CREDIT AGREEMENT

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Dated as of October 24, 2011

among

TRACTOR SUPPLY COMPANY,

as Borrower,

AND

CERTAIN SUBSIDIARIES OF THE BORROWER

FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO,

as Guarantors,

THE SEVERAL LENDERS

FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO

BANK OF AMERICA, N. A.,

as Administrative Agent,

U.S. BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

and

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Co-Syndication Agents

AND

FIFTH THIRD BANK

and

REGIONS BANK,

as Co-Documentation Agents

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED,

as Lead Arranger and Book Manager

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

Schedule 1.1(a)	Existing Letters of Credit
Schedule 1.1(b)	Liens
Schedule 2.1(a)	Lenders and Commitments
Schedule 6.12	Subsidiaries
Schedule 6.22	Labor Matters
Schedule 8.1	Indebtedness
Schedule 8.9	Transactions with Affiliates
Schedule 11.1	Notices

 

 

THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of October 24, 2011 (as amended, modified, restated or supplemented from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), is by and among TRACTOR SUPPLY COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the Guarantors (as defined herein), the Lenders (as defined herein) and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”).

WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide a $250,000,000 credit facility for the purposes hereinafter set forth; and

WHEREAS, the Lenders have agreed to make the requested credit facility available to the Borrower on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth;

NOW, THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION of the premises and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.1           Definitions.

As used in this Credit Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings specified below unless the context otherwise requires:

“30-Day Interbank Offered Rate” means, for any Swingline Loan, the rate per annum (rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one-one hundredth (1/100) of one percent) appearing each day on Page 3750 (or any successor page) of the Dow Jones Market Service as the London interbank offered rate for deposits in Dollars at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) for a term of thirty (30) days.  If for any reason such rate is not available, the term “30-Day Interbank Offered Rate” shall mean the rate per annum (rounded, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) appearing each day on Reuters Screen LIBO Page as the London interbank offered rate for deposits in Dollars at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) for a term of thirty (30) days; provided, however, if more than one rate is specified on Reuters Screen LIBO Page, the applicable rate shall be the arithmetic mean of all such rates (rounded, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%).  As to any date on which no such rates are available, the term “30-Day Interbank Offered Rate” shall mean such rate as determined on the next proceeding Business Day when such rate was determinable.

“Acceptance Credit” means a commercial Letter of Credit in which the Issuing Lender engages with the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit to accept a time draft.  Acceptance Credits shall be denominated in Dollars.

“Acceptance Documents” means such general acceptance agreements, applications, certificates and other documents as the Issuing Lender may require in connection with the creation of Bankers' Acceptances.

“Adjusted Base Rate” means the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.

“Adjusted Eurodollar Rate” means the Eurodollar Rate plus the Applicable Rate.

“Administrative Agent” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the heading hereof, together with any successors or assigns.

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

“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person (i) directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such Person or (ii) directly or indirectly owning or holding five percent (5%) or more of the Capital Stock in such Person.  For purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

“Alternative Currency” means, with respect to Letters of Credit, each currency (other than Dollars) that is approved in accordance with Section 1.6.

“Alternative Currency Equivalent” means, at any time, with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, the equivalent amount thereof in the applicable Alternative Currency as determined by the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Lender, as the case may be, at such time on the basis of the Spot Rate (determined in respect of the most recent Revaluation Date) for the purchase of such Alternative Currency with Dollars.

“Applicable Lending Office” means, for each Lender, the office of such Lender (or of an Affiliate of such Lender) as such Lender may from time to time specify to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower by written notice as the office by which its Eurodollar Loans are made and maintained.

“Applicable Percentage” means with respect to any Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Revolving Committed Amount represented by such Lender’s Revolving Commitment at such time; provided that if the commitment of each Lender to make Revolving Loans and the obligation of the Issuing Lender to issue, amend or extend Letters of Credit have been terminated pursuant to Section 9.2 or if the Revolving Commitments have expired, then the Applicable Percentage of each Lender shall be determined based on the Applicable Percentage of such Lender most recently in effect, giving effect to any subsequent assignments.  The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.1(a) or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.  The Applicable Percentages shall be subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3.18.

“Applicable Rate” means, for purposes of calculating the applicable interest rate for any day for any Revolving Loan, the applicable rate for any day for any Swingline Loan, the applicable rate of the Unused Fee for any day for purposes of Section 3.5(a), the applicable rate of the Standby Letter of Credit Fee for any day for purposes of Section 3.5(b)(i) or the applicable rate for the Trade Letter of Credit Fee for any day for purposes of Section 3.5(b)(ii), the appropriate applicable percentage corresponding to the Leverage Ratio in effect as of the most recent Calculation Date:

Pricing Level	Leverage Ratio	Applicable Rate For Eurodollar Loans and Swingline Loans	Applicable Rate for Base Rate Loans	Applicable Rate for Standby Letter of Credit Fees	Applicable Rate for Trade Letter of Credit Fees	Applicable Rate for Unused Fees
I	≥ 3.5	1.00%	0.0%	1.00%	0.25%	0.200%
II	≥ 3.0 but < 3.5	0.90%	0.0%	0.90%	0.25%	0.175%
III	≥ 2.5 but < 3.0	0.75%	0.0%	0.75%	0.25%	0.150%
IV	≥ 2.0 but < 2.5	0.60%	0.0%	0.60%	0.25%	0.125%
V	≥ 1.5 but < 2.0	0.50%	0.0%	0.50%	0.25%	0.100%
VI	< 1.5	0.40%	0.0%	0.40%	0.25%	0.075%

The Applicable Rates shall be determined and adjusted quarterly on the date (each a “Calculation Date”) five Business Days after the date by which the Borrower is required to provide the officer’s certificate in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.1(c) for the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Consolidated Parties; provided, however, (i) the initial Applicable Rates shall be based on Pricing Level V and shall remain at Pricing Level V until the first Calculation Date to occur subsequent to December 31, 2011 and (ii) if the Borrower fails to provide the officer’s certificate as required by Section 7.1(c) for the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Consolidated Parties, the Applicable Rate from such Calculation Date shall be based on Pricing Level I until such time as an appropriate officer’s certificate is provided, whereupon the Applicable Rate shall be determined by the Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Consolidated Parties preceding such Calculation Date.  Each Applicable Rate shall be effective from one Calculation Date until the next Calculation Date.  Any adjustment in the Applicable Rates shall be applicable to all existing Loans as well as any new Loans made or issued.

“Approved Fund” means any Fund that is administered or managed by (i) a Lender, (ii) an Affiliate of a Lender or (iii) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

“Arranger” means Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, in its capacity as sole lead arranger and sole book manager.

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

“Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 11.3(b)), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit 11.3 or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

“BA Outstandings” means, as of the date of determination, the sum of the maximum aggregate amount which is, or at any time thereafter may become, payable by the Issuing Lender under all then outstanding Bankers' Acceptances, plus the aggregate amount of all payments made by the Issuing Lender under Bankers' Acceptances and not theretofore reimbursed by the Borrower.

"Bankers' Acceptance" or "BA" means a time draft, drawn by the beneficiary under an Acceptance Credit and accepted by the Issuing Lender upon presentation of documents by the beneficiary of an Acceptance Credit pursuant to Section 2.2, in the standard form for bankers' acceptances of the Issuing Lender.  Bankers' Acceptances shall be denominated in Dollars.

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

“Bankruptcy Code” means the Bankruptcy Code in Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended, modified, succeeded or replaced from time to time.

“Bankruptcy Event” means, with respect to any Person, the occurrence of any of the following with respect to such Person: (i) a court or governmental agency having jurisdiction in the premises shall enter a decree or order for relief in respect of such Person in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of such Person or for any substantial part of its Property or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs; or (ii) there shall be commenced against such Person an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or any case, proceeding or other action for the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of such Person or for any substantial part of its Property or for the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and such involuntary case or other case, proceeding or other action shall remain undismissed, undischarged or unbonded for a period of sixty (60) consecutive days; or (iii) such Person shall commence a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or consent to the appointment or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of such Person or for any substantial part of its Property or make any general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or (iv) such Person shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due.

“Base Rate” means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1%, (b) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by Bank of America as its “prime rate,” and (c) the Eurodollar Base Rate plus 1.0%.  The “prime rate” is a rate set by Bank of America based upon various factors including Bank of America’s costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate.  Any change in such prime rate announced by Bank of America shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change.

“Base Rate Loan” means any Loan bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Base Rate.

“Borrower” means the Person identified as such in the heading hereof, together with any permitted successors and assigns.

“Borrower Materials” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.1.

“Business Day” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in Charlotte, North Carolina or Nashville, Tennessee are authorized or required by law to close, except that, when used in connection with a Eurodollar Loan, such day shall also be a London Banking Day.

“Capital Lease” means, as applied to any Person, any lease of any Property (whether real, personal or mixed) by that Person as lessee which, in accordance with GAAP, is or should be accounted for as a capital lease on the balance sheet of that Person.

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

“Cash Collateralize” means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender or the Swingline Lender (as applicable) and the Lenders, as collateral for LOC Obligations, Credit Party Obligations in respect of Swingline Loans, or obligations of Lenders to fund participations in respect of either thereof (as the context may require), cash or deposit account balances or, if the Issuing Lender or the Swingline Lender benefitting from such collateral shall agree in its sole discretion, other credit support, in each case pursuant to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to (a) the Administrative Agent and (b) the Issuing Lender or the Swingline Lender (as applicable). “Cash Collateral” shall have a meaning correlative to the foregoing and shall include the proceeds of such cash collateral and other credit support.

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

“Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the Closing Date, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.

“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:  (i) any Person or two or more Persons acting in concert shall have acquired “beneficial ownership,” directly or indirectly, of, or shall have acquired by contract or otherwise, or shall have entered into a contract or arrangement that, upon consummation, will result in its or their acquisition of, control over, Voting Stock of the Borrower (or other securities convertible into such Voting Stock) representing 40% or more of the combined voting power of all Voting Stock of the Borrower, or (ii) a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Borrower cease to be Continuing Directors.

“Closing Date” means the date hereof.

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any successor statute thereto, as interpreted by the rules and regulations issued thereunder, in each case as in effect from time to time.  References to sections of the Code shall be construed also to refer to any successor sections.

“Commitment” means the Revolving Commitment.

“Consolidated EBITDA” means, for any period, the sum of (a) Consolidated Net Income for such period, plus (b) an amount which, in the determination of Consolidated Net Income for such period, has been deducted for (i) Consolidated Interest Expense, (ii) total federal, state, local and foreign income, value added and similar taxes, (iii) depreciation and amortization expense, (iv) non-cash stock-based compensation expenses, (v) non-cash straight line rent expense and (vi) other non-recurring, non-cash expenses (excluding any non-cash expense to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash expenses in any future period), all as determined in accordance with GAAP.

“Consolidated EBITDAR” means, for any period, the sum of (a) Consolidated EBITDA for such period, plus (b) Consolidated Rental Expense for such period.

“Consolidated Interest Expense” means, for any period, all interest expense (including the interest component under Capital Leases and Synthetic Leases but excluding accrued interest expense associated with any Capital Lease or other obligations or liabilities arising from Permitted Government Revenue Bond Indebtedness to the extent the Borrower or a Subsidiary is the holder of the related bonds) of the Consolidated Parties on a consolidated basis for such period, as determined in accordance with GAAP.  For purposes of clarification, the implied interest component under Synthetic Leases shall be considered interest expense for purposes of this definition.

“Consolidated Parties” means a collective reference to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and “Consolidated Party” means any one of them.

“Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, net income (excluding (a) extraordinary gains (b) other non-recurring gains and losses and (c) interest income associated with any Capital Lease or other obligations or liabilities arising from Permitted Government Revenue Bond Indebtedness to the extent the Borrower or a Subsidiary is the holder of the related bonds) after taxes for such period of the Consolidated Parties on a consolidated basis, as determined in accordance with GAAP.

“Consolidated Rental Expense” means, for any period, cash rental expense under Operating Leases (excluding any Synthetic Lease) of the Consolidated Parties on a consolidated basis for such period, as determined in accordance with GAAP.

“Consolidated Tangible Assets” means, as of any date of determination, all assets of the Consolidated Parties on a consolidated basis as of such date minus all intangible assets of the Consolidated Parties on a consolidated basis as of such date, all as determined in accordance with GAAP.

“Continuing Director” means, as of any date of determination, any member of the Board of Directors of the Borrower who (a) was a member of the same Board of Directors on the Closing Date or (b) was nominated for election or elected to such Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such Board of Directors at the time of such nomination or election.

“Credit Documents” means a collective reference to this Credit Agreement, the Notes, the LOC Documents, each Joinder Agreement, the Fee Letter and all other related agreements and documents issued or delivered hereunder or thereunder or pursuant hereto or thereto (in each case as the same may be amended, modified, restated, supplemented, extended, renewed or replaced from time to time), and “Credit Document” means any one of them.

“Credit Parties” means a collective reference to the Borrower and the Guarantors, and “Credit Party” means any one of them.

“Credit Party Obligations” means, without duplication, (i) all of the obligations of the Credit Parties to the Lenders (including the Issuing Lender and the Swingline Lender) and the Administrative Agent, whenever arising, under this Credit Agreement, the Notes or any of the other Credit Documents (including, but not limited to, any interest accruing after the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event with respect to any Credit Party, regardless of whether such interest is an allowed claim under the Bankruptcy Code) and (ii) all liabilities and obligations, whenever arising, owing from the Borrower to any Lender, or any Affiliate of a Lender, arising under any Hedging Agreement relating to the Revolving Obligations hereunder.

“Default” means any event, act or condition which with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

“Defaulting Lender” means, subject to Section 3.18(b), any Lender that, as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent, (a) has failed to perform any of its funding obligations hereunder,  including in respect of its Loans or Participation Interests in respect of Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans, within three Business Days of the date required to be funded by it hereunder, (b) has notified the Borrower or the Administrative Agent that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations or has made a public statement to that effect with respect to its funding obligations hereunder or under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit, (c) has failed, within three Business Days after request by the Administrative Agent, to confirm in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that it will comply with its funding obligations, or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any bankruptcy or insolvency law, (ii) had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or a custodian appointed for it, or (iii) taken any action in furtherance of, or indicated its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointment; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any equity interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority.

“Dollars” and “$” means dollars in lawful currency of the United States of America.

“Dollar Equivalent” means, at any time, (a) with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, such amount, and (b) with respect to any amount denominated in any Alternative Currency, the equivalent amount thereof in Dollars as determined by the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Lender, as the case may be, at such time on the basis of the Spot Rate (determined in respect of the most recent Revaluation Date) for the purchase of Dollars with such Alternative Currency.

“Domestic Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any Subsidiary of such Person which is incorporated or organized under the laws of any State of the United States or the District of Columbia.

“Eligible Assignee” means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under Sections 11.3(b)(iii) and (b)(v) (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 11.3(b)(iii)).

“EMU” means the economic and monetary union in accordance with the Treaty of Rome 1957, as amended by the Single European Act 1986, the Maastricht Treaty of 1992 and the Amsterdam Treaty of 1998.

“EMU Legislation” means the legislative measures of the European Council for the introduction of, changeover to or operation of a single or unified European currency.

“Environmental Laws” means any and all lawful and applicable Federal, state, local and foreign statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements or other governmental restrictions relating to the environment or to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of pollutants, contaminants, chemicals, or industrial, toxic or hazardous substances or wastes into the environment including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, ground water, or land, or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport, or handling of pollutants, contaminants, chemicals, or industrial, toxic or hazardous substances or wastes.

“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and any successor statute thereto, as interpreted by the rules and regulations thereunder, all as the same may be in effect from time to time.  References to sections of ERISA shall be construed also to refer to any successor sections.

“ERISA Affiliate” means an entity which is under common control with any Consolidated Party within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(14) of ERISA, or is a member of a group which includes any Consolidated Party and which is treated as a single employer under Sections 414(b) or (c) of the Code.

“ERISA Event” means (i) with respect to any Single Employer Plan, the occurrence of a Reportable Event or the substantial cessation of operations (within the meaning of Section 4062(e) of ERISA); (ii) the withdrawal by any Consolidated Party or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiple Employer Plan during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as such term is defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA), or the termination of a Multiple Employer Plan; (iii) the distribution of a notice of intent to terminate or the actual termination of a Single Employer Plan pursuant to Section 4041(a)(2) or 4041A of ERISA; (iv) the institution of proceedings to terminate or the actual termination of a Single Employer Plan by the PBGC under Section 4042 of ERISA; (v) any event or condition which might constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Single Employer Plan; (vi) the complete or partial withdrawal of any Consolidated Party or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan; (vii) the conditions for imposition of a lien under Section 302(f) of ERISA exist with respect to any Single Employer Plan; or (viii) the adoption of an amendment to any Single Employer Plan requiring the provision of security to such Plan pursuant to Section 307 of ERISA.

“Euro” and “EUR” mean the lawful currency of the Participating Member States introduced in accordance with the EMU Legislation.

“Eurodollar Base Rate” means:

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

(b)           for any interest calculation with respect to a Base Rate Loan on any date, the rate per annum equal to (i) BBA LIBOR, at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time determined two London Banking Days prior to such date for Dollar deposits being delivered in the London interbank market for a term of one month commencing that day or (ii) if such published rate is not available at such time for any reason, the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate at which deposits in Dollars for delivery on the date of determination in same day funds in the approximate amount of the Base Rate Loan being made or maintained and with a term equal to one month would be offered by Bank of America’s London Branch to major banks in the London interbank Eurodollar market at their request at the date and time of determination.

“Eurodollar Loan” means any Loan that bears interest at a rate based upon clause (a) of the definition of “Eurodollar Base Rate”.

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

Eurodollar Rate  =

Eurodollar Base Rate                                                        1.00 – Eurodollar Reserve Percentage

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

“Event of Default” shall have the meaning as defined in Section 9.1.

“Existing Letters of Credit” means the letters of credit described by letter of credit number, undrawn amount, name of beneficiary and date of expiry on Schedule 1.1(a) attached hereto.

“FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Credit Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with) and any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof.

“Fees” means all fees payable pursuant to Section 3.5.

“Fee Letter” means that certain letter agreement, dated as of September 7, 2011, among the Borrower, Bank of America and the Arranger.

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

“Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, with respect to the Consolidated Parties on a consolidated basis, as of the end of each fiscal quarter of the Consolidated Parties for the twelve month period ending on such date, the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDAR for the applicable period to (b) the sum of (i) the cash portion of Consolidated Interest Expense for the applicable period plus (ii) Consolidated Rental Expense for the applicable period.

“Foreign Lender” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.11(d).

“Foreign Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any Subsidiary of such Person which is not a Domestic Subsidiary of such Person.

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

“Fronting Exposure” means, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender, (a) with respect to the Issuing Lender, such Defaulting Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the outstanding LOC Obligations other than LOC Obligations as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof, and (b) with respect to the Swingline Lender, such Defaulting Lender’s Applicable Percentage of Swingline Loans other than Swingline Loans as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof.

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

“Funded Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, without duplication, (a) all Indebtedness of such Person other than (i) Indebtedness of the types referred to in clause (e), (f), (g), (i), and (l) of the definition of “Indebtedness” set forth in this Section 1.1 and (ii) Permitted Government Revenue Bond Indebtedness to the extent the Borrower or a Subsidiary is the holder of the related bonds, (b) all Indebtedness of another Person of the type referred to in clause (a) above secured by (or for which the holder of such Funded Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on, or payable out of the proceeds of production from, Property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the obligations secured thereby have been assumed, (c) all Guaranty Obligations of such Person with respect to Indebtedness of the type referred to in clause (a) above of another Person and (d) Indebtedness of the type referred to in clause (a) above of any partnership or unincorporated joint venture in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer.

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis and subject to the terms of Section 1.3.

“Governmental Authority” means any Federal, state, local or foreign court or governmental agency, authority, instrumentality or regulatory body.

“Guarantors” means (a) each of the Persons identified as a “Guarantor” on the signature pages hereto, (b) each Subsidiary which may hereafter execute a Joinder Agreement and (c) the successors and permitted assigns of the foregoing, and “Guarantor” means any one of them.

“Guaranty Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, without duplication, any obligations of such Person (other than endorsements in the ordinary course of business of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection) guaranteeing or intended to guarantee any Indebtedness of any other Person in any manner, whether direct or indirect, and including without limitation any obligation, whether or not contingent, (a) to purchase any such Indebtedness or any Property constituting security therefor, (b) to advance or provide funds or other support for the payment or purchase of any such Indebtedness or to maintain working capital, solvency or other balance sheet condition of such other Person (including without limitation keep well agreements, maintenance agreements, comfort letters or similar agreements or arrangements) for the benefit of any holder of Indebtedness of such other Person, (c) to lease or purchase Property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the holder of such Indebtedness, or (d) to otherwise assure or hold harmless the holder of such Indebtedness against loss in respect thereof.  The amount of any Guaranty Obligation hereunder shall (subject to any limitations set forth therein) be deemed to be an amount equal to the outstanding principal amount (or maximum principal amount, if larger) of the Indebtedness in respect of which such Guaranty Obligation is made.

“Hedging Agreements” means any interest rate protection agreement or foreign currency exchange agreement.

“Immaterial Subsidiary” means, as of any date of determination, any Subsidiary of the Borrower that has been designated in writing by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent as an “Immaterial Subsidiary” that (a) does not have assets with a book value in excess of ten percent (10%) of the then current book value of all of the assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and (b) together with any other Subsidiaries of the Borrower that are Immaterial Subsidiaries hereunder, does not have assets with a book value in excess of twenty percent (20%) of the then current book value of all of the assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, or upon which interest payments are customarily made, (c) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to Property purchased by such Person (other than customary reservations or retentions of title under agreements with suppliers entered into in the ordinary course of business), (d) all obligations of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of Property or services purchased by such Person (other than trade debt incurred in the ordinary course of business and due within six months of the incurrence thereof) which would appear as liabilities on a balance sheet of such Person, (e) all obligations of such Person under take-or-pay or similar arrangements or under commodities agreements, (f) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on, or payable out of the proceeds of production from, Property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the obligations secured thereby have been assumed, (g) all Guaranty Obligations of such Person, (h) the principal portion of all obligations of such Person under Capital Leases, (i) all obligations of such Person under Hedging Agreements, (j) the maximum amount of all standby letters of credit issued or bankers’ acceptances facilities created for the account of such Person and, without duplication, all drafts drawn thereunder (to the extent unreimbursed), (k) the principal portion of all obligations of such Person under Synthetic Leases and (l) the Indebtedness of any partnership or unincorporated joint venture in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer.

“Indemnified Party” has the meaning specified in Section 11.5(b).

“Interest Payment Date” means (a) as to Base Rate Loans, the first day of each calendar month for the immediately preceding calendar month, the date of repayment of principal of such Loan and the Maturity Date, and (b) as to Eurodollar Loans, the last day of each applicable Interest Period, the date of repayment of principal of such Loan and the Maturity Date, and in addition, where the applicable Interest Period for a Eurodollar Loan is greater than three months, then also the date three months from the beginning of the Interest Period and each three months thereafter.

