EX-4.2 3 dex42.htm REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT Revolving Credit Agreement

Exhibit 4.2

Execution Copy

 

 

 

$115,000,000

REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

among

TEXAS PETROCHEMICALS LP,

and

THE OTHER BORROWERS NAMED HEREIN,

as Borrowers,

TEXAS PETROCHEMICALS LP,

as Funds Administrator,

VARIOUS LENDING INSTITUTIONS,

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS,

as Administrative Agent,

and

LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Collateral Agent,

 

 

with

LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Syndication Agent,

and

WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

and

WELLS FARGO FOOTHILL, LLC,

and

ALLIED IRISH BANK, PLC

as Co-Documentation Agents

Dated as of June 27, 2006

 

 

 

Arranged by

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC. ,

and

LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Book Runners


Table of Contents

 

         Page

ARTICLE I

  

DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

   1
        1.1      Definitions    1
        1.2      Accounting Terms; Pro Forma Calculations; Financial Statements.    46

ARTICLE II

  

LOANS

   47
        2.1      Commitments; Delivery of Notes    47
        2.2      Borrowing Mechanics; Interim Advances.    47
        2.3      Settlements Among the Administrative Agent and the Lenders.    50
        2.4      Mandatory Payment; Mandatory Reduction of Commitments.    51
        2.5      Payments and Computations.    53
        2.6      Maintenance of Account    54
        2.7      Statement of Account    55
        2.8      Net Payments.    55
        2.9      Sharing of Payments    56
        2.10    Increase in Commitments    57

ARTICLE III

  

LETTERS OF CREDIT

   59
        3.1      Issuance of Letters of Credit    59
        3.2      Procedure for Issuance    60
        3.3      Terms of Letters of Credit    61
        3.4      Lenders’ Participation    61
        3.5      Maturity of Drawings; Interest Thereon    62
        3.6      Payment of Amounts Drawn Under Letters of Credit; Funding of L/C Participations    62
        3.7      Nature of Issuing Bank’s Duties    63
        3.8      Obligations Absolute    64
        3.9      Outstanding Letter of Credit    65

ARTICLE IV

    

INTEREST, FEES AND EXPENSES

   65
        4.1      Interest on Eurocurrency Loans    65
        4.2      Interest on Base Rate Loans    65
        4.3      Notice of Continuation and Notice of Conversion.    66
        4.4      Computation of Interest and Fees    68
        4.5      Interest Periods    68
        4.6      Interest After Event of Default    68
        4.7      Unused Line Fees    69
        4.8      Letter of Credit Fees    69
        4.9      Intentionally Omitted.    69
        4.10    Authorization to Charge Borrowers’ Accounts    69
        4.11    Compensation for Funding Losses    70
        4.12    Increased Costs, Illegality, Etc.    71
        4.13    Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Affected Lenders.    72

ARTICLE V

    

CONDITIONS OF CREDIT

   73
        5.1      Conditions Precedent to the Initial Borrowing    73
        5.2      Conditions to Each Credit Event    81

 

i


Table of Contents

(continued)

 

          Page

ARTICLE VI

     

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

   81
        6.1      Corporate Status    81
        6.2      Corporate Power and Authority    82
        6.3      No Violation    82
        6.4      Governmental Approvals    82
        6.5      Financial Statements; Financial Condition; Undisclosed Liabilities Projections; etc.    83
        6.6      Litigation and Judgments    84
        6.7      True and Complete Disclosure    84
        6.8      Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations.    84
        6.9      Taxes.    85
        6.10    Compliance With ERISA; Foreign Pension Plans    85
        6.11    Security Documents.    86
        6.12    The Transaction    87
        6.13    Ownership of Property    88
        6.14    Capitalization of Company    89
        6.15    Subsidiaries.    89
        6.16    Compliance With Law, Etc    90
        6.17    Investment Company Act    90
        6.18    Certain Fees    90
        6.19    Environmental Matters    90
        6.20    Labor Relations    91
        6.21    Intellectual Property, Licenses, Franchises and Formulas    91
        6.22    Anti-Terrorism Laws    92
        6.23    Locations of Offices, Records and Inventory    93
        6.24    Deposit Accounts and Investment Accounts    93
        6.25    Status of Accounts    93

ARTICLE VII

     

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

   94
        7.1      Financial Statements    94
        7.2      Certificates; Other Information    95
        7.3      Notices    96
        7.4      Conduct of Business and Maintenance of Existence; Compliance with Laws    98
        7.5      Payment of Obligations    98
        7.6      Inspection of Property, Books and Records.    98
        7.7      ERISA; Foreign Pension Plan    99
        7.8      Maintenance of Property, Insurance    101
        7.9      Environmental Laws    102
        7.10    Use of Proceeds    102
        7.11    Additional Security; Further Assurances.    102
        7.12    Annual Meetings with Lenders    104
        7.13    Interest Rate Protection    105
        7.14    Certain Collateral.    105

 

ii


Table of Contents

(continued)

 

         Page

ARTICLE VIII

    

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

   106
        8.1      Liens    106
        8.2      Indebtedness and Disqualified Stock    107
        8.3      Fundamental Changes    108
        8.4      Asset Sales    109
        8.5      Restricted Payments    110
        8.6      Issuance of Subsidiary Stock    111
        8.7      Loans, Investment and Acquisitions    112
        8.8     Transactions with Affiliates    113
        8.9      Intentionally Omitted.    114
        8.10    Lines of Business    114
        8.11    Fiscal Year    114
        8.12    Limitation on Voluntary Payments and Modifications of Indebtedness; Modifications of Certificate of                    Incorporation, By-Laws and Certain Other Agreements; Certain Derivative Transactions; etc    114
        8.13    Limitation on Certain Restrictions    115
        8.14    New Accounts    116
        8.15    No Excess Cash    116
        8.16    New Collateral Locations    116
        8.17    Receivables Financing Programs    116

ARTICLE IX

    

FINANCIAL COVENANTS

  

116

        9.1      Minimum Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio    116

ARTICLE X

    

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

  

117

        10.1      Events of Default    117
        10.2      Rights Not Exclusive    120

ARTICLE XI

    

THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

  

121

        11.1      Appointment

  

121

        11.2      Nature of Duties

  

121

        11.3      Exculpation, Rights Etc

  

121

        11.4      Reliance

  

122

        11.5      Indemnification

  

122

        11.6      Administrative Agent In Its Individual Capacity

  

122

        11.7      Notice of Default

  

123

        11.8      Holders of Obligations

  

123

        11.9      Resignation by Administrative Agent

  

123

        11.10    The Joint Lead Arrangers, Joint Book Runners and Collateral Agent

  

123

 

iii


Table of Contents

(continued)

 

          Page

ARTICLE XII

MISCELLANEOUS

   124

        12.1      No Waiver; Modifications in Writing.

   124

        12.2      Further Assurances

   125

        12.3      Notices, Etc

   125

        12.4      Costs and Expenses; Indemnification.

   126

        12.5      Confirmations

   129

        12.6      Adjustment; Setoff.

   129

        12.7      Execution in Counterparts; Electronic Execution; Effectiveness.

   130

        12.8      Binding Effect; Assignment; Addition and Substitution of Lenders.

   131

        12.9      Defaulting Lender.

   133

        12.10    CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; MUTUAL WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.

   134

        12.11    Severability of Provisions

   135

        12.12    Transfers of Notes

   135

        12.13    Registry

   136

        12.14    Headings

   136

        12.15    Termination of Agreement

   136

        12.16    Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality

   137

        12.17    Concerning the Collateral and the Loan Documents.

   137

        12.18    Joint and Several Liability of Borrowers.

   139

        12.19    USA Patriot Act

   141

 

iv


INDEX OF SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS

 

    

Annexes

Annex I   

Lenders; Commitments; Lending Offices

    

Exhibits

Exhibit 2.1(b)   

Form of Note

Exhibit 2.2(a)(i)   

Form of Notice of Borrowing

Exhibit 2.8(d)(i)   

Form of Section 2.8(d)(i) Certificate

Exhibit 3.2(a)   

Form of Letter of Credit Request

Exhibit 4.3(a)   

Form of Notice of Continuation

Exhibit 4.3(b)   

Form of Notice of Conversion

Exhibit 5.1(a)(ii)   

Form of Subsidiary Guaranty

Exhibit 5.1(a)(iii)   

Form of Security Agreement

Exhibit 5.12(b)(i)   

Form of Perfection Certificate

Exhibit 5.1(f)(iv)   

Form of Intercreditor Agreement

Exhibit 7.1(d)   

Form of Leverage Certificate

Exhibit 7.2(a)   

Form of Compliance Certificate

Exhibit 7.2(g)   

Form of Borrowing Base Certificate

Exhibit 12.8(c)   

Form of Assignment and Assumption Agreement

    

Schedules

Schedule 1.1(a)   

Business and Collateral Locations

Schedule 1.1(b)   

Consolidated EBITDA

Schedule 1.1(c)   

Permitted Subordinated Debt Provisions

Schedule 3.9   

Letter of Credit Outstanding on the Closing Date

Schedule 6.5(a)   

Pro Forma Balance Sheet

Schedule 6.5(d)   

Projections

Schedule 6.10   

ERISA; Foreign Pension Plans

Schedule 6.11(c)   

Owned and Leased Real Property

Schedule 6.14   

Capitalization of Company

Schedule 6.15   

Subsidiaries

Schedule 6.24   

Accounts

Schedule 7.8   

Insurance

Schedule 8.1(c)   

Existing Liens

Schedule 8.2(j)   

Indebtedness to Remain Outstanding

Schedule 8.7   

Existing Investments and Acquisitions

Schedule 12.3   

Notice Addresses.

 

v


REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

THIS REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT is dated as of June 27, 2006 and is made by and among Texas Petrochemicals LP, a Texas limited partnership (“Company”), Texas Butylene Chemical Corporation, a Texas corporation (“Texas Butylene” and together with the Company, the “Borrowers” with the Company acting in its capacity as Funds Administrator for the Borrowers), the undersigned financial institutions, including Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, in their capacities as lenders hereunder (collectively, the “Lenders,” and each individually, a “Lender”), Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as administrative agent (“Administrative Agent”) for the Lenders, and LaSalle Bank National Association, as Collateral Agent (as defined herein).

W  I  T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, the Borrowers have requested that the Lenders make revolving loans to and issue letters of credit for the account of the Borrowers in the aggregate principal amount of up to $115.0 million maturing on June 27, 2011;

WHEREAS, the proceeds of the revolving loans and letters of credit described above will be used by Company to finance in part the acquisition by Company of the Butadiene/MTBE business (the “Acquired Business”) of Huntsman Petrochemical Corporation and Huntsman Fuels, LP (the “Huntsman Acquisition”), to pay related fees and expenses in connection therewith (collectively, together with the incurrence of the Term Loan Credit Facility (as defined herein), the “Transaction”) and for ongoing working capital and general corporate purposes;

WHEREAS, the Lenders are willing to extend commitments to make the revolving credit loans to and issue letters of credit for the account of the Borrowers for the purposes specified above and only on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual covenants herein contained and, among other things, (i) the assignment of and the grant of a security interest in the Collateral by the Borrowers and their Material Domestic Subsidiaries in favor of Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders pursuant to the Security Agreement and (ii) the granting of mortgages by the Borrowers and their Material Domestic Subsidiaries in the Mortgaged Property pursuant to the Mortgages, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

1.1 Definitions. As used herein, and unless the context requires a different meaning, the following terms have the meanings indicated:

Accounts” shall mean, with respect to any Person, all of such Person’s accounts, whether existing now or in the future, including, without limitation, (a) all accounts receivable, (b) all unpaid seller’s rights of such Person (including rescission, replevin, reclamation and stoppage in transit) relating to the foregoing or arising therefrom, (c) all rights of such Person to


any goods represented by any of the foregoing, including returned or repossessed goods, (d) all reserves and credit balances held by such Person with respect to any such accounts receivable or account debtors and (e) all Guarantees or collateral for any of the foregoing.

Acquisition” means any transaction or series of transactions by which a Person acquires (a) all or substantially all of a business or business unit conducted by another Person whether through purchase of assets, merger, consolidation or otherwise, or (b) greater than 50% of the Voting Stock of another Person.

Additional Collateral” shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 7.11(c).

Additional Commitment Lender” shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 2.10(a).

Additional Security Documents” means all mortgages, pledge agreements, security agreements and other security documents entered into pursuant to Section 7.11 with respect to Additional Collateral, in each case, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Administrative Agent” has the meaning assigned to that term in the introduction to this Agreement and any successor Administrative Agent in such capacity.

Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any Person or group acting in concert in respect of the Person in question that, directly or indirectly, controls (including but not limited to all directors, officers and partners of such Person) or is controlled by or is under common control with such Person provided that neither DB nor any Affiliate of DB shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of any Credit Party. For the purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person or group of Persons, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of Voting Stock or by contract or otherwise. A Person shall be deemed to control another Person if such first Person has knowledge that it possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to vote 10% or more of the Voting Stock of such other Person.

Agreement” means this Revolving Credit Agreement, as the same may at any time be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified in accordance with the terms hereof and in effect.

Applicable Lending Office” shall mean, with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s Eurocurrency Lending Office in the case of a Eurocurrency Loan, and such Lender’s Domestic Lending Office in the case of a Base Rate Loan.

Applicable Margin” shall mean, at any time with respect to any Eurocurrency Loan, 1.50% per annum, and at any time with respect to any Base Rate Loan, 0.50% per annum, provided that during any Applicable Margin Period, the Applicable Margin with respect to Eurocurrency Loans and Base Rate Loans, respectively, shall be a percentage per annum equal to

 

- 2 -


the applicable percentage per annum set forth below opposite the Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recently completed Test Period prior to such Applicable Margin Period:

 

     

Leverage Ratio

   Applicable Margin  
      Base
Rate Loan
    Eurocurrency
Loans
 
Level I    Greater than 3.00 to 1.00    0.75   1.75
Level II    Equal to or less than 3.00 to 1.00 but greater than 2.00 to 1.00    0.50   1.50
Level III    Equal to or less than 2.00 to 1.00    0.25   1.25

provided, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Borrowers shall fail to deliver the financial statements and Compliance Certificate that are required to be delivered pursuant to Sections 7.1(b) and 7.2(a) or the Leverage Certificate that is required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7.2(a), from the date which is three Business Days after the date on which such financial statements, Compliance Certificate or Leverage Certificate were so required to be delivered until the date of actual delivery thereof, the Applicable Margin shall be a percentage per annum equal to the applicable percentage amount set forth above with respect to Level I. If an Unmatured Event of Default or an Event of Default shall exist at the time any reduction in the Applicable Margin is to be implemented, that reduction shall be deferred until the date on which such Unmatured Event of Default or Event of Default is cured or waived.

Applicable Margin Period” shall mean each period which shall commence on the first Business Day (each such day, a “Start Date”) following delivery of the financial statements and Compliance Certificate pursuant to Sections 7.1(b) and 7.2(a) relating to the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter (or the Leverage Certificate pursuant to Section 7.1(d), as applicable). The Applicable Margin Period shall end, in each case, on the earlier of (i) the day immediately preceding the Start Date of the next Applicable Margin Period or (ii) the Expiration Date; provided that the first Applicable Margin Period shall commence on the first Business Day following the delivery of the financial statements and compliance certificate in respect of the Fiscal Quarter ending on December 31, 2006.

Approved Secured Derivative Transaction Liabilities” shall mean, with respect to any Lender, Liabilities of the Borrowers to such Lender or any Affiliate of such Lender in respect of one or more Derivative Transactions permitted pursuant to Sections 8.2(g) or 8.2(h) which are secured by the Collateral, provided, that, prior to entering into any such Derivative Transaction, (a) Company shall have delivered written notice thereof to the Administrative Agent stating, subject to the following proviso, (i) the maximum amount of the Borrowers’ Liabilities in respect thereof which are to be secured by the Collateral and (ii) the aggregate value of cash or short-term investments subject to Liens which secure any of the obligations described in clause (xii) of the definition of “Customary Permitted Liens” and (b) such Lender shall have received written notice from the Administrative Agent confirming such amounts;

 

- 3 -


provided, further, that, in no event shall the sum of (a) the aggregate Liabilities of the Borrowers in respect of Derivative Transactions with Lenders or any Affiliates of such Lenders which constitute “Secured Obligations” (as such term is defined in the Security Agreement) and (b) the aggregate value of short-term investments and cash subject to Liens which secure obligations described in clause (xii) of the definition of Customary Permitted Liens be greater than $20.0 million. Unless otherwise expressly provided to the contrary, the amount of the obligations of any Credit Party in respect of a Derivative Transaction shall be calculated by reference to the mark to market termination value of the relevant Derivative Transaction as of the last day of the preceding month or as of the day most recently requested by the Administrative Agent.

Asset Disposition” means (a) the sale, lease, sublease, conveyance or other disposition of any assets of any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; and (b) the issuance of Capital Stock by any of the Borrowers’ Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the preceding, none of the following items will be deemed to be an Asset Disposition:

(1) any single transaction or series of related transactions that involves assets with a Fair Market Value equal to or less than $5,000,000;

(2) a transfer of assets between or among the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries;

(3) an issuance of Capital Stock by a Subsidiary to a Borrower or to a Subsidiary of any Borrower;

(4) in the ordinary course of business the sale, lease or other disposition of products, services, Inventory or Accounts Receivable other than pursuant to a securitization or financing program;

(5) sale, lease or other disposition of any assets which, in the reasonable judgment of such Person, are obsolete, worn out or otherwise no longer useful in the conduct of such Person’s business;

(6) the sale or other disposition of cash or Cash Equivalents;

(7) a Restricted Payment that is permitted by the provisions of Section 8.5 or an Investment that is permitted by the provisions of Section 8.7;

(8) a disposition resulting from any condemnation or other taking, or temporary or permanent requisition of, any property, any interest therein or right appurtenant thereto, or any change of grade affecting any property, in each case, as the result of the exercise of any right of condemnation or eminent domain, including any sale or other transfer to a Governmental Authority in lieu of, or in anticipation of, any of the foregoing events; provided that, if such disposition involves assets with Fair Market Value in excess of $5,000,000, any Net Sale Proceeds received in connection therewith shall be treated as Net Sale Proceeds of an Asset Disposition for purposes of Section 2.4;

 

- 4 -


(9) disposition of assets in connection with a foreclosure, transfer or deed in lieu of foreclosure or other exercise of remedial action by the Borrowers or their Subsidiaries; and

(10) Sale and Leaseback Transactions resulting in Attributable Debt permitted pursuant to Section 8.2(f).

Assignee” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 12.8(c).

Assignment and Assumption Agreement” means an Assignment and Assumption Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit 12.8(c) annexed hereto and made a part hereof made by any applicable Lender, as assignor, and such Lender’s assignee in accordance with Section 12.8.

Attorney Costs” means all reasonable fees and disbursements of any law firm or other external counsel and the reasonable allocated cost of internal legal services, including all reasonable disbursements of internal counsel.

Attributable Debt” means as of the date of determination thereof, without duplication, (i) the net present value (discounted in accordance with GAAP at the cost of debt implied in the lease) of the obligations of the lessee for net rental payments during the then remaining term of any lease related to a Sale and Leaseback Transaction that does not result in a Capitalized Lease Obligation, and (ii) the principal balance outstanding under any synthetic lease, tax retention operating lease, off-balance sheet loan or similar off-balance sheet financing product to which such Person is a party, where such transaction is considered borrowed money indebtedness for tax purposes but is classified as an operating lease in accordance with GAAP.

Availability” means the result of (a) the lesser of (i) the Borrowing Base and (ii) the Line of Credit minus (b) Total Exposure.

Bailee Letter” means a letter in favor of Administrative Agent and the Lenders which is executed by each bailee, warehouseman or consignee which may now or in the future hold any Collateral in its possession, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent.

Bankruptcy Code” means Title I of the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978, as amended, as set forth in Title 11 of the United States Code, as hereafter amended.

Bankruptcy Default” shall mean an Unmatured Event of Default which is such by virtue of Section 10.1(f).

Base Rate” means the greater of (i) the rate most recently announced by DB at its principal office as its “prime rate”, which is not necessarily the lowest rate made available by DB or (ii) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1% per annum. The “prime rate” announced by DB is evidenced by the recording thereof after its announcement in such internal publication or publications as DB may designate. Any change in the interest rate resulting from a change in such “prime rate” announced by DB shall become effective without prior notice to Company as of 12:01 a.m. (New York City time) on the Business Day on which each change in such “prime rate” is announced by DB. DB may make commercial or other loans to others at rates of interest at, above or below its “prime rate”.

 

- 5 -


Base Rate Loan” means any Loan which bears interest at a rate determined with reference to the Base Rate.

Benefited Lender” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 12.6(a).

Board” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

Board of Directors” means:

(1) with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of the corporation or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such board;

(2) with respect to a partnership, the Board of Directors of the general partner of the partnership;

(3) with respect to a limited liability company, the managing member or members or any controlling committee of managing members or board of directors thereof; and

(4) with respect to any other Person, the board or committee of such Person serving a similar function.

Borrower” and “Borrowers” shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the preamble to this Agreement.

Borrower’s Account” and “Borrowers’ Accounts” shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in Section 2.6.

Borrowing” means a group of Loans of a single Type made by the Lenders, as appropriate on a single date (or resulting from a conversion on such date) and in the case of Eurocurrency Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect, provided that Base Rate Loans or Eurocurrency Loans incurred pursuant to Section 4.13 shall be considered part of any related Borrowing of Eurocurrency Loans.

Borrowing Base” shall mean:

(a) Subject to clause (b) below, at any time, the amount equal at such time to:

(i) eighty-five percent (85%) of the Value of Eligible Accounts Receivable of each Borrower, plus

(ii) the lesser of seventy percent (65%) of the Value of Eligible Inventory of each Borrower and eighty-five percent (85%) of the Net Orderly Liquidation Value of Eligible Inventory of each Borrower; minus

 

- 6 -


(iii) the net amount of all Approved Secured Derivative Transaction Liabilities (if greater than zero); minus

(iv) the amount of any reserves established by the Administrative Agent pursuant to clause (b) below.

(b) The Administrative Agent at any time in the exercise of its Permitted Discretion shall be entitled to (i) establish and increase or decrease reserves against Eligible Accounts Receivable and Eligible Inventory, (ii) impose additional restrictions (or eliminate any such additional restrictions) to the standards of eligibility set forth in the respective definitions of “Eligible Accounts Receivable” and “Eligible Inventory” and (iii) establish and increase or decrease a reserve in the amount of interest payable by the Borrowers hereunder, including interest on Loans and drawings under Letters of Credit, provided, that such reserve shall not at any time exceed the aggregate of accrued but unpaid interest at such time. Promptly after determining that any action under this clause (b) is necessary or desirable, the Administrative Agent shall use its reasonable best efforts to consult with the Funds Administrator as to the need to take such action, it being understood that Administrative Agent’s failure to consult shall not in any way restrict the Administrative Agent from taking such action or impose any liability on the Administrative Agent as a consequence of such failure.

Borrowing Base Certificate” shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 7.2(g).

Business Day” means as it relates to any payment, determination, funding or notice to be made or given to or from Administrative Agent, a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to close; provided, however, that when used in connection with a Eurocurrency Loan, the term “Business Day” shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open for dealings in dollar deposits in the London interbank market.

Capital Expenditures” means, without duplication, with respect to any Person, any amounts expended during or in respect of a period for any purchase or other acquisition for value of any asset that should be classified on a consolidated balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP as a fixed or capital asset, including, without limitation, the direct or indirect acquisition of such assets or improvements by way of increased product or service charges, offset items or otherwise, and shall include Capitalized Leases, but shall exclude any Capital Expenditures arising as part of a Permitted Acquisition. For purposes of this definition, the purchase price of equipment that is purchased simultaneously with the trade-in of existing equipment or with insurance or proceeds of any condemnation shall be included in Capital Expenditures only to the extent of the gross amount of such purchase price, less the credit granted by the seller of such equipment for the equipment being traded in at such time or the amount of such insurance or proceeds of any condemnation, as the case may be.

Capital Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights in or other equivalents (however designated) of such Person’s capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests or other equivalent interests and any rights (other than debt securities convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock), warrants or options exchangeable for or convertible into such capital stock or other equity interests.

 

- 7 -


Capitalized Lease” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, any lease of property, real or personal, in respect of which the present value of the minimum rental commitment is capitalized on the balance sheet of the lessee in accordance with GAAP.

Capitalized Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a Capitalized Lease which would at such time be so required to be capitalized on the balance sheet of the lessee in accordance with GAAP, and the stated maturity thereof shall be the date of the last payment of rent or any other amount due under such lease prior to the first date upon which such lease may be prepaid by the lessee without payment of a penalty.

Cash” means money, currency or the available credit balance in Dollars, Canadian Dollars, Euros or another currency that is at such time freely transferable and freely convertible into Dollars.

Cash Equivalents” means (i) any evidence of indebtedness, maturing not more than one year after the date of issue, issued by the United States of America or any instrumentality or agency thereof, the principal, interest and premium, if any, of which is guaranteed fully by, or backed by the full faith and credit of, the United States of America, (ii) Dollar, Canadian Dollar or Euro denominated (or other foreign currency fully hedged) time deposits, certificates of deposit and bankers acceptances maturing not more than one year after the date of purchase, issued by (x) any Lender or (y) a commercial banking institution having, or which is the principal banking subsidiary of a bank holding company having, combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $200,000,000 and a commercial paper rating of “P-1” (or higher) according to Moody’s “A-1” (or higher) according to S&P or the equivalent rating by any other nationally recognized rating agency in the United States (any such bank, an “Approved Bank”), or (z) a non-United States commercial banking institution which is either currently ranked among the 100 largest banks in the world (by assets, according to the American Banker), has combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000 or whose commercial paper (or the commercial paper of such bank’s holding company) has a rating of “P-1” (or higher) according to Moody’s, “A-1” (or higher) according to S&P or the equivalent rating by any other nationally recognized rating agency, (iii) commercial paper, maturing not more than one year after the date of purchase, issued or guaranteed by a corporation (other than Company or any Subsidiary of Company or any of their respective Affiliates) organized and existing under the laws of any state within the United States of America with a rating, at the time as of which any determination thereof is to be made, of “P-1” (or higher) according to Moody’s, or “A-1” (or higher) according to S&P, (iv) demand deposits with any bank or trust company maintained in the ordinary course of business, (v) repurchase or reverse repurchase agreements covering obligations of the type specified in clause (i) with a term of not more than seven days with any Approved Bank and (vi) shares of any money market mutual fund rated at least AAA or the equivalent thereof by S&P or at least Aaa or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s, including, without limitation, any money market mutual fund managed or advised by any Lender or Administrative Agent.

 

- 8 -


Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority.

Change of Control” means (i) the sale, lease or transfer of all or substantially all of Company’s or Holdings GP’s assets to any Person or group (as such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), (ii) the liquidation or dissolution of Holdings GP, (iii) any person or group of persons (within the meaning of the Exchange Act), shall have acquired beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act) of more than 50% of the issued and outstanding Voting Stock of Holdings GP, (iv) Company shall cease to be a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Holdings GP, (v) during any period of twenty-four consecutive calendar months, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted Holdings GP’s Board of Directors (together with any new directors whose election by Holdings GP’s Board of Directors or whose nomination for election by Holdings GP’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of such period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved cease for any reason other than death or disability to constitute a majority of the directors then in office, (vi) any “Change of Control” (as such term is defined in any Permitted Junior Debt Document or the Term Loan Credit Facility) or (vii) any “Change of Control” as defined in any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 8.2(l) to the extent such event causes the holder to demand payment or causes any Credit Party to be obligated to make any payment with respect thereto. For purposes of this definition, no combination of members of the Control Group shall be deemed a “group of persons” so long as no single member of such Control Group has beneficial ownership, together with its Affiliates, of more than 50% of the issued and outstanding Voting Stock of Holdings GP.

Closing Date” means June 27, 2006.

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as from time to time amended, including the regulations proposed or promulgated thereunder, or any successor statute and the regulations proposed or promulgated thereunder.

Collateral” means all “Collateral” as defined in each of the Security Documents and all other assets of each Credit Party pledged pursuant to any Security Document.

Collateral Agent” means LaSalle and any successor Collateral Agent in such capacity.

Commercial Letter of Credit” means any letter of credit or similar instrument issued for the account of a Borrower pursuant to this Agreement for the purpose of supporting trade obligations of a Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.

Commitment” of any Lender shall mean the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Annex I, under the heading “Commitment,” as such amount may be reduced from time to time or terminated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

- 9 -


Commitment Increase” shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 2.10(a).

Commitment Increase Date” shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 2.10(c).

Company” has the meaning assigned to that term in the introduction to this Agreement.

Compliance Certificate” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 7.2(a).

Concentration Account Bank” shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 2.5(b)(ii).

Consolidated Assets” means, for any Person, the total assets of such Person and its Subsidiaries, as determined from a consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its consolidated Subsidiaries prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Capital Expenditures” means, for any Person, for any period, the aggregate of all Capital Expenditures by such Person and its Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP during that period.

Consolidated Cash Interest Expense” means, for any Person, for any period, Consolidated Interest Expense of such Person and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, but excluding, however, interest expense not payable in cash, amortization of discount and deferred financing costs.

Consolidated Debt” means, for any Person, as at the time any determination thereof is to be made and without duplication, (i) all Indebtedness of such Person and its Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis to the extent classified on a balance sheet of such Person and its Subsidiaries as liabilities in accordance with GAAP (and in any event, but without duplication, including Disqualified Stock but excluding (a) Indebtedness related to Permitted Preferred Stock and Ordinary Equity Interests to the extent such amount is characterized as debt due to SFAS 150 and (b) the mark-to-market exposure in respect of Interest Rate Agreements and Other Hedging Agreements) plus (ii) all Attributable Debt of such Person and its Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis.

Consolidated EBITDA” means, for any Person, for any period, the sum of the amounts for such period, without duplication, of:

 

 

(i)

 

Consolidated Net Income,

plus

 

(ii)

 

to the extent deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income the sum of:

   

(a)    Consolidated Interest Expense,

 

plus

 

(b)    charges against income for foreign, federal, state and local taxes in each case based on income and for franchise taxes,

 

- 10 -


 

plus

 

(c)    depreciation expense,

 

plus

 

(d)    amortization expense, including, without limitation, amortization of good will and other intangible assets, fees, costs and expenses in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of any of the Transaction Documents and other fees, costs and expenses in connection with Acquisitions,

 

plus

 

(e)    write-off of deferred financing costs originally incurred in connection with Indebtedness being repaid on the Closing Date,

 

plus

 

(f)     non-cash charges resulting from any write-down of assets,

 

plus

 

(g)    non-cash, non-recurring charges, including non-cash impairment, abandonment and restructuring charges,

 

plus

 

(h)    non-cash expenses for Capital Stock-based compensation related to Capital Stock-based compensation plans that do not represent a cash item in any future period,

minus

 

(iii)

 

to the extent added in computing Consolidated Net Income the sum of

   

(a)    non-cash nonrecurring after-tax gains (or minus non-cash nonrecurring after-tax losses)

 

plus

 

(b)    any gain resulting from any write-up of assets (other than with respect to any company owned life insurance program);

in each case calculated on a consolidated basis for the applicable period in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, if any non-cash charge or loss added back in determining Consolidated EBITDA required a reserve or accrual for a potential future cash expenditure, Consolidated EBITDA shall be decreased by the amount of any such cash expenditure in the period such expenditure is made; and provided further that notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of calculating the Leverage Ratio and any other financial tests hereunder from time to time, Consolidated EBITDA for the Fiscal Quarters ended September 30, 2005, December 31, 2005, March 31, 2006 and June 30, 2006 shall be deemed to equal the amounts set forth on Schedule 1.1(b).

Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, for any Test Period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDA of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such Test Period, to (b) the sum of the following, in each case of the Company and its Subsidiaries, as determined without duplication in accordance with GAAP for such period, (i) net cash payments with respect to income taxes and Restricted Payments paid pursuant to Section 8.5(e), (ii) Consolidated Interest Expense, (iii) Capital Expenditures (except for Capital Expenditures financed with the proceeds of Indebtedness other than the Loans), (iv) scheduled payments of principal on Indebtedness (other than repayments in the ordinary course of the Loans which do not permanently reduce the Total Commitments) and (v) Restricted Payments paid in cash during such Test Period except to the extent such payments reduce Consolidated EBITDA for such period.

 

- 11 -


Consolidated Interest Expense” means, for any Person, for any period, the sum of total interest expense (including that attributable to Capitalized Leases in accordance with GAAP) of such Person and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis with respect to all outstanding Indebtedness of such Person and its Subsidiaries, including, without limitation, all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing, but excluding any amortization of deferred financing costs, all as determined on a consolidated basis for such Person and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, in each case after taking into account the positive or negative effect of any Interest Rate Agreements, plus the interest component of any lease payments under Attributable Debt transactions of such Person and its Subsidiaries, in each case on a consolidated basis.

