-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, WDq5OIRQtf+LKAjejE/gBlu2lpLjQw+ynu6fdFdHgurR3T0VhA3iexb9+u2Me0sd 2eI+4QkJpdjrou6xbriP4A== 0000893220-03-001817.txt : 20031107 0000893220-03-001817.hdr.sgml : 20031107 20031107101651 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000893220-03-001817 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-Q PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 9 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20031004 FILED AS OF DATE: 20031107 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: V F CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000103379 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: MEN'S & BOYS' FURNISHINGS, WORK CLOTHING, AND ALLIED GARMENTS [2320] IRS NUMBER: 231180120 STATE OF INCORPORATION: PA FISCAL YEAR END: 0103 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-Q SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-05256 FILM NUMBER: 03983795 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 628 GREEN VALLEY RD., STE. 500 CITY: GREENSBORO STATE: NC ZIP: 27408 BUSINESS PHONE: (336)547-6000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 2: PO BOX 21488 CITY: GREENSBORO STATE: NC ZIP: 27420 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: VF CORPORATION DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19900621 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: VANITY FAIR MILLS INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19690520 10-Q 1 w91386e10vq.htm FORM 10-Q FOR V. F. CORPORATION e10vq
 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended October 4, 2003

Commission file number: 1-5256


V. F. CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
Pennsylvania
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  23-1180120
(I.R.S. employer
identification number)

105 Corporate Center Boulevard
Greensboro, North Carolina 27408

(Address of principal executive offices)

(336) 424-6000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES [X] NO [  ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934). YES [X] NO [  ]

On November 1, 2003, there were 108,062,398 shares of the registrant’s Common Stock outstanding.

 


 

VF CORPORATION

INDEX

               
          Page No.
Part I - Financial Information
       
 
Item 1 - Financial Statements
       
   
Consolidated Statements of Income:
       
     
Three months and nine months ended October 4, 2003 and September 28, 2002
    3  
   
Consolidated Balance Sheets:
       
     
October 4, 2003, January 4, 2003 and September 28, 2002
    4  
   
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows:
       
     
Nine months ended October 4, 2003 and September 28, 2002
    5  
   
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
    6  
 
Item 2 - Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
    16  
 
Item 3 - Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
    22  
 
Item 4 - Controls and Procedures
    22  
Part II - Other Information
       
 
Item 6 - Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
    23  
Signatures
    24  

2


 

VF CORPORATION
Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except per share amounts)

                                   
      Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
     
 
      October 4   September 28   October 4   September 28
      2003   2002   2003   2002
     
 
 
 
Net Sales
  $ 1,435,403     $ 1,400,389     $ 3,820,200     $ 3,772,907  
Costs and Operating Expenses
                               
 
Cost of products sold
    898,325       871,117       2,393,628       2,380,561  
 
Marketing, administrative and general expenses
    341,861       321,027       965,352       904,722  
 
Royalty income and other, net
    (9,359 )     (8,070 )     (21,728 )     (17,891 )
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
    1,230,827       1,184,074       3,337,252       3,267,392  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Operating Income
    204,576       216,315       482,948       505,515  
Other Income (Expense)
                               
 
Interest income
    1,337       1,888       4,612       5,107  
 
Interest expense
    (14,969 )     (21,868 )     (43,402 )     (57,201 )
 
Miscellaneous, net
    (154 )     696       2,784       2,222  
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
    (13,786 )     (19,284 )     (36,006 )     (49,872 )
 
   
     
     
     
 
Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes
    190,790       197,031       446,942       455,643  
Income Taxes
    65,501       68,467       154,642       161,552  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Income from Continuing Operations
    125,289       128,564       292,300       294,091  
Discontinued Operations
          (315 )           2,020  
Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Policy for Goodwill
                      (527,254 )
 
   
     
     
     
 
Net Income (Loss)
  $ 125,289     $ 128,249     $ 292,300     $ (231,143 )
 
   
     
     
     
 
Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share - Basic
                               
 
Income from continuing operations
  $ 1.16     $ 1.16     $ 2.70     $ 2.61  
 
Discontinued operations
                      0.02  
 
Cumulative effect of change in accounting policy
                      (4.82 )
 
Net income (loss)
    1.16       1.16       2.70       (2.19 )
Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share - Diluted
                               
 
Income from continuing operations
  $ 1.14     $ 1.15     $ 2.65     $ 2.60  
 
Discontinued operations
                      0.02  
 
Cumulative effect of change in accounting policy *
                      (4.68 )
 
Net income (loss) *
    1.14       1.15       2.65       (2.05 )
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding
                               
 
Basic
    107,213       108,767       107,660       109,450  
 
Diluted
    109,775       111,849       110,259       112,737  
Cash Dividends Per Common Share
  $ 0.25     $ 0.24     $ 0.75     $ 0.72  

*    Nine months 2002 as restated; see Note J.

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

3


 

VF CORPORATION
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)

                             
        October 4   January 4   September 28
        2003   2003   2002
       
 
 
ASSETS
                       
Current Assets
                       
 
Cash and equivalents
  $ 217,491     $ 496,367     $ 254,977  
 
Accounts receivable, less allowances of: Oct 4 - $69,528; Jan 4 - $48,227; Sept 28 - $52,821
    840,159       587,859       744,918  
 
Inventories:
                       
   
Finished products
    847,762       587,954       628,865  
   
Work in process
    93,058       110,383       128,274  
   
Materials and supplies
    121,765       132,181       121,497  
 
   
     
     
 
 
    1,062,585       830,518       878,636  
 
Other current assets
    179,811       154,513       158,389  
 
Current assets of discontinued operations
    2,257       5,283       7,343  
 
   
     
     
 
   
Total current assets
    2,302,303       2,074,540       2,044,263  
Property, Plant and Equipment
    1,581,200       1,539,269       1,546,326  
 
Less accumulated depreciation
    980,792       972,723       976,561  
 
   
     
     
 
 
    600,408       566,546       569,765  
Intangible Assets
    383,366              
Goodwill
    677,657       473,355       474,500  
Other Assets
    317,468       386,204       406,152  
Noncurrent Assets of Discontinued Operations
          2,506       4,178  
 
   
     
     
 
 
  $ 4,281,202     $ 3,503,151     $ 3,498,858  
 
   
     
     
 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
                       
Current Liabilities
                       
 
Short-term borrowings
  $ 224,812     $ 60,918     $ 56,768  
 
Current portion of long-term debt
    2,117       778       562  
 
Accounts payable
    246,337       298,456       270,950  
 
Accrued liabilities
    559,954       502,057       576,350  
 
Current liabilities of discontinued operations
    5,806       12,635       16,046  
 
   
     
     
 
   
Total current liabilities
    1,039,026       874,844       920,676  
Long-term Debt
    910,849       602,287       602,550  
Other Liabilities
    446,918       331,270       232,588  
Redeemable Preferred Stock
    31,225       36,902       40,491  
Common Shareholders’ Equity
                       
 
Common Stock, stated value $1; shares authorized, 300,000,000; shares outstanding: Oct 4 - 107,401,351; Jan 4 - 108,525,368; Sept 28 - 108,252,368
    107,401       108,525       108,252  
 
Additional paid-in capital
    938,260       930,132       926,780  
 
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
    (181,821 )     (214,141 )     (114,280 )
 
Retained earnings
    989,344       833,332       781,801  
 
   
     
     
 
   
Total common shareholders’ equity
    1,853,184       1,657,848       1,702,553  
 
   
     
     
 
 
  $ 4,281,202     $ 3,503,151     $ 3,498,858  
 
   
     
     
 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

4


 

VF CORPORATION
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)

                       
          Nine Months Ended
         
          October 4   September 28
          2003   2002
         
 
Operations
               
 
Net income (loss)
  $ 292,300     $ (231,143 )
 
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations:
               
   
Discontinued operations
          (2,020 )
   
Cumulative effect of change in accounting policy
          527,254  
   
Restructuring costs
          6,227  
   
Depreciation
    77,083       80,586  
   
Amortization of intangible assets
    1,157        
   
Other, net
    70,488       (2,918 )
   
Changes in current assets and liabilities:
               
     
Accounts receivable
    (159,863 )     (155,847 )
     
Inventories
    (80,291 )     (12,142 )
     
Accounts payable
    (124,435 )     29,735  
     
Other, net
    (35,492 )     147,790  
 
   
     
 
   
Cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations
    40,947       387,522  
Investments
               
 
Capital expenditures
    (64,023 )     (33,774 )
 
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired
    (578,489 )     (1,342 )
 
Other, net
    (5,412 )     (3,463 )
 
   
     
 
   
Cash used by investing activities of continuing operations
    (647,924 )     (38,579 )
Financing
               
 
Increase (decrease) in short-term borrowings
    452,360       (19,241 )
 
Payment of long-term debt
    (427 )     (301,326 )
 
Purchase of Common Stock
    (61,400 )     (124,623 )
 
Cash dividends paid
    (82,595 )     (80,961 )
 
Proceeds from issuance of Common Stock
    8,562       36,747  
 
Other, net
    (338 )     (8,021 )
 
   
     
 
   
Cash provided (used) by financing activities of continuing operations
    316,162       (497,425 )
Net Cash Provided (Used) by Discontinued Operations
    (2,705 )     66,255  
Effect of Foreign Currency Rate Changes on Cash
    14,644       5,155  
 
   
     
 
Net Change in Cash and Equivalents
    (278,876 )     (77,072 )
Cash and Equivalents - Beginning of Year
    496,367       332,049  
 
   
     
 
Cash and Equivalents - End of Period
  $ 217,491     $ 254,977  
 
   
     
 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

5


 

VF CORPORATION
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

Note A - Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and do not include all of the information and notes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. Similarly, the 2002 year-end consolidated balance sheet was derived from audited financial statements but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the nine months ended October 4, 2003 are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for the year ending January 3, 2004. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 4, 2003.

Note B - Stock-based Compensation

Stock-based compensation is accounted for under the recognition and measurement principles of APB Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees. For stock option grants, compensation expense is not required, as all options have an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock at the date of grant. For grants of stock awards, compensation expense equal to the market value of the shares to be issued is recognized over the three-year performance period being measured. For restricted stock grants, compensation expense equal to the market value of the shares at the date of grant is recognized over the vesting period. The following table presents the effect on net income and earnings per share if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Statement No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, to all stock-based employee compensation (in thousands, except per share amounts):

                                   
      Third Quarter   Nine Months
     
 
      2003   2002   2003   2002
     
 
 
 
Net income (loss), as reported
  $ 125,289     $ 128,249     $ 292,300     $ (231,143 )
Add (less) employee compensation expense for restricted stock grants and stock awards included in reported net income (loss), net of income taxes
    (416 )     428       1,115       1,191  
Less total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under the fair value-based method, net of income taxes
    (2,683 )     (4,201 )     (10,695 )     (12,380 )
 
   
     
     
     
 
Pro forma net income (loss)
  $ 122,190     $ 124,476     $ 282,720     $ (242,332 )
 
   
     
     
     
 
Net income (loss) per common share:
                               
 
Basic - as reported
  $ 1.16     $ 1.16     $ 2.70     $ (2.19 )
 
Basic - pro forma
    1.13       1.13       2.61       (2.29 )
 
Diluted - as reported
  $ 1.14     $ 1.15     $ 2.65     $ (2.05 )
 
Diluted - pro forma
    1.11       1.12       2.56       (2.15 )

6


 

During the first nine months of 2003, the Company granted 2,448,480 stock options at prices equal to the market value on the date of grants. Accordingly, no compensation expense was recognized for these options granted. The fair value of options at the grant dates was estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions: expected dividend yield of 2.9%; expected volatility of 36%; risk-free interest rate of 2.6%; and expected average life of 4 years. The resulting weighted-average fair value of the options granted during 2003 was $8.33 per share.

Note C - Acquisition

On August 27, 2003, the Company acquired all of the common stock of Nautica Enterprises, Inc. (Nautica) for a total cash consideration of $594.0 million, plus the assumption of $18.1 million of debt. In addition, costs of $18.9 million were incurred by Nautica to settle stock options outstanding at the date of the transaction. Nautica designs, sources and markets men’s, women’s and children’s sportswear products under the Nautica® brand and other brands. The Nautica® brand is licensed for apparel and accessories in the United States and many international markets, and for home furnishings and accessories in the United States. Nautica provides a growth opportunity in sportswear, a new product category for the Company, and expands the Company’s presence in the department store and specialty store channels of distribution. Operating results of Nautica have been included in the consolidated financial statements since the date of acquisition. In connection with an acquisition made by Nautica in a previous year, additional consideration of up to $21.0 million is payable through 2012 if certain performance standards are met.

In a separate transaction also closing on August 27, 2003, the Company acquired from Mr. David Chu, an officer of Nautica, and from David Chu and Company, Inc., all of their rights to receive 50% of Nautica’s net royalty income, along with their other rights in the “Nautica” name, trademark and intellectual property owned, held or used by Nautica. Under this agreement, the Company paid Mr. Chu $38.0 million at closing and will pay $33.0 million on each of the third and fourth anniversaries of the closing. The future amounts do not bear interest and accordingly were recorded at their present value of $58.3 million. Mr. Chu also has the right to receive payments in each of the next five years in the event an annual gross royalty revenue threshold is exceeded.

The allocation of the purchase price to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed for the two transactions is preliminary and subject to change. The Company is finalizing, with an independent valuation firm, amounts assigned to intangible assets acquired in the above transactions. This preliminary allocation of the purchase price resulted in $382 million allocated to intangible assets (primarily trademarks, licensing contracts and customer relationships), with an offsetting deferred income tax liability of $149 million. In addition, $198 million was allocated to goodwill.

7


 

The following pro forma results of operations assume that the Nautica acquisition had occurred at the beginning of 2002:

                                   
      Third Quarter   Nine Months
     
 
      2003 *   2002   2003 *   2002
     
 
 
 
Net sales
  $ 1,538,104     $ 1,605,077     $ 4,232,999     $ 4,256,766  
Income from continuing operations
    115,159       137,441       276,103       284,669  
Net income (loss)
    115,159       137,126       276,103       (240,565 )
Earnings (loss) per common share - basic:
                               
 
Income from continuing operations
  $ 1.07     $ 1.24     $ 2.55     $ 2.52  
 
Net income (loss)
    1.07       1.24       2.55       (2.27 )
Earnings (loss) per common share - diluted:
                               
 
Income from continuing operations
  $ 1.05     $ 1.23     $ 2.50     $ 2.52  
 
Net income (loss)
    1.05       1.22       2.50       (2.14 )

* The third quarter and nine months of 2003 exclude $30.1 million (or $.21 basic EPS for both the third quarter and nine months of 2003 and $.20 diluted EPS for both the third quarter and nine months of 2003) for settlement of stock options and other transaction expenses incurred by Nautica related to its acquisition by the Company.

In February 2003, the Company acquired the net assets of a business having rights to manufacture and market certain apparel products under license from Harley-Davidson Motor Company. The purchase price was $3.1 million, plus assumption of $1.1 million of debt. Contingent consideration of up to $1.8 million is payable if certain financial targets are achieved over the next four years. Pro forma operating results for prior periods are not presented due to immateriality.

The above acquisitions included the deferred payments to David Chu of $58.3 million and the assumption of $19.2 million of debt, which transactions did not require the use of cash.

Note D - Intangible Assets and Goodwill

Activity in the intangible assets and goodwill accounts for the nine months of 2003 primarily relate to the Nautica transactions. The preliminary valuation of the intangible assets is as follows (in thousands):

         
Intangible assets not subject to amortization - Nautica trademarks
  $ 264,700  
Intangible assets subject to amortization - licensing agreements, customer relationships, other trademarks and backlog
    119,824  
Less accumulated amortization
    (1,158 )
 
   
 
Net intangible assets as of October 4, 2003
  $ 383,366  
 
   
 

Intangible assets subject to amortization are amortized generally using accelerated methods over the estimated periods of benefit. Amortization expense is estimated to be approximately $4 million for the partial year 2003, with the annual expense declining from approximately $6 million to $5 million over the next five years.

8


 

Activity in the goodwill accounts is summarized by business segment as follows (in thousands):

                                         
            Occupa-   Outdoor                
    Consumer   tional   Apparel and   All        
    Apparel   Apparel   Equipment   Other   Total
   
 
 
 
 
Balance January 4, 2003
  $ 307,997     $ 30,111     $ 109,112     $ 26,135     $ 473,355  
Acquisitions (preliminary allocation)
    198,301                         198,301  
Currency translation
    6,001                         6,001  
 
   
     
     
     
     
 
Balance October 4, 2003
  $ 512,299     $ 30,111     $ 109,112     $ 26,135     $ 677,657  
 
   
     
     
     
     
 

Note E - Discontinued Operations

As part of the Company’s Strategic Repositioning Program, in the fourth quarter of 2001 management announced plans to exit the Private Label knitwear business and the Jantzen swimwear business. Liquidation of the Private Label knitwear business began in late 2001 and was substantially completed during the third quarter of 2002. The Jantzen trademarks and certain other assets of the swimwear business were sold to Perry Ellis International, Inc. in March 2002 for $24.0 million, resulting in a gain of $1.4 million. Liquidation of the remaining inventories of Jantzen products and other assets was substantially completed during the third quarter of 2002. Both the Private Label knitwear and the Jantzen businesses are accounted for as discontinued operations in accordance with FASB Statement No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets. Accordingly, the results of operations, assets, liabilities and cash flows of these businesses are separately presented in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

Summarized operating results for these discontinued businesses are as follows (in thousands):

                                 
    Third Quarter   Nine Months
   
 
    2003   2002   2003   2002
   
 
 
 
Net sales
  $     $ 3,985     $     $ 97,981  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Income (loss) before income taxes, including gain on sale of Jantzen
  $     $ (604 )   $     $ 2,915  
Income taxes (benefit)
          (289 )           895  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Income (loss) from discontinued operations
  $     $ (315 )   $     $ 2,020  
 
   
     
     
     
 

9


 

Summarized assets and liabilities of the discontinued operations presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheets are as follows (in thousands):

                         
    October 4   January 4   September 28
    2003   2003   2002
   
 
 
Accounts receivable, net
  $ 708     $ 2,273     $ 3,318  
Other current assets, primarily deferred income taxes
    1,549       3,010       4,025  
 
   
     
     
 
Current assets of discontinued operations
  $ 2,257     $ 5,283     $ 7,343  
 
   
     
     
 
Property, plant and equipment, net
  $     $ 2,500     $ 4,160  
Other assets
          6       18  
 
   
     
     
 
Noncurrent assets of discontinued operations
  $     $ 2,506     $ 4,178  
 
   
     
     
 
Accounts payable
  $     $ 133     $ 135  
Accrued liabilities
    5,806       12,502       15,911  
 
   
     
     
 
Current liabilities of discontinued operations
  $ 5,806     $ 12,635     $ 16,046  
 
   
     
     
 

Note F - Restructuring Accruals

Activity in the restructuring accruals related to the 2001/2002 Strategic Repositioning Program for continuing operations is summarized as follows (in thousands):

                                 
            Facilities   Lease and        
            Exit   Contract        
    Severance   Costs   Termination   Total
   
 
 
 
Balance January 4, 2003
  $ 23,041     $ 882     $ 4,653     $ 28,576  
Cash payments
    (17,258 )     (744 )     (2,070 )     (20,072 )
Reduction of accrual
    (151 )     (73 )     (374 )     (598 )
 
   
     
     
     
 
Balance October 4, 2003
  $ 5,632     $ 65     $ 2,209     $ 7,906  
 
   
     
     
     
 

The Company’s restructuring actions are proceeding as planned. The remaining accruals are expected to be adequate to cover the remaining costs.

Note G - Business Segment Information

Financial information for the Company’s reportable segments is presented below (in thousands). Nautica is included in the Consumer Apparel segment from the date of acquisition. This acquisition resulted in an additional $290 million of segment assets (which excludes intangible assets, goodwill and deferred income

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taxes). Prior year’s information has been reclassified to reflect a change in the basis of allocating certain Corporate information systems expenses to the operating business units.

                                   
      Third Quarter   Nine Months
     
 
      2003   2002   2003   2002
     
 
 
 
Net sales:
                               
 
Consumer Apparel
  $ 1,039,075     $ 1,011,055     $ 2,854,645     $ 2,844,872  
 
Occupational Apparel
    103,897       116,293       330,468       352,814  
 
Outdoor Apparel and Equipment
    211,598       184,430       432,664       379,359  
 
All Other
    80,833       88,611       202,423       195,862  
 
 
   
     
     
     
 
Consolidated net sales
  $ 1,435,403     $ 1,400,389     $ 3,820,200     $ 3,772,907  
 
 
   
     
     
     
 
Segment profit:
                               
 
Consumer Apparel
  $ 151,209     $ 175,789     $ 399,498     $ 451,881  
 
Occupational Apparel
    16,339       17,911       49,028       46,525  
 
Outdoor Apparel and Equipment
    45,494       40,139       70,058       54,751  
 
All Other
    10,972       11,353       23,440       24,041  
 
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
Total segment profit
    224,014       245,192       542,024       577,198  
Interest, net
    (13,632 )     (19,980 )     (38,790 )     (52,094 )
Amortization of intangibles
    (1,062 )           (1,157 )      
Restructuring charges, net
    119       (1,394 )     598       (3,608 )
Corporate and other expenses
    (18,649 )     (26,787 )     (55,733 )     (65,853 )
 
 
   
     
     
     
 
Income from continuing operations before income taxes
  $ 190,790     $ 197,031     $ 446,942     $ 455,643  
 
 
   
     
     
     
 

Restructuring charges (reversals) for continuing operations relate to the following segments (in thousands):

                                   
      Third Quarter   Nine Months
     
 
      2003   2002   2003   2002
     
 
 
 
Consumer Apparel
  $ (2 )   $ 1,444     $ (2 )   $ 1,029  
Occupational Apparel
          740       (374 )     3,856  
Outdoor Apparel and Equipment
    (73 )     (27 )     (73 )     (514 )
Corporate
    (44 )     (763 )     (149 )     (763 )
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
Total
  $ (119 )   $ 1,394     $ (598 )   $ 3,608  
 
   
     
     
     
 

Note H - Revolving Credit Agreement

During the third quarter of 2003, the Company entered into a new $750.0 million unsecured committed bank facility, which replaces a similar bank facility. This agreement expires in September 2008. The facility

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supports a $750.0 million commercial paper program. The agreement requires a .09% facility fee and contains various financial covenants, including a requirement that the Company’s ratio of consolidated indebtedness to consolidated capitalization remains below 60%.

Note I - Capital and Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Common shares outstanding are net of shares held in treasury, and in substance retired, of 33,362,324 at October 4, 2003, 32,233,996 at January 4, 2003 and 32,143,643 at September 28, 2002. In addition, 240,238 shares of VF Common Stock at October 4, 2003, 266,146 shares at January 4, 2003 and 258,365 shares at September 28, 2002 are held in trust for deferred compensation plans. These shares are treated for financial accounting purposes as treasury stock at each of the respective dates.

There are 25,000,000 authorized shares of Preferred Stock, $1 par value. Of these shares, 2,000,000 were designated as Series A, of which none have been issued, and 2,105,263 shares were designated and issued as 6.75% Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, of which 1,011,339 shares were outstanding at October 4, 2003, 1,195,199 at January 4, 2003 and 1,311,354 at September 28, 2002.

Activity for 2003 in the Common Stock, Additional Paid-in Capital and Retained Earnings accounts is summarized as follows (in thousands):

                           
      Common   Additional   Retained
      Stock   Paid-in Capital   Earnings
     
 
 
Balance January 4, 2003
  $ 108,525     $ 930,132     $ 833,332  
Net income
                292,300  
Cash dividends:
                       
 
Common Stock
                (80,873 )
 
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock
                (1,721 )
Conversion of Preferred Stock
    295             5,429  
Purchase of treasury shares
    (1,680 )           (59,720 )
Stock compensation plans, net
    261       8,128       597  
 
   
     
     
 
Balance October 4, 2003
  $ 107,401     $ 938,260     $ 989,344  
 
   
     
     
 

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Comprehensive income consists of net income, plus certain changes in assets and liabilities that are not included in net income but are instead reported within a separate component of shareholders’ equity under generally accepted accounting principles. The Company’s comprehensive income (loss) was as follows (in thousands):

                                   
      Third Quarter   Nine Months
     
 
      2003   2002   2003   2002
     
 
 
 
Net income (loss)
  $ 125,289     $ 128,249     $ 292,300     $ (231,143 )
Other comprehensive income (loss):
                               
 
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income taxes
    (3,525 )     (6,105 )     20,587       (1,687 )
 
Derivative hedging contracts, net of income taxes
    1,199       1,809       3,412       (9,113 )
 
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities, net of income taxes
    2,042       (1,113 )     8,321       (440 )
 
   
     
     
     
 
Comprehensive income (loss)
  $ 125,005     $ 122,840     $ 324,620     $ (242,383 )
 
   
     
     
     
 

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for 2003 is summarized as follows (in thousands):

                                         
    Foreign   Minimum                        
    Currency   Pension   Hedging   Marketable        
    Translation   Liability   Contracts   Securities   Total
   
 
 
 
 
Balance January 4, 2003
  $ (80,728 )   $ (128,494 )   $ (5,269 )   $ 350     $ (214,141 )
Other comprehensive income
    20,587             3,412       8,321       32,320  
 
   
     
     
     
     
 
Balance October 4, 2003
  $ (60,141 )   $ (128,494 )   $ (1,857 )   $ 8,671     $ (181,821 )
 
   
     
     
     
     
 

The change in foreign currency translation adjustments in the nine months of 2003 was due primarily to the weakening of the U.S. dollar in relation to the European euro and other currencies of European countries where the Company has operations.

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Note J - Earnings Per Share

Earnings per share from continuing operations are computed as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):

                                     
        Third Quarter   Nine Months
       
 
        2003   2002   2003   2002
       
 
 
 
Basic earnings per share:
                               
 
Income from continuing operations
  $ 125,289     $ 128,564     $ 292,300     $ 294,091  
 
Less Preferred Stock dividends and redemption premium
    543       1,740       1,721       7,819  
 
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
Income available for Common Stock
  $ 124,746     $ 126,824     $ 290,579     $ 286,272  
 
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
Weighted average Common Stock outstanding
    107,213       108,767       107,660       109,450  
 
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations
  $ 1.16     $ 1.16     $ 2.70     $ 2.61  
 
 
   
     
     
     
 
Diluted earnings per share:
                               
 
Income from continuing operations
  $ 125,289     $ 128,564     $ 292,300     $ 294,091  
 
Increased ESOP expense if Preferred Stock were converted to Common Stock
          168             512  
 
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
Income available for Common Stock and dilutive securities
  $ 125,289     $ 128,396     $ 292,300     $ 293,579  
 
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
Weighted average Common Stock outstanding
    107,213       108,767       107,660       109,450  
 
Effect of dilutive securities:
                               
   
Preferred Stock
    1,618       2,098       1,714       2,167  
   
Stock options and other
    944       984       885       1,120  
 
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
Weighted average Common Stock and dilutive securities outstanding
    109,775       111,849       110,259       112,737  
 
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations
  $ 1.14     $ 1.15     $ 2.65     $ 2.60  
 
 
   
     
     
     
 

Diluted per share amounts for the nine months of 2002 for the cumulative effect of the change in accounting policy have been restated to a charge of $4.68 from $4.82 originally presented in 2002, and for the net loss of $2.05 from $2.20, based on using the weighted average number of Common Stock and dilutive securities outstanding.

Outstanding options to purchase 5.4 million shares and 5.8 million shares of Common Stock have been excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share for the third quarter and the nine months of 2003, respectively, because the option exercise prices were greater than the average market price of the Common Stock. Similarly, options to purchase 5.6 million shares of Common Stock were excluded for both

14


 

the third quarter and the nine months of 2002.

Note K - Subsequent Events

On October 14, 2003, the Company issued in a Rule 144A / Regulation S offering $300.0 million principal amount of 6.00% unsecured notes due in 2033. Net cash proceeds totaled $292.4 million, after considering original issue discount, offering expenses and a deferred gain of $3.5 million related to settlement of a Treasury rate lock hedging contract that had been entered into in late September. The proceeds were used to repay a similar amount of outstanding commercial paper borrowings. Accordingly, $292.4 million of short-term commercial paper borrowings were reclassified as long-term at October 4, 2003. The Company expects to file a registration statement with the SEC before the end of 2003 to allow note holders to exchange their notes for a new issue of substantially identical notes registered under the Securities Act.

Subsequent to the end of the third quarter, the Board of Directors declared an increase in the quarterly cash dividend rate of $.01 to $.26 per share, payable on December 19, 2003 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on December 9, 2003.

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Part I — Financial Information

Item 2 - Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Discussion and Analysis of Results of Continuing Operations

    Consolidated Statements of Income

For the third quarter of 2003, VF reported consolidated income from continuing operations of $125.3 million, equal to $1.14 per share, compared with $128.6 million or $1.15 per share in the 2002 period. Income from continuing operations decreased 3%, while earnings per share decreased 1%, reflecting the benefit of the Company’s share repurchase program over the last year. Operating results for the quarter included $72 million of sales and $.05 earnings per share benefit from Nautica, acquired on August 27, 2003. See Note C. Operating results in the 2003 third quarter included $12 million of costs related to actions taken to manage capacity and inventory levels. Operating results in the 2002 quarter included $1.4 million of net restructuring charges related to the 2001/2002 Strategic Repositioning Program; see Note G. In translating foreign currencies into the U.S. dollar, the weaker U.S. dollar in relation to most functional currencies where the Company conducts business (primarily the European euro countries) improved 2003 earnings comparisons by $.04 per share relative to the prior year quarter and by $.12 per share for the nine month period. All per share amounts are presented on a diluted basis.

For the first nine months of 2003, income from continuing operations was $292.3 million, equal to $2.65 per share, compared with $294.1 million or $2.60 per share for the comparable period in 2002. Operating results in the first nine months of 2003 included $21 million of costs related to actions taken to manage capacity and inventory levels, while the comparable 2002 period included $3.6 million of net restructuring costs.

The third quarter of 2002 included $.3 million loss from discontinued operations and the nine months included $2.0 million of income from discontinued operations, representing less than $.01 per share in the quarter and $.02 per share for the nine month period. See Note E for details of discontinued operations. In addition, the nine month period in 2002 included a noncash charge of $527.3 million, or $4.68 per share, for the change in accounting policy resulting from the adoption of FASB Statement No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. Including the effects of discontinued operations and the change in accounting policy, net income was $128.2 million, or $1.15 per share, in the third quarter of 2002, and there was a net loss of $231.1 million, or $2.05 per share, for the first nine months of 2002.

Sales from continuing operations in the third quarter of 2003 were $1,435.4 million, a 3% increase from the $1,400.4 million in 2002. Nautica contributed $72 million of sales in the third quarter following the acquisition. For the nine-month period, sales advanced 1% to $3,820.2 million in 2003 including the contribution from Nautica, compared with $3,772.9 million in 2002. The reduced sales in existing business units were due primarily to a 3% decline in unit volume in both the quarter and year-to-date periods. Also, in translating foreign currencies into the U.S. dollar, the weaker U.S. dollar improved 2003 sales comparisons by $29 million relative to the prior year quarter and by $96 million over the prior year nine month period.

Gross margin was 37.4% of sales in the 2003 quarter and 37.3% of sales in the nine months, compared with 37.8% and 36.9%, respectively, in the 2002 periods. Gross margin in the prior year quarter included costs of $.8 million, or .1% of sales, related to restructuring actions. For the nine months of 2002, gross margin included $1.8 million of net restructuring costs, or less than .1% of sales. Overall gross margins for the nine months in 2003 benefited from the Strategic Repositioning Program through lower cost sourcing and improved manufacturing efficiencies, offset in part by $12 million and $21 million of plant closing costs and downtime incurred during the third quarter and nine months, respectively, of 2003 to help align inventory levels with expected sales volumes.

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Marketing, administrative and general expenses were 23.8% of sales in the quarter and 25.3% in the nine months, compared with 22.9% in the 2002 quarter and 24.0% in the 2002 nine months. The 2002 quarter and nine month periods included costs of $.6 million and $1.8 million, respectively, or less than .1% of sales, related to the Strategic Repositioning Program. Expenses as a percent of sales in the 2003 periods increased due to certain higher fixed expenses (for example, pension expense) without a proportionate increase in sales volume.

Royalty income and other, net increased in the current quarter from net licensing income of Nautica.

Net interest expense decreased in 2003 due primarily to lower average borrowings, as $200 million of long-term debt was repaid in February 2002 and $100 million of long-term debt was repaid in September 2002. In addition, interest expense in the third quarter of 2002 included $5.0 million related to the redemption premium and write-off of deferred issuance costs on the early repayment of the 9.25% debentures during that quarter. The third quarter of 2003 included $1.1 million of incremental net interest expense related to the acquisition of Nautica.

The effective income tax rate for the first nine months of 2003 was 34.6%, compared with 35.5% for the prior year. The effective rate declined in 2003 due to a lower tax rate on foreign earnings and lower foreign operating losses with no related tax benefit.

    Information by Business Segment

The Consumer Apparel segment consists of our jeanswear, women’s intimate apparel and children’s apparel businesses, plus our newly acquired Nautica sportswear business. Overall, segment sales increased 3% in the quarter and increased slightly in the nine months of 2003. Segment sales in 2003 included Nautica sales of $72 million and also included a benefit of 2% in the quarter and 3% in the nine months from foreign currency translation. Domestic jeanswear sales declined 6% in the quarter and nine months, resulting from decreases in unit shipments of approximately 3% in both 2003 periods and from a change in sales mix to more seasonal, lower priced products. The decline in unit shipments resulted from the effects of store closings by two major customers and inventory reduction efforts by retailers, both principally in the mass channel, offset by new product initiatives. Jeanswear sales in international markets were flat in the quarter and increased by 7% in the nine months. Jeanswear sales in international markets benefited by 9% over the prior year quarter and by 11% over the prior year nine months from foreign currency translation effects. Global intimate apparel sales decreased 3% in the quarter and increased 1% in the nine months, including a 2% benefit from foreign currency translation effects in the quarter and a 3% benefit in the nine months. Segment profit decreased 14% in the quarter and 12% in the year-to-date period. The profit decline was primarily in domestic jeanswear in both the quarter and year-to-date periods, due to capacity reduction expenses, downtime, lower sales volume and changes in product mix, with a higher percentage of sales of lower margin products such as capris and shorts. The newly acquired sportswear business contributed $11.4 million of segment profit.

During the first quarter, we announced that we were exploring strategic options for our children’s playwear business. The Company was not able to reach an agreement on the sale of this business during the third quarter and is currently evaluating all alternatives. Although the Playwear assets are fully recoverable based on expected operating performance, if the Company were to decide to exit this business, the loss could be somewhat greater than the $7 million previously disclosed. Any loss would not have a significant effect on the Company’s financial position. Playwear sales declined by 9% during the quarter and by 11% in the nine months of 2003 compared with the 2002 periods. A small operating loss was incurred in the current year-to-date period compared with a breakeven level in 2002. This business unit had 2002 sales of $173 million of Healthtex® and licensed Nike® branded products.

17


 

The Occupational Apparel segment includes the Company’s industrial, career, safety and image apparel businesses. Sales decreased 11% in the quarter and 6% in the nine months of 2003, reflecting continued weakness in the manufacturing and transportation sectors and reduced discretionary spending by corporations on image apparel. Segment profit decreased in the quarter due primarily to lower sales volume and increased in the first nine months of 2003 with higher margins earned due to cost reduction efforts achieved through the Strategic Repositioning Program.

The Outdoor Apparel and Equipment segment consists of the Company’s outdoor-related businesses represented by outerwear, equipment, backpacks and daypacks. Sales increased 15% in the quarter and 14% in the nine months, including 4% and 5% benefits from foreign currency translation, respectively. Sales and profits as a percent of sales at The North Face and Eastpak have been advancing in both domestic and international markets since the acquisition of these businesses in 2000.

The All Other segment includes the Company’s licensed sports apparel and distributor knitwear businesses. Sales advanced in the quarter and the nine months in our licensed sports apparel business unit, led by increased sales under the agreement with the National Football League.

Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition of Continuing Operations

    Balance Sheets

Accounts receivable at the end of the third quarter of 2003 were higher than the comparable period in 2002 due to the acquisition of Nautica. Receivables at existing businesses (other than Nautica) were flat, or declined 5% excluding foreign currency translation effects. Receivables are higher than at the end of 2002 due to the acquisition of Nautica, seasonal sales patterns and the effects of foreign currency translation. The allowance for bad debts increased during 2003 due to the acquisition of Nautica and higher receivable balances.

Inventories at October 4, 2003 include those of Nautica. Inventories at existing businesses (other than Nautica) increased by 7% over the comparable date in the prior year, or 5% excluding foreign currency effects. Inventory levels were considered too low to properly service our customers during much of 2002, so there were planned increases to support improvements in customer service during 2003. The Company expects that inventories at existing businesses at the end of 2003 will be only slightly above the prior year-end level.

Other current assets increased from the end of 2002 due to deferred income tax assets recorded as part of the Nautica acquisition.

Property, plant and equipment increased due to the acquisition of Nautica, offset in part by depreciation expense exceeding capital spending over the last year.

Intangible assets relate primarily to the acquisition of Nautica. The increases in goodwill resulted from the acquisition of Nautica and foreign currency translation effects.

Other assets declined at October 4, 2003 due to netting existing noncurrent deferred income tax assets with approximately $120 million of deferred tax liabilities arising from the Nautica acquisition.

Short-term borrowings increased at October 4, 2003 by commercial paper borrowings to fund the acquisition of Nautica. In October 2003, the Company issued $300.0 million principal amount of long-term debt, which was used to repay a portion of these commercial paper borrowings. Accordingly, an amount of commercial paper equal to the net proceeds of the long-term borrowing of $292.4 million has been reclassified to long-term debt. See Note K.

18


 

Accounts payable at October 4, 2003, even with the addition of Nautica, is lower than at the other two balance sheet dates. Inventory levels were being increased near the end of 2002 and to a lesser extent in the third quarter of 2002, resulting in higher accounts payable balances at the end of the third and fourth quarters of 2002. On the other hand, inventories were being reduced during the third quarter of 2003, resulting in lower payable balances at the end of that quarter.

Other current liabilities increased from the end of 2002 because of the acquisition of Nautica. The balance at the end of 2002 included a contribution to the pension fund of $75.0 million accrued as part of our minimum pension liability.

Long-term debt at October 4, 2003 included $292.4 million of short-term commercial paper borrowings that were repaid with the proceeds of 6.00%, 30 year notes issued on October 14, 2003. In addition, long-term debt at October 4, 2003 includes $17.8 million of assumed debt of Nautica.

Other long-term liabilities at October 4, 2003 includes $58.5 million of deferred purchase price payable in connection with the acquisition of the Nautica licensing agreement. See Note C. Balances increased from September 2002 to year-end 2002 due to the recognition of $102.6 million for the long-term portion of the minimum pension liability related to the Company’s defined benefit pension plans, with a further increase during 2003 in the minimum pension liability for accrual of the 2003 pension expense.

    Liquidity and Cash Flows

The financial condition of the Company is reflected in the following:

                         
    October 4   January 4   September 28
    2003   2003   2002
   
 
 
    (Dollars in millions)
Working capital
  $ 1,263.3     $ 1,199.7     $ 1,123.6  
Current ratio
  2.2 to 1   2.4 to 1   2.2 to 1
Debt to total capital
    38.0 %     28.6 %     27.9 %

For the ratio of debt to total capital, debt is defined as short-term and long-term borrowings, and total capital is defined as debt plus common shareholders’ equity. Our ratio of net debt to total capital, with net debt defined as debt less cash and equivalents, was 33.2% at the end of the third quarter of 2003.

The Company’s primary source of liquidity is cash flow provided by operations, supplemented by commercial paper borrowings to meet seasonal working capital requirements. Cash provided by operations is substantially higher in the second half of the year due to higher net income and reduced working capital requirements during that period. For the first nine months of 2003, cash provided by continuing operations was $40.9 million, as contrasted with higher than normal cash provided by continuing operations of $387.5 million in the prior year period. The difference related to (1) reduction in accounts payable balances during 2003 (see discussion of accounts payable in the above “Balance Sheets” section), (2) higher incentive and other compensation payments during 2003, related to 2002 performance, compared with the prior year, (3) a contribution to the Company’s pension plan in 2003 of $75.0 million compared with a $20.0 million contribution in 2002 and (4) a planned increase in inventory in the 2003 period compared with a smaller than normal increase in 2002. In addition, although Nautica was accretive to earnings in the brief period since its acquisition on August 27, 2003, the business used $15.4 million of cash from operations for this period due to the payment of current liabilities subsequent to the acquisition.

19


 

In addition to cash flow from operations, the Company is well positioned to finance its ongoing operations and meet unusual circumstances that may arise. During the third quarter of 2003, the Company entered into a new $750.0 million unsecured committed bank facility that expires in September 2008. This bank facility supports a $750.0 million commercial paper program. Any issuance of commercial paper would reduce the amount available under the bank facility. The agreement requires a .09% facility fee and contains various financial covenants, including a requirement that the Company’s ratio of consolidated indebtedness to consolidated capitalization remain below 60%. At October 4, 2003, there was $486.8 million of commercial paper borrowings against this facility. At that date, $292.4 million of the commercial paper was classified as long-term, as that amount was repaid with proceeds from the sale of 30 year bonds shortly following the end of the quarter. Further, under a registration statement filed in 1994 with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Company has the ability to offer, on a delayed or continuous basis, up to $300.0 million of additional debt, equity or other securities.

Effective August 27, 2003, the Company acquired all of the common stock of Nautica. On the same date in a separate transaction, the Company acquired all of the rights held by an officer of Nautica to receive 50% of its net royalty income, plus certain other rights. Funds required for the two transactions were $575.4 million, net of $75.6 million cash acquired. In addition, the transactions involved assumption of $18.1 million of debt and a deferred purchase price of $58.3 million related to the second transaction described above. (See Note C.) Financing for these transactions was initially provided by short-term commercial paper borrowings and available cash balances.

Short-term borrowings at October 4, 2003 consisted of $486.8 million of domestic commercial paper borrowings and $30.4 million of international borrowings. Subsequent to the end of the quarter, the Company issued $300.0 million principal amount of long-term debt and used the net proceeds of $292.4 million to reduce commercial paper borrowings, which amount was reclassified to long-term debt at October 4. (See Note K.) During the fourth quarter of 2003, the Company expects to repay the remaining amount of commercial paper from cash flow provided by operations. Accordingly, the ratio of debt to total capital is expected to range between 30 – 35% at the end of 2003.

Following the acquisition of Nautica, on October 8, 2003 Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services affirmed its ‘A minus’ long-term corporate credit and senior unsecured debt ratings for VF, as well as its ‘A-2’ commercial paper rating. Standard & Poor’s ratings outlook is “stable.” On October 1, 2003, Moody’s lowered the Company’s long-term debt rating to ‘A3’ from ‘A2’ and short-term debt rating to ‘Prime-2’ from ‘Prime-1’ and continued the ratings outlook as ‘negative’. Based on current conditions, we do not believe that the negative rating change by Moody’s will have a material impact on the Company’s ability to issue long or short-term debt. Existing debt agreements do not contain acceleration of maturity clauses based on changes in credit ratings.

