8-K Revolver Renewal Agreement
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 14, 2011
FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO., INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Indiana | | 0-362 | | 35-0827455 |
(State of incorporation) | | (Commission File Number) | | (IRS employer identification no.) |
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400 E. Spring Street | | |
Bluffton, IN | | 46714 |
(Address of principal executive offices) | | (Zip code) |
(260) 824-2900
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 2.03. Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation Under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.
On December 14, 2011, Franklin Electric Co., Inc. (the “Company”) entered into a Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement among the Company, Franklin Electric B.V., a Netherlands private company with limited liability (“Franklin B.V”, and together with the Company, collectively, the “Borrowers”), JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (“JPMorgan”), as administrative agent, and the lenders named therein (the “Credit Agreement”), with J.P. Morgan Securities LLC acting as the sole book runner and sole lead arranger, for a $150,000,000 unsecured revolving credit facility (the “New Facility”) to replace the existing $120,000,000 unsecured revolving credit facility entered into on December 14, 2006, among the Company, JPMorgan as administrative agent, and the lenders named therein (the “Previous Facility”).
The Credit Agreement provides that the Borrowers may request an increase in the aggregate commitments by up to $75,000,000 (not to exceed a total commitment of $225,000,000) subject to the conditions contained therein. All of the Company's present and future material domestic subsidiaries unconditionally guaranty all of the Borrowers' obligations under and in connection with the New Facility. Additionally, the Company unconditionally guaranties all of the obligations of Franklin B.V. under the New Facility.
Under the Credit Agreement, the Borrowers are required to pay certain fees, including a facility fee of .125 to .325% (depending on the Company's leverage ratio) of the aggregate commitment, which fee is payable quarterly in arrears.
The Credit Agreement contains customary affirmative and negative covenants. The affirmative covenants include financial statements, notices of material events, conduct of business, inspection of property, maintenance of insurance, compliance with laws and most favored lender obligations. The affirmative covenants also include financial covenants with a maximum leverage ratio of 3.50 to 1.00 and an interest coverage ratio equal to or greater than 3.00 to 1.00. The negative covenants include limitations on loans or advances, investments, and the granting of liens by the Company or its subsidiaries, as well as prohibitions on certain consolidations, mergers, sales and transfers of assets.
The Credit Agreement also contains customary events of defaults (with customary grace periods, as applicable, for certain of those events of default). If an event of default occurs, the Credit Agreement provides that (i) the commitments may be terminated and (ii) the loans then outstanding may be declared due and payable. For certain events of default relating to insolvency, bankruptcy or liquidation, the commitments are automatically terminated and the loans outstanding automatically become due and payable. Up to $75,000,000 of the aggregate commitment may be borrowed as multicurrency loans, in Euros, Japanese Yen, Australian Dollars, Pounds Sterling, Canadian Dollars or any other agreed currency.
The Credit Agreement also provides for a swingline loan sub-facility of up to $15,000,000 and a letter of credit sub-facility of up to $25,000,000 by JPMorgan.
Loans may be made either at (i) a Eurocurrency rate based on LIBOR plus an applicable margin of .75 to 1.675% (depending on the Company's leverage ratio) or (ii) an alternative base rate equal to the higher of (a) the prime rate, (b) the sum of the federal funds effective rate plus .5%, or (c) a Eurocurrency rate based on LIBOR plus 1%. The Credit Agreement also includes a competitive bid option that permits the Borrowers to request that the lenders provide bids for the interest rate that will apply to specific loans.
The Credit Agreement is subject to a number of conditions, and the description of the Credit Agreement herein is qualified in its entirety and is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
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10.1 | $150,000,000 Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of December 14, 2011, among Franklin Electric Co., Inc., Franklin Electric B.V. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO., INC.
(Registrant)
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Date: December 15, 2011 | | By | /s/ John J. Haines |
| | | John J. Haines |
| | | Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and Secretary |
| | | (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
Exhibit Index
Exhibit 10.1
$150,000,000 Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of December 14, 2011, among Franklin Electric Co., Inc., Franklin Electric B.V. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent.
Exhibit 10.1
EXECUTION COPY
J.P.Morgan
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
CREDIT AGREEMENT
dated as of
December 14, 2011
among
FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO., INC.,
as US Borrower,
FRANKLIN ELECTRIC B.V.,
as Dutch Borrower ,
THE LENDERS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO,
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent,
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
and
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Co-Syndication Agents
________________________________________________________________________
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC,
as Sole Bookrunner and Sole Lead Arranger
________________________________________________________________________
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I
Definitions
SECTION 1.01. Defined Terms 1
SECTION 1.02. Classification of Loans and Borrowings 21
SECTION 1.03. Terms Generally 21
SECTION 1.04. Accounting Terms; GAAP 21
ARTICLE II
The Credits
SECTION 2.01. Commitments 22
SECTION 2.01A. Determination of Dollar Amounts; Required Payments 23
SECTION 2.02. Loans and Borrowings 23
SECTION 2.03. Requests for Revolving Borrowings 24
SECTION 2.04. Competitive Bid Procedure 25
SECTION 2.05. Swingline Loans 27
SECTION 2.06. Letters of Credit 28
SECTION 2.07. Funding of Borrowings 32
SECTION 2.08. Interest Elections 33
SECTION 2.09. Termination and Reduction of Commitments 35
SECTION 2.10. Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt 35
SECTION 2.11. Prepayment of Loans 36
SECTION 2.12. Fees 37
SECTION 2.13. Interest 38
SECTION 2.14. Alternate Rate of Interest 39
SECTION 2.15. Increased Costs 39
SECTION 2.16. Break Funding Payments 41
SECTION 2.17. Taxes 41
SECTION 2.18. Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs 43
SECTION 2.19. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders 45
SECTION 2.20. Market Disruption 46
SECTION 2.21. Judgment Currency 46
SECTION 2.22. Defaulting Lenders 47
ARTICLE III
Representations and Warranties
SECTION 3.01. Organization; Powers 49
SECTION 3.02. Authorization; Enforceability 49
SECTION 3.03. Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts 49
SECTION 3.04. Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change 49
ii
SECTION 3.05. Properties 50
SECTION 3.06. Litigation and Environmental Matters 50
SECTION 3.07. Compliance with Laws and Agreements 50
SECTION 3.08. Investment Company Status 50
SECTION 3.09. Taxes 51
SECTION 3.10. ERISA 51
SECTION 3.11. Capital Stock 51
SECTION 3.12. Use of Proceeds 51
SECTION 3.13. Insolvency 51
SECTION 3.14. Insurance 52
SECTION 3.15. Partnerships and Joint Ventures 52
SECTION 3.16. Subsidiaries 52
SECTION 3.17. Debt 52
SECTION 3.18. Disclosure 52
ARTICLE IV
Conditions
SECTION 4.01. Effective Date 52
SECTION 4.02. Each Credit Event 53
ARTICLE V
Affirmative Covenants
SECTION 5.01. Financial Statements; Other Information 54
SECTION 5.02. Notices of Material Events 55
SECTION 5.03. Existence; Conduct of Business 56
SECTION 5.04. Payment of Obligations 56
SECTION 5.05. Maintenance of Properties; Insurance 56
SECTION 5.06. Books and Records; Inspection Rights 56
SECTION 5.07. Compliance with Laws 56
SECTION 5.08. Leverage Ratio 56
SECTION 5.09. Interest Coverage Ratio 57
SECTION 5.10. Environmental Matters 57
SECTION 5.11. Most Favored Lender Status 57
SECTION 5.12. Additional Guarantors 57
ARTICLE VI
Negative Covenants
SECTION 6.01. Loans or Advances 58
SECTION 6.02. Investments 58
SECTION 6.03. Liens 59
SECTION 6.04. Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets 59
SECTION 6.05. Use of Proceeds 60
SECTION 6.06. Change in Fiscal Year 60
SECTION 6.07. Dissolution 60
iii
SECTION 6.08. Sale or Discount of Receivables 60
SECTION 6.09. Acquisitions 61
SECTION 6.10. Transactions with Affiliates 61
SECTION 6.11. Restricted Payments 61
SECTION 6.12. Limitation on Debt 61
SECTION 6.13. No Restrictions on Subsidiary Dividends 61
SECTION 6.14. Sale of Stock and Debt of Subsidiaries 61
ARTICLE VII
Events of Default
SECTION 7.01. Events of Default 62
ARTICLE VIII
The Administrative Agent
SECTION 8.01. The Administrative Agent 64
ARTICLE IX
Miscellaneous
SECTION 9.01. Notices 66
SECTION 9.02. Waivers; Amendments 67
SECTION 9.03. Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver 68
SECTION 9.04. Successors and Assigns 69
SECTION 9.05. Survival 73
SECTION 9.06. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness 73
SECTION 9.07. Severability 73
SECTION 9.08. Right of Setoff 73
SECTION 9.09. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process 74
SECTION 9.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL 74
SECTION 9.11. Headings 74
SECTION 9.12. Confidentiality 75
SECTION 9.13. Interest Rate Limitation 75
SECTION 9.14. USA PATRIOT Act 75
SECTION 9.15. Amendment and Restatement 76
ARTICLE X
US Borrower Guaranty
SECTION 10.01. US Borrower Guaranty 76
iv
SCHEDULES:
Pricing Schedule
Schedule 2.01 - Commitments
Schedule 2.02 - Mandatory Cost
Schedule 2.06 - Existing Letters of Credit
Schedule 2.18 - Eurocurrency Payment Offices
Schedule 3.06 - Disclosed Matters
Schedule 3.15 - Existing Partnerships and Joint Ventures
Schedule 3.16 - Existing Subsidiaries
EXHIBITS:
Exhibit A - Form of Assignment and Assumption
Exhibit B - Form of Increasing Lender Supplement
Exhibit C - Form of Augmenting Lender Supplement
v
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) dated as of December 14, 2011, among FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO., INC., an Indiana corporation (the “US Borrower”), FRANKLIN ELECTRIC B.V., a Netherlands private company with limited liability (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid) (the “Dutch Borrower”, and together with the US Borrower, the “Borrowers”), the LENDERS from time to time party hereto (the “Lenders”) and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent.
The parties hereto agree as follows:
PRELIMINARY STATEMENT
WHEREAS, the US Borrower, certain Lenders and the Administrative Agent are parties to that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of December 14, 2006 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof, the “Existing Credit Agreement”); and
WHEREAS, the Borrowers, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent have agreed to amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement in its entirety.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein, as well as other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto acknowledge that the Existing Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as of the date hereof as follows:
ARTICLE I
Definitions
SECTION 1.01. Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:
“ABR”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.
“ABR Borrowing” means a Borrowing which, except as otherwise provided in Section 2.13(d), bears interest at the Alternate Base Rate.
“ABR Loan” means a Loan which, except as otherwise provided in Section 2.13(d), bears interest at the Alternate Base Rate.
“Acquisition” means any transaction pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, in its own name or by or through a nominee or an agent (a) acquires equity Securities (or warrants, options or other rights to acquire such Securities) of any Person other than the Company or any Person which is not then (before giving effect to such transaction) a Subsidiary of the Company, pursuant to a solicitation of tenders therefor, or in one or more negotiated block, market or other transactions not involving a tender offer or a combination of any of the foregoing or (b) makes any Person a Subsidiary of the Company or causes any Person to be merged into the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in any case pursuant to a merger, purchase of assets or any reorganization providing for the delivery or issuance to the
holders of such Person's then outstanding Securities, in exchange for such Securities, of cash or Securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or a combination thereof or (c) purchases all or substantially all of the business or assets of any Person.
“Administrative Agent” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (including its branches and affiliates), in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders hereunder.
“Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to a specified Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.
“Agreed Currencies” means (i) Dollars, (ii) so long as such currencies remain Eligible Currencies, euro, Japanese Yen, Australian Dollars, United Kingdom pounds sterling, Canadian dollars and (iii) any other Eligible Currency which the Borrowers request the Administrative Agent to include as an Agreed Currency hereunder and which is acceptable to all of the Lenders. For the purposes of this definition, each of the specific currencies referred to in clause (ii), above, shall mean and be deemed to refer to the lawful currency of the jurisdiction referred to in connection with such currency, e.g., “Australian Dollars” means the lawful currency of Australia.
“Alternate Base Rate” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day plus ½ of 1% and (c) the Eurocurrency Rate (without giving effect to the Applicable Margin) for a one month Interest Period on such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) plus 1%, provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the Eurocurrency Rate for any day shall be based on the applicable British Bankers' Association LIBOR rate for deposits in the Agreed Currency as reported as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such day. Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or the Eurocurrency Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or the Eurocurrency Rate, respectively.
“Anti-Terrorism Order” means Executive Order No. 13,224, 66 Fed. Reg. 49,079 (2001) issued by the President of the United States (Executive Order Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions with Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism).
“Applicable Fee Rate” means, at any time, the percentage rate per annum at which Facility Fees are accruing on the aggregate Commitments (without regard to usage) at such time as set forth in the Pricing Schedule.
“Applicable Margin” means, at any time, the percentage rate per annum which is applicable at such time with respect to Eurocurrency Loans as set forth in the Pricing Schedule.
“Applicable Percentage” means, with respect to any Lender, the percentage of the total Commitments represented by such Lender's Commitment; provided that, in the case of Section 2.22 when a Defaulting Lender shall exist, “Applicable Percentage” shall mean the percentage of the total Commitments (disregarding any Defaulting Lender's Commitment) represented by such Lender's Commitment. If the Commitments have terminated or expired, the Applicable Percentages shall be determined based upon the Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments and to any Lender's status as a Defaulting Lender at the time of determination.
“Approved Fund” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04.
“Approximate Equivalent Amount” of any currency with respect to any amount of Dollars shall mean the Equivalent Amount of such currency with respect to such amount of Dollars on or as of such date, rounded up to the nearest amount of such currency as determined by the Administrative Agent from time to time.
“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 9.04), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit A or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.
“Availability Period” means the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the earlier of the Maturity Date and the date of termination of the Commitments.
“Bankruptcy Event” means, with respect to any Person, such Person becomes the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, custodian, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with the reorganization or liquidation of its business appointed for it, or, in the good faith determination of the Administrative Agent, has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any such proceeding or appointment, provided that a Bankruptcy Event shall not result solely by virtue of any ownership interest, or the acquisition of any ownership interest, in such Person by a Governmental Authority or instrumentality thereof, provided, further, that such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Person with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Person (or such Governmental Authority or instrumentality) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made by such Person.
“Board” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America.
“Borrower” or “Borrowers” means, individually or collectively, the US Borrower and the Dutch Borrower.
“Borrowing” means (a) Revolving Loans of the same Type, made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurocurrency Revolving Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect, (b) a Competitive Loan or group of Competitive Loans of the same Type made on the same date and as to which a single Interest Period is in effect or (c) a Swingline Loan.
“Borrowing Request” means a request by the US Borrower for a Revolving Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03.
“Business Day” means (i) with respect to any borrowing, payment or rate selection of Eurocurrency Advances, a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks generally are open in Chicago and New York for the conduct of substantially all of their commercial lending activities, interbank wire transfers can be made on the Fedwire system and dealings in Dollars and the other Agreed Currencies are carried on in the London interbank market or the principal financial center of such Agreed Currency (and, if the Advances which are the subject of such borrowing, payment or rate selection are denominated in euro, a day upon which such clearing system as is determined by the Administrative Agent to be suitable for clearing or settlement of the euro is open for business), (ii) with respect to any payment obligation or other obligation due by the Dutch Borrower under this Agreement, a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks generally are open in Amsterdam, The Netherlands and (iii) for all other purposes, a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks generally are open in Chicago for the conduct of substantially all of their commercial lending activities and interbank wire transfers can be made on the Fedwire system.
“Capitalized Lease Obligations” of a Person means the amount of the obligations of such Person under Capital Leases which would be shown as a liability on a balance sheet of such Person, prepared in accordance with GAAP.
“Capital Lease” means at any date any lease of Property which in accordance with GAAP would be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet of the lessee.
“Capital Stock” means any nonredeemable capital stock of the Company or any Consolidated Subsidiary (to the extent issued to a Person other than the Company), whether common or preferred.
“CERCLA” means the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. §9601 et seq. and its implementing regulations and amendments.
“CERCLIS” means the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Information System established pursuant to CERCLA.
“Change in Control” means (a) the acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any Person or group (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder as in effect on the date hereof) of Equity Interests representing 35% or more of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Company; (b) occupation of a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of directors of the Company by Persons who were neither (i) nominated by the board of directors of the Company nor (ii) appointed by directors so nominated; or (c) the acquisition of direct or indirect Control
of the Company by any Person or group.
“Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement (or with respect to any Lender, if later, the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender), of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority, or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rules, guideline, requirement or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided however, that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements and directives thereunder, issued in connection therewith or in implementation thereof, and (ii) all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements and directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign 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, issued or implemented.
“Class”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Revolving Loans, Competitive Loans or Swingline Loans.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, or any successor Federal tax code. Except as otherwise noted, any reference to any provision of the Code shall also be deemed to be a reference to any successor provision or provisions thereof.
“Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make Revolving Loans and to acquire participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum aggregate amount of such Lender's Revolving Credit Exposure hereunder, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.09, (b) increased from time to time pursuant to Section 2.01(b) and (c) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 9.04. The initial amount of each Lender's Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01, or in the Assignment and Assumption or other documentation contemplated hereby pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Commitment, as applicable. The initial aggregate amount of the Lenders' Commitments is $150,000,000.
“Company” means Franklin Electric Co., Inc., an Indiana corporation.
“Competitive Bid” means an offer by a Lender to make a Competitive Loan in accordance with Section 2.04.
“Competitive Bid Rate” means, with respect to any Competitive Bid, the Margin or the Fixed Rate, as applicable, offered by the Lender making such Competitive Bid.
“Competitive Bid Request” means a request by the Company for Competitive Bids in accordance with Section 2.04.
“Competitive Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.04.
“Computation Date” is defined in Section 2.01A.
“Consolidated EBIT” for any period means the sum of (i) Consolidated Net Income for such period, (ii) Consolidated Interest Expense for such period and (iii) taxes on income of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such period to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period.
“Consolidated EBITDA” for any period means the sum of (i) Consolidated EBIT for such period, (ii) Depreciation for such period, (iii) amortization of intangible assets of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such period, and (iv) extraordinary or other non-operating losses for such period, minus extraordinary or other non-operating gains for such period, all determined in accordance with GAAP. In determining Consolidated EBITDA for any period, (a) any Consolidated Subsidiary acquired during such period by the Company or any other Consolidated Subsidiary shall be included on a pro forma, historical basis as if it had been a Consolidated Subsidiary during such entire period and (b) any amounts which would be included in a determination of Consolidated EBITDA for such period with respect to assets acquired during such period by the Company or any Consolidated Subsidiary shall be included in the determination of Consolidated EBITDA for such period and the amount thereof shall be calculated on a pro forma, historical basis as if such assets had been acquired by the Company or such Consolidated Subsidiary prior to the first day of such period.
“Consolidated Interest Expense” for any period means interest expense, whether expensed or capitalized, in respect of Debt of the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries outstanding during such period, determined on a consolidated basis for such period in accordance with GAAP.
“Consolidated Net Earnings” means with respect to any period:
(i) consolidated gross revenues of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such period less
(ii) all operating and non-operating expenses of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such period including all charges of a proper character (including current and deferred taxes on income, provision for taxes on unremitted foreign earnings which are included in gross revenues, and current additions to reserves), but not including in gross revenues:
(a) any gains (net of expenses and taxes applicable thereto) in excess of losses resulting from the sale, conversion or other disposition of capital assets (i.e., assets other than current assets) other than in the ordinary course of business;
(b) any gains resulting from the write-up of assets;
(c) any equity of the Company or any Subsidiary in the unremitted earnings of any corporation which is not a Subsidiary;
(d) undistributed earnings of any Subsidiary to the extent that such Subsidiary is not at the time permitted to make or pay dividends to the Company, repay intercompany indebtedness to the Company, repatriate earnings to the Company or otherwise transfer property or assets to the Company whether by the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to such Subsidiary; or
(e) any deferred credit representing the excess of equity in any Subsidiary at the date of acquisition over the cost of the investment in such Subsidiary;
all determined in accordance with GAAP as in effect on the date hereof and applied on a consistent basis.
“Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, the net income, after taxes, of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis for such period in accordance with GAAP, but excluding extraordinary and other non-recurring items.
“Consolidated Net Worth” means the sum of (i) the par value (or value stated on the books of the Company) of the capital stock of all classes of the Company, plus (or minus in the case of a surplus deficit) (ii) the amount of the consolidated surplus, whether capital or earned, of the Company and its Subsidiaries after subtracting therefrom the aggregate of treasury stock and any other contra-equity accounts including, without limitation, minority interests; all determined in accordance with GAAP.
“Consolidated Subsidiary” means at any date any Subsidiary or other entity the accounts of which, in accordance with GAAP, would be consolidated with those of the Company in its consolidated financial statements as of such date.
“Consolidated Total Assets” means, at any time, the total assets of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis, as set forth or reflected on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, prepared in accordance with GAAP.
“Consolidated Total Debt” means at any date all Debt of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries at such date, determined on a consolidated basis as of such date.
“Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.
“Credit Party” means the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, the Swingline Lender or any other Lender.
“Debt” of any Person means at any date, without duplication, (i) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (ii) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, (iii) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services, except trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business, (iv) all Capitalized Lease Obligations, (v) all obligations of such Person to reimburse any bank or other Person in respect of amounts
payable under a banker's acceptance, (vi) all Redeemable Preferred Stock of such Person (in the event such Person is a corporation), (vii) all non-contingent obligations of such Person to reimburse any bank or other Person in respect of amounts paid under a letter of credit or similar instrument, (viii) all Debt of others secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person, whether or not such Debt is assumed by such Person, (ix) all Debt of others Guaranteed by such Person, (x) Receivables Transaction Attributed Debt and (xi) for purposes of Article VII only, all obligations of such Person with respect to Swap Agreements (valued as the termination value thereof) computed in accordance with a method approved by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. and agreed to by such Person in the applicable Swap Agreement, if any.
“Default” means any event or condition which constitutes an Event of Default or which upon notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.
“Defaulting Lender” means any Lender that (a) has failed, within two (2) Business Days of the date required to be funded or paid, to (i) fund any portion of its Loans, (ii) fund any portion of its participations in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans or (iii) pay over to any Credit Party any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder, unless, in the case of clause (i) above, such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender's good faith determination that a condition precedent to funding (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) has not been satisfied, (b) has notified the Company or any Credit Party in writing, or has made a public statement to the effect, that it does not intend or expect to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement (unless such writing or public statement indicates that such position is based on such Lender's good faith determination that a condition precedent (specifically identified and including the particular default, if any) to funding a loan under this Agreement cannot be satisfied) or generally under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit, (c) has failed, within three (3) Business Days after request by a Credit Party, acting in good faith, to provide a certification in writing from an authorized officer of such Lender that it will comply with its obligations (and is financially able to meet such obligations) to fund prospective Loans and participations in then outstanding Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans under this Agreement, provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon such Credit Party's receipt of such certification in form and substance satisfactory to it and the Administrative Agent, or (d) has become the subject of a Bankruptcy Event.
“Depreciation” means, for any period, the sum of all depreciation expenses of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such period, as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
“Disclosed Matters” means the actions, suits and proceedings and the environmental matters disclosed in Schedule 3.06.
“Dollar Amount” of any currency at any date shall mean (i) the amount of such currency if such currency is Dollars or (ii) the equivalent in Dollars of such amount if such currency is any currency other than Dollars, calculated on the basis of the arithmetical mean of the buy and sell spot rates of exchange of the Administrative Agent for such currency on the London market at 11:00 a.m., London time, on or as of the most recent Computation Date provided for in Section 2.01A.
“Dollars” or “$” refers to the lawful currency of the United States of America.
“Domestic Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary organized under the laws of a jurisdiction located in the United States of America.
“Dutch Borrower” means Franklin Electric B.V., a Netherlands private company with limited liability (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid).
“Effective Date” means the date on which the conditions specified in Section 4.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02).
“Eligible Currency” means any currency other than Dollars (i) that is readily available, (ii) that is freely traded, (iii) in which deposits are customarily offered to banks in the London interbank market, (iv) which is convertible into Dollars in the international interbank market and (v) as to which an Equivalent Amount may be readily calculated. If, after the designation by the Lenders of any currency as an Agreed Currency, (x) currency control or other exchange regulations are imposed in the country in which such currency is issued with the result that different types of such currency are introduced, (y) such currency is, in the determination of the Administrative Agent, no longer readily available or freely traded or (z) in the determination of the Administrative Agent, an Equivalent Amount of such currency is not readily calculable, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders and the Company, and such currency shall no longer be an Agreed Currency until such time as all of the Lenders agree to reinstate such currency as an Agreed Currency and promptly, but in any event within five Business Days of receipt of such notice from the Administrative Agent, the Borrowers shall repay all Loans in such affected currency or convert such Loans into Loans in Dollars or another Agreed Currency, subject to the other terms set forth in Article II.
“Environmental Authority” means any foreign, federal, state, local or regional government that exercises any form of jurisdiction or authority under any Environmental Requirement.
“Environmental Authorizations” means all licenses, permits, orders, approvals, notices, registrations or other legal prerequisites for conducting the business of the Company or any Subsidiary required by any Environmental Requirement.
“Environmental Judgments and Orders” means all judgments, decrees or orders arising from or in any way associated with any Environmental Requirements, whether or not entered upon consent or written agreements with an Environmental Authority or other entity arising from or in any way associated with any Environmental Requirement.
“Environmental Laws” means any and all federal, state, local and foreign statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements or other governmental restrictions relating to the environment or to emissions, discharges or releases of Hazardous Materials, pollutants, contaminants, petroleum or petroleum products, chemicals or industrial, toxic or hazardous substances or wastes into the environment, including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater or land, or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials, pollutants, contaminants,
petroleum or petroleum products, chemicals or industrial, toxic or hazardous substances or wastes or the investigation, clean-up or other remediation thereof.
“Environmental Liabilities” means any liabilities, whether accrued, contingent or otherwise, arising from and in any way associated with any Environmental Requirements.
“Environmental Notices” means notice from any Environmental Authority or by any other person or entity, of possible or alleged noncompliance with or liability under any Environmental Requirement, including without limitation any complaints, citations, demands or requests from any Environmental Authority or from any other person or entity regarding any violation or alleged violation of any Environmental Requirement or any investigations concerning any violation or alleged violation of any Environmental Requirement.
“Environmental Proceedings” means any judicial or administrative proceedings arising from or in any way associated with any Environmental Requirement.
“Environmental Releases” means releases as defined in CERCLA or under any applicable state or local environmental law or regulation.
“Environmental Requirements” means any legal requirement relating to health, safety or the environment and applicable to the Company, any Subsidiary or the Properties, including but not limited to any such requirement under CERCLA or similar state legislation and all federal, state and local laws, ordinances, regulations, orders, writs, decrees and common law.
“Equity Interests” means shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person, and any warrants, options or other rights entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire any such equity interest.
“Equivalent Amount” of any currency with respect to any amount of Dollars at any date shall mean the equivalent in such currency of such amount of Dollars, calculated on the basis of the arithmetical mean of the buy and sell spot rates of exchange of the Administrative Agent for such other currency at 11:00 a.m., London time, on the date on or as of which such amount is to be determined.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time.
“ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with the Company, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.
“ERISA Event” means (a) any “reportable event”, as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the 30 day notice period is waived); (b) the existence with respect to any Plan of an “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(d) of the Code or Section 303(d) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (d) the incurrence by the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (e) the receipt by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (f) the incurrence by the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal of the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the receipt by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from the Company or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.
“EU” means the European Union.
“euro” and/or “EUR” means the single currency of the Participating Member States of the EU.
“Eurocurrency Borrowing” means a Revolving Borrowing which, except as otherwise provided in Section 2.13(d), bears interest at the applicable Eurocurrency Rate (or, in the case of a Competitive Loan, the Eurocurrency Reference Rate plus (or minus, as applicable) the Margin applicable to such Loan).
“Eurocurrency Loan” means a Revolving Loan which, except as otherwise provided in Section 2.13(d), bears interest at the applicable Eurocurrency Rate (or, in the case of a Competitive Loan, the Eurocurrency Reference Rate plus (or minus, as applicable) the Margin applicable to such Loan).
“Eurocurrency Payment Office” of the Administrative Agent shall mean, for each of the Agreed Currencies, the office, branch, affiliate or correspondent bank of the Administrative Agent specified as the “Eurocurrency Payment Office” for such currency in Schedule 2.18 hereto or such other office, branch, affiliate or correspondent bank of the Administrative Agent as it may from time to time specify to the Company and each Lender as its Eurocurrency Payment Office.
“Eurocurrency Rate” means, with respect to a Eurocurrency Borrowing for the relevant Interest Period, an interest rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/16 of 1%) equal to the sum of (i) the product of (a) the Eurocurrency Reference Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by (b) the Statutory Reserve Rate plus, without duplication (ii) in the case of Loans by a Lender from its office or branch in the United Kingdom or any Participating Member State, the Mandatory Cost, plus (iii) the Applicable Margin.
“Eurocurrency Reference Rate” means, with respect to a Eurocurrency Loan for the relevant Interest Period, the applicable British Bankers' Association LIBOR rate for deposits in the applicable Agreed Currency as reported by any generally recognized financial information service selected by the Administrative Agent as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to (or, in the case of Eurocurrency Loans denominated in United Kingdom pounds sterling, on the same Business Day of) the first day of such Interest Period, and having a maturity equal to such Interest Period, provided that, if no such British Bankers' Association LIBOR rate is available, the applicable Eurocurrency Reference Rate for the relevant Interest Period shall instead be the rate determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate at which the Administrative Agent offers to place deposits in the applicable Agreed Currency with first class banks in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period, in the approximate amount of the Administrative Agent's relevant Eurocurrency Loan and having a maturity equal to such Interest Period.
“Event of Default” has the meaning assigned to such term in Article VII.
“Excluded Taxes” means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the Issuing Bank or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Borrower hereunder, (a) income or franchise taxes imposed on (or measured by) its net income by the United States of America, or by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable lending office is located, (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States of America or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which such Borrower is located and (c) in the case of a Foreign Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by such Borrower under Section 2.19(b)), any withholding tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender resulting from any law in effect (including FATCA) on the date such Foreign Lender becomes a party to this Agreement (or designates a new lending office) or is attributable to such Foreign Lender's failure to comply with Section 2.17(e), except to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new lending office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from such Borrower with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to Section 2.17(a).
“Existing Letters of Credit” is defined in Section 2.06.
“Facility Fee” is defined in Section 2.12(a).
“FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement, and any regulations or official interpretations thereof.
“Federal Funds Effective Rate” means, for any day, the weighted average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the quotations for such day for such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.
“Financial Officer” means any of the chief executive officer, chief operating officer, chief financial officer, chief accounting officer, treasurer or controller of any Borrower or any other officer of such Borrower involved principally in its financial administration or its controllership function.
“Fixed Rate” means, with respect to any Competitive Loan (other than a Competitive Loan that is a Eurocurrency Loan), the fixed rate of interest per annum specified by the Lender making such Competitive Loan in its related Competitive Bid.
“Fixed Rate Loan” means a Competitive Loan bearing interest at a Fixed Rate.
“Foreign Lender” means any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which the Company is located. For purposes of this definition, the United States of America, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.
“Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States of America, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.
“Guarantee” by any Person means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Debt or other obligation of any other Person and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person (i) to secure, purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Debt or other obligation (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, by agreement to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to provide collateral security, to take-or-pay, or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise) or (ii) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Debt or other obligation of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), provided that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The term “Guarantee” used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.
“Guarantor” means, subject to Section 5.12, all existing and future Material Subsidiaries that are Domestic Subsidiaries.
“Hazardous Materials” includes, without limitation, (a) solid or hazardous waste, as defined in the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1980, 42 U.S.C. §6901 et seq., its implementing regulations and any amendments, or in any applicable state or local law or regulation, (b) any “hazardous substance”, “pollutant” or “contaminant”, as defined in CERCLA, the Clean Water Act, or in any applicable state or local law or regulation, (c) gasoline, or any other petroleum product or by-product, including crude oil or any fraction thereof, (d) toxic substances, as defined in the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976, or in any applicable state or local law or regulation and (e) insecticides, fungicides, or rodenticides, as defined in the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act of 1975, or in any applicable state or local law or regulation, as each such Act, statute or regulation may be amended from time to time.
“Indemnified Taxes” means Taxes that are imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of any Borrower hereunder other than Excluded Taxes and Other Taxes.
“Interest Coverage Ratio” means the ratio, as of the end of each fiscal quarter of the Company, of Consolidated EBIT for the four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters then ended to Consolidated Interest Expense for the period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters then ended.
“Interest Election Request” means a request by any Borrower to convert or continue a Revolving Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.08.
“Interest Payment Date” means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan (other than a Swingline Loan), the last day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date, (b) with respect to any Eurocurrency Loan, the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three months' duration, each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of three months' duration after the first day of such Interest Period and the Maturity Date, (c) with respect to any Fixed Rate Loan, the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Fixed Rate Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than 90 days' duration (unless otherwise specified in the applicable Competitive Bid Request), each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of 90 days' duration after the first day of such Interest Period, and any other dates that are specified in the applicable Competitive Bid Request as Interest Payment Dates with respect to such Borrowing and (d) with respect to any Swingline Loan, the day that such Loan is required to be repaid and the Maturity Date.
“Interest Period” means, (a) with respect to any Eurocurrency Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one, two, three or six months thereafter, as the US Borrower may elect, and (b) with respect to any Fixed Rate Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the date specified in the applicable Competitive Bid Request; provided, that (i) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day and (ii) any Interest Period that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period. For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.
“Investment” means any investment in any Person, whether by means of purchase or acquisition of obligations or securities of such Person, capital contribution to such Person, loan or advance to such Person, making of a time deposit with such Person, Guarantee or assumption of any obligation of such Person or otherwise; provided that Investment shall not include the repurchase or redemption by the Company of shares of Capital Stock of the Company.
“Issuer Documents” means with respect to any Letter of Credit, the Letter Credit Application, and any other document, agreement and instrument entered into by the Issuing Bank and any Borrower (or any Subsidiary) or in favor the Issuing Bank and relating to any such Letter of Credit.
“Issuing Bank” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as the issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, and its successors in such capacity as provided in Section 2.06(i). The Issuing Bank may, in its discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates of the Issuing Bank, in which case the term “Issuing Bank” shall include any such Affiliate with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate.
“LC Disbursement” means a payment made by the Issuing Bank pursuant to a Letter of Credit.
“LC Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit at such time plus (b) the aggregate amount of all LC Disbursements that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrowers at such time. The LC Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the total LC Exposure at such time.
“Lenders” means the Persons listed on Schedule 2.01 and any other Person that shall have become a Lender hereunder pursuant to Section 2.01(b) or pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption. Unless the context otherwise requires, the term “Lenders” includes the Swingline Lender.
“Letter of Credit” means any letter of credit issued pursuant to this Agreement.
“Leverage Ratio” means the ratio, as of the end of each fiscal quarter of the Company, of Consolidated Total Debt at the end of such fiscal quarter to Consolidated EBITDA for the period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters then ended.
“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, deed to secure debt, deed of trust, lien, pledge, charge, security interest, security title, preferential arrangement which has the practical effect of constituting a security interest, servitude or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset to secure or assure payment of a Debt or a Guarantee or any trade payables of the Company or any Subsidiary, whether by consensual agreement or by operation of statute or other law, or by any agreement, contingent or otherwise, to provide any of the foregoing. For the purposes of this Agreement, the Company or any Subsidiary shall be deemed to own subject to a Lien any asset which it has acquired or holds subject to the interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or other title retention agreement relating to such asset.
“Loan Documents” means this Agreement, each promissory note executed in connection with this Agreement, each Issuer Document and the Subsidiary Guaranty.
“Loan Parties” means, collectively, the Borrowers and the Guarantors.
“Loans” means the loans made by the Lenders to the Borrowers pursuant to this Agreement.
“Local Time” means (i) Chicago time in the case of a Loan, Borrowing or LC Disbursement denominated in Dollars and (ii) local time in the case of a Loan, Borrowing or LC Disbursement denominated in an Agreed Currency other than Dollars (it being understood that such local time shall mean London, England time unless otherwise notified by the Administrative Agent).
“Mandatory Cost” is described in Schedule 2.02.
“Margin” means, with respect to any Competitive Loan bearing interest at a rate based on the Eurocurrency Reference Rate, the marginal rate of interest applicable to such Loan, as specified by the Lender making such Loan in its related Competitive Bid.
“Margin Stock” means “margin stock” as defined in Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as in effect from time to time, together with all official rulings and interpretations issued thereunder.
“Material Adverse Effect” means, with respect to any event, act, condition or occurrence of whatever nature (including any adverse determination in any litigation, arbitration, or governmental investigation or proceeding), whether singly or in conjunction with any other event or events, act or acts, condition or conditions, occurrence or occurrences, whether or not related, a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, any of (a) the financial condition, operations, business or properties of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders under the Loan Documents, or the ability of any Borrower or any Guarantor to perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, as applicable, or (c) the legality, validity or enforceability of any Loan Document.
“Material Debt” means Debt (other than the Loans) or obligations in respect of one or more Swap Agreements, of any one or more of the Company and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $10,000,000. For purposes of determining Material Debt, the “principal amount” of the obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary in respect of any Swap Agreement at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that the Company or such Subsidiary would be required to pay if such Swap Agreement were terminated at such time.
“Material Subsidiary” means at any time (i) any Subsidiary having total assets (determined in accordance with GAAP) in excess of $10,000,000 and (ii) any Significant Subsidiary.
“Maturity Date” means December 14, 2016.
“Multicurrency Borrowing” means a Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in an Agreed Currency other than Dollars.
“Multicurrency Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the portion of such Lender's Commitment representing the commitment of such Lender to make Multicurrency Loans, expressed as an amount representing the maximum aggregate amount of such lender's Multicurrency Loans hereunder, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.09 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 9.04. The initial amount of each Lender's Multicurrency Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01, or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Multicurrency Commitment, as applicable. The initial aggregate amount of the Lenders' Multicurrency Commitments is $75,000,000.
“Multicurrency Loan” means a Eurocurrency Loan denominated in an Agreed Currency other than Dollars.
“Multiemployer Plan” means a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.
“Other Taxes” means any and all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement.
“Parent” means, with respect to any Lender, any Person as to which such Lender is, directly or indirectly, a subsidiary.
“Participant” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.04.
“Participant Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.04.
“Participating Member State” means any member state of the European Union that adopts or has adopted the euro as its lawful currency in accordance with legislation of the European Union relating to economic and monetary union.
“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA and any successor entity performing similar functions.
“Permitted Acquisition” means any Acquisition (i) which is of a Person approved by the board of directors of the Company and (ii) which has been approved by the Person to be acquired in connection with such Acquisition.
“Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.
“Plan” means at any time an employee pension benefit plan which is covered by Title IV of ERISA or subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Code and is either (i) maintained
by a member of the Controlled Group for employees of any member of the Controlled Group or (ii) maintained pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement or any other arrangement under which more than one employer makes contributions and to which a member of the Controlled Group is then making or accruing an obligation to make contributions or has within the preceding 5 plan years made contributions.
“Pricing Schedule” means the Schedule attached hereto identified as such.
“Prime Rate” means the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as its prime rate in effect at its principal office in New York; each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced as being effective.
“Priority Debt” shall mean the sum of (i) Debt of the Company which is secured by a Lien under Section 6.03(vii) and (ii) Debt of any Subsidiary (including, but not limited to, any Debt of a Subsidiary which consists of a Guarantee of Debt of the Company), excluding, however, Debt of Subsidiaries owing to the Company and Debt of any Subsidiary (other than a Significant Subsidiary) to any other Subsidiary.
