION 7.         NEGATIVE COVENANTS

 

The Borrower hereby agrees that, so long as the Commitments remain in effect, any Letter of Credit remains outstanding or any Loan or other amount is owing to any Lender or the Administrative Agent hereunder, the Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

 

7.1         Financial Condition Covenants.

 

(a)           Consolidated Leverage Ratio. Permit the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as at the last day of any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower ending during any period set forth below to exceed the ratio set forth below opposite such period:

 

Period

 

Consolidated
Leverage Ratio

 

Restatement Date to and including
October 1, 2006

 

4.00:1.00

 

October 2, 2006 and thereafter

 

3.50:1.00

 

 

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(b)           Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. Permit the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower ending during any period set forth below to be less than the ratio set forth below opposite such period:

 

Period

 

Consolidated Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio

 

Restatement Date to and including October 1, 2006

 

2.50:1.00

 

October 2, 2006 and thereafter

 

3.00:1.00

 

 

(c)           Consolidated Senior Debt Ratio. Permit the Consolidated Senior Debt Ratio for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower to exceed 2.50:1.00.

 

7.2         Indebtedness. Create, issue, incur, assume, become liable in respect of or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:

 

(a)           Indebtedness of any Loan Party pursuant to any Loan Document;

 

(b)           Indebtedness of the Borrower to any Subsidiary and of any Subsidiary Guarantor to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary;

 

(c)           Guarantee Obligations by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of obligations of any Subsidiary Guarantor;

 

(d)           Indebtedness outstanding on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 7.2(d) and any refinancings, refundings, replacements, renewals or extensions thereof, in whole or in part (without increasing, or shortening the maturity of, the principal amount thereof);

 

(e)           Indebtedness (including, without limitation, Capital Lease Obligations) incurred after the Restatement Date to finance the acquisition, construction or improvements of fixed or capital assets (whether unsecured or secured by Liens permitted by Section 7.3(g)) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $25,000,000 at any one time outstanding, provided that any such Indebtedness is incurred not later than 90 days following such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvements and any refinancings, refundings, replacements, or renewals or extensions thereof, in whole or in part (without increasing, or shortening the maturity of, the principal amount thereof);

 

(f)            Indebtedness (i) of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the Restatement Date or (ii) assumed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with any acquisition of assets after the Restatement Date, in each case in a transaction expressly permitted by this Agreement, provided that (A) such Indebtedness exists at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary, or such assets are acquired, and is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such Person becoming a Subsidiary or in connection with such acquisition, as the case may be, and (B) the aggregate principal amount of all such Indebtedness shall not exceed $25,000,000 at any one time outstanding; in each case together with any refinancings, refundings, replacements, renewals or extensions thereof, in whole or in part (without increasing, or shortening the maturity of, the principal amount thereof);

 

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(g)           (i) Indebtedness of the Borrower in respect of the Convertible Senior Subordinated Debentures in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $130,000,000 and any refinancings, refundings or replacements thereof (to the extent the proceeds of such refinancings, refundings or replacements are applied directly to repay principal of the Convertible Senior Subordinated Debentures), in whole or in part (without increasing, or shortening the maturity of, any principal amount thereof), provided that the obligations of any Loan Party in respect of the Indebtedness incurred in connection with any such refinancings are subordinated on terms not less favorable in any material respect to holders of “Senior Indebtedness” as the obligations of the Borrower in respect of the Convertible Senior Subordinated Debentures and (ii) Guarantee Obligations of any Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of such Indebtedness, provided that such Guarantee Obligations are subordinated on terms not less favorable in any material respect to holders of “Senior Indebtedness” as the obligations of the Borrower in respect of the Convertible Senior Subordinated Debentures;

 

(h)           Indebtedness of any Subsidiary Non-Guarantor to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary, and Guarantee Obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of obligations of any Subsidiary Non-Guarantor, in each case (without duplication) constituting Investments permitted by Section 7.7;

 

(i)            Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of workers’ compensation claims (and related letters of credit), self-insurance obligations, performance bonds, surety appeal or similar bonds and completion guarantees provided by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of their business;

 

(j)            Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $10,000,000 at any time outstanding in respect of lines of credit extended to Foreign Subsidiaries;

 

(k)           (i) Indebtedness of the Borrower subordinate to the payment of the Obligations and (ii) unsecured Indebtedness of the Borrower, each on terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent so long as no Default or Event of Default exists upon the incurrence of such Indebtedness and, in the case of clause (ii) above, the Borrower is in compliance with Sections 7.1(a) and (c) upon the incurrence of such Indebtedness;

 

(l)            Indebtedness owing in respect of any insurance policy purchased for the benefit of any Group Member to finance such purchase, in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not to exceed the premiums owed under such policy;

 

(m)          contingent indemnification obligations of any Group Member to financial institutions, in each case to the extent in the ordinary course of business and on terms and conditions that are customary in the banking industry, entered into to obtain cash management services or deposit account overdraft protection services (in amounts similar to those offered for comparable services in the financial industry) or other services in connection with the management or opening of deposit accounts or incurred as a result of endorsement of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection purposes and other similar customary, contingent loss indemnification obligations of any Group Member incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(n)           unsecured Indebtedness of any Group Member owing to any seller as payment of the purchase price of a Permitted Business Acquisition on terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (including subordination provisions reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and which has a maturity date and prohibits any cash

 

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payment (other than, subject to appropriate subordination provisions, regularly scheduled interest payments) earlier than the first anniversary of the Revolving Termination Date;

 

(o)           contingent liabilities of any Group Member in respect of any purchase price adjustment, earn-out provision, non-competition or consulting agreement or deferred compensation agreement, or other indemnity obligations in each case owing to the seller or any Affiliate thereof or officers or directors of any of them in connection with any Permitted Business Acquisition; and

 

(p)           additional Indebtedness of the Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount (for all Subsidiaries) not to exceed $10,000,000 at any one time outstanding.

 

7.3         Liens. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, except:

 

(a)           Liens for taxes not yet due or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, provided that adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, in conformity with GAAP;

 

(b)           carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business that are not overdue for a period of more than 60 days or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

 

(c)           pledges or deposits in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation;

 

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

 

(e)           easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar encumbrances incurred in the ordinary course of business that, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount and that do not in any case materially detract from the value of any material property subject thereto or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;

 

(f)            Liens in existence on the date hereof listed on Schedule 7.3(f), securing Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.2(d), and Liens securing any refinancings, refundings, replacement, renewals or extensions thereof, in whole or in part, provided that no such Lien is spread to cover any additional property after the Restatement Date and that the amount of Indebtedness secured thereby is not increased;

 

(g)           Liens securing Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary incurred pursuant to Section 7.2(e) provided that (i) such Liens shall be created within 30 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement, (ii) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the property so acquired, constructed, or improved, and (iii) the amount of Indebtedness secured thereby is not increased;

 

(h)           Liens created pursuant to the Security Documents;

 

(i)            any interest or title of a lessor under any lease entered into by the Borrower or any other Subsidiary in the ordinary course of its business, or in connection with any sale and

 

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leaseback transaction permitted pursuant to Section 7.10, in each case covering only the assets so leased;

 