Since the filing of the Company’s 2002 Annual Report on Form 10-K, other than the financial commitments in connection with the acquisition of Nautica, there have been no material changes relating to the Company’s fixed obligations that require the use of funds or other financial commitments that may require the use of funds. The Company has the following additional financial commitments at the end of the third quarter of 2003 arising from the acquisition of Nautica (in millions):

20


 

                                         
    Payments Due by Period
   
    Total   2003   2004-2005   2006-2007   Thereafter
   
 
 
 
 
Long-term debt
  $ 17.8     $ 0.4     $ 3.1     $ 3.3     $ 11.0  
Operating leases
    147.7       4.7       36.9       32.6       73.5  
Other
    58.5                   58.5        
 
   
     
     
     
     
 
Total
  $ 224.0     $ 5.1     $ 40.0     $ 94.4     $ 84.5  
 
   
     
     
     
     
 

Management believes that VF’s financial condition is strong and that its cash balances, operating cash flows, access to equity capital markets and borrowing capacity, taken as a whole, provide adequate liquidity to meet all of its obligations when due and flexibility to meet investment opportunities that may arise.

Capital expenditures for the full year are expected to be approximately $100 million, compared with $64.5 million in the prior year. Capital spending will be funded by cash provided by operations.

The Company purchased 1.7 million shares of its Common Stock in open market transactions during 2003 at an average price of $36.55 per share, representing a total cost of $61.4 million. Under its current authorization from the Board of Directors, the Company may purchase up to an additional 5.3 million shares. Because of the acquisition of Nautica, the Company suspended the share repurchase program near the end of the second quarter.

The Internal Revenue Service has proposed various income tax adjustments for the Company’s 1995 to 1997 tax years. Our outside advisers and we believe that our tax positions comply with applicable tax law, and the Company is defending its positions vigorously. We have accrued amounts that reflect our best estimate of the probable outcome related to these matters, as well as our other tax positions, and do not anticipate any material impact on earnings from their ultimate resolution.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements

From time to time, we may make oral or written statements, including statements in this Quarterly Report, that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. This includes statements concerning plans, objectives, projections and expectations relating to the Company’s operations or economic performance, and assumptions related thereto.

Forward-looking statements are made based on our expectations and beliefs concerning future events impacting the Company and therefore involve a number of risks and uncertainties. We caution that forward-looking statements are not guarantees and actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. We do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Important factors that could cause the actual results of operations or financial condition of the Company to differ include, but are not necessarily limited to, the overall level of consumer spending for apparel; changes in trends in the segments of the market in which the Company competes; competitive conditions in and financial strength of our customers and of our suppliers; actions of competitors, customers, suppliers and service providers that may impact the Company’s business; the Company’s ability to integrate new acquisitions successfully; additional terrorist actions; and the impact of economic and political factors in the markets where the Company competes, such as recession or changes in interest rates, currency exchange rates, price levels, capital market valuations and other external economic and political factors over which we

21


 

have no control.

Item 3 - Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Refer to Item 7A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 4, 2003 for a discussion of the Company’s market risk exposures at the end of 2002. On August 27, 2003, the Company acquired Nautica and related rights in transactions funded primarily by issuance of short-term commercial paper. Subsequent to the end of the third quarter, the Company repaid $292.4 million of those borrowings with the proceeds from the sale of 30 year notes at a fixed interest rate of 6.00%. Accordingly, there is no further interest rate risk for this amount. The remaining $224.8 million of short-term borrowings is primarily commercial paper borrowings at interest rates ranging from 1.12% to 1.25%, which rates are variable due to the short-term nature of commercial paper. The effect of a hypothetical 1% change in interest rates on these additional short-term borrowings would not be material. The Company expects to repay its commercial paper borrowings from cash provided by operations during the fourth quarter of 2003.

In addition, the Company has $13.8 million of long-term debt assumed from Nautica that bears interest based on the three month LIBOR rate (1.14% at October 4, 2003) plus 1.00%. To hedge against interest rate fluctuations, the Company has a swap agreement that effectively converts that long-term debt from a variable interest rate to a fixed interest rate of 6.32%. The swap contains a knock-out provision that is activated when the three month LIBOR rate is at or above 7.00%. If the three month LIBOR rate rises above 7.00%, the swap knocks out and the Company will not receive any payments under the agreement until the three month LIBOR rate declines below 7.00%.

Item 4 - Controls and Procedures

Disclosure controls and procedures:

The term “disclosure controls and procedures” as defined in Rule 13 a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 refers to the controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within required time periods.

The Company has had controls and procedures in place for many years for the gathering and reporting of business, financial and other information in SEC filings. To centralize and formalize this process, the Company has a Disclosure Committee comprised of various members of management. Under the supervision of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, this Committee has evaluated the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures at VF and its subsidiaries as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report (the “Evaluation Date”). Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded as of the Evaluation Date that such controls and procedures were operating effectively.

Changes in internal control over financial reporting:

During the Company’s last fiscal quarter, there have been no changes in the Company’s internal control identified in connection with the evaluation referred to above that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

22


 

Part II – Other Information

Item 6 - Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

(a)   Exhibit 4(a) - Form of 6% Note due October 15, 2033 for $297,500,000
 
    Exhibit 4(b) - Form of 6% Note due October 15, 2033 for $2,500,000
 
    Exhibit 4(c) - Indenture between the Company and United States Trust Company of New York, as Trustee, dated September 29, 2000 (Incorporated by reference from Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2000 filed on November 8, 2000)
 
    Exhibit 4(d) - Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement dated October 14, 2003
 
    Exhibit 10 - Revolving Credit Agreement, September 25, 2003
 
    Exhibit 31.1 - Certification of the principal executive officer, Mackey J. McDonald, pursuant to 15 U.S.C. Section 10A, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
    Exhibit 31.2 – Certification of the principal financial officer, Robert K. Shearer, pursuant to 15 U.S.C. Section 10A, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
    Exhibit 32.1 – Certification of the principal executive officer, Mackey J. McDonald, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
    Exhibit 32.2 – Certification of the principal financial officer, Robert K. Shearer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
(b)   Reports on Form 8-K:
 
    In a report on Form 8-K dated July 7, 2003, the Company issued a press release stating that it had signed a definitive merger agreement to acquire Nautica Enterprises, Inc. at a price of $17.00 per share in cash. The press release also stated that the Company had separately entered into an agreement with Mr. David Chu to acquire the rights held by him to receive 50% of its net royalty income, and certain other rights, for a total consideration of $104.0 million payable over 4 years.
 
    In a report on Form 8-K dated July 22, 2003, the Company issued a press release setting forth the second quarter 2003 earnings.
 
    In a report on Form 8-K dated August 18, 2003, the Company issued a press release announcing the expiration of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, relating to the previously announced merger between Nautica Enterprises, Inc. and VF Corporation.
 
    In a report on Form 8-K dated August 22, 2003, the Company issued a press release announcing the expiration of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, relating to the previously announced purchase by VF Corporation of David Chu and Company, Inc.’s rights to receive 50% of the net royalty income from licensing the Nautica trademark.

23


 

    In a report on Form 8-K dated August 27, 2003, the Company issued a press release announcing the acquisition of Nautica Enterprises, Inc. and the acquisition of the rights held by Mr. David Chu to receive 50% of Nautica’s net royalty income.

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 thereunto duly authorized.

         
    V.F. CORPORATION
          (Registrant)
         
    By:   /s/ Robert K. Shearer
       
        Robert K. Shearer
Vice President - Finance &
Global Processes and
Chief Financial Officer
(Chief Financial Officer)
         
Date: November 7, 2003        
         
    By:   /s/ Robert A. Cordaro
       
        Robert A. Cordaro
Vice President - Controller
(Chief Accounting Officer)

24 EX-4.(A) 3 w91386exv4wxay.htm FORM OF 6% NOTE DUE 10-15-2033 FOR $297,500,000 exv4wxay

 

Exhibit 4(a)

6% Note Due October 15, 2033

         
No. R-1.     $297,500,000  
CUSIP NO. 918204 AQ 1        
ISN: US918204AQ15        

          V.F. CORPORATION, a corporation duly incorporated and subsisting under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (herein called the “Company”, which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co., or registered assigns, the principal sum of $297,500,000 on October 15, 2033 and to pay interest thereon from October 14, 2003, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually on April 15 and October 15 in each year, commencing April 15, 2004, at the rate of 6% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment; provided, however, that if (i) the registration statement filed by the Company (the “Exchange Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), registering a security substantially identical to this Security (except that such Security will not contain terms with respect to the Special Interest payments described below or transfer restrictions) pursuant to an exchange offer (the “Exchange Offer”) has not become or been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) within 180 days after the Securities are initially issued (or, in lieu thereof, if such obligation arises pursuant to the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement (as defined below), a registration statement registering this Security for resale (the “Resale Registration Statement”) has not become or been declared effective by the SEC within 120 days after the Resale Registration Statement is filed) or (ii) either the Exchange Registration Statement or, if applicable, the Resale Registration Statement is filed and declared effective but shall thereafter either be withdrawn by the Company or shall become subject to an effective stop order issued pursuant to Section 8(d) of the Securities Act suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement (except as specifically permitted under the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement) without being succeeded as promptly as practicable by an additional registration statement filed and declared effective, or (iii) the Exchange Offer has not been completed within 225 days after the Securities are initially issued (if the Exchange Offer is then required to be made pursuant to the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement (the “Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement”), dated as of October 14, 2003, by and between the Company and the Purchasers (as defined therein) parties thereto), in each case (i), (ii) and (iii) upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement (each such event referred to in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), a “Registration Default”), then special interest (“Special Interest”) will accrue (in addition to the stated interest on the Securities) at a per annum rate of 0.25%, determined daily, on the principal amount of this Security, from the period from the occurrence of the Registration Default described under (i) or (ii) above until such time as such Registration Default is no longer in effect and, provided, further, that if a Registration Default described under (iii) above has occurred, then the per annum rate of such Special Interest shall be 0.50% per annum from the period from the occurrence of the Registration Default described under (iii) above until such time as such Registration Default is no longer in effect (provided that the rate of Special Interest shall not exceed 0.50% per annum

 


 

in the aggregate at any time). Accrued Special Interest, if any, shall be paid semi-annually on April 15 and October 15, in each year; and the amount of accrued Special Interest shall be determined on the basis of the number of days actually elapsed. Any accrued and unpaid interest (including Special Interest) on this Security upon the issuance of an Exchange Security (as defined in the Indenture) in exchange for this Security shall cease to be payable to the Holder hereof but such accrued and unpaid interest (including Special Interest) shall be payable on the next Interest Payment Date for such Exchange Security to the Holder thereof on the related Regular Record Date. Interest on this Security shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

          The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the April 1 or October 1 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture.

          Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in New York, New York in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register.

          Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

          Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 


 

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed under its corporate seal.

         
Dated:        
         
      V.F. Corporation
         
      By  
       
Attest:        
     

       
      By  
       
Attest:        
     

       

          This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

         
      U.S. Bank Trust National Association
         
      By  
       
                 Authorized Signature

 


 

[Reverse of Security]

          This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of September 29, 2000 (herein called the “Indenture”, which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such instrument), between the Company and The Bank of New York, as successor to the United States Trust Company of New York as “Trustee” under the Indenture (the “Trustee”), and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof, initially limited in aggregate principal amount to $300,000,000. The Company may at any time issue additional securities under the Indenture in unlimited amounts having the same terms as the Securities.

          The Securities of this series are subject to redemption, as a whole or from time to time in part, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice mailed to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed at his address as it appears in the Securities Register, on any date prior to their Stated Maturity at a Redemption Price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of such Securities to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the Redemption Date or (ii) as determined by a Quotation Agent (as defined below), the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon (not including any portion of such payments of interest accrued as of the Redemption Date) discounted to the Redemption Date on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Adjusted Treasury Rate (as defined below), plus 15 basis points, plus accrued interest thereon to the Redemption Date; provided that unless the Company defaults in payment of the Redemption Price, on or after the Redemption Date, interest will cease to accrue on the Securities or portions thereof called for redemption.

          “Adjusted Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such Redemption Date. The semi- annual equivalent yield to maturity will be computed as of the third business day immediately preceding the Redemption Date. “Comparable Treasury Issue” (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) means the United States Treasury security selected by the Quotation Agent as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Securities to be redeemed that would be utilized in accordance with customary financial practice in pricing new issues of corporate notes of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the Securities. “Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, (i) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such Redemption Date, provided that if three or more Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations are obtained, the highest and lowest of such quotations shall be excluded from the calculation. “Quotation Agent” means the Reference Treasury Dealer appointed by the Company. “Reference Treasury Dealer” means (i) Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. and its respective successors; provided, however, that, if the foregoing shall cease to be a primary U.S.

 


 

Government securities dealer (a “Primary Treasury Dealer”), the Company shall substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer; and (ii) any other Primary Treasury Dealer selected by the Company. “Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the Trustee, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m. on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption Date.

          The Securities do not have the benefit of any sinking fund obligations.

          In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.

          The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of the entire indebtedness of this Security or certain restrictive covenants and Events of Default with respect to this Security, in each case upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.

          If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

          The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not less than 50% in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

          As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Securities of this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60 days after receipt of

 


 

such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.

          No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

          As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

          The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1000 and any multiple thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

          No service charge shall be made to a Holder for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

          Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

          All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 


 

     THIS NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM AND IN ANY EVENT MAY BE SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INDENTURE, COPIES OF WHICH ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT THE CORPORATE TRUST OFFICE OF THE TRUSTEE IN NEW YORK.

EACH PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER. EACH HOLDER OF THIS NOTE REPRESENTS TO V.F. CORPORATION THAT (a) SUCH HOLDER WILL NOT SELL, PLEDGE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS NOTE (WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF V.F. CORPORATION) OTHER THAN (i) TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION COMPLYING WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (ii) IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (iii) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (iv) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT, IN THE CASE OF CLAUSES (iii) OR (iv), TO THE RECEIPT BY V.F. CORPORATION OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL OR SUCH OTHER EVIDENCE ACCEPTABLE TO V.F. CORPORATION THAT SUCH RESALE, PLEDGE OR TRANSFER IS EXEMPT FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OR (v) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, AND (b) THE HOLDER WILL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO HEREIN AND DELIVER TO THE TRANSFEREE (OTHER THAN A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER) PRIOR TO THE SALE OF A COPY OF THE TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS APPLICABLE HERETO (COPIES OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE).

     THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A SECURITY REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE REGISTERED, IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.

 


 

     UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

  EX-4.(B) 4 w91386exv4wxby.htm FORM OF 6% NOTE DUE 10-15-2033 FOR $2,500,000 exv4wxby

 

Exhibit 4(b)

6% Note Due October 15, 2033

         
No. S-1.     $2,500,000  
CUSIP NO. U9222H AC 6        
ISN: USU9222HAC61        
Common Code: 017843826        

          V.F. CORPORATION, a corporation duly incorporated and subsisting under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (herein called the “Company”, which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co., or registered assigns, the principal sum of $2,500,000 on October 15, 2033 and to pay interest thereon from October 14, 2003, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually on April 15 and October 15 in each year, commencing April 15, 2004, at the rate of 6% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment; provided, however, that if (i) the registration statement filed by the Company (the “Exchange Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), registering a security substantially identical to this Security (except that such Security will not contain terms with respect to the Special Interest payments described below or transfer restrictions) pursuant to an exchange offer (the “Exchange Offer”) has not become or been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) within 180 days after the Securities are initially issued (or, in lieu thereof, if such obligation arises pursuant to the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement (as defined below), a registration statement registering this Security for resale (the “Resale Registration Statement”) has not become or been declared effective by the SEC within 120 days after the Resale Registration Statement is filed) or (ii) either the Exchange Registration Statement or, if applicable, the Resale Registration Statement is filed and declared effective but shall thereafter either be withdrawn by the Company or shall become subject to an effective stop order issued pursuant to Section 8(d) of the Securities Act suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement (except as specifically permitted under the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement) without being succeeded as promptly as practicable by an additional registration statement filed and declared effective, or (iii) the Exchange Offer has not been completed within 225 days after the Securities are initially issued (if the Exchange Offer is then required to be made pursuant to the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement (the “Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement”), dated as of October 14, 2003, by and between the Company and the Purchasers (as defined therein) parties thereto), in each case (i), (ii) and (iii) upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement (each such event referred to in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), a “Registration Default”), then special interest (“Special Interest”) will accrue (in addition to the stated interest on the Securities) at a per annum rate of 0.25%, determined daily, on the principal amount of this Security, from the period from the occurrence of the Registration Default described under (i) or (ii) above until such time as such Registration Default is no longer in effect and, provided, further, that if a Registration Default described under (iii) above has occurred, then the per annum rate of such Special Interest shall be 0.5% per annum from the period from the occurrence of the Registration Default described under (iii) above until such time as such Registration Default is no longer in effect (provided that the rate of Special Interest shall not exceed 0.5% per annum in the aggregate at any time). Accrued Special Interest, if any, shall be paid semi-annually on April 15

 


 

and October 15, in each year; and the amount of accrued Special Interest shall be determined on the basis of the number of days actually elapsed. Any accrued and unpaid interest (including Special Interest) on this Security upon the issuance of an Exchange Security (as defined in the Indenture) in exchange for this Security shall cease to be payable to the Holder hereof but such accrued and unpaid interest (including Special Interest) shall be payable on the next Interest Payment Date for such Exchange Security to the Holder thereof on the related Regular Record Date. Interest on this Security shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

          The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the April 1 or October 1 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture.

          Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in New York, New York in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register.

          Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

          Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 


 

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed under its corporate seal.

         
Dated:        
         
      V.F. Corporation
         
      By  
       
Attest:        
     

       
      By  
       
Attest:        
     

       

          This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

         
      U.S. Bank Trust National Association
         
      By  
       
                 Authorized Signature

 


 

[Reverse of Security]

          This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of September 29, 2000 (herein called the “Indenture”, which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such instrument), between the Company and The Bank of New York as successor in interest to United States Trust Company of New York as “Trustee” under the Indenture (the “Trustee”), and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof, initially limited in aggregate principal amount to $300,000,000. The Company may at any time issue additional securities under the Indenture in unlimited amounts having the same terms as the Securities.

          The Securities of this series are subject to redemption, as a whole or from time to time in part, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice mailed to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed at his address as it appears in the Securities Register, on any date prior to their Stated Maturity at a Redemption Price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of such Securities to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the Redemption Date or (ii) as determined by a Quotation Agent (as defined below), the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon (not including any portion of such payments of interest accrued as of the Redemption Date) discounted to the Redemption Date on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Adjusted Treasury Rate (as defined below), plus 15 basis points, plus accrued interest thereon to the Redemption Date; provided that unless the Company defaults in payment of the Redemption Price, on or after the Redemption Date, interest will cease to accrue on the Securities or portions thereof called for redemption.

          “Adjusted Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such Redemption Date. The semi- annual equivalent yield to maturity will be computed as of the third business day immediately preceding the Redemption Date. “Comparable Treasury Issue” (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) means the United States Treasury security selected by the Quotation Agent as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Securities to be redeemed that would be utilized in accordance with customary financial practice in pricing new issues of corporate notes of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the Securities. “Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, (i) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such Redemption Date, provided that if three or more Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations are obtained, the highest and lowest of such quotations shall be excluded from the calculation. “Quotation Agent” means the Reference Treasury Dealer appointed by the Company. “Reference Treasury Dealer” means (i) Citigroup Global Financial Markets Inc. and its respective successors; provided, however, that, if the foregoing shall cease to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer (a “Primary Treasury Dealer”), the Company shall substitute

 


 

therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer; and (ii) any other Primary Treasury Dealer selected by the Company. “Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the Trustee, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m. on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption Date.

          The Securities do not have the benefit of any sinking fund obligations.

          In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.

          The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of the entire indebtedness of this Security or certain restrictive covenants and Events of Default with respect to this Security, in each case upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.

          If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

          The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not less than 50% in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

          As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Securities of this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted

 


 

by the Holder of this Security for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.

          No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

          As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

          The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1000 and any multiple thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

          No service charge shall be made to a Holder for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

          Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

          All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 


 

     THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (THE “SECURITIES ACT”) AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, OR DELIVERED IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, ANY U.S. PERSON, UNLESS THIS SECURITY IS REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS THEREOF IS AVAILABLE.

     THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A SECURITY REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE REGISTERED, IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.

     UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

  EX-4.(D) 5 w91386exv4wxdy.htm EXCHANGE AND REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT exv4wxdy

 

Exhibit 4(d)

$300,000,000
V.F. Corporation
6% Notes due 2033

Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement

October 14, 2003

Banc of America Securities LLC
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
   As representatives of the several Purchasers
   named in Schedule I to the Purchase Agreement
c/o Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
388 Greenwich Street
New York, New York 10013

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     V.F. Corporation, a Pennsylvania corporation (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to the Purchasers (as defined herein) upon the terms set forth in the Purchase Agreement (as defined herein) its $300,000,000 6% Notes due 2033. As an inducement to the Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement and in satisfaction of a condition to the obligations of the Purchasers thereunder, the Company agrees with the Purchasers for the benefit of holders (as defined herein) from time to time of the Registrable Securities (as defined herein) as follows:

     1.     Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, the following terms shall have the following respective meanings:

     “Base Interest” shall mean the interest that would otherwise accrue on the Securities under the terms thereof and the Indenture, without giving effect to the provisions of this Agreement.

     The term “broker-dealer” shall mean any broker or dealer registered with the Commission under the Exchange Act.

     “Closing Date” shall mean the date on which the Securities are initially issued.

     “Commission” shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, or any other federal agency at the time administering the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, whichever is the relevant statute for the particular purpose.

     “Effectiveness Period” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2(b) hereof.

     “Effective Time,” in the case of (i) an Exchange Registration, shall mean the time and date as of which the Commission declares the Exchange Registration Statement effective or as of which the Exchange Registration Statement otherwise becomes effective and (ii) a

 


 

     Shelf Registration, shall mean the time and date as of which the Commission declares the Shelf Registration Statement effective or as of which the Shelf Registration Statement otherwise becomes effective.

     "Electing Holder” shall mean any holder of Registrable Securities that has returned a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company in accordance with Section 3(d)(ii) or 3(d)(iii) hereof.

     “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or any successor thereto, as the same shall be amended from time to time.

     “Exchange Offer” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2(a) hereof.

     “Exchange Registration” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 3(c) hereof.

     “Exchange Registration Statement” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2(a) hereof.

     “Exchange Securities” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2(a) hereof.

     The term “holder” shall mean each of the Purchasers and other persons who acquire Registrable Securities from time to time (including any successors or assigns), in each case for so long as such person owns any Registrable Securities.

     “Indenture” shall mean the Indenture, dated as of September 29, 2000, between the Company and The Bank of New York (formerly known as United States Trust Company), as Trustee, as the same shall be amended from time to time.

     "Notice and Questionnaire” means a Notice of Registration Statement and Selling Securityholder Questionnaire substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto.

     The term “person” shall mean a corporation, association, partnership, organization, business, individual, government or political subdivision thereof or governmental agency.

     “Purchase Agreement” shall mean the Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 8, 2003, between the Purchasers and the Company relating to the Securities.

     “Purchasers” shall mean the Initial Purchasers named in Schedule I to the Purchase Agreement.

     “Registrable Securities” shall mean the Securities; provided, however, that a Security shall cease to be a Registrable Security when (i) in the circumstances contemplated by Section 2(a) hereof, the Security has been exchanged for an Exchange Security in an Exchange Offer as contemplated in Section 2(a) hereof (provided that any Exchange Security that, pursuant to the last two sentences of Section 2(a), is included in a prospectus for use in connection with resales by broker-dealers shall be deemed to be a Registrable Security with respect to Sections 5, 6 and 9 until resale of such Registrable Security has been effected within the 225-day period referred to in Section 2(a)); (ii) in the circumstances contemplated by Section 2(b) hereof, a Shelf Registration Statement registering such Security under the Securities Act has been declared or becomes effective and such Security has been sold or otherwise transferred by the holder thereof pursuant to and in a manner contemplated by such effective Shelf Registration Statement; (iii) such Security is sold pursuant to Rule 144 under circumstances in which any legend borne by such Security

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relating to restrictions on transferability thereof, under the Securities Act or otherwise, is removed by the Company or pursuant to the Indenture; (iv) such Security is eligible to be sold pursuant to paragraph (k) of Rule 144; or (v) such Security shall cease to be outstanding.

     “Registration Default” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2(c) hereof.

     “Registration Expenses” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 4 hereof.

     “Resale Period” means a period beginning when Exchange Securities are first issued in the Exchange Offer and ending upon the earlier of the expiration of the 180th day after the Exchange Offer has been completed or such time as such broker-dealers no longer own any Registrable Securities.

     “Restricted Holder” shall mean (i) a holder that is an affiliate of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405, (ii) a holder who acquires Exchange Securities outside the ordinary course of such holder’s business, (iii) a holder who has arrangements or understandings with any person to participate in the Exchange Offer for the purpose of distributing Exchange Securities and (iv) a holder that is a broker-dealer, but only with respect to Exchange Securities received by such broker-dealer pursuant to an Exchange Offer in exchange for Registrable Securities acquired by the broker-dealer directly from the Company.

     “Rule 144,” “Rule 405” and “Rule 415” shall mean, in each case, such rule promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor provision), as the same shall be amended from time to time.

     “Securities” shall mean the $300,000,000 6% Notes due 2033 of the Company to be issued and sold to the Purchasers, and securities issued in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof pursuant to the Indenture.

     “Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, or any successor thereto, as the same shall be amended from time to time.

     “Shelf Registration” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2(b) hereof.

     “Shelf Registration Statement” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2(b) hereof.

     “Special Interest” shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2(c) hereof.

     “Trust Indenture Act” shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, or any successor thereto, and the rules, regulations and forms promulgated thereunder, all as the same shall be amended from time to time.

     Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference herein to a “Section” or “clause” refers to a Section or clause, as the case may be, of this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, and the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Section or other subdivision.

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     2.     Registration Under the Securities Act.

     (a)  Except as set forth in Section 2(b) below, the Company agrees to file under the Securities Act, as soon as practicable, but no later than 90 days after the Closing Date, a registration statement relating to an offer to exchange (such registration statement, the “Exchange Registration Statement”, and such offer, the “Exchange Offer”) any and all of the Securities for a like aggregate principal amount of debt securities issued by the Company, which debt securities are substantially identical to the Securities (and are entitled to the benefits of a trust indenture that is substantially identical to the Indenture or is the Indenture and that has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act), except that they have been registered pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and do not contain provisions for the additional interest contemplated in Section 2(c) below (such new debt securities hereinafter called “Exchange Securities”). Except as set forth in Section 2(b) below, the Company agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Exchange Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities Act as soon as practicable, but no later than 180 days after the Closing Date. The Exchange Offer will be registered under the Securities Act on the appropriate form and will comply with all applicable tender offer rules and regulations under the Exchange Act. The Company further agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to commence and complete the Exchange Offer promptly, but no later than 45 days after such registration statement has become effective, hold the Exchange Offer open for at least 30 days and exchange Exchange Securities for all Registrable Securities that have been properly tendered and not withdrawn on or prior to the expiration of the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer will be deemed to have been “completed” only if the debt securities received by holders other than Restricted Holders in the Exchange Offer for Registrable Securities are, upon receipt, transferable by each such holder without restriction under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and without material restrictions under the blue sky or securities laws of a substantial majority of the States of the United States of America. The Exchange Offer shall be deemed to have been completed upon the earlier to occur of (i) the Company having exchanged the Exchange Securities for all outstanding Registrable Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer and (ii) the Company having exchanged, pursuant to the Exchange Offer, Exchange Securities for all Registrable Securities that have been properly tendered and not withdrawn before the expiration of the Exchange Offer, which shall be on a date that is at least 30 days following the commencement of the Exchange Offer. The Company agrees (x) to include in the Exchange Registration Statement a prospectus for use in any resales by any holder of Exchange Securities that is a broker-dealer and (y) to use reasonable best efforts to keep such Exchange Registration Statement effective for the Resale Period. With respect to such Exchange Registration Statement, such holders shall have the benefit of the rights of indemnification and contribution set forth in Sections 6(a), (c), (d) and (e) hereof.

     (b) If (i) on or prior to the time the Exchange Offer is completed, existing Commission rules or interpretations are changed such that the debt securities received by holders other than Restricted Holders in the Exchange Offer for Registrable Securities are not or would not be, upon receipt, transferable by each such holder without restriction under the Securities Act, (ii) the Exchange Offer has not been completed within 225 days following the Closing Date or (iii) the Exchange Offer is not available to any holder of the Securities, the Company shall, in lieu of (or, in the case of clause (iii), in addition to) conducting the Exchange Offer contemplated by Section 2(a), file under the Securities Act as soon as practicable, but no later than 90 days after the time such obligation to file arises, a “shelf” registration statement providing for the registration of, and the sale on a continuous or delayed basis by the holders of, all of the Registrable Securities, pursuant to Rule 415 or any similar rule that may be

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adopted by the Commission (such filing, the “Shelf Registration” and such registration statement, the “Shelf Registration Statement”). The Company agrees to use its reasonable best efforts (x) to cause the Shelf Registration Statement to become or be declared effective no later than 120 days after such Shelf Registration Statement is filed and to keep such Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective for a period ending on the earlier of the second anniversary of the Effective Time or such time as there are no longer any Registrable Securities outstanding (the “Effectiveness Period”), except as specified in Section 3(h) and 3(i), and provided, however, that no holder shall be entitled to be named as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement or to use the prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of Registrable Securities unless such holder is an Electing Holder, and (y) after the Effective Time of the Shelf Registration Statement, promptly upon the request of any holder of Registrable Securities that is not then an Electing Holder, to take any action reasonably necessary to enable such holder to use the prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of Registrable Securities, including, without limitation, any action necessary to identify such holder as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement, provided, however, that nothing in this Clause (y) shall relieve any such holder of the obligation to return a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company in accordance with Section 3(d)(iii) hereof. The Company further agrees to supplement or make amendments to the Shelf Registration Statement, as and when required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company for such Shelf Registration Statement or by the Securities Act or rules and regulations thereunder for shelf registration, and the Company agrees to furnish to each Electing Holder copies of any such supplement or amendment prior to its being used or promptly following its filing with the Commission.

     (c) In the event that (i) an Exchange Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement has not become effective or been declared effective by the Commission on or before the date on which such registration statement is required to become or be declared effective pursuant to Section 2(a) or 2(b), respectively, or (ii) the Exchange Offer has not been completed on or before 225 days after the Closing Date (if the Exchange Offer is then required to be completed pursuant to Section 2 of this Agreement), or (iii) any Exchange Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement required by Section 2(a) or 2(b) hereof is filed and declared effective but shall thereafter either be withdrawn by the Company or shall become subject to an effective stop order issued pursuant to Section 8(d) of the Securities Act suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement (except as specifically permitted herein) without being succeeded as promptly as practicable by an additional registration statement filed and declared effective (each such event referred to in clauses (i) through (iii), a “Registration Default” and each period during which a Registration Default has occurred and is continuing, a “Registration Default Period”), then, as liquidated damages for such Registration Default, subject to the provisions of Section 9(b), special interest (“Special Interest”), in addition to the Base Interest, shall accrue on the principal amount of the Registrable Securities as follows. If a Registration Default under clause (i) or (iii) of this Section 2(c) has occurred, Special Interest will accrue at an annual rate of 0.25%, from and including the date on which such Registration Default occurred to but excluding the date on which such Registration Default is cured. Additionally, if a Registration Default under clause (ii) of this Section 2(c) has occurred, Special Interest will accrue at an annual rate of 0.50% from and including the date on which such Registration Default occurred to but excluding the date on which such Registration Default is cured. At no time will the aggregate of any such Special Interest described above accrue at an annual rate in excess of 0.50%.

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     (d)  The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to take all actions necessary or advisable to be taken by it to ensure that the transactions contemplated herein are effected as so contemplated.

     (e)  Any reference herein to a registration statement as of any time shall be deemed to include any document incorporated, or deemed to be incorporated, therein by reference as of such time and any reference herein to any post-effective amendment to a registration statement as of any time shall be deemed to include any document incorporated, or deemed to be incorporated, therein by reference as of such time.

     3.     Registration Procedures.

     If the Company files a registration statement pursuant to Section 2(a) or Section 2(b), the following provisions shall apply:

     (a)  At or before the Effective Time of the Exchange Offer or the Shelf Registration, as the case may be, the Company shall qualify the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.

     (b)  In the event that such qualification would require the appointment of a new trustee under the Indenture, the Company shall appoint a new trustee thereunder pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Indenture.

     (c)  In connection with the Company’s obligations with respect to the registration of Exchange Securities as contemplated by Section 2(a) (the “Exchange Registration”), if applicable, the Company shall, as soon as practicable (or as otherwise specified):

       (i) prepare and file with the Commission, as soon as practicable but no later than 90 days after the Closing Date, an Exchange Registration Statement on any form which may be utilized by the Company and which shall permit the Exchange Offer and resales of Exchange Securities by broker-dealers during the Resale Period to be effected as contemplated by Section 2(a), and use its best efforts to cause such Exchange Registration Statement to become effective as soon as practicable thereafter, but no later than 180 days after the Closing Date;

       (ii) as soon as practicable prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements to such Exchange Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein as may be necessary to effect and maintain the effectiveness of such Exchange Registration Statement for the periods and purposes contemplated in Section 2(a) hereof and as may be required by the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and the instructions applicable to the form of such Exchange Registration Statement, and promptly provide each broker-dealer holding Exchange Securities with such number of copies of the prospectus included therein (as then amended or supplemented), in conformity in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, as such broker-dealer reasonably may request prior to the expiration of the Resale Period, for use in connection with resales of Exchange Securities;

       (iii) promptly notify each broker-dealer that has requested or received copies of the prospectus included in such registration statement, and confirm such advice in writing, (A) when such Exchange Registration Statement or the prospectus included

6


 

  therein or any prospectus amendment or supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to such Exchange Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective, (B) of any comments by the Commission and by the blue sky or securities commissioner or regulator of any state with respect thereto or any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to such Exchange Registration Statement or prospectus or for additional information, (C) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of such Exchange Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for that purpose, (D) if at any time the representations and warranties of the Company contemplated by Section 5 cease to be true and correct in all material respects, (E) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Exchange Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, or (F) of the happening of any event or the existence of any fact prior to the end of the Resale Period that requires the Company to make changes in the Exchange Registration Statement, prospectus, prospectus amendment or supplement or post-effective amendment in order that the Exchange Registration Statement or the prospectus, prospectus amendment or supplement or post-effective amendment do not contain an untrue statement of a material fact nor omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of the prospectus, prospectus amendment or supplement or post-effective amendment, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading;

       (iv) in the event that the Company would be required, pursuant to Section 3(c)(iii)(F) above, to notify any broker-dealers holding Exchange Securities, as promptly as practicable prepare and furnish to each such holder a reasonable number of copies of a prospectus supplemented or amended so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of such Exchange Securities during the Resale Period, such prospectus shall conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and shall not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing;

       (v) use its reasonable best efforts to obtain (a) the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such Exchange Registration Statement or (b) any post-effective amendment to such Exchange Registration Statement at the earliest practicable date;

       (vi) use its reasonable best efforts to (A) register or qualify the Exchange Securities under the securities laws or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as are contemplated by Section 2(a) no later than the commencement of the Exchange Offer, (B) keep such registrations or qualifications in effect and comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of offers, sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions until the expiration of the Resale Period and (C) take any and all other actions as may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable each broker-dealer holding Exchange Securities to consummate the disposition thereof in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required for any such purpose to (1) qualify as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction wherein it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for the requirements of this Section 3(c)(vi), (2)

7


 

  consent to general service of process in any such jurisdiction or (3) make any changes to its certificate of incorporation or by-laws or any agreement between it and its stockholders;
 
       (vii) use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the consent or approval of each governmental agency or authority, whether federal, state or local, which may be required to effect the Exchange Registration, the Exchange Offer and the offering and sale of Exchange Securities by broker-dealers during the Resale Period;
 
       (viii) provide a CUSIP number for all Exchange Securities, not later than the applicable Effective Time;
 
       (ix) comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable but no later than eighteen months after the effective date of such Exchange Registration Statement, an earnings statement of the Company and its subsidiaries complying with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158 thereunder).

     (d)  In connection with the Company’s obligations with respect to the Shelf Registration, if applicable, the Company shall, as soon as practicable (or as otherwise specified):

       (i) prepare and file with the Commission, as soon as practicable but in any case within the time periods specified in Section 2(b), a Shelf Registration Statement on any form that may be utilized by the Company and that shall register all of the Registrable Securities for resale by the holders thereof in accordance with such method or methods of disposition as may be specified by such of the holders as, from time to time, may be Electing Holders and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to become effective as soon as practicable but in any case within the time periods specified in Section 2(b);
 
       (ii) not less than 20 calendar days prior to the Effective Time of the Shelf Registration Statement, mail the Notice and Questionnaire to the holders of Registrable Securities; no holder shall be entitled to be named as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement as of the Effective Time, and no holder shall be entitled to use the prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of Registrable Securities at any time, unless such holder has returned a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company by the deadline for response set forth therein and the Company has received such response; provided, however, holders of Registrable Securities shall have at least 17 calendar days from the date on which the Notice and Questionnaire is first mailed to such holders to return a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company, and provided further that if such Notice and Questionnaire is delivered during a Deferral Period, the Company shall so inform the holder delivering such Notice and Questionnaire and shall take the actions set forth in clause (y) of Section 2(b) and the immediately following sentence thereof upon expiration of the Deferral Period in accordance with Section 3(h);
 
       (iii) after the Effective Time of the Shelf Registration Statement, upon the request of any holder of Registrable Securities that is not then an Electing Holder, promptly send a Notice and Questionnaire to such holder; provided that the Company shall not be required to take any action to name such holder as a selling

8


 

  securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement or to enable such holder to use the prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of Registrable Securities until three Business days after the Company has received a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire from such holder, and provided further that if such Notice and Questionnaire is delivered during a Deferral Period, the Company shall so inform the holder delivering such Notice and Questionnaire and shall take the actions set forth in clause (y) of Section 2(b) and the immediately following sentence thereof upon expiration of the Deferral Period in accordance with Section 3(h);
 
       (iv) as soon as reasonably practicable prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements to such Shelf Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein as may be necessary to effect and maintain the effectiveness of such Shelf Registration Statement for the period specified in Section 2(b) hereof and as may be required by the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and the instructions applicable to the form of such Shelf Registration Statement, and furnish to the Electing Holders copies of any such supplement or amendment simultaneously with or prior to its being used or filed with the Commission;
 
       (v) comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all of the Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the Electing Holders provided for in such Shelf Registration Statement;
 
       (vi) provide (A) the Electing Holders, (B) the underwriters (which term, for purposes of this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, shall include a person deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of Section 2(a) (11) of the Securities Act), if any, thereof, (C) any sales or placement agent therefor, (D) counsel for any such underwriter or agent and (E) not more than one counsel for all the Electing Holders, the opportunity to participate in the preparation of such Shelf Registration Statement, each prospectus included therein or filed with the Commission and each amendment or supplement thereto;
 
       (vii) for a reasonable period prior to the filing of such Shelf Registration Statement, and throughout the period specified in Section 2(b), make available at reasonable times at the Company’s principal place of business or such other reasonable place for inspection by the persons referred to in Section 3(d)(vi) who shall certify to the Company that they have a current intention to sell the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration, such relevant financial and other information and books and records of the Company, and cause the officers, employees, counsel and independent certified public accountants of the Company to respond to such inquiries, as shall be reasonably necessary, in the judgment of the respective counsel referred to in such Section, to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act; provided, however, that each such party shall be required to maintain in confidence and not to disclose to any other person any information or records reasonably designated by the Company as being confidential, until such time as (A) such information becomes a matter of public record (whether by virtue of its inclusion in such registration statement or otherwise), or (B) such person shall be required so to disclose such information pursuant to a subpoena or order of any court or other governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the matter (subject to the requirements of such order, and only after

9


 

  such person shall have given the Company prompt prior written notice of such requirement), or (C) such information is required to be set forth in such Shelf Registration Statement or the prospectus included therein or in an amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement or an amendment or supplement to such prospectus in order that such Shelf Registration Statement, prospectus, amendment or supplement, as the case may be, complies with applicable requirements of the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the Commission and does not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing;
 
       (viii) promptly notify each of the Electing Holders, any sales or placement agent therefor and any underwriter thereof (which notification may be made through any managing underwriter that is a representative of such underwriter for such purpose) and confirm such advice in writing, (A) when such Shelf Registration Statement or the prospectus included therein or any prospectus amendment or supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to such Shelf Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective, (B) of any comments by the Commission and by the blue sky or securities commissioner or regulator of any state with respect thereto or any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to such Shelf Registration Statement or prospectus or for additional information, (C) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of such Shelf Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for that purpose, (D) if at any time the representations and warranties of the Company contemplated by Section 3(d)(xvii) or Section 5 cease to be true and correct in all material respects, (E) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, or (F) of the happening of any event or the existence of any fact that requires the Company to make changes in the Shelf Registration Statement, prospectus, prospectus amendment or supplement or post-effective amendment in order that the Shelf Registration Statement or the prospectus, prospectus amendment or supplement or post-effective amendment does not contain an untrue statement of a material fact nor omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of the prospectus, prospectus amendment or supplement or post-effective amendment, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading;
 
       (ix) use its reasonable best efforts to obtain (a) the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement or (b) any post-effective amendment to such registration statement at the earliest practicable date;
 
       (x) if requested by any managing underwriter or underwriters, any placement or sales agent or any Electing Holder, promptly incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as is required by the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and as such managing underwriter or underwriters, such agent or such Electing Holder specifies should be included therein relating to the terms of the sale of such Registrable Securities, including information with respect to the principal amount of Registrable Securities being sold by such Electing Holder or agent or to any underwriters, the name and description of

10


 

  such Electing Holder, agent or underwriter, the offering price of such Registrable Securities and any discount, commission or other compensation payable in respect thereof, the purchase price being paid therefor by such underwriters and with respect to any other terms of the offering of the Registrable Securities to be sold by such Electing Holder or agent or to such underwriters; and make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment promptly after notification of the matters to be incorporated in such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;
 
       (xi) furnish to each Electing Holder, each placement or sales agent, if any, therefor, each underwriter, if any, thereof and the respective counsel referred to in Section 3(d)(vi) an executed copy (or, in the case of an Electing Holder, a conformed copy) of such Shelf Registration Statement, each such amendment and supplement thereto (in each case including all exhibits thereto (in the case of an Electing Holder of Registrable Securities, upon request) and documents incorporated by reference therein) and such number of copies of such Shelf Registration Statement (excluding exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein unless specifically so requested by such Electing Holder, agent or underwriter, as the case may be) and of the prospectus included in such Shelf Registration Statement (including each preliminary prospectus and any summary prospectus), in conformity in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and such other documents, as such Electing Holder, agent, if any, and underwriter, if any, may reasonably request in order to facilitate the offering and disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Electing Holder, offered or sold by such agent or underwritten by such underwriter and to permit such Electing Holder, agent and underwriter to satisfy the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act; and the Company hereby consents (except during such periods that a Deferral Notice remains outstanding and has not been revoked) to the use of such prospectus (including such preliminary and summary prospectus) and any amendment or supplement thereto by each such Electing Holder and by any such agent and underwriter, in each case in the form most recently provided to such person by the Company, in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by the prospectus (including such preliminary and summary prospectus) or any supplement or amendment thereto;
 
       (xii) use reasonable best efforts to (A) register or qualify the Registrable Securities to be included in such Shelf Registration Statement under such securities laws or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any Electing Holder and each placement or sales agent, if any, therefor and underwriter, if any, thereof shall reasonably request, (B) keep such registrations or qualifications in effect and comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of offers, sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions during the period the Shelf Registration is required to remain effective under Section 2(b) above and for so long as may be necessary to enable any such Electing Holder, agent or underwriter to complete its distribution of Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement and (C) take any and all other actions as may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable each such Electing Holder, agent, if any, and underwriter, if any, to consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of such Registrable Securities; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required for any such purpose to (1) qualify as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction wherein it would not otherwise be required to qualify

11


 

  but for the requirements of this Section 3(d)(xii), (2) consent to general service of process in any such jurisdiction or (3) make any changes to its certificate of incorporation or by-laws or any agreement between it and its stockholders;
 
       (xiii) use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the consent or approval of each governmental agency or authority, whether federal, state or local, which may be required to effect the Shelf Registration or the offering or sale in connection therewith or to enable the selling holder or holders to offer, or to consummate the disposition of, their Registrable Securities;
 
       (xiv) Unless any Registrable Securities shall be in book-entry only form, cooperate with the Electing Holders and the managing underwriters, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold, which certificates, if so required by any securities exchange upon which any Registrable Securities are listed, shall be penned, lithographed or engraved, or produced by any combination of such methods, on steel engraved borders, and which certificates shall not bear any restrictive legends; and, in the case of an underwritten offering, enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the managing underwriters may request at least two business days prior to any sale of the Registrable Securities;
 
       (xv) provide a CUSIP number for all Registrable Securities, not later than the applicable Effective Time;
 
       (xvi) enter into such customary agreements (including if requested one or more underwriting agreements, engagement letters, agency agreements, “best efforts” underwriting agreements or similar agreements) as appropriate, including customary provisions relating to indemnification and contribution, and take such other actions in connection therewith as any Electing Holders aggregating at least 20% in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities at the time outstanding shall reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;
 
       (xvii) whether or not an agreement of the type referred to in Section 3(d)(xvi) hereof is entered into and whether or not any portion of the offering contemplated by the Shelf Registration is an underwritten offering or is made through a placement or sales agent or any other entity, (A) make such representations and warranties to the Electing Holders and the placement or sales agent, if any, therefor and the underwriters, if any, thereof in form, substance and scope as are customarily made in connection with an offering of debt securities pursuant to any appropriate agreement or to a registration statement filed on the form applicable to the Shelf Registration; (B) obtain an opinion of counsel to the Company in customary form and covering such matters, of the type customarily covered by such an opinion, as the managing underwriters, if any, or as any Electing Holders of at least 20% in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities at the time outstanding may reasonably request, addressed to such Electing Holder or Electing Holders and the placement or sales agent, if any, therefor and the underwriters, if any, thereof and dated the effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement (and if such Shelf Registration Statement contemplates an underwritten offering of a part or all of the Registrable Securities, dated the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement relating thereto) (it being agreed that the matters to be covered by such opinion shall include

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the due incorporation or organization and good standing of the Company and its subsidiaries; the qualification of the Company to transact business as foreign corporations; the due authorization, execution and delivery of the relevant agreement of the type referred to in Section 3(d)(xvi) hereof; the due authorization and execution, and the validity and enforceability, of the Securities; the absence of material legal or governmental proceedings involving the Company; the consummation of the transactions will not conflict with or result in (i) a breach or violation of the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation or By-laws of the Company, (ii) a material breach of any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties, or (iii) a material breach of the terms of, or a default under, agreements binding upon the Company; the absence of governmental approvals required to be obtained in connection with the Shelf Registration, the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities, this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement or any agreement of the type referred to in Section 3(d) (xvi) hereof, except the registration under the Securities Act contemplated hereby, qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, and such approvals as may be required under state securities or blue sky laws; the material compliance as to form of such Shelf Registration Statement and any documents incorporated by reference therein and of the Indenture with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, respectively; and, as of the date of the opinion and of the Shelf Registration Statement or most recent post-effective amendment thereto, as the case may be, the absence from such Shelf Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein, as then amended or supplemented, and from the documents incorporated by reference therein (in each case other than the financial statements and other financial information and statistical data contained therein) of an untrue statement of a material fact or the omission to state therein a material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in the case of such documents, in the light of the circumstances existing at the time that such documents were filed with the Commission under the Exchange Act)); (C) obtain a “comfort” letter or letters from the independent certified public accountants of the Company addressed to the selling Electing Holders, the placement or sales agent, if any, therefor or the underwriters, if any, thereof, dated (i) the effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement and (ii) the effective date of any prospectus supplement to the prospectus included in such Shelf Registration Statement or post-effective amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement which includes unaudited or audited financial statements as of a date or for a period subsequent to that of the latest such statements included in such prospectus (and, if such Shelf Registration Statement contemplates an underwritten offering pursuant to any prospectus supplement to the prospectus included in such Shelf Registration Statement or post-effective amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement which includes unaudited or audited financial statements as of a date or for a period subsequent to that of the latest such statements included in such prospectus, dated the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement relating thereto), such letter or letters to be in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by letters of such type; (D) deliver such documents and certificates, including officers’ certificates, as may be reasonably requested by any Electing Holders of at least 20% in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities at the time outstanding or the placement or sales agent, if any, therefore and the managing underwriters, if any, thereof to evidence the accuracy of the representations and warranties made pursuant to clause (A) above or those

13


 

contained in Section 5(a) hereof and the compliance with or satisfaction of any agreements or conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other agreement entered into by the Company; and (E) undertake such obligations relating to expense reimbursement, indemnification and contribution as are provided in Section 6 hereof;

     (xviii) notify in writing each holder of Registrable Securities of any proposal by the Company to amend or waive any provision of this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement pursuant to Section 9(h) hereof and of any amendment or waiver effected pursuant thereto, each of which notices shall contain the text of the amendment or waiver proposed or effected, as the case may be;

     (xix) in the event that any broker-dealer registered under the Exchange Act shall underwrite any Registrable Securities or participate as a member of an underwriting syndicate or selling group or “assist in the distribution” (within the meaning of the Conduct Rules (the Conduct Rules) of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (“NASD”) or any successor thereto, as amended from time to time) thereof, whether as a holder of such Registrable Securities or as an underwriter, a placement or sales agent or a broker or dealer in respect thereof, or otherwise, assist such broker-dealer in complying with the requirements of such Conduct Rules, including by (A) if such Conduct Rules shall so require, engaging a “qualified independent underwriter” (as defined in such Conduct Rules) to participate in the preparation of the Shelf Registration Statement relating to such Registrable Securities, to exercise usual standards of due diligence in respect thereto and, if any portion of the offering contemplated by such Shelf Registration Statement is an underwritten offering or is made through a placement or sales agent, to recommend the yield of such Registrable Securities, (B) indemnifying any such qualified independent underwriter to the extent of the indemnification of underwriters provided in Section 6 hereof (or to such other customary extent as may be requested by such underwriter), and (C) providing such information to such broker-dealer as may be required in order for such broker-dealer to comply with the requirements of the Conduct Rules; and

     (xx) comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable but in any event not later than eighteen months after the effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement, an earning statement of the Company and its subsidiaries complying with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158 thereunder).