“Qualified Receivables Transaction” means any transaction or series of transactions entered into by the Company or any Subsidiary pursuant to which the Company or any Subsidiary may sell, convey or otherwise transfer to a newly-formed Subsidiary or other special-purpose entity, or any other Person, any accounts or notes receivable and rights related thereto, provided that (i) all of the terms and conditions of such transaction or series of transactions, including without limitation the amount and type of any recourse to the Company or any Subsidiary with respect to the assets transferred, are reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders and (ii) the Debt and/or Receivables Transaction Attributed Debt incurred in respect of all such transactions or series of transactions does not exceed $30,000,000 at any time.
“Receivables Transaction Attributed Debt” means the amount of obligations outstanding under the legal documents entered into as part of any Qualified Receivables Transaction on any date of determination that would be characterized as principal if such Qualified Receivables Transaction were structured as a secured lending transaction rather than as a purchase.
“Redeemable Preferred Stock” of any Person means any preferred stock issued by such Person which is at any time prior to the Termination Date either (i) mandatorily redeemable (by sinking fund or similar payments or otherwise) or (ii) redeemable at the option of the holder thereof.
“Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.04.
“Related Parties” means, with respect to any specified Person, such Person's Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and such Person's Affiliates.
“Required Lenders” means, at any time, Lenders having Revolving Credit Exposures and unused Commitments representing greater than 50% of the sum of the total Revolving Credit Exposures and unused Commitments at such time; provided that, for purposes of declaring the Loans to be due and payable pursuant to Article VII, and for all purposes after the Loans become due and payable pursuant to Article VII or the Commitments expire or terminate, the outstanding Competitive Loans of the Lenders shall be
included in their respective Revolving Credit Exposures in determining the Required Lenders.
“Restricted Payment” means (i) any dividend or other distribution on any shares of the Company's capital stock (except dividends payable solely in shares of its capital stock) or (ii) any payment on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement or acquisition of (a) any shares of the Company's capital stock (except shares acquired upon the conversion thereof into other shares of its capital stock) or (b) any option, warrant or other right to acquire shares of the Company's capital stock.
“Revolving Borrowing” means a Borrowing of Revolving Loans.
“Revolving Credit Exposure” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the sum of the outstanding principal amount of such Lender's Revolving Loans and its LC Exposure and Swingline Exposure at such time.
“Revolving Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.03.
“S&P” means Standard & Poor's Ratings Group, a division of McGraw Hill, Inc.
“Significant Subsidiary” means each of (i) Franklin Electric International, Inc., a Delaware corporation, (ii) Franklin Fueling Systems, Inc., an Indiana corporation and (iii) Intelligent Controls, Inc., a Maine corporation.
“Statutory Reserve Rate” means a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve, liquid asset, fees or similar requirements (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves or other requirements) established by any central bank, monetary authority, the Board, the Financial Services Authority, the European Central Bank or other Governmental Authority for any category of deposits or liabilities customarily used to fund loans in the applicable currency, expressed in the case of each such requirement as a decimal. Such reserve, liquid asset, fees or similar requirements shall, in the case of Dollar denominated Loans, include those imposed pursuant to Regulation D of the Board. Eurocurrency Loans shall be deemed to be subject to such reserve, liquid asset, fee or similar requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under any applicable law, rule or regulation, including Regulation D of the Board. The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve, liquid asset or similar requirement.
“Stock Purchase Plan” means the Franklin Electric Co., Inc. Amended 1988 Executive Stock Purchase Plan, as it may be amended from time to time with the consent of the Administrative Agent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld).
“Stockholders' Equity” means, at any time, the shareholders' equity of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, as set forth or reflected on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries prepared in accordance with GAAP, but excluding any Redeemable Preferred Stock of the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries. Shareholders' equity generally would include, but not be limited to (i) the par or stated value of all outstanding Capital Stock, (ii) capital surplus, (iii) retained earnings, and (iv) various deductions such as (A) purchases of treasury
stock, (B) valuation allowances, (C) receivables due from an employee stock ownership plan, (D) employee stock ownership plan debt guarantees, and (E) translation adjustments for foreign currency transactions.
“Subsidiary” means any corporation or other entity of which securities or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other persons performing similar functions are at the time directly or indirectly owned by the Company.
“Subsidiary Guaranty” means the collective reference to each guaranty agreement executed, from time to time, by each of the applicable Guarantors in favor of the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders, in each case, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Swap Agreement” means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Company or the Subsidiaries shall be a Swap Agreement.
“Swingline Exposure” means, at any time, the aggregate principal amount of all Swingline Loans outstanding at such time. The Swingline Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the total Swingline Exposure at such time.
“Swingline Lender” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as lender of Swingline Loans hereunder.
“Swingline Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.05.
“Taxes” means any present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings, assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
“Transactions” means the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrowers of this Agreement, the borrowing of Loans, and the use of the proceeds thereof.
“Type”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Eurocurrency Rate, the Alternate Base Rate or, in the case of a Competitive Loan or Borrowing, the Eurocurrency Reference Rate or a Fixed Rate.
“US Borrower” means Franklin Electric Co., Inc., an Indiana corporation.
“Wholly Owned Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary all of the shares of capital stock or other ownership interests of which (except directors' qualifying shares) are at the time directly or indirectly owned by the Company.
“Withdrawal Liability” means liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.
SECTION 1.02. Classification of Loans and Borrowings. For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a “Revolving Loan”) or by Type (e.g., a “Eurocurrency Loan”) or by Class and Type (e.g., a “Eurocurrency Revolving Loan”). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a “Revolving Borrowing”) or by Type (e.g., a “Eurocurrency Borrowing”) or by Class and Type (e.g., a “Eurocurrency Revolving Borrowing”).
SECTION 1.03. Terms Generally. The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”. The word “law” shall be construed as referring to all statutes, rules, regulations, codes and other laws (including official rulings and interpretations thereunder having the force of law or with which affected Persons customarily comply), and all judgments, orders and decrees, of all Governmental Authorities. Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any definition of or reference to any statute, rule or regulation shall be construed as referring thereto as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (including by succession of comparable successor laws), (c) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person's successors and assigns (subject to any restrictions on assignment set forth herein) and, in the case of any Governmental Authority, any other Governmental Authority that shall have succeeded to any or all functions thereof, (d) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (e) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement and (f) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.
SECTION 1.04. Accounting Terms; GAAP. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided that, if the US Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrowers request an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the date hereof in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the US Borrower that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such
purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith. Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made (i) without giving effect to any election under Accounting Standards Codification 825-10-25 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Debt or other liabilities of the Borrowers or any Subsidiary at “fair value”, as defined therein and (ii) without giving effect to any treatment of Debt in respect of convertible debt instruments under Accounting Standards Codification 470-20 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any such Debt in a reduced or bifurcated manner as described therein, and such Debt shall at all times be valued at the full stated principal amount thereof.
ARTICLE II
The Credits
SECTION 2.01. Commitments. (a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender agrees to make Revolving Loans to the Borrowers in Agreed Currencies from time to time during the Availability Period in an aggregate Dollar Amount at any one time outstanding that will not result in (I) such Lender's Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding such Lender's Commitment or (II) the aggregate outstanding principal Dollar Amount of the sum of the total Revolving Credit Exposures plus the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Competitive Loans exceeding the total Commitments, provided that (i) at no time shall the aggregate Dollar Amount of Multicurrency Loans of each Lender at any one time outstanding exceed an amount equal to 110% of such Lender's Multicurrency Commitment, and (ii) all ABR Loans shall be made in Dollars. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrowers may borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans.
(b) At any time subsequent to the Effective Date and so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrowers may, at their option, request to increase the aggregate Commitments by up to $75,000,000 (with the aggregate Commitments not to exceed a total of $225,000,000) by obtaining one or more Commitments from one or more existing Lenders (each Lender so agreeing to an increase in its Commitment, an “Increasing Lender”) or by one or more new banks, financial institutions or other entities (each such new bank, financial institution or other entity, an “Augmenting Lender”); provided that (i) each Augmenting Lender shall be subject to the consent of the Administrative Agent, but without the consent of any other Lenders and (ii) (x) in the case of an Increasing Lender, the Borrowers and such Increasing Lender execute an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, and (y) in the case of an Augmenting Lender, the Borrowers and such Augmenting Lender execute an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto. No consent of any Lender shall be required for any increase in Commitments pursuant to this Section 2.01(b). In the event that the aggregate Commitments are increased pursuant to the exercise of such option by the Borrowers, the aggregate amount of the Multicurrency Commitments will be reviewed upon the Borrowers' request and may be increased based upon the willingness and capacity of the Lenders at the time.
SECTION 2.01A. Determination of Dollar Amounts; Required Payments. The Administrative Agent will determine the Dollar Amount of:
(a)each Borrowing as of the date two Business Days prior to the date of the proposed Borrowing or, if applicable, date of conversion/continuation of such Borrowing, and each Letter of Credit requested by the US Borrower and
(b)all outstanding Borrowings on and as of the last Business Day of each quarter and on any other Business Day elected by the Administrative Agent in its discretion or upon instruction by the Required Lenders.
(c)Each day upon or as of which the Administrative Agent determines Dollar Amounts as described in the preceding clauses (a) and (b) is herein described as a “Computation Date” with respect to each Borrowing or Letter of Credit for which a Dollar Amount is determined on or as of such day. If at any time the Dollar Amount of the sum of the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Borrowings or all outstanding Multicurrency Borrowings (calculated in each case, with respect to those Borrowings denominated in Agreed Currencies other than Dollars, as of the most recent Computation Date with respect to each such Borrowing) plus all Letters of Credit exceeds (i) with respect to all Borrowings and Letters of Credit, the aggregate amount of the Commitments or (ii) with respect to Multicurrency Borrowings and Letters of Credit, an amount equal to 110% of the aggregate amount of the Multicurrency Commitments, the Borrowers shall immediately repay Borrowings (including Multicurrency Borrowings, as applicable) and, if necessary, cash collateralize Letters of Credit in an aggregate principal amount sufficient to eliminate any such excess.
SECTION 2.02. Loans and Borrowings. (a) Each Revolving Loan shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Revolving Loans made by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Commitments. Each Competitive Loan shall be made in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.04. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder; provided that the Commitments and Competitive Bids of the Lenders are several and no Lender shall be responsible for any other Lender's failure to make Loans as required.
(b) Subject to Section 2.14, (I) each Revolving Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Eurocurrency Loans as the US Borrower may request in accordance herewith and (II) each Competitive Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of Eurocurrency Loans or Fixed Rate Loans as the US Borrower may request in accordance herewith; provided that each ABR Loan shall only be made in Dollars. Each Swingline Loan shall be an ABR Loan. Each Lender at its option may make any Eurocurrency Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan (and, in the case of an Affiliate, the provisions of Sections 2.14, 2.15, 2.16 and 2.17 shall apply to such Affiliate to the same extent as to such Lender); provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrowers to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
(c) At the commencement of each Interest Period for any Eurocurrency Revolving Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000 (or the Approximate Equivalent Amounts if denominated in an Agreed Currency other than Dollars). At the time that each ABR Revolving Borrowing is made, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $500,000 and not less than $1,000,000; provided that an ABR Revolving Borrowing may be in an aggregate amount that is equal to the entire unused balance of the total Commitments or that is required to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.06(e). Each Swingline Loan shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $500,000 and not less than $500,000. Borrowings of more than one Type may be outstanding at the same time; provided that there shall not at any time be more than a total of eight (8) Eurocurrency Revolving Borrowings outstanding.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the US Borrower shall not be entitled to request, or to elect to convert or continue, any Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect thereto would end after the Maturity Date.
SECTION 2.03. Requests for Revolving Borrowings. To request a Revolving Borrowing, the US Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request (a) by irrevocable written notice (via a written Borrowing Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the US Borrower, promptly followed by telephonic confirmation of such request) in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., Local Time, three (3) Business Days (in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in Dollars) or by irrevocable written notice (via a written Borrowing Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the US Borrower) not later than four (4) Business Days (in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in an Agreed Currency other than Dollars), in each case before the date of the proposed Borrowing or (b) by telephone in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., Chicago time, one (1) Business Day before the date of the proposed Borrowing; provided that any such notice of an ABR Revolving Borrowing to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.06(e) may be given not later than 10:00 a.m., Chicago time, on the date of the proposed Borrowing. Each telephonic Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Borrowing Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the US Borrower. Each such telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:
(i)the name of the applicable Borrower;
(ii)the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing and a breakdown of the separate wires comprising such Borrowing;
(iii)the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;
(iv)whether such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurocurrency Borrowing;
(v)in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing, the Agreed Currency to be applicable thereto, and the initial Interest Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”; and
(vi)the location and number of the applicable Borrower's account to which funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of Section 2.07.
If no election as to the Type of Revolving Borrowing is specified, then, in the case of a Borrowing denominated in Dollars, the requested Revolving Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period is specified with respect to any requested Eurocurrency Revolving Borrowing, then the applicable Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month's duration. Promptly following receipt of a Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of the amount of such Lender's Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing.
SECTION 2.04. Competitive Bid Procedure. (a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, from time to time during the Availability Period the US Borrower may request Competitive Bids and may (but shall not have any obligation to) accept Competitive Bids and borrow Competitive Loans denominated in Agreed Currencies; provided that (i) the sum of the total Revolving Credit Exposures plus the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Competitive Loans at any time shall not exceed the total Commitments and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Competitive Loans at any time shall not exceed 50% of the total Commitments. To request Competitive Bids, the US Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by telecopy, in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., London time, five Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing and, in the case of a Fixed Rate Borrowing in a currency other than Dollars, not later than 10:00 a.m., London time, five Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing, and in the case of a Fixed Rate Borrowing in Dollars, not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time one Business Day before the date of the date of the proposed Borrowing; provided that the US Borrower may submit up to (but not more than) three Competitive Bid Requests on the same day (and no more than three such requests in any fiscal quarter), but a Competitive Bid Request shall not be made within five Business Days after the date of any previous Competitive Bid Request, unless any and all such previous Competitive Bid Requests shall have been withdrawn or all Competitive Bids received in response thereto rejected. Each such telephonic Competitive Bid Request shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Competitive Bid Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the US Borrower. Each such telephonic and written Competitive Bid Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02.
(i)the name of the applicable Borrower;
(ii)the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing;
(iii)the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;
(iv)whether such Borrowing is to be a Eurocurrency Borrowing or a Fixed Rate
Borrowing;
(v)the Interest Period to be applicable to such Borrowing, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”; and
(vi)the location and number of the applicable Borrower's account to which funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of Section 2.07.
Promptly following receipt of a Competitive Bid Request in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of the details thereof by telecopy, inviting the Lenders to submit Competitive Bids.
(b) Each Lender may (but shall not have any obligation to) make one or more Competitive Bids to the Borrowers in response to a Competitive Bid Request. Each Competitive Bid by a Lender must be in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and must be received by the Administrative Agent by telecopy, in the case of a Eurocurrency Competitive Borrowing, not later than 9:30 a.m., London time, four Business Days before the proposed date of such Competitive Borrowing, in the case of a Fixed Rate Borrowing in a currency other than Dollars, not later than 9:30 a.m., London time, four Business Days before the proposed date of such Competitive Borrowing, and in the case of a Fixed Rate Borrowing in Dollars, not later than 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on the proposed date of such Competitive Borrowing. Competitive Bids that do not conform substantially to the form approved by the Administrative Agent may be rejected by the Administrative Agent, and the Administrative Agent shall notify the applicable Lender as promptly as practicable. Each Competitive Bid shall specify (i) the principal amount (which shall be a minimum of $5,000,000 and an integral multiple of $1,000,000 (or the Approximate Equivalent Amount if denominated in an Agreed Currency other than Dollars) and which may equal the entire principal amount of the Competitive Borrowing requested by the US Borrower) of the Competitive Loan or Loans that the Lender is willing to make, (ii) the Competitive Bid Rate or Rates at which the Lender is prepared to make such Loan or Loans (expressed as a percentage rate per annum in the form of a decimal to no more than four decimal places) and (iii) the Interest Period applicable to each such Loan and the last day thereof.
(c) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the US Borrower by telecopy of the Competitive Bid Rate and the principal amount specified in each Competitive Bid and the identity of the Lender that shall have made such Competitive Bid.
(d) Subject only to the provisions of this paragraph, the US Borrower may accept or reject any Competitive Bid. The US Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent by telephone, confirmed by telecopy in a form approved by the Administrative Agent, whether and to what extent it has decided to accept or reject each Competitive Bid, in the case of a Eurocurrency Competitive Borrowing, not later than 10:30 a.m., London time (or, if later, sixty (60) minutes following the notice from the Administrative Agent provided for in clause (c) above), four Business Days before the date of the proposed Competitive Borrowing, in the case of a Fixed Rate Borrowing in a currency other than Dollars, not later than 10:30 a.m., London time (or, if later, sixty (60) minutes following the notice from the Administrative Agent provided for in clause (c) above), four Business Days before the date of the proposed Competitive Borrowing, and in the case of a Fixed Rate Borrowing in Dollars, not later than
10:30 a.m., New York City time (or, if later, sixty (60) minutes following the notice from the Administrative Agent provided for in clause (c) above), on the proposed date of the proposed Competitive Borrowing; provided that (i) the failure of the US Borrower to give such notice shall be deemed to be a rejection of each Competitive Bid, (ii) the US Borrower shall not accept a Competitive Bid made at a particular Competitive Bid Rate if the Borrower rejects a Competitive Bid made at a lower Competitive Bid Rate, (iii) the aggregate amount of the Competitive Bids accepted by the US Borrower shall not exceed the aggregate amount of the requested Competitive Borrowing specified in the related Competitive Bid Request, (iv) to the extent necessary to comply with clause (iii) above, the US Borrower may accept Competitive Bids at the same Competitive Bid Rate in part, which acceptance, in the case of multiple Competitive Bids at such Competitive Bid Rate, shall be made pro rata in accordance with the amount of each such Competitive Bid, and (v) except pursuant to clause (iv) above, no Competitive Bid shall be accepted for a Competitive Loan unless such Competitive Loan is in a minimum principal amount of $5,000,000 and an integral multiple of $1,000,000 (or the Approximate Equivalent Amount if denominated in an Agreed Currency other than Dollars); provided further that if a Competitive Loan must be in an amount less than $5,000,000 because of the provisions of clause (iv) above, such Competitive Loan may be for a minimum of $1,000,000 (or the Approximate Equivalent Amount if denominated in an Agreed Currency other than Dollars) or any integral multiple thereof, and in calculating the pro rata allocation of acceptances of portions of multiple Competitive Bids at a particular Competitive Bid Rate pursuant to clause (iv) the amounts shall be rounded to integral multiples of $1,000,000 (or the Approximate Equivalent Amount if denominated in an Agreed Currency other than Dollars) in a manner determined by the US Borrower. A notice given by the US Borrower pursuant to this paragraph shall be irrevocable.
(e) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each bidding Lender by telecopy whether or not its Competitive Bid has been accepted (and, if so, the amount and Competitive Bid Rate so accepted), and each successful bidder will thereupon become bound, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, to make the Competitive Loan in respect of which its Competitive Bid has been accepted.
(f) If the Administrative Agent shall elect to submit a Competitive Bid in its capacity as a Lender, it shall submit such Competitive Bid directly to the US Borrower at least one quarter of an hour earlier than the time by which the other Lenders are required to submit their Competitive Bids to the Administrative Agent pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section.
SECTION 2.05. Swingline Loans. (a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swingline Lender agrees to make Swingline Loans denominated in Dollars to the Borrowers from time to time during the Availability Period, in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding that will not result in (i) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Swingline Loans exceeding $15,000,000 or (ii) the sum of the total Revolving Credit Exposures plus the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Competitive Loans exceeding the total Commitments; provided that the Swingline Lender shall not be required to make a Swingline Loan to refinance an outstanding Swingline Loan. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrowers may borrow, prepay and reborrow Swingline Loans. All Swingline Loans shall be made in Dollars.