(j)  any Lien existing on any property or asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or existing on any property or asset of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the Restatement Date prior to the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided that (x) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition or such Person becoming a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (y) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, and (z) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person becomes a Subsidiary, as the case may be, and any refinancings, refundings, replacements, renewals or extensions thereof, in whole or in part;

 

(k)  Liens in respect of Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.2(j), provided that the assets subject to such Liens are not located in the United States;

 

(l)  Liens on any insurance policy of any Group Member and the identifiable cash proceeds thereof in favor of the Person financing the purchase of such insurance policy and securing Indebtedness incurred for the purpose of such financing as permitted under Section 7.2(l);

 

(m)  Liens for the benefit of the seller deemed to attach solely because of the existence of cash deposits and attaching solely to cash deposits made in connection with any letter of intent or acquisition or purchase agreement with respect to any Permitted Business Acquisition;

 

(n)  Liens securing judgments for the payment of money (or appeal or other surety bonds relating to such judgments) unless such judgment otherwise constitutes an Event of Default hereunder; and

 

(o)  Liens not otherwise permitted by this Section so long as neither (i) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the obligations secured thereby nor (ii) the aggregate fair market value (determined as of the date such Lien is incurred) of the assets subject thereto exceeds (as to the Borrower and all Subsidiaries) $10,000,000 at any one time.

 

7.4         Fundamental Changes. Enter into any merger, consolidation or amalgamation, or liquidate, wind up or dissolve itself (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution), or Dispose of all or substantially all of its property or business, except that:

 

(a)           any Subsidiary of the Borrower may be merged or consolidated with or into the Borrower (provided that the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving corporation) or with or into any Subsidiary Guarantor (provided that the Subsidiary Guarantor shall be the continuing or surviving corporation);

 

(b)           any Subsidiary Non-Guarantor of the Borrower may be merged or consolidated with or into another Subsidiary of the Borrower;

 

(c)           any Subsidiary of the Borrower may Dispose of any or all of its assets (i) to the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor (upon voluntary liquidation, dissolution or otherwise) or (ii) pursuant to a Disposition permitted by Section 7.5;

 

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(d)           any Subsidiary Non-Guarantor of the Borrower may Dispose of any or all of its assets to another Subsidiary of the Borrower; and

 

(e)           any Investment expressly permitted by Section 7.7 and any Disposition permitted by Section 7.5 may be structured as a merger, consolidation or amalgamation.

 

7.5         Disposition of Property. Dispose of any of its property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or, in the case of any Subsidiary, issue or sell any shares of such Subsidiary’s Capital Stock to any Person, except:

 

(a)           the Disposition of surplus, obsolete or worn out property in the ordinary course of business;

 

(b)           the sale of inventory in the ordinary course of business;

 

(c)           Dispositions permitted by clause (i) of Section 7.4(c);

 

(d)           the sale or issuance of any Subsidiary’s Capital Stock to the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor;

 

(e)           the Disposition of Cash Equivalents;

 

(f)            Dispositions constituting (i) Investments permitted pursuant to Section 7.7, (ii) transactions permitted pursuant to Section 7.4, and (iii) Restricted Payments permitted pursuant to Section 7.6;

 

(g)           the Disposition of the Lake Placid Facility, the Toronto Facility and the Lawrence Facility;

 

(h)           sale and leaseback transactions permitted pursuant to Section 7.10;

 

(i)            the discount or write-off of accounts receivable overdue by more than 90 days or the sale of any such account receivables for the purpose of collection to any collection agency, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

 

(j)            assignments, licenses and sublicenses of Intellectual Property of the Group Members in the ordinary course of business;

 

(k)           any true lease or sublease of any property in the ordinary course of business not constituting Indebtedness and not constituting a sale and leaseback transaction; and

 

(l)            the Disposition of other property having a fair market value not to exceed $15,000,000 in the aggregate for any fiscal year of the Borrower.

 

7.6         Restricted Payments. Declare or pay any dividend (other than dividends payable solely in Capital Stock of the Person making such dividend) on, or make any payment on account of, or set apart assets for a sinking or other analogous fund for, the purchase, redemption, defeasance, retirement or other acquisition of, any Capital Stock of any Group Member, whether now or hereafter outstanding, or make any other distribution in respect thereof, either directly or indirectly, whether in cash or property or in obligations of any Group Member (collectively, “Restricted Payments”), except:

 

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(a)  (i) any Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments to the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor and (ii) any Subsidiary of a Subsidiary Non-Guarantor may make Restricted Payments to such Subsidiary Non-Guarantor;

 

(b) the Borrower may repurchase the Borrower’s common stock or common stock options from present or former directors, officers or employees of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries upon the death, disability or termination of employment of such officer or employee, provided that the aggregate amount of payments under this subsection (b) subsequent to the Original Closing Date (net of proceeds received by the Borrower subsequent to the Original Closing Date in connection with the resale of such common stock or common stock options) shall not exceed $5,000,000; and

 

(c) so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, the Borrower may repurchase the Borrower’s common stock subsequent to the Restatement Date in an aggregate amount not to exceed the sum of (i) $40,000,000 and (ii) 50% of Consolidated Net Income for the fiscal year of the Borrower ended January 1, 2006 and each subsequent fiscal quarter thereafter.

 

7.7         Investments. On or after the Restatement Date, make any advance, loan, extension of credit (by way of guaranty or otherwise) or capital contribution to, or purchase any Capital Stock, bonds, notes, debentures or other debt securities of, or any assets constituting a business unit of, or make any other investment in, any Person (all of the foregoing, “Investments”), except:

 

(a)           extensions of trade credit in the ordinary course of business;

 

(b)           Investments in Cash Equivalents;

 

(c)           Guarantee Obligations permitted by Section 7.2;

 

(d)           loans and advances to employees of any Group Member in the ordinary course of business (including for travel, entertainment and relocation expenses) in an aggregate amount for all Group Members not to exceed $1,000,000 at any one time outstanding;

 

(e)           the Acquisition;

 

(f)            Investments in assets useful in the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries made by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries with the proceeds of any Reinvestment Deferred Amount;

 

(g)           intercompany Investments by any Group Member in the Borrower or any Person that, prior to such investment, is a Subsidiary Guarantor or that is becoming a Subsidiary Guarantor at the time such Investment is made;

 

(h)           other Investments constituting Permitted Business Acquisitions, provided that the Consolidated Leverage Ratio on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such acquisition does not exceed (i) 3.50:1.00 from the Restatement Date to and including October 1, 2006 and (ii) 3.00:1.00 from October 2, 2006 and thereafter;

 

(i)            intercompany Investments made by any Subsidiary Non-Guarantor in any other Subsidiary;

 

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(j)            intercompany Investments by the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors in any Subsidiary Non-Guarantors (i) resulting from the conversion of any intercompany Indebtedness outstanding as of the Restatement Date into an equity Investment in any Subsidiary Non-Guarantor, and (ii) other intercompany Investments in an aggregate amount (valued at cost, and net of all returns of principal or capital thereof received, and all liabilities expressly transferred (to the extent the applicable Group Members are fully released therefrom as a result of such transfer)), on or prior to the date of determination thereof) not to exceed $10,000,000 at any time outstanding;

 