“Interest Period” means, as to each Eurodollar Loan, a period of one, two, three or six months’ duration, as the Borrower may elect, commencing, in each case, on the date of the borrowing (including continuations and conversions thereof) of such Eurodollar Loan; provided, however, (a) if any Interest Period would end on a day which is not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day (except that where the next succeeding Business Day falls in the next succeeding calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day), (b) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date, and (c) any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period.

“Investment” means (a) the acquisition (whether for cash, property, services, assumption of Indebtedness, securities or otherwise) of all or any substantial portion of the assets, Capital Stock, bonds, notes, debentures, partnership, joint ventures or other ownership interests or other securities of any Person or (b) any deposit with, or advance, loan or other extension of credit to, any Person (other than deposits made in connection with the purchase of equipment or other assets in the ordinary course of business) or (c) any other capital contribution to or investment in any Person, including, without limitation, any Guaranty Obligations (including any support for a letter of credit issued on behalf of such Person) incurred for the benefit of such Person.

“Issuing Lender” means Bank of America, or any successor issuer of Letters of Credit and Bankers’ Acceptances hereunder.

“Issuing Lender Fees” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.5(b)(ii).

“Joinder Agreement” means a Joinder Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit 7.12 hereto, executed and delivered in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.12.

“L/C Advance” means, with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s funding of its participation in any L/C Borrowing in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.  All L/C Advances shall be denominated in Dollars.

“L/C Borrowing” means an extension of credit resulting from (a) a drawing under any Letter of Credit (other than an Acceptance Credit) or (ii) a payment of a Bankers’ Acceptance upon presentation, in each case, which has not been reimbursed on the date when made or refinanced by a Revolving Loan advance.  All L/C Borrowings shall be denominated in Dollars.

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

“Lender” means any of the Persons identified as a “Lender” on the signature pages hereto, and any Person which may become a Lender in accordance with the terms hereof, together with their successors and permitted assigns.

“Letter of Credit” means (a) any letter of credit issued by the Issuing Lender for the account of the Borrower in accordance with the terms of Section 2.2 and (b) any Existing Letter of Credit.  A Letter of Credit may be a commercial letter of credit or a standby letter of credit.

“Letter of Credit Application” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance, an application and agreement for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit in the form from time to time in use by the Issuing Lender and, in the case of any Acceptance Credit, shall include the related Acceptance Documents.

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

“Leverage Ratio” means, with respect to the Consolidated Parties on a consolidated basis for the twelve month period ending on the last day of any fiscal quarter, the ratio of (a) the sum of (i) Funded Indebtedness of the Consolidated Parties on the last day of such period plus (ii) Consolidated Rental Expense for such period multiplied by six to (b) Consolidated EBITDAR for such period.

“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, security interest, encumbrance, lien (statutory or otherwise), preference, priority or charge of any kind (including any agreement to give any of the foregoing, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any financing or similar statement or notice filed under the Uniform Commercial Code as adopted and in effect in the relevant jurisdiction or other similar recording or notice statute, and any lease in the nature thereof).

“Loan” or “Loans” means the Revolving Loans and/or any Swingline Loan, individually or collectively, as appropriate.

“LOC Documents” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance, such Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance, any amendments thereto, any documents delivered in connection therewith, any application therefor, and any agreements, instruments, guarantees or other documents (whether general in application or applicable only to such Letter of Credit or such Bankers’ Acceptance) governing or providing for (i) the rights and obligations of the parties concerned or at risk or (ii) any collateral security for such obligations.

“LOC Obligations” means, at any time, the sum of (i) the maximum amount which is, or at any time thereafter may become, available to be drawn under Letters of Credit then outstanding, assuming compliance with all requirements for drawings referred to in such Letters of Credit plus (ii) the maximum aggregate amount which is, or any time thereafter may become payable by the Issuing Lender under all then outstanding Bankers’ Acceptances plus (iii) the aggregate amount of all drawings under Letters of Credit honored by the Issuing Lender but not theretofore reimbursed by the Borrower.

“LOC Sublimit” means TWO HUNDRED FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS ($250,000,000).  The LOC Sublimit is part of the Revolving Committed Amount.

“London Banking Day” means any day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank eurodollar market.

“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, operations, assets, property, financial condition or liabilities of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Borrower and the other Credit Parties taken as a whole to perform any material obligation under the Credit Documents or (c) the material rights and remedies of the Lenders under the Credit Documents.

“Material Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is not an Immaterial Subsidiary.

“Materials of Environmental Concern” means 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 Laws, including, without limitation, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls and urea-formaldehyde insulation.

“Maturity Date” means October 24, 2016.

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., or any successor or assignee of the business of such company in the business of rating securities.

“Multiemployer Plan” means a Plan which is a multiemployer plan as defined in Sections 3(37) or 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

“Multiple Employer Plan” means a Plan which any Consolidated Party or any ERISA Affiliate and at least one employer other than the Consolidated Parties or any ERISA Affiliate are contributing sponsors.

“Non-Consenting Lender” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.19.

“Note” or “Notes” means the Revolving Notes and/or the Swingline Note, individually or collectively, as appropriate.

“Notice of Borrowing” means a written notice of borrowing in substantially the form of Exhibit 2.1(b)(i), as required by Section 2.1(b)(i).

“Notice of Extension/Conversion” means the written notice of extension or conversion in substantially the form of Exhibit 3.2, as required by Section 3.2.

“Operating Lease” means, as applied to any Person, any lease (including, without limitation, leases which may be terminated by the lessee at any time) of any Property (whether real, personal or mixed) which is not a Capital Lease other than any such lease in which that Person is the lessor.

“Other Taxes” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.11.

“Participant” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.3(d).

“Participation Interest” means a purchase by a Lender of a participation in Letters of Credit or LOC Obligations as provided in Section 2.2, in Swingline Loans as provided in Section 2.3, or in any Loans as provided in Section 3.14.

“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation established pursuant to Subtitle A of Title IV of ERISA and any successor thereof.

“Permitted Government Revenue Bond Indebtedness” means a revenue bond or bonds issued by a state or local Governmental Authority, the proceeds of which are used to finance or refinance the acquisition, construction, equipping or improvement of facilities or property used by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, and any lease obligation (including deferred lease obligations) of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries relating thereto; provided, that (a) such revenue bonds are non-recourse to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (unless and to the extent the Borrower or a Subsidiary is the holder of such bonds), and (b) the principal of, interest on or costs relating to such revenue bonds are payable solely from (i) proceeds of such bonds when issued as a means of implementing government tax or economic incentive programs, (ii) all or an incremental portion of sales, use, property and other generally applicable taxes (not including income taxes), whether generated by or levied on such facilities or property or the activities and business conducted thereon or upon property located in a broader area, (iii) reserve funds created with proceeds of bonds described in (i) or with revenues described in (ii) or (iv) if the Borrower or a Subsidiary of the Borrower is the holder of such bonds, payments made by the Borrower or such Subsidiary.

“Permitted Investments” means Investments which are either (i) cash and Cash Equivalents; (ii) accounts receivable created, acquired or made by any Consolidated Party in the ordinary course of business and payable or dischargeable in accordance with customary trade terms; (iii) Investments consisting of Capital Stock, obligations, securities or other property received by any Consolidated Party in settlement of accounts receivable (created in the ordinary course of business) from bankrupt obligors; (iv) investments in any Credit Party; (v)Investments in bonds, notes, loans or other Investments acquired solely as a means of implementing government tax or economic incentive programs relating to property or assets used in, and/or permitted public costs in connection with the business of any Credit Party relating to Permitted Government Revenue Bond Indebtedness to the extent the Borrower or a Subsidiary is the holder thereof; and (vi) investments (including acquisitions) of a nature not contemplated in the foregoing clauses in an amount at any time outstanding not to exceed $250,000,000 in the aggregate during the term of the Credit Agreement (including any goodwill associated herewith); provided, that (i) no Default exists or would result therefrom and (ii) the Credit Parties are in compliance with the financial covenants in Section 7.11 after giving effect to such Investment on a pro forma basis.

“Permitted Liens” means:

(i)           Liens (other than Liens created or imposed under ERISA) for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or levies not yet due or Liens for taxes being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings for which adequate reserves determined in accordance with GAAP have been established (and as to which the Property subject to any such Lien is not yet subject to foreclosure, sale or loss on account thereof);

(ii)           statutory Liens of landlords and Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen and suppliers and other Liens imposed by law or pursuant to customary reservations or retentions of title arising in the ordinary course of business, provided that such Liens secure only amounts not yet due and payable or, if due and payable, are unfiled and no other action has been taken to enforce the same or are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings for which adequate reserves determined in accordance with GAAP have been established (and as to which the Property subject to any such Lien is not yet subject to foreclosure, sale or loss on account thereof);

(iii)           Liens (other than Liens created or imposed under ERISA) incurred or deposits made by any Consolidated Party in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security, or to secure the performance of tenders, statutory obligations, bids, leases, government contracts, performance and return-of-money bonds and other similar obligations (exclusive of obligations for the payment of borrowed money);

(iv)           Liens in connection with attachments or judgments (including judgment or appeal bonds) provided that the judgments secured shall, within 30 days after the entry thereof, have been discharged or execution thereof stayed pending appeal, or shall have been discharged within 30 days after the expiration of any such stay;

(v)           easements, rights-of-way, restrictions (including zoning restrictions), minor defects or irregularities in title and other similar charges or encumbrances not, in any material respect, impairing the use of the encumbered Property for its intended purposes;

(vi)           Liens on Property securing purchase money Indebtedness (including Capital Leases) hereafter incurred to finance the purchase of fixed assets provided that (a) the total of all such Indebtedness of the Consolidated Parties secured by such Liens shall not exceed an aggregate principal amount of $50,000,000 at any one time outstanding and (b) any such Lien attaches to such Property concurrently with or within 90 days after the acquisition thereof;

(vii)           leases or subleases granted to others not interfering in any material respect with the business of any Consolidated Party;

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

(ix)           normal and customary rights of setoff or other liens upon deposits of cash in favor of banks or other depository institutions or credit or debit card or check processors or other similar processors, in each case, in connection with the provision of such services;

(x)           Liens of a collecting bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code on items in the course of collection;

(xi)           Liens in connection with Sale and Leaseback Transactions permitted by Section 8.13;

(xii)           Liens in favor of customers and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods;

(xiii)           Liens on assets of any Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided (A) that such Liens are not created in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary and (B) such Liens are of the type described in clause (vi) above;

(xiv)           Liens on inventory held by any Consolidated Party under consignment or scan back arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(xv)           Liens on any inventory of any Consolidated Party in favor of a vendor of such inventory, arising in the normal course of business upon its sale to such Consolidated Party;

(xvi)           Liens, if any, in favor of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender to Cash Collateralize or otherwise secure the obligations of a Defaulting Lender to fund Participation Interests hereunder;

(xvii)           Liens existing as of the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 1.1(b); provided that no such Lien shall at any time be extended to or cover any Property other than the Property subject thereto on the Closing Date;

(xviii)           Liens related to Permitted Government Revenue Bond Indebtedness; provided, that the Borrower or a Subsidiary of the Borrower is the holder of such Permitted Government Revenue Bond Indebtedness; and

(xix)           other Liens not described above, provided that the aggregate principal amount of obligations secured by such Liens plus the aggregate principal amount of unsecured Indebtedness of Subsidiaries of the Borrower outstanding pursuant to Section 8.1(f) does not exceed 10% of Consolidated Tangible Assets.

“Person” means any individual, partnership, joint venture, firm, corporation, limited liability company, business trust, association, trust or other enterprise (whether or not incorporated) or any Governmental Authority.

“Plan” means any employee benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) which is covered by ERISA and with respect to which any Consolidated Party or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated at such time, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” within the meaning of Section 3(5) of ERISA.

“Platform” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.1.

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

“Public Lender” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.1.

“Register” shall have the meaning given such term in Section 11.3(c).

“Regulation T, U, or X” means Regulation T, U or X, respectively, of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as from time to time in effect and any successor to all or a portion thereof.

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

“Release” means any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping or disposing into the environment (including the abandonment or discarding of barrels, containers and other closed receptacles) of any Materials of Environmental Concern.

“Reportable Event” means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than those events as to which the notice requirement has been waived by regulation.

“Required Lenders” means, at any time, (a) if there are two or fewer Lenders, all Lenders and (b) if there are three or more Lenders, at least three Lenders holding in the aggregate more than 50% of (i) the unfunded Revolving Commitments and the outstanding Revolving Loans, LOC Obligations and Participations Interests or (ii) if the Revolving Commitments have been terminated, the outstanding Loans, LOC Obligations and Participations Interests.  The unfunded Revolving Commitments of, and the outstanding Loans, LOC Obligations and Participations Interests held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.

“Requirement of Law” means, 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 to which any of its material property is subject.

“Responsible Officer” means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, treasurer or assistant treasurer of a Credit Party, solely for purposes of the delivery of incumbency certificates pursuant to Section 5.01, the secretary or any assistant secretary of a Credit Party.  Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Credit Party shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the party of such Credit Party and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Credit Party.

“Restricted Payment” means (i) any dividend or other payment or distribution, direct or indirect, on account of any shares of any class of Capital Stock of any Consolidated Party, now or hereafter outstanding (including without limitation any payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving any Consolidated Party), or to the direct or indirect holders of any shares of any class of Capital Stock of any Consolidated Party, now or hereafter outstanding, in their capacity as such (other than dividends or distributions payable in the same class of Capital Stock of the applicable Person or to any Credit Party (directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries), (ii) any redemption, retirement, sinking fund or similar payment, purchase or other acquisition for value, direct or indirect, of any shares of any class of Capital Stock of any Consolidated Party, now or hereafter outstanding and (iii) any payment made to retire, or to obtain the surrender of, any outstanding warrants, options or other rights to acquire shares of any class of Capital Stock of any Consolidated Party, now or hereafter outstanding.

“Revaluation Date” means with respect to any Letter of Credit, each of the following:  (a) each date of issuance of a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, (b) each date of an amendment of any such Letter of Credit having the effect of increasing the amount thereof (solely with respect to the increased amount), (c) each date of any payment by the Issuing Lender under any Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency and (d) such additional dates as the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Lender shall determine or the Required Lenders shall require.

“Revolving Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed the Dollar amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.1(a) or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto or in any documentation executed by such Lender pursuant to Section 3.4, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Credit Agreement, (i) to make Revolving Loans in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.1(a), (ii) to purchase Participation Interests in Letters of Credit in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.2(c) and (iii) to purchase Participation Interests in Swingline Loans in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.3(c).

“Revolving Committed Amount” means TWO HUNDRED FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS ($250,000,000) as such amount may be increased or reduced pursuant to Section 3.4.

“Revolving Loans” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.1(a).

“Revolving Note” or “Revolving Notes” means the promissory notes of the Borrower in favor of each of the Lenders evidencing the Revolving Loans provided pursuant to Section 2.1(e), individually or collectively, as appropriate, as such promissory notes may be amended, modified, restated, supplemented, extended, renewed or replaced from time to time.

“Revolving Obligations” means, collectively, the Revolving Loans, the Swingline Loans and the LOC Obligations.

“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, a subsidiary of McGraw Hill, Inc., or any successor or assignee of the business of such division in the business of rating securities.

“Sale and Leaseback Transaction” means any arrangement pursuant to which any Consolidated Party, directly or indirectly, becomes liable as lessee, guarantor or other surety with respect to any lease, whether an Operating Lease or a Capital Lease, of any Property (whether real, personal or mixed), whether now owned or hereafter acquired (a) which such Consolidated Party has sold or transferred (or is to sell or transfer) to a Person which is not a Consolidated Party or (b) which such Consolidated Party intends to use for substantially the same purpose as any other Property which has been sold or transferred (or is to be sold or transferred) by such Consolidated Party to another Person which is not a Consolidated Party in connection with such lease.

 “Single Employer Plan” means any Plan which is covered by Title IV of ERISA, but which is not a Multiemployer Plan or a Multiple Employer Plan.

“Solvent” or “Solvency” means, with respect to any Person as of a particular date, that on such date (i) such Person is able to realize upon its assets and pay its debts and other liabilities, contingent obligations and other commitments as they mature in the normal course of business, (ii) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Person’s ability to pay as such debts and liabilities mature in their ordinary course, (iii) such Person is not engaged in a business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in a business or a transaction, for which such Person’s Property would constitute unreasonably small capital after giving due consideration to the prevailing practice in the industry in which such Person is engaged or is to engage, (iv) the fair value of the Property of such Person is greater than the total amount of liabilities, including, without limitation, contingent liabilities, of such Person and (v) the present fair salable value of the assets of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts as they become absolute and matured.  In computing the amount of contingent liabilities at any time, it is intended that such liabilities will be computed at the amount which, in light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

“Spot Rate” for a currency means the rate determined by the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Lender, as applicable, to be the rate quoted by the Person acting in such capacity as the spot rate for the purchase by such Person of such currency with another currency through its principal foreign exchange trading office at approximately 11:00 a.m. on the date two Business Days prior to the date as of which the foreign exchange computation is made; provided that the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Lender may obtain such spot rate from another financial institution designated by the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Lender if the Person acting in such capacity does not have as of the date of determination a spot buying rate for any such currency; and provided further that the Issuing Lender may use such spot rate quoted on the date as of which the foreign exchange computation is made in the case of any Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency.

“Standby Letter of Credit Fee” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.5(b)(i).

“Subsidiary” means, as to any Person at any time, (a) any corporation more than 50% of whose Capital Stock of any class or classes having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether or not at such time, any class or classes of such corporation shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at such time owned by such Person directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries, and (b) any partnership, association, joint venture or other entity of which such Person directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries owns at such time more than 50% of the Capital Stock.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) Del’s Farm Supply Canada Co., a Nova Scotia corporation, shall not constitute a Subsidiary of the Borrower for purposes of the Credit Documents so long as its assets are less than $1,500,000 and its annual net income is less than $150,000 and (ii) Tractor Supply GC Trust, a Maryland business trust, shall not constitute a Subsidiary of the Borrower for purposes of the Credit Documents so long as it engages in no material business other than the administration of the Borrower’s retail gift card program.

“Swingline Lender” means Bank of America, together with any successors or assigns.

“Swingline Loan Request” means a request by the Borrower for a Swingline Loan in substantially the form of Exhibit 2.3(b).

“Swingline Loans” means the loans made by the Swingline Lender pursuant to Section 2.3.

“Swingline Note” means the promissory note of the Borrower in favor of the Swingline Lender evidencing the Swingline Loans provided pursuant to Section 2.3, as such promissory note may be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed or replaced from time to time.

“Swingline Sublimit” means TWENTY MILLION DOLLARS ($20,000,000).  The Swingline Sublimit is part of the Revolving Committed Amount.

“Synthetic Lease” means any synthetic lease, tax retention operating lease, off-balance sheet loan or similar off-balance sheet financing product where such transaction is considered borrowed money indebtedness for tax purposes but is classified as an Operating Lease.

“Taxes” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.11.

“Trade Letter of Credit Fee” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.5(b)(ii).

“Unreimbursed Amount” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.2(c)(i).

“Unused Fee” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.5(a).

“Unused Fee Calculation Period” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.5(a).

“Unused Revolving Committed Amount” means, for any period, the amount by which (a) the then applicable Revolving Committed Amount exceeds (b) the daily average sum for such period of (i) the outstanding aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Loans plus (ii) the outstanding aggregate principal amount of all LOC Obligations.

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

“Wholly Owned Subsidiary” of any Person means any Subsidiary 100% of whose Voting Stock or other equity interest is at the time owned by such Person directly or indirectly through other Wholly Owned Subsidiaries.

1.2           Computation of Time Periods.

For purposes of computation of periods of time hereunder, the word “from” means “from and including” and the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding.”

1.3           Accounting Terms.

Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, and all financial statements and certificates and reports as to financial matters required to be delivered to the Lenders hereunder shall be prepared, in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis.  All calculations made for the purposes of determining compliance with this Credit Agreement shall (except as otherwise expressly provided herein) be made by application of GAAP applied on a basis consistent with the most recent annual or quarterly financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 7.1 (or, prior to the delivery of the first financial statements pursuant to Section 7.1, consistent with the financial statements as at December 26, 2010); provided, however, if (a) the Credit Parties shall object to determining such compliance on such basis at the time of delivery of such financial statements due to any change in GAAP or the rules promulgated with respect thereto or (b) the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders shall so object in writing within 60 days after delivery of such financial statements, then the Required Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP.  For purposes of this Credit Agreement (other than with respect to the financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 7.1(a) and (b)) and without the need for any future amendment thereto, GAAP will be deemed to treat operating leases (existing and future) in a manner consistent with their current treatment under generally accepted accounting principles as in effect on the Closing Date, notwithstanding any modifications or interpretive changes thereto that may occur thereafter.

1.4           Letter of Credit Amounts.

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

1.5           Exchange Rates; Currency Equivalents.

(a)           The Administrative Agent or the Issuing Lender, as applicable, shall determine the Spot Rates as of each Revaluation Date to be used for calculating Dollar Equivalent amounts of Letters of Credit and outstanding amounts of all Letters of Credit denominated in Alternative Currencies.  Such Spot Rates shall become effective as of such Revaluation Date and shall be the Spot Rates employed in converting any amounts between the applicable currencies until the next Revaluation Date to occur.  Except for purposes of financial statements delivered by the Consolidated Parties hereunder or calculating financial covenants hereunder or except as otherwise provided herein, the applicable amount of any currency (other than Dollars) for purposes of the Credit Documents shall be such Dollar Equivalent amount as so determined by the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Lender, as applicable.

(b)           Wherever in this Credit Agreement in connection with the issuance, amendment or extension of a Letter of Credit, an amount, such as a required minimum or multiple amount, is expressed in Dollars, but such Letter of Credit is denominated in an Alternative Currency, such amount shall be the relevant Alternative Currency Equivalent of such Dollar amount (rounded to the nearest unit of such Alternative Currency, with 0.5 of a unit being rounded upward), as determined by the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Lender, as the case may be.

1.6           Alternative Currencies.

The Borrower may from time to time request that the Issuing Lender issue a Letter of Credit in a currency other than Dollars; provided that such requested currency is a lawful currency that is readily available and freely transferable and convertible into Dollars.  In the case of any such request, such request shall be subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Lender.

1.7           Change of Currency.

(a)           Each obligation of the Borrower to make a payment denominated in the national currency unit of any member state of the European Union that adopts the Euro as its lawful currency after the date hereof shall be redenominated into Euro at the time of such adoption (in accordance with the EMU Legislation).  If, in relation to the currency of any such member state, the basis of accrual of interest expressed in this Credit Agreement in respect of that currency shall be inconsistent with any convention or practice in the London interbank market for the basis of accrual of interest in respect of the Euro, such expressed basis shall be replaced by such convention or practice with effect from the date on which such member state adopts the Euro as its lawful currency.

(b)           Each provision of this Credit Agreement shall be subject to such reasonable changes of construction as the Administrative Agent may from time to time specify in a written notice to the Borrower to be appropriate to reflect the adoption of the Euro by any member state of the European Union and any relevant market conventions or practices relating to the Euro.

(c)           Each provision of this Credit Agreement also shall be subject to such reasonable changes of construction as the Administrative Agent may from time to time specify in a written notice to the Borrower to be appropriate to reflect a change in currency of any other country and any relevant market conventions or practices relating to the change in currency.