(b) To request a Swingline Loan, the US Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent
of such request by telephone (confirmed by telecopy), not later than 2:00 p.m., Chicago time, on the day of a proposed Swingline Loan. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the requested date (which shall be a Business Day) and amount of the requested Swingline Loan. The Administrative Agent will promptly advise the Swingline Lender of any such notice received from the US Borrower. The Swingline Lender shall make each Swingline Loan available to the Borrowers by means of a credit to the general deposit account of the Borrowers with the Swingline Lender (or, in the case of a Swingline Loan made to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.06(e), by remittance to the Issuing Bank) by 3:00 p.m., Chicago time, on the requested date of such Swingline Loan.
(c) The Swingline Lender may by written notice given to the Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m., Chicago time, on any Business Day require the Lenders to acquire participations on such Business Day in all or a portion of the Swingline Loans outstanding. Such notice shall specify the aggregate amount of Swingline Loans in which Lenders will participate. Promptly upon receipt of such notice, the Administrative Agent will give notice thereof to each Lender, specifying in such notice such Lender's Applicable Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans. Each Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees, upon receipt of notice as provided above, to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Swingline Lender, such Lender's Applicable Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans. Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations in Swingline Loans pursuant to this paragraph is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever. Each Lender shall comply with its obligation under this paragraph by wire transfer of immediately available funds, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.07 with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.07 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Lenders), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the Swingline Lender the amounts so received by it from the Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall notify the US Borrower of any participations in any Swingline Loan acquired pursuant to this paragraph, and thereafter payments in respect of such Swingline Loan shall be made to the Administrative Agent and not to the Swingline Lender. Any amounts received by the Swingline Lender from the Borrowers (or other party on behalf of the Borrowers) in respect of a Swingline Loan after receipt by the Swingline Lender of the proceeds of a sale of participations therein shall be promptly remitted to the Administrative Agent; any such amounts received by the Administrative Agent shall be promptly remitted by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders that shall have made their payments pursuant to this paragraph and to the Swingline Lender, as their interests may appear; provided that any such payment so remitted shall be repaid to the Swingline Lender or to the Administrative Agent, as applicable, if and to the extent such payment is required to be refunded to the applicable Borrower for any reason. The purchase of participations in a Swingline Loan pursuant to this paragraph shall not relieve the Borrowers of any default in the payment thereof.
SECTION 2.06. Letters of Credit. (a) General. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the US Borrower may request the issuance of Letters of Credit for its own account or for the account of another Borrower, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank, at any time and from time to time during the Availability Period. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of any form of letter of credit application or other agreement submitted by the Borrowers to, or entered into by the Borrowers with, the Issuing Bank relating to any Letter of Credit, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control.
Each Letter of Credit shall provide that any payments thereunder shall be in Agreed Currencies. The letters of credit previously issued and identified on Schedule 2.06 (the “Existing Letters of Credit”) shall be deemed to be “Letters of Credit” issued on the Effective Date for all purposes of the Loan Documents.
(b) Notice of Issuance, Amendment, Renewal, Extension; Certain Conditions. To request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or the amendment, renewal or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the US Borrower shall hand deliver or telecopy (or transmit by electronic communication, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the Issuing Bank) to the Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent (reasonably in advance of the requested date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension) a notice requesting the issuance of a Letter of Credit, or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended, renewed or extended, and specifying the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (which shall be a Business Day), the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall comply with paragraph (c) of this Section), the amount of such Letter of Credit denominated in the applicable Agreed Currency, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof and such other information as shall be necessary to prepare, amend, renew or extend such Letter of Credit. If requested by the Issuing Bank, the applicable Borrower also shall submit a letter of credit application on the Issuing Bank's standard form in connection with any request for a Letter of Credit. A Letter of Credit shall be issued, amended, renewed or extended only if (and upon issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of each Letter of Credit the Borrowers shall be deemed to represent and warrant that), after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (i) the LC Exposure shall not exceed $25,000,000 and (ii) the sum of the total Revolving Credit Exposures plus the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Competitive Loans shall not exceed the total Commitments.
(c) Expiration Date. Each Letter of Credit shall expire at or prior to the close of business on the earlier of (i) the date one year after the date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit or such later date as the Issuing Bank may agree to in its sole discretion (or, in the case of any renewal or extension thereof, one year after such renewal or extension) and (ii) the date that is five Business Days prior to the Maturity Date. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, at the Issuing Bank's sole discretion a Letter of Credit may have an expiration date up to two years after the Maturity Date, provided that the Borrowers shall deposit in an account with the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the Lenders, an amount in cash equal to 105% of the amount available under such Letter of Credit on the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit.
(d) Participations. By the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or an amendment to a Letter of Credit increasing the amount thereof) and without any further action on the part of the Issuing Bank or the Lenders, the Issuing Bank hereby grants to each Lender, and each Lender hereby acquires from the Issuing Bank, a participation in such Letter of Credit equal to such Lender's Applicable Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Issuing Bank, such Lender's Applicable Percentage of each LC Disbursement made by the Issuing Bank and not reimbursed by the applicable Borrower on the date due as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section, or of any reimbursement payment required to be refunded to the Borrowers for any reason. Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations pursuant to this paragraph in respect of Letters of Credit is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including any amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or
the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever.
(e) Reimbursement. If the Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, the Borrower on behalf of which the Letter of Credit was issued shall reimburse such LC Disbursement by paying to the Administrative Agent an amount equal to such LC Disbursement not later than 12:00 noon, Chicago time, on the date that such LC Disbursement is made, if the US Borrower shall have received notice of such LC Disbursement prior to 10:00 a.m., Chicago time, on such date, or, if such notice has not been received by the US Borrower prior to such time on such date, then not later than 12:00 noon, Chicago time, on the Business Day immediately following the day that the US Borrower receives such notice, if such notice is not received prior to such time on the day of receipt; provided that, if such LC Disbursement is not less than $500,000, the applicable Borrower may, subject to the conditions to borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with Section 2.03 or 2.05 that such payment be financed with a Revolving Loan or Swingline Loan in an equivalent amount and, to the extent so financed, such Borrower's obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting Revolving Loan or Swingline Loan. If the applicable Borrower fails to make such payment when due, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the applicable LC Disbursement, the payment then due from such Borrower in respect thereof and such Lender's Applicable Percentage thereof. Promptly following receipt of such notice, each Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent its Applicable Percentage of the payment then due from such Borrower, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.07 with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.07 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Lenders), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the Issuing Bank the amounts so received by it from the Lenders. Promptly following receipt by the Administrative Agent of any payment from the applicable Borrower pursuant to this paragraph, the Administrative Agent shall distribute such payment to the Issuing Bank or, to the extent that Lenders have made payments pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse the Issuing Bank, then to such Lenders and the Issuing Bank as their interests may appear. Any payment made by a Lender pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse the Issuing Bank for any LC Disbursement (other than the funding of Revolving Loans or a Swingline Loan as contemplated above) shall not constitute a Loan and shall not relieve the applicable Borrower of its obligation to reimburse such LC Disbursement.
(f) Obligations Absolute. Each Borrower's obligation to reimburse LC Disbursements as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under any and all circumstances whatsoever and irrespective of (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit or this Agreement, or any term or provision therein, (ii) any draft or other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent or invalid in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect, (iii) payment by the Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit, or (iv) any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of setoff against, such Borrower's obligations hereunder. Neither the Administrative Agent, the Lenders nor the Issuing Bank, nor any of their Related Parties, shall have any liability or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to in the preceding sentence), or any error, omission,
interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of technical terms or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of the Issuing Bank; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse the Issuing Bank from liability to the Borrowers to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to consequential damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by the Borrowers to the extent permitted by applicable law) suffered by any Borrower that are caused by the Issuing Bank's failure to exercise care when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof. The parties hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Issuing Bank (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), the Issuing Bank shall be deemed to have exercised care in each such determination. In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the parties agree that, with respect to documents presented which appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, the Issuing Bank may, in its sole discretion, either accept and make payment upon such documents without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make payment upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit.
(g) Disbursement Procedures. The Issuing Bank shall, promptly following its receipt thereof, examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit. The Issuing Bank shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent and the applicable Borrower by telephone (confirmed by telecopy) of such demand for payment and whether the Issuing Bank has made or will make an LC Disbursement thereunder; provided that any failure to give or delay in giving such notice shall not relieve the Borrowers of their obligation to reimburse the Issuing Bank and the Lenders with respect to any such LC Disbursement. All LC Disbursements shall be made in Agreed Currencies.
(h) Interim Interest. If the Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement, then, unless the Borrowers shall reimburse such LC Disbursement in full on the date such LC Disbursement is made, the unpaid amount thereof shall bear interest, for each day from and including the date such LC Disbursement is made to but excluding the date that the Borrowers reimburse such LC Disbursement, at the rate per annum then applicable to ABR Revolving Loans; provided that, if the Borrowers fail to reimburse such LC Disbursement when due pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section, then Section 2.13(d) shall apply. Interest accrued pursuant to this paragraph shall be for the account of the Issuing Bank, except that interest accrued on and after the date of payment by any Lender pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section to reimburse the Issuing Bank shall be for the account of such Lender to the extent of such payment.
(i) Replacement of the Issuing Bank. The Issuing Bank may be replaced at any time by written agreement among the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the replaced Issuing Bank and the successor Issuing Bank. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of any such replacement of the Issuing Bank. At the time any such replacement shall become effective, the Borrowers shall pay all unpaid fees accrued for the account of the replaced Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.12(b). From and after the effective date of any such replacement, (i) the successor Issuing Bank shall have all the rights and obligations of the Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit to be issued thereafter and (ii) references herein to the term “Issuing Bank” shall be deemed to refer to such successor or to any previous Issuing Bank, or to such successor and all previous Issuing Banks, as the context shall require. After the replacement of an Issuing Bank hereunder, the replaced Issuing Bank shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it prior to such replacement, but shall not be required to issue additional Letters of Credit.
(j) Cash Collateralization. If any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, on the Business Day that the US Borrower receives notice from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders (or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated, Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 50% of the total LC Exposure) demanding the deposit of cash collateral pursuant to this paragraph, the Borrowers shall deposit in an account with the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the Lenders, an amount in cash equal to 105% of the LC Exposure as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon; provided that the obligation to deposit such cash collateral shall become effective immediately, and such deposit shall become immediately due and payable, without demand or other notice of any kind, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default with respect to any Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of Article VII. Such deposit shall be held by the Administrative Agent as collateral for the payment and performance of the obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over such account. Other than any interest earned on the investment of such deposits, which investments shall be made at the option and sole discretion of the Administrative Agent and at the Borrowers' risk and expense, such deposits shall not bear interest. Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in such account. Moneys in such account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse the Issuing Bank for LC Disbursements for which it has not been reimbursed and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Borrowers for the LC Exposure at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated (but subject to the consent of Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 50% of the total LC Exposure), be applied to satisfy other obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement. If the Borrowers are required to provide an amount of cash collateral hereunder as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default, such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Borrowers within three Business Days after all Events of Default have been cured or waived.
SECTION 2.07. Funding of Borrowings. (a) On the proposed date of each Borrowing, each Lender shall make available its Loan or Loans, if any, (i) if such Loan is denominated in Dollars, not later than 12:00 noon, Chicago time, in Federal or other funds immediately available to the Administrative Agent, in Chicago, Illinois, to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders, and (ii) if such Loan is denominated in an Agreed Currency other than Dollars,
not later than 12:00 noon, local time, in the city of the Administrative Agent's Eurocurrency Payment Office for such currency, in such funds as may then be customary for the settlement of international transactions in such currency in the city of and at the address of the Administrative Agent's Eurocurrency Payment Office for such currency. Unless the Administrative Agent determines that any applicable condition specified in Article IV has not been satisfied, the Administrative Agent will make the funds so received from the Lenders available to the Borrowers to an account of the Borrowers maintained with one of the Lenders and designated by the Borrowers in the applicable Borrowing Request or Competitive Bid Request; provided that Revolving Loans made to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.06(e) shall be remitted by the Administrative Agent to the Issuing Bank. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.07, to the extent that a Loan made by a Lender matures on the same date of a Borrowing hereunder, such Lender shall apply the proceeds of the Loan it is then making to the repayment of principal of the maturing Loan. Further, notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.07, Swingline Loans shall be made as provided in Section 2.05.
(b) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any 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 paragraph (a) of this Section and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrowers 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 Borrowers severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrowers to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation or (ii) in the case of the Borrowers, the interest rate applicable to ABR Loans. If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender's Loan included in such Borrowing.
SECTION 2.08. Interest Elections. (a) Each Revolving Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request and, in the case of a Eurocurrency Revolving Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request. Thereafter, the US Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a Eurocurrency Revolving Borrowing, may elect the same or different Interest Periods therefor or the same or different Agreed Currency, all as provided in this Section; provided, however, that any conversion of any Eurocurrency Borrowing shall be made on, and only on, the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto. The US Borrower may elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing. This Section shall not apply to Swingline Borrowings, which may not be converted or continued.
(b) To make an election pursuant to this Section, the US Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such election (by telephone or irrevocable written notice in the case of a Borrowing denominated in Dollars or by irrevocable written notice (via an Interest Election Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the US Borrower) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in an Agreed Currency other than Dollars) by the time that a Borrowing Request would be required under Section 2.03 if the Borrowers were requesting a Revolving Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election to be made on the effective date of such election. Each such telephonic Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Interest Election Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the US Borrower.
(c) Each telephonic and written Interest Election Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:
(i)the Borrower and the Borrowing to which such Interest Election Request applies and, if different options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the portions thereof to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv) below shall be specified for each resulting Borrowing);
(ii)the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Interest Election Request, which shall be a Business Day;
(iii)whether the resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurocurrency Borrowing; and
(iv)if the resulting Borrowing is a Eurocurrency Borrowing, the Agreed Currency to be applicable thereto and the Interest Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”.
If any such Interest Election Request requests a Eurocurrency Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, then the Borrowers shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month's duration.
(d) Promptly following receipt of an Interest Election Request, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of such Lender's portion of each resulting Borrowing.
(e) If the US Borrower fails to deliver a timely Interest Election Request with respect to a Eurocurrency Revolving Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period (i) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in Dollars, such Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing and (ii) in the case of a Borrowing denominated in an Agreed Currency other than Dollars in respect of which the US Borrower shall have failed to deliver an Interest Election Request prior to the third (3rd) Business Day preceding the end of such Interest Period, such Borrowing shall automatically continue as a Eurocurrency Borrowing in the same Agreed Currency with an Interest Period of one month unless such Eurocurrency
Borrowing is or was repaid in accordance with Section 2.11. Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent, at the request of the Required Lenders, so notifies the US Borrower, then, so long as an Event of Default is continuing (i) no outstanding Revolving Borrowing may be converted to or continued as a Eurocurrency Revolving Borrowing and (ii) unless repaid, each Eurocurrency Revolving Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.
SECTION 2.09. Termination and Reduction of Commitments. (a) Unless previously terminated, the Commitments shall terminate on the Maturity Date.
(b) The Borrowers may at any time terminate, or from time to time reduce, the Commitments; provided that (i) each reduction of the Commitments shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000 (or the Approximate Equivalent Amount if denominated in an Agreed Currency other than Dollars) and (ii) the Borrowers shall not terminate or reduce the Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the Loans in accordance with Section 2.11, the aggregate outstanding principal Dollar Amount of the sum of the Revolving Credit Exposures plus the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Competitive Loans would exceed the total Commitments.
(c) The US Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of any election to terminate or reduce the Commitments under paragraph (b) of this Section at least three Business Days prior to the effective date of such termination or reduction, specifying such election and the effective date thereof. Promptly following receipt of any notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each notice delivered by the US Borrower pursuant to this Section shall be irrevocable; provided that a notice of termination of the Commitments delivered by the US Borrower may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities, in which case such notice may be revoked by the US Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Any termination or reduction of the Commitments shall be permanent. Each reduction of the Commitments shall be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their respective Commitments.
SECTION 2.10. Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt. (a) The US Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Loan on the Maturity Date, (ii) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each applicable Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Competitive Loan on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan and (iii) to the Swingline Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Swingline Loan on the earlier of the Maturity Date and the date that is fifteen (15) Business Days after such Swingline Loan is made.
(b) The Dutch Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Loan made to the Dutch Borrower on the Maturity Date, (ii) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each applicable Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Competitive Loan made to the Dutch Borrower on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan and (iii) to the Swingline Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Swingline Loan made to the Dutch Borrower on the earlier of
the Maturity Date and the date that is fifteen (15) Business Days after such Swingline Loan is made.
(c) On each date that a Revolving Borrowing is made, the applicable Borrower shall repay all Swingline Loans made to such Borrower then outstanding.
(d) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the Debt of each of the Borrowers to such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such Lender, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder.
(e) The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it shall record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Class and Type thereof and, if applicable, the Interest Period and Agreed Currency applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from each of the Borrowers to each Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder for the account of the Lenders and each Lender's share thereof.
(f) The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraph (d) or (e) of this Section shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein; provided that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of each of the Borrowers to repay the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
(g) Any Lender may request that Loans made by it be evidenced by a promissory note. In such event, the applicable Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to the order of such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns) and in a form approved by the Administrative Agent. Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 9.04) be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form payable to the order of the payee named therein (or, if such promissory note is a registered note, to such payee and its registered assigns).
SECTION 2.11. Prepayment of Loans. (a) Subject to prior notice in accordance with paragraph (b) of this Section, the Borrowers may from time to time prepay, without penalty or premium, all outstanding ABR Borrowings, or, in a minimum aggregate amount of $1,000,000, any portion of the outstanding ABR Borrowings, and may from time to time prepay, subject to the payment of any break funding amounts required by Section 2.16 but without penalty or premium, all outstanding Eurocurrency Borrowings, or, in a minimum aggregate amount of $1,000,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof (or the Approximate Equivalent Amount if denominated in an Agreed Currency other than Dollars), any portion of the outstanding Eurocurrency Borrowings. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Borrowers shall not have the right to prepay any Competitive Loan without the prior consent of the Lender thereof.
(b) The US Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent (and, in the case of prepayment of a Swingline Loan, the Swingline Lender) by telephone (confirmed by telecopy) of any prepayment hereunder (i) in the case of prepayment of a Eurocurrency Revolving Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., Chicago time, three Business Days before the date of prepayment, or (ii) in the case of prepayment of an ABR Revolving Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., Chicago time, one Business Day before the date of prepayment, or (iii) in the case of prepayment of a Swingline Loan, not later than 12:00 noon, Chicago time, on the date of prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid; provided that, if a notice of prepayment is given in connection with a conditional notice of termination of the Commitments as contemplated by Section 2.09, then such notice of prepayment may be revoked if such notice of termination is revoked in accordance with Section 2.09. Promptly following receipt of any such notice relating to a Revolving Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each prepayment of a Revolving Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing. Prepayments shall be accompanied by accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.13.
(c) If at any time the aggregate outstanding principal Dollar Amount of the sum of the aggregate principal amount of all of the Revolving Credit Exposures exceeds the aggregate Commitments, the Borrowers shall immediately repay Borrowings or cash collateralize LC Exposure in an account with the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.06(c), as applicable, in an aggregate principal amount sufficient to cause the aggregate outstanding principal Dollar Amount of the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Credit Exposures to be less than or equal to the aggregate Commitments.
SECTION 2.12. Fees. (a) The US Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a fee (the “Facility Fee”), which shall accrue at the Applicable Fee Rate on the daily amount of the Commitment of such Lender (whether used or unused) during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the date on which such Commitment terminates; provided that, if such Lender continues to have any Revolving Credit Exposure after its Commitment terminates, then such Facility Fee shall continue to accrue on the daily amount of such Lender's Revolving Credit Exposure from and including the date on which its Commitment terminates to but excluding the date on which such Lender ceases to have any Revolving Credit Exposure. Accrued Facility Fees shall be payable in arrears on the last day of March, June, September and December of each year and on the date on which the Commitments terminate, commencing on the first such date to occur after the date hereof; provided that any Facility Fees accruing after the date on which the Commitments terminate shall be payable on demand. All Facility Fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). For purposes of calculating the Facility Fee hereunder, the principal amount of each Borrowing made in an Agreed Currency other than Dollars shall be at any time the Dollar Amount of such Borrowing as determined on the most recent Computation Date with respect to such Borrowing.