     (e) In the event that the Company would be required, pursuant to Section 3(d)(viii)(F) above, to notify the Electing Holders, the placement or sales agent, if any, therefor and the managing underwriters, if any, thereof, the Company shall as promptly as practicable prepare and furnish to each of the Electing Holders, to each placement or sales agent, if any, and to each such underwriter, if any, a reasonable number of copies of a prospectus supplemented or amended so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of Registrable Securities, such prospectus shall conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and shall not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing. Each Electing Holder agrees that upon receipt of any notice from the Company pursuant to Section

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3(d)(viii)(F) hereof, such Electing Holder shall forthwith discontinue the disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement applicable to such Registrable Securities until such Electing Holder shall have received copies of such amended or supplemented prospectus, and if so directed by the Company, such Electing Holder shall deliver to the Company (at the Company’s expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies, then in such Electing Holder’s possession of the prospectus covering such Registrable Securities at the time of receipt of such notice.

     (f) In the event of a Shelf Registration, in addition to the information required to be provided by each Electing Holder in its Notice and Questionnaire, the Company may require such Electing Holder to furnish to the Company such additional information regarding such Electing Holder and such Electing Holder’s intended method of distribution of Registrable Securities as may be required in order to comply with the Securities Act. Each such Electing Holder agrees to notify the Company as promptly as practicable of any inaccuracy or change in information previously furnished by such Electing Holder to the Company or of the occurrence of any event in either case as a result of which any prospectus relating to such Shelf Registration contains or would contain an untrue statement of a material fact regarding such Electing Holder or such Electing Holder’s intended method of disposition of such Registrable Securities or omits to state any material fact regarding such Electing Holder or such Electing Holder’s intended method of disposition of such Registrable Securities required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing, and promptly to furnish to the Company any additional information required to correct and update any previously furnished information or required so that such prospectus shall not contain, with respect to such Electing Holder or the disposition of such Registrable Securities, an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing.

     (g) Until the expiration of two years after the Closing Date, the Company will not, and will not permit any of its “affiliates” (as defined in Rule 144) to, resell any of the Securities that have been reacquired by any of them except pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act.

     (h) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, including without limitation Sections 2 and 3 hereof, if at any time prior to the expiration of the Effectiveness Period, outside counsel to the Company (which counsel shall be experienced in securities laws matters) has determined in good faith that it is reasonable to conclude that the filing of the Shelf Registration Statement or the compliance by the Company with its disclosure obligations in connection with such registration statement may require the disclosure of information which the Board of Directors of the Company has identified as material and which the Board of Directors has determined that the Company has a bona fide business purpose for preserving as confidential, then the Company may delay the filing or the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement (if not then filed or effective, as applicable) and shall not be required to maintain the effectiveness thereof or amend or supplement the Exchange Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement for a period (a “Deferral Period”) expiring three business days after the earlier to occur of (A) the date on which such material information is disclosed to the public or ceases to be material or the Company is able to so comply with its disclosure obligations and Commission requirements or (B) 45 days after the Company notifies the Purchasers and Electing Holders of such determination. There shall not be more than four Deferral Periods during the Effectiveness

15


 

Period, and there shall not be more than two Deferral Periods during any contiguous 135 day period.

     (i) The Company will give prompt written notice, in such manner prescribed by Section 9(c) hereof, to each Purchaser and Electing Holder of each Deferral Period. Such notice shall be given as soon as practicable after the Board of Directors makes the determination referenced in Section 3(h). Each holder, by his acceptance of any Registrable Securities, agrees that (i) upon receipt of such notice of a Deferral Period it will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, and (ii) will not deliver any prospectus forming a part of the Shelf Registration Statement in connection with any sale of Registrable Securities, as applicable until such holder’s receipt of copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus provided for in clause (e) above, or until it is advised in writing by the Company that the prospectus forming part of the Shelf Registration Statement may be used, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference in such prospectus.

     (j) In the event the Company enters into a Deferral Period, the Company will have no liability for failing to perform any obligations it may have pursuant to Sections 2 and 3 of this Agreement during such Deferral Period; provided, however, that nothing in Section 3(h) shall prevent the provisions of Section 2(c) of this Agreement from being operative and, if Special Interest is accruing at the commencement of a Deferral Period or a Registration Default occurs during a Deferral Period, Special Interest shall continue to accrue until the Registration Default giving rise to the accrual of Special Interest shall have been cured.

     4. Registration Expenses.

     The Company agrees to bear and to pay or cause to be paid promptly all expenses incident to the Company’s performance of or compliance with this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, including (a) all Commission and any NASD registration, filing and review fees and expenses including reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel for the placement or sales agent or underwriters in connection with such registration, filing and review, (b) all fees and expenses in connection with the qualification of the Securities for offering and sale under the State securities and blue sky laws referred to in Section 3(d)(xii) hereof and determination of their eligibility for investment under the laws of such jurisdictions as any managing underwriters or the Electing Holders may designate, including reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel for the Electing Holders or underwriters in connection with such qualification and determination, (c) all expenses relating to the preparation, printing, production, distribution and reproduction of each registration statement required to be filed hereunder, each prospectus included therein or prepared for distribution pursuant hereto, each amendment or supplement to the foregoing, the expenses of preparing the Securities for delivery and the expenses of printing or producing any underwriting agreements, agreements among underwriters, selling agreements and blue sky or legal investment memoranda and all other documents in connection with the offering, sale or delivery of Securities to be disposed of (including certificates representing the Securities), (d) reasonable messenger, telephone and delivery expenses relating to the offering, sale or delivery of Securities and the preparation of documents referred in clause (c) above, (e) fees and expenses of the Trustee under the Indenture, any agent of the Trustee and the reasonable fees of one counsel for the Trustee, (f) internal expenses (including all salaries and expenses of the Company’s officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), (g) fees, disbursements and expenses of counsel and independent certified public accountants of the Company (including the expenses of any

16


 

opinions or “comfort” letters required by or incident to such performance and compliance), (h) fees, disbursements and expenses of any “qualified independent underwriter” engaged pursuant to Section 3(d)(xix) hereof, (i) fees, disbursements and expenses of one counsel for the Electing Holders retained in connection with a Shelf Registration, as selected by the Electing Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities held by Electing Holders (which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company), (j) any fees charged by securities rating services for rating the Securities, and (k) fees, expenses and disbursements of any other persons, including special experts, retained by the Company in connection with such registration (collectively, the “Registration Expenses”). To the extent that any Registration Expenses are incurred, assumed or paid by any holder of Registrable Securities or any placement or sales agent therefor or underwriter thereof, the Company shall reimburse such person for the full amount of the Registration Expenses so incurred, assumed or paid promptly after receipt of a request therefor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the holders of the Registrable Securities being registered shall pay all agency fees and commissions and underwriting discounts and commissions attributable to the sale of such Registrable Securities and the fees and disbursements of any counsel or other advisors or experts retained by such holders (severally or jointly), other than the counsel and experts specifically referred to above.

     5. Representations and Warranties.

     The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each Purchaser and each of the holders from time to time of Registrable Securities that:

     (a) Each registration statement covering Registrable Securities and each prospectus (including any preliminary or summary prospectus) contained therein or furnished pursuant to Section 3(c), Section 3(d) or Section 3(e) hereof and any further amendments or supplements to any such registration statement or prospectus, when it becomes effective or is filed with the Commission, as the case may be, and, in the case of an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities, at the time of the closing under the underwriting agreement relating thereto, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; and at all times subsequent to the Effective Time when a prospectus would be required to be delivered under the Securities Act, other than from (i) such time as a notice has been given to holders of Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 3(d)(viii)(F) or Section 3(c)(iii)(F) hereof until (ii) such time as the Company furnishes an amended or supplemented prospectus pursuant to Section 3(e) or Section 3(c)(iv) hereof, each such registration statement, and each prospectus (including any summary prospectus) contained therein or furnished pursuant to Section 3(d) or Section 3(c) hereof, as then amended or supplemented, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances then existing; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by a holder of Registrable Securities expressly for use therein.

     (b) Any documents incorporated by reference in any prospectus referred to in Section 5(a) hereof, when they become or became effective or are or were filed with the

17


 

Commission, as the case may be, will conform or conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and none of such documents will contain or contained an untrue statement of a material fact or will omit or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by a holder of Registrable Securities expressly for use therein.

     (c) The compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated will not conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company is subject, nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the certificate of incorporation, as amended, or the by-laws of the Company or any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties; and no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or body is required for the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, except the registration under the Securities Act of the Securities and qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, and except for such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required under State securities or blue sky laws in connection with the offering and distribution of the Securities.

     (d) This Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

     6. Indemnification.

     (a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each of the holders of Registrable Securities included in an Exchange Registration Statement, each of the Electing Holders of Registrable Securities included in a Shelf Registration Statement and each person who participates as a placement agent or as an underwriter in any offering or sale of such Registrable Securities against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such holder, agent or underwriter may become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Exchange Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, under which such Registrable Securities were registered under the Securities Act, or any preliminary, final or summary prospectus contained therein or furnished by the Company to any such holder, Electing Holder, agent or underwriter, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse such holder, such Electing Holder, such agent and such underwriter for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable to any such person in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue

18


 

statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such registration statement, or preliminary, final or summary prospectus, or amendment or supplement thereto, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such person expressly for use therein; provided further, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense arising from an offer or sale of Registrable Securities during a Deferral Period if the Electing Holders received a Deferral Notice.

     (b) Indemnification by the Holders and any Agents and Underwriters. The Company may require, as a condition to including any Registrable Securities in any registration statement filed pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof and to entering into any underwriting agreement with respect thereto, that the Company shall have received an undertaking reasonably satisfactory to it from the Electing Holder of such Registrable Securities and from each underwriter named in any such underwriting agreement, severally and not jointly, to (i) indemnify and hold harmless the Company, and all other holders of Registrable Securities, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to that the Company or such other holders of Registrable Securities may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in such registration statement, or any preliminary, final or summary prospectus contained therein or furnished by the Company to any such Electing Holder, agent or underwriter, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Electing Holder or underwriter expressly for use therein, and (ii) reimburse the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that no such Electing Holder shall be required to undertake liability to any person under this Section 6(b) for any amounts in excess of the dollar amount of the proceeds to be received by such Electing Holder from the sale of such Electing Holder’s Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration.

     (c) Notices of Claims, Etc. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above of written notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party pursuant to the indemnification provisions of or contemplated by this Section 6, notify such indemnifying party in writing of the commencement of such action; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under the indemnification provisions of or contemplated by Section 6(a) or 6(b) hereof. In case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify an indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, such indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, such indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party for any legal expenses of other counsel or any other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such indemnified party, in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable

19


 

costs of investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without the written consent of the indemnified party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability arising out of such action or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

     (d) Contribution. If for any reason the indemnification provisions contemplated by Section 6(a) or Section 6(b) are unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of such indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by such indemnifying party or by such indemnified party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 6(d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the holders or any agents or underwriters or all of them were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 6(d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above shall be deemed to include any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6(d), no holder shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the dollar amount of the proceeds received by such holder from the sale of any Registrable Securities (after deducting any fees, discounts and commissions applicable thereto) exceeds the amount of any damages that such holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission, and no underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Registrable Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The holders’ and any underwriters’ obligations in this Section 6(d) to contribute shall be several in proportion to the principal amount of Registrable Securities registered or underwritten, as the case may be, by them and not joint.

     (e) The obligations of the Company under this Section 6 shall be in addition to any liability that the Company may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer, director and partner of each holder, agent and underwriter and

20


 

each person, if any, who controls any holder, agent or underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act; and the obligations of the holders and any agents or underwriters contemplated by this Section 6 shall be in addition to any liability that the respective holder, agent or underwriter may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer and director of the Company (including any person who, with his consent, is named in any registration statement as about to become a director of the Company) and to each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act.

     7. Underwritten Offerings.

     (a) Selection of Underwriters. If any of the Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration are to be sold pursuant to an underwritten offering, the managing underwriter or underwriters thereof shall be designated by Electing Holders holding at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities to be included in such offering, provided that such designated managing underwriter or underwriters is or are reasonably acceptable to the Company.

     (b) Participation by Holders. Each holder of Registrable Securities hereby agrees with each other such holder that no such holder may participate in any underwritten offering hereunder unless such holder (i) agrees to sell such holder’s Registrable Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

     8. Rule 144.

     The Company covenants to the holders of Registrable Securities that to the extent it shall be required to do so under the Exchange Act, the Company shall timely file the reports required to be filed by it under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act (including the reports under Section 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act referred to in subparagraph (c)(1) of Rule 144 adopted by the Commission under the Securities Act) and the rules and regulations adopted by the Commission thereunder, and shall take such further action as any holder of Registrable Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such holder to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitations of the exemption provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar or successor rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission. Upon the request of any holder of Registrable Securities in connection with that holder’s sale pursuant to Rule 144, the Company shall deliver to such holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements.

     9. Miscellaneous

     (a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company represents, warrants, covenants and agrees that it has not granted, and shall not grant, registration rights with respect to Registrable Securities or any other securities that would be inconsistent with the terms contained in this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement.

     (b) Specific Performance. The parties hereto acknowledge that there would be no adequate remedy at law if the Company fails to perform any of its obligations hereunder and that the Purchasers and the holders from time to time of the Registrable Securities may be

21


 

irreparably harmed by any such failure, and accordingly agree that the Purchasers and such holders, in addition to any other remedy to which they may be entitled at law or in equity, shall be entitled to compel specific performance of the obligations of the Company under this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, in any court of the United States or any State thereof having jurisdiction.

     (c) Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands, waivers and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered by hand, if delivered personally or by courier, or three days after being deposited in the mail (registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested) as follows: If to the Company, to it at 105 Corporate Center Blvd., Greensboro, North Carolina 27408, Attn: Secretary, and if to a holder, to the address of such holder set forth in the security register or other records of the Company, or to such other address as the Company or any such holder may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.

     (d) Parties in Interest. All the terms and provisions of this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement shall be binding upon, shall inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the parties hereto and the holders from time to time of the Registrable Securities and the respective successors and assigns of the parties hereto and such holders. In the event that any transferee of any holder of Registrable Securities shall acquire Registrable Securities, in any manner, whether by gift, bequest, purchase, operation of law or otherwise, such transferee shall, without any further writing or action of any kind, be deemed a beneficiary hereof for all purposes and such Registrable Securities shall be held subject to all of the terms of this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, and by taking and holding such Registrable Securities such transferee shall be entitled to receive the benefits of, and be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by all of the applicable terms and provisions of this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement. If the Company shall so request, any such successor, assign or transferee shall agree in writing to acquire and hold the Registrable Securities subject to all of the applicable terms hereof.

     (e) Survival. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and each other provision set forth in this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement or made pursuant hereto shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation (or statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf of any holder of Registrable Securities, any director, officer or partner of such holder, any agent or underwriter or any director, officer or partner thereof, or any controlling person of any of the foregoing, and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and the transfer and registration of Registrable Securities by such holder and the consummation of an Exchange Offer.

     (f) Governing Law. This Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

     (g) Headings. The descriptive headings of the several Sections and paragraphs of this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement are inserted for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement.

     (h) Entire Agreement; Amendments. This Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement and the other writings referred to herein (including the Indenture and the form of Securities)

22


 

or delivered pursuant hereto which form a part hereof contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to its subject matter. This Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to its subject matter. This Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement may be amended and the observance of any term of this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively) only by a written instrument duly executed by the Company and the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Registrable Securities at the time outstanding. Each holder of any Registrable Securities at the time or thereafter outstanding shall be bound by any amendment or waiver effected pursuant to this Section 9(h), whether or not any notice, writing or marking indicating such amendment or waiver appears on such Registrable Securities or is delivered to such holder.

     (i) Inspection. For so long as this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement shall be in effect, this Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement and a complete list of the names and addresses of all the holders of Registrable Securities shall be made available for inspection and copying on any business day by any holder of Registrable Securities for proper purposes only (which shall include any purpose related to the rights of the holders of Registrable Securities under the Securities, the Indenture and this Agreement) at the offices of the Company at the address thereof set forth in Section 9(c) above and at the office of the Security Registrar under the Indenture.

     (j) Counterparts. This agreement may be executed by the parties in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such respective counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

23


 

     If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us eight counterparts hereof, and upon the acceptance hereof by you, on behalf of each of the Purchasers, this letter and such acceptance hereof shall constitute a binding agreement between each of the Purchasers and the Company. It is understood that your acceptance of this letter on behalf of each of the Purchasers is pursuant to the authority set forth in a form of Agreement among Purchasers, the form of which shall be submitted to the Company for examination upon request, but without warranty on your part as to the authority of the signers thereof.

         
    Very truly yours,
         
    V.F. Corporation
         
    By:    
       
        Name:
        Title:
         
    By:    
       
        Name:
        Title:
         
Accepted as of the date hereof:    
Banc of America Securities LLC    
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.    
         
By:        
   
   
    (Citigroup Global Markets Inc.)    

 


 

Exhibit A

V.F. Corporation

INSTRUCTION TO DTC PARTICIPANTS

(Date of Mailing)

URGENT — IMMEDIATE ATTENTION REQUESTED

DEADLINE FOR RESPONSE: [DATE]

The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) has identified you as a DTC Participant through which beneficial interests in the V.F. Corporation (the “Company”) $300,000,000 6% Notes due 2033 (the “Securities”) are held.

The Company is in the process of registering the Securities under the Securities Act of 1933 for resale by the beneficial owners thereof. In order to have their Securities included in the registration statement, beneficial owners must complete and return the enclosed Notice of Registration Statement and Selling Securityholder Questionnaire.

It is important that beneficial owners of the Securities receive a copy of the enclosed materials as soon as possible as their rights to have the Securities included in the registration statement depend upon their returning the Notice and Questionnaire by [Deadline For Response]. Please forward a copy of the enclosed documents to each beneficial owner that holds interests in the Securities through you. If you require more copies of the enclosed materials or have any questions pertaining to this matter, please contact V.F. Corporation.

A-1


 

V.F. Corporation

Notice of Registration Statement
and
Selling Securityholder Questionnaire

(Date)

Reference is hereby made to the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement (the “Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement”) between V.F. Corporation (the “Company”) and the Purchasers named therein. Pursuant to the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, the Company has filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-3 (the “Shelf Registration Statement”) for the registration and resale under Rule 415 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of the Company’s $300,000,000 6% Notes due 2033 (the “Securities”). A copy of the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement is attached hereto. All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement.

Each beneficial owner of Registrable Securities (as defined below) is entitled to have the Registrable Securities beneficially owned by it included in the Shelf Registration Statement. In order to have Registrable Securities included in the Shelf Registration Statement, this Notice of Registration Statement and Selling Securityholder Questionnaire (“Notice and Questionnaire”) must be completed, executed and delivered to the Company’s counsel at the address set forth herein for receipt ON OR BEFORE [Deadline for Response]. Beneficial owners of Registrable Securities who do not complete, execute and return this Notice and Questionnaire by such date (i) will not be named as selling securityholders in the Shelf Registration Statement and (ii) may not use the Prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of Registrable Securities.

Certain legal consequences arise from being named as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement and related Prospectus. Accordingly, holders and beneficial owners of Registrable Securities are advised to consult their own securities law counsel regarding the consequences of being named or not being named as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement and related Prospectus.

The term “Registrable Securities” is defined in the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement.

A-2


 

ELECTION

The undersigned holder (the “Selling Securityholder”) of Registrable Securities hereby elects to include in the Shelf Registration Statement the Registrable Securities beneficially owned by it and listed below in Item (3). The undersigned, by signing and returning this Notice and Questionnaire, agrees to be bound with respect to such Registrable Securities by the terms and conditions of this Notice and Questionnaire and the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, including, without limitation, Section 6 of the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, as if the undersigned Selling Securityholder were an original party thereto.

Upon any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, the Selling Securityholder will be required to deliver to the Company and Security Registrar the Notice of Transfer set forth in Appendix A to the Prospectus and as Exhibit B to the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement.

The Selling Securityholder hereby provides the following information to the Company and represents and warrants that such information is accurate and complete:

A-3


 

QUESTIONNAIRE

(1)   (a) Full Legal Name of Selling Securityholder:

  (b)   Full Legal Name of Registered Holder (if not the same as in (a) above) of Registrable Securities Listed in Item (3) below:

  (c)   Full Legal Name of DTC Participant (if applicable and if not the same as (b) above) Through Which Registrable Securities Listed in Item (3) below are Held:

(2)   Address for Notices to Selling Securityholder:

         

   

   

   
         
Telephone:        
   
   
Fax:        
   
   
Contact Person:        
   
   

(3)   Beneficial Ownership of Securities:

    Except as set forth below in this Item (3), the undersigned does not beneficially own any Securities.

  (a)   Principal amount of Registrable Securities beneficially owned:

   

    CUSIP No(s). of such Registrable Securities:

   

  (b)   Principal amount of Securities other than Registrable Securities beneficially owned:

   

    CUSIP No(s). of such other Securities:

   

  (c)   Principal amount of Registrable Securities which the undersigned wishes to be included in the Shelf Registration Statement:

   

    CUSIP No(s). of such Registrable Securities to be included in the Shelf Registration Statement:

   

(4)   Beneficial Ownership of Other Securities of the Company:

    Except as set forth below in this Item (4), the undersigned Selling Securityholder is not the beneficial or registered owner of any other securities of the Company, other than the Securities listed above in Item (3).

    State any exceptions here:

A-4


 

(5)   Relationships with the Company:
 
    Except as set forth below, neither the Selling Securityholder nor any of its affiliates, officers, directors or principal equity holders (5% or more) has held any position or office or has had any other material relationship with the Company (or its predecessors or affiliates) during the past three years.
 
    State any exceptions here:
 
(6)   Plan of Distribution:
 
    Except as set forth below, the undersigned Selling Securityholder intends to distribute the Registrable Securities listed above in Item (3) only as follows (if at all): Such Registrable Securities may be sold from time to time directly by the undersigned Selling Securityholder or, alternatively, through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents . Such Registrable Securities may be sold in one or more transactions at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices. Such sales may be effected in transactions (which may involve crosses or block transactions) (i) on any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the Registered Securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale, (ii) in the over-the-counter market, (iii) in transactions otherwise than on such exchanges or services or in the over-the-counter market, or (iv) through the writing of options. In connection with sales of the Registrable Securities or otherwise, the Selling Securityholder may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers, which may in turn engage in short sales of the Registrable Securities in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The Selling Securityholder may also sell Registrable Securities short and deliver Registrable Securities to close out such short positions, or loan or pledge Registrable Securities to broker-dealers that in turn may sell such securities.
 
    State any exceptions here:

By signing below, the Selling Securityholder acknowledges that it understands its obligation to comply, and agrees that it will comply, with the provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, particularly Regulation M.

In the event that the Selling Securityholder transfers all or any portion of the Registrable Securities listed in Item (3) above after the date on which such information is provided to the Company, the Selling Securityholder agrees to notify the transferee(s) at the time of the transfer of its rights and obligations under this Notice and Questionnaire and the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement.

By signing below, the Selling Securityholder consents to the disclosure of the information contained herein in its answers to Items (1) through (6) above and the inclusion of such information in the Shelf Registration Statement and related Prospectus. The Selling Securityholder understands that such information will be relied upon by the Company in connection with the preparation of the Shelf Registration Statement and related Prospectus.

A-5


 

In accordance with the Selling Securityholder’s obligation under Section 3(d) of the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement to provide such information as may be required by law for inclusion in the Shelf Registration Statement, the Selling Securityholder agrees to promptly notify the Company of any inaccuracies or changes in the information provided herein which may occur subsequent to the date hereof at any time while the Shelf Registration Statement remains in effect. All notices hereunder and pursuant to the Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement shall be made in writing, by hand-delivery, first-class mail, or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery as follows:

(i)   To the Company:

     
     
   
     
   
     
   
     
   
     
   

(ii)   With a copy to:

     
     
   
     
   
     
   
     
   
     
   

Once this Notice and Questionnaire is executed by the Selling Securityholder and received by the Company’s counsel, the terms of this Notice and Questionnaire, and the representations and warranties contained herein, shall be binding on, shall inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the respective successors, heirs, personal representatives, and assigns of the Company and the Selling Securityholder (with respect to the Registrable Securities beneficially owned by such Selling Securityholder and listed in Item (3) above. This Agreement shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of New York.

A-6


 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused this Notice and Questionnaire to be executed and delivered either in person or by its duly authorized agent.

         
Dated:    
   
   
   
    Selling Securityholder
(Print/type full legal name of beneficial owner of Registrable Securities)
     
    By: 
 

Name:
Title:

PLEASE RETURN THE COMPLETED AND EXECUTED NOTICE AND QUESTIONNAIRE FOR RECEIPT ON OR BEFORE [DEADLINE FOR RESPONSE] TO THE COMPANY’S COUNSEL AT:

       
     
   
     
   
     
   
     
   
     
   

A-7


 

Exhibit B

NOTICE OF TRANSFER PURSUANT TO REGISTRATION STATEMENT

U.S. Bank Trust National Association
V.F. Corporation
c/o U.S. Bank Trust National Association
100 Wall Street Suite 1600
New York, New York 10005

     
Re:   V.F. Corporation (the “Company”)
$300,000,000 6% Notes due 2033

Dear Sirs:

Please be advised that      has transferred $     aggregate principal amount of the above-referenced Notes pursuant to an effective Registration Statement on Form [     ] (File No. 333-     ) filed by the Company.

We hereby certify that the prospectus delivery requirements, if any, of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, have been satisfied and that the above-named beneficial owner of the Notes is named as a “Selling Holder” in the Prospectus dated [date] or in supplements thereto, and that the aggregate principal amount of the Notes transferred are the Notes listed in such Prospectus opposite such owner’s name.

Dated:

         
    Very truly yours,
         
       
        (Name)
         
    By:    
         
       
        (Authorized Signature)

B-1 EX-10 6 w91386exv10.htm REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT, 9-25-2003 exv10

 

Exhibit 10

CREDIT AGREEMENT

by and among

V.F. CORPORATION,
as Borrower,

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and a Lender,

CITIBANK, N.A.,
as Syndication Agent and as a Lender,

WACHOVIA BANK,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
as Documentation Agent and as a Lender,

BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
and
CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.,
as Lead Arrangers and Book Managers,

and

THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO FROM TIME TO TIME

September 25, 2003

 


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

         
        Page
    ARTICLE I    
    DEFINITIONS AND TERMS    
1.1   Definitions   2
1.2   Rules of Interpretation   21
    ARTICLE II    
    THE CREDIT FACILITIES    
2.1   Revolving Loans   23
2.2   Competitive Bid Loans   27
2.3   Utilization of Alternative Currencies   31
2.4   Use of Proceeds   32
2.5   Notes   32
2.6   Swing Line   33
2.7   Increase in Total Revolving Credit Commitment   34
2.8   Letters of Credit   35
    ARTICLE III    
    FUNDING, FEES, AND PAYMENT CONVENTIONS    
3.1   Interest Rate Options   43
3.2   Conversions and Elections of Subsequent Interest Periods   43
3.3   Payment of Interest   44
3.4   Prepayments of Fixed Rate Loans   44
3.5   Manner of Payment   45
3.6   Fees   46
3.7   Payments to Agent for Lenders   46
3.8   Computation of Rates and Fees   46
3.9   Deficiency Advances; Failure to Purchase Participations   46
    ARTICLE IV    
    CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES    
4.1   Increased Cost and Reduced Return   47
4.2   Limitation on Types of Loans   49
4.3   Illegality   49
4.4   Treatment of Affected Loans   50
4.5   Compensation   50
4.6   Taxes   51
4.7   Change of Lending Office   53
4.8   Substitution of Lenders   53

 


 

         
        Page
    ARTICLE V    
    CONDITIONS TO MAKING LOANS    
5.1   Conditions of Closing   54
5.2   Conditions of Revolving Loans, Swing Line Loans and Competitive Bid Loans   55
    ARTICLE VI    
    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES    
6.1   Corporate Existence and Power   56
6.2   Corporate and Governmental Authorization; No Contravention   56
6.3   Material Subsidiaries   56
6.4   Binding Effect   57
6.5   Financial Information   57
6.6   Litigation   57
6.7   Compliance with ERISA   57
6.8   Environmental Matters   57
6.9   Taxes   58
6.10   Margin Stock   58
6.11   Investment Company   58
6.12   Full Disclosure   58
6.13   No Consents, Etc   58
6.14   Tax Shelter Regulations   59
    ARTICLE VII    
    AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS    
7.1   Financial Reports, Etc   59
7.2   Payment of Taxes   61
7.3   Maintenance of Properties; Insurance   61
7.4   Compliance with Laws   62
7.5   Books and Records   62
    ARTICLE VIII    
    NEGATIVE COVENANTS    
8.1   Consolidated Indebtedness to Consolidated Capitalization   62
8.2   Liens   62
8.3   Indebtedness of Subsidiaries   63
8.4   Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets   64
8.5   Change in Control   64
    ARTICLE IX    
    EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND ACCELERATION    
9.1   Events of Default   64
9.2   Agent to Act   67

ii

 


 

           
          Page
9.3   Cumulative Rights     67
9.4   No Waiver     67
9.5   Allocation of Proceeds     67
    ARTICLE X      
    THE AGENT      
10.1   Appointment, Powers, and Immunities     68
10.2   Reliance by Agent     69
10.3   Defaults     69
10.4   Rights as Lender     70
10.5   Indemnification     70
10.6   Non-Reliance on Agent and Other Lenders     70
10.7   Resignation of Agent `     71
10.8   Syndication Agent and Documentation Agent     71
10.9   Agent May File Proofs of Claim     71
    ARTICLE XI      
    MISCELLANEOUS      
11.1   Assignments and Participations     72
11.2   Notices     75
11.3   Right of Set-off; Adjustments     76
11.4   Survival     77
11.5   Expenses     77
11.6   Amendments and Waivers     77
11.7   Counterparts     78
11.8   Termination     78
11.9   Indemnification; Limitation of Liability     79
11.10   Severability     79
11.11   Integration     79
11.12   Agreement Controls     80
11.13   Usury Savings Clause     80
11.14   Payments     80
11.15   Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial     80
11.16   Confidentiality     81

iii

 


 

         
               Page
EXHIBIT A   Applicable Commitment Percentages   A-1
EXHIBIT B   Form of Assignment and Assumption   B-1
EXHIBIT C   Notice of Appointment (or Revocation) of Authorized Representative   C-1
EXHIBIT D-1   Form of Borrowing Notice   D-1
EXHIBIT D-2   Form of Borrowing Notice—Swing Line Loans   D-2-1
EXHIBIT E   Form of Interest Rate Selection Notice   E-1
EXHIBIT F-1   Form of Revolving Note   F-1-1
EXHIBIT F-2   Form of Swing Line Note   F-2-1
EXHIBIT F-3   Form of Competitive Bid Note   F-3-1
EXHIBIT G   Compliance Certificate   H-1
EXHIBIT H   Form of Competitive Bid Quote Request   I-1
EXHIBIT I   Form of Competitive Bid Quote   J-2
EXHIBIT J   Form of Amendment Agreement   K-1
Schedule 2.8(a)   Existing Letters of Credit   S-1

iv

 


 

CREDIT AGREEMENT

     THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of September 25, 2003 (the “Agreement”),is made by and among:

     V.F. CORPORATION, a Pennsylvania corporation having its principal place of business in Greensboro, North Carolina (the “Borrower”),

     BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States, in its capacity as a Lender (“Bank of America”), and each other financial institution executing and delivering a signature page hereto and each other financial institution which may hereafter become a Lender pursuant to Section 2.7 or execute and deliver an instrument of assignment with respect to this Agreement pursuant to Section 11.1 (hereinafter such financial institutions may be referred to individually as a “Lender” or collectively as the “Lenders”),

     BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States, in its capacity as Administrative Agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, and together with any successor agent appointed in accordance with the terms of Section 10.7, the “Agent”) and as Swing Line Lender,

     CITIBANK, N.A., a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States, in its capacity as Syndication Agent and as Lender, and

     WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States, in its capacity as Documentation Agent and as Lender;

W I T N E S S E T H:

     WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Lenders make available to the Borrower a revolving credit facility of up to $750,000,000 (which may be increased to $1,000,000,000), the proceeds of which are to be used for general corporate purposes including, without limitation, acquisitions and repurchases of outstanding shares of its common stock and which shall include a multi-currency credit facility of up to $100,000,000 in readily available currencies, a letter of credit facility of up to $75,000,000, and a swing line facility of up to $50,000,000; and

     WHEREAS, the Lenders are willing to make such revolving credit facilities available to the Borrower upon the terms and conditions set forth herein;

     NOW, THEREFORE, the Borrower, the Lenders and the Agent hereby agree as follows:

1


 

ARTICLE I

Definitions and Terms

     1.1 Definitions. For the purposes of this Agreement, in addition to the definitions set forth above, the following terms shall have the respective meanings set forth below:

       “Absolute Rate” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.2(c)(ii)(C).
 
       “Absolute Rate Loan” means a Competitive Bid Loan the interest rate on which is determined on the basis of the Absolute Rate for such Competitive Bid Loan.
 
       “Acquisition” means the acquisition of an equity interest in another Person (including the purchase of an option, warrant or convertible or similar type security to acquire such a controlling interest at the time it becomes exercisable by the holder thereof), whether by purchase of such equity interest or upon exercise of an option or warrant for, or conversion of securities into such equity interest, made with the intent to hold such equity interest as a strategic investment and not for speculative purposes.
 
       “Advance” means a borrowing under the Revolving Credit Facility consisting of a Base Rate Loan, a Eurodollar Rate Loan or an Offshore Rate Loan.
 
       “Advance Date Exchange Rate” means, with respect to a specified Advance, Loan or Letter of Credit in an Alternative Currency, the Spot Rate of Exchange determined for the date such Advance is originally made or the date such Letter of Credit is originally issued, provided that, if such Advance or Loan is Continued for a subsequent Interest Period pursuant to Section 2.3(c), the Advance Date Exchange Rate with respect to such Loan shall be the Spot Rate of Exchange two Business Days preceding the effective date of the latest Continuation of such Advance or Loan, and the Dollar Equivalent Amount of such Advance or Loan shall be adjusted as set forth in Section 2.3.
 
       “Affiliate” means, as to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with, such Person. A Person shall be deemed to be “controlled by” any other Person if such other Person possesses, directly or indirectly, power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person whether by contract or otherwise.
 
       “Agent-Related Persons” means the Agent (including any successor administrative agent), together with its Affiliates (including, in the case of Bank of America in its capacity as the Agent, BAS, as Arranger), and the officers, directors, employees, agents and attorneys- in- fact of such Persons and Affiliates.
 
       “Alternative Currency” means (a) in the case of Revolving Loans, Japanese yen, British pounds sterling, Swiss francs, the Euro and any other freely available currency notified to the Agent upon not less than five (5) Business Days’ prior written notice that, in the opinion of all Lenders, in their sole discretion, is at such time freely traded in the offshore interbank foreign exchange markets and is freely transferable and convertible

2


 

  into Dollars in the United States currency market, and (b) in the case of Competitive Bid Loans, Japanese yen, British pounds sterling, Swiss francs, the Euro, Canadian dollars, Mexican pesos and any other freely available currency notified to the Agent upon not less than five (5) Business Days’ prior written notice that, in the opinion of the applicable Competitive Bid Lender, in its sole discretion, is at such time freely traded in the offshore interbank foreign exchange markets and is freely transferable and convertible into Dollars in the United States currency market.
 
       “Alternative Currency Equivalent Amount” means with respect to a specified Alternative Currency and a specified Dollar amount, the amount of such Alternative Currency into which such Dollar amount would be converted, based on the applicable Advance Date Exchange Rate.
 
       “Applicable Commitment Percentage” means, for each Lender at any time, a fraction, with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility and Letters of Credit, the numerator of which shall be such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment and the denominator of which shall be the Total Revolving Credit Commitment, which Applicable Commitment Percentage for each Lender as of the Closing Date is as set forth in Exhibit A; provided that the Applicable Commitment Percentage of each Lender shall be increased or decreased to reflect the addition of Lenders pursuant to Section 2.7 and any assignments to or by such Lender effected in accordance with Section 11.1.
 
       “Applicable Facility Fee” means that percent per annum set forth below, which shall be based upon the higher Rating of outstanding senior unsecured Indebtedness of the Borrower existing at the date of determination as specified in the table below; provided, however that if there is a split in Ratings of more than one Tier, the Applicable Facility shall be based upon the Tier that is one tier higher than the lower Rating:

             
    Rating   Applicable Facility
Tier   S&P or Moody’s   Fee

 
 
I   =A+  or  =A1     0.070 %
II   A  or  A2     0.080 %
III   A-  or  A3     0.090 %
IV   BBB+  or  Baa1     0.125 %
V   BBB  or  Baa2     0.175 %
VI   =BBB-  or  = Baa3     0.200 %

       The Applicable Facility Fee shall be established from time to time based upon the Ratings in effect from time to time. Any change in the Applicable Facility Fee due to a change in any Rating shall be effective on the date of such change in such Rating.
 
       “Applicable Lending Office” means, for each Lender and for each Type of Loan, the “Lending Office” of such Lender (or of an affiliate of such Lender) designated for

3


 

  such Type of Loan on the signature pages hereof or such other office of such Lender (or an affiliate of such Lender) as such Lender may from time to time specify to the Agent and the Borrower by written notice in accordance with the terms hereof as the office by which its Loans of such Type are to be made and maintained.
 