(k)           any Investments received as non-cash consideration for sales, transfers, leases and other Dispositions permitted by Section 7.5 not to exceed $10,000,000 at any time outstanding;

 

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

 

(m)          Investments (other than in connection with any Proposed Business Acquisition) made at any time when no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing within 12 months of such sale or issuance of any Capital Stock of the Borrower, of the Net Cash Proceeds of such sale or issuance of Capital Stock, in each case to the extent such Net Cash Proceeds are not required to be used for any mandatory prepayment pursuant to Section 2.12;

 

(n)           Investments made by way of contribution or other transfer by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Capital Stock of a Foreign Subsidiary, such transfer being made to the Borrower or another Subsidiary, so long as the Capital Stock of any such transferee Subsidiary and, as applicable, the Capital Stock of the Foreign Subsidiary being so transferred, have been, or are then being, pledged as additional Collateral to the extent required by Section 6.9; and

 

(o)           in addition to Investments otherwise expressly permitted by this Section 7.7, Investments by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount (valued at cost, and net of all returns of principal or capital thereof received, and all liabilities expressly transferred (to the extent the applicable Group Members are fully released therefrom as a result of such transfer)), on or prior to the date of determination thereof) not to exceed $10,000,000 at any time outstanding.

 

7.8         Optional Payments and Modifications of Certain Debt Instruments. (a) Make or offer to make any optional or voluntary payment, prepayment, repurchase or redemption of or otherwise optionally or voluntarily defease or segregate funds with respect to the Convertible Senior Subordinated Debentures; (b) amend, modify, waive or otherwise change, or consent or agree to any amendment, modification, waiver or other change to, any of the terms of the Convertible Senior Subordinated Debentures (other than any such amendment, modification, waiver or other change that (i) would extend the maturity or reduce the amount of any payment of principal thereof or reduce the rate or extend any date for payment of interest thereon and (ii) does not involve the payment of a consent fee) that has not been approved by the Administrative Agent; (c) amend, modify, waive or otherwise change, or consent or agree to any amendment, modification, waiver or other change to, any of the terms of any preferred stock (other than any such amendment, modification, waiver or other change that (i) would extend the scheduled redemption date or reduce the amount of any scheduled redemption payment or reduce the rate or extend any date for payment of dividends thereon and (ii) does not involve the payment of a consent fee); or (d) designate any Indebtedness (other than obligations of the Loan Parties pursuant to the Loan Documents) as “Designated Senior Indebtedness” (or any other defined term having a similar purpose) for the purposes of the Indenture.

 

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7.9         Transactions with Affiliates. Enter into any transaction, including any purchase, sale, lease or exchange of property, the rendering of any service or the payment of any management, advisory or similar fees, with any Affiliate (other than the Borrower or any Subsidiary) unless such transaction is (a) otherwise permitted under this Agreement, (b) in the ordinary course of business of the relevant Group Member, and (c) upon fair and reasonable terms not materially less favorable to the relevant Group Member than it would obtain in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person that is not an Affiliate.

 

7.10       Sales and Leasebacks. Enter into any arrangement with any Person providing for the leasing by any Group Member of real or personal property that has been or is to be sold or transferred by such Group Member to such Person or to any other Person to whom funds have been or are to be advanced by such Person on the security of such property or rental obligations of such Group Member, other than (x) any such transaction between Group Members where the sale or transfer is otherwise permitted pursuant to Section 7.4 and (y) any Specified Sale and Leaseback Transaction.

 

7.11       Swap Agreements.  Enter into any Swap Agreement, except (a) Swap Agreements entered into to hedge or mitigate risks to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary has actual exposure (other than those in respect of Capital Stock or the Convertible Senior Subordinated Debentures) and (b) Swap Agreements entered into in order to effectively cap, collar or exchange interest rates (from fixed to floating rates, from one floating rate to another floating rate or otherwise) with respect to any interest-bearing liability or investment of the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

 

7.12       Changes in Fiscal Periods. Permit a change in the Borrower’s method of determining fiscal years or fiscal quarters.

 

7.13       Negative Pledge Clauses. Enter into or suffer to exist or become effective any agreement that prohibits or limits the ability of any Group Member to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, to secure its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party other than (a) this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and any Specified Swap Agreements, (b) any agreements governing any Liens or Capital Lease Obligations otherwise permitted hereby (in which case, any prohibition or limitation shall only be effective against the assets subject to such Lien or Capital Lease Obligation), (c) any document governing Indebtedness containing customary prohibitions and limitations (in the reasonable judgment of the Borrower) so long as such prohibitions or limitations do not prevent, impair or impede the creation of any Liens in favor of the Lenders under the Loan Documents, (d) agreements relating to any Disposition permitted pursuant to Section 7.5, provided that such prohibitions and limitations apply only to the property to be sold, (e) leases and other agreements containing customary provisions prohibiting or limiting the assignment thereof, and (f) customary restrictions in joint venture agreements prohibiting or limiting any such Lien, provided that such prohibitions and limitations apply only to the ownership interests in such joint venture.

 

7.14       Clauses Restricting Subsidiary Distributions. Enter into or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Subsidiary of the Borrower to (a) make Restricted Payments in respect of any Capital Stock of such Subsidiary held by, or pay any Indebtedness owed to, the Borrower or any other Subsidiary of the Borrower, (b) make loans or advances to, or other Investments in, the Borrower or any other Subsidiary of the Borrower or (c) transfer any of its assets to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary of the Borrower, except for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of (i) any restrictions existing under the Loan Documents, any Specified Swap Agreements, or the Indenture, (ii) any restrictions with respect to a Subsidiary imposed pursuant to an agreement that has been entered into in connection with the Disposition of all or substantially all of the Capital Stock or assets of such Subsidiary, (iii) any

 

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restrictions contained in agreements governing any Liens or Capital Lease Obligations otherwise permitted hereby (in which case, any prohibition or limitation shall only be effective against the assets subject to such Lien or Capital Lease Obligation), (iv) leases and other agreements containing customary provisions prohibiting or limiting the transfer or assignment thereof, and (v) customary restrictions in agreements relating to joint ventures, provided that such restrictions apply only to the ownership interests in such joint venture.

 

7.15       Lines of Business. Engage to any material extent in any business, either directly or through any Subsidiary, except for those businesses in which the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are engaged on the date of this Agreement (after giving effect to the Acquisition) or that are reasonably related or incidental thereto.