(b) The US Borrower agrees to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a participation fee with respect to its participations in Letters of Credit, which shall accrue at the same Applicable Margin used to determine the interest rate applicable to Eurocurrency Revolving Loans on the average daily amount of such Lender's LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to
unreimbursed LC Disbursements) during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date on which such Lender's Commitment terminates and the date on which such Lender ceases to have any LC Exposure, and (ii) to the Issuing Bank a fronting fee, which shall accrue at the rate of 0.125% per annum on the average daily amount of the LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date of termination of the Commitments and the date on which there ceases to be any LC Exposure, as well as the Issuing Bank's standard fees with respect to the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or processing of drawings thereunder. Participation fees and fronting fees accrued through and including the last day of March, June, September and December of each year shall be payable in the applicable Agreed Currency on the third Business Day following such last day, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Effective Date; provided that all such fees shall be payable on the date on which the Commitments terminate and any such fees accruing after the date on which the Commitments terminate shall be payable on demand. Any other fees payable to the Issuing Bank pursuant to this paragraph shall be payable within 10 days after demand. All participation fees and fronting fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).
(c) The US Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own account, fees payable in the amounts and at the times separately agreed upon between the US Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
(d) All fees payable hereunder shall be paid on the dates due, in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent (or to the Issuing Bank, in the case of fees payable to it) for distribution, in the case of Facility Fees and participation fees, to the Lenders. Fees paid shall not be refundable under any circumstances.
SECTION 2.13. Interest. (a) The Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing (including each Swingline Loan) shall bear interest at the Alternate Base Rate.
(b) The Loans comprising each Eurocurrency Borrowing shall bear interest (i) in the case of a Eurocurrency Loan, at the Eurocurrency Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing, or (ii) in the case of a Competitive Loan that is a Eurocurrency Loan, at the Eurocurrency Reference Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus (or minus, as applicable) the Margin applicable to such Loan.
(c) Each Fixed Rate Loan shall bear interest at the Fixed Rate.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, during the continuance of an Event of Default the Required Lenders may, at their option, by notice to the US Borrower declare that (i) each Eurocurrency Loan shall bear interest for the remainder of the applicable Interest Period at the rate otherwise applicable to such Interest Period plus 2% per annum and (ii) each ABR Loan shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Alternate Base Rate in effect from time to time plus 2% per annum, provided that, during the continuance of an Event of Default under Section 7.01(h) or (i), the interest rates set forth in clauses (i) and (ii) above shall be applicable to all Loans without any election or action on the part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.
(e) Accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan and upon termination of the Commitments; provided that (i) interest accrued pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Section shall be payable on demand, (ii) in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any Loan (other than a prepayment of an ABR Revolving Loan prior to the end of the Availability Period), accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment and (iii) in the event of any conversion of any Eurocurrency Revolving Loan prior to the end of the current Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be payable on the effective date of such conversion.
(f) All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, except that interest computed by reference to the Alternate Base Rate at times when the Alternate Base Rate is based on the Prime Rate and interest computed on Loans denominated in United Kingdom pounds sterling shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year), and in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). The applicable Alternate Base Rate or Eurocurrency Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
SECTION 2.14. Alternate Rate of Interest. If prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurocurrency Borrowing:
(a) the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Eurocurrency Reference Rate for such Interest Period; or
(b) the Administrative Agent is advised by the Required Lenders (or in the case of a Competitive Loan that is a Eurocurrency Loan, the Lender that is required to make such Loan) that the Eurocurrency Rate for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders (or Lender) of making or maintaining their Loans (or its Loan) included in such Borrowing for such Interest Period;
then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the US Borrower and the Lenders by telephone or telecopy as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the Administrative Agent notifies the US Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (i) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Revolving Borrowing to, or continuation of any Revolving Borrowing as, a Eurocurrency Borrowing shall be ineffective, and (ii) if any Borrowing Request requests a Eurocurrency Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing; provided that if the circumstances giving rise to such notice affect only one Type of Borrowings, then the other Type of Borrowings shall be permitted.
SECTION 2.15. Increased Costs. (a) 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 by, any Lender (except any such reserve requirement reflected
in the Eurocurrency Rate) or the Issuing Bank;
(ii)impose on any Lender or the Issuing Bank or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or Eurocurrency Loans or Fixed Rate Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein; or
(iii)subject the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the Issuing Bank or any other recipient of any payments to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrowers hereunder to any Taxes on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes, (B) Excluded Taxes or (C) Other Taxes);
and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Person of making or maintaining any Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan) or to increase the cost to such Person of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Person hereunder (whether of principal, interest or otherwise), then the US Borrower will pay to such Person such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Person for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.
(b) If any Lender or the Issuing Bank determines that any Change in Law regarding capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender's or the Issuing Bank's capital or on the capital of such Lender's or the Issuing Bank's holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by the Issuing Bank, to a level below that which such Lender or the Issuing Bank or such Lender's or the Issuing Bank's holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender's or the Issuing Bank's policies and the policies of such Lender's or the Issuing Bank's holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the US Borrower will pay to such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the Issuing Bank or such Lender's or the Issuing Bank's holding company for any such reduction suffered.
(c) A certificate of a Lender or the Issuing Bank setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or the Issuing Bank or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section shall be delivered to the US Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The US Borrower shall pay such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.
(d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or the Issuing Bank to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender's or the Issuing Bank's right to demand such compensation; provided that the US Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or the Issuing Bank pursuant to this Section for any increased costs or reductions incurred more than 90 days prior to the date that such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, notifies the US Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender's or the Issuing Bank's intention to claim compensation therefor; provided further that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 90-day period referred to above
shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.
(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, a Lender shall not be entitled to compensation pursuant to this Section in respect of any Competitive Loan if the Change in Law that would otherwise entitle it to such compensation shall have been publicly announced prior to submission of the Competitive Bid pursuant to which such Loan was made.
SECTION 2.16. Break Funding Payments. In the event of (a) the payment of any principal of any Eurocurrency Loan or Fixed Rate Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default), (b) the conversion of any Eurocurrency Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (c) the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Eurocurrency Loan or Fixed Rate Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice may be revoked under Section 2.11(b) and is revoked in accordance therewith), (d) the failure to borrow any Competitive Loan after accepting the Competitive Bid to make such Loan, or (e) the assignment of any Eurocurrency Loan or Fixed Rate Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.19, then, in any such event, the US Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event. In the case of a Eurocurrency Loan, such loss, cost or expense to any Lender shall be deemed to include an amount determined by such Lender to be the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest which would have accrued on the principal amount of such Loan had such event not occurred, at the Eurocurrency Rate that would have been applicable to such Loan, for the period from the date of such event to the last day of the then current Interest Period therefor (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or continue, for the period that would have been the Interest Period for such Loan), over (ii) the amount of interest which would accrue on such principal amount for such period at the interest rate which such Lender would bid were it to bid, at the commencement of such period, for deposits in the relevant currency of a comparable amount and period from other banks in the eurocurrency market. A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section shall be delivered to the US Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrowers shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.
SECTION 2.17. Taxes. (a) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrowers hereunder shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes; provided that if the Borrowers shall be required to deduct any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes from such payments, then (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) the Administrative Agent, Lender or the Issuing Bank (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the Borrowers shall make such deductions and (iii) the Borrowers shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.
(b) In addition, the applicable Borrower shall pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.
(c) The US Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender, and the Issuing Bank, within 10 days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes paid by the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, on or with respect to any payment by or on account of any obligation of the Borrowers hereunder (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the US Borrower by a Lender, or the Issuing Bank, or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender or the Issuing Bank, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(d) As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by the Borrowers to a Governmental Authority, the US Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(e) Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which the Borrowers are located, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments under this Agreement shall deliver to the US Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrowers as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate.
(f) If the Administrative Agent or a Lender determines, in its sole discretion, that it has received a refund of any Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the US Borrower or with respect to which the Borrowers have paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.17, it shall pay over such refund to the US Borrower (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the US Borrower under this Section 2.17 with respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent or such Lender and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund); provided, that the US Borrower, upon the request of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrowers (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent or such Lender in the event the Administrative Agent or such Lender is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. This Section shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes which it deems confidential) to the Borrowers or any other Person.
(g) Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent for any Taxes (but, in the case of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes, only to the extent that the Borrowers have not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the US Borrower to do so) attributable to such Lender that are paid or payable by the Administrative Agent in connection with this Agreement and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such amounts were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. The indemnity under this Section 2.17(g) shall be paid within 10 days after the Administrative Agent delivers to the applicable Lender a certificate stating the amount so paid or payable by the Administrative Agent. Such certificate shall be conclusive of the amount so paid or payable absent manifest error.
(h) If a payment made to a Lender under this Agreement 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 US Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrowers 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 Borrowers or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent to comply with its obligations under FATCA, to determine that such Lender has or has not complied with such Lender's obligations under FATCA and, as necessary, to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this Section 2.17(h), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.
SECTION 2.18. Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs.
(a) (i) Each Loan shall be repaid and each payment of interest thereon shall be paid in the currency in which such Loan was made. The Borrowers shall make each payment required to be made by them hereunder (whether of principal, interest, fees or reimbursement of LC Disbursements, or of amounts payable under Section 2.15, 2.16 or 2.17, or otherwise) prior to 12:00 noon, Chicago time, on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without set off or counterclaim. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent at its offices at 10 South Dearborn Street, 7th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60603, except payments to be made directly to the Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender as expressly provided herein and except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto, and except that all payments to be made by the Borrowers hereunder in any currency other than Dollars shall be made in such currency on the date due in such funds as may then be customary for the settlement of international transactions in such currency for the account of the Administrative Agent, at its Eurocurrency Payment Office for such currency and shall be applied ratably by the Administrative Agent among the Lenders. Each payment delivered to the Administrative Agent for the account of any Lender shall be delivered promptly by the Administrative Agent to such Lender in the same type of funds that the Administrative Agent received at, (a) with respect to ABR Loans and Eurocurrency Loans denominated in Dollars, its address specified in the Administrative Questionnaire or at any address specified in a notice received by the Administrative Agent from such Lender and (b) with respect to Eurocurrency
Loans denominated in an Agreed Currency other than Dollars, in the funds received from the applicable Borrower at the address of the Administrative Agent's Eurocurrency Payment Office for such currency. The Administrative Agent is hereby authorized to charge any account of any Borrower maintained with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. or any of its Affiliates for each payment of principal, interest and fees as it becomes due hereunder. If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension.
(ii) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, if, after the making of any Loan in any currency other than Dollars, currency control or exchange regulations are imposed in the country which issues such currency with the result that the type of currency in which the Loan was made (the “Original Currency”) no longer exists or the US Borrower is not able to make payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders in such Original Currency, then all payments to be made by the Borrowers hereunder in such currency shall instead be made when due in Dollars in an amount equal to the Dollar Amount (as of the date of repayment) of such payment due, it being the intention of the parties hereto that the Borrowers take all risks of the imposition of any such currency control or exchange regulations.
(b) If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, unreimbursed LC Disbursements, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i) first, towards payment of interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties, and (ii) second, towards payment of principal and unreimbursed LC Disbursements then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal and unreimbursed LC Disbursements then due to such parties.
(c) If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of set off or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Revolving Loans or participations in LC Disbursements or Swingline Loans resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Revolving Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by any other Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Revolving Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans of other Lenders to the extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Revolving Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans; provided that (i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and (ii) the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by either Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or participations in LC Disbursements to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrowers or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this paragraph shall apply). Each Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against such Borrower rights of set-off and counterclaim with
respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of such Borrower in the amount of such participation.
(d) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the US Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or the Issuing Bank hereunder that the Borrowers will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the applicable 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 Bank, as the case may be, the amount due. In such event, if the Borrowers have not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or Issuing Bank 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 Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.
(e) If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.05(c), 2.06(d) or (e), 2.07(b), 2.18(d) or 9.03(c), then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), (i) apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender and for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender or the Issuing Bank to satisfy such Lender's obligations to it under such Section until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid and/or (ii) hold any such amounts in a segregated account as cash collateral for, and application to, any future funding obligations of such Lender under any such Section; in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii) above, in any order as determined by the Administrative Agent in its discretion.
SECTION 2.19. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders. (a) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15, or if either of the Borrowers is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.15 or 2.17, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The US Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.
(b) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15, or if either of the Borrowers is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17, or if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the Borrowers may, at their sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 9.04), all its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement (other than any outstanding Competitive Loans held by it) to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (i) the US Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (and if a Commitment is being assigned, the
Issuing Bank), which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans (other than Competitive Loans) and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrowers (in the case of all other amounts) and (iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.15 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.17, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments. A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrowers to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.
SECTION 2.20. Market Disruption. Notwithstanding the satisfaction of all conditions referred to in Article II and Article IV with respect to any Borrowing in any Agreed Currency other than Dollars, if there shall occur on or prior to the date of such Borrowing any change in national or international financial, political or economic conditions or currency exchange rates or exchange controls which would in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders make it impracticable for the Eurocurrency Loans comprising such Borrowing to be denominated in the Agreed Currency specified by the Borrowers, then the Administrative Agent shall forthwith give notice thereof to the US Borrower and the Lenders, and such Loans shall not be denominated in such Agreed Currency but shall, except as otherwise set forth in Section 2.03(b), be made on the proposed date of such Borrowing in Dollars, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the Dollar Amount of the aggregate principal amount specified in the related Borrowing Request or Interest Election Request, as the case may be, as ABR Loans, unless the US Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent at least one Business Day before such date that (i) it elects not to borrow on such date or (ii) it elects to borrow on such date in a different Agreed Currency, as the case may be, in which the denomination of such Loans would in the opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders be practicable and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the Dollar Amount of the aggregate principal amount specified in the related Borrowing Request or Interest Election Request, as the case may be.
SECTION 2.21. Judgment Currency. If for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert a sum due from either of the Borrowers hereunder in the currency expressed to be payable herein (the “specified currency”) into another currency, the parties hereto agree, to the fullest extent that they may effectively do so, that the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Administrative Agent could purchase the specified currency with such other currency at the Administrative Agent's main office on the Business Day preceding that on which final, non‑appealable judgment is given. The obligations of the Borrowers in respect of any sum due to any Lender or the Administrative Agent hereunder shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency other than the specified currency, be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by such Lender or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) of any sum adjudged to be so due in such other currency such Lender or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) may in accordance with normal, reasonable banking procedures purchase the specified currency with such other currency. If the amount of the specified currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, in the specified currency, the applicable Borrower agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, against such loss, and if the amount of the
specified currency so purchased exceeds (a) the sum originally due to any Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, in the specified currency and (b) any amounts shared with other Lenders as a result of allocations of such excess as a disproportionate payment to such Lender under Section 2.18(c), such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, agrees to remit such excess to the applicable Borrower.
SECTION 2.22. Defaulting Lenders. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the following provisions shall apply for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender:
(a) fees shall cease to accrue on the unfunded portion of the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.12(a);
(b) the Commitment and Revolving Credit Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether the Required Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment, waiver or other modification pursuant to Section 9.02); provided, that this clause (b) shall not apply to the vote of a Defaulting Lender in the case of an amendment, waiver or other modification requiring the consent of such Lender or each Lender affected thereby;
(c) if any Swingline Exposure or LC Exposure exists at the time such Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender then:
(i)all or any part of the Swingline Exposure and LC Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall be reallocated among the non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages but only to the extent the sum of all non-Defaulting Lenders' Revolving Credit Exposures plus such Defaulting Lender's Swingline Exposure and LC Exposure does not exceed the total of all non-Defaulting Lenders' Commitments;
(ii)if the reallocation described in clause (i) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the US Borrower shall within one (1) Business Day following notice by the Administrative Agent (x) first, prepay such Swingline Exposure and (y) second, cash collateralize for the benefit of the Issuing Bank only the Borrowers' obligations corresponding to such Defaulting Lender's LC Exposure (after giving effect to any partial reallocation pursuant to clause (i) above) in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.06(j) for so long as such LC Exposure is outstanding;
(iii)if the Borrowers cash collateralize any portion of such Defaulting Lender's LC Exposure pursuant to clause (ii) above, the Borrowers shall not be required to pay any fees to such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.12(b) with respect to such Defaulting Lender's LC Exposure during the period such Defaulting Lender's LC Exposure is cash collateralized;
(iv)if the LC Exposure of the non-Defaulting Lenders is reallocated pursuant to clause (i) above, then the fees payable to the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.12(b) shall be adjusted in accordance with such non-Defaulting Lenders' Applicable Percentages; and
(v)if all or any portion of such Defaulting Lender's LC Exposure is neither reallocated nor cash collateralized pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above, then, without prejudice to any rights or remedies of the Issuing Bank or any other Lender hereunder, all Facility Fees that otherwise would have been payable to such Defaulting Lender (solely with respect to the portion of such Defaulting Lender's Commitment that was utilized by such LC Exposure) and letter of credit fees payable under Section 2.12(b) with respect to such Defaulting Lender's LC Exposure shall be payable to the Issuing Bank until and to the extent that such LC Exposure is reallocated and/or cash collateralized; and
(d) so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender, the Swingline Lender shall not be required to fund any Swingline Loan and the Issuing Bank shall not be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless it is satisfied that the related exposure and the Defaulting Lender's then outstanding LC Exposure will be 100% covered by the Commitments of the non-Defaulting Lenders and/or cash collateral will be provided by the US Borrower in accordance with Section 2.22(c), and participating interests in any such newly made Swingline Loan or any newly issued or increased Letter of Credit shall be allocated among non-Defaulting Lenders in a manner consistent with Section 2.22(c)(i) (and such Defaulting Lender shall not participate therein).
If (i) a Bankruptcy Event with respect to a Parent of any Lender shall occur following the date hereof and for so long as such event shall continue or (ii) the Swingline Lender or the Issuing Bank has a good faith belief that any Lender has defaulted in fulfilling its obligations under one or more other agreements in which such Lender commits to extend credit, the Swingline Lender shall not be required to fund any Swingline Loan and the Issuing Bank shall not be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless the Swingline Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, shall have entered into arrangements with the Borrowers or such Lender, satisfactory to the Swingline Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, to defease any risk to it in respect of such Lender hereunder.
In the event that the Administrative Agent, the Borrowers, the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Bank each agrees that a Defaulting Lender has adequately remedied all matters that caused such Lender to be a Defaulting Lender, then the Swingline Exposure and LC Exposure of the Lenders shall be readjusted to reflect the inclusion of such Lender's Commitment and on such date such Lender shall purchase at par such of the Loans of the other Lenders (other than Swingline Loans) as the Administrative Agent shall determine may be necessary in order for such Lender to hold such Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.
ARTICLE III
Representations and Warranties
Each Borrower represents and warrants to the Lenders that:
SECTION 3.01. Organization; Powers. Each Borrower is a corporation duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, and has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted. Each Subsidiary is duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and, except for the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted. Each of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing in, every jurisdiction where such qualification is required except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.02. Authorization; Enforceability. The Transactions are within the Borrowers' corporate powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate and, if required, stockholder action. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Borrowers and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrowers, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors' rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.
SECTION 3.03. Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts. The Transactions (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect, (b) will not violate any applicable law or regulation or the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries or any order of any Governmental Authority, (c) will not violate or result in a default under any indenture, agreement or other instrument binding upon the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries or its assets, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries, and (d) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries.
SECTION 3.04. Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change. (a) The US Borrower has heretofore furnished to the Lenders its consolidated balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows (i) as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, reported on by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent public accountants, and (ii) as of and for the fiscal quarter and the portion of the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011, certified by its chief financial officer. Such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of the US Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of such dates and for such periods in accordance with GAAP, subject to year end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes in the case of the statements referred to in clause (ii) above.
(b) Since December 31, 2010, there has been no event, act, condition or occurrence having a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.05. Properties. (a) Each of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries has good title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all its real and personal property material to its business, except for minor defects in title that do not materially interfere with its ability to conduct its business as currently conducted or to utilize such properties for their intended purposes.