Consolidated Net Income” means, for any Person, for any period, the aggregate of the net income (loss) of such Person for such period, determined in accordance with GAAP on a consolidated basis, provided that (i) there shall be excluded the income of any unconsolidated Subsidiary and any Person in which any other Person (other than Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any director holding qualifying shares in compliance with applicable law or any other third party holding a de minimus number of shares in order to comply with other similar requirements) has a joint interest, except to the extent of the amount of dividends or other distributions actually paid to Company or any of its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries by such Person during such period and (ii) the net income (loss) of any Person acquired in a pooling of interests transaction for any period prior to the date of such acquisition shall be excluded. There shall be excluded in computing Consolidated Net Income (i) any gain which must be treated as an extraordinary item under GAAP or any gain realized upon the sale or other disposition of any real property or equipment that is not sold in the ordinary course of business or of any Capital Stock of the Person or a Subsidiary of the Person and (ii) any loss which must be treated as an extraordinary item under GAAP or any loss realized upon the sale or other disposition of any real property or equipment that is not sold in the ordinary course of business or of any Capital Stock of the Person or a Subsidiary of the Person.

Contaminant” means any material with respect to which any Environmental Law imposes a duty, obligation or standard of conduct, including without limitation any pollutant, contaminant (as those terms are defined in 42 U.S.C. § 9601(33)), toxic pollutant (as that term is defined in 33 U.S.C. § 1362(13)), hazardous substance (as that term is defined in 42 U.S.C. § 9601(14)), hazardous chemical (as that term is defined by 29 CFR § 1910.1200(c)), hazardous waste (as that term is defined in 42 U.S.C. § 6903(5)), or any state, local or other equivalent of such laws and regulations, including, without limitation, radioactive material, special waste, polychlorinated biphenyls, asbestos, petroleum, including crude oil or any petroleum-derived substance, (or any fraction thereof), waste, or breakdown or decomposition product thereof, mold, bacteria or any constituent of any such substance or waste, including but not limited to polychlorinated biphenyls and asbestos.

Continuation” shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 4.3(a).

 

- 12 -


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

Control Agreement” shall mean an agreement in writing, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent, by and among Administrative Agent, the applicable Credit Party and any financial institution, securities intermediary, commodity intermediary or other Person who has custody, control or possession of any receipts on Accounts, deposits or investment property of such Credit Party, pursuant to which such financial institution, securities intermediary, commodity intermediary or such other Person acknowledges that such financial institution, securities intermediary, commodity intermediary or other Person has custody, control or possession of such receipts, deposits or investment property on behalf of Administrative Agent, that it will comply with entitlement orders originated by Administrative Agent with respect to such receipts, deposits or investment property, or other instructions of Administrative Agent, or (as the case may be) apply any amounts distributed on account of such assets as directed by Administrative Agent, in each case, without the further consent of such Credit Party and including such other terms and conditions as Administrative Agent may reasonably require not inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement.

Control Group” means Mellon HBV Alternative Strategies, Ramius Capital Group, LLC and Castlerigg Master Investors, LTD.

Convert,” “Conversion” and “Converted” each shall refer to a conversion of Loans of one Type into Loans of another Type pursuant to Section 4.3.

Credit Event” means the making of any Loan or the issuance of any Letter of Credit.

Credit Party” means the Borrowers, each Subsidiary Guarantor and any other guarantor which may hereafter enter into a guarantee agreement with respect to the Obligations.

Customary Permitted Liens” means, for any Person:

(i) Liens for taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, assessments, charges, or withholding not yet due and payable or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently pursued, provided, that (A) any proceedings commenced for the enforcement of such Liens shall have been stayed or suspended within 60 days of the commencement thereof and (B) provision for the payment of all such taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, assessments, charges, or withholdings known to such Person has been made on the books of such Person to the extent required by GAAP;

(ii) mechanics’, processor’s, materialmen’s, carriers’, landlord’s warehousemen’s and similar Liens arising by operation of law and arising in the ordinary course of business, provided that (A) any proceedings commenced for the enforcement of such Liens shall have been stayed or suspended within 90 days of the commencement thereof and (B) provision for the payment of such Liens has been made on the books of such Person to the extent required by GAAP;

 

- 13 -


(iii) Liens arising in connection with worker’s compensation, unemployment insurance, pensions and social security benefits, provided, that (A) any proceedings commenced for the enforcement of such Liens shall have been stayed or suspended within 60 days of the commencement thereof and (B) provision for the payment of such Liens has been made on the books of such Person to the extent required by GAAP;

(iv) (A) Liens incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure the performance of bids, tenders, statutory obligations, fee and expense arrangements with trustees and fiscal agents (exclusive of obligations incurred in connection with the borrowing of money or the payment of the deferred purchase price of property) and customary deposits granted in the ordinary course of business under Operating Leases and (B) Liens securing surety, indemnity, performance, appeal and release bonds, provided that full provision for the payment of all such obligations has been made on the books of such Person to the extent required by GAAP;

(v) Permitted Real Property Encumbrances;

(vi) attachment, judgment or other similar Liens arising in connection with court or arbitration proceedings involving individually and in the aggregate liability which does not constitute an Event of Default under Section 10.1(i);

(vii) leases or subleases granted to others not interfering in any material respect with the business of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries and any interest or title of a lessor or sublessor under any lease or sublease permitted by this Agreement and the Security Documents;

(viii) Liens upon specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods;

(ix) Liens securing reimbursement obligations with respect to commercial letters of credit which encumber documents and other property relating to such letters of credit and products and proceeds thereof;

(x) customary rights of set off, revocation, refund or chargeback under deposit agreements or under the UCC (or comparable foreign law) of banks or other financial institutions where the Borrowers or their Subsidiaries maintain deposits permitted by this Agreement in the ordinary course of business;

(xi) Liens evidenced by the filing of precautionary UCC financing statements relating solely to operating leases or consignments of personal property entered into in the ordinary course of business to the extent such leases do not create Attributable Debt and are permitted under this Agreement;

 

- 14 -


(xii) Liens on cash and short-term investments (a) deposited by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in margin accounts with or on behalf of futures contract brokers or paid over to other counterparties or (b) pledged or deposited as collateral to a contract counterparty or issuer of surety bonds by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in the case of clause (a) or (b), to secure obligations with respect to (i) contracts for commercial and trading activities in the ordinary course of business and contracts (including without limitation, physical delivery, option (whether cash or financial), exchange, swap and futures contracts) for the purchase, transmission, distribution, sale, lease or hedge of any energy-related commodity, feed stock, or service or (ii) interest rate, commodity price, or currency rate management contracts or derivatives; provided that, the value of the short-term investments and cash subject to such Liens shall not, when aggregated with the outstanding amount of Approved Secured Derivative Transaction Liabilities, exceed $20.0 million;

(xiii) Liens arising by virtue of any statutory or common law provision relating to banker’s liens, rights of set off or similar rights, contractual rights of setoff or netting arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business and similar rights with respect to deposit accounts, commodity accounts and/or securities accounts;

(xiv) inchoate Liens arising under ERISA, provided that the existence of the liability associated with the event or the action or inaction that gave rise to any such Lien does not constitute an Event of Default under Section 10.1(j); and

(xv) Liens granted by a Person in favor of a commercial trading counterparty pursuant to a netting agreement, which Liens encumber rights under agreements that are subject to such netting agreement and which Liens secure such Person’s obligations to such counterparty under such netting agreement; provided, that any such agreements and netting agreements are entered into in the ordinary course of business; and provided, further, that the Liens are incurred in the ordinary course of business and when granted, do not secure obligations which are past due.

DB” means Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, a New York banking corporation, and its successors.

DB Loan Account” shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 2.5(c).

Debt Agreements” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 5.1(e).

Default Rate” means a variable rate per annum which shall be two percent (2%) per annum plus either (i) the then applicable interest rate hereunder in respect of the amount on which the Default Rate is being assessed or (ii) if there is no such applicable interest rate, the Base Rate plus the Applicable Base Rate Margin, but in no event in excess of that permitted by applicable law.

Defaulting Lender” shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 12.9(b).

 

- 15 -


Deposit Account” means a demand, time, savings, passbook or like account with a bank, savings and loan association, credit union, trust company or like organization, other than an account evidenced by a negotiable certificate of deposit or other instrument.

Derivative Transaction” shall mean a transaction entered into by Company or any of its Subsidiaries evidenced by (a) an Interest Rate Agreement or (b) an Other Hedging Agreement.

Disqualified Stock” means any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible, or for which it is exchangeable, in each case, at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is one year after the then latest maturity of any Term Loan. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the holders of the Capital Stock have the right to require Company to repurchase such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a change of control or an asset sale shall not constitute Disqualified Stock if the terms of such Capital Stock provide that Company may not repurchase or redeem any such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions unless such repurchase or redemption complies with the provisions of Section 8.5 hereof. The amount of Disqualified Stock deemed to be outstanding at any time for purposes of this Agreement shall be equal to the maximum amount that Company and its Subsidiaries may become obligated to pay upon the maturity of, or pursuant to any mandatory redemption provisions of, such Disqualified Stock.

Dividend” means any dividend or distribution paid or made by a Person to the direct or indirect holders of its Capital Stock on or in respect of such Capital Stock.

Documents” means the Loan Documents and the Transaction Documents.

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

Domestic Lending Office” shall mean, with respect to any Lender, the office of such Lender specified as its “Domestic Lending Office” opposite its name on Annex I, as such annex may be amended from time to time, or in the relevant Assignment and Assumption Agreement.

Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary other than a Foreign Subsidiary.

Eligible Assignee” means any Lender and any commercial bank, financial institution, financial company, Fund or insurance company, in each case, together with its Affiliates or Related Funds, which extends credit or buys loans in the ordinary course of its business or any other Person approved by the Administrative Agent and the Company, both such parties’ approval not to be unreasonably withheld.

Eligible Accounts Receivable” shall mean an Account owing to any Borrower which is acceptable to Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion, and shall exclude any such Account that Administrative Agent determined in its Permitted Discretion to be ineligible pursuant to the definition of “Borrowing Base”. Without limiting Administrative Agent’s discretion,

 

- 16 -


Administrative Agent shall, in general, consider an Account to be an Eligible Accounts Receivable if it meets, and so long as it continues to meet, the following requirements (and unless otherwise approved in writing by Administrative Agent, any Account that fails to meet such requirements shall not be an Eligible Account Receivable):

(i) it is genuine and in all respects what it purports to be;

(ii) it is owned by a Borrower, such Borrower has the right to subject it to a security interest in favor of Administrative Agent or assign it to Administrative Agent and it is subject to a first priority perfected security interest in favor of Administrative Agent and to no other claim, lien, security interest or encumbrance whatsoever, other than Permitted Liens;

(iii) it arises from (A) the performance of services by a Borrower in the ordinary course of such Borrower’s business, and such services have been fully performed and acknowledged and accepted by the account debtor thereunder; or (B) the sale or lease of goods by a Borrower in the ordinary course of such Borrower’s business, and (x) such goods have been completed in accordance with the account debtor’s specifications (if any) and delivered or shipped to the account debtor, (y) such account debtor has not refused to accept, returned or offered to return, any of the goods which are the subject of such Account, and (z) if applicable, such Borrower has possession of, or such Borrower has delivered to Administrative Agent (at Administrative Agent’s request) shipping and delivery receipts evidencing delivery of such goods;

(iv) it is evidenced by an invoice rendered to the account debtor thereunder (or the goods have been shipped and title passed prior to invoice, with an invoice to be rendered within 30 days thereafter and, in any event, no later than the 15th of the month following the month such goods have been shipped), that is due and payable within sixty (60) days after the date of the invoice and does not remain unpaid sixty (60) days past the due date thereof (forty-five (45) days past the date of the invoice in the case of an Account eligible pursuant to clause (x)(2) below); provided, however, that if more than fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate dollar amount of invoices owing by a particular account debtor remain unpaid sixty (60) days after the respective due dates thereof, then all Accounts owing by that account debtor shall be deemed ineligible;

(v) it is a valid, legally enforceable and unconditional obligation of the account debtor thereunder, and is not subject to setoff, counterclaim, credit, allowance or adjustment by such account debtor, or to any claim by such account debtor denying liability thereunder in whole or in part;

(vi) it does not arise out of a contract or order which fails in any material respect to comply with the requirements of applicable law;

 

- 17 -


(vii) the account debtor thereunder is not an Affiliate of a Credit Party;

(viii) it is not an Account with respect to which the account debtor is the United States of America or any state or local government, or any department, agency or instrumentality thereof, unless such Borrower assigns its right to payment of such Account to Administrative Agent pursuant to, and in full compliance with, the Assignment of Claims Act of 1940, as amended, or any comparable state or local law, as applicable;

(ix) it is not an Account with respect to which the account debtor is located in a state which requires such Borrower, as a precondition to commencing or maintaining an action in the courts of that state, either to (A) receive a certificate of authority to do business and be in good standing in such state; or (B) file a notice of business activities report or similar report with such state’s taxing authority, unless (x) such Borrower has taken one of the actions described in clauses (A) or (B); (y) the failure to take one of the actions described in either clause (A) or (B) may be cured retroactively by such Borrower at its election; or (z) such Borrower has proven, to Administrative Agent’s satisfaction, that it is exempt from any such requirements under any such state’s laws;

(x) the Account is payable in U.S. Dollars and the account debtor is located either (A) within the United States of America or Canada or (B) within a foreign country other than Canada and either (1) the Account is supported or secured by an irrevocable letter of credit which is in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent and issued by a financial institution acceptable to Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent has a first priority perfected security interest in such letter of credit and the related Letter-of-credit rights and Supporting obligations (each as defined in the UCC) or (2) the amount of such Account when aggregated with all other Accounts the account debtors of which are located within a foreign country other than Canada and which do not meet the requirements of clause (1) above does not exceed $5,000,000;

(xi) it is not an Account with respect to which the account debtor’s obligation to pay is subject to any repurchase obligation or return right, as with sales made on a bill-and-hold, guaranteed sale, sale on approval, sale or return or consignment basis;

(xii) it is not an Account (A) with respect to which any representation or warranty contained in this Agreement is untrue; or (B) which violates any of the covenants of the Borrowers contained in this Agreement;

(xiii) it is not an Account which, when aggregated with all other Accounts of such account debtor (and any Affiliate thereof), exceeds 20 percent (20%), in face value of all Accounts of the Borrowers combined then outstanding, to the extent of such excess; provided that Accounts insured in a manner satisfactory to

 

- 18 -


the Administrative Agent, guaranteed by a guarantor reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent or supported or secured by an irrevocable letter of credit in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and issued by a financial institution satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent has a first priority perfected security interest in such letter of credit and related Letter-of-Credit Rights and Supporting Obligations (each as defined in the UCC), shall be excluded for the purposes of such calculation to the extent of the face amount of such letter of credit or, in the case of insurance or guarantees, as determined by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion;

(xiv) it is not an account the account debtor of which has commenced a voluntary case under the federal bankruptcy laws, as now constituted or hereafter amended, or made an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or if a decree or order for relief has been entered by a court having jurisdiction over the account debtor in an involuntary case under the federal bankruptcy laws, as now constituted or hereafter amended, or if any other petition or other application for relief under the federal bankruptcy laws has been filed by or against the account debtor, or if the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion determined that such a filing may occur or if the account debtor has filed a certificate of dissolution under applicable state law or shall be liquidated, dissolved or wound-up, or shall authorize or commence any action or proceeding for dissolution, winding-up or liquidation, or if the account debtor has failed, suspended business, declared itself to be insolvent, is generally not paying its debts as they become due or has consented to or suffered a receiver, trustee, liquidator or custodian to be appointed for it or for all or a significant portion of its assets or affairs (any such act or event an “Act of Bankruptcy”), unless the payment of Accounts from such account debtor is secured by assets of, or guaranteed by, in either case in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, a Person with respect to which an Act of Bankruptcy has not occurred and that is acceptable to the Administrative Agent or, if the Account from such account debtor arises subsequent to a decree or order for relief with respect to such account debtor under the federal bankruptcy laws, as now or hereafter in effect, the Administrative Agent shall have determined that the timely payment and collection of such Account will not be impaired; and

(xv) the goods giving rise to such Account are not Eligible Inventory of a Borrower included in the same Borrowing Base calculation.

Eligible Inventory” shall mean Inventory of a Borrower which is acceptable to Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion and shall exclude any Inventory that Administrative Agent determines in its Permitted Discretion to be ineligible pursuant to the definition of “Borrowing Base”. Without limiting Administrative Agent’s discretion, Administrative Agent shall, in general, consider Inventory to be Eligible Inventory if it meets,

 

- 19 -


and so long as it continues to meet, the following requirements (and unless otherwise approved in writing by Administrative Agent any Inventory that fails to meet such requirements shall not be Eligible Inventory):

(i) it is owned by a Borrower, such Borrower has the right to subject it to a security interest in favor of Administrative Agent and it is subject to a first priority perfected security interest in favor of Administrative Agent and to no other claim, lien, security interest or encumbrance whatsoever, in each case other than Permitted Liens;

(ii) it is located on one of the premises listed on Schedule 1.1(a) to this Agreement (or other locations of which Administrative Agent has been advised in writing) and is not in transit (except for Inventory in transit from one of such locations listed on Schedule 1.1(a) to this Agreement (or of which Administrative Agent has been notified) to another location in the United States);

(iii) if held for sale or lease or furnishing under contracts of service, it is (except as Administrative Agent may otherwise consent in writing) new and unused and free from defects which would, in Administrative Agent’s Permitted Discretion, adversely affect its market value;

(iv) it is not stored with a bailee, consignee, warehouseman, processor or similar party unless such Borrower has caused any such bailee, consignee, warehouseman, processor or similar party to issue and deliver to Administrative Agent, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent, such Uniform Commercial Code financing statements, warehouse receipts, Bailee Waivers, Landlord Consents and other documents as Administrative Agent shall require or a 3 month reserve of rent or charges is maintained with respect thereto;

(v) Administrative Agent has determined, in accordance with Administrative Agent’s customary business practices, that it is not unacceptable due to age, type, category or quantity; and

(vi) it is not Inventory (A) with respect to which any of the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement are untrue; or (B) which violates any of the covenants of the Borrowers contained in this Agreement.

Environmental Claim” means any notice of violation, claim, suit, demand, abatement order or other order or direction (conditional or otherwise) by any Governmental Authority or any Person for any damage, personal injury (including sickness, disease or death), tangible or intangible property damage, contribution, cost recovery, or any other common law claims, indemnity, indirect or consequential damages, damage to the environment, nuisance, cost recovery, or any other common law claims, pollution, contamination or other adverse effects on the environment, human health, or natural resources, or for fines, penalties, restrictions or injunctive relief, resulting from or based upon (a) the occurrence or existence of a Release or substantial threat of a material Release (whether sudden or non-sudden or accidental or non-accidental) of, or exposure to, any Contaminants in, into or onto the environment at, in, by, from or related to the Premises, (b) the use, handling, generation, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of Contaminants in connection with the operation of any Premises, or (c) the violation, or alleged violation, of any Environmental Laws relating to environmental matters connected with the operations of Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any Premises.

 

- 20 -


Environmental Laws” means any and all applicable foreign, federal, state or local laws, statutes, ordinances, codes, rules, regulations, orders, decrees, judgments, directives, or Environmental Permits and cleanup or action standards, levels or objectives imposing liability or standards of conduct for or relating to the protection of health, safety or the environment, including, but not limited to, the following statutes as now written and hereafter amended: the Water Pollution Control Act, as codified in 33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq., the Clean Air Act, as codified in 42 U.S.C. § 7401 et seq., the Toxic Substances Control Act, as codified in 15 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq., the Solid Waste Disposal Act, as codified in 42 U.S.C. § 6901 et seq., the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, as codified in 42 U.S.C. § 9601 et seq., the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986, as codified in 42 U.S.C. § 11001 et seq., and the Safe Drinking Water Act, as codified in 42 U.S.C. § 300f et seq., and any related regulations, as well as all state and local equivalents.

Environmental Lien” means a Lien in favor of any Governmental Authority for (i) any liability under Environmental Laws, or licenses, authorizations, or directions of any Government Authority or court, or (ii) damages relating to, or costs incurred by such Governmental Authority in response to, a Release or threatened Release of a Contaminant into the environment.

Environmental Permits” means any and all permits, licenses, certificates, authorizations or approvals of any Governmental Authority required by Environmental Laws and necessary or reasonably required for the current operation of the business of Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

Environmental Studies” means those certain environmental assessments, and documents upon which such assessments are based, of certain of the Mortgaged Fee Properties, prepared by an environmental consulting firm reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent with regard to the existing and potential liability of any Credit Party under any Environmental Laws, including a review of compliance with Environmental Laws.

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as from time to time amended.

ERISA Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) which, together with such Person, is under common control as described in Section 414(c) of the Code, is a member of a “controlled group”, as defined in Section 414(b) of the Code, which includes such Person, or is treated as a single employer with such Person under Sections 414(m) or (o) of the Code. Unless otherwise qualified, all references to an “ERISA Affiliate” in this Agreement shall refer to an ERISA Affiliate of a Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries.

Eurocurrency Lending Office” shall mean, with respect to any Lender, the office of such Lender specified as its “Eurocurrency Lending Office” opposite its name on Annex I or in the relevant Assignment and Acceptance Agreement (or, if no such office is specified, its Domestic Lending Office), or such other office or Affiliate of such Lender as such Lender may from time to time specify to the Funds Administrator and the Administrative Agent.

 

- 21 -


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

Eurocurrency Rate” means the arithmetic average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/16th of 1%) of the rate per annum obtained by dividing (i) the offered quotation, if any, to first-class banks in the London interbank eurocurrency market by DB for Dollar deposits of amounts in immediately available funds comparable to the principal amount of the Eurocurrency Rate Loan to be made by DB with maturities comparable to the Interest Period for which the Eurocurrency Rate is being determined, as of approximately 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the Interest Rate Determination Date, by (ii) a percentage equal to 100% minus the stated maximum rate (expressed as a percentage) as prescribed by the Board of all reserve requirements (including, without limitation, any marginal, emergency, supplemental, special or other reserves and all reserves required to be maintained against “Eurocurrency liabilities” as specified in Regulation D (or any successor regulation)) applicable on the first day of such Interest Period to any member bank of the Federal Reserve System in respect of Eurocurrency funding or liabilities. The determination of the Eurocurrency Rate by Administrative Agent shall be conclusive and binding on Company absent manifest error.

Event of Default” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 10.1.

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and as codified in 15 U.S.C. 78a et seq., and as hereafter amended.

Excluded Taxes” means:

(i) taxes based upon, or measured by, the Lender’s or Administrative Agent’s (or a branch of the Lender’s or Administrative Agent’s) overall net income, overall net receipts, or overall net profits (including franchise taxes imposed in lieu of such taxes), but only to the extent such taxes are imposed by a Governmental Authority (A) in a jurisdiction in which such Lender or Administrative Agent is organized, (B) in a jurisdiction which the Lender’s or Administrative Agent’s principal office is located, or (C) in a jurisdiction in which such Lender’s or Administrative Agent’s lending office (or branch) in respect of which payments under this Agreement are made is located;

(ii) in the case of any Lender (other than a Lender that is an Assignee) or Administrative Agent that is a Non-U.S. Participant, taxes imposed by the means of withholding at the source except to the extent such withholding (A) results from a Change in Law by any Governmental Authority charged with the administration thereof subsequent to the Closing Date or (B) is imposed on payments with respect to a Lender’s interest in the Loan Documents acquired under Section 3.7 or Section 12.6;

(iii) in the case of any Assignee that is a Non-U.S. Participant, taxes imposed by means of withholding at the source except to the extent such withholding (A) results from a Change in Law by any Governmental Authority charged with the administration thereof

 

- 22 -


subsequent to the date of the Assignee becoming a party to this Agreement or any Loan Document with respect to the portion thereof affected by such change; (B) is imposed on payments with respect to an Assignee’s interest in the Loan Documents acquired under Section 4.13 or Section 12.6; or (C) would have been imposed on payments to the Lender that sold or otherwise transferred the interest to the Assignee at the time of such sale or transfer and such withholding taxes would not have been Excluded Taxes with respect to such Lender; and

(iv) taxes imposed on a Lender or Administrative Agent by means of withholding at the source to the extent such taxes would have not been imposed under applicable law if such Lender or Administrative Agent had complied with Section 2.8(d).

Existing Credit Agreement” means that certain Loan and Security Agreement dated as of May 6, 2004 by and among Company, LaSalle Business Credit, LLC, as agent, Congress Financial Corporation (Southwest), as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto, as amended, restated or otherwise modified.

Expenses” shall mean all present and future reasonable expenses incurred by or on behalf of the Administrative Agent, in its capacity as Administrative Agent, in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, whether incurred heretofore or hereafter, which expenses shall include, without being limited to, the cost of record searches, the reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys (including the allocated cost of internal counsel) and paralegals, all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent in opening bank accounts and lockboxes, depositing checks, receiving and transferring funds, and any reasonable charges imposed on the Administrative Agent due to insufficient funds of deposited checks and the Administrative Agent’s standard fee relating thereto, collateral examination fees and expenses, reasonable fees and expenses of accountants, appraisers, field examiners or other consultants, experts or advisors employed or retained by the Administrative Agent, reasonable fees and expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with the initial assignments of the Loans, fees and taxes relative to the filing of financing statements, costs of preparing and recording any other Security Documents, all expenses and costs referred to in Article IV of this Agreement, all other reasonable fees and expenses required to be paid pursuant to the Fee Letter and all reasonable fees and expenses incurred in connection with releasing Collateral and the amendment or termination of any of the Loan Documents.

Expiration Date” shall mean the earlier of (a) June 27, 2011 and (b) the date of the termination or reduction to zero (0) of the Commitments.

Exposure” shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in the definition of “Majority Lenders”.

Fair Market Value” means the value that would be paid by a willing buyer to a willing seller in a transaction not involving distress or necessity of either party, determined in good faith by the chief financial officer of Company or Board of Directors of Company or the selling entity (unless otherwise provided in this Agreement).

Federal Funds Rate” means on any one day, the rate per annum equal to the weighted average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100th of 1%) of the rate on

 

- 23 -


overnight federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System only arranged by federal funds brokers, as published as of such day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published, the average of the quotations for such day on such Transaction received by DB from three federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by DB.

Fee Letter” means that certain letter agreement dated April 5, 2006 among DB, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., LaSalle Bank National Association and Company and providing for the payment of certain fees in connection with this Agreement.

Fees” shall mean the Unused Line Fee, the Letter of Credit Fees and the Issuing Bank Fees, and, without duplication, all fees payable by the Borrowers under the Fee Letter.

Fiscal Quarter” means a quarterly accounting period ending on each of March 31st, June 30th, September 30th and December 31 st of each Fiscal Year.

Fiscal Year” means an accounting period that begins July 1st and ends June 30th.

Foreign Investment” means any (a) Investment by a Credit Party in a Foreign Subsidiary, (b) purchase by a Credit Party of assets located outside of the United States (including the purchase of Capital Stock of a Person not domiciled in the United States), (c) issuance of a Letter of Credit under this Agreement for the benefit of a Foreign Subsidiary or (d) incurrence of a Guarantee Obligation by a Credit Party for the direct or indirect benefit of any Foreign Subsidiary.

Foreign Pension Plan” means any plan, fund (including, without limitation, any super-annuation fund) or other similar program established or maintained outside of the United States of America by a Credit Party or one or more of its Subsidiaries or its Affiliates primarily for the benefit of employees of the Credit Party or such Subsidiaries or its Affiliates residing outside the United States of America, which plan, fund, or similar program provides or results in, retirement income in a deferral of income in contemplation of retirement or payments to be made upon termination of employment, and which is not subject to ERISA or the Code.

Foreign Requirements of Law” means any Requirement of Law of a Governmental Authority in a foreign jurisdiction (including any exchange control, financial assistance, minimum capitalization, fraudulent conveyance, mandatory labor advice or similar rules or regulations).

Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

Former Premises” means, at any time, all real property formerly owned, leased or operated by Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

Fronting Fees” shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 4.8(b).

Fund” means a Person that is a fund that invests in senior loans.

 

- 24 -


Funds Administrator” shall mean Company in its capacity as borrowing agent and funds administrator for the Borrowers hereunder and under each of the other Loan Documents.

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. as in effect from time to time.

Governmental Authority” means any nation or government, any intergovernmental or supranational body, any state or other political subdivision thereof and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative functions of government, any securities exchange and any self-regulatory organization (including the National Association of Insurance Commissioners).

Guarantee Obligations” means, as to any Person, without duplication, any direct or indirect obligation of such Person guaranteeing or intended to guarantee any Indebtedness, Operating Lease, dividend or other obligation (“primary obligations”) of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent: (i) to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor; (ii) to advance or supply funds (a) for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation, or (b) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor; (iii) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation; or (iv) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the owner of such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof; provided, however, that the term Guarantee Obligations shall not include (x) any endorsements of instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business, (y) any such obligations with respect to leases, supply contracts and other contracts or warranties and indemnities, in each case, not constituting Indebtedness of such Person, which have been or are undertaken or made in the ordinary course of business by such Person or any of its Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, guarantees of leases and supply contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business) or (z) any such obligations with respect to surety, appeal and performance bonds obtained by such Person or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, to the extent not constituting Indebtedness and for which the liability with respect to such obligation is not required to be reflected on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP. The amount of any Guarantee Obligation at any time shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the lesser at such time of (a) the stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such Guarantee Obligation is made or (b) the maximum amount for which such Person may be liable pursuant to the terms of the instrument embodying such Guarantee Obligation; or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability (assuming full performance) in respect thereof.

Guarantors” means, collectively, each Subsidiary Guarantor, and each Person (other than Administrative Agent) party to any Subsidiary Guaranty.

Holdings GP” means Texas Petrochemicals Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

- 25 -


Holdings LP” means Texas Petrochemicals LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Huntsman Acquisition” means the acquisition of the Acquired Business pursuant to the terms of the Huntsman Acquisition Agreement.

Huntsman Acquisition Agreement” means the Asset Purchase Agreement by and among Texas Petrochemicals LP, as purchaser, and Sellers, dated as of April 5, 2006, as amended by that certain First Amendment to Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 27, 2006, and that certain Second Amendment to Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 14, 2006.

Huntsman Acquisition Documents” means, collectively, the Huntsman Acquisition Agreement and all agreements, instruments and documents executed in connection with the Huntsman Acquisition.

Huntsman Parties” means Huntsman Petrochemical Corporation, Huntsman Fuels, L.P. and Huntsman International LLC.

Indebtedness” means, as applied to any Person (without duplication):

(i) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money;

(ii) the deferred and unpaid balance of the purchase price of assets or services purchased by such Person which purchase price is (a) due more than six months from the date of incurrence of the obligation in respect thereof or (b) evidenced by a note or a similar written instrument;

(iii) all Capitalized Lease Obligations of such Person;

(iv) all indebtedness secured by any Lien on any property owned by such Person, whether or not such indebtedness has been assumed by such Person or is nonrecourse to such Person;

(v) notes payable and drafts accepted representing extensions of credit to such Person whether or not representing obligations for borrowed money (other than such notes or drafts for the deferred purchase price of assets or services which does not constitute Indebtedness pursuant to clause (ii) above);

(vi) indebtedness or obligations of such Person, in each case, evidenced by bonds, notes or similar written instruments;

(vii) the face amount of all letters of credit (other than trade letters of credit) and bankers’ acceptances issued for the account of such Person, and without duplication, all drafts drawn thereunder other than, in each case, commercial or standby letters of credit or the functional equivalent thereof issued in connection with performance, bid or advance payment obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business, including, without limitation, performance requirements under workers compensation or similar laws;

 

- 26 -


(viii) all obligations of such Person under Interest Rate Agreements or Other Hedging Agreements;

(ix) all Disqualified Stock of such Person;

(x) Attributable Debt of such Person; and

(xi) Guarantee Obligations of such Person in respect of obligations described in clauses (i) - (x) above.

Indebtedness to Remain Outstanding” shall have the meaning assigned to that term in Section 8.2(j).

Indemnified Person” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 12.4(b).

Independent Financial Advisor” means an accounting, appraisal, investment banking or consulting firm of nationally recognized standing that is, in the reasonable and good faith judgment of the board of directors of Company, qualified to perform the task for which such firm has been engaged and disinterested and independent with respect to Company and its Affiliates.

Initial Borrowing” means the first Credit Event under this Agreement.

Initial Borrowing Date” means the date of the Initial Borrowing.

Intellectual Property” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 6.21.

Intercompany Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries which is owing to any member of such group.

Intercreditor Agreement” means that certain Intercreditor Agreement dated as of June 27, 2006 among Term Agent, Term Collateral Agent, Administrative Agent, Revolver Collateral Agent, DB, as mortgagee, Company and the Guarantors identified therein and delivered pursuant to Section 5.6(d), as amended, restated or otherwise modified in accordance with the terms hereof.

Interest Payment Date” means (a) as to any Base Rate Loan, each Quarterly Payment Date to occur while such Loan is outstanding, (b) as to any Eurocurrency Loan having an Interest Period of three months or less, the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto and (c) as to any Eurocurrency Loan having an Interest Period longer than three months, each day which is three months, each three (3) month anniversary of the first day of the Interest Period applicable thereto and the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto.

Interest Period” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 4.5.

 

- 27 -


Interest Rate Agreement” means any interest rate swap agreement, interest rate cap agreement, interest rate collar agreement, interest rate futures contract, interest rate option contract or other similar agreement or arrangement to which Company or any Subsidiary is a party.

Interest Rate Determination Date” means the date for calculating the Eurocurrency Rate for an Interest Period, which date shall be the second Business Day prior to first day of the related Interest Period for such Loan.

Interim Advance” shall mean a Loan made by the Administrative Agent to the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.2(b)(i).

Interim Advance Period” shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 2.2(b)(i).

Inventory” means, inclusively, all inventory as defined in the UCC from time to time and all goods, merchandise and other personal property wherever located, now owned or hereafter acquired by Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries of every kind or description which are held for sale or lease or are furnished or to be furnished under a contract of service or are raw materials, work-in-process or materials used or consumed or to be used or consumed in Borrowers’ or any of their Subsidiaries’ business.

Investment” means, as applied to any Person, (i) any direct or indirect purchase or other acquisition by that Person of, or a beneficial interest in, Securities of any other Person, or a capital contribution by that Person to any other Person, (ii) any direct or indirect loan or advance (including Guarantee Obligations) to any other Person (other than prepaid expenses, extensions of trade credit, or Accounts Receivable, in each case, created or acquired in the ordinary course of business), including all Indebtedness to such Person arising from a sale of property by such person other than in the ordinary course of its business (iii) any Acquisition by that Person, (iv) any purchase by that Person of a futures contract or such person otherwise becoming liable for the purchase or sale of currency or other commodity at a future date in the nature of a futures contract or (v) any other direct or indirect purchase or acquisition of assets that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP. The amount of any Investment by any Person on any date of determination shall be the sum of the value of the gross assets transferred to or acquired by such Person (including the amount of any liability assumed in connection with such transfer or acquisition by such Person to the extent such liability would be reflected on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP) plus the cost of all additions, thereto, without any adjustments for increases or decreases in value, or write-ups, write-downs or write-offs with respect to such Investment, minus the amount of all cash returns of principal or capital thereon, cash dividends thereon and other cash returns on investment thereon or liabilities expressly assumed by another Person (other than Company or another Subsidiary of Company) in connection with the sale of such Investment. Whenever the term “outstanding” is used in this Agreement with reference to an Investment, it shall take into account the matters referred to in the preceding sentence.

IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service, or any successor or analogous organization.

 

- 28 -


Issuing Bank” shall mean DB, LaSalle or (a) any Lender or (b) any Affiliate of a Lender that, in either case, is acceptable to the Administrative Agent and has agreed to issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the Borrowers under this Agreement.

Issuing Bank Fees” shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 4.8(b).

L/C Interest Rate” shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 3.5(b).

L/C Notice of Drawing” shall mean the date on which the Issuing Bank provides Administrative Agent with notice that a drawing has been made under a Letter of Credit.

L/C Participation” shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 3.4(a).

L/C Participation Funding Amount” shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 3.6(b)(i)(A).

L/C Participation Funding Date” shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 3.6(b)(ii).

L/C Participation Funding Notice” shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 3.6(b)(i)(A).

Landlord Consent” means a letter in favor of Administrative Agent and the Lenders which is executed by each lessor of any leased property of Company or any Subsidiary of Company at which Collateral may now or in the future be located, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent.

LaSalle” means LaSalle Bank National Association.

Lender” and “Lenders” have the respective meanings assigned to those terms in the introduction to this Agreement and shall include any Person that becomes a “Lender” as contemplated by Section 12.8.

Letter of Credit” shall mean all letters of credit (whether commercial or stand-by and whether for the purchase of inventory, equipment or otherwise) issued for the account of any Borrower by an Issuing Bank pursuant to Article 3 of this Agreement and all amendments, renewals, extensions or replacements thereof.

Letter of Credit Fees” shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 4.8(a).

Letter of Credit Obligations” shall mean, at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn face amounts of all Letters of Credit outstanding at such time, plus (b) the aggregate unreimbursed amount of all drawings under Letters of Credit.

Letter of Credit Request” shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 3.2(a).

 

- 29 -


Leverage Certificate” shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 7.1(d).

Leverage Ratio” means, for any Test Period, the ratio of Consolidated Debt of Company and its Subsidiaries of the last day of such Test Period to Consolidated EBITDA of Company and its Subsidiaries for such Test Period, as modified by Section 1.2(b) to the extent applicable.

Lien” means (i) any judgment lien or execution, attachment, levy, distraint or similar legal process and (ii) any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, collateral assignment, security interest, encumbrance, lien, charge or deposit arrangement (other than a deposit to a Deposit Account in the ordinary course of business and not intended as security) of any kind (including, without limitation, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement or lease in the nature thereof), any agreement to give any of the foregoing or any sale of receivables with recourse against the seller or any Affiliate of the seller.

Line of Credit” shall mean, at any time, an amount equal to the aggregate amount, at such time, of the Commitments.

Liquidity Event” shall mean the determination by the Administrative Agent at any time that Availability was less than $25 million for five (5) or more consecutive days. The occurrence of a Liquidity Event shall be deemed continuing notwithstanding that Availability may at any time thereafter exceed the amount set forth in the preceding sentence unless and until Thirty-Day Average Availability exceeds the greater of the amounts set forth in the preceding sentence for thirty (30) consecutive days, in which event a Liquidity Event shall no longer be deemed to be continuing; provided that, for purposes of Section 2.5, a Liquidity Event may not be cured as contemplated by this sentence more than two times in any four-Fiscal-Quarter period.

Loans” means amounts advanced by the Administrative Agent or a Lender pursuant to Section 2.1, 2.2(b), 2.2(c), 3.6 or any other provision of this Agreement.

Loan Documents” means, collectively, this Agreement, the Notes, each Security Document, each Subsidiary Guaranty, the Intercreditor Agreement and all other agreements, instruments and documents executed in connection therewith, in each case as the same may at any time be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified and in effect.

Majority Lenders” shall mean, at any time, those Lenders having more than 50% of the aggregate amount of the Commitments or, if the Commitments shall have expired or been terminated, Lenders having more than 50% of the aggregate amount of the outstanding Exposures; and for this purpose, a Lender’s Exposure shall mean (assuming that any Interim Advances have been settled) the aggregate amount of such Lender’s outstanding Loans plus such Lender’s pro rata share (based on Loans) of outstanding Letter of Credit Obligations.

Management Fees” means for any period, all management fees or similar compensation, excluding amounts representing reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with the performance of management services.

 

- 30 -


Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the financial condition, assets, liabilities, property, or results of operations of Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, excluding, however, the effects of the fire that occurred on or about April 29, 2006 and related damage to the Huntsman Parties’ light olefin unit located in Port Arthur, Texas, and excluding, for purposes of the representations, warranties and closing conditions on the Effective Date only, any general petrochemical industry conditions, MTBE Market Conditions or the condition of the economy generally, (b) the ability of Company or any of its Subsidiaries to perform its respective obligations under any Loan Document to which it is a party, (c) the validity or enforceability of this Agreement, any Subsidiary Guaranty or any of the Security Documents or the rights or remedies of Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereunder or thereunder or (d) a substantial portion of the Collateral.

Material Domestic Subsidiary” means any Domestic Subsidiary of Company, of which either (i) the Consolidated Assets were more than 2% of Company’s Consolidated Assets as of the end of the most recently completed Fiscal Year of Company for which audited financial statements are available or (ii) the consolidated total revenues of which were more than 2% of Company’s consolidated total revenues for such period; provided that any Domestic Subsidiary shall be deemed a Material Domestic Subsidiary if either (a) the Consolidated Assets of such Domestic Subsidiary would cause the Consolidated Assets of all Domestic Subsidiaries which are not Material Domestic Subsidiaries to exceed 5% of the Company’s Consolidated Assets or (b) the consolidated total revenues of such Domestic Subsidiary would cause the consolidated total revenues of all Domestic Subsidiaries which are not Material Domestic Subsidiaries to exceed 5% of the Company’s consolidated total revenues.

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

Mortgage” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 5.1(c) and shall also include any mortgages or similar documents executed pursuant to Section 7.11.

Mortgage Policies” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 5.1(c) and shall also include any mortgage policies or similar documents executed pursuant to Section 7.11.

Mortgaged Fee Property” means any Mortgaged Property in which a Credit Party has a fee title interest.

Mortgaged Property” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 5.1(c) and shall also include any real property subject to a mortgage pursuant to Section 7.11.

MTBE” means methyl tertiary butyl ether.

MTBE Assets” means the assets constituting the business of the MTBE Subsidiaries on the date hereof and assets acquired by the MTBE Subsidiaries after the date hereof reasonably related to such business, but excluding Cash and Cash Equivalents held by MTBE Subsidiaries.

 

- 31 -


MTBE Contracts” means contracts and agreements relating to the sale, purchase or transportation of MTBE, including the related supply of butane butylene mix streams.

MTBE Market Conditions” means both the general condition and prospects of the MTBE market (including any condition resulting from any law, directive, or governmental rule, regulation, or order relating to the use of MTBE or other oxygenates in gasoline) and the condition and prospects of the Company’s business resulting from any termination, suspension, non-renewal, or failure to extend an MTBE Contract, so long as such termination, suspension, non-renewal, or failure to extend is not pursuant to a default by the Company under such MTBE Contract.

MTBE Subsidiaries” means Houston Fuels, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Port Neches Fuels, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

Multiemployer Plan” means any plan described in Section 3(37) or 4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which contributions are or have, within the preceding six years, been made, or are or were, within the preceding six years, required to be made, by a Credit Party, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates.

Multiple Employer Plan” means a Plan other than a Multiemployer Plan, which a Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries or of their respective ERISA Affiliates and at least one employer other than a Credit Party, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates are contributing sponsors.

Net Offering Proceeds” means the proceeds received from (a) the issuance of any Capital Stock or (b) the incurrence of any Indebtedness, in each case net of the actual liabilities for reasonably anticipated cash taxes in connection with such issuance or incurrence, if any, any underwriting, brokerage and other customary selling commissions incurred in connection with such issuance or incurrence, and legal, advisory and other fees and expenses, including title and recording tax expenses, if any, incurred in connection with such issuance or incurrence.

Net Orderly Liquidation Value” shall mean (a) the net orderly liquidation value determined by a valuation company reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent after performance of an Inventory valuation to be done at the Administrative Agent’s request and the Borrowers’ expense, less the amount estimated by such valuation company for marshalling, reconditioning, carrying, and sales expenses designed to maximize the resale value of such Inventory and assuming that the time required to dispose of such Inventory is customary with respect to such Inventory; or (b) if no such Inventory valuation has been requested by the Administrative Agent, the value customarily attributed to Inventory in the appraisal industry for Inventory of similar quality and quantity, and similarly dispersed (under similar and relevant circumstances under standard asset-based lending procedures), at the time of the valuation, less the amount customarily estimated in the appraisal industry at the time of any determination for marshalling, recondition, carrying, and sales expenses designed to maximize the resale value of such Inventory and assuming that the time required to dispose of such Inventory is customary with respect to such Inventory.

 

- 32 -


Net Sale Proceeds” means, with respect to any Asset Disposition the aggregate cash payments received by Company or any of its Subsidiaries from such Asset Disposition (including, without limitation, cash received by way of deferred payment pursuant to a note receivable, conversion of non-cash consideration, cash payments in respect of purchase price adjustments or otherwise, but only as and when such cash is received) minus the direct costs and expenses incurred in connection therewith (including legal, accounting, and investment banking fees and sales commissions and the payment of the outstanding principal amount of, premium, if any, and interest on any Indebtedness secured by a Lien senior to the Lien under the Security Documents on the assets so disposed of (other than hereunder) required to be repaid as a result of such Asset Disposition); and minus any provision for taxes in respect thereof made in accordance with GAAP (including, without limitation, pursuant to any tax sharing agreement or attributable tax payment due to equityholders) to the extent that taxes are payable in cash in the current year or the following year as a result of such Asset Disposition.

Non-Recourse” means, with respect to any specified Person and the Indebtedness of such Person:

(5) neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (A) provides credit support of any kind (including any undertaking, agreement or instrument that would constitute Indebtedness) for the Indebtedness of such Person other than a pledge of the Capital Stock of the Subsidiaries of such Person, (B) is directly or indirectly liable as a guarantor or otherwise of the Indebtedness of such Person, or (C) constitutes the lender with respect to the Indebtedness of such Person; and

(6) in the case of an Unrestricted Subsidiary, no default on the Indebtedness of such Person (including any rights that the holders of the Indebtedness may have to take enforcement action against an Unrestricted Subsidiary) would permit upon notice, lapse of time or both any holder of Indebtedness of Company or any of its Subsidiaries to declare a default on such Indebtedness of Company or any of its Subsidiaries or cause the payment of such Indebtedness of Company or any of its Subsidiaries to be accelerated or payable prior to its stated maturity.

Non-U.S. Participant” means any Lender that is not a United States person within the meaning of Code section 7701(a)(30).

Note” means a note substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.1(b) and “Notes” means all of such Notes collectively.

Notice Office” means the office of Administrative Agent located at 90 Hudson Street, 5th Floor, Jersey City, New Jersey 07302, or such other office as Administrative Agent may hereafter designate in writing as such to the other parties hereto.

Notice of Borrowing” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 2.2(a)(i).

Notice of Continuation” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 4.3(a).

Notice of Conversion” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 4.3(b).

 

- 33 -


Obligations” means all liabilities and obligations of Company and its Subsidiaries now or hereafter arising under this Agreement and all of the other Loan Documents, whether for principal, interest, fees, expenses, indemnities or otherwise, and whether primary, secondary, direct, indirect, contingent, fixed or otherwise (including obligations of performance).

Operating Lease” of any Person, means any lease (including, without limitation, leases which may be terminated by the lessee at any time) of any property (whether real, personal or mixed) by such Person, as lessee, which is not a Capitalized Lease.

Ordinary Equity Interests” means general and limited partnership interests in the Company (or, after the merger described in the last sentence of Section 8.3, limited liability company interests or units or common stock) having no greater rights to distributions and no greater voting rights from the partnership interests of the Company in existence on the Closing Date.

Organizational Documents” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s articles or certificate of incorporation, certificate of amalgamation, memorandum or articles of association, bylaws, partnership agreement, limited liability company agreement, joint venture agreement or other similar governing documents and any document setting forth the designation, amount and/or relative rights, limitations and preferences of any class or series of such Person’s Capital Stock.

Other Hedging Agreement” means any foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement, futures contract, commodity agreements, option contract, synthetic cap or other similar agreement.

Participants” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 12.8(b).

Payment” shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 2.9(a)(i).

Payment Condition” means, at any date of determination, Thirty-Day Average Availability is not less than $40 million (calculated, in the case of a date on which an Investment or Restricted Payment is made, on a pro forma basis giving effect to such Investment or Restricted Payment and any Indebtedness incurred to make such Investment or Restricted Payment as if they had occurred on the first day of the period used to calculate Thirty-Day Average Availability).

Payment Office” means 90 Hudson Street, 5th Floor, Jersey City, New Jersey 07302, Attn: Commercial Loan Division, or such other address as Administrative Agent may from time to time specify in accordance with Section 12.3.

PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation created by Section 4002(a) of ERISA.

Perfection Certificate” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.2(a).

 

- 34 -


Permitted Acquisition” means any Acquisition by Company or any of its Subsidiaries if all of the following conditions are met:

(a) no Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom;

(b) such acquisition has not been preceded by an unsolicited tender offer for such Person by Company or any of its Affiliates;

(c) all transactions related thereto are consummated in compliance, in all material respects, with applicable Requirements of Law;

(d) in the case of any acquisition of any equity interest in any Person, after giving effect to such acquisition such Person becomes a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Company which is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary (or with respect to any such Person that does not become a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary, such Person becomes a Subsidiary of Company), and, to the extent required by Section 7.11(a), guarantees the Obligations hereunder and grants the security interest contemplated by such Section 7.11(c));

(e) all actions, if any, required to be taken under Section 7.11 with respect to any acquired or newly formed Subsidiary and its property are taken as and when required under Section 7.11;

(f) all unfunded commitments under any documents evidencing or governing Indebtedness of any acquired or newly formed Subsidiary that is assumed pursuant to such Acquisition shall have been terminated;

(g) such assets are used for, or such Person is primarily engaged in, a line of business permitted under Section 8.10;

(h) the aggregate consideration (including assumed Consolidated Debt) for such Acquisitions is less than the then remaining Permitted Acquisition Basket;

(i)(x) after giving effect thereto on a Pro Forma Basis there is at least $100,000,000 of Availability; and (y) on or before the date of such acquisition and before Company or any of its Subsidiaries enters into such acquisition or any agreement therefor (that is not contingent upon such acquisition being permitted under this Agreement), Company delivers to the Administrative Agent and Lenders audited financial statements of the business or Person to be acquired, including income statements or statements of operations and, if available, balance sheet statements for at least the fiscal year or the four fiscal quarters then most recently ended and calculations supporting compliance with clause (x) above; and

(j) any Foreign Investment component of such Acquisition is permitted pursuant to Section 8.7(j).

Permitted Acquisition Basket” means (a) the sum of (i) $50,000,000 plus the amount of (ii) Unutilized Net Offering Proceeds at such time minus (b) the aggregate Investment (including assumed Consolidated Debt) for all Acquisitions after the Closing Date.

 

- 35 -


Permitted Covenant” means (i) any periodic reporting covenant, (ii) any covenant restricting payments by Company with respect to any securities of Company which are junior to the Permitted Preferred Stock, (iii) any covenant the default of which can only result in an increase in the amount of any redemption price, repayment amount, dividend rate or interest rate, (iv) any covenant providing board observance rights with respect to Company’s board of directors and (v) any other covenant that does not adversely affect the interests of the Lenders (as reasonably determined by Administrative Agent).

Permitted Discretion” shall mean the Administrative Agent’s judgment exercised in good faith based upon its consideration of any factor which the Administrative Agent believes in good faith: (a) will or could adversely affect the value of any Collateral, the enforceability or priority of the Administrative Agent’s Liens thereon or the amount which the Agents, the Lenders or any Issuing Bank would be likely to receive (after giving consideration to delays in payment and costs of enforcement) in the liquidation of such Collateral or (b) suggests that any collateral report or financial information delivered to the Administrative Agent by any Person on behalf of any Borrower is incomplete, inaccurate or misleading in any material respect. In exercising such judgment, the Administrative Agent may consider such factors already included in or tested by the definition of Eligible Accounts Receivable or Eligible Inventory, as well as any of the following: (i) the changes in collection history and dilution with respect to the Accounts; (ii) changes in demand for, pricing of, or product mix of Inventory; (iii) changes in any concentration of risk with respect to the respective Borrowers’ Accounts or Inventory; and (iv) any other factors that change the credit risk of lending to any Borrower on the security of any Borrower’s Accounts or Inventory.

Permitted Junior Debt” means subordinated Indebtedness of Company that:

(1) is subordinated to the Loans pursuant to subordination provisions as set forth on Schedule 1.1(c), with appropriate insertions in any blank items and conforming definitional changes (or more favorable to the Lenders) or otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent;

(2) has a final maturity date occurring at least one year after the Expiration Date and has no scheduled principal or sinking fund payments prior to such date;

(3) is not guaranteed by any Subsidiary of Company except for any guarantee by a Credit Party that is contractually subordinated in right of payment (to the same extent that Company’s direct obligations are so subordinated) to the prior payment in full in cash pursuant to the Subsidiary Guaranty of the Obligations; and

(4) is not convertible into any other Securities except Capital Stock of Company (other than Disqualified Stock).

Permitted Junior Debt Documents” means all documents evidencing, guaranteeing or otherwise governing the terms of any Permitted Junior Debt.

Permitted Liens” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 8.1.

 

- 36 -


Permitted MTBE Joint Venture” means a Person (together with its Subsidiaries, if any) organized by the Company or an MTBE Subsidiary and one or more third parties for the purpose, among other things, of utilizing the MTBE Assets regardless of whether such Person is a joint venture or a minority-owned Person provided that (i) such Person shall not be a Subsidiary and (ii) all of the Capital Stock of such Person owned by the Company and its Subsidiaries shall, promptly and in any event within sixty (60) days after the formation thereof, be pledged as collateral to Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Creditors.

Permitted Preferred Stock” means any preferred partnership interests of Company (or any equity security of Company that is convertible or exchangeable into any preferred partnership interests of Company), so long as the terms of any such preferred partnership interests or equity security of Company: (i) do not provide any collateral security, (ii) do not provide any guaranty or other support by Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii) do not contain any mandatory put, redemption, repayment, sinking fund or other similar provision occurring before the ninth anniversary of the Closing Date (other than any put exercisable upon death or disability to the extent Company may, at its option, issue a note that complies with the terms set forth in Section 8.2(n) as the sole repurchase consideration), (iv) do not require the cash payment of dividends or interest, (v) do not contain any covenants other than Permitted Covenants, (vi) do not grant the holders thereof any voting rights except for (x) voting rights required to be granted to such holders under applicable law, (y) limited customary voting rights on fundamental matters such as mergers, consolidations, sales of substantial assets, or liquidations involving Company and (z) other voting rights to the extent not greater than or superior to those allocated to Ordinary Equity Interests on a per interest basis, and (vii) are otherwise reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent.

Permitted Real Property Encumbrances” means (i) as to any Mortgaged Property, those liens, encumbrances and other matters affecting title to such Mortgaged Property and which are listed as exceptions in the Mortgage Policies in respect thereof, (ii) as to any particular real property at any time, including, but not limited to the Mortgaged Property, such easements, licenses, encroachments, covenants, rights of way, minor defects, irregularities or encumbrances on title which do not materially impair such real property for the purpose for which it is held or used by the owner thereof, (iii) municipal and zoning ordinances, which are not violated in any material respect by the existing improvements or the present use made of the premises by the owner thereof, and (iv) Liens described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of the definition of Customary Permitted Liens.

Permitted Refinancing” means a replacement, renewal, refinancing or extension of any Indebtedness by the Person that originally incurred such Indebtedness, provided that:

(i)     the principal amount of such Indebtedness (as determined as of the date of the incurrence of the Indebtedness in accordance with GAAP) does not exceed the principal amount of the Indebtedness refinanced thereby on such date plus the amount of accrued and unpaid interest and fees (including call premiums) and expenses incurred in connection with such replacement, renewal, refinancing or extension except to the extent such excess is applied as a mandatory prepayment of Term Loans; provided, that (a) in the case of a Permitted Refinancing of the Term Loan Credit Facility, the principal amount may be increased to the extent permitted under the definition of Term Loan Credit Facility and (b) in the case of a

 

- 37 -


Permitted Refinancing of Permitted Junior Debt and Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 8.2(l) the principal amount may be increased to the extent such increase is applied as a mandatory prepayment of Term Loans;

(ii) the final maturity date of such indebtedness is not earlier than the final maturity date of the Indebtedness being refinanced and the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such Indebtedness is not less than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness being refinanced;

(iii) such Indebtedness is not secured by any assets other than those securing such Indebtedness on the latter of the date such Indebtedness was originally incurred or the Closing Date (and any improvements and accessions to such property and any replacements of or proceeds from any such property) and is not guaranteed by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of any Credit Party except to the extent such Person guaranteed such Indebtedness being refinanced; provided that Credit Parties may guarantee Indebtedness of the Company;

(iv) in the case of Indebtedness which is in excess of $5,000,000, the covenants, defaults and similar provisions applicable to such Indebtedness are, in the reasonable opinion of Administrative Agent, no more restrictive in any material respect than the provisions contained in the original documentation for such Indebtedness and no more restrictive than the provisions contained in this Agreement and do not conflict in any material respect with the provisions of this Agreement and is otherwise upon terms and subject to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent;

(v) if the Indebtedness being refinanced is Permitted Junior Debt or is otherwise subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations, such Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations on terms at least as favorable to the Lenders as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being refinanced, as determined by Administrative Agent; and

(vi) in the case of Permitted Refinancing of the Term Loan Credit Facility, (1) such Indebtedness is either unsecured, or if secured, is secured by Liens with the priority set forth in and subject to the Intercreditor Agreement and (2) the scheduled maturity date shall not be earlier than, nor shall any scheduled principal payments in excess of 1% per annum commence, prior to the Expiration Date.

Person” means an individual or a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, joint stock company, Governmental Authority or other entity of any kind.

Plan” means any plan described in Section 4021(a) of ERISA and not excluded pursuant to Section 4021(b) thereof, which is or has, within the preceding six years, been established or maintained, or to which contributions are being or have been, within the preceding six years, made, by Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates.

Plan Administrator” has the meaning assigned to the term “administrator” in Section 3(16)(A) of ERISA.

 

- 38 -


Plan Sponsor” has the meaning assigned to the term “plan sponsor” in Section 3(16)(B) of ERISA.

Pledged Securities” means any of the Securities pledged pursuant to any Security Document.

Port Arthur Letter of Credit” means the letter of credit issued for the benefit of the Sellers pursuant to the terms of the Huntsman Acquisition Agreement, which letter of credit is in the face amount of $70,000,000 as of the Closing Date.

Premises” means, at any time, any real estate then owned, leased or operated by Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

Pro Forma Balance Sheet” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 6.5(a).

Pro Forma Basis” means, (a) with respect to the preparation of pro forma financial statements for purposes of the definition of Permitted Acquisitions and for any other purpose relating to a Permitted Acquisition or other Investment, pro forma on the basis that (i) any Indebtedness incurred or assumed in connection with such Acquisition or other Investment was incurred or assumed on the first day of the applicable period, (ii) if such Indebtedness bears a floating interest rate, such interest shall be paid over the pro forma period at the rate in effect on the date of such Acquisition or other Investment, and (iii) all income and expense associated with the assets or entity acquired in connection with such Acquisition or other Investment (other than the fees, costs and expenses associated with the consummation of such Acquisition or other Investment) for the most recently ended four fiscal quarter period for which such income and expense amounts are available shall be treated as being earned or incurred by Company over the applicable period on a pro forma basis without giving effect to any cost savings other than Pro Forma Cost Savings, (b) with respect to the preparation of a pro forma financial statement for any purpose relating to an Asset Disposition, pro forma on the basis that (i) any Indebtedness prepaid out of the proceeds of such Asset Disposition shall be deemed to have been prepaid as of the first day of the applicable Test Period, and (ii) all income and expense (other than such expenses as Company, in good faith, estimates will not be reduced or eliminated as a consequence of such Asset Disposition) associated with the assets or entity disposed of in connection with such Asset Disposition shall be deemed to have been eliminated as of the first day of the applicable Test Period and (c) with respect to the preparation of pro forma financial statements for any purpose relating to an incurrence of Indebtedness, pro forma on the basis that (i) any Indebtedness incurred or assumed in connection with such incurrence of Indebtedness was incurred or assumed on the first day of the applicable period, (ii) if such incurrence of Indebtedness bears a floating interest rate, such interest shall be paid over the pro forma period at the rate in effect on the date of the incurrence of such Indebtedness, and (iii) all income and expense associated with the assets or entity acquired in connection with the incurrence of Indebtedness (other than the fees, costs and expenses associated with the consummation of such incurrence of Indebtedness) for the most recently ended four fiscal quarter period for which such income and expense amounts are available shall be treated as being earned or incurred by Company over the applicable period on a pro forma basis without giving effect to any cost savings other than Pro Forma Cost Savings.

 

- 39 -


Pro Forma Cost Savings” means, with respect to the determination of Net Income on a Pro Forma Basis, such cost savings as would be permitted pursuant to Rule 11.02 of Regulation S-X.

Pro Forma Borrowing Base Certificate” shall have the meaning given such term in Section 2.4(e).

Proportionate Share” shall, subject to Section 12.9(c)(ii), mean, with respect to any Lender, a fraction (expressed as a percentage), the numerator of which shall be the amount of such Lender’s Commitment and the denominator of which shall be the Total Commitments or, if the Commitments have been terminated, a fraction the numerator of which shall be the principal amount of such Lender’s Exposure and the denominator of which shall be the aggregate amount of all Exposures of all Lenders then outstanding.

Projections” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 6.5(e).

Quarterly Payment Date” means the first Business Day of each January, April, July and October commencing October 1, 2006.

Register” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 12.13.

Regulation D” means Regulation D of the Board as from time to time in effect and any successor provision to all or a portion thereof establishing reserve requirements.

Related Fund” means, with respect to any Lender which is a Fund, any other Fund that is administered or managed by the same investment advisor of such Lender or by an Affiliate of such investment advisor.

Release” means any release, spill, emission, leaking, pumping, pouring, emptying, dumping, injection, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, escape, leaching or migration into the indoor or outdoor environment or into or out of any property of Company or its Subsidiaries, or at any other location, including any location to which Company or any of its Subsidiaries has transported or arranged for the transportation of any Contaminants, including the movement of Contaminants through or in the air, soil, surface water, groundwater or property of Company or its Subsidiaries or at any other location, including any location to which Company or any Subsidiary has transported or arranged for the transportation of any Contaminants.

Remedial Action” means actions required to (i) clean up, remove, treat or in any other way address Contaminants in the indoor or outdoor environment, (ii) prevent or minimize or otherwise address the Release or substantial threat of a material Release of Contaminants so they do not migrate or endanger or threaten to endanger public health or welfare or the indoor or outdoor environment; or (iii) perform pre-response or post-response studies and investigations and post-response monitoring and care or any other studies, reports or investigations relating to Contaminants.

Replaced Lender” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 4.13(b).

 

- 40 -


Replacement Lender” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 4.13(b).

Reportable Event” means a “reportable event” described in Section 4043(c) of ERISA or in the regulations thereunder with respect to a Plan, excluding any event for which the thirty (30) day notice requirement has been waived.

Requirement of Law” means, as to any Person, any law (including common law), treaty, rule or regulation or judgment, decree, determination or award of an arbitrator or a court or other Governmental Authority, including without limitation, any Environmental Law, in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.

Responsible Financial Officer” means the Chief Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer, Controller or Treasurer of Company, or, if being applied to a Subsidiary, of the applicable Subsidiary.

Responsible Officer” means any of the Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President, any Executive Vice President, any Senior Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, any Vice President or the Treasurer of Company or, if being applied to a Subsidiary, of the Subsidiary.

Restricted Payment” means (i) any Dividend (except Dividends (X) payable solely in Capital Stock or in options, warrants or other rights to purchase such Capital Stock or (Y) payable to Company or a Subsidiary of Company), (ii) any purchase, redemption or acquisition or retirement for value of any Capital Stock of Company or any of its Subsidiaries other than a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary, (iii) any payment of Management Fees to an Affiliate of Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (iv) any interest or principal payment on or purchase, defeasance, redemption, prepayment or other acquisition or retirement for value, prior to any scheduled final maturity, of any Indebtedness that is subordinate or junior in right of payment to the Obligations (including any Permitted Junior Debt or any Permitted Refinancing thereof), other than, so long as no Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default exists, payment of Intercompany Indebtedness.

Returns” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 6.9(a).

Revolver Collateral Agent” means DB in its capacity as agent for the Secured Creditors under the Security Documents and any successor agent in such capacity.

S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Corporation or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

Sale and Leaseback Transaction” means any arrangement, directly or indirectly, whereby a seller or transferor shall sell or otherwise transfer any real or personal property and then or thereafter lease, or repurchase under an extended purchase contract, conditional sales or other title retention agreement, the same or similar property.

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto.

 

- 41 -


Secured Creditors” has the meaning provided in the respective Security Documents to the extent defined therein and shall in any event include any Person that is granted a security interest in any Loan Document.

Securities” means any stock, shares, voting trust certificates, bonds, debentures, options, warrants, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness, secured or unsecured, convertible, subordinated or otherwise, or in general any instruments commonly known as “securities” or any certificates of interest, shares or participations in temporary or interim certificates for the purchase or acquisition of, or any right to subscribe to, purchase or acquire, any of the foregoing.

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Security Agreement” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 5.1(c).

Security Documents” means, collectively the Security Agreement, each Mortgage, the Perfection Certificate and all other agreements, assignments, security agreements, instruments and documents executed in connection therewith, in each case as the same may at any time be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified and in effect. For purposes of this Agreement, “Security Documents” shall also include all security agreements, mortgages, pledge agreements, collateral assignments and other collateral documents in the nature of any thereof entered into by any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries after the date of this Agreement in favor of Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Creditors in satisfaction of the requirements of this Agreement, in each case as the same may at any time be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified and in effect.

Sellers” means Huntsman Petrochemical Corporation and Huntsman Fuels, L.P.

Settlement Date” shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 2.3(b)(i).

Solvent” means, when used with respect to any Person, that (i) the fair salable value of its assets is in excess of the total amount of its liabilities (including for purposes of this definition all liabilities, whether or not reflected on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP, and whether direct or indirect, fixed or contingent, disputed or undisputed); (ii) it is able to pay its debts or obligations in the ordinary course as they mature; and (iii) it has capital sufficient to carry on its business and all business in which it is about to engage. For purposes of this definition “debt” means any liability on a claim, and “claim” means (y) any right to payment, whether or not such a right is reduced to judgment, liquidated, unliquidated, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, disputed, undisputed, legal, equitable, secured, or unsecured (including all obligations, if any, under any Plan or the equivalent for unfunded past service liability, and any other unfunded medical and death benefits) or (z) any right to an equitable remedy for breach of performance if such breach gives rise to a payment, whether or not such right to an equitable remedy is reduced to judgment, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, disputed, undisputed, secured or unsecured. In computing the amount of contingent or unliquidated liabilities at any time, such liabilities will be computed at the amount which, in light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

 

- 42 -


Subsidiary” of any Person means any corporation, partnership (limited or general), limited liability company, trust or other entity of which a majority of the stock (or equivalent ownership or equity interest) having voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors (if a corporation) or to select the trustee or equivalent managing body or controlling interest, shall, at the time such reference becomes operative, be directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such Person or one or more of the other subsidiaries of such Person or any combination thereof. Unless otherwise qualified, all references to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” in this Agreement shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of Company. Unless otherwise expressly provided an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall not be considered a “subsidiary” for purposes of this Agreement.

Subsidiary Guarantor” means any Material Domestic Subsidiary or other Subsidiary of Company that becomes a party to a Subsidiary Guaranty.

Subsidiary Guaranty” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 5.1(b).

Taxes” means any and all present and future taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, assessments, charges or withholdings, and any and all liabilities (including interest and penalties and other additions to taxes) with respect to the foregoing, but excluding Excluded Taxes.

Term Agent” means DB in its capacity as administrative agent for the lenders under the Term Loan Credit Facility, and any successor agent in such capacity.

Term Collateral Agent” means DB in its capacity as collateral agent for the Secured Creditors (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Facility) under the Security Documents (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Facility), and any successor agent in such capacity.

Term Loan Credit Facility” means the Term Loan Agreement dated as of June 27, 2006 by and among Company, DB, as administrative agent and the lenders from time to time party thereto, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.

Term Loan Credit Facility Documents” means, collectively, the Term Loan Credit Facility and all agreements, instruments and documents executed in connection therewith.

Term Loans” means the Loans under the Term Loan Credit Facility, collectively.

Termination Event” means any of the following events: (i) a Reportable Event with respect to any Plan; (ii) the withdrawal of any Credit Party, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates from a Plan or a Multiple Employer Plan during a plan year in which such Credit Party, Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate was a “substantial employer” as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA or the cessation of operations which results in the termination of employment of twenty percent (20%) of Plan participants who are employees of any Credit Party, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates; (iii) the imposition of an obligation on any Credit Party, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates under Section 4041 of ERISA to provide affected parties written notice of intent to terminate, a Plan in a standard termination or a distress termination described in Section 4041 of ERISA; (iv) the

 

- 43 -


institution by the PBGC or any similar foreign governmental authority of proceedings to terminate a Plan or Foreign Pension Plan; (v) any event or condition which would or could reasonably be expected to constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA (other than subparagraph (a)(4) of such Section) for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Plan; (vi) the appointment by a foreign governmental authority of a trustee to administer any Foreign Pension Plan in place of the existing administrator; (vii) the partial or complete withdrawal of any Credit Party, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates from a Multiemployer Plan or Foreign Pension Plan; (viii) receipt of a notice of reorganization or insolvency with respect to a Multiemployer Plan pursuant to Section 4242 or 4245 of ERISA; or (ix) the termination of a Multiemployer Plan or a Multiple Employer Plan.

Test Period” means the four consecutive Fiscal Quarters of Company then last ended.

Thirty-Day Average Availability” means, for any day, the sum of Availability for the immediately preceding thirty days divided by 30.

Title Company” means (a)(i) with respect to real property acquired pursuant to the Huntsman Acquisition, Partners Title Company, and (ii) with respect to any other real property now or hereafter owned by any Credit Party, Charter Title Company, in each case, as issuing agents for Land America Commonwealth Land Title or (b) any other title company reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent.

Total Commitments” shall mean the aggregate of the Commitments of all the Lenders, which in the aggregate shall not exceed $115,000,000, subject to increase as set forth in Section 2.10.

Total Exposure” shall mean, at any time, an amount equal to the sum of (a) the Letter of Credit Obligations and (b) the principal amount of outstanding Loans.

Transaction” means and includes (i) each of the Credit Events occurring on the Initial Borrowing Date, (ii) the Huntsman Acquisition, (iii) such other transactions as are contemplated by the Documents, and (iv) the payment of fees and expenses in connection with the foregoing.

Transaction Documents” means, collectively, the Huntsman Acquisition Documents, the Term Loan Credit Facility Documents, and any agreement, document, instrument and certificate executed and/or delivered after the date hereof pursuant to the terms of, or in connection with, any of the foregoing.

Transferee” has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 12.8(d).

Type” means any type of Loan, namely, a Base Rate Loan, or a Eurocurrency Loan. For purposes hereof, the term “Rate” shall include the Eurocurrency Rate, the Base Rate.

UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the relevant jurisdiction.

 

- 44 -


Unmatured Event of Default” means an event, act or occurrence which with the giving of notice or the lapse of time (or both) would become an Event of Default.

Unrestricted Subsidiary” means (i) any Subsidiary (with such term defined for purposes of this definition without giving effect to the last sentence in the definition of such term) of Company that at or prior to the time of formation or acquisition thereof shall be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary in an officers’ certificate signed by a Responsible Financial Officer of Company and (ii) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary, but, in each case, only to the extent that such Subsidiary:

(1) has no Indebtedness other than Indebtedness that is Non-Recourse to Company and its Subsidiaries;

(2) is not party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with Company or any of its Subsidiaries unless the terms of any such agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding are not less favorable to Company or such Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons who are not Affiliates of Company; and

(3) is a Person with respect to which neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any direct or indirect obligation (a) to subscribe for additional Capital Stock or (b) to maintain or preserve such Person’s financial condition or to cause such Person to achieve any specified levels of operating results

If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the preceding requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it shall thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary shall be deemed to be incurred by a Subsidiary of Company as of such date and, if such Indebtedness is not permitted to be incurred as of such date under the provisions of Section 8.2 hereof, Company shall be in default of such Section.

Unutilized Net Offering Proceeds” means, at any time, the sum of (a) all Net Offering Proceeds from issuances of the Company’s Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) since the Closing Date plus (b) all Net Offering Proceeds from issuances of Permitted Junior Debt to the extent not required by the terms of the Term Loan Credit Facility to be used to prepay loans thereunder minus (c) all Restricted Payments pursuant to Section 8.5(i) since the Closing Date.

Unused Line Fee” shall have the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 4.7.

Value” shall mean, as determined by Administrative Agent in good faith, (a) with respect to Eligible Accounts Receivable, the gross face amount of Eligible Accounts Receivable less the sum of (i) sales, excise or similar taxes included in the amount thereof and (ii) returns, discounts, claims, credits, charges and allowances (exclusive of those paid in cash to the extent included in dilution) of any nature at any time issued, owing, granted, outstanding, available or claimed with respect thereto and (b) with respect to Eligible Inventory, the lower of (i) cost computed on an average cost basis in accordance with GAAP or (ii) market value.

 

- 45 -


Voting Stock” means any class of Capital Stock of a Person pursuant to which the holders thereof have, at the time of determination, the general voting power under ordinary circumstances to vote for the election of the Board of Directors of such Person (irrespective of whether or not at the time any other class or classes will have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency).

Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing (a) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness into (b) the total of the product obtained by multiplying (x) 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 (y) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment.

Wholly-Owned Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any Subsidiary of such Person, all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of which (other than qualifying shares required to be owned by directors) are at the time owned directly or indirectly by such Person and/or one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

written” or “in writing” means any form of written communication or a communication by means of telecopier device or authenticated telex, telegraph or cable.

The foregoing definitions shall be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the defined terms. The words “herein,” “hereof” and words of similar import as used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision in this Agreement. References to “Articles”, “Sections”, “paragraphs”, “Exhibits” and “Schedules” in this Agreement shall refer to Articles, Sections, paragraphs, Exhibits and Schedules of this Agreement unless otherwise expressly provided; references to Persons include their respective permitted successors and assigns or, in the case of governmental Persons, Persons succeeding to the relevant functions of such persons; and all references to statutes and related regulations shall include any amendments of same and any successor statutes and regulations.

1.2 Accounting Terms; Pro Forma Calculations; Financial Statements.

(a) All accounting terms used herein but not expressly defined in this Agreement shall have respective meanings given to them in accordance with GAAP in the United States of America in effect on the date hereof. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all computations and determinations for purposes of determining compliance with the financial requirements of this Agreement shall be made in accordance with GAAP in effect in the United States of America on the date hereof and on a basis consistent with the presentation of the financial statements and projections referred to in Section 6.5(a) and Section 6.5(e). Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the financial statements required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7.1 shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP in the United States of America as in effect on the respective dates of their preparation. Unless otherwise provided for herein, wherever any computation is to be made with respect to any Person and its Subsidiaries, such computation shall be made so as to exclude all items of income, assets and liabilities

 

- 46 -


attributable to any Person which is not a Subsidiary of such Person. For purposes of the financial terms set forth herein, whenever a reference is made to a determination which is required to be made on a consolidated basis (whether in accordance with GAAP or otherwise) for the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries, such determination shall be made as if each Unrestricted Subsidiary where wholly-owned by a Person not an Affiliate of the Borrowers.

(b) For purposes of computing all financial ratios hereunder (i.e. the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Leverage Ratio and any other ratio that may from time to time be computed hereunder) as of the end of any Test Period, all components of such ratios for the applicable Test Period shall include or exclude, as the case may be, without duplication, such components of such ratios attributable to any business or material assets that have been acquired or disposed of by any Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries (including through mergers or consolidations) after the first day of such Test Period and prior to the end of such Test Period on a Pro Forma Basis as determined in good faith by the Company and certified to by Responsible Officer of the Company to the Administrative Agent.

(c) If any changes in GAAP or the application thereof from that used in the preparation of the financial statements referred to in Section 6.5(a) hereof occur after the Closing Date and such changes result in, in the sole judgment of Administrative Agent, a meaningful change in the calculation of any financial covenants or restrictions set forth in this Agreement, then the parties hereto agree to enter into and diligently pursue negotiations in order to amend such financial covenants and restrictions so as to equitably reflect such changes, with the desired result that the criteria for evaluating the financial condition and results of operations of Company and its Subsidiaries shall be the same after such changes as if such changes had not been made.

ARTICLE II

LOANS

2.1 Commitments; Delivery of Notes. (a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, on and after the Closing Date and to and excluding the Expiration Date, each of the Lenders severally agrees to make from time to time revolving loans to the Borrowers hereunder (the “Loans”); provided that no such Loan shall be made for the account of any Borrower if after giving effect to the making of such Loan and the simultaneous application of the proceeds thereof, (i) the aggregate amount of the Exposure of such Lender would exceed the Commitment of such Lender or (ii) the Total Exposure for all Borrowers would exceed the lesser of (A) the Total Commitments and (B) subject to Section 2.2(b), the Borrowing Base.

(b) At the request of any Lender through the Administrative Agent, the Borrowers hereby agree to execute and deliver to each Lender a Note in the form of Exhibit 2.1(b) hereto to evidence the Loans to the Borrowers by such Lender.

2.2 Borrowing Mechanics; Interim Advances.

(a) Except as provided in Sections 2.2(b), 2.3(b) and 3.6(a), Borrowings shall be made on written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) from the Funds Administrator to the Administrative Agent, given not later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time)

 

- 47 -


on the Business Day on which a proposed Borrowing consisting of Base Rate Loans is requested to be made and on the third Business Day prior to the date of any proposed Borrowing consisting of Eurocurrency Rate Loans is requested to be made.

(i) Each Notice of Borrowing shall be given by, alternatively, telephone, facsimile or electronic e-mail transmission, and, if by telephone or electronic e-mail transmission, confirmed in writing on the same Business Day to the extent requested by Administrative Agent, substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.2(a)(i) (the “Notice of Borrowing”). Each Notice of Borrowing shall be irrevocable (subject to Section 4.3(c)) by and binding on the Funds Administrator and the Borrowers.

(ii) The Funds Administrator shall notify the Administrative Agent in writing of the names of the officers of the Funds Administrator authorized to request Loans on behalf of the Borrowers and specifying which of those officers are also, or, if none are, the other officers that are, authorized to direct the disbursement of Loans in a manner contrary to standing disbursement instructions, and shall provide the Administrative Agent with a specimen signature of each such officer. In the absence of a specification of those officers who are authorized to vary standing disbursement instructions, the Administrative Agent may assume that each officer authorized to request Loans also has such authority. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely conclusively on the authority of such officers of the Funds Administrator to request Loans on behalf of the Borrowers, or to vary standing disbursement instructions, until the Administrative Agent receives written notice to the contrary. The Administrative Agent shall have no duty to verify the authenticity of the signature appearing on any Notice of Borrowing or other writing delivered pursuant to this Section 2.2(a) and, with respect to an oral or electronic e-mail request for Loans, the Administrative Agent shall have no duty to verify the identity of any individual representing himself as one of the officers of the Funds Administrator authorized to make such request on behalf of the Borrowers. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of the Lenders shall incur any liability to the Funds Administrator or any of the Borrowers as a result of (A) acting upon any telephonic or electronic e-mail notice referred to in this Section 2.2(a) if the Administrative Agent believes in good faith such notice to have been given by a duly authorized officer of the Funds Administrator or other individual authorized to request Loans on behalf of the Borrowers or to direct the disbursement thereof in a manner contrary to standing disbursement instructions, or (B) otherwise acting in good faith under this Section 2.2(a) and an advance made and disbursed pursuant to any such telephonic or electronic e-mail notice shall be deemed to be a Loan for all purposes of this Agreement.

(iii) In its Notice of Borrowing, the Funds Administrator may request one or more Borrowings on a single day. Each such Borrowing shall, unless otherwise specifically provided herein, consist entirely of Loans of the same Type and shall, in the case of a Borrowing of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, be in an aggregate amount for all Lenders of not less than $2,000,000 or an integral multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof. The right of the Funds Administrator to choose Eurocurrency Rate Loans is subject to the provisions of Section 4.3(c).

(b)    (i) In the event the Borrowers are unable to comply with (A) the Borrowing Base limitation set forth in clause (ii)(B) of the proviso to Section 2.1(a) or (B) the conditions precedent set forth in Section 5.2 to a Credit Event, the Lenders authorize the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, to make Loans (“Interim Advances”) to the

 

- 48 -


Borrowers during the period commencing on the date the Administrative Agent first receives a Notice of Borrowing requesting an Interim Advance until the earliest of (1) the twentieth (20th) Business Day after such date, (2) the date the Borrowers are again able to comply with such Borrowing Base limitation and conditions precedent, or obtains an amendment or waiver with respect thereto and (3) the date the Majority Lenders instruct the Administrative Agent, or the Administrative Agent determines, to cease making Interim Advances (in each case, the “Interim Advance Period”).

(ii) The Administrative Agent shall not, in any event, (A) make any Interim Advance during any Interim Advance Period if, after giving effect to such Interim Advance, Total Exposure would exceed one hundred ten percent (110%) of Total Exposure on the first day of such Interim Advance Period (calculated without giving effect to Interim Advances made on such day) and (B) make any Interim Advance if, after giving effect to such Interim Advance, Total Exposure would exceed the Line of Credit.

(iii) All amounts received by the Administrative Agent during an Interim Advance Period on account of the Obligations, whether in the form of payments from any Borrower, collections on the Collateral or otherwise, shall, so long as any Interim Advances made during such Interim Advance Period are outstanding, be applied by the Administrative Agent, first, to the repayment of such Interim Advances and, second, in accordance with Section 2.5(d).

(c) 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.

(d) In addition to being evidenced, as provided in Section 2.6, by the Borrowers’ Accounts, each Lender’s Loans and the Borrowers’ joint and several obligations to repay such Loans with interest in accordance with the terms of this Agreement shall be evidenced by this Agreement, the records of such Lender and such Lender’s Note. The records of each Lender shall be prima facie evidence of such Lender’s Loans and accrued interest thereon and of all payments made in respect thereof.

(e) Each Lender shall be entitled to earn interest at the then applicable rate of interest, calculated in accordance with Article IV, on outstanding Loans which it has funded to the Administrative Agent; provided that in the case of interest accrued but unpaid at the time of a Bankruptcy Default and interest accruing thereafter and during a Bankruptcy Default, such Lender shall be entitled to receive only its Proportionate Share of amounts actually received by the Administrative Agent in respect of such interest; further provided that if any amount received by the Administrative Agent in respect of such interest and distributed by it is thereafter recovered from the Administrative Agent, such Lender shall, upon request, repay to the Administrative Agent its Proportionate Share of the amount so recovered to the extent received by it, but without interest (unless the Administrative Agent is required to pay interest on the amount recovered, in which case such Lender shall be required to pay interest at a like rate).

 

- 49 -


(f) Notwithstanding the obligation of the Funds Administrator to send written confirmation of a Notice of Borrowing made by telephone or electronic e-mail transmission if and when requested by the Administrative Agent, in the event that the Administrative Agent agrees to accept a Notice of Borrowing made by telephone or electronic e-mail transmission, such Notice of Borrowing shall be binding on the Funds Administrator and each Borrower whether or not written confirmation is sent by the Funds Administrator or requested by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may act prior to the receipt of any requested written confirmation, without any liability whatsoever, based upon telephonic or electronic e-mail notice believed by the Administrative Agent in good faith to be from the Funds Administrator or its agents. The Administrative Agent’s records of the terms of any telephonic or electronic e-mail transmission Notices of Borrowing shall be conclusive on the Funds Administrator, each Borrower and the Lenders in the absence of gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Administrative Agent in connection therewith.

2.3 Settlements Among the Administrative Agent and the Lenders.

(a) Except as provided in Section 2.3(b), the Administrative Agent shall give to each Lender prompt notice of each Notice of Borrowing by telecopy or facsimile transmission. No later than 3:00 p.m. (New York City time) (i) with respect to Base Rate Loans, on the date of receipt of each Notice of Borrowing requesting a Base Rate Loan (unless such Notice of Borrowing specifies the Closing Date as the date of Borrowing, in which case no later than 12:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Closing Date) and (ii) with respect to Eurocurrency Loans, on the date for which a Eurocurrency Loan has been requested, each Lender will make available for the account of its Applicable Lending Office, to the Administrative Agent at the address of the Administrative Agent set forth on Annex I, in immediately available funds, its Proportionate Share of such Borrowing requested to be made. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have been notified by any Lender prior to the date of Borrowing that such Lender does not intend to make available to the Administrative Agent its portion of the Borrowing to be made on such date, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender will make such amount available to the Administrative Agent on the Settlement Date and the Administrative Agent, in reliance upon such assumption, may but shall not be obligated to make available the amount of the Borrowing to be provided by such Lender. If and to the extent such Lender shall not have so made available to the Administrative Agent its Proportionate Share on such date and the Administrative Agent shall have so made available to the Borrowers a corresponding amount on behalf of such Lender, the Administrative Agent may recover such amount on demand from such Lender in accordance with Section 12.9. If such Lender does not pay such corresponding amount promptly upon the Administrative Agent’s demand therefor, the Administrative Agent may promptly notify the Funds Administrator and the Borrowers shall immediately repay such corresponding amount to the Administrative Agent together with accrued interest thereon at the applicable rate or rates provided in Sections 4.1, 4.2, and 4.6.

(b) Unless the Majority Lenders have instructed the Administrative Agent to the contrary, the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders may but shall not be obligated to make Base Rate Loans under Section 2.2 without prior notice of the proposed Borrowing to the Lenders, subject to the following settlement arrangements:

(i) The amount of each Lender’s Proportionate Share of Loans shall be computed weekly (or more frequently in the Administrative Agent’s discretion) and shall be adjusted upward or downward on the basis of the amount of outstanding Loans as of

 

- 50 -


5:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the last Business Day of the period specified by the Administrative Agent (such date, the “Settlement Date”). The Administrative Agent shall deliver to each of the Lenders promptly after the Settlement Date a summary statement of the amount of outstanding Loans for such period. The Lenders shall transfer to the Administrative Agent, or, subject to Section 12.9(c)(i), the Administrative Agent shall transfer to the Lenders, such amounts as are necessary so that (after giving effect to all such transfers) the amount of Loans made by each Lender shall be equal to such Lender’s Proportionate Share of the aggregate amount of Loans outstanding as of such Settlement Date. During a Bankruptcy Default, amounts required to be transferred by the Lenders to the Administrative Agent shall, instead of constituting Loans to the Borrowers, be in the form of participations purchased by the Lenders in the outstanding Loans of DB, acting as Administrative Agent. If the summary statement is received by the Lenders prior to 12:00 p.m. (New York City time) on any Business Day, each Lender shall make the transfers described above in immediately available funds no later than 3:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the day such summary statement was received; and if such summary statement is received by the Lenders after 12:00 p.m. (New York City time) on such day, each Lender shall make such transfers no later than 3:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the next succeeding Business Day. The obligation of each of the Lenders to transfer such funds shall be irrevocable and unconditional and without recourse to or warranty by the Administrative Agent. Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agrees to mark its books and records on the Settlement Date to show at all times the dollar amount of its Proportionate Share of the outstanding Loans.

(ii) To the extent that the settlement described above shall not yet have occurred, upon repayment of Loans by the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent may first apply such amounts repaid directly to the amounts made available by the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.3(b).

(iii) Because the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders may be advancing and/or may be repaid Loans prior to the time when the Lenders will actually advance and/or be repaid Loans, interest with respect to Loans shall be allocated by the Administrative Agent to each Lender and the Administrative Agent in accordance with the amount of Loans actually advanced by and repaid to each Lender and the Administrative Agent and shall accrue from and including the date such Loans are so advanced to but excluding the date such Loans are either repaid by the Borrowers in accordance with Section 2.4 or actually settled by the applicable Lender as described in this Section 2.3(b).

2.4 Mandatory Payment; Mandatory Reduction of Commitments.

(a) Except during an Interim Advance Period, the amount by which the Total Exposure in respect of the Borrowers would exceed the Borrowing Base at any time, shall be immediately due and payable upon any Borrower becoming aware of such overadvance without the necessity of any notice or demand. Repayments of such excess amounts shall be applied, first, to the repayment of Loans, second, to the payment of outstanding reimbursement obligations with respect to Letters of Credit, and, third, to the securing, with cash or Cash Equivalents as provided in Section 10.1 (but without the requirement of any demand provided for in such paragraph), of the Letter of Credit Obligations (in each case to the extent the same are such by virtue of clause (a) of the definition thereof).

 

- 51 -


(b)   (i) On the Expiration Date, the Commitment of each Lender shall automatically reduce to zero and may not be reinstated.

(ii) The Borrowers may reduce or terminate the Line of Credit at any time and from time to time in whole or in part without premium or penalty (except as provided in Section 4.8(b)) by reducing or terminating the Commitments, any such reduction or termination to be pro rata on the amounts at the time of the Commitments; provided that each such reduction must be in an amount not less than $5,000,000 (and in increments of $1,000,000; and provided further that (A) if the Borrowers seek to reduce the Line of Credit to an amount less than $50,000,000, then the Line of Credit shall at the option of the Administrative Agent be reduced to zero and this Agreement shall be terminated and (B) once reduced the amount of any such reductions in the Line of Credit may not be reinstated.

(iii) The amount by which Total Exposure exceeds the aggregate amount of the Commitments at any time shall be immediately due and payable without the necessity of any notice or demand. Repayments of such excess amounts shall be applied, first, to the repayment of Loans, second, to the payment of outstanding reimbursement obligations with respect Letters of Credit, and, third, to the securing, with cash or Cash Equivalents as provided in Section 10.1 (but without the requirement of any demand provided for in such paragraph), of the Letter of Credit Obligations (in each case to the extent the same are such by virtue of clause (a) of the definition thereof).

(c) Simultaneously with any Change of Control, the Commitments shall be reduced to zero and the Borrowers shall prepay, in full, the outstanding principal amount of any outstanding Loans (and cash collateralize any outstanding Letter of Credit Obligations in an amount equal to 105% of the Letter of Credit Obligations), together with all accrued interest, fees, and other expenses incurred by Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Lenders as a result of such prepayment.

(d) On the Business Day on which any Asset Disposition occurs, the Funds Administrator shall deliver to Administrative Agent a Borrowing Base Certificate prepared on a pro forma basis (a “Pro Forma Borrowing Base Certificate”) giving effect to such Asset Disposition and setting forth the value of the Eligible Inventory and Eligible Accounts Receivables previously included in the Borrowing Base and disposed of in such Asset Disposition. On such Business Day, Borrowers shall prepay the Loans in an amount equal to (i) if all of the conditions specified in Section 5.2 are met at such time, the amount by which the Total Exposure exceeds the Borrowing Base as reflected in such Pro Forma Borrowing Base Certificate or (ii) if any condition specified in Section 5.2 is not met at such time, the amount by which the Borrowing Base is reduced as a result of such Asset Sale as reflected in such Pro Forma Borrowing Base Certificate.

 

- 52 -


2.5 Payments and Computations.

(a)      (i) The Borrowers shall, subject, in the case of payments in respect of Letters of Credit, to Section 2.5(a)(ii), make each payment under the Loan Documents and under the Notes not later than 2:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the day when due in Dollars to the Administrative Agent at its address designated in or pursuant to Section 12.3 in immediately available funds. The obligations of the Borrowers to the Lenders with respect to such payments shall be discharged by making such payments to the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.5 or by the Administrative Agent, in its discretion, adding such payments to the principal amount of the Loans outstanding by charging such payments to the applicable Borrower’s Account pursuant to Section 2.6.

(ii) Amounts payable by the Borrowers in respect of any Letter of Credit should be made by the Borrowers to the Administrative Agent until the Funds Administrator shall have received notice from the Administrative Agent that the Administrative Agent has received payments equal to the aggregate amount of all drawings thereunder, plus interest thereon from the date such drawings were disbursed at the L/C Interest Rate.

(b)      (i) The Borrowers shall have established and shall maintain, at one or more financial institutions selected by such Borrower and acceptable to the Administrative Agent, one or more lockboxes and Deposit Accounts and shall instruct all account debtors on the Accounts of such Borrower to remit all payments to such Borrower’s lockboxes or Deposit Accounts. Each Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the applicable financial institutions shall have entered into a Control Agreement providing, among other things, that all receipts in the lockboxes or Deposit Accounts, as applicable, shall be transferred by the end of each day to one of the Credit Parties’ concentration accounts. All amounts received by any Borrower from any account debtor, shall upon receipt be deposited on the Business Day received into a concentration account.

(ii) Each Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each of the financial institutions at which the Credit Parties’ Deposit Accounts that are concentration accounts are maintained selected by such Borrower and acceptable to the Administrative Agent (each a “Concentration Account Bank”) shall enter into a Control Agreement, providing, among other things that (A) Borrowers will maintain a Deposit Account at each Concentration Account Bank, and (B) at the option of Borrowers either (i) upon notice to such Concentration Account Bank from the Administrative Agent (which notice shall not be given by the Administrative Agent except upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default or a Liquidity Event (and it being agreed that prior to the giving of such notice, Borrowers may direct the utilization of funds in such Deposit Account)), or (ii) at all times, all available cash balances and cash receipts, including the then contents or then entire ledger balance of each Deposit Account that is a concentration account shall be transferred each Business Day by ACH or wire transfer to the DB Loan Account.

(c)  Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the applicable Control Agreement, all available amounts held in each Deposit Account that is a concentration account shall, to the extent required by the Control Agreement, be wired each Business Day into an account (the “DB Loan Account”) maintained by the Administrative Agent at DB and applied in accordance with Section 2.5(d).

 

- 53 -


(d)      (i) All amounts received by the Administrative Agent for distribution hereunder shall, subject to Section 2.2(b)(iii), be distributed in the following order and, if to Lenders, according to each Lender’s Proportionate Share with respect to each category set forth below:

first, to the payment of any Fees, Expenses or other Obligations due and payable to the Administrative Agent under any of the Loan Documents, including amounts advanced by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.3(b);

second, to the ratable payment of any Fees and other Obligations due and payable to the Lenders under any of the Loan Documents, other than to a Lender in its capacity as an Issuing Bank and other than those Obligations specifically referred to in this Section 2.5(d)(i).

third, to the ratable payment of interest due on the Loans;

fourth, to the ratable payment of principal due on the Loans;

fifth, to the ratable payment of other Liabilities not specifically referred to in this Section 2.5(d) due and payable to the Lenders (in their capacities as such, and not in their capacity as an Issuing Bank) under the Loan Documents;

sixth, to the ratable payment of other Liabilities not specifically referred to in this Section 2.5(d) due and payable to the Issuing Banks under L/C Applications and Letters of Credit; and

seventh, the balance, if any, to the Person lawfully entitled thereto (including the applicable Credit Party or its successors or assigns) or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

(ii) Each Person receiving a payment from the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.5(d)(i) shall, for all purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, be deemed to have applied that payment in the order specified in Section 2.5(d)(i).

2.6 Maintenance of Account. The Administrative Agent shall maintain a separate account on its books and records in the name of the Funds Administrator (the “Borrowers’ Accounts”) in which each Borrower will be charged or credited with (a) the proceeds, if any, of each Loan received by or for the account of such Borrower, (b) payments made to the Administrative Agent on account of the Obligations of such Borrower, whether from collection of proceeds of Collateral or otherwise, (c) the aggregate face amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit (or an appropriate allocation thereof, if the Letters of Credit are issued for the direct benefit of more than one Borrower) issued for the benefit of such Borrower, and (d) all other Fees, Expenses and other Obligations attributable to such Borrower as determined by

 

- 54 -


Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent will use its best efforts to give the Funds Administrator three (3) days advance notice of such Fees, Expenses and other Obligations in reasonable detail, provided that the failure to provide such notice shall not result in any liability of the Administrative Agent or affect any of the Administrative Agent’s rights hereunder. In no event shall prior recourse to any Accounts or other Collateral be a prerequisite to the Administrative Agent’s right to demand payment of any Obligation upon its maturity.

2.7 Statement of Account. After the end of each month, the Administrative Agent shall send the Funds Administrator a statement accounting for the charges, loans, advances and other transactions occurring among and between the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Funds Administrator and the Borrowers during that month. The monthly statements shall, absent manifest error, be an account stated, which is final, conclusive and binding on the Borrowers; provided that any failure to so record any transaction or any error in so recording shall not limit or otherwise affect any Borrower’s duty to pay the Obligations.

2.8 Net Payments.

(a) All payments made by Borrowers hereunder or under any Loan Document shall be made without setoff, counterclaim, or other defense. To the extent permitted by applicable law, all payments hereunder and under any Loan Document (including, without limitation, any payment of principal, interest, or fees) to, or for the benefit, of any Person shall be made by Borrowers free and clear of and without deduction or withholding for, or account of, any tax, duty, levy, impost, deduction, charge, withholding, or assessment now or hereinafter imposed by any Governmental Authority.

(b) If any Borrower makes any payment hereunder or under any Loan Document in respect of which it is required by law to deduct or withhold any Taxes, such Borrower shall increase the payment hereunder or under any such Loan Document such that after the reduction for the amount of Taxes withheld (and any taxes withheld or imposed with respect to the additional payments required under this Section 2.8(b)) the amount paid to the Lender or Administrative Agent equals the amount that was payable hereunder or under any such Loan Document without regard to this Section 2.8(b). To the extent any Borrower withholds any taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, charges, withholdings, or assessments on payments hereunder or under any Loan Document, such Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority within the time allowed for payment under applicable law and shall deliver to the Administrative Agent within 30 days after it has made payment to such authority a receipt issued by such authority (or other evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) evidencing the payment of all amounts so required to be deducted or withheld from such payment.

(c) If any Lender or Administrative Agent is required by law to make any payments of any Taxes on or in relation to any amounts received or receivable hereunder or under any other Loan Document, or any Tax is assessed against a Lender or Administrative Agent with respect to amounts received or receivable hereunder or under any other Loan Document, each Borrower will indemnify such person against (i) such Tax (and any reasonable counsel fees and expenses associated with such Tax) and (ii) any Taxes imposed as a result of the receipt of the payment under this Section 2.8(c). A certificate prepared in good faith as to the amount of such payment by Lender or Administrative Agent shall, absent manifest error, be final, conclusive, and binding on all parties.

 

- 55 -


(d) (i) To the extent permitted by applicable law, each Lender that is a Non-U.S. Participant shall deliver to the Funds Administrator and Administrative Agent on or prior to the Initial Borrowing Date (or in the case of a Lender that is an Assignee, on the date of such assignment to such Lender) two accurate and complete original signed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN, W-8ECI, or W-8IMY (or any successor or other applicable form prescribed by the IRS) certifying to such Lender’s entitlement to a complete exemption from, or a reduced rate in, United States withholding tax on interest payments to be made under this Agreement or any Note. If a Lender that is a Non-U.S. Participant is claiming a complete exemption from withholding on interest pursuant to Section 881(c) of the Code, the Lender shall deliver (along with two accurate and complete original signed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.8(d)(i) (any such certificate, a “Section 2.8(d)(i) Certificate”). In addition, each Lender that is a Non-U.S. Participant agrees that from time to time after the Initial Borrowing Date, (or in the case of a Lender that is an Assignee, after the date of the assignment to such Lender), when a lapse in time (or change in circumstances occurs) renders the prior certificates hereunder obsolete or inaccurate in any material respect, such Lender shall, to the extent permitted under applicable law, deliver to the Funds Administrator and Administrative Agent two new and accurate and complete original signed copies of an IRS Form W-8BEN, W-8ECI, or W-8IMY (or any successor or other applicable forms prescribed by the IRS), and if applicable, a new Section 2.8(d)(i) Certificate, to confirm or establish the entitlement to such Lender or Administrative Agent to an exemption from, or reduction in, United States withholding tax on interest payments to be made under this Agreement or any Note.

(e) Each Lender that is not a Non-U.S. Participant (other than any such Lender which is taxed as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) shall provide two properly completed and duly executed copies of IRS Form W-9 (or any successor or other applicable form) to Funds Administrator and Administrative Agent certifying to such Lender or Administrative Agent is exempt from United States backup withholding tax. To the extent that a form provided pursuant to this Section 2.8(e) is rendered obsolete or inaccurate in any material respects as result of change in circumstances with respect to the status of a Lender or Administrative Agent, such Lender or Administrative Agent shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, deliver to Funds Administrator and Administrative Agent revised forms necessary to confirm or establish the entitlement to such Lender’s or Administrative Agent’s exemption from United States backup withholding tax.

2.9 Sharing of Payments. (a) (i) If any Lender (including a Lender in its capacity as an Issuing Bank) shall obtain any payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, and whether through the exercise of any right of set-off by virtue of its claim in any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar proceeding being deemed secured by a liability owed by it to any Credit Party, including a claim deemed secured under Section 506 of the Bankruptcy Code, or otherwise) (each a “Payment”), on account of (A) the Loans made by it, (B) its L/C Participations or (C) any of the other Obligations due and payable to it in excess of its Proportionate Share of payments on account of the Loans or L/C Participations or such other Obligations obtained by all the Lenders, such Lender shall forthwith purchase from the other

 

- 56 -


Lenders such participations in the Loans made by them, in their participation in Letters of Credit or their other such Obligations as shall be then due and payable as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender to share the excess payment ratably with each of them; however, provided that if all or any portion of such excess payment is thereafter recovered from such purchasing Lender, such purchase from each Lender shall be rescinded and each such Lender shall repay to the purchasing Lender the purchase price to the extent of such recovery together with an amount equal to such Lender’s ratable share (according to the proportion of (1) the amount of such Lender’s required repayment to (2) the total amount so recovered from the purchasing Lender) of any interest or other amount paid or payable by the purchasing Lender in respect to the total amount so recovered. Each Borrower agrees that any Lender so purchasing a participation from another Lender pursuant to this Section 2.9 may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, exercise all of its rights of payment (including the right of set-off) with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were the direct creditor of such Borrower in the amount of such participation.

(ii) For purposes of this Section 2.9, the unreimbursed drawings under Letters of Credit issued by an Issuing Bank shall be deemed to constitute “Loans” made by such Issuing Bank, and such Issuing Bank agrees that it shall apply all Payments received by it in its capacity as an Issuing Bank to the payment or the collateralization of the Liabilities of the Borrowers to it that constitute unreimbursed drawings under Letters of Credit issued by it before applying them to any other Liabilities due it.

(b) If an Issuing Bank is an Affiliate of a Lender, such Lender shall cause such Affiliate to comply with the provisions of subsection (a) of Section 2.9 as fully as though such Affiliate were a Lender subject to such subsection.

2.10 Increase in Commitments. (a) So long as no Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Funds Administrator, on behalf of the Borrowers, shall have the right at any time, and from time to time, to request an increase of the aggregate total Commitments by up to $25,000,000 to an amount not to exceed $140,000,000. Any such requested increase shall be first made to all existing Lenders on a pro rata basis. To the extent that the existing Lenders decline to increase their Commitments, or decline to increase their Commitments to the amount requested by the Funds Administrator, the Administrative Agent may arrange for existing Lenders (and/or other Persons to become a Lender hereunder) to issue new or additional commitments in an amount equal to the amount of the increase in the Total Commitments requested by the Funds Administrator and not accepted by the existing Lenders (each such increase by either means, a “Commitment Increase”, and each such Person issuing, or Lender increasing, its Commitment, an “Additional Commitment Lender”); provided, however, that (i) no Lender shall be obligated to provide a Commitment Increase as a result of any such request by the Funds Administrator, and (ii) any Additional Commitment Lender which is not an existing Lender shall be an Eligible Assignee and shall be subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent, and the Funds Administrator (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld). Each Commitment Increase shall be in a minimum aggregate amount of at least $10,000,000.

 

- 57 -


(b) No Commitment Increase shall become effective unless and until each of the following conditions have been satisfied:

(i) the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, and any Additional Commitment Lender shall have executed and delivered a joinder to the Loan Documents in such form as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require and the Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent to execute such joinder to the Loan Documents on behalf of Lenders;

(ii) the Borrowers shall have paid such fees and other compensation, if any, to the Additional Commitment Lenders as the Borrowers and each such Additional Commitment Lenders may agree;

(iii) the Borrowers shall have paid such arrangement fees to the Administrative Agent as the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent may agree;

(iv) the Borrowers shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders an opinion or opinions, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, from counsel to the Borrowers reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (it being agreed that the counsel that delivers the legal opinions on the Closing Date shall be satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) and dated such date;

(v) to the extent requested by any Additional Commitment Lender or any existing Lender increasing its Commitment, a promissory note will be issued at the Borrowers’ expense, to each such Lender and Additional Commitment Lender, to be in conformity with requirements of Section 2.1 (with appropriate modification) to the extent necessary to reflect the new Commitment of such Lender and Additional Commitment Lender; and

(vi) the Borrowers and the Additional Commitment Lenders shall have delivered such other instruments, documents and agreements as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.

(c) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender as to the effectiveness of each Commitment Increase (with each date of such effectiveness being referred to herein as a “Commitment Increase Date”), and at such time (i) the aggregate total Commitments under, and for all purposes of, this Agreement shall be increased by the aggregate amount of such Commitment Increases, (ii) Annex I shall be deemed modified, without further action, to reflect the revised Commitments of the Lenders, and (iii) this Agreement shall be deemed amended, without further action, to the extent necessary to reflect such increased Total Commitments.

(d) In connection with Commitment Increases hereunder, the Lenders and the Borrowers agree that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (i) the Borrowers shall, in coordination with the Administrative Agent, (A) prepay outstanding Loans of certain Lenders from the proceeds of Loans from certain other Lenders (including the Additional Commitment Lenders), or (B) take such other actions as reasonably may be required by the Administrative Agent, in each case to the extent necessary so that all of the Lenders effectively

 

- 58 -


participate in each of the outstanding Loans pro rata on the basis of their Proportionate Shares (determined after giving effect to any increase in the Total Commitments pursuant to this Section 2.10), and (ii) the Borrowers shall pay to the Lenders when due any costs of the type referred to in Section 4.9 in connection with any repayment and/or Loans required pursuant to preceding clause (i). The Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereby agree that the minimum borrowing, pro rata borrowing and pro rata payments requirements contained elsewhere in this Agreement shall not apply to the transactions effected pursuant to this Section 2.10(d). Without limiting the obligations of the Borrowers provided for in this Section 2.10, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agree that they will use their commercially reasonable efforts to attempt to minimize the costs of the type referred to in Section 4.9 which the Borrowers would otherwise occur in connection with the implementation of an increase in the Total Commitments.

ARTICLE III

LETTERS OF CREDIT

3.1 Issuance of Letters of Credit. (a) The Funds Administrator may from time to time request the Administrative Agent to direct an Issuing Bank to issue a Letter of Credit for the account of a Borrower. All such Letters of Credit shall be denominated in Dollars. No such request shall be granted if, after such issuance:

(i) (A) Total Exposure would exceed the lesser of (1) the Line of Credit and (2) the Borrowing Base or (B) Letter of Credit Obligations would exceed $30,000,000 or (C) any Lender’s Exposure would exceed its Commitment;

(ii)    (A) (1) any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall enjoin or restrain such Borrower from procuring, such Issuing Bank from issuing, or a Lender from acquiring an L/C Participation in, such Letter of Credit, or (2) any Requirement of Law applicable to such Borrower, such Issuing Bank or a Lender or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over such Borrower, such Issuing Bank or a Lender shall prohibit, or request that, any such Person refrain from procuring, issuing or acquiring an L/C Participation in, such Letter of Credit, as applicable, or, from performing its obligations under such Letter of Credit or its L/C Participation thereunder, as applicable;

(B) any Requirement of Law applicable to such Issuing Bank or a Lender or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over such Issuing Bank or a Lender shall impose upon such Issuing Bank or such Lender (1) any restriction or reserve or capital requirement or (2) any cost or expense with respect to, in the case of such Issuing Bank, such Letter of Credit and, in the case of such Lender, such L/C Participation (for which such Issuing Bank or such Lender shall not otherwise be compensated) not in effect as of the Closing Date, and which such Issuing Bank or such Lender deems in good faith to be material to it;

(iii) any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, unless the Administrative Agent and Issuing Bank have entered into satisfactory arrangements with the Borrowers to

 

- 59 -


eliminate the Administrative Agent’s and such Issuing Bank’s risk with respect to such Lender, including cash collateralization of such Lender’s Proportionate Share of Letter of Credit Obligations; or

(iv) Administrative Agent has determined that any of the conditions set forth in Section 5.2 shall not be satisfied.

(b) The Administrative Agent may assume, as to any Borrower, any Issuing Bank and any Lender, that none of the conditions specified in Section 3.1(a) are applicable as to such Person, unless the Administrative Agent shall have received a notice from such Person specifically entitled “Notice under Section 3.1(a),” specifying the condition or conditions that are applicable to such Person. Any such notice shall continue in effect until the Administrative Agent shall have received from the Person originally sending such notice a subsequent notice, entitled “Revocation of Notice under Section 3.1(a),” stating that the condition or conditions specified in such Person’s earlier notice are no longer applicable.

3.2 Procedure for Issuance. (a) The Funds Administrator may from time to time request the Administrative Agent to direct the issuance of a Letter of Credit by delivering to the Administrative Agent, with a copy to the applicable Issuing Bank, a Letter of Credit Request in the form of Exhibit 3.2(a) to this Agreement, not later than 1:00 p.m. (New York City time) at least three (3) Business Days (or such shorter period as may be agreed to by the Administrative Agent and the applicable Issuing Bank) in advance of the proposed date of issuance. Prior to date of issuance or in conjunction with the submission of a Letter of Credit Request, the Funds Administrator shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the applicable Issuing Bank a precise description of the format of the Letter of Credit or information and documents adequate to allow for the Issuing Bank to prepare the requested Letter of Credit and shall specify that the only drawings permitted under the Letter of Credit shall be sight drawings. The Issuing Bank shall not issue any Letter of Credit until it has received authorization to do so from the Administrative Agent. Promptly after the issuance or amendment of any standby Letter of Credit, the Issuing Bank shall notify the Administrative Agent and the Funds Administrator, in writing, of such issuance or amendment and such notice shall be accompanied by a copy of such issuance and amendment. Upon receipt of such notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders, in writing, of such issuance or amendment, and if so requested by a Lender the Administrative Agent shall provide such Lender with copies of such issuance or amendment. With regards to Commercial Letters of Credit, the Issuing Bank shall on the first Business Day of each week, provide to the Administrative Agent by facsimile a report detailing the daily aggregate outstanding Commercial Letters of Credit for the previous week.

(b) The transmittal by the Funds Administrator of each Letter of Credit Request shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty made by each of the Borrowers, both at the time of such transmittal and at the time of the issuance of the requested Letter of Credit, that the Letter of Credit may be issued in accordance with and will not violate any of the requirements of Section 3.1.

 

- 60 -


3.3 Terms of Letters of Credit. The Administrative Agent shall not direct the issuance of any Letter of Credit unless:

(a) if it is a standby Letter of Credit, its term does not exceed one year from the date of issuance (except that any such Letter of Credit may provide for annual renewals on terms reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank);

(b) if it is a Commercial Letter of Credit, its term does not exceed 180 days;

(c) in the case of any Letter of Credit, it expires no later than thirty (30) Business Days prior to the Expiration Date.

3.4 Lenders’ Participation. (a) Immediately upon issuance by any Issuing Bank of a Letter of Credit, each Lender shall be deemed to have irrevocably and unconditionally acquired from such Issuing Bank, without recourse or warranty, an undivided interest and participation (an “L/C Participation”), to the extent of such Lender’s Proportionate Share, in such Issuing Bank’s rights to be paid the principal amount of, together with interest accrued on, drawings under such Letter of Credit and in any security therefor or Guaranty pertaining thereto.

(b)      (i) Each Issuing Bank shall, subject to Section 3.4(c), remit to the Administrative Agent, for the account of each Lender such Lender’s Proportionate Share of each payment of principal and interest (to the extent such interest does not exceed the L/C Interest Rate) received by such Issuing Bank on account of any drawing under such Letter of Credit (A) with respect to which such Issuing Bank has delivered an L/C Notice of Drawing to the Administrative Agent during a Bankruptcy Default and (B) that is received by such Issuing Bank on or after the date of such L/C Notice of Drawing; provided, that in the event that any such payment received by any Issuing Bank shall be required to be returned by such Issuing Bank, such Lender shall return to such Issuing Bank the portion thereof previously distributed by it to the Administrative Agent, but without interest thereon (unless such Issuing Bank is required to pay interest on the amount returned, in which case such Lender shall be required to pay interest at the same rate).

(ii)     (A) Payments required to be made by any Issuing Bank to the Administrative Agent for the account of a Lender, together with interest thereon at the rate specified in Section 3.4(b)(ii)(B), shall be made to the Administrative Agent, if the amount in respect of which the payment is to be made to the Administrative Agent is received by such Issuing Bank on or before 1:00 p.m. (New York City time) of such Issuing Bank’s time on a Business Day, on the day received and, if received after such time, on or before 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) of such Issuing Bank’s time, on the next succeeding Business Day.

(B) Interest shall be payable by each Issuing Bank on amounts required to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 3.4(b)(ii)(A) from the date such payments are due until such amounts are paid in full at, for the first three Business Days, the Federal Funds Rate, and, thereafter, the Base Rate.

(c) Until an Issuing Bank shall have received from a Lender, or the Administrative Agent on behalf of such Lender, payment in full of the amount required to be paid by such Lender to such Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 3.6(b)(ii), such Issuing Bank may hold all amounts otherwise payable by it to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender pursuant to Section 3.4(b)(i) as collateral to secure such Lender’s obligation to make such payment to it.

 

- 61 -


3.5 Maturity of Drawings; Interest Thereon. (a) Drawings under any Letter of Credit shall, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained therein, mature and become due and payable, and shall be repaid to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Issuing Bank by the Borrowers in full, together with interest accrued thereon, from the date and at the rate specified in Section 3.5(b), on the Effective Date of the L/C Notice of Drawing in respect of such drawing.

(b) Borrowers shall, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Letter of Credit, pay interest on the outstanding principal amount of each drawing under such Letter of Credit at a rate per annum equal to the rate set forth in Section 4.2 (the “L/C Interest Rate”) from the date such drawing is disbursed by the applicable Issuing Bank to the date such drawing is reimbursed by the Borrowers. Interest on each such drawing shall be payable when such drawing shall be due (whether at maturity, by reason of acceleration or otherwise) and, prior to such time, on demand.

3.6 Payment of Amounts Drawn Under Letters of Credit; Funding of L/C Participations. In the event of any drawing under any Letter of Credit, the applicable Issuing Bank may deliver an L/C Notice of Drawing to the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent shall:

(a) unless a Bankruptcy Default exists, treat each L/C Notice of Drawing on its Effective Date as a Notice of Borrowing requesting Base Rate Loans in a principal amount equal to the amount of such drawing plus interest on the amount of such drawing at the L/C Interest Rate from the day such drawing was disbursed until the date of such L/C Notice of Drawing (unless such drawing was disbursed and repaid on the same day, in which case interest shall be payable for such day); and each such L/C Notice of Drawing shall have the same force and effect as a Notice of Borrowing given by the Funds Administrator for and on behalf of the Borrowers, except that the conditions to borrowing specified in Section 2.2 and Section 5.2 (other than that a Bankruptcy Default shall not exist) shall not apply;

(b)     (i)      (A) during a Bankruptcy Default, on the Effective Date of an L/C Notice of Drawing, notify (an “L/C Participation Funding Notice”) each Lender of the amount of such drawing, and of interest accrued thereon at the L/C Interest Rate from the date specified in such L/C Notice of Drawing as the date such drawing was disbursed by the applicable Issuing Bank to the L/C Participation Funding Date and of such Lender’s Proportionate Share of such amount (an “L/C Participation Funding Amount”).

(B) The Administrative Agent shall give an L/C Participation Funding Notice to each Lender not later than 3:00 p.m. (New York City time) time on the day the Administrative Agent receives an L/C Notice of Drawing, if such Notice of Drawing was received by it at or before 12:00 Noon (New York City time) on a Business Day and, if not, not later than 12:00 Noon (New York City time) on the next succeeding Business Day.

 

- 62 -


(ii) Each Lender shall make available to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the applicable Issuing Bank an amount equal to such Lender’s L/C Participation Funding Amount in immediately available funds, not later than 1:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Business Day (the “L/C Participation Funding Date”) next succeeding the date of the applicable L/C Participation Funding Notice, together with interest on such amount from the L/C Participation Funding Date until such amount is paid in full at, for the first three Business Days, the Federal Funds Rate and, thereafter, the Base Rate.

(iii) In the event that any Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s L/C Participation Funding Amount as provided in Section 3.6(b)(ii), the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, fund the amount of such Lender’s L/C Participation Funding Amount and recover such amount on demand from such Lender in accordance with Section 12.9.

(iv) The Administrative Agent shall distribute to each Lender which has paid all amounts payable by it under this Section 3.6(b) with respect to any Letter of Credit such Lender’s Proportionate Share of all payments subsequently received by the Administrative Agent from or for the account of the Borrowers in reimbursement of the principal amount of all drawings thereunder plus interest thereon from the date such drawings were disbursed at the L/C Interest Rate, provided that in the event that any such payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of any Issuing Bank shall be required to be returned by the Administrative Agent, such Lender shall return to the Administrative Agent the portion thereof previously distributed by the Administrative Agent to it, but without interest thereon (unless the Administrative Agent or such Issuing Bank is required to pay interest on the amount returned, in which case the Lender shall be required to pay interest at the same rate).

(v) If a Bankruptcy Default occurs at or after the time the Administrative Agent receives an L/C Notice of Drawing and before the Administrative Agent has given the applicable L/C Participation Funding Notice, or, if it has given such notice, before all of the Lenders have funded their L/C Participation Funding Amounts, a Bankruptcy Default shall be deemed to “exist”, and the provisions of Section 3.6(b) shall be applicable.

3.7 Nature of Issuing Bank’s Duties. In determining whether to pay under any Letter of Credit, the Issuing Bank issuing such Letter of Credit shall be responsible only to determine that the documents and certificates required to be delivered under such Letter of Credit have been delivered and that they comply on their face with the requirements of such Letter of Credit. As between the Borrowers, any Issuing Bank and each Lender, the Borrowers assume all risks of the acts and omissions of any Issuing Bank except to the extent such action or omission constitutes gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, or misuse of any Letter of Credit by the respective beneficiaries of such Letter of Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, neither any Issuing Bank, the Administrative Agent nor any of the Lenders shall be responsible (a) for the validity, accuracy, genuineness or legal effects of any document submitted by any party in connection with the application for and issuance of or any drawing honored under any Letter of Credit even if it should in fact prove to be in any or all respects invalid, insufficient, inaccurate, fraudulent or forged, (b) for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign any Letter of Credit, or the rights or benefits thereunder or

 

- 63 -


proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason, (c) for failure of the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit to strictly comply with conditions required in order to draw upon such Letter of Credit, (d) for errors, omissions, interruptions or delays in transmission or delivery of any messages, by mail, cable, telegraph, telex, telecopy, facsimile or otherwise, whether or not they be in cipher, (e) for errors in interpretation of technical terms, (f) for any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of an document required in order to make a drawing under any Letter of Credit, or of the proceeds thereof and (g) for the misapplication by the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of the proceeds of any drawing honored under such Letter of Credit. Any action taken or omitted to be taken by any Issuing Bank under or in connection with any Letter of Credit shall not create any liability on the part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to any Borrower except to the extent such action or omission constitutes gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.

3.8 Obligations Absolute. The joint and several obligations of the Borrowers to reimburse each Issuing Bank for drawings honored under a Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank, together with interest as herein provided, and the obligations of the Lenders under Section 3.6 shall be unconditional and irrevocable and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, without any reduction or deduction whatsoever, including any reduction or deduction for any set-off, recoupment or counterclaim, under all circumstances including the following circumstances:

(a) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit;

(b) the existence of any claim, set-off, defense or other right which any Borrower or any Affiliate of any Borrower may have at any time against a beneficiary or any transferee of any Letter of Credit (or any Persons for whom any such beneficiary or transferee may be acting), the applicable Issuing Bank, any Lender or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated herein or any unrelated transaction;

(c) any draft, demand, certificate or any other documents presented under any Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent or invalid in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect;

(d) the surrender or impairment of any security for the performance or observance of any of the terms of any of the Loan Documents;

(e) payment by the applicable Issuing Bank under any Letter of Credit against presentation of a demand, draft or certificate or other document which does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit (provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse the Issuing Bank from liability to any Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to consequential damages) suffered by any Borrower that are caused by the Issuing Bank’s failure to exercise care when determining whether drafts and other documents under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof);

 

- 64 -


(f) failure of any drawing under a Letter of Credit or any non-application or misapplication by the beneficiary of the proceeds of any drawing; or

(g) the fact that an Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

provided that no payment by a Borrower or a Lender to any Issuing Bank shall constitute a waiver or release by such Borrower or such Lender of any right it may have against such Issuing Bank, including, in the case of a Borrower, a claim that such Issuing Bank acted with willful misconduct or gross negligence as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in determining whether documents presented under a Letter of Credit complied with the terms of such Letter of Credit.

3.9 Outstanding Letter of Credit. The letter of credit set forth under the caption “Letter of Credit outstanding on the Closing Date” on Schedule 3.9 was issued prior to the Closing Date pursuant to the Existing Credit Agreement and will remain outstanding as of the Closing Date (the “Outstanding Letter of Credit”). The Borrowers, each Issuing Bank and each of the Lenders hereby agree with respect to the Outstanding Letter of Credit that such Outstanding Letter of Credit, for all purposes under this Agreement, shall from and after the Closing Date, be deemed to be a Letter of Credit governed by the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Each Lender further agrees to participate in such Outstanding Letter of Credit to the extent of its Proportionate Share of such Outstanding Letter of Credit.

ARTICLE IV

INTEREST, FEES AND EXPENSES

4.1 Interest on Eurocurrency Loans. Subject to the provisions of Section 4.6, each Eurocurrency Loan shall bear interest on its unpaid principal amount at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Eurocurrency Rate plus the Applicable Margin, as the same may be adjusted pursuant to the provisions of the definition of Applicable Margin. Such interest shall be payable on the last day of each Interest Period with respect to such Eurocurrency Loan (or, in the case of Interest Periods in excess of three months, on each three month anniversary of the making of such Eurocurrency Loan and the last day of such Interest Period), at the date of Conversion of such Eurocurrency Loan (or a portion thereof) to a Base Rate Loan and at maturity of such Eurocurrency Loan, and after maturity of such Eurocurrency Loan (whether by acceleration or otherwise), upon demand. The Administrative Agent upon determining the Eurocurrency Rate for any Interest Period shall promptly notify the Funds Administrator and the Lenders by telephone (confirmed promptly in writing) or in writing thereof. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

4.2 Interest on Base Rate Loans. Subject to the provisions of Section 4.6, each Base Rate Loan shall bear interest on its unpaid principal amount at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin, as the same may be adjusted pursuant to the provisions of the definition of Applicable Margin. Such interest shall be payable quarterly as of the end of each Fiscal Quarter, at the date of conversion of such Base Rate Loan (or a portion thereof) to a

 

- 65 -


Eurocurrency Loan and at maturity of such Base Rate Loan, and after maturity of such Base Rate Loan (whether by acceleration or otherwise), upon demand. In the event of any change in said Base Rate, the rate hereunder shall change, effective as of the day the Base Rate changes. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of any interest rate hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

4.3 Notice of Continuation and Notice of Conversion.

(a) With respect to any Borrowing consisting of Eurocurrency Loans, the Borrowers may (so long as no Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, subject to the provisions of Section 4.3(c)), elect to maintain such Borrowing or any portion thereof as consisting of Eurocurrency Loans by selecting a new Interest Period for such Borrowing, which new Interest Period shall commence on the last day of the immediately preceding Interest Period. Each selection of a new Interest Period (a “Continuation”) shall be made by notice given not later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the date of any such Continuation relating to Eurocurrency Loans, by the Funds Administrator to the Administrative Agent. Such notice by the Funds Administrator of a Continuation (a “Notice of Continuation”) shall be in substantially the form of Exhibit 4.3(a), specifying (i) the date of such Continuation, (ii) the aggregate amount of Loans subject to such Continuation and (iii) the duration of the selected Interest Period, all of which shall be specified in such manner as is necessary to comply with all limitations on Loans outstanding hereunder. The Borrowers may elect to continue more than one Borrowing consisting of Eurocurrency Loans by combining such Borrowings into one Borrowing and selecting a new Interest Period pursuant to this Section 4.3(a); provided that each of the Borrowings so combined shall consist of Loans having Interest Periods ending on the same date. If the Borrowers shall fail to select a new Interest Period for any Borrowing consisting of Eurocurrency Loans in accordance with this Section 4.3(a), such Loans will automatically, on the last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, Convert into Base Rate Loans.

(b) The Borrowers may on any Business Day (so long as no Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default has occurred and is continuing), upon notice (each such notice, a “Notice of Conversion”) given by the Funds Administrator to the Administrative Agent, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.3(c), Convert the entire amount of or a portion of all Loans of one Type comprising the same Borrowing into Loans of another Type; provided however that any Conversion of any Eurocurrency Loans into Loans of another Type shall be made on, and only on, the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurocurrency Loans and, upon Conversion of any Loans into Loans of another Type, the Borrowers shall pay accrued interest to the date of Conversion on the principal amount Converted. Each such Notice of Conversion shall be given not later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the date of any proposed Conversion into Base Rate Loans and on the third Business Day prior to the date of any proposed Conversion into Eurocurrency Rate Loans. Subject to the restrictions specified above, each Notice of Conversion shall be in substantially the form of Exhibit 4.3(b) hereto specifying (i) the requested date of such Conversion, (ii) the Type of Loans to be Converted, (iii) the portion of such Type of Loan to be Converted, (iv) the Type of Loan such Loans are to be Converted into and (v) if such Conversion is into Eurocurrency Loans, the duration of the Interest Period of such Loan. Each Conversion shall be in an aggregate amount for the Loans of all Lenders of not less than $2,000,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. The Borrowers may elect to

 

- 66 -


Convert the entire amount of or a portion of all Loans of one Type comprising more than one Borrowing into Loans of another Type by combining such Borrowings into one Borrowing consisting of Loans of another Type; provided that if the Borrowings so combined consist of Eurocurrency Loans, such Loans shall have Interest Periods ending on the same date.

(c) Notwithstanding anything contained in subsections (a) and (b) above or elsewhere in this Agreement to the contrary,

(i)    (A) if the Administrative Agent is unable to determine the Eurocurrency Rate for Eurocurrency Loans comprising any requested Borrowing, Continuation or Conversion, the right of the Borrowers to select or maintain Eurocurrency Loans for such Borrowing or any subsequent Borrowing shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent shall notify the Funds Administrator and the Lenders that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist, and each Loan comprising such Borrowing shall be a Loan of a Type that is unaffected by such circumstances, as selected by the Borrowers pursuant to this Agreement;

(B) if a Lender shall, at any time, notify the Administrative Agent that, because of a change in applicable law after the date such Lender became a Lender, it has become unlawful for such Lender to participate in any requested Borrowing, Continuation or Conversion of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, to continue its Eurocurrency Rate Loans, or to comply with its obligations hereunder in respect thereof, that Lender’s obligation to participate in any such requested Borrowing, Continuation or Conversion shall be discharged by such Lender’s making its participation therein in the form of a Base Rate Loan, and any of such Lender’s Eurocurrency Loans not otherwise being converted shall be converted into Base Rate Loans on the earlier of (1) the last day of the applicable Interest Period and (2) the last day such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain Eurocurrency Loans, provided that any Base Rate Loan that, but for this clause (B), would have been a Eurocurrency Loan shall constitute part of the Borrowing of which any such Eurocurrency Loan was or would have been a part;

(ii) if the Majority Lenders shall, at least one Business Day before the date of any requested Borrowing, Continuation or Conversion, notify the Administrative Agent that the Eurocurrency Rate for Loans comprising such Borrowing will not adequately reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or funding their respective Loans for such Borrowing, the right of the Borrowers to select Eurocurrency Loans for such Borrowing shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent shall notify the Funds Administrator and the Lenders that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist, and each Loan comprising such Borrowing shall be a Loan of a Type that is unaffected by such circumstances, as selected by the Borrowers pursuant to this Agreement; and

(iii) there shall not be, at any one time, more than six Interest Periods in effect with respect to Eurocurrency Rate Loans.

(d) Each Notice of Continuation and Notice of Conversion shall be irrevocable (subject to Section 4.3(c)) by and binding on the Borrowers.

 

- 67 -


4.4 Computation of Interest and Fees. Interest on all Loans and fees payable hereunder shall be computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over a year of 360 days; provided that interest on all Base Rate Loans shall be computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be. Each determination of an interest rate by Administrative Agent pursuant to any provision of this Agreement shall be conclusive and binding on Company and its Subsidiaries and the Lenders in the absence of manifest error. Administrative Agent shall, at any time and from time to time upon request of Company, deliver to Company a statement showing the quotations used by Administrative Agent in determining any interest rate applicable to Loans pursuant to this Agreement

4.5 Interest Periods. At the time it gives any Notice of Borrowing or a Notice of Conversion or Notice of Continuation with respect to Eurocurrency Loans, Borrowers shall elect, by giving Administrative Agent written notice, the interest period (each an “Interest Period”) which Interest Period shall, at the option of the Borrowers, be one, two, three, six or if available to each of the applicable Lenders (as determined by each such applicable Lender in its sole discretion) any other period acceptable to the Administrative Agent; provided that:

(a) all Eurocurrency Loans comprising a Borrowing shall at all times have the same Interest Period;

(b) the initial Interest Period for any Eurocurrency Loan shall commence on the date of such Borrowing of such Eurocurrency Loan (including the date of any conversion thereto from a Loan of a different Type) and each Interest Period occurring thereafter in respect of such Eurocurrency Loan shall commence on the last day of the immediately preceding Interest Period;

(c) if any Interest Period relating to a Eurocurrency Loan begins on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period, such Interest Period shall end on the last Business Day of such calendar month;

(d) if any Interest Period would otherwise expire on a day which is not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall expire on the next succeeding Business Day; provided, however, that if any Interest Period for a Eurocurrency Loan would otherwise expire on a day which is not a Business Day but is a day of the month after which no further Business Day occurs in such month, such Interest Period shall expire on the next preceding Business Day;

(e) no Interest Period may be selected at any time when an Unmatured Event of Default or Event of Default is then in existence; and

(f) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Expiration Date for any Loan.

4.6 Interest After Event of Default. Notwithstanding the rates of interest specified herein, (i) effective after the occurrence and continuance of any Event of Default (other than the failure to pay Obligations when due) and notice from Administrative Agent or the Majority Lenders and for so long thereafter as any such Event of Default shall be continuing or not waived, and (ii) effective immediately upon any failure to pay any Obligations or any other amounts due under any of the Loan Documents when due, whether by acceleration or otherwise,

 

- 68 -


the principal balance of each Loan then outstanding and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any interest payment on each Loan not paid when due or other amounts then due and payable shall bear interest payable on demand, after as well as before judgment at a rate per annum equal to the rate at which the Loans are bearing interest pursuant to Section 4.2 above, plus two percent (2.0%). In the event of any change in said applicable interest rate, the rate hereunder shall change, effective as of the day the applicable interest rate changes, so as to remain two percent (2.0%) per annum above the then applicable interest rate.

4.7 Unused Line Fees. The Borrowers shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Lenders, a non-refundable fee (the Unused Line Fee) equal to three-eighths of one percent (0.375%) per annum of the unused portion of the Line of Credit (with any outstanding Letter of Credit Obligations constituting usage of the Line of Credit). The Unused Line Fee shall accrue daily from the Closing Date until the Expiration Date, and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears, on the first Business Day of each Fiscal Quarter, beginning on October 1, 2006, and on the Expiration Date.

4.8 Letter of Credit Fees. (a) The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to charge to the account of the Funds Administrator on each Quarterly Payment Date, a fee for the ratable benefit of the Lenders for distribution to each Lender, in an amount equal to the Applicable Margin for Eurocurrency Loans on the daily undrawn amounts outstanding during the immediately preceding Fiscal Quarter; provided that from the date an Event of Default occurs, and at all times thereafter until the earlier of the date upon which (A) all Obligations have been paid and satisfied in full and (B) such Event of Default shall not be continuing, such fee shall be equal to two (2%) percent per annum above the Applicable Margin, otherwise applicable hereunder and shall be payable on demand (such fees, the “Letter of Credit Fees”); and

(b) The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to charge to the account of the Funds Administrator on each Quarterly Payment Date, a fee for the benefit of DB, as Issuing Bank equal to the greater of (x) $500 per annum and (y) 0.125% per annum with respect to all Letters of Credit on the daily undrawn amounts outstanding during the immediately preceding Fiscal Quarter (the “Fronting Fee”). In addition to the Fronting Fee, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to charge the account of the Funds Administrator, as and when incurred, the customary charges, fees, costs and expenses of DB, as Issuing Bank for the issuance, transfer, amendment or payment of any Letter of Credit (the “Issuing Bank Fees”). The Funds Administrator shall pay Fronting Fees and Issuing Bank Fees directly to any Issuing Bank other than DB. Each determination of the Fronting Fee and Issuing Bank Fees shall be made by the Issuing Bank and shall be conclusive and binding for purposes of Administrative Agent’s right to collect and distribute such fees, absent manifest error.

4.9 Intentionally Omitted.

4.10 Authorization to Charge Borrowers’ Accounts. Each Borrower hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to charge the account of any Borrower maintained with the Administrative Agent with the amount of all Fees, Expenses and other payments to be paid hereunder, under the Fee Letter and under the other Loan Documents as and when such payments become due and agrees that it shall pay interest thereon from the date such amount is to be charged to such Borrower’s Account to the date the same is paid (whether by the making of

 

- 69 -


a Loan or otherwise) at the then applicable rate for Base Rate Loans. Each Borrower confirms that any charges which the Administrative Agent may so make to such Borrower’s Account as herein provided will be made as an accommodation to the Borrowers and solely at the Administrative Agent’s discretion. The Administrative Agent will use its best efforts to give the Funds Administrator five (5) Business Days advance notice of such Fees, Expenses and other payments in reasonable detail, provided that the failure to provide such notice shall not result in any liability of the Administrative Agent.

4.11 Compensation for Funding Losses. The Borrowers shall compensate each Lender, upon its written request (which request shall set forth the basis for requesting such amounts), for all losses, expenses and liabilities (including, without limitation, any interest paid by such Lender to lenders of funds borrowed by it to make or carry its Eurocurrency Loans to the extent not recovered by the Lender in connection with the liquidation or re-employment of such funds (but not failure to receive the Applicable Margin with respect to Eurocurrency Loans) and including the compensation payable by such Lender to a Participant) and any loss sustained by such Lender in connection with the liquidation or re-employment of such funds (including, without limitation, a return on such liquidation or re-employment that would result in such Lender receiving less than it would have received had such Eurocurrency Loan remained outstanding until the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Eurocurrency Loans) which such Lender may sustain as a result of:

(a) for any reason (other than a default by such Lender or Administrative Agent) a continuation or Borrowing of, or conversion from or into, Eurocurrency Loans does not occur on a date specified therefor in a Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion or Notice of Continuation (whether or not withdrawn);

(b) any payment, prepayment or conversion or continuation of any of its Eurocurrency Loans occurring for any reason whatsoever on a date which is earlier than the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto;

(c) any repayment of any of its Eurocurrency Loans not being made on the date specified in a notice of payment given by any Borrower; or

(d) any other failure by any Borrower to repay its Eurocurrency Loans when required by the terms of this Agreement or (ii) an election made by Company pursuant to Section 4.13. A written notice as to additional amounts owed such Lender under this Section 4.11 and delivered to Funds Administrator and Administrative Agent by such Lender shall, absent manifest error, be final, conclusive and binding for all purposes. Calculation of all amounts payable to a Lender under this Section 4.11 shall be made as though that Lender had actually funded its relevant Eurocurrency Loan through the purchase of a Eurocurrency deposit bearing interest at the Eurocurrency Rate in an amount equal to the amount of that Loan, having a maturity comparable to the relevant Interest Period and through the transfer of such Eurocurrency deposit from an offshore office of that Lender to a domestic office of that Lender in the United States of America; provided, however, that each Lender may fund each of its Eurocurrency Loans in any manner it sees fit and the foregoing assumption shall be utilized only for the calculation of amounts payable under this Section 4.11.

 

- 70 -


4.12 Increased Costs, Illegality, Etc.

(a) Generally. In the event that any Lender shall have determined (which determination shall, absent manifest error, be final and conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto but, with respect to clause (i) below, may be made only by Administrative Agent):

(i) on any Interest Rate Determination Date that, by reason of any changes arising after the date of this Agreement affecting the interbank Eurocurrency market, adequate and fair means do not exist for ascertaining the applicable interest rate on the basis provided for in the definition of Eurocurrency Rate; or

(ii) at any time, that any Lender shall incur increased costs or reduction in the amounts received or receivable hereunder with respect to any Eurocurrency Loan because of (x) any Change in Law since the date of this Agreement such as, for example, but not limited to: (A) the imposition of any tax of any kind with respect to this Agreement or any Eurocurrency Loan or a change in the basis of taxation of payments to any Lender of the principal of or interest on the Notes or any other amounts payable hereunder (except for changes to the extent relating to Excluded Taxes) or (B) a change in official reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirements by any Governmental Authority (but, in all events, excluding reserves required under Regulation D to the extent included in the computation of the Eurocurrency Rate) and/or (y) other circumstances since the date of this Agreement affecting such Lender or the interbank Eurocurrency market or the position of such Lender in such market (excluding, however, differences in a Lender’s cost of funds from those of Administrative Agent which are solely the result of credit differences between such Lender and Administrative Agent); or

(iii) at any time, that the making or continuance of any Eurocurrency Loan has been made (x) unlawful by any law, directive or governmental rule, regulation or order, (y) impossible by compliance by any Lender in good faith with any governmental request (whether or not having force of law) or (z) impracticable as a result of a contingency occurring after the date of this Agreement which materially and adversely affects the interbank Eurocurrency market;

then, (x) in the case of clause (i) above, Eurocurrency Loans shall no longer be available until such time as Administrative Agent notifies Funds Representative and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice by Administrative Agent no longer exist, and any Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion or Notice Continuation given by any Borrower with respect to Eurocurrency Loans (other than with respect to conversions to Base Rate Loans) which have not yet been incurred (including by way of conversion) shall be deemed rescinded by such Borrower, (y) in the case of clause (ii) above, such Borrower shall pay to such Lender, within ten days of written demand therefor, such additional amounts (in the form of an increased rate of, or a different method of calculating, interest or otherwise as such Lender in its sole discretion shall determine) as shall be required to compensate such Lender for such increased costs or reductions in amounts received or receivable hereunder and (z) in the case of clause (iii) above, such Borrower shall take one of the actions specified in Section 4.12(b) as promptly as possible and, in any event, within the time period required by law.

 

- 71 -


(b) Eurocurrency Loans. At any time that any Eurocurrency Loan is affected by the circumstances described in Section 4.12(a)(ii) or (iii), Borrowers may (and, in the case of a Eurocurrency Loan affected by the circumstances described in Section 4.12(a)(iii), shall) either (i) if the affected Eurocurrency Loan is then being made initially or pursuant to a conversion, by giving Administrative Agent telephonic notice (confirmed in writing) on the same date that Funds Administrator was notified by the affected Lender or Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 4.12(a)(ii) or (iii), cancel the respective Borrowing, or (ii) if the affected Eurocurrency Loan is then outstanding, upon at least three Business Days’ written notice to Administrative Agent, require the affected Lender to convert such Eurocurrency Loan into a Base Rate Loan, provided, that if more than one Lender is affected at any time, then all affected Lenders must be treated the same pursuant to this Section 4.12(b).

(c) Capital Requirements. If any Lender determines that any Change in Law concerning capital adequacy by any Governmental Authority, will have the effect of increasing the amount of capital required or expected to be maintained by such Lender or any corporation controlling such Lender based on the existence of such Lender’s Commitments hereunder or its obligations hereunder, then Borrowers shall pay to such Lender, within ten days of its written demand therefor, such additional amounts as shall be required to compensate such Lender or such other corporation for the increased cost to such Lender or such other corporation or the reduction in the rate of return to such Lender or such other corporation as a result of such increase of capital.

(d) Certificates for Reimbursement. Each Lender, upon determining that any additional amounts will be payable pursuant to this Section 4.12, will give prompt written notice thereof to Funds Administrator and Administrative Agent (which notice Administrative Agent will promptly transmit to each of the other Lenders), which notice shall show the basis for calculation of such additional amounts, although the failure to give any such notice (unless the respective Lender has intentionally withheld or delayed such notice, in which case the respective Lender shall not be entitled to receive additional amounts pursuant to this Section 4.12 for periods occurring prior to the 270th day before the giving of such notice) shall not release or diminish any of Borrowers’ obligations to pay additional amounts pursuant to this Section 4.12. In determining such additional amounts, each Lender will act reasonably and in good faith and will use averaging and attribution methods which are reasonable and which will, to the extent the increased costs or reduction in the rate of return relates to such Lender’s commitments, loans or obligations in general and are not specifically attributable to the Commitments, Loans and obligations hereunder, cover all commitments, loans and obligations similar to the Commitments, Loans and obligations of such Lender hereunder whether or not the loan documentation for such other commitments, loans or obligations permits the Lender to make the determination specified in this Section 4.12. Such determination shall, absent manifest error, be final and conclusive and binding on all parties hereto.

4.13 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Affected Lenders.

(a) Change of Lending Office. Each Lender which is or will be owed compensation pursuant to Section 2.8(b) or (c) or Section 4.12(a) or (c) will, if requested by Borrowers, use reasonable efforts (subject to overall policy considerations of such Lender) to cause a different branch or Affiliate to make or continue a Loan or Letter of Credit or to assign

 

- 72 -


its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its branches or Affiliates if in the judgment of such Lender such designation or assignment will avoid the need for, or materially reduce the amount of, such compensation to such Lender and will not, in the judgment of such Lender, be otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender. Company hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with such designation or assignment. Nothing in this Section 4.13(a) shall affect or postpone any of the obligations of Borrowers or the right of any Lender provided for herein.

(b) Replacement of Lenders. If (x) any Lender is owed increased costs under Section 2.8(b) or (c) or Section 4.12(a)(ii) or (iii) or Section 4.12(c) materially in excess of those to the other Lenders or (y) as provided in the last sentence of Section 12.1(a) or in Section 12.1(b) any Lender refuses to consent to certain proposed amendments, changes, supplements, waivers, discharges or terminations with respect to this Agreement, Company shall have the right to replace such Lender (the “Replaced Lender”) with one or more other Eligible Assignee or Eligible Assignees (collectively, the “Replacement Lender”) acceptable to Administrative Agent, provided that (i) at the time of any replacement pursuant to this Section 4.13(b), the Replacement Lender shall enter into one or more assignment agreements, in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent, pursuant to which the Replacement Lender shall acquire all outstanding Loans of the Replaced Lender (or, at the option of Borrowers if the respective Lender’s consent is required with respect to less than all Loans, to replace only the respective Loans of the respective non-consenting Lender which gave rise to the need to obtain such Lender’s individual consent), (ii) Borrowers shall have paid to Administrative Agent the assignment fee specified in Section 12.8, and (iii) all obligations of all Credit Parties owing to the Replaced Lender (including, without limitation, such increased costs and excluding those specifically described in clause (i) above in respect of which the assignment purchase price has been, or is concurrently being, paid) shall be paid in full to such Replaced Lender concurrently with such replacement. Upon the execution of the respective assignment documentation, the payment of amounts referred to in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above and, if so requested by the Replacement Lender, delivery to the Replacement Lender of the appropriate Note or Notes executed by Borrowers, the Replacement Lender shall become a Lender hereunder and, unless the Replaced Lender continues to have outstanding Loans hereunder, the Replaced Lender shall cease to constitute a Lender hereunder, except with respect to indemnification provisions under this Agreement, which shall survive as to such Replaced Lender.

ARTICLE V

CONDITIONS OF CREDIT

5.1 Conditions Precedent to the Initial Borrowing. The initial Credit Event under this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment, at or prior to the Initial Borrowing Date, of each of the following conditions:

(a) Principal Loan Documents.

(i) Credit Agreement and Notes. The Borrowers shall have duly executed and delivered to Administrative Agent, with a signed counterpart for each Lender, this Agreement (including all schedules, exhibits, certificates, opinions and financial statements

 

- 73 -


delivered pursuant hereto), and the Borrowers shall have duly executed and delivered to Administrative Agent such Notes payable to the order of each applicable Lender in the amount of their respective Commitments as shall have been requested by such Lenders all of which shall be in full force and effect;

(ii) Subsidiary Guaranty. Each Material Domestic Subsidiary shall have duly authorized, executed and delivered a Subsidiary Guaranty in the form of Exhibit 5.1(a)(ii) (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Subsidiary Guaranty”);

(iii) Security Agreement. The Borrowers and each Material Domestic Subsidiary shall have duly authorized, executed and delivered a Security Agreement in the form of Exhibit 5.1(a)(iii) (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Security Agreement”) and shall have delivered to Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Creditors, all the Pledged Securities referred to therein then owned, if any, by such Credit Parties, (y) endorsed in blank in the case of promissory notes constituting Pledged Securities referred to therein then owned, if any, by such Credit Parties, and (z) together with executed and undated stock powers, in the case of Capital Stock constituting Pledged Securities and the other documents and instruments required to be delivered under the Security Agreement;

(iv) Control Agreements. The Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and the applicable financial institutions shall have duly authorized, executed and delivered a Control Agreement with respect to each Deposit Account that is a concentration account and with respect to each investment account, securities account or the like with any Securities Intermediary (as defined in the UCC) or such obligation shall have become an obligation under the Post-Closing Agreement.

(b) Perfection on Personal Property Collateral. Administrative Agent shall have received:

(i) executed and delivered perfection certificates (each, a “Perfection Certificate”) in the form of Exhibit 5.1(b)(i) hereto dated the Initial Borrowing Date from Company and each of its Domestic Subsidiary;

(ii) proper financing statements (Form UCC-1 or such other financing statements or similar notices as shall be required by local law) fully executed for filing under the UCC or other appropriate filing offices of the jurisdiction of organization of each Credit Party that is not a Foreign Subsidiary and each other jurisdiction as may be necessary or, in the opinion of Administrative Agent, desirable to perfect the security interests purported to be created by the Security Documents;

(iii) certified copies of Requests for Information or Copies (Form UCC-11), or equivalent reports, listing all effective financing statements or similar notices that name any Credit Party that is not a Foreign Subsidiary (by its actual name or any trade name, fictitious name or similar name), or any division or other operating unit thereof, as debtor (whether filed in the jurisdiction referred to in clause (i) or elsewhere), together with copies of such other financing statements (none of which shall cover the Collateral except to the extent

 

- 74 -


evidencing Permitted Liens or for which Administrative Agent shall have received written authorization from the secured party to file termination statements (Form UCC-3 or such other termination statements as shall be required by local law), such termination statements fully executed for filing where necessary);

(iv) evidence of the completion of, or arrangements reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent for, all other recordings and filings of, or with respect to, the Security Documents with all Governmental Authorities and all other actions as may reasonably be necessary or, in the reasonable opinion of Administrative Agent, desirable to perfect the security interests intended to be created by the Security Documents; and

(v) evidence that all other actions reasonably necessary, or in the reasonable opinion of Administrative Agent, desirable to perfect the security interests purported to be taken by the Security Documents have been taken or provided for.

(c) Real Property Documents. Administrative Agent shall have received:

(i) fully executed and notarized counterparts of deeds of trusts, mortgages and similar documents in favor of Administrative Agent (or such other trustee as may be required or desired under local law) for the benefit of the Secured Creditors, in each case in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent (each a “Mortgage” and collectively, the “Mortgages”), which Mortgages shall cover such of the real property owned by each Credit Party in the United States and identified on Schedule 6.11(c) as to be encumbered by a Mortgage (each a “Mortgaged Property” and collectively, the “Mortgaged Properties”), together with evidence that counterparts of the Mortgages have been delivered to the title insurance company insuring the Lien of the Mortgages, for recording in all places to the extent necessary, to create a valid and enforceable second priority lien on each Mortgaged Property subject only to Permitted Real Property Encumbrances and the first priority liens of the Term Agent;

(ii) if necessary in the relevant jurisdiction, completed UCC-1 financing statements as reasonably deemed necessary or desirable by Administrative Agent with respect to each such Mortgaged Property and the fixtures attached thereto or otherwise located thereon;

(iii) mortgagee title insurance policies (or binding commitments to issue such title insurance policies) issued by the Title Company (the “Mortgage Policies”) in amounts satisfactory to Administrative Agent (but which shall in any event be no greater than the lesser of the Fair Market Value of the Mortgaged Property and the Revolving Commitments), assuring Administrative Agent that, as to the Mortgaged Fee Property, the Mortgages are valid and enforceable second priority mortgage liens on the respective Mortgaged Properties, free and clear of all defects, encumbrances and other Liens except Permitted Real Property Encumbrances and the first priority liens of the Term Agent and the terms and conditions of the Mortgage Policies. The Mortgage Policies shall be in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent, shall include such endorsements as may be reasonably required by Administrative Agent and available in the respective jurisdiction(s) in which each such Mortgaged Property may be located, and shall provide for affirmative insurance and such reinsurance (including direct access agreements) as Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion may request and which is

 

- 75 -


available in the respective jurisdiction in which the Mortgaged Property is located; provided, however, that as to any Mortgage Policies issued with respect to Mortgaged Property located in the State of Texas, Administrative Agent acknowledges that (i) the promulgated Form T-2 is an acceptable form of insurance for such Mortgage Policies, (ii) no T-19 Endorsement shall be required and (iii) a survey exception may be included;

(iv) for each Mortgaged Fee Property, either (1) a survey, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent, dated within one (1) year of the Closing Date, certified by a licensed professional surveyor in a manner reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent or (2) a prior survey, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent, certified by a licensed professional surveyor, together with a survey affidavit of no change for each such prior survey and such other documents as are required for the subject title insurance company to remove all survey exceptions to the Mortgage Policy for each Mortgaged Property and to issue a “same-as-survey” endorsement to same but in each case, only to the extent available in the jurisdiction where the Mortgaged Property is located or required pursuant to the terms of this Agreement;

(v) evidence as to (A) whether any Mortgaged Fee Property is in an area designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as having special flood or mud slide hazards and (B) if any Mortgaged Fee Property is in an area designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as having special flood or mud slide hazards, (1) whether the community in which such Mortgaged Fee Property is located is participating in the National Flood Insurance Program, (2) the applicable Credit Party’s written acknowledgment of receipt of written notification from the Administrative Agent (a) as to the fact that such Mortgaged Fee Property is in an area designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as having special flood or mud slide hazards, (b) as to whether the community in which each such Mortgaged Fee Property is located is participating in the National Flood Insurance Program and (3) copies of insurance policies or certificates of insurance of the applicable Credit Party evidencing flood insurance satisfactory to Administrative Agent and naming the Administrative Agent as sole loss payee on behalf of the Secured Creditors; and

(d) Opinions of Counsel. Administrative Agent shall have received from Bracewell & Giuliani LLP, special counsel to the Credit Parties, an opinion addressed to Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders and dated the Initial Borrowing Date, which shall be in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent or the Majority Lenders and shall cover such matters incident to the transactions contemplated herein and in the other Loan Documents as Administrative Agent or the Majority Lenders may reasonably request.

(e) Corporate Documents and Financial Matters.

(i) Officer’s Certificate. Administrative Agent shall have received, a certificate executed by a Responsible Officer on behalf of Company, dated the date of this Agreement, stating that the representations and warranties set forth in Article VI hereof are true and correct as of the date of the certificate, that no Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, that the conditions of Section 5.1 hereof have been fully satisfied (except that no opinion need be expressed as to the Administrative Agent’s or Majority Lenders’ satisfaction with any document, instrument or other matter) and that no Liens (except

 

- 76 -


for Permitted Liens) have been placed against the Collateral or the Mortgaged Property since the respective dates of the searches of financing statements filed under the Uniform Commercial Code and delivered pursuant to this Section 5.1;

(ii) Secretary’s Certificate. On the Initial Borrowing Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received from each Credit Party a certificate, dated the Initial Borrowing Date, signed by the secretary or any assistant secretary of such Credit Party, as to the incumbency and signature of the officers of each such Credit Party executing any Document (in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent) and any certificate or other document or instrument to be delivered pursuant hereto or thereto by or on behalf of such Credit Party, together with evidence of the incumbency of such secretary or assistant secretary, and certifying as true and correct, attached copies of all Organizational Documents of such Credit Party and the resolutions of such Credit Party referred to in such certificate and all of the foregoing (including each Organizational Document) shall be reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent or the Majority Lenders;

(iii) Good Standing. A good standing certificate or certificate of status or comparable certificate of each Credit Party from the Secretary of State (or other governmental authority) of its state or province of organization or such equivalent document issued by any foreign Governmental Authority if applicable in such foreign jurisdiction;

(iv) Employee Benefit Plans; Capital Stock Agreements; Collective Bargaining Agreements; Tax Sharing Agreements; Debt Agreements. On or prior to the Initial Borrowing Date, there shall have been delivered to Administrative Agent or included in materials filed with the SEC true and correct copies of:

(A) all Plans (other than multiemployer plans as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA), Foreign Pension Plans, “employee welfare benefit plans” (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA) which provide benefits to retired employees (other than as required by Section 601 et. seq. of ERISA), nonqualified deferred compensation plans subject to Section 409A of the Code and equity-based incentive plans;

(B) any material agreements entered into by Company governing the terms and relative rights of its Capital Stock, any material agreements entered into by shareholders relating to Company with respect to their Capital Stock and any material agreements with Affiliates of Company with respect to the management of Company if a payment thereunder would constitute a Restricted Payment;

(C) all collective bargaining agreements applying or relating to any employee of any Credit Party;

(D) all material agreements evidencing or relating to Indebtedness to Remain Outstanding of any Credit Party set forth on Schedule 8.2(i);

(E) any “management letters” received from the Company’s auditors or any of its Subsidiaries during the two year period immediately preceding the Closing Date; and

 

- 77 -


(F) all material tax sharing, disaffiliation tax allocation and other similar agreements entered into by any Credit Party.

(v) Environmental; Insurance. On or prior to the Initial Borrowing Date, Administrative Agent shall have received:

(A) the Environmental Studies from Environmental Resources Management, with respect to certain of the Mortgaged Fee Properties, the results of which shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; and

(B) evidence of insurance complying with the requirements of Section 7.8 for the business and properties of Company.

(vi) Financials. Administrative Agent shall have received (i) audited consolidated balance sheets of the Acquired Business at December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005, statements of income and cash flows of the Acquired Business for the periods ending December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005, audited consolidated balance sheets of Company at June 30, 2003, 2004 and 2005 and statements of income and cash flows of Company for the periods ending June 30, 2003, 2004 and 2005, (ii) unaudited quarterly financial statements for each of the Acquired Business and Company for each fiscal quarter since the most recent audited statements, to the extent available, and (iii) financial projections and pro forma financial statements for Company and its Subsidiaries;

(vii) Pro Forma Balance Sheet. Administrative Agent shall have received the Pro Forma Balance Sheet in form reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent;

(viii) Existing Indebtedness and Capital Structure. On the Initial Borrowing Date and after giving effect to the Transaction and the other transactions contemplated hereby, Company shall not have any Indebtedness or preferred Capital Stock outstanding except for the Loans, Indebtedness under the Term Loan Credit Facility, Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 8.2(m) and the Indebtedness to Remain Outstanding. The aggregate principal amount of the Indebtedness to Remain Outstanding shall not exceed $3,000,000, shall not have been incurred in connection with or in contemplation of the Transaction and shall be on terms and conditions satisfactory to Administrative Agent;

(ix) Sufficient Funds; Minimum Borrowing Availability; Solvency. Company shall have demonstrated to the reasonable satisfaction of Administrative Agent that (i) the maximum principal amount of Loans that Company may incur hereunder and pursuant to the terms of the Term Loan Credit Facility to finance the Huntsman Acquisition and to pay fees and expenses in connection therewith (whether paid on or after the Initial Borrowing Date) is sufficient to effect in full the Transaction and to pay all reasonable fees and expenses in connection therewith (whether paid on or after the Initial Borrowing Date), (ii) after giving effect to the Transaction and the Initial Borrowing and the initial borrowing under the Term Loan Credit Facility, (a) Availability equals at least $70,000,000 and (b) each Borrower and each Material Domestic Subsidiary is Solvent.

 

- 78 -


(x) Notice of Borrowing and Letter of Direction; Funds Flow Memorandum. Administrative Agent shall have received a Notice of Borrowing meeting the requirements of Section 2.2(a)(i) and an executed letter of direction and funds flow memorandum in form and substance acceptable to Administrative Agent.

(f) Transaction Documents, Etc.

(i) Term Loan Credit Facility. The Term Loan Credit Facility shall have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto, shall be in full force and effect on terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent and shall provide for commitments of not less than $265,000,000;

(ii) Huntsman Acquisition Agreement. The Huntsman Acquisition Agreement shall have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto, shall be in full force and effect and shall not have been modified without the consent of Administrative Agent, and the Huntsman Acquisition shall have occurred for a base purchase price not exceeding $197,500,000, as adjusted pursuant to the terms of the Huntsman Acquisition Agreement plus any payments up to $70,000,000 described in the Port Arthur Letter of Credit;

(iii) Consummation of Transaction, Etc. All conditions precedent to the consummation of each component of the Transaction as set forth in the Huntsman Acquisition Documents and the Term Loan Credit Facility Documents shall have been satisfied in all material respects and not waived except with the consent, not to be unreasonably withheld, of Administrative Agent. Each component of the Transaction shall have been consummated in all material respects in accordance with the documentation therefor and all applicable laws and Administrative Agent shall have received such evidence of the consummation of such Transaction as Administrative Agent shall request.

(iv) Intercreditor Agreement. Administrative Agent shall have received a duly executed copy of the Intercreditor Agreement in the form of Exhibit 5.1(f)(iv).

(v) Termination of Existing Credit Agreement On or prior to the Initial Borrowing Date, the total commitments under the Existing Credit Agreement shall have been terminated, all loans thereunder shall have been repaid in full, together with interest thereon, all letters of credit, if any, issued thereunder shall have been terminated and all other amounts owing pursuant to the such agreements shall have been repaid in full and the such agreements shall have been terminated on terms and conditions satisfactory to Administrative Agent and the Majority Lenders and be of no further force or effect and the creditors there under shall have terminated and released all security interests and Liens on the assets owned by Company and its Subsidiaries in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(vi) Consents; Compliance with Law. All necessary governmental and material third party approvals and/or consents in connection with the Transaction, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and otherwise referred to herein shall have been obtained and remain in effect. The execution of the Loan Documents, the execution of the Huntsman Acquisition Agreement, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby (including the Transaction) shall not violate or conflict with any law, rule or regulation

 

- 79 -


or any material agreement, contract or other obligation binding upon or affecting the property of Company or any of its Subsidiaries or the property acquired pursuant to the Huntsman Acquisition Agreement. All Loans hereunder shall be in full compliance with all applicable requirements, including, to the extent applicable, the rules and regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.;

(vii) Litigation. No action, suit or proceeding (including, without limitation, any inquiry or investigation) shall be pending or threatened against Company or any of its Subsidiaries or with respect to the Huntsman Acquisition Agreement, the Transaction, the financing contemplated hereby or any documentation executed in connection therewith, unless such action suit or proceeding could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect on Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or the Acquired Business and no injunction or other restraining order shall have been issued or a hearing therefor be pending or noticed with respect to the Acquisition Agreement, the Transaction, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

(viii) Borrowing Base Certificate. Company shall have duly authorized, executed and delivered the Borrowing Base Certificate pursuant to Section 7.2(g).

(g) Collateral Audits; Appraisals. The Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent shall have received the results of the appraisals and field examination of all Inventory and Accounts Receivable of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries, in each case in form, scope and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent.

(h) Other Closing Conditions.

(i) No Material Adverse Change. There shall have been no (A) Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Huntsman Acquisition Agreement), excluding the effects of the fire that occurred on or about April 29, 2006 and related damage to the Huntsman Parties’ light olefin unit located in Port Arthur, Texas, or (B) event that has resulted in a Material Adverse Effect since December 31, 2005.

(ii) Fees and Expenses. Company shall have paid to Administrative Agent and the Lenders, as applicable, all costs, fees and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable legal fees and out of pocket expenses of Winston & Strawn LLP and the reasonable costs, fees and out of pocket expenses referred to in Section 12.4) payable to Administrative Agent and the Lenders to the extent then due and all recording fees and other charges payable in connection with the filing and recording of the Loan Documents;

(iii) Other Matters. All corporate and other proceedings taken in connection with the Transaction at or prior to the date of this Agreement, and all documents incident thereto will be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to Administrative Agent; Administrative Agent shall have received such other instruments and documents as Administrative Agent shall reasonably request in connection with the execution of this Agreement, and all such instruments and documents shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to Administrative Agent.

 

- 80 -


(iv) Post-Closing Agreement. Administrative Agent shall have received an executed and delivered post-closing agreement (the “Post-Closing Agreement”) with respect to certain post-closing undertakings by the Credit Parties.

Each Lender hereby agrees that by its execution and delivery of its signature page hereto and by the funding of its Loan to be made on the Initial Borrowing Date, such Lender approves of and consents to each of the matters set forth in Section 5.1 and Section 5.2 which must be approved by, or which must be satisfactory to, the Administrative Agent or the Majority Lenders or Lenders, as the case may be; provided that, in the case of any agreement or document which must be approved by, or which must be satisfactory to, the Majority Lenders, Administrative Agent or Company shall have delivered a copy of such agreement or document to such Lender on or prior to the Initial Borrowing Date if requested.

5.2 Conditions to Each Credit Event. On the date of each Credit Event (including the initial Credit Event), both immediately before and immediately after giving effect thereto and to the application of the proceeds therefrom, the following statements shall be true (and each request for a Credit Event, shall constitute a representation and warranty by each Borrower that on the date of such Credit Event, immediately before and immediately after giving effect thereto and to the application of the proceeds therefrom, such statements are true):

(a) The representations and warranties contained in this Agreement and in each other Loan Document are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Credit Event as though made on and as of such date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties are expressly made as of a specific date (in which event such representations and warranties shall have been true and correct on and as of such specified date);

(b) No event has occurred and is continuing, or would result from such Credit Event or the application of the proceeds thereof, which would constitute an Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default;

(c) In the case of the issuance of any Letter of Credit, none of the events set forth in Section 3.1 has occurred and is continuing or would result from the issuance of such Letter of Credit.

ARTICLE VI

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

In order to induce the Lenders to enter into this Agreement and to make the Loans as provided herein, each Borrower makes the following representations, warranties and agreements as of the Initial Borrowing Date (both before and after giving effect to the consummation of the Transaction), all of which shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Notes and the making of the Loans:

6.1 Corporate Status. Each Credit Party and each of its Subsidiaries (i) is a duly organized and validly existing organization under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, (ii) has the organizational power and authority to own its property and assets and to transact the

 

- 81 -


business in which it is engaged and presently proposed to engage in and (iii) is duly qualified and is authorized to do business and is in good standing in (y) its jurisdiction of organization and (z) in each other jurisdiction where the ownership, leasing or operation of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except in the case of clause (z) for such failure to be so qualified which, in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Borrower and no Subsidiary of any Borrower has used any corporate or fictitious name during the five (5) years preceding the date hereof, other than the corporate name under which it has executed this Agreement or such other name as is disclosed in the Perfection Certificate.

6.2 Corporate Power and Authority. Each Credit Party has the organizational power and authority to execute and deliver each of the Documents to which it is a party and to perform its obligations thereunder and has taken all necessary organizational action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance by it of each of such Documents. Each Credit Party has duly executed and delivered each of the Documents to which it is a party, and each of such Documents constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligation enforceable in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that the enforceability thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws generally affecting creditors’ rights and by equitable principles (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in equity or at law).

6.3 No Violation. The execution and delivery by each Credit Party of the Documents to which it is a party (including, without limitation, the granting of Liens pursuant to the Security Documents), and performance of such Credit Party’s obligations thereunder do not (i) contravene any provision of any Requirement of Law applicable to any Credit Party, (ii) conflict with or result in any breach of or constitute a tortuous interference with any of the terms, covenants, conditions or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of (or the obligation to create or impose) any Lien (except pursuant to the Security Documents) upon any of the property or assets of any Credit Party pursuant to the terms of any Contractual Obligation to which any Credit Party is a party or by which it or any of its property or assets is bound or to which it may be subject except for such contraventions, conflicts, breaches or defaults that could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (iii) violate any provision of any Organizational Document of any Credit Party or (iv) require any approval of stockholders or any approval or consent of any Person (other than a Governmental Authority) except filings, consents or notices which have been made, obtained, given, respectively.

6.4 Governmental Approvals. Except for the recording of the Mortgages, filings with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to record liens on intellectual property, and the filing of the UCC financing statements which shall be recorded and filed, respectively, on, or as soon as practicable after, the date hereof, no order, consent, approval, license, authorization or validation of, or filing, recording or registration with (except as have been obtained or made on or prior to the Initial Borrowing Date), or exemption by, any Governmental Authority, is required to authorize, or is required in connection with, (i) the execution and delivery of any Document or the performance of the obligations hereunder or (ii) the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability of any such Document.

 

- 82 -


6.5 Financial Statements; Financial Condition; Undisclosed Liabilities Projections; etc.

(a) Financial Statements.

(i) (A) The balance sheet of Company at June 30, 2004 and June 30, 2005 and March 31, 2006 and the related statements of income, cash flows and shareholders’ equity of Company for the Fiscal Year or other period ended on such dates, as the case may be, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition and results of operation and cash flows of Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of such dates and for such periods, subject in the case of the March 31, 2006 statements, to changes resulting from audit and normal year end adjustments and the absence of footnotes. Copies of such statements have been furnished to the Lenders prior to the date hereof and, in the case of the June 30, 2004 and 2005 statements, have been examined by PriceWaterhouseCoopers (with respect to 2004 or Grant Thornton LLP (with respect to 2005), independent certified public accountants, who delivered an unqualified opinion in respect thereto, and (B) to Company’s knowledge, the financial statements of the Acquired Business delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(e) fairly present in all material respects the financial condition and results of operation and cash flows of the Acquired Business as of such dates and for such periods. Copies of such statements have been furnished to the Lenders prior to the date hereof and, in the case of the December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005 statements, have been examined by independent certified public accountants, who delivered an unqualified opinion in respect thereto, and

(ii) the pro forma (after giving effect to the Transaction, the related financing thereof and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby) balance sheet of Company attached hereto as Schedule 6.5(a) (the “Pro Forma Balance Sheet”) presents fairly in all material respects the financial condition of Company at March 31, 2006 and presents a good faith estimate of the pro forma financial condition of Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis (after giving effect to the Transaction, the related financing thereof and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby in each case, as if occurring on March 31, 2006) at the date thereof. The Pro Forma Balance Sheet has been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto) subject to normal year-end adjustments.

(b) Solvency. On and as of the Closing Date, after giving effect to the Transaction and to all Indebtedness (including the Loans) being incurred, (and the use of proceeds thereof), and Liens created by Company and its Subsidiaries in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, the Company is Solvent.

(c) No Undisclosed Liabilities. Except as fully reflected in the financial statements and the notes related thereto delivered pursuant to Section 6.5(a) and on Schedule 8.2(i) there were as of the Initial Borrowing Date (and after giving effect to the Transaction and the other transactions contemplated hereby) no liabilities or obligations with respect to Company and its Subsidiaries of any nature whatsoever (whether absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise and whether or not due) which, either individually or in aggregate, would be material to Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. As of the Initial Borrowing Date (and after giving effect to the Transaction and the other transactions

 

- 83 -


contemplated hereby), Company does not know of any basis for the assertion against Company or any Subsidiary of any liability or obligation of any nature whatsoever that is not fully reflected in the financial statements or the notes related thereto delivered pursuant to Section 6.5(a) and on Schedule 8.2(i) which, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to be material to Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

(d) Projections. On and as of the Initial Borrowing Date, the financial projections, attached hereto as Schedule 6.5(d) and previously delivered to Administrative Agent and the Lenders (the “Projections”) and each of the projections delivered after the Effective Date pursuant to Section 7.2(d) are at the time made, based on good faith estimates and assumptions made by the management of Company, and there are no statements or conclusions in any of the Projections or such projections which, at the time made, are based upon or include information known to Company to be misleading or which fail to take into account material information known to Company at such time regarding the matters reported therein.

(e) No Material Adverse Change. Since June 30, 2005 there has been no Material Adverse Effect.

6.6 Litigation and Judgments. There are no actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of Company and its Subsidiaries, threatened (i) against any Credit Party with respect to any Document or (ii) that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No judgments, orders, writs or decrees are outstanding against any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of any Credit Party, which individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.7 True and Complete Disclosure. All factual information (taken as a whole) heretofore or contemporaneously furnished by or on behalf of Company or any of its Subsidiaries in writing to any Lender (including, without limitation, all information contained in the Documents) (other than the Projections as to which Section 6.5(d) applies) for purposes of or in connection with this Agreement or any transaction contemplated herein is, and all other such factual information (taken as a whole) hereafter furnished by or on behalf of Company or any of its Subsidiaries in writing to any Lender for purposes of or in connection with this Agreement or any transaction contemplated herein, when taken as a whole, do not contain as of the date furnished any untrue statement of material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained herein or therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

6.8 Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations.

(a) Loan Proceeds. All proceeds of the Loans incurred on the Initial Borrowing Date shall be used by Company (x) to finance, in part, the Huntsman Acquisition, (y) to pay fees and expenses in connection with the Transaction and (z) for ongoing working capital and general corporate purposes.

(b) Margin Regulations. No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used to purchase or carry any margin stock (as defined in Regulation U of the Board), directly or indirectly, or to extend credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any such margin stock for

 

- 84 -


the purpose of reducing or retiring any indebtedness which was originally incurred to purchase or carry any margin security or for any other purpose which might cause any of the Loans or extensions of credit under this Agreement to be considered a “purpose credit” within the meaning of Regulation T, U or X of the Board.

6.9 Taxes.

(a) Tax Returns and Payments. Each Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries has timely filed or caused to be filed with the appropriate taxing authority, all material returns, statements, forms and reports for taxes (the “Returns”) required to be filed by or with respect to the income, properties or operations of Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries. The Returns reflect in all material respects all liability for taxes of Company and its Subsidiaries for the periods covered thereby. Each of Company and each of its Subsidiaries has paid all material taxes payable by it before they have become delinquent other than those contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been established in conformity with GAAP. Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred, or will incur, any material tax liability in connection with the Transaction. Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has participated in any transaction (which relates to a year of the taxpayer that is still open under the statute of limitations) which is a “reportable transaction” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation section 1.6011-4(b)(2) (irrespective of the date the transaction was entered).

(b) Tax Examinations. As of the date hereof, there is no action, suit, proceeding, investigation, audit, or claim pending or, to the knowledge of Company, threatened by any authority regarding any taxes relating to Company or any of its Subsidiaries (including taxes for which the Company or its Subsidiaries could be liable for as a result of joint and several liability, successor liability, transferee liability, or otherwise) that could reasonably be expected to result in any material liability to any Credit Party. All deficiencies which have been asserted against Company and its Subsidiaries (or for which Company or its Subsidiaries could be liable) as a result of any examinations have been fully paid or finally settled or are being contested in good faith. No issue has been raised in any examination which, by application or similar principles, reasonably can be expected to result in an assertion of a deficiency for any other year not so examined that has not been accrued on Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ audited financial statements for its most recently ended Fiscal Year that would be required to be so accrued in accordance with GAAP. Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has knowledge of any material federal income tax liability with respect to open taxable years in excess of amounts accrued on such Person’s financial statements for its most recently ended Fiscal Year that would be required to be so accrued in accordance with GAAP, nor does Company or any of its Subsidiaries anticipate any further material tax liability with respect to such open taxable years taken as a whole in excess of such accrued amounts.

6.10 Compliance With ERISA; Foreign Pension Plans. (a) Except as, in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) each Plan has been operated and administered in a manner so as not to result in any liability to a Credit Party, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates for failure to comply with the applicable provisions of applicable law, including ERISA and the Code; (ii) no Termination Event has occurred with respect to any Plan; (iii) to the best knowledge of Company, no Multiemployer Plan is insolvent or in reorganization; (iv) no Plan has an accumulated or waived funding

 

- 85 -


deficiency or has applied for an extension of any amortization period within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code; (v) neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor any of their ERISA Affiliates have incurred any liability to or on account of a Plan pursuant to Section 409, 502(i), 502(l), 4062, 4063, 4064, 4069, 4201 or 4204 of ERISA or Section 4971 or 4975 of the Code; (vi) no proceedings have been instituted to terminate any Plan within the last fiscal year; (vii) using actuarial assumptions and computation methods consistent with subpart 1 of subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA, neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor any of their ERISA Affiliates would have any liability to any Multiemployer Plan in excess of $10 million in the event of a complete withdrawal therefrom, as of the close of the most recent fiscal year of each such Multiemployer Plan ending prior to the date of any Credit Event; (viii) no Lien imposed under the Code or ERISA on the assets of Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates exists or is likely to arise on account of any Plan; and (ix) each Credit Party, each of its Subsidiaries or each of their ERISA Affiliates have made all contributions to each Plan within the time required by law or by the terms of such Plan and Company and its Subsidiaries and ERISA Affiliates do not maintain or contribute to any “employee welfare benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA) which provides benefits to retired employees (other than as required by Section 601 et seq. of ERISA) or any employee pension benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA).

(b) (i) Except as, in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, each Foreign Pension Plan is in compliance and in good standing (to the extent such concept exists in the relevant jurisdiction) in all material respects with all laws, regulations and rules applicable thereto, including all funding requirements, and the respective requirements of the governing documents for such Foreign Pension Plan; (ii) with respect to each Foreign Pension Plan maintained or contributed to by Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (A) that is required by applicable law to be funded in a trust or other funding vehicle, the aggregate of the accumulated benefit obligations under such Foreign Pension Plan does not exceed to any material extent the current fair market value of the assets held in the trusts or similar funding vehicles for such Foreign Pension Plan and (B) that is not required by applicable law to be funded in a trust or other funding vehicle, reasonable reserves have been established in accordance with prudent business practice or where required by ordinary accounting practices in the jurisdiction in which such Foreign Pension Plan is maintained; (iii) there are no material actions, suits or claims (other than routine claims for benefits) pending or, to the knowledge of Company or its Subsidiaries, threatened against Company or any Subsidiary with respect to any Foreign Pension Plan; (iv) all material contributions required to have been made by Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any Foreign Pension Plan have been made within the time required by law or by the terms of such Foreign Pension Plan; and (v) except as disclosed on Schedule 6.10, no Foreign Pension Plan with respect to which Company or any of its Subsidiaries could have any material liability has been terminated or wound-up and no actions or proceedings have been taken or instituted to terminate or wind-up such a Foreign Pension Plan.

6.11 Security Documents.

(a) Personal Property Collateral. The provisions of the Security Agreement are effective to create in favor of Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Creditors a legal, valid and enforceable security interest in all right, title and interest of Borrowers and the

 

- 86 -


Subsidiary Guarantors in the Collateral, and the Security Agreement, together with the filings of the UCC initial financing statements described therein creates a fully perfected lien on, and security interest in, all right, title and interest of Borrowers and the Subsidiary Guarantors in all of the Collateral described therein (to the extent perfection can be obtained by filing of a financing statement), subject to no other Liens other than Permitted Liens. The recordation in the United States Patent and Trademark Office of assignments for security made pursuant to the Security Agreement, together with filings of the UCC initial financing statements made pursuant to the Security Agreement, will be effective, under Federal law, to perfect the security interest granted to Administrative Agent in the trademarks and patents covered by the Security Agreement. The recordation in the United States Copyright Office of assignments for security made pursuant to the Security Agreement, together with filings of the UCC initial financing statements made pursuant to the Security Agreement, will be effective under Federal and applicable state law to perfect the security interest granted to Administrative Agent in any copyrights covered by the Security Agreement.

(b) Pledged Securities. To the extent represented by certificated securities (the “Certificated Pledged Stock”) or notes (the “Pledged Notes”) described in the Security Documents, when stock certificates representing such Certificated Pledged Stock and the original Pledged Notes are delivered to Term Collateral Agent, together with executed stock powers in blank or note powers in blank, as applicable, and the UCC initial financing statements described in the Security Agreement are filed in the offices described in the Security Agreement and Company receives proceeds of the Loans on the Initial Borrowing Date, the Security Agreement shall create a fully perfected Lien (to the extent such Lien can be perfected by filing, recording, registration or possession) on, all right, title and interest of the Credit Parties in such Collateral and the proceeds thereof, as security for the Obligations, in each case prior and superior in right to any other Person (except Customary Permitted Liens of the types described in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) of the definition thereof and Liens described in clause (e) of Section 8.1).

(c) Real Estate Collateral. The Mortgages create, as security for the obligations purported to be secured thereby, a valid and enforceable and, upon proper recording in the appropriate jurisdictions, perfected Lien on all of the Mortgaged Properties (including, without limitation, all fixtures and improvements relating to such Mortgaged Properties and affixed or added thereto on or after the Initial Borrowing Date) in favor of Administrative Agent (or such other trustee as may be named therein) for the benefit of the Secured Creditors, (i) superior to and prior to the rights of all third Persons and (ii) subject to no other Liens (in case of each of (i) and (ii)), other than Permitted Real Property Encumbrances and, in the case of fixtures and improvements, Permitted Liens). Schedule 6.11(c) contains a true and complete list of each parcel of real property owned in fee or leased by any Credit Party on the date hereof, the type of interest therein held by such Credit Party and whether such real property will be encumbered by a Mortgage. Each of the applicable Credit Parties designated on Schedule 6.11(c) has good and indefeasible title to all its Mortgaged Properties free and clear of all Liens except those described in the first sentence of this Section 6.11(c).

6.12 The Transaction. (a) The Transaction Documents are in full force and effect, no material breach, default or waiver of any term or provision thereof by Company or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the best of Company’s knowledge, the other parties thereto, has occurred (except for such breaches, defaults and waivers, if any, consented to in writing by Administrative

 

- 87 -


Agent) and no action has been taken by any competent authority which restrains, prevents or imposes any material adverse condition upon, or seeks to restrain, prevent or impose any material adverse condition upon, any component of the Transaction.

(b) The representations and warranties of Company and its Subsidiaries party thereto contained in the Transaction Documents are true and correct in all material respects and the representations and warranties of the Huntsman Parties contained in the Transaction Documents are, to the knowledge of Company and its Subsidiaries, true and correct in all material respects.

(c) At the time of consummation thereof, each component of the Transaction shall have been consummated in all material respects in accordance with the terms of the respective Transaction Documents and all applicable laws.

(d) At the time of consummation thereof, all consents and approvals of, and filings and registrations with, and all other actions in respect of, all governmental agencies, authorities or instrumentalities and third parties required in order to make or consummate each component of the Transaction shall have been obtained, given, filed or taken and are or will be in full force and effect (or effective judicial relief with respect thereto has been obtained).

(e) All applicable waiting periods with respect to the Transaction have or, prior to the time when required, will have, expired without, in all such cases, any action being taken by any competent authority which restrains, prevents, or imposes material adverse conditions upon the consummation of any component of the Transaction.

(f) At the time of consummation thereof, no action, suit or proceeding (including, without limitation, any inquiry or investigation) is pending or threatened against Company or any of its Subsidiaries or with respect to the Huntsman Acquisition Agreement, the Transaction, the financing contemplated hereby or any documentation executed in connection therewith, unless such action, suit or proceeding could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect on Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or the Acquired Business and no injunction or other restraining order is issued or a hearing therefor pending or noticed with respect to the Huntsman Acquisition Agreement, the Transaction, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

(g) All actions taken by Company and its Subsidiaries pursuant to or in furtherance of each component of the Transaction have been taken in compliance with the respective Documents and all applicable laws.

(h) All material conditions precedent to, and all material consents necessary to permit, the Transaction pursuant to the Documents have been satisfied.

6.13 Ownership of Property. Company and each of its Subsidiaries has good and indefeasible title to, or a subsisting leasehold interest in, all items of material real and personal property used in its operations, free and clear of all Liens, except Permitted Liens. Substantially all items of real and material personal property owned by, leased to or used by Company and each of its Subsidiaries are in good operating condition and repair, ordinary wear and tear

 

- 88 -


excepted, are free and clear of any known defects except such defects as do not substantially interfere with the continued use thereof in the conduct of normal operations, and are able to serve the function for which they are currently being used. The items of real and personal property owned by, leased to or used by Company and each of its Subsidiaries constitute all of the assets used in the conduct of such Person’s business as presently conducted, and neither this Agreement nor any other Document, nor any transaction contemplated under any such agreement, will affect any right, title or interest of Company or any of its Subsidiaries in and to any of such assets in a manner that would have or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. To the actual knowledge of Company, without any inquiry or investigation, there are no actual, threatened or alleged defaults of a material nature with respect to any leases of real property under which Company or any of its Subsidiaries is lessee or lessor. Company and its Subsidiaries have granted Mortgages to secure the Obligations on all parcels of real property owned in fee on the Initial Borrowing Date, located in the United States and material to the operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

6.14 Capitalization of Company. On the Initial Borrowing Date, the capitalization of Company will be as set forth on Schedule 6.14 hereto. All outstanding shares of Capital Stock of Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.14, no authorized but unissued or treasury shares of Capital Stock of Company are subject to any option, warrant, right to call or commitment of any kind or character. A complete and correct copy of each of the Organizational Documents of Company in effect on the date of this Agreement and the Initial Borrowing Date has been delivered to Administrative Agent. Company has no outstanding stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for any shares of its Capital Stock, or any rights issued to any Person (either preemptive or other) to subscribe for or to purchase, or any options for the purchase of, or any agreements providing for the issuance (contingent or otherwise) of, or any calls, commitments or claims of any character relating to any of its Capital Stock or any stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for any of its Capital Stock (other than as set forth in the Organizational Documents of Company). Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to repurchase or otherwise acquire or retire any shares of its Capital Stock or any convertible securities, rights or options of the type described in the preceding sentence.

6.15 Subsidiaries.

(a) Organization. Schedule 6.15 hereto sets forth a true, complete and correct list as of the Initial Borrowing Date of each Subsidiary of Company after giving effect to the Transaction and indicates for each such Subsidiary (i) its jurisdiction of organization, state identification number and federal employer identification number or equivalent organizational number in its jurisdiction of organization and exact legal name as it appears on the certificate of incorporation or other state or applicable Governmental Authority issued Organizational Document, (ii) its ownership (by holder and percentage interest) and (iii) whether it is a Subsidiary Guarantor.

(b) Capitalization. All of the issued and outstanding shares of Capital Stock of each Subsidiary of Company as of the Initial Borrowing Date are owned, directly or indirectly, by Company. All shares of Capital Stock of each Subsidiary of Company have been

 

- 89 -


duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned, free and clear of all Liens except for Permitted Liens. No authorized but unissued or treasury shares of capital stock of any Subsidiary of Company are subject to any option, warrant, right to call or commitment of any kind or character. A complete and correct copy of each Organizational Document of each Domestic Subsidiary of Company and each Foreign Subsidiary of Company whose Capital Stock is required to be pledged pursuant to any Security Document has been delivered to Administrative Agent.

(c) Restrictions on or Relating to Subsidiaries. There does not exist any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of:

(i) any Subsidiary of Company to pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock or to pay any Indebtedness owed to Company or a Subsidiary of Company;

(ii) any Subsidiary of Company to make loans or advances to Company or any of Borrowers’ Subsidiaries; or

(iii) Company or any of its Subsidiaries to transfer any of its properties or assets to Company or any of its Subsidiaries,

except for such encumbrances or restrictions permitted under Section 8.13.

6.16 Compliance With Law, Etc. Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in default under or in violation of any Requirement of Law or Contractual Obligation or under its Organizational Documents, as the case may be, in each case the consequences of which default or violation, either individually or in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect. No Requirement of Law in effect on the date hereof could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.17 Investment Company Act. Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is an “investment company” or a company “controlled” by an “investment company”, within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

6.18 Certain Fees. No broker’s or finder’s fees or commissions or any similar fees or commissions will be payable by Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to the incurrence and maintenance of the Obligations, any other transaction contemplated by the Loan Documents or any services rendered in connection with such transaction.

6.19 Environmental Matters. (a) Company and each of its Subsidiaries have complied with, and on the date of such Credit Event are in compliance with, all applicable Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits except for such non-compliance as could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) there are no material past, pending or, to the best knowledge of Company, threatened Environmental Claims against Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any real property owned or at any time operated by Company or any of its Subsidiaries except as could not reasonably be expected to result in liability to Company or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of $10,000,000.

 

- 90 -


(c) there are no facts, circumstances, conditions or occurrences on any real property owned or at any time operated by Company or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the best knowledge of Company, on any property adjoining any real property owned or operated by Company and its Subsidiaries that could reasonably be expected (i) to form the basis of an Environmental Claim against Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any such real property except for Environmental Claims which could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) to cause such real property to be subject to any restrictions on the ownership, occupancy, use or transferability of such real property under any Environmental Law except as could not reasonably be expected to result in liability to Company or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of $10,000,000.

(d) Contaminants have not at any time been generated, used, treated or stored on, or transported to or from, or otherwise come to be located on any real property owned or at any time operated by Company or any of its Subsidiaries where such generation, use, treatment or storage has violated or could reasonably be expected to violate or create liability under any Environmental Law and result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect.

(e) to the knowledge of Company, Contaminants have not at any time been Released on or from or otherwise come to be located on any real property owned or at any time operated by Company or any of its Subsidiaries where such Release has violated or could reasonably be expected to violate or create liability under any Environmental Law and result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect.

6.20 Labor Relations. Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is engaged in any unfair labor practice that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There is (i) no significant unfair labor practice complaint pending against Company or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the best knowledge of Company, threatened against any of them before the National Labor Relations Board or any similar Governmental Authority in any jurisdiction, and no significant grievance or significant arbitration proceeding arising out of or under any collective bargaining agreement is so pending against Company or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the best knowledge of Company, threatened against any of them, (ii) no significant strike, labor dispute, slowdown or stoppage is pending against Company or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the best knowledge of Company, threatened against Company or any of its Subsidiaries and (iii) to the best knowledge of Company, no question concerning union representation exists with respect to the employees of Company or any of its subsidiaries, except (with respect to any matter specified in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above, either individually or in the aggregate) such as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.21 Intellectual Property, Licenses, Franchises and Formulas. Each of Company and each of its Subsidiaries owns or holds licenses or other rights to or under all the patents, patent applications, trademarks, designs, service marks, trademark and service mark registrations and applications therefor, trade names, copyrights, copyright registrations and applications therefor, trade secrets, proprietary information, computer programs, data bases, licenses, permits, franchises and formulas, or rights with respect to the foregoing which are material to the business

 

- 91 -


of Company and its Subsidiaries (collectively, “Intellectual Property”), and has obtained assignments of all licenses and other rights of whatever nature, material to the present conduct of the business of Company and its Subsidiaries without any known material conflict with the rights of others. Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has knowledge of any existing or threatened claim by any Person contesting the validity, enforceability, use or ownership of the Intellectual Property, or of any existing state of facts that would support a claim that use by Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any such Intellectual Property has infringed or otherwise violated any proprietary rights of any other Person, in each case except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.22 Anti-Terrorism Laws. (a) None of the Credit Parties or, to the knowledge of any of the Credit Parties, any of their Affiliates is in violation of any laws relating to terrorism or money laundering (“Anti-Terrorism Laws”), including the regulations administered by the United States Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (“OFAC”) and Executive Order No. 13224 on Terrorist Financing, effective September 24, 2001 (the “Executive Order”), and the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, Public Law 107-56 (as amended, the “Patriot Act”).

(b) No Credit Party or, to the knowledge of any of the Credit Parties, any of their Affiliates or their respective brokers or other agents acting or benefiting in any capacity in connection with the Loans, is any of the following:

(A) a Person or entity that is listed in the annex to, or is otherwise subject to the prohibitions contained in, the Executive Order or the OFAC regulations;

(B) a Person or entity owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, any Person or entity that is listed in the annex to, or is otherwise subject to the prohibitions contained in, the Executive Order or the OFAC regulations;

(C) a Person or entity with which any Lender is prohibited from dealing or otherwise engaging in any transaction by any Anti-Terrorism Law;

(D) a Person or entity that commits, threatens or conspires to commit or supports “terrorism” as defined in the Executive Order or the OFAC regulations; or

(E) a Person or entity that is named on the most current list of “Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons” published by OFAC at its official website or any replacement website or other replacement official publication of such list.

(c) No Credit Party or to the knowledge of any Credit Party, any of its brokers or other agents acting in any capacity in connection with the Loans (i) conducts any business or engages in making or receiving any contribution of funds, goods or services to or for the benefit of any Person described in clause (b) above, (ii) deals in, or otherwise engages in any transaction relating to, any property or interests in property blocked pursuant to the Executive Order or the OFAC regulations, or (iii) engages in or conspires to engage in any transaction that evades or avoids, or has the purpose of evading or avoiding, or attempts to violate, any of the prohibitions set forth in any Anti-Terrorism Law.

 

- 92 -


6.23 Locations of Offices, Records and Inventory. As of the Closing Date, the address of the principal place of business and chief executive office of each Credit Party is set forth on Schedule 1.1(a). As of the Closing Date, the books and records of each Borrower and each Credit Party, and all of their respective chattel paper and records of Accounts, are maintained exclusively at such locations. As of the Closing Date, there is no location at which any Credit Party has any Collateral (except for Collateral in transit, out for repair or, with respect to de minimus amounts of Collateral, otherwise offsite, in each case, in the ordinary course of business) other than those locations identified on Schedule 1.1(a). As of the Closing Date, to the extent any such locations are not owned, Schedule 1.1(a) also sets forth the purpose of such location (e.g., warehouse, processing plant, sales office, etc.), the legal names of the owners and/or operators thereof; and the address and phone numbers of such owners and/or operators. As of the Closing Date, none of the receipts received by any Borrower from any warehouseman or processor states that the goods covered thereby are to be delivered to bearer or to the order of a named person or to a named person and such named person’s assigns.

6.24 Deposit Accounts and Investment Accounts. As of the Closing Date, no Borrower and no Subsidiary of any Borrower maintains or otherwise has any (a) checking, savings or other accounts at any bank or other financial institution, (b) investment account, securities account, commodity account or any similar account with any securities intermediary or commodity intermediary or (c) other account where money is or may be deposited or maintained with any Person except as set forth on Schedule 6.24. As of the Closing Date, Schedule 6.24 sets forth the name of each financial institution, securities intermediary, commodity intermediary or other Person at which any account described above is maintained, whether such account is a concentration account and the purpose of each such account.

6.25 Status of Accounts. Each Account of each Borrower included as an Eligible Account Receivable in the most recently delivered Borrowing Base Certificate is based on an actual and bona fide sale and delivery of goods or rendition of services to customers, made by such Borrower in the ordinary course of its businesses; the goods and inventory being sold by any Borrower and the Accounts created thereby are the exclusive property of such Borrower and are not and shall not be subject to any Lien whatsoever other than those arising under the Security Agreements and Permitted Liens and such Borrower’s customers are obligated to pay the full amounts stated in the invoices and included as Eligible Accounts Receivable according to their terms, without any dispute, offset, defense, counterclaim or contra except as arising in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices.

 

- 93 -


ARTICLE VII

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

Each Borrower hereby agrees that, so long as any Loan remains outstanding and unpaid or any other amount is owing to any Lender or Administrative Agent hereunder, Borrowers shall:

7.1 Financial Statements. Furnish or cause to be furnished to each Lender:

(a) Monthly Financial Statements. As soon as available, but in any event within 30 days after the end of each fiscal month of Company other than the last such month of any Fiscal Quarter of Company the consolidated balance sheets of Company and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such month, the related consolidated statements of operations, income, cash flows, retained earnings and equity, for such month and for the elapsed portion of the Fiscal Year ended with the last day of such month, in each case setting forth comparative figures for the corresponding month in the prior Fiscal Year, all of which shall be certified by a Responsible Financial Officer of Company, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments;

(b) Quarterly Financial Statements. As soon as available, but in any event not later than 45 days after the end of each of the first three Fiscal Quarters of each Fiscal Year of Company, the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such quarter and the related unaudited consolidated statements of income, retained earnings and of cash flows of Company and its Subsidiaries for such quarter and the portion of the Fiscal Year through the end of such quarter, in each case setting forth comparative figures for the corresponding quarter in the prior Fiscal Year, for the period from the start of each Fiscal Year to the end of such period;

(c) Annual Financial Statements. As soon as available, but in any event within 90 days after the end of each Fiscal Year of Company, a copy of the consolidated balance sheet of Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such year and the related consolidated statements of income, retained earnings and of cash flows for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous year; and

(d) Leverage Certificate. As soon as available but in any event not later than forty-five (45) days after the end of each Fiscal Year, a certificate of a Responsible Financial Officer substantially in the form of Exhibit 7.1(d) (a “Leverage Certificate”) which certificate shall set forth detailed computations of Company’s Leverage Ratio for the most recently completed Test Period of Company.

All such financial statements shall be complete and correct in all material respects and shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP applied consistently throughout the periods reflected therein and with prior periods (except as approved by the accountants preparing such statements or a Responsible Financial Officer, as the case may be, and disclosed therein) and, in the case of the consolidated financial statements referred to in Section 7.1(c), accompanied by a report thereon of independent certified public accountants of recognized national standing, which report shall contain no qualifications with respect to the continuance of Company and its Subsidiaries as going concerns and shall state that such financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial position of Company and its Subsidiaries as at the dates indicated and the results of their operations and cash flow for the periods indicated in conformity with GAAP and that the examination by such accountants in connection with such financial statements has been made in accordance with GAAP.