 

7.16       Amendments to Acquisition Documents. (a) Amend, supplement or otherwise modify (pursuant to a waiver or otherwise) the terms and conditions of the indemnities and licenses furnished to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to the Acquisition Documentation such that after giving effect thereto such indemnities or licenses shall be materially less favorable to the interests of the Loan Parties or the Lenders with respect thereto or (b) otherwise amend, supplement or otherwise modify the terms and conditions of the Acquisition Documentation or any such other documents except for any such amendment, supplement or modification that (i) becomes effective after the Restatement Date and (ii) could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 8.         EVENTS OF DEFAULT

 

If any of the following events shall occur and be continuing:

 

(a)           the Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan or Reimbursement Obligation when due in accordance with the terms hereof; or the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or Reimbursement Obligation, or any other amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document, within five days after any such interest or other amount becomes due in accordance with the terms hereof; or

 

(b)           any representation or warranty made or deemed made by any Loan Party herein or in any other Loan Document or that is contained in any certificate, document or financial or other statement furnished by it at any time under or in connection with this Agreement or any such other Loan Document shall prove to have been inaccurate in any material respect on or as of the date made or deemed made; or

 

(c)           any Loan Party shall default in the observance or performance of any agreement contained in clause (i) or (ii) of Section 6.4(a) (with respect to the Borrower only), Section 6.7(a) or Section 7 of this Agreement or Sections 5.5 and 5.7(b) of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement; or

 

(d)           any Loan Party shall default in the observance or performance of any other agreement contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document (other than as provided in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Section), and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of 30 days after written notice to the Borrower from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders; or

 

(e)           any Group Member shall (i) default in making any payment of any principal of any Indebtedness (including any Guarantee Obligation, but excluding the Loans) on the scheduled or original due date with respect thereto; or (ii) default in making any payment of any interest on

 

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any such Indebtedness beyond the period of grace, if any, provided in the instrument or agreement under which such Indebtedness was created; or (iii) default in the observance or performance of 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 shall occur or condition exist, the effect of which default or other event or condition is to cause, or to permit the holder or beneficiary of such Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or beneficiary) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity or (in the case of any such Indebtedness constituting a Guarantee Obligation) to become payable; provided, that a default, event or condition described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of this paragraph (e) shall not at any time constitute an Event of Default unless, at such time, one or more defaults, events or conditions of the type described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of this paragraph (e) shall have occurred and be continuing with respect to Indebtedness the outstanding principal amount of which exceeds in the aggregate $15,000,000; or

 

(f)            (i) any Group Member shall commence any case, proceeding or other action (A) under any existing or future law of any jurisdiction, domestic or foreign, relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or relief of debtors, seeking to have an order for relief entered with respect to it, or seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, winding-up, liquidation, dissolution, composition or other relief with respect to it or its debts, or (B) seeking appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator or other similar official for it or for all or any substantial part of its assets, or any Group Member shall make a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or (ii) there shall be commenced against any Group Member any case, proceeding or other action of a nature referred to in clause (i) above that (A) results in the entry of an order for relief or any such adjudication or appointment or (B) remains undismissed or undischarged for a period of 60 days; or (iii) there shall be commenced against any Group Member any case, proceeding or other action seeking issuance of a warrant of attachment, execution, distraint or similar process against all or any substantial part of its assets that results in the entry of an order for any such relief that shall not have been vacated, discharged, or stayed or bonded pending appeal within 60 days from the entry thereof; or (iv) any Group Member shall take any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any of the acts set forth in clause (i), (ii), or (iii) above; or (v) any Group Member shall generally not, or shall be unable to, or shall admit in writing its inability to, pay its debts as they become due; or

 

(g)           (i) any Person shall engage in any “prohibited transaction” (as defined in Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) involving any Plan, (ii) any “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined in Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived, shall exist with respect to any Plan or any Lien in favor of the PBGC or a Plan shall arise on the assets of any Group Member or any Commonly Controlled Entity, (iii) a Reportable Event shall occur with respect to, or proceedings shall commence to have a trustee appointed, or a trustee shall be appointed, to administer or to terminate, any Single Employer Plan, which Reportable Event or commencement of proceedings or appointment of a trustee is, in the reasonable opinion of the Required Lenders, likely to result in the termination of such Plan for purposes of Title IV of ERISA, (iv) any Single Employer Plan shall terminate for purposes of Title IV of ERISA, (v) any Group Member or any Commonly Controlled Entity shall, or in the reasonable opinion of the Required Lenders is likely to, incur any liability in connection with a withdrawal from, or the Insolvency or Reorganization of, a Multiemployer Plan or (vi) any other event or condition shall occur or exist with respect to a Plan; and in each case in clauses (i) through (vi) above, such event or condition, together with all other such events or conditions, if any, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

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(h)           one or more judgments or decrees shall be entered against any Group Member involving in the aggregate a liability (to the extent not paid or covered by insurance as to which the relevant insurance company has acknowledged coverage) of $15,000,000 or more, and all such judgments or decrees shall not have been vacated, discharged, stayed or bonded pending appeal within 30 days from the entry thereof; or

 

(i)            any of the Security Documents shall cease, for any reason, to be in full force and effect, or any Loan Party or any Affiliate of any Loan Party shall so assert, or any Lien created by any of the Security Documents in respect of property having a book value or fair market value in excess of $5,000,000 shall cease to be enforceable and of the same effect and priority purported to be created thereby, or any Loan Party or any Affiliate of any Loan Party shall so assert; or

 

(j)            the guarantee contained in Section 2 of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement shall cease, for any reason, to be in full force and effect or any Loan Party or any Affiliate of any Loan Party shall so assert; or

 

(k)           (i)  any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) shall become the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13(d)-3 and 13(d)-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 30% of the outstanding common stock of the Borrower; (ii) the board of directors of the Borrower shall cease to consist of a majority of Continuing Directors; or (iii) a Fundamental Change shall occur; or

 

(l)            the Convertible Senior Subordinated Debentures or the guarantees thereof shall not be or shall cease to be, for any reason, validly subordinated to the Obligations or the obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, as the case may be, as provided in the Indenture, or any Loan Party or any Affiliate of any Loan Party shall so assert;

 

then, and in any such event, (A) if such event is an Event of Default specified in clause (i) or (ii) of paragraph (f) above with respect to the Borrower, automatically the Commitments shall immediately terminate and the Loans (with accrued interest thereon) and all other amounts owing under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall immediately become due and payable, and (B) if such event is any other Event of Default, either or both of the following actions may be taken:  (i) with the consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent may, or upon the request of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent shall, by notice to the Borrower declare the Revolving Commitments to be terminated forthwith, whereupon the Revolving Commitments shall immediately terminate; and (ii) with the consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent may, or upon the request of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent shall, by notice to the Borrower, declare the Loans (with accrued interest thereon) and all other amounts owing under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to be due and payable forthwith, whereupon the same shall immediately become due and payable. With respect to all Letters of Credit with respect to which presentment for honor shall not have occurred at the time of an acceleration pursuant to this paragraph, the Borrower shall at such time deposit in a cash collateral account opened by the Administrative Agent an amount equal to the aggregate then undrawn and unexpired amount of such Letters of Credit. Amounts held in such cash collateral account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to the payment of drafts drawn under such Letters of Credit, and the unused portion thereof after all such Letters of Credit shall have expired or been fully drawn upon, if any, shall be applied to repay other obligations of the Borrower hereunder and under the other Loan Documents. After all such Letters of Credit shall have expired or been fully drawn upon, all Reimbursement Obligations shall have been satisfied and all other obligations of the Borrower hereunder and under the other Loan Documents shall have been paid in full, the balance, if any, in such cash collateral account shall be returned to the Borrower (or such other Person as may be lawfully entitled

 

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thereto). Except as expressly provided above in this Section, presentment, demand, protest and all other notices of any kind are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower.

 

SECTION 9.         THE AGENTS

 

9.1         Appointment. Each Lender hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Administrative Agent as the agent of such Lender under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and each such Lender irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent, in such capacity, to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary elsewhere in this Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein, or any fiduciary relationship with any Lender, 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.