(b) Each of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries owns, or is licensed to use, all trademarks, tradenames, copyrights, patents and other intellectual property material to its business, and the use thereof by the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries does not infringe upon the rights of any other Person, except for any such infringements that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.06. Litigation and Environmental Matters. (a) There are no actions, suits or proceedings by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority pending against or, to the knowledge of any Borrower, threatened against or affecting such Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (i) as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination and that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect (other than the Disclosed Matters) or (ii) that involve this Agreement or the Transactions.
(b) Except for the Disclosed Matters and except with respect to any other matters that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, neither any Borrower nor any of such Borrower's Subsidiaries (i) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law, (ii) has become subject to any Environmental Liability, (iii) has received notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or (iv) knows of any basis for any Environmental Liability.
(c) Since the date of this Agreement, there has been no change in the status of the Disclosed Matters that, individually or in the aggregate, has resulted in, or materially increased the likelihood of, a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.07. Compliance with Laws and Agreements. Each of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries is in compliance with all laws, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property and all indentures, agreements and other instruments binding upon it or its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No Default has occurred and is continuing.
SECTION 3.08. Investment Company Status. No Borrower and none of their Subsidiaries is an “investment company” as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940.
SECTION 3.09. Taxes. Each of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries has timely filed or caused to be filed all Tax returns and reports required to have been filed and has paid or caused to be paid all Taxes required to have been paid by it, except (a) Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which the Borrowers or such Subsidiary, as applicable, has set aside on its books adequate reserves or (b) to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries in respect of taxes or other governmental charges are, in the opinion of the Borrowers, adequate. United States income tax returns of the US Borrower and its Subsidiaries have been examined and closed through the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.
SECTION 3.10. ERISA. No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events for which liability is reasonably expected to occur, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.11. Capital Stock. All Capital Stock, debentures, bonds, notes and all other securities of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries presently issued and outstanding are validly and properly issued in accordance with all applicable laws, including, but not limited to, the “Blue Sky” laws of all applicable states and the federal securities laws. The issued shares of Capital Stock of the Borrowers' Wholly Owned Subsidiaries are owned by the applicable Borrower free and clear of any Lien or adverse claim. At least a majority of the issued shares of stock of each of the Borrowers' other Subsidiaries (other than Wholly Owned Subsidiaries) having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors of such Subsidiary is owned by the applicable Borrower free and clear of any Lien or adverse claim.
SECTION 3.12. Use of Proceeds. Neither the Borrowers nor any Subsidiary owns or has any present intention of acquiring any “margin stock” as defined in Regulation U (12 CFR Part 221) of the Board (herein called “margin stock”). The proceeds of the Loans will be used primarily to replace the US Borrower's existing bank credit facility, for working capital purposes, capital expenditures, Investments, and other purposes permitted by or not in contravention of any provision of this Agreement. None of such proceeds will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose, whether immediate, incidental or ultimate, of purchasing or carrying any margin stock or for the purpose of maintaining, reducing or retiring any indebtedness which was originally incurred to purchase or carry any stock that is currently a margin stock or for any other purpose which might constitute this transaction a “purpose credit” within the meaning of such Regulation U. Neither the Borrowers nor any agent acting on their behalf has taken or will take any action which might cause this Agreement to violate Regulation U, Regulation T or any other regulation of the Board or to violate the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, in each case as in effect now or as the same may hereafter be in effect. Neither the Borrowers nor any of their Subsidiaries is a Person described in Section 1 of the Anti-Terrorism Order and none of the proceeds of the Loans will, directly or indirectly, be transferred to or used for the benefit of any such Person in violation of the Anti-Terrorism Order.
SECTION 3.13. Insolvency. After giving effect to the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents and the making of the Loans under this Agreement, the Borrowers will not be “insolvent,” within the meaning of such term as defined in § 101 of Title 11 of the United States Code or Section 2 of the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act, or any other applicable state law pertaining to fraudulent transfers, as each may
be amended from time to time, or be unable to pay their debts generally as such debts become due, or have an unreasonably small capital to engage in any business or transaction, whether current or contemplated.
SECTION 3.14. Insurance. The Borrowers maintain and each Subsidiary maintains (either in the name of the applicable Borrower or in such Subsidiary's own name) insurance on all of its Properties in compliance with the requirements of Section 5.05.
SECTION 3.15. Partnerships and Joint Ventures. As of the Effective Date, except as disclosed on Schedule 3.15, neither the Borrowers nor any of their Subsidiaries has any ownership interests in any partnership or joint venture.
SECTION 3.16. Subsidiaries. As of the Effective Date, the Borrowers have no Subsidiaries except those Subsidiaries listed on Schedule 3.16, which accurately sets forth each such Subsidiary's complete name and jurisdiction of organization.
SECTION 3.17. Debt. As of the Effective Date, there exists no Debt (a) of any Borrower which is secured by a Lien under Section 6.03(vi), (b) of any Significant Subsidiary except Debt owing to a Borrower, and (c) of any Subsidiary (other than a Significant Subsidiary) except (i) Debt owing to a Borrower or to another Subsidiary and (ii) other Debt which does not exceed in the aggregate as to all such Subsidiaries the sum of $2,000,000.
SECTION 3.18. Disclosure. Each Borrower has disclosed to the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which it or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, and all other matters known to it, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. None of the reports, financial statements, certificates or other written information furnished by or on behalf of the Borrowers to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains, to any Borrower's knowledge, any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information (if any), such Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time.
ARTICLE IV
Conditions
SECTION 4.01. Effective Date. The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of the Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit hereunder shall not become effective until the date on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02):
(a) The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received from each party hereto either (i) a counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party or (ii) written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include telecopy transmission of a signed signature page of this Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement.
(b) The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received a certificate of an officer of each Loan Party certifying as to the incumbency and genuineness of the signature of each officer of each Loan Party executing Loan Documents to which it is a party and certifying that attached thereto is a true, correct and complete copy of (I) the articles or certificate of incorporation or formation of each Loan Party and all amendments thereto, certified as of a recent date by the appropriate Governmental Authority in its jurisdiction of organization, (II) the bylaws or other governing document of each Loan Party as in effect on the Effective Date, (III) resolutions duly adopted by the board of directors or other governing body of each Loan Party authorizing the borrowings contemplated hereunder and the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and (IV) certificates as of a recent date of the good standing of each Loan Party under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and, to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent, each other jurisdiction where each Loan Party is qualified to do business).
(c) The Administrative Agent shall have received a favorable opinion of (i) Schiff Hardin LLP, counsel to the US Borrower and Guarantors and (ii) Holland Van Gijzen Advocaten en Notarissen LLP, counsel to the Dutch Borrower, in each case addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(d) The Administrative Agent shall have received such other assurances, certificates, documents, consents or opinions as the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, the Swingline Lender or the Required Lenders reasonably may require.
(e) The Administrative Agent shall have received all fees and other amounts due and payable on or prior to the Effective Date, including, to the extent invoiced, reimbursement or payment of all out of pocket expenses required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrowers hereunder.
The Administrative Agent shall notify the US Borrower and the Lenders of the Effective Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding.
SECTION 4.02. Each Credit Event. The obligation of each Lender to make a Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing, and of the Issuing Bank to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit, is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:
(a) The representations and warranties of each Borrower set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Borrowing or the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, except (i) to the extent any such representation or warranty is stated to relate to an earlier date and (ii) for changes in the Schedules hereto reflecting transactions after the Effective Date permitted by this Agreement.
(b) The Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender shall have received a request for Borrowing in accordance with the requirements of this Agreement.
(c) At the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing or the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
Each Borrowing and each issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by each Borrower on the date thereof as to the matters specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section.
ARTICLE V
Affirmative Covenants
Until the Commitments have expired or been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder shall have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit shall have expired or terminated and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed, each Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:
SECTION 5.01. Financial Statements; Other Information. The Borrowers will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:
(a) within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the US Borrower, its audited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders' equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all reported on by Deloitte & Touche LLP, or other independent public accountants of recognized national standing (without a “going concern” or like qualification or exception and without any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the US Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied; provided, however, that delivery (within the time period specified above), pursuant to Section 5.01(d) hereof, of a copy of the annual report on the “Form 10-K” of the US Borrower for such fiscal year filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this Section 5.01(a);
(b) within 60 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the US Borrower, its consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders' equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year, all certified by one of its Financial Officers as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the US Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes; provided, however, that delivery (within the time period specified above), pursuant to Section 5.01(d) hereof, of a
copy of the quarterly report on the “Form 10-Q” of the US Borrower for such quarterly period filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this Section 5.01(b);
(c) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under clause (a) or (b) above, a certificate of a Financial Officer of the US Borrower (i) certifying as to whether a Default has occurred and, if a Default has occurred, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto, (ii) setting forth reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating compliance with Sections 5.08 and 5.09 and (iii) stating whether any change in GAAP or in the application thereof has occurred since the date of the audited financial statements referred to in Section 3.04 and, if any such change has occurred, specifying the effect of such change on the financial statements accompanying such certificate;
(d) promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed by the US Borrower or any Subsidiary with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all of the functions of said Commission, or with any national securities exchange, or distributed by the US Borrower to its shareholders generally, as the case may be; and
(e) promptly following any request therefor, such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of the Borrowers or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of this Agreement, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request.
SECTION 5.02. Notices of Material Events. The Borrowers will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:
(a) within five (5) Business Days after any Financial Officer becomes aware of the occurrence of any Default, written notice of such Default;
(b) promptly after a Financial Officer knows of the filing or commencement thereof, written notice of the filing or commencement of any action, suit or proceeding by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority against or affecting any Borrower or any Affiliate thereof that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;
(c) prompt written notice of the occurrence of any ERISA Event that, alone or together with any other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability of any Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding $2,000,000;
(d) prompt written notice of any other development that results in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.
Each notice delivered under this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of a Financial Officer or other executive officer of the US Borrower setting forth the details of the event or development requiring such notice and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.
SECTION 5.03. Existence; Conduct of Business. Each Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal existence and the rights, licenses, permits, privileges and franchises material to the conduct of its business; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution permitted under Section 6.03.
SECTION 5.04. Payment of Obligations. Each Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, pay its obligations, including Tax liabilities, that, if not paid, could result in a Material Adverse Effect before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where (a) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (b) such Borrower or such Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP and (c) the failure to make payment pending such contest could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 5.05. Maintenance of Properties; Insurance. Each Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, (a) keep and maintain all property material to the conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, and (b) maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance in such amounts and against such risks as are customarily maintained by companies engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations, provided that such Borrower may satisfy such insurance requirements through adequate self-insurance programs.
SECTION 5.06. Books and Records; Inspection Rights. Each Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, keep proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries are made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities. Each Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, permit any representatives designated by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, upon reasonable prior notice, to visit and inspect its properties, to examine and make extracts from its books and records, and to discuss its affairs, finances and condition with its officers and independent accountants, all at such reasonable times and as often as reasonably requested.
SECTION 5.07. Compliance with Laws. Each Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, comply with all laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, not be a Person described in Section 1 of, and not engage in any transaction or activity prohibited by, the Anti-Terrorism Order.
SECTION 5.08. Leverage Ratio. As of the end of each fiscal quarter, the Leverage Ratio shall not exceed 3.50 to 1.00.
SECTION 5.09. Interest Coverage Ratio. As of the end of each fiscal quarter, the Interest Coverage Ratio shall be equal to or greater than 3.00 to 1.00.
SECTION 5.10. Environmental Matters.
(a) Each Borrower shall furnish to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent written notice of all pending or threatened Environmental Liabilities, Environmental Proceedings, Environmental Notices, Environmental Judgments and Orders, and Environmental Releases at, on, in or under the Properties or any adjacent property, any of which, taken alone or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, promptly after a Financial Officer learns thereof.
(b) Each Borrower and its Subsidiaries will substantially comply with all applicable material Environmental Requirements.
(c) Each Borrower agrees that upon the occurrence of an Environmental Release at or on any of the Properties that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect it will act immediately to investigate the extent of, and to take appropriate remedial action to eliminate, such Environmental Release, whether or not ordered or otherwise directed to do so by any Environmental Authority.
SECTION 5.11. Most Favored Lender Status. Except in the case of any Qualified Receivables Transaction, in the event that any Borrower or any Subsidiary shall enter into, assume or otherwise become bound by or obligated under, or amend, any agreement evidencing any present or future Debt in excess of $10,000,000, which instrument includes covenants, warranties, representations or defaults, or events of default (or any other type of restriction which would have the practical effect of any of the foregoing, including, without limitation, any “put” or mandatory prepayment of such Debt) other than those set forth herein or in any of the other Loan Documents, such Borrower shall promptly so notify the Administrative Agent, and if the Administrative Agent shall so request by written notice to the US Borrower (after a determination has been made by the Required Lenders that any of the above-referenced documents or instruments contain any provisions, which either individually or in the aggregate, are more favorable than any of the provisions set forth in this Agreement), the Borrowers and the Lenders shall promptly amend this Agreement to incorporate some or all of such provisions, in the discretion of the Required Lenders, into this Agreement and, to the extent necessary and reasonably desirable to the Required Lenders, into any of the other Loan Documents, all at the election of the Required Lenders.
SECTION 5.12. Additional Guarantors. The US Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent at the time that any Person becomes a Material Subsidiary that is also a Domestic Subsidiary, and promptly thereafter (and in any event within ninety (90) days) cause such Person to (a) become a Guarantor by executing and delivering to the Administrative Agent a counterpart of the Subsidiary Guaranty or such other document as the Administrative Agent shall deem appropriate for such purpose, (b) deliver to the Administrative Agent documents of the types referred to in clauses (b) and (c) of Section 4.01 and (c) deliver to the Administrative Agent such other documents and closing certificates as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, all in form, content and scope reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
ARTICLE VI
Negative Covenants
Until the Commitments have expired or terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit have expired or terminated and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed, each Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:
SECTION 6.01. Loans or Advances. No Borrower nor any of their Subsidiaries shall make loans or advances to any Person except: (i) loans or advances to employees made in the ordinary course of business and consistently with practices existing on the Effective Date; (ii) deposits required by government agencies or public utilities; (iii) loans or advances by such Borrower to any Subsidiary or by any Subsidiary to such Borrower or any other Subsidiary (other than a Significant Subsidiary); (iv) loans or advances to senior management of the US Borrower pursuant to the Stock Purchase Plan to the extent the aggregate outstanding amount of all such loans or advances does not exceed $5,000,000; (v) loans to the existing employee stock ownership plan of the US Borrower; (vi) loans to any new employee stock ownership plan of the US Borrower which is approved by the US Borrower's shareholders; and (vii) loans or advances permitted by Section 6.02; provided that after giving effect to the making of any loans, advances or deposits permitted by clause (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi) or (vii) of this Section, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
SECTION 6.02. Investments. No Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall make Investments in any Person except Investments (i) in direct obligations of or guaranteed by the United States Government or any state of the United States or any agency of either thereof maturing within 2 years, (ii) in certificates of deposit issued by, and time deposits with, a commercial bank with a capital of $100,000,000 or more or whose credit is reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (iii) in commercial paper rated A‑1 or better by S&P, or the equivalent thereof by any nationally recognized rating agency, (iv) in the form of loans and advances permitted by Section 6.01, (v) in tender bonds the payment of the principal of and interest on which is fully supported by a letter of credit issued by a United States bank whose long-term certificates of deposit are rated at least A or better by S&P, or the equivalent thereof by any nationally recognized rating agency, (vi) in any Subsidiary or any corporation or other Person which immediately after such Investment is made will be a Subsidiary, (vii) consisting of stock, obligations or securities received in settlement of debts created in the ordinary course of business owing to such Borrower or any Subsidiary, to the extent the aggregate amount of all such Investments described in this clause (vii) made after the Effective Date does not exceed $1,000,000, (viii) consisting of demand deposit accounts, (ix) consisting of repurchase agreements with respect to Investments described in clauses (ii) and (iii) above, (x) consisting of money market funds which invest exclusively in Investments described in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (ix) above, (xi) in Permitted Acquisitions, (xii) comprised of contributions (whether in the form of cash, a note, or other assets) to a Subsidiary or other special-purpose entity created solely to engage in a Qualified Receivables Transaction or otherwise resulting from transfers of assets permitted by Section 6.04(c)(vii) to such a special-purpose entity, and (xiii) not otherwise permitted by the foregoing clauses (i) through (xii) in an aggregate amount not to exceed an amount equal to 25% of Consolidated Net Worth.
SECTION 6.03. Liens. No Borrower nor any Subsidiary will create, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it, except:
(i)any Lien existing on any asset of any corporation or other Person at the time such corporation or other Person becomes a Subsidiary and not created in contemplation of such event;
(ii)any Lien on any asset of any corporation or other Person existing at the time such corporation or other Person is merged or consolidated with or into such Borrower or a Subsidiary and not created in contemplation of such event;
(iii)any Lien existing on any asset prior to the acquisition thereof by such Borrower or a Subsidiary and not created in contemplation of such acquisition;
(iv)Liens securing Debt owing by any Subsidiary to such Borrower or by such Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than a Significant Subsidiary) to any Subsidiary;
(v)Liens incidental to the conduct of its business or the ownership of its assets which (A) do not secure Debt and (B) do not in the aggregate materially detract from the value of its assets or materially impair the use thereof in the operation of its business;
(vi)Liens incurred in connection with any transfer of an interest in accounts or notes receivable or related assets as part of a Qualified Receivables Transaction;
(vii)Liens not otherwise permitted by the foregoing clauses of this Section securing Debt (other than the Loans) provided that Priority Debt at no time exceeds twenty percent (20%) of Consolidated Net Worth (notwithstanding the foregoing, the basket in this subclause (vii) shall not be used to provide credit enhancements (in any form, including Liens and Guarantees) to the purchasers under the US Borrower's note purchase agreement with Prudential Investment Management, Inc., as the same may be amended, modified, renewed or extended from time to time); and
(viii)with respect to the Dutch Borrower, any security right arising under clause 24 of the general terms and conditions (algemene bankvoorwaarden) of any member of the Dutch Bankers' Association (Nederlandse Vereniging van Banken) or any similar term applied by a financial institution in a jurisdiction where the Dutch Borrower has a bank account pursuant to its general terms and conditions.
SECTION 6.04. Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets. The Borrowers will not, nor will they permit any Subsidiary to, consolidate or merge with or into, or sell, lease or otherwise transfer all or any substantial part of their assets to, any other Person, provided that: (a) any Borrower may merge with another Person if (i) such Person was organized under the laws of the United States of America or one of its states, (ii) such Borrower is the corporation surviving such merger and (iii) immediately after giving effect to such merger, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (b) Subsidiaries of any Borrower may merge with such Borrower or may merge with one another if, in the event such merger is between a Significant Subsidiary and another Subsidiary, such Significant Subsidiary is the corporation surviving
such merger, and (c) the foregoing limitation on the sale, lease or other transfer of assets shall not prohibit (i) any sale and leaseback of any Property owned by any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, provided that the aggregate amount of assets sold and leased back under this clause (c)(i) in the most recent twelve (12) month period do not constitute more than five percent (5%) of Consolidated Total Assets determined as of the end of the most recently ended fiscal year, (ii) any sale, lease or other transfer of assets made by such Borrower or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of its business, (iii) any sale, lease or other transfer of assets by a Subsidiary (other than a Significant Subsidiary) to such Borrower or to a Wholly Owned Subsidiary, (iv) any sale, lease or other transfer of assets by any Borrower to a Wholly Owned Subsidiary, (v) any sale, lease or other transfer of assets by a Significant Subsidiary to the US Borrower or to any other Significant Subsidiary, (vi) any transfer of assets consisting solely of cash as consideration for any Investment permitted under Section 6.02, (vii) any sale of receivables permitted under Section 6.08, or (viii) any sale, lease or other transfer of assets outside of the ordinary course of business so long as the aggregate amount of assets sold, leased or otherwise transferred outside of the ordinary course of business in the then most recent twelve (12) month period which were not otherwise permitted by this Section 6.04 to be sold, leased or otherwise transferred together with the amount of any assets then proposed to be sold, leased or otherwise transferred outside of the ordinary course of business which are not otherwise permitted by this Section 6.04 to be sold, leased or otherwise transferred (A) does not constitute more than fifteen percent (15%) of Consolidated Total Assets determined as of the end of the most recently ended fiscal year and (B) has not contributed more than fifteen percent (15%) of Consolidated Net Earnings for the most recently ended fiscal year.
