EX-10.21 4 dex1021.txt TERM NOTE Exhibit 10.21 TERM NOTE $25,515,000.00 Long Beach, California March 21, 2000 FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned INFONET SERVICES CORPORATION ("Borrower") promises to pay to the order of WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ("Bank") at its office at its South Bay Regional Commercial Banking Office at 111 West Ocean Boulevard, Suite 300, Long Beach, California 90802, or at such other place as the holder hereof may designate, in lawful money of the United States of America and in immediately available funds, the principal sum of Twenty-five Million Five Hundred Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($25,515,000.00), with interest thereon as set forth herein. DEFINITIONS: As used herein, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth after each, and any other term defined in this Note shall have the meaning set forth at the place defined: (a) "Business Day" means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which commercial banks in California are authorized or required by law to close. (b) "Fixed Rate Term" means a period commencing on a Business Day and continuing for one (1), two (2), three (3) or six (6) months, as designated by Borrower, during which all or a portion of the outstanding principal balance of this Note bears interest determined in relation to LIBOR; provided however, that no Fixed Rate Term may be selected for a principal amount less than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00); and provided further, that no Fixed Rate Term shall extend beyond the scheduled maturity date hereof. If any Fixed Rate Term would end on a day which is not a Business Day, then such Fixed Rate Term shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day. (c) "LIBOR" means the rate per annum (rounded upward, if necessary, to the nearest whole 1/8 of 1%) and determined pursuant to the following formula: LIBOR = Base LIBOR ------------------------------- 100% - LIBOR Reserve Percentage (i) "Base LIBOR" means the rate per annum for United States dollar deposits quoted by Bank as the Inter-Bank Market Offered Rate, with the understanding that such rate is quoted by Bank for the purpose of calculating effective rates of interest for loans making reference thereto, on the first day of a Fixed Rate Term for delivery of funds on said date for a period of time approximately equal to the number of days in such Fixed Rate Term and in an amount approximately equal to the principal amount to which such Fixed Rate Term applies. Borrower understands and agrees that Bank may base its quotation of the Inter-Bank Market Offered Rate upon such offers or other market indicators of the Inter-Bank Market as Bank in its discretion deems appropriate including, but not limited to, the rate offered for U.S. dollar deposits on the London Inter-Bank Market. (ii) "LIBOR Reserve Percentage" means the reserve percentage prescribed by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor) for "Eurocurrency -1- Liabilities" (as defined in Regulation D of the Federal Reserve Board, as amended), adjusted by Bank for expected changes in such reserve percentage during the applicable Fixed Rate Term. (d) "Prime Rate" means at any time the rate of interest most recently announced within Bank at its principal office as its Prime Rate, with the understanding that the Prime Rate is one of Bank's base rates and serves as the basis upon which effective rates of interest are calculated for those loans making reference thereto, and is evidenced by the recording thereof after its announcement in such internal publication or publications as Bank may designate. INTEREST: (a) Interest. The outstanding principal balance of this Note shall bear interest (computed on the basis of a 360-day year, actual days elapsed) either (i) at a fluctuating rate per annum one-half percent (0.5%) below the Prime Rate in effect from time to time, or (ii) at a fixed rate per annum determined by Bank to be one and three-quarters percent (1.75%) above LIBOR in effect on the first day of the applicable Fixed Rate Term. When interest is determined in relation to the Prime Rate, each change in the rate of interest hereunder shall become effective on the date each Prime Rate change is announced within Bank. With respect to each LIBOR selection hereunder, Bank is hereby authorized to note the date, principal amount, interest rate and Fixed Rate Term applicable thereto and any payments made thereon on Bank's books and records (either manually or by electronic entry) and/or on any schedule attached to this Note, which notations shall be prima facie evidence of the accuracy of the information noted. (b) Selection of Interest Rate Options. At any time any portion of this Note bears interest determined in relation to LIBOR, it may be continued by Borrower at the end the Fixed Rate Term applicable thereto so that all or a portion thereof bears interest determined in relation to the Prime Rate or to LIBOR for a new Fixed Rate Term designated by Borrower. At any time any portion of this Note bears interest determined in relation to the Prime Rate, Borrower may convert all or a portion thereof so that it bears interest determined in relation to LIBOR for a Fixed Rate Term designated by Borrower. At the time this Note is disbursed or Borrower wishes to select a LIBOR option for all or a portion of the outstanding principal balance hereof, and at the end of each Fixed Rate Term, Borrower shall give Bank notice specifying: (i) the interest rate option selected by Borrower; (ii) the principal amount subject thereto; and (iii) for each LIBOR selection, the length of the applicable Fixed Rate Term. Any such notice may be given by telephone so long as, with