2.1           Revolving Loans.

(a)           Revolving Commitment.  Subject to the terms and conditions hereof and in reliance upon the representations and warranties set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make available to the Borrower such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of revolving credit loans requested by the Borrower in Dollars (“Revolving Loans”) from time to time from the Closing Date until the Maturity Date, or such earlier date as the Revolving Commitments shall have been terminated as provided herein; provided, however, that (i) with regard to the Lenders collectively, the amount of the Revolving Obligations outstanding shall not exceed the Revolving Committed Amount; provided, further, (ii) with regard to each Lender individually, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the sum of the Revolving Loans plus LOC Obligations outstanding plus Swingline Loans outstanding shall not exceed such Lender’s Revolving Commitment.  Revolving Loans may consist of Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Loans, or a combination thereof, as the Borrower may request; provided, however, that no more than ten Eurodollar Loans shall be outstanding hereunder at any time (it being understood that, for purposes hereof, Eurodollar Loans with different Interest Periods shall be considered as separate Eurodollar Loans, even if they begin on the same date, although borrowings, extensions and conversions may, in accordance with the provisions hereof, be combined at the end of existing Interest Periods to constitute a new Eurodollar Loan with a single Interest Period).  Revolving Loans hereunder may be repaid and reborrowed in accordance with the provisions hereof.

(b)           Revolving Loan Borrowings.

(i)           Notice of Borrowing.  The Borrower shall request a Revolving Loan borrowing by written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) to the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 Noon (Charlotte, North Carolina time) on the Business Day of the requested borrowing in the case of Base Rate Loans, and on the second Business Day prior to the date of the requested borrowing in the case of Eurodollar Loans.  Each such request for borrowing shall be irrevocable and shall specify (A) that a Revolving Loan is requested, (B) the date of the requested borrowing (which shall be a Business Day), (C) the aggregate principal amount to be borrowed, and (D) whether the borrowing shall be comprised of Base Rate Loans, Eurodollar Loans or a combination thereof, and if Eurodollar Loans are requested, the Interest Period(s) therefor.  If the Borrower shall fail to specify in any such Notice of Borrowing (I) an applicable Interest Period in the case of a Eurodollar Loan, then such notice shall be deemed to be a request for an Interest Period of one month, or (II) the type of Revolving Loan requested, then such notice shall be deemed to be a request for a Base Rate Loan hereunder.  The Administrative Agent shall give notice to each affected Lender promptly upon receipt of each Notice of Borrowing pursuant to this Section 2.1(b)(i), the contents thereof and each such Lender’s share of any borrowing to be made pursuant thereto.

(ii)           Minimum Amounts.  Each Base Rate Loan that is a Revolving Loan shall be in a minimum aggregate principal amount of $100,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof (or the remaining amount of the Revolving Committed Amount, if less), and each Eurodollar Loan that is a Revolving Loan shall be in a minimum aggregate principal amount of $2,500,000 and integral multiples of $50,000 in excess thereof (or the remaining amount of the Revolving Committed Amount, if less).

(iii)           Advances.  Each Lender will make its Applicable Percentage of each Revolving Loan borrowing available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Borrower as specified in Section 3.15, or in such other manner as the Administrative Agent may specify in writing, by 1:00 p.m. (Charlotte, North Carolina time) on the date specified in the applicable Notice of Borrowing in Dollars and in funds immediately available to the Administrative Agent.  Such borrowing will then be made available to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent by 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 Lenders and in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent.

(c)           Repayment.  The principal amount of all Revolving Loans shall be due and payable in full on the Maturity Date, unless accelerated sooner pursuant to Section 9.2.

(d)           Interest.  Subject to the provisions of Section 3.1,

(i)           Base Rate Loans.  During such periods as Revolving Loans shall be comprised in whole or in part of Base Rate Loans, such Base Rate Loans shall bear interest at a per annum rate equal to the Adjusted Base Rate.

(ii)           Eurodollar Loans.  During such periods as Revolving Loans shall be comprised in whole or in part of Eurodollar Loans, such Eurodollar Loans shall bear interest at a per annum rate equal to the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate.

Interest on Revolving Loans shall be payable in arrears on each applicable Interest Payment Date (or at such other times as may be specified herein).

(e)           Revolving Notes.  If requested by a Lender, the Revolving Loans made by such Lender shall be evidenced by a duly executed promissory note of the Borrower to such Lender in an original principal amount equal to such Lender’s Revolving Commitment and in substantially the form of Exhibit 2.1(e).

2.2           Letter of Credit Subfacility.

(a)           The Letter of Credit Commitment.

(i)           Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (A) the Issuing Lender agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the other Lenders set forth in this Section 2.2, (1) from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date until the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, to issue Letters of Credit denominated in Dollars or in one or more Alternative Currencies for the account of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, and to amend or extend Letters of Credit previously issued by it, in accordance with subsection (b) below, (2) to honor drawings under the Letters of Credit and (3) with respect to Acceptance Credits, to create Bankers’ Acceptances in accordance with the terms thereof and hereof; and (B) the Lenders severally agree to participate in Letters of Credit and Bankers’ Acceptances issued for the account of the Borrower and any Subsidiary and any drawings thereunder; provided that the Issuing Lender shall not be obligated to make any L/C Credit Extension with respect to any Letter of Credit, and no Lender shall be obligated to participate in any Letter of Credit if as of the date of such L/C Credit Extension, (x) the sum of the Revolving Loans outstanding plus LOC Obligations outstanding plus Swingline Loans outstanding would exceed the Revolving Committed Amount, (y) with regard to any Lender individually, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the sum of the Revolving Loans outstanding plus LOC Obligations outstanding plus Swingline Loans outstanding would exceed such Lender’s Revolving Commitment or (z) the amount of LOC Obligations outstanding would exceed the LOC Sublimit; provided, further, that all Acceptance Credits issued and Bankers' Acceptances created shall be denominated in Dollars.  Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower’s ability to obtain Letters of Credit and Bankers’ Acceptances shall be fully revolving, and accordingly the Borrower may, during the foregoing period, obtain Letters of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptances, as applicable, to replace Letters of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptances that have expired or that have been drawn upon and reimbursed.  All Existing Letters of Credit shall be deemed to have been issued pursuant hereto, and from and after the Closing Date shall be subject to and governed by the terms and conditions hereof.

(ii)           The Issuing Lender shall not issue any Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance, as applicable, if:

(A)           subject to Section 2.2(b)(iii), the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur more than eighteen months after the date of issuance, unless the Required Lenders have approved such expiry date; or

(B)           the maturity date of any Bankers' Acceptance issued under any such requested Acceptance Credit would occur more than 180 days from the date of creation of such Bankers’ Acceptance and in any event not later than 60 days before the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, unless the Required Lenders have approved such expiry date;

(C)           the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit or the maturity date of any Bankers’ Acceptance issued under such requested Letter of Credit would occur after the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, unless all the Lenders have approved such expiry date; or

(D)           as to Acceptance Credits, the Bankers' Acceptance created or to be created thereunder shall not be an eligible bankers' acceptance under Section 13 of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. § 372).

(iii)           The Issuing Lender shall be under no obligation to issue any Letter of Credit, or Bankers’ Acceptance, as applicable, if:

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

(B)           the issuance of such Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance would violate one or more generally applicable policies of the Issuing Lender;

(C)           such Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance contains any provisions for automatic reinstatement of the stated amount after any drawing thereunder; or

(D)           any Lender is at that time a Defaulting Lender, unless (i) the Issuing Lender has entered into arrangements, including the delivery of Cash Collateral, reasonably satisfactory to the Issuing Lender (in its sole discretion) with such Lender, or (ii) the Borrower has delivered Cash Collateral or entered into another arrangement with the Issuing Lender that is reasonably satisfactory to the Issuing Lender (in its sole discretion), to eliminate the Issuing Lender’s actual or potential (with respect to such requested Letter of Credit or Bankers' Acceptance) Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section 3.18(a)(iv)) with respect to the Defaulting Lender arising from either the Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance then proposed to be issued or that Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance and all other LOC Obligations as to which the Issuing Lender has actual Fronting Exposure, as it may elect in its sole discretion.

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

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

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

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

(i)           Each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be, upon the request of the Borrower delivered to the Issuing Lender (whether paper or electronic) (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) in the form of a Letter of Credit Application, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower or approved electronically by a user designated by a Responsible Officer.  Such Letter of Credit Application must be received by the Issuing Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. at least two Business Days (or such later date and time as the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Lender may agree in a particular instance in their sole discretion) prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be.  In the case of a request for an initial issuance of a Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application (whether paper or electronic) shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the Issuing Lender: (A) the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (B) the amount and currency thereof; (C) the expiry date thereof; (D) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof; (E) the documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing or presentation thereunder; (F) the full text of any certificate to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing or presentation thereunder; (G) the purpose and nature of the requested Letter of Credit; and (H) such other matters as the Issuing Lender may reasonably require.  In the case of a request for an amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the Issuing Lender (A) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (B) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (C) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (D) such other matters as the Issuing Lender may require.  Additionally, the Borrower shall furnish to the Issuing Lender and the Administrative Agent such other documents and information pertaining to such requested Letter of Credit issuance or amendment, including any LOC Documents, as the Issuing Lender or the Agent may reasonably require.

(ii)           Promptly after receipt of any Letter of Credit Application, the Issuing Lender will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has received a copy of such Letter of Credit Application from the Borrower and, if not, the Issuing Lender will provide the Administrative Agent with a copy thereof.  Unless the Issuing Lender has received written notice from any Lender, the Administrative Agent or any Credit Party at least one Business Day prior to the requested date of issuance or amendment of the applicable Letter of Credit, that one or more applicable conditions contained in Article V shall not be satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Issuing Lender shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the Borrower or the applicable Subsidiary or enter into the applicable amendment, as the case may be, in each case in accordance with the Issuing Lender’s usual and customary business practices.  Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit, each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the Issuing Lender a Participation Interest in such Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the product of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage time the amount of such Letter of Credit.  Immediately upon the creation of each Bankers' Acceptance, each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the Issuing Lender a Participation Interest in such Bankers' Acceptance in an amount equal to the product of such Lender's Applicable Percentage times the amount of such Bankers' Acceptance.

(iii)           If the Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the Issuing Lender may, in its sole discretion, agree to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic extension provisions (each, an “Auto-Extension Letter of Credit”); provided that any such Auto-Extension Letter of Credit must permit the Issuing Lender to prevent any such extension at least once in each twelve-month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a day (the “Non-Extension Notice Date”) in each such twelve-month period to be agreed upon at the time such Letter of Credit is issued.  Unless otherwise directed by the Issuing Lender, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to the Issuing Lender for any such extension.  Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has been issued, the Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the Issuing Lender to permit the extension of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the Letter of Credit Expiration Date; provided, however, that the Issuing Lender shall not permit any such extension if (A) the Issuing Lender has determined that it would not be permitted, or would have no obligation, at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its revised form (as extended) under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of clause (ii) or (iii) of Section 2.2(a) or otherwise), or (B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is seven Business Days before the Non-Extension Notice Date (1) from the Administrative Agent that the Required Lenders have elected not to permit such extension or (2) from the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 5.2 is not then satisfied, and in each case directing the Issuing Lender not to permit such extension.

(iv)           Promptly after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter of Credit to an advising bank with respect thereto or to the beneficiary thereof, the Issuing Lender will also deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.

(c)           Drawings and Reimbursements; Funding of Participations.

(i)           Upon receipt from the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of any notice of a drawing or, with respect to any Acceptance Credit, presentation of documents, under such Letter of Credit, or any presentation for payment of a Bankers’ Acceptance the Issuing Lender shall notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent thereof.  In the case of a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, the Borrower shall reimburse the Issuing Lender in such Alternative Currency, unless (A) the Issuing Lender (at its option) shall have specified in such notice that it will require reimbursement in Dollars, or (B) in the absence of any such requirement for reimbursement in Dollars, the Borrower shall have notified the Issuing Lender promptly following receipt of the notice of such drawing for payment that the Borrower will reimburse the Issuing Lender in Dollars.  In the case of any such reimbursement in Dollars of a drawing under a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, the Issuing Lender shall notify the Borrower of the Dollar Equivalent of the amount of the drawing promptly following the determination thereof.  Not later than 11:00 a.m. on the date of any payment by the Issuing Lender under a Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance, as applicable, (each such date, an “Honor Date”), the Borrower shall reimburse the Issuing Lender through the Administrative Agent in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing or Bankers’ Acceptance, as applicable and in the applicable currency; provided, that the Borrower has received notice of such payment by 10:00 a.m. on such Honor Date, otherwise the Borrower shall make such payment not later than 11:00 a.m. on the following Business Day (together with interest thereon).   If the Borrower fails to so reimburse the Issuing Lender by such time, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the Honor Date, the amount of the unreimbursed drawing under such Letter of Credit or payment under such Bankers’ Acceptance (expressed in Dollars in the amount of the Dollar Equivalent thereof in the case of a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency) (the “Unreimbursed Amount”), and the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage.  In such event, the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Revolving Loan advance comprised of Base Rate Loans to be disbursed on the Honor Date in an amount equal to the Unreimbursed Amount, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified in Section 2.1 for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the Revolving Committed Amount and the conditions set forth in Section 5.2 (other than the delivery of a Notice of Borrowing).  Any notice given by the Issuing Lender or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.2(c)(i) may be given by telephone if immediately confirmed in writing; provided that the lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice.

(ii)           Each Lender (including the Lender acting as Issuing Lender) shall upon any notice pursuant to Section 2.2(c)(i) make funds available (and the Administrative Agent may apply Cash Collateral provided for this purpose) for the account of the Issuing Lender at the Administrative Agent’s office in an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the Dollar Equivalent of the Unreimbursed Amount not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in such notice by the Administrative Agent, whereupon, subject to the provisions of Section 2.2(c)(iii), each Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Loan to the Borrower in such amount.  The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the Issuing Lender.

(iii)           With respect to any Unreimbursed Amount that is not fully refinanced by a Revolving Loan advance because the conditions set forth in Section 5.2 cannot be satisfied or for any other reason, the Borrower shall be deemed to have incurred from the Issuing Lender an L/C Borrowing in the amount of the Unreimbursed Amount that is not so refinanced, which L/C Borrowing shall be due and payable on demand (together with interest) and shall bear interest at the Default Rate.  In such event, each Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender pursuant to Section 2.2(c)(ii) shall be deemed payment in respect of its participation in such L/C Borrowing and shall constitute an L/C Advance from such Lender in satisfaction of its participation obligation under this Section 2.2.

(iv)           Until each Lender funds its Revolving Loan or L/C Advance pursuant to this Section 2.2(c) to reimburse the Issuing Lender for any amount drawn under any Letter of Credit or payments made on any Bankers’ Acceptance, interest in respect of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such amount shall be solely for the account of the Issuing Lender.

(v)           Each Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Loans or L/C Advances to reimburse the Issuing Lender for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit and payments made on Bankers’ Acceptances, as contemplated by this Section 2.2(c), shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the Issuing Lender, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever; (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default or Event of Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided, however, that each Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Loans pursuant to this Section 2.2(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 5.2 (other than delivery by the Borrower of a Notice of Borrowing).  No such making of an L/C Advance shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the Issuing Lender for the amount of any payment made by the Issuing Lender under any Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance, together with interest as provided herein.

(vi)           If any Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.2(c) by the time specified in Section 2.2(c)(ii), then, without limiting the other provisions of this Credit Agreement, the Issuing Lender shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the Issuing Lender at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Issuing Lender in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Issuing Lender in connection with the foregoing.  If such Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Revolving Loan included in the relevant borrowing or L/C Advance in respect of the relevant L/C Borrowing, as the case may be.  A certificate of the Issuing Lender submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (vi) shall be presumed correct absent manifest error.

(d)           Repayment of Participations.

(i)           At any time after the Issuing Lender has made a payment under any Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance and has received from any Lender such Lender’s L/C Advance in respect of such payment in accordance with Section 2.2(c), if the Administrative Agent receives for the account of the Issuing Lender any payment in respect of the related Unreimbursed Amount or interest thereon (whether directly from the Borrower or otherwise, including proceeds of Cash Collateral applied thereto by the Administrative Agent), the Administrative Agent will distribute to such Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof in the same funds as those received by the Administrative Agent.

(ii)           If any payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender pursuant to Section 2.2(c)(i) is required to be returned under any of the circumstances described in Section 3.14 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Issuing Lender in its discretion), each Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned by such Lender, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect.  The obligations of the Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the Credit Party Obligations and the termination of this Credit Agreement.

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

(i)           any lack of validity or enforceability of such Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance, this Credit Agreement, or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto;

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

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

(iv)           any payment made by the Issuing Lender under such Letter of Credit to any Person purporting to be a trustee in bankruptcy, debtor-in-possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver or other representative of or successor to any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit, including any arising in connection with any proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code or any other debtor relief laws;

(v)           any adverse change in the relevant exchange rates or in the availability of the relevant Alternative Currency to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or in the relative currency markets generally; or

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

provided, that nothing in this Section 2.03(e) shall be deemed a waiver of the third and fourth sentences in Section 2.03(f).

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

(f)           Role of Issuing Lender.  Each Lender and the Borrower agree that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit or making any payment under a Bankers’ Acceptance, the Issuing Lender shall not have any responsibility to obtain any document (other than any sight draft, certificates and documents expressly required by such Letter of Credit and the original Bankers’ Acceptance) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such document or the authority of the Person executing or delivering any such document.  None of the Issuing Lender, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of the Issuing Lender shall be liable to any Lender for (i) any action taken or omitted in connection herewith at the request or with the approval of the Lenders or the Required Lenders, as applicable; (ii) any action taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct; or (iii) the due execution, effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any document or instrument related to any Letter of Credit, or Bankers’ Acceptance or LOC Document.  The Borrower hereby assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee with respect to its use of any Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance; provided, however, that this assumption is not intended to, and shall not, preclude the Borrower’s pursuing such rights and remedies as it may have against the beneficiary or transferee at law or under any other agreement.  None of the Issuing Lender, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of the Issuing Lender, shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in clauses (i) through (v) of Section 2.2(e); provided, however, that anything in such clauses to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrower may have a claim against the Issuing Lender, and the Issuing Lender may be liable to the Borrower, to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or exemplary, damages suffered by the Borrower which the Borrower proves were caused by the Issuing Lender’s willful misconduct or gross negligence or the Issuing Lender’s willful failure to pay under any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary of a sight draft and certificate(s) strictly complying with the terms and conditions of a Letter of Credit or to honor any Bankers’ Acceptance presented for payment in strict compliance with its terms and conditions unless the Issuing Lender is prevented or prohibited from so paying as a result of any order or directive from any court or other Governmental Authority.  In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, the Issuing Lender may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, and the Issuing Lender shall not be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument endorsing, transferring or assigning or purporting to endorse or transfer or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason.

(g)           Applicability of ISP and UCP.  Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the Issuing Lender and the Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued (including any such agreement applicable to an Existing Letter of Credit), (i) the rules of the “International Standby Practices 1998” published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance) shall apply to each standby Letter of Credit, and (ii) the rules of the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, as most recently published by the International Chamber of Commerce at the time of issuance shall apply to each commercial Letter of Credit.

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

(i)           Letters of Credit Issued for Subsidiaries.  Notwithstanding that a Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance issued or outstanding hereunder is in support of any obligations of, or is for the account of, a Subsidiary, the Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the Issuing Lender hereunder for any and all drawings under such Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance, as applicable.  The Borrower hereby acknowledges that the issuance of Letters of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptances for the account of Subsidiaries inures to the benefit of the Borrower, and that the Borrower’s business derives substantial benefits from the businesses of such Subsidiaries.

2.3           Swingline Loans Subfacility.

(a)           Swingline Loans.  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the other Credit Documents and in reliance upon the agreements of the other Lenders set forth herein, the Swingline Lender shall make loans, unless (x) any Lender at such time is a Defaulting Lender hereunder and (y) the Swingline Lender has not entered into arrangements satisfactory to it with the Borrower or such Defaulting Lender to eliminate the Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender in which case the Swingline Lender may in its sole discretion make loans, to the Borrower in Dollars at any time and from time to time from the Closing Date to but not including the Maturity Date, or such earlier date as the Revolving Commitments shall have been terminated as provided herein (each such loan, a “Swingline Loan” and collectively, the “Swingline Loans”); provided that (i) the aggregate principal amount of the Swingline Loans outstanding at any one time shall not exceed the Swingline Sublimit and (ii) with regard to the Lenders collectively, the amount of Revolving Obligations outstanding shall not exceed the Revolving Committed Amount.  Prior to the Maturity Date, Swingline Loans may be repaid and reborrowed by the Borrower in accordance with the provisions hereof.

(b)           Method of Borrowing and Funding Swingline Loans.  By no later than 2:30 p.m. (Charlotte, North Carolina time), on the date of the requested borrowing of Swingline Loans, the Borrower shall telephone the Swingline Lender as well as submit a Swingline Loan Request to the Swingline Lender in the form of Exhibit 2.3(b) setting forth (i) the amount of the requested Swingline Loan and (ii) the date of the requested Swingline Loan and complying in all respects with Section 5.2.  The Swingline Lender shall initiate the transfer of funds representing the Swingline Loan advance to the Borrower by 3:00 p.m. on the Business Day of the requested borrowing.  Each Swingline Loan shall be in a minimum amount of $100,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

(c)           Repayment and Participations of Swingline Loans.  The Borrower agrees to repay all Swingline Loans within five Business Days of demand therefor by the Swingline Lender.  Each repayment of a Swingline Loan may be accomplished by requesting Revolving Loans which request is not subject to the conditions set forth in Section 5.2.  In the event that the Borrower shall fail to timely repay any Swingline Loan, and in any event upon (i) a request by the Swingline Lender, (ii) the occurrence of an Event of Default described in Section 9.1(f) or (iii) the acceleration of any Loan or termination of any Commitment pursuant to Section 9.2, each other Lender shall irrevocably and unconditionally purchase (and the Administrative Agent may apply Cash Collateral available with respect to the applicable Swingline Loan) from the Swingline Lender, without recourse or warranty, an undivided interest and participation in such Swingline Loan in an amount equal to such other Lender’s Applicable Percentage thereof, by directly purchasing a participation in such Swingline Loan in such amount (regardless of whether the conditions precedent thereto set forth in Section 5.2 are then satisfied, whether or not the Borrower has submitted a Notice of Borrowing and whether or not the Commitments are then in effect, any Event of Default exists or all the Loans have been accelerated) and paying the proceeds thereof to the Swingline Lender at the address provided in Section 11.1, or at such other address as the Swingline Lender may designate, in Dollars and in immediately available funds.  If such amount is not in fact made available to the Swingline Lender by any Lender, the Swingline Lender shall be entitled to recover such amount on demand from such Lender, together with accrued interest thereon for each day from the date of demand thereof, at the Federal Funds Rate.  If such Lender does not pay such amount forthwith upon the Swingline Lender’s demand therefor, and until such time as such Lender makes the required payment, the Swingline Lender shall be deemed to continue to have outstanding Swingline Loans in the amount of such unpaid participation obligation for all purposes of the Credit Documents other than those provisions requiring the other Lenders to purchase a participation therein.  Further, such Lender shall be deemed to have assigned any and all payments made of principal and interest on its Loans, and any other amounts due to it hereunder to the Swingline Lender to fund Swingline Loans in the amount of the participation in Swingline Loans that such Lender failed to purchase pursuant to this Section 2.3(c) until such amount has been purchased (as a result of such assignment or otherwise).  The principal amount of all Swingline Loans shall be due and payable in full on the Maturity Date, unless accelerated sooner pursuant to Section 9.2 or required to be repaid by the Swingline Lender pursuant to the foregoing terms of this Section  2.3(c).

(d)           Interest.  Subject to the provisions of Section 3.1, each Swingline Loan shall bear interest at a per annum rate equal to the 30-Day Interbank Offered Rate plus the Applicable Rate.

(e)           Swingline Note.  If requested by the Swingline Lender, the Swingline Loans made by the Swingline Lender shall be evidenced by a duly executed promissory note of the Borrower to the Swingline Lender in the face amount of the Swingline Sublimit and in substantially the form of Exhibit 2.3(e).

3.1           Default Rate.

Upon the occurrence, and during the continuance, of an Event of Default, the principal of and, to the extent permitted by law, interest on the Loans and any other amounts owing hereunder or under the other Credit Documents shall bear interest, payable on demand, at a per annum rate 2% greater than the rate which would otherwise be applicable (or if no rate is applicable, whether in respect of interest, fees or other amounts, then the Adjusted Base Rate plus 2%).

3.2           Extension and Conversion.

The Borrower shall have the option, on any Business Day, to extend existing Loans into a subsequent permissible Interest Period or to convert Loans into Loans of another interest rate type; provided, however, that (i) except as provided in Section 3.8, Eurodollar Loans may be converted into Base Rate Loans or extended as Eurodollar Loans for new Interest Periods only on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) without the consent of the Required Lenders, Eurodollar Loans may be extended, and Base Rate Loans may be converted into Eurodollar Loans, only if the conditions precedent set forth in Section 5.2 are satisfied on the date of extension or conversion, (iii) Loans extended as, or converted into, Eurodollar Loans shall be subject to the terms of the definition of “Interest Period” set forth in Section 1.1 and shall be in such minimum amounts as provided in Section 2.1(b)(ii), (iv) no more than ten Eurodollar Loans shall be outstanding hereunder at any time (it being understood that, for purposes hereof, Eurodollar Loans with different Interest Periods shall be considered as separate Eurodollar Loans, even if they begin on the same date, although borrowings, extensions and conversions may, in accordance with the provisions hereof, be combined at the end of existing Interest Periods to constitute a new Eurodollar Loan with a single Interest Period) and (v) any request for extension or conversion of a Eurodollar Loan which shall fail to specify an Interest Period shall be deemed to be a request for an Interest Period of one month.  Each such extension or conversion shall be effected by the Borrower by giving a Notice of Extension/Conversion (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) to the office of the Administrative Agent specified in specified in Schedule 2.1(a), or at such other office as the Administrative Agent may designate in writing, prior to 12:00 Noon (Charlotte, North Carolina time) on the Business Day of, in the case of the conversion of a Eurodollar Loan into a Base Rate Loan, and on the second Business Day prior to, in the case of the extension of a Eurodollar Loan as, or conversion of a Base Rate Loan into, a Eurodollar Loan, the date of the proposed extension or conversion, specifying the date of the proposed extension or conversion, the Loans to be so extended or converted, the types of Loans into which such Loans are to be converted and, if appropriate, the applicable Interest Periods with respect thereto.  Each request for extension or conversion shall be irrevocable and shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower of the matters specified in subsections (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) of Section 5.2.  In the event the Borrower fails to request extension or conversion of any Eurodollar Loan in accordance with this Section, or any such conversion or extension is not permitted or required by this Section, then such Eurodollar Loan shall be automatically converted into a Base Rate Loan at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.  The Administrative Agent shall give each Lender notice as promptly as practicable of any such proposed extension or conversion affecting any Loan.

3.3           Prepayments.

(a)           Voluntary Prepayments.

The Borrower shall have the right to prepay Loans in whole or in part from time to time; provided, however, that each partial prepayment of Loans shall be in a minimum principal amount of $1,000,000 and integral multiples of $100,000.  Subject to the foregoing terms and Section 3.18, amounts prepaid under this Section 3.3(a) shall be applied as the Borrower may elect; provided that if the Borrower fails to specify a voluntary prepayment then such prepayment shall be applied to Revolving Loans, in each case first to Base Rate Loans and then to Eurodollar Loans in direct order of Interest Period maturities.  All prepayments under this Section 3.3(a) shall be subject to Section 3.12, but otherwise without premium or penalty.

(b)           Mandatory Prepayments.

(i)           If at any time the sum of the aggregate amount of the outstanding Revolving Loans plus LOC Obligations outstanding plus Swingline Loans outstanding shall exceed the Revolving Committed Amount, the Borrower shall immediately make payment on the Loans and/or Cash Collateralize the LOC Obligations in an amount sufficient to eliminate such excess.  All amounts required to be paid pursuant to Section 3.3(b) shall be applied as follows: to the Swingline Loans and to the Revolving Loans and (after all Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans have been repaid) to a cash collateral account in respect of LOC Obligations.  Within the parameters of the applications set forth above, prepayments shall be applied first to Base Rate Loans and then to Eurodollar Loans in direct order of Interest Period maturities.

 
 

(ii)           Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, unless the Required Lenders shall elect otherwise, (A) the Commitments shall automatically terminate and (B) the Borrower shall promptly, and in any event, within three Business Days, prepay all accrued fees and all unpaid principal of and any accrued interest in respect of all Loans and Cash Collateralize all LOC Obligations.

All prepayments under this Section 3.3(b) shall be subject to Section 3.12.

3.4           Termination, Reduction or Increase of Revolving Committed Amount.

(a)           Voluntary Reductions.  The Borrower may from time to time permanently reduce or terminate the Revolving Committed Amount in whole or in part (in minimum aggregate amounts of $5,000,000 or in integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess thereof (or, if less, the full remaining amount of the then applicable Revolving Committed Amount)) upon five Business Days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent; provided, that, no such termination or reduction shall be made which would cause the sum of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Revolving Loans plus LOC Obligations plus Swingline Loans to exceed  the Revolving Committed Amount or unless, concurrently with such termination or reduction, the Loans are repaid to the extent necessary to eliminate such excess.  The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each affected Lender of receipt by the Administrative Agent of any notice from the Borrower pursuant to this Section 3.4(a).

(b)           Mandatory Termination.  The Revolving Commitments shall automatically terminate on the Maturity Date.

(c)           Increase of Revolving Committed Amount.  The Borrower shall have the right, upon at least fifteen (15) Business Days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, to increase the Revolving Committed Amount by up to $150,000,000 in the aggregate in one or more increases, at any time prior to the date that is six (6) months prior to the Maturity Date, subject, however, in any such case, to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

(i)           the Revolving Committed Amount shall not exceed $400,000,000 without the consent of the Required Lenders;

(ii)           no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date on which such increase is to become effective;

(iii)           the representations and warranties set forth in Article VI shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date on which such increase is to become effective (except for those which expressly relate to an earlier date);

(iv)           such increase shall be in a minimum amount of $10,000,000 and in integral multiples of $5,000,000 in excess thereof;

(v)           such requested increase shall only be effective upon receipt by the Administrative Agent of (A) additional commitments in a corresponding amount of such requested increase from either existing Lenders and/or one or more other institutions that qualify as an Eligible Assignee (it being understood and agreed that no existing Lender shall be required to provide an additional commitment) and (B) documentation from each institution providing an additional commitment evidencing their commitment and their obligations under this Credit Agreement in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent;

(vi)           the Administrative Agent shall have received all documents (including resolutions of the board of directors of the Borrower) it may reasonably request relating to the corporate or other necessary authority for and the validity of such increase in the Revolving Committed Amount, and any other matters relevant thereto, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; and

(vii)           if any Revolving Loans are outstanding at the time of the increase in the Revolving Committed Amount, the Borrower shall, if applicable, prepay one or more existing Revolving Loans (such prepayment to be subject to Section 3.12) in an amount necessary such that after giving effect to the increase in the Revolving Committed Amount, each Lender will hold its pro rata share (based on its Applicable Percentage of the increased Revolving Committed Amount) of outstanding Revolving Loans.

3.5           Fees.

(a)           Unused Fee.  In consideration of the Revolving Commitments of the Lenders hereunder, the Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a fee (the “Unused Fee”) equal to the Applicable Rate per annum for Unused Fees then in effect on the Unused Revolving Committed Amount for each day during the applicable Unused Fee Calculation Period (hereinafter defined), subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3.18.  The Unused Fee shall commence to accrue on the Closing Date and shall be due and payable in arrears on the first business day of each April, July, October and January (and any date that the Revolving Committed Amount is reduced as provided in Section 3.4 and the Maturity Date) for the immediately preceding quarter (or portion thereof) (each such quarter or portion thereof for which the Unused Fee is payable hereunder being herein referred to as an “Unused Fee Calculation Period”), beginning with the first of such dates to occur after the Closing Date.  For purposes of computation of the Unused Fees, the Swingline Loans shall not be counted toward or considered usage of the Revolving Committed Amount.

(b)           Letter of Credit Fees.

(i)           Standby Letter of Credit Issuance Fee.  In consideration of the issuance of standby Letters of Credit hereunder, the Borrower promises to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a fee in Dollars (the “Standby Letter of Credit Fee”) on such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Dollar Equivalent of the average daily maximum amount available to be drawn under each such standby Letter of Credit computed at a per annum rate for each day from the date of issuance to the date of expiration equal to the Applicable Rate; provided, however, any Standby Letter of Credit Fees otherwise payable for the account of a Defaulting Lender with respect to any Letter of Credit as to which such Defaulting Lender has not provided Cash Collateral satisfactory to the Issuing Lender pursuant to Section 2.2 shall be payable, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, to the other Lenders in accordance with the upward adjustments in their respective Applicable Percentages allocable to such Letter of Credit pursuant to Section 3.18(a)(iv), with the balance of such fee, if any, payable to the Issuing Lender for its own account (or in the event the Borrower has provided such Cash Collateral, such balance shall be deemed waived and shall not be payable by the Borrower).  The Standby Letter of Credit Fee will be payable quarterly in arrears on the first Business Day of each April, July, October and January for the immediately preceding quarter (or a portion thereof).

(ii)           Trade Letter of Credit Drawing Fee.  In consideration of the issuance of trade Letters of Credit and Bankers’ Acceptances hereunder, the Borrower promises to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a fee in Dollars (the “Trade Letter of Credit Fee”) on such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Dollar Equivlanet amount of the average daily maximum amount available to be drawn under each such trade Letter of Credit and each Bankers’ Acceptance computed at a per annum rate for each day from the date of issuance to the date of expiration equal to the Applicable Rate; provided, however, any Trade Letter of Credit Fees otherwise payable for the account of a Defaulting Lender with respect to any trade Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance as to which such Defaulting Lender has not provided Cash Collateral satisfactory to the Issuing Lender pursuant to Section 2.2 shall be payable, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, to the other Lenders in accordance with the upward adjustments in their respective Applicable Percentages allocable to such trade Letter of Credit or Banker’s Acceptance pursuant to Section 3.18(a)(iv), with the balance of such fee, if any, payable to the Issuing Lender for its own account (or in the event the Borrower has provided such Cash Collateral, such balance shall be deemed waived and shall not be payable by the Borrower).  The Trade Letter of Credit Fee will be payable quarterly in arrears on the first Business Day of each April, July, October and January for the immediately preceding quarter (or a portion thereof).

(iii)           Issuing Lender Fees.  In addition to the Standby Letter of Credit Fee payable pursuant to clause (i) above and the Trade Letter of Credit Fee payable pursuant to clause (ii) above, the Borrower promises to pay to the Issuing Lender for its own account without sharing by the other Lenders customary charges from time to time of the Issuing Lender with respect to the issuance, amendment, transfer, administration, cancellation and conversion of, and drawings under, such Letters of Credit and Bankers’ Acceptances (collectively, the “Issuing Lender Fees”).

3.6           Capital Adequacy.

If any Lender has determined that any Change in Law regarding capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s capital or assets as a consequence of its commitments or obligations hereunder to a level below that which such Lender could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies with respect to capital adequacy), then, upon notice from such Lender to the Borrower, the Borrower shall be obligated to pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for such reduction.  Each determination by any such Lender of amounts owing under this Section shall, absent manifest error, be presumed correct and binding on the parties hereto.

3.7           Inability to Determine Rates.

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

3.8           Illegality.

If any Lender determines that any Requirement of Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its Applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to the Eurodollar Base Rate, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Base Rate, or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, Dollars in the London interbank market, then, on written notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, (i) any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Eurodollar Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to Eurodollar Loans shall be suspended and (ii) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender making or maintaining Base Rate Loans the interest rate on which is determined by reference to the Eurodollar Base Rate component of the Base Rate, the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender, shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Eurodollar Base Rate component of the Base Rate, in each case until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist (which notice shall be delivered promptly upon termination of such circumstances).  Upon receipt of such notice, (x) the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all of such Lender’s Eurodollar Loans to Base Rate Loans (the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Eurodollar Base Rate component of the Base Rate), either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Loans and (y) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Base Rate, the Administrative Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute the Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to the Eurodollar Base Rate component thereof until the Administrative Agent is advised in writing by such Lender that it is no longer illegal  for such Lender to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Base Rate (which notice shall be delivered promptly upon cessation of such illegality).  Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.

3.9           Increased Costs.

If any Change in Law shall:

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

(ii)           subject any Lender to any tax of any kind whatsoever (excluding federal taxation of the overall net income of any Lender) with respect to this Credit Agreement, any Letter of Credit, any Bankers’ Acceptance, any Participation Interest in a Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance or any Eurodollar Loan made by it, or change the basis of taxation of payments to such Lender in respect thereof (except for Taxes or Other Taxes covered by Section 3.11); or

(iii)           impose on any Lender or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Credit Agreement or Eurodollar Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance (as applicable) or participation therein;

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making or maintaining any Loan the interest on which is determined by reference to the Eurodollar Base Rate (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or to increase the cost to such Lender of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance (or of maintaining its obligation to participate in or to issue any Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender, the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

3.10           Mitigation Obligations, Etc.

(a)           Certificates for Reimbursement.  A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in Section 3.6 or 3.9 and delivered to the Borrower shall be presumed correct absent manifest error.  The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten days after receipt thereof.

(b)           Delay in Requests.  Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation, provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to Section 3.6 or 3.9 for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than nine months prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the nine-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).

(c)           Designation of a Different Applicable Lending Office.  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.6 or 3.9, or the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.11, or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.8, then such Lender shall, as applicable, use reasonable efforts to designate a different Applicable Lending Office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.6, 3.9 or 3.11, as the case may be, in the future, or eliminate the need for the notice pursuant to Section 3.8, as applicable, and (ii) in each case, would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender.  The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

(d)           Replacement of Lenders.  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.6 or 3.9, if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.8, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.11, the Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 11.19.

3.11           Taxes.

(a)           Any and all payments by any Credit Party to or for the account of any Lender or the Administrative Agent hereunder or under any other Credit Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any and all present or future taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings, and all liabilities with respect thereto, excluding, in the case of each Lender and the Administrative Agent, (A) taxes imposed on its income, and franchise taxes imposed on it, by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such Lender (or its Applicable Lending Office) or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) is organized or any political subdivision thereof and (B) any U.S. federal withholding taxes imposed under FATCA.  (all such non-excluded taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, charges, withholdings, and liabilities being hereinafter referred to as “Taxes”).  If any Credit Party shall be required by law to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable under this Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document to any Lender or the Administrative Agent, (i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.11) such Lender or the Administrative Agent receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) such Credit Party shall make such deductions, (iii) such Credit Party shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant taxation authority or other authority in accordance with applicable law, and (iv) such Credit Party shall furnish to the Administrative Agent, at its address referred to in Section 11.1, the original or a certified copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof.

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

(c)           The Borrower agrees to indemnify each Lender and the Administrative Agent for the full amount of Taxes and Other Taxes (including, without limitation, any Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted by any jurisdiction on amounts payable under this Section 3.11) paid by such Lender or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) and any liability (including penalties, interest, and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto.

(d)           Each Lender that is not a United States person under Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code (a “Foreign Lender”), on or prior to the date of its execution and delivery of this Credit Agreement in the case of each Lender listed on the signature pages hereof and on or prior to the date on which it becomes a Lender in the case of each other Lender, and from time to time thereafter if requested in writing by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent (but only so long as such Lender remains lawfully able to do so), shall provide the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with (i) Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8ECI, as appropriate, or any successor form prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service, certifying that such Lender is entitled to benefits under an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party which reduces the rate of withholding tax on payments of interest or certifying that the income receivable pursuant to this Credit Agreement is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States, or (ii)  any other form or certificate required by any taxing authority (including any certificate required by Sections 871(h) and 881(c) of the Internal Revenue Code), certifying that such Lender is entitled to an exemption from or a reduced rate of tax on payments pursuant to this Credit Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents.

In addition, if a payment made to a Lender under any Credit Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment.  Solely for purposes of this paragraph, “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Credit Agreement.

(e)           For any period with respect to which a Lender has failed to provide the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with the appropriate form pursuant to Section 3.11(d) (unless such failure is due to a change in treaty, law, or regulation occurring subsequent to the date on which a form originally was required to be provided), such Lender shall not be entitled to indemnification under Section 3.11(a) or 3.11(b) with respect to Taxes imposed by the United States; provided, however, that should a Lender, which is otherwise exempt from or subject to a reduced rate of withholding tax, become subject to Taxes because of its failure to deliver a form required hereunder, the Borrower shall take such steps as such Lender shall reasonably request to assist such Lender to recover such Taxes.

(f)           If any Credit Party is required to pay additional amounts to or for the account of any Lender pursuant to this Section 3.11, then such Lender will agree to use reasonable efforts to change the jurisdiction of its Applicable Lending Office so as to eliminate or reduce any such additional payment which may thereafter accrue if such change, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, is not otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender.

(g)           Within thirty (30) days after the date of any payment of Taxes, the applicable Credit Party shall furnish to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt evidencing such payment.

(h)           Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreement of the Credit Parties hereunder, the agreements and obligations of the Credit Parties contained in this Section 3.11 shall survive the repayment of the Loans, LOC Obligations and other obligations under the Credit Documents and the termination of the Commitments hereunder.

3.12           Compensation.

Upon the request of any Lender, the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such amount or amounts as shall be sufficient (in the reasonable opinion of such Lender) to compensate it for any loss, cost, or expense (including loss of anticipated profits) incurred by it as a result of:

(a)           any payment, prepayment, or conversion of a Eurodollar Loan for any reason (including, without limitation, the acceleration of the Loans pursuant to Section 9.2) on a date other than the last day of  the Interest Period for such Loan; or

(b)           any failure by the Borrower for any reason (including, without limitation, the failure of any condition precedent specified in Article V to be satisfied) to borrow, convert, continue, or prepay a Eurodollar Loan on the date for such borrowing, conversion, continuation, or prepayment specified in the relevant notice of borrowing, prepayment, continuation, or conversion under this Credit Agreement.

With respect to Eurodollar Loans, such indemnification may include an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (a) the amount of interest which 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 the applicable 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 Eurodollar Loans provided for herein (excluding, however, the Applicable Rate included therein, if any) over (b) the amount of interest (as reasonably determined by such Lender) which 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.  The covenants of the Borrower set forth in this Section 3.12 shall survive the repayment of the Loans, LOC Obligations and other obligations under the Credit Documents and the termination of the Commitments hereunder.

3.13           Pro Rata Treatment.

Except to the extent otherwise provided herein:

(a)           Loans.  Each Loan, each payment or (subject to the terms of Section 3.3) prepayment of principal of any Loan or reimbursement obligations arising from drawings under Letters of Credit, each payment of interest on the Loans or reimbursement obligations arising from drawings under Letters of Credit, each payment of Unused Fees, each payment of the Standby Letter of Credit Fee, each payment of the Trade Letter of Credit Fee, each reduction in Commitments and each conversion or extension of any Loan, shall be allocated pro rata among the Lenders in accordance with the respective Applicable Percentages.

(b)           Advances.  The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Loans and to fund Participation Interests in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans or to make any payment under Section 11.5(c) are several and not joint.  The failure of any Lender to make any Loan or to fund any such Participation Interests or to make any payment under Section 11.5(c) on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Loan, purchase its Participation Interests or to make any payment under Section 11.5(c).

(c)           (i)  Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative Agent.  Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any borrowing of Eurodollar Loans (or, in the case of any borrowing of Base Rate Loans, prior to 1:00 p.m. on the date of such borrowing) that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.1 (or, in the case of a borrowing of Base Rate Loans, that such Lender has made such share available in accordance with and at the time required by Section 2.1) and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount.  In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing, and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans; the Administrative Agent shall not request that the Borrower make such payment unless such Lender has not made such payment to the Administrative Agent within two Business Days following demand.  If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such period.  If such Lender pays its share of the applicable borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such borrowing.  Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

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

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

 

3.14           Sharing of Payments.

The Lenders agree among themselves that, in the event that any Lender shall obtain payment in respect of any Loan, LOC Obligations or any other obligation owing to such Lender under this Credit Agreement through the exercise of a right of setoff, banker’s lien or counterclaim, or pursuant to a secured claim under Section 506 of Title 11 of the United States Code or other security or interest arising from, or in lieu of, such secured claim, received by such Lender under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law or otherwise, or by any other means, in excess of its pro rata share of such payment as provided for in this Credit Agreement, such Lender shall promptly purchase from the other Lenders a Participation Interest in such Loans, LOC Obligations and other obligations in such amounts, and make such other adjustments from time to time, as shall be equitable to the end that all Lenders share such payment in accordance with their respective ratable shares as provided for in this Credit Agreement.  The Lenders further agree among themselves that if payment to a Lender obtained by such Lender through the exercise of a right of setoff, banker’s lien, counterclaim or other event as aforesaid shall be rescinded or must otherwise be restored, each Lender which shall have shared the benefit of such payment shall, by repurchase of a Participation Interest theretofore sold, return its share of that benefit (together with its share of any accrued interest payable with respect thereto) to each Lender whose payment shall have been rescinded or otherwise restored.  The Borrower agrees that any Lender so purchasing such a Participation Interest may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, exercise all rights of payment, including setoff, banker’s lien or counterclaim, with respect to such Participation Interest as fully as if such Lender were a holder of such Loan, LOC Obligations or other obligation in the amount of such Participation Interest.  Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Credit Agreement, if any Lender or the Administrative Agent shall fail to remit to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender an amount payable by such Lender or the Administrative Agent to the Administrative Agent or such other Lender pursuant to this Credit Agreement on the date when such amount is due, such payments shall be made together with interest thereon for each date from the date such amount is due until the date such amount is paid to the Administrative Agent or such other Lender at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate.  If under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law, any Lender receives a secured claim in lieu of a setoff to which this Section 3.14 applies, such Lender shall, to the extent practicable, exercise its rights in respect of such secured claim in a manner consistent with the rights of the Lenders under this Section 3.14 to share in the benefits of any recovery on such secured claim.

3.15           Payments, Computations; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate.

All payments hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent in Dollars in immediately available funds, without recoupment, setoff, deduction, counterclaim or withholding of any kind, and, except as otherwise specifically provided herein, at the Administrative Agent’s office specified in Schedule 2.1(a) not later than 2:00 p.m. (Charlotte, North Carolina time) on the date when due.  Payments received after such time shall be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day.  The Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) debit the amount of any such payment which is not made by such time to any ordinary deposit account of the Borrower or any other Credit Party maintained with the Administrative Agent (with notice to the Borrower or such other Credit Party).  The Borrower shall, at the time it makes any payment under this Credit Agreement, specify to the Administrative Agent the Loans, LOC Obligations, Fees, interest or other amounts payable by the Borrower hereunder to which such payment is to be applied (and in the event that it fails so to specify, or if such application would be inconsistent with the terms hereof, the Administrative Agent shall distribute such payment to the Lenders in such manner as the Administrative Agent may determine to be appropriate in respect of obligations owing by the Borrower hereunder, subject to the terms of Section 3.13(a)).  The Administrative Agent will distribute such payments to such Lenders, if any such payment is received prior to 2:00 p.m. (Charlotte, North Carolina time) on a Business Day in like funds as received prior to the end of such Business Day and otherwise the Administrative Agent will distribute such payment to such Lenders on the next succeeding Business Day.  Whenever any payment hereunder shall be stated to be due on a day which is not a Business Day, the due date thereof shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day (subject to accrual of interest and Fees for the period of such extension), except that in the case of Eurodollar Loans, if the extension would cause the payment to be made in the next following calendar month, then such payment shall instead be made on the next preceding Business Day.  All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans (including Base Rate Loans determined by reference to the Eurodollar Base Rate) shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed.  All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365-day year).  Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid, provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to this Section 3.15, bear interest for one day.  Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be presumed correct, absent manifest error.

If, as a result of any restatement of or other adjustment to the financial statements of the Borrower or for any other reason, the Borrower or the Lenders determine that (i) the Leverage Ratio as calculated by the Borrower as of any applicable date was inaccurate and (ii) a proper calculation of the Leverage Ratio would have resulted in higher pricing for such period, the Borrower shall immediately and retroactively be obligated to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Lenders, promptly on demand by the Administrative Agent (or, after the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code, automatically and without further action by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Issuing Lender), an amount equal to the excess of the amount of interest and fees that should have been paid for such period over the amount of interest and fees actually paid for such period.  This paragraph shall not limit the rights of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Issuing Lender, as the case may be, under Section 2.2(c)(iii) or 3.5(b) or under Article IX.

3.16           Evidence of Debt.

(a)           Each Lender shall maintain an account or accounts evidencing each Loan made by such Lender to the Borrower from time to time, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time under this Credit Agreement.  Each Lender will make reasonable efforts to maintain the accuracy of its account or accounts and to promptly update its account or accounts from time to time, as necessary.

(b)           The Administrative Agent shall maintain the Register pursuant to Section 11.3(c), and a subaccount for each Lender, in which Register and subaccounts (taken together) shall be recorded (i) the amount, type and Interest Period of each such Loan hereunder, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable to each Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder from or for the account of any Credit Party and each Lender’s share thereof.  The Administrative Agent will make reasonable efforts to maintain the accuracy of the subaccounts referred to in the preceding sentence and to promptly update such subaccounts from time to time, as necessary.

(c)           The entries made in the accounts, Register and subaccounts maintained pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section 3.16 (and, if consistent with the entries of the Administrative Agent, subsection (a)) shall be presumed correct, absent manifest error and amounts of the obligations of the Credit Parties therein recorded; provided, however, that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain any such account, such Register or such subaccount, as applicable, or any error therein, shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Credit Parties to repay the Credit Party obligations owing to such Lender.

 

3.17           Cash Collateral.

(a)           Certain Credit Support Events.  Upon the request of the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Lender (i) if the Issuing Lender has honored any full or partial drawing request under any Letter of Credit or made any payment under any Bankers’ Acceptance and such drawing or payment has resulted in an L/C Borrowing, or (ii) if, as of the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, any LOC Obligation for any reason remains outstanding, the Borrower shall, in each case, immediately Cash Collateralize the then outstanding amount of all LOC Obligations.  At any time that there shall exist a Defaulting Lender, within three (3) Business Days after the request of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender or the Swingline Lender, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent Cash Collateral in an amount sufficient to cover all Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section 3.18(a)(iv) and any Cash Collateral provided by the Defaulting Lender).

(b)           Grant of Security Interest.  All Cash Collateral (other than credit support not constituting funds subject to deposit) shall be maintained in blocked, non-interest bearing deposit accounts at Bank of America.  The Borrower, and to the extent provided by any Lender, such Lender, hereby grants to (and subjects to the control of) the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender and the Lenders (including the Swingline Lender), and agrees to maintain, a first priority security interest in all such cash, deposit accounts and all balances therein, and all other property so provided as collateral pursuant hereto, and in all proceeds of the foregoing, all as security for the obligations to which such Cash Collateral may be applied pursuant to Section 2.17(c).  If at any time the Administrative Agent determines that Cash Collateral is subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the Administrative Agent as herein provided, or that the total amount of such Cash Collateral is less than the applicable Fronting Exposure and other obligations secured thereby, the Borrower will, promptly upon demand by the Administrative Agent, pay or provide to the Administrative Agent additional Cash Collateral in an amount sufficient to eliminate such deficiency.

(c)           Application.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Credit Agreement, Cash Collateral provided under any of this Section 3.17 or Sections 2.2, 2.3, 3.3, 3.18 or 9.2 in respect of Letters of Credit, Bankers’ Acceptances or Swingline Loans shall be held and applied to the satisfaction of the specific LOC Obligations, Swingline Loans, obligations to fund participations therein (including, as to Cash Collateral provided by a Defaulting Lender, any interest accrued on such obligation) and other obligations for which the Cash Collateral was so provided, prior to any other application of such property as may be provided for herein.

(d)           Release.  Cash Collateral (or the appropriate portion thereof) provided to reduce Fronting Exposure or other obligations shall be released promptly following (i) the elimination of the applicable Fronting Exposure or other obligations giving rise thereto (including by the termination of Defaulting Lender status of the applicable Lender (or, as appropriate, its assignee following compliance with Section 11.3(b)(vi))) or (ii) the Administrative Agent’s good faith determination that there exists excess Cash Collateral; provided, however, (x) that Cash Collateral furnished by or on behalf of a Credit Party shall not be released during the continuance of a Default or Event of Default (and following application as provided in this Section 2.17 may be otherwise applied in accordance with Section 9.3), and (y) the Person providing Cash Collateral and the Issuing Lender or Swingline Lender, as applicable, may agree that Cash Collateral shall not be released but instead held to support future anticipated Fronting Exposure or other obligations.

 

3.18           Defaulting Lenders.

(a)           Adjustments.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Credit Agreement, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, until such time as that Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, to the extent permitted by applicable law:

(i)           Waivers and Amendments.  That Defaulting Lender’s right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Credit Agreement shall be restricted as set forth in Section 11.6.

(ii)           Reallocation of Payments.  Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of that Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article IX or otherwise, and including any amounts made available to the Administrative Agent by that Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 11.2), shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by that Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by that Defaulting Lender to the Issuing Lender or Swingline Lender hereunder; third, if so determined by the Administrative Agent or requested by the Issuing Lender or Swingline Lender, to be held as Cash Collateral for future funding obligations of that Defaulting Lender of any participation in any Swingline Loan, Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance; fourth, as the Borrower may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which that Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Credit Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; fifth, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in a non-interest bearing deposit account and released in order to satisfy obligations of that Defaulting Lender to fund Loans under this Credit Agreement; sixth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the Issuing Lender or Swingline Lender as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, the Issuing Lender or Swingline Lender against that Defaulting Lender as a result of that Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Credit Agreement; seventh, so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against that Defaulting Lender as a result of that Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Credit Agreement; and eighth, to that Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or L/C Borrowings in respect of which that Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share and (y) such Loans or L/C Borrowings were made at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 5.2 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and L/C Borrowings owed to, all non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or L/C Borrowings owed to, that Defaulting Lender.  Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 3.18(a)(ii) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by that Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

(iii)           Certain Fees.  That Defaulting Lender (x) shall not be entitled to receive any Unused Fee pursuant to Section 3.5(a) for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Borrower shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender) and (y) shall be limited in its right to receive Standby Letter of Credit Fees and Trade Letter of Credit Fees as provided in Section 3.5(b).

(iv)           Reallocation of Applicable Percentages to Reduce Fronting Exposure.  During any period in which there is a Defaulting Lender, for purposes of computing the amount of the obligation of each non-Defaulting Lender to acquire, refinance or fund participations in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans pursuant to Sections 2.2 and 2.3, the “Applicable Percentage” of each non-Defaulting Lender shall be computed without giving effect to the Revolving Commitment of that Defaulting Lender; provided, that, (i) each such reallocation shall be given effect only if, at the date of such reallocation, no Default or Event of Default exists; and (ii) the aggregate obligation of each non-Defaulting Lender to acquire, refinance or fund Participation Interests in Letters of Credit, Bankers’ Acceptances and Swingline Loans shall not exceed the positive difference, if any, of (1) the Revolving Commitment of that non-Defaulting Lender minus (2) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Loans of that Lender.

(b)           Defaulting Lender Cure.  If the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Lender agree in writing in their sole discretion that a Defaulting Lender should no longer be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein (which may include arrangements with respect to any Cash Collateral), that Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase that portion of outstanding Loans of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Letters of Credit, Bankers’ Acceptances and Swingline Loans to be held on a pro rata basis by the Lenders in accordance with their Applicable Percentages (without giving effect to Section 3.18(a)(iv)), whereupon that Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided, further, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

4.1           The Guaranty.

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

Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein or in any other of the Credit Documents or other documents relating to the Obligations, the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall be limited to an aggregate amount equal to the largest amount that would not render its obligations hereunder subject to avoidance under Section 548 of the Bankruptcy Code or any comparable provisions of any applicable state law.

4.2           Obligations Unconditional.

The obligations of the Guarantors under Section 4.1 are joint and several, absolute and unconditional, irrespective of the value, genuineness, validity, regularity or enforceability of any of the Credit Documents or Hedging Agreements, or any other agreement or instrument referred to therein, or any substitution, release, impairment or exchange of any other guarantee of or security for any of the Credit Party Obligations, and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, irrespective of any other circumstance whatsoever which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety or guarantor, it being the intent of this Section 4.2 that the obligations of the Guarantors hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances.  Each Guarantor agrees that such Guarantor shall have no right of subrogation, indemnity, reimbursement or contribution against the Borrower or any other Guarantor for amounts paid under this Article IV until such time as the Lenders (and any Affiliates of Lenders entering into Hedging Agreements) have been paid in full, all Commitments under this Credit Agreement have been terminated and no Person or Governmental Authority shall have any right to request any return or reimbursement of funds from the Lenders in connection with monies received under the Credit Documents or Hedging Agreements.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is agreed that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the occurrence of any one or more of the following shall not alter or impair the liability of any Guarantor hereunder which shall remain absolute and unconditional as described above:

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

(b)           any of the acts mentioned in any of the provisions of any of the Credit Documents, any Hedging Agreement or any other agreement or instrument referred to in the Credit Documents or Hedging Agreements shall be done or omitted;

(c)           the maturity of any of the Credit Party Obligations shall be accelerated, or any of the Credit Party Obligations shall be modified, supplemented or amended in any respect, or any right under any of the Credit Documents, any Hedging Agreement or any other agreement or instrument referred to in the Credit Documents or Hedging Agreements shall be waived or any other guarantee of any of the Credit Party Obligations or any security therefor shall be released, impaired or exchanged in whole or in part or otherwise dealt with;

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

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

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

4.3           Reinstatement.

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

4.4           Certain Additional Waivers.

Each Guarantor further agrees that such Guarantor shall have no right of recourse to security for the Credit Party Obligations, except through the exercise of rights of subrogation pursuant to Section 4.2 and through the exercise of rights of contribution pursuant to Section 4.6.

4.5           Remedies.

The Guarantors agree that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, as between the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, on the other hand, the Credit Party Obligations may be declared to be forthwith due and payable as provided in Section 9.2 (and shall be deemed to have become automatically due and payable in the circumstances provided in said Section 9.2) for purposes of Section 4.1 notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such declaration (or preventing the Credit Party Obligations from becoming automatically due and payable) as against any other Person and that, in the event of such declaration (or the Credit Party Obligations being deemed to have become automatically due and payable), the Credit Party Obligations (whether or not due and payable by any other Person) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for purposes of Section 4.1.

4.6           Rights of Contribution.

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

4.7           Guarantee of Payment; Continuing Guarantee.

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

5.1           Closing Conditions.

The obligation of the Lenders to enter into this Credit Agreement and to make the initial Loans or the Issuing Lender to issue the initial Letter of Credit, whichever shall occur first, shall be subject to satisfaction of the following conditions (in form and substance acceptable to the Lenders):

(a)           Executed Credit Documents.  Receipt by the Administrative Agent of duly executed copies of:  (i) this Credit Agreement, (ii) the Notes in favor of the Lenders that have requested a Note and (iii) all other Credit Documents, each in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion.

(b)           Corporate Documents.  Receipt by the Administrative Agent of the following:

(i)           Charter Documents.  Copies of the articles or certificates of incorporation or other organization documents of each Credit Party certified to be true and complete as of a recent date by the appropriate Governmental Authority of the state or other jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization and certified by a secretary or assistant secretary of such Credit Party to be true and correct as of the Closing Date.

(ii)           Bylaws.  A copy of the bylaws, operating agreement or partnership agreement of each Credit Party certified by a secretary or assistant secretary of such Credit Party to be true and correct as of the Closing Date.

(iii)           Resolutions.  Copies of resolutions of the Board of Directors or other governing body of each Credit Party approving and adopting the Credit Documents to which it is a party, the transactions contemplated therein and authorizing execution and delivery thereof, certified by a secretary or assistant secretary of such Credit Party to be true and correct and in force and effect as of the Closing Date.

(iv)           Good Standing.  Copies of certificates of good standing, existence or its equivalent with respect to each Credit Party certified as of a recent date by the appropriate Governmental Authorities of the state or other jurisdiction of incorporation and each other jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify and be in good standing could have a Material Adverse Effect.

(v)           Incumbency.  An incumbency certificate of each Credit Party certified by a secretary or assistant secretary to be true and correct as of the Closing Date.

(c)           Opinions of Counsel.  The Administrative Agent shall have received a legal opinion in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent dated as of the Closing Date from counsel to the Credit Parties.

(d)           Material Adverse Effect.  Since December 26, 2010, there shall not have occurred or otherwise exist an event or condition which has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(e)           Litigation.  There shall not exist any pending or threatened action, suit, investigation or proceeding against a Consolidated Party that could have a Material Adverse Effect.

(f)           Officer’s Certificates.  The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate or certificates executed by the chief financial officer, president or treasurer of the Borrower as of the Closing Date stating that (A) all governmental, shareholder and third party consents and approvals, if any, with respect to the Credit Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby have been obtained, (B) no action, suit, investigation or proceeding is pending or threatened in any court or before any arbitrator or governmental instrumentality that purports to affect any Credit Party or any transaction contemplated by the Credit Documents, if such action, suit, investigation or proceeding could have a Material Adverse Effect, and (C) immediately after giving effect to this Credit Agreement, the other Credit Documents and all the transactions contemplated therein to occur on such date, (1) each of the Credit Parties is Solvent, (2) no Default or Event of Default exists, (3) all representations and warranties contained herein and in the other Credit Documents are true and correct in all material respects, and (4) the Credit Parties are in compliance with each of the financial covenants set forth in Section 7.11.

(g)           Fees and Expenses.  Payment by the Credit Parties of all fees and expenses owed by them to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, including, without limitation, payment to the Administrative Agent of the fees set forth in the Fee Letter.

Without limiting the generality of the last paragraph of Section 10.4, for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 5.1, each Lender that has signed this Credit Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.

 

5.2           Conditions to all Extensions of Credit.

The obligations of each Lender to make, convert or extend any Loan and of the Issuing Lender to issue or extend any Letter of Credit (including the initial Loans and the initial Letter of Credit) are subject to satisfaction of the following conditions in addition to satisfaction on the Closing Date of the conditions set forth in Section 5.1:

(a)           The Borrower shall have delivered (i) in the case of any Revolving Loan, an appropriate Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Extension/Conversion or (ii) in the case of any Letter of Credit, the Issuing Lender shall have received an appropriate request for issuance in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.2(b);

(b)           The representations and warranties set forth in Article VI (other than Sections 6.2 and 6.8) shall, subject to the limitations set forth therein, be true and correct in all material respects as of such date (except for those which expressly relate to an earlier date);

(c)           No Default or Event of Default shall exist and be continuing either prior to or after giving effect thereto; and

(d)           Immediately after giving effect to the making of such Loan (and the application of the proceeds thereof) or to the issuance of such Letter of Credit, as the case may be, (i) the sum of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Revolving Loans plus LOC Obligations outstanding plus outstanding Swingline Loans shall not exceed the Revolving Committed Amount and (ii) the LOC Obligations shall not exceed the LOC Sublimit.

(e)           In the case of a Letter of Credit to be denominated in an Alternative Currency, there shall not have occurred any change in national or international financial, political or economic conditions or currency exchange rates or exchange controls which in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Lender would make it impracticable for such Letter of Credit to be denominated in the relevant Alternative Currency.

The delivery of each Notice of Borrowing, each Notice of Extension/Conversion and each request for a Letter of Credit pursuant to Section 2.2(b) shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Credit Parties of the correctness of the matters specified in subsections (b), (c) and (d) above.

 

 

The Credit Parties hereby represent to the Administrative Agent and each Lender that:

6.1           Financial Condition.

The financial statements delivered to the Lenders pursuant to Section 7.1(a) and (b), (i) have been prepared in accordance with GAAP and (ii) present fairly (on the basis disclosed in the footnotes to such financial statements) in all material respects the consolidated and consolidating financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Consolidated Parties as of such date and for such periods.

6.2           No Material Change.

Since December 26, 2010, there has been no development or event relating to or affecting a Consolidated Party which has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.3           Organization and Good Standing.

Each of the Consolidated Parties (a) is duly organized, validly existing and is in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (b) has the requisite power and authority to own and operate all its property, to lease the property it operates as lessee and to conduct the business in which it is currently engaged except to the extent that the failure to have such legal right would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (c) is duly qualified to conduct business 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 except to the extent that the failure to so qualify or be in good standing could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.4           Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations.

Each of the Credit Parties has the corporate or other necessary power and authority, to make, deliver and perform the Credit Documents to which it is a party, and in the case of the Borrower, to obtain extensions of credit hereunder, and has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize the borrowings and other extensions of credit on the terms and conditions of this Credit Agreement and to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of the Credit Documents to which it is a party.  No consent or authorization of, filing with, notice to or other similar act by or in respect of, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is required to be obtained or made by or on behalf of any Credit Party in connection with the borrowings or other extensions of credit hereunder or with the execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of the Credit Documents to which such Credit Party is a party.  This Credit Agreement has been, and each other Credit Document to which any Credit Party is a party will be, duly executed and delivered on behalf of the Credit Parties.  This Credit Agreement constitutes, and each other Credit Document to which any Credit Party is a party when executed and delivered will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Credit Party enforceable against such 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).

6.5           No Conflicts.

Neither the execution and delivery of the Credit Documents, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated therein, nor performance of and compliance with the terms and provisions thereof by such Credit Party will (a) violate or conflict with any provision of its articles or certificate of incorporation or bylaws or other organizational or governing documents of such Person, (b) violate, contravene or materially conflict with any material Requirement of Law or any other material law, regulation (including, without limitation, Regulation U or Regulation X), order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree or permit applicable to it, (c) violate, contravene or conflict with contractual provisions of, or cause an event of default under, any indenture, loan agreement, mortgage, deed of trust, contract or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it may be bound, the violation of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or (d) result in or require the creation of any Lien upon or with respect to its properties.  No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

6.6           Ownership.

Except where the failure to have such title would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, each Consolidated Party is the owner of, and has good and marketable title to, all of its respective assets that are necessary for the operation of their respective businesses and none of such assets is subject to any Lien other than Permitted Liens.

6.7           [Intentionally Omitted.]

6.8           Litigation.

There are no actions, suits or legal, equitable, arbitration or administrative proceedings, pending or, to the knowledge of any Credit Party, threatened against any Consolidated Party which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.9           Taxes.

Each Consolidated Party has filed, or caused to be filed, all material income tax returns and all other material tax returns (federal, state, local and foreign) required to be filed and paid (a) all amounts of taxes shown thereon to be due (including interest and penalties) and (b) all other material taxes, fees, assessments and other governmental charges (including mortgage recording taxes, documentary stamp taxes and intangibles taxes) owing by it, except for such taxes (i) which are not yet delinquent or (ii) that are being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings, and against which adequate reserves are being maintained in accordance with GAAP.  No Credit Party is aware as of the Closing Date of any proposed tax assessments against it or any Consolidated Party that would, if made, have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.10           Compliance with Law.

Each Consolidated Party is in compliance with all Requirements of Law and all other laws, rules, regulations, orders and decrees (including without limitation Environmental Laws) applicable to it, or to its properties, unless such failure to comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.11           ERISA.

(a)           Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, during the five year period prior to the date on which this representation is made or deemed made: (i) no ERISA Event has occurred, and, to the best knowledge of the Credit Parties, no event or condition has occurred or exists as a result of which any ERISA Event could reasonably be expected to occur, with respect to any Single Employer Plan, Multiemployer Plan or Multiple Employer Plan; (ii) no Single Employer Plan has failed to contribute the “minimum required contribution” as defined in Section 430 of the Code;; (iii) each Plan has been maintained, operated, and funded in compliance with its own terms and in material compliance with the provisions of ERISA, the Code, and any other applicable federal or state laws; and (iv) no lien in favor of the PBGC or a Plan has arisen or is reasonably likely to arise on account of any Single Employer Plan.

(b)           The actuarial present value of all “benefit liabilities” (as defined in Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA), whether or not vested, under each Single Employer Plan, as of the last annual valuation date prior to the date on which this representation is made or deemed made (determined, in each case, in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement 87, utilizing the actuarial assumptions used in such Single Employer Plan’s most recent actuarial valuation report), did not exceed as of such valuation date the fair market value of the assets of such Plan.

(c)           Neither any Consolidated Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or, to the best knowledge of the Credit Parties, could be reasonably expected to incur, any withdrawal liability under ERISA to any Multiemployer Plan or Multiple Employer Plan.  Neither any Consolidated Party nor any ERISA Affiliate would become subject to any withdrawal liability under ERISA if any Consolidated Party or any ERISA Affiliate were to withdraw completely from all Multiemployer Plans and Multiple Employer Plans as of the valuation date most closely preceding the date on which this representation is made or deemed made.  Neither any Consolidated Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has received any notification that any Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization (within the meaning of Section 4241 of ERISA), is insolvent (within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA), or has been terminated (within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA), and no Multiemployer Plan is, to the best knowledge of the Credit Parties, reasonably expected to be in reorganization, insolvent, or terminated.

(d)           Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, no prohibited transaction (within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) or breach of fiduciary responsibility has occurred with respect to a Plan which has subjected or may subject any Consolidated Party or any ERISA Affiliate to any liability under Sections 406, 409, 502(i), or 502(l) of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, or under any agreement or other instrument pursuant to which any Consolidated Party or any ERISA Affiliate has agreed or is required to indemnify any Person against any such liability.

(e)           Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, neither any Consolidated Party nor any ERISA Affiliates has any material liability with respect to “expected post-retirement benefit obligations” within the meaning of the Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement 106.  Each Plan which is a welfare plan (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA) to which Sections 601-609 of ERISA and Section 4980B of the Code apply has been administered in compliance in all material respects of such sections.

6.12           Subsidiaries.

Set forth on Schedule 6.12 is a complete and accurate list of all Subsidiaries of each Consolidated Party.  Information on Schedule 6.12 includes jurisdiction of incorporation and the percentage of outstanding shares of each class owned (directly or indirectly) by such Credit Party.  The outstanding Capital Stock of all such Subsidiaries is validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and is owned by each such Consolidated Party, directly or indirectly, free and clear of all Liens.

6.13           Governmental Regulations, Etc.

(a)           No part of the Letters of Credit or proceeds of the Loans will be used, directly or indirectly, in a manner that would constitute a violation of Regulation T, Regulation U or Regulation X.  “Margin stock” within the meaning of Regulation U does not constitute more than 25% of the value of the consolidated assets of the Consolidated Parties.  None of the transactions contemplated by this Credit Agreement (including, without limitation, the direct or indirect use of the proceeds of the Loans) will violate or result in a violation of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or regulations issued pursuant thereto, or Regulation T, U or X.  If requested by any Lender or the Administrative Agent, the Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender a statement to the effect of the foregoing sentences in conformity with the requirements of FR Form U-1 referred to in Regulation U.

(b)           No Consolidated Party is subject to regulation under the Federal Power Act or the Investment Company Act of 1940, each as amended.  In addition, no Consolidated Party is an “investment company” registered or required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and is not controlled by such a company.

(c)           No director, executive officer or principal shareholder of any Consolidated Party is a director, executive officer or principal shareholder of any Lender.  For the purposes hereof the terms “director”, “executive officer” and “principal shareholder” (when used with reference to any Lender) have the respective meanings assigned thereto in Regulation O issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

(d)           Each Consolidated Party has obtained and holds in full force and effect, all franchises, licenses, permits, certificates, authorizations, qualifications, accreditations, easements, rights of way and other rights, consents and approvals which are necessary for the ownership of its respective Property and to the conduct of its respective businesses as presently conducted except where failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(e)           No Consolidated Party is in violation of any applicable statute, regulation or ordinance of the United States of America, or of any state, city, town, municipality, county or any other jurisdiction, or of any agency thereof (including without limitation, environmental laws and regulations), which violation could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(f)           Each Consolidated Party is current with all reports and documents, if any, required to be filed with any state or federal securities commission or similar securities agency and is in full compliance in all respects with all applicable rules and regulations of such commissions except where failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.14           Purpose of Loans and Letters of Credit.

The proceeds of the Loans hereunder shall be used solely by the Borrower (i) for working capital, (ii) for general corporate purposes (including, without limitation, the repurchase by the Borrower of Capital Stock of the Borrower, the payment of cash dividends and for Permitted Investments), (iii) to make capital expenditures and (iv) to refinance existing Indebtedness of the Borrower.  The Letters of Credit shall be used only for or in connection with appeal bonds, reimbursement obligations arising in connection with surety and reclamation bonds, reinsurance, domestic or international trade transactions and obligations not otherwise aforementioned relating to transactions entered into by the applicable account party in the ordinary course of business.

6.15           Environmental Matters.

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

(a)           Each of the facilities and properties owned, leased or operated by the Consolidated Parties (the “Properties”) and all operations at the Properties are in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws, and there is no violation of any Environmental Law with respect to the Properties or the businesses operated by the Consolidated Parties (the “Businesses”), and there are no conditions relating to the Businesses or Properties that could give rise to liability under any applicable Environmental Laws.

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

(c)           No Consolidated Party has received any written or verbal notice of, or inquiry from any Governmental Authority regarding, any violation, alleged violation, non-compliance, liability or potential liability regarding environmental matters or compliance with Environmental Laws with regard to any of the Properties or the Businesses, nor does any Consolidated Party have knowledge or reason to believe that any such notice will be received or is being threatened.

(d)           Materials of Environmental Concern have not been transported or disposed of from the Properties, or generated, treated, stored or disposed of at, on or under any of the Properties or any other location, in each case by or on behalf of any Consolidated Party in violation of, or in a manner that could give rise to liability under, any applicable Environmental Law.

(e)           No judicial proceeding or governmental or administrative action is pending or, to the best knowledge of any Credit Party, threatened, under any Environmental Law to which any Consolidated Party is or will be named as a party, nor are there any consent decrees or other decrees, consent orders, administrative orders or other orders, or other administrative or judicial requirements outstanding under any Environmental Law with respect to the Consolidated Parties, the Properties or the Businesses.

(f)           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 (including, without limitation, disposal) of any Consolidated Party in connection with the Properties or otherwise in connection with the Businesses, in violation of or in amounts or in a manner that could give rise to liability under Environmental Laws.

6.16           Intellectual Property.

Each Consolidated Party owns, or has the legal right to use, all trademarks, tradenames, copyrights, technology, know-how and processes (the “Intellectual Property”) necessary for each of them to conduct its business as currently conducted except for those the failure to own or have such legal right to use 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 such Intellectual Property or the validity or effectiveness of any such Intellectual Property, nor does any Credit Party know of any such claim, and to the Credit Parties’ knowledge the use of such Intellectual Property by any Consolidated Party does not infringe on the rights of any Person, except for such claims and infringements that, in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.17           Solvency.

The Borrower is and, after consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Credit Agreement, will be Solvent and the Consolidated Parties, taken as a whole, are and, after consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Credit Agreement, will be Solvent.

6.18           Investments.

All Investments of each Consolidated Party are Permitted Investments.

6.19           Disclosure.

Neither this Credit Agreement nor any financial statements delivered to the Lenders nor any other document, certificate or statement furnished to the Lenders by or on behalf of any Consolidated Party in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained therein or herein not misleading.

6.20           No Burdensome Restrictions.

No Consolidated Party is a party to any agreement or instrument or subject to any other obligation or any charter or corporate restriction or any provision of any applicable law, rule or regulation which, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.21           Brokers’ Fees.

None of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries has any obligation to any Person in respect of any finder’s, broker’s, investment banking or other similar fee in connection with any of the transactions contemplated under the Credit Documents.

6.22           Labor Matters.

(a) Except as set forth on Schedule 6.22, there are no collective bargaining agreements or Multiemployer Plans covering the employees of a Consolidated Party, and (b) none of the Consolidated Parties (i) has suffered any strikes, walkouts, work stoppages or other material labor difficulty that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect within the last five years, or (ii) has knowledge of any potential or pending strike, walkout or work stoppage that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Each Credit Party hereby covenants and agrees that, so long as this Credit Agreement is in effect or any amounts payable hereunder or under any other Credit Document shall remain outstanding, and until all of the Commitments hereunder shall have terminated:

7.1           Financial Statements.

The Credit Parties will furnish, or cause to be furnished, to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders:

(a)           Annual Financial Statements.  As soon as available, and in any event within 90 days after the close of each fiscal year of the Consolidated Parties, the consolidated and consolidating balance sheet and income statement of the Consolidated Parties, as of the end of such fiscal year, together with related consolidated and consolidating statements of operations and retained earnings and of cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in comparative form consolidated and consolidating figures for the preceding fiscal year, all such financial information described above to be in reasonable form and detail and audited by independent certified public accountants of recognized national standing reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and whose opinion shall be to the effect that such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP (except for changes with which such accountants concur) and shall not be limited as to the scope of the audit or qualified in any manner.

(b)           Quarterly Financial Statements.  As soon as available, and in any event within 45 days after the close of each fiscal quarter of the Consolidated Parties (other than the fourth fiscal quarter, in which case 90 days after the end thereof) a consolidated and consolidating balance sheet and income statement of the Consolidated Parties, as of the end of such fiscal quarter, together with related consolidated and consolidating statements of operations and retained earnings and of cash flows for such fiscal quarter, in each case setting forth in comparative form consolidated and consolidating figures for the corresponding period of the preceding fiscal year, all such financial information described above to be in reasonable form and detail and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, and accompanied by a certificate of the chief financial officer of the Borrower to the effect that such quarterly financial statements fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Consolidated Parties and have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, subject to changes resulting from audit and normal year-end audit adjustments.

(c)           Officer’s Certificate.  At the time of delivery of the financial statements provided for in Sections 7.1(a) and 7.1(b) above, a certificate of the chief financial officer, president, treasurer or controller of the Borrower substantially in the form of Exhibit 7.1(c), (i) demonstrating compliance with the financial covenants contained in Section 7.11 by calculation thereof as of the end of each such fiscal period and (ii) stating that no Default or Event of Default exists, or if any Default or Event of Default does exist, specifying the nature and extent thereof and what action the Credit Parties propose to take with respect thereto (which delivery may, unless the Administrative Agent, or a Lender requests executed originals, be by electronic communication including fax or email and shall be deemed to be an original authentic counterpart thereof for all purposes).

(d)           [Reserved].

(e)           Auditor’s Reports.  Promptly upon receipt thereof, a copy of any other report or “management letter” submitted by independent accountants to any Consolidated Party in connection with any annual, interim or special audit of the books of such Person.

(f)           Reports.  Promptly upon transmission or receipt thereof, (i) copies of any filings and registrations with, and reports to or from, the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any successor agency, and copies of all financial statements, proxy statements, notices and reports as any Consolidated Party shall send to its shareholders or to a holder of any Indebtedness owed by any Consolidated Party in its capacity as such a holder and (ii) upon the request of the Administrative Agent, all material reports and written information to and from the United States Environmental Protection Agency, or any state or local agency responsible for environmental  matters, the United States Occupational Health and Safety Administration, or any state or local agency responsible for health and safety matters, or any successor agencies or authorities concerning environmental, health or safety matters.

(g)           Notices.  Upon obtaining knowledge thereof, the Credit Parties will give written notice to the Administrative Agent immediately of (i) the occurrence of an event or condition consisting of a Default or Event of Default, specifying the nature and existence thereof and what action the Credit Parties propose to take with respect thereto, and (ii) the occurrence of any of the following with respect to any Consolidated Party (A) the pendency or commencement of any litigation, arbitral or governmental proceeding against such Person which if adversely determined is likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, (B) the institution of any proceedings against such Person with respect to, or the receipt of notice by such Person of potential liability or responsibility for violation, or alleged violation of any federal, state or local law, rule or regulation, including but not limited to, Environmental Laws, the violation of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or (C) any notice or determination  concerning the imposition of any withdrawal liability by a Multiemployer Plan against such Person or any ERISA Affiliate, the determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, in reorganization within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA or the termination of any Plan.

(h)           ERISA.  Upon obtaining knowledge thereof, the Credit Parties will give written notice to the Administrative Agent promptly (and in any event within five business days) of: (i) of any event or condition, including, but not limited to, any Reportable Event, that constitutes, or might reasonably lead to, an ERISA Event; (ii) with respect to any Multiemployer Plan, the receipt of notice as prescribed in ERISA or otherwise of any withdrawal liability assessed against the Credit Parties or any ERISA Affiliates, or of a determination that any Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization or insolvent (both within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA); (iii) the failure to make full payment on or before the due date (including extensions) thereof of all amounts which any Consolidated Party or any ERISA Affiliate is required to contribute to each Single Employer Plan pursuant to its terms and as required to meet the minimum funding standard set forth in ERISA and the Code with respect thereto; or (iv) any change in the funding status of any Single Employer Plan that reasonably could be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, together with a description of any such event or condition or a copy of any such notice and a statement by the chief financial officer of the Borrower briefly setting forth the details regarding such event, condition, or notice, and the action, if any, which has been or is being taken or is proposed to be taken by the Credit Parties with respect thereto.  Promptly upon request, the Credit Parties shall furnish the Administrative Agent and the Lenders with such additional information concerning any Plan as may be reasonably requested, including, but not limited to, copies of each annual report/return (Form 5500 series), as well as all schedules and attachments thereto required to be filed with the Department of Labor and/or the Internal Revenue Service pursuant to ERISA and the Code, respectively, for each “plan year” (within the meaning of Section 3(39) of ERISA).

(i)           Other Information.  With reasonable promptness upon any such request, such other information regarding the business, properties or financial condition of any Consolidated Party as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may reasonably request.

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7.1(a), (b) or (f) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 11.1; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that: (i) the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent or any Lender upon its request to the Borrower to deliver such paper copies until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent or such Lender and (ii) the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender (by facsimile or electronic mail) of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents.  The Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery of or to maintain paper copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Borrower with any such request by a Lender for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such documents.

The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Arranger will make available to the Lenders and the Issuing Lender  materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks or another similar electronic system (the “Platform”) and (b) certain of the Lenders (each, a “Public Lender”) may have personnel who do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its Affiliates, or the respective securities of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such Persons’ securities.  The Borrower hereby agrees that (w) all Borrower Materials that are to be made available to Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Arranger, the Issuing Lender and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws (provided, however, that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 11.14); (y) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Side Information;” and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Arranger shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Side Information.”

7.2           Preservation of Existence and Franchises.

Each Credit Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, do all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence, rights, franchises and authority except where failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

7.3           Books and Records.

Each Credit Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, keep complete and accurate books and records of its transactions in accordance with good accounting practices on the basis of GAAP (including the establishment and maintenance of appropriate reserves).

7.4           Compliance with Law.

Each Credit Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, comply with all laws, rules, regulations and orders, and all applicable restrictions imposed by all Governmental Authorities, applicable to it and its Property if noncompliance with any such law, rule, regulation, order or restriction could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

7.5           Payment of Taxes and Other Indebtedness.

Each Credit Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, pay and discharge (a) all taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed upon it, or upon its income or profits, or upon any of its properties, before they shall become delinquent, (b) all lawful claims (including claims for labor, materials and supplies) which, if unpaid, might give rise to a Lien upon any of its properties, and (c) except as prohibited hereunder, all of its other Indebtedness as it shall become due; provided, however, that no Consolidated Party shall be required to pay any such tax, assessment, charge, levy, claim or Indebtedness which is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and as to which adequate reserves therefor have been established in accordance with GAAP, unless the failure to make any such payment could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

7.6           Insurance.

Each Credit Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, at all times maintain in full force and effect insurance, which may include self insurance (including worker’s compensation insurance, liability insurance, casualty insurance and business interruption insurance) in such amounts, covering such risks and liabilities and with such deductibles or self-insurance retentions as are in accordance with normal industry practice.

7.7           Maintenance of Property.

Each Credit Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain and preserve its properties and equipment material to the conduct of its business in good repair, working order and condition, normal wear and tear and casualty and condemnation excepted, and will make, or cause to be made, in such properties and equipment from time to time all repairs, renewals, replacements, extensions, additions, betterments and improvements thereto as may be needed or proper, to the extent and in the manner customary for companies in similar businesses except where failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

7.8           Performance of Obligations.

Except if the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, each Credit Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, perform in all material respects all of its obligations  under the terms of all material agreements, indentures, mortgages, security agreements or other debt instruments to which it is a party or by which it is bound.

7.9           Use of Proceeds.

The Borrower will use the proceeds of the Loans and will use the Letters of Credit solely for the purposes set forth in Section 6.14.

7.10           Audits/Inspections.

Upon reasonable notice and during normal business hours, each Credit Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, permit representatives appointed by the Administrative Agent, including, without limitation, independent accountants, agents, attorneys, and appraisers to visit and inspect its property, including its books and records, its accounts receivable and inventory, its facilities and its other business assets, and to make photocopies or photographs thereof and to write down and record any information such representative obtains and shall permit the Administrative Agent or its representatives to investigate and verify the accuracy of information provided to the Lenders and to discuss all such matters with the officers, employees and representatives of such Person; provided that absent the existence and continuation of an Event of Default, (a) the Administrative Agent shall not exercise such rights granted herein more often than two (2) times during any calendar year and (b) one (1) such time shall be at the Borrower’s expense.

7.11           Financial Covenants.

(a)           Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.  The Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, as of the last day of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower, shall be greater than or equal to 2.00 to 1.0.

(b)           Leverage Ratio.  The Leverage Ratio, as of the last day of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower, shall be less than or equal to 4.00 to 1.0.

7.12           Additional Guarantors.

As soon as practicable and in any event within 30 days after any Person becomes a Subsidiary of any Credit Party, the Borrower shall provide the Administrative Agent with written notice thereof setting forth information in reasonable detail describing all of the assets of such Person and shall if such Person is a Domestic Subsidiary of a Credit Party, cause such Person to execute a Joinder Agreement in substantially the same form as Exhibit 7.12 and cause such Person to deliver such other documentation as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request in connection with the foregoing, including, without limitation, certified resolutions and other organizational and authorizing documents of such Person, and favorable opinions of counsel to such Person all in form, content and scope reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

7.13           Environmental Laws.

(a)           The Consolidated Parties shall comply in all material respects with, and take reasonable actions to 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 take reasonable actions to 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 except to the extent that failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(b)           The Consolidated Parties shall 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 except to the extent that the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and the failure to do or the pendency of such proceedings would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

(c)           The Consolidated Parties shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and their respective employees, agents, officers and directors, from and against any and all claims, demands, penalties, fines, liabilities, settlements, damages, costs and expenses of whatever kind or nature known or unknown, contingent or otherwise, arising out of, or in any way relating to the violation of, noncompliance with or liability under, any Environmental Law applicable to the operations of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or the Properties, or any orders, requirements or demands of Governmental Authorities related thereto, including, without limitation, reasonable attorney’s and consultant’s fees, investigation and laboratory fees, response costs, court costs and litigation expenses, except to the extent that any of the foregoing arise out of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the party seeking indemnification therefor.  The agreements in this paragraph shall survive repayment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder, and termination of the Commitments.

Each Credit Party hereby covenants and agrees that, so long as this Credit Agreement is in effect or any amounts payable hereunder or under any other Credit Document shall remain outstanding, and until all of the Commitments hereunder shall have terminated:

8.1           Indebtedness.

The Credit Parties will not permit any of their Subsidiaries to contract, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness, except:

(a)           Indebtedness arising under this Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents;

(b)           purchase money Indebtedness (including obligations in respect of Capital Leases) hereafter incurred to finance the purchase of fixed assets provided that (i) the total of all such Indebtedness, together with all such Indebtedness of the Borrower secured by Liens permitted by clause (vi) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”, shall not exceed an aggregate principal amount of $50,000,000 at any one time outstanding; (ii) such Indebtedness when incurred shall not exceed the purchase price of the asset(s) financed; and (iii) no such Indebtedness shall be refinanced for a principal amount in excess of the principal balance outstanding thereon at the time of such refinancing;

(c)           Indebtedness set forth in Schedule 8.1 and any renewals, refinancings or extensions thereof (without increasing the amount thereof);

(d)           obligations in respect of Hedging Agreements entered into in order to manage existing or anticipated interest rate or exchange rate risks and not for speculative purposes;

(e)           intercompany Indebtedness arising out of loans, advances and Guaranty Obligations permitted under Section 8.6;

(f)           other Indebtedness, provided that the aggregate outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness shall not exceed the difference between (i) 10% of Consolidated Tangible Assets minus (ii) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness of the Borrower secured by Liens permitted by clause (xix) of the definition of Permitted Liens;

(g)           Permitted Government Revenue Bond Indebtedness; and

(h)           Indebtedness in respect of Sale and Leaseback Transactions permitted by Section 8.13.

8.2           Liens.

The Credit Parties will not permit any Consolidated Party to contract, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien with respect to any of its Property, whether now owned or after acquired, except for Permitted Liens.

8.3           Nature of Business.

The Credit Parties will not permit the Consolidated Parties taken as a whole to substantively alter the character or conduct of the business conducted by such Person as of the Closing Date.

8.4           Consolidation, Merger, Dissolution, etc.

The Credit Parties will not permit any Consolidated Party to enter into any transaction of merger or consolidation or liquidate, wind up or dissolve itself (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution); provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 8.4, (a) the Borrower may merge or consolidate with any of its Subsidiaries provided that (i) the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving corporation and (ii) after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists, (b) any Credit Party other than the Borrower may merge or consolidate with any other Credit Party other than the Borrower provided that after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists, (c) any Consolidated Party which is not a Credit Party may be merged or consolidated with or into any Credit Party provided that (i) such Credit Party shall be the continuing or surviving corporation and (ii) after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists, and (d) any Consolidated Party which is not a Credit Party may be merged or consolidated with or into any other Consolidated Party which is not a Credit Party provided that, after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists.

8.5           Asset Dispositions.

The Credit Parties will not permit any Consolidated Party to sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any Property other than (a) the sale of inventory in the ordinary course of business for fair consideration, (b) the sale or disposition of machinery and equipment no longer used or useful in the conduct of such Person’s business, (c) the sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of Property to any Credit Party in the ordinary course of business, (d) dispositions of assets to a Governmental Authority in connection with the granting of state or local tax or economic development incentives where the Borrower or a Subsidiary retains a leasehold interest in such property; provided, that (i) the use of such assets by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is not materially limited or restricted thereby and (ii) the Borrower or a Subsidiary has the right to reacquire such assets for nominal consideration, which shall include cancellation by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of any bond held by the Borrower or such Subsidiary related to Permitted Government Revenue Bond Indebtedness and (e) other sales of assets of the Consolidated Parties (including pursuant to Sale and Leaseback Transactions) having a net book value not to exceed $200,000,000 in the aggregate during the term of this Credit Agreement.

8.6           Investments.

The Credit Parties will not permit any Consolidated Party to make Investments in or to any Person, except for Permitted Investments.

8.7           Restricted Payments.

The Credit Parties will not permit any Consolidated Party to, directly or indirectly, declare, order, make or set apart any sum for or pay any Restricted Payment, except (a) to make dividends payable solely in the same class of Capital Stock of such Person, (b) to make dividends or other distributions payable to the Borrower (directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries) and (c) to make other Restricted Payments, so long as (i) the Leverage Ratio is less than 3.5 to 1.0 after giving effect to such Restricted Payment on a pro forma basis and (ii) no Default or Event of Default shall exist immediately prior to or after giving effect to such Restricted Payment.

If any Default or Event of Default exists, the Credit Parties will not permit any Consolidated Party to (a) after the issuance thereof, amend or modify (or permit the amendment or modification of) any of the terms of any Indebtedness if such amendment or modification would add or change any terms in a manner adverse to the issuer of such Indebtedness, or shorten the final maturity or average life to maturity or require any payment to be made sooner than originally scheduled or increase the interest rate applicable thereto or change any subordination provision thereof, or (b) make (or give any notice with respect thereto) any voluntary or optional payment or prepayment or redemption or acquisition for value of (including without limitation, by way of depositing money or securities with the trustee with respect thereto before due for the purpose of paying when due), refund, refinance or exchange of any other Indebtedness.

8.9           Transactions with Affiliates.

Except as set forth on Schedule 8.9, the Credit Parties will not permit any Consolidated Party to enter into or permit to exist any transaction or series of transactions with any officer, director, shareholder, Subsidiary or Affiliate of such Person other than (a) normal compensation and reimbursement of expenses of officers and directors and (b) except as otherwise specifically limited in this Credit Agreement, other transactions which are entered into in the ordinary course of such Person’s business on terms and conditions substantially as favorable to such Person as would be obtainable by it in a comparable arms-length transaction with a Person other than an officer, director, shareholder, Subsidiary or Affiliate.

8.10           Fiscal Year; Organizational Documents.

The Credit Parties will not permit any Consolidated Party to (a) change its fiscal year or (b) amend, modify or change its articles of incorporation (or corporate charter or other similar organizational document) or bylaws (or other similar document) in a manner that would adversely affect the rights of the Lenders.

8.11           Limitation on Restricted Actions.

The Credit Parties will not permit any Consolidated Party to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any such Person to (a) pay dividends or make any other distributions to any Credit Party on its Capital Stock or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, (b) pay any Indebtedness or other obligation owed to any Credit Party, (c) make loans or advances to any Credit Party, (d) sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to any Credit Party, or (e) act as a Guarantor and pledge its assets pursuant to the Credit Documents or any renewals, refinancings, exchanges, refundings or extension thereof, except (in respect of any of the matters referred to in clauses (a)-(d) above) for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of (i) this Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents, (ii) applicable law or (iii) any document or instrument governing purchase money Indebtedness (including Capital Leases) permitted by this Credit Agreement, provided that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets constructed or acquired in connection therewith.

8.12           Ownership of Subsidiaries.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Credit Agreement to the contrary, the Credit Parties will not permit any Consolidated Party to (i) permit any Person (other than the Borrower or any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower) to own any Capital Stock of any Subsidiary of the Borrower, (ii) permit any Subsidiary of the Borrower to issue Capital Stock (except to the Borrower or to a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower), (iii) permit, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien thereon, in each case except (A) to qualify directors where required by applicable law or to satisfy other requirements of applicable law with respect to the ownership of Capital Stock of Foreign Subsidiaries or (B) for Permitted Liens and (iv) notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in clause (ii) above, permit any Subsidiary of the Borrower to issue any shares of preferred Capital Stock.

8.13           Sale Leasebacks.

The Credit Parties will not permit any Consolidated Party to enter into any Sale and Leaseback Transactions except as permitted by Section 8.5(d).

8.14           No Further Negative Pledges.

The Credit Parties will not permit any Consolidated Party to enter into, assume or become subject to any agreement prohibiting or otherwise restricting the creation or assumption of any Lien upon its properties or assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or requiring the grant of any security for such obligation if security is given for some other obligation, except (a) pursuant to this Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents or (b) pursuant to any document or instrument governing purchase money Indebtedness (including Capital Leases) permitted by this Credit Agreement, provided that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets constructed or acquired in connection therewith.

9.1           Events of Default.

An Event of Default shall exist upon the occurrence of any of the following specified events (each an “Event of Default”):

(a)           Payment.  Any Credit Party shall

(i)           default in the payment when due of any principal of any of the Loans or of any reimbursement obligations arising from drawings under Letters of Credit, or

(ii)           default, and such default shall continue for three (3) or more Business Days, in the payment when due of any interest on the Loans or on any reimbursement obligations arising from drawings under Letters of Credit, or of any Fees or other amounts owing hereunder, under any of the other Credit Documents or in connection herewith or therewith; or

(b)           Representations.  Any representation, warranty or statement made or deemed to be made by any Credit Party herein, in any of the other Credit Documents, or in any statement or certificate delivered or required to be delivered pursuant hereto or thereto shall prove untrue in any material respect on the date as of which it was deemed to have been made; or

(c)           Covenants.  Any Credit Party shall

(i)           default in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or agreement contained in Sections 7.2, 7.4, 7.9, 7.11, 7.12 or Article VIII;

(ii)           default in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or agreement contained in Sections 7.1(a), (b), (c) or (d) and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of at least 5 days after the earlier of a Responsible Officer of a Credit Party becoming aware of such default or notice thereof by the Administrative Agent; or

(iii)           default in the due performance or observance by it of any term, covenant or agreement (other than those referred to in subsections (a), (b), (c)(i) or (c)(ii) of this Section 9.1) contained in this Credit Agreement and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of at least 30 days after the earlier of a Responsible Officer of a Credit Party becoming aware of such default or notice thereof by the Administrative Agent; or

(d)           Other Credit Documents.  (i) Any Credit Party shall default in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or agreement in any of the other Credit Documents (subject to applicable grace or cure periods, if any), or (ii) except as a result of or in connection with a merger of a Subsidiary permitted under Section 8.4, any Credit Document shall fail to be in full force and effect or to give the Administrative Agent and/or the Lenders the rights, powers and privileges purported to be created thereby, or any Credit Party shall so state in writing; or

(e)           Guaranties.  Except as the result of or in connection with a merger of a Subsidiary permitted under Section 8.4, the guaranty given by any Guarantor hereunder or any provision thereof shall cease to be in full force and effect, or any Guarantor hereunder or any Person acting by or on behalf of such Guarantor shall deny or disaffirm such Guarantor’s obligations under such guaranty, or any Guarantor shall default in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or agreement on its part to be performed or observed pursuant to any guaranty; or

(f)           Bankruptcy, etc.  Any Bankruptcy Event shall occur with respect to any Credit Party or Material Subsidiary; or

(g)           Defaults under Other Agreements.

(i)           Any Credit Party or Material Subsidiary shall default in the performance or observance (beyond the applicable grace period with respect thereto, if any) of any material obligation or condition of any contract or lease material to the Consolidated Parties, taken as a whole; or

(ii)           With respect to any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness outstanding under this Credit Agreement) in excess of $25,000,000 in the aggregate for the Consolidated Parties taken as a whole, (A) any Consolidated Party shall (1) default in any payment (beyond the applicable grace period with respect thereto, if any) with respect to any such Indebtedness, or (2) the occurrence and continuance of a default in the observance or performance relating to such Indebtedness or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event or condition shall occur or condition exist, the effect of which default or other event or condition is to cause, or permit, the holder or holders of such Indebtedness (or trustee or agent on behalf of such holders) to cause (determined without regard to whether any notice or lapse of time is required), any such Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity; or (B) any such Indebtedness shall be declared due and payable, or required to be prepaid other than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment, prior to the stated maturity thereof; or

(h)           Judgments.  One or more judgments or decrees shall be entered against one or more of the Consolidated Parties involving a liability of $25,000,000 or more in the aggregate (to the extent not paid or fully covered by insurance provided by a carrier who has acknowledged coverage and has the ability to perform) and any such judgments or decrees shall not have been vacated, discharged or stayed or bonded pending appeal within 30 days from the entry thereof; or

(i)           ERISA.  Any of the following events or conditions, if such event or condition could have a Material Adverse Effect:  (i)  any Single Employer Plan shall be deemed to be in “at risk status” as defined in Section 430(i) of the Code or any Multiemployer Plan shall be deemed to be in “critical” or endangered” status as defined in Section 431 of the Code; (ii) any lien shall arise on the assets of any Consolidated Party or any ERISA Affiliate in favor of the PBGC or a Single Employer Plan; (iii) an ERISA Event shall occur with respect to a Single Employer Plan, which is, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent, likely to result in the termination of such Single Employer Plan for purposes of Title IV of ERISA; (iv) an ERISA Event shall occur with respect to a Multiemployer Plan or Multiple Employer Plan, which is, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent, likely to result in (A) the termination of such Multiemployer Plan or Multiple Employer Plan for purposes of Title IV of ERISA, or (B) any Consolidated Party or any ERISA Affiliate incurring any liability in connection with a withdrawal from, reorganization of (within the meaning of Section 4241 of ERISA), or insolvency or (within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA) such Multiemployer Plan or Multiple Employer Plan; or (v) any prohibited transaction (within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) or breach of fiduciary responsibility shall occur which may subject any Consolidated Party or any ERISA Affiliate to any liability under Sections 406, 409, 502(i), or 502(l) of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, or under any agreement or other instrument pursuant to which any Consolidated Party or any ERISA Affiliate has agreed or is required to indemnify any person against any such liability; or

(j)           Invalidity of Credit Documents.  Any material provision of any Credit Document, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder or satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect; or any Credit Party or any other Person contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any provision of any Credit Document; or any Credit Party denies that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Credit Document, or purports to revoke, terminate, or rescind any provision of any Credit Document.

9.2           Acceleration; Remedies.

Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, and at any time thereafter unless and until such Event of Default has been waived by the requisite Lenders (pursuant to the voting requirements of Section 11.6) or cured to the satisfaction of the requisite Lenders (pursuant to the voting procedures in Section 11.6), the Administrative Agent shall, upon the request and direction of the Required Lenders, by written notice to the Credit Parties, take any of the following actions:

(a)           Termination of Commitments.  Declare the Commitments terminated whereupon the Commitments shall be immediately terminated.

(b)           Acceleration.  Declare the unpaid principal of and any accrued interest in respect of all Loans, any reimbursement obligations arising from drawings under Letters of Credit and any and all other indebtedness or obligations of any and every kind owing by the Credit Parties to the Administrative Agent and/or any of the Lenders hereunder to be due whereupon the same shall be immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Credit Parties.

(c)           Cash Collateral.  Direct the Credit Parties to pay (and the Credit Parties agree that upon receipt of such notice, or upon the occurrence of an Event of Default under Section 9.1(f), they will immediately pay) to the Administrative Agent additional cash, to be held by the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, in a cash collateral account as additional security for the LOC Obligations in respect of subsequent drawings under all then outstanding Letters of Credit in an amount equal to the maximum aggregate amount which may be drawn under all Letters of Credits then outstanding.

(d)           Enforcement of Rights.  Enforce any and all rights and interests created and existing under the Credit Documents including, without limitation, all rights and remedies against a Guarantor and all rights of set-off.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default specified in Section 9.1(f) shall occur with respect to the Borrower, then the Commitments shall automatically terminate and all Loans, all reimbursement obligations arising from drawings under Letters of Credit, all accrued interest in respect thereof, all accrued and unpaid Fees and other indebtedness or obligations owing to the Administrative Agent and/or any of the Lenders hereunder automatically shall immediately become due and payable without the giving of any notice or other action by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders.

 

9.3           Allocation of Payments After Acceleration.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Credit Agreement to the contrary, after the acceleration of the Credit Party Obligations pursuant to Section 9.2, all amounts collected or received by the Administrative Agent or any Lender on account of the Credit Party Obligations or any other amounts outstanding under any of the Credit Documents or in respect of the Collateral shall be paid over or delivered as follows:

FIRST, to the payment of all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees) of the Administrative Agent in connection with enforcing the rights of the Lenders under the Credit Documents;

SECOND, to payment of any fees owed to the Administrative Agent;

THIRD, to the payment of all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees) of each of the Lenders in connection with enforcing its rights under the Credit Documents or otherwise with respect to the Credit Party Obligations owing to such Lender;

FOURTH, to the payment of all of the Credit Party Obligations consisting of accrued fees and interest;

FIFTH, to the payment of the outstanding principal amount of the Credit Party Obligations (including the payment or cash collateralization of the outstanding LOC Obligations);

SIXTH, to all other Credit Party Obligations and other obligations which shall have become due and payable under the Credit Documents or otherwise and not repaid pursuant to clauses “FIRST” through “FIFTH” above; and

SEVENTH, to the payment of the surplus, if any, to whoever may be lawfully entitled to receive such surplus.

In carrying out the foregoing, (i) amounts received shall be applied in the numerical order provided until exhausted prior to application to the next succeeding category; (ii) each of the Lenders shall receive an amount equal to its pro rata share (based on the proportion that the then outstanding Loans and LOC Obligations held by such Lender bears to the aggregate then outstanding Loans and LOC Obligations) of amounts available to be applied pursuant to clauses “THIRD”, “FOURTH”, “FIFTH” and “SIXTH” above; and (iii) to the extent that any amounts available for distribution pursuant to clause “FIFTH” above are attributable to the issued but undrawn amount of outstanding Letters of Credit, such amounts shall be held by the Administrative Agent in a cash collateral account and applied (A) first, to reimburse the Issuing Lender from time to time for any drawings under such Letters of Credit and (B) then, following the expiration of all Letters of Credit, to all other obligations of the types described in clauses “FIFTH” and “SIXTH” above in the manner provided in this Section 9.3.

10.1           Appointment and Authorization of Administrative Agent.

(a)           Each Lender hereby irrevocably appoints Bank of America to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Credit Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf under the provisions of this Credit Agreement and each other Credit Document and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are delegated to it by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.  The provisions of this Article X are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender and the Lenders, and neither the Borrower nor any other Credit Party shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.

10.2           Rights as a Lender.

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

10.3           Delegation of Duties.

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

10.4           Exculpatory Provisions.

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

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

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

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

The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 11.6 and 9.2) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct.  The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default unless and until notice describing such Default or Event of Default is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, a Lender or the Issuing Lender.

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

10.5           Reliance by Administrative Agent.

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

10.6           Resignation of Administrative Agent.

The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the Issuing Lender and the Borrower.  Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrower, to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States.  If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above; provided that if the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (a) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Credit Documents and (b) all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above in this Section.  Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Credit Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section).  The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor.  After the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Credit Documents, the provisions of this Section and Section 11.5 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent.

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

 

10.7           Non-Reliance by Administrative Agent and Other Lenders.

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

10.8           No Other Duties, Etc.

Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the bookrunners, arrangers, syndication agents, documentation agents or co-agents shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Credit Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender or the Issuing Lender hereunder.

10.9           Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim.

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

(a)           to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, LOC Obligations and all other Credit Party Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under Sections 3.5 and 11.5 allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

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

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 3.5 and 11.5.

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

10.10           Guaranty Matters.

The Lenders irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion, to release any Guarantor from its obligations hereunder if such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary as a result of a transaction permitted hereunder.  Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release any Guarantor from its obligations hereunder pursuant to this Section 10.10.

11.1           Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communications.

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

(i)           if to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender or the Swingline Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 11.1; and

(ii)           if to any other Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire (including, as appropriate, notices delivered solely to the Person designated by a Lender on its Administrative Questionnaire then in effect for the delivery of notices that may contain material non-public information relating to the Borrower).

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

(b)           Electronic Communications.  Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the Issuing Lender hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or the Issuing Lender pursuant to Article II, Section 3.3 and Section 3.13 if such Lender or Issuing Lender has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Sections by electronic communication.  The Administrative Agent or the Borrower (on behalf of itself and the other Credit Parties) may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

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

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

(d)           Reliance by Administrative Agent, Issuing Lender and Lenders. The Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Notices of Borrowing and Swingline Loan Requests) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof.  The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower.  All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

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

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

11.2           Right of Set-Off.

Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, each Lender (and each of its Affiliates) is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other indebtedness at any time owing by such Lender (or any of its Affiliates) to or for the credit or the account of any Credit Party against any and all of the obligations of such Person now or hereafter existing under this Credit Agreement, under the Notes, under any other Credit Document or otherwise, irrespective of whether such Lender shall have made any demand under hereunder or thereunder and although such obligations may be unmatured.  Each Lender agrees promptly to notify any affected Credit Party after any such set-off and application made by such Lender; provided, however, that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application.  The rights of each Lender under this Section 11.2 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including, without limitation, other rights of set-off) that such Lender may have.

11.3           Successors and Assigns.

(a)           Successors and Assigns Generally.  The provisions of this Credit Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender, and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.3(b), (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.3(d), or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of Section 11.3(f) (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void).  Nothing in this Credit Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in subsection (d) of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Credit Agreement.

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

(i)           Minimum Amounts.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(D)           the consent of the Swingline Lender (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment in respect of the Revolving Commitments.

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

(v)           No Assignment to Certain Persons.  No such assignment shall be made to (A) the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries, (B) any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (B), or (C) a natural person.

(vi)           Certain Additional Payments.  In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or subparticipations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon) and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans and Participation Interests in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under applicable law without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Credit Agreement until such compliance occurs.

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Credit Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Credit 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 Credit Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Credit Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.6, 3.11, 3.12 and 11.5 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment).  Upon request, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender.  Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Credit Agreement that does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Credit Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with Section 11.3(d).

(c)           Register.  The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower (and such agency being solely for tax purposes), shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts of the Loans and LOC Obligations owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”).  The entries in the Register shall be presumed correct (absent manifest error), and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Credit Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary.  In addition, the Administrative Agent shall maintain on the Register information regarding the designation, and revocation of designation, of any Lender as a Defaulting Lender.  The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

(d)           Participations.  Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person, a Defaulting Lender or the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Credit Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans (including such Lender’s participations in LOC Obligations and/or Swingline Loans) owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Credit Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender 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 Credit Agreement.  Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Credit Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Credit Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to Section 11.6 that directly affects such Participant.  Subject to subsection (e) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.6, 3.11 and 3.12 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section 11.3(b).  To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 11.2 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 3.14 as though it were a Lender.

(e)           Limitations upon Participant Rights.  A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 3.6 or 3.11 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent.  A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 3.11 unless the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 3.11(d) as though it were a Lender.

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

(g)           Resignation as Issuing Lender or Swingline Lender after Assignment.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if at any time Bank of America assigns all of its Revolving Commitments and Revolving Loans pursuant to Section 11.3(b), Bank of America may, (i) upon 30 days’ notice to the Borrower and the Lenders, resign as Issuing Lender and/or (ii) upon 30 days’ notice to the Borrower, resign as Swingline Lender.  In the event of any such resignation as Issuing Lender or Swingline Lender, the Borrower shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a successor Issuing Lender or Swingline Lender hereunder; provided, however, that no failure by the Borrower to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of Bank of America as Issuing Lender or Swingline Lender, as the case may be.  If Bank of America resigns as Issuing Lender, it shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the Issuing Lender hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit and Bankers’ Acceptances outstanding and all Bankers’ Acceptances issuable under any Acceptance Credits outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as Issuing Lender and all LOC Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund Participation Interests in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.2(c)).  If Bank of America resigns as Swingline Lender, it shall retain all the rights of the Swingline Lender provided for hereunder with respect to Swingline Loans made by it and outstanding as of the effective date of such resignation, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund Participation Interests in outstanding Swingline Loans pursuant to Section 2.3.  Upon the appointment of a successor Issuing Lender and/or Swingline Lender, (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Issuing Lender or Swingline Lender, as the case may be, and (b) the successor Issuing Lender shall issue letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances in substitution for the Letters of Credit and Bankers’ Acceptances, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to Bank of America to effectively assume the obligations of Bank of America with respect to such Letters of Credit and Bankers’ Acceptances.

11.4           No Waiver; Remedies Cumulative; Enforcement.

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

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Credit Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Credit Documents against the Credit Parties or any of them shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 9.2 for the benefit of all the Lenders and the Issuing Lender; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Credit Documents, (b) the Issuing Lender or the Swingline Lender from exercising the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Issuing Lender or Swingline Lender, as the case may be) hereunder and under the other Credit Documents, (c) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 11.2 (subject to the terms of Section 3.14), or (d) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to any Credit Party under the Bankruptcy Code or any other debtor relief law; and provided, further, that if at any time there is no Person acting as Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Credit Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.2 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b), (c) and (d) of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 3.14, any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders.

 

11.5           Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

(a)           The Credit Parties jointly and severally agree to pay on demand all reasonable costs and expenses of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender and their Affiliates in connection with the syndication, preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, and amendment of this Credit Agreement, the other Credit Documents, and the other documents to be delivered hereunder, including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel with respect thereto and with respect to advising the Administrative Agent as to its rights and responsibilities under the Credit Documents.  The Credit Parties further jointly and severally agree to pay on demand all costs and expenses of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender and the Lenders, if any (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses), in connection with the enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings, or otherwise) of the Credit Documents and the other documents to be delivered hereunder.

(b)           The Credit Parties jointly and severally agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender and the Issuing Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each, an “Indemnified Party”) from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees) that may be incurred by or asserted or awarded against any Indemnified Party, in each case arising out of or in connection with or by reason of (including, without limitation, in connection with any investigation, litigation, or proceeding or preparation of defense in connection therewith) the Credit Documents, any of the transactions contemplated herein or the actual or proposed use of the proceeds of the Loans (including any of the foregoing arising from the negligence of the Indemnified Party), except to the extent such claim, damage, loss, liability, cost, or expense is found in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from such Indemnified Party’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.  In the case of an investigation, litigation or other proceeding to which the indemnity in this Section 11.5 applies, such indemnity shall be effective whether or not such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by any of the Credit Parties, their respective directors, shareholders or creditors or an Indemnified Party or any other Person or any Indemnified Party is otherwise a party thereto and whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated.  The Credit Parties agree not to assert any claim against any Indemnified Party on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential, or punitive damages arising out of or otherwise relating to the Credit Documents, any of the transactions contemplated herein or the actual or proposed use of the proceeds of the Loans.  No Indemnified Party shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed to such unintended recipients by such Indemnified Party through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Credit Agreement or the other Credit Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby other than for direct or actual damages resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnified Party as determined by a final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

(c)           Reimbursement by Lenders.  To the extent that the Borrower for any reason fails to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), the Issuing Lender or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), the Issuing Lender or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount, provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or the Issuing Lender in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or Issuing Lender in connection with such capacity.  The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 3.13(b).

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

(e)           Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreement of the Credit Parties hereunder, the agreements and obligations of the Credit Parties contained in this Section 11.5 shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender and the Swingline Lender, the replacement of any Lender, the repayment of the Loans, LOC Obligations and other obligations under the Credit Documents and the termination of the Commitments hereunder.

11.6           Amendments, Waivers and Consents.

Neither this Credit Agreement nor any other Credit Document nor any of the terms hereof or thereof may be amended, changed, waived, discharged or terminated unless such amendment, change, waiver, discharge or termination is in writing entered into by, or approved in writing by, the Required Lenders and the Borrower, provided, however,

(a)           that neither this Credit Agreement nor any other Credit Document may be amended to:

(i)           extend the final maturity of any Loan or of any reimbursement obligation, or any portion thereof, arising from drawings under Letters of Credit without the written consent of each Lender whose such final maturity is being extended or increased,

(ii)           reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest (other than as a result of waiving the applicability of any post-default increase in interest rates) thereon or Fees hereunder without the written consent of each Lender entitled to receive such payment,

(iii)           reduce or waive the principal amount of any Loan or of any reimbursement obligation, or any portion thereof, arising from drawings under Letters of Credit without the written consent of each Lender entitled to receive such amount,

(iv)           increase the Commitment of a Lender over the amount thereof in effect without the written consent of such Lender whose Commitment is being increased (it being understood and agreed that a waiver of any Default or Event of Default or mandatory reduction in the Commitments shall not constitute a change in the terms of any Commitment of any Lender),

(v)           release the Borrower or, except in a transaction permitted under Section 8.4 or Section 8.5, substantially all of the other Credit Parties from its or their obligations under the Credit Documents without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby,

(vi)           amend, modify or waive any provision of this Section 11.6(a) or Section 3.14 without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby,

(vii)           reduce any percentage specified in, or otherwise modify, the definition of Required Lenders without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby, or

(viii)           consent to the assignment or transfer by the Borrower or all or substantially all of the other Credit Parties of any of its or their rights and obligations under (or in respect of) the Credit Documents except as permitted thereby without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;

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

(c)           unless also signed by the Issuing Lender, no amendment, waiver or consent shall affect the rights or duties of the Issuing Lender under this Credit Agreement or any Letter of Credit Application or other document relating to any Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance issued or to be issued by it; and

(d)           unless also signed by the Swingline Lender, no amendment, waiver or consent shall affect the rights or duties of the Swingline Lender under this Credit Agreement.

Notwithstanding the fact that the consent of all the Lenders is required in certain circumstances as set forth above, (x) each Lender is entitled to vote as such Lender sees fit on any bankruptcy reorganization plan that affects the Loans, and each Lender acknowledges that the provisions of Section 1126(c) of the Bankruptcy Code supersedes the unanimous consent provisions set forth herein and (y) the Required Lenders may consent to allow a Credit Party to use cash collateral in the context of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders), except that (x) the Commitment of any Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender and (y) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms affects any Defaulting Lender more adversely than other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender.

11.7           Counterparts.

This Credit Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument.  It shall not be necessary in making proof of this Credit Agreement to produce or account for more than one such counterpart for each of the parties hereto.  Delivery by facsimile by any of the parties hereto of an executed counterpart of this Credit Agreement shall be as effective as an original executed counterpart hereof.

11.8           Headings.

The headings of the sections and subsections hereof are provided for convenience only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or construction of any provision of this Credit Agreement.

11.9           Survival of Representations and Warranties.

All indemnities set forth herein and all representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Credit Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery of this Credit Agreement, the making of the Loans, the issuance of the Letters of Credit, the repayment of the Loans, LOC Obligations and other obligations and the termination of the Commitments hereunder.  Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or Event of Default at the time of any extension of credit hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Credit Party Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied or any Letter of Credit or Bankers’ Acceptance shall remain outstanding.

11.10           Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Venue.

(a)           THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT AND, UNLESS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY PROVIDED THEREIN, THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER AND THEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.  Any legal action or proceeding with respect to this Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document may be brought in the courts of the State of New York, or of the United States located in the State of New York, and, by execution and delivery of this Credit Agreement, each of the Credit Parties hereby irrevocably accepts for itself and in respect of its property, generally and unconditionally, the nonexclusive jurisdiction of such courts.  Each of the Credit Parties further irrevocably consents to the service of process out of any of the aforementioned courts in any such action or proceeding by the mailing of copies thereof by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, to it at the address set out for notices pursuant to Section 11.1, such service to become effective three (3) days after such mailing.  Nothing herein shall affect the right of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to serve process in any other manner permitted by law or to commence legal proceedings or to otherwise proceed against any Credit Party in any other jurisdiction.

(b)           Each of the Credit Parties hereby irrevocably waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any of the aforesaid actions or proceedings arising out of or in connection with this Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document brought in the courts referred to in subsection (a) above and hereby further irrevocably waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

(c)           EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).  EACH PARTY HERETO (I) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (II) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

11.11           Severability.

If any provision of any of the Credit Documents is determined to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be fully severable and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect and shall be construed without giving effect to the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions.  Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 11.11, if and to the extent that the enforceability of any provisions in this Credit Agreement relating to Defaulting Lenders shall be limited by bankruptcy or debtor relief laws, as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender or the Swingline Lender, as applicable, then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent not so limited.

11.12           Entirety.

This Credit Agreement together with the other Credit Documents represent the entire agreement of the parties hereto and thereto, and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, if any, including any commitment letters or correspondence relating to the Credit Documents or the transactions contemplated herein and therein.

11.13           Binding Effect; Termination.

(a)           This Credit Agreement shall become effective at such time when all of the conditions set forth in Section 5.1 have been satisfied or waived by the Lenders and it shall have been executed by each Credit Party and the Administrative Agent, and the Administrative Agent shall have received copies hereof (telefaxed or otherwise) which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each Lender, and thereafter this Credit Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of each Credit Party, the Administrative Agent and each Lender and their respective successors and assigns.

(b)           The term of this Credit Agreement shall be until no Loans, LOC Obligations or any other amounts payable hereunder or under any of the other Credit Documents shall remain outstanding, no Letters of Credit shall be outstanding, all of the Credit Party Obligations have been irrevocably satisfied in full and all of the Commitments hereunder shall have expired or been terminated.

11.14           Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality.

Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Lender agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates’ respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, advisors and representatives (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Credit Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Credit Agreement or any Eligible Assignee invited to become a Lender pursuant to Section 3.4(c) or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Borrower and its obligations, (g) with the consent of the Borrower or (h) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the Issuing Lender or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower.

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

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

11.15           Use of Sources.

Each of the Lenders hereby represents and warrants to the Borrower that at least one of the following statements is an accurate representation as to the course of funds to be used by such lender in connection with the financing hereunder:

(a)           no part of such funds constitutes assets allocated to any separate account maintained by such lender in which any employee benefit plan (or its related trust) has any interest;

(b)           to the extent that any part of such funds constitutes assets allocated to any separate account maintained by such lender, such Lender has disclosed to the Borrower the name of each employee benefit plan whose assets in such account exceed 10% of the total assets of such account as of the date of such purchase (and, for purposes of this subsection (b), all employee benefit plans maintained by the same employer or employee organization are deemed to be a single plan;

(c)           to the extent that any part of such funds constitutes assets of an insurance company’s general account, such insurance company has complied with all of the requirements of the regulations issued under Section 401(e)(a)(A) of ERISA; or

(d)           such funds constitute assets of one or more specific benefit plans which such Lender has identified in writing to the Borrower.

As used in this Section 11.15, the terms “employee benefit plan” and “separate account” shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in Section 3 of ERISA.

11.16           Conflict.

To the extent that there is a conflict or inconsistency between any provision hereof, on the one hand, and any provision of any Credit Document, on the other hand, this Credit Agreement shall control.

 

11.17           US PATRIOT Act Notice.

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

 

11.18           No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.

In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Credit Document), the Borrower and each other Credit Party acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that: (i) (A) the arranging and other services regarding this Credit Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent and the Arranger are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Borrower, each other Credit Party and their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Arranger, on the other hand, (B) each of the Borrower and the other Credit Parties has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) the Borrower and each other Credit Party is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Credit Documents; (ii) (A) the Administrative Agent and the Arranger each is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Borrower, any other Credit Party or any of their respective Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) neither the Administrative Agent nor the Arranger has any obligation to the Borrower, any other Credit Party or any of their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Credit Documents; and (iii) the Administrative Agent and the Arranger and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower, the other Credit Parties and their respective Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent nor the Arranger has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower, any other Credit Party or any of their respective Affiliates.  To the fullest extent permitted by law, each of the Borrower and the other Credit Parties hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent and the Arranger with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

 

11.19           Replacement of Lenders.

If, from time to time, (i) any Lender requests compensation under Sections 3.6 and 3.9, (ii) any Lender gives notice pursuant to Section 3.8, (iii) the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.11, (iv) a Lender (a “Non-Consenting Lender”) does not consent to a proposed change, waiver, discharge or termination with respect to any Credit Document that has been approved by the Required Lenders as provided in Section 11.6 but requires unanimous consent of all Lenders or all Lenders directly affected thereby (as applicable), or (v) any Lender or the Issuing Lender is a Defaulting Lender, then the Borrower shall have the right to replace such Lender (the “Replaced Lender”) with one or more additional banks or financial institutions (collectively, the “Replacement Lender”), upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 11.3) and, in connection with such replacement, all of the Replaced Lender’s interests, rights and obligations under this Credit Agreement and the related Credit Documents shall be assigned and delegated to the Replacement Lender, provided that:

(a)           the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee specified in Section 11.3(b);

(b)           the Replaced Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and L/C Advances, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Credit Documents (including any amounts under Section 3.12) from the Replacement Lender (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);

(c)           in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Sections 3.6 and 3.9, receipt of a notice pursuant to Section 3.8 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.11, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter or elimination of the need for such notice;

(d)           such assignment does not conflict with applicable Requirements of Law; and

(e)           in the case of any such assignment resulting from a Non-Consenting Lender’s failure to consent to a proposed change, waiver, discharge or termination with respect to any Credit Document, the Replacement Lender consents to the proposed change, waiver, discharge or termination;

 

provided that the failure by the Replaced Lender to execute and deliver an Assignment and Assumption shall not impair the validity of the removal of the Replaced Lender and the mandatory assignment of such Lender’s Commitments and outstanding Loans and participations in LOC Obligations and Swingline Loans pursuant to this Section 11.19 shall nevertheless be effective without the execution by the Replaced Lender of an Assignment and Assumption.

 

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

If the Issuing Lender is a Defaulting Lender, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to the Issuing Lender and the Administrative Agent, require the Issuing Lender to resign as Issuing Lender, provided that (i) such resigning Issuing Lender shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the Issuing Lender hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as Issuing Lender and all LOC Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund Participation Interests in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.2(c)) and (ii) a successor Issuing Lender shall have been appointed and such successor Issuing Lender shall have issued letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such resignation or make other arrangements satisfactory to the resigning Issuing Lender to effectively assume the obligations of such resigning Issuing Lender with respect to such Letters of Credit.  The Issuing Lender shall not be required to resign if, prior thereto, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such resignation cease to apply.

 

11.20           Interest Rate Limitation.

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

 

11.21           Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents.

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

[Signature Page to Follow]

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused a counterpart of this Credit Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.

                                                               

 

[Signatures continue.]

 

 

 

 

 

[Signatures continue.]

 

 

 

	[INSERT LENDERS]
	By:
	Name:
	Title:

 

 

[Signatures end.]

 

 

 

TO:	BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent
RE:	Credit Agreement dated as of October 24, 2011 among Tractor Supply Company (the “Borrower”), the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Lenders party thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent (as the same may be amended, modified, extended or restated from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”)
DATE:	_____________, ______

 

1.           This Notice of Borrowing is made pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement.  All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings provided in the Credit Agreement.

2.           Please be advised that the Borrower is requesting Revolving Loans in the amount of $_____________ to be funded on ____________, _____ at the interest rate option set forth in paragraph 3 below.  Subsequent to the funding of the requested Revolving Loan, the aggregate amount of Revolving Obligations outstanding will be $________________ which is less than or equal to the Revolving Committed Amount.

3.           The interest rate option applicable to the requested Revolving Loans shall be:

(a)           ________                      the Adjusted Base Rate

(b)           ________                      the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate for an Interest Period of:

________ one month

________ two months

________ three months

________ six months

4.           The representations and warranties set forth in Article VI of the Credit Agreement (other than Sections 6.2 and 6.8 of the Credit Agreement) are, subject to the limitations set forth in the Credit Agreement, true and correct in all material respects at and as if made on the date of the requested Revolving Loans except to the extent they expressly relate to an earlier date.

5.           No Default or Event of Default exists or shall be continuing either prior to or after giving effect to the Revolving Loans made pursuant to this Notice of Borrowing.

6.           The Borrower has complied in all respects with Section 2.1 of the Credit Agreement, in requesting the Revolving Loan referenced in this Notice of Borrowing.

 

 

 

	TRACTOR SUPPLY COMPANY, a Delaware corporation
	By:
	Name:
	Title:

 

     

 

 

_____________, ____

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, TRACTOR SUPPLY COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), hereby promises to pay to the order of ____________________ (the “Lender”), at the office of Bank of America, N.A. (the “Administrative Agent”), as set forth in that certain Credit Agreement (as it may be amended, modified, extended or restated from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), dated as of October 24, 2011 among the Borrower, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Lenders party thereto (including the Lender) and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent (or at such other place or places as the holder of this Revolving Note may designate), the principal sum of such Lender’s Revolving Commitment or, if less, the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Revolving Loans made by the Lender to the Borrower, together with interest thereon at the rates per annum and on the dates provided in the Credit Agreement.

This Note is one of the Revolving Notes referred to in the Credit Agreement and evidences Revolving Loans made by the Lender thereunder.  All capitalized terms used in this Revolving Note and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings provided in the Credit Agreement and the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement are expressly incorporated herein and made a part hereof.

The Credit Agreement provides for the acceleration of the maturity of the Revolving Loans evidenced by this Revolving Note upon the occurrence of certain events (and for payment of collection costs in connection therewith) and for prepayments of Revolving Loans upon the terms and conditions specified therein.  In the event this Revolving Note is not paid when due at any stated or accelerated maturity, the Borrower agrees to pay, in addition to principal and interest, all costs of collection, including reasonable attorney fees.

The date, amount, type, interest rate and duration of Interest Period (if applicable) of each Revolving Loan made by the Lender to the Borrower, and each payment made on account of the principal thereof, shall be recorded by the Lender on its books; provided that the failure of the Lender to make any such recordation or endorsement shall not affect the obligations of the Borrower to make a payment when due of any amount owing hereunder or under this Revolving Note in respect of the Revolving Loans to be evidenced by this Revolving Note, and each such recordation or endorsement shall be prima facie evidence of such information, absent manifest error.

Except as permitted by Section 11.3(b) of the Credit Agreement, this Revolving Note may not be assigned by the Lender to any other Person.

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

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrower has caused this Revolving Note to be executed as of the date first above written.

 

             

 

 

 

1.           This Swingline Loan Request is made pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement.  All capitalized terms used herein unless otherwise defined shall have the meanings provided in the Credit Agreement.

2.           Please be advised that the Borrower is requesting a Swingline Loan in the amount of $__________ to be funded on ____________, 20__.

3.           Subsequent to the funding of the requested Swingline Loan, (a) the aggregate amount of Revolving Obligations outstanding will be $______________, which is less than or equal to the Revolving Committed Amount and (b) the aggregate amount of Swingline Loans outstanding will be $______________, which is less than or equal to the Swingline Sublimit.

4.           The representations and warranties set forth in Article VI of the Credit Agreement (other than Sections 6.2 and 6.8 of the Credit Agreement) are, subject to the limitations set forth in the Credit Agreement, true and correct in all material respects at and as if made on the date of the requested Swingline Loan except to the extent they expressly relate to an earlier date.

5.           No Default or Event of Default exists or shall be continuing either prior to or after giving effect to the Revolving Loans made pursuant to this Swingline Loan Request.

6.           The Borrower has complied in all respects with Section 2.3 of the Credit Agreement, in requesting the Swingline Loan referenced in this Swingline Loan Request.

    

                                                                                                                                                 ______________, ____

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, TRACTOR SUPPLY COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), hereby promises to pay to the order of Bank of America, N.A. (the “Swingline Lender”) and its registered assigns, at the office of Bank of America, N.A. (the “Administrative Agent”) as set forth in that certain Credit Agreement dated as of October 24, 2011 between the Borrower, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Lenders party thereto (including the Swingline Lender) and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent (as modified and supplemented and in effect from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), the principal amount of the Swingline Sublimit (or such lesser amount as shall equal the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Swingline Loans made by the Swingline Lender to the Borrower under the Credit Agreement), in Dollars and in immediately available funds, on the dates and in the principal amounts provided in the Credit Agreement, and to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each such Swingline Loan, at such office, in like money and funds, for the period commencing on the date of such Swingline Loan until such Swingline Loan shall be paid in full, at the rates per annum and on the dates provided in the Credit Agreement.

This Note is the Swingline Note referred to in the Credit Agreement and evidences the Swingline Loans made by the Swingline Lender thereunder.  All capitalized terms used in this Swingline Note and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings provided in the Credit Agreement and the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement are expressly incorporated herein and made a part hereof.

The Credit Agreement provides for the acceleration of the maturity of the Swingline Loans evidenced by this Swingline Note upon the occurrence of certain events (and for payment of collection costs in connection therewith) and for prepayments of such Swingline Loans upon the terms and conditions specified therein.  In the event this Swingline Note is not paid when due at any stated or accelerated maturity, the Borrower agrees to pay, in addition to the principal and interest, all costs of collection, including reasonable attorney fees.

The date, amount, type and interest rate of the Swingline Loans made by the Swingline Lender to the Borrower, and each payment made on account of the principal thereof, shall be recorded by the Swingline Lender on its books; provided that the failure of the Swingline Lender to make any such recordation or endorsement shall not affect the obligations of the Borrower to make a payment when due of any amount owing hereunder or under this Swingline Note in respect of the Swingline Loans to be evidenced by this Swingline Note, and each such recordation or endorsement shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error.

This Swingline Note and the Swingline Loans evidenced hereby may be transferred in whole or in part only as provided in Section 11.3(b) of the Credit Agreement and by registration of such transfer on the Register maintained for such purpose by or on behalf of the Borrower as provided in Section 11.3(c) of the Credit Agreement.

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

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrower has caused this Swingline Note to be executed as of the date first above written.

 

1.           This Notice of Extension/Conversion is made pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement.  All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings provided in the Credit Agreement.

2.           Please be advised that the Borrower is requesting that a portion of the current outstanding Revolving Loans in the amount of $________ currently accruing interest at ______ be extended or converted as of ___________ at the interest rate option set forth in paragraph 3 below.

3.           The interest rate option applicable to the extension or conversion of all or part of the existing Revolving Loans (as set forth above) shall be:

(a)                      _____the Adjusted Base Rate

(b)                      _____    the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate for an Interest Period of:

_____ one month

_____ two months

_____ three months

_____ six months

4.           The representations and warranties set forth in Article VI of the Credit Agreement (other than Sections 6.2 and 6.8 of the Credit Agreement) are, subject to the limitations set forth in the Credit Agreement, true and correct in all material respects at and as if made on the date hereof except to the extent they expressly relate to an earlier date.

5.           No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would be caused by this Notice of Extension/Conversion.

6.           All conditions set forth in Section 3.2 for conversions or extensions have been satisfied.

 

 

Pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, I, __________________, [Chief Financial Officer] of Tractor Supply Company (the “Borrower”), hereby certify on behalf of the Borrower that the statements below are accurate and complete in all respects:

(a)	No Default or Event of Default exists under the Credit Agreement, except as indicated on a separate page attached hereto, together with an explanation of the action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.

(b)	The [quarterly/annual] financial statements for the fiscal [quarter/year] ended __________ which accompany this certificate fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Consolidated Parties as of such date and have been prepared in accordance with GAAP.

(c)	Attached hereto as Schedule 1 are calculations (calculated as of the date of the financial statements referred to in paragraph (b) above) demonstrating compliance by the Credit Parties with the financial covenants contained in Section 7.11 of the Credit Agreement.

 

 

 

 

 

[to be added when relevant definitions are finalized]

 

 

THIS JOINDER AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of _____________, 20__, is entered into between _____________________, a ___________________ (the “New Subsidiary”) and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., in its capacity as Administrative Agent (the “Administrative Agent”) under that certain Credit Agreement dated as of October 24, 2011 (as the same may be amended, modified, extended or restated from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”) among Tractor Supply Company (the “Borrower”), the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Lenders party thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent.  All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings provided in the Credit Agreement.

The New Subsidiary and the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, hereby agree as follows:

1.           The New Subsidiary hereby acknowledges, agrees and confirms that, by its execution of this Agreement, the New Subsidiary will be deemed to be a Credit Party under the Credit Agreement and a “Subsidiary Guarantor” for all purposes of the Credit Agreement and shall have all of the obligations of a Subsidiary Guarantor thereunder as if it had executed the Credit Agreement.  The New Subsidiary hereby ratifies, as of the date hereof, and agrees to be bound by, all of the terms, provisions and conditions contained in the Credit Agreement, including without limitation (a) all of the representations and warranties of the Credit Parties set forth in Section 6 of the Credit Agreement, (b) all of the affirmative and negative covenants set forth in Sections 7 and 8 of the Credit Agreement and (c) all of the guaranty obligations set forth in Section 4 of the Credit Agreement.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing terms of this paragraph 1, the New Subsidiary hereby guarantees, jointly and severally with the other Subsidiary Guarantors, to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, as provided in Section 4 of the Credit Agreement, the prompt payment of the Credit Party Obligations in full when due (whether at stated maturity, as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration, as a mandatory cash collateralization or otherwise) strictly in accordance with the terms thereof and agrees that if any of the Credit Party Obligations are not paid in full when due (whether at stated maturity, as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration, as a mandatory cash collateralization or otherwise), the New Subsidiary will, jointly and severally together with the other Subsidiary Guarantors, promptly pay the same, without any demand or notice whatsoever, and that in the case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any of the Credit Party Obligations, the same will be promptly paid in full when due (whether at extended maturity, as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration, as a mandatory cash collateralization or otherwise) in accordance with the terms of such extension or renewal.  The New Subsidiary hereby represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that set forth on Schedule A attached hereto is a complete and accurate list of all Subsidiaries of the New Subsidiary.  Schedule 6.12 of the Credit Agreement is hereby deemed amended to include the information on Schedule A attached hereto.

2.           The New Subsidiary is, simultaneously with the execution of this Agreement, executing and delivering such documents and instruments as requested by the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 7.12 of the Credit Agreement.

3.           The address of the New Subsidiary for purposes of Section 11.1 of the Credit Agreement is as follows:

___________________________

___________________________

___________________________

___________________________

4.           The New Subsidiary hereby waives acceptance by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders of the guaranty by the New Subsidiary under the Credit Agreement upon the execution of this Agreement by the New Subsidiary.

5.           This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument.

6.           THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the New Subsidiary has caused this Agreement to be duly executed by its authorized officer, and the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, has caused the same to be accepted by its authorized officer, as of the day and year first above written.

 

                                            

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

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

 

 

1.	Assignor:
2.	Assignee:		[and is an Affiliate/Approved Fund of [identify Lender]]
3.	Borrower:	Tractor Supply Company
4.	Administrative Agent:	Bank of America, N.A.
5.	Credit Agreement:	The Credit Agreement, dated as of October 24, 2011 among Tractor Supply Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto, the Lenders party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent.
6.	Assigned Interest:

 

Facility Assigned	Aggregate Amount of Commitment/Loans for all Lenders	Amount of Commitment/Loans Assigned	Percentage Assigned of Commitment/Loans
Revolving Commitment	$	$	%

 

 [7.           Trade Date:                      __________________]

 

Effective Date: __________________, 20__

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

ANNEX 1 TO ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1.           Representations and Warranties.

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

1.2.           Assignee.  The Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) it meets all the requirements to be an assignee under Section 11.3(b)(iii) and (v) of the Credit Agreement (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 11.3(b)(iii) of the Credit Agreement), (iii) from and after the Effective Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement as a Lender thereunder and, to the extent of the Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder, (iv) it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to acquire assets of the type represented by the Assigned Interest and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to acquire the Assigned Interest, is experienced in acquiring assets of such type, (v) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, and has received or has been accorded the opportunity to receive copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 7.1 thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it deems appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase the Assigned Interest, (vi) it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase the Assigned Interest, and (vii) if it is a Foreign Lender, attached hereto is any documentation required to be delivered by it pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by the Assignee; and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent, the Assignor or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Credit Documents, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Credit Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

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

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

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