SECTION 6.05. Use of Proceeds. No portion of the proceeds of the Loans will be used by any Borrower or any Subsidiary (i) in a manner which would violate or cause any Lender to be in violation of Regulation T, U or X of the Board, (ii) for any purpose in violation of any applicable law or regulation, or (iii) to finance any Acquisition other than a Permitted Acquisition.
SECTION 6.06. Change in Fiscal Year. The US Borrower will not change its fiscal year without the consent of the Required Lenders.
SECTION 6.07. Dissolution. No Borrower nor any of its Material Subsidiaries shall suffer or permit dissolution or liquidation, except to the extent permitted by Section 6.04.
SECTION 6.08. Sale or Discount of Receivables. Except in connection with any Qualified Receivables Transaction, the Borrowers shall not, nor shall they permit any of their Subsidiaries to, sell with or without recourse, discount or pledge or otherwise sell any of their notes or accounts receivable excluding, however, the sale on a non-recourse basis of receivables in the ordinary course of business owing from foreign account debtors so long as such sale is not for the exclusive purpose of raising a financing (e.g., a securitization).
SECTION 6.09. Acquisitions. No Borrower nor any of their Subsidiaries shall make any Acquisitions, provided that Permitted Acquisitions may be made if, after giving effect thereto, no Default would be caused thereby (giving effect thereto on a pro forma basis as to financial covenants).
SECTION 6.10. Transactions with Affiliates. No Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall enter into, or be a party to, any transaction with any Affiliate of such Borrower or such Subsidiary (which Affiliate is not such Borrower or a Subsidiary), except as permitted by law and pursuant to terms that are no less favorable to such Borrower or such Subsidiary than would be obtained in a comparable arm's length transaction with a Person which is not an Affiliate.
SECTION 6.11. Restricted Payments. If any Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, the US Borrower will not declare or make any Restricted Payment.
SECTION 6.12. Limitation on Debt. The Borrowers shall not (a) permit any Significant Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Debt, except Debt owing by any Significant Subsidiary to the Borrowers, or (b) create, incur, assume, permit or suffer to exist any other Debt, except:
(i)Debt of any Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than a Significant Subsidiary) owing to any Borrower or any Subsidiary;
(ii)other Debt of any Borrower or Subsidiaries (other than Significant Subsidiaries), so long as Priority Debt at no time exceeds twenty percent (20%) of Consolidated Net Worth (notwithstanding the foregoing, the basket in this subclause (ii) shall not be used to provide credit enhancements (in any form, including Liens and Guarantees) to the purchasers under the US Borrower's note purchase agreement with Prudential Investment Management, Inc., as the same may be amended, modified, renewed or extended from time to time); and
(iii)Receivables Transaction Attributed Debt and/or Debt incurred pursuant to Qualified Receivables Transactions in an aggregate amount not to exceed $30,000,000 at any time.
SECTION 6.13. No Restrictions on Subsidiary Dividends. No Borrower nor any Subsidiary shall agree to, enter into, consent to, become subject to or permit to exist any contractual restriction or other binding obligation (including its charter) that directly or indirectly limits the amount of, or otherwise restricts (i) the payment to such Borrower by any Subsidiary of dividends or other redemptions or distributions with respect to such Subsidiary's capital stock, (ii) the repayment to such Borrower by any Subsidiary of intercompany loans or advances, (iii) the making of loans or advances by any Subsidiary to such Borrower or any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary (other than a Significant Subsidiary) or (iv) other intercompany transfers to such Borrower of property or other assets by Subsidiaries.
SECTION 6.14. Sale of Stock and Debt of Subsidiaries. Except for sales and other dispositions expressly permitted under Section 6.04(c), no Borrower nor any Subsidiary shall sell or otherwise dispose of, or part with control of, any shares of stock or Debt of any Subsidiary, except to such Borrower or any Subsidiary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Significant Subsidiary shall at all times be a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the US Borrower.
ARTICLE VII
Events of Default
SECTION 7.01. Events of Default. If any of the following events (“Events of Default”) shall occur:
(a) the Borrowers shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan or any reimbursement obligation in respect of any LC Disbursement when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment thereof or otherwise;
(b) the Borrowers shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount (other than an amount referred to in clause (a) of this Article) payable under this Agreement, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of ten (10) Business Days;
(c) any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrowers or any Subsidiary in or in connection with this Agreement or any amendment or modification hereof or waiver hereunder, or in any report, certificate, financial statement or other document furnished pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any amendment or modification hereof or waiver hereunder, shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made;
(d) the Borrowers shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Sections 5.02, 5.03 (with respect to the Borrowers' existence), 5.06, 5.08 or 5.09, or in Article VI;
(e) the Borrowers shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in this Agreement (other than those specified in clause (a), (b) or (d) of this Article), and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of thirty (30) days after the earlier of (i) the first day on which any Financial Officer has knowledge of such failure or (ii) the date written notice thereof is given by the Administrative Agent to the US Borrower (which notice will be given at the request of any Lender);
(f) the Borrowers or any Subsidiary shall fail to make any payment (whether of principal or interest and regardless of amount) in respect of any Material Debt, when due or within any applicable grace period;
(g) any event or condition occurs that results in any Material Debt becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or that enables or permits (with or without the giving of notice, the lapse of time or both) the holder or holders of any Material Debt or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to cause any Material Debt to become due, or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity; provided that this clause (g) shall not apply to secured Debt that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Debt;
(h) an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization or other relief in respect of any Borrower or any Subsidiary or its debts, or of a substantial part of its assets, under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect or (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for any Borrower or any Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, and, in any such case, such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed for 60 days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;
(i) any Borrower or any Subsidiary shall (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition described in clause (h) of this Article, (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for any Borrower or any Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or (vi) take any action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing;
(j) any Borrower or any Subsidiary shall become unable, admit in writing its inability or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due;
(k) one or more judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of $2,000,000 shall be rendered against any Borrower, any Subsidiary or any combination thereof and the same shall remain undischarged for a period of 60 consecutive days during which execution shall not be effectively stayed, or any action shall be legally taken by a judgment creditor to attach or levy upon any assets of any Borrower or any Subsidiary to enforce any such judgment;
(l) an ERISA Event shall have occurred that, in the opinion of the Required Lenders, when taken together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability of any Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding $2,000,000 in any year;
(m) a Change in Control shall occur; or
(n) the Dutch Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary shall cease, for any reason, to be a Wholly Owned Subsidiary;
then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to any Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice to the US Borrower, take either or both of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate the Commitments, and thereupon the Commitments shall terminate immediately, and (ii) declare the Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable), and thereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrowers accrued hereunder,
shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by each Borrower; and in case of any event with respect to the Borrowers described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article, the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrowers accrued hereunder, shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by each Borrower.
ARTICLE VIII
The Administrative Agent
SECTION 8.01. The Administrative Agent. (a) Each of the Lenders and the Issuing Bank hereby irrevocably appoints the Administrative Agent as its agent and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.
(b) The bank 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 such bank and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrowers or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if it were not the Administrative Agent hereunder.
(c) The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (a) the Administrative Agent shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing, (b) the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise in writing as directed by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 9.02), and (c) except as expressly set forth herein, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries that is communicated to or obtained by the bank serving as 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 with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 9.02) or in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until written notice thereof is given to the Administrative Agent by any Borrower or a Lender, and 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 Agreement, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or in connection herewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement or any other agreement, instrument or document, or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.
(d) 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 believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or sent 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 be made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrowers), 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.
(e) The Administrative Agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers 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 its duties and exercise its rights and powers through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of the preceding paragraphs 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.
(f) Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Administrative Agent as provided in this paragraph, the Administrative Agent may resign at any time by notifying the Lenders and the US Borrower. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Administrative Agent, provided that such appointment shall be in consultation with the Borrowers if such successor is one of the Lenders and shall be subject to the approval of the Borrowers (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) if such successor is not one of the Lenders. If no 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 and the Issuing Bank, appoint a successor Administrative Agent. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder. The fees payable by the Borrowers to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrowers and such successor. After the Administrative Agent's resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Article and Section 9.03 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 it was acting as Administrative Agent.
(g) Each Lender acknowledges that 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 Agreement. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.
(h) None of the Lenders, if any, identified in this Agreement as a Syndication Agent or Co-Documentation Agent shall have any right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement other than those applicable to all Lenders as such. Without limiting the foregoing, none of such Lenders shall have or be deemed to have a fiduciary relationship with any Lender. Each Lender hereby makes the same acknowledgments with respect to the relevant Lenders in their respective capacities as Syndication Agent or Co-Documentation Agents, as applicable, as it makes with respect to the Administrative Agent in the preceding paragraph.
ARTICLE IX
Miscellaneous
SECTION 9.01. Notices. (a) Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and subject to paragraph (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 telecopy, as follows:
(i)if to the US Borrower, to it at 400 E. Spring Street, Bluffton, IN 46714, Attention of Treasurer, Telecopy No. 260-827-5530; and in the case of a Notice to US Borrower pursuant to Article VII of this Agreement, and in the case of a notice to the US Borrower pursuant to Article VII of this Agreement, with a copy to: Schiff Hardin LLP, 233 S. Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606, Attention of: David P. McHugh, Telecopy No. 312-258-5600;
(ii)if to the Administrative Agent, (A) in the case of Borrowings denominated in Dollars, to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Loan and Agency Services Group, 10 South Dearborn, 7th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60603-2003, Attention of Duyanna Goodlet (Telecopy No. (888) 303-9732) and (B) in the case of Borrowings denominated in an Agreed Currency other than Dollars, to J.P. Morgan Europe Limited, 125 London Wall, London EC2Y 5AJ, Attention of Manager: Loan Agency (Telecopy No. 44 207 777 2360), and in each case with a copy to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 101 East Washington Boulevard, Floor 01, Fort Wayne, IN, 46802-3145 Attention of Timothy Newlin (Telecopy No. (260) 427-8933);
(iii)if to the Issuing Bank, to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Loan and Agency Services Group, 10 South Dearborn, 7th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60603-2003, Attention of Duyanna Goodlet (Telecopy No. (888) 303-9732);
(iv)if to the Swingline Lender, to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Loan and Agency Services Group, 10 South Dearborn, 7th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60603-2003, Attention of Duyanna Goodlet (Telecopy No. (888) 303-9732);
(v)if to any other Lender, to it at its address (or telecopy number) set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire (provided in the case of a notice from the Borrowers, a copy of such Administrative Questionnaire has been provided to the Borrowers).
(b) Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices pursuant to Article II unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lender. The Administrative Agent or the US Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.
(c) Any party hereto may change its address or telecopy number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. All notices and other communications given to any party hereto in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given on the date of receipt.
SECTION 9.02. Waivers; Amendments. (a) No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, and the Lenders hereunder are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by the Borrowers therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan or issuance of a Letter of Credit shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Issuing Bank may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time.
(b) Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrowers and the Required Lenders or by the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided that no such agreement shall (i) increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender, (ii) reduce the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender
affected thereby, (iii) postpone the scheduled date of payment of the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement, or any interest thereon, or any fees payable hereunder, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date of expiration of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iv) change Section 2.18(b) or (c) in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby, without the written consent of each Lender, or (v) change any of the provisions of this Section or the definition of “Required Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender; provided further that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender, as the case may be.
SECTION 9.03. Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver. (a) The US Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent, in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation and administration of this Agreement or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Issuing Bank in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder, and (iii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender, in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with this Agreement, including its rights under this Section, or in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such reasonable out-of pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit.
(b) The US Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, and each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee, incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or the consummation of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by the Issuing Bank to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by either of the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to either of the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by either of the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or related expenses resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee.
(c) To the extent that the US Borrower fails to pay any amount required to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender, 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, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender in its capacity as such.
(d) To the extent permitted by applicable law, no Borrower shall assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the Transactions, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof.
(e) All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than 30 days after written demand therefor.
SECTION 9.04. Successors and Assigns. (a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of the Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), except that (i) no Borrower may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by such Borrower without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of the Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), Participants (to the extent provided in paragraph (c) of this Section) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.
(b) (i) Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph (b)(ii) below, any Lender may assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) of:
(A)the Borrowers (provided that the Borrowers shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless they shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within five (5) Business Days after having received notice thereof), provided, further that no consent of the Borrowers shall be required for an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund or, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any other assignee (except in the case of an assignment to a competitor of the Borrowers in which case the consent of the Borrowers shall still be required);
(B)the Administrative Agent, and
(C)the Issuing Bank.
(ii) Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:
(A) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender's Commitment or Loans of any Class, the amount of the Commitment or Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall not be less than $5,000,000 unless each of the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent, provided that no such consent of the Borrowers shall be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;
(B) each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement, provided that this clause shall not be construed to prohibit the assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender's rights and obligations in respect of one Class of Commitments or Loans;
(C) 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; and
(D) the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a completed Administrative Questionnaire in which the assignee designates one or more credit contacts to whom all syndicate-level information (which may contain material non-public information about the Borrowers and their affiliates and their Related Parties or their respective securities) will be made available and who may receive such information in accordance with the assignee's compliance procedures and applicable laws, including Federal and state securities laws.
For the purposes of this Section 9.04(b), the term “Approved Fund” has the following meaning:
“Approved Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.
(iii) Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (b)(iv) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 9.04 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (c) of this Section.
(iv) The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as an agent of the Borrowers, shall maintain at one of its offices a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitment of, and principal amount of the Loans and LC Disbursements owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrowers, the Issuing Bank, and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.
(v) Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, the assignee's completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section and any written consent to such assignment required by paragraph (b) of this Section, the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register; provided that if either the assigning Lender or the assignee shall have failed to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.05(c), 2.06(d) or (e), 2.07(b), 2.18(d) or 9.03(c), the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information therein in the Register unless and until such payment shall have been made in full, together with all accrued interest thereon. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph.
(c) (i) Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans owing to it); provided that (A) such Lender's obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (B) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (C) the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in the first proviso to Section 9.02(b) that affects such Participant. Subject to paragraph (c)(ii) of this Section, the Borrowers agree that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.16 and 2.17 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 9.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.18(c) as though it were a Lender.
(ii) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.15 or 2.17 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrowers' prior written consent. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.17 unless the US Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrowers, to comply with Section 2.17(e) as though it were a Lender (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 2.17(e) shall be delivered to the participating Lender). Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrowers, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant's interest in the obligations under this Agreement (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register to any Person (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant's interest in the obligations under this Agreement) except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such interest is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary.
(d) Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including without limitation any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank, and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.
SECTION 9.05. Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Borrowers and the other Loan Parties herein and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of any Loans and issuance of any Letters of Credit, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding and unpaid or any Letter of Credit is outstanding and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated. The provisions of Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03 and Article VIII shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Letters of Credit and the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof.
SECTION 9.06. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
SECTION 9.07. Severability. Any provision of this Agreement held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.
SECTION 9.08. Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, 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 obligations at any time owing by such Lender or Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrowers against any of and all the obligations of the Borrowers now or hereafter existing under this Agreement held by such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement and although such obligations may be unmatured. The rights of each Lender under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) which such Lender may have.
SECTION 9.09. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process. (a) This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of Illinois.
(b) Each Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the State of Illinois sitting in Cook County and of the United States District Court of the Northern District of Illinois, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in Illinois or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement against any Borrower or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.
(c) Each Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or here-after have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.
(d) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.
SECTION 9.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
SECTION 9.11. Headings. Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.
SECTION 9.12. Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, and the Lenders agrees to use reasonable efforts to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates' directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority, (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party to this Agreement, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the enforcement of rights hereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to any Borrower and its obligations, (g) with the consent of the Borrowers or (h) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (ii) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrowers. For the purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from any Borrower relating to such Borrower, any Subsidiary or their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by such Borrower, provided that as to any such information which is communicated to the Administrative Agent after the date of this Agreement and is not in the form of a writing, such information is clearly identified as confidential at the time of such communication. Any Person required to use reasonable efforts 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.
SECTION 9.13. Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan, together with all fees, charges and other amounts which are treated as interest on such Loan under applicable law (collectively the “Charges”), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the “Maximum Rate”) which may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by the Lender holding such Loan in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Loan hereunder, together with all Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Charges that would have been payable in respect of such Loan but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section shall be cumulated and the interest and Charges payable to such Lender in respect of other Loans or periods shall be increased (but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the Federal Funds Effective Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender.
SECTION 9.14. USA PATRIOT Act. Each Lender that is subject to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Act”) hereby notifies each Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies such Borrower, which information includes the name and address of such Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender to identify such Borrower in accordance with the Act..
SECTION 9.15. Amendment and Restatement. The US Borrower, the Dutch Borrower, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent agree that upon (i) the execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of the parties hereto and (ii) satisfaction (or waiver by the aforementioned parties) of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.01, the terms and conditions of the Existing Credit Agreement shall be and hereby are amended, superseded, and restated in their entirety by the terms and provisions of this Agreement. This Agreement is not intended to and shall not constitute a novation of the Existing Credit Agreement or the indebtedness created thereunder.
In furtherance of the foregoing, upon the Effective Date, the “Commitment” (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) of each “Lender” (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) shall be terminated and immediately replaced with the “Commitments” (as defined in this Agreement) as more specifically set forth on Schedule 2.01 attached hereto.
ARTICLE X
US Borrower Guaranty
SECTION 10.01. US Borrower Guaranty. (a) In order to induce the Lenders to extend credit to the Dutch Borrower hereunder, the US Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees, as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety, the payment when and as due of the Dutch Borrower's obligations hereunder. The US Borrower further agrees that the due and punctual payment of the Dutch Borrower's obligations hereunder may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice to or further assent from it, and that it will remain bound upon its guarantee hereunder notwithstanding any such extension or renewal of such obligations.
(b) The US Borrower waives presentment to, demand of payment from and protest to any Borrower of any of the obligations hereunder, and also waives notice of acceptance of its obligations and notice of protest for nonpayment. The obligations of the US Borrower hereunder shall not be affected by (a) the failure of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, the Swingline Lender or any Lender to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any right or remedy against any Borrower under the provisions of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or otherwise; (b) any extension or renewal of any of the obligations hereunder; (c) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of, or release from, any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement, or any other Loan Document or agreement; (d) any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of any of the obligations hereunder; or (e) any other act (other than payment of the Dutch Borrower's obligations), omission or delay to do any other act which may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of the US Borrower or otherwise operate as a discharge of a guarantor as a matter of law or equity or which would impair or eliminate any right of the US Borrower to subrogation.
(c) The US Borrower further agrees that its agreement hereunder constitutes a guarantee of payment when due (whether or not any bankruptcy or similar proceeding shall have stayed the accrual or collection of any of the obligations or operated as a discharge thereof) and not merely of collection, and waives any right to require that any resort be had by the Administrative Agent or any Lender to any balance of any deposit account or credit on the books of the Administrative Agent or any Lender in favor of any Borrower or any other Person.
(d) The obligations of the US Borrower hereunder shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason (other than payment of the Dutch Borrower's obligations), and shall not be subject to any defense or set-off, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever, by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of any of the obligations, any impossibility in the performance of any of the obligations or otherwise.
(e) The US Borrower further agrees that its obligations hereunder shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of any of the Dutch Borrower obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, the Swingline Lender or any Lender upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of any Borrower or otherwise.