respect to each LIBOR selection, (A) Bank receives written confirmation from Borrower not later than three (3) Business Days after such telephone notice is given, and (B) such notice is given to Bank prior to 10:00 a.m., California time, on the first day of the Fixed Rate Term. For each LIBOR option requested hereunder, Bank will quote the applicable fixed rate to Borrower at approximately 10:00 a.m., California time, on the first day of the Fixed Rate Term. If Borrower does not immediately accept the rate quoted by Bank, any subsequent acceptance by Borrower shall be subject to a redetermination by Bank of the applicable fixed rate; provided however, that if Borrower fails to accept any such rate by 11:00 a.m., California time, on the Business Day such quotation is given, then the quoted rate shall expire and Bank shall have no obligation to permit a LIBOR option to be selected on such day. If no specific designation of interest is made at the time this Note is disbursed or at the end of any Fixed Rate Term, Borrower shall be deemed to have made a Prime Rate Interest selection for this Note or the principal amount to which such Fixed Rate Term applied. -2- (c) Additional LIBOR Provisions. (i) If Bank at any time shall determine that for any reason adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining LIBOR, then Bank shall promptly give notice thereof to Borrower. If such notice is given and until such notice has been withdrawn by Bank. then (A) no new LIBOR option may be selected by Borrower, and (B) any portion of the outstanding principal balance hereof which bears interest determined in relation to LIBOR, subsequent to the end of the Fixed Rate Term applicable thereto, shall bear interest determined in relation to the Prime Rate. (ii) If any law, treaty, rule, regulation or determination of a court or governmental authority or any change therein or in the interpretation or application thereof (each, a "Change in Law") shall make it unlawful for Bank (A) to make LIBOR options available hereunder, or (B) to maintain interest rates based on LIBOR, then in the former event, any obligation of Bank to make available such unlawful LIBOR options shall immediately be cancelled, and in the latter event, any such unlawful LIBOR-based interest rates then outstanding shall be converted, at Bank's option, so that interest on the portion of the outstanding principal balance subject thereto is determined in relation to the Prime Rate; provided however, that if any such Change in Law shall permit any LIBOR-based interest rates to remain in effect until the expiration of the Fixed Rate Term applicable thereto, then such permitted LIBOR-based interest rates shall continue in effect until the expiration of such Fixed Rate Term. Upon the occurrence of any of the foregoing events, Borrower shall pay to Bank immediately upon demand such amounts as may be necessary to compensate Bank for any fines, fees, charges, penalties or other costs incurred or payable by Bank as a result thereof and which are attributable to any LIBOR options made available to Borrower hereunder, and any reasonable allocation made by Bank among its operations shall be conclusive and binding upon Borrower. (iii) If any Change in Law or compliance by Bank with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any central bank or other governmental authority shall: (A) subject Bank to any tax, duty or other charge with respect to any LIBOR options, or change the basis of taxation of payments to Bank of principal, interest, fees or any other amount payable hereunder (except for changes in the rate of tax on the overall net income of Bank); or (B) impose, modify or hold applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan or similar requirement against assets held by, deposits or other liabilities in or for the account of, advances or loans by, or any other acquisition of funds by any office of Bank; or (C) impose on Bank any other condition; and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to Bank of making, renewing or maintaining any LIBOR options hereunder and/or to reduce any amount receivable by Bank in connection therewith, then in any such case, Borrower shall pay to Bank immediately upon demand such amounts as may be necessary to compensate Bank for any additional costs incurred by Bank and/or reductions in amounts received by Bank which are attributable to such LIBOR options. In determining which costs incurred by Bank and/or reductions in amounts received by Bank are attributable to any LIBOR options made available to Borrower hereunder, -3- any reasonable allocation made by Bank among its operations shall be conclusive and binding upon Borrower. (d) Payment of Interest. Interest accrued on this Note shall be payable on the first day of each month, commencing April 1, 2000. (e) Default Interest. From and after the maturity date of this Note, or such earlier date as all principal owing hereunder becomes due and payable by acceleration or otherwise, the outstanding principal balance of this Note shall bear interest until paid in full at an increased rate per annum (computed on the basis of a 360-day year, actual days elapsed) equal to two percent (2%) above the rate of interest from time to time applicable to this Note. REPAYMENT AND PREPAYMENT: (a) Repayment. Principal shall be payable on the first day of each month in installments of One Hundred Forty-one Thousand Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($141,750.00) each, commencing May 1, 2000, and continuing up to and including March 1, 2015, with a final installment consisting of all remaining unpaid principal due and payable in full on April 1, 2015. (b) Application of Payments. Each payment made on this Note shall be credited first, to any interest then due and second, to the outstanding principal balance hereof. All payments credited to principal shall be applied first, to the outstanding principal balance of this Note which bears interest determined in relation to the Prime Rate, if any, and second, to the outstanding principal balance of this Note which bears interest determined in relation to LIBOR, with such payments applied to the oldest Fixed Rate Term first. (c) Prepayment. Prime Rate. Borrower may prepay principal on any portion of this Note which bears interest determined in relation to the Prime Rate at any time, in any amount and without penalty. LIBOR. Borrower may prepay principal on any portion of this Note which bears interest determined in relation to LIBOR at any time and in the minimum amount of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00); provided however, that If the outstanding principal balance of such portion of this Note is less than said amount, the minimum prepayment amount shall be the entire outstanding principal balance thereof. In consideration of Bank providing this prepayment option to Borrower, or if any such portion of this Note shall become due and payable at any time prior to the last day of the Fixed Rate Term applicable thereto by acceleration or otherwise, Borrower shall pay to Bank immediately upon demand a fee which is the sum of the discounted monthly differences for each month from the month of prepayment through the month in which such Fixed Rate Term matures, calculated as follows for each such month: (i) Determine the amount of interest which would have accrued each month on the amount prepaid at the interest rate applicable to such amount had it remained outstanding until the last day of the Fixed Rate Term applicable thereto. (ii) Subtract from the amount determined in (i) above the amount of interest which would have accrued for the same month on the amount prepaid for the remaining term of such Fixed Rate Term at LIBOR in effect on the date of prepayment for -4- new loans made for such term and in a principal amount equal to the amount prepaid. (iii) If the result obtained in (ii) for any month is greater than zero, discount that difference by LIBOR used in (ii) above. Borrower acknowledges that prepayment of such amount may result in Bank incurring additional costs, expenses and/or liabilities, and that it is difficult to ascertain the full extent of such costs, expenses and/or liabilities. Borrower, therefore, agrees to pay the above-described prepayment fee and agrees that said amount represents a reasonable estimate of the prepayment costs, expenses and/or liabilities of Bank. If Borrower fail to pay any prepayment fee when due, the amount of such prepayment fee shall thereafter bear interest until paid at a rate per annum two percent (2.0%) above the Prime Rate in effect from time to time (computed on the basis of a 360-day year, actual days elapsed). All prepayments of principal shall be applied on the most remote principal installment or installments then unpaid. EVENTS OF DEFAULT: The occurrence of any of the following shall constitute an "Event of Default" under this Note: (a) The failure to pay any principal, interest, fees or other charges when due hereunder or under any contract, instrument or document executed in connection with this Note. (b) The filing of a petition by or against Borrower under any provisions of the Bankruptcy Reform Act, Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended or recodified from time to time, or under any similar or other law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other relief for debtors; the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or liquidator of or for any part of the assets or property of Borrower; Borrower becomes insolvent, makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or is generally not paying its debts as they become due; or any attachment or like levy on any property of Borrower. (c) The dissolution or liquidation of Borrower. (d) Any default in the payment or performance of any obligation, or any defined event of default, under any provisions of any contract, instrument or document pursuant to which Borrower has incurred any obligation for borrowed money, any purchase obligation, or any other liability of any kind to any person or entity, including the holder, including without limitation any default or defined event of default under the Syndicated Credit Agreement (as defined in the addendum attached hereto and made a part hereof); provided, however, that in the case of a default or defined event of default under the terms of indebtedness to a person or entity other than the holder, and other than under the Syndicated Credit Agreement, such indebtedness is in excess of $10,000,000.00 for all such defaults combined. (e) Any financial statement provided by Borrower to Bank proves to be incorrect, false or misleading in any material respect. (f) Any sale or transfer of all or a substantial or material part of the assets of Borrower other than in the ordinary course of its business, it being understood and agreed that -5- sales and transfers by Borrower of assets with a fair value of less than twenty-five percent (25%) of Borrower's total assets in the aggregate for all such sales and transfers combined shall not constitute an Event of Default hereunder. (g) Any violation or breach of any provision of, or any defined event of default under, any addendum to this Note or any loan agreement, guaranty, security agreement, deed of trust, mortgage or other document executed in connection with or securing this Note, and with respect to any such violation, breach or defined event of default which by its nature can be cured, such violation, breach or defined event of default shall continue for a period of twenty (20) days from its occurrence. MISCELLANEOUS: (a) Remedies. Upon the sale, transfer, hypothecation, assignment or other encumbrance, whether voluntary, involuntary or by operation of law, of all or any interest in any real property securing this Note (except as specifically permitted in the deed of trust securing this Note), or upon the occurrence of any Event of Default, the holder of this Note, at the holder's option, may declare all sums of principal and interest outstanding hereunder to be immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, notice of nonperformance, notice of protest, protest or notice of dishonor, all of which are expressly waived by Borrower. Borrower shall pay to the holder immediately upon demand the full amount of all payments, advances, charges, costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees (to include outside counsel fees and all allocated costs of the holder's in-house counsel), expended or incurred by the holder in connection with the enforcement of the holder's rights and/or the collection of any amounts which become due to the holder under this Note, and the prosecution or defense of any action in any way related to this Note, including without limitation, any action for declaratory relief, whether incurred at the trial or appellate level, in an arbitration proceeding or otherwise, and including any of the foregoing incurred in connection with any bankruptcy proceeding (including without limitation, any adversary proceeding, contested matter or motion brought by Bank or any other person) relating to Borrower or any other person or entity. (b) Obligations Joint and Several. Should more than one person or entity sign this Note as a Borrower, the obligations of each such Borrower shall be joint and several. (c) Governing Law. This Note shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Note as of the date first written above. INFONET SERVICES CORPORATION By: /s/ Ernest U. Gambaro ----------------------------- Title: Secretary, General Counsel -------------------------- -6- ADDENDUM TO PROMISSORY NOTE (PRIME/LIBOR PRICING ADJUSTMENTS) THIS ADDENDUM is attached to and made a part of that certain promissory note executed by INFONET SERVICES CORPORATION ("Borrower") and payable to WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ("Bank"), or order, dated as of March 21, 2000, in the principal amount of Twenty-five Million Five Hundred Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($25,515,000.00) (the "Note"). The following provisions are hereby incorporated into the Note: 1. Borrower shall provide to Bank all of the following, in form and detail satisfactory to Bank: (a) not later than 90 days after and as of the end of each fiscal year, an audited consolidated financial statement of Borrower, prepared by a certified public accountant acceptable to Bank, to include a balance sheet and an income statement; (b) not later than 45 days after and as of the end of each fiscal quarter, a consolidated financial statement of Borrower, prepared by Borrower, to include a balance sheet and an income statement; and (c) a copy of the "Compliance Certificate" required to be delivered by Borrower pursuant to the terms and conditions of that certain Credit Agreement dated as of August 17, 1999 by and among Borrower, the various lenders named therein, Merrill Lynch & Co., as lead arranger, book manager and syndication agent, The Bank of Nova Scotia, as administrative agent, and Societe Generale, as documentation agent (the "Syndicated Credit Agreement"). (d) from time to time such financial and other information as Bank may reasonably request. 2. Borrower shall maintain a "Consolidated Leverage Ratio" and a "Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio" as defined in and as set forth in the Syndicated Credit Agreement as in effect as of the date hereof. Any changes which may be made to such covenants in the Syndicated Credit Agreement shall not be effective hereunder unless consented to in writing by Bank. 3. ARBITRATION: (a) Arbitration. Upon the demand of any party, any Dispute shall be resolved by binding arbitration in accordance with the terms of this Note. A "Dispute" shall mean any action, dispute, claim or controversy of any kind, whether in contract or tort, statutory or common law, legal or equitable, now existing or hereafter arising under or in connection with, or in any way pertaining to, this Note and each other document, contract and instrument required hereby or now or hereafter delivered to Bank in connection herewith (collectively, the "Documents"), or any past, present or future extensions of credit and other activities, transactions or obligations of any kind related directly or indirectly to any of the Documents, including without limitation, any of the foregoing arising in connection with the exercise of any self-help, ancillary or other remedies pursuant to any of the Documents. Any party may by summary proceedings bring an action in court to compel arbitration of a Dispute. Any party who fails or refuses to submit to arbitration -1- following a lawful demand by any other party shall bear all costs and expenses incurred by such other party in compelling arbitration of any Dispute. (b) Governing Rules. Arbitration proceedings shall be administered by the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") or such other administrator as the parties shall mutually agree upon in accordance with the AAA Commercial Arbitration Rules. All Disputes submitted to arbitration shall be resolved in accordance with the Federal Arbitration Act (Title 9 of the United States Code), notwithstanding any conflicting choice of law provision in any of the Documents. The arbitration shall be conducted at a location in California selected by the AAA or other administrator. If there is any inconsistency between the terms hereof and any such rules, the terms and procedures set forth herein shall control. All statutes of limitation applicable to any Dispute shall apply to any arbitration proceeding. All discovery activities shall be expressly limited to matters directly relevant to the Dispute being arbitrated. Judgment upon any award rendered in an arbitration may be entered in any court having jurisdiction; provided however, that nothing contained herein shall be deemed to be a waiver by any party that is a bank of the protections afforded to it under 12 U.S.C. (S).91 or any similar applicable state law. (C) No Waiver; Provisional Remedies, SeIf-Help and Foreclosure. No provision hereof shall limit the right of any party to exercise self-help remedies such as setoff, foreclosure against or sale of any real or personal property collateral or security, or to obtain provisional or ancillary remedies, including without limitation injunctive relief, sequestration, attachment, garnishment or the appointment of a receiver, from a court of competent jurisdiction before, after or during the pendency of any arbitration or other proceeding. The exercise of any such remedy shall not waive the right of any party to compel arbitration or reference hereunder. (d) Arbitrator Qualifications and Powers; Awards. Arbitrators must be active members of the California State Bar or retired judges of the state or federal judiciary of California, with expertise in the substantive law applicable to the subject matter of the Dispute. Arbitrators arm empowered to resolve Disputes by summary rulings in response to motions filed prior to the final arbitration hearing. Arbitrators (i) shall resolve all Disputes in accordance with the substantive law of the state of California, (ii) may grant any remedy or relief that a court of the state of California could order or grant within the scope hereof and such ancillary relief as is necessary to make effective any award, and (iii) shall have the power to award recovery of all costs and fees, to impose sanctions and to take such other actions as they deem necessary to the same extent a judge could pursuant to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the California Rules of Civil Procedure or other applicable law. Any Dispute in which the amount in controversy is $5,000,000 or less shall be decided by a single arbitrator who shall not render an award of greater than $5,000,000 (including damages, costs, fees and expenses). By submission to a single arbitrator, each party expressly waives any right or claim to recover more than $5,000,000. Any Dispute in which the amount in controversy exceeds 5,000,000 shall be decided by majority vote of a panel of three arbitrators; provided however, that all three arbitrators must actively participate in all hearings and deliberations. (e) Real Property Collateral; Judicial Reference. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no Dispute shall be submitted to arbitration if the Dispute concerns indebtedness secured directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, by any real property unless (i) the holder of the mortgage, lien or security interest specifically elects in writing to proceed with the arbitration, or (ii) all parties to the arbitration waive any rights or benefits that might accrue to them by virtue of the single action rule statute of California, thereby agreeing that all indebtedness and obligations of the parties, and all mortgages, liens and security interests securing such Indebtedness and obligations, shall remain fully valid and enforceable. If any such Dispute is -2- not submitted to arbitration, the Dispute shall be referred to a referee in accordance with California Code of Civil Procedure Section 638 et seq., and this general reference agreement is intended to be specifically enforceable in accordance with said Section 638. A referee with the qualifications required herein for arbitrators shall be selected pursuant to the AAA's selection procedures. Judgment upon the decision rendered by a referee shall be entered in the court in which such proceeding was commenced in accordance with California Code of Civil Procedure Sections 644 end 645. (f) Miscellaneous. To the maximum extent practicable, the AAA, the arbitrators and the parties shall take all action required to conclude any arbitration proceeding within 180 days of the filing of the Dispute with the AAA. No arbitrator or other party to an arbitration proceeding may disclose the existence, content or results thereof, except for disclosures of information by a party required in the ordinary course of its business, by applicable law or regulation, or to the extent necessary to exercise any judicial review rights set forth herein. If more than one agreement for arbitration by or between the parties potentially applies to a Dispute, the arbitration provision most directly related to the Documents or the subject matter of the Dispute shall control. This Note may be amended or modified only in writing signed by Bank and Borrower. If any provision of this Note shall be held to be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provision or any remaining provisions of this Note. This arbitration provision shall survive termination, amendment or expiration of any of the Documents or any relationship between the parties. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Addendum has been executed as of the same date as the Note. INFONET SERVICES CORPORATION By: /s/ Ernest U. Gambaro ----------------------------- Title: Secretary, General Counsel -------------------------- -3-