 

9.2         Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may execute any of its duties under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents by or through agents or attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agents or attorneys in-fact selected by it with reasonable care.

 

9.3         Exculpatory Provisions. Neither any Agent nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or affiliates shall be (i) liable for any action lawfully taken or omitted to be taken by it or such Person under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document (except to the extent that any of the foregoing are found by a final and nonappealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from its or such Person’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct) or (ii) responsible in any manner to any of the Lenders for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties made by any Loan Party or any officer thereof contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Agents under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document or for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or for any failure of any Loan Party a party thereto to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder. The Agents shall not be under any obligation to any Lender 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.

 

9.4         Reliance by Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any instrument, writing, resolution, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telecopy, telex or teletype message, statement, order 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 the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may deem and treat the payee of any Note as the owner thereof for all purposes unless a written notice of assignment, negotiation or transfer thereof shall have been filed with the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under this Agreement or any other Loan Document unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the Required Lenders (or, if so specified by this Agreement, all Lenders) as it deems appropriate or it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Lenders against any and all liability

 

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and expense that may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. The Administrative Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents in accordance with a request of the Required Lenders (or, if so specified by this Agreement, all Lenders), and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all the Lenders and all future holders of the Loans.

 

9.5         Notice of Default. The Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default unless the Administrative Agent has received notice from a Lender or the Borrower referring to this Agreement, describing such Default or Event of Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of default”. In the event that the Administrative Agent receives such a notice, the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall take such action with respect to such Default or Event of Default as shall be reasonably directed by the Required Lenders (or, if so specified by this Agreement, all Lenders); provided that unless and until the Administrative Agent shall have received such directions, the Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Default or Event of Default as it shall deem advisable in the best interests of the Lenders.

 

9.6         Non-Reliance on Agents and Other Lenders. Each Lender expressly acknowledges that neither the Agents nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or affiliates have made any representations or warranties to it and that no act by any Agent hereafter taken, including any review of the affairs of a Loan Party or any affiliate of a Loan Party, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by any Agent to any Lender. Each Lender represents to the Agents that it has, independently and without reliance upon any Agent or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of and investigation into the business, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Loan Parties and their affiliates and made its own decision to make its Loans hereunder and enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also represents that it will, independently and without reliance upon any Agent or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and to make such investigation as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Loan Parties and their affiliates. Except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent hereunder, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide any Lender with any credit or other information concerning the business, operations, property, condition (financial or otherwise), prospects or creditworthiness of any Loan Party or any affiliate of a Loan Party that may come into the possession of the Administrative Agent or any of its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or affiliates.

 

9.7         Indemnification. The Lenders agree to indemnify each Agent in its capacity as such (to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrower and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so), ratably according to their respective Aggregate Exposure Percentages in effect on the date on which indemnification is sought under this Section (or, if indemnification is sought after the date upon which the Commitments shall have terminated and the Loans shall have been paid in full, ratably in accordance with such Aggregate Exposure Percentages immediately prior to such date), from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind whatsoever that may at any time (whether before or after the payment of the Loans) be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against such Agent in any way relating to or arising out of, the Commitments, this Agreement, any of the other Loan Documents or any documents contemplated by or referred to herein or therein or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or any action taken or

 

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omitted by such Agent under or in connection with any of the foregoing; provided that no Lender shall be liable for the payment of any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements that are found by a final and nonappealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from such Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. The agreements in this Section shall survive the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

 

9.8         Agent in Its Individual Capacity. Each Agent and its affiliates may make loans to, accept deposits from and generally engage in any kind of business with any Loan Party as though such Agent were not an Agent. With respect to its Loans made or renewed by it and with respect to any Letter of Credit issued or participated in by it, each Agent shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as any Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not an Agent, and the terms “Lender” and “Lenders” shall include each Agent in its individual capacity.

 

9.9         Successor Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may resign as Administrative Agent upon 10 days’ notice to the Lenders and the Borrower. If the Administrative Agent shall resign as Administrative Agent under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, then the Required Lenders shall appoint from among the Lenders a successor agent for the Lenders, which successor agent shall (unless an Event of Default under Section 8(a) or Section 8(f) with respect to the Borrower shall have occurred and be continuing) be subject to approval by the Borrower (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), whereupon such successor agent shall succeed to the rights, powers and duties of the Administrative Agent, and the term “Administrative Agent” shall mean such successor agent effective upon such appointment and approval, and the former Administrative Agent’s rights, powers and duties as Administrative Agent shall be terminated, without any other or further act or deed on the part of such former Administrative Agent or any of the parties to this Agreement or any holders of the Loans. If no successor agent has accepted appointment as Administrative Agent by the date that is 10 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 assume and 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. After any retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation as Administrative Agent, the provisions of this Section 9 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 and the other Loan Documents.

 

Co-Documentation Agents and Syndication Agent. Neither the Co-Documentation Agents nor the Syndication Agent shall have any duties or responsibilities hereunder in its capacity as such.

 

SECTION 10.       MISCELLANEOUS

 

10.1       Amendments and Waivers. Neither this Agreement, any other Loan Document, nor any terms hereof or thereof may be amended, supplemented or modified except in accordance with the provisions of this Section 10.1. The Required Lenders and each Loan Party party to the relevant Loan Document may, or, with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent and each Loan Party party to the relevant Loan Document may, from time to time, (a) enter into written amendments, supplements or modifications hereto and to the other Loan Documents for the purpose of adding any provisions to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or changing in any manner the rights of the Lenders or of the Loan Parties hereunder or thereunder or (b) waive, on such terms and conditions as the Required Lenders or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, may specify in such instrument, any of the requirements of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or

 

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any Default or Event of Default and its consequences; provided, however, that no such waiver and no such amendment, supplement or modification shall (i) forgive or reduce the principal amount or extend the final scheduled date of maturity of any Loan, reduce the amount or extend the scheduled date of any amortization payment in respect of any Term Loan, reduce the stated rate of any interest or fee payable hereunder (except (x) in connection with the waiver of applicability of any post-default increase in interest rates (which waiver shall be effective with the consent of the Majority Facility Lenders of each adversely affected Facility) and (y) that any amendment or modification of defined terms used in the financial covenants in this Agreement shall not constitute a reduction in the rate of interest or fees for purposes of this clause (i)) or extend the scheduled date of any payment thereof, or increase the amount or extend the expiration date of any Lender’s Revolving Commitment, in each case without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; (ii) eliminate or reduce the voting rights of any Lender under this Section 10.1 without the written consent of such Lender; (iii) reduce any percentage specified in the definition of Required Lenders, consent to the assignment or transfer by the Borrower of any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, release all or substantially all of the Collateral or release all or substantially all of the Subsidiary Guarantors from their obligations under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, in each case without the written consent of all Lenders; (iv) amend, modify or waive any provision of subsection 2.18(a), 2.18(b) or 2.18(c), or of the first two sentences of subsection 2.18(d), without the written consent of the Majority Facility Lenders in respect of each Facility adversely affected thereby; (v) reduce the percentage specified in the definition of Majority Facility Lenders with respect to any Facility without the written consent of all Lenders under such Facility; (vi) amend, modify or waive any provision of Section 9 without the written consent of the Administrative Agent; (vii) amend, modify or waive any provision of Section 2.6 or 2.7 without the written consent of the Swingline Lender; (viii) amend, modify or waive any provision of Section 3 without the written consent of each Issuing Lender; (ix) eliminate or reduce the amount of any prepayment of Term Loans or Revolving Loans required to be made pursuant to Section 2.12 without the written consent of the Majority Facility Lenders in respect of each Facility directly adversely affected thereby; or (x) amend, modify or waive any provision of Section 6.5 of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement without the written consent of the Majority Facility Lenders in respect of each Facility (if any) directly adversely affected thereby. Any such waiver and any such amendment, supplement or modification shall apply equally to each of the Lenders and shall be binding upon the Loan Parties, the Lenders, the Administrative Agent and all future holders of the Loans. In the case of any waiver, the Loan Parties, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent shall be restored to their former position and rights hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, and any Default or Event of Default waived shall be deemed to be cured and not continuing; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default, or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be amended (or amended and restated) with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (a) to add one or more additional credit facilities to this Agreement and to permit the extensions of credit from time to time outstanding thereunder and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof to share ratably in the benefits of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with the Term Loans and Revolving Extensions of Credit and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof and (b) to include appropriately the Lenders holding such credit facilities in any determination of the Required Lenders and Majority Facility Lenders.