(f) In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right which the Administrative Agent may have at law or in equity against the US Borrower by virtue hereof, upon the failure of the Dutch Borrower to pay any obligation when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, after notice of prepayment or otherwise, the US Borrower hereby promises to and will, upon receipt of written demand by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, to the Administrative Agent or the applicable Lender in cash an amount equal to the unpaid principal amount of such obligations then due, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon. The US Borrower further agrees that if payment in respect of any obligation shall be due in a currency other than US Dollars and/or at a place of payment other than New York and if, by reason of any Change in Law, disruption of currency or foreign exchange markets, war or civil disturbance or other event, payment of such obligation in such currency or at such place of payment shall be impossible or, in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent or any Lender disadvantageous to the Administrative Agent or such Lender in any material respect, then, at the election of the Administrative Agent, the US Borrower shall make payment of such obligation in US Dollars (based upon the applicable exchange rate in effect on the date of payment) and/or in New York, and, as a separate and independent obligation, shall indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender against any losses or reasonable out-of-pocket expenses that it shall sustain as a result of such alternative payment.
(g) Upon payment by the US Borrower of any sums as provided above, all rights of the US Borrower against the Dutch Borrower arising as a result thereof by way of right of subrogation or otherwise shall in all respects be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior indefeasible payment in full in cash of all the obligations owed by the Dutch Borrower to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders.
(h) Nothing shall discharge or satisfy the liability of the US Borrower hereunder except the full performance and payment of the Dutch Borrower's obligations.
[Signature Pages Follow]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.
FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO., INC.
By: /s/ Patrick Q. Davis
Name: Patrick Q. Davis
Title: Treasurer
Signature Page to
Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
FRANKLIN ELECTRIC B.V.
By: Orangefield Trust (Netherlands) B.V., its Director A
By: /s/ Maurice Noest
Name: Maurice Noest
General Proxyholder
By: /s/ E. Jongsma
Name: E. Jongsma
Orangefield Trust (Netherlands) B.V.
Managing Director
By: /s/ John J. Haines
Name: John Jay Haines
Title: Director B
Signature Page to
Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
individually and as Administrative Agent,
By: /s/ Timothy A. Newlin
Name: Timothy A. Newlin
Title: Officer
Signature Page to
Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By: /s/ Mark Holm
Name: Mark Holm
Title: Managing Director
Signature Page to
Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
By: /s/ Bijon Jalaie
Name: Bijon Jalaie
Title: Vice President
Signature Page to
Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
HSBC BANK USA, N.A.
By: /s/ Graeme Robertson
Name: Graeme Robertson
Title: Vice President
Signature Page to
Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH
By: /s/ Ming K. Chu
Name: Ming K. Chu
Title: Vice President
By: /s/ Edward D. Herko
Name: Edward D. Herko
Title: Director
Signature Page to
Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
PRICING SCHEDULE
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| LEVEL I STATUS | LEVEL II STATUS | LEVEL III STATUS | LEVEL IV STATUS | LEVEL V STATUS | LEVEL VI STATUS |
Applicable Margin for Eurocurrency Loans | 0.750% | 0.975% | 1.075% | 1.275% | 1.475% | 1.675% |
Applicable Fee Rate for Facility Fee | 0.125% | 0.150% | 0.175% | 0.225% | 0.275% | 0.325% |
Drawn Cost (Applicable Margin for Eurocurrency Loans plus Facility Fee) | 0.875% | 1.125% | 1.250% | 1.500% | 1.750% | 2.000% |
For purposes of this Schedule, the following terms have the following meanings, subject to the final paragraph of this Schedule:
“Financials” means the annual or quarterly financial statements of the US Borrower delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or (b).
“Level I Status” exists at any date if, as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the US Borrower referred to in the most recent Financials, the Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 1.00 to 1.00.
“Level II Status” exists at any date if, as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the US Borrower referred to in the most recent Financials, (i) the US Borrower has not qualified for Level I Status and (ii) the Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 1.50 to 1.00.
“Level III Status” exists at any date if, as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the US Borrower referred to in the most recent Financials, (i) the US Borrower has not qualified for Level I Status or Level II Status and (ii) the Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 2.00 to 1.00.
“Level IV Status” exists at any date if, as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the US Borrower referred to in the most recent Financials, (i) the US Borrower has not qualified for Level I Status, Level II Status or Level III Status and (ii) the Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 2.50 to 1.00.
“Level V Status” exists at any date if, as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the US Borrower referred to in the most recent Financials, (i) the US Borrower has not qualified for Level I Status, Level II Status, Level III Status or Level IV Status and (ii) the Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 3.00 to 1.00.
“Level VI Status” exists at any date if, as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the US Borrower referred to in the most recent Financials, the US Borrower has not qualified for Level I Status, Level II Status, Level III, Level IV Status or Level V Status.
“Status” means either Level I Status, Level II Status, Level III Status, Level IV Status, Level V Status or Level VI Status.
The Applicable Margin and Applicable Fee Rate shall be determined in accordance with the foregoing table based on the US Borrower's Status as reflected in the then most recent Financials. Adjustments, if any, to the Applicable Margin or Applicable Fee Rate shall be effective five Business Days after the Administrative Agent has received the applicable Financials. If the US Borrower fails to deliver the Financials to the Administrative Agent at the time required pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or (b), then the Applicable Margin and Applicable Fee Rate shall be the highest Applicable Margin and Applicable Fee Rate set forth in the foregoing table until five days after such Financials are so delivered. For the period from the Effective Date until the receipt of the US Borrower's first set of Financials available after the Effective Date, Level III Status shall be in effect.
SCHEDULE 2.01
COMMITMENTS
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Lender | Portion of the Commitments that are Multicurrency Commitments | Commitments |
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. | $25,000,000 | $50,000,000 |
Bank of America, N.A. | $17,500,000 | $35,000,000 |
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association | $17,500,000 | $35,000,000 |
Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch | $7,500,000 | $15,000,000 |
HSBC Bank USA, N.A. | $7,500,000 | $15,000,000 |
Total: | $75,000,000 | $150,000,000 |
SCHEDULE 2.02
MANDATORY COST
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1. | The Mandatory Cost is an addition to the interest rate to compensate Lenders for the cost of compliance with (a) the requirements of the Bank of England and/or the Financial Services Authority (or, in either case, any other authority which replaces all or any of its functions) or (b) the requirements of the European Central Bank. |
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2. | On the first day of each Interest Period (or as soon as possible thereafter) the Administrative Agent shall calculate, as a percentage rate, a rate (the “Associated Costs Rate”) for each Lender, in accordance with the paragraphs set out below. The Mandatory Cost will be calculated by the Administrative Agent as a weighted average of the Lenders' Associated Costs Rates (weighted in proportion to the percentage participation of each Lender in the relevant Loan) and will be expressed as a percentage rate per annum. |
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3. | The Associated Costs Rate for any Lender lending from a Facility Office in a Participating Member State will be the percentage notified by that Lender to the Administrative Agent. This percentage will be certified by that Lender in its notice to the Administrative Agent to be its reasonable determination of the cost (expressed as a percentage of that Lender's participation in all Loans made from that Facility Office) of complying with the minimum reserve requirements of the European Central Bank in respect of loans made from that Facility Office. |
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4. | The Associated Costs Rate for any Lender lending from a Facility Office in the United Kingdom will be calculated by the Administrative Agent as follows: |
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(a) | in relation to a Loan in Pounds Sterling: |
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AB + C(B-D)+E × 0.01 | per cent. per annum. |
100 - (A + C) |
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(b) | in relation to a Loan in any currency other than Pounds Sterling: |
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E × 0.01 | per cent. per annum. |
300 |
Where:
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A. | is the percentage of Eligible Liabilities (assuming these to be in excess of any stated minimum) which that Lender is from time to time required to maintain as an interest free cash ratio deposit with the Bank of England to comply with cash ratio requirements. |
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B. | is the percentage rate of interest (excluding the Applicable Rate and the Mandatory Cost and, if the Loan is an Unpaid Sum, the additional rate of interest specified in Section 2.13(d)) payable for the relevant Interest Period on the Loan. |
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C. | is the percentage (if any) of Eligible Liabilities which that Lender is required from time to time to maintain as interest bearing Special Deposits with the Bank of England. |
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D. | is the percentage rate per annum payable by the Bank of England to the Administrative Agent on interest bearing Special Deposits. |
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E. | is designed to compensate Lenders for amounts payable under the Fees Rules and is calculated by the Administrative Agent as being the average of the most recent rates of charge supplied by the Reference Banks to the Administrative Agent pursuant to paragraph 7 below and expressed in pounds per £1,000,000. |
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5. | For the purposes of this Schedule: |
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(a) | “Eligible Liabilities” and “Special Deposits” have the meanings given to them from time to time under or pursuant to the Bank of England Act 1998 or (as may be appropriate) by the Bank of England; |
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(b) | “Facility Office” means the office or offices notified by a Lender to the Administrative Agent in writing on or before the date it becomes a Lender (or, following that date, by not less than five Business Days' written notice) as the office or offices through which it will perform its obligations under this Agreement. |
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(c) | “Fees Rules” means the rules on periodic fees contained in the Financial Services Authority Fees Manual or such other law or regulation as may be in force from time to time in respect of the payment of fees for the acceptance of deposits; |
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(d) | “Fee Tariffs” means the fee tariffs specified in the Fees Rules under the activity group A.1 Deposit acceptors (ignoring any minimum fee or zero rated fee required pursuant to the Fees Rules but taking into account any applicable discount rate); |
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(e) | “Participating Member State” means any member state of the European Union that adopts or has adopted the euro as its lawful currency in accordance with legislation of the European Union relating to economic and monetary union. |
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(f) | “Reference Banks” means, in relation to Mandatory Cost, the principal London offices of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. |
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(g) | “Tariff Base” has the meaning given to it in, and will be calculated in accordance with, the Fees Rules. |
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(h) | “Unpaid Sum” means any sum due and payable but unpaid by the Borrowers under the Loan Documents. |
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6. | In application of the above formulae, A, B, C and D will be included in the formulae as percentages (i.e. 5 per cent. will be included in the formula as 5 and not as 0.05). A negative result obtained by subtracting D from B shall be taken as zero. The resulting figures shall be rounded to four decimal places. |
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7. | If requested by the Administrative Agent, each Reference Bank shall, as soon as practicable after publication by the Financial Services Authority, supply to the Administrative Agent, the rate of charge payable by that Reference Bank to the Financial Services Authority pursuant to the Fees Rules in respect of the relevant financial year of the Financial Services Authority (calculated for this purpose by that Reference Bank as being the average of the Fee Tariffs applicable to that Reference Bank for that financial year) and expressed in pounds per £1,000,000 of the Tariff Base of that Reference Bank. |
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8. | Each Lender shall supply any information required by the Administrative Agent for the purpose of calculating its Associated Costs Rate. In particular, but without limitation, each Lender shall supply the following information on or prior to the date on which it becomes a Lender: |
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(a) | the jurisdiction of its Facility Office; and |
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(b) | any other information that the Administrative Agent may reasonably require for such purpose. |
Each Lender shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent of any change to the information provided by it pursuant to this paragraph.
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9. | The percentages of each Lender for the purpose of A and C above and the rates of charge of each Reference Bank for the purpose of E above shall be determined by the Administrative Agent based upon the information supplied to it pursuant to paragraphs 7 and 8 above and on the assumption that, unless a Lender notifies the Administrative Agent to the contrary, each Lender's obligations in relation to cash ratio deposits and Special Deposits are the same as those of a typical bank from its jurisdiction of incorporation with a Facility Office in the same jurisdiction as its Facility Office. |
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10. | The Administrative Agent shall have no liability to any person if such determination results in an Associated Costs Rate which over or under compensates any Lender and shall be entitled to assume that the information provided by any Lender or Reference Bank pursuant to paragraphs 3, 7 and 8 above is true and correct in all respects. |
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11. | The Administrative Agent shall distribute the additional amounts received as a result of the Mandatory Cost to the Lenders on the basis of the Associated Costs Rate for each Lender based on the information provided by each Lender and each Reference Bank pursuant to paragraphs 3, 7 and 8 above. |
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12. | Any determination by the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Schedule in relation to a formula, the Mandatory Cost, an Associated Costs Rate or any amount payable to a Lender shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding on all parties hereto. |
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13. | The Administrative Agent may from time to time, after consultation with the US Borrower and the relevant Lenders, determine and notify to all parties hereto any amendments which are required to be made to this Schedule 2.02 in order to comply with any change in law, regulation or any requirements from time to time imposed by the Bank of England, the Financial Services Authority or the European Central Bank (or, in any case, any other authority which replaces all or any of its functions) and any such determination shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding on all parties hereto. |
SCHEDULE 2.06
EXISTING LETTERS OF CREDIT
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JPM Reference Number | Expiry / Maturity Date | Beneficiary Name |
CTCS-726350 | April 13, 2012 | ENTERGY ARKANSAS INC |
CTCS-773565 | October 21, 2012 | WORKERS' COMPENSATION BOARD |
CTCS-773569 | October 21, 2012 | ARKANSAS WORKERS' COMPENSATION |
CTCS-796972 | November 3, 2012 | OKLAHOMA WORKER'S COMPENSATION |
CTCS-797873 | August 20, 2012 | LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY |
CTCS-935103 | October 31, 2012 | UNION BANK OF INDIA, UNION BANK |
CTCS-939465 | March 23, 2012 | ICICI BANK LIMITED |
SCHEDULE 2.18
EUROCURRENCY PAYMENT OFFICE
For all Agreed Currencies:
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
Loan and Agency Services
10 South Dearborn Street
Suite IL1-0011 7th Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60603
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION
This Assignment and Assumption (the “Assignment and Assumption”) is dated as of the Effective Date set forth below and is entered into by and between [Insert name of Assignor] (the “Assignor”) and [Insert name of Assignee] (the “Assignee”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement identified below (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, 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 in its capacity 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 any letters of credit, guarantees, 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 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.
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1. | Assignor: ______________________________ |
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2. | Assignee: ______________________________ |
[and is an Affiliate/Approved Fund of [identify Lender]1]
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3. | Borrower(s): Franklin Electric Co., Inc. and Franklin Electric B.V. |
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4. | Administrative Agent: JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the administrative agent under the Credit Agreement |
1 Select as applicable.
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5. | Credit Agreement: The Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of December 14, 2011 among Franklin Electric Co., Inc., Franklin Electric B.V., the Lenders parties thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and the other agents parties thereto |
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Facility Assigned2 | Aggregate Amount of Commitment/Loans for all Lenders | Amount of Commitment/Loans Assigned | Percentage Assigned of Commitment/Loans3 |
| $ | $ | % |
| $ | $ | % |
| $ | $ | % |
Effective Date: _____________ ___, 20___ [TO BE INSERTED BY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND WHICH SHALL BE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF RECORDATION OF TRANSFER IN THE REGISTER THEREFOR.]
The terms set forth in this Assignment and Assumption are hereby agreed to:
ASSIGNOR
[NAME OF ASSIGNOR]
By:______________________________
Title:
ASSIGNEE
[NAME OF ASSIGNEE]
By:______________________________
Title:
2 Fill in the appropriate terminology for the types of facilities under the Credit Agreement that are being assigned under this Assignment (e.g., “Commitment,” “Tranche A Commitment,” “Tranche B Commitment,” etc.)
3 Set forth, to at least 9 decimals, as a percentage of the Commitment/Loans of all Lenders thereunder.
[Consented to and]4 Accepted:
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as
Administrative Agent
By_________________________________
Title:
[Consented to:]5
[NAME OF RELEVANT PARTY]
By_________________________________
Title:
4 To be added only if the consent of the Administrative Agent is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement.
5 To be added only if the consent of the Borrower and/or other parties (e.g., Swingline Lender, Issuing Bank) is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement.
ANNEX 1
STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION
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, (ii) the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Loan Documents or any collateral thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of any Borrower, any of their Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person obligated in respect of the Credit Agreement or (iv) the performance or observance by the Borrowers, any of their Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person of any of their respective obligations under the Credit Agreement.
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 satisfies the requirements, if any, specified in the Credit Agreement that are required to be satisfied by it in order to acquire the Assigned Interest and become a Lender, (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 has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.01 thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase the Assigned Interest on the basis of which it has made such analysis and decision independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, and (v) if it is a Foreign Lender, attached to the Assignment and Assumption 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 Loan Documents, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan 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 Illinois.
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF INCREASING LENDER SUPPLEMENT
INCREASING LENDER SUPPLEMENT, dated __________, 20___ (this “Supplement”), by and among each of the signatories hereto, to the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of December 14, 2011 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among Franklin Electric Co., Inc. (the “US Borrower”), Franklin Electric B.V. (the “Dutch Borrower”, and together with the US Borrower, the “Borrowers”), the Lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”).
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 2.01(b) of the Credit Agreement, the Borrower has the right, subject to the terms and conditions thereof, to effectuate from time to time an increase in the aggregate Commitments under the Credit Agreement by requesting one or more Lenders to increase the amount of its Commitment;
WHEREAS, the US Borrower has given notice to the Administrative Agent of its intention to increase the aggregate Commitments pursuant to such Section 2.01(b); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 2.01(b) of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned Increasing Lender now desires to increase the amount of its Commitment under the Credit Agreement by executing and delivering to the US Borrower and the Administrative Agent this Supplement;
NOW, THEREFORE, each of the parties hereto hereby agrees as follows:
1. The undersigned Increasing Lender agrees, subject to the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement, that on the date of this Supplement it shall have its Commitment increased by $[__________], thereby making the aggregate amount of its total Commitments equal to $[__________].
2. The Borrowers hereby represents and warrants that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on and as of the date hereof.
3. Terms defined in the Credit Agreement shall have their defined meanings when used herein.
4. This Supplement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Illinois.
5. This Supplement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same document.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has caused this Supplement to be executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer on the date first above written.
[INSERT NAME OF INCREASING LENDER]
By: ____________________________________
Name:
Title:
Accepted and agreed to as of the date first written above:
FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO., INC.
FRANKLIN ELECTRIC B.V.
By ____________________________________
Name:
Title:
Acknowledged as of the date first written above:
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
as Administrative Agent
By ____________________________________
Name:
Title:
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF AUGMENTING LENDER SUPPLEMENT
AUGMENTING LENDER SUPPLEMENT, dated __________, 20___ (this “Supplement”), to the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of December 14, 2011 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among Franklin Electric Co., Inc. (the “US Borrower”), Franklin Electric B.V. (the “Dutch Borrower”, and together with the US Borrower, the “Borrowers”) the Lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”).
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the Credit Agreement provides in Section 2.01(b) thereof that any bank, financial institution or other entity may extend Commitments under the Credit Agreement subject to the approval of the US Borrower and the Administrative Agent, by executing and delivering to the US Borrower and the Administrative Agent a supplement to the Credit Agreement in substantially the form of this Supplement; and
WHEREAS, the undersigned Augmenting Lender was not an original party to the Credit Agreement but now desires to become a party thereto;
NOW, THEREFORE, each of the parties hereto hereby agrees as follows:
1. The undersigned Augmenting Lender agrees to be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement and agrees that it shall, on the date of this Supplement, become a Lender for all purposes of the Credit Agreement to the same extent as if originally a party thereto, with a Commitment with respect to Revolving Loans of $[__________].
2. The undersigned Augmenting Lender (a) represents and warrants that it is legally authorized to enter into this Supplement; (b) confirms that it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.01 thereof, as applicable, and has reviewed such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Supplement; (c) agrees that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Credit Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto or thereto; (d) appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers and discretion under the Credit Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto or thereto as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms thereof, together with such powers as are incidental thereto; and (e) agrees that it will be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement and will perform in accordance with its terms all the obligations which by the terms of the Credit Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender.
3. The undersigned's address for notices for the purposes of the Credit Agreement is as follows:
[___________]
4. The Borrowers hereby represents and warrants that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on and as of the date hereof.
5. Terms defined in the Credit Agreement shall have their defined meanings when used herein.
6. This Supplement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Illinois.
7. This Supplement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same document.
[remainder of this page intentionally left blank]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has caused this Supplement to be executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer on the date first above written.
[INSERT NAME OF INCREASING LENDER]
By: ____________________________________
Name:
Title:
Accepted and agreed to as of the date first written above:
FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CO., INC.
FRANKLIN ELECTRIC B.V.
By ____________________________________
Name:
Title:
Acknowledged as of the date first written above:
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
as Administrative Agent
By ____________________________________
Name:
Title: