EX-10.57 2 dex1057.htm AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT DATED MAY 1, 2009 Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated May 1, 2009

Exhibit 10.57

 

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

Dated as of May 1, 2009

among

MICHAEL FOODS, INC.,

as the Borrower,

M-FOODS HOLDINGS, INC.,

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender

and L/C Issuer,

The Other Lenders Party Hereto,

BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC

as Lead Arranger and Book Manager,

COOPERATIEVE CENTRALE RAIFFEISEN – BOERENLEENBANK B.A.,

“RABOBANK INTERNATIONAL”, NEW YORK BRANCH,

as Syndication Agent,

and

BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ TRUST COMPANY

and

NORTHWEST FARM CREDIT SERVICES, PCA,

as Co-Documentation Agents

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Section

        Page
   ARTICLE I   
   DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS   
1.01    Defined Terms    1
1.02    Other Interpretive Provisions    39
1.03    Accounting Terms    39
1.04    Rounding    40
1.05    References to Agreements and Laws    40
1.06    Times of Day    40
1.07    Timing of Payment or Performance    40
1.08    Currency Equivalents Generally    40
1.09    Letter of Credit Amounts    41
1.10    Amendment and Restatement of Existing Credit Agreement    41
   ARTICLE II   
   THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS   
2.01    The Loans    41
2.02    Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans    42
2.03    Letters of Credit    44
2.04    Swing Line Loans    53
2.05    Prepayments    56
2.06    Termination or Reduction of Commitments    60
2.07    Repayment of Loans    61
2.08    Interest    63
2.09    Fees    63
2.10    Computation of Interest and Fees    64
2.11    Evidence of Indebtedness    64
2.12    Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback    65
2.13    Sharing of Payments    67
2.14    Increase in Term B Commitments    68
   ARTICLE III   
   TAXES, INCREASED COSTS PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY   
3.01    Taxes    69
3.02    Illegality    71
3.03    Inability to Determine Rates    72
3.04    Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy; Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans    72
3.05    Funding Losses    73
3.06    Matters Applicable to All Requests for Compensation    74
3.07    Replacement of Lenders under Certain Circumstances    75


3.08    Survival    76
   ARTICLE IV   
   CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS   
4.01    Conditions of Initial Credit Extension    76
4.02    Conditions to All Credit Extensions    79
   ARTICLE V   
   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES   
5.01    Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws    79
5.02    Authorization; No Contravention    80
5.03    Governmental Authorization; Other Consents    80
5.04    Binding Effect    80
5.05    Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect    81
5.06    Litigation    81
5.07    No Default    82
5.08    Ownership of Property; Liens    82
5.09    Environmental Compliance    82
5.10    Insurance    83
5.11    Taxes    83
5.12    ERISA Compliance    83
5.13    Subsidiaries; Equity Interests    84
5.14    Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act    84
5.15    Disclosure    85
5.16    Compliance with Laws    85
5.17    Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.    85
5.18    Solvency    85
5.19    Casualty, Etc.    85
5.20    Labor Matters    86
5.21    Perfection, Etc.    86
5.22    Tax Shelter Regulations    86
   ARTICLE VI   
   AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS   
6.01    Financial Statements    86
6.02    Certificates; Other Information    87
6.03    Notices    90
6.04    Payment of Obligations    90
6.05    Preservation of Existence, Etc.    90
6.06    Maintenance of Properties    91
6.07    Maintenance of Insurance    91
6.08    Compliance with Laws    91
6.09    Books and Records    91
6.10    Inspection Rights    91

 

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6.11    Use of Proceeds    92
6.12    Covenant to Guarantee Obligations and Give Security    92
6.13    Compliance with Environmental Laws    94
6.14    Further Assurances    94
   ARTICLE VII   
   NEGATIVE COVENANTS   
7.01    Liens    95
7.02    Investments    98
7.03    Indebtedness    100
7.04    Fundamental Changes    104
7.05    Dispositions    104
7.06    Restricted Payments    105
7.07    Change in Nature of Business    107
7.08    Transactions with Affiliates    108
7.09    Burdensome Agreements    108
7.10    Use of Proceeds    108
7.11    Financial Covenants    108
7.12    Amendments of Organization Documents    109
7.13    Accounting Changes    109
7.14    Prepayments, Etc. of Indebtedness    109
7.15    Equity Interests of the Borrower and Subsidiaries    110
7.16    Holding Company    110
7.17    Designated Senior Debt    110
   ARTICLE VIII   
   EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES   
8.01    Events of Default    110
8.02    Remedies Upon Event of Default    113
8.03    Application of Funds    113
   ARTICLE IX   
   ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND OTHER AGENTS   
9.01    Appointment and Authorization of Agents    115
9.02    Delegation of Duties    115
9.03    Liability of Agents    116
9.04    Reliance by Agents    116
9.05    Notice of Default    117
9.06    Credit Decision; Disclosure of Information by Agents    117
9.07    Indemnification of Agents    117
9.08    Agents in their Individual Capacities    118
9.09    Successor Agents    118
9.10    Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim    119
9.11    Collateral and Guaranty Matters    120

 

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9.12    Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements    121
9.13    Other Agents; Arranger and Managers    121
9.14    Appointment of Supplemental Administrative Agents    121
   ARTICLE X   
   MISCELLANEOUS   
10.01    Amendments, Etc.    122
10.02    Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communications    124
10.03    No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement    126
10.04    Attorney Costs, Expenses and Taxes    127
10.05    Indemnification by the Borrower    127
10.06    Payments Set Aside    128
10.07    Successors and Assigns    128
10.08    Confidentiality    133
10.09    Setoff    133
10.10    Interest Rate Limitation    134
10.11    Counterparts    134
10.12    Integration; Effectiveness    134
10.13    Survival of Representations and Warranties    135
10.14    Severability    135
10.15    Tax Forms    135
10.16    Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.    137
10.17    WAIVER OF RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY    138
10.18    Binding Effect    138
10.19    No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility    139
10.20    Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents    139
10.21    USA PATRIOT ACT    139
SIGNATURES    S-1

 

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SCHEDULES

 

  I    Guarantors
  1.01    Real Properties
  2.01    Commitments and Pro Rata Shares
  5.05    Supplement to Interim Financial Statements
  5.08(b)    Owned Real Property
  5.08(c)    Leased Real Property
  5.08(d)    Other Locations of Tangible Personal Property
  5.09    Environmental Matters
  5.13    Subsidiaries and Other Equity Investments
  5.17    Intellectual Property Matters
  5.20    Labor Matters
  7.01    Existing Liens
  7.02    Existing Investments
  7.03    Existing Indebtedness
  10.02    Administrative Agent’s Office, Certain Addresses for Notices

EXHIBITS

 

     Form of
  A    Committed Loan Notice
  B    Swing Line Loan Notice
  C-1    Term A Note
  C-2    Term B Note
  C-3    Revolving Credit Note
  D    Compliance Certificate
  E    Assignment and Assumption
  F-1    Parent Guaranty
  F-2    Subsidiary Guaranty
  F-3    Affirmation and Consent
  F-4    Borrower Affirmation
  G    Amended and Restated Security Agreement
  H-1    Form of Mortgage
  H-2    Form of Mortgage Amendment
  I    Intellectual Property Security Agreement
  J-1    Opinion Matters – Counsel to Loan Parties
  J-2    Opinion Matters – Local Counsel to Loan Parties
  J-3    Opinion Matters – Local Counsel to Loan Parties (Mortgages)

 

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AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

This AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is entered into as of May 1, 2009, among MICHAEL FOODS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), M-FOODS HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Holdings”), each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “Lenders” and individually, a “Lender”), COOPERATIEVE CENTRALE RAIFFEISEN – BOERENLEENBANK B.A., “RABOBANK INTERNATIONAL”, NEW YORK BRANCH, as Syndication Agent, BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ TRUST COMPANY and NORTHWEST FARM CREDIT SERVICES, PCA, as Co-Documentation Agents, and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer.

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS

The Borrower has requested that, immediately upon the satisfaction in full of the conditions precedent set forth in Article IV below, the Lenders (a) lend to the Borrower $200,000,000 in the form of a term loan A and $250,000,000 in the form of a term loan B. and (b) make available to the Borrower a $75,000,000 revolving credit facility for the making of revolving loans and the issuance of letters of credit for the account of the Borrower, from time to time, the proceeds of which term loans and revolving loans shall be used (i) to refinance and redenominate, contemporaneously with the making of the term loan advances hereunder, all indebtedness outstanding under that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of November 20, 2003, made by and among Holdings, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, each lender from time to time party thereto and certain others, as such Credit Agreement has been amended pursuant to Amendment No. 1 to Credit Agreement dated as of September 17, 2004, Amendment No. 2 to Credit Agreement dated as of May 18, 2005, and Amendment No. 3 to Credit Agreement dated as of November 22, 2005 (as so amended, the “Existing Credit Agreement”), (ii) to pay fees and expenses incurred in connection with the implementation of the credit facilities pursuant hereto (such payment of fees and expenses, together with the refinancing and redenomination of the credit facilities under the Existing Credit Agreement, hereinafter the “Transaction”), (iii) to provide ongoing working capital for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and (iv) for other general corporate purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

The Borrower has requested that the Lenders amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement to provide a term A loan facility, a term B loan facility and a revolving credit facility, and the Lenders have indicated their willingness to so amend and restate, and to so lend, and the L/C Issuers (as defined below) have indicated their willingness to issue letters of credit, in each case, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.

In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

1.01 Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

Administrative Agent” means Bank of America in its capacity as administrative agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent.

 

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Administrative Agent’s Office” means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 10.02, or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Lenders.

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

Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified. “Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.

Affirmation and Consent” means an Affirmation of Guaranties and Security Agreement and Consent to Amendment of a “Guarantor” under, and as defined in, the Existing Credit Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit F-3.

Agent Parties” has the meaning specified in Section 10.02(c).

Agent-Related Persons” means the Administrative Agent, together with its Affiliates, and the officers, directors, employees, agents and attorneys-in-fact of such Persons and Affiliates.

Agents” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Syndication Agent, the Co-Documentation Agents and the Supplemental Administrative Agents (if any).

Aggregate Commitments” means the Commitments of all the Lenders.

Aggregate Credit Exposures” means, at any time, in respect of (a) the Term A Facility or the Term B Facility, the aggregate amount of the Term A Loans or the Term B Loans, as the case may be, outstanding at such time and (b) in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility, the sum of (i) the unused portion of the Revolving Credit Facility at such time and (ii) the Total Revolving Credit Outstandings at such time.

Agreement” means this Credit Agreement.

Annualized Junior Debt Expense” means an amount equal to $27,020,948 (such amount being, as of the Closing Date, the annual interest expense associated with the Senior Subordinated Notes and the Holdco Notes, equal to the sum of (a) $12,000,000 (the annual interest expense associated with the Senior Subordinated Notes ($150,000,000 principal amount multiplied by the 8.00% coupon)) plus (b) $15,020,948 (the annual interest expense associated with the Holdco Notes ($154,061,000 principal amount multiplied by the 9.75% coupon)); provided, that if the Senior Subordinated Notes and/or the Holdco Notes are prepaid or refinanced, in whole or in part, prior to March 31, 2010, then such annualized interest expense

 

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amount, after the date of such prepayment or refinancing, shall be adjusted to reflect any change in the annualized cash interest expenses of the Loan Parties as a result of such prepayment or refinancing.

Applicable Rate” means a percentage per annum equal to:

(a) with respect to Term A Loans, 4.00% per annum for Eurodollar Rate Loans, and 3.00% per annum for Base Rate Loans;

(b) with respect to Term B Loans, 4.50% per annum for Eurodollar Rate Loans, and 3.50% per annum for Base Rate Loans; and

(c) with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility, (i) from the Closing Date until the first Business Day that (x) immediately follows the date on which a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(b) and (y) occurs at least six (6) month after the Closing Date, 4.00% per annum for Eurodollar Rate Loans, and 3.00% per annum for Base Rate Loans, and (ii) thereafter, the applicable percentage per annum set forth below, as determined by reference to the Leverage Ratio as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.02(b):

Applicable Rate

 

Pricing Level

   Leverage Ratio    Eurodollar Rate and Letters
of Credit
    Base Rate  

1

   < 2.25:1    3.75   2.75

2

   > 2.25:1 but 3.25:1    4.00   3.00

3

   > 3.25:1    4.25   3.25

Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the first Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(b); provided, however, that “Pricing Level 3” shall apply as of the first Business Day at any time after (x) the date on which a Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered but was not delivered or (y) an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

Appropriate Lender” means, at any time, (a) with respect to any of the Term A Facility, the Term B Facility or the Revolving Credit Facility, a Lender that has a Commitment with respect to such Facility or holds a Term A Loan, a Term B Loan or a Revolving Credit Loan, respectively, at such time, (b) with respect to the Letter of Credit Sublimit, (i) each L/C Issuer and (ii) if any Letters of Credit have been issued pursuant to Section 2.03(a), the Revolving Credit Lenders and (c) with respect to the Swing Line Facility, (i) the Swing Line Lender and (ii) if any Swing Line Loans are outstanding pursuant to Section 2.04(a), the Revolving Credit Lenders.

 

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Approved Domestic Bank” has the meaning specified in clause (b) of the definition of “Cash Equivalents”.

Approved Foreign Bank” has the meaning specified in clause (f) of the definition of “Cash Equivalents”.

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

Arranger” means BAS, in its capacity as exclusive lead arranger and exclusive book manager.

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

Assignment and Assumption” means an Assignment and Assumption substantially in the form of Exhibit E.

Attorney Costs” means and includes all reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of any law firm or other external counsel.

Attributable Indebtedness” means, on any date, (a) in respect of any Capitalized Lease of any Person, the capitalized amount thereof that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP, and (b) in respect of any Synthetic Lease Obligation, the capitalized amount of the remaining lease payments under the relevant lease that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP if such lease were accounted for as a capital lease.

Audited Financial Statements” means the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal years ended January 3, 2009 and December 31, 2007, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including the notes thereto.

Auto-Renewal Letter of Credit” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(b)(iii).

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

 

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Base Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate.

Borrower” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

Borrower Affirmation” means the Borrower’s Affirmation of Security Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, and made by and between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, substantially in the form of Exhibit F-4.

Borrower Materials” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

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

Borrowing” means a Revolving Credit Borrowing, a Swing Line Borrowing, a Term A Borrowing or a Term B Borrowing, as the context may require.

Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the state where the Administrative Agent’s Office is located and, if such day relates to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, means any such day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank eurodollar market.

Capital Expenditures” means, as of any date for the applicable period then ended, all capital expenditures of the Borrower Parties on a consolidated basis for such period, as determined in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, that Capital Expenditures shall not include any such expenditures which constitute (a) a Permitted Acquisition, (b) capital expenditures relating to the construction or acquisition of any property which has been transferred to a Person that is not a Borrower Party pursuant to a sale-leaseback transaction permitted under Section 7.05(f) or (c) to the extent permitted by this Agreement, a reinvestment of the Net Cash Proceeds of any Disposition in accordance with Section 2.05(b)(ii) (other than any Dispositions under Sections 7.05(b) and (h)), Casualty Events or Equity Issuance by any Consolidated Party.

Capitalized Leases” means all leases that have been or should be, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as capitalized leases.

Cash Collateral” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(g).

Cash Collateral Account” means a blocked, non-interest bearing deposit account at Bank of America (or another commercial bank selected in compliance with Section 6.19) in the name of the Administrative Agent and under the sole dominion and control of the Administrative Agent, and otherwise established in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

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Cash Collateralize” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(g).

Cash Equivalents” means any of the following types of Investments, to the extent owned by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries free and clear of all Liens:

(a) readily marketable obligations issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof having maturities of not more than three hundred and sixty (360) days from the date of acquisition thereof; provided, that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support thereof;

(b) time deposits with, or insured certificates of deposit or bankers’ acceptances of, any commercial bank that (i) (A) is a Lender or (B) is organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia or is the principal banking subsidiary of a bank holding company organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, and is a member of the Federal Reserve System, (ii) issues (or the parent of which issues) commercial paper rated at least P-1 (or the then equivalent grade) by Moody’s or at least “A-1” (or the then equivalent grade) by S&P, and (iii) has combined capital and surplus of at least $500,000,000 (any such bank being an “Approved Domestic Bank”), in each case with maturities of not more than three hundred and sixty (360) days from the date of acquisition thereof;

(c) commercial paper and variable or fixed rate notes issued by an Approved Domestic Bank (or by the parent company thereof) or any variable rate note issued by, or guaranteed by a domestic corporation rated A-1 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by S&P or P-1 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by Moody’s, in each case with maturities of not more than three hundred and sixty (360) days from the date of acquisition thereof; and

(d) repurchase agreements entered into by any Person with a bank or trust company (including any of the Lenders) or recognized securities dealer having capital and surplus in excess of $500,000,000 for direct obligations issued by or fully guaranteed by the United States in which such Person shall have a perfected first priority security interest (subject to no other Liens) and having, on the date of purchase thereof, a fair market value of at least 100% of the amount of the repurchase obligations; and

(e) Investments, classified in accordance with GAAP as Current Assets of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, in money market investment programs registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, which are administered by financial institutions having capital of at least $500,000,000, and the portfolios of which are limited such that 95% of such investments are of the character, quality and maturity described in clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) of this definition; and

(f) solely with respect to any Foreign Subsidiary, non-Dollar denominated (i) certificates of deposit of, bankers acceptances of, or time deposits with, any commercial bank which is organized and existing under the laws of the country in which such Foreign Subsidiary maintains its chief executive office and principal place of

 

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business provided such country is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and whose short-term commercial paper rating from S&P is at least A-1 or the equivalent thereof or from Moody’s is at least P-1 or the equivalent thereof (any such bank being an “Approved Foreign Bank”) and maturing within twelve (12) months of the date of acquisition and (ii) equivalents of demand deposit accounts which are maintained with an Approved Foreign Bank.

Cash Management Agreement” means any agreement to provide cash management services, including treasury, depository, overdraft, credit or debit card, electronic funds transfer and other cash management arrangements to any Loan Party.

Cash Management Bank” means any Person that (i) at the time it enters into a Cash Management Agreement, is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, or (ii) is, as of the Closing Date, a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender and a party to a Cash Management Agreement, in each case, in its capacity as a party to such Cash Management Agreement.

Casualty Event” means any event that gives rise to the receipt by Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of any insurance proceeds or condemnation awards in respect of any equipment, fixed assets or real property (including any improvements thereon) to replace or repair such equipment, fixed assets or real property.

CERCLA” means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980.

CERCLIS” means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Information System maintained by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Change of Control” means the earlier to occur of (a) the Equity Investors shall cease to have the power, directly or indirectly, to vote or direct the voting of securities having a majority of the ordinary voting power for the election of directors of the Borrower; provided, that the occurrence of the foregoing event shall not be deemed a Change of Control if,

(i) any time prior to the consummation of a Qualifying IPO, and for any reason whatever, (A) the Equity Investors otherwise have the right, directly of indirectly, to designate (and do so designate) a majority of the board of directors of the Borrower or (B) the Equity Investors own, directly of indirectly, of record and beneficially an amount of common stock of the Borrower equal to an amount that is more than fifty percent (50%) of the amount of common stock of the Borrower owned, directly of indirectly, by the Equity Investors of record and beneficially as of the Closing Date and such ownership by the Equity Investors represents the largest single block of voting securities of the Borrower held by any Person or related group for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or

(ii) at any time after the consummation of a Qualifying IPO, and for any reason whatsoever, (A) no “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person and its subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan),

 

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excluding the Equity Investors, shall become the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13(d)-3 and 13(d)-5 under such Act), directly or indirectly, of more than the greater of (x) thirty-five percent (35%) of the shares outstanding or (y) the percentage of the then outstanding voting stock of Borrower owned, directly of indirectly, beneficially by the Equity Investors, (B) during any period of twelve (12) consecutive months, the board of directors of Borrower shall consist of a majority of the Continuing Directors or (C) the Equity Investors have the power, directly or indirectly, to vote or direct the voting of at least thirty percent (30%) of the voting of securities having a majority of the ordinary voting power for the election of directors of Holdings (or, after a Qualifying IPO, the election of directors of the Borrower); or

(b) any “Change of Control” (or any comparable term) in any document pertaining to the Senior Subordinated Notes, Holdco Notes, Permitted Holdco Debt or Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness with an aggregate outstanding principal amount in excess of the Threshold Amount; or

(c) at any time prior to a Qualifying IPO of Holdings, the Borrower shall cease to be a wholly owned Subsidiary of Holdings.

Closing Date” means the first date all the conditions precedent in Article IV are satisfied or waived in accordance with Article IV.

Co-Documentation Agents” means Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Trust Company and Northwest Farm Credit Services, PCA, as Co-Documentation Agents under the Loan Documents.

Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

Collateral” means all of the “Collateral” referred to in the Collateral Documents and all of the other property and assets that are or are required under the terms of the Collateral Documents to be subject to Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

Collateral Documents” means, collectively, the Security Agreement, the Affirmation and Consent, the Borrower Affirmation, the Intellectual Property Security Agreement, the Mortgages, each of the mortgages, collateral assignments, Security Agreement Supplements, IP Security Agreement Supplements, security agreements, pledge agreements or other similar agreements delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders pursuant to Section 6.12, and each of the other agreements, instruments or documents that creates or purports to create a Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

Commitment” means a Term A Commitment, a Term B Commitment or a Revolving Credit Commitment, as the context may require.

Commitments Increase Effective Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14(b).

 

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Committed Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Term Borrowing, (b) a Revolving Credit Borrowing, (c) a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or (d) a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A.

Compliance Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit D.

Consolidated Cash Taxes” means, as of any date for the applicable period ending on such date with respect to the Borrower Parties on a consolidated basis, the aggregate of all income, franchise and similar taxes, as determined in accordance with GAAP, to the extent the same are payable in cash with respect to such period.

Consolidated Current Assets” means, with respect to any Person and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, all assets that, in accordance with GAAP, would be classified as current assets on the consolidated balance sheet of such Person, after deducting appropriate and adequate reserves therefrom in each case in which a reserve is proper in accordance with GAAP, but excluding cash, Cash Equivalents and Swap Contracts to the extent that the mark-to-market Swap Termination Value would be reflected as an asset on the consolidated balance sheet of such Person.

Consolidated Current Liabilities” means, with respect to any Person and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, all liabilities in accordance with GAAP that would be classified as current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet of such Person, but excluding the current portion of Indebtedness (including the Swap Termination Value of any Swap Contracts) to the extent reflected as a liability on the consolidated balance sheet of such Person.

Consolidated EBITDA” means, as of any date for the applicable period ending on such date with respect to any Person and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the sum of (a) Consolidated Net Income, plus (b) an amount which, in the determination of Consolidated Net Income for such period, has been deducted for, without duplication,

 

  (i) total interest expense,

 

  (ii) income, franchise and similar taxes and any tax distributions permitted to be made pursuant to Sections 7.06(e)(i) and (iii),

 

  (iii) depreciation and amortization expense,

 

  (iv) letter of credit fees,

 

  (v) non-cash expenses resulting from any employee benefit or management compensation plan or the grant of stock and stock options to employees of Holdings, the Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries pursuant to a written plan or agreement or the treatment of such options under variable plan accounting,

 

  (vi) all extraordinary charges,

 

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  (vii) non-cash amortization of financing costs of such Person and its Subsidiaries,

 

  (viii) cash expenses incurred in connection with the Transaction or, to the extent permitted hereunder, any Investment permitted under Section 7.02, Equity Issuance or Debt Issuance (in each case, whether or not consummated),

 

  (ix) any losses (or minus any gains) realized upon the disposition of property outside of the ordinary course of business,

 

  (x) to the extent actually reimbursed, expenses incurred to the extent covered by indemnification provisions in any agreement in connection with a Permitted Acquisition,

 

  (xi) to the extent covered by insurance, expenses with respect to liability or casualty events, business interruption or product recalls,

 

  (xii) management fees permitted under Section 7.08(d),

 

  (xiii) any non-cash purchase accounting adjustment and any step-ups with respect to re-valuing assets and liabilities in connection with the Transaction or any Investment permitted under Section 7.02,

 

  (xiv) non-cash losses from Joint Ventures and non-cash minority interest reductions,

 

  (xv) fees and expenses in connection with the exchange of the Senior Subordinated Notes for registered notes with identical terms as contemplated by the Senior Subordinated Notes Indenture or exchanges or refinancings permitted by Section 7.14,

 

  (xvi) non-cash, non-recurring charges,

 

  (xvii) other non-recurring charges in an aggregate amount not to exceed $6,000,000 during any four (4) consecutive fiscal quarter period,

 

  (xviii) expenses representing the implied principal component under Synthetic Lease Obligations,

 

  (xix) expenses in connection with payments made by any such Person or its Subsidiaries with respect to industrial revenue bond financings and Guarantees in respect thereof,

 

  (xx) losses from discontinued operations not to exceed $2,000,000 during any period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters, and

 

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  (xxi) other expenses of such Person and its Subsidiaries reducing Consolidated Net Income which do not represent a cash item in such period or any future period, minus

 

  (c) an amount which, in the determination of Consolidated Net Income, has been included for

 

  (i) all extraordinary gains and non-cash income during such period, and

 

  (ii) any gains realized upon the disposition of property outside of the ordinary course of business, plus/minus

 

  (d) unrealized losses/gains in respect of Swap Contracts, all as determined in accordance with GAAP;

provided, however, that, notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, for purposes of any calculation made under the financial covenants set forth in Section 7.11 (including for purposes of the definition of “Pro Forma Basis”, but excluding for purposes of the definition of “Applicable Rate”), no more than 15% of total Consolidated EBITDA for the applicable period shall be attributable to Foreign Subsidiaries and/or Investments in Joint Ventures. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, Consolidated EBITDA shall be deemed to be $51,579,000 for the fiscal quarter ended September 27, 2008 and $54,190,000 for the fiscal quarter ended January 3, 2009.

Consolidated Funded Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, without duplication,

(a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money,

(b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments,

(c) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property purchased by such Person (other than customary reservations or retentions of title under agreements with suppliers entered into in the ordinary course of business),

(d) all obligations of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services purchased by such Person (other than accrued expenses and trade debt incurred in the ordinary course of business) which would appear as liabilities on a balance sheet of such Person and to the extent constituting contingent obligations,

(e) all Consolidated Funded Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Consolidated Funded Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on, or payable out of the proceeds of production from, property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the obligations secured thereby have been assumed,

 

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(f) all Guarantees of such Person with respect to Consolidated Funded Indebtedness of another Person,

(g) the implied principal component of all obligations of such Person under Capitalized Leases,

(h) the maximum amount of all standby letters of credit issued or bankers’ acceptances facilities created for the account of such Person and, without duplication, all drafts drawn thereunder (to the extent unreimbursed),

(i) unless the holder thereof is a Loan Party or, if the issuer thereof is a Subsidiary of Holdings which is not a Loan Party, any other Subsidiary of Holdings, all Disqualified Equity Interests issued by such Person,

(j) the principal portion of all obligations of such Person under Synthetic Lease Obligations, and

(k) the Consolidated Funded Indebtedness of any partnership or unincorporated joint venture in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer to the extent such Consolidated Funded Indebtedness is recourse to such Person.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, (i) the term “Consolidated Funded Indebtedness” shall not be deemed to include (x) any earn-out obligation until such obligation becomes a liability on the balance sheet of the applicable Person, (y) any deferred compensation arrangements or (z) any non-compete or consulting obligations incurred in connection with Permitted Acquisitions and (ii) the amount of Consolidated Funded Indebtedness for which recourse is limited either to a specified amount or to an identified asset of such Person shall be deemed to be equal to such specified amount (or, if less, the fair market value of such identified asset).

Consolidated Interest Charges” means, as of any date for the applicable period ending on such date with respect to any Person and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, interest expense (including the amortization of debt discount and premium, the interest component under Capitalized Leases and the implied interest component under Synthetic Lease Obligations, but excluding, to the extent included in interest expense, (i) fees and expenses associated with the consummation of the Transaction, (ii) annual agency fees paid to the Administrative Agent, (iii) costs associated with obtaining Swap Contracts and (iv) fees and expenses associated with any Investment permitted under Section 7.02, Equity Issuance or Debt Issuance (whether or not consummated)), as determined in accordance with GAAP, to the extent the same are payable in cash with respect to such period.

Consolidated Net Income” means, as of any date for the applicable period ending on such date with respect to any Person and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, net income (excluding, without duplication, (i) extraordinary items and (ii) any amounts attributable to Investments in any Joint Venture to the extent that either (x) such amounts have not been distributed in cash to such Person and its Subsidiaries during the applicable period, (y) such amounts were not earned by such Joint Venture during the applicable period or (z) there exists in respect of any future period any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of such Joint Venture to pay dividends or make any other distributions in cash on the Equity Interests of such Joint Venture held by such Person and its Subsidiaries), as determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

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

Consolidated Scheduled Funded Debt Payments” means, as of any date for the applicable period ending on such date with respect to the Borrower Parties on a consolidated basis, the sum of all scheduled payments of principal on Consolidated Funded Indebtedness during such period (including the implied principal component of payments due on Capitalized Leases during such period and Synthetic Lease Obligations, less the reduction for all voluntary prepayments or mandatory prepayments required pursuant to Section 2.05, in each case as applied pursuant to Section 2.05), as determined in accordance with GAAP.

Continuing Directors” shall mean the directors of Holdings on the Closing Date, and each other director, if, in each case, such other directors’ nomination for election to the board of directors of Holdings (or, after a Qualifying IPO, the board of directors of the Borrower) is recommended by a majority of the then Continuing Directors or such other director receives the vote of the Equity Investors in his or her election by the stockholders of Holdings (or, after a Qualifying IPO, by the stockholders of the Borrower).

Contractual Obligation” means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.

Control” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Affiliate.”

Credit Extension” means each of the following: (a) a Borrowing and (b) an L/C Credit Extension.

Current Assets” means, with respect to any Person, all assets of such Person that, in accordance with GAAP, would be classified as current assets on the balance sheet of a company conducting a business the same as or similar to that of such Person, after deducting appropriate and adequate reserves therefrom in each case in which a reserve is proper in accordance with GAAP.

Debt Issuance” means the issuance by any Person and its Subsidiaries of any Indebtedness for borrowed money.

Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.

Default” means any event or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or that, with the giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of Default.

 

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Default Rate” means an interest rate equal to (a) the Base Rate plus (b) the Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to Base Rate Loans under the applicable Facility plus (c) 2.0% per annum; provided, however, that with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus 2.0% per annum, in each case, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

Defaulting Lender” means any Lender that (a) has failed to fund any portion of the Term Loans, Revolving Credit Loans, participations in L/C Obligations or participations in Swing Line Loans required to be funded by it hereunder within one (1) Business Day of the date required to be funded by it hereunder, (b) has otherwise failed to pay over to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within one (1) Business Day of the date when due, unless the subject of a good faith dispute, or (c) has been deemed insolvent or become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding.

Disposition” or “Dispose” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (including any sale and leaseback transaction and any sale of Equity Interests) of any property by any Person, including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith; provided, however, that “Disposition” and “Dispose” shall not be deemed to include any issuance by Holdings of any of its Equity Interests to another Person.

Disqualified Equity Interests” means any Equity Interest which, by its terms (or by the terms of any security or other Equity Interests into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event or condition (a) matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligations or otherwise, (b) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, (c) provides for the scheduled payments of dividends in cash, or (d) is or becomes convertible into or exchangeable for Indebtedness or any other Equity Interests that would constitute Disqualified Equity Interests, in each case, prior to the date that is ninety one (91) days after the Maturity Date of the Term B Facility.

Dollar” and “$” mean lawful money of the United States.

Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and any other Subsidiary that is not a “controlled foreign corporation” under Section 957 of the Code.

Egg Products Inspection Act” means the Egg Products Inspection Act, 21 U.S.C. § 1031, et seq., and its implementing regulations.

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 Administrative Agent, (ii) in the case of any assignment of a Revolving Commitment, each L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender, and (iii) unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under Section 8.01(a) or (f), the Borrower (each such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided, that notwithstanding the foregoing, “Eligible Assignee” shall not include Holdings or any of its Affiliates or Subsidiaries.

 

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Environmental Laws” means any and all Federal, state, local, and foreign statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements or governmental restrictions relating to pollution and the protection of the environment or the release of any materials into the environment, including those related to hazardous substances or wastes, air emissions and discharges to waste or public systems.

Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Subsidiaries directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

Environmental Permit” means any permit, approval, identification number, license or other authorization required under any Environmental Law.

Equity Interests” means, with respect to any Person, all of the shares, interests, rights, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests or units in) such Person and all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase, acquisition or exchange from such Person of any of the foregoing (including through convertible securities).

Equity Investors” means the Sponsor and the Management Shareholders and the other members of Investors LLC as of the Closing Date.

Equity Issuance” means any issuance for cash by any Person and its Subsidiaries to any other Person of (a) its Equity Interests, (b) any of its Equity Interests pursuant to the exercise of options or warrants, (c) any of its Equity Interests pursuant to the conversion of any debt securities to equity or (d) any options or warrants relating to its Equity Interests. A Disposition shall not be deemed to be an Equity Issuance.

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control with any Loan Party within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code (and Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code for purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the Code).

ERISA Event” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) a withdrawal by any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization; (d) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate, the treatment of a Pension Plan

 

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amendment as a termination under Sections 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (e) an event or condition which constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (f) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate; (g) a determination that any Plan is in “at risk” status (within the meaning of Code Section 303 of ERISA); or (h) the conditions for the imposition of a lien under Section 303(d) of ERISA shall have been met with respect to any Plan.

Eurodollar Rate” means, for any Interest Period with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the rate per annum equal to the British Bankers Association LIBOR Rate (“BBA LIBOR”), as published by Reuters (or other commercially available source providing quotations of BBA LIBOR as designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, for Dollar deposits (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period. If such rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the “Eurodollar Rate” for such Interest Period shall be the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate at which deposits in Dollars for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period in same day funds in the approximate amount of the Eurodollar 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 eurodollar market at their request at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period.

Eurodollar Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the Eurodollar Rate.

Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01.

Excess Cash Flow” means, with respect to any fiscal year period of the Borrower Parties on a consolidated basis, an amount equal to (a) Consolidated EBITDA minus (b) without duplication,

 

  (i) Capital Expenditures,

 

  (ii) Consolidated Interest Charges,

 

  (iii) Consolidated Cash Taxes, including cash payments for Federal, state and other income tax liabilities incurred prior to the Closing Date,

 

  (iv) Consolidated Scheduled Funded Debt Payments,

 

  (v) Restricted Payments made by the Borrower Parties to the extent that such Restricted Payments are (A) permitted to be made under Section 7.06(e), or (B) permitted to be made under Section 7.06(f), solely to the extent made, directly or indirectly, with the proceeds from events or circumstances that would have been included in the calculation of Excess Cash Flow,

 

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  (vi) the aggregate amount of permanent principal payments or repurchases of Indebtedness for borrowed money of the Borrower Parties (excluding the Obligations and the Revolving Credit Commitments); provided, that (A) such prepayments or repurchases are otherwise permitted hereunder, (B) if such Indebtedness consists of a revolving line of credit, the commitments under such line of credit are permanently reduced by the amount of such prepayment or repurchase, and (C) such prepayments or repurchases are not made, directly or indirectly, from proceeds, payments or any other amounts available from events or circumstances that were not included in determining Consolidated Net Income during such period,

 

  (vii) letter of credit fees,

 

  (viii) proceeds received by the Borrower Parties from insurance claims with respect to casualty events, business interruption or product recalls which reimburse prior business expenses,

 

  (ix) all extraordinary cash charges,

 

  (x) cash payments made in satisfaction of non-current liabilities,

 

  (xi) cash expenses incurred in connection with the Transaction or, to the extent permitted hereunder, any Investment permitted under Section 7.02, Equity Issuance or Debt Issuance (whether or not consummated),

 

  (xii) fees and expenses in connection with exchanges or refinancings permitted by Section 7.14,

 

  (xiii) cash indemnity payments received pursuant to indemnification provisions in any agreement in connection with a Permitted Acquisition,

 

  (xiv) non-recurring charges to the extent included in determining Consolidated EBITDA,

 

  (xv) other non-recurring charges in an aggregate amount not to exceed $6,000,000 during any four (4) consecutive fiscal quarter period,

 

  (xvi) expenses in connection with payments made by any Borrower Party with respect to industrial revenue bond financings and Guarantees in respect thereof,

 

  (xvii) expenses incurred in connection with deferred compensation arrangements in connection with the “Transaction” (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement),

 

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  (xviii) management fees permitted to be made under Section 7.08(d),

 

  (xix) expenses representing the implied principal component under Synthetic Lease Obligations,

 

  (xx) cash payments with respect to preferred customer contracts in excess of amortization with respect to preferred customer contracts,

 

  (xxi) cash from operations used to consummate a Permitted Acquisition,

 

  (xxii) to the extent added to Consolidated Net Income in determining Consolidated EBITDA, losses from discontinued operations for such period,

 

  (xxiii) to the extent added to Consolidated Net Income in determining Consolidated EBITDA, Net Cash Proceeds of Permitted Equity Issuances, plus/minus

(c) decreases/increases, as applicable, in Net Working Capital;

provided, however, that the calculation of Excess Cash Flow for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2009 shall be based solely on the Consolidated EBITDA and other items set forth above calculated for the third and fourth quarters of such fiscal year.

Excluded Consideration” means, with respect to any Permitted Acquisition, consideration consisting of (a) any Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) of Holdings issued to the seller of the Equity Interests, property or assets acquired in such Permitted Acquisition, (b) to the extent not required at such time to prepay the Loans pursuant to Section 2.05(b), consideration consisting of the Net Cash Proceeds of (i) any Permitted Equity Issuance consummated subsequent to the Closing Date, (ii) any Disposition by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries of the type described in Section 7.05(a), (c), (f), (l) and (m), (iii) any Casualty Event that occurs subsequent to the Closing Date, (iv) the incurrence or issuance of any Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03 and (c) 25% of the amount of Excess Cash Flow for any fiscal year (commencing with the fiscal year ended January 3, 2009).

Existing Credit Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Preliminary Statements hereto.

Existing Letters of Credit” means the Letters of Credit described on Schedule 7.03 under the heading “Existing Letters of Credit”.

Existing Mortgage” means any “Mortgage” under, and as defined in, the Existing Credit Agreement.

Facility” means the Term A Facility, the Term B Facility, the Revolving Credit Facility, the Swing Line Sublimit or the Letter of Credit Sublimit, as the context may require.

 

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

Fee Letter” means the Letter, dated March 29, 2009, among Holdings, the Borrower and BAS, as amended.

Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act” means the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. § 301, et seq., and its implementing regulations.

Food Industry Laws” means the Food Security Act, the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. § 321, et seq.), PACA, the Egg Products Inspection Act, the Minnesota Food Law (Minnesota Statutes, Ch. 31), the MWPDA, and all other applicable Federal, state and local laws governing the production, packaging and distribution of food, and all applicable rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case whether or not having the force of law.

Food Security Act” means the Food Security Act of 1985, and any successor statute thereto, including all rules and regulations thereunder, all as the same may be in effect from time to time.

Foreign Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 10.15(a)(i).

Foreign Subsidiary” means any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Borrower which is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

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

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

Funded Debt” of any Person means Indebtedness of such Person that by its terms matures more than one (1) year after the date of its creation or matures within one (1) year from any date of determination but is renewable or extendible, at the option of such Person, to a date more than one (1) year after such date or arises under a revolving credit or similar agreement that obligates the lender or lenders to extend credit during a period of more than one (1) year after such date.

 

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GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied.

Governmental Authority” means any nation or government, any state or other political subdivision thereof, any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, administrative tribunal, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.

Granting Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(g).

Guarantee” means, as to any Person, without duplication, any (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation payable or performable by another Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance of such Indebtedness or other obligation, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity or level of income or cash flow of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation, or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) any Lien on any assets of such Person securing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness to obtain any such Lien). The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the guaranteeing Person in good faith. The term “Guarantee” as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

Guarantors” means, collectively, Holdings and the Subsidiaries of the Borrower listed on Schedule I and each other Subsidiary of the Borrower that shall be required to execute and deliver a guaranty or guaranty supplement pursuant to Section 6.12.

Guaranty” means, collectively, the Parent Guaranty and the Subsidiary Guaranty.

 

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Hazardous Materials” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.

Hedge Bank” means any Person that is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, in its capacity as a party to a Secured Hedge Agreement.

Holdco Notes” means the 9.75% Senior Discount Notes, maturing in 2013, issued by Holdings.

Holdco Notes Indenture” means the Indenture, dated as of September 17, 2004, between Holdings and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified prior to the Closing Date, and as may be further amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.

Holdings” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.

Holdings Consolidated Leverage Ratio” means, with respect to the Consolidated Parties on a consolidated basis, as of the end of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower for the four (4) fiscal quarter period ending on such date, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Funded Indebtedness (net of cash and Cash Equivalents on hand) of the Consolidated Parties on the last day of such period to (b) Consolidated EBITDA of the Consolidated Parties for such period.

Honor Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(c)(i).

ICC” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(h).

Impacted Lender” means any Lender (a) that is a Defaulting Lender, (b) as to which the applicable L/C Issuer has actual knowledge that such Lender has defaulted in fulfilling its obligations under one or more other syndicated credit facilities, or (c) is under the Control of an entity that has become subject to a bankruptcy or other similar proceeding.

Indebtedness” means, as to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all of the following, whether or not included as indebtedness or liabilities in accordance with GAAP:

(a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money and all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments;

(b) the maximum amount of all letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds, performance bonds and similar instruments issued or created by or for the account of such Person;

(c) net obligations of such Person under any Swap Contract;

 

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(d) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business);

(e) indebtedness (excluding prepaid interest thereon) secured by a Lien on property owned or being purchased by such Person (including indebtedness arising under conditional sales or other title retention agreements and mortgage, industrial revenue bond, industrial development bond and similar financings), whether or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse;

(f) all Attributable Indebtedness;

(g) all obligations of such Person in respect of Disqualified Equity Interests; and

(h) all Guarantees of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing.

For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to such Person. The amount of any net obligation under any Swap Contract on any date shall be deemed to be the Swap Termination Value thereof as of such date. The amount of Indebtedness of any Person for purposes of clause (e) shall be deemed to be equal to the lesser of (i) the aggregate unpaid amount of such Indebtedness and (ii) the fair market value of the property encumbered thereby as determined by such Person in good faith.

Indemnified Liabilities” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.05.

Indemnitees” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.05.

Information” has the meaning specified in Section 10.08.

Information Memorandum” means the confidential information memorandum dated April, 2009 used by the Arranger in connection with the syndication of the Commitments.

Intellectual Property Security Agreement” means, collectively, the intellectual property security agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit I hereto together with each other intellectual property security agreement supplements executed and delivered pursuant to Section 6.12.

Interest Coverage Ratio” means, with respect to the Borrower Parties on a consolidated basis, as of the end of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower for the four (4) fiscal quarter period ending on such date with respect to the Borrower Parties on a consolidated basis, the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower Parties to (b) the sum of (i) the Consolidated Interest Charges of the Borrower Parties plus (ii) the Restricted Payments made to Holdings pursuant to Section 7.06(f) (such sum, the “Adjusted Consolidated Interest Charges”); provided, that when calculating the Interest Coverage Ratio, the Adjusted Consolidated Interest

 

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Charges shall be equal to, (i) for the period ending September 30, 2009, (A) the sum of (x) the Consolidated Interest Charges of the Borrower Parties for the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2009 minus (y) the portion of Consolidated Interest Charges for the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2009 attributable to the Senior Subordinated Notes, multiplied by (B) four, plus (C) the Annualized Junior Debt Expense; (ii) for the period ending December 31, 2009, (A) the sum of (x) the Consolidated Interest Charges of the Borrower Parties for the two fiscal quarters ending December 31, 2009 minus (y) the portion of Consolidated Interest Charges for the two fiscal quarters ending December 31, 2009 attributable to the Senior Subordinated Notes, multiplied by (B) two, plus (C) the Annualized Junior Debt Expense; and (iii) for the period ending March 31, 2010, (A) the sum of (x) the Consolidated Interest Charges of the Borrower Parties for the three fiscal quarters ending March 31, 2010 minus (y) the portion of Consolidated Interest Charges for the three fiscal quarters ending March 31, 2010 attributable to the Senior Subordinated Notes, multiplied by (B) one and one-third, plus (C) the Annualized Junior Debt Expense.

Interest Payment Date” means, (a) as to any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date of the Facility under which such Loan was made; provided, however, that if any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Rate Loan exceeds three months, the respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates; and (b) as to any Base Rate Loan (including a Swing Line Loan), the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date of the Facility under which such Loan was made.

Interest Period” means, as to each Eurodollar Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such Eurodollar Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Rate Loan and ending on the date one, two, three or six months thereafter, or to the extent available to all the Lenders, nine or twelve months thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its Committed Loan Notice; provided, that:

(a) any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;

(b) any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and

(c) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date of the Facility under which such Loan was made.

Investment” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect acquisition or investment by such Person, whether by means of (a) the purchase or other acquisition of Equity Interests or debt or other securities of another Person, (b) a loan, advance or capital contribution to, Guarantee or assumption of debt of, or purchase or other acquisition of any other debt or equity participation or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture

 

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interest in such other Person and any arrangement pursuant to which the investor incurs debt of the type referred to in clause (h) of the definition of “Indebtedness” set forth in this Section 1.01 in respect of such Person, (c) the purchase or other acquisition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of all or substantially all of the property and assets or business of another Person or assets constituting a business unit, line of business or division of such Person, or (d) the Disposition of any property for less than the fair market value thereof (other than Dispositions under Sections 7.05(d), (e), (h) and (j). For purposes of covenant compliance, the amount of any Investment shall be the amount actually invested, without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment.

Investors LLC” means MF Investors, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

IP Rights” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.17.

IP Security Agreement Supplement” has the meaning specified in the Security Agreement.

IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

ISP” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the “International Standby Practices 1998” published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice, Inc. (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance).

Issuer Documents” means with respect to any Letter of Credit, the Letter of Credit Application, and any other document, agreement and instrument entered into by the applicable L/C Issuer and the Borrower (or any applicable Subsidiary) or in favor of such L/C Issuer and relating to such Letter of Credit.

Joint Venture” means (a) any Person which would constitute an “equity method investee” of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, (b) any other Person designated by the Borrower in writing to the Administrative Agent (which designation shall be irrevocable) as a “Joint Venture” for purposes of this Credit Agreement and more than 50% but less than 100% of whose Equity Interests are directly owned by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, and (c) any Person in whom the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries beneficially owns any Equity Interest that is not a Subsidiary.

Junior Financing” has the meaning specified in Section 7.14.

Junior Financing Documentation” means the Holdco Notes, the Holdco Notes Indenture, the Senior Subordinated Notes, the Senior Subordinated Notes Indenture or any documentation governing any other Junior Financing.

Laws” means, collectively, all international, foreign, Federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case whether or not having the force of law, including all Food Industry Laws.

 

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L/C Advance” means, with respect to each Revolving Credit Lender, such Lender’s funding of its participation in any L/C Borrowing in accordance with its Pro Rata Share.

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 Revolving Credit Borrowing.

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 Bank of America and each other Lender reasonably acceptable to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent that agrees to issue Letters of Credit pursuant hereto, in each case in its capacity 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 amount available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all Unreimbursed Amounts, including all L/C Borrowings. For purposes of computing the amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.09. For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the ISP, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” in the amount so remaining available to be drawn.

Lender” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement and, as the context requires, includes each L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender.

Lending Office” means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

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 five (5) days prior to the scheduled Maturity Date then in effect for the Revolving Credit Facility (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day).

 

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Letter of Credit Sublimit” means an amount equal to $15,000,000. The Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Revolving Credit Facility.

Leverage Ratio” means, with respect to the Borrower Parties on a consolidated basis, as of the end of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower for the four (4) fiscal quarter period ending on such date, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Funded Indebtedness (net of cash and Cash Equivalents on hand) of the Borrower Parties on the last day of such period to (b) Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower Parties for such period.

Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge, or preference, priority or other security interest or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any easement, right of way or other encumbrance on title to real property, and any Capitalized Lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

Loan” means an extension of credit by a Lender to the Borrower under Article II in the form of a Term A Loan, a Term B Loan, a Revolving Credit Loan or a Swing Line Loan.

Loan Documents” means, collectively, (a) for purposes of this Agreement and the Notes and any amendment, supplement or other modification hereof or thereof and for all other purposes other than for purposes of the Guaranty and the Collateral Documents, (i) this Agreement, (ii) the Notes, (iii) the Guaranty, (iv) the Collateral Documents, (v) the Fee Letter and (vi) each Letter of Credit Application and (b) for purposes of the Guaranty and the Collateral Documents, (i) this Agreement, (ii) the Notes, (iii) the Guaranty, (iv) the Collateral Documents, (v) each Letter of Credit Application, (vi) the Fee Letter, (vii) each Secured Cash Management Agreement, and (viii) each Secured Hedge Agreement.

Loan Parties” means, collectively, the Borrower and each Guarantor.

Management Shareholders” means Gregg A. Ostrander and the other members of management of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries who are investors in Investors LLC on the Closing Date.

Master Agreement” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Swap Contract”.

Material Adverse Effect” means (a) a material adverse effect on the business, operations, assets, liabilities (actual or contingent) or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (b) a material adverse effect on the ability of the Borrower or the Loan Parties (taken as a whole) to perform their respective obligations under any Loan Document to which the Borrower or any of the Loan Parties is a party or (c) a material adverse effect on the rights and remedies of the Lenders under any Loan Document.

Maturity Date” means (a) with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility, the earlier of (i) November 1, 2012 and (ii) the date of termination in whole of the Revolving Credit Commitments, the Letter of Credit Commitments, and the Swing Line Commitments pursuant to Section 2.06(a) or 8.02; (b) with respect to the Term A Facility, November 1, 2012; and (c) with respect to the Term B Facility, the earlier of (i) May 1, 2014 and (ii) the date of termination in whole of the Term Commitments pursuant to Section 2.06(a) or 8.02.

 

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Maximum Rate” has the meaning specified in Section 10.10.

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.

Mortgage” means, collectively, the deeds of trust, trust deeds and mortgages made by the Loan Parties in favor or for the benefit of the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders substantially in the form of Exhibit H (with such changes as may be customary to account for local law matters), together with each other mortgage executed and delivered pursuant to Section 6.12.

Mortgage Amendments” has the meaning specified in Section 6.14(b)(i).

Mortgage Policies” has the meaning specified in Section 6.14(b)(ii).

Mortgage Properties” has the meaning specified in Section 6.14(b)(ii).

Multiemployer Plan” means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the preceding five plan years, has made or been obligated to make contributions.

MWPDA” means the Minnesota Wholesale Produce Dealers Act (Minnesota Statutes, Ch. 27).

Net Cash Proceeds” means:

(a) with respect to the Disposition of any asset by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or any Casualty Event, the excess, if any, of (i) the sum of cash and Cash Equivalents received in connection with such Disposition or Casualty Event (including any cash or Cash Equivalents received by way of deferred payment pursuant to, or by monetization of, a note receivable or otherwise, but only as and when so received and, with respect to any Casualty Event, any insurance proceeds or condemnation awards in respect of such Casualty Event received by or paid to or for the account of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries) over (ii) the sum of (A) the principal amount of any Indebtedness that is secured by the asset subject to such Disposition or Casualty Event and that is repaid in connection with such Disposition or Casualty Event (other than Indebtedness under the Loan Documents), (B) the out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Holdings or such Subsidiary in connection with such Disposition or Casualty Event, (C) income taxes reasonably estimated to be actually payable within two (2) years of the date of the relevant Disposition or Casualty Event as a result of any gain recognized in connection therewith, and (D) any reserve for adjustment in respect of (x) the sale price of such asset or assets established in accordance with GAAP and (y) any liabilities associated with such asset or assets and retained by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries after such sale or other disposition thereof, including, without limitation, pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against

 

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any indemnification obligations associated with such transaction and it being understood that “Net Cash Proceeds” shall include, without limitation, any cash or Cash Equivalents (i) received upon the Disposition of any non-cash consideration received by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in any such Disposition and (ii) upon the reversal (without the satisfaction of any applicable liabilities in cash in a corresponding amount) of any reserve described in clause (D) of the preceding sentence or, if such liabilities have not been satisfied in cash and such reserve not reversed within three hundred and sixty-five (365) days after such Disposition or Casualty Event, the amount of such reserve;

(b) with respect to the issuance of any Equity Interest by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, the excess of (i) the sum of the cash and Cash Equivalents received in connection with such sale over (ii) the investment banking fees, underwriting discounts and commissions, and other out-of-pocket expenses and other customary expenses, incurred by Holdings or such Subsidiary in connection with such sale; and

(c) with respect to the incurrence or issuance of any Indebtedness by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, the excess, if any, of (i) the sum of the cash received in connection with such sale over (ii) the investment banking fees, underwriting discounts and commissions, and other out-of-pocket expenses and other customary expenses, incurred by Holdings or such Subsidiary in connection with such sale.

Net Working Capital” means, with respect to any Person and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, Consolidated Current Assets minus Consolidated Current Liabilities.

Non-Consenting Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 3.07(d).

Nonrenewal Notice Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(b)(iii).

Note” means a Term A Note, a Term B Note or a Revolving Credit Note, as the context may require.

NPL” means the National Priorities List under CERCLA.

Obligations” means all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Loan Party arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan or Letter of Credit, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against any Loan Party of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Obligations of the Loan Parties under the Loan Documents include (a) the obligation to pay principal, interest, Letter of Credit commissions, charges, expenses, fees, Attorney Costs, indemnities and other amounts payable by any Loan Party under any Loan Document and (b) the obligation of any Loan Party to reimburse any amount in respect of any of the foregoing that any Lender, in its sole discretion, may elect to pay or advance on behalf of such Loan Party.

 

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Organization Documents” means, (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement; and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.

Other Taxes” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(b).

Outstanding Amount” means (a) with respect to the Term Loans, Revolving Credit Loans and Swing Line Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Term Loans, Revolving Credit Loans (including any refinancing of outstanding unpaid drawings under Letters of Credit or L/C Credit Extensions as a Revolving Credit Borrowing) and Swing Line Loans, as the case may be, occurring on such date; and (b) with respect to any L/C Obligations on any date, the amount of such L/C Obligations on such date 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 (including any refinancing of outstanding unpaid drawings under Letters of Credit or L/C Credit Extensions as a Revolving Credit Borrowing) or any reductions in the maximum amount available for drawing under Letters of Credit taking effect on such date.

PACA” means the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act, 7 U.S.C. § 499a, et seq. and its implementing regulations.

Parent Guaranty” means the Parent Guaranty made by Holdings in favor of the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders, substantially in the form of Exhibit F-1.

Participant” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(d).

PATRIOT Act” has the meaning specified in Section 10.21.

PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

Pension Plan” means any “employee pension benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), other than a Multiemployer Plan, that is subject to Title IV of ERISA and is sponsored or maintained by any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate or to which any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate contributes or has an obligation to contribute, or in the case of a multiple employer or other plan described in Section 4064(a) of ERISA, has made contributions at any time during the immediately preceding five (5) plan years.

Permitted Acquisition” has the meaning specified in Section 7.02(i).

Permitted Encumbrances” has the meaning specified in the Mortgages.

 

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Permitted Equity Issuance” means any sale or issuance of any Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) of Holdings (and, after a Qualifying IPO, of the Borrower) to the extent (a) permitted hereunder and (b) the Net Cash Proceeds of which are not required to be applied to the prepayment of the Loans pursuant to Section 2.05(b).

Permitted Holdco Debt” has the meaning specified in Section 7.03(c)(iii).

Permitted Refinancing” means, with respect to any Person, any modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension of any Indebtedness of such Person; provided that (a) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) thereof does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness so modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended except by an amount equal to a reasonable premium or other reasonable amount paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder or as otherwise permitted pursuant to Section 7.03; (b) such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension has a final maturity date equal to or later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended; (c) if the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations, such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations on terms as favorable in all material respects to the Lenders as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended; (d) the terms and conditions (including, if applicable, as to collateral) of any such modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended Indebtedness are, (i) in the case of a modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension of any Junior Financing, consistent in all material respects with market terms and conditions at the time of any such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension, and in any event are no more restrictive than the terms and conditions of high yield debt obtained by other similarly situated issuers at the time, and (ii) with respect to any modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension of Indebtedness other than Junior Financing, not materially less favorable to the Loan Parties or the Lenders than the terms and conditions of the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended; (e) such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension is incurred by the Person who is the obligor on the Indebtedness being modified, refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended; and (f) at the time thereof, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness” means any unsecured Indebtedness of the Borrower that (a) is expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of the Obligations on terms and conditions no less favorable to the Lenders than the terms and conditions of the Senior Subordinated Notes, (b) will not mature prior to the date that is ninety-one (91) days after the Maturity Date of the Term B Facility, (c) has no scheduled amortization or payments of principal prior to the Maturity Date of the Term B Facility, and (d) has covenant, default and remedy provisions no more restrictive, or mandatory prepayment, repurchase or redemption provisions no more onerous or expansive in scope, than those contained in the Senior Subordinated Notes Indenture, taken as a whole; provided any such Indebtedness shall constitute Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness only if (i) both before and after giving effect to the

 

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issuance or incurrence thereof, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, and (ii) if the amount of such Indebtedness issued or incurred in any fiscal quarter exceeds $5,000,000, the Chief Financial Officer of the Borrower shall have delivered an officer’s certificate demonstrating Pro Forma Compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 7.11 in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, it being understood that any capitalized or paid-in-kind interest or accreted principal on such Indebtedness shall not constitute an issuance or incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this proviso.

Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.

Plan” means any “employee benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) established by any Loan Party or, with respect to any such plan that is subject to Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, any ERISA Affiliate.

Platform” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

Pledged Debt” has the meaning specified in the Security Agreement.

Pledged Interests” has the meaning specified in the Security Agreement.

Pro Forma Basis”, “Pro Forma Compliance” and “Pro Forma Effect” means, for purposes of calculating each of the financial covenants set forth in Section 7.11 in respect of a Specified Transaction, that such Specified Transaction and the following transactions in connection therewith shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the applicable period of measurement in such covenant: (a) income statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the property or Person subject to such Specified Transaction, (i) in the case of a Disposition of all or substantially all Equity Interests in any Subsidiary of the Borrower or any division, product line, or facility used for operations of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, shall be excluded, and (ii) in the case of a Permitted Acquisition or Investment described in the definition of “Specified Transaction”, shall be included, (b) any retirement of Indebtedness, and (c) any Indebtedness incurred or assumed by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in connection therewith and if such Indebtedness has a floating or formula rate, shall have an implied rate of interest for the applicable period for purposes of this definition determined by utilizing the rate which is or would be in effect with respect to such Indebtedness as at the relevant date of determination, provided, that the foregoing pro forma adjustments may be applied to the financial covenants set forth in Section 7.11 solely to the extent that such adjustments are consistent with the definition of Consolidated EBITDA and give effect to events that are (x) directly attributable to such transaction, (y) expected to have a continuing impact on the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and (z) factually supportable.

Pro Rata Share” means, with respect to each Lender at any time, a fraction (expressed as a percentage, carried out to the ninth decimal place), the numerator of which is the amount of the Commitments of such Lender under the applicable Facility or Facilities at such time and the denominator of which is the amount of the Aggregate Commitments under the applicable Facility or Facilities at such time; provided, that if the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and the obligation of each L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been

 

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terminated pursuant to Section 8.02, then the Pro Rata Share of each Lender shall be determined based on the Pro Rata Share of such Lender immediately prior to such termination and after giving effect to any subsequent assignments made pursuant to the terms hereof. The initial Pro Rata Share of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.

Public Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

Qualifying IPO” means the issuance by Holdings of its common Equity Interests in an underwritten primary public offering (other than a public offering pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-8) pursuant to an effective registration statement filed with the SEC in accordance with the Securities Act (whether alone or in connection with a secondary public offering).

Real Properties” means those properties listed on Schedule 1.01 hereto.

Reduction Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(b)(vi).

Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(c).

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

Reportable Event” means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than events for which the thirty (30) day notice period has been waived.

Request for Credit Extension” means (a) with respect to a Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans, a Committed Loan Notice, (b) with respect to an L/C Credit Extension, a Letter of Credit Application, and (c) with respect to a Swing Line Loan, a Swing Line Loan Notice.

Required Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having more than 50% of the sum of the (a) Total Outstandings (with the aggregate amount of each Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans being deemed “held” by such Lender for purposes of this definition), (b) aggregate unused Term Commitments and (c) aggregate unused Revolving Credit Commitments; provided, that the unused Term Commitments, unused Revolving Credit Commitment of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.

Required Revolving Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Revolving Credit Lenders holding more than 50% of the sum of the (a) Total Revolving Credit Outstandings (with the aggregate amount of each Revolving Credit Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans being deemed “held” by such Revolving Credit Lender for purposes of this definition) and (b) aggregate unused Revolving Credit Commitments; provided that the unused Revolving Credit Commitment of, and the

 

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portion of the Total Revolving Credit Outstandings held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Revolving Lenders.

Responsible Officer” means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, treasurer or assistant treasurer of a Loan Party and, as to any document delivered on the Closing Date, any vice president, secretary or assistant secretary. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Loan Party and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Loan Party.

Restricted Payment” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity Interest of any Person, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, defeasance, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such Equity Interest, or on account of any return of capital to the such Person’s stockholders, partners or members (or the equivalent Persons thereof).

Revolving Credit Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Revolving Credit Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Revolving Credit Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01(c).

Revolving Credit Commitment” means, as to each Revolving Credit Lender, its obligation to (a) make Revolving Credit Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01(c), (b) purchase participations in L/C Obligations, and (c) purchase participations in Swing Line Loans, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01 under the caption “Revolving Credit Commitment” or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement. The aggregate Commitment of all Revolving Credit Lenders shall be $75,000,000 on the Closing Date, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

Revolving Credit Facility” means, at any time, the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Lenders’ Revolving Credit Commitments at such time.

Revolving Credit Lender” means, at any time, any Lender that has a Revolving Credit Commitment at such time.

Revolving Credit Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(c).

Revolving Credit Note” means a promissory note of the Borrower payable to any Revolving Credit Lender or its registered assigns, in substantially the form of Exhibit C-2 hereto, evidencing the aggregate indebtedness of the Borrower to such Revolving Credit Lender resulting from the Revolving Credit Loans made by such Revolving Credit Lender.

 

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S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and any successor thereto.

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.

Secured Cash Management Agreement” means any Cash Management Agreement that is entered into by and between any Loan Party and any Cash Management Bank.

Secured Hedge Agreement” means any Swap Contract permitted under Article VII that is entered into by and between any Loan Party and any Hedge Bank.

Secured Obligations” has the meaning specified in the Security Agreement.

Secured Parties” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Hedge Banks, the Cash Management Banks, the Supplemental Administrative Agent and each co-agent or sub-agent appointed by the Administrative Agent from time to time pursuant to Section 9.01(c).

Security Agreement” means, collectively, the Amended and Restated Security Agreement executed by the Loan Parties, substantially in the form of Exhibit G, together with each other security agreement supplement executed and delivered pursuant to Section 6.12.

Security Agreement Supplement” has the meaning specified in the Security Agreement.

Senior Subordinated Notes” means the 8.00% unsecured senior subordinated notes of the Borrower due 2013 in an aggregate principal amount of $150,000,000 issued on the Closing Date, and any exchange notes issued in exchange therefor, in each case, pursuant to the Senior Subordinated Notes Indenture.

Senior Subordinated Notes Indenture” means the Indenture dated as of November 20, 2003, between Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, National Association, the Borrower and the Guarantors, together with all instruments and other agreements in connection therewith, as may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof, but only to the extent permitted under the terms of the Loan Documents.

Solvent” and “Solvency” mean, with respect to any Person on any date of determination, that on such date (a) the fair value of the property of such Person is greater than the total amount of liabilities, including, without limitation, contingent liabilities, of such Person, (b) the present fair salable value of the assets of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts as they become absolute and matured, (c) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Person’s ability to pay such debts and liabilities as they mature and (d) such Person is not engaged in business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in business or a transaction, for which such Person’s property would constitute an unreasonably small capital. The amount of contingent liabilities at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in the light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

 

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SPC” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(g).

Specified Equity Issuances” means the sale or issuance by Holdings of any of its Equity Interests in a public offering or in a private placement or sale that is underwritten, managed, arranged, placed or initially purchased by an investment bank (it being understood that the Sponsor is not an investment bank), which, for the avoidance of doubt, does not include the sale or issuance of any such Equity Interests to (a) the Equity Investors, their Affiliates, related funds and limited partners, and (b) other Persons making additional equity investments together with the Equity Investors after the Closing Date.

Specified Transaction” means, for any applicable period, any Permitted Acquisition or any Investment (or series of related Investments) made pursuant to Section 7.02(o) to the extent consisting of the contribution(s) or other transfer(s) of any property (other than cash) to a Joint Venture for consideration less than the fair market value of such property.

Sponsor” means Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P. and its Affiliates.

Sponsor Management Agreement” means the Management Agreement dated as of November 20, 2003, between THL Managers V, LLC and the Borrower, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof, but only to the extent permitted under the terms of the Loan Documents.

Subsidiary” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of securities or other interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than securities or interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are at the time beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower.

Subsidiary Guarantor” means, collectively, the Subsidiaries of the Borrower that are Guarantors.

Subsidiary Guaranty” means, collectively, the Subsidiary Guaranty made by the Subsidiary Guarantors in favor of the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders, substantially in the form of Exhibit F-2, together with each other guaranty and guaranty supplement delivered pursuant to Section 6.12.

Supplemental Administrative Agent” has the meaning specified in Section 9.14 and “Supplemental Administrative Agents” shall have the corresponding meaning.

Swap Contract” means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options,

 

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forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.

Swap Termination Value” means, in respect of any one or more Swap Contracts, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Swap Contracts, (a) for any date on or after the date such Swap Contracts have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the mark-to-market value(s) for such Swap Contracts, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Swap Contracts (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).

Swing Line Borrowing” means a borrowing of a Swing Line Loan pursuant to Section 2.04.

Swing Line Facility” means the revolving credit facility made available by the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.04.

Swing Line Lender” means Bank of America in its capacity as provider of Swing Line Loans, or any successor swing line lender hereunder.

Swing Line Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(a).

Swing Line Loan Notice” means a notice of a Swing Line Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.04(b), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit B.

Swing Line Sublimit” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $10,000,000 and (b) the Revolving Credit Commitments. The Swing Line Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Revolving Credit Facility Commitments.

Syndication Agent” means Cooperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen – Boerenleenbank B.A., “Rabobank International”, New York Branch, as Syndication Agent under the Loan Documents.

Synthetic Lease Obligation” means the monetary obligation of a Person under a so-called synthetic, off-balance sheet or tax retention lease.

 

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Taxes” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(a).

Term A Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Term A Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Term A Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01(a).

Term A Commitment” means, as to each Term A Lender, its obligation to make Term A Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01(a) in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Term A Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01 under the caption “Term A Commitment” or opposite such caption in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Term A Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Term A Facility” means, at any time, (a) prior to the Closing Date, the aggregate Term A Commitments of all Term A Lenders at such time, and (b) thereafter, the aggregate Term A Loans of all Term A Lenders at such time.

Term A Lender” means (a) at any time on or prior to the Closing Date, any Lender that has a Term A Commitment at such time and (b) at any time after the Closing Date, any Lender that holds Term A Loans at such time.

Term A Loan” means an advance made by any Term A Lender under the Term A Facility.

Term A Note” means a promissory note of the Borrower payable to the order of any Term A Lender, in substantially the form of Exhibit C-1 hereto, evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to such Term A Lender resulting from the Term A Loans made or held by such Term A Lender.

Term B Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Term B Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Term B Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01(b).

Term B Commitment” means, as to each Term B Lender, its obligation to make Term B Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01(b) in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Term B Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01 under the caption “Term B Commitment” or opposite such caption in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Term B Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Term B Facility” means, at any time, (a) prior to the Closing Date, the aggregate Term B Commitments of all Term B Lenders at such time, and (b) thereafter, the aggregate Term B Loans of all Term B Lenders at such time.

 

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Term B Lender” means (a) at any time on or prior to the Closing Date, any Lender that has a Term B Commitment at such time and (b) at any time after the Closing Date, any Lender that holds Term B Loans at such time.

Term B Loan” means an advance made by any Term B Lender under the Term B Facility.

Term B Note” means a promissory note of the Borrower payable to the order of any Term B Lender, in substantially the form of Exhibit C-2 hereto, evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to such Term B Lender resulting from the Term B Loans made or held by such Term B Lender.

Term Borrowing” means any Term A Borrowing or any Term B Borrowing, as applicable.

Term Commitment” means any Term A Commitment or any Term B Commitment, as applicable.

Term Facility” means the Term A Facility or the Term B Facility, as applicable.

Term Lender” means any Term A Lender or any Term B Lender, as applicable.

Term Loan” means any Term A Loan or any Term B Loan, as applicable.

Term Note” means any Term A Note or any Term B Note, as applicable.

Threshold Amount” means $15,000,000.

Total Outstandings” means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans and all L/C Obligations.

Total Revolving Credit Outstandings” means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Revolving Credit Loans, Swing Line Loans and L/C Obligations.

Transaction” has the meaning set forth in the Preliminary Statements hereto.

Type” means, with respect to a Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a Eurodollar Rate Loan.

Uniform Commercial Code” means the Uniform Commercial Code as the same may from time to time be in effect in the State of New York or the Uniform Commercial Code (or similar code or statute) of another jurisdiction, to the extent it may be required to apply to any item or items of Collateral.

United States” and “U.S.” mean the United States of America.

Unreimbursed Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(c)(i).

U.S. Lender” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.15(b).

 

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Wakefield Bond Guaranty” means (i) the guaranty dated as of September 30, 2005 by the Borrower of the 7.6% Notes due September 15, 2017 issued by the City of Wakefield, Nebraska in an aggregate principal amount of $10,250,000, and (ii) the guaranty dated as of May 24, 2007 by the Borrower of the 8.2159% Notes due September 15, 2017 issued by the City of Wakefield, Nebraska in an aggregate principal amount of $6,000,000.

Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing: (i) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by (ii) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.

1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions. With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:

(a) The meanings of defined terms are equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.

(b) (i) The words “herein,” “hereto,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document shall refer to such Loan Document as a whole and not to any particular provision thereof.

(ii) Article, Section, Exhibit and Schedule references are to the Loan Document in which such reference appears.

(iii) The term “including” is by way of example and not limitation.

(iv) The term “documents” includes any and all instruments, documents, agreements, certificates, notices, reports, financial statements and other writings, however evidenced, whether in physical or electronic form.

(c) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including;” the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding;” and the word “through” means “to and including.”

(d) Section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

1.03 Accounting Terms.

(a) All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP, as in effect from time to time, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the Audited Financial Statements, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein.

 

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(b) If at any time any change in GAAP or the application thereof would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either the Borrower or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP or the application thereof (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided, that, until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP or the application thereof prior to such change therein and (ii) the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders a written reconciliation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP or the application thereof.

1.04 Rounding. Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).

1.05 References to Agreements and Laws. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (a) references to Organization Documents, agreements (including the Loan Documents) and other contractual instruments shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications thereto, but only to the extent that such amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications are permitted by any Loan Document; and (b) references to any Law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such Law.

1.06 Times of Day. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).

1.07 Timing of Payment or Performance. When the payment of any obligation or the performance of any covenant, duty or obligation is stated to be due or performance required on a day which is not a Business Day, the date of such payment (other than as specifically provided in Section 2.12 or as described in the definition of Interest Period) or performance shall extend to the immediately succeeding Business Day.

1.08 Currency Equivalents Generally. Any amount specified in this Agreement (other than in Articles II, IX and X) or any of the other Loan Documents to be in Dollars shall also include the equivalent of such amount in any currency other than Dollars, such equivalent amount to be determined at the rate of exchange quoted by Bank of America in Charlotte, North Carolina at the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding any date of determination thereof, to prime banks in New York, New York for the spot purchase in the New York foreign exchange market of such amount in Dollars with such other currency.

 

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

1.10 Amendment and Restatement of Existing Credit Agreement. This Agreement amends and restates the Existing Credit Agreement, and on and after the date hereof, each reference in any Loan Document to “the Credit Agreement”, “therein”, “thereof”, “thereunder” or words of similar import when referring to the Existing Credit Agreement shall mean, and shall hereafter be a reference to, the Existing Credit Agreement, as amended and restated by this Agreement. Each Loan Party hereby acknowledges and agrees, as of the date hereof, for itself and for each of its Subsidiaries, that it does not have any claims, offsets, counterclaims, cross-complaints, defenses or demands of any kind or nature whatsoever under or relating to the Existing Credit Agreement, the other “Loan Documents” (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) or any of the obligations existing thereunder that could be asserted to reduce or eliminate all or any part of the obligation of any Loan Party to pay any amounts owed thereunder, or to assert any claim for affirmative relief or damages against the “Administrative Agent” thereunder or any lender party thereto.

ARTICLE II

THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS

2.01 The Loans.

(a) The Term A Borrowing. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Term A Lender severally agrees to make a single loan to the Borrower on the Closing Date in an amount not to exceed such Term A Lender’s Term A Commitment. The Term A Borrowing shall consist of Term A Loans made simultaneously by the Term A Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Share of the Term A Facility. Amounts borrowed under this Section 2.01(a) and subsequently repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. Term A Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein.

(b) The Term B Borrowing. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Term B Lender severally agrees to make a single loan to the Borrower on the Closing Date in an amount not to exceed such Term B Lender’s Term B Commitment. The Term B Borrowing shall consist of Term B Loans made simultaneously by the Term B Lenders in accordance with their respective Term B Commitments. Amounts borrowed under this Section 2.01(b) and subsequently repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. Term B Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans as further provided herein.

(c) The Revolving Credit Borrowings. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Revolving Credit Lender severally agrees to make loans (each such loan, a “Revolving Credit Loan”) to the Borrower from time to time, on any Business Day until the Maturity Date, in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such

 

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Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Revolving Credit Borrowing, (i) on the Closing Date, (A) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Revolving Credit Loans plus the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed $10,000,000 and (B) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations shall not exceed $8,000,000, (ii) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (iii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Credit Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment. Within the limits of each Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01(c), prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.01(c). Revolving Credit Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein.

2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans.

(a) Each Term A Borrowing, each Term B Borrowing, each Revolving Credit Borrowing, each conversion of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 12:30 p.m. (Charlotte, North Carolina time) (i) three (3) Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion of Base Rate Loans to, or continuation of, Eurodollar Rate Loans, or of any conversion of Eurodollar Rate Loans to Base Rate Loans, and (ii) one (1) Business Day before the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans. Each telephonic notice by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.02(a) must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written Committed Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $2,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. Except as provided in Sections 2.03(c) and 2.04(c), each Borrowing of, or conversion to, Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. Each Committed Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting a Term A Borrowing, a Term B Borrowing, a Revolving Credit Borrowing, a conversion of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans are to be converted, and (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto. If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Loan in a Committed Loan Notice or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base Rate Loans. Any such automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Eurodollar Rate Loans. If the Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans in any such Committed Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one (1) month. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, a Swing Line Loan may not be converted to a Eurodollar Rate Loan.

 

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(b) Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its Pro Rata Share of the applicable Term A Loans, Term B Loans or Revolving Credit Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans described in Section 2.02(a). In the case of a Term A Borrowing, a Term B Borrowing or a Revolving Credit Borrowing, each Appropriate Lender shall make the amount of its Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (and, if such Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section 4.01), the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of Bank of America with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the Borrower; provided, however, that if, on the date the Committed Loan Notice with respect to such Borrowing is given by the Borrower, there are Swing Line Loans or L/C Borrowings outstanding, then the proceeds of such Borrowing shall be applied, first, to the payment in full of any such L/C Borrowings, second, to the payment in full of any such Swing Line Loans, and third, to the Borrower as provided above.

(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, a Eurodollar Rate Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurodollar Rate Loan unless the Borrower pays the amount due under Section 3.05 in connection therewith. During the existence of an Event of Default, no Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as Eurodollar Rate Loans without the consent of the Required Lenders.

(d) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Eurodollar Rate Loans upon determination of such interest rate. The determination of the Eurodollar Rate by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. At any time that Base Rate Loans are outstanding, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of any change in Bank of America’s prime rate used in determining the Base Rate promptly following the public announcement of such change.

(e) After giving effect to all Term A Borrowings, all Term B Borrowings, all Revolving Credit Borrowings, all conversions of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Term Loans or Revolving Credit Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than fifteen (15) Interest Periods in effect.

(f) The failure of any Lender to make the Loan to be made by it as part of any Borrowing shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation, if any, hereunder to make its Loan on the date of such Borrowing, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make the Loan to be made by such other Lender on the date of any Borrowing.

 

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2.03 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 Revolving Credit Lenders set forth in this Section 2.03, (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 for the account of the Borrower and to amend or renew Letters of Credit previously issued by it, in accordance with Section 2.03(b), and (2) to honor drafts under the Letters of Credit; and (B) the Revolving Credit Lenders severally agree to participate in Letters of Credit issued for the account of the Borrower; 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, (x) the Total Outstandings would exceed the Aggregate Commitments, (y) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Credit Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans would exceed such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment, or (z) the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations would exceed the Letter of Credit 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. 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. All Existing Letters of Credit shall be deemed to have been issued pursuant hereto, and from and after the Closing Date shall be subject to and governed by the terms and conditions hereof.

(ii) 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, in each case, such L/C Issuer in good faith deems material to it;

(B) subject to Section 2.03(b)(iii), the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur more than twelve (12) months after the date of issuance or last renewal, unless the Required Revolving Lenders have approved such expiry date;

 

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

(E) such Letter of Credit is in an initial stated amount less than $50,000, in the case of a commercial Letter of Credit, or $50,000, in the case of a standby Letter of Credit, or such Letter of Credit is to be denominated in a currency other than Dollars; or

(F) a default of any Lender’s obligations to fund under Section 2.03(c) exists or any Lender is at such time an Impacted Lender, unless the Borrower shall have Cash Collateralized such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the requested Letter of Credit, or other arrangements satisfactory to such L/C Issuer have been entered into with the Borrower or such Lender to eliminate such L/C Issuer’s risk with respect to such Lender.

(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) Each L/C Issuer shall act on behalf of the Revolving Credit 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 (A) provided to the Administrative Agent in Article IX 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 Issuer Documents pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the term “Administrative Agent” as used in Article IX included each L/C Issuer with respect to such acts or omissions, and (B) as additionally provided herein with respect to each L/C Issuer.

(v) It is agreed that, in the case of the issuance of any commercial letter of credit, such commercial letter of credit shall in no event provide for time drafts or bankers’ acceptances.

(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 the applicable L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) in the form of a Letter of Credit Application, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Such Letter of Credit Application must be received by the applicable L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent not later than 12:30 p.m. at least two (2) Business Days (or such later date and time as such L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent may agree in a particular instance in their

 

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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 reasonably satisfactory to the applicable 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 the applicable L/C Issuer may reasonably request. 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 reasonably satisfactory to the applicable L/C Issuer (1) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (2) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (3) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (4) such other matters as the applicable L/C Issuer may reasonably request.

(ii) Promptly after receipt of any Letter of Credit Application, the applicable L/C Issuer will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has received a copy of such Letter of Credit Application from the Borrower and, if not, such L/C Issuer will provide the Administrative Agent with a copy thereof. Upon receipt by such L/C Issuer of confirmation from the Administrative 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. Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit, each Revolving Credit 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 Pro Rata Share 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 its 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 the applicable L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request 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) the applicable L/C Issuer to permit the renewal of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry 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 has determined that it would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its renewed form under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of Section 2.03(a)(ii) or otherwise), or (B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is five (5) Business Days before the

 

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Nonrenewal Notice Date (1) from the Administrative Agent that the Required Lenders have elected not to permit such renewal or (2) from the Administrative Agent, any Revolving Credit Lender or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 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 (A) deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment, and (B) notify each Revolving Credit Lender of such issuance or amendment and the amount of such Revolving Credit Lender’s Pro Rata Share therein, and upon a specific request by any Revolving Credit Lender, furnish to such Revolving Credit Lender a 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 Administrative Agent thereof. If such L/C Issuer notifies the Borrower of such payment prior to 11:00 a.m. (Charlotte, North Carolina time) on the date of any payment by such L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit (each such date, an “Honor Date”), the Borrower shall reimburse such L/C Issuer through the Administrative Agent in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing; provided, that if such notice is not provided to the Borrower prior to 11:00 a.m. (Charlotte, North Carolina time) on the Honor Date, then the Borrower shall reimburse such L/C Issuer through the Administrative Agent in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing on the next succeeding Business Day and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing fees in respect of any such Letter of Credit. If the Borrower fails to so reimburse such L/C Issuer by such time, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Revolving Credit Lender of the Honor Date, the amount of the unreimbursed drawing (the “Unreimbursed Amount”), and the amount of such Revolving Credit Lender’s Pro Rata Share thereof. In such event, the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Revolving Credit Borrowing of Base Rate Loans to be disbursed on the Honor Date in an amount equal to the Unreimbursed Amount, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified in Section 2.02 for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the Revolving Credit Commitments and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than the delivery of a Committed Loan Notice). Any notice given by an L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.03(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 Revolving Credit Lender (including each Lender acting as an L/C Issuer) shall upon any notice pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) make funds available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable L/C Issuer at the Administrative Agent’s Office in an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of the Unreimbursed Amount not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in such notice by the Administrative Agent, whereupon, subject to the provisions of Section 2.03(c)(iii), each Revolving

 

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Credit Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Loan to the Borrower in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the applicable L/C Issuer.

(iii) With respect to any Unreimbursed Amount that is not fully refinanced by a Revolving Credit Borrowing of Base Rate Loans because the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 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 Revolving Credit Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(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 2.03.

(iv) Until each Revolving Credit Lender funds its Revolving Credit Loan or L/C Advance pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) to reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer for any amount drawn under any Letter of Credit, interest in respect of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of such amount shall be solely for the account of such L/C Issuer.

(v) Each Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans or L/C Advances to reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit, as contemplated by this Section 2.03(c), shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, 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 (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided, however, that each Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than delivery by the Borrower of a Committed Loan Notice ). No such making of an L/C Advance shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer for the amount of any payment made by the applicable L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit, together with interest as provided herein.

(vi) If any Revolving Credit Lender fails to make available to the Administrative 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 2.03(c) by the time specified in Section 2.03(c)(ii), such L/C Issuer shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to such L/C Issuer at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect and a rate reasonably determined by such L/C Issuer in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any reasonable administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by such L/C Issuer in connection with the foregoing. If such Lender

 

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pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in the relevant Borrowing or L/C Advance in respect of the relevant L/C Borrowing, as the case may be. A certificate of the applicable L/C Issuer submitted to any Revolving Credit Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this Section 2.03(c)(vi) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(d) Repayment of Participations.

(i) If, at any time after an L/C Issuer has made a payment under any Letter of Credit issued by it and has received from any Revolving Credit Lender such Lender’s L/C Advance in respect of such payment in accordance with Section 2.03(c), if the Administrative Agent receives for the account of such L/C Issuer any payment in respect of the related Unreimbursed Amount or interest thereon (whether directly from the Borrower or otherwise, including proceeds of Cash Collateral applied thereto by the Administrative Agent), the Administrative Agent will distribute to such Lender its Pro Rata Share thereof (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Lender’s L/C Advance was outstanding) in the same funds as those received by the Administrative Agent.

(ii) If any payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of an L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) is required to be returned under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.06 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by such L/C Issuer in its discretion), each Revolving Credit Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such L/C Issuer its Pro Rata Share thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned by such Lender, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

(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 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, setoff, 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;

 

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(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 the applicable 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;

(v) any exchange, release or nonperfection of any Collateral, or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent to departure from the Guaranty or any other guarantee, for all or any of the Obligations of the Borrower in respect of such Letter of Credit; or

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

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 promptly notify the applicable L/C Issuer. The Borrower shall be conclusively deemed to have waived any such claim against any L/C Issuer and its correspondents unless such notice is given as aforesaid.

(f) Role of L/C Issuer. Each Lender and the Borrower agree that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit, the applicable L/C Issuer shall not 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. None of the applicable L/C Issuer, any 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 Revolving Credit Lenders or the Required Revolving 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. None of the applicable L/C Issuer, any Agent-Related Person, nor any of the respective correspondents, participants or assignees of such L/C Issuer, shall be liable

 

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or responsible for any of the matters described in clauses (i) through (v) of Section 2.03(e); provided, however, that anything in such clauses to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrower may have a claim against such 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 or grossly negligent 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, the applicable 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 Administrative Agent, (i) if the applicable 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 and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 to a Revolving Credit Borrowing cannot then be met, 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 then Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to such Outstanding Amount determined as of the date of such L/C Borrowing or the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, as the case may be). In addition, if any Revolving Credit Lender shall become an Impacted Lender, then upon a request of the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall immediately Cash Collateralize all of such Impacted Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the then Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to such Impacted Lender’s Pro Rata Share of such Outstanding Amount, determined as of the date of such request from the Administrative Agent), until such time as such Lender shall cease to be an Impacted Lender or a Revolving Credit Lender. Sections 2.05 and 8.02(c) set forth certain additional requirements to deliver Cash Collateral hereunder. For purposes hereof, “Cash Collateralize” means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the applicable L/C Issuer and the Lenders, as collateral for the L/C Obligations, cash or deposit account balances (“Cash Collateral”) pursuant to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and such L/C Issuer (which documents are hereby consented to by the Lenders). Derivatives of such term have corresponding meanings. The Borrower hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the applicable L/C Issuer and the Lenders, a security interest in all such cash, deposit accounts and all balances therein and all proceeds of the foregoing. Cash Collateral shall be maintained in blocked, non-interest bearing deposit accounts at Bank of America. If at any time the Administrative Agent determines that any funds held as Cash Collateral are subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the Administrative Agent or that the total amount of such funds is less than the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, the Borrower will, forthwith upon demand by the Administrative Agent, pay to the Administrative Agent, as additional funds to be deposited and held in the deposit accounts at Bank of America as aforesaid, an amount equal to the excess of (a) such aggregate Outstanding Amount over (b) the total amount of funds, if any, then held as Cash Collateral that the Administrative Agent determines to be free and clear of any such right and claim. Upon the drawing of any Letter of

 

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Credit for which funds are on deposit as Cash Collateral, such funds shall be applied, to the extent permitted under applicable law, to reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer. To the extent the amount of any Cash Collateral exceeds the then Outstanding Amount of such L/C Obligations and so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the excess shall be refunded to the Borrower.

(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 Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Credit Lender in accordance with its Pro Rata Share, a Letter of Credit fee for each Letter of Credit equal to the Applicable Rate then in effect for Eurodollar Rate Loans with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility times the daily maximum amount then available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit (whether or not such maximum amount is then in effect under such Letter of Credit if such maximum amount increases periodically pursuant to the terms of such Letter of Credit). Such letter of credit fees shall be computed on a quarterly basis in arrears. Such letter of credit fees shall be due and payable on the first Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. If there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the daily maximum amount of each Letter of Credit shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect.

(j) Fronting Fee and Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to an L/C Issuer. The Borrower shall pay directly to the applicable L/C Issuer for its own account a fronting fee (i) with respect to each commercial Letter of Credit issued by such L/C Issuer, at the rate specified in the Fee Letter, computed on the amount of such Letter of Credit, and payable upon the issuance thereof, (ii) with respect to any amendment of a commercial Letter of Credit increasing the stated amount of such Letter of Credit, at a rate to be separately agreed between the Borrower and the applicable L/C Issuer, computed on the amount of such increase, and payable upon the effectiveness of such amendment, and (iii) with respect to each standby Letter of Credit, at the rate per annum specified in the Fee Letter, computed on the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit on a quarterly basis in arrears. Such fronting fee shall be due and payable on the tenth (10th) Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December in respect of the most recently-ended quarterly period (or portion thereof, in the case of the first payment), commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.09. 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

 

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and charges, of such L/C Issuer relating to letters of credit as from time to time in effect. Such customary fees and standard costs and charges are due and payable within five (5) Business Days of demand and are nonrefundable.

(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.

2.04 Swing Line Loans.

(a) The Swing Line. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, and so long as no Revolving Credit Lender shall be an Impacted Lender, the Swing Line Lender agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the other Lenders set forth in this Section 2.04, make loans (each such loan, a “Swing Line Loan”) to the Borrower from time to time on any Business Day until the Maturity Date in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of the Swing Line Sublimit, notwithstanding the fact that such Swing Line Loans, when aggregated with the Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount of Loans and L/C Obligations of the Lender acting as Swing Line Lender, may exceed the amount of such Lender’s Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Swing Line Loan, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Credit Loans of any Revolving Credit Lender, plus such Revolving Credit Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations at such time, plus such Revolving Credit Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans at such time shall not exceed such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment; provided, further, that the Borrower shall not use the proceeds of any Swing Line Loan to refinance any outstanding Swing Line Loan. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.04, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.04. Each Swing Line Loan shall bear interest only at a rate based on the Base Rate. Immediately upon the making of a Swing Line Loan, each Revolving Credit Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the Swing Line Lender a risk participation in such Swing Line Loan in an amount equal to the product of such Revolving Credit Lender’s Pro Rata Share times the amount of such Swing Line Loan.

(b) Borrowing Procedures. Each Swing Line Borrowing shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. on the requested borrowing date, and shall specify (i) the amount to be borrowed, which shall be a minimum of $100,000, and (ii) the requested borrowing date, which shall be a Business Day. Each such telephonic notice must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent of a written Swing Line Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Promptly after receipt by the Swing Line Lender of any telephonic Swing Line Loan Notice, the Swing Line Lender will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has also received such Swing Line Loan Notice and, if not, the Swing Line Lender will notify the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) of the contents thereof. Unless the Swing Line Lender has received notice (by telephone or in

 

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writing) from the Administrative Agent (including at the request of any Revolving Credit Lender) prior to 2:00 p.m. on the date of the proposed Swing Line Borrowing (A) directing the Swing Line Lender not to make such Swing Line Loan as a result of the limitations set forth in the first proviso to the first sentence of Section 2.04(a), or (B) that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Article IV is not then satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Swing Line Lender will, not later than 3:00 p.m. on the borrowing date specified in such Swing Line Loan Notice, make the amount of its Swing Line Loan available to the Borrower.

(c) Refinancing of Swing Line Loans.

(i) The Swing Line Lender at any time in its sole and absolute discretion may request, on behalf of the Borrower (which hereby irrevocably authorizes the Swing Line Lender to so request on its behalf), that each Revolving Credit Lender make a Base Rate Loan in an amount equal to such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the amount of Swing Line Loans then outstanding. Such request shall be made in writing (which written request shall be deemed to be a Committed Loan Notice for purposes hereof) and in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.02, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified therein for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the unutilized portion of the Revolving Credit Facility and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02. The Swing Line Lender shall furnish the Borrower with a copy of the applicable Committed Loan Notice promptly after delivering such notice to the Administrative Agent. Each Revolving Credit Lender shall make an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of the amount specified in such Committed Loan Notice available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds for the account of the Swing Line Lender at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the day specified in such Committed Loan Notice, whereupon, subject to Section 2.04(c)(ii), each Revolving Credit Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Loan to the Borrower in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the Swing Line Lender.

(ii) If for any reason any Swing Line Loan cannot be refinanced by such a Revolving Credit Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.04(c)(i), the request for Base Rate Loans submitted by the Swing Line Lender as set forth herein shall be deemed to be a request by the Swing Line Lender that each of the Revolving Credit Lenders fund its risk participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan and each Revolving Credit Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.04(c)(i) shall be deemed payment in respect of such participation.

(iii) If any Revolving Credit Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.04(c) by the time specified in Section 2.04(c)(i), the Swing Line Lender shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the Swing Line Lender at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect and a

 

54


rate reasonably determined by the Swing Line Lender in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any reasonable administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Swing Line Lender in connection with the foregoing. If such Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s committed Loan included in the relevant committed Borrowing or funded participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan, as the case may be. A certificate of the Swing Line Lender submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (iii) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(iv) Each Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans or to purchase and fund risk participations in Swing Line Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the Swing Line Lender, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided, however, that each Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02. No such funding of risk participations shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to repay Swing Line Loans, together with interest as provided herein.

(d) Repayment of Participations.

(i) At any time after any Revolving Credit Lender has purchased and funded a risk participation in a Swing Line Loan, if the Swing Line Lender receives any payment on account of such Swing Line Loan, the Swing Line Lender will distribute to such Lender its Pro Rata Share of such payment (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Lender’s risk participation was funded) in the same funds as those received by the Swing Line Lender.

(ii) If any payment received by the Swing Line Lender in respect of principal or interest on any Swing Line Loan is required to be returned by the Swing Line Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.06 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Swing Line Lender in its discretion), each Revolving Credit Lender shall pay to the Swing Line Lender its Pro Rata Share thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate. The Administrative Agent will make such demand upon the request of the Swing Line Lender. The obligations of the Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

(e) Interest for Account of Swing Line Lender. The Swing Line Lender shall be responsible for invoicing the Borrower for interest on the Swing Line Loans. Until each Revolving Credit Lender funds its Base Rate Loan or risk participation pursuant to this Section 2.04 to refinance such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of any Swing Line Loan, interest in respect of such Pro Rata Share shall be solely for the account of the Swing Line Lender.

 

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(f) Payments Directly to Swing Line Lender. The Borrower shall make all payments of principal and interest in respect of the Swing Line Loans directly to the Swing Line Lender.

2.05 Prepayments.

(a) Optional.

(i) The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided, that (1) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 12:30 p.m. (Charlotte, North Carolina time) (A) three (3) Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans and (B) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Loans; (2) any prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $2,000,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof; and (3) any prepayment of Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof or, in each case, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Type(s) of Loans to be prepaid and, if Eurodollar Rate Loans are to be prepaid, the Interest Period(s) of such Loans. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s ratable portion of such prepayment (based on such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the relevant Facility). If such notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein. Any prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest thereon, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05. Each prepayment of the outstanding Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(a) shall be applied, first, in direct order of maturities, to the principal repayment installments (or proportional fractions thereof) applicable to each of the Term Loans pursuant to Sections 2.07 (a) and (b) that are due within eighteen (18) months after the date of such prepayment, and second, on a pro rata basis, to the other principal repayment installments thereof; and each such prepayment shall be paid to the Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares.

(ii) The Borrower may, upon notice to the Swing Line Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at any time or from time to time, voluntarily prepay Swing Line Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided, that (A) such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. on the date of the prepayment, and (B) any such prepayment shall be in a minimum principal amount of $100,000. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein.

 

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(iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Borrower may rescind any notice of prepayment under Section 2.05(a)(i) or (a)(ii) if such prepayment would have resulted from a refinancing of all of the Facilities, which refinancing shall not be consummated or shall otherwise be delayed.

(b) Mandatory.

(i) Within five (5) Business Days after financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) and the related Compliance Certificate has been delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(b), the Borrower shall prepay an aggregate principal amount of Loans in an amount equal to (A) 50% (as may be adjusted pursuant to the proviso below) of Excess Cash Flow for the fiscal year covered by such financial statements commencing with the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 minus (B) the aggregate amount of voluntary principal prepayments of the Loans (except prepayments of (x) Swing Line Loans and (y) Revolving Credit Loans unless accompanied by a corresponding permanent commitment reduction of the Revolving Credit Facility); provided, that such percentage shall be reduced to 0% if the Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the prior fiscal year was less than 2.50:1.00.

(ii) (A) If (x) Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries Disposes of any property or assets (other than any Disposition of any property or assets permitted by Section 7.05(a), (b), (c), (d) (to the extent constituting a Disposition by any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party to a Loan Party), (e), (g), (h), (i), (j) or (k)) or (y) any Casualty Event occurs, which in the aggregate results in the realization or receipt by Holdings or such Subsidiary of Net Cash Proceeds, in excess of $1,000,000, the Borrower shall (1) give written notice to the Administrative Agent thereof on or prior to the date of the realization or receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds and (2) except to the extent the Borrower elects in such notice to reinvest all or a portion of such Net Cash Proceeds in accordance with Section 2.05(b)(ii)(B) (which election may only be made if no Event of Default has occurred and is then continuing), prepay an aggregate principal amount of Loans in an amount equal to 100% of all Net Cash Proceeds received therefrom within two (2) Business Days of receipt thereof by Holdings or such Subsidiary.

(B) With respect to any Net Cash Proceeds realized or received with respect to any Disposition (other than as specifically excluded in Section 2.05(b)(ii)(A)) or any Casualty Event, at the option of the Borrower, and so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Borrower may reinvest all or any portion of such Net Cash Proceeds in assets useful for its business within three hundred and sixty-five (365) days (or with respect to the Net Cash Proceeds of a Casualty Event, five hundred and forty (540) days) following receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds; provided, however, that if any Net Cash Proceeds are no longer intended to be so reinvested at any time after delivery of a notice of reinvestment election, an amount equal to any such Net Cash Proceeds shall be immediately applied to the prepayment of the Loans as set forth in this Section 2.05; provided, further, however, that no such Net Cash Proceeds of a Casualty Event shall be reinvested for the repair or replacement of property damaged or lost in such Casualty Event if the net book value of such

 

57


property exceeds $5,000,000 unless, after giving Pro Forma Effect to any Indebtedness to be incurred in connection with such replacement or restoration, the Loan Parties would be in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 7.11 as of the most recent fiscal quarter end preceding the date of determination.

(iii) The Borrower shall prepay an aggregate principal amount of Loans in an amount equal to 50% of all Net Cash Proceeds received from any Specified Equity Issuance (if the Leveraged Ratio as of the last day of the prior fiscal quarter is equal to or greater than 2.50:1.00); provided, that such percentage shall be reduced to 25% if the Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the prior fiscal quarter was less than 2.50:1.00.

(iv) Upon the incurrence or issuance by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries of (A) any Indebtedness not expressly permitted to be incurred or issued pursuant to Section 7.03 or (B) any Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness under Section 7.03(a)(iii)(B), the Borrower shall prepay an aggregate principal amount of Loans in an amount equal to 100% of all Net Cash Proceeds received therefrom immediately upon receipt thereof by Holdings or such Subsidiary.

(v) If for any reason the Total Outstandings at any time exceed the Aggregate Commitments then in effect, the Borrower shall immediately prepay Loans and/or Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations in an aggregate amount equal to such excess; provided, however, that the Borrower shall not be required to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations pursuant to this Section 2.05(b)(v) unless after the prepayment in full of the Loans and Swing Line Loans the Total Outstandings exceed the Aggregate Commitments then in effect.

(vi) Each prepayment of Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(b) shall be applied, first, in direct order of maturities, to any principal repayment installments of the Term Facilities that are due within six (6) months after the date of such prepayment, second, on a pro rata basis, to the other principal repayment installments of the Term Facilities and, thereafter, to the Revolving Credit Facility (the amount of such prepayment, the “Reduction Amount”) in the manner set forth in clause (vii) of this Section 2.05(b); and each such prepayment shall be paid to the Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares.

(vii) The Revolving Credit Facility shall be permanently reduced by the Reduction Amount on the date of the applicable prepayment and such prepayment shall be, first, applied to prepay L/C Borrowings outstanding at such time until all such L/C Borrowings are paid in full, second, applied to prepay Swing Line Loans outstanding at such time until all such Swing Line Loans are paid in full, third, applied to prepay Revolving Credit Loans outstanding at such time until all such Revolving Credit Loans are paid in full and, fourth, used to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations; and, thereafter, the amount remaining, if any, after the prepayment in full of all Loans and L/C Borrowings outstanding at such time and the L/C Obligations have been Cash Collateralized in full may be retained by the Borrower for use in the ordinary course of its business. Upon the drawing of any Letter of Credit which has been Cash Collateralized,

 

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such funds shall be applied (without any further action by or notice to or from the Borrower or any other Loan Party) to reimburse the applicable L/C Issuer or the Revolving Credit Lenders, as applicable.

(viii) Funding Losses, Etc. All prepayments under this Section 2.05 shall be made together with, in the case of any such prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan on a date other than the last day of an Interest Period therefor, any amounts owing in respect of such Eurodollar Rate Loan pursuant to Section 3.05. Notwithstanding any of the other provisions of Section 2.05(b), so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, if any prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans is required to be made under this Section 2.05(b), other than on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, deposit the amount of any such prepayment otherwise required to be made thereunder into a Cash Collateral Account until the last day of such Interest Period, at which time the Administrative Agent shall be authorized (without any further action by or notice to or from the Borrower or any other Loan Party) to apply such amount to the prepayment of such Loans in accordance with this Section 2.05(b). Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, the Administrative Agent shall also be authorized (without any further action by or notice to or from the Borrower or any other Loan Party) to apply such amount to the prepayment of the outstanding Loans in accordance with this Section 2.05(b).

(ix) Failure to Refinance Senior Subordinated Notes or Holdco Notes. In the event that:

(A) any of the Borrower’s existing Senior Subordinated Notes which are presently scheduled to mature prior to the Maturity Date of the Term B Facility have not, by the date that is ninety days prior to such Senior Subordinated Notes’ scheduled maturity date, been refinanced or replaced with Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness by means of a Permitted Refinancing, then any Term B Facility Lender shall have the right to voluntarily advance the maturity of its Term B Loans at any time following the date that is ninety days prior to the first scheduled maturity date of any un-refinanced Senior Subordinated Notes; or

(B) any of Holdings’ existing Holdco Notes which are presently scheduled to mature prior to the Maturity Date of the Term B Facility have not, by the date that is ninety days prior to such Holdco Notes’ scheduled maturity date, been refinanced or replaced with Permitted Holdco Debt by means of a Permitted Refinancing, then any Term B Facility Lender shall have the right to voluntarily advance the maturity of its Term B Loans at any time following the date that is ninety days prior to the first scheduled maturity date of any un-refinanced Holdco Notes,

and in each case, following a demand by a Lender for payment pursuant to clause (A) or (B) above (such demand to be made in writing through the Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall, within five (5) Business Days of its receipt of such demand from the Administrative Agent, pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the demanding Term B Lender (it being understood that the sharing and pro rata payment provisions of

 

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Sections 2.12(a) and 2.13 shall not apply to any payments made under this Section 2.05(b)(ix)), the outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s Term B Loans, along with all interest accrued on such amount as of the date of such repayment and any other Obligations hereunder in respect of such Lender’s Term B Loans (including, without limitation, any amounts payable to such Lender pursuant to Section 3.05 as a result of the early repayment of such Term B Loans).

2.06 Termination or Reduction of Commitments.

(a) Optional. The Borrower may, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate the unused portions of the Term Commitments, the Letter of Credit Sublimit, or the unused Revolving Credit Commitments, or from time to time permanently reduce the unused portions of the Term Commitments, the Letter of Credit Sublimit, or the unused Revolving Credit Commitments; provided, that (i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent five (5) Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction, (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $500,000 or any whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof and (iii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce (A) the Revolving Credit Facility if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Total Revolving Credit Outstandings would exceed the Revolving Credit Facility, (B) the Letter of Credit Sublimit if, after giving effect thereto, the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations not fully Cash Collateralized hereunder would exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit, or (C) the Swing Line Sublimit if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Outstanding Amount of Swing Line Loans would exceed the Swing Line Sublimit.

(b) Mandatory. (i) The aggregate Term A Commitments shall be automatically and permanently reduced to zero on the date of the Term A Borrowing.

(ii) The aggregate Term B Commitments shall be automatically and permanently reduced to zero on the date of the Term B Borrowing.

(iii) The Revolving Credit Facility shall be automatically and permanently reduced ratably among the Revolving Credit Lenders on each date on which the prepayment of Revolving Credit Loans outstanding thereunder is required to be made pursuant to Section 2.05(b) by an amount equal to the applicable Reduction Amount (regardless of whether any Revolving Credit Loans, Swing Line Loans or Letters of Credit are then outstanding).

(iv) If after giving effect to any reduction or termination of unused Revolving Credit Commitments under this Section 2.06, the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit exceeds the amount of the Revolving Credit Facility at such time, the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit, as the case may be, shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such excess.

(c) Application of Commitment Reductions; Payment of Fees. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any termination or reduction of unused portions of the Term Commitments, the Letter of Credit Sublimit, or the unused Revolving Credit Commitment under this Section 2.06. Upon any reduction of unused Commitments under

 

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a Facility, the Commitment of each Lender under such Facility shall be reduced by such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the amount by which such Facility is reduced (other than the termination of the Commitment of any Lender as provided in Section 3.07). All commitment fees accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Aggregate Commitments shall be paid on the effective date of such termination.

2.07 Repayment of Loans.

(a) Term A Loans. The Borrower shall repay to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the Term A Lenders the aggregate principal amount of all Term A Loans outstanding in consecutive quarterly installments as set forth below (which installments shall be reduced as a result of the application of prepayments in accordance with the order of priority set forth in Sections 2.05 and 2.06);

 

Date

   Term A Loan Principal
Amortization Payment

September 30, 2009

   $ 5,000,000

December 31, 2009

   $ 5,000,000

March 31, 2010

   $ 5,000,000

June 30, 2010

   $ 5,000,000

September 30, 2010

   $ 5,000,000

December 31, 2010

   $ 5,000,000

March 31, 2011

   $ 5,000,000

June 30, 2011

   $ 5,000,000

September 30, 2011

   $ 5,000,000

December 31, 2011

   $ 5,000,000

March 31, 2012

   $ 5,000,000

June 30, 2012

   $ 5,000,000

September 30, 2012

   $ 5,000,000

Term A Maturity Date

   $ 135,000,000

provided, however, that the final principal repayment installment of the Term A Loans shall be repaid on the Maturity Date for the Term A Facility and in any event shall be in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of all Term A Loans outstanding on such date.

(b) Term B Loans. The Borrower shall repay to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the Term B Lenders the aggregate principal amount of all Term B Loans outstanding in consecutive quarterly installments as follows (which installments shall, to the extent applicable, be reduced as a result of the application of prepayments in accordance with the order of priority set forth in Sections 2.05 and 2.06, be reduced as a result of any advancement of the maturity of any Term B Loans pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(ix), or be increased as a result of any increase in the amount of Term B Loans pursuant to Section 2.14 (such increased amortization payments to be calculated in the same manner (and on the same basis) as the schedule set forth below for the Term B Loans made as of the Closing Date));

 

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Date

   Term B Loan Principal
Amortization Payment

September 30, 2009

   $ 625,000

December 31, 2009

   $ 625,000

March 31, 2010

   $ 625,000

June 30, 2010

   $ 625,000

September 30, 2010

   $ 625,000

December 31, 2010

   $ 625,000

March 31, 2011

   $ 625,000

June 30, 2011

   $ 625,000

September 30, 2011

   $ 625,000

December 31, 2011

   $ 625,000

March 31, 2012

   $ 625,000

June 30, 2012

   $ 625,000

September 30, 2012

   $ 625,000

December 31, 2012

   $ 625,000

March 31, 2013

   $ 625,000

June 30, 2013

   $ 625,000

September 30, 2013

   $ 625,000

December 31, 2013

   $ 625,000

March 31, 2014

   $ 625,000

Term B Maturity Date

   $ 238,125,000

provided, however, that the final principal repayment installment of the Term B Loans shall be repaid on the Maturity Date for the Term B Facility and in any event shall be in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of all Term B Loans outstanding on such date.

(c) Revolving Credit Loans. The Borrower shall repay to the Revolving Credit Lenders on the Maturity Date for the Revolving Credit Facility the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Credit Loans outstanding on such date.

(d) Swing Line Loans. The Borrower shall repay each Swing Line Loan on the earlier to occur of (i) the date ten Business Days after such Loan is made and (ii) the Maturity Date for the Revolving Credit Facility.

 

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2.08 Interest.

(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.08(b), (i) each Eurodollar Rate Loan under a Facility shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the sum of (A) the greater of (x) the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period and (y) 2.00%, plus (B) the Applicable Rate for Eurodollar Rate Loans under such Facility; (ii) each Base Rate Loan under a Facility shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the sum of (A) the greater of (x) 3.00% and (y) the Base Rate, plus (B) the Applicable Rate for Base Rate Loans under such Facility; and (iii) each Swing Line Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the sum of (A) the greater of (x) 3.00% and (y) the Base Rate plus (B) the Applicable Rate for Base Rate Loans under the Revolving Credit Facility.

(b) While any Event of Default set forth in Section 8.01(a) or (f) exists, the Borrower shall pay interest on the principal amount of all outstanding Obligations hereunder at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws. Accrued and unpaid interest on past due amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable upon demand.

(c) Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein. Interest hereunder shall be due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and after the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law.

2.09 Fees. In addition to certain fees described in Sections 2.03(i) and (j):

(a) Commitment Fee. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Credit Lender in accordance with its Pro Rata Share, a commitment fee equal to 0.75% per annum times the actual daily amount by which the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments exceed the sum of (A) the Outstanding Amount of Revolving Credit Loans and (B) the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations; provided, however, that any commitment fee accrued with respect to any of the Commitments of a Defaulting Lender during the period prior to the time such Lender became a Defaulting Lender and unpaid at such time shall not be payable by the Borrower so long as such Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender except to the extent that such commitment fee shall otherwise have been due and payable by the Borrower prior to such time; and provided, further that no commitment fee shall accrue on any of the Commitments of a Defaulting Lender so long as such Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender. The commitment fee shall accrue at all times from the date hereof until the Maturity Date, including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Article IV is not met, and shall be 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 Closing Date, and on the Maturity Date for the applicable Facility. The commitment fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears, and if there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the actual daily amount shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect.

 

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(b) Other Fees. (i) The Borrower shall pay to the Arranger and the Administrative Agent for their own respective accounts fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the Fee Letter. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

(ii) The Borrower shall pay to the Lenders such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

2.10 Computation of Interest and Fees. All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans shall be made on the basis of a year of three hundred and sixty-five (365) or three hundred and sixty-six (366) days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed. All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a three hundred and sixty (360) day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a three hundred and sixty-five (365) day year). Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid, provided, that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.12(a), bear interest for one (1) day. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

2.11 Evidence of Indebtedness.

(a) The Credit Extensions made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender and evidenced by one or more entries in the Register maintained by the Administrative Agent, acting solely for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 5f.103-1(c), as agent for the Borrower, in each case in the ordinary course of business. The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be prima facie evidence absent manifest error of the amount of the Credit Extensions made by the Lenders to the Borrower and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error. Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note payable to the order of such Lender, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to its Note and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.

(b) In addition to the accounts and records referred to in Section 2.11(a), each Lender and the Administrative Agent shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice accounts or records and, in the case of the Administrative Agent, entries in the Register, evidencing the purchases and sales by such Lender of participations in Letters of Credit

 

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and Swing Line Loans. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by the Administrative Agent and the accounts and records of any Lender in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.

(c) Entries made in good faith by the Administrative Agent in the Register pursuant to Sections 2.11(a) and (b), and by each Lender in its account or accounts pursuant to Sections 2.11(a) and (b), shall be prima facie evidence of the amount of principal and interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to, in the case of the Register, each Lender and, in the case of such account or accounts, such Lender, under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, absent manifest error; provided, that the failure of the Administrative Agent or such Lender to make an entry, or any finding that an entry is incorrect, in the Register or such account or accounts shall not limit or otherwise affect the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

2.12 Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback.

(a) General. All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in Dollars and in immediately available funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date specified herein. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its Pro Rata Share in respect of the relevant Facility (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 2:00 p.m. shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue. If any payment to be made by the Borrower shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be; provided, however, that, if such extension would cause payment of interest on or principal of Eurodollar Rate Loans to be made in the next succeeding calendar month, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day.

(b) (i) Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing of Eurodollar Rate Loans (or, in the case of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, prior to 12:00 noon on the date of such Borrowing) that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.02 (or, in the case of a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, that such Lender has made such share available in accordance with and at the time required by Section 2.02) and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the

 

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Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any reasonable administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing, and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans. If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing. Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

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

A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this Section 2.12(b) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

(c) Failure to Satisfy Conditions Precedent. If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Article II, and such funds are not made available to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in Article IV are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender on demand, without interest.

 

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(d) Obligations of the Lenders Several. The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Term Loans and Revolving Credit Loans, to fund participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans and to make payments pursuant to Section 9.07 are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan or, to fund any such participation or to make any payment under Section 9.07 on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Loan or, to purchase its participation or to make its payment under Section 9.07.

(e) Funding Source. Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner.

(f) Insufficient Funds. If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, L/C Borrowings, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i) first, toward payment of interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties, and (ii) second, toward payment of principal and L/C Borrowings then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal and L/C Borrowings then due to such parties

(g) Unallocated Funds. If the Administrative Agent receives funds for application to the Obligations of the Loan Parties under or in respect of the Loan Documents under circumstances for which the Loan Documents do not specify the manner in which such funds are to be applied, the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, elect to distribute such funds to each of the Lenders in accordance with such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the sum of (a) the Outstanding Amount of all Loans outstanding at such time and (b) the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations outstanding at such time, in repayment or prepayment of such of the outstanding Loans or other Obligations then owing to such Lender.

2.13 Sharing of Payments. If, other than as expressly provided elsewhere herein, any Lender shall obtain on account of the Loans made by it, or the participations in L/C Obligations or in Swing Line Loans held by it, any payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise of any right of setoff, or otherwise) in excess of its ratable share (or other share contemplated hereunder) thereof, such Lender shall immediately (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase from the other Lenders such participations in the Loans made by them and/or such subparticipations in the participations in L/C Obligations or Swing Line Loans held by them, as the case may be, as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender to share the excess payment in respect of such Loans or such participations, as the case may be, pro rata with each of them; provided, however, that if all or any portion of such excess payment is thereafter recovered from the purchasing Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.06 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the purchasing Lender in its discretion), such purchase shall to that extent be rescinded and each other Lender shall repay to the purchasing Lender the purchase price paid therefor, together with

 

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an amount equal to such paying Lender’s ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such paying Lender’s required repayment to (ii) the total amount so recovered from the purchasing Lender) of any interest or other amount paid or payable by the purchasing Lender in respect of the total amount so recovered, without further interest thereon. The Borrower agrees that any Lender so purchasing a participation from another Lender may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, exercise all its rights of payment (including the right of setoff, but subject to Section 10.09) with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were the direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation. The Administrative Agent will keep records (which shall be conclusive and binding in the absence of manifest error) of participations purchased under this Section 2.13 and will in each case notify the Lenders following any such purchases or repayments. Each Lender that purchases a participation pursuant to this Section 2.13 shall from and after such purchase have the right to give all notices, requests, demands, directions and other communications under this Agreement with respect to the portion of the Obligations purchased to the same extent as though the purchasing Lender were the original owner of the Obligations purchased.

2.14 Increase in Term B Commitments.

(a) Provided that there exists no Default, upon notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Term B Lenders), the Borrower may on up to three (3) different occasions, request an increase in the Term B Commitments by an aggregate amount for all three (3) occasions not to exceed $100,000,000; provided, that (i) after giving effect to any such increase in the Term B Commitments, the aggregate amount of increased Term B Commitments that have been effected pursuant to this Section 2.14 shall not exceed $100,000,000 at any time, and (ii) any such increase shall be in a minimum amount of $10,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. At the time of the sending of such notice, the Borrower (in consultation with the Administrative Agent) shall specify the time period within which each Term B Lender is requested to respond (which shall in no event be less than ten (10) Business Days from the date of delivery of such notice to the Term B Lenders). Each Term B Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent within such time period whether or not it agrees to increase its Term B Commitments and, if so, whether by an amount equal to, greater than, or less than its Pro Rata Share of such requested increase. Any Term B Lender not responding within such time period shall be deemed to have declined to increase its Term B Commitments. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and each Term B Lender of the aggregate response by the Term B Lenders to any requests made hereunder. To achieve the full amount of a requested increase, the Borrower may also invite other Lenders and additional Eligible Assignees to become Term B Lenders pursuant to a joinder agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory, in form and substance, to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.

(b) If the Term B Commitments are increased in accordance with this Section 2.14, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall determine the effective date (the “Commitments Increase Effective Date”) and the final allocation of such increase. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the final allocation of such increase and the Commitments Increase Effective Date. As a condition precedent to such increase, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of each Loan Party dated as of the Commitments Increase Effective Date, signed by a Responsible Officer of such

 

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Loan Party (i) certifying and attaching (A) the resolutions adopted by such Loan Party approving or consenting to such increase and (B) a pro forma Compliance Certificate demonstrating that, after giving Pro Forma Effect to such increase in the Term B Loans, the Loan Parties would be in compliance with the financial covenant set forth in Section 7.11(a); and (ii) in the case of the Borrower and Holdings, certifying that (A) before and after giving effect to such increase, the representations and warranties contained in Article V and the other Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Commitments Increase Effective Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they were true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 2.14, the representations and warranties contained in Section 5.05(a) and Sections 5.05(b) and (c) shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to subsections (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 6.01, and (B) before and after giving effect to such increase, no Default exists.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Term B Loans made pursuant to this Section 2.14 shall (i) have the same final maturity date as the existing Term B Facility to which such Term B Loans are to be added; (ii) have a total yield (including rate of interest and original issue discount, if any) that is no more than 0.25% per annum higher than the total yield on the original Term B Facility; provided, that the Applicable Rate with respect to the original Term B Facility may be increased as necessary so that the total yield of the Term B Loans made under this Section 2.14 is no more than 0.25% per annum higher than the total yield on the original Term B Facility; and (iii) have the same scheduled repayment dates as the original Term B Facility to which such new Term B Loans are being added, with the amount of each scheduled repayment installment of the new Term B Loans to be the same (on a proportionate basis) as is theretofore applicable to the existing Term B Facility to which such new Term B Loans are being added.

(d) This Section shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.06(b)(i), 2.13 or 10.01 to the contrary.

ARTICLE III

TAXES, INCREASED COSTS PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

3.01 Taxes.

(a) Except as provided in this Section 3.01, any and all payments by the Borrower to or for the account of any Agent or any Lender under any Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any and all present or future taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, assessments, fees, withholdings or similar charges, and all liabilities (including additions to tax, penalties and interest) with respect thereto, excluding, in the case of each Agent and each Lender, taxes imposed on or measured by its overall net income or overall gross income (including branch profits), and franchise (and similar) taxes imposed on it in lieu of net income taxes, by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the Laws of which such Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, is organized or maintains a Lending Office, and all liabilities (including additions to tax, penalties and interest) with respect thereto (all such non-excluded taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, assessments, fees, withholdings or similar charges, and liabilities being hereinafter referred to as “Taxes”). If the Borrower shall

 

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be required by any Laws to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable under any Loan Document to any Agent or any Lender, (i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.01), each of such Agent and such Lender 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 Laws, and (iv) within thirty (30) days after the date of such payment, the Borrower shall furnish to such Agent or Lender (as the case may be) the original or a certified copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof to the extent such a receipt is issued therefor, or other written proof of payment thereof that is reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

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

(c) The Borrower agrees to indemnify each Agent and each Lender for (i) the full amount of Taxes and Other Taxes (including any Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted by any jurisdiction on amounts payable under this Section 3.01) paid by such Agent and such Lender, and (ii) any liability (including additions to tax, penalties, interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto, in each case whether or not such Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority; provided such Agent or Lender, as the case may be, provides the Borrower with a written statement thereof setting forth in reasonable detail the basis and calculation of such amounts. Payment under this Section 3.01(c) shall be made within thirty (30) days after the date such Lender or such Agent makes a demand therefor.

(d) The Borrower shall not be required pursuant to this Section 3.01 to pay any additional amount to, or to indemnify, any Lender or Agent, as the case may be, to the extent that such Lender or such Agent becomes subject to Taxes subsequent to the Closing Date (or, if later, the date such Lender or Agent becomes a party to this Agreement) as a result of a change in the place of organization of such Lender or Agent or a change in the Lending Office of such Lender, except to the extent that any such change is requested or required by the Borrower (and provided, that nothing in this clause (d) shall be construed as relieving the Borrower from any obligation to make such payments or indemnification in the event of a change that is a change in Law).

(e) If the forms provided by a Lender or an Agent pursuant to Section 10.15(a) at the time such Lender or such Agent, as the case may be, first becomes a party to this Agreement indicate a United States withholding tax rate in excess of zero, withholding tax at such rate shall be considered excluded from Taxes unless and until such Lender or Agent, as the case may be, provides the appropriate forms certifying that a lesser rate applies, whereupon withholding tax at such lesser rate only shall be considered excluded from Taxes for periods governed by such forms; provided, however, that, if at the date of the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which a Lender becomes a party to this Agreement, the Lender assignor

 

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was entitled to payments under clause (a) of this Section 3.01 in respect of United States withholding tax with respect to interest paid at such date, then, to such extent, the term Taxes shall include (in addition to withholding taxes that may be imposed in the future or other amounts otherwise includable in Taxes) United States withholding tax, if any, applicable with respect to the Lender assignee on such date.

(f) If any Lender or Agent determines that it has received a refund in respect of any Taxes or Other Taxes as to which indemnification or additional amounts have been paid to it by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 3.01, it shall promptly remit such refund (including any interest included in such refund) to the Borrower (to the extent that it determines that it can do so without prejudice to the retention of the refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the Lender or Agent, as the case may be; provided, however, that the Borrower, upon the request of the Lender or Agent, as the case may be, agrees promptly to return such refund to such party in the event such party is required to repay such refund to the relevant taxing authority. Such Lender or Agent, as the case may be, shall, at the Borrower’s request, provide the Borrower with a copy of any notice of assessment or other evidence of the requirement to repay such refund received from the relevant taxing authority (provided, that such Lender or Agent may delete any information therein that such Lender or Agent deems confidential). Nothing herein contained shall interfere with the right of a Lender or Agent to arrange its tax affairs in whatever manner it thinks fit nor oblige any Lender or Agent to claim any tax refund or to disclose any information relating to its tax affairs or any computations in respect thereof or require any Lender or Agent to do anything that would prejudice its ability to benefit from any other refunds, credits, reliefs, remissions or repayments to which it may be entitled.

(g) Each Lender agrees that, upon the occurrence of any event giving rise to the operation of Section 3.01(a) or (c) with respect to such Lender it will, if requested by the Borrower, use commercially reasonable efforts (subject to such Lender’s overall internal policies of general application and legal and regulatory restrictions) to avoid the consequences of such event, including to designate another Lending Office for any Loan or Letter of Credit affected by such event; provided, that such efforts are made on terms that, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, cause such Lender and its Lending Office(s) to suffer no material economic, legal or regulatory disadvantage, and provided, further, that nothing in this Section 3.01(g) shall affect or postpone any of the Obligations of the Borrower or the rights of such Lender pursuant to Sections 3.01(a) and (c).

3.02 Illegality. If any Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Eurodollar Rate Loans, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate, or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, Dollars in the London interbank market, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Eurodollar Rate Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all Eurodollar Rate Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans, either on the last day of

 

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the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted. Each Lender agrees to designate a different Lending Office if such designation will avoid the need for such notice and will not, in the good faith judgment of such Lender, otherwise be materially disadvantageous to such Lender.

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

3.04 Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy; Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans.

(a) If any Lender determines that as a result of the introduction of or any change in or in the interpretation of any Law, in each case after the date hereof, or such Lender’s compliance therewith, there shall be any increase in the cost to such Lender of agreeing to make or making, funding or maintaining Eurodollar Rate Loans or (as the case may be) issuing or participating in Letters of Credit, or a reduction in the amount received or receivable by such Lender in connection with any of the foregoing (excluding for purposes of this Section 3.04(a) any such increased costs or reduction in amount resulting from (i) Taxes or Other Taxes (as to which Section 3.01 shall govern), (ii) changes in the basis of taxation of overall net income or overall gross income (including branch profits), and franchise (and similar) taxes imposed in lieu of net income taxes, by the United States or any foreign jurisdiction or any political subdivision of either thereof under the Laws of which such Lender is organized or maintains a Lending Office, and (iii) reserve requirements contemplated by Section 3.04(c), then from time to time upon demand of such Lender setting forth in reasonable detail such increased costs (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent given in accordance with Section 3.06), the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amounts as will compensate such Lender for such increased cost or reduction.

(b) If any Lender determines that the introduction of any Law regarding capital adequacy or any change therein or in the interpretation thereof, in each case after the date hereof, or compliance by such Lender (or its Lending Office) therewith, has the effect of

 

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reducing the rate of return on the capital of such Lender or any corporation controlling such Lender as a consequence of such Lender’s obligations hereunder (taking into consideration its policies with respect to capital adequacy and such Lender’s desired return on capital), then from time to time upon demand of such Lender setting forth in reasonable detail the charge and the calculation of such reduced rate of return (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent given in accordance with Section 3.06), the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amounts as will compensate such Lender for such reduction.

(c) 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 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 in the absence of manifest error), 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 fifteen (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 fifteen (15) days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date, such additional interest shall be due and payable fifteen (15) days from receipt of such notice.

(d) The Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to Section 3.04(a), (b) or (c) for any such increased cost or reduction incurred more than one hundred and eighty (180) days prior to the date that such Lender demands, or notifies the Borrower of its intention to demand, compensation therefor; provided, that, if the circumstance giving rise to such increased cost or reduction is retroactive, then such 180-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.

3.05 Funding Losses. Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Borrower shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense incurred by it as a result of:

(a) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration, or otherwise); or

(b) any failure by the Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on the date or in the amount notified by the Borrower;

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.

For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under this Section 3.05, each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Eurodollar Rate Loan made by it at the Eurodollar Rate for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the London interbank eurodollar market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such Eurodollar Rate Loan was in fact so funded.

 

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3.06 Matters Applicable to All Requests for Compensation.

(a) A certificate of any Agent or any Lender claiming compensation under this Article III and setting forth the additional amount or amounts to be paid to it hereunder shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. In determining such amount, such Agent or such Lender may use any reasonable averaging and attribution methods.

(b) With respect to any Lender’s claim for compensation under Section 3.01, 3.02, 3.03 or 3.04, the Borrower shall not be required to compensate such Lender for any amount incurred more than one hundred and eighty (180) days prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of the event that gives rise to such claim. If any Lender requests compensation by the Borrower under Section 3.04, the Borrower may, by notice to such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), suspend the obligation of such Lender to make or continue from one Interest Period to another Eurodollar Rate Loans, or to convert Base Rate Loans into Eurodollar Rate Loans, until the event or condition giving rise to such request ceases to be in effect (in which case the provisions of Section 3.06(c) shall be applicable); provided, that such suspension shall not affect the right of such Lender to receive the compensation so requested.

(c) If the obligation of any Lender to make or continue from one Interest Period to another any Eurodollar Rate Loan, or to convert Base Rate Loans into Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended pursuant to Section 3.06(b) hereof, such Lender’s Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be automatically converted into Base Rate Loans on the last day(s) of the then current Interest Period(s) for such Eurodollar Rate Loans (or, in the case of an immediate conversion required by Section 3.02, on such earlier date as required by Law) and, unless and until such Lender gives notice as provided below that the circumstances specified in Section 3.01, 3.02, 3.03 or 3.04 hereof that gave rise to such conversion no longer exist:

(i) to the extent that such Lender’s Eurodollar Rate Loans have been so converted, all payments and prepayments of principal that would otherwise be applied to such Lender’s Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be applied instead to its Base Rate Loans; and

(ii) all Loans that would otherwise be made or continued from one Interest Period to another by such Lender as Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be made or continued instead as Base Rate Loans, and all Base Rate Loans of such Lender that would otherwise be converted into Eurodollar Rate Loans shall remain as Base Rate Loans.

(d) If any Lender gives notice to the Borrower (with a copy to the Agent) that the circumstances specified in Section 3.01, 3.02, 3.03 or 3.04 hereof that gave rise to the conversion of such Lender’s Eurodollar Rate Loans pursuant to this Section 3.06 no longer exist (which such Lender agrees to do promptly upon such circumstances ceasing to exist) at a time when Eurodollar Rate Loans made by other Lenders are outstanding, such Lender’s Base Rate Loans shall be automatically converted, on the first day(s) of the next succeeding Interest Period(s) for such outstanding Eurodollar Rate Loans, to the extent necessary so that, after giving effect thereto, all Loans held by the Lenders holding Eurodollar Rate Loans and by such Lender are held pro rata (as to principal amounts, interest rate basis, and Interest Periods) in accordance with their respective Commitments.

 

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3.07 Replacement of Lenders under Certain Circumstances.

(a) If at any time (i) the Borrower becomes obligated to pay additional amounts or indemnity payments described in Section 3.01 or 3.04 as a result of any condition described in such Sections or any Lender ceases to make Eurodollar Rate Loans as a result of any condition described in Section 3.02 or 3.03, (ii) any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender or (iii) any Lender becomes a “Non-Consenting Lender” (as defined below in this Section 3.07), then the Borrower may, on ten (10) Business Days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent and such Lender, either (i) replace such Lender by causing such Lender to (and such Lender shall be obligated to) assign pursuant to Section 10.07(b) (with the assignment fee to be paid by the Borrower in such instance) all of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to one or more Eligible Assignees; provided, that neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall have any obligation to the Borrower to find a replacement Lender or other such Person or (ii) terminate the Commitment of such Lender and repay all obligations of the Borrower owing to such Lender relating to the Loans and participations held by such Lender as of such termination date.

(b) Any Lender being replaced pursuant to Section 3.07(a) above shall (i) execute and deliver an Assignment and Assumption with respect to such Lender’s Commitment and outstanding Loans and participations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans, and (ii) deliver any Notes evidencing such Loans to the Borrower or Administrative Agent. Pursuant to such Assignment and Assumption, (A) the assignee Lender shall acquire all or a portion, as the case may be, of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and outstanding Loans and participations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans, (B) all obligations of the Borrower owing to the assigning Lender relating to the Loans and participations so assigned shall be paid in full by the assignee Lender to such assigning Lender concurrently with such assignment and assumption and (C) upon such payment and, if so requested by the assignee Lender, delivery to the assignee Lender of the appropriate Note or Notes executed by the Borrower, the assignee Lender shall become a Lender hereunder and the assigning Lender shall cease to constitute a Lender hereunder with respect to such assigned Loans, Commitments and participations, except with respect to indemnification provisions under this Agreement, which shall survive as to such assigning Lender.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained above, (i) any Lender that acts as an L/C Issuer may not be replaced hereunder at any time that it has any Letter of Credit outstanding hereunder unless arrangements satisfactory to such L/C Issuer (including the furnishing of a back-up standby letter of credit in form and substance, and issued by an issuer reasonably satisfactory to such L/C Issuer or the depositing of cash collateral into a cash collateral account in amounts and pursuant to arrangements reasonably satisfactory to such L/C Issuer) have been made with respect to such outstanding Letter of Credit and (ii) the Lender that acts as the Administrative Agent may not be replaced hereunder except in accordance with the terms of Section 9.09.

 

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(d) In the event that (i) the Borrower or the Administrative Agent has requested the Lenders to consent to a departure or waiver of any provisions of the Loan Documents or to agree to any amendment thereto, (ii) the consent, waiver or amendment in question requires the agreement of all affected Lenders in accordance with the terms of Section 10.01 or all the Lenders with respect to a certain class of the Loans and (iii) the Required Lenders have agreed to such consent, waiver or amendment, then any Lender who does not agree to such consent, waiver or amendment shall be deemed a “Non-Consenting Lender.”

3.08 Survival. All of the Borrower’s obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments and repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.

ARTICLE IV

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS

4.01 Conditions of Initial Credit Extension. The obligation of each Lender to make its initial Credit Extension hereunder, and the amendment and restatement of the Existing Credit Agreement pursuant to the terms hereof, is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

(a) The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or facsimiles (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party, each dated as of the Closing Date (or, (x) in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before the Closing Date, and (y) with respect to the Security Agreement and the Guaranties, dated as of their original date of execution) and each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its legal counsel:

(i) executed counterparts of this Agreement, the Borrower Affirmation, and a Guaranty or an Affirmation and Consent from each Guarantor, as applicable;

(ii) a Note executed by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting a Note;

(iii) the Security Agreement, duly executed by each Loan Party, together with:

(A) certificates representing the Pledged Interests referred to therein accompanied by undated stock powers executed in blank and instruments evidencing the Pledged Debt indorsed in blank,

(B) copies of proper financing statements, filed or duly prepared for filing under the Uniform Commercial Code in all jurisdictions that the Administrative Agent may deem reasonably necessary or desirable in order to perfect and protect the Liens created under the Security Agreement, covering the Collateral described in the Security Agreement,

 

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(C) evidence that all other actions, recordings and filings of or with respect to the Security Agreement that the Administrative Agent may deem reasonably necessary or desirable in order to perfect and protect the Liens created thereby shall have been taken, completed or otherwise provided for in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (including, without limitation, receipt of duly executed payoff letters and UCC-3 termination statements);

(iv) the Intellectual Property Security Agreement, duly executed by each Loan Party, together with evidence that all action that the Administrative Agent in its reasonable judgment may deem reasonably necessary or desirable in order to perfect and protect the Liens created under the Intellectual Property Security Agreement has been taken;

(v) such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party as the Administrative Agent may require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party or is to be a party;

(vi) such documents and certifications (including, without limitation, Organizational Documents and good standing certificates) as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that each Loan Party is duly organized or formed, and that each of the Borrower and the Guarantors is validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except to the extent that failure to be so qualified could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(vii) an opinion of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, counsel to the Loan Parties, addressed to each Agent and each Lender, as to the matters set forth in Exhibit J-1, and as to such other matters concerning the Loan Parties and the Loan Documents as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request;

(viii) opinions of local counsel for the Loan Parties, addressed to each Agent and each Lender, as to the matters set forth in Exhibit J-2, and as to such other matters concerning the Loan Parties and the Loan Documents as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request;

(ix) a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying that there has been no event or circumstance since January 3, 2009, that has had or could be reasonably expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;

 

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(x) a certificate attesting to the Solvency of the Loan Parties (taken as a whole) after giving effect to the Transaction, from the Chief Financial Officer of the Borrower;

(xi) the financial statements described in Section 5.05(a);

(xii) a certified copy of the Sponsor Management Agreement;

(xiii) evidence that all insurance required to be maintained pursuant to the Loan Documents has been obtained and is in effect;

(xiv) a Committed Loan Notice and/or Letter of Credit Application, as applicable, relating to the initial Credit Extension; and

(xv) such other assurances, certificates, documents, consents or opinions as the Administrative Agent reasonably may require.

(b) All fees and expenses required to be paid on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid in full in cash.

(c) There shall exist no action, suit, investigation, litigation or proceeding affecting any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries pending or, to the knowledge of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, threatened before any Governmental Authority or arbitrator that could be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(d) All governmental authorizations and all material third party consents and approvals, if any, necessary in connection with the Transaction shall have been obtained (without the imposition of any conditions that are not reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent) and shall remain in effect, and no Law shall be applicable in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent, in each case that restrains, prevents or imposes materially adverse conditions upon the Transaction.

(e) The information contained in the Information Memorandum, as supplemented to the Closing Date and taken as a whole, shall be complete and correct in all material respects, and no changes, occurrences or developments shall have occurred, and no information shall have been received or discovered by the Administrative Agent that, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to (1) have (or have had) a material adverse effect on business, operations, assets, liabilities (actual or contingent), results of operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Consolidated Parties, taken as a whole, (2) adversely affect (or has adversely affected) the ability of the Borrower or any Guarantor to perform its obligations under any of the Loan Documents or (3) adversely affect (or has adversely affected) the rights and remedies of the Lenders under the applicable loan documentation.

(f) The Borrower shall have paid to each lender under the Existing Credit Agreement (or to the Administrative Agent on behalf of such lenders, for further payment to such Lender on the Business Day immediately following the Closing Date) all principal, all interest accrued through the Closing Date and all other amounts due and

 

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owing to such lender under the Existing Credit Agreement (including, without limitation, all losses, costs and expenses to which it is entitled pursuant to Sections 3.05 and 10.05 of the Existing Credit Agreement).

Without limiting the generality of the provisions of Section 9.03, for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4.01, 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 Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.

4.02 Conditions to All Credit Extensions. The obligation of each Lender to honor any Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans) is subject to the following conditions precedent:

(a) The representations and warranties of the Borrower and each other Loan Party contained in Article V or any other Loan Document shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Credit Extension, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 4.02, the representations and warranties contained in Section 5.05(a) and Sections 5.05(b) and (c) shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to Sections 6.01(a) and (b), respectively.

(b) No Default shall exist, or would result from such proposed Credit Extension or from the application of the proceeds therefrom.

(c) The Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the applicable L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.

Each Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Loans to the other Type or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans) submitted by the Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.

ARTICLE V

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

Each of Holdings and the Borrower represents and warrants to the Agents and the Lenders that:

5.01 Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws. Each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries (a) is a Person duly organized or formed, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority to (i) own or lease its assets and carry on its business and

 

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(ii) execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, (c) is duly qualified and in good standing under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, (d) is in compliance with all Laws and (e) has all requisite governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to operate its business as currently conducted; except in each case referred to in clause (c), (d) or (e), to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.02 Authorization; No Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is a party, and the consummation of the Transaction, are within such Loan Party’s corporate or other powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and do not and will not (a) contravene the terms of any of such Person’s Organization Documents, (b) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien under (other than as permitted by Section 7.01), or require any payment (except for Indebtedness to be repaid on the Closing Date in connection with the Transaction) to be made under (i) any Contractual Obligation to which such Person is a party or affecting such Person or the properties of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Person or its property is subject; or (c) violate any Law; except with respect to any breach or contravention or payment (but not creation of Liens) referred to in clause (b)(i), to the extent that such conflict, breach, contravention or payment could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.03 Governmental Authorization; Other Consents. No material approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is necessary or required in connection with (a) the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or for the consummation of the Transaction, (b) the grant by any Loan Party of the Liens granted by it pursuant to the Collateral Documents, (c) the perfection or maintenance of the Liens created under the Collateral Documents (including the priority thereof) or (d) the exercise by the Administrative Agent or any Lender of its rights under the Loan Documents or the remedies in respect of the Collateral pursuant to the Collateral Documents, except for the approvals, consents, exemptions, authorizations, actions, notices and filings which have been duly obtained, taken, given or made and are in full force and effect and, in the case of the Transaction, those approvals, consents, exemptions, authorizations or other actions, notices or filings, the failure of which to obtain or make could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.04 Binding Effect. This Agreement and each other Loan Document has been duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party that is party thereto. This Agreement and each other Loan Document constitutes, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against each Loan Party that is party thereto in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy insolvency, reorganization, receivership, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity.

 

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5.05 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.

(a) The Audited Financial Statements fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein. During the period from January 3, 2009 to and including the Closing Date, there has been (i) no sale, transfer or other disposition by the Borrower or any of its consolidated Subsidiaries of any material part of the business or property of the Borrower or any of its consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole and (ii) no purchase or other acquisition by any of them of any business or property (including any Equity Interests of any other Person) material in relation to the consolidated financial condition of the Borrower or any of its consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in each case, which is not reflected in the foregoing financial statements or in the notes thereto or has not otherwise been disclosed in writing to the Lenders prior to the Closing Date.

(b) Commencing with the financial statements required to be delivered with respect to the fiscal quarter ended April 4, 2009, the unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries most recently delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(b), and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal quarters (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein, and meet the requirements of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all other accounting rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder applicable to a registration statement under such Act on Form S-1, and (ii) fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby, subject to the absence of footnotes and to normal year-end audit adjustments.

(c) From January 3, 2009 to the Closing Date, except as set forth on Schedule 5.05, Holdings, the Borrower and their respective Subsidiaries have not incurred any material Indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, that, in accordance with GAAP, would be required to be disclosed in such financial statements, other than in connection with the Transaction.

(d) Since the date of the Audited Financial Statements, there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(e) The consolidated forecasted balance sheets, statements of income and statements of cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries delivered to the Lenders pursuant to Section 4.01 or 5.05 were prepared in good faith on the basis of the assumptions stated therein, which assumptions were reasonable in light of the conditions existing at the time of delivery of such forecasts; it being understood that actual results may vary from such forecasts and that such variations may be material.

5.06 Litigation. There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened or contemplated, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or against any of their properties or revenues that (a) purport to affect or pertain to

 

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this Agreement, any other Loan Document or, as of the Closing Date, the consummation of the Transaction, or (b) either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.07 No Default. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is in default under or with respect to, or a party to, any Contractual Obligation that could, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.08 Ownership of Property; Liens.

(a) Each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries has good record and indefeasible title in fee simple to, or valid leasehold interests in, all real property necessary in the ordinary conduct of its business, free and clear of all Liens except for minor defects in title that do not materially interfere with its ability to conduct its business or to utilize such assets for their intended purposes and Liens permitted by Section 7.01.

(b) Set forth on Schedule 5.08(b) hereto is a complete and accurate list of all real property owned by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, as of the Closing Date, showing as of the date hereof the street address (to the extent available), county or other relevant jurisdiction, state and record owner.

(c) Set forth on Schedule 5.08(c) hereto is a complete and accurate list of all leases of real property under which any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is the lessee as of the Closing Date, showing as of the date hereof the street address (to the extent available), county or other relevant jurisdiction, state, lessor and lessee.

(d) Except as set forth in Schedule 5.08(b), Schedules 5.08(c) and 5.08(d), there are no other locations where any tangible personal property of any of the Loan Parties is or may be located (other than vehicles and assets temporarily in transit or sent for repair).

5.09 Environmental Compliance.

(a) There are no claims alleging potential liability or responsibility for violation of any Environmental Law on their respective businesses, operations and properties that could, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 5.09 or except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) none of the properties currently or formerly owned or operated by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is listed or proposed for listing on the NPL or on the CERCLIS or any analogous foreign, state or local list or is adjacent to any such property; (ii) there are no and never have been any underground or aboveground storage tanks or any surface impoundments, septic tanks, pits, sumps or lagoons in which Hazardous Materials are being or have been treated, stored or disposed on any property currently owned or operated by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or, to its knowledge, on any property formerly owned or operated by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries; (iii) there is no asbestos or asbestos-containing material on any property currently owned or operated by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries; and (iv) Hazardous Materials have not been released,

 

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discharged or disposed of on any property currently or formerly owned or operated by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries except for such releases, discharges or disposal that were in material compliance with Environmental Laws.

(c) The Properties do not contain any Hazardous Materials in amounts or concentrations which (i) constitute, or constituted a violation of, (ii) require remedial action under, or (iii) could give rise to liability under, Environmental Laws, which violations, remedial actions and liabilities, in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(d) Except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 5.09, neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is undertaking, and has not completed, either individually or together with other potentially responsible parties, any investigation or assessment or remedial or response action relating to any actual or threatened release, discharge or disposal of Hazardous Materials at any site, location or operation, either voluntarily or pursuant to the order of any Governmental Authority or the requirements of any Environmental Law except for such investigation or assessment or remedial or response action that, in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(e) All Hazardous Materials generated, used, treated, handled or stored at, or transported to or from, any property currently or formerly owned or operated by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries have been disposed of in a manner not reasonably expected to result in material liability to any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries.

5.10 Insurance. The properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, in such amounts (after giving effect to any self-insurance reasonable and customary for similarly situated Persons engaged in the same or similar businesses as the Borrower and its Subsidiaries) with such deductibles and covering such risks as are customarily carried by prudent companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in localities where the Borrower or the applicable Subsidiary operates.

5.11 Taxes. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have filed all Federal and material state and other tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all Federal and material state and other taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges levied or imposed upon them or their properties, income or assets otherwise due and payable, except those (a) which are not overdue by more than thirty (30) days or (b) which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP or (c) with respect to which the failure to make such filing or payment could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.12 ERISA Compliance.

(a) Each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other Federal or state Laws. Each Plan that is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS or an application for such a letter is currently being processed by the IRS with respect thereto and, to the knowledge of the Borrower and Holdings, nothing has occurred which would

 

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prevent, or cause the loss of, such qualification. Each Loan Party and each ERISA Affiliate have made all required contributions to each Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code, and no application for a funding waiver or an extension of any amortization period pursuant to Section 412 of the Code has been made with respect to any Plan.

(b) There are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower and Holdings, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan that could be reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There has been no prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) (i) No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; (ii) no Pension Plan has an unpaid minimum required contribution (as defined in Section 412 of the Code), and no application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard has been filed with respect to any Pension Plan; (iii) neither any Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan (other than premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA); (iv) neither any Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability (and no event has occurred which, with the giving of notice under Section 4219 of ERISA, would result in such liability) under Sections 4201 or 4243 of ERISA with respect to a Multiemployer Plan; and (v) neither any Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Sections 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA, except, with respect to each of the foregoing clauses of this Section 5.12(c), as could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

5.13 Subsidiaries; Equity Interests. As of the Closing Date, each Loan Party has no Subsidiaries other than those specifically disclosed in Schedule 5.13, and all of the outstanding Equity Interests in such Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by a Loan Party free and clear of all Liens except (i) those created under the Collateral Documents and (ii) any nonconsensual Lien that is permitted under Section 7.01.

5.14 Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act.

(a) The Borrower is not engaged and will not engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the FRB), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock and no proceeds of any Borrowings or drawings under any Letter of Credit will be used to purchase or carry any margin stock or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin stock.

(b) None of the Borrower, any Person Controlling the Borrower, or any Subsidiary is or is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Neither the making of any Loan, nor the issuance of any Letters of Credit, nor the application of the proceeds or repayment thereof by the Borrower, nor the consummation of the other transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents, will violate any provision of any such Act or any rule, regulation or order of the SEC thereunder.

 

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5.15 Disclosure. The Borrower has disclosed to the Agents and the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which it or any of its Subsidiaries or any other Loan Party is subject, and all other matters known to it, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No report, financial statement, certificate or other information furnished (whether in writing or orally) by or on behalf of any Loan Party to any Agent or any Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder or any other Loan Document (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading; provided, that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time of preparation; it being understood that such projections may vary from actual results and that such variances may be material.

5.16 Compliance with Laws. Each Loan Party and its Subsidiaries is in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its properties, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted or (b) the failure to comply therewith, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.17 Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc. Each Loan Party and its Subsidiaries own, or possess the right to use, all of the trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, patents, patent rights, franchises, licenses and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “IP Rights”) that are reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses, without conflict with the rights of any other Person, except to the extent such conflicts, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Set forth on Schedule 5.17 is a complete and accurate list of all IP Rights owned or used by each Loan Party and its Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date. To the knowledge of the Borrower, no slogan or other advertising device, product, process, method, substance, part or other material now employed, or now contemplated to be employed, by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary infringes upon any rights held by any other Person except for such infringements, individually or in the aggregate, which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No claim or litigation regarding any of the foregoing is pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened, which, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.18 Solvency. The Loan Parties, on a consolidated basis, are Solvent.

5.19 Casualty, Etc. Neither the business nor the properties of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries are affected by any fire, explosion, accident, strike, lockout or other labor dispute, drought, storm, hail, earthquake, embargo, act of God or of the public enemy or other casualty (whether or not covered by insurance) that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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5.20 Labor Matters. There are no collective bargaining agreements or Multiemployer Plans, other than those listed on Schedule 5.20, covering the employees of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date and neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary has suffered any strikes, walkouts, work stoppages or other material labor difficulty within the last five years.

5.21 Perfection, Etc. All filings and other actions necessary or desirable to perfect and protect the Lien in the Collateral created under the Collateral Documents have been duly made or taken or otherwise provided for in a manner reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent and are in full force and effect, and the Collateral Documents create in favor of the Administrative Agent (as collateral agent) for the benefit of the Secured Parties a valid and, together with such filings and other actions, perfected first priority Lien in the Collateral, securing the payment of the Secured Obligations, subject to Liens permitted by Section 7.01. The Loan Parties are the legal and beneficial owners of the Collateral free and clear of any Lien, except for the Liens created or permitted under the Loan Documents.

5.22 Tax Shelter Regulations. The Borrower does not intend to treat the Loans and/or Letters of Credit and related transactions 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 Administrative Agent thereof. If the Borrower so notifies the Administrative Agent, the Borrower acknowledges that one or more of the Lenders may treat its Loans and/or its interest 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 VI

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder which is accrued and payable shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, each of Holdings and the Borrower shall, and shall (except in the case of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.01, 6.02 and 6.03) cause each Subsidiary to:

6.01 Financial Statements. Deliver to the Administrative Agent for further distribution to each Lender, in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:

(a) as soon as available, but in any event within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of PricewaterhouseCoopers or any other independent certified public accountant of nationally recognized standing, which report and opinion shall be prepared

 

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in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and shall not be subject to any “going concern” or like qualification or exception or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit;

(b) as soon as available, but in any event within forty-five (45) days after the end of each of the first three (3) fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the fiscal year then ended, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and certified by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower as fairly presenting in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;

(c) at the time of delivery of the financial statements provided for in Sections 6.01(a) and (b) above, divisional income statements for the egg products division, the potato products division and the Crystal Farms division prepared in accordance with past practices; and

(d) as soon as available, but in any event no later than forty-five (45) days after the end of each fiscal year, forecasts prepared by management of the Borrower, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, of consolidated balance sheets, income statements and cash flow statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a quarterly basis for the remaining portion of the fiscal year following such fiscal year then ended.

6.02 Certificates; Other Information. Deliver to the Administrative Agent for further distribution to each Lender, in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:

(a) no later than five (5) days after the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Section 6.01(a), a certificate of its independent certified public accountants certifying such financial statements and stating that in making the examination necessary therefor no knowledge was obtained of any Event of Default under Section 7.11 or, if any such Event of Default shall exist, stating the nature and status of such event;

(b) no later than five (5) days after the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(a) and (b), a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower;

(c) promptly after the same are available, copies of each annual report, proxy or financial statement or other report or communication sent to the stockholders of the Borrower, and copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which the Borrower may file or be required to file, copies of any report, filing

 

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or communication with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or with any Governmental Authority that may be substituted therefor, or with any national securities exchange, and in any case not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto;

(d) promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any requests or notices received by any Loan Party (other than in the ordinary course of business), statement or report furnished to any holder of debt securities of any Loan Party or of any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of any Junior Financing Documentation in a principal amount greater than the Threshold Amount and not otherwise required to be furnished to the Lenders pursuant to any other clause of this Section 6.02;

(e) promptly after the receipt thereof by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, copies of each notice or other correspondence received from the SEC (or comparable agency in any applicable non-U.S. jurisdiction) concerning any material investigation or other material inquiry by such agency regarding financial or other operational results of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries;

(f) promptly after the assertion or occurrence thereof, notice of any environmental action against or of any noncompliance by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries with any Environmental Law or Environmental Permit that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(g) together with the delivery of each Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 6.02(b), (i) a report supplementing Schedule 5.17 and Schedules 5.08(b), 5.08(c) and 5.08(d) hereto, including, in the case of supplements to Schedules 5.08(b), 5.08(c) and 5.08(d), an identification of all owned and leased real property disposed of by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries since the delivery of the last supplements and a list and description of all real property acquired or leased since the delivery of the last supplements (including the street address (if available), county or other relevant jurisdiction, state, and (A) in the case of the owned real property, the record owner and (B) in the case of leases of property, lessor and lessee), and (ii) a description of each event, condition or circumstance during the last fiscal quarter covered by such Compliance Certificate requiring a mandatory prepayment under Section 2.05(b);

(h) promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of all financial statements, forecasts, budgets or other similar information of Holdings furnished to the lenders or holders of any Permitted Holdco Debt;

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

(j) promptly, such additional information regarding the business, legal, financial or corporate affairs of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may from time to time reasonably request.

 

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Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) or Section 6.02(d) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 10.02; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on IntraLinks/IntraAgency or another relevant Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided, that: (i) the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent for further distribution to each Lender until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent or such Lender and (ii) the Borrower shall notify (which may be by facsimile or electronic mail) the Administrative Agent of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in every instance the Borrower shall be required to provide paper copies of the Compliance Certificates required by Section 6.02(b) to the Administrative Agent. Except for such Compliance Certificates, the Administrative 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.

The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Arranger will make available to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks or another similar electronic system (the “Platform”) and (b) certain of the Lenders (each, a “Public Lender”) may have personnel who do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its Affiliates, or the respective securities of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such Persons’ securities. The Borrower hereby agrees that it will use commercially reasonable efforts to identify that portion of the Borrower Materials that may be distributed to the Public Lenders and that (w) all such Borrower Materials shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Arranger, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information (although it may be sensitive and proprietary) with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws (provided, however, that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 10.07); (y) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Side Information;” and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Arranger shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Side Information.”

 

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6.03 Notices. Promptly notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

(a) of the occurrence of any Default;

(b) of any matter that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, including arising out of or resulting from (i) breach or non-performance of, or any default under, a Contractual Obligation of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary, (ii) any dispute, litigation, investigation, proceeding or suspension between any Loan Party or any Subsidiary and any Governmental Authority (including in connection with any Food Industry Laws), (iii) the commencement of, or any material development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting any Loan Party or any Subsidiary, including pursuant to any applicable Environmental Laws and or in respect of IP Rights, or (iv) the occurrence of any ERISA Event;

(c) of any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof; and

(d) of the (i) occurrence of any Disposition of property or assets for which the Borrower is required to make a mandatory prepayment pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(ii), and (ii) incurrence or issuance of any Indebtedness for which the Borrower is required to make a mandatory prepayment pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(iv).

Each notice pursuant to this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto. Each notice pursuant to Section 6.03(a) shall describe with particularity any and all provisions of this Agreement and any other Loan Document that have been breached.

6.04 Payment of Obligations. Pay, discharge or otherwise satisfy as the same shall become due and payable, all its obligations and liabilities, including (a) all tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it or its properties or assets, unless the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by the Borrower or such Subsidiary; (b) all lawful claims which, if unpaid, would by law become a Lien upon its property; and (c) all Indebtedness, as and when due and payable, but subject to any subordination provisions contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing such Indebtedness except, in each case, to the extent the failure to pay or discharge the same could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.05 Preservation of Existence, Etc. (a) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section 7.04 or 7.05; provided, however, that the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may consummate the Acquisition and the Mergers, (b) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges (including its good standing), permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except to the extent that failure to do

 

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so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (c) preserve or renew all of its registered patents, trademarks, trade names and service marks, the non-preservation of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.06 Maintenance of Properties. (a) Maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order, repair and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted and casualty or condemnation excepted, and (b) make all necessary renewals, replacements, modifications, improvements, upgrades, extensions and additions thereof or thereto in accordance with prudent industry practice.

6.07 Maintenance of Insurance. Maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance with respect to its properties and business against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by Persons engaged in the same or similar business, of such types and in such amounts (after giving effect to any self-insurance reasonable and customary for similarly situated Persons engaged in the same or similar businesses as the Borrower and its Subsidiaries) as are customarily carried under similar circumstances by such other Persons.

6.08 Compliance with Laws. Comply in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except if the failure to comply therewith could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.09 Books and Records. 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 Subsidiary, as the case may be.

6.10 Inspection Rights. Permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent and each Lender to visit and inspect any of its properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, officers, and independent public accountants, all at the expense of the Borrower and at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice to the Borrower; provided, that, excluding any such visits and inspections during the continuation of an Event of Default, only the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders may exercise rights under this Section 6.10 and the Administrative Agent shall not exercise such rights more often than two times during any calendar year absent the existence of an Event of Default and only one (1) such time shall be at the Borrower’s expense; provided, further that when an Event of Default exists the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Borrower at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall give the Borrower the opportunity to participate in any discussions with the Borrower’s accountants.

 

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6.11 Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of the Credit Extensions (a) to refinance the existing senior secured credit facilities (established pursuant to the Existing Credit Agreement) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries; (b) to pay fees and expenses incurred in connection with the implementation of the Facilities pursuant hereto; (c) to provide ongoing working capital; and (d) for other general corporate purposes of the Borrower and its subsidiaries not in contravention of any Law or of any Loan Document.

6.12 Covenant to Guarantee Obligations and Give Security.

(a) Upon the formation or acquisition of any new direct or indirect Subsidiaries by any Loan Party or the acquisition of any personal property or fee owned real property with a value in excess of $2,000,000 by any Loan Party, and such personal property, in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent, shall not already be subject to a perfected Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, then the Borrower shall, in each case at the Borrower’s expense:

(i) in connection with the formation or acquisition of a Subsidiary, within thirty (30) days after such formation or acquisition or such longer period, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion, (A) cause each such Subsidiary that is not a Foreign Subsidiary, and cause each direct and indirect parent of such Subsidiary (if it has not already done so), to duly execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a guaranty or guaranty supplement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, guaranteeing the other Loan Parties’ obligations under the Loan Documents, and (B) deliver (or cause such direct and indirect parent to deliver) certificates representing the Pledged Interests of such Subsidiary accompanied by undated stock powers or other appropriate instruments of transfer executed in blank and instruments evidencing the Pledged Debt of such Subsidiary indorsed in blank to the Administrative Agent, together with, if requested by the Administrative Agent, supplements to the Security Agreement with respect to the pledge of any Equity Interests or Indebtedness; provided, that only 65% of Equity Interests of any Foreign Subsidiary shall be required to be pledged as Collateral.

(ii) within ten (10) days after such request, formation or acquisition, or such longer period, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, as the Administrative Agent may agree, furnish to the Administrative Agent a description of the real and personal properties of the Loan Parties and their respective Subsidiaries in detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent,

(iii) within thirty (30) days after such request, formation or acquisition, or such longer period, not to exceed an additional sixty (60) days, as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion, duly execute and deliver, and cause each such Subsidiary that is not a Foreign Subsidiary to duly execute and deliver, to the Administrative Agent Mortgages, Security Agreement Supplements, IP Security Agreement Supplements and other security agreements, as specified by and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (consistent with the Security Agreement, IP Security Agreement and Mortgages), securing payment of all the Obligations of the applicable Loan Party or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, under the Loan Documents and constituting Liens on all such properties,

 

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(iv) within thirty (30) days after such request, formation or acquisition, or such longer period, not to exceed an additional sixty (60) days, as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion, take, and cause such Subsidiary that is not a Foreign Subsidiary or such parent to take, whatever action (including, without limitation, the recording of Mortgages, the filing of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements, the giving of notices and the endorsement of notices on title documents and delivery of stock and membership interest certificates) may be necessary or advisable in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent to vest in the Administrative Agent (or in any representative of the Administrative Agent designated by it) valid and subsisting Liens on the properties purported to be subject to the Mortgages, Security Agreement Supplements, IP Security Agreement Supplements and security agreements delivered pursuant to this Section 6.12, enforceable against all third parties in accordance with their terms,

(v) within thirty (30) days after the request of the Administrative Agent, deliver to the Administrative Agent, a signed copy of an opinion, addressed to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, of counsel for the Loan Parties reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent as to such matters as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request,

(vi) as promptly as practicable after the request of the Administrative Agent, deliver to the Administrative Agent with respect to each parcel of real property owned or held by a Subsidiary that is not a Foreign Subsidiary that is the subject of such request, title reports in scope, form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, fully paid American Land Title Association Lender’s Extended Coverage title insurance policies or the equivalent or other form available in the applicable jurisdiction in form and substance, with endorsements and in amount, reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent (not to exceed the value of the Real Properties covered thereby) and, to the extent available, American Land Title Association/American Congress on Surveying and Mapping form surveys and environmental assessment reports, and

(vii) at any time and from time to time, promptly execute and deliver any and all further instruments and documents and take all such other action as the Administrative Agent in its reasonable judgment may deem necessary or desirable in obtaining the full benefits of, or in perfecting and preserving the Liens of, such guaranties, Mortgages, Security Agreement Supplements, IP Security Agreement Supplements and security agreements; and

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall not take a security interest in those assets as to which the Administrative Agent shall determine, in its reasonable discretion, that the cost of obtaining such Lien (including any mortgage, stamp, intangibles or other tax) are excessive in relation to the benefit to the Lenders of the security afforded thereby.

 

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6.13 Compliance with Environmental Laws. Except, in each case, to the extent that the failure to do so could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, comply, and cause all lessees and other Persons operating or occupying its properties to comply, in all material respects, with all applicable Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits; obtain and renew all Environmental Permits necessary for its operations and properties; and conduct any investigation, study, sampling and testing, and undertake any cleanup, removal, remedial or other action necessary to remove and clean up all Hazardous Materials from any of its properties, in accordance with the requirements of all Environmental Laws.

6.14 Further Assurances.

(a) Promptly upon request by the Administrative Agent, or any Lender through the Administrative Agent, (i) correct any material defect or error that may be discovered in the execution, acknowledgment, filing or recordation of any Loan Document or other document or instrument relating to any Collateral, and (ii) do, execute, acknowledge, deliver, record, re-record, file, re-file, register and re-register any and all such further acts, deeds, certificates, assurances and other instruments as the Administrative Agent, or any Lender through the Administrative Agent, may reasonably require from time to time in order to carry out more effectively the purposes of the Loan Documents.

(b) By the date that is forty-five (45) days after the Closing Date, as such time period may be extended, not to exceed an additional forty-five (45) days, in the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion, the Borrower shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary to, deliver to the Administrative Agent:

(i) evidence that mortgage amendments (in the form of Exhibit H-2 hereto or otherwise), supplements and restatements in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (the “Mortgage Amendments”) with respect to each of the Existing Mortgages have been duly executed, acknowledged and delivered by a duly authorized officer of each party thereto on or before such date and are in form suitable for filing and recording in all filing or recording offices that the Administrative Agent may deem necessary or desirable in order to continue to create a valid and subsisting perfected Lien on the property described therein in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties and that all filing and recording taxes and fees have been paid or otherwise provided for in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

(ii) with respect to the real properties subject to the Existing Mortgages (the “Mortgaged Properties”), fully paid title searches, mortgage amendment endorsements and, with respect to any Mortgaged Properties located in Minnesota, date-down endorsements to the existing American Land Title Association Lender’s Extended Coverage title insurance policies or the equivalent or other form available in each applicable jurisdiction (the “Mortgage Policies”) in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent;

(iii) such advice from local counsel retained by the Borrower in Minnesota as may be reasonably required by the Administrative Agent; and

 

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(iv) evidence that all fees, costs and expenses have been paid in connection with the preparation, execution, filing and recordation of the Mortgage Amendments, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees, filing and recording fees, title insurance company coordination fees, documentary stamp, mortgage and intangible taxes and title search charges and other charges incurred in connection with the recordation of the Mortgage Amendments and the other matters described in this Section 6.14 and as otherwise required to be paid in connection therewith under Section 10.04.

ARTICLE VII

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder which is accrued and payable shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, Holdings and the Borrower shall not, nor shall they permit any of their Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

7.01 Liens. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or sign or file or authorize the filing under the Uniform Commercial Code of any jurisdiction a financing statement that names the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries as debtor, or sign any security agreement authorizing any secured party thereunder to file such financing statement, other than the following:

(a) Liens pursuant to any Loan Document;

(b) Liens existing on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 7.01 and any modifications, replacements, renewals or extensions thereof; provided, that (i) the Lien does not extend to any additional property other than (A) after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien or financed by Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03, and (B) and proceeds and products thereof and (ii) the renewal, extension or refinancing of the obligations secured or benefited by such Liens is permitted by Section 7.03;

(c) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges which are not overdue for a period of more than thirty (30) days or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person in accordance with GAAP;

(d) statutory Liens of landlords, carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen, repairmen or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business which secure amounts not overdue for a period of more than thirty (30) days or if more than thirty (30) days overdue, are unfiled and no other action has been taken to enforce such Lien or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person;

 

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(e) pledges or deposits in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation, other than any Lien imposed by ERISA;

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

(g) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, encroachments, protrusions and other similar encumbrances and minor title defects affecting real property which, in the aggregate, do not in any case materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the applicable Person;

(h) Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 8.01(h);

(i) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Sections 7.03(b)(v) and (b)(xv); provided, that (i) such Liens attach concurrently with or within one hundred and twenty (120) days after the acquisition, repair, replacement or improvement (as applicable) of the property subject to such Liens, (ii) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed by such Indebtedness and the proceeds and the products thereof and (iii) with respect to Capitalized Leases, such Liens do not at any time extend to or cover any assets other than the assets subject to such Capitalized Leases;

(j) Liens arising from operation of the statutory trust under PACA or MWPDA or any comparable law, statute or regulation applicable to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and their respective operations based on their businesses; provided, that such Liens do not secure past due account payable balances exceeding $10,000,000 in the aggregate at any one time outstanding, unless, in respect of any such account payables, (i) appropriate legal or administrative action has been commenced and is being diligently pursued or defended by the Borrower or the applicable Subsidiary and (ii) the ability of the applicable vendor to enforce any such Lien provided under PACA or MWPDA has been stayed or otherwise legally prohibited during the pendency of such action;

(k) Liens on “farm products” (as defined in the Food Security Act) to the extent, in the case of any such Lien, that such Lien (i) was created by the Person (but not Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries) which sold such property to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and (ii) follows the property solely by reason of the provisions of the Food Security Act notwithstanding the transfer of title to such property to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;

(l) leases, licenses, subleases or sublicenses granted to others in the ordinary course of business and not interfering in any material respect with the business of the Borrower or any of its material Subsidiaries;

 

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

(n) Liens (i) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code on items in the course of collection, (ii) attaching to commodity trading accounts or other commodities brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business; and (iii) in favor of a banking institution arising as a matter of law encumbering deposits (including the right of set-off) and which are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry;

(o) Liens (i) on cash advances in favor of the seller of any property to be acquired in an Investment permitted pursuant to Sections 7.02(i) and (o) to be applied against the purchase price for such Investment, and (ii) consisting of an agreement to Dispose of any property in a Disposition permitted under Section 7.05, in each case, solely to the extent such Investment or Disposition, as the case may be, would have been permitted on the date of the creation of such Lien;

(p) Liens on property of any Foreign Subsidiary securing Indebtedness of such Foreign Subsidiary to the extent permitted under Section 7.03(b)(vi) or (b)(vii);

(q) Liens in favor of the Borrower or a Subsidiary of the Borrower securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(b)(iv);

(r) Liens existing on property at the time of its acquisition or existing on the property of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the date hereof (other than Liens on the Equity Interests of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary); provided, that (i) such Lien was not created in contemplation of such acquisition or such Person becoming a Subsidiary, (ii) such Lien does not extend to or cover any other assets or property (other than the proceeds or products thereof), and (iii) the Indebtedness secured thereby is permitted under Section 7.03(b)(v), (ix), or (xii);

(s) Liens arising from precautionary UCC financing statement filings regarding leases entered into by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(t) any interest or title of a lessor, sublessor, licensee, sublicensee, licensor or sublicensor under any lease or license agreement in the ordinary course of business permitted by this Agreement;

(u) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for sale of goods entered into by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business permitted by this Agreement;

(v) Liens deemed to exist in connection with Investments in repurchase agreements under Section 7.02;

 

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(w) Liens encumbering reasonable customary initial deposits and margin deposits and similar Liens attaching to commodity trading accounts or other brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

(x) Permitted Encumbrances;

(y) Liens on Cash Collateral granted in favor of any Lenders and/or L/C Issuers created as a result of any requirement or option to Cash Collateralize pursuant to Section 2.03(a)(ii)(F), 2.03(g), 2.05(b)(v) or 2.05(b)(vii); and

(z) other Liens securing Indebtedness outstanding in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $20,000,000.

7.02 Investments. Make or hold any Investments, except:

(a) Investments held by the Borrower or such Subsidiary in the form of Cash Equivalents;

(b) loans or advances to officers, directors and employees of the Borrower and Subsidiaries (i) in an aggregate amount not to exceed $3,500,000 at any time outstanding, for travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary business purposes, and (ii) in connection with such Person’s purchase of Equity Interests of Holdings or Investors LLC in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2,000,000;

(c) Investments (i) by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries in any Loan Party (including any new Subsidiary which becomes a Loan Party), and (ii) by any Subsidiary of Holdings that is not a Loan Party in any other such Subsidiary that is also not a Loan Party;

(d) Investments consisting of extensions of credit in the nature of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising from the grant of trade credit in the ordinary course of business, and Investments received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from financially troubled account debtors;

(e) Investments arising out of transactions permitted under Sections 7.01, 7.03, 7.04, 7.05 and 7.06;

(f) Investments existing on the date hereof and set forth on Schedule 7.02 and any modification, replacement, renewal or extension thereof; provided, that the amount of the original Investment is not increased except by the terms of such Investment or as otherwise permitted by this Section 7.02;

(g) Investments in Swap Contracts permitted under Section 7.03;

(h) promissory notes and other non-cash consideration received in connection with Dispositions permitted by Section 7.05;

 

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(i) the purchase or other acquisition of all or substantially all of the property and assets or business of, any Person or of assets constituting a business unit, a line of business or division of such Person, or of all of the Equity Interests in a Person that, upon the consummation thereof, will be wholly owned directly by the Borrower or one or more of its wholly owned Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, as a result of a merger or consolidation); provided, that, with respect to each purchase or other acquisition made pursuant to this Section 7.02(i) (each, a “Permitted Acquisition”):

(A) each applicable Loan Party and any such newly created or acquired Subsidiary shall have complied with the requirements of Section 6.12;

(B) the total cash and noncash consideration (including, without limitation, the fair market value of all Equity Interests issued or transferred to the sellers thereof, earnouts and other contingent payment obligations to such sellers and all assumptions of Indebtedness in connection therewith, but excluding any Excluded Consideration) paid by or on behalf of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for any such purchase or other acquisition, when aggregated with the total cash and noncash consideration paid by or on behalf of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for all other purchases and other acquisitions made by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries pursuant to this Section 7.02(i), shall not exceed $100,000,000;

(C) (1) immediately before and immediately after giving Pro Forma Effect to any such purchase or other acquisition, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (2) immediately after giving effect to such purchase or other acquisition, (x) Holdings and its Subsidiaries shall be in Pro Forma Compliance with all of the covenants set forth in Section 7.11, such compliance to be determined on the basis of the financial information most recently delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) as though such purchase or other acquisition had been consummated as of the first day of the fiscal period covered thereby and evidenced by a certificate from the Chief Financial Officer of the Borrower demonstrating such compliance calculation in reasonable detail, (y) at least $20,000,000 of the Revolving Credit Facility shall be available for the borrowing of Revolving Credit Loans; and

(D) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, at least one (1) Business Day prior to the date on which any such purchase or other acquisition is to be consummated, a certificate of a Responsible Officer, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, certifying that all of the requirements set forth in this clause (i) have been satisfied or will be satisfied on or prior to the consummation of such purchase or other acquisition;

(j) Investments in Joint Ventures in China and/or Mexico, such Investments not to exceed $10,000,000 in the aggregate at any one time outstanding; provided, that prior to making any Investments under this Section 7.03(j), the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a pro forma Compliance Certificate demonstrating

 

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that, after giving Pro Forma Effect to such Investment(s), the Loan Parties would be in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 7.11; provided, further that such Compliance Certificate shall be accompanied by a statement in reasonable detail from the Borrower setting out the business rationale for such Investment;

(k) Investments in the ordinary course of business consisting of (i) endorsements for collection or deposit and (ii) customary trade arrangements with customers consistent with past practices;

(l) Investments (including debt obligations and Equity Interests) received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of suppliers and customers and in settlement of delinquent obligations of, and other disputes with, customers and suppliers arising in the ordinary course of business and upon the foreclosure with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment;

(m) the licensing, sublicensing or contribution of IP Rights pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with Persons other than Holdings and its Subsidiaries;

(n) loans and advances to Holdings in lieu of, and not in excess of the amount of (after giving effect to any other loans, advances or Restricted Payments in respect thereof), Restricted Payments to the extent permitted to be made to Holdings in accordance with Section 7.06;

(o) so long as immediately after giving effect to any such Investment, (i) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (ii) at least $20,000,000 of the Revolving Credit Facility shall be available for the borrowing of Revolving Credit Loans, other Investments not exceeding $65,000,000 in the aggregate in any fiscal year of the Borrower; provided, however, that, such amount may be increased by the sum of (A) the Net Cash Proceeds of Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness and (B) Permitted Equity Issuances in an aggregate amount not to exceed $75,000,000; provided, further, that, to the extent that any such Investment (or series of related Investments) made pursuant to this clause (o) consists of the contribution(s) or other transfer(s) of property (other than cash) having an aggregate net book value in excess of $5,000,000 to a Joint Venture for consideration less than the fair market value of such property, then the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a pro forma Compliance Certificate demonstrating that, upon after giving Pro Forma Effect to such Investment(s), the Loan Parties would be in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 7.11; and

(p) the Wakefield Bond Guaranty.

7.03 Indebtedness. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:

(a) in the case of the Borrower:

(i) Indebtedness in respect of Swap Contracts designed to hedge against fluctuations in interest rates, foreign exchange rates or commodities pricing risks incurred in the ordinary course of business and consistent with prudent business practice and not for speculative purposes;

 

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(ii) Indebtedness evidenced by the Senior Subordinated Notes and any Permitted Refinancing thereof; and

(iii) Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness (A) in an aggregate amount not to exceed $25,000,000 at any time outstanding, and (B) in an aggregate amount in excess of $25,000,000 solely to the extent that such excess amounts are applied to prepay the Loans pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(iv);

(b) in the case of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries:

(i) Indebtedness of the Loan Parties under the Loan Documents;

(ii) Indebtedness outstanding or committed to be incurred on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 7.03 and any modifications, refinancings, refundings, renewals or extensions thereof; provided, that (A) the amount of such Indebtedness is not increased at the time of such modification, refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension except by an amount equal to a reasonable premium or other reasonable amount paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such refinancing and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder or as otherwise permitted pursuant to this Section 7.03, and (B) the terms and conditions (including, if applicable, as to collateral and subordination) of any such modified, extending, refunding or refinancing Indebtedness are not materially less favorable to the Loan Parties or the Lenders than the terms and conditions of the Indebtedness being modified, extended, refunded or refinanced;

(iii) Guarantees of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in respect of Indebtedness of the Borrower or such Subsidiary otherwise permitted hereunder;

(iv) Indebtedness of (A) any Loan Party owing to any other Loan Party, (B) of any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Loan Party owed to (1) any other Subsidiary of Holdings that is not a Loan Party or (2) Holdings or a Loan Party in respect of an Investment permitted under Section 7.02(c) or Section 7.02(o), and (C) of any Loan Party to any Subsidiary of Holdings which is not a Loan Party; provided, that all such Indebtedness of any Loan Party in this clause (iv)(C) must be expressly subordinated to the Obligations;

(v) Attributable Indebtedness and purchase money obligations (including obligations in respect of mortgage, industrial revenue bond, industrial development bond and similar financings) to finance the purchase, repair or improvement of fixed or capital assets within the limitations set forth in Section 7.01(i); provided, however, that the aggregate amount of all such Indebtedness at any one time outstanding shall not exceed $20,000,000;

 

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(vi) Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding for all such Persons taken together not exceeding $20,000,000;

(vii) Indebtedness in respect of Swap Contracts designed to hedge against fluctuations in interest rates, foreign exchange rates or commodities pricing risks incurred in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

(viii) Indebtedness (other than for borrowed money) subject to Liens permitted under Section 7.01;

(ix) Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (A) assumed in connection with any Permitted Acquisition or (B) owed to the seller of any property acquired in a Permitted Acquisition on an unsecured subordinated basis, in each case, so long as both immediately prior and after giving effect thereto, (x) no Event of Default shall exist or result therefrom, and (y) Holdings and its Subsidiaries will be in Pro Forma Compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 7.11, after giving effect to such Permitted Acquisition and the incurrence or issuance of such Indebtedness and any Permitted Refinancing thereof;

(x) Indebtedness representing deferred compensation to employees of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;

(xi) Indebtedness consisting of promissory notes issued by any Loan Party to current or former officers, directors and employees, their respective estates, spouses or former spouses to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of Holdings or Investors LLC permitted by Section 7.06;

(xii) Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries in a Permitted Acquisition or Disposition under agreements providing for the adjustment of the purchase price or similar adjustments;

(xiii) Indebtedness consisting of obligations of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries under deferred compensation or other similar arrangements incurred by such Person in connection with Permitted Acquisitions in an aggregate amount not to exceed $5,000,000;

(xiv) Indebtedness in respect of netting services, overdraft protections and similar arrangements in each case in connection with deposit accounts;

(xv) Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $20,000,000 at any time outstanding; and

(xvi) the Wakefield Bond Guaranty.

(c) in the case of Holdings:

 

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(i) Indebtedness under the Loan Documents;

(ii) Indebtedness evidenced by the Holdco Notes and any Permitted Refinancing thereof;

(iii) unsecured Indebtedness of Holdings that (“Permitted Holdco Debt”) (A) is not subject to any Guarantee by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, (B) will not mature prior to the date that is ninety-one (91) days after the Maturity Date of the Term B Facility, (C) has no scheduled amortization or payments of principal, (D) does not permit any payments in cash of interest or other amounts in respect of the principal thereof for at least five (5) years from the date of the issuance or incurrence thereof, and (E) has mandatory prepayment, repurchase or redemption, covenant, default and remedy provisions customary for senior discount notes of an issuer that is the parent of a borrower under senior secured credit facilities, and in any event, with respect to covenant, default and remedy provisions, no more restrictive than those contained in the Senior Subordinated Notes Indenture, taken as a whole (other than provisions customary for senior discount notes of a holding company); provided, any such Indebtedness shall constitute Permitted Holdco Debt only if (1) both before and after giving effect to the issuance or incurrence thereof, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (2) after giving Pro Forma Effect to the issuance or incurrence thereof, the Holdings Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall be less than 6.00:1.00, and (3) if the amount of such Indebtedness issued or incurred in any fiscal quarter exceeds $5,000,000, the Chief Financial Officer of Holdings or the Borrower shall have delivered an officer’s certificate demonstrating Pro Forma Compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 7.11 in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, it being understood that any capitalized or paid-in-kind interest or accreted principal on such Indebtedness shall not constitute an issuance or incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this proviso;

(iv) unsecured Guarantees of obligations of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(v) Indebtedness permitted pursuant to clause (b)(iv) above;

(vi) Indebtedness owed to the seller of any property acquired in a Permitted Acquisition on an unsecured subordinated basis so long as, if applicable, Holdings complies with the proviso in Section 7.06(e)(v) (whether or not any Restricted Payment is made to Holdings); and

(vii) Indebtedness of the type described in Sections 7.03(b)(viii), (xi) and (xii).

 

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7.04 Fundamental Changes. Merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person, or Dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person, except that, so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom:

(a) any Subsidiary may merge with (i) the Borrower (including a merger, the purpose of which is to reorganize the Borrower into a new jurisdiction), provided, that the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving Person or the surviving Person shall expressly assume the obligations of the Borrower pursuant to documents reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, or (ii) any one or more other Subsidiaries, provided, that when any Guarantor is merging with another Subsidiary, (A) the Guarantor shall be the continuing or surviving Person or (B) to the extent constituting an Investment, such Investment must be a permitted Investment in or Indebtedness of a Subsidiary which is not a Loan Party in accordance with Sections 7.02 and 7.03;

(b) any Subsidiary may Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to the Borrower or to another Subsidiary; provided, that if the transferor in such a transaction is a Guarantor, then (i) the transferee must either be the Borrower or a Guarantor or (ii) to the extent constituting an Investment, such Investment must be a permitted Investment in or Indebtedness of a Subsidiary which is not a Loan Party in accordance with Sections 7.02 and 7.03, respectively;

(c) any Subsidiary may merge with any other Person in order to effect an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 7.02; provided, that (i) the continuing or surviving Person shall be a Subsidiary, which together with each of its Subsidiaries, shall have complied with the requirements of Section 6.12 or (ii) to the extent constituting an Investment, such Investment must be a permitted Investment in accordance with Section 7.02; and

(d) a merger, dissolution, liquidation, consolidation or Disposition, the purpose of which is to effect a Disposition permitted pursuant to Section 7.05.

7.05 Dispositions. Make any Disposition, except:

(a) Dispositions of obsolete or worn out property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business and Dispositions of property no longer used in the conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;

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

(c) Dispositions of property to the extent that (i) such property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property or (ii) the proceeds of such Disposition are promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement property;

(d) Dispositions of property by any Subsidiary to the Borrower or to a Subsidiary; provided, that if the transferor of such property is a Guarantor (i) the transferee thereof must either be the Borrower or a Guarantor or (ii) to the extent such transaction constitutes an Investment, such transaction is permitted under Section 7.02;

 

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(e) Dispositions permitted by Sections 7.04 and 7.06 (solely with respect to reissuances of Equity Interests of treasury stock of Holdings);

(f) Dispositions by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries of property pursuant to sale-leaseback transactions; provided, that (i) the fair market value of all property so Disposed of shall not exceed $25,000,000 from and after the Closing Date and (ii) the purchase price for such property shall be paid to the Borrower or such Subsidiary for not less than 75% cash consideration;

(g) Dispositions of Cash Equivalents;

(h) Dispositions of accounts receivable in connection with the collection or compromise thereof;

(i) licensing or sublicensing of IP Rights in the ordinary course of business on customary terms;

(j) intercompany sales of property in the ordinary course of business;

(k) leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses of property in the ordinary course of business and which do not materially interfere with the business of Holdings and its Subsidiaries;

(l) transfers of property subject to Casualty Events upon receipt of the Net Cash Proceeds of such Casualty Event; and

(m) Dispositions by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries not otherwise permitted under this Section 7.05; provided, that (i) at the time of such Disposition, no Event of Default shall exist or would result from such Disposition, (ii) the aggregate book value of all property Disposed of in reliance on this clause (m) shall not exceed $50,000,000 and (iii) the purchase price for such property shall be paid to the Borrower or such Subsidiary for not less than 75% cash consideration;

provided, however, that (x) any Disposition of any property pursuant to this Section 7.05 (except pursuant to Sections 7.05(d), (e), (h) and (j)), shall be for no less than the fair market value of such property at the time of such Disposition and (y) if the net book value of any property subject to any Disposition pursuant to Section 7.05(f) or (m) exceeds $5,000,000, prior to any Disposition of such property pursuant to Section 7.05(f) or (m), the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a pro forma Compliance Certificate demonstrating that, upon giving effect on a Pro Forma Basis to such transaction, the Loan Parties would be in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 7.11. To the extent any Collateral is Disposed of as expressly permitted by this Section 7.05, such Collateral shall be sold free and clear of the Liens created by the Loan Documents, and the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to take any actions deemed appropriate in order to effect the foregoing.

7.06 Restricted Payments. Declare or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, except:

(a) each Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments to the Borrower and to Subsidiaries (and, in the case of a Restricted Payment by a non-wholly-owned Subsidiary, to the Borrower and any Subsidiary and to each other owner of Equity Interests of such Subsidiary based on their relative ownership interests);

 

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(b) Holdings and each Subsidiary may declare and make dividend payments or other distributions payable solely in the Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) of such Person;

(c) Holdings (and, from and after a Qualifying IPO, the Borrower) may make Restricted Payments with the proceeds received by it from (i) any Permitted Equity Issuance or Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness to the extent not required to prepay the Loans pursuant to Section 2.05(b), (ii) the issuance of Permitted Holdco Debt, and (iii) Restricted Payments permitted under Section 7.06(f), so long as, with respect to each of the foregoing Restricted Payments, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom;

(d) to the extent constituting Restricted Payments, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may enter into transactions expressly permitted by Section 7.04 or 7.08;

(e) any Subsidiary of Holdings may make Restricted Payments to Holdings:

(i) the proceeds of which will be used to pay the tax liability in respect of consolidated, combined, unitary or affiliated returns for the relevant jurisdiction of Holdings attributable to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries determined as if the Borrower and its Subsidiaries filed separate separately;

(ii) the proceeds of which shall be used by Holdings to pay its (or to make a Restricted Payment to Investors LLC to enable it to pay) operating expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business and other corporate overhead costs and expenses (including, without limitation, administrative, legal, accounting and similar expenses provided by third parties), which are reasonable and customary and incurred in the ordinary course of business, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $500,000 in any fiscal year plus any reasonable and customary indemnification claims made by directors or officers of Holdings attributable to the ownership or operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;

(iii) the proceeds of which shall be used by Holdings to pay its (or to make a Restricted Payment to Investors LLC to enable it to pay) franchise taxes;

(iv) the proceeds of which will be used to repurchase the Equity Interests of Holdings (or to make a Restricted Payment to Investors LLC to enable it to repurchase it’s Equity Interest) from directors, employees or members of management of Holdings or any Subsidiary (or their estate, family members, spouse and/or former spouse), in an aggregate amount not in excess of $3,000,000 in any calendar year plus the proceeds of any key-man life insurance maintained by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries; provided, that the Borrower may carry-over and make in any subsequent calendar year or years, in addition to the amount for such calendar year, the amount not utilized in the prior calendar year or years up to a maximum of $12,000,000;

 

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(v) to finance any Permitted Acquisition permitted to be made pursuant to Section 7.02; provided, that (A) such Restricted Payment shall be made concurrently with the closing of such Permitted Acquisition and (B) Holdings shall, immediately following the closing thereof, cause (1) all property acquired (whether assets or Equity Interests) to be contributed to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or (2) the merger (to the extent permitted in Section 7.04) of the Person formed or acquired into the Borrower or its Subsidiaries in order to consummate such Permitted Acquisition;

(vi) repurchases of Equity Interests of Holdings deemed to occur upon the non-cash exercise of stock options and warrants; and

(f) so long as no Default under Section 8.01(a) or (f), and no Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing, or would result therefrom, the Borrower may make Restricted Payments to Holdings, the proceeds of which will be used to pay the interest on the Holdco Notes and interest on any Permitted Refinancing of the Holdco Notes;

(g) in addition to the foregoing Restricted Payments, and so long as (i) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, and (ii) the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of the Chief Financial Officer of the Borrower as to the truth and accuracy of conditions set forth in the preceding clause (i), the Borrower may make additional Restricted Payments to Holdings, the proceeds of which may be utilized by Holdings to make additional Restricted Payments, in an aggregate amount not to exceed the sum of (A) (x) $25,000,000 minus (y) the aggregate of all prepayments of Senior Subordinated Notes and Permitted Refinancings thereof made pursuant to Section 7.14(a)(iv); plus (B) without duplication, an amount equal to the product of (I) 0.50 multiplied by (II) the remainder of (x) the Borrower’s Consolidated Net Income for the period (taken as one accounting period) commencing with the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2009 and ending on the date of the Borrower’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which financial statements required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) are available at the time of such Restricted Payment (or, if Consolidated Net Income for such period is negative, less 100% of such deficit) minus (y) the product of the aggregate of all Restricted Payments made to Holdings pursuant to Section 7.06(f) multiplied by 0.65; and

(h) from and after a Qualifying IPO, the Borrower may make the Restricted Payments referred to in clauses (e)(iv), (e)(vi), (f) or (g).

7.07 Change in Nature of Business. Engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on the date hereof or any business reasonably related or ancillary thereto.

 

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7.08 Transactions with Affiliates. Enter into any transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of the Borrower, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, other than (a) transactions among Loan Parties, (b) on fair and reasonable terms substantially as favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary as would be obtainable by the Borrower or such Subsidiary at the time in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate, (c) the payment of fees and expenses in connection with the consummation of the Transaction, (d) so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing under Section 8.01(f), the payment of fees to the Sponsor pursuant to the Sponsor Management Agreement, (e) equity issuances by Holdings permitted under Section 7.06, (f) loans and other transactions by Holdings and its Subsidiaries to the extent permitted under this Article VII, (g) customary fees may be paid to any directors of Holdings and reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket costs of the directors of Holdings, (h) Holdings and its Subsidiaries may enter into employment and severance arrangements with officers and employees in the ordinary course of business and (i) Holdings and its Subsidiaries may make payments pursuant to the tax sharing agreements among Holdings and its Subsidiaries.

7.09 Burdensome Agreements. Enter into or permit to exist any Contractual Obligation (other than this Agreement or any other Loan Document) that limits the ability (a) of any Subsidiary of the Borrower to make Restricted Payments to the Borrower or any Guarantor which is a Subsidiary of the Borrower or to otherwise transfer property to or invest in the Borrower or any Guarantor, except for any agreement in effect (i) on the date hereof, (ii) at the time any Subsidiary becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower, so long as such agreement was not entered into solely in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary of the Borrower, (iii) representing Indebtedness of a Subsidiary of the Borrower which is not a Loan Party which is permitted by Section 7.03, or (iv) in connection with any Disposition permitted by Section 7.05, and (b) of the Borrower or any Loan Party to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on property of such Person for the benefit of the Lenders with respect to the Facilities and the Obligations or under the Loan Documents except for (i) negative pledges and restrictions on Liens in favor of any holder of Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03 but solely to the extent any negative pledge relates to the property financed by or the subject of such Indebtedness or (ii) customary restrictions on leases, subleases, licenses or asset sale agreements otherwise permitted hereby so long as such restrictions may relate to the assets subject thereto.

7.10 Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, whether directly or indirectly, to purchase or carry margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U of the FRB) or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock or to refund Indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose.

7.11 Financial Covenants.

(a) Leverage Ratio. Permit the Leverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower set forth below to be greater than the ratio set forth below opposite such period:

 

Fiscal Year   March 31   June 30   September 30   December 31
2009     3.50 : 1.00   3.50 : 1.00   3.50 : 1.00
2010   3.50 : 1.00   3.50 : 1.00   3.50 : 1.00   3.25 : 1.00
2011   3.25 : 1.00   3.25 : 1.00   3.25 : 1.00   3.00 : 1.00
2012   3.00 : 1.00   3.00 : 1.00   3.00 : 1.00   2.75 : 1.00
2013   2.75 : 1.00   2.75 : 1.00   2.75 : 1.00   2.75 : 1.00
2014   2.75 : 1.00   2.75 : 1.00    

 

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(b) Interest Coverage Ratio. Permit the Interest Coverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower as set forth below to be less than the ratio set forth below opposite such fiscal quarter:

 

Fiscal Year   March 31   June 30   September 30   December 31
2009       2.25 : 1.00   2.25 : 1.00
2010   2.25 : 1.00   2.50 : 1.00   2.50 : 1.00   2.50 : 1.00
2011   2.50 : 1.00   2.75 : 1.00   2.75 : 1.00   2.75 : 1.00
2012   2.75 : 1.00   2.75 : 1.00   2.75 : 1.00   2.75 : 1.00
2013   2.75 : 1.00   2.75 : 1.00   3.00 : 1.00   3.00 : 1.00
2014   3.00 : 1.00   3.00 : 1.00    

7.12 Amendments of Organization Documents. Amend any of its Organization Documents in a manner materially adverse to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders.

7.13 Accounting Changes. Make any change in (a) accounting policies or reporting practices, except as required or permitted by GAAP, or (b) fiscal year.

7.14 Prepayments, Etc. of Indebtedness. (a) Prepay, redeem, purchase, defease or otherwise satisfy prior to the scheduled maturity thereof in any manner any of the Senior Subordinated Notes, the Holdco Notes, any Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness and any Permitted Holdco Debt (collectively, “Junior Financing”), or make any payment in violation of any subordination terms of any Junior Financing Documentation, except (i) the refinancing of the Holdco Notes and other Permitted Holdco Debt with the Net Cash Proceeds of any further incurrence of Permitted Holdco Debt or Permitted Equity Issuance, in each case, to the extent not required to prepay any Loans or Facility pursuant to Section 2.05(b), (ii) the refinancing of the Senior Subordinated Notes and other Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness with the Net Cash Proceeds of any further incurrence of Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness, Permitted Holdco Debt or Permitted Equity Issuance, in each case, to the extent not required to prepay any Loans or Facility pursuant to Section 2.05(b), (iii) the conversion of any Junior Financing to Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests), and (iv) the prepayment of any Senior Subordinated Notes or Permitted Refinancing thereof, in an aggregate amount not to exceed (x) $25,000,000 minus (y) the aggregate of all Restricted Payments made pursuant to Section 7.06(g), to be paid solely from that portion of the Excess Cash Flow which the Borrower Parties are permitted to retain after making all required prepayments under Section 2.05(b); or (b) amend, modify or change in any manner materially adverse to the interests of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders any term or condition of any Junior Financing Documentation.

 

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7.15 Equity Interests of the Borrower and Subsidiaries.

(a) (i) Permit the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to own directly or indirectly less than 90% of the Equity Interests of any of the Domestic Subsidiaries except as a result of or in connection with a dissolution, merger, consolidation or Disposition of a Subsidiary permitted by Section 7.04, 7.05 or an Investment in any Person permitted under Section 7.02;

(ii) Permit the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to own directly or indirectly less than 90% of the Equity Interests of any of the Foreign Subsidiaries except (A) to qualify directors where required by applicable Law or to satisfy other requirements of applicable Law with respect to the ownership of Equity Interests of Foreign Subsidiaries, (B) in the case of Trilogy Egg Products Inc., a Canadian corporation, or (C) as a result of or in connection with a dissolution, merger, consolidation or disposition of a Subsidiary permitted by Section 7.04, 7.05 or an Investment in any Person permitted under Section 7.02, or

(b) Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any Equity Interests of the Borrower (other than non-consensual Liens arising solely by operation of law).

7.16 Holding Company.

(a) In the case of Holdings, (i) conduct, transact or otherwise engage in any business or operations other than those incidental to its ownership of the Equity Interests of the Borrower, the performance of the Loan Documents and any transactions that Holdings is permitted to enter into or consummate under this Article VII or (ii) incur any Indebtedness other than Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(c); or

(b) Other than in connection with a Qualifying IPO, permit the Borrower to be a Subsidiary that is not wholly owned by Holdings.

7.17 Designated Senior Debt. Designate any other Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries as “Designated Senior Debt” (or any comparable term) under, and as defined in, the Senior Subordinated Notes Indenture or any other applicable Junior Financing Documentation.

ARTICLE VIII

EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

8.01 Events of Default. Any of the following shall constitute an Event of Default:

(a) Non-Payment. The Borrower or any other Loan Party fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid herein, any amount of principal of any Loan, or (ii) within five (5) Business Days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan or on any L/C Obligation, any L/C Obligation or any fee due hereunder, or any other amount payable hereunder or with respect to any other Loan Document; or

 

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(b) Specific Covenants. The Borrower fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Sections 6.03(a), 6.05 (solely with respect to Holdings and the Borrower) or 6.11 or Article VII; or

(c) Other Defaults. Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in Section 8.01(a) or (b) above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for thirty (30) days after notice thereof by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower; or

(d) Representations and Warranties. Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower or any other Loan Party herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document required to be delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed made; or

(e) Cross-Default. (i) Any Loan Party or any Subsidiary (A) fails to make any payment beyond the applicable grace period with respect thereto, if any (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise) in respect of any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness hereunder) having an aggregate principal amount of more than the Threshold Amount, or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness, or any other event occurs, the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity; or

(f) Insolvency Proceedings, Etc. Any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for sixty (60) calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or

(g) Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment. (i) Any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of any such Person and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within sixty (60) days after its issue or levy; or

 

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(h) Judgments. There is entered against any Loan Party or any Subsidiary a final judgment or order for the payment of money in an aggregate amount (as to all such judgments and orders) exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer, which is rated at least “A” by A.M. Best Company, has been notified of such judgment or order and does not deny coverage) and there is a period of sixty (60) consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect; or

(i) ERISA. (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in liability of any Loan Party under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) any Loan Party or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; or

(j) Invalidity of Loan Documents. Any provision of any Loan Document, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder (including as a result of a transaction permitted under Section 7.04 or 7.05) or satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect; or any Loan Party contests in writing the validity or enforceability of any provision of any Loan Document; or any Loan Party denies that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Loan Document (other than as a result of repayment in full of the Obligations and termination of the Aggregate Commitments), or purports to revoke or rescind any Loan Document; or

(k) Change of Control. There occurs any Change of Control; or

(l) Collateral Documents. Any Collateral Document after delivery thereof pursuant to Section 4.01 or 6.12 shall for any reason (other than pursuant to the terms thereof including as a result of a transaction permitted under Section 7.04 or 7.05) cease to create a valid and perfected first priority lien on and security interest in the Collateral covered thereby, subject to Liens permitted under Section 7.01; or

(m) Junior Financing Documentation. (i) Any of the Obligations of the Loan Parties under the Loan Documents for any reason shall cease to be “Designated Senior Debt” (or any comparable term) or “Senior Debt” (or any comparable term) under, and as defined in, the Senior Subordinated Notes Indenture and any other applicable Junior Financing Documentation or (ii) the subordination provisions set forth in the Senior Subordinated Notes Indenture (or comparable provisions in any other Junior Financing Documentation) shall, in whole or in part, cease to be effective or cease to be legally valid, binding and enforceable against the holders of the Senior Subordinated Notes or any other Junior Financing, if applicable.

 

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8.02 Remedies Upon Event of Default. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Lenders, take any or all of the following actions:

(a) declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuers to make L/C Credit Extensions to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;

(b) declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower;

(c) require that the Borrower Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to the then Outstanding Amount thereof); and

(d) exercise on behalf of itself, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders all rights and remedies available to it, the L/C Issuers and the Lenders under the Loan Documents, under the Senior Subordinated Notes Indenture (including, without limitation, the rights and remedies available to holders of “Senior Debt” (as defined therein) under Article 10 thereof) and under any Permitted Refinancing thereof, and/or under applicable Law;

provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuers to make L/C Credit Extensions shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, and the obligation of the Borrower to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations as aforesaid shall automatically become effective, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

8.03 Application of Funds. After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable and the L/C Obligations have automatically been required to be Cash Collateralized as set forth in the proviso to Section 8.02), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:

First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including Attorney Costs payable under Section 10.04 and amounts payable under Article III) payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;

Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal, interest and Letter of Credit Fees)

 

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payable to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers (including Attorney Costs payable under Section 10.05 and amounts payable under Article III), ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;

Third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid Letter of Credit Fees and interest on the Loans and L/C Borrowings, ratably among the Lenders and the L/C Issuers in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;

Fourth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans, the L/C Borrowings and Obligations then owing under Secured Hedge Agreements and the Secured Cash Management Agreements, ratably among the Lenders, the L/C Issuers, the Hedge Banks and the Cash Management Banks in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them;

Fifth, to the Administrative Agent for the account of each L/C Issuer, to Cash Collateralize that portion of L/C Obligations comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit;

Sixth, to the payment of all other Obligations of the Loan Parties owing under or in respect of the Loan Documents that are due and payable to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties on such date, ratably based upon the respective aggregate amounts of all such Obligations owing to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties on such date; and

Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.

Subject to Section 2.03(c), amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to clause Fifth above shall be applied to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they occur. If any amount remains on deposit as Cash Collateral after all Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount shall be applied to the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Obligations arising under Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements shall be excluded from the application described above if the Administrative Agent has not received written notice thereof, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, from the applicable Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank, as the case may be. Each Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank not a party to the Credit Agreement that has given the notice contemplated by the preceding sentence shall, by such notice, be deemed to have acknowledged and accepted the appointment of the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms of Article IX hereof for itself and its Affiliates as if a “Lender” party hereto.

 

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ARTICLE IX

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND OTHER AGENTS

9.01 Appointment and Authorization of Agents.

(a) Each Lender hereby irrevocably appoints, designates and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and each other Loan Document and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to it by the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained elsewhere herein or in any other Loan Document, no Agent shall have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein, nor shall any Agent have or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Lender or participant, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Agreement or any other Loan Document or otherwise exist against any Agent. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, the use of the term “agent” herein and in the other Loan Documents with reference to any Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable Law. 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) 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 such L/C Issuer shall have all of the benefits and immunities (i) provided to the Agents in this Article IX 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 IX and in the definition of “Agent-Related Person” included such L/C Issuer with respect to such acts or omissions, and (ii) as additionally provided herein with respect to such L/C Issuer.

(c) The Administrative Agent shall also act as the “collateral agent” under the Loan Documents, and each of the Lenders (in its capacities as a Lender, a Swing Line Lender (if applicable), an L/C Issuer (if applicable), a potential Cash Management Bank and a potential Hedge Bank) hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to act as the agent of such Lender for purposes of acquiring, holding and enforcing any and all Liens on Collateral granted by any of the Loan Parties to secure any of the Secured Obligations, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto. In this connection, the Administrative Agent, as “collateral agent” (and any co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact appointed by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.02 for purposes of holding or enforcing any Lien on the Collateral (or any portion thereof) granted under the Collateral Documents, or for exercising any rights and remedies thereunder at the direction of the Administrative Agent), shall be entitled to the benefits of all provisions of this Article IX (including, without limitation, Section 9.07, as though such co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact were the “collateral agent” under the Loan Documents) as if set forth in full herein with respect thereto.

9.02 Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may execute any of its duties under this Agreement or any other Loan Document (including for purposes of holding or enforcing any Lien on the Collateral (or any portion thereof) granted under the Collateral Documents or of exercising any rights and remedies thereunder) by or through agents, employees or attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel and other consultants or experts concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agent or attorney-in-fact that it selects in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct.

 

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9.03 Liability of Agents. No Agent-Related Person shall (a) be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by any of them under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions contemplated hereby (except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct in connection with its duties expressly set forth herein), or (b) be responsible in any manner to any Lender or participant for any recital, statement, representation or warranty made by any Loan Party or any officer thereof, contained herein or in any other Loan Document, or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Administrative Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or the validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or the perfection or priority of any Lien or security interest created or purported to be created under the Collateral Documents, or for any failure of any Loan Party or any other party to any Loan Document to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder. No Agent-Related Person shall be under any obligation to any Lender or participant to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or to inspect the properties, books or records of any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof.

9.04 Reliance by Agents.

(a) Each Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any writing, communication, signature, resolution, representation, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telegram, facsimile, telex or telephone message, electronic mail message, statement or other document or conversation believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person or Persons, and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including counsel to any Loan Party), independent accountants and other experts selected by such Agent. Each Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under any Loan Document unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the Required Lenders as it deems appropriate and, if it so requests, 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 or continuing to take any such action. Each Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document in accordance with a request or consent of the Required Lenders (or such greater number of Lenders as may be expressly required hereby in any instance) and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all the Lenders.

(b) For purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in Section 4.01, 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 Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.

 

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9.05 Notice of Default. The Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default, except with respect to defaults in the payment of principal, interest and fees required to be paid to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders, unless the Administrative Agent shall have received written notice from a Lender or the Borrower referring to this Agreement, describing such Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of default.” The Administrative Agent will notify the Lenders of its receipt of any such notice. The Administrative Agent shall take such action with respect to any Event of Default as may be directed by the Required Lenders in accordance with Article VIII; provided, however, that unless and until the Administrative Agent has received any such direction, the Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Event of Default as it shall deem advisable or in the best interest of the Lenders.

9.06 Credit Decision; Disclosure of Information by Agents. Each Lender acknowledges that no Agent-Related Person has made any representation or warranty to it, and that no act by any Agent hereafter taken, including any consent to and acceptance of any assignment or review of the affairs of any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by any Agent-Related Person to any Lender as to any matter, including whether Agent-Related Persons have disclosed material information in their possession. Each Lender represents to each Agent that it has, independently and without reliance upon any Agent-Related Person and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of and investigation into the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Loan Parties and their respective Subsidiaries, and all applicable bank or other regulatory Laws relating to the transactions contemplated hereby, and made its own decision to enter into this Agreement and to extend credit to the Borrower and the other Loan Parties hereunder. Each Lender also represents that it will, independently and without reliance upon any Agent-Related Person and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and to make such investigations as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties. Except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by any Agent herein, such Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide any Lender with any credit or other information concerning the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition or creditworthiness of any of the Loan Parties or any of their respective Affiliates which may come into the possession of any Agent-Related Person.

9.07 Indemnification of Agents. 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 any Loan Party and without limiting the obligation of any Loan Party 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

 

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of the Required Lenders shall be deemed to constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct for purposes of this Section 9.07; provided, further, that to the extent any L/C Issuer is entitled to indemnification under this Section 9.07 solely in its capacity and role as L/C Issuer, only the Revolving Credit Lenders shall be required to indemnify such L/C Issuer in accordance with this Section 9.07. In the case of any investigation, litigation or proceeding giving rise to any Indemnified Liabilities, this Section 9.07 applies whether any such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by any Lender or any other Person. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender shall reimburse the Administrative Agent upon demand for its ratable share of any costs or out-of-pocket expenses (including Attorney Costs) incurred by the Administrative 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 Administrative Agent is not reimbursed for such expenses by or on behalf of the Borrower. The undertaking in this Section 9.07 shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, the payment of all other Obligations and the resignation of the Administrative Agent.

9.08 Agents in their Individual Capacities. Bank of America and its Affiliates may make loans to, issue letters of credit for the account of, accept deposits from, acquire Equity Interests in and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust, financial advisory, underwriting or other business with each of the Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates as though Bank of America were not the Administrative Agent or an L/C Issuer hereunder and without notice to or consent of the Lenders. The Lenders acknowledge that, pursuant to such activities, Bank of America or its Affiliates may receive information regarding any Loan Party or its Affiliates (including information that may be subject to confidentiality obligations in favor of such Loan Party or such Affiliate) and acknowledge that the Administrative Agent shall be under no obligation to provide such information to them. With respect to its Loans, Bank of America shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any other Lender and may exercise such rights and powers as though it were not the Administrative Agent or an L/C Issuer, and the terms “Lender” and “Lenders” include Bank of America in its individual capacity.

9.09 Successor Agents. (a) The Administrative Agent may resign as the Administrative Agent upon thirty (30) days’ notice to the Lenders. If the Administrative Agent resigns under this Agreement, the Required Lenders shall appoint from among the Lenders a successor agent for the Lenders, which successor agent shall be consented to by the Borrower at all times other than during the existence of an Event of Default under Section 8.01(f) (which consent of the Borrower shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed). If no successor agent is appointed prior to the effective date of the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent may appoint, after consulting with the Lenders and the Borrower, a successor agent from among the Lenders. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as successor agent hereunder, the Person acting as such successor agent shall succeed to all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent and the term “Administrative Agent,” shall mean such successor administrative agent and/or supplemental administrative agent, as the case may be, and the retiring Administrative Agent’s appointment, powers and duties as the Administrative Agent shall be terminated. After the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder as the Administrative Agent, the provisions of this Article IX and Sections 10.04 and 10.05 shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was the Administrative

 

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Agent under this Agreement. If no successor agent has accepted appointment as the Administrative Agent by the date which is thirty (30) days following the retiring Administrative Agent’s notice of resignation, the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation shall nevertheless thereupon become effective and the Lenders shall perform all of the duties of the Administrative Agent hereunder until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor agent as provided for above. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as the Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor and upon the execution and filing or recording of such financing statements, or amendments thereto, and such amendments or supplements to the Mortgages, and such other instruments or notices, as may be necessary or desirable, or as the Required Lenders may request, in order to continue the perfection of the Liens granted or purported to be granted by the Collateral Documents, the Administrative Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, discretion, privileges, and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under the Loan Documents. After the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder as the Administrative Agent, the provisions of this Article IX 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 the Administrative Agent.

(b) Any resignation by Bank of America as Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 9.09 shall also constitute its resignation as an L/C Issuer and as Swing Line Lender. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, (i) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender, (ii) the retiring L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender shall be discharged from all of their respective duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, and (iii) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to the retiring L/C Issuer to effectively assume the obligations of the retiring L/C Issuer with respect to such Letters of Credit.

9.10 Administrative 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 any Loan Party, the Administrative 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 Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, 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 Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.03(i) and (j), 2.09 and 10.04) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

 

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

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Agents and their respective agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 10.04.

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

9.11 Collateral and Guaranty Matters. Each of the Lenders (including in their capacity as potential Hedge Banks and potential Cash Management Banks) and each L/C Issuer irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion,

(a) to release any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document (i) upon termination of the Aggregate Commitments and payment in full of all Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations not yet accrued and payable) and the expiration or termination of all Letters of Credit, (ii) that is sold or to be sold as part of or in connection with any sale permitted hereunder or under any other Loan Document, or (iii) subject to Section 10.01, if approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Lenders;

(b) to subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted by Section 7.01(i); and

(c) to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty if such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary as a result of a transaction permitted hereunder.

Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release its interest in particular types or items of property, or to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty pursuant to this Section 9.11. In each case as specified in this Section 9.11, the Administrative Agent will, at the Borrower’s expense, execute and deliver to the applicable Loan Party such documents as such Loan Party may reasonably request to evidence the release of such item of Collateral from the assignment and security interest granted under the Collateral Documents, or to release such Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents and this Section 9.11.

 

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9.12 Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements. No Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank that obtains the benefits of Section 8.03, any Guaranty or any Collateral by virtue of the provisions hereof or of any Guaranty or any Collateral Document shall have any right to notice of any action or to consent to, direct or object to any action hereunder or under any other Loan Document or otherwise in respect of the Collateral (including the release or impairment of any Collateral) other than in its capacity as a Lender and, in such case, only to the extent expressly provided in the Loan Documents. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article IX to the contrary, the Administrative Agent shall not be required to verify the payment of, or that other satisfactory arrangements have been made with respect to, Obligations arising under Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements unless the Administrative Agent has received written notice of such Obligations, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may request, from the applicable Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank, as the case may be.

9.13 Other Agents; Arranger and Managers. None of the Lenders or other Persons identified on the facing page or signature pages of this Agreement as a “syndication agent,” “co-documentation agent”, “co-agent,” “book manager,” “lead manager,” “arranger,” “lead arranger” or “co-arranger” shall have any right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement other than those applicable to all Lenders as such. Without limiting the foregoing, none of the Lenders or other Persons so identified shall have or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Lender. Each Lender acknowledges that it has not relied, and will not rely, on any of the Lenders or other Persons so identified in deciding to enter into this Agreement or in taking or not taking action hereunder.

9.14 Appointment of Supplemental Administrative Agents.

(a) It is the purpose of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents that there shall be no violation of any Law of any jurisdiction denying or restricting the right of banking corporations or associations to transact business as agent or trustee in such jurisdiction. It is recognized that in case of litigation under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, and in particular in case of the enforcement of any of the Loan Documents, or in case the Administrative Agent deems that by reason of any present or future Law of any jurisdiction it may not exercise any of the rights, powers or remedies granted herein or in any of the other Loan Documents or take any other action which may be desirable or necessary in connection therewith, the Administrative Agent is hereby authorized to appoint an additional individual or institution selected by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion as a separate trustee, co-trustee, administrative agent, collateral agent, administrative sub-agent or administrative co-agent (any such additional individual or institution being referred to herein individually as a “Supplemental Administrative Agent” and collectively as “Supplemental Administrative Agents”).

(b) In the event that the Administrative Agent appoints a Supplemental Administrative Agent with respect to any Collateral, (i) each and every right, power, privilege or duty expressed or intended by this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents to be exercised by or vested in or conveyed to the Administrative Agent with respect to such Collateral shall be exercisable by and vest in such Supplemental Administrative Agent to the extent, and only to the extent, necessary to enable such Supplemental Administrative Agent to exercise such

 

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rights, powers and privileges with respect to such Collateral and to perform such duties with respect to such Collateral, and every covenant and obligation contained in the Loan Documents and necessary to the exercise or performance thereof by such Supplemental Administrative Agent shall run to and be enforceable by either the Administrative Agent or such Supplemental Administrative Agent, and (ii) the provisions of this Article IX and of Section 9.07 (obligating the Borrower to pay the Administrative Agent’s expenses and to indemnify the Administrative Agent) that refer to the Administrative Agent shall inure to the benefit of such Supplemental Administrative Agent and all references therein to the Administrative Agent shall be deemed to be references to the Administrative Agent and/or such Supplemental Administrative Agent, as the context may require.

(c) Should any instrument in writing from the Borrower, Holdings or any other Loan Party be required by any Supplemental Administrative Agent so appointed by the Administrative Agent for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to him or it such rights, powers, privileges and duties, the Borrower or Holdings, as applicable, shall, or shall cause such Loan Party to, execute, acknowledge and deliver any and all such instruments promptly upon request by the Administrative Agent. In case any Supplemental Administrative Agent, or a successor thereto, shall die, become incapable of acting, resign or be removed, all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of such Supplemental Administrative Agent, to the extent permitted by Law, shall vest in and be exercised by the Administrative Agent until the appointment of a new Supplemental Administrative Agent.

ARTICLE X

MISCELLANEOUS

10.01 Amendments, Etc. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Borrower or any other Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and the Borrower or the applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

(a) extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby (it being understood that a waiver of any condition precedent set forth in Section 4.02 or the waiver of any Event of Default, mandatory prepayment or mandatory reduction of the Commitments shall not constitute an extension or increase of any Commitment of any Lender);

(b) postpone any date scheduled for any payment of principal or interest under Section 2.07 or 2.08 without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby, it being understood that the waiver of any mandatory prepayment of the Term Loans shall not constitute a postponement of any date scheduled for the payment of principal or interest;

(c) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or L/C Borrowing, or (subject to clause (iii) of the second proviso to this Section 10.01)

 

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any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby, it being understood that any change to the definition of Leverage Ratio or in the component definitions thereof shall not constitute a reduction in the rate; provided, however, that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend the definition of “Default Rate” or to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the Default Rate;

(d) change (i) Section 8.03 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby or (ii) the order of application of any reduction in the Commitments or any prepayment of Loans between the Facilities from the application thereof set forth in the applicable provisions of Section 2.05(b) or 2.06(b), respectively, in any manner that materially and adversely affects the Lenders under such Facilities without the written consent of Lenders having more than 50% of the Aggregate Credit Exposures then in effect within each of the following classes of Commitments, Loans and other Credit Extensions: (i) the class consisting of the Revolving Credit Commitment combined on an aggregate basis, and (ii) the class consisting of the Term Commitment combined on an aggregate basis;

(e) change (i) any provision of this Section 10.01, Section 2.06(c) or the definition of “Required Lenders”, or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder (other than the definitions specified in clause (ii) of this Section 10.01(e)), without the written consent of each Lender, or (ii) the definition of “Required Revolving Lenders,” without the written consent of each Lender under the Revolving Credit Facility;

(f) other than in a transaction permitted under Section 7.05, release all or substantially all of the Collateral in any transaction or series of related transactions, without the written consent of each Lender;

(g) other than in connection with a transaction permitted under Section 7.04 or 7.05, release all or substantially all of the value of the Guaranty, without the written consent of each Lender; or

(h) amend the definition of “Change of Control” set forth in Section 1.01, permit or authorize in advance any Change of Control or waive any Event of Default under Section 8.01(k), without the written consent of Lenders having not less than 75% of all Aggregate Credit Exposures then in effect with respect to all Commitments, Loans and other Credit Extensions under the Facilities;

and provided, further that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by an L/C Issuer in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the L/C Issuers under this Agreement or any Letter of Credit Application relating to any Letter of Credit issued or to be issued by it; (ii) 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; (iii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders

 

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required above, affect the rights or duties of, or any fees or other amounts payable to, the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; and (iv) Section 10.07(g) may not be amended, waived or otherwise modified without the consent of each Granting Lender all or any part of whose Loans are being funded by an SPC at the time of such amendment, waiver or other modification; and (v) the Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder, except that the Commitment of such Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender (it being understood that any Commitments or Loans held or deemed held by any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for a vote of the Lenders hereunder requiring any consent of the Lenders).

10.02 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communications.

(a) General. Unless otherwise expressly provide herein, all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopier as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:

(i) if to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, an L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.02; and

(ii) if to any other Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire.

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

(b) Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the L/C Issuers hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or any L/C Issuer pursuant to Article II if such Lender or such L/C Issuer, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving, or is unwilling to receive, notices under such Article II by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

 

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

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

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

 

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Information” portion of the Platform and that may contain material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal or state securities laws.

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

10.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement. No failure by any Lender, any L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided, and provided under each other Loan Document, are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by Law.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against the Loan Parties or any of them shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 8.02 for the benefit of all the Lenders and the L/C Issuers; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (b) each L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender from exercising the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as an L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (c) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 10.09 (subject to the terms of Section 2.13), or (d) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to any Loan Party under any Debtor Relief Law; and provided, further, that if at any time there is no Person acting as Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 8.02 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b), (c) and (d) of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 2.13, any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders

 

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10.04 Attorney Costs, Expenses and Taxes. The Borrower agrees (a) to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent for all reasonable costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, negotiation, syndication and execution of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and any amendment, waiver, consent or other modification of the provisions hereof and thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated thereby are consummated), and the consummation and administration of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including all Attorney Costs of Shearman & Sterling LLP, and (b) to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent and each Lender for all reasonable costs and expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement of any rights or remedies under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (including all such costs and expenses incurred during any legal proceeding, including any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law), including all Attorney Costs of counsel to the Administrative Agent). The foregoing costs and expenses shall include all search, filing, recording, title insurance and appraisal charges and fees and taxes related thereto, and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred by any Agent. All amounts due under this Section 10.04 shall be paid within twenty (20) Business Days after invoiced or demand therefor. The agreements in this Section 10.04 shall survive the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and repayment of all other Obligations. If any Loan Party fails to pay when due any costs, expenses or other amounts payable by it hereunder or under any Loan Document, such amount may be paid on behalf of such Loan Party by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, in its sole discretion.

10.05 Indemnification by the Borrower. Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Borrower shall indemnify and hold harmless each Agent-Related Person, each Lender, each L/C Issuer and their respective Affiliates, directors, officers, employees, counsel, agents and, in the case of any funds, trustees and advisors and attorneys-in-fact (collectively the “Indemnitees”) from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, demands, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses and disbursements (including Attorney Costs (which shall be limited to one (1) counsel to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, unless (x) the interests of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders are sufficiently divergent, in which case one (1) additional counsel may be appointed, and (y) if the interests of any Lender or group of Lenders (other than all of the Lenders) are distinctly or disproportionately affected, one (1) additional counsel for such Lender or group of Lenders)) of any kind or nature whatsoever which may at any time be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against any such Indemnitee in any way relating to or arising out of or in connection with (a) the execution, delivery, enforcement, performance or administration of any Loan Document or any other agreement, letter or instrument delivered in connection with the transactions contemplated thereby or the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, (b) any Commitment, Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by any L/C Issuer to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (c) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property currently or formerly owned or operated by the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any other Loan Party, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any other Loan Party, or (d) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory (including any investigation of, preparation for, or defense of any pending or threatened claim, investigation, litigation or proceeding) and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto (all the foregoing, collectively, the

 

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Indemnified Liabilities”), in all cases, whether or not caused by or arising, in whole or in part, out of the negligence of the Indemnitee; provided, that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, demands, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or breach of the Loan Documents by such Indemnitee. No Indemnitee shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by others of any information or other materials obtained through IntraLinks or other similar information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement, nor shall any Indemnitee or any Loan Party have any liability for any special, punitive, indirect or consequential damages relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or arising out of its activities in connection herewith or therewith (whether before or after the Closing Date). In the case of an investigation, litigation or other proceeding to which the indemnity in this Section 10.05 applies, such indemnity shall be effective whether or not such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by any Loan Party, its directors, shareholders or creditors or an Indemnitee or any other Person, whether or not any Indemnitee is otherwise a party thereto and whether or not any of the transactions contemplated hereunder or under any of the other Loan Documents is consummated. All amounts due under this Section 10.05 shall be payable within twenty (20) Business Days after demand therefor. The agreements in this Section 10.05 shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.

10.06 Payments Set Aside. To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower is made to any Agent, to any L/C Issuer or any Lender, or any Agent, any L/C Issuer or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by such Agent, such L/C Issuer or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender and each L/C Issuer severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by any Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Lenders and the L/C Issuers under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

10.07 Successors and Assigns.

(a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an Eligible Assignee in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.07(b), (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.07(d), (iii) by way of pledge or

 

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assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of Section 10.07(f) or (iv) to an SPC in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.07(g) (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 Section 10.07(d) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Indemnitees) 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 Commitment(s) and the Loans (including for purposes of this Section 10.07(b), participations in L/C Obligations and in Swing Line Loans) at the time owing to it); provided, that (i) except (A) in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment under any Facility and the Loans at the time owing to it under such Facility or in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to a Lender, no minimum amount shall need be assigned, and (B) in any case not described in clause (b)(i)(A) of this Section, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the applicable Commitment is not then in effect, the outstanding principal balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $5,000,000, in the case of any assignment in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility, or $1,000,000, in the case of any assignment in respect of either Term Facility, unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default in respect of Section 8.01(a) or (f) has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) provided, however, that concurrent assignments to members of an Assignee Group and concurrent assignments from members of an Assignee Group to a single Eligible Assignee (or to an Eligible Assignee and members of its Assignee Group) will be treated as a single assignment for purposes of determining whether such minimum amount has been met; (ii) 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 or the Commitment assigned, except that this clause (ii) shall not (x) apply to the Swing Line Lender’s rights and obligations in respect of Swing Line Loans or (y) prohibit any Lender from assigning all or a portion of its rights and obligations among separate Facilities on a non-pro rata basis; (iii) no consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by subsection (b)(i)(B) of this Section and, in addition (A) the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (1) an Event of Default in respect of Section 8.01(a) or (f) has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; (B) the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for assignments in respect of (1) any Term Commitment or Revolving Credit Commitment if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender with a Commitment in respect of the applicable Facility, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender or (2) any Term Loan to a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; (C) the consent of each L/C Issuer (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment that increases the obligation of the

 

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assignee to participate in exposure under one or more Letters of Credit (whether or not then outstanding); and (D) the consent of the Swing Line Lender (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility; (iv) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 (except, (x) in the case of contemporaneous assignments by any Lender to one or more Approved Funds, only a single processing and recording fee shall be payable for such assignments and (y) the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, may elect to waive such processing and recording fee in the case of any assignment); and (v) the assigning Lender shall deliver any Notes evidencing such Loans to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent. Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 10.07(c), 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 3.01, 3.04, 3.05, 10.04 and 10.05 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment). Upon request, and the surrender by the assigning Lender of its Note, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this clause (b) 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 Section 10.07(d).

(c) The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts (and related interest amounts) of the Loans, L/C Obligations (specifying the Unreimbursed Amounts), L/C Borrowings and amounts due under Section 2.03, owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Agents and the Lenders shall 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, any Agent 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 notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person) (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 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 Agents and the other Lenders shall continue to deal

 

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solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided, that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to Section 10.01 that directly affects such Participant. Subject to Section 10.07(e), the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section 10.07(b). To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.09 as though it were a Lender, provided, such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender.

(e) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 3.01, 3.04 or 3.05 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 3.01 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 10.15 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) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a “Granting Lender”) may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Lender to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (an “SPC”) the option to provide all or any part of any Loan that such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to make pursuant to this Agreement; provided, that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment by any SPC to fund any Loan, and (ii) if an SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to make all or any part of such Loan, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to make such Loan pursuant to the terms hereof or, if it fails to do so, to make such payment to the Administrative Agent as is required under Section 2.12(b)(ii). Each party hereto hereby agrees that (i) neither the grant to any SPC nor the exercise by any SPC of such option shall increase the costs or expenses or otherwise increase or change the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement (including its obligations under Section 3.01 or 3.04), (ii) no SPC shall be liable for any indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement for which a Lender would be liable, and (iii) the Granting Lender shall for all purposes, including the approval of any amendment, waiver or other modification of any provision of any Loan Document, remain the lender of record hereunder. The making of a Loan by an SPC hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent, and as if, such Loan were made by such Granting Lender. In furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby agrees (which agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement) that, prior to the date

 

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that is one year and one day after the payment in full of all outstanding commercial paper or other senior debt of any SPC, it will not, other than in respect of matters unrelated to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, institute against, or join any other Person in instituting against, such SPC any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, or liquidation proceeding under the laws of the United States or any State thereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any SPC may (i) with notice to, but without prior consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and with the payment of a processing fee of $3,500, assign all or any portion of its right to receive payment with respect to any Loan to the Granting Lender and (ii) disclose on a confidential basis any non-public information relating to its funding of Loans to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of any surety or Guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPC.

(h) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender that is a Fund may create a security interest in all or any portion of the Loans owing to it and the Note, if any, held by it to the trustee for holders of obligations owed, or securities issued, by such Fund as security for such obligations or securities; provided, that unless and until such trustee actually becomes a Lender in compliance with the other provisions of this Section 10.07, (i) no such pledge shall release the pledging Lender from any of its obligations under the Loan Documents, and (ii) such trustee shall not be entitled to exercise any of the rights of a Lender under the Loan Documents even though such trustee may have acquired ownership rights with respect to the pledged interest through foreclosure or otherwise.

(i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if at any time Bank of America assigns all of its Commitments and Loans pursuant to Section 10.07(b), Bank of America may, (i) upon thirty (30) days’ notice to the Borrower and the Lenders, resign as L/C Issuer and/or (ii) upon thirty (30) days’ notice to the Borrower, resign as Swing Line Lender. In the event of any such resignation as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, the Borrower shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a successor L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender hereunder; provided, however, that no failure by the Borrower to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of Bank of America as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be. If Bank of America resigns as L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights and obligations of an L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c)). 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 Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(c). Upon the appointment of a successor L/C Issuer and/or Swing Line Lender, (A) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, and (B) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to Bank of America to effectively assume the obligations of Bank of America with respect to such Letters of Credit.

 

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10.08 Confidentiality. Each of the Agents and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information, except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential); (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority; (c) to the extent required by applicable Laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process; (d) to any other party to this Agreement; (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section 10.08 (or as may otherwise be reasonably acceptable to the Borrower), to any Eligible Assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective Eligible Assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement; (g) with the consent of the Borrower; (h) to the extent such Information becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 10.08; (i) to any state, Federal or foreign authority or examiner (including the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any other similar organization) regulating any Lender; or (j) to any rating agency when required by it (it being understood that, prior to any such disclosure, such rating agency shall undertake to preserve the confidentiality of any Information relating to the Loan Parties received by it from such Lender). In addition, the Agents and the Lenders may disclose the existence of this Agreement and information about this Agreement to market data collectors, similar service providers to the lending industry, and service providers to the Agents and the Lenders in connection with the administration and management of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, the Commitments, and the Credit Extensions. For the purposes of this Section 10.08, “Information” means all information received from any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof relating to any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof relating to any Loan Party or its business, other than any such information that is publicly available to any Agent or any Lender prior to disclosure by any Loan Party other than as a result of a breach of this Section 10.08; provided, that, in the case of information received from a Loan Party after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section 10.08 shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and each L/C Issuer acknowledges that (i) the Information may include material non-public information concerning the Borrower, Holdings or a Subsidiary of either, as the case may be, (ii) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and (iii) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws.

10.09 Setoff. In addition to any rights and remedies of the Lenders provided by Law, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, each Lender is authorized at any time and from time to time, without prior notice to the Borrower or any other Loan Party, any such notice being waived by the Borrower (on its own behalf and on behalf of each Loan Party) to the fullest extent permitted by Law, to set off and apply any and all deposits

 

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(general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held by, and other Indebtedness at any time owing by, such Lender to or for the credit or the account of the respective Loan Parties against any and all Obligations owing to such Lender hereunder or under any other Loan Document, now or hereafter existing, irrespective of whether or not such Agent or such Lender shall have made demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such Obligations may be contingent or unmatured or denominated in a currency different from that of the applicable deposit or Indebtedness. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent 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 setoff and application. The rights of the Administrative Agent and each Lender under this Section 10.09 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including, without limitation, other rights of setoff) that the Administrative Agent and such Lender may have. Notwithstanding anything herein or in any other Loan Document to the contrary, in no event shall the assets of any Foreign Subsidiary constitute security, or shall the proceeds of such assets be available for, payment of the Obligations of the Borrower or any Domestic Subsidiary, it being understood that (a) the Equity Interests of any Foreign Subsidiary does not constitute such an asset and (b) the provisions hereof shall not limit, reduce or otherwise diminish in any respect the Borrower’s obligations to make any mandatory prepayment pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(ii).

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

10.11 Counterparts. This Agreement and each other Loan Document may be executed in one or more counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery by telecopier or other electronic transmission of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement and each other Loan Document shall be effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Agreement and such other Loan Document. The Agents may also require that any such documents and signatures delivered by telecopier or other electronic transmission be confirmed by a manually-signed original thereof; provided, that the failure to request or deliver the same shall not limit the effectiveness of any document or signature delivered by telecopier or other electronic transmission.

10.12 Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof (including, without limitation, the Existing Credit Agreement). In the

 

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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 Agents or the Lenders in any other Loan Document 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 construed neither against nor in favor of any party, but rather in accordance with the fair meaning thereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto.

10.13 Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof. Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by each Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by any Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that any Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding.

10.14 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

10.15 Tax Forms.

(a) (i) Each Lender and Agent that is not a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code (each, a “Foreign Lender”) shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, prior to receipt of any payment subject to withholding under the Code (or upon accepting an assignment of an interest herein), two duly signed, properly completed copies of either IRS Form W-8BEN or any successor thereto (relating to such Foreign Lender and entitling it to an exemption from, or reduction of, United States withholding tax on all payments to be made to such Foreign Lender by the Borrower or any other Loan Party pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document) or IRS Form W-8ECI or any successor thereto (relating to all payments to be made to such Foreign Lender by the Borrower or any other Loan Party pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document) or such other evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent that such Foreign Lender is entitled to an exemption from, or reduction of, United States withholding tax, including any exemption pursuant to Section 881(c) of the Code, and in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming such an exemption under Section 881(c) of the Code, a certificate that establishes in writing to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent that such Foreign Lender is not (i) a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (ii) a 10-percent shareholder within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code, and (iii) a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower with the meaning of Section 864(d) of the Code.

 

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Thereafter and from time to time, each such Foreign Lender shall (A) promptly submit to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent such additional duly completed and signed copies of one or more of such forms or certificates (or such successor forms or certificates as shall be adopted from time to time by the relevant United States taxing authorities) as may then be available under then current United States laws and regulations to avoid, or such evidence as is reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of any available exemption from, or reduction of, United States withholding taxes in respect of all payments to be made to such Foreign Lender by the Borrower or other Loan Party pursuant to this Agreement, or any other Loan Document, in each case, (1) on or before the date that any such form, certificate or other evidence expires or becomes obsolete, (2) after the occurrence of any event requiring a change in the most recent form, certificate or evidence previously delivered by it to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and (3) from time to time thereafter if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, and (B) promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of any change in circumstances which would modify or render invalid any claimed exemption or reduction.

(ii) Each Foreign Lender, to the extent it does not act or ceases to act for its own account with respect to any portion of any sums paid or payable to such Foreign Lender under any of the Loan Documents (for example, in the case of a typical participation by such Foreign Lender), shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on the date when such Foreign Lender ceases to act for its own account with respect to any portion of any such sums paid or payable, and at such other times as may be necessary in the determination of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent (in either case, in the reasonable exercise of its discretion), (A) two duly signed completed copies of the forms or statements required to be provided by such Foreign Lender as set forth above, to establish the portion of any such sums paid or payable with respect to which such Foreign Lender acts for its own account that is not subject to United States withholding tax, and (B) two duly signed completed copies of IRS Form W-8IMY (or any successor thereto), together with any information such Foreign Lender chooses to transmit with such form, and any other certificate or statement of exemption required under the Code, to establish that such Foreign Lender is not acting for its own account with respect to a portion of any such sums payable to such Foreign Lender.

(iii) The Borrower shall not be required to pay any additional amount or any indemnity payment under Section 3.01 to (A) any Foreign Lender with respect to any Taxes required to be deducted or withheld on the basis of the information, certificates or statements of exemption such Lender transmits with an IRS Form W-8IMY pursuant to this Section 10.15(a), (B) any Foreign Lender if such Foreign Lender shall have failed to satisfy the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.15(a), or (C) any U.S. Lender if such U.S. Lender shall have failed to satisfy the provisions of Section 10.15(b); provided, that if such Lender shall have satisfied the requirement of this Section 10.15(a) or Section 10.15(b), as applicable, on the date such Lender became a Lender or ceased to act for its own account with respect to any payment under any of the Loan Documents, nothing in this Section 10.15(a) or Section 10.15(b) shall relieve the Borrower of its obligation to pay any amounts pursuant to Section 3.01 in the event that, as a result of any change in any applicable Law, treaty or governmental rule, regulation or order, or any change in the interpretation, administration or application thereof, such Lender is no

 

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longer properly entitled to deliver forms, certificates or other evidence at a subsequent date establishing the fact that such Lender or other Person for the account of which such Lender receives any sums payable under any of the Loan Documents is not subject to withholding or is subject to withholding at a reduced rate.

(iv) The Administrative Agent may deduct and withhold any taxes required by any Laws to be deducted and withheld from any payment under any of the Loan Documents.

(b) Each Lender and Agent that is a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code (each, a “U.S. Lender”) shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower two duly signed, properly completed copies of IRS Form W-9 on or prior to the Closing Date (or on or prior to the date it becomes a party to this Agreement), certifying that such U.S. Lender is entitled to an exemption from United States backup withholding tax, or any successor form. If such U.S. Lender fails to deliver such forms, then the Administrative Agent may withhold from any payment to such U.S. Lender an amount equivalent to the applicable backup withholding tax imposed by the Code.

(c) If any Governmental Authority asserts that the Borrower or the Administrative Agent did not properly withhold or backup withhold, as the case may be, any tax or other amount from payments made to or for the account of any Foreign Lender or U.S. Lender (other than Taxes or Other Taxes for which the Borrower is responsible under Section 3.01), such Foreign Lender or U.S. Lender shall indemnify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent therefor, including all penalties and interest, and costs and expenses (including Attorney Costs) of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent. The obligation of the Foreign Lenders or U.S. Lenders, severally, under this Section 10.15 shall survive the termination of the Aggregate Commitments, repayment of all other Obligations hereunder and the resignation of the Administrative Agent.

10.16 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

(a) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

(b) SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. THE BORROWER AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK CITY AND OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT.

 

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EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER OR ANY L/C ISSUER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST THE BORROWER OR ANY OTHER LOAN PARTY OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

(c) WAIVER OF VENUE. THE BORROWER AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

(d) SERVICE OF PROCESS. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 10.02. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

10.17 WAIVER OF RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING UNDER ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO OR ANY OF THEM WITH RESPECT TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED THERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER FOUNDED IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE; AND EACH PARTY HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY, AND THAT ANY PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR A COPY OF THIS SECTION 10.17 WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE SIGNATORIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

10.18 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall have been notified by each Lender, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer that each such Lender, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer has executed it and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Borrower, each Agent and each Lender and their respective successors and assigns, except that the Borrower shall not have the right to assign its rights hereunder or any interest herein without the prior written consent of the Lenders except as permitted by Section 7.04.

 

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10.19 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), each of the Borrower and Holdings acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges and agrees that it has informed its other Affiliates, that: (i) (A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent and the Arranger are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Borrower, Holdings and their respective Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Arranger, on the other hand, (B) each of the Borrower and Holdings has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) each of the Borrower and Holdings is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii) (A) the Administrative Agent and the Arranger each is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Borrower, Holdings or any of their respective Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) neither the Administrative Agent nor the Arranger has any obligation to the Borrower, Holdings or any of their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the Administrative Agent and the Arranger and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower, Holdings and their respective Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent nor the Arranger has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower, Holdings or any of their respective Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by law, each of the Borrower and Holdings hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent and the Arranges with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

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

10.21 USA PATRIOT ACT. Each Lender that is subject to the PATRIOT Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “PATRIOT Act”), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each Loan Party, which information includes the name and address of each Loan Party and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify each Loan Party in accordance with the

 

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PATRIOT Act. The Borrower shall, promptly following a request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide all documentation and other information that the Administrative Agent or such Lender requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer” an anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the PATRIOT Act.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amended and Restated Credit Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

MICHAEL FOODS, INC.
By:  

 

Name:   Mark W. Westphal
Title:   Chief Financial Officer & Senior Vice President
M-FOODS HOLDINGS, INC.
By:  

 

Name:   Mark W. Westphal
Title:   Chief Financial Officer


BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent

By:  

 

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

as a Lender, L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender

By:  

 

Name:  

 

Title:  

 


[                                             •                                             ],
as a Lender

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 


[SCHEDULES CIRCULATED SEPARATELY]