       “Applicable Margin” means that percent per annum set forth below, which shall be based upon the higher Rating of outstanding senior unsecured Indebtedness of the Borrower existing at the date of determination as specified in the table below; provided, however that if there is a split in Ratings of more than one Tier, the Applicable Margin shall be based upon the Tier that is one tier higher than the lower Rating:

                                     
        Applicable Margin   Applicable                
        for Eurodollar Rate   Margin for   Applicable   Applicable
    Rating   Loans and Offshore   Letters   Utilization   Utilization
Tier   S&P or Moody’s   Rate Loans   of Credit   Fee I   Fee II

 
 
 
 
 
I   =A + or = A1     0.180 %     0.180 %     0.050 %     0.050 %
II   A or A2     0.200 %     0.200 %     0.060 %     0.060 %
III   A- or A3     0.260 %     0.260 %     0.075 %     0.075 %
IV   BBB+ or Baa1     0.375 %     0.375 %     0.125 %     0.125 %
V   BBB or Baa2     0.575 %     0.575 %     0.125 %     0.125 %
VI   = BBB- or = Baa3     0.800 %     0.800 %     0.125 %     0.125 %

  provided, however, that for each day during which the Outstandings exceed thirty-three percent (33%) of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment, the Applicable Utilization Fee I shall automatically be added to the Applicable Margin set forth above; provided, further, that for each day during which the Outstandings equal or exceed sixty-six percent (66%) of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment, the Applicable Utilization Fee II (in addition to the Applicable Utilization Fee I) shall automatically be added to the Applicable Margin. The Applicable Margin shall be established from time to time based upon the Ratings in effect from time to time. Any change in the Applicable Margin due to a change in any Rating shall be effective on the date of such change in such Rating.
 
       “Applicable Utilization Fee I” means that percent per annum set forth in the table in the definition of “Applicable Margin”, which shall be calculated as set forth in the first proviso of the definition of “Applicable Margin”. The Applicable Utilization Fee I shall be established from time to time based on the Ratings in effect from time to time. Any change in the Applicable Utilization Fee I due to a change in any Rating shall be effective on the date of such change in such Rating.
 
       “Applicable Utilization Fee II” means that percent per annum set forth in the table in the definition of “Applicable Margin”, which shall be calculated as set forth in the second proviso to the definition of “Applicable Margin”. The Applicable Utilization Fee II shall be established from time to time based on the Ratings in effect from time to time.

4


 

  Any change in the Applicable Utilization Fee II due to a change in any Rating shall be effective on the date of such change in such Rating.
 
       “Assessment Rate” means, for any day, the annual assessment rate (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) which is payable by the Agent (in its individual capacity) to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (or any successor) for deposit insurance for Dollar time deposits with the Agent (in its individual capacity) at its Principal Office as determined by the Agent.
 
       “Assignment and Assumption” shall mean an Assignment and Assumption in the form of Exhibit B (with blanks appropriately filled in) delivered to the Agent in connection with an assignment of a Lender’s interest under this Agreement pursuant to Section 11.1.
 
       “Authorized Representative” means any of the Chairman of the Board, Vice President-Treasurer, or any other Vice President of the Borrower, or any other Person expressly designated by the written authorization of the Chairman of the Board and any one of the Vice President-Treasurer, or any other Vice President of the Borrower as an Authorized Representative of the Borrower, as set forth from time to time in a certificate in the form of Exhibit C.
 
       “Bank of America” means Bank of America, N.A. and its successors.
 
       “BAS” means Banc of America Securities LLC and its successors.
 
       “Base Rate” means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the higher of (i) the Federal Funds Rate for such day plus one-half of one percent (0.5%) and (ii) the Prime Rate for such day. Any change in the Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Rate shall be effective on the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate or Federal Funds Rate.
 
       “Base Rate Loan” means a Loan for which the rate of interest is determined by reference to the Base Rate.
 
       “Base Rate Refunding Loan” means a Base Rate Loan or Swing Line Loan made either to (i) satisfy Unreimbursed Amounts arising from a drawing denominated in Dollars under a Letter of Credit or (ii) pay the Swing Line Lender in respect of Swing Line Outstandings.
 
       “Base Rate Revolving Loan” means a Revolving Loan for which the rate of interest is determined by reference to the Base Rate.
 
       “Benefit Arrangement” means at any time an employee benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA which is not a Plan or a Multiemployer Plan and which is maintained or otherwise contributed to by any member of the ERISA Group.
 
       “Board” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor body).

5


 

       “Borrower’s Account” means a demand deposit account number 1290918490 or any successor account with the Agent, which may be maintained at one or more offices of the Agent or an agent of the Agent.
 
       “Borrowing Notice” means the notice delivered by an Authorized Representative in connection with an Advance under the Revolving Credit Facility or a Swing Line Loan, in the forms of Exhibits D-1 and D-2, respectively.
 
       “Business Day” means, (i) except as expressly provided in clauses (ii) and (iii), any day which is not a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banks in the States of New York and North Carolina are authorized or obligated by law, executive order or governmental decree to be closed, (ii) with respect to the selection, funding, interest rate, payment, and Interest Period of any Eurodollar Rate Loan, any day which is a Business Day, as described in clause (i) above, and on which the relevant international financial markets are open for the transaction of business contemplated by this Agreement and foreign exchange transactions in London, England, New York, New York and Charlotte, North Carolina, (iii) with respect to the selection, funding, interest rate, payment and Interest Period of any Offshore Rate Loan denominated in Euros, any day which is a Business Day as described in clause (ii) above, and on which TARGET (Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross settlement Express Transfer system) or any successor thereto is scheduled to be open for business, and (iv) with respect to the selection funding, interest rate, payment and Interest Period for any Offshore Rate Loan not denominated in Euros, any day which is a Business Day as described in clause (ii) above, and on which the relevant Funding Bank is open for the transaction of business contemplated by this Agreement and on which dealings in the relevant Alternative Currency are carried on in the applicable offshore foreign exchange interbank market in which disbursement of or payment in such Alternative Currency will be made or received hereunder.
 
       “Cash Collateralize” means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Agent, for the benefit of the L/C Issuers and the Lenders, as collateral for the L/C Obligations, cash or deposit account balances pursuant to documentation in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and the L/C Issuers (which documents are hereby consented to by the Lenders). Derivatives of such term shall have corresponding meaning.
 
       “Capital Leases” means all leases which have been capitalized in accordance with GAAP as in effect from time to time including Statement No. 13 of the Financial Accounting Standards Board and any related amendments, interpretations and successors thereof.
 
       “Change of Control” means, at any time:

       (i) any person or group of persons (within the meaning of Section 13 or 14 of the Exchange Act, other than the Trust, shall have acquired beneficial ownership (within the meaning of in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act ), of 35% or more of the outstanding shares of Voting Securities of the Borrower;

6


 

       (ii) as of any date a majority of the Board of Directors of the Borrower consists of individuals who were not either (A) directors of the Borrower as of the corresponding date of the previous year, (B) selected or nominated to become directors by the Board of Directors of the Borrower of which a majority consisted of individuals described in clause (A), or (C) selected or nominated to become directors by the Board of Directors of the Borrower of which a majority consisted of individuals described in clauses (A) and (B).

       “Closing Date” means the date as of which this Agreement is executed by the Borrower, the Lenders and the Agent and on which the conditions set forth in Section 5.1 have been satisfied.
 
       “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any regulations promulgated thereunder.
 
       “Competitive Bid Borrowing” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.2(b) and shall consist of one or more Competitive Bid Loans.
 
       “Competitive Bid Lender” means any Lender who has made a Competitive Bid Loan for which there are Competitive Bid Outstandings.
 
       “Competitive Bid Loans” means the Loans provided for by Section 2.2, each of which shall be Absolute Rate Loans.
 
       “Competitive Bid Notes” means the promissory notes provided for by Section 2.5(c) substantially in the form of Exhibit F-3 and all promissory notes delivered in substitution or exchange therefor, in each case as the same shall be modified and supplemented and in effect from time to time.
 
       “Competitive Bid Outstandings” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of all Competitive Bid Loans then outstanding.
 
       “Competitive Bid Quote” means an offer in accordance with Section 2.2(c) by a Lender to make a Competitive Bid Loan at an Absolute Rate, which shall be in substantially the form of Exhibit I attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
 
       “Competitive Bid Quote Request” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.2(b) and shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit H attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
 
       “Consistent Basis” in reference to the application of GAAP means the accounting principles observed in the period referred to are comparable in all material respects to those applied in the preparation of the audited financial statements of the Borrower referred to in Section 6.5(a) (except for those changes concurred in by the Borrower’s independent public accountants).
 
       “Consolidated Capitalization” means, as of any date on which the amount thereof is to be determined, the sum of Consolidated Indebtedness plus Consolidated Net Worth.

7


 

       “Consolidated Indebtedness” means, as of any date on which the amount thereof is to be determined, all Funded Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, all determined on a consolidated basis.
 
       “Consolidated Net Worth” means, as of any date on which the amount thereof is to be determined, the consolidated stockholders’ equity of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, all as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP applied on a Consistent Basis.
 
       “Continue”, “Continuation”, and “Continued” shall refer to the continuation pursuant to Section 2.3(c) or 3.2 hereof of a Fixed Rate Revolving Loan of one Type as a Fixed Rate Revolving Loan of the same Type from one Interest Period to the next Interest Period.
 
       “Convert”, “Conversion”, and “Converted” shall refer to a conversion pursuant to Section 3.2 of one Type of Revolving Loan denominated in Dollars into another Type of Revolving Loan denominated in Dollars.
 
       “Default” means any event or condition which, with the giving or receipt of notice or lapse of time or both unless cured or waived, would constitute an Event of Default hereunder.
 
       “Default Rate” means (i) with respect to each Fixed Rate Loan, until the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, a rate of one percent (1%) above the Fixed Rate applicable to such Loan, and thereafter at a rate of interest per annum which shall be one percent (1%) above the Base Rate, (ii) with respect to Base Rate Loans, fees, and other amounts payable in respect of Obligations, a rate of interest per annum which shall be one percent (1%) above the Base Rate and (iii) in any case, the maximum rate permitted by applicable law, if lower.
 
       “Dollar Equivalent Amount” means, (a) the amount denominated in Dollars, and (b) with respect to a specified Alternative Currency amount, the amount of Dollars into which the Alternative Currency amount would be converted, based on the applicable Advance Date Exchange Rate.
 
       “Dollars” and the symbol “$” means dollars constituting legal tender for the payment of public and private debts in the United States of America.
 
       “Eligible Assignee” has the meaning specified in Section 11.1(g).
 
       “EMU Legislation” means (a) a Treaty on European Union (the Treaty of Rome of March 25, 1957, as amended by the Single European Act 1986 and the Maastricht Treaty (which was signed at Maastricht on February 1, 1992 and came into force on November 1, 1993)), and (b) legislative measures of the European Council (including without limitation European Council regulations) for the introduction of, changeover to or operation of the Euro, in each case as amended or supplemented from time to time.

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       “Environmental Laws” means any federal, state or local statute, law, ordinance, code, rule, regulation, order, decree, permit or license regulating, relating to, or imposing liability or standards of conduct concerning, any environmental matters or conditions, environmental protection or conservation, including without limitation, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended; the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, as amended; the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended; the Toxic Substances Control Act, as amended; the Clean Air Act, as amended; the Clean Water Act, as amended; together with all regulations promulgated thereunder, and any other “Superfund” or “Superlien” law.
 
       “ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and any successor statute and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
 
       “ERISA Group” means the Borrower, any Subsidiary and all members of a controlled group of corporations and all trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) under common control which, together with the Borrower or any Subsidiary, are treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.
 
       “Euro” and “€” each means the single official non- legacy currency denominated as the Euro and constituting legal tender for the payment of public and private debts in the Participating Member States.
 
       “Eurodollar Rate Loan” means a Loan for which the rate of interest is determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate.
 
       “Eurodollar Rate” means for any Interest Period with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, (a) the Applicable Margin with respect to Eurodollar Rate Loans, plus (b) the following:

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

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       (iii) in the event the rates referenced in the preceding subsections (i) and (ii) are not available, the rate per annum determined by the Agent as the rate of interest at which deposits in Dollars for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period in same day funds in the approximate amount of the Eurodollar Rate Loan being made, continued or converted by Bank of America and with a term equivalent to such Interest Period would be offered by Bank of America’s London Branch to major banks in the London interbank market for such currency at their request at approximately 4:00 P.M. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period.

       “Event of Default” means any of the occurrences set forth as such in Section 9.1.
 
       “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
 
       “Existing Letter of Credit” means each letter of credit identified on Schedule 2.8(a).
 
       “Facility Termination Date” means such date as all of the following shall have occurred: (a) the Borrower shall have permanently terminated the Revolving Credit Facility and the Swing Line by payment in full of all Outstandings, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, except for such issued and undrawn Letters of Credit as have been fully Cash Collateralized in a manner consistent with that set forth in Section 9.1; (b) all Revolving Credit Commitments shall have terminated or expired and (c) the Borrower shall have fully, finally and irrevocably paid and satisfied in full all Obligations (other than Obligations consisting of continuing indemnities and other contingent Obligations of the Borrower that may be owing to the Lenders pursuant to the Loan Documents and expressly survive termination of this Agreement);
 
       “Federal Funds Rate” means, for any day, the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers on such day, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank on the Business Day next succeeding such day; provided that (a) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate charged to Bank of America on such day on such transactions as determined by the Agent.
 
       “Fixed Rate” means any of the Eurodollar Rate, the Absolute Rate, the Offshore Rate, or all of the foregoing, as the case may be.
 
       “Fixed Rate Loan” means a Eurodollar Rate Loan, an Absolute Rate Loan, or an Offshore Rate Loan, or all of the foregoing, as the case may be.
 
       “Fixed Rate Revolving Loan” means a Revolving Loan for which the rate of interest is determined by the Eurodollar Rate or the Offshore Rate.

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       “Funded Indebtedness” means with respect to any Person, without duplication, (a) all indebtedness in respect of borrowed money, (b) all obligations under Capital Leases, (c) the deferred purchase price of any property or services that are in the nature of money borrowed, and (d) indebtedness evidenced by a promissory note, bond, debenture or similar written obligation for the payment of money (including non-contingent, past-due obligations under reimbursement agreements and conditional sales or similar title retention agreements), other than (x) trade payables and accrued expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business, and (y) indebtedness secured by cash deposits subject to a legal right of set-off and not classified as a liability under GAAP.
 
       “Funding Bank” means (a) in the case o f Revolving Loans, any banking institution approved by the Agent located within a country whose currency has been approved by the Lenders as an Alternative Currency and (b) in the case of Competitive Bid Loans, any banking institution approved by the applicable Competitive Bid Lender located within a country whose currency has been approved by such Competitive Bid Lender as an Alternative Currency for a particular Competitive Bid Loan; provided that in the case of the Euro, the Funding Bank may be located in any Participating Member State.
 
       “GAAP” or “Generally Accepted Accounting Principles” means generally accepted accounting principles, being those principles of accounting set forth in pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, or which have other substantial authoritative support and are applicable in the circumstances as of the date of a report.
 
       “Governmental Authority” shall mean any Federal, state, municipal, national or other governmental department, commission, board, bureau, court, agency or instrumentality or political subdivision thereof or any entity or officer exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to any government or any court, in each case whether associated with a state of the United States, the United States, or a foreign entity or government.
 
       “Guarantee” by any Person means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other Person and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, by agreement to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay, or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise) and the purpose of such contracts is to provide credit support in the nature of a guaranty or (b) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the holder of such Indebtedness of the payment thereof or to protect such holder 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.

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       “Hazardous Material” means and includes any pollutant, contaminant, or hazardous, toxic or dangerous waste, substance or material (including without limitation petroleum products, asbestos-containing materials and lead), the generation, handling, storage, transportation, disposal, treatment, release, discharge or emission of which is subject to any Environmental Law.
 
       “Indebtedness” means as to any Person, without duplication, (a) all Funded Indebtedness of such Person, (b) all indebtedness secured by any Lien on any property or asset owned or held by such Person regardless or whether the indebtedness secured thereby shall have been assumed by such Person or is non-recourse to the credit of such Person, other than indebtedness secured by cash deposits subject to a legal right of set-off and not classified as a liability under GAAP, and (c) all Indebtedness of third parties Guaranteed by such Person.
 
       “Indemnified Liabilities” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.9.
 
       “Indemnified Parties” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.9.
 
       “Interest Period” means (a) with respect to any Competitive Bid Loan, the period commencing on the date such Competitive Bid Loan is made and ending on the date specified in the Competitive Bid Quote Request and related Competitive Bid Quote for such Competitive Bid Loan; and (b) with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, a period commencing on the date such Eurodollar Rate Loan is made or Converted or Continued and ending, at the Borrower’s option, on the date one, two, three or six months (and, subject to Section 2.1(c)(iii), nine or twelve months) thereafter as notified to the Agent by the Authorized Representative in accordance with the terms hereof; and (c) with respect to any Offshore Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such Offshore Rate Loan is made or Continued and ending, at the Borrower’s option, on the date one, two, three or six months (and, subject to Section 2.1(c)(iii), nine or twelve months) thereafter; provided that,

       (i)     if any Interest Period would end on a day which is not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next Business Day (unless, in the case of a Eurodollar Rate Loan or Offshore Rate Loan, such extension would cause the applicable Interest Period to end in the succeeding calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day); and
 
       (ii)     any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Rate Loan or Offshore Rate Loan which begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of a calendar month;
 
       (iii)     no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Stated Termination Date; and
 
       (iv)     Interest Periods in different lettered clauses of this definition shall be deemed to be different Interest Periods even if they are coterminous.

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       “Interest Rate Selection Notice” means, with respect to the Revolving Loans, the written notice delivered by an Authorized Representative in connection with the election of a subsequent Interest Period for any Fixed Rate Revolving Loan or the Conversion of any Eurodollar Rate Loan into a Base Rate Loan or the Conversion of any Base Rate Loan into a Eurodollar Rate Loan in the form of Exhibit E.
 
       “L/C Advance” means, with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s participation in any L/C Borrowing in accordance with its Applicable Commitment Percentage.
 
       “L/C Borrowing” means an extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any Letter of Credit which has not been reimbursed on the date when made or refinanced as a Base Rate Refunding Loan.
 
       “L/C Credit Extension” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the issuance thereof or extension of the expiry date thereof, or the renewal or increase of the amount thereof.
 
       “L/C Issuer” means each of the two Lenders designated, and accepting such designation, pursuant to Section 2.8(l) as an issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, or any successor issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder.
 
       “L/C Obligations” means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate undrawn face amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all Unreimbursed Amounts, including all L/C Borrowings, all after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension occurring on such date and any other changes in the aggregate amount of the L/C Obligations as of such date, including as a result of any reimbursements of outstanding unpaid drawings under any Letters of Credit or any reductions in the maximum amount available for drawing under Letters of Credit taking effect on such date.
 
       “Letter of Credit” means any letter of credit issued hereunder, and shall include the Existing Letters of Credit. A Letter of Credit may be a commercial letter of credit or a standby letter of credit.
 
       “Letter of Credit Application” means an application and agreement for the issuance or amendment of a letter of credit in the form from time to time in use by the applicable L/C Issuer.
 
       “Letter of Credit Expiration Date” means the day that is seven days prior to the Stated Termination Date (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day).
 
       “Letter of Credit Sublimit” means an amount equal to the lesser of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment and $75,000,000. The Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Total Revolving Credit Commitment.
 
       “Lien” means any interest in property securing any obligation owed to, or a claim by, a Person other than the owner of the property, whether such interest is based on the

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  common law, statute or contract, and including but not limited to the lien or security interest arising from a mortgage, encumbrance, pledge, security agreement, conditional sale or trust receipt or a lease, consignment or bailment for security purposes. For the purposes of this Agreement, the Borrower and any Subsidiary shall be deemed to be the owner of any property which it has acquired or holds subject to a conditional sale agreement, financing lease, or other arrangement pursuant to which title to the property has been retained by or vested in some other Person for security purposes.

       “Loans” means, collectively, the Swing Line Loans, the L/C Borrowings, the Competitive Bid Loans and the Revolving Loans.
 
       “Loan Documents” means this Agreement, the Notes, and all other instruments and documents heretofore or hereafter executed or delivered to or in favor of any Lender or the Agent in connection with the Loans made and transactions contemplated under this Agreement, as the same may be amended, supplemented or replaced from the time to time.
 
       “Mandatory Cost” means, with respect to Offshore Rate Loans denominated in British pounds sterling, a rate per annum determined by the Agent calculated in accordance with the following formula:

     
    BY + S(Y-Z) + (F x 0.01)
Mandatory Cost per annum =
    100 - (B+S)

       where on the day of application of the formula:

         
B   =   The percentage of the Agent’s Eligible Liabilities (in excess of any stated minimum) by reference to which the Bank of England and/or the Financial Services Authority requires the Agent to hold on a non- interest bearing deposit account in accordance with its cash ratio requirements;
         
Y   =   The percentage rate per annum at which sterling deposits are offered by the Agent to leading banks in the London interbank market at or about 11:00 A.M. (London, England time) on that day for the relevant period;
         
F   =   The rate of charge payable by the Agent to the Financial Services Authority under paragraph 2.02 or 2.03 (as appropriate) of the Fees Regulations (but where for this purpose the figure at paragraph 2.02b or 2.03b shall be deemed to be zero) and expressed in British Pounds Sterling per £1,000,000 of the Fee Base of the Agent;
         
S   =   The percentage of the Agent’s Eligible Liabilities which the Bank of England (or other relevant United Kingdom governmental authority or agency) requires the Agent to place as a Special Deposit; and

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  Z =   The interest rate per annum payable by the Bank of England to the Agent on Special Deposits.

       (a)   For the purposes of this definition:
 
           (i)     “Eligible Liabilities” and “Special Deposits” shall have the meanings given to them at the time of application of the above formula under or pursuant to the Bank of England Act 1998 or by the Bank of England (as appropriate);
 
           (ii)     “Fee Base” has the meaning given to it in the Fees Regulations;
 
           (iii)     “Fees Regulations” means any regulations governing the payment of fees for banking supervision;

       (b)     In the application of the above formula, B, Y, S, and Z are included in the formula as figures and not as percentages, e.g. if B = 0.5% and Y = 15%, BY is calculated as 0.5 x 15 and not as 0.5% x 15%. A negative result obtained from subtracting Z from Y is to be treated as zero.
 
       (c)     (i)     The above formula is applied on the first day of each relevant period comprised in the relevant Interest Period.
 
                 (ii)     Each rate calculated in accordance with the above formula is, if necessary, rounded upward to four decimal places.
 
       (d)     The Agent may, from time to time, after consultation with the Borrower and the Lenders, determine and notify to the Borrower and the Lenders any amendments or variations which are required to be made to the formula set out above in order to comply with any requirements from time to time imposed by any applicable regulatory authority in relation to Advances denominated in British pounds sterling (including, without limitation, any requirements relating to British pounds sterling primary liquidity) and any such determination shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding on the Borrower, the Lenders and the Agent.
 
       “Margin Stock” shall have the meaning of such term within Regulation U of the Board.
 
       “Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (i) the business, properties, operations, prospects or condition, financial or otherwise, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (ii) the ability of the Borrower to pay or perform its respective obligations, liabilities and indebtedness under the Loan Documents as such payment or performance becomes due in accordance with the terms thereof, or (iii) the rights, powers and remedies of the Agent or any Lender under any Loan Document or the validity, legality or enforceability thereof.
 
       “Material Plan” means, at any time, a Plan or Plans having aggregate Unfunded Liabilities in excess of $50,000,000.

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       “Material Subsidiary” means at any time a Subsidiary which as of such time meets the definition of a “significant subsidiary” contained as of the date hereof in Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
       “Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.
 
       “Multiemployer Plan” means at any time an employee benefit plan within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which any member of the ERISA Group is then making, or is accruing an obligation to make, contributions or has within the preceding five plan years made contributions, including for these purposes any Person which ceased to be a member of the ERISA Group during such five year period.
 
       “New Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.7(a).
 
       “Notes” means, collectively, the Swing Line Note, the Competitive Bid Notes and the Revolving Notes.
 
       “Obligations” means the obligations, liabilities and Indebtedness of the Borrower with respect to (i) the principal and interest on the Loans as evidenced by the Notes, and (ii) the payment and performance of all other obligations, liabilities and Indebtedness of the Borrower to the Lenders, the Agent or BAS hereunder, under any one or more of the other Loan Documents or with respect to the Loans.
 
       “Offshore Rate” means (a) for any Interest Period with respect to any Offshore Rate Loan other than one referred to in subsection (b) of this definition, the sum of (x) the Applicable Margin with respect to Offshore Rate Loans, plus (y) the following:

       (i)     the rate per annum equal to the rate determined by the Agent to be the offered rate that appears on the page of the Telerate screen that displays an average British Bankers Association Interest Settlement Rate for deposits in the relevant Alternate Currency (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period, determined as of approximately 11:00 A.M. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period, or
 
       (ii)     in the event the rate referenced in the preceding clause (i) does not appear on such page or service or such page or service shall cease to be available, the rate per annum equal to the rate determined by the Agent to be the offered rate on such other page or other service that displays an average British Bankers Association Interest Settlement Rate for deposits in the relevant Alternative Currency (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period, determined as of approximately 11:00 A.M. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period, or
 
       (iii)     in the event the rates referenced in the preceding subsections (i) and (ii) are not available, the rate per annum determined by the Agent as the rate of interest at which deposits in the relevant Alternative Currency for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period in same day funds in the approximate amount

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  of the Offshore Rate Loan being made, continued or converted by Bank of America and with a term equivalent to such Interest Period would be offered by Bank of America’s London Branch to major banks in the London interbank market for such currency at their request at approximately 4:00 P.M. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period; and

       (b)     for any Interest Period with respect to any Offshore Rate Loan advanced by a Lender required to comply with the relevant requirements of the Bank of England and the Financial Services Authority of the United Kingdom, the sum of (i) the rate determined in accordance with subsection (a) of this definition (including the Applicable Margin) and (ii) the Mandatory Cost for such Interest Period.
 
       “Offshore Rate Loan” means a Revolving Loan in an Alternative Currency that bears interest based on an Offshore Rate.
 
       “Organizational Documents” means with respect to any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership or other legally authorized incorporated or unincorporated entity, the articles of incorporation, certificate of incorporation, articles of organization, certificate of limited partnership or other applicable organizational or charter documents relating to the creation of such entity.
 
       “Outstandings” means, collectively, at any date without duplication, the Competitive Bid Outstandings, the Swing Line Outstandings, the L/C Obligations and the Revolving Credit Outstandings on such date.
 
       “Overnight Rate” means, for any day, (a) with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, the Federal Funds Rate and (b) with respect to any amount denominated in an Alternative Currency, the rate of interest per annum at which overnight deposits in the applicable Alternative Currency, in an amount approximately equal to the amount with respect to which such rate is being determined, would be offered for such day by a branch or Affiliate of Bank of America located in the applicable interbank market for such currency to major banks in such interbank market.
 
       “Participating Member State” means each country which from time to time becomes a Participating Member State as described in EMU Legislation.
 
       “Participation” means (i) with respect to each Swing Line Loan, the extension of credit represented by the participation of each Lender (other than the Swing Line Lender) hereunder in the liability of the Swing Line Lender in respect of such Swing Line Loan made by the Swing Line Lender in accordance with the terms hereof and (ii) with respect to each L/C Credit Extension, the extension of credit represented by the L/C Advance of each Lender (other than the applicable L/C Issuer) hereunder in the liability of any L/C Issuer in respect to such L/C Credit Extension made by such L/C Issuer in accordance with the terms hereof.
 
       “PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and any successor thereto.

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       “Person” means an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, trust, unincorporated organization, association, joint venture or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.
 
       “Plan” means at any time an employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) which is covered by Title IV of ERISA or subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Code and either (i) is maintained, or contributed to, by any member of the ERISA Group for employees of any member of the ERISA Group or (ii) has at any time within the preceding five years been maintained, or contributed to, by any Person which was at such time a member of the ERISA Group for employees of any Person which was at such time a member of the ERISA Group.
 
       “Prime Rate” means the per annum rate of interest established from time to time by Bank of America as its prime rate, which rate may not be the lowest rate of interest charged by Bank of America to its customers.
 
       “Principal Office” means the principal office of Bank of America, presently located at 101 North Tryon Street, 15th Floor, NC1 001-15-02, Charlotte, North Carolina 28255, Attention: Agency Services, or such other office and address as the Agent may from time to time designate.
 
       “Quotation Date” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.2(c).
 
       “Rating” means the rating of senior unsecured Indebtedness of the Borrower in effect at any time which rating is made by either of Moody’s or S&P.
 
       “Regulation D” means Regulation D of the Board as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time.
 
       “Required Lenders” means, as of any date, Lenders on such date having Credit Exposures (as defined below) aggregating more than 50% of the aggregate Credit Exposures of all the Lenders on such date. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the amount of the “Credit Exposure” of each Lender shall be equal at all times (a) other than following the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, to its Revolving Credit Commitment, and (b) following the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, to the sum of (i) the aggregate principal amount of such Lender’s Applicable Commitment Percentage of Revolving Credit Outstandings plus (ii) the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Commitment Percentage of Swing Line Outstandings plus (iii) the amount of such Lender’s Competitive Bid Outstandings plus (iv) the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Commitment Percentage of L/C Obligations; provided that, for the purpose of this definition only, (A) if any Lender shall have wrongfully failed to fund its Applicable Commitment Percentage of any Advance, then the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Lender shall be deemed reduced by the amount it so failed to fund for so long as such failure shall continue and such Lender’s Credit Exposure attributable to such failure shall be deemed held by any Lender making more than its Applicable Commitment Percentage of such Advance to the extent it covers such failure, (B) if any Lender shall have wrongfully failed to pay to the Swing Line

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  Lender on demand its Applicable Commitment Percentage of any Swing Line Loan (whether by funding its Participation therein or otherwise), such Lender’s Credit Exposure attributable to all Swing Line Outstandings shall be deemed to be held by the Swing Line Lender until such Lender shall pay such deficiency amount to the Swing Line Lender together with interest thereon as provided in Section 3.9 and (C) if any Lender shall have wrongfully failed to pay to any L/C Issuer on demand its Applicable Commitment Percentage of any L/C Credit Extension (whether by funding its participation therein or otherwise), such Lender’s Credit Exposure attributable to all L/C Obligations shall be deemed to be held by the applicable L/C Issuer until such Lender shall pay such deficiency amount to the applicable L/C Issuer together with interest thereon as provided in Section 3.9;

       “Revolving Credit Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the obligation of such Lender to make Revolving Loans to the Borrower up to an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding equal to such Lender’s Applicable Commitment Percentage of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment.
 
       “Revolving Credit Facility” means the facility described in Section 2.1 hereof providing for Loans to the Borrower by the Lenders in the aggregate principal amount of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment.
 
       “Revolving Credit Outstandings” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Loans then outstanding.
 
       “Revolving Credit Termination Date” means (i) the Stated Termination Date or (ii) such earlier date of termination of Lenders’ obligations pursuant to Section 9.1 upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, or (iii) such date as the Borrower may voluntarily and permanently terminate the Revolving Credit Facility by payment in full of all Outstandings, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon.
 
       “Revolving Loan” means any borrowing pursuant to an Advance under the Revolving Credit Facility in accordance with Section 2.1 and may be a Base Rate Loan, a Eurodollar Rate Loan, or an Offshore Rate Loan.
 
       “Revolving Notes” means, collectively, the promissory notes of the Borrower evidencing Revolving Loans executed and delivered to the Lenders as provided in Section 2.5(a) substantially in the form of Exhibit F-1, with appropriate insertions as to amounts, dates and names of Lenders.
 
       “Same Day Funds” means (a) with respect to disbursements and payments in Dollars, immediately available funds, and (b) with respect to disbursements and payments in an Alternative Currency, same day or other funds as may be determined by the Agent to be customary in the place of disbursement or payment for the settlement of international banking transactions in the relevant Alternative Currency.
 
       “Significant Subsidiary” means at any time any Subsidiary, except Subsidiaries which at such time have been designated by the Borrower (by notice to the Agent, which may be amended from time to time, which notices shall be made available by the Agent

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  to the Lenders upon request) as nonmaterial and which, if aggregated and considered as a single Subsidiary, would not meet the definition of “significant subsidiary” in Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

       “S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group, a division of McGraw-Hill.
 
       “Spot Rate of Exchange” means (i) in determining the Dollar Equivalent Amount of a specified Alternative Currency amount as of any date, the spot exchange rate determined by the Agent in accordance with its usual procedures for the purchase by the Agent of Dollars with such Alternative Currency at approximately 10:00 A.M. on the Business Day that is two (2) Business Days prior to such date, and (ii) in determining the Alternative Currency Equivalent Amount of a specified Dollar amount on any date, the spot exchange rate determined by the Agent in accordance with its usual procedures for the purchase by the Agent of such Alternative Currency with Dollars at approximately 10:00 A.M. on the Business Day that is two Business Days prior to such date.
 
       “Stated Termination Date” means September 25, 2008.
 
       “Subsidiary” means any corporation or other entity in which more than 50% of its outstanding Voting Securities or more than 50% of all equity interests is owned directly or indirectly by the Borrower and/or by one or more of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries.
 
       “Subsequent Participant” means each country that adopts the Euro as its lawful currency after January 1, 1999.
 
       “Swing Line” means the revolving line of credit established by the Swing Line Lender in favor of the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.6.
 
       “Swing Line Lender” means initially Bank of America as the lender of Swing Line Loans under Section 2.6 and thereafter any Lender which is successor to Bank of America as the Lender of Swing Line Loans under Section 2.6.
 
       “Swing Line Loans” means loans made by the Swing Line Lender to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.6 and shall be Base Rate Loans.
 
       “Swing Line Note” means the promissory note of the Borrower evidencing the Swing Line executed and delivered to the Swing Line Lender as provided in Section 2.5(b) substantially in the form of Exhibit F-2.
 
       “Swing Line Outstandings” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of all Swing Line Loans then outstanding.
 
       “Total Alternative Currency Sublimit” means, with respect to the principal amount of Loans and the stated amount of Letters of Credit outstanding in Alternative Currencies, the Dollar Equivalent Amount of $100,000,000.
 
       “Total Revolving Credit Commitment” means a principal amount equal to (a) $750,000,000 or (b) at such time as Exhibit A hereto is amended by the entering into of

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  one or more amendment agreements pursuant to Section 2.7 hereof, an amount equal to up to $1,000,000,000, as such amounts are reduced from time to time in accordance with Section 2.1(e).

       “Trust” means the respective trusts established under those certain deeds of trust dated August 21, 1951 made by John E. Barbey and under the will of John E. Barbey, deceased.
 
       “Type” shall mean any type of Loan (i.e., a Base Rate Loan, a Eurodollar Rate Loan, an Offshore Rate Loan or an Absolute Rate Loan).
 
       “Unfunded Liabilities” means, with respect to any Plan at any time, the amount (if any) by which (i) the value of all benefit liabilities under such Plan, determined on a plan termination basis using the assumptions prescribed by the PBGC for purposes of Section 4044 of ERISA, exceeds (ii) the fair market value of all Plan assets allocable to such liabilities under Title IV of ERISA (excluding any accrued but unpaid contributions), all determined as of the then most recent valuation date for such Plan, but only to the extent such excess represents a potential liability of a member of the ERISA Group to the PBGC or any other Person under Title IV of ERISA.
 
       “Unreimbursed Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(c)(i).
 
       “Voting Securities” means shares of capital stock issued by a corporation, or equivalent interests in any other Person, the holders of which are ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, entitled to vote for the election of directors (or persons performing similar functions) of such Person, even if the right so to vote has been suspended by the happening of such a contingency.
 
       “Wholly-Owned Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary all of the shares of capital stock or other ownership interests of which (except directors’ qualifying shares and, in the case of any Subsidiary organized in a jurisdiction outside of the United States, shares not exceeding 5% of total shares) are at the time directly or indirectly owned by the Borrower.
 
  1.2 Rules of Interpretation.
 
       (a)     All accounting terms not specifically defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms and shall be interpreted in accordance with GAAP applied on a Consistent Basis; provided that, if the Borrower notifies the Agent that the Borrower wishes to amend any covenant in Article VIII to eliminate the effect of any change in GAAP on the operation of such covenant (or if the Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders wish to amend Article VIII for such purpose), then the Borrower’s compliance with such covenant shall be determined on the basis of GAAP in effect immediately before the relevant change in GAAP became effective, until either such notice is withdrawn or such covenant is amended in a manner satisfactory to the Borrower and the Required Lenders.

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       (b)     Each term defined in Articles 1, 8 or 9 of the New York Uniform Commercial Code shall have the meaning given therein unless otherwise defined herein, except to the extent that the Uniform Commercial Code of another jurisdiction is controlling, in which case such terms shall have the meaning given in the Uniform Commercial Code of the applicable jurisdiction.
 
       (c)     The headings, subheadings and table of contents used herein or in any other Loan Document are solely for convenience of reference and shall not constitute a part of any such document or affect the meaning, construction or effect of any provision thereof.
 
       (d)     Except as otherwise expressly provided, references in any Loan Document to articles, sections, paragraphs, clauses, annexes, appendices, exhibits and schedules are references to articles, sections, paragraphs, clauses, annexes, appendices, exhibits and schedules in or to such Loan Document.
 
       (e)     All definitions set forth herein or in any other Loan Document shall apply to the singular as well as the plural form of such defined term, and all references to the masculine gender shall include reference to the feminine or neuter gender, and vice versa, as the context may require.
 
       (f)     When used herein or in any other Loan Document, words such as “hereunder”, “hereto”, “hereof” and “herein” and other words of like import shall, unless the context clearly indicates to the contrary, refer to the whole of the applicable document and not to any particular article, section, subsection, paragraph or clause thereof.
 
       (g)     References to “including” means including without limiting the generality of any description preceding such term, and for purposes hereof the rule of ejusdem generis shall not be applicable to limit a general statement, followed by or referable to an enumeration of specific matters, to matters similar to those specifically mentioned.
 
       (h)     Except as otherwise expressly provided, all dates and times of day specified herein shall refer to such dates and times at Charlotte, North Carolina.
 
       (i)     Whenever interest rates or fees are established in whole or in part by reference to a numerical percentage expressed as “     %”, such arithmetic expression shall be interpreted in accordance with the convention that 1% = 100 basis points.
 
       (j)     Each of the parties to the Loan Documents and their counsel have reviewed and revised, or requested (or had the opportunity to request) revisions to, the Loan Documents, and any rule of construction that ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall be inapplicable in the construing and interpretation of the Loan Documents and all exhibits, schedules and appendices thereto.
 
       (k)     Any reference to an officer of the Borrower or any other Person by reference to the title of such officer shall be deemed to refer to each other officer of such Person, however titled, exercising the same or substantially similar functions.

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       (l)     All references to any agreement or document as amended, modified or supplemented, or words of similar effect, shall mean such document or agreement, as the case may be, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time only as and to the extent permitted therein and in the Loan Documents.
 
       (m)     For all purposes of this Agreement (but not for purposes of the preparation of any financial statements delivered pursuant hereto), the equivalent in any Alternative Currency of an amount in Dollars, and the equivalent in Dollars of an amount in any Alternative Currency, shall be determined as set forth in the definitions o f Dollar Equivalent Amount and Alternative Currency Equivalent Amount, as applicable.

ARTICLE II

The Credit Facilities

  2.1 Revolving Loans.
 
       (a)     Commitment. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each Lender severally agrees to make Advances in Dollars or an Alternative Currency (as specified in the respective Borrowing Notice) to the Borrower under the Revolving Credit Facility from time to time from the Closing Date until the Revolving Credit Termination Date on a pro rata basis as to the total borrowing requested by the Borrower on any day determined by such Lender’s Applicable Commitment Percentage up to but not exceeding a Dollar Equivalent Amount equal to the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Lender, provided, however, that the Lenders will not be required and shall have no obligation to make any such Advance (i) so long as a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or (ii) if the Agent has accelerated the maturity of any of the Notes as a result of an Event of Default; provided further, however, that immediately after giving effect to each such Advance, (x) the Dollar Equivalent Amount of the principal amount of Outstandings shall not exceed the then applicable Total Revolving Credit Commitment, (y) the Dollar Equivalent Amount of the Outstandings in Alternative Currencies shall not exceed the Total Alternative Currency Sublimit, and (z) the aggregate principal balance of all outstanding Revolving Loans (other than Competitive Bid Loans) for each Lender, plus such Lender’s Applicable Commitment Percentage (determined without duplication) of Competitive Bid Outstandings, L/C Obligations and Swing Line Outstandings, shall not exceed such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment. Within such limits and subject to the other terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow under the Revolving Credit Facility on a Business Day from the Closing Date until, but (as to borrowings and reborrowings) not including, the Revolving Credit Termination Date.
 
       (b)     Amounts. Except as otherwise permitted by the Lenders from time to time, (i) the aggregate unpaid principal Dollar Equivalent Amount of Outstandings shall not exceed at any time the Total Revolving Credit Commitment, and (ii) the aggregate unpaid principal Dollar Equivalent Amount of Loans in Alternative Currencies shall not exceed by more than 5% of the Total Alternative Currency Sublimit, and, in the event there shall be outstanding any amount in excess of 105% of the Total Alternative

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  Currency Sublimit, the Borrower shall immediately make such payments and prepayments as shall be necessary to comply with this restriction. Each Advance under the Revolving Credit Facility, other than Base Rate Refunding Loans, shall be in an amount of at least $15,000,000 (or the Dollar Equivalent Amount thereof in any Alternative Currency), and, if greater than $15,000,000, an integral multiple of $1,000,000 (or the Dollar Equivalent Amount thereof in any Alternative Currency).

       (c)     Advances.     (i) An Authorized Representative shall give the Agent:
 
       (1)     at least three (3) Business Days’ irrevocable telephonic notice of each Eurodollar Rate Loan (whether representing an additional borrowing or the Continuation of a borrowing hereunder or the Conversion of a borrowing hereunder from a Base Rate Revolving Loan to a Eurodollar Rate Loan) prior to 12:00 noon; and
 
       (2)     at least five (5) Business Days’ irrevocable telephonic notice of each Offshore Rate Loan (whether representing an additional borrowing or the Continuation of a borrowing hereunder or the Conversion of a borrowing hereunder from a Base Rate Revolving Loan to an Offshore Rate Loan) prior to 12:00 noon; and
 
       (3)     irrevocable telephonic notice of each Base Rate Revolving Loan (whether representing an additional borrowing hereunder or the Conversion of a borrowing hereunder from a Fixed Rate Revolving Loan to a Base Rate Revolving Loan) prior to 12:00 noon on the day of such proposed Revolving Loan.

Each such notice shall be effective upon receipt by the Agent, shall specify the amount of the borrowing, the Type of Revolving Loan (Base Rate or Eurodollar Rate if such Revolving Loan is requested in Dollars, or Offshore Rate if such Revolving Loan is requested in an Alternative Currency), the date of borrowing, if a Fixed Rate Revolving Loan, the Interest Period to be used in the computation of interest, and if an Offshore Rate Loan, the applicable Alternative Currency. The Authorized Representative shall provide the Agent written confirmation of each such telephonic notice in the form of a Borrowing Notice or Interest Rate Selection Notice (as applicable) with appropriate insertions but failure to provide such confirmation shall not affect the validity of such telephonic notice. Notice of receipt of such Borrowing Notice or Interest Rate Selection Notice, as the case may be, together with the amount of each Lender’s portion of an Advance requested thereunder, shall be provided by the Agent to each Lender by telefacsimile transmission with reasonable promptness, but (provided the Agent shall have received such notice by 12:00 noon) not later than 1:00 P.M. on the same day as the Agent’s receipt of such notice. At approximately 11:00 A.M. two (2) Business Days preceding the date specified for an Advance of an Alternative Currency, the Agent shall determine the Advance Date Exchange Rate and the applicable interest rate. Not later than 11:45 A.M. two (2) Business Days preceding the date specified for each Advance of an Alternative Currency, the Agent shall provide the Borrower and each Lender notice by telefacsimile transmission of the Advance Date Exchange Rate applicable to such Advance, and the applicable Alternative Currency Equivalent Amount of the Loan or Loans required to be made by each Lender on such date, and the Dollar Equivalent Amount of such Loan or Loans and the applicable Offshore Rate.

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     (ii)     (A)     In the case of Advances in Dollars, not later than 2:00 P.M. on the date specified for each borrowing under this Section 2.1, each Lender shall, pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, make the amount of the Advance or Advances to be made by it on such day available by wire transfer to the Agent in the amount of its pro rata share, determined according to such Lender’s Applicable Commitment Percentage of the Revolving Loan or Revolving Loans to be made on such day. Such wire transfer shall be directed to the Agent at the Principal Office and shall be in the form of Dollars constituting immediately available funds. The amount so received by the Agent shall, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, be made available to the Borrower by delivery of the proceeds thereof to the Borrower’s Account or otherwise as shall be directed in the applicable Borrowing Notice by the Authorized Representative and reasonably acceptable to the Agent.

               (B)     In the case of Advances in an Alternative Currency, not later than 10:00 A.M. on the date specified for each Advance, each Lender shall, pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, make the amount of the Revolving Loan or Revolving Loans to be made by it on such day available to the Borrower at the Funding Bank, to the account of the Agent with the Funding Bank. The amount so received by the Funding Bank shall, subject to the terms and conditions of the Loan Documents and upon instruction from the Agent to the Funding Bank on the same day or immediately preceding day but no later than 10:00 A.M., be made available to the Borrower by delivery of the Alternative Currency Equivalent Amount to the Borrower’s account with the Funding Bank.

     (iii)     If requested by the Borrower through the Agent, before 12:00 noon at least four Business Days before the beginning of any Interest Period applicable to a Eurodollar Rate Loan or Offshore Rate Loan, as the case may be, each Lender will advise the Agent before 10:00 A.M. three Business Days preceding the beginning of such Interest Period as to whether, if the Borrower selects an Interest Period of nine or twelve months, such Lender expects that deposits in Dollars or the applicable Alternative Currency, as the case may be, with a term corresponding to such Interest Period will be available to it two Business Days preceding such Interest Period in the amount and for the duration required to fund the Eurodollar Rate Loan or Offshore Rate Loan, as the case may be, to which such Interest Period would apply. If, but only if, each Lender confirms that it expects such deposits to be available to it on terms acceptable to such Lender, in its own discretion, then the Borrower shall be entitled to select a duration of nine or twelve months for such Interest Period.

       (d)     Repayment of Revolving Loans. (i) The principal amount of each Revolving Loan shall be due and payable to the Agent for the benefit of each Lender in full on the Revolving Credit Termination Date, or earlier as specifically provided herein. The principal amount of any Revolving Loan may be prepaid without penalty or premium in whole or in part on any Business Day, upon (A) at least three (3) Business Days’ irrevocable telephonic notice in the case of each Fixed Rate Revolving Loan from an Authorized Representative (effective upon receipt) to the Agent prior to 10:30 A.M. and (B) irrevocable telephonic notice in the case of each Base Rate Revolving Loan from an Authorized Representative (effective upon receipt) to the Agent prior to 10:30 A.M. on the day of such proposed repayment. The Agent shall give the Lenders prompt notice of all such notices of prepayment. The Authorized Representative shall provide the Agent written confirmation of each such telephonic notice but failure to provide such

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  confirmation shall not effect the validity of such telephonic notice. All prepayments of Revolving Loans made by the Borrower shall be in the Dollar Equivalent Amount of $15,000,000 or such greater Dollar Equivalent Amount which is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 (provided that repayments in an Alternative Currency shall be approximately equal to such amounts), or the amount equal to all Revolving Credit Outstandings, or such other amount as necessary to comply with Section 2.1(b). Any prepayment of a Fixed Rate Revolving Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest thereon, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 4.5.

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

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

        (B) if any Lender failed to make such payment, such Lender shall forthwith on demand pay to the Agent the amount thereof in Same Day Funds, together with interest thereon for the period from the date such amount was made available by the Agent to the Borrower to the date such amount is recovered by the Agent (the “Compensation Period”) at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect. If such Lender pays such amount to the Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Revolving Loan or Competitive Bid Loan, as the case may be, included in the applicable Advance. If such Lender does not pay such amount forthwith upon the Agent’s demand therefor, the Agent may make a demand therefor upon the Borrower, and the Borrower shall pay such amount to the Agent, together with interest thereon for the Compensation Period at a rate per annum equal to the rate of interest applicable to the applicable Advance. Nothing herein shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fulfill its Revolving Credit Commitment or to prejudice any rights which the Agent or the Borrower may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder.

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

       (e) Reductions. The Borrower shall, by notice from an Authorized Representative, have the right from time to time but not more frequently than once each calendar month, upon not less than three (3) Business Days’ written notice to the Agent, effective upon receipt, to reduce the Total Revolving Credit Commitment, which

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  reduction shall be applied pro rata to the Revolving Credit Commitments of the Lenders. The Agent shall give each Lender, within one (1) Business Day of receipt of such notice, telefacsimile notice, or telephonic notice (confirmed in writing), of such reduction. Each such reduction shall be in the aggregate amount of $15,000,000 or such greater amount which is in an integral multiple of $1,000,000, or the entire remaining Total Revolving Credit Commitment, and shall permanently reduce the Total Revolving Credit Commitment. Each reduction of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment shall be accompanied by payment of the Loans to the extent that the principal amount of Outstandings exceeds the Total Revolving Credit Commitment after giving effect to such reduction, together with accrued and unpaid interest on the amounts prepaid and any amount required under Section 4.5.

     2.2 Competitive Bid Loans. (a) In addition to borrowings of Revolving Loans, at any time prior to the Revolving Credit Termination Date and provided that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower may, as set forth in this Section 2.2, request the Lenders to make offers to make Competitive Bid Loans to the Borrower in Dollars or in an Alternative Currency. The Lenders may, but shall have no obligation to, make such offers and the Borrower may, but shall have no obligation to, accept any such offers. Competitive Bid Loans shall be Absolute Rate Loans. Immediately after giving effect to each Competitive Bid Loan (i) the aggregate Dollar Equivalent Amount of Outstandings shall not exceed the then applicable Total Revolving Credit Commitment and (ii) the aggregate Dollar Equivalent Amount of Outstandings in Alternative Currencies shall not exceed the Total Alternative Currency Sublimit. Each Competitive Bid Loan shall be deemed to be a usage of the available amount of each Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment in amount equal to such Lender’s Applicable Commitment Percentage of such Competitive Bid Loan, notwithstanding that such Lender may have advanced all, some or none of the principal amount of such Competitive Bid Loan. The principal amount of each Competitive Bid Loan shall be due and payable to the Agent for the benefit of the applicable Competitive Bid Lender in full at the end of the Interest Period with respect to such Competitive Bid Loan, or earlier as specifically provided herein.

       (b) When the Borrower wishes to request offers to make Competitive Bid Loans, it shall give the Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders) notice (a “Competitive Bid Quote Request”) to be received no later than (i) in the case of Competitive Bid Loans requested in an Alternative Currency, 10:30 A.M. on the date that is at least three (3) Business Days prior to the date of such proposed borrowing and (ii) in the case of Competitive Bid Loans requested in Dollars, 1:00 P.M. on the Business Day immediately preceding the date of borrowing proposed therein (or such other time and date as the Borrower and the Agent, with the consent of the Required Lenders, may agree). The Borrower may request offers from the Lenders to make Competitive Bid Loans for more than one Interest Period in a single notice; provided that the request for each separate Interest Period shall be deemed to be a separate Competitive Bid Quote Request for a separate borrowing (a “Competitive Bid Borrowing”) of one or more Competitive Bid Loans from the Lenders. Each such Competitive Bid Quote Request shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit H hereto and shall specify as to each Competitive Bid Borrowing:

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       (i) the proposed date of such Competitive Bid Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;
 
       (ii) the aggregate amount of such Competitive Bid Borrowing, which shall be at least $15,000,000 (or the Dollar Equivalent Amount thereof in any Alternative Currency) or a larger integral multiple of $1,000,000 (or the Dollar Equivalent Amount thereof in any Alternative Currency) but shall not cause the limits specified in Section 2.2(a) to be violated;
 
       (iii) the duration of the Interest Period applicable thereto;
 
       (iv) the requested Alternative Currency if the Competitive Bid Borrowing is in an Alternative Currency; and
 
       (v) if the Borrower would like Competitive Bid Quotes submitted for a proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing in Dollars prior to the date of such Competitive Bid Borrowing, the time and date on which such Competitive Bid Quotes are to be submitted;

Except as otherwise provided in this Section 2.2(b), no Competitive Bid Quote Request shall be within five (5) Business Days (or such other number of days as the Borrower and the Agent, with the consent of the Required Lenders, may agree) of any other Competitive Bid Quote Request.

       (c) (i) Each Lender may submit one or more Competitive Bid Quotes, each containing an offer to make a Competitive Bid Loan in response to any Competitive Bid Quote Request; provided, that, if the Borrower’s request under Section 2.2(b) specifies more than one Interest Period, such Lender may make a single submission containing one or more Competitive Bid Quotes for each such Interest Period. Each Competitive Bid Quote must be submitted to the Agent not later than (x) in the case of a proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing in an Alternative Currency, 9:30 A.M. on the date that is at least two (2) Business Days prior to the date of such proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing, (y) in the case of a proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing in Dollars, 10:00 A.M. on the date of such proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing or such earlier date as the Borrower may set forth in the Competitive Bid Quote Request or (z) such other time and date as the Borrower and the Agent, with the consent of the Required Lenders, may agree and the Agent shall promptly notify all Lenders of such other agreed upon time and date (the date on which such Competitive Bid Quotes are to be submitted is called the “Quotation Date”); provided, that any Competitive Bid Quote may be submitted by the Agent (or its Applicable Lending Office) only if the Agent (or such Applicable Lending Office) notifies the Borrower of the terms of the offer contained therein not later than 9:15 A.M. (or 15 minutes prior to such other agreed upon time) on the Quotation Date in the case of Competitive Bid Loans requested in Dollars and 9:45 A.M. (or 15 minutes prior to such other agreed upon time) on the Quotation Date in the case of Competitive Bid Loans requested in an Alternative Currency. Subject to the express provisions of this Agreement, any Competitive Bid Quote so made shall be irrevocable except with the consent of the Agent given at the instruction of the Borrower.

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       (ii) Each Competitive Bid Quote shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit I and shall specify:

       (A) the proposed date of borrowing and the Interest Period therefor;
 
       (B) the principal amount of the Competitive Bid Loan for which such offer is being made, which principal amount shall be at least $15,000,000 (or the Dollar Equivalent Amount thereof in any Alternative Currency) or a larger multiple of $1,000,000 (or the Dollar Equivalent Amount thereof in any Alternative Currency); provided, that the aggregate principal amount of all Competitive Bid Loans for which a Lender submits Competitive Bid Quotes may not exceed the principal amount of the Competitive Bid Borrowing for a particular Interest Period for which offers were requested;
 
       (C) the rate of interest per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/10,000th of 1%) offered for each such Competitive Bid Loan (the “Absolute Rate”); and
 
       (D) the identity of the quoting Lender.

Unless otherwise agreed by the Agent and the Borrower, no Competitive Bid Quote shall contain qualifying, conditional or similar language or propose terms other than or in addition to those set forth in the applicable Competitive Bid Quote Request and, in particular, no Competitive Bid Quote may be conditioned upon acceptance by the Borrower of all (or some specified minimum) of the principal amount of the Competitive Bid Loan for which such Competitive Bid Quote is being made.

       (d) The Agent shall, as promptly as practicable after the Competitive Bid Quote is submitted but in any event not later than 10:30 A.M. (or thirty minutes after such other agreed upon time) on the Quotation Date in the case of Competitive Bid Loans requested in Dollars and 10:00 A.M. (or thirty minutes after such other agreed upon time) on the Quotation Date in the case of Competitive Bid Loans requested in an Alternative Currency, notify the Borrower of the terms (i) of any Competitive Bid Quote submitted by a Lender that is in accordance with Section 2.2(c) and (ii) of any Competitive Bid Quote that amends, modifies or is otherwise inconsistent with a previous Competitive Bid Quote submitted by such Lender with respect to the same Competitive Bid Quote Request. Any such subsequent Competitive Bid Quote shall be disregarded by the Agent unless such subsequent Competitive Bid Quote is submitted solely to correct a manifest error in such former Competitive Bid Quote. The Agent’s notice to the Borrower shall specify (A) the aggregate principal amount of the Competitive Bid Loans for which Competitive Bid Quotes have been received and (B) the respective principal amounts and Absolute Rates so offered by each Lender (identifying the Lender that made each Competitive Bid Quote).
 
       (e) Not later than 10:00 A.M. (or thirty minutes after the Agent has provided the notice required by Section 2.2(d)) on the Quotation Date for Competitive Bid Loans requested in Dollars and 11:00 A.M. (or thirty minutes after the Agent has provided the

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  notice required by Section 2.2(d)) on the Quotation Date for Competitive Bid Loans requested in an Alternative Currency, the Borrower shall notify the Agent of its acceptance or nonacceptance of the Competitive Bid Quotes so notified to it pursuant to Section 2.2(d) (and the failure of the Borrower to give such notice by such time shall constitute nonacceptance) and the Agent shall promptly notify each affected Lender. In the case of acceptance, such notice shall specify the aggregate principal amount of Competitive Bid Quotes for each Interest Period that are accepted. The Borrower may accept any Competitive Bid Quote in whole or in part; provided that:

       (i) the aggregate principal amount of each Competitive Bid Borrowing may not exceed the applicable amount set forth in the related Competitive Bid Quote Request;

       (ii) the aggregate principal amount of each Competitive Bid Borrowing shall be at least $15,000,000 (or the Dollar Equivalent Amount thereof in any Alternative Currency) or a larger multiple of $1,000,000 (or the Dollar Equivalent Amount thereof in any Alternative Currency) but shall not cause the limits specified in Section 2.2(a) to be violated;

       (iii) acceptance of Competitive Bid Quotes may be made only in ascending order of Absolute Rates, beginning with the lowest rate so offered; and

       (iv) the Borrower may not accept any offer where the Agent has correctly advised the Borrower that such offer fails to comply with Section 2.2(c)(ii) or otherwise fails to comply with the requirements of this Agreement (including, without limitation, Section 2.2(a)).

If Competitive Bid Quotes are made by two or more Lenders with the same Absolute Rates, for an aggregate principal amount that is greater than the amount in respect of which Competitive Bid Quotes are accepted for the related Interest Period (after taking into account the acceptance of all Competitive Bid Quotes with lower Absolute Rates, if any, offered by any Lender for such related Interest Period), then the principal amount of the Competitive Bid Loans in respect of which such Competitive Bid Quotes are accepted shall be allocated by the Borrower among such Lenders as nearly as possible (in amounts of at least $1,000,000 or the Dollar Equivalent Amount thereof in any Alternative Currency) in proportion to the aggregate principal amount of such Competitive Bid Quotes. Determinations by the Borrower of the amounts of Competitive Bid Loans and the lowest bid after adjustment as provided in Section 2.2(e)(iii) shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.

       (f) (i) In the case of Competitive Bid Loans in Dollars, not later than 1:00 P.M. on the date specified for any Competitive Bid Loan, any Lender whose offer to make such Competitive Bid Loan has been accepted shall make the amount of such Loan available to the Agent at the Principal Office in Dollars and in immediately available funds, for account of the Borrower. The amount so received by the Agent shall, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, be made available to the Borrower on such date by depositing the same, in Dollars and in immediately available funds, in an account

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  of the Borrower maintained at the Principal Office or otherwise as shall be directed by an Authorized Representative and reasonably acceptable to the Agent.

       (ii) In the case of Competitive Bid Loans in an Alternative Currency, not later than 10:00 A.M. on the date specified for any Competitive Bid Loan, any Lender whose offer to make such Competitive Bid Loan has been accepted shall make the amount of such Loan available to the Borrower at the Funding Bank, to the account of the applicable Competitive Bid Lender with the Funding Bank. The amount so received by the Funding Bank shall, subject to the terms and conditions of the Loan Documents and upon instruction from the Agent to the Funding Bank on the same day or immediately preceding day but no later than 10:00 A.M., be made available to the Borrower by delivery of the Alternative Currency Equivalent Amount to the Borrower’s account with the Funding Bank.

     2.3 Utilization of Alternative Currencies. (a) Revolving Loans in Alternative Currencies shall be limited to Offshore Rate Loans. Competitive Bid Loans in Alternative Currencies shall be limited to Absolute Rate Loans.

     (b)  Each request for an Advance or Loan in an Alternative Currency under a Borrowing Notice or Competitive Bid Quote Request, as the case may be, shall constitute the Borrower’s request for a Loan of the Dollar Equivalent Amount of the amount of the Alternative Currency specified in such Borrowing Notice or Competitive Bid Quote Request, as the case may be, and for such Loan to be made available by the Lenders to the Borrower in the Alternative Currency Equivalent Amount of such Dollar Equivalent Amount (determined based on the Advance Date Exchange Rate applicable to such Advance or Loan). The principal amount outstanding on any Loan shall be recorded in the Agent’s records in Dollars (in the case of an Advance or Loan in an Alternative Currency as if the Loan had initially been made in Dollars), based on the Dollar Equivalent Amount of the initial Advance or Loan in an Alternative Currency, as reduced from time to time by the Dollar Equivalent Amount (based on the Advance Date Exchange Rate applicable to such Advance or Loan) of any principal payments with respect to such Advance or Loan. For the purposes of determining the maximum amount of Outstandings hereunder, it is intended by the parties that all Loans shall be the functional equivalent of Loans made and repaid (based on the applicable Advance Date Exchange Rate for each Advance) in Dollars. It is recognized that one or more Lenders may elect to record Loans or Advances in Alternative Currencies. The Agent shall maintain records sufficient to identify at any time (A) the Advance Date Exchange Rate with respect to each Advance and Loan and (B) the portion of the Outstandings attributable to each Advance.

     (c)  The Borrower may elect to Continue an Offshore Rate Loan pursuant to the terms of Section 3.2(b) and subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 2.3(c). In the event an Offshore Rate Loan is Continued, such election to Continue the Offshore Rate Loan shall be treated as an Advance and the Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the Advance Date Exchange Rate, the Interest Period and the rate for such Continued Offshore Rate Loan. The Lenders shall each be deemed to have made an Advance to the Borrower of its Applicable Commitment Percentage of each Revolving Loan in an Alternative Currency and the Agent shall apply the Advance Date Exchange Rate for such new Interest Period to such Continued Alternative Currency Equivalent Amount to determine the new Dollar Equivalent Amount of

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such Revolving Loan and shall adjust its books and the Revolving Credit Outstandings. In the event that such adjustment with respect to a Continued Revolving Loan would cause (x) the total Dollar Equivalent Amount of Outstandings to exceed the Total Revolving Credit Commitment or (y) the total Dollar Equivalent Amount of Outstandings in Alternative Currencies to exceed the Total Alternative Currency Sublimit, the Borrower shall, immediately on the effective date of such Continuation, repay (a “Rate Adjustment Payment”) the portion of such Continued Revolving Loan (applying the new Advance Date Exchange Rate) necessary to ensure that (xx) the Dollar Equivalent Amount of all Outstandings does not exceed the Total Revolving Credit Commitment and (yy) the Dollar Equivalent Amount of all Outstandings in Alternative Currencies does not exceed the Total Alternative Currency Sublimit, provided, however, that the Borrower shall not be required to pay any additional compensation pursuant to Section 4.5 with respect to a prepayment of a Revolving Loan required by this sentence if such prepayment is made immediately on the effective date of the Continuation giving rise to such prepayment and no notice of such prepayment shall be required. If the Agent does not receive an Interest Rate Selection Notice giving notice of election of the duration of an Interest Period or Continuation of an Offshore Rate Loan by the time prescribed in Sections 2.1(c)(i) or 3.2(b) , as applicable, the Borrower shall be deemed to have elected to repay such Offshore Rate Loan and if such Offshore Rate Loan is not repaid on the last day of the applicable Interest Period, together with accrued interest thereon, such Offshore Rate Loan shall be converted into a Base Rate Loan in the Dollar Equivalent Amount of such Offshore Rate Loan. The Borrower shall not be entitled to elect to Continue any Offshore Rate Loan if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

     (d)  Without prejudice and in addition to any method of conversion or rounding prescribed by any EMU Legislation and without prejudice to (i) the liabilities for Indebtedness of the Borrower to the Lenders under or pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) each Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment, any reference in this Agreement to a minimum amount (or an integral multiple thereof) in a national currency of a Subsequent Participant to be paid to or by the Agent shall immediately, upon it becoming a Subsequent Participant, be replaced by a reference to such reasonably comparable and convenient amount (or an integral multiple thereof) in the Euro unit as the Agent may specify.

     (e)  The Agent may from time to time further modify the terms of, and practices contemplated by, this Agreement with respect to the Euro to the extent the Agent determines, in its reasonable discretion, that such modifications are necessary or convenient to reflect new laws, regulations, customs or practices developed in connection with the Euro. The Agent may effect such modifications, and this Agreement shall be deemed so amended, without the consent of the Borrower or Lenders to the extent such modifications are not materially disadvantageous to the Borrower and the Lenders, upon notice thereto.

     2.4 Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Loans made pursuant to the Revolving Credit Facility hereunder shall be used by the Borrower for general working capital needs and other lawful corporate purposes including without limitation the making of acquisitions and, subject to Section 6.10, repurchases of outstanding shares of its common stock.

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     2.5 Notes.

     (a)  Revolving Notes. Revolving Loans made by each Lender shall be evidenced by the Revolving Note payable to the order of such Lender in the respective amount of its Applicable Commitment Percentage of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment, which Revolving Note shall be dated the Closing Date or a later date pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption and shall be duly completed, executed and delivered by the Borrower.

     (b)  Swing Line Note. The Swing Line Outstandings shall be evidenced by a separate Swing Line Note payable to the order of the Swing Line Lender in the amount of the Swing Line, which Note shall be dated the Closing Date and shall be duly completed, executed and delivered by the Borrower.

     (c)  Competitive Bid Notes. The Competitive Bid Loans made by each Lender shall be evidenced by the Competitive Bid Note payable to the order of such Lender, which Competitive Bid Note shall be dated the Closing Date or a later date pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption and shall be duly completed, executed and delivered by the Borrower.

     2.6 Swing Line. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, in order to administer the Revolving Credit Facility in an efficient manner and to minimize the transfer of funds between the Agent and the Lenders, the Swing Line Lender shall make available Swing Line Loans in Dollars to the Borrower prior to the Revolving Credit Termination Date. The Swing Line Lender shall not be obligated to make any Swing Line Loan pursuant hereto (and shall not unless otherwise approved by the Required Lenders) (i) if to the actual knowledge of the Swing Line Lender the Borrower is not in compliance with all the conditions to the making of Revolving Loans set forth in this Agreement, (ii) if after giving effect to such Swing Line Loan, the Swing Line Outstandings exceed $50,000,000, or (iii) if after giving effect to such Swing Line Loan, the Outstandings exceed the then applicable Total Revolving Credit Commitment. Each Swing Line Loan shall mature, and the principal amount thereof , together with any accrued interest thereon, shall be payable (if not previously prepaid) in full to the Swing Line Lender on the fifth Business Day after such Swing Line Loan is made. The Company may, subject to the conditions set forth in the preceding two sentences, borrow, repay and reborrow under this Section 2.6. Unless notified to the contrary by the Swing Line Lender, borrowings under the Swing Line shall be made in the minimum amount of $500,000 or, if greater, in amounts which are integral multiples of $500,000, upon written request by telefacsimile transmission, effective upon receipt, by an Authorized Representative of the Borrower made to the Swing Line Lender not later than 2:00 P.M. on the Business Day of the requested borrowing. Each such Borrowing Notice shall specify the amount of the borrowing and the date of borrowing, and shall be in the form of Exhibit D-2, with appropriate insertions. Unless notified to the contrary by the Swing Line Lender, each repayment of a Swing Line Loan shall be in an amount which is an integral multiple of $500,000 or the aggregate amount of all Swing Line Outstandings.

     (b)  The interest payable on Swing Line Loans is solely for the account of the Swing Line Lender, except to the extent that Lenders have funded their respective Participations in such Swing Line Loans. Swing Line Loans shall bear interest solely at the Base Rate. All accrued

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and unpaid interest on Swing Line Loans shall be payable, on the dates and in the manner provided in Section 3.3 with respect to interest on Base Rate Loans.

     (c)  Upon the making of a Swing Line Loan in accordance with paragraph (a) above, each Lender shall be deemed to have purchased from the Swing Line Lender a Participation therein in an amount equal to that Lender’s Applicable Commitment Percentage of such Swing Line Loan. Upon demand made by the Swing Line Lender, each Lender shall, according to its Applicable Commitment Percentage of such Swing Line Loan, promptly provide to the Swing Line Lender its purchase price therefor in an amount equal to its Participation therein. Any Advance made by a Lender pursuant to demand of the Swing Line Lender of the purchase price of its Participation shall when made be deemed to be (i) provided that the conditions to making Revolving Loans shall be satisfied, a Base Rate Refunding Loan under Section 2.1, and (ii) in all other cases, the funding by each Lender of the purchase price of its Participation in such Swing Line Loan. The obligation of each Lender to so provide its purchase price to the Swing Line Lender shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by the occurrence of an Event of Default or any other occurrence or event.

     (d)  The Borrower, at its option and subject to the terms hereof, may request an Advance pursuant to Section 2.1 in an amount sufficient to repay Swing Line Outstandings on any date and the Agent shall provide from the proceeds of such Advance to the Swing Line Lender the amount necessary to repay such Swing Line Outstandings (which the Swing Line Lender shall then apply to such repayment) and credit any balance of the Advance in immediately available funds in the manner directed by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1(c)(ii)(A). The proceeds of such Advances shall be paid to the Swing Line Lender for application to the Swing Line Outstandings and the Lenders shall then be deemed to have made Loans in the amount of such Advances. The Swing Line shall continue in effect until the Revolving Credit Termination Date, at which time all Swing Line Outstandings and accrued interest thereon shall be due and payable in full.

     2.7 Increase in Total Revolving Credit Commitment. (a) The Borrower, the Agent and any Lender or any other Person qualifying as an Eligible Assignee but for the absence of an assignment, or any combination of such Lenders and such Persons (collectively, “New Lenders”), may (in their sole discretion) enter into one or more amendment agreements substantially in the form of Exhibit J attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference without further approval of the Lenders (or any other New Lender) pursuant to which each New Lender agrees to incur or increase, as the case may be, its Revolving Credit Commitment so as to make available to the Borrower, subject to all conditions herein set forth, Revolving Loans in the maximum aggregate Dollar Equivalent Amount (for all New Lenders) of up to $250,000,000 thereby increasing the Total Revolving Credit Commitment to up to the Dollar Equivalent Amount of $1,000,000,000; provided that

     (i)  each such increase shall be in an amount at least equal to $30,000,000 or an integral multiple of $5,000,000 in excess thereof;

     (ii)  the Borrower shall execute and deliver to the Agent (A) Notes for each New Lender, (B) Competitive Bid Notes for each Lender, (C) board resolutions of the Borrower certified by its secretary or assistant secretary approving and adopting such Notes and

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authorizing the execution and delivery thereof, and (D) the legal opinion of either the General Counsel of the Borrower or special counsel to the Borrower as to the due authorization, execution and delivery of the Notes, the enforceability thereof and no conflict thereof with the Organizational Documents, by- laws and material agreements of the Borrower, all in form and substance substantially similar to such opinions delivered on the Closing Date in satisfaction of Section 5.1(a)(ii); and

     (iii)  no Default or Event of Default then exists or would arise as a result of any such increase.

     (b)  Upon the execution, delivery and acceptance of the documents required by this Section 2.7, each New Lender shall have all of the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement. The Agent shall provide the Lenders with notice of the revised Total Revolving Credit Commitment and the revised Applicable Commitment Percentages of the Lenders, including the New Lenders.

     (c)  Upon the effectiveness of an increase provided for in this Section 2.7, the Borrower shall prepay to certain Revolving Lenders an Outstanding Amount of such Revolving Loans outstanding (including any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 4.5) as are necessary so that, after giving effect to such prepayments and any Borrowings on such date of all or any portion of the relevant increase of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment, the principal balance of all outstanding Revolving Loans owing to each Revolving Lender is equivalent to each such Lender’s Applicable Commitment Percentage of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment after giving effect to any nonratable increase in the Total Revolving Credit Commitment resulting from the exercise of an increase pursuant to this Section 2.7.

     2.8 Letters of Credit.

     (a)  The Letter of Credit Commitment.

       (i) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (A) each L/C Issuer agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the other Lenders set forth in this Section 2.8, (1) from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date until the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, to issue Letters of Credit denominated in Dollars or in one or more Alternative Currencies for the account of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, and to amend or renew Letters of Credit previously issued by it, in accordance with subsection (b) below, and (2) to honor drafts under the Letters of Credit; and (B) the Lenders severally agree to participate in such Letters of Credit; provided that no L/C Issuer shall be obligated to make any L/C Credit Extension with respect to any Letter of Credit, and no Lender shall be obligated to participate in any Letter of Credit, if as of the date of such L/C Credit Extension, the Dollar Equivalent Amount of (w) the Outstandings would exceed the Total Revolving Credit Commitment, (x) the aggregate principal balance of all outstanding Revolving Loans (other than Competitive Bid Loans) of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Applicable Commitment Percentage (determined without duplication) of Competitive Bid Outstandings, L/C Obligations and Swing Line Outstandings, would exceed such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment, (y) the L/C Obligations would exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit, or (z) all L/C Obligations and

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  Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies would exceed the Total Alternative Currency Sublimit. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower’s ability to obtain Letters of Credit shall be fully revolving, and accordingly the Borrower may, during the foregoing period, obtain Letters of Credit to replace Letters of Credit that have expired or that have been drawn upon and reimbursed.

       (ii) No L/C Issuer shall be under any obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if:

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

       (B) subject to Section 2.8(b)(iii), the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur more than twelve months after the date of issuance or last renewal, unless the Required Lenders have approved such expiry date;

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

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

       (E) such Letter of Credit is in a face amount less than $50,000 or is to be denominated in a currency other than Dollars or an Alternative Currency.

       (iii) No L/C Issuer shall be under any obligation to amend any Letter of Credit if (A) such L/C Issuer would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof, or (B) the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit does not accept the proposed amendment to such Letter of Credit.
 
       (iv) The Lenders acknowledge that the Existing Letters of Credit have been issued for the account of the Borrower prior to the Closing Date and agree to participate in such Existing Letters of Credit to the same extent and on the same conditions as if such Letters of Credit had been issued pursuant to this Section 2.8. All Existing Letters of Credit shall be deemed to have been issued pursuant hereto, and from and after the Closing Date shall be subject to and governed by the terms and conditions hereof.

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

       (i) Each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be, upon the request of the Borrower delivered to a L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Agent) in the form of a Letter of Credit Application, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Such Letter of Credit Application must be received by the applicable L/C Issuer and the Agent not later than 11:00 A.M., at least two Business Days (five Business Days for Letters of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency) (or such later date and time as such L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in its sole discretion) prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be. In the case of a request for an initial issuance of a Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to such L/C Issuer: (A) the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (B) the amount thereof; (C) the expiry date thereof; (D) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof; (E) the documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (F) the full text of any certificate to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; and (G) such other matters as such L/C Issuer may require. In the case of a request for an amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer (A) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (B) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (C) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (D) such other matters as such L/C Issuer may require.

       (ii) Promptly after receipt of any Letter of Credit Application, the applicable L/C Issuer will confirm with the Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Agent has received a copy of such Letter of Credit Application from the Borrower and, if not, such L/C Issuer will provide the Agent with a copy thereof. Upon receipt by such L/C Issuer of confirmation from the Agent that the requested issuance or amendment is permitted in accordance with the terms hereof, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, such L/C Issuer shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the Borrower or enter into the applicable amendment, as the case may be, in each case in accordance with such L/C Issuer’s usual and customary business practices. Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit, each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the applicable L/C Issuer a risk participation in such Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the product of such Lender’s Applicable Commitment Percentage times the amount of such Letter of Credit.

       (iii) If the Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the applicable L/C Issuer may, in it sole and absolute discretion, agree to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic renewal provisions (each, an “Auto-Renewal Letter of Credit”); provided that any such Auto-Renewal Letter of Credit must permit such L/C Issuer to prevent any such renewal at least once in each twelve-month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a day (the “Nonrenewal Notice Date”) in each such twelve-month period to be agreed upon at the time such Letter of Credit is issued. Unless otherwise directed by such L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request

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  to such L/C Issuer for any such renewal. Once an Auto-Renewal Letter of Credit has been issued, the Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) such L/C Issuer to permit the renewal of such Letter of Credit at any time to a date not later than the Letter of Credit Expiration Date; provided, however, that such L/C Issuer shall not permit any such renewal if (A) such L/C Issuer would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its renewed form under the terms hereof, or (B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is two Business Days before the Nonrenewal Notice Date (1) from the Agent that the Required Lenders have elected not to permit such renewal or (2) from the Agent, any Lender or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 5.2 is not then satisfied.

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

     (c)  Drawings and Reimbursements; Funding of Participations.

       (i) Upon receipt from the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of any notice of a drawing under such Letter of Credit, the applicable L/C Issuer shall notify the Borrower and the Agent thereof. The Borrower shall reimburse such L/C Issuer through the Agent in an amount equal to the Dollar Equivalent Amount of such drawing (x) if the Borrower shall have received notice of such drawing prior to 10:00 A.M. on any date, not later than 5:00 P.M. on such date, and (y) if the Borrower shall have received notice of such drawing after 10:00 A.M. on any date, not later than 2:00 P.M. on the next Business Day after such date. If the Borrower fails so to reimburse such L/C Issuer by such time, the Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the date of payment by the applicable L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit (each such date, an “Honor Date”), the amount of the unreimbursed drawing (the “Unreimbursed Amount “), and such Lender’s participation therein. In such event, the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested an Advance to be disbursed on the Honor Date in an amount equal to the Unreimbursed Amount, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified in Section 2.1 for the principal amount of Revolving Loans, but subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment and the conditions set forth in Section 5.2 (other than the delivery of a Borrowing Notice). Any notice given by any L/C Issuer or the Agent pursuant to this Section 2.8(c)(i) may be given by telephone if immediately confirmed in writing; provided that the lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice.
 
       (ii) Each Lender (including any Lender acting as L/C Issuer) shall upon any notice pursuant to Section 2.8(c)(i) make funds available to the Agent for the account of the applicable L/C Issuer at the Agent’s Office for Dollar-denominated payments or Alternative Currency-denominated payments, as applicable with respect to such Unreimbursed Amount, in an amount equal to its Applicable Commitment Percentage of the Unreimbursed Amount not later than 1:00 P.M., on the Business Day specified in such notice by the Agent, whereupon, subject to the provisions of Section 2.8(c)(iii), each

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  Lender that so makes funds available (A) in Dollars shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Loan to the Borrower in such amount in Dollars, and (B) in an Alternative Currency shall be deemed to have made an Offshore Rate Loan with an Interest Period of one month to the Borrower in such amount in such Alternative Currency. The Agent shall remit the funds so received to the applicable L/C Issuer.

       (iii) With respect to any Unreimbursed Amount that is not fully refinanced by an Advance of a Base Rate Refunding Loan because the conditions set forth in Section 5.2 cannot be satisfied or for any other reason, the Borrower shall be deemed to have incurred from the applicable L/C Issuer an L/C Borrowing in the amount of the Unreimbursed Amount that is not so refinanced, which L/C Borrowing shall be due and payable on demand (together with interest) and shall bear interest at the Default Rate. In such event, each Lender’s payment to the Agent for the account of such L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.8(c)(ii) shall be deemed payment in respect of its participation in such L/C Borrowing and shall constitute an L/C Advance from such Lender in satisfaction of its participation obligation under this Section 2.8.
 
       (iv) Until each Lender funds its Revolving Loan or L/C Advance pursuant to this Section 2.8(c) to reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer for any amount drawn under any Letter of Credit, interest in respect of such Lender’s Applicable Commitment Percentage of such amount shall be solely for the account of such L/C Issuer.
 
       (v) Each Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Loans or L/C Advances to reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit, as contemplated by this Section 2.8(c), shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against such L/C Issuer, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever; (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default or Event of Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided, however, that each Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Loans pursuant to this Section 2.8(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 5.2. Any such reimbursement shall not relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to reimburse such L/C Issuer for the amount of any payment made by such L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit, together with interest as provided herein.
 
       (vi) If any Lender fails to make available to the Agent for the account of the applicable L/C Issuer any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.8(c) by the time specified in Section 2.8(c)(ii), such L/C Issuer shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to such L/C Issuer at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. A certificate of such L/C Issuer submitted to any Lender (through the Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (vi) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

     (d)  Repayment of Participations.

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       (i) At any time after the applicable L/C Issuer has made a payment under any Letter of Credit and has received from any Lender such Lender’s L/C Advance in respect of such payment in accordance with Section 2.8(c), if the Agent receives for the account of such L/C Issuer any payment related to such Letter of Credit (whether directly from the Borrower or otherwise, including proceeds of Cash Collateral applied thereto by the Agent), or any payment of interest thereon, the Agent will distribute to such Lender its pro rata share thereof in the same funds as those received by the Agent.
 
       (ii) If any payment received by the Agent for the account of the applicable L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.8(c)(i) is required to be returned, each Lender shall pay to the Agent for the account of such L/C Issuer its pro rata share thereof on demand of the Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned by such Lender, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect.

     (e)  Obligations Absolute. The obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer for each drawing under each Letter of Credit, and to repay each L/C Borrowing and each drawing under a Letter of Credit that is refinanced by an Advance of Base Rate Refunding Loans or Offshore Rate Loans, as applicable, shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all circumstances, including the following:

       (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of such Letter of Credit, this Agreement, or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto;
 
       (ii) the existence of any claim, counterclaim, set-off, defense or other right that the Borrower may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), the applicable L/C Issuer or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by such Letter of Credit or any agreement or instrument relating thereto, or any unrelated transaction;
 
       (iii) any draft, demand, certificate or other document presented under such Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under such Letter of Credit;
 
       (iv) any payment by the applicable L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate that does not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; or any payment made by such L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit to any Person purporting to be a trustee in bankruptcy, debtor-in-possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver or other representative of or successor to any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit, including any arising in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law; or

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

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

     (f)  Role of L/C Issuers. Each Lender and the Borrower agree that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit, no L/C Issuer shall have any responsibility to obtain any document (other than any sight draft, certificates and documents expressly required by the Letter of Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such document or the authority of the Person executing or delivering any such document. No Agent-Related Person nor any of the respective correspondents, participants or assignees of the applicable L/C Issuer shall be liable to any Lender for (i) any action taken or omitted in connection herewith at the request or with the approval of the Lenders or the Required Lenders, as applicable; (ii) any action taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct; or (iii) the due execution, effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any document or instrument related to any Letter of Credit or Letter of Credit Application. The Borrower hereby assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee with respect to its use of any Letter of Credit; provided, however, that this assumption is not intended to, and shall not, preclude the Borrower’s pursuing such rights and remedies as it may have against the beneficiary or transferee at law or under any other agreement. No Agent-Related Person, nor any of the respective correspondents, participants or assignees of any L/C Issuer, shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in clauses (i) through (v) of Section 2.8(e); provided, however, that anything in such clauses to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrower may have a claim against the applicable L/C Issuer, and such L/C Issuer may be liable to the Borrower, to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or exemplary, damages suffered by the Borrower which the Borrower proves were caused by such L/C Issuer’s willful misconduct or gross negligence or such L/C Issuer’s willful failure to pay under any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary of a sight draft and certificate(s) strictly complying with the terms and conditions of a Letter of Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, any L/C Issuer may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, and such L/C Issuer shall not be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason.

     (g)  Cash Collateral. Upon the request of the Agent, (i) if any L/C Issuer has honored any full or partial drawing request under any Letter of Credit and such drawing has resulted in an L/C Borrowing that has not been repaid, or (ii) if, as of the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, any Letter of Credit may for any reason remain outstanding and partially or wholly undrawn, the Borrower shall immediately Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to the Dollar Equivalent Amount of such L/C Obligations determined as of the date of such L/C

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Borrowing or the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, as the case may be). The Agent may, at any time and from time to time after the initial deposit of Cash Collateral, request that additional Cash Collateral be provided in order to protect against the results of exchange rate fluctuations. The Borrower hereby grants the Agent, for the benefit of the L/C Issuers and the Lenders, a Lien on all such cash and deposit account balances. Cash collateral shall be maintained in blocked, interest bearing deposit accounts with the Agent; provided, however, that if cash collateral is being provided in connection with the Facility Termination Date, such cash collateral with respect to each outstanding Letter of Credit shall be maintained in blocked, interest bearing deposit accounts with the applicable L/C Issuer.

     (h)  Applicability of ISP98 and UCP. Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the applicable L/C Issuer and the Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued (including any such agreement applicable to an Existing Letter of Credit), (i) the rules of the “International Standby Practices 1998” published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance) shall apply to each standby Letter of Credit, and (ii) the rules of the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, as most recently published by the International Chamber of Commerce (the “ICC”) at the time of issuance shall apply to each commercial Letter of Credit.

     (i)  Letter of Credit Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance with its Applicable Commitment Percentage a Letter of Credit fee for each Letter of Credit equal to the Applicable Margin for Letters of Credit times the Dollar Equivalent Amount of the actual daily maximum amount available to be drawn under each Letter of Credit. Such Letter of Credit fee shall be computed on a quarterly basis in arrears. Such fee for each Letter of Credit shall be due and payable on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, and on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date. If there is any change in the Applicable Margin during any quarter, the actual daily amount of each Letter of Credit shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Margin separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Margin was in effect.

     (j)  Fronting Fee and Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to L/C Issuer. The Borrower shall pay directly to the applicable L/C Issuer for its own account a fronting fee in an amount (i) with respect to each commercial Letter of Credit, equal to such percentage as may be agreed to by the Borrower and the applicable L/C Issuer, of the Dollar Equivalent Amount of such Letter of Credit, due and payable upon the issuance thereof, and (ii) with respect to each standby Letter of Credit, equal to such percentage as may be agreed to by the Borrower and the applicable L/C Issuer, on the Dollar Equivalent Amount of the daily maximum amount available to be drawn thereunder, due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, and on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date. In addition, the Borrower shall pay directly to the applicable L/C Issuer for its own account the customary issuance, presentation, amendment and other processing fees, and other standard costs and charges, of such L/C Issuer relating to letters of credit as from time to time in effect. Such fees and charges are due and payable on demand and are nonrefundable.

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

     (l)  Designation of L/C Issuers. From time to time, so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Borrower may designate two L/C Issuers, provided that (i) a written notice of such designation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent is delivered by the Borrower to the Agent not less than three (3) Business Days prior to the effectiveness of such designation, which notice shall at a minimum (A) identify the Lender to be an L/C Issuer, (B) identify the then-existing L/C Issuer being replaced, if any, and (C) contain the express consent of the identified L/C Issuer to such designation, and its acceptance of the terms and conditions of this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit and the issuance of Letters of Credit by it as an L/C Issuer, and (ii) after giving effect to such designation, there shall not be more than two L/C Issuers. Notwithstanding the requirements of the foregoing sentence, but subject to the remainder of this Section 2.8(l), Bank of America is hereby appointed as an L/C Issuer as of the Closing Date. Without limiting the provisions of Section 11.1(i), any L/C Issuer so designated hereunder shall continue in such capacity until (A) it shall, by written notice delivered to the Agent and the Borrower, terminate its status as L/C Issuer, or (B) the Borrower shall revoke its designation as an L/C Issuer by notice delivered to the Agent and the applicable L/C Issuer (any such notice shall be effective three (3) Business Days following receipt by the Agent of such notice or such later date as may be specified in such notice); provided that no such termination or revocation of designation described herein shall be permitted or effective until all Letters of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer shall have expired or otherwise terminated, been assigned by such L/C Issuer in a manner satisfactory to it, or been Cash Collateralized, and all other L/C Obligations with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer shall have been paid and satisfied in full.

ARTICLE III

Funding, Fees, and Payment Conventions

     3.1 Interest Rate Options. (a) All Swing Line Loans shall be Base Rate Loans. All Competitive Bid Loans shall be Absolute Rate Loans. All Revolving Loans in Alternative Currencies shall be Offshore Rate Loans. Revolving Loans in Dollars may be Base Rate Loans, or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as the Borrower may elect in the related Borrowing Notice or Interest Rate Selection Notice, as the case may be.

     (b)  Fixed Rate Loans and Base Rate Loans may be outstanding at the same time and, so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Borrower shall have the option to elect (i) in the case of Revolving Loans made in Dollars, the Type of Revolving Loan (subject to Section 3.1(a)) and (ii) in the case of all Fixed Rate Revolving Loans, the duration of the initial and any subsequent Interest Periods and (iii) to Convert Revolving Loans (other than Offshore Rate Loans which shall be subject to Section 2.3(c)) in accordance with Sections 2.1(c)(i) and 3.2, as applicable; provided, however, (x) there shall not be outstanding at any one time Fixed Rate Loans having more than twenty (20) different Interest Periods and (y) no Fixed Rate Loan shall have an Interest Period that extends beyond the Stated Termination Date. If the Agent does not receive a Borrowing Notice or an Interest Rate Selection Notice giving notice of election of the duration of an Interest Period or of Conversion

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of any such Revolving Loan to or Continuation of any such Revolving Loan as a Fixed Rate Revolving Loan by the time prescribed by Sections 2.1(c)(i) and 3.2, as applicable, (I) in the case of Revolving Loans that are denominated in Dollars, the Borrower shall be deemed to have elected to obtain or Convert such Revolving Loan to (or Continue such Revolving Loan as) a Base Rate Revolving Loan until the Borrower notifies the Agent in accordance with Section 3.2 and (II) in the case of Revolving Loans made in Alternative Currencies, Section 2.3(c) shall apply. The Borrower shall not be entitled to elect to Continue any Revolving Loan as or Convert any Revolving Loan into a Fixed Rate Revolving Loan if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

     3.2 Conversions and Elections of Subsequent Interest Periods. Subject to the limitations set forth in the definition of “Interest Period,” in Sections 2.1(c)(iii) and 3.1 and in Article IV, the Borrower may:

     (a)  upon delivery of telephonic notice to the Agent (which shall be irrevocable) on or before 12:00 noon on any Business Day, Convert any Fixed Rate Revolving Loan to a Base Rate Revolving Loan on the last day of the Interest Period for such Fixed Rate Revolving Loan; and

     (b)  provided that no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, upon delivery of telephonic notice to the Agent (which shall be irrevocable) on or before 12:00 noon three (3) Business Days’ prior to the date of such Conversion or Continuation in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans and five (5) Business Days’ prior to the date of such Conversion or Continuation in the case of Offshore Rate Loans:

       (i) elect a subsequent Interest Period for any Fixed Rate Revolving Loan to begin on the last day of the then current Interest Period for such Fixed Rate Revolving Loan (subject to Section 2.3 with respect to any Offshore Rate Loan); or

       (ii) Convert any Base Rate Revolving Loan to a Fixed Rate Revolving Loan on any Business Day.

Subject to Section 2.3(c), failure by the Borrower to elect a Conversion or a Continuation or to provide notice of payment shall result in the automatic Continuation or Conversion, as the case may be, of the applicable Loan to a Base Rate Loan. Each such notice shall be effective upon receipt by the Agent, shall specify the amount of the affected Fixed Rate Revolving Loan, the Type of Revolving Loan, and, if a Continuation as or Conversion into a Fixed Rate Revolving Loan, the Interest Period to be used in the computation of interest. The Authorized Representative shall provide the Agent written confirmation of each such telephonic notice in the form of a Borrowing Notice or Interest Rate Selection Notice (as applicable) with appropriate insertions but failure to provide such confirmation shall not affect the validity of such telephonic notice. Notice of receipt of such Borrowing Notice or Interest Rate Selection Notice, as the case may be, shall be provided by the Agent to each Lender by telefacsimile transmission with reasonable promptness, but (provided the Agent shall have received such notice by 12:00 noon) not later than 3:00 P.M. on the same day as the Agent’s receipt of such notice. All such Continuations or Conversions of Revolving Loans shall be effected pro rata based on the Applicable Commitment Percentages of the Lenders.

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     3.3 Payment of Interest. The Borrower shall pay to the Agent interest on the outstanding and unpaid principal amount of each Loan, (i) for the account of each Lender in the case of Revolving Loans commencing on the first date of such Revolving Loan until such Revolving Loan shall be repaid, at the applicable Base Rate or Fixed Rate as designated by the Borrower in the related Borrowing Notice or Interest Rate Selection Notice or as otherwise provided hereunder, (ii) for the account of the Swing Line Lender in the case of Swing Line Loans at the Base Rate, and (iii) for the account of each Competitive Bid Lender, for the period commencing on the date of such Competitive Bid Loan until such Competitive Bid Loan is paid in full at the Absolute Rate. Interest on each Loan shall be paid on the earlier of (a) in the case of any Base Rate Revolving Loan, quarterly in arrears of the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing on December 31, 2003, until the Revolving Credit Termination Date, at which date the entire principal amount of and all accrued interest on the Loans shall be paid in full, (b) in the case of any Swing Line Loan, as provided in Section 2.6(a) and (b), (c) in the case of any Fixed Rate Loan, on last day of the applicable Interest Period for such Fixed Rate Loan and if such Interest Period extends for more than three (3) months, at intervals of three (3) months after the first day of such Interest Period, and (d) upon payment in full of the related Loan; provided, however, that if any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, all amounts outstanding hereunder shall bear interest, so long as such Event of Default is continuing, until paid in full at the Default Rate notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary.

     3.4 Prepayments of Fixed Rate Loans. Subject to Section 2.3(c), whenever any payment of principal shall be made in respect of any Loan hereunder, whether at maturity, on acceleration, by optional or mandatory prepayment or as otherwise required or permitted hereunder, with the effect that any Fixed Rate Loan shall be prepaid in whole or in part prior to the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Fixed Rate Loan, such payment of principal shall be accompanied by the additional payment, if any, required by Section 4.5.

     3.5 Manner of Payment. (a) The principal amount of all Outstandings shall be due and payable to the Agent for the benefit of each Lender, the Competitive Bid Lender, each L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, in full on the Revolving Credit Termination Date or earlier as specifically provided herein. Such principal amount shall be recorded in Dollars as set forth in Section 2.3. The repayment of such principal amount shall be made in Dollars if the Loan was made in Dollars. If the Loan was made in an Alternative Currency, the portion of the Revolving Credit Outstandings attributable to each Advance (or the Continuation thereof) and the portion of Competitive Bid Outstandings attributable to each Competitive Bid Borrowing (each as determined from the Agent’s records) shall be repaid in the same Alternative Currency as such Advance or Competitive Bid Borrowing. Each payment of principal (including any prepayment) and payment of interest and fees, and any other amount required to be paid by or on behalf of the Borrower to the Lenders, the Competitive Bid Lenders, the Agent, each L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender with respect to any Loan, shall be made to the Agent (i) in Dollars at the Principal Office in the case of Loans made in Dollars and (ii) in the same Alternative Currency at the Funding Bank in the case of Loans made in Alternative Currencies, in immediately available funds without setoff, recoupment, deduction or counterclaim on or before 2:00 P.M. on the date such payment is due; provided that in the case of Competitive Bid Loans made in Alternative Currencies, such payment shall be made to the applicable Competitive Bid Lender at the Funding Bank. The Borrower shall give the Agent not less than

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one (1) Business Day prior written notice of any payment of principal, such notice to be given prior to 2:00 P.M. and to specify the date the payment will be made and the Loan to which payment relates. In the case of Loans made in Dollars, the Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, debit the amount of such payment from any one or more ordinary deposit accounts of the Borrower with the Agent.

     (b)  Any payment made by or on behalf of the Borrower shall be made both (i) in Dollars in the case of Loans made in Dollars and in the required Alternative Currency in the case of Loans made in Alternative Currencies and in immediately available funds and (ii) prior to 2:00 P.M. on the date such payment is to be made. Any such payment shall not be deemed to be received until the time such funds become available. Interest shall continue to accrue at the Default Rate on any principal or fees as to which no payment is made from the date such amount was due and payable until the date such funds become available.

     (c)  In the event that any payment hereunder or under any of the Notes becomes due and payable on a day other than a Business Day, then such due date shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless provided otherwise under the definition of “Interest Period”; provided, however, that interest shall continue to accrue during the period of any such extension; and provided further, however, that in no event shall any such due date be extended beyond the Revolving Credit Termination Date.

     3.6 Fees.

     (a)  Facility Fee. For the period beginning on and including the Closing Date and ending on (but excluding) the Revolving Credit Termination Date, the Borrower agrees to pay to the Agent, for the pro rata benefit of the Lenders based on their Applicable Commitment Percentages, a facility fee equal to the Applicable Facility Fee multiplied by the Total Revolving Credit Commitment without giving effect to any Outstandings. Such fees shall be due in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December commencing December 31, 2003 to and on the Revolving Credit Termination Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as any Lender fails to make available any portion of its Revolving Credit Commitment when requested, such Lender shall not be entitled to receive payment of its pro rata share of such fee until such Lender shall make available such portion.

     (b)  Administrative Fees. The Borrower agrees to pay to the Agent, for the Agent’s individual account, an annual administrative fee, such fee to be payable in such amounts and at such dates as from time to time agreed to by the Borrower and Agent in writing.

     (c)  Competitive Bid Fees. The Borrower agrees to pay to the Agent, for the Agent’s individual account, an administrative fee of $1,500 for each Competitive Bid Quote Request made by the Borrower, such fee to be payable at the time of each Competitive Bid Quote Request.

     3.7 Payments to Agent for Lenders. Except as otherwise specified herein, (i) each payment on account of the principal of and interest on Revolving Loans, the fees described in Section 3.6, and Swing Line Loans as to which the Lenders have funded their respective Participations which remain outstanding, shall be made to the Agent for the account of the

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Lenders pro rata based on their Applicable Commitment Percentages, (ii) except with respect to Swing Line Loans as to which the Lenders have funded their respective Participations which remain outstanding, each payment on account of the principal of and interest on Swing Line Loans shall be made to the Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender, (iii) each payment on account of the principal of and interest on a Competitive Bid Loan shall be made to the Agent for the account of the respective Competitive Bid Lender making such Competitive Bid Loan, (iv) each payment on account of the principal of and interest on L/C Borrowings shall be made to the Agent for the account of the applicable L/C Issuer, and (v) the Agent will promptly distribute to the Lenders, the Swing Line Lender or Competitive Bid Lenders, as the case may be, in immediately available funds payments received in fully collected, immediately available funds from the Borrower.

     3.8 Computation of Rates and Fees. Except as may be otherwise expressly provided, (a) interest on Base Rate Loans shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365/366 days and calculated for actual days elapsed and (b) all other interest rates (including each Fixed Rate and the Default Rate) and fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and calculated for actual days elapsed.

     3.9 Deficiency Advances; Failure to Purchase Participations. No Lender shall be responsible for any default of any other Lender in respect to such other Lender’s obligation to make any Loan or Advance hereunder or to fund its purchase of any Participation hereunder nor shall the Revolving Credit Commitment of any Lender hereunder be increased as a result of such default of any other Lender. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event any Lender shall fail to advance funds to the Borrower as herein provided, the Agent may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, advance under the applicable Note in its favor as a Lender all or any portion of such amount or amounts (each, a “deficiency advance”) and shall thereafter be entitled to payments of principal of and interest on such deficiency advance in the same manner and at the same interest rate or rates to which such other Lender would have been entitled had it made such Advance under its Note; provided that, (i) such defaulting Lender shall not be entitled to receive payments of principal, interest or fees with respect to such deficiency advance until such deficiency advance shall be paid by such Lender and (ii) upon payment to the Agent from such other Lender of the entire outstanding amount of each such deficiency advance, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, from the most recent date or dates interest was paid to the Agent by a Borrower on each Loan comprising the deficiency advance at the interest rate per annum for overnight borrowing by the Agent from the Federal Reserve Bank, then such payment shall be credited against the applicable Note of the Agent in full payment of such deficiency advance and such Borrower shall be deemed to have borrowed the amount of such deficiency advance from such other Lender as of the most recent date or dates, as the case may be, upon which any payments of interest were made by such Borrower thereon. In the event any Lender shall fail to fund its purchase of a Participation after notice from the Swing Line Lender or an L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such Lender shall pay to the Swing Line Lender or the applicable L/C Issuer, as applicable, such amount on demand, together with interest on the amount so due from the date of such notice at the interest rate per annum for overnight borrowing by the Agent from the Federal Reserve Bank to the date such purchase price is received by the Swing Line Lender or the applicable L/C Issuer, as applicable.

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ARTICLE IV

Change in Circumstances

     4.1 Increased Cost and Reduced Return.

     (a)  If, after the date hereof, the adoption of any applicable law, rule, or regulation, or any change in any applicable law, rule, or regulation (other than any such adoption or change relating to Taxes or Other Taxes, the compensation for which is governed by Section 4.6), or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority, central bank, or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any Lender (or its Applicable Lending Office) with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any such Governmental Authority, central bank, or comparable agency:

       (i) shall impose, modify, or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, assessment, or similar requirement (other than the reserve requirement contemplated by Section 4.1(e)) relating to any extensions of credit or other assets of, or any deposits with or other liabilities or commitments of, such Lender (or its Applicable Lending Office), including the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Lender hereunder; or

       (ii) shall impose on such Lender (or its Applicable Lending Office) or on the London interbank market any other condition affecting this Agreement or its Note or any of such extensions of credit or liabilities or commitments;

and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Lender (or its Applicable Lending Office) of making, Converting into, Continuing, or maintaining any Fixed Rate Loans or issuing or participating in Letters of Credit or to reduce any sum received or receivable by such Lender (or its Applicable Lending Office) under this Agreement or its Note with respect to any Fixed Rate Loans or Letters of Credit, then the Borrower shall pay to such Lender within 15 days of demand for such amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for such increased cost or reduction. If any Lender requests compensation by the Borrower under this Section 4.1(a), the Borrower may, by notice to such Lender (with a copy to the Agent), suspend the obligation of such Lender to make or Continue Loans of the Type with respect to which such compensation is requested, or to Convert Loans of any other Type into Loans of such Type, until the event or condition giving rise to such request ceases to be in effect (in which case the provisions of Section 4.4 shall be applicable); provided that such suspension shall not affect the right of such Lender to receive the compensation so requested.

     (b)  If, after the date hereof, any Lender shall have determined that the adoption of any applicable law, rule, or regulation regarding capital adequacy or any change therein or in the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority, central bank, or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or any request or directive regarding capital adequacy (whether or not having the force of law) of any such Governmental Authority, central bank, or comparable agency, has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on the capital of such Lender or any corporation controlling such

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Lender as a consequence of such Lender’s obligations hereunder to a level below that which such Lender or such corporation could have achieved but for such adoption, change, request, or directive (taking into consideration its policies with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time within 15 days after demand to such Lender (with a copy to the Agent) the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for such reduction.

     (c)  Each Lender shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Agent of any event of which it has knowledge, occurring after the date hereof, which will entitle such Lender to compensation pursuant to this Section 4.1 and will designate a different Applicable Lending Office if such designation will avoid the need for, or reduce the amount of, such compensation and will not, in the judgment of such Lender, be otherwise disadvantageous to it. Any Lender claiming compensation under this Section 4.1 shall furnish to the Borrower and the Agent a statement setting forth the additional amount or amounts to be paid to it hereunder and the calculation thereof in reasonable detail which shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. In determining such amount, such Lender may use any reasonable averaging and attribution methods.

     (d)  Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation for any increased costs or reduction in amounts received or receivable or reduction in return on capital shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be under any obligation to compensate any Lender under clauses (a) or (b) above with respect to increased costs or reduction in return on capital with respect to any period prior to the date that is three months prior to such request if such Lender knew or could reasonably have been expected to be aware of the circumstances giving rise to such increased costs or reductions in return on capital and of the fact that such circumstances would in fact result in a claim for increased compensation by reason of such increased costs or reductions in capital; provided further that the foregoing limitation shall not apply to any increased costs or reductions in return on capital arising out o f the retroactive application of any law, rule, guideline or directive as aforesaid within such three month period.

     (e)  The Borrower shall pay to each Lender, as long as such Lender shall be required to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency funds or deposits (currently known as “Eurocurrency liabilities”), additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Eurodollar Rate Loan and of each Offshore Rate Loan, as applicable, equal to the actual costs of such reserves allocated to such Loan by such Lender (as determined by such Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive), which shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan, provided the Borrower shall have received at least 15 days’ prior notice (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such additional interest from such Lender. If a Lender fails to give notice 15 days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date, such additional interest shall be due and payable 15 days from receipt of such notice.

     4.2 Limitation on Types of Loans. If on or prior to the first day of any Interest Period for any Fixed Rate Revolving Loan:

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       (a) the Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive) that by reason of circumstances affecting the relevant market, adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period; or
 
       (b) the Required Lenders determine (which determination shall be conclusive) and notify the Agent that the Fixed Rate will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to the Lenders of funding Fixed Rate Revolving Loans for such Interest Period;

then the Agent shall give the Borrower prompt notice thereof specifying the relevant Type of Loans and the relevant amounts or periods, and so long as such condition remains in effect, the Lenders shall be under no obligation to make additional Loans of such Type, Continue Loans of such Type, or to Convert Loans of any other Type into Loans of such Type and the Borrower shall, on the last day(s) of the then current Interest Period(s) for the outstanding Loans of the affected Type, either prepay such Loans or Convert such Loans into another Type of Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

     4.3 Illegality. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in the event that it becomes unlawful for any Lender or its Applicable Lending Office to make, maintain, or fund Eurodollar Rate Loans or Offshore Rate Loans hereunder, then such Lender shall promptly notify the Borrower thereof and such Lender’s obligation to make or Continue Eurodollar Rate Loans and Offshore Rate Loans and to Convert other Types of Loans into Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended until the circumstances giving rise to suspension no longer exist in which case such Lender shall again make, maintain, and fund Eurodollar Rate Loans or Offshore Rate Loans, as applicable (in which case the provisions of Section 4.4 shall be applicable).

     4.4 Treatment of Affected Loans. If the obligation of any Lender to make a Fixed Rate Loan or to Continue, or to Convert Loans of any other Type into, Loans of a particular Type shall be suspended pursuant to Section 4.1 or 4.3 hereof (Loans of such Type being herein called “Affected Loans” and such Type being herein called the “Affected Type”), such Lender’s Affected Loans shall be automatically Converted into Base Rate Loans in the Dollar Equivalent Amount of such Affected Loans on the last day(s) of the then current Interest Period(s) for Affected Loans (or, in the case of a Conversion required by Section 4.3 hereof, on such earlier date as such Lender may specify to the Borrower with a copy to the Agent) and, unless and until such Lender gives notice as provided below that the circumstances specified in Section 4.1 or 4.3 hereof that gave rise to such Conversion no longer exist:

       (a) to the extent that such Lender’s Affected Loans have been so Converted, all payments and prepayments of principal that would otherwise be applied to such Lender’s Affected Loans shall be applied instead to its Base Rate Loans; and
 
       (b) all Loans that would otherwise be made or Continued by such Lender as Loans of the Affected Type shall be made or Continued instead as Base Rate Loans, and all Loans of such Lender that would otherwise be Converted into Loans of the Affected Type shall be Converted instead into (or shall remain as) Base Rate Loans.

If such Lender gives notice to the Borrower (with a copy to the Agent) that the circumstances specified in Section 4.1 or 4.3 hereof that gave rise to the Conversion of such Lender’s Affected

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Loans pursuant to this Section 4.4 no longer exist (which such Lender agrees to do promptly upon such circumstances ceasing to exist) at a time when Loans of the Affected Type made by other Lenders are outstanding, such Lender’s Base Rate Loans shall be automatically (i) in the case of Affected Loans originally made in Dollars, Converted and (ii) in the case of Affected Loans originally made in an Alternative Currency, converted into the Alternative Currency Equivalent Amount, on the first day(s) of the next succeeding Interest Period(s) for such outstanding Loans of the Affected Type, to the extent necessary so that, after giving effect thereto, all Loans held by the Lenders holding Loans of the Affected Type and by such Lender are held pro rata (as to principal amounts, Types, currency denomination and Interest Periods) in accordance with their respective Revolving Credit Commitments.

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

       (a) any payment, prepayment, or Conversion of a Fixed Rate Loan for any reason (except as set forth in Section 2.3(c)) including, without limitation, the acceleration of the Loans pursuant to Section 9.1, on a date other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan; or

       (b) any failure by the Borrower for any reason (including, without limitation, the failure of any condition precedent specified in Article V to be satisfied) to borrow, Convert, Continue, or prepay a Fixed Rate Loan on the date for such borrowing, Conversion, Continuation, or prepayment specified in the relevant notice of borrowing, prepayment, Continuation, or Conversion under this Agreement;

including any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained.

     4.6 Taxes. (a) Any and all payments by the Borrower to or for the account of any Lender or the Agent hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any and all present or future taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings, and all liabilities with respect thereto, excluding (x) in the case of each Lender and the Agent, taxes imposed on its income, and franchise or similar taxes (including branch profit taxes) imposed on it, by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such Lender (or its Applicable Lending Office) or the Agent (as the case may be) is organized or any political subdivision thereof, (y) in the case of each Lender and the Agent, taxes imposed by reason of any present or former connection between such Lender or the Agent and the jurisdiction imposing such taxes, other than solely as a result of this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby, and (z) any United States withholding tax imposed on such payment, but not excluding any portion of such tax that exceeds the United States withholding tax that would have been imposed on such a payment to such Lender under the laws and treaties in effect when such Lender first becomes a party to this Agreement (all such taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, charges, withholdings, and liabilities not excluded in (x), (y) and (z) being hereinafter referred to as “Taxes”). If the Borrower shall be required by law to deduct any Taxes

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from or in respect of any sum payable under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to any Lender or the Agent, (i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 4.6) such Lender or the Agent receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower shall make such deductions, (iii) the Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant taxation authority or other authority in accordance with applicable law, and (iv) within thirty days after the date of such payment, the Borrower shall furnish to the Agent, at its address referred to in Section 11.2, the original or a certified copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof or, if such receipt is not legally available, any other document evidencing payment thereof that is reasonably satisfactory to such Lender.

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

     (c)  The Borrower agrees to indemnify each Lender and the Agent for the full amount of Taxes and Other Taxes (including, without limitation, any Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted by any jurisdiction on amounts payable under this Section 4.6) paid by such Lender or the Agent (as the case may be) and any liability (including penalties, interest, and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto. Indemnification shall be made within 15 days of the date of demand therefor.

     (d)  Each Lender organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States, on or prior to the date of its execution and delivery of this Agreement in the case of each Lender listed on the signature pages hereof and on or prior to the date on which it becomes a Lender in the case of each other Lender, and from time to time thereafter (but only so long as such Lender remains lawfully able to do so) on or before the date any predecessor forms described in this clause (d) expire or become obsolete or after the occurrence of any event requiring a change in the most recent forms delivered to the Agent, shall provide the Borrower and the Agent with (i) Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8ECI, as appropriate, or any successor form prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service, certifying that such Lender is entitled to benefits under an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party which exempts the Lender from United States withholding tax or reduces the rate of withholding tax on payments of interest or certifying that the income receivable pursuant to this Agreement is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States, (ii) Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 or W-9, as appropriate, or any successor form prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service, and (iii) any other form or certificate required by any taxing authority (including any certificate required by Sections 871(h) and 881(c) of the Internal Revenue Code), certifying that such Lender is entitled to an exemption from or a reduced rate of tax on payments pursuant to this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents.

     (e)  For any period with respect to which a Lender has failed to provide the Borrower and the Agent with the appropriate form pursuant to Section 4.6(d) (unless such failure is due to

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a change in treaty, law, or regulation occurring subsequent to the date on which a form originally was required to be provided), such Lender shall not be entitled to indemnification under Section 4.6(a) or 4.6(b) with respect to Taxes imposed by the United States; provided, however, that should a Lender, which is otherwise exempt from or subject to a reduced rate of withholding tax, become subject to Taxes because of its failure to deliver a form required hereunder, the Borrower shall take such steps as such Lender shall reasonably request to assist such Lender to recover such Taxes.

     (f)  Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreement of the Borrower hereunder, the agreements and obligations of the Borrower contained in this Section 4.6 shall survive the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments and the payment in full of the Notes.

     (g)  Refunds or Credits. If any Lender receives a refund or credit from a taxation authority (such credit to include any increase in any foreign tax credit) in respect of any Taxes or Other Taxes for which it has been indemnified by the Borrower or with respect to which the Borrower has paid additional amounts hereunder, it shall within 30 days from the date of such receipt pay over the amount of such refund, credit or other reduction (including any interest paid or credited by the relevant taxing authority or Governmental Authority with respect to such refund, credit or other reduction) to the Borrower (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Borrower with respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund or credit), net of all reasonable out-of-pocket third party expenses of such Lender related to claiming such refund or credit and without interest (other than interest paid by the relevant taxation authority with respect to such refund or credit); provided, however, that the Borrower agrees to repay, upon the request of such Lender, the amount paid over to the Borrower (plus penalties, interest or other charges) to such Lender in the event such Lender is required to repay such refund or credit to such taxation authority.

     (h)  Conduit Financing Arrangements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.6, if the Internal Revenue Service determines that a Lender is participating in a conduit financing arrangement as defined in Section 7701(1) of the Code and the regulations thereunder (a “Conduit Financing Arrangement”), then (i) any Taxes that the Borrower is required to withhold from payments to the Lender participating in the Conduit Financing Arrangement shall be excluded from the additional amounts to be paid under Sections 4.6(a), (b) or (c) and (ii) such Lender shall indemnify the Borrower in full for any and all Taxes for which the Borrower is held liable under Section 1461 of the Code by virtue of such Conduit Financing Arrangement.

     4.7 Change of Lending Office. Each Lender agrees that, upon the occurrence of any event giving rise to the operation of Section 4.1, 4.2(b) or 4.6 with respect to such Lender, it will, if requested by the Borrower, use reasonable efforts (subject to overall policy considerations of such Lender) to designate another lending office for any Loans affected by such event with the object of avoiding the consequences of such event; provided, that such designation is made on terms that, in the sole judgment of such Lender, cause such Lender and its lending office(s) to suffer no economic, legal or regulatory disadvantage, and provided, further, that nothing in this Section 4.7 shall affect or postpone any of the obligations of the Borrower or the rights of any Lender pursuant to Section 4.1, 4.2(b) or 4.6.

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     4.8 Substitution of Lenders. Upon the receipt by the Borrower from any Lender (an “Affected Lender”) of a claim under Section 4.1, 4.2(b) or 4.6, the Borrower may: (a) request one or more of the other Lenders to acquire and assume all or part of such Affected Lender’s Loans and Revolving Credit Commitment; or (b) replace such Affected Lender by designating another Lender or a financial institution that is willing to acquire such Loans and assume such Revolving Credit Commitment; provided that (i) such replacement does not conflict with any requirement of law, (ii) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such replacement, (iii) the Borrower shall repay (or the replacement bank or financial institution shall purchase, at par) all Loans, accrued interest and other amounts owing to such replaced Lender prior to the date of replacement, (iv) the Borrower shall be liable to such replaced Lender under Section 4.5 if any Fixed Rate Loan owing to such replaced Lender shall be prepaid (or purchased) other than on the last day of the Interest Period relating thereto, (v) the replacement bank or institution, if not already a Lender, shall otherwise qualify as an Eligible Assignee, (vi) the replaced Lender shall be obligated to make such replacement in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.1 (provided that the Borrower or replacement Lender shall be obligated to pay the registration and processing fee) and (vii) the Borrower shall pay all additional amounts (if any) required pursuant to Section 4.1, 4.2(b) or 4.6, as the case may be, to the extent such additional amounts were incurred on or prior to the consummation of such replacement.

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ARTICLE V

Conditions to Making Loans

     5.1 Conditions of Closing. The obligation of the Lenders to make the initial Advance under the Revolving Credit Facility or an initial Competitive Bid Loan, of the Swing Line Lender to make any Swing Line Loan, and of the L/C Issuers to issue any Letter of Credit is subject to the conditions precedent that:

       (a) the Agent shall have received on the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and Lenders, the following:

       (i) executed originals of each of this Agreement, the Notes and the other Loan Documents, together with all schedules and exhibits thereto;

       (ii) the favorable written opinion or opinions with respect to the Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby of special counsel to the Borrower dated the Closing Date, addressed to the Agent and the Lenders and satisfactory to the Agent and to Helms Mulliss & Wicker, PLLC, special counsel to the Agent;

       (iii) resolutions of the boards of directors or other appropriate governing body (or of the appropriate committee thereof) of the Borrower certified by its secretary or assistant secretary as of the Closing Date, approving and adopting the Loan Documents to be executed by the Borrower, and authorizing the execution and delivery thereof;

       (iv) specimen signatures of officers or other appropriate representatives executing the Loan Documents on behalf of the Borrower, certified by the secretary or assistant secretary of the Borrower;

       (v) the Organizational Documents of the Borrower certified as of a recent date by the Secretary of State of its state of organization;

       (vi) the by-laws of the Borrower certified as of the Closing Date as true and correct by its secretary or assistant secretary;

       (vii) a certificate issued as of a recent date by the Secretary of State of the jurisdiction of formation of the Borrower as to the due existence and good standing of such the Borrower;

       (viii) notice of appointment of the initial Authorized Representative(s);

       (ix) a certificate of an Authorized Representative dated the Closing Date demonstrating compliance with the covenants contained in Sections 8.1, 8.2(i), and 8.3(e) as of the end of the fiscal quarter for which financial statements are publicly available most recently ended prior to the Closing Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit G;

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       (x) an initial Borrowing Notice, if any, and, if elected by the Borrower, Interest Rate Selection Notice;

       (xi) evidence that all fees payable by the Borrower on the Closing Date to the Agent, BAS and the Lenders have been paid in full;

       (xii) a certificate of the Borrower certifying that (A) as of the Closing Date, each of the representations and warranties set forth in Article VI is true and correct, (B) after giving effect to the Closing Date and all Loans to be made and Letters of Credit to be issued on the Closing Date, there will be no Default or Event of Default under this Agreement, and (C) except as disclosed in any reports or financial statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission prior to August 20, 2003, as of the Closing Date there shall not have occurred a material adverse change since January 4, 2003 in the business, financial position, results of operations or prospects of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; and

       (xiii) such other documents, instruments, certificates and opinions as the Agent or any Lender may reasonably request on or prior to the Closing Date in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

     5.2 Conditions of Revolving Loans, Swing Line Loans and Competitive Bid Loans. The obligations of the Lenders to make any Revolving Loans or Competitive Bid Loans, the Swing Line Lender to make Swing Line Loans, and the obligation of the L/C Issuers to issue Letters of Credit hereunder on or subsequent to the Closing Date are subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

       (a) (i) the Agent, in the case of Revolving Loans, or the Swing Line Lender, in the case of Swing Line Loans, shall have received a Borrowing Notice if required by Article II or (ii) an L/C Issuer, in the case of L/C Credit Extensions, shall have received a Letter of Credit Application as required by Article II;

       (b) the representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in Article VI and in each of the other Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Advance, Swing Line Loan, or L/C Credit Extension or Competitive Bid Loan, with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on and as of such date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date and except that the financial statements referred to in Section 6.5 shall be deemed to be those financial statements most recently delivered to the Agent and the Lenders pursuant to Section 7.1 from the date financial statements are delivered to the Agent and the Lenders in accordance with such Section;

       (c) at the time of (and after giving effect to) each Advance, Swing Line Loan, L/C Credit Extension or Competitive Bid Loan, no Default or Event of Default specified in Article IX shall have occurred and be continuing; and

       (d) immediately after giving effect to:

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       (i) a Loan or the issuance of a Letter of Credit, the aggregate principal balance of all outstanding Revolving Loans (other than Competitive Bid Loans) for each Lender, plus such Lender’s Applicable Commitment Percentage (determined without duplication) of all Competitive Bid Outstandings, L/C Obligations and Swing Line Outstandings, shall not exceed such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment;

       (ii) a Swing Line Loan, the Swing Line Outstandings shall not exceed $50,000,000;

       (iii) a L/C Credit Extension, the L/C Obligations shall not exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit;

       (iv) a Loan or the issuance of a Letter of Credit, the Outstandings shall not exceed the then applicable Total Revolving Credit Commitment; and

       (v) a Loan or the issuance of a Letter of Credit in an Alternative Currency, the Outstandings in Alternative Currencies shall not exceed the Total Alternative Currency Sublimit.

ARTICLE VI

Representations and Warranties

     The Borrower represents and warrants with respect to itself and to its Subsidiaries (which representations and warranties shall survive the delivery of the documents mentioned herein and the making of Loans), that:

     6.1 Corporate Existence and Power. The Borrower is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of Pennsylvania, and has all corporate powers and all material governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals required to carry on its business as now conducted.

     6.2 Corporate and Governmental Authorization; No Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement and the Notes are within the Borrower’s corporate powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, require no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency or official and do not contravene, or constitute a default under, any provision of applicable law or regulation or of the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the Borrower or of any agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

     6.3 Material Subsidiaries. Each of the Borrower’s Material Subsidiaries is a corporation, limited liability company or partnership, as the case may be, duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation, and has the requisite powers and all material governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals required to carry on its business as now conducted.

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     6.4 Binding Effect. This Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Borrower and each Note, when executed and delivered in accordance with this Agreement, will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Borrower, in each case enforceable in accordance with its terms.

     6.5 Financial Information (a) The consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of January 4, 2003 and the related consolidated statements of income, retained earnings and cash flow for the fiscal year then ended, reported on by PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP and set forth in the Borrower’s 2002 Form 10-K, a copy of which has been delivered to each of the Lenders, fairly present, in conformity with GAAP, the consolidated financial position of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of such date and their consolidated results of operations and cash flows for such fiscal year.

     (b)  The unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of July 5, 2003 and the related unaudited consolidated statements of income and cash flows for the six months then ended, set forth in the Borrower’s quarterly report for the fiscal quarter ended July 5, 2003 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 10-Q, a copy of which has been delivered to each of the Lenders, fairly present, in conformity with GAAP applied on a Consistent Basis, the consolidated financial position of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of such date and their consolidated results of operations and cash flows for such six-month period (subject to normal year-end adjustments).

     6.6 Litigation. There is no action, suit or proceeding pending against, or to the knowledge of the Borrower threatened against or affecting, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries before any court or arbitrator or any governmental body, agency or official which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or which in any manner draws into question the validity of this Agreement or the Notes.

     6.7 Compliance with ERISA. Each member of the ERISA Group has fulfilled its obligations under the minimum funding standards of ERISA and the Code with respect to each Plan and is in compliance in all material respects with the presently applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code with respect to each Plan. No member of the ERISA Group has (i) sought a waiver of the minimum funding standard under Section 412 of the Code in respect of any Plan or Multiemployer Plan, (ii) failed to make any contribution or payment to any Plan or Multiemployer Plan or in respect of any Benefit Arrangement, or made any amendment to any Plan or Benefit Arrangement, which has resulted or could result in the imposition of a Lien or the posting of a bond or other security under ERISA or the Code or (iii) incurred any liability under Title IV of ERISA other than a liability to the PBGC for premiums under Section 4007 of ERISA, in each case that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     6.8 Environmental Matters. In the ordinary course of its business, the Borrower conducts periodic reviews, which it considers prudent and reasonable in light of the nature of the business, of the effect of Environmental Laws on the business, operations and properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, in the course of which it identifies and evaluates associated liabilities and costs (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up or closure of properties presently or previously owned, any capital or operating expenditures required to achieve or maintain compliance with environmental protection

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standards imposed by law or as a condition of any license, permit or contract, any related constraints on operating activities, including any periodic or permanent shutdown of any facility or reduction in the level of or change in the nature of operations conducted thereat and any actual or potential liabilities to third parties, including employees, and any related costs and expenses). On the basis of this review, the Borrower has reasonably concluded that Environmental Laws are unlikely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     6.9 Taxes. The Borrower and its Significant Subsidiaries have filed all United States Federal income tax returns and all other material tax returns which are required to be filed by them and have paid all taxes due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary, except for such amounts as may be contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, so long as collection thereof is effectively stayed. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in respect of taxes or other governmental charges are, in the reasonable opinion of the Borrower, adequate.

     6.10 Margin Stock. The proceeds of the borrowings made hereunder will be used by the Borrower only for the purposes expressly authorized herein. None of such proceeds will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any Margin Stock or for the purpose of reducing or retiring any Indebtedness which was originally incurred to purchase or carry Margin Stock or for any other purpose which might constitute any of the Loans under this Agreement a “purpose” credit within the meaning of Regulation U or Regulation X (12 C.F.R. Part 221) of the Board; provided, however that the Borrower may purchase (i) its own stock and (ii) Margin Stock in connection with an Acquisition so long as, following the application of the proceeds of each borrowing hereunder, not more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the value of the assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis will be Margin Stock. Neither the Borrower nor any agent acting in its behalf has taken or will take any action which might cause this Agreement or any of the documents or instruments delivered pursuant hereto to violate any regulation of the Board or to violate the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws, in each case as in effect on the date hereof.

     6.11 Investment Company. The Borrower is not an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

     6.12 Full Disclosure. All information heretofore furnished by the Borrower to the Agent or any Lender for purposes of or in connection with this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby is, and all such information hereafter furnished by the Borrower to the Agent or any Lender will be, true and accurate in every material respect or based on reasonable estimates on the date as of which such information is stated or certified. The Borrower has disclosed to the Lenders in writing any and all facts which materially and adversely affect or may affect (to the extent the Borrower can now reasonably foresee), the business, operations, prospects or condition, financial or otherwise, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, considered as a whole, or the ability of the Borrower to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

     6.13 No Consents, Etc. Neither the respective businesses or properties of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, nor any relationship among the Borrower or any Subsidiary and any other Person, nor any circumstance in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of the

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Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby, is such as to require a consent, approval or authorization of, or filing, registration or qualification with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person on the part of the Borrower as a condition to the execution, delivery and performance of, or consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents, which, if not obtained or effected, would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, or if so, such consent, approval, authorization, filing, registration or qualification has been duly obtained or effected, as the case may be.

     6.14 Tax Shelter Regulations. The Borrower does not intend to treat the Loans and/or Letters of Credit as being a “reportable transaction” (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4). In the event the Borrower determines to take any action inconsistent with such intention, it will promptly notify the Agent thereof. If the Borrower so notifies the Agent, the Borrower acknowledges that one or more of the Lenders may treat its Revolving Loans, Competitive Bid Loans and/or its participations in Swing Line Loans and/or Letters of Credit as part of a transaction that is subject to Treasury Regulation Section 301.6112-1, and such Lender or Lenders, as applicable, will maintain the lists and other records required by such Treasury Regulation.

ARTICLE VII

Affirmative Covenants

     Until the Facility Termination Date, unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise consent in writing:

     7.1 Financial Reports, Etc. The Borrower will deliver to each of the Lenders:

     (a)  as soon as available and in any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal year and the related consolidated statements of income, retained earnings and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a Consistent Basis and containing opinions of PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP, or other such independent certified public accountants of nationally recognized standing, which are unqualified as to the scope of the audit performed and as to the “going concern” status of the Borrower;

     (b)  as soon as available and in any event within 45 days after the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such quarter and the related consolidated statements of income for such quarter and of income and cash flows for the portion of the Borrower’s fiscal year ended at the end of such quarter, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding quarter and the corresponding portion of the Borrower’s previous fiscal year, all certified (subject to normal year-end adjustments) as to fairness of presentation, generally accepted accounting principles and consistency by an Authorized Representative of the Borrower;

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     (c)  simultaneously with the delivery of each set of financial statements referred to in clauses (a) and (b) above, a certificate of an Authorized Representative of the Borrower (i) setting forth in reasonable detail the calculations required to establish whether the Borrower was in compliance with the requirements of Sections 8.1, 8.2(i) and 8.3(e), on the date of such financial statements and (ii) stating whether there exists on the date of such certificate any Default or Event of Default and, if any Default or Event of Default then exists, setting forth the details thereof and the action which the Borrower is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto;

     (d)  simultaneously with the delivery of each set of financial statements referred to in clause (a) above, a statement of the firm of independent public accountants which reported on such statements (i) whether anything has come to their attention to cause then to believe that there existed on the date of such statements any Default or Event of Default and (ii) confirming the calculations set forth in the officer’s certificate delivered simultaneously therewith pursuant to clause (c) above;

     (e)  forthwith upon the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, a certificate of an Authorized Representative of the Borrower setting forth the details thereof and the action which the Borrower is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto;

     (f)  promptly upon the mailing thereof to the shareholders of the Borrower generally, copies of all financial statements, reports and proxy statements so mailed;

     (g)  promptly upon the filing thereof, copies of all registration statements (other than the exhibits thereto and any registration statements on Form S-8 or its equivalent) and reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K (or their equivalents) which the Borrower shall have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission;

     (h)  if and when any member of the ERISA Group (i) gives or is required to give notice to the PBGC of any “reportable event” (as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA) with respect to any Plan which might constitute grounds for a termination of such Plan under Title IV of ERISA, or knows that the plan administrator of any Plan has given or is required to give notice of any such reportable event, a copy of the notice of such reportable event given or required to be given to the PBGC; (ii) receives notice that it has incurred complete or partial withdrawal liability under Title IV of ERISA or notice that any Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization, is insolvent or has been terminated, a copy of such notice; (iii) receives notice from the PBGC under Title IV of ERISA of an intent to terminate, impose liability (other than for premiums under Section 4007 of ERISA) in respect of, or appoint a trustee to administer, any Plan, a copy of such notice; (iv) applies for a waiver of the minimum funding standard under Section 412 of the Code, a copy of such application; (v) gives notice of intent to terminate any Plan under Section 404 l(c) of ERISA, a copy of such notice and other information filed with the PBGC; (vi) gives notice of withdrawal from any Plan pursuant to Section 4063 of ERISA, a copy of such notice; or (vii) fails to make any payment or contribution to any Plan or Multiemployer Plan or in respect of any Benefit Arrangement or makes any amendment to any Plan or Benefit Arrangement which has resulted or could result in the imposition of a Lien or the posting of a bond or other security, a certificate of an Authorized Representative of the Borrower setting forth

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details as to such occurrence and action, if any, which the Borrower or applicable member of the ERISA Group is required or proposes to take;

     (i)  if the Borrower has notified the Agent of any intention by the Borrower to treat the Loans and/or Letters of Credit as being a “reportable transaction” (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4), the Borrower shall deliver to the Agent a duly completed copy of IRS Form 8886 or any successor form promptly after the Borrower files such form with the IRS; and

     (j)  from time to time such additional information regarding the financial position or business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as the Agent or any Lender may reasonably request.

     Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7.1 (a), (b) or (g) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date on which such documents are posted (or a link thereto is provided) on the Borrower’s website on the Internet at www.vfc.com, at www.sec.gov/edgar/searchedgar/webusers.htm (the Central Index Key as of the date of this Agreement for the Borrower being 0000103379), or on IntraLinks/IntraAgency or another relevant website, if any, to which each Lender and the Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Agent), in each case so long as such documents are generally available without charge to the Agent and each of the Lenders at such locations; provided that: (x) the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Agent or any Lender that requests the Borrower to deliver such paper copies until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Agent or such Lender and (y) the Borrower shall notify (which may be by facsimile or electronic mail) the Agent and each Lender of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in every instance the Borrower shall be required to provide paper copies of the certificates required by Section 7.1(c) to the Agent. Except for such certificates required by Section 7.1(c), the Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery or to maintain copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Borrower with any such request for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such documents.

     7.2 Payment of Taxes. The Borrower will pay, and will cause each Significant Subsidiary to pay, all their respective tax liabilities, except where the same may be contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, and will maintain, and will cause each Significant Subsidiary to maintain, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, appropriate reserves for the accrual of the same.

     7.3 Maintenance of Properties; Insurance. The Borrower will keep, and will cause each Significant Subsidiary to keep, all material property useful and necessary in its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted; will maintain, and will cause each Significant Subsidiary to maintain (either in the name of the Borrower or in such Significant Subsidiary’s own name) with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance on all their property in at least such amounts and against at least such risks as are usually insured against in the same general area by companies of established repute engaged in

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the same or a similar business; provided that the Borrower shall have the right to self-insure or use a captive insurer in order to meet such insurance requirements so long as the Borrower or such captive insurer provides the Lenders with reasonable proof of financial responsibility. The Borrower will furnish to the Lenders, upon written request from the Agent, full information as to the insurance carried.

     7.4 Compliance with Laws. The Borrower will comply, and cause each Subsidiary to comply, in all material respects with all applicable laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, and requirements of governmental authorities (including, without limitation, Environmental Laws and ERISA and the rules and regulations thereunder) except where (i) the necessity of compliance therewith is contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or (ii) appropriate steps are being taken to correct any failure to comply therewith and such failure does not have a Material Adverse Effect.

     7.5 Books and Records. The Borrower will, and will cause each Significant Subsidiary to, (a) maintain proper books of record and account, in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with GAAP consistently applied shall be made of all financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of the Borrower or such Significant Subsidiary, as the case may be; and (b) maintain such books of record and account in material conformity with all applicable requirements of any Governmental Authority having regulatory jurisdiction over the Borrower or such Significant Subsidiary, as the case may be.

ARTICLE VIII

Negative Covenants

     Until the Facility Termination Date, unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise consent in writing, the Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to:

     8.1 Consolidated Indebtedness to Consolidated Capitalization Permit the ratio of Consolidated Indebtedness to Consolidated Capitalization to be greater than 0.60 to 1.00 at any time.

     8.2 Liens. Incur, create or permit to exist any Lien, charge or other encumbrance of any nature whatsoever with respect to any property or assets now owned or hereafter acquired by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, other than

       (a) Liens existing on the date of this Agreement securing Indebtedness outstanding on the date of this Agreement in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $50,000,000;

       (b) any Lien existing on any asset of any corporation at the time such corporation becomes a Subsidiary and not created in contemplation of such event;

       (c) any Lien on any asset of any corporation existing at the time such corporation is merged or consolidated with or into the Borrower or a Subsidiary and not created in contemplation of such event;

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       (d) any Lien existing on any asset prior to the acquisition thereof by he Borrower or a Subsidiary and not created in contemplation of such acquisition;

       (e) any Lien on any asset securing Indebtedness incurred or assumed for the purpose of financing all or any part of the cost of acquiring such asset, provided that such Lien attaches to such asset concurrently with or within 90 days after the acquisition thereof;

       (f) any Lien arising out of the refinancing, extension, renewal or refunding of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien permitted by clauses (a) through (e) above provided that such Indebtedness is not increased and is not secured by any additional assets;

       (g) Liens arising in the ordinary course of business which (i) do not secure Indebtedness, (ii) do not secure any obligation in an amount exceeding $50,000,000 and (iii) do not in the aggregate materially detract from the value of its assets or materially impair the use thereof in the operations of its business;

       (h) Liens on assets of a Subsidiary securing Indebtedness owed to the Borrower or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary; and

       (i) Liens not otherwise permitted by the foregoing clauses securing Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount at any time not to exceed 5% of Consolidated Net Worth.

     8.3 Indebtedness of Subsidiaries. Incur, create, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness of any Subsidiary of the Borrower, howsoever evidenced, except:

       (a) Indebtedness of any corporation outstanding at the time such corporation becomes a Subsidiary and not created in contemplation of such event;

       (b) Indebtedness of any corporation outstanding at the time such corporation is merged or consolidated with or into a Subsidiary and not created in contemplation of such event;

       (c) Indebtedness secured by a Lien permitted by Section 8.2 hereof;

       (d) Indebtedness owing to the Borrower or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary;

       (e) Indebtedness not otherwise permitted by the foregoing clauses of this Section in an aggregate outstanding principal amount for all Subsidiaries at no time exceeding $350,000,000.

The foregoing is subject to the further limitations that (i) for purposes of this Section, any preferred stock of a Subsidiary held by a Person other than the Borrower or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary shall be included, at the higher of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation value, in the Indebtedness of such Subsidiary and (ii) Indebtedness permitted by this Section does not include

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a refunding, renewal or extension of such Indebtedness so that any such new Indebtedness must fall independently within one of the above exceptions.

     8.4 Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets. The Borrower will not (i) consolidate or merge with or into any other Person; provided that the Borrower may merge with another Person if (A) the Borrower is the corporation surviving such merger and is not a subsidiary of another person and (B) immediately after giving effect to such merger, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; or (ii) sell, lease or otherwise transfer, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of its assets to any other Person, except for sales, leases and other transfers to a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary; provided that nothing in this Section 8.4 shall be construed to prohibit or limit the ability of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to dispose of Margin Stock for fair market value.

     8.5 Change in Control. Cause, suffer or permit to exist or occur any Change of Control.

ARTICLE IX

Events of Default and Acceleration

     9.1 Events of Default. If any one or more of the following events (herein called “Events of Default”) shall occur for any reason whatsoever (and whether such occurrence shall be voluntary or involuntary or come about or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to or in compliance with any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any Governmental Authority), that is to say:

       (a) if default shall be made in the due and punctual payment of the principal of any Loan, when and as the same shall be due and payable whether pursuant to any provision of Article II or Article III, at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise; or

       (b) if default shall be made in the due and punctual payment of any amount of interest on any Loan or other Obligation or of any fees or other amounts payable to any of the Lenders or the Agent within five days of the date on which the same shall be due and payable; or

       (c) if default shall be made in the performance or observance of any covenant set forth in Article VIII; or

       (d) if a default shall be made in the performance or observance of, or shall occur under, any covenant, agreement or provision contained in this Agreement or the Notes (other than as described in clauses (a), (b) or (c) above) and such default shall continue for 30 or more days after the earlier of receipt of notice of such default by the Authorized Representative from the Agent or an officer or Authorized Representative of the Borrower becomes aware of such default, or if without the written consent of the Lenders, this Agreement or any Note shall be disaffirmed or shall terminate, be terminable or be terminated or become void or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever (other than as expressly provided for hereunder or thereunder); or

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       (e) if there shall occur (i) a default, which is not waived or cured within any applicable grace periods, in the payment of any principal, interest, premium or other amount with respect to any Indebtedness (other than the Loans and other Obligations) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in an amount not less than $50,000,000 in the aggregate outstanding, or (ii) any event of default as specified in any agreement or instrument under or pursuant to which any such Indebtedness in excess of $50,000,000 may have been issued, created, assumed, guaranteed or secured by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, and such default or event of default shall continue for more than the period of grace, if any, therein specified, and such default or event of default shall permit the holder of any such Indebtedness (or any agent or trustee acting on behalf of one or more holders) to accelerate the maturity thereof; or

       (f) if any representation, warranty or other statement of fact contained in any Loan Document or in any writing, certificate, report or statement at any time furnished to the Agent or any Lender by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary pursuant to or in connection with any Loan Document, or otherwise, shall be false or misleading in any material respect when given; or

       (g) if the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary shall be unable to pay its debts generally as they become due; file a petition to take advantage of any insolvency statute; make an assignment for the benefit of its creditors; commence a proceeding for the appointment of a receiver, trustee, liquidator or conservator of itself or of the whole or any substantial part of its property; file a petition or answer seeking liquidation, reorganization or arrangement or similar relief under the federal bankruptcy laws or any other applicable law or statute; or

       (h) if a court of competent jurisdiction shall enter an order, judgment or decree appointing a custodian, receiver, trustee, liquidator or conservator of the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary or of the whole or any substantial part of its properties and such order, judgment or decree continues unstayed and in effect for a period of sixty (60) days, or approve a petition filed against the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary seeking liquidation, reorganization or arrangement or similar relief under the federal bankruptcy laws or any other applicable law or statute of the United States of America or any state, which petition is not dismissed within sixty (60) days; or if, under the provisions of any other law for the relief or aid of debtors, a court of competent jurisdiction shall assume custody or control of the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary or of the whole or any substantial part of its properties, which control is not relinquished within sixty (60) days; or if there is commenced against the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary any proceeding or petition seeking reorganization, arrangement or similar relief under the federal bankruptcy laws or any other applicable law or statute of the United States of America or any state which proceeding or petition remains undismissed for a period of sixty (60) days; or if the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary takes any action to indicate its consent to or approval of any such proceeding or petition; or

       (i) if (i) any judgment or order where the amount not covered by insurance (or the amount as to which the insurer denies liability) is in excess of $50,000,000 is rendered against the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or (ii) there is any attachment,

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  injunction or execution against any of the Borrower’s or Subsidiaries’ properties for any amount in excess of $50,000,000; and such judgment, attachment, injunction or execution remains unpaid, unstayed, undischarged, unbonded or undismissed for a period of thirty (30) days; or

       (j) any member of the ERISA Group shall fail to pay when due an amount or amounts aggregating in excess of $50,000,000 which it shall have become liable to pay under Title IV of ERISA; or notice of intent to terminate a Material Plan shall be filed under Title IV or ERISA by any member of the ERISA Group, any plan administrator or any combination of the foregoing; or the PBGC shall institute proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate, to impose liability (other than for premiums under Section 4007 of ERISA) in respect of, or to cause a trustee to be appointed to administer any Material Plan; or a condition shall exist by reason of which the PBGC would be entitled to obtain a decree adjudicating that any Material Plan must be terminated; or there shall occur a complete or partial withdrawal from, or a default, within the meaning of Section 4219(c)(5) of ERISA, with respect to, one or more Multiemployer Plans which could reasonably be expected to cause one or more members of the ERISA Group to incur a payment obligation in excess of $50,000,000;

then, and in any such event and at any time thereafter, if such Event of Default or any other Event of Default shall have not been waived,

       (A) either or both of the following actions may be taken: (i) the Agent may, and at the direction of the Required Lenders shall, declare any obligation of the Lenders and the Swing Line Lender to make further Loans terminated, whereupon the obligation of each Lender and the Swing Line Lender to make further Loans hereunder shall terminate immediately, and (ii) the Agent shall at the direction of the Required Lenders, at their option, declare by notice to the Borrower any or all of the Obligations to be immediately due and payable, and the same, including all interest accrued thereon and all other obligations of the Borrower to the Agent and the Lenders, shall forthwith become immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, protest, notice or other formality of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived, anything contained herein or in any instrument evidencing the Obligations to the contrary notwithstanding; provided, however, that notwithstanding the above, if there shall occur an Event of Default under clause (g) or (h) above, then the obligation of the Lenders and the Swing Line Lender to make Loans hereunder shall automatically terminate and any and all of the Obligations shall be immediately due and payable without the necessity of any action by the Agent or the Required Lenders or notice to the Agent or the Lenders;

       (B) the Agent may, and at the direction of the Required Lenders shall, require that the Borrower Cash Collateralize all L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to the then L/C Obligations) plus the Letter of Credit fees payable with respect to each then outstanding Letter of Credit (calculated at the Applicable Margin for Letters of Credit then in effect for the period from the date of such Cash Collateralization until the expiry date of each such Letter of Credit; and

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       (C) the Agent and each of the Lenders shall have all of the rights and remedies available under the Loan Documents or under any applicable law.

     9.2 Agent to Act. In case any one or more Events of Default shall occur and not have been waived, the Agent may, and at the direction of the Required Lenders shall, proceed to protect and enforce their rights or remedies either by suit in equity or by action at law, or both, whether for the specific performance of any covenant, agreement or other provision contained herein or in any other Loan Document, or to enforce the payment of the Obligations or any other legal or equitable right or remedy.

     9.3 Cumulative Rights. No right or remedy herein conferred upon the Lenders or the Agent is intended to be exclusive of any other rights or remedies contained herein or in any other Loan Document, and every such right or remedy shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to every other such right or remedy contained herein and therein or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute, or otherwise.

     9.4 No Waiver. No course of dealing between the Borrower and any Lender or the Swing Line Lender or the Agent or any failure or delay on the part of any Lender or the Swing Line Lender or the Agent in exercising any rights or remedies under any Loan Document or otherwise available to it shall operate as a waiver of any rights or remedies and no single or partial exercise of any rights or remedies shall operate as a waiver or preclude the exercise of any other rights or remedies hereunder or of the same right or remedy on a future occasion.

     9.5 Allocation of Proceeds. If an Event of Default has occurred and not been waived, and the maturity of the Notes has been accelerated pursuant to Article IX hereof, all payments received by the Agent hereunder, in respect of any principal of or interest on the Obligations or any other amounts payable by the Borrower hereunder, shall be applied by the Agent in the following order:

       (a) amounts due to the Lenders pursuant to Sections 3.6(a) and 11.5;

       (b) amounts due to the Agent pursuant to Section 3.6(b);

       (c) payments of interest on Revolving Loans to be applied for the ratable benefit of the Lenders (with amounts payable in respect of L/C Borrowings and Swing Line Outstandings being included in such calculation and paid to the applicable L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender, respectively) and payments of interest on Competitive Bid Loans to be applied to the applicable Competitive Bid Lender;

       (d) payments of principal of Revolving Loans, to be applied for the ratable benefit of the Lenders (with amounts payable in respect of L/C Borrowings and Swing Line Outstandings being included in such calculation and paid to the applicable L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender, respectively) and payments of principal of Competitive Bid Loans to be applied to the applicable Competitive Bid Lender;

       (e) amounts due to the Agent and the Lenders pursuant to Section 11.9;

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       (f) payments of all other amounts due under any of the Loan Documents, if any, to be applied for the ratable benefit of the Lenders;

       (g) any surplus remaining after application as provided for herein, to the Borrower or otherwise as may be required by applicable law.

ARTICLE X

The Agent

     10.1 Appointment, Powers, and Immunities. Each Lender hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Agent to act as its agent under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with such powers and discretion as are specifically delegated to the Agent by the terms of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The Agent (which term as used in this sentence and in Section 10.5 and the first sentence of Section 10.6 hereof shall include its affiliates and its own and its affiliates’ officers, directors, employees, and agents):

       (a) shall not have any duties or responsibilities except those expressly set forth in this Agreement and shall not be a trustee or fiduciary for any Lender (it being understood, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, that the use of the term “agent” herein and in the other Loan Documents with reference to the Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law, and instead such term is used merely as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between independent contracting parties.);

       (b) shall not be responsible to the Lenders for any recital, statement, representation, or warranty (whether written or oral) made in or in connection with any Loan Document or any certificate or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by any of them under, any Loan Document, or for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability, or sufficiency of any Loan Document, or any other document referred to or provided for therein or for any failure by the Borrower or any other Person to perform any of its obligations thereunder;

       (c) shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into, or verify the performance or observance of any covenants or agreements by the Borrower or the satisfaction of any condition or to inspect the property (including the books and records) of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates;

       (d) shall not be required to initiate or conduct any litigation or collection proceedings under any Loan Document; and

       (e) shall not be responsible for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it under or in connection with any Loan Document, except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct.

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The Agent may employ agents and attorneys-in-fact and shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any such agents or attorneys-in-fact that it selects in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct.

     Each L/C Issuer shall act on behalf of the Lenders with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith, and each L/C Issuer shall have all of the benefits and immunities (i) provided to the Agent in this Article X with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by such L/C Issuer in connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and the applications and agreements for letters of credit pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the term “Agent” as used in this Article X and in the definition of “Agent-Related Person” included each L/C Issuer with respect to such acts or omissions, and (ii) as additionally provided herein with respect to any L/C Issuer.

     10.2 Reliance by Agent. The Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any certification, notice, instrument, writing, or other communication (including, without limitation, any thereof by telephone or telefacsimile) believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by or on behalf of the proper Person or Persons, and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants, and other experts selected by the Agent. The Agent may deem and treat the payee of any Note as the holder thereof for all purposes hereof unless and until the Agent receives and accepts an Assignment and Assumption executed in accordance with Section 11.1 hereof. As to any matters not expressly provided for by this Agreement, the Agent shall not be required to exercise any discretion or take any action, but shall be required to act or to refrain from acting (and shall be fully protected in so acting or refraining from acting) upon the instructions of the Required Lenders, and such instructions shall be binding on all of the Lenders; provided, however, that the Agent shall not be required to take any action that exposes the Agent to personal liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law or unless it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Lenders against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking any such action.

     For purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in Section 5.1 hereof, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.

     10.3 Defaults. The Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of a Default or Event of Default unless the Agent has received written notice from a Lender or the Borrower specifying such Default or Event of Default and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default”. In the event that the Agent receives such a notice of the occurrence of a Default or Event of Default, the Agent shall give prompt written notice thereof to the Lenders. The Agent shall (subject to Sections 10.2 and 11.6 hereof) take such action with respect to such Default or Event of Default as shall reasonably be directed by the Required Lenders, provided that, unless and until the Agent shall have received such directions, the Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Default or Event of Default as it shall deem advisable in the best interest of the Lenders.

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     10.4 Rights as Lender. With respect to its Revolving Credit Commitment and the Loans made by it, Bank of America (and any successor acting as Agent) in its capacity as a Lender and the Swing Line Lender hereunder shall have the same rights and powers hereunder as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not acting as the Agent, and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless the context otherwise indicates, include the Agent in its individual capacity. Bank of America (and any successor acting as Agent) and its affiliates may (without having to account therefor to any Lender) accept deposits from, lend money to, make investments in, provide services to, and generally engage in any kind of lending, trust, or other business with the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates as if it were not acting as Agent, and Bank of America (and any successor acting as Agent) and its affiliates may accept fees and other consideration from the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates for services in connection with this Agreement or otherwise without having to account for the same to the Lenders.

     10.5 Indemnification. Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Lenders shall indemnify upon demand each Agent-Related Person (to the extent not reimbursed by or on behalf of Borrower and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so), pro rata, and hold harmless each Agent-Related Person from and against any and all Indemnified Liabilities incurred by it; provided, however, that no Lender shall be liable for the payment to any Agent-Related Person of any portion of such Indemnified Liabilities to the extent determined in a final, nonappealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from such Agent-Related Person’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct; provided, however, that no action taken in accordance with the directions of the Required Lenders shall be deemed to constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct for purposes of this Section. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender shall reimburse the Agent upon demand for its ratable share of any costs or out-of-pocket expenses (including fees and expenses of legal counsel) incurred by the Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under, this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any document contemplated by or referred to herein, to the extent that the Agent is not reimbursed for such expenses by or on behalf of the Borrower. The undertaking in this Section shall survive termination of the Total Revolving Credit Commitments, the payment of all other Obligations and the resignation of the Agent.

     10.6 Non-Reliance on Agent and Other Lenders. Each Lender agrees that it has, independently and without reliance on the Agent or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and decision to enter into this Agreement and that it will, independently and without reliance upon the 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 analysis and decisions in taking or not taking action under the Loan Documents. Except for notices, reports, and other documents and information expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Agent hereunder, the Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide any Lender with any credit or other information concerning the affairs, financial condition, or business of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates that may come into the possession of the Agent or any of its affiliates.

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     10.7 Resignation of Agent. The Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Lenders and the Borrower. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right (with the consent of the Borrower) to appoint a successor Agent. If no successor Agent shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days after the retiring Agent’s giving of notice of resignation, then the retiring Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders and with the consent of the Borrower, appoint a successor Agent which shall be a commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof having combined capital and surplus of at least $500,000,000. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Agent hereunder by a successor, such successor shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, discretion, privileges, and duties of the retiring Agent, and the retiring Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder. After any retiring Agent’s resignation hereunder as Agent, the provisions of this Article X shall continue in effect for its benefit in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was acting as Agent.

     10.8 Syndication Agent and Documentation Agent. The Syndication Agent and the Documentation Agent shall have no duties or responsibilities under this Agreement other than their duties as Lenders. The Syndication Agent and the Documentation Agent shall be entitled to the benefit of indemnification under Sections 10.5 and 11.9 hereof to the extent necessary.

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

     (a)  to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, L/C Obligations and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders and the Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders and the Agent under Sections 2.8(i) and (j), 3.6 and 11.5) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

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

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender to make such payments to the Agent and, in the event that the Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, to pay to the Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Agent under Sections 3.6 and 11.5.

     Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender any plan of reorganization, arrangement,

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adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or to authorize the Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.

ARTICLE XI

Miscellaneous

     11.1 Assignments and Participations.

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

     (b)  Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more Eligible Assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Revolving Credit Commitment and the Loans (including for purposes of this subsection (b), participations in L/C Obligations and in Swing Line Loans) at the time owing to it); provided that (i) except in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it or in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund (as defined in subsection (g) of this Section) with respect to a Lender, the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $5,000,000 or an integral multiple of $5,000,000 in excess thereof, unless each of the Agent and, so long as no Event of Default under Section 9.1(a), (b), (g) or (h) has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); (ii) each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans (including its participation interests in Swing Line Loans), L/C Borrowings and the Revolving Credit Commitment assigned, but this clause (ii) shall not apply to Swing Line Loans in the event of any assignment by the Swing Line Lender; (iii) each such assignment may, but need not, include the rights of the assignor in respect of Competitive Bid Outstandings except in the event that a Lender assigns all of its Revolving Credit Commitment such assignment shall include all of its Competitive Bid Loans; (iv) any assignment of a Revolving Credit Commitment must be approved (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) by the Agent, each L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender

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unless the Person that is the proposed assignee is itself a Lender (whether or not the proposed assignee would otherwise qualify as an Eligible Assignee); and (v) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500. Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Agent pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the Eligible Assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 4.1, 4.4, 4.5, 11.5 and 11.9 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment). Upon request, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Revolving Note and a Competitive Bid Note to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with subsection (d) of this Section.

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

     (d)  Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or (except as set forth below in this subsection (d)) notice to, the Borrower or the Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person or the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Revolving Credit Commitment and/or the Loans (including such Lender’s participations in L/C Obligations and/or Swing Line Loans) owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Agent and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. Each Lender selling a participation shall notify the Borrower of the identity of the participant and the amount of the participation, provided that the failure of any Lender to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such sale or the rights of the participant hereunder. 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

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the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to Section 11.6 that directly affects such Participant. Subject to subsection (e) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 4.1, 4.4 and 4.5 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 11.3 (a) as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 11.3(b) as though it were a Lender.

     (e)  A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 4.1, 4.4 or 4.5 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 4.1 unless the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 4.6 as though it were a Lender.

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

     (g)  As used herein, the following terms have the following meanings:

     “Eligible Assignee” means (a) a Lender; (b) an Affiliate of a Lender; (c) an Approved Fund; and (d) any other Person (other than a natural person) approved by (i) the Agent (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld), each L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender, and (ii) unless an Event of Default under Section 9.1 (a) (b), (g) or (h) has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower (each such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, “Eligible Assignee” shall not include the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries.

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

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

     (h)  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if at any time Bank of America assigns all of its Revolving Credit Commitment and Loans pursuant to subsection (b) above, Bank of America may, (i) upon 30 days’ notice to the Borrower, resign as Swing Line Lender. In the event of any such resignation as Swing Line Lender, the Borrower shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a successor Swing Line Lender hereunder (subject to acceptance by such Lender of such appointment); provided, however, that no failure by the

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Borrower to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of Bank of America as Swing Line Lender. If Bank of America resigns as Swing Line Lender, it shall retain all the rights of the Swing Line Lender provided for hereunder with respect to Swing Line Loans made by it and outstanding as of the effective date of such resignation, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Committed Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.6(c).

     (i)  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if at any time any L/C Issuer assigns all of its Revolving Credit Commitment and Loans pursuant to subsection (b) above, such L/C Issuer may upon 30 days’ notice to the Borrower and the Lenders, resign as an L/C Issuer. In the event of any such resignation as an L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a successor L/C Issuer (subject to acceptance by such Lender of such appointment) pursuant to Section 2.8(1); provided, however, that no failure by the Borrower to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of such L/C Issuer as an L/C Issuer. Upon such resignation by an L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights and obligations of an L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit issued by it and outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as an L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Committed Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.8(c)).

     11.2 Notices. Any notice shall be conclusively deemed to have been received by any party hereto and be effective (i) on the day on which delivered (including hand delivery by commercial courier service) to such party (against receipt therefor), (ii) on the date of transmission to such party, in the case of notice by telefacsimile (where the proper transmission of such notice is either acknowledged by the recipient or electronically confirmed by the transmitting device), or (iii) on the fifth Business Day after the day on which mailed to such party, if sent prepaid by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, in each case delivered, transmitted or mailed, as the case may be, to the address or telefacsimile number, as appropriate, set forth below or such other address or number as such party shall specify by notice hereunder:

  (a)   if to the Borrower:
 
      V.F. Corporation
105 Corporate Center Boulevard
Greensboro, North Carolina 27408
Attn: Frank C. Pickard, III, Vice President-Treasurer
Telephone:     (336) 424-6000
Telefacsimile: (336) 424-7630

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  (b)   if to the Agent:
 
      Bank of America, N.A.
101 North Tryon Street, 15th Floor
NC1-001-15-02
Charlotte, North Carolina 28255
Attention: Agency Services
Telephone:     (704) 386-2941
Telefacsimile: (704) 409-0310
 
      with a copy to:
 
      Bank of America, N.A.
General Industrial
100 North Tryon Street
NC1-007-17-12
Charlotte, North Carolina 28255
Attention: Chitt Swamidasan
Telephone:     (704) 386-6642
Telefacsimile: (704) 386-3271
 
  (c)   if to the Lenders:
 
      At the addresses set forth on the signature pages hereof and on the signature page of each Assignment and Assumption;

     11.3 Right of Set-off; Adjustments. (a) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, each Lender (and each of its affiliates) is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other indebtedness at any time owing by such Lender (or any of its affiliates) to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement and the Note held by such Lender, irrespective of whether such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement or such Note and although such obligations may be unmatured. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the Borrower after any such set-off and application made by such Lender; provided, however, that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application. The rights of each Lender under this Section 11.3 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including, without limitation, other rights of set-off) that such Lender may have.

     (b)  If any Lender (a “benefited Lender”) shall at any time receive any payment of all or part of the Loans (other than Competitive Bid Loans) owing to it, or interest thereon, or receive any collateral in respect thereof (whether voluntarily or involuntarily, by set-off, or otherwise), in a greater proportion than any such payment to or collateral received by any other Lender, if any, in respect of such other Lender’s Loans (other than Competitive Bid Loans) owing to it, or interest thereon, such benefited Lender shall purchase for cash from the other Lenders a participating interest in such portion of each such other Lender’s Loans (other than

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Competitive Bid Loans) owing to it, or shall provide such other Lenders with the benefits of any such collateral, or the proceeds thereof, as shall be necessary to cause such benefited Lender to share the excess payment or benefits of such collateral or proceeds ratably with each of the Lenders; provided, however, that if all or any portion of such excess payment or benefits is thereafter recovered from such benefited Lender, such purchase shall be rescinded, and the purchase price and benefits returned, to the extent of such recovery, but without interest. The Borrower agrees that any Lender so purchasing a participation from a Lender pursuant to this Section 11.3 may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, exercise all of its rights of payment (including the right of set-off) with respect to such participation as fully as if such Person were the direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

     11.4 Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made herein shall survive the making by the Lenders of the Loans and the execution and delivery to the Lenders of this Agreement and the Notes and shall continue in full force and effect so long as any of Obligations remain outstanding or any Lender has any Revolving Credit Commitment hereunder or the Borrower has continuing obligations hereunder unless otherwise provided herein.

     11.5 Expenses. The Borrower agrees to pay on demand all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Agent in connection with the syndication, preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, and amendment of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, and the other documents to be delivered hereunder, including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Agent with respect thereto and with respect to advising the Agent as to its rights and responsibilities under the Loan Documents. If an Event of Default occurs, the Borrower further agrees to pay on demand all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Agent and the Lenders, if any (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses), in connection with the enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings, or otherwise) of the Loan Documents and the other documents to be delivered hereunder.

     11.6 Amendments and Waivers. Except as set forth in Sections 2.3(e) and 2.7, any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document may be amended or waived if, but only if, such amendment or waiver is in writing and is signed by the Borrower and either the Required Lenders or (as to Loan Documents other than the Credit Agreement) the Agent at the direction of and on behalf of the Required Lenders (and, if Article X or the rights or duties of the Agent are affected thereby, by the Agent); provided that no such amendment or waiver shall, unless signed by all the Lenders affected thereby, (i) increase the Revolving Credit Commitments of the Lenders or the Total Revolving Credit Commitment (except as provided in Section 2.7), (ii) reduce the principal of or rate or amount of interest on any Revolving Loan or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder, (iii) postpone any date fixed for the payment of any scheduled installment of principal of or interest on any Loan or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or for termination of any Revolving Credit Commitment, (iv) change the percentage of the Revolving Credit Commitment or of the unpaid principal amount of the Notes, or the number of Lenders, which shall be required for the Lenders or any of them to take any action under this Section 11.6 or any other provision of this Agreement, (v) change Section 9.5, Section 2.1(e) or Section 11.3 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments or the pro rata reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitments required thereby or (v) amend this Section

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11.6; and, provided further, that (x) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by each L/C Issuer in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of any L/C Issuer under this Agreement or any Letter of Credit Application relating to any Letter of Credit issued or to be issued by it; (y) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Swing Line Lender in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Swing Line Lender under this Agreement; (z) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder, except that the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender.

     No notice to or demand on the Borrower in any case shall entitle the Borrower to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances, except as otherwise expressly provided herein. No delay or omission on any Lender’s or the Agent’s part in exercising any right, remedy or option shall operate as a waiver of such or any other right, remedy or option or of any Default or Event of Default.

     11.7 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed an original, and it shall not be necessary in making proof of this Agreement to produce or account for more than one such fully- executed counterpart.

     11.8 Termination. The termination of this Agreement shall not affect any rights of the Borrower, the Lenders or the Agent or any obligation of the Borrower, the Lenders or the Agent, arising prior to the effective date of such termination, and the provisions hereof shall continue to be fully operative until all transactions entered into or rights created or obligations incurred prior to such termination have been fully disposed of, concluded or liquidated and the Obligations arising prior to or after such termination have been irrevocably paid in full. The rights granted to the Agent for the benefit of the Lenders under the Loan Documents shall continue in full force and effect, notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement, until all of the Obligations have been paid in full after the termination hereof (other than Obligations in the nature of continuing indemnities or expense reimbursement obligations not yet due and payable, which shall continue) or the Borrower has furnished the Lenders and the Agent with an indemnification satisfactory to the Agent and each Lender with respect thereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if after receipt of any payment of all or any part of the Obligations, any Lender is for any reason compelled to surrender such payment to any Person because such payment is determined to be void or voidable as a preference, impermissible setoff, a diversion of trust funds or for any other reason, this Agreement shall continue in full force and the Borrower shall be liable to, and shall indemnify and hold the Agent or such Lender harmless for, the amount of such payment surrendered until the Agent or such Lender shall have been finally and irrevocably paid in full. The provisions of the foregoing sentence shall be and remain effective notwithstanding any contrary action which may have been taken by the Agent or the Lenders in reliance upon such payment, and any such contrary action so taken shall be without prejudice to the Agent or the Lenders’ rights under this Agreement and shall be deemed to have been conditioned upon such payment having become final and irrevocable.

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     11.9 Indemnification; Limitation of Liability. (a) The Borrower agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Agent and each Lender and each of their affiliates and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, and advisors (each, an “Indemnified Party”) from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees) that may be incurred by or asserted or awarded against any Indemnified Party, in each case arising out of or in connection with or by reason of (including, without limitation, in connection with any investigation, litigation, or proceeding or preparation of defense in connection therewith) the Loan Documents, any of the transactions contemplated herein or the actual or proposed use of the proceeds of the Loans (collectively, “Indemnified Liabilities”), except to the extent such claim, damage, loss, liability, cost, or expense is found in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from such Indemnified Party’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. In the case of an investigation, litigation or other proceeding to which the indemnity in this Section 11.9 applies, such indemnity shall be effective whether or not such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by the Borrower, its directors, shareholders or creditors or an Indemnified Party or any other Person or any Indemnified Party is otherwise a party thereto and whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated. The Borrower agrees that no Indemnified Party shall have any liability (whether direct or indirect, in contract or tort or otherwise) to it, any of its Subsidiaries, any guarantor, or any security holders or creditors thereof arising out of, related to or in connection with the transactions contemplated herein, except to the extent that such liability is found in a final non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have directly resulted fom such Indemnified Party’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Borrower agrees not to assert any claim against the Agent, any Lender, any of their affiliates, or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, attorneys, agents, and advisers, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential, or punitive damages arising out of or otherwise relating to the Loan Documents, any of the transactions contemplated herein or the actual or proposed use of the proceeds of the Loans.

     (b)  Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreement of the Borrower hereunder, the agreements and obligations of the Borrower contained in this Section 11.9 shall survive the payment in full of the Loans and all other amounts payable under this Agreement.

     11.10 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents shall be determined to be illegal or invalid as to one or more of the parties hereto, then such provision shall remain in effect with respect to all parties, if any, as to whom such provision is neither illegal nor invalid, and in any event all other provisions hereof shall remain effective and binding on the parties hereto.

     11.11 Integration. This Agreement, together with the other Loan Documents, comprises the complete and integrated agreement of the parties on the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersedes all prior agreements, written or oral, on such subject matter. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and those of any other Loan Document, the provisions of this Agreement shall control; provided that the inclusion of supplemental rights or remedies in favor of the Agent or the Lenders in any other Loan Document executed on or after the date of this Agreement shall not be deemed a conflict with this Agreement. Each Loan Document was drafted with the joint participation of the respective parties thereto and shall be

80


 

construed neither against nor in favor of any party, but rather in accordance with the fair meaning thereof.

     11.12 Agreement Controls. In the event that any term of any of the Loan Documents other than this Agreement conflicts with any express term of this Agreement, the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall control to the extent of such conflict.

     11.13 Usury Savings Clause. Notwithstanding any other provision herein, the aggregate interest rate charged under any of the Notes, including all charges or fees in connection therewith deemed in the nature of interest under applicable law shall not exceed the Highest Lawful Rate (as such term is defined below). If the rate of interest (determined without regard to the preceding sentence) under this Agreement at any time exceeds the Highest Lawful Rate (as defined below), the outstanding amount of the Loans made hereunder shall bear interest at the Highest Lawful Rate until the total amount of interest due hereunder equals the amount of interest which would have been due hereunder if the stated rates of interest set forth in this Agreement had at all times been in effect. In addition, if when the Loans made hereunder are repaid in full the total interest due hereunder (taking into account the increase provided for above) is less than the total amount of interest which would have been due hereunder if the stated rates of interest set forth in this Agreement had at all times been in effect, then to the extent permitted by law, the Borrower shall pay to the Agent an amount equal to the difference between the amount of interest paid and the amount of interest which would have been paid if the Highest Lawful Rate had at all times been in effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is the intention of the Lenders and the Borrower to conform strictly to any applicable usury laws. Accordingly, if any Lender contracts for, charges, or receives any consideration which constitutes interest in excess of the Highest Lawful Rate, then any such excess shall be cancelled automatically and, if previously paid, shall at such Lender’s option be applied to the outstanding amount of the Loans made hereunder or be refunded to the Borrower. As used in this paragraph, the term “Highest Lawful Rate” means the maximum lawful interest rate, if any, that at any time or from time to time may be contracted for, charged, or received under the laws applicable to such Lender which are presently in effect or, to the extent allowed by law, under such applicable laws which may hereafter be in effect and which allow a higher maximum nonusurious interest rate than applicable laws now allow.

     11.14 Payments. All principal, interest, and other amounts to be paid by the Borrower under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be paid to the Agent in immediately available funds, without setoff, deduction or counterclaim. Subject to the definition of “Interest Period” herein, whenever any payment under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be stated to be due on a day that is not a Business Day, such payment may be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and such extension of time in such case shall be included in the computation of interest and fees, as applicable, and as the case may be. The Agent shall not be liable to any party to this Agreement in any way whatsoever for any delay, or the consequences of any delay, in the crediting to any account of any amount denominated in the Euro.

     11.15 Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial.

       (a) THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH,

81


 

  THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS EXECUTED, AND TO BE FULLY PERFORMED, IN SUCH STATE.
 
       (b) THE BORROWER HEREBY EXPRESSLY AND IRREVOCABLY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREIN MAY BE INSTITUTED IN ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT SITTING IN NEW YORK CITY, STATE OF NEW YORK, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND, BY THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE BORROWER EXPRESSLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE IN, OR TO THE EXERCISE OF JURISDICTION OVER IT AND ITS PROPERTY BY, ANY SUCH COURT IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING, AND THE BORROWER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY SUCH COURT IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING.
 
       (c) THE BORROWER AGREES THAT SERVICE OF PROCESS MAY BE MADE BY PERSONAL SERVICE OF A COPY OF THE SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT OR OTHER LEGAL PROCESS IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING, OR BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL (POSTAGE PREPAID) TO THE ADDRESS OF THE BORROWER PROVIDED IN SECTION 11.2, OR BY ANY OTHER METHOD OF SERVICE PROVIDED FOR UNDER THE APPLICABLE LAWS IN EFFECT IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
 
       (d) IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING TO ENFORCE OR DEFEND ANY RIGHTS OR REMEDIES UNDER OR RELATED TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR ANY AMENDMENT, INSTRUMENT, DOCUMENT OR AGREEMENT DELIVERED OR THAT MAY IN THE FUTURE BE DELIVERED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, THE BORROWER, THE AGENT AND THE LENDERS HEREBY AGREE, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THAT ANY SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE TRIED BEFORE A COURT AND NOT BEFORE A JURY AND HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT SUCH PERSON MAY HAVE TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING.
 
       (e) THE BORROWER HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION IT MAY HAVE THAT ANY COURT TO WHOSE JURISDICTION IT HAS SUBMITTED PURSUANT TO THE TERMS HEREOF IS AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.

     11.16 Confidentiality. Each of the Agent and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed

82


 

(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 (including any self-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 hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under or any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Documents or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement, (g) with the consent of the Borrower, or (h) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (y) becomes available to the Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower. For the purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (each, a “Loan Party”) relating to any Loan Party or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by any Loan Party. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, “Information” shall not include, and the Borrower, the Agent and each Lender may disclose without limitation of any kind, any information with respect to the “tax treatment” and “tax structure” (in each case, within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4) of the transactions contemplated hereby and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to the Borrower, the Agent or such Lender relating to such tax treatment and tax structure; provided that with respect to any document or similar item that in either case contains information concerning the tax treatment or tax structure of the transaction as well as other information, this sentence shall only apply to such portions of the document or similar item that relate to the tax treatment or tax structure of the Loans, Letters of Credit and transactions contemplated hereby.

[Signatures on following pages]

83


 

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

         
    V.F. CORPORATION
         
    By:    
     
    Name:   Mackey J. McDonald
    Title:   Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
         
    By:    
     
    Name:   Frank C. Pickard III
    Title:   Vice President – Treasurer
         
    BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
    as Agent for the Lenders
         
    By:    
     
    Name:    
     
    Title:    
     

1


 

         
    BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Lender
         
    By:    
     
    Name:    
     
    Title:    
     
         
    Lending Office for Base Rate Loans:
         
        Bank of America, N.A.
        101 North Tryon Street, 15th Floor
        NC1-001-15-04
        Charlotte, North Carolina 28255
        Attention:                                        
        Telephone:     (704) 386-8388
        Telefacsimile: (704) 386-9923
         
    Wire Transfer Instructions:
         
        Bank of America, N.A.
        ABA# 053000196
        Account No.: 1366212250600
        Reference: V.F. Corporation
        Attention: Administrative Services
         
    Lending Office for Eurodollar Rate Loans and Offshore Rate Loans:
         
        Bank of America, N.A.
        101 North Tryon Street, 15th Floor
        NC1-001-15-04
        Charlotte, North Carolina 28255
        Attention:                                           
        Telephone:     (704) 386-8388
        Telefacsimile: (704) 386-9923
         
    Wire Transfer Instructions:
         
        Bank of America, N.A.
        ABA# 053000196
        Account No.: 1366212250600
        Reference: V.F. Corporation
        Attention: Administrative Services

2


 

         
    CITIBANK, N.A., as Syndication Agent and as a Lender
         
    By:    
     
    Name:    
     
    Title:    
     
         
    Lending Office for Base Rate Loans:
         
        Citibank, N.A.
 
       
       
       
        Attention: Debby Friedland
        Telephone: 302-894-6058
        Telefacsimile: 302-8946120
         
    Wire Transfer Instructions:
         
        Citibank, N.A.
        ABA# 021000089
        Account No.: 4063-2387
        Reference: V.F. Corp.
        Attention: Debby Friedland
         
    Lending Office for Eurodollar Rate Loans and Offshore Rate Loans:
         
        Citibank, N.A.
 
       
       
       
        Attention: Debby Friedland
        Telephone: 302-894-6058
        Telefacsimile: 302-8946120
         
    Wire Transfer Instructions:
         
        Citibank, N.A.
        ABA# 021000089
        Account No.: 4063-2387
        Reference: V.F. Corp.
        Attention: Debby Friedland

3


 

         
    WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as
    Documentation Agent and as a Lender
         
    By:    
     
    Name:    
     
    Title:    
     
         
    Lending Office for Base Rate Loans:
         
        Widener Building, 12th Floor (PA 4830)
        Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107
        Attention: Beth Rue
        Telephone: 267-321-6619
        Telefacsimile: 267-321-6700
         
    Wire Transfer Instructions:
         
        Wachovia Bank, National Association
        Charlotte, North Carolina
        ABA# 053000219
        Account No.: 11459168114011
        Reference: V.F. Corp.
        Attention: Cynthia Rawson

4


 

         
    ABN AMRO BANK N.V.
         
    By:    
     
    Name:    
     
    Title:    
     
         
    Lending Office for Base Rate Loans:
         
        208 South LaSalle Street, Suite 1500
        Chicago, Illinois 60604-1003
        Attention: Sherry Manning
        Telephone:___________
        Telefacsimile: 312-992-5111
        55 East 52nd Street
        New York, New York 10055
        Attention: Eric Oppenheimer
        Telephone: 212-409-1550
        Telefacsimile: 212-409-1641
         
    Wire Transfer Instructions:
         
        ABN AMRO Bank N.V.
        New York, New York
        ABA#: 026009580
        F/O ABN AMRO Bank, N.V.
        Chicago Branch CPU
        Account No.: 650-001-1789-41
        Reference: (00158607)(V.F. Corp.)