 

In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be amended with the written consent of the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and the Lenders providing the relevant Replacement Term Loans (as defined below) to permit the refinancing, replacement or modification of all outstanding Term Loans (“Refinanced Term Loans”) with replacement term loans hereunder (“Replacement Term Loans”), provided that (a) the aggregate principal amount of such Replacement Term Loans shall not exceed the aggregate principal amount of such Refinanced Term Loans, (b) the

 

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Applicable Margin for such Replacement Term Loans shall not be higher than the Applicable Margin for such Refinanced Term Loans and (c) the weighted average life to maturity of such Replacement Term Loans shall not be shorter than the weighted average life to maturity of such Refinanced Term Loans at the time of such refinancing.

 

If, in connection with any proposed amendment, modification, waiver or termination of or under this Agreement that requires the consent of any Lender in addition to the consent of the Required Lenders, the consent of the Required Lenders is obtained, but the consent of such Lender whose consent is required is not obtained (any such Lender whose consent is not so obtained being referred to as a “Non-Consenting Lender”), then, so long as the Lender acting as the Administrative Agent is not a Non-Consenting Lender, at the Borrower’s request, an Assignee designated by the Borrower and approved by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lenders and the Swingline Lender (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed)) shall have the right to purchase from the Non-Consenting Lender, and such Non-Consenting Lender agrees that it shall, upon the Borrower’s request, sell and assign to such Assignee, all of the Revolving Commitments and Revolving Extensions of Credit of such Non-Consenting Lender if such Non-Consenting Lender is a Revolving Lender, and all of the Term Loan of such Non-Consenting Lender if such Non-Consenting Lender is a Term Lender, in each case in exchange for an amount equal to the principal balance of all such Revolving Loans or Term Loan, as applicable, held by the Non-Consenting Lender plus all accrued and unpaid interest and fees with respect thereto through the date of sale; provided, however, that such purchase and sale shall be recorded by the Administrative Agent and not be effective until (w) the assignment fee described in Section 10.6(b) shall have been paid, (x) the Administrative Agent shall have received from such Assignee an agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower whereby such Assignee shall agree to be bound by the terms hereof, (y) such Non-Consenting Lender shall have received payment of the amount set forth above as consideration for such sale, and (z) such Assignee shall have granted its consent to the matter for which the consent of the Non-Consenting Lender was required. Each Lender agrees that, if it becomes a Non-Consenting Lender, it shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption to evidence such sale and purchase and shall deliver to the Administrative Agent any Note (if the assigning Lender’s Loans are evidenced by Notes) subject to such Assignment and Assumption; provided, however, that the failure of any Non-Consenting Lender to execute an Assignment and Assumption shall not render such sale and purchase (and the corresponding assignment) invalid and such assignment shall be recorded by the Administrative Agent.

 

10.2       Notices. All notices, requests and demands to or upon the respective parties hereto to be effective shall be in writing (including by telecopy), and, unless otherwise expressly provided herein, shall be deemed to have been duly given or made when delivered, or three Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, or, in the case of telecopy notice, when received, addressed as follows in the case of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and as set forth in an administrative questionnaire delivered to the Administrative Agent in the case of the Lenders, or to such other address as may be hereafter notified by the respective parties hereto:

 

Borrower:

Serologicals Corporation
5655 Spalding Drive
Norcross, Georgia 30092

 

Attention: Samuel Schwartz

 

Telecopy: 678 ###-###-####

 

Telephone: 678 ###-###-####

 

 

Administrative Agent:

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
Loan & Agency Services
1111 Fannin Street, 10th Floor

 

Houston, Texas 77002
Attention: Denise Ramon

 

Telecopy: 713 ###-###-####

 

Telephone: 713 ###-###-####

 

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provided that any notice, request or demand to or upon the Administrative Agent or the Lenders shall not be effective until received.

 

Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices pursuant to Section 2 unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lender. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

 

10.3       No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising, on the part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under the other Loan Documents 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.

 

10.4       Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties made hereunder, in the other Loan Documents and in any document, certificate or statement delivered pursuant hereto or in connection herewith shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of the Loans and other extensions of credit hereunder.

 

10.5       Payment of Expenses and Taxes. The Borrower agrees (a) to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent for all its reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the development, preparation and execution of, and any amendment, supplement or modification to, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and any other documents prepared in connection herewith or therewith, and the consummation and administration of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent and filing and recording fees and expenses, with statements with respect to the foregoing to be submitted to the Borrower prior to the Restatement Date (in the case of amounts to be paid on the Restatement Date) and from time to time thereafter on a quarterly basis or such other periodic basis as the Administrative Agent shall deem appropriate, (b) to pay or reimburse each Lender and the Administrative Agent for all its reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement or preservation of any rights under this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any such other documents, including the fees and disbursements of counsel to each Lender and of counsel to the Administrative Agent, (c) to pay, indemnify, and hold each Lender and the Administrative Agent harmless from, any and all recording and filing fees and any and all liabilities with respect to, or resulting from any delay in paying, stamp, excise and other taxes, if any, that may be payable or determined to be payable in connection with the execution and delivery of, or consummation or administration of any of the transactions contemplated by, or any amendment, supplement or modification of, or any waiver or consent under or in respect of, this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any such other documents, and (d) to pay, indemnify, and hold each Lender and the Administrative Agent and their respective officers, directors, employees, affiliates, agents, trustees, advisors and controlling persons (each, an “Indemnitee”) harmless from and against any and all other liabilities, obligations, losses, damages,

 

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penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever with respect to the execution, delivery, enforcement, performance and administration of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any such other documents, including any of the foregoing relating to the use of proceeds of the Loans or the violation of, noncompliance with or liability under, any Environmental Law applicable to the operations of any Group Member or any of the Properties and the reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel in connection with claims, actions or proceedings by any Indemnitee against any Loan Party under any Loan Document (all the foregoing in this clause (d), collectively, the “Indemnified Liabilities”), provided, that the Borrower shall have no obligation hereunder to any Indemnitee with respect to Indemnified Liabilities to the extent such Indemnified Liabilities are found by a final and nonappealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee. Without limiting the foregoing, and to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower agrees not to assert and to cause its Subsidiaries not to assert, and hereby waives and agrees to cause its Subsidiaries to waive, all rights for contribution or any other rights of recovery with respect to all claims, demands, penalties, fines, liabilities, settlements, damages, costs and expenses of whatever kind or nature, under or related to Environmental Laws, that any of them might have by statute or otherwise against any Indemnitee. All amounts due under this Section 10.5 shall be payable not later than 10 days after written demand therefor. Statements payable by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 10.5 shall be submitted to Attention: Craig Brown (Telephone No.  ###-###-####) (Telecopy No.  ###-###-####), at the address of the Borrower set forth in Section 10.2, or to such other Person or address as may be hereafter designated by the Borrower in a written notice to the Administrative Agent. The agreements in this Section 10.5 shall survive repayment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

 

10.6       Successors and Assigns; Participations and Assignments. (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 (including any affiliate of an Issuing Lender that issues any Letter of Credit), except that (i) the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section.

 

(b)           (i)  Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph (b)(ii) below, any Lender may assign to one or more assignees (each, an “Assignee”) all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitments and the Loans at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent of:

 

(A)    the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), provided that no consent of the Borrower shall be required for an assignment to a Lender, an affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund (as defined below) or, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any other Person; and

 

(B)    the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), provided that no consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required for an assignment of (I) all or any portion of a Term Loan to a Lender, an affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or (II) all or any portion of a Revolving Loan or Revolving Commitment to a Lender that is a Revolving Lender immediately prior to such assignment.

 

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

 

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(A)    except in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitments or Loans under any Facility, the amount of the Commitments or Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall not be less than $5,000,000 (in the case of the Revolving Facility) or $1,000,000 (in the case of the Term Facility) unless each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent, provided that (1) no such consent of the Borrower shall be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (2) such amounts shall be aggregated in respect of each Lender and its affiliates or Approved Funds, if any;

 

(B)    the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 (it being agreed that only one such fee shall be payable in respect of multiple concurrent assignments by a Lender to one or more Affiliates or Approved Funds of such Lender, or to one or more other Lenders, or any combination thereof); and

 

(C)    the Assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an administrative questionnaire.

 

For the purposes of this Section 10.6, “Approved Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course and 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.

 

(iii)  Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (b)(iv) below, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption the Assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.19, 2.20, 2.21 and 10.5); provided, that the assignment of a Revolving Commitment by any Lender to an Approved Fund shall not relieve the assigning Lender of any of its obligations to fund a Loan under such Revolving Commitment if, for any reason, its Approved Fund fails to fund any such Loan, unless the Borrower has given its prior written consent to such assignment (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 10.6 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (c) of this Section.

 

(iv)  The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amount of the Loans and L/C Obligations owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the

 

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Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lenders 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.

 

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

 

(c)           (i)  Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitments and the Loans owing to it); provided that (A) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (B) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (C) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lenders 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 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 may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver that (1) requires the consent of each Lender directly affected thereby pursuant to the proviso to the second sentence of Section 10.1 and (2) directly affects such Participant. Subject to paragraph (c)(ii) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.19, 2.20 and 2.21 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.7(b) as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant shall be subject to Section 10.7(a) as though it were a Lender.

 

(ii)  A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.19, 2.20 or 2.21 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. Any Participant that is a Non-U.S. Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.20 unless such Participant complies with Section 2.20(d).

 

(d)           Any Lender may (without the consent of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent) at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including the Loans and any Notes or any other instrument evidencing its rights as a Lender under this Agreement) to secure obligations or securities of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank and any pledge or assignment to any holder of, trustee for, or any other representative of holders of, obligations owed or securities issued by such Lender, and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or Assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

 

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(e)  The Borrower, upon receipt of written notice from the relevant Lender, agrees to issue Notes to any Lender requiring Notes to facilitate transactions of the type described in paragraph (d) above.

 

(f)  Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Conduit Lender may assign any or all of the Loans it may have funded hereunder to its designating Lender without the consent of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent and without regard to the limitations set forth in Section 10.6(b). Each of the Borrower, each Lender and the Administrative Agent hereby confirms that it will not institute against a Conduit Lender or join any other Person in instituting against a Conduit Lender any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceeding under any state bankruptcy or similar law, for one year and one day after the payment in full of the latest maturing commercial paper note issued by such Conduit Lender; provided, however, that each Lender designating any Conduit Lender hereby agrees to indemnify, save and hold harmless each other party hereto for any loss, cost, damage or expense arising out of its inability to institute such a proceeding against such Conduit Lender during such period of forbearance.

 

10.7       Adjustments; Set-off. (a) Except to the extent that this Agreement expressly provides for payments to be allocated to a particular Lender or to the Lenders under a particular Facility, if any Lender (a “Benefited Lender”) shall, at any time after the Loans and other amounts payable hereunder shall immediately become due and payable pursuant to Section 8, receive any payment of all or part of the Obligations owing to it, or receive any collateral in respect thereof (whether voluntarily or involuntarily, by set-off, pursuant to events or proceedings of the nature referred to in Section 8(f), or otherwise), in a greater proportion than any such payment to or collateral received by any other Lender, if any, in respect of the Obligations owing to such other Lender, such Benefited Lender shall purchase for cash from the other Lenders a participating interest in such portion of the Obligations owing to each such other Lender, or shall provide such other Lenders with the benefits of any such collateral, as shall be necessary to cause such Benefited Lender to share the excess payment or benefits of such collateral ratably with each of the Lenders; provided, however, that if all or any portion of such excess payment or benefits is thereafter recovered from such Benefited Lender, such purchase shall be rescinded, and the purchase price and benefits returned, to the extent of such recovery, but without interest.

 

(b)           In addition to any rights and remedies of the Lenders provided by law, each Lender shall have the right, upon the occurrence and during the continuation of any Event of Default, without prior notice to the Borrower, any such notice being expressly waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable law, upon any amount becoming due and payable by the Borrower hereunder (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), to set off and appropriate and apply against such amount any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final), in any currency, and any other credits, indebtedness or claims, in any currency, in each case whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, at any time held or owing by such Lender or any branch or agency thereof to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower, as the case may be. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent after any such setoff and application made by such Lender, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

 

10.8       Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by one or more of the parties to this Agreement on any number of separate counterparts, and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed signature page of this Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof. A set of the copies of this Agreement signed by all the parties shall be lodged with the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

 

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10.9              Severability. Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

10.10            Integration. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents represent the entire agreement of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and there are no promises, undertakings, representations or warranties by the Administrative Agent or any Lender relative to the subject matter hereof not expressly set forth or referred to herein or in the other Loan Documents.