5


 

         
    BARCLAYS BANK PLC
         
    By:    
     
    Name:    
     
    Title:    
     
         
    Lending Office for Base Rate Loans:
         
        Barclays Bank PLC, New York Branch
        200 Park Avenue, 4th Floor
        New York, New York 10166
         
    Wire Transfer Instructions:
         
        Barclays Bank PLC
        222 Broadway, New York, New York
        ABA#: 026002574
        Account No.: 050-019104
        Account Name: Clad Control Account

6


 

         
    FLEET NATIONAL BANK
         
    By:    
     
    Name:    
     
    Title:    
     
         
    Lending Office for Base Rate Loans:
         
        40 Broad Street, MS: MADE 10510A
        Boston, Massachusetts 02109
        Attention: Suzanne Chomiczewski
        Telephone: 617-434-3325
        Telefacsimile: 617-434-6685
         
    Wire Transfer Instructions:
         
        Fleet National Bank
        Boston, Massachusetts
        ABA#: 011000138
        Account No.: 151035166156
        Account Name: Commercial Loan Services
        Attention: Joan M. Lafleur
        Reference: VF Corporation

7


 

         
    HSBC BANK USA
         
    By:    
     
    Name:    
     
    Title:    
     
         
    Lending Office for Base Rate Loans:
         
        452 Fifth Avenue, 5th Floor
        New York, New York 10018
        Attention: Anne Serewicz, Senior Vice President
        Telephone: 212-575-2474
        Telefacsimile: 212-575-2479
         
    Wire Transfer Instructions:
         
        HSBC Bank USA
        ABA#: 021001088
        Account No.: 001-940503
        Account Name: Syndication & Assets Trading
        Attention: Maria Bax

8


 

         
    JPMORGAN CHASE BANK
         
    By:    
     
    Name:    
     
    Title:    
     
         
    Lending Office for Base Rate Loans:
         
        1411 Broadway, 5th Floor
        New York, New York 10018
        Attention: Meredith Vanden Handel
        Telephone: 212-391-6054
        Telefacsimile: 212-391-7881
         
    Wire Transfer Instructions:
         
        JPMorgan Chase
        Brooklyn, New York
        ABA#: 021000021
        Account No.: ___________
        Account Name: Commercial Loan Services #9420
               4 Chase Metro Tech Center 13th Floor

9


 

         
    PNC BANK N.A.
         
    By:    
     
    Name:    
     
    Title:    
     
         
    Lending Office for Base Rate Loans:
         
        One PNC Plaza
        249 Fifth Avenue
        Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
        Attention: Dorothy Brailer
        Telephone: 412-762-3440
        Telefacsimile: 412-768-9259
         
    Wire Transfer Instructions:
         
        PNC
        Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
        ABA#: 043000096
        Account No.: 13076 0016 803
        Account Name: Commercial Loan Ops.
        Reference: V.F. Corporation
        Attention: April Atwater

10


 

         
    U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
         
    By:    
     
    Name:    
     
    Title:    
     
         
    Lending Office for Base Rate Loans:
         
        1350 Euclid Avenue, 12th Floor
        Cleveland, Ohio 44115
        Attention: Ward C. Wilson
        Telephone: 615-251-9253
        Telefacsimile:                              
         
    Wire Transfer Instructions:
         
        U.S. Bank National Association
        ABA#: 042000013
        Account No.: 18692160600
        Account Name: Commercial Loans
        Reference: V.F. Corporation

11


 

         
    BANCO SANTANDER CENTRAL HISPANO, S.A.
    NEW YORK BRANCH
         
    By:    
     
    Name:    
     
    Title:    
     
         
    Lending Office for Base Rate Loans:
         
        45 E. 53rd Street
        New York, New York 10022
        Attention: Martha Pulito
        Telephone: 212-350-3634
        Telefacsimile: 212-350-3690
         
    Wire Transfer Instructions:
         
        Banco Santander Central Hispano, S.A.
        New York Branch
        ABA#: 026007692
        Account No.: 1071440001
        Account Name: Bridge Loans
        Reference: V.F. Corporation
        Attention: Ligia Castro

12


 

         
    ING LUXEMBOURG SA
         
    By:    
     
    Name:    
     
    Title:    
     
         
         
    Lending Office for Base Rate Loans:    
         
    ING LUXEMBOURG SA    
    Contact Person: Yves DECHANY or Myriam DELTENRE    
    52 Route D’esch    
    L-2965 Luxembourg    
    Telephone: +352.44.99.12.70    
    Telefacsimile: +352.45.92.97    
    corporate@ing.lu    
         
    Wire Transfer Instructions:    
    Bank of America, New York    
    Swift code: BOFA US 3N    
    ABA#: 026009593    
    Account Number: 6550.8.67945    
    Account Holder: ING Luxembourg    
    Additional Information:   further credit to account no.
        LU49 0141 2354 8190 3010
        with reference “VF Corporation”
         
         
    EUR    
    ING Belgium    
    BBRU BE BB 010    
    Account Number: 301-0000970-81    
    Account Holder: ING Luxembourg    
    Additional Information:   further credit to account no.
        LU49 0141 2354 8190 3010
        with reference “VF Corporation”

13


 

         
    THE BANK OF NEW YORK
         
    By:    
     
    By:
     
    Name: Lucille C. Madden
    Title:   Vice President
         
    Lending Office for Base Rate Loans:
 
        The Bank of New York
        One Wall Street, 8th Floor
        New York, New York 10286
        Attention: Lucille Madden
        Telephone: 212-635-7879
        Telefacsimile: 212-635-1481/1483
         
    Wire Transfer Instructions (Domestic Borrowings)
        The Bank of New York
        101 Barclay Street
        ABA #021000018
        Commercial Loan Servicing Dept.
        GLA #111556
        Ref: VF Corporation
        ie: principal, interest, fees
         
    Wire Transfer Instructions (Euro Dollar Fundings)
        The Bank of New York
        101 Barclay Street
        ABA #021000018
        Eurodollar/Cayman Funding Area
        GLA #111556
        Ref: VF Corporation
        ie: principal, interest
         
    Wire Transfer Instructions (Competitive Bid Loans)
        The Bank of New York
        101 Barclay Street
        ABA#: 021000018
        Account No.: 8033297689
        Account Name: Special Financial Products Dept.
        Reference: VF Corporation

14


 

         
    UMB BANK, N.A.
         
    By:    
     
    Name:    
     
    Title:    
     
         
    Lending Office for Base Rate Loans:
         
        UMB Bank, n.a.
        1010 Grand Boulevard
        Kansas City, Missouri 64141-6226
        Attention: Robert Elbert
        Telephone: 816-860-7116
        Telefacsimile: 816-860-7143
         
    Wire Transfer Instructions:
         
        UMB Bank, n.a.
        Kansas City, Missouri
        ABA#: 010000695
        Account No.: 000106002265000
        Account Name: Discount Dept.
        Attention: Vaughnda Ritchie

15


 

EXHIBIT A
Applicable Commitment Percentages

                 
            Applicable
    Revolving Credit   Commitment
Lender   Commitment   Percentage

 
 
Bank of America, N.A.
  $ 95,000,000.00       12.6666666667 %
Citibank, N.A.
  $ 95,000,000.00       12.6666666667 %
Wachovia Bank, National Association
  $ 75,000,000.00       10.0000000000 %
ABN AMRO Bank N.V.
  $ 55,000,000.00       7.3333333333 %
Barclays Bank PLC
  $ 55,000,000.00       7.3333333333 %
Fleet National Bank
  $ 55,000,000.00       7.3333333333 %
HSBC Bank USA
  $ 55,000,000.00       7.3333333333 %
JPMorgan Chase Bank
  $ 55,000,000.00       7.3333333333 %
PNC Bank, N.A.
  $ 55,000,000.00       7.3333333333 %
U.S. Bank National Association
  $ 55,000,000.00       7.3333333333 %
Banco Santander Central Hispano, S.A.
  $ 25,000,000.00       7.3333333333 %
ING Luxembourg SA
  $ 25,000,000.00       7.3333333333 %
The Bank of New York
  $ 25,000,000.00       7.3333333333 %
UMB Bank, N.A.
  $ 25,000,000.00       7.3333333333 %
 
   
     
 
Total
  $ 750,000,000.00       100 %

A-1


 

EXHIBIT B

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

     This Assignment and Assumption (this “Assignment and Assumption”) is dated as of the Effective Date set forth below and is entered into by and between [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 (the “Credit Agreement “), receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged by the Assignee. The Standard Terms and Conditions set forth in Annex 1 attached hereto are hereby agreed to and incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Assignment and Assumption as if set forth herein in full.

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

           
1.   Assignor: __________________________  
           
2.   Assignee: __________________________        [and          is             an Affiliate/Approved Fund of [identify Lender]1]
           
3.   Borrower: V.F. Corporation
           
4.   Administrative Agent: Bank of America, N.A., as the administrative agent under the Credit Agreement


1   Select as applicable.

B-1


 

     
5.   Credit Agreement: The Credit Agreement, dated as of September 25, 2003, among V.F. Corporation, the Lenders parties thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Citibank, N.A., as Syndication Agent, and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Documentation Agent.
6.   Assigned Interest:  
                         
    Aggregate Amount of   Amount of   Percentage
    Commitment/Loans   Commitment/   Assigned of
Facility Assigned   for all Lenders*   Loans Assigned*   Commitment/Loans2

 
 
 
Revolving Credit Commitment
  $ _____     $ _____       _____ %
Competitive Bid Loans
  $ _____     $ _____       _____ %
 
  $ _____     $ _____       _____ %


*   Amount to be adjusted by the counterparties to take into account any payments or prepayments made between the Trade Date and the Effective Date.
     
[7.   Trade Date: ______________]3

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     Set forth, to at least 9 decimals, as a percentage of the Commitment/Loans of all Lenders thereunder.

3     To be completed if the Assignor and the Assignee intend that the minimum assignment amount is to be determined as of the Trade Date.

B-2


 

Consented to and Accepted:

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent
     
By:    
   
    Title:

Consented to and Accepted:

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as Swing Line Lender
     
By:    
   
    Title:

Consented to and Accepted:


as L/C Issuer
     
By:    
   
    Title:

[Consented to and Accepted:

V.F. CORPORATION,
     
By:    
   
Name:    
   
Title:    
   

       
By:      
   
 
Name:      
   
 
Title:     ]
   
 

B-3


 

ANNEX 1 TO ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

Credit Agreement, dated as of September 25, 2003, among V.F. Corporation, the Lenders parties thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Citibank, N.A., as Syndication Agent, and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Documentation Agent

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 or any other Loan Document, (ii) the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Loan Documents or any collateral thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person obligated in respect of any Loan Document or (iv) the performance or observance by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person of any of their respective obligations under any Loan Document.

     1.2. Assignee. The Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) it meets all requirements of an Eligible Assignee under the Credit Agreement (subject to receipt of such consents as may be required under the Credit Agreement), (iii) from and after the Effective Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement as a Lender thereunder and, to the extent of the Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder, (iv) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.5 or 7.1 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 hereto is any documentation required to be delivered by it pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by the Assignee; and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent, the Assignor or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the 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.

B-4


 

     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 Assignee whether such amounts have accrued prior to or on or after the Effective Date. The Assignor and the Assignee shall make all appropriate adjustments in payments by the Administrative Agent for periods prior to the Effective Date or with respect to the making of this assignment directly between themselves.

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

B-5


 

EXHIBIT C

Notice of Appointment (or Revocation) of Authorized Representative

     Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement dated as of September 25, 2003 (the “Agreement”) among V.F. Corporation, a Pennsylvania corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders (as defined in the Agreement), Bank of America, N. A,. as Administrative Agent for the Lenders (“Agent”) and the Documentation Agent and Syndication Agent named therein.. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the respective meanings therefor set forth in the Agreement.

1.      The Borrower hereby nominates, constitutes and appoints each individual named below as an Authorized Representative for written notifications under the Loan Documents, and hereby represents and warrants that (i) set forth opposite each such individual’s name is a true and correct statement of such individual’s office (to which such individual has been duly elected or appointed), a genuine specimen signature of such individual and an address for the giving of notice, and (ii) each such individual has been duly authorized by the Borrower to act as Authorized Representative for written notifications under the Loan Documents:

         
Name   Office   Specimen Signature
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 

2.      The Borrower hereby nominates, constitutes and appoints each individual named below as an Authorized Representative for telephonic notifications under the Loan Documents, and hereby represents and warrants that (i) set forth opposite each such individual’s name is a true and correct statement of such individual’s office (to which such individual has been duly elected or appointed), a genuine specimen signature of such individual and an address for the giving of notice, and (ii) each such individual has been duly authorized by the Borrower to act as Authorized Representative for telephonic notifications under the Loan Documents:

         
Name   Office   Specimen Signature
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 

C-1


 

3.     Borrower hereby revokes (effective upon receipt hereof by the Agent) the prior appointment of              as an Authorized Representative.

This the     day of            , 20  .

         
    V.F. CORPORATION
         
    By:  
    Name:  
    Title:  
         
    By:  
    Name:  
    Title:  

C-2


 

EXHIBIT D-1

Form of Borrowing Notice

     
To:   Bank of America, N.A. ,
    as Agent
    101 North Tryon Street, 15th Floor
    NC1-001-15-02
    Charlotte, North Carolina 28255
    Attention: Agency Services
    Telephone: (704) 386-2941
    Telefacsimile: (704) 409-0310

     Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement dated as of September 25, 2003 (the “Agreement”) among V.F. Corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders (as defined in the Agreement), Bank of America, N. A., as Agent for the Lenders (“Agent”) and the Documentation Agent and Syndication Agent named therein. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the respective meanings therefor set forth in the Agreement.

     The Borrower through its Authorized Representative hereby gives notice to the Agent that Loans of the type and amount set forth below be made on the date indicated:

                                 
Type of Loan   Interest   Aggregate                
(check one)   Period(1)   Amount(2)   Date of Loan(3)   Currency(4)

 
 
 
 
Revolving Loans in Dollars:
                               
 
Base Rate Loan
 
 
 
 
 
                               
Eurodollar Rate Loan
 
 
 
 
 
                               
Revolving Loans in an Alternative Currency:
                               
 
                               
Offshore Rate Loan
 
 
 
 
 
                               


(1)   For any Eurodollar Rate Loan or Offshore Rate Loan, one, two, three, six, and if available to all Lenders, nine or twelve months.
 
(2)   Must be $15,000,000 (or the Alternative Currency Equivalent Amount thereof) or if greater an integral multiple of $1,000,000 (or the Alternative Currency Equivalent Amount thereof), unless a Base Rate Refunding Loan.
 
(3)   At least (3) Business Days later if a Eurodollar Rate Loan or Offshore Rate Loan with a one, two, three or six month Interest Period or four (4) Business Days if a Eurodollar Rate Loan or Offshore Rate Loan with a nine or twelve month Interest Period.

D-1-1


 

(4)   Specify Dollars or the Alternative Currency.

The Borrower hereby requests that the proceeds of Loans described in this Borrowing Notice be made available to the Borrower as follows: [insert transmittal instructions].

     The undersigned hereby certifies that:

1.          No Default or Event of Default exists either now or after giving effect to the borrowing described herein; and

2.          All the representations and warranties set forth in Article VI (other than Section 6.5(c)) of the Agreement and in the Loan Documents (other than those expressly stated to refer to a particular date) are true and correct as of the date hereof except that the reference to the financial statements in Section 6.5(a) of the Agreement are to those financial statements most recently delivered to you pursuant to Section 7.1 of the Agreement (it being understood that any financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 7.1(b) have not been certified by independent public accountants).

3.          All conditions contained in the Agreement to the making of any Loan requested hereby have been met or satisfied in full .

         
    V.F. CORPORATION
         
    BY: 
        Authorized Representative
         
    DATE:

D-1-2


 

EXHIBIT D-2

Form of Borrowing Notice–Swing Line Loans

     
To:   Bank of America, N.A. ,
    as Agent
    101 North Tryon Street, 15th Floor
    NC1-001-15-02
    Charlotte, North Carolina 28255
    Attention: Agency Services
    Telephone: (704) 386-2941
    Telefacsimile: (704) 409-0310

     Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement dated as of September 25, 2003 (the “Agreement”) among V.F. Corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders (as defined in the Agreement), Bank of America, N. A., as Agent for the Lenders (“Agent”) and the Documentation Agent and Syndication Agent named therein. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the respective meanings therefor set forth in the Agreement.

     The Borrower through its Authorized Representative hereby gives notice to Bank of America that a Swing Line Loan of the amount set forth below be made on the date indicated:

           
Amount(1)     Date of Loan

   
       

   
,


(1)   Must be $500,000 or if greater an integral multiple of $500,000.

     The Borrower hereby requests that the proceeds of Swing Line Loans described in this Borrowing Notice be made available to the Borrower as follows: [insert transmittal instructions] .

     The undersigned hereby certifies that:

     1.          No Default or Event of Default exists either now or after giving effect to the borrowing described herein; and

     2.          All the representations and warranties set forth in Article VI (other than Section 6.5(c)) of the Agreement and in the Loan Documents (other than those expressly stated to refer to a particular date) are true and correct as of the date hereof except that the reference to the financial statements in Section 6.5(a) of the Agreement are to those financial statements most recently delivered to you pursuant to Section 7.1 of the Agreement (it being understood that any financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 7.1(b) have not been certified by independent public accountants).

D-2-1


 

     3.          All conditions contained in the Agreement to the making of any Loan requested hereby have been met or satisfied in full.

         
    V.F. CORPORATION
         
    BY:
        Authorized Representative
         
    DATE:

D-2-2


 

EXHIBIT E

Form of Interest Rate Selection Notice

     
To:   Bank of America, N.A. ,
    as Agent
    101 North Tryon Street, 15th Floor
    NC1-001-15-02
    Charlotte, North Carolina 28255
    Attention: Agency Services
    Telephone: (704) 386-2941
    Telefacsimile: (704) 409-0310

     Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement dated as of September 25, 2003 (the “Agreement”) among V.F. Corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders (as defined in the Agreement), Bank of America, N.A., as Agent for the Lenders (“Agent”) and the Documentation Agent and Syndication Agent named therein. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the respective meanings therefor set forth in the Agreement.

     The Borrower through its Authorized Representative hereby gives notice to the Agent of the following selection of a type of Loan and Interest Period:

                                 
Type of Loan   Interest   Aggregate                
(check one)   Period(1)   Amount(2)   Date of Loan(3)   Currency(4)

 
 
 
 
Revolving Loans in Dollars:
                               
 
                               
Eurodollar Rate Loan
 
 
 
 
 
                               
Revolving Loans in an Alternative Currency:
                               
 
                               
Offshore Rate Loan
 
 
 
 
 
                               


(1)   For any Eurodollar Rate Loan or Offshore Rate Loan, one, two, three, six, and if available to all Lenders, nine or twelve months.
 
(2)   Must be $15,000,000 (or the Alternative Currency Equivalent Amount thereof) or if greater an integral multiple of $1,000,000 (or the Alternative Currency Equivalent Amount thereof), unless a Base Rate Refunding Loan.
 
(3)   At least three (3) Business Days later if a Eurodollar Rate Loan or Offshore Rate Loan with a one, two, three or six month Interest Period or four (4) Business Days if a Eurodollar Rate Loan or Offshore Rate Loan with a nine or twelve month Interest Period.
 
(4)   Specify the Alternative Currency.

E-1


 

         
    V.F. CORPORATION
         
    BY: 
        Authorized Representative
         
    DATE:

E-2


 

EXHIBIT F-1

Form of Revolving Note

Promissory Note
(Revolving Loan)

__________________, ____________
__________ __, ____

     FOR VALUE RECEIVED, V.F. CORPORATION, a Pennsylvania corporation having its principal place of business located in Greensboro, North Carolina (the “Borrower”), hereby promises to pay to the order of                (the “Lender”), in its individual capacity, at the office of BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent for the Lenders (the “Agent”), located at 101 North Tryon Street, NC1-001-15-02, Charlotte, North Carolina 28255 (or at such other place or places as the Agent may designate in writing) at the times set forth in the Credit Agreement dated as of September 25, 2003 among the Borrower, the financial institutions party thereto (collectively, the “Lenders”), the Agent and the Documentation Agent and Syndication Agent named therein (the “Agreement” — all capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Agreement), in lawful money of the United States of America, in immediately available funds, the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Revolving Loans made by the Lender to the Borrower pursuant to the Agreement on the Revolving Credit Termination Date or such earlier date as may be required pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, and to pay interest from the date hereof on the unpaid principal amount hereof, in like money, at said office, on the dates and at the rates provided in Articles II and III of the Agreement. All or any portion of the principal amount of Revolving Loans may be prepaid or required to be prepaid as provided in the Agreement.

     If payment of all sums due hereunder is accelerated under the terms of the Agreement or under the terms of the other Loan Documents executed in connection with the Agreement, the then remaining principal amount and accrued but unpaid interest thereon evidenced by this Revolving Note shall become immediately due and payable, without presentation, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower.

     In the event this Revolving Note is not paid when due at any stated or accelerated maturity, the Borrower agrees to pay, in addition to the principal and interest, all costs of collection, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, and interest due hereunder thereon at the rates set forth above.

     Interest hereunder shall be computed as provided in the Agreement.

     This Revolving Note is one of the Revolving Notes referred to in the Agreement and is issued pursuant to and entitled to the benefits and security of the Agreement to which reference is hereby made for a more complete statement of the terms and conditions upon which the Revolving Loans evidenced hereby were or are made and are to be repaid. This Revolving Note is subject to certain restrictions on transfer or assignment as provided in the Agreement.

F-1-1


 

     This Note shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

     All Persons bound on this obligation, whether primarily or secondarily liable as principals, sureties, guarantors, endorsers or otherwise, hereby waive to the full extent permitted by law all defenses based on suretyship or impairment of collateral and the benefits of all provisions of law for stay or delay of execution or sale of property or other satisfaction of judgment against any of them on account of liability hereon until judgment be obtained and execution issued against any other of them and returned satisfied or until it can be shown that the maker or any other party hereto had no property available for the satisfaction of the debt evidenced by this instrument, or until any other proceedings can be had against any of them, also their right, if any, to require the holder hereof to hold as security for this Revolving Note any collateral deposited by any of said Persons as security. Protest, notice of protest, notice of dishonor, diligence or any other formality are hereby waived by all parties bound hereon.

[Signature page follows.]

F-1-2


 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrower has caused this Revolving Note to be made, executed and delivered by its duly authorized representative as of the date and year first above written, all pursuant to authority duly granted.

         
    V.F. CORPORATION
         
    By:
    Name:
    Title:

F-1-3


 

EXHIBIT F-2

Form of Swing Line Note

Promissory Note
(Swing Line Loan)

__________________, ____________
__________ __, ____

     FOR VALUE RECEIVED, V.F. CORPORATION, a Pennsylvania corporation having its principal place of business located in Greensboro, North Carolina (the “Borrower”), hereby promises to pay to the order of BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. (“Bank of America”), in its individual capacity, at Bank of America’s offices located at 101 North Tryon Street, NC1-001-15-02, Charlotte, North Carolina 28255 (or at such other place or places as Bank of America may designate) at the times set forth in the Credit Agreement dated as of September 25, 2003 among the Borrower, the financial institutions party thereto (collectively, the “Lenders”), Bank of America, N. A., as Administrative Agent for the Lenders (the “Agent”) and the Documentation Agent and Syndication Agent named therein (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Agreement” — all capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Agreement), in lawful money of the United States of America, in immediately available funds, the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Swing Line Loans made by Bank of America to the Borrower pursuant to the Agreement on the Revolving Credit Termination Date or such earlier date as may be required pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, and to pay interest from the date hereof on the unpaid principal amount hereof, in like money, at said office, on the dates and at the rates provided in Articles II and III of the Agreement. All or any portion of the principal amount of Swing Line Loans may be prepaid as provided in the Agreement.

     If payment of all sums due hereunder is accelerated under the terms of the Agreement or under the terms of the other Loan Documents executed in connection with the Agreement, the then remaining principal amount and accrued but unpaid interest thereon evidenced by this Note shall become immediately due and payable, without presentation, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower.

     In the event this Note is not paid when due at any stated or accelerated maturity, the Borrower agrees to pay, in addition to the principal and interest, all costs of collection, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, and interest thereon at the rates set forth above.

     Interest hereunder shall be computed as provided in the Agreement.

     This Note is the Swing Line Note referred to in the Agreement and is issued pursuant to and entitled to the benefits and security of the Agreement to which reference is hereby made for a more complete statement of the terms and conditions upon which the Swing Line Loans evidenced hereby were or are made and are to be repaid. This Note is subject to certain restrictions on transfer or assignment as provided in the Agreement.

F-2-1


 

     This Note shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

     All Persons bound on this obligation, whether primarily or secondarily liable as principals, sureties, guarantors, endorsers or otherwise, hereby waive to the full extent permitted by law all defenses based on suretyship or impairment of collateral and the benefits of all provisions of law for stay or delay of execution or sale of property or other satisfaction of judgment against any of them on account of liability hereon until judgment be obtained and execution issued against any other of them and returned satisfied or until it can be shown that the maker or any other party hereto had no property available for the satisfaction of the debt evidenced by this instrument, or until any other proceedings can be had against any of them, also their right, if any, to require the holder hereof to hold as security for this Note any collateral deposited by any of said Persons as security. Protest, notice of protest, notice of dishonor, diligence or any other formality are hereby waived by all parties bound hereon.

[Signature page follows.]

F-2-2


 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrower has caused this Note to be made, executed and delivered by its duly authorized representative as of the date and year first above written, all pursuant to authority duly granted.

         
    V.F. CORPORATION
         
    By:    
     
    Name:    
       
    Title:    
     

F-2-3


 

EXHIBIT F-3

Form of Competitive Bid Note

Promissory Note
(Competitive Bid Loan)

__________________, __________
__________, ____

     FOR VALUE RECEIVED, V.F. CORPORATION, a Pennsylvania corporation having its principal place of business located in Greensboro, North Carolina (the “Borrower”), hereby promises to pay to the order of                 (the “Lender”), in its individual capacity, at the office of BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent for the Lenders (the “Agent”), located at 101 North Tryon Street, NC1-001-15-02, Charlotte, North Carolina 28255 (or at such other place or places as the Agent may designate in writing) at the times set forth in the Credit Agreement dated as of September 25, 2003 among the Borrower, the financial institutions party thereto (collectively, the “Lenders”), the Agent and the Documentation Agent and Syndication Agent named therein (the “Agreement” — all capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Agreement), in lawful money of the United States of America, in immediately available funds, the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Competitive Bid Loans made by the Lender to the Borrower pursuant to the Agreement, and to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each such Competitive Bid Loan, in like money, at said office, for the period commencing on the date of such Competitive Bid Loan until such Competitive Bid Loan shall be paid in full, on the dates and at the rates provided in Articles II and III of the Agreement. The date, amount, type, interest rate and maturity date of each Competitive Bid Loan made by the Lender to the Borrower, and each payment made on account of the principal thereof, shall be recorded by the Lender on its books and, prior to any transfer of this Competitive Bid Note, endorsed by the Lender on the schedule attached hereto or any continuation thereof; provided that the failure of the Lender to any such recordation or endorsement shall not affect the obligations of the Borrower to make a payment when due of any amount owing under the Agreement or hereunder in respect of the Competitive Bid Loans made by the Lender. All or any portion of the principal amount of Revolving Loans may be prepaid or required to be prepaid as provided in the Agreement.

     If payment of all sums due hereunder is accelerated under the terms of the Agreement or under the terms of the other Loan Documents executed in connection with the Agreement, the then remaining principal amount and accrued but unpaid interest thereon evidenced by this Competitive Bid Note shall become immediately due and payable, without presentation, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower.

     In the event this Competitive Bid Note is not paid when due at any stated or accelerated maturity, the Borrower agrees to pay, in addition to the principal and interest, all costs of collection, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, and interest due hereunder thereon at the rates set forth above.

F-3-1


 

     Interest hereunder shall be computed as provided in the Agreement.

     This Competitive Bid Note is one of the Competitive Bid Notes referred to in the Agreement and is issued pursuant to and entitled to the benefits and security of the Agreement to which reference is hereby made for a more complete statement of the terms and conditions upon which the Competitive Bid Loans evidenced hereby were or are made and are to be repaid. This Competitive Bid Note is subject to certain restrictions on transfer or assignment as provided in the Agreement.

     This Competitive Bid Note shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

     All Persons bound on this obligation, whether primarily or secondarily liable as principals, sureties, guarantors, endorsers or otherwise, hereby waive to the full extent permitted by law all defenses based on suretyship or impairment of collateral and the benefits of all provisions of law for stay or delay of execution or sale of property or other satisfaction of judgment against any of them on account of liability hereon until judgment be obtained and execution issued against any other of them and returned satisfied or until it can be shown that the maker or any other party hereto had no property available for the satisfaction of the debt evidenced by this instrument, or until any other proceedings can be had against any of them, also their right, if any, to require the holder hereof to hold as security for this Competitive Bid Note any collateral deposited by any of said Persons as security. Protest, notice of protest, notice of dishonor, diligence or any other formality are hereby waived by all parties bound hereon.

[Signature page follows.]

F-3-2


 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrower has caused this Competitive Bid Note to be made, executed and delivered by its duly authorized representative as of the date and year first above written, all pursuant to authority duly granted.

         
    V.F. CORPORATION
         
    By:    
     
    Name:  
       
    Title:     
     

F-3-3


 

SCHEDULE OF COMPETITIVE BID LOANS

This Competitive Bid Note evidences Competitive Bid Loans made under the within described Agreement to the Borrower, on the dates, in the principal amounts, of the Types, bearing interest at the rates and maturing on the dates set forth below, subject to the payments and prepayments of principal set forth below:

                         
            Maturity   Principal   Unpaid    
Date of   Principal Amount   Interest   Date of   Amount   Principal   Notation
Loan   of Loan   Rate   Loan   Prepaid   Amount   Made By

F-3-4


 

EXHIBIT G

Compliance Certificate

Bank of America, N.A.,
as Agent
101 North Tryon Street, 15th Floor
NC1-001-15-02
Charlotte, North Carolina 28255
Attention: Agency Services
Telephone: (704) 386-2941
Telefacsimile: (704) 409-0310

Bank of America, N.A.
General Industrial
100 North Tryon Street
NC1-007-17-12
Charlotte, North Carolina 28255
Attention: Chitt Swamidasan
Telephone: (704) 386-6642
Telefacsimile: (704) 386-3271

     Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement dated as of September 25, 2003 (the “Agreement”) among V.F. Corporation, a Pennsylvania corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders (as defined in the Agreement), Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent for the Lenders (“Agent”) and the Documentation Agent and Syndication Agent named therein. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings therefor set forth in the Agreement. The undersigned, a duly authorized and acting Authorized Representative, hereby certifies to you as of     (the “Determination Date”) as follows:

1. Calculations:

     A.          Compliance with Section 8.1: Consolidated Indebtedness to Consolidated Capitalization

                   
      1.     Consolidated Indebtedness as of the Determination Date
             
            $_______________
             
      2.     Consolidated Net Worth as of the Determination Date
             
            $_______________
             
      3.     Sum of A.1 and A.2
             
            $_______________
             
      4.     Ratio of A.1 to A.3                       _______________ to 1.00

G-1


 

                   Required: A.4 must not be greater than 0.60 to 1.00 at any time.

     B.          Compliance with Section 8.2(i): Liens

             
      1.     Consolidated Net Worth as of the Determination Date
             
            $_______________
             
      2.     B.1  X  5%
             
            $_______________
                 
    3.       Is Indebtedness secured by Liens not    
                 
            permitted under Section 8.2(a)-(h) less than B.2?   Yes________ No________

     C.          Compliance with Section 8.3(e): Indebtedness of Subsidiaries

                 
    1.       Is Indebtedness not permitted under    
                 
            Section 8.3(a)-(d) less than $________?   Yes________ No________

2. No Default

       A. Since     (the date of the last similar certification), (a) the Borrower has not defaulted in the keeping, observance, performance or fulfillment of its obligations pursuant to any of the Loan Documents; and (b) no Default or Event of Default specified in Article IX of the Agreement has occurred and is continuing.
 
       B. If a Default or Event of Default has occurred since     (the date of the last similar certification), the Borrower proposes to take the following action with respect to such Default or Event of Default:
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________.
      (Note, if no Default or Event of Default has occurred, insert “Not Applicable”).

     The Determination Date is the date of the last required financial statements submitted to the Lenders in accordance with Section 7.1 of the Agreement.

G-2


 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Certificate this     day of              , 20     .

       
  By:    
   
         Authorized Representative
  Name:    
     
  Title:    
   

G-3


 

EXHIBIT H
Form of Competitive Bid Quote Request

     
To:   Bank of America, N.A.,
    as Agent
    101 North Tryon Street, 15th Floor
    NC1-001-15-02
    Charlotte, North Carolina 28255
    Attention: Agency Services
    Telephone: (704) 386-2941
    Telefacsimile: (704)409-0310

     Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement dated as of September 25, 2003 (the “Agreement”) among V.F. Corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders (as defined in the Agreement), Bank of America, N.A., as Agent for the Lenders (“Agent”) and the Documentation Agent and Syndication Agent named therein. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the respective meanings therefor set forth in the Agreement.

     Pursuant to Section 2.2 of the Agreement, the Borrower through its Authorized Representative hereby gives notice to the Agent that the Borrower requests Competitive Bid Quotes for the following proposed Competitive Bid Borrowings:

                                     
        Interest   Aggregate                
Quotation Date   Period(1)   Amount   Date of Loan   Currency (2)

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
         
    V.F. CORPORATION
         
    By:    
     
        Authorized Representative
    Name:    
       
    Title:    
     


(1)   Not to extend beyond the Revolving Credit Termination Date.
 
(2)   Specify Dollars or the Alternative Currency. At least $15,000,000 (or the Dollar Equivalent Amount thereof) or a larger integral multiple of $1,000,000 (or the Dollar Equivalent Amount thereof).

H-1


 

EXHIBIT I

Form of Competitive Bid Quote

     
To:   Bank of America, N.A.,
    as Agent
    101 North Tryon Street, 15th Floor
    NC1-001-15-02
    Charlotte, North Carolina 28255
    Attention: Agency Services
    Telefacsimile: (704)386-9923

Re:          Competitive Bid Quote to V.F. Corporation

     Reference is hereby made to the Credit Agreement dated as of September 25, 2003 (the “Agreement”) among V.F. Corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders (as defined in the Agreement), Bank of America, N.A., as Agent for the Lenders (“Agent”) and the Documentation Agent and Syndication Agent named therein. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the respective meanings therefor set forth in the Agreement.

     This Competitive Bid Quote is given in accordance with Section 2.2(c) of the Agreement. In response to the Borrower’s Competitive Bid Quote Request dated     , we hereby make the following Competitive Bid Quote(s) on the following terms:

     1.     Quoting Bank:___________________

     2.     Person to Contact at Quoting Bank:___________________

     3.     We hereby offer to make Competitive Bid Loan(s) in the following principal amount(s), for the following Interest Period(s) and at the following rate(s):

     
    Interest     Aggregate           Absolute
Quotation Date(1)   Period(2)     Amount(3)     Date of Loan     Rate(4)     Currency

 
   
   
   
   

 
   
   
   
   


(1)   As specified in the related Competitive Bid Quote Request.
 
(2)   May not extend beyond the Revolving Credit Termination Date.
 
(3)   The principal amount bid for each Interest Period may not exceed the principal amount requested. Bids must be made for at least $5,000,000 (or the Alternative Currency Equivalent Amount thereof) or a larger integral multiple of $1,000,000 (or the Alternative Currency Equivalent Amount thereof).

I-1


 

(4)   Rounded to the nearest 1/10,000 of 1%.

     We understand and agree that the offer(s) set forth above, subject to the satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in the Agreement, irrevocably obligate(s) us to make the Competitive Bid Loan(s) for which any offer(s) is/are accepted, in whole or in part (subject to the third sentence of Section 2.2(e) of the Agreement.

         
    Very truly yours,
         
    [INSERT NAME OF LENDER]
         
    By:    
     
    Name:    
       
    Title:    
     

Dated:


I-2


 

EXHIBIT J

Form of Amendment Agreement

AMENDMENT NO.    TO
CREDIT AGREEMENT

     THIS AMENDMENT AGREEMENT is made and entered into this     day of             ,     , by and among V.F. CORPORATION, a Pennsylvania corporation (the “Borrower”), BANK OF AMERICA, N. A. (the “Agent”), as Agent for the lenders (the “Lenders”) party to that certain Credit Agreement dated September 25, 2003 among such Lenders, Borrower, and the Agent, as amended (the “Agreement”) and     [(the “New Lender”) ].

W I T N E S S E T H:

     WHEREAS, the Borrower, the Agent and the Lenders have entered into the Agreement pursuant to which the Lenders have agreed to make revolving loans to the Borrower in the principal amount of up to $750,000,000 (which may be increased to $1,000,000,000) as evidenced by the Notes (as defined in the Agreement); and

     WHEREAS, the New Lender has agreed to [provide the Borrower Revolving Loans of up to $     ,000,000][increase its Revolving Credit Commitment to $             ] thereby increasing the then applicable Total Revolving Credit Commitment to $     ,000,000 and the parties hereto desire to amend the Agreement in accordance with Section 2.7 of the Agreement in the manner herein set forth effective as of the date hereof;

     NOW, THEREFORE, the Borrower, the Agent and the New Lender do hereby agree as follows:

     1.     Definitions. The term “Agreement” as used herein and in the Loan Documents (as defined in the Agreement) shall mean the Agreement as hereby amended and modified. Unless the context otherwise requires, all terms used herein without definition shall have the definition provided therefor in the Agreement.

     2.     Amendments. Subject to the conditions hereof, the Agreement is hereby amended, effective as of the date hereof, by deleting Exhibit A and inserting in lieu thereof Exhibit A attached hereto, and the New Lender agrees by the execution of this Amendment Agreement that it [shall be a party to the Agreement as a Lender and ] shall provide to the Borrower its Revolving Credit Commitment. Exhibit A attached hereto shall be unchanged from Exhibit A to the Agreement immediately prior to the effectiveness hereof with respect to the Revolving Credit Commitment of each Lender which is not the New Lender.

     3.     Representations and Warranties. The Borrower hereby certifies that:

       (a) The representations and warranties made by the Borrower in Article VI of the Agreement are true on and as of the date hereof except that the financial statements

J-1


 

  referred to in Section 6.5(a) shall be those most recently furnished to each Lender pursuant to Section 7.1(a) and (b);
 
       (b) There has been no Material Adverse Effect;
 
       (c) No event has occurred and no condition exists which, upon the consummation of the transaction contemplated hereby, constituted a Default or an Event of Default on the part of the Borrower under the Agreement or the Notes either immediately or with the lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both.

     4.     Conditions. As a condition to the effectiveness of this Amendment Agreement, the Borrower shall deliver, or cause to be delivered to the Agent, the following:

       (a) Four (4) counterparts of this Amendment Agreement executed by the Borrower and the New Lender; and
 
       (b) A fully-executed Revolving Note payable to the New Lender in the amount of the New Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment and a fully- executed Competitive Bid Note payable to the New Lender in the amount of $1,000,000,000.

     5.     New Lender. Upon the effectiveness of this Amendment Agreement, the New Lender, if not a Lender prior to the effectiveness of this Amendment Agreement, shall be a party to the Credit Agreement and have the rights and obligations of a Lender thereunder.

     6.     Other Documents. All instruments and documents incident to the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Agent and its counsel; the Agent shall have received copies of all additional agreements, instruments and documents which it may reasonably request in connection therewith, including evidence of the authority of the Borrower to enter into the transactions contemplated by this Amendment Agreement, in each case such documents, when appropriate, to be certified by appropriate corporate or governmental authorities; and all proceedings of the Borrower relating to the matters provided for herein shall be satisfactory to the Agent and its counsel.

     7.     Entire Agreement. This Amendment Agreement sets forth the entire understanding and agreement of the parties hereto in relation to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any prior negotiations and agreements among the parties relative to such subject matter. No promise, conditions, representation or warranty, express or implied, not herein set forth shall bind any party hereto, and no one of them has relied on any such promise, condition, representation or warranty. Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that, except as in this Amendment Agreement or otherwise expressly stated, no representations, warranties or commitments, express or implied, have been made by any other party to the other. None of the terms of conditions of this Amendment Agreement may be changed, modified, waived or canceled orally or otherwise, except in accordance with the Agreement.

     8.     Full Force and Effect of Agreement. Except as hereby specifically amended, modified or supplemented, the Agreement and all of the other Loan Documents are hereby confirmed and ratified in all respects and shall remain in full force and effect according to their respective terms.

J-2


 

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

         
    V.F. CORPORATION
         
    By:    
     
    Name:    
       
    Title:    
     
         
    BANK OF AMERICA, N. A., as Agent
         
    By:    
     
    Name:    
       
    Title:    
     
     
   
    [Insert Name of Lender]
         
    V.F. CORPORATION
         
    By:    
     
    Name:    
       
    Title:    
     

J-3


 

Schedule 2.8(a)

Existing Letters of Credit

                 
Issuer   L/C Number   Face Amount

 
 
Bank of America, N.A
    3056525     $ 107,000  
Bank of America, N.A
    3057122     $ 8,594,500  
Bank of America, N.A
    3056526     $ 3,050,000  
Bank of America, N.A
    L973035     $ 200,000  
Bank of America, N.A
    L973036     $ 100,000  
Bank of America, N.A
    C001368     $ 100,000  
Bank of America, N.A
    3034097     $ 80,000  

S-1 EX-31.1 7 w91386exv31w1.htm CERTIFICATION OF THE PEO UNDER 15 U.S.C. exv31w1

 

Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER
PURSUANT TO 15 U.S.C. SECTION 10A, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Mackey J. McDonald, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of V.F. Corporation;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

(a)   Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b)   [Omitted in accordance with SEC Release Nos. 33-8238 and 34-47986]

(c)   Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d)   Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors:

(a)   All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b)   Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

     
November 7, 2003   /s/ Mackey J. McDonald
   
    Mackey J. McDonald
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)

  EX-31.2 8 w91386exv31w2.htm CERTIFICATION OF THE PEO UNDER 15 U.S.C. exv31w2

 

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER
PURSUANT TO 15 U.S.C. SECTION 10A, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Robert K. Shearer, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of V.F. Corporation;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

(a)   Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b)   [Omitted in accordance with SEC Release Nos. 33-8238 and 34-47986]

(c)   Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d)   Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors:

(a)   All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b)   Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

     
November 7, 2003   /s/ Robert K. Shearer
   
    Robert K. Shearer
Vice President — Finance & Global Processes and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)

  EX-32.1 9 w91386exv32w1.htm CERTIFICATION OF THE PEO UNDER 18 U.S.C. exv32w1

 

Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

     In connection with the Quarterly Report of V.F. Corporation (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ending October 4, 2003 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Mackey J. McDonald, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to the best of my knowledge:

(1)   The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)   The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company.

     
November 7, 2003   /s/ Mackey J. McDonald
   
    Mackey J. McDonald
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

  EX-32.2 10 w91386exv32w2.htm CERTIFICATION OF THE PFO UNDER 18 U.S.C. exv32w2

 

Exhibit 32.2

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

     In connection with the Quarterly Report of V.F. Corporation (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ending October 4, 2003 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Robert K. Shearer, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to the best of my knowledge:

(1)   The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)   The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company.

     
November 7, 2003   /s/ Robert K. Shearer
   
    Robert K. Shearer
Vice President — Finance & Global Processes and Chief Financial Officer

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