 

10.11          GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

10.12            Submission To Jurisdiction; Waivers. The Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally:

 

(a)           submits for itself and its property in any legal action or proceeding relating to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect thereof, to the non-exclusive general jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York, the courts of the United States for the Southern District of New York, and appellate courts from any thereof;

 

(b)           consents that any such action or proceeding may be brought in such courts and waives any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the venue of any such action or proceeding in any such court or that such action or proceeding was brought in an inconvenient court and agrees not to plead or claim the same;

 

(c)           agrees that service of process in any such action or proceeding may be effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to the Borrower at its address set forth in Section 10.2 or at such other address of which the Administrative Agent shall have been notified pursuant thereto;

 

(d)           agrees that nothing herein shall affect the right to effect service of process in any other manner permitted by law or shall limit the right to sue in any other jurisdiction; and

 

(e)           waives, to the maximum extent not prohibited by law, any right it may have to claim or recover in any legal action or proceeding referred to in this Section any special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages.

 

10.13            Acknowledgements. The Borrower hereby acknowledges that:

 

(a)           it has been advised by counsel in the negotiation, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;

 

(b)           neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender has any fiduciary relationship with or duty to the Borrower arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, and the relationship between Administrative Agent and Lenders, on one hand,

 

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and the Borrower, on the other hand, in connection herewith or therewith is solely that of debtor and creditor; and

 

(c)           no joint venture is created hereby or by the other Loan Documents or otherwise exists by virtue of the transactions contemplated hereby among the Lenders or among the Borrower and the Lenders.

 

10.14               Releases of Guarantees and Liens. (a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the Administrative Agent is hereby irrevocably authorized by each Lender (without requirement of notice to or consent of any Lender except as expressly required by Section 10.1) to take any action requested by the Borrower having the effect of releasing any Collateral or guarantee obligations (i) to the extent necessary to permit consummation of any transaction not prohibited by any Loan Document or that has been consented to in accordance with Section 10.1 or (ii) under the circumstances described in paragraph (b) below.

 

(b)           At such time as the Loans, the Reimbursement Obligations and the other obligations under the Loan Documents (other than obligations under or in respect of Swap Agreements) shall have been paid in full, the Commitments have been terminated, no Letters of Credit shall be outstanding and the obligations under or in respect of Specified Swap Agreements shall have been cash collateralized, the Collateral shall be released from the Liens created by the Security Documents, and the Security Documents and all obligations (other than those expressly stated to survive such termination) of the Administrative Agent and each Loan Party under the Security Documents shall terminate, all without delivery of any instrument or performance of any act by any Person.

 

10.15               Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent and each Lender agrees to keep confidential all non-public information provided to it by any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent or any Lender pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement that was included in the Confidential Information Memorandum or that is otherwise designated by the provider thereof as confidential; provided that nothing herein shall prevent the Administrative Agent or any Lender from disclosing any such information (a) to the Administrative Agent, any other Lender or any affiliate thereof, (b) subject to an agreement to comply with the provisions of this Section, to any actual or prospective Transferee or any direct or indirect counterparty to any Swap Agreement (or any professional advisor to such counterparty), (c) to its employees, directors, agents, attorneys, accountants and other professional advisors or those of any of its affiliates, (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 pursuant to the terms hereof), (d) upon the request or demand of any Governmental Authority, (e) in response to any order of any court or other Governmental Authority or as may otherwise be required pursuant to any Requirement of Law, (f) if required to do so in connection with any litigation or similar proceeding, (g) that has been publicly disclosed, other than as a result of a breach of this Section 10.15, (h) to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any similar organization or any nationally recognized rating agency that requires access to information about a Lender’s investment portfolio in connection with ratings issued with respect to such Lender, or (i) in connection with the exercise of any remedy hereunder or under any other Loan Document.

 

10.16              WAIVERS OF JURY TRIAL. THE BORROWER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND THE LENDERS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.

 

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10.17               Designated Senior Indebtedness. The Obligations are hereby designated as “Designated Senior Indebtedness” for purposes of the Indenture.

 

10.18               USA PATRIOT Act Notice. Each Lender (for itself and not on behalf of any other party) hereby notifies the Loan Parties 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 Loan Parties, which information includes the name and address of the Loan Parties and other information that will allow such Lender to identify the Loan Parties in accordance with the Act.

 

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

 

 

SEROLOGICALS CORPORATION

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Harold W. Ingalls

 

 

 

Name: Harold W. Ingalls

 

 

 

Title:

Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative
Agent and as Issuing Lender

 

 

 

By:

/s/ B.B. Wuthrich

 

 

 

Name: B.B. Wuthrich

 

 

 

Title: Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

By:

/s/ R. Shawn Janko

 

 

 

Name: R. Shawn Janko

 

 

 

Title: Senior Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as
Co-Documentation Agent

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Jeff Karczynski

 

 

 

Name: Jeff Karczynski

 

 

 

Title: Loan Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

REGIONS BANK, as Co-Documentation Agent

 

 

 

By:

/s/ W. Brad Davis

 

 

 

Name: W. Brad Davis

 

 

 

Title: Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMERICA BANK

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Stacey V. Judd

 

 

 

Name: Stacey V. Judd

 

 

 

Title: Vice President

 

 



 

 

FIRST HORIZON BANK, a division of First Tennessee
Bank National Association

 

 

 

By:

/s/ C. Reid Harden

 

 

 

Name: C. Reid Harden

 

 

 

Title: Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

BANK LEUMI USA

 

 

 

By:

/s/ John Koenigsberg

 

 

 

Name: John Koenigsberg

 

 

 

Title: First Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Phyllis Rosenfeld

 

 

 

Name: Phyllis Rosenfeld

 

 

 

Title: Vice President

 

 



 

The Subsidiary Guarantors and the Issuers, if any, that are not a Loan Party hereby consent and agree to this Amended and Restated Credit Agreement as of the Restatement Date and reaffirm their obligations under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which they are party.

 

 

UPSTATE GROUP, L.L.C.

 

SEROLOGICALS ROYALTY COMPANY

 

SEROLOGICALS RESEARCH PRODUCTS, INC.

 

SEROLOGICALS INVESTMENT COMPANY

 

CHEMICON INTERNATIONAL, INC.

 

SEROLOGICALS ASIA HOLDINGS, LLC

 

INTERGEN BIOMANUFACTURING CORPORATION

 

ALTAGEN BIOSCIENCES, INC.

 

UPSTATE USA, INC.

 

LINCO RESEARCH, INCORPORATED

 

LINCO DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES, INC.

 

CELLIANCE CORPORATION

 

CELLIANCE KANKAKEE, INC.

 

CELLIANCE LAWRENCE, INC.

 

CELLIANCE MILFORD, INC.

 

CHEMICON SPECIALTY MEDIA, INC.

 

CELLIANCE BIOSERVICES, INC.

 

CHEMICON AUSTRALIA PTY LTD.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Harold W. Ingalls

 

 

 

Name: Harold W. Ingalls

 

 

Title: Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and
Treasurer

 



 

 

SEROLOGICALS FINANCE COMPANY

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Harold W. Ingalls

 

 

 

 Name: Harold W. Ingalls

 

 

 Title: President

 



 

 

SEROLOGICALS GLOBAL HOLDING
COMPANY LIMITED

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Harold W. Ingalls

 

 

 

 Name: Harold W. Ingalls

 

 

 Title: Director