 

- 94 -


7.2 Certificates; Other Information. Furnish or cause to be furnished to each Lender (or, if specified below):

(a) Officer’s Certificates. Concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 7.1(a) and 7.1(b), a certificate of Responsible Financial Officer substantially in the form of Exhibit 7.2(a) (a “Compliance Certificate”) stating that, to the best of such officer’s knowledge, (i) such financial statements present fairly in all material respects, in accordance with GAAP, the financial condition and results of operations of Company and its Subsidiaries for the period referred to therein (subject, in the case of interim statements, to normal recurring adjustments) and (ii) no Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default has occurred, except as specified in such certificate and, if so specified, the action which Company proposes to take with respect thereto, which certificate shall set forth detailed computations of Company’s Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio and Leverage Ratio for the Test Period ending on the last day of the period for which such Compliance Certificate is being delivered;

(b) Accountant’s Statement. Concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Section 7.1(c), if Grant Thornton LLP or other independent certified public accountants of nationally recognized standing (the “Auditors”) shall have obtained from the regular audit of the business of the Company, knowledge of the existence of any Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default, they shall disclose in a written statement the existence of the Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default and the nature thereof, it being understood that such Auditors shall have no liability, directly or indirectly, to anyone for failure to obtain knowledge of any such Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default (provided, no such statement shall be required in the event the Auditors no longer provide such opinions under applicable accounting or auditing standards);

(c) Management Letters. Promptly after receipt thereof, a copy of any “management letter” received by Company or any of its Subsidiaries from its certified public accountants;

(d) Projections. As soon as available and in any event within ninety (90) days following the first day of each Fiscal Year of Company, projections in form reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent covering the five-year period beginning on the first day of such Fiscal Year prepared in reasonable detail, with appropriate presentation and discussion of the principal assumptions upon which such projections are based, which shall be accompanied by the statement of the chief executive officer or Chief Financial Officer of Company to the effect that, to the best of his or her knowledge, such projections are a reasonable estimate for the periods respectively covered thereby;

(e) Public Filings; Reports. Within three (3) Business Days after transmission or receipt thereof, copies of (i) all financial statements, filings, registrations and reports which Company may make to, or file with the SEC or any successor or analogous Governmental Authority and (ii) all material notices and reports as Company shall send to the Term Agent;

(f) Tax Matters. Within (i) five (5) Business Days after they are filed with the appropriate taxing authorities, if and when requested by the Administrative Agent a copy of the state and federal income tax returns of Holdings GP and (ii) ten (10) days after notice under Section 7.3(f), a duly completed copy of IRS Form 8886 or any successor form;

 

- 95 -


(g) Borrowing Base Certificate. (i) Within ten (10) Business Days after the last Business Day of each fiscal month, (ii) at the Administrative Agent’s or Collateral Agent’s request upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, and (iii) within three (3) Business Days after the last Business Day of any week during which Availability has been less than $40 million for five (5) consecutive Business Days, a borrowing base certificate in the form of Exhibit 7.2(g) (the “Borrowing Base Certificate”) with all supporting detail as Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent may from time to time reasonably require, duly completed, detailing Company’s understanding as to which Accounts or Inventory constitute Eligible Accounts Receivable and Eligible Inventory as of the last day of such fiscal month (or such other date as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent may specify in such request), and certified by the chief accounting officer or chief financial officer of Company and subject only to adjustment upon completion of the normal year-end audit of physical inventory. In addition, each Borrowing Base Certificate shall have attached to it such additional schedules and/or other information as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent may reasonably request; and

(h) Other Requested Information. Such other information respecting the respective properties, business affairs, financial condition and/or operations of Company or any of its Subsidiaries or the Collateral as Administrative Agent or any Lender may from time to time reasonably request.

7.3 Notices. Promptly and in any event within five (5) Business Days after an officer of Company or of any of its Subsidiaries obtains knowledge thereof, give written notice to Administrative Agent (which shall promptly provide a copy of such notice to each Lender) of:

(a) Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default. The occurrence of any Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default, accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Financial Officer setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action Company proposes to take with respect thereto;

(b) Litigation and Related Matters. The commencement of, or any material development in, any action, suit, proceeding or investigation pending or threatened against or affecting Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority, (i) which could reasonably be expected to subject Company or any of its Subsidiaries to liability in excess of $1,000,000, (ii) with respect to any Document or any material Indebtedness or Capital Stock of Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (iii) which, if determined adversely to Company or any of its Subsidiaries, could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(c) Environmental Matters. The occurrence of one or more of the following environmental matters which could reasonably be expected to subject Company or its Subsidiaries to liability individually or in the aggregate in excess of $10,000,000:

(i) any pending or threatened Environmental Claim against Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any real property at any time owned or operated by Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

 

- 96 -


(ii) any condition or occurrence on or arising from any real property at any time owned or operated by Company or any of its Subsidiaries that (y) results in noncompliance by Company or any of its Subsidiaries with any applicable Environmental Law, or (z) could reasonably be expected to form the basis of an Environmental Claim against Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any such real property;

(iii) any condition or occurrence on any real property at any time owned or operated by Company or any of its Subsidiaries that could reasonably be expected to cause such real property to be subject to any restrictions on the ownership, occupancy, use or transferability of such real property under any Environmental Law; and

(iv) the taking of any Remedial Action in response to the actual or alleged presence of any Contaminant on any real property at any time owned or operated by Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

All such notices shall describe in reasonable detail the nature of the Environmental Claim, investigation, condition, occurrence or Remedial Action and Company’s or such Subsidiary’s response thereto. In addition, Company will provide Administrative Agent with (i) copies of all material written communications with any Governmental Authority relating to actual or alleged violations of Environmental Laws and all material written communications with any Person relating to Environmental Claims, in each case, which could reasonably be expected to result in liability to Company or its Subsidiaries in excess of $1,000,000 and (ii) such detailed reports of any Environmental Claim as may reasonably be requested by Administrative Agent or any Lender.

(d) Notice of Change of Control. Each occasion that any Change of Control shall occur and such notice shall set forth in reasonable detail the particulars of each such occasion;

(e) Notices under Transaction Documents. Promptly following the receipt or delivery thereof, copies of any material demands, notices or documents received or delivered by Company or any of its Subsidiaries under or pursuant to any Transaction Document; and

(f) Tax Shelter Registration. Any action (or the intention to take an action) inconsistent with the representation in the last sentence of Section 6.9(a). Company acknowledges and agrees that the Lenders and the Administrative Agent may treat the transactions contemplated hereby (or any single transaction contemplated hereby) as part of a transaction that is subject to Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4 or Treasury Regulation Section 301.6112-1, and such Lender or Administrative Agent, as applicable, may file such returns or maintain the lists and other records required by such Treasury Regulations. To the extent a Lender or Administrative Agent determines to maintain such list, Company and its Subsidiaries shall cooperate with the Lender and Administrative Agent in obtaining the information required under such Treasury Regulations.

(g) Material Adverse Effect. Any matter known to Company or any of its Subsidiaries that individually or in the aggregate could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

- 97 -


(h) Casualty, Condemnation/Eminent Domain. The occurrence of any casualty or other damage to any Mortgaged Property in the event the cost to repair or restore the Mortgaged Property as a result of such casualty or other damage is estimated by Company to exceed $5,000,000 in the aggregate or the commencement of any action or proceeding for the taking of a material portion of any Mortgaged Property or interest therein under power of eminent domain or condemnation or a conveyance in lieu thereof.

7.4 Conduct of Business and Maintenance of Existence; Compliance with Laws. Continue to engage in business of the same general type as now conducted by it, or business reasonably related or incidental thereto, and take all reasonable action to maintain its organizational existence and all other rights, privileges and franchises material to its and those of each of its Subsidiaries’ business, in each case, except as otherwise permitted pursuant to Sections 8.3 and 8.4 and comply and cause each of its Subsidiaries to comply with all Contractual Obligations and Requirements of Law, except to the extent that failure to comply therewith could not in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

7.5 Payment of Obligations. Pay or discharge or otherwise satisfy at maturity or, to the extent permitted hereby, prior to maturity or before they become delinquent, as the case may be, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay or discharge or otherwise satisfy at or before maturity or before they become delinquent, as the case may be:

(a) all taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, assessments, charges or withholdings imposed upon any of them or upon any of their income or profits or any of their respective properties or assets including, but not limited to, permit fees, inspection and license fees, all water and sewer rents, all vault charges, and all other public charges, and all service charges, common area charges, private maintenance charges, utility charges and all other private charges, whether evidenced by recorded or unrecorded documents, imposed or assessed upon the Mortgaged Property; and

(b) all lawful claims prior to the time they become a Lien (other than Permitted Liens) upon any of their respective properties or assets;

provided, however, that neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to pay or discharge any such Indebtedness, tax, duty, levy, impost, deduction, assessment, charge, withholding or claim while the same is being contested by it in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently pursued so long as Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, shall have set aside on its books adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP (segregated to the extent required by GAAP) with respect thereto.

7.6 Inspection of Property, Books and Records.

(a) Maintain, and to cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain, books and records, including those pertaining to the Collateral, in such detail, form and scope as is consistent with good business practice. Each Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or their agents may enter upon the premises of such Borrower or any Domestic Subsidiary of such Borrower at any time and from time to time, during normal business hours and upon reasonable notice under the circumstances, and at any time at all or and after the

 

- 98 -


occurrence of an Unmatured Event of Default or Event of Default, and which has not otherwise been waived, for the purposes of (a) conducting field examinations and appraisals and inspecting, evaluating and verifying the collateral, (b) inspecting and/or copying (at such Borrower’s expense) any and all records pertaining thereto and (c) discussing the business affairs and prospects and financial condition of such or any other Borrower and each Subsidiary of such or any other Borrower with any officers, employees and directors of such Borrower or such Subsidiary or with the Company’s auditors;

(b) give the Administrative Agent ten (10) days prior written notice of any change in the location of any Collateral (other than Collateral in transit or out for repair or, with respect to de minimus amounts of Collateral, otherwise offsite, in each case, in the ordinary course of business) or in the location of its chief executive office or place of business from the locations specified in Schedule 1.1(a), and execute in advance of such change and cause to be filed and/or delivered to the Administrative Agent any financing statements, Landlord Waivers or Bailee Letters or other documents reasonably required by the Administrative Agent, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

(c) advise the Administrative Agent promptly, in sufficient detail, of any event which singly or in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the value of the Collateral or on the Liens granted for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks thereon;

(d) execute and promptly deliver, and to cause each of its Material Domestic Subsidiaries to execute and promptly deliver, to the Administrative Agent, from time to time, solely for the Administrative Agent’s convenience in maintaining a record of the Collateral, such written statements and schedules as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require, including those described in Section 7.1 of this Agreement, designating, identifying or describing the Collateral. The failure by any Borrower or any Material Domestic Subsidiary of any Borrower, however, to promptly give the Agent such statements or schedules shall not affect, diminish, modify or otherwise limit the Liens on the Collateral granted pursuant to the Credit Documents.

7.7 ERISA; Foreign Pension Plan. (a) As soon as practicable and in any event within three (3) Business Days after Company, any of its Subsidiaries knows or has reason to know that a Termination Event has occurred with respect to any Plan (whether or not the requirement for notice of such Termination Event has been waived by the PBGC), deliver, or cause such Subsidiary to deliver, to Administrative Agent a certificate of a responsible officer of Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, setting forth the details of such Termination Event and the action, if any, which Company or such Subsidiary is required or proposes to take, together with any notices required or proposed to be given;

(b) Upon the request of any Lender made from time to time, deliver, or cause each Subsidiary to deliver, to each Lender a copy of the most recent actuarial report and annual report (Form 5500) completed with respect to any Plan;

 

- 99 -


(c) As soon as possible and in any event within three (3) Business Days after Company or any of its Subsidiaries knows or has reason to know that any of the following have occurred or is reasonably likely to occur with respect to any Plan:

(i) such Plan has been or may be terminated, if the liability to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to such termination exceeds $2,500,000, determined on a plan termination basis using actuarial assumptions prescribed by the PBGC, or such Plan has been or may be reorganized, petitioned or declared insolvent under Title IV of ERISA, if the liability to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to such reorganization, petition or insolvency could reasonably be expected to exceed $2,500,000,

(ii) the Plan Sponsor intends to terminate such Plan, if the liability to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to such termination will exceed $2,500,000,

(iii) the PBGC has instituted or will institute proceedings under Section 515 of ERISA to collect a delinquent contribution to such Plan or under Section 4042 of ERISA to terminate such Plan,

(iv) that an application may be or has been made to the Secretary of the Treasury for a waiver or modification of the minimum funding standard (including any required installment payments) or on extension of any amortization period under Section 412 of the Code,

(v) that Company or any of its Subsidiaries will or could reasonably be expected to incur any liability in excess of $2,500,000 (including, but not limited to, contingent or secondary liability) to or on account of the termination or withdrawal from a Plan under Section 401(a)(29), 4971, 4975 or 4980 of the Code or Section 409 or 502(1) of ERISA, or

(vi) that Company or any of its Subsidiaries or ERISA Affiliates has or may incur any liability that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect under any “employee welfare benefit plan” (within the meaning of Section 3(1) of ERISA) that provides benefits to retired employees (other than as required by Section 601 et seq. of ERISA) or any employee pension benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), deliver, or cause such Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate to deliver, to Administrative Agent a written notice thereof; and

(d) As soon as possible and in any event within five (5) Business Days after Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates knows or has reason to know that any of them has caused a complete withdrawal or partial withdrawal (within the meaning of Sections 4203 and 4205, respectively, of ERISA) from any Multiemployer Plan, deliver, or cause such Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate to deliver, to Administrative Agent a written notice thereof.

For purposes of this Section 7.7, Company shall be deemed to have knowledge of all facts known by the Plan Administrator of any Plan of which Company is the Plan Sponsor, and each Subsidiary of Company shall be deemed to have knowledge of all facts known by the Plan Administrator of any Plan of which such Subsidiary, respectively, is a Plan Sponsor. In addition to its other obligations set forth in this Article VII, Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries and ERISA Affiliates to:

(i) provide Administrative Agent with prompt written notice, with respect to any Plan, of any failure to satisfy the minimum funding standard requirements of Section 412 of the Code that results in an accumulated funding deficiency in excess of $2,500,000,

 

- 100 -


(ii) furnish to Administrative Agent, promptly after delivery of the same to the PBGC, a copy of any delinquency notice pursuant to Section 412(n)(4) of the Code,

(iii) correct any such failure to satisfy funding requirements or delinquency referred to in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) within ninety (90) days after the occurrence thereof, except where the failure to so satisfy would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(iv) comply in good faith in all material respects with the requirements set forth in Section 4980B of the Code and with Sections 601(a) and 606 of ERISA;

(v) at the request of any Lender, deliver to such Lender (and a copy to Administrative Agent) copies of the most recent annual reports, actuarial reports and notices received by Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to any Foreign Pension Plan no later than ten (10) days after the date of such request.

(e) Establish, maintain and operate all Foreign Pension Plans in compliance in all material respects with all Requirements of Law and the respective requirements of the governing documents for such Plans, including the payment of any required contributions on or before the due date for such payments, except for failures to comply which, in the aggregate, could not be reasonably be expected to subject Company or any of its Subsidiaries to liability, individually or in the aggregate, in excess of $2,500,000.

7.8 Maintenance of Property, Insurance. (a) Keep, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to keep, all material property, including all Mortgaged Property (including, but not limited to, equipment), useful and necessary in its business in good working order and condition, normal wear and tear and damage by casualty or force majeure excepted, and subject to Section 8.4.

(b) maintain, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurers, insurance with respect to its material 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 as are customarily carried under similar circumstances by such other Persons. Such insurance shall be maintained with financially sound and reputable insurers, except that a portion of such insurance program (not to exceed that which is customary in the case of companies engaged in the same or similar business or having similar properties similarly situated) may be effected through self-insurance, provided adequate reserves therefor, in accordance with GAAP, are maintained, and

(c) furnish to Administrative Agent, on the Initial Borrowing Date and annually on each date of delivery of the financial statements under Section 7.1(b), full information as to the insurance carried. All insurance policies or certificates (or certified copies thereof) with respect to such insurance:

(i) shall be endorsed to the Administrative Agent’s reasonable satisfaction for the benefit of the Secured Creditors (including, without limitation, by naming the Administrative Agent as loss payee or additional insured, as appropriate); and

 

- 101 -


(ii) shall state that such insurance policy shall not be canceled without the insurer’s endeavoring to provide fifteen days’ (five days in the case of cancellation due to non-payment of premiums) prior written notice thereof to the Administrative Agent.

At any time that insurance at levels described in Schedule 7.8 is not being maintained by Company or any of its Subsidiaries, Company will notify the Lenders in writing within five (5) Business Days thereof.

7.9 Environmental Laws. (a) Comply with, and cause its Subsidiaries to comply with, and, in each case take reasonable steps to ensure compliance by all tenants and subtenants, if any, with, all applicable Environmental Laws and obtain and comply in all material respects with and maintain, and take reasonable steps to ensure that all tenants and subtenants obtain and comply in all material respects with and maintain, any and all licenses, approvals, notifications, registrations or permits required by applicable Environmental Laws except, in each case, to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

(b) Conduct and complete all investigations, studies, sampling and testing, and all Remedial Actions required under Environmental Laws and promptly comply in all material respects with all lawful orders, directives and information requests of all Governmental Authorities regarding Environmental Laws except to the extent that the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and the pendency of such proceedings could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

7.10 Use of Proceeds. Use all proceeds of the Loans as provided in Section 6.8.

7.11 Additional Security; Further Assurances.

(a) Additional Guarantors and Pledgors.

(i) Company agrees to cause each Material Domestic Subsidiary (other than a Receivables Subsidiary) to become a party to the Subsidiary Guaranty and the Security Agreement pursuant to the terms thereof promptly and in any event within thirty (30) days of the date that such Subsidiary is acquired or otherwise becomes a Material Domestic Subsidiary;

(ii) Company agrees to cause each Subsidiary that becomes a guarantor of obligations arising under any Permitted Junior Debt Document and that is not at such time party to the Subsidiary Guaranty to become a party to the Subsidiary Guaranty in accordance with the terms thereof.

(b) Pledge of New Subsidiary Stock. Company agrees to pledge (or to cause each Subsidiary Guarantor to pledge) (i) all of the Capital Stock of each new Material Domestic Subsidiary, (ii) 65% of the Capital Stock entitled to vote and 100% of the Capital Stock not

 

- 102 -


entitled to vote of each new Foreign Subsidiary and (iii) all of the Capital Stock of each domestic Unrestricted Subsidiary (or 65% of the Capital Stock entitled to vote and 100% of the Capital Stock not entitled to vote in the case of Foreign Subsidiaries), (in each of (i) - (iii), directly owned by Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor) established, acquired, created or otherwise in existence after the Closing Date to Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Creditors pursuant to the terms of the Security Agreement promptly, and in any event, within sixty (60) days of the establishment, acquisition or creation of such new Subsidiary. Company agrees to pledge or cause each Subsidiary Guarantor to pledge, to Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Creditors pursuant to the Security Agreement, all instruments evidencing indebtedness owed by any Unrestricted Subsidiary to Company or any Domestic Subsidiary promptly and in any event within sixty (60) days of the creation of such instruments.

(c) Agreement to Grant Additional Security. (i) Promptly, and in any event within 30 days after the acquisition by Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor of personal property or fee interests in real property of the type that would have constituted Collateral at the date hereof and investments of the type that would have constituted Collateral on the date hereof (other than (x) any fee interest in real property with a Fair Market Value at the date of acquisition thereof of less than $2,000,000 or (y) assets with a Fair Market Value of less than $250,000 individually or $500,000 in the aggregate; provided that if the value of an asset (other than as to a real property or leasehold interest) is more than $500,000, Company shall notify Administrative Agent of the acquisition of such assets and, to the extent not already Collateral which Administrative Agent has a perfected security interest pursuant to Security Documents, such assets will become additional Collateral hereunder to the extent Administrative Agent deems the pledge of such assets practicable) (the “Additional Collateral”), Company will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, take all necessary action, including (A) the filing of appropriate financing statements under the provisions of the UCC, applicable foreign, domestic or local laws, rules or regulations in each of the offices where such filing is necessary or appropriate and (B) with respect to fee interests in real property, the execution of a mortgage, the obtaining of mortgagee title insurance policies, title surveys (either recent or existing) and real estate appraisals satisfying Requirements of Law, to grant the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Creditors pursuant to the Security Documents a Lien (subject only to Permitted Liens and perfected to the extent required by the Security Documents) in such Additional Collateral pursuant to and to the full extent required by the Security Documents and this Agreement.

(ii) If, following a change in the relevant sections of the Code, the regulations and rules promulgated thereunder and any rulings issued thereunder and at the request of Administrative Agent or the Majority Lenders, counsel for Company acceptable to Administrative Agent and the Majority Lenders does not within 30 days after such request deliver evidence satisfactory to Administrative Agent with respect to any Foreign Subsidiary of Company that:

(a) a pledge of 66% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of capital stock of such Foreign Subsidiary entitled to vote,

(b) the entering into by such Foreign Subsidiary of a guaranty in substantially the form of the Subsidiary Guaranty or

 

- 103 -


(c) the entering into by such Foreign Subsidiary of a security agreement in substantially the form of the Security Agreement, in either case would cause the earnings of such Foreign Subsidiary to be treated as a deemed dividend to such Foreign Subsidiary’s United States parent or would otherwise violate a material applicable law, then

(A) in the case of a failure to deliver the evidence described in clause (a) above, that portion of such Foreign Subsidiary’s outstanding capital stock not theretofore pledged pursuant to a Security Document shall be pledged to Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Creditors pursuant to a Security Document,

(B) in the case of a failure to deliver the evidence described in clause (b) above, such Foreign Subsidiary shall execute and deliver a guaranty of the Obligations of Company under the Loan Documents, and

(C) in the case of a failure to deliver the evidence described in clause (c) above, such Foreign Subsidiary shall execute and deliver a Security Document granting Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Creditors a security interest in all of such Foreign Subsidiary’s assets, in each case will all documents delivered pursuant to this Section 7.11(c) to be in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent and the Majority Lenders.

(d) Documentation for Additional Security. The Liens and security interests required to be granted pursuant to this Section 7.11 shall be granted pursuant to such security documentation (which shall be substantially similar to the Security Documents already executed and delivered by Company) (the “Additional Security Documents”) reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to Administrative Agent and shall constitute valid and enforceable, with respect to real property, liens and, with respect to all other property, security interests subject to no other Liens except Permitted Liens. The Additional Security Documents and other instruments related thereto shall be duly recorded or filed in such manner and in such places and at such times as are required by law to establish, perfect, preserve and protect the Liens, in favor of Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Creditors, required to be granted pursuant to the Additional Security Document and, all taxes, duties, levies, imposes, deductions, assessments, charges, withholdings, fees and other charges payable in connection therewith shall be paid in full by Company. At the time of the execution and delivery of the Additional Security Documents, Company shall cause to be delivered to Administrative Agent such agreements, opinions of counsel, and other related documents as may be reasonably requested by Administrative Agent or the Majority Lenders to assure themselves that this Section 7.11 has been complied with, provided, however, as to real property, the company shall only be required to deliver such title policies, surveys, and appraisals as are required pursuant to Section 7.11(c)

7.12 Annual Meetings with Lenders. Once per Fiscal Year (after delivery of the financial statements required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7.1(c) and the projections required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7.2) upon the reasonable request of the Administrative Agent, the Company shall hold a meeting (at a mutually agreeable location and time or at the option of the Administrative Agent, by conference call) with all of the Lenders at which meeting shall be reviewed the financial results of the previous Fiscal Year and the

 

- 104 -


financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries. Following the occurrence of an Event of Default or Liquidity Event, the Company shall hold such additional meetings with all of the Lenders as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.

7.13 Interest Rate Protection. Within one hundred twenty (120) days after the Initial Borrowing Date, Company or its Subsidiaries shall have entered into Interest Rate Agreements with rate levels reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent limiting fluctuations of the interest rate on a notional amount of not less than $120,000,000 of indebtedness with an initial average life of approximately three (3) years and Company and its Subsidiaries shall thereafter be required to maintain such Interest Rate Agreements; provided that such Interest Rate Agreements may be modified from time to time to reduce the notional amount thereof to an amount not less than 50% of the then outstanding principal amount of Term Loans hereunder.

7.14 Certain Collateral.

(a) Promptly, upon the request of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent from time to time, provide, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to provide, to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent written statements listing items of Inventory and Accounts in reasonable detail as reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent;

(b) conduct or cause to be conducted (in a manner consistent with the requirements for the physical measurement of the Inventory in connection with the Borrowers’ annual audit conducted by the Auditors) a physical measurement of the Inventory and, if requested by the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, a copy of such measurement shall be promptly supplied to the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent accompanied by a report of the value (valued at average cost) of such Inventory;

(c) upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, conduct such a physical measurement of the Inventory at such other times and as of such other dates as the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent shall reasonably request; and

(d) if any Inventory of a Borrower is at any time hereafter stored or located at any warehouse not owned or leased by such Borrower, promptly, upon the Administrative Agent’s request, deliver to such warehouseman notification of the Administrative Agent’s Lien on such Inventory and shall take such other steps as the Administrative Agent reasonably requires to perfect its Lien thereon. In addition to, and not in limitation of, the foregoing, at any time and from time to time the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent may conduct (or engage third parties to conduct) such field examinations, appraisals, verifications and evaluations of the Collateral as the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent shall deem necessary or appropriate in the exercise of its sole discretion and shall provide copies of such examinations, appraisals, verifications and evaluations to the Lenders; provided, that, so long as an Event of Default shall not have occurred and be continuing or so long as Availability has not fallen below $40.0 million for more than three (3) consecutive Business Days, the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent shall not conduct (or engage third parties to conduct) field examinations, appraisals, verifications and evaluations of the Collateral more than once in any Fiscal Year.

 

- 105 -


ARTICLE VIII

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

Each Borrower hereby agrees that, so long as any Loan remains outstanding and unpaid or any other amount is owing to any Lender or Administrative Agent hereunder:

8.1 Liens. No Borrower shall, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist or agree to create, incur or assume any Lien in, upon or with respect to any of its properties or assets (including, without limitation, any securities or debt instruments of any of their Subsidiaries), whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or assign or otherwise convey any right to receive income to secure any obligation; except for the following Liens (herein referred to as “Permitted Liens”):

(a) Liens created by the Loan Documents;

(b) Customary Permitted Liens;

(c) Liens existing on the date hereof to secure Indebtedness to Remain Outstanding listed on Schedule 8.2(i) hereto and Permitted Refinancings thereof and other Liens listed on Schedule 8.1(c) hereto;

(d) Liens on any property (i) securing Indebtedness incurred or assumed for the purpose of financing all or any part of the acquisition, construction, repair or improvement cost of such property, including Capitalized Lease Obligations (or financing of the purchase price within ninety (90) days after the respective purchase of assets), and Permitted Refinancings thereof, (ii) securing Sale and Leaseback Transactions and Permitted Refinancings thereof, and (iii) of any Person at the time such property is acquired or such Person becomes a Subsidiary and, in each case, within this clause (iii), not created in contemplation of or in connection with such event and Permitted Refinancings thereof; provided that in the case of each of the foregoing:

 

  (x)

any such Lien does not extend to or cover any property or assets of Company or any other Credit Party other than the assets financed by such Capital Lease or Indebtedness in the case of (i) and (ii) above or covered by such Lien at the time such property is acquired or such Person becomes a Subsidiary in the case of (iii) above, and in each case, any improvements and accessions to such property and any replacement thereof or proceeds therefrom;

 

  (y)

the Indebtedness secured by any such Lien does not exceed 100% of the Fair Market Value of such property or assets at the time of such acquisition or transaction; and

 

  (z)

the Indebtedness secured by any such Lien is permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 8.2(d).

(e) subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, Liens on the Collateral securing the Term Loan Credit Facility or any Permitted Refinancing thereof; and

 

- 106 -


(f) additional Liens incurred by Company and its Subsidiaries so long as the value of the property subject to such Liens, and the Indebtedness and other obligations secured thereby, do not exceed $10,000,000 in the aggregate outstanding at any time.

8.2 Indebtedness and Disqualified Stock. No Borrower shall, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, incur, create, assume directly or indirectly, or suffer to exist any Indebtedness (including Disqualified Stock) except:

(a) Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;

(b) Guarantee Obligations with respect to Indebtedness described in clauses (c) through (j) and (m) below;

(c) Indebtedness under the Term Loan Credit Facility provided that the aggregate principal amount outstanding thereunder does not exceed the sum of $210 million plus any advances related to draws on the Port Arthur Letter of Credit and/or loans related to such Port Arthur Letter of Credit less any mandatory prepayments required thereunder and any Permitted Refinancing thereof;

(d) Indebtedness secured by Liens permitted under Section 8.1(d) and any Permitted Refinancing thereof; provided, that the aggregate outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness at any time (i) shall not, when added to Indebtedness permitted to be outstanding pursuant to Sections 8.2(e), exceed $20,000,000;

(e) Indebtedness of a Subsidiary of a Borrower issued and outstanding on or prior to the date on which such Subsidiary was acquired by a Borrower (other than Indebtedness issued as consideration in, or to provide all or any portion of the funds utilized to consummate the transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which such Subsidiary became a Subsidiary or was acquired by a Borrower) and any Permitted Refinancing thereof which, together with Indebtedness permitted to be outstanding pursuant to Section 8.2(d), does not exceed $20,000,000;

(f) Indebtedness not to exceed $2,000,000 in the aggregate at any time arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument inadvertently (except in the case of daylight overdrafts) drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business, or pursuant to netting services or otherwise in connection with Deposit Accounts, in each case, so long as such Indebtedness is extinguished within five (5) Business Days of the incurrence thereof;

(g) Indebtedness under Interest Rate Agreements so long as management of such Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, has determined that entering into such Interest Rate Agreements was for bona fide (as opposed to speculative) hedging activities;

(h) Indebtedness under Other Hedging Agreements with a term of one year or less in connection with a Borrower’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ operations so long as management of such Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, has determined that entering into such Other Hedging Agreements was for bona fide (as opposed to speculative) hedging activities;

 

- 107 -


(i) Indebtedness outstanding on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 8.2(i) hereto (“Indebtedness to Remain Outstanding”) and any Permitted Refinancing thereof.

(j) Intercompany Indebtedness to the extent permitted by Section 8.7; provided, however, that in the event of any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock which results in the holder of such Indebtedness ceasing to be a Subsidiary of Company or any subsequent transfer of such Indebtedness (other than to Company or any of its Subsidiaries) such Indebtedness shall be required to be permitted under another clause of this Section 8.2; provided, further, however, that (x) in the case of Intercompany Indebtedness consisting of a loan or advance to a Borrower, each such loan or advance shall be subordinated to the indefeasible payment in full of all of the Borrowers’ Obligations pursuant to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and (y) in the case of Intercompany Indebtedness consisting of a loan or advance from a Borrower, such Indebtedness shall be evidenced by promissory notes payable to such Borrower, in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent, which promissory notes shall be delivered and pledged to Administrative Agent as part of the Collateral;

(k) Permitted Junior Debt of Company and Guarantee Obligations of Company’s Subsidiaries that are Credit Parties with respect thereto, the Net Offering Proceeds of which are applied to prepay the Term Loan Credit Facility to the extent required thereby and any Permitted Refinancing thereof; provided, that the terms and conditions of the Permitted Junior Debt Documents governing such Indebtedness are reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent;

(l) Unsecured Indebtedness of any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, and Guarantee Obligations of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries that are Credit Parties, provided, that (i) the Net Offering Proceeds of which are applied to prepay the Term Loan Credit Facility; (ii) such Unsecured Indebtedness satisfies clauses (ii) and (iv) of the definition of Permitted Refinancing and any Permitted Refinancing thereof;

(m) Indebtedness owed to any Person providing financing for worker’s compensation, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance of any Borrower or its Subsidiaries not exceeding the lesser of the amount of insurance premiums to be paid to such Persons for a one (1) year period and $10,000,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding; and

(n) Secured or unsecured Indebtedness of any Borrower or its Subsidiaries not otherwise permitted hereunder not exceeding $5,000,000 in the aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding.

8.3 Fundamental Changes. No Borrower shall, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, merge into or consolidate with any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it, or liquidate or dissolve, except that, if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing any Subsidiary of a Borrower (a) may merge into such Borrower in a transaction in

 

- 108 -


which such Borrower is the surviving corporation, (b) may merge into any Credit Party in a transaction in which the surviving entity is a Credit Party, (c) that is not a Credit Party may merge into any Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party, (d) may merge into any other Person that becomes a Credit Party in connection with a Permitted Acquisition, (e) may liquidate or dissolve if Company determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of Company and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders; provided that any such merger involving a Person that is not a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary immediately prior to such merger shall not be permitted unless also permitted by Section 8.7, and (f) may merge with another Person in connection with an Asset Disposition permitted under Section 8.4. No Permitted MTBE Joint Venture may merge or consolidate with any Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries except in a transaction that is a Permitted Acquisition. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time that no Unmatured Event of Default or Event of Default exists, upon not less than thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, Company may merge with and into a newly formed Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Holdings GP (“NewCo”) that is organized in the State of Delaware or the State of Texas solely for purposes of reforming Company as a limited liability company or corporation; provided, that on or before the date of such merger, Company delivers the following documents to Administrative Agent, each of which shall be in form and substance acceptable to Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent: (i) an assumption agreement pursuant to which NewCo assumes the obligations of Company under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which Company is party, (ii) such financing statements under the provisions of the UCC, applicable foreign, domestic or local laws, rules or regulations in each of the offices where such filing is necessary or appropriate to continue the security interest of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Creditors a Lien (subject only to Permitted Liens and perfected to the extent required by the Security Documents) in the Collateral owned by Company and NewCo, (iii) such modifications to any Mortgages and Mortgage Policies as may be required by Collateral Agent with respect to the Mortgaged Properties owned by Company, (iv) an opinion of counsel to Company with respect to such matters as Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent may request, (v) the documents that would have been required to have been delivered by NewCo on the date hereof had NewCo been a borrower hereunder on such date under Sections 5.1(b), 5.1(c)(i) - (iii), and 5.1(c)(v) and (vi) such other documentation as Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent may request.

8.4 Asset Sales. No Borrower shall, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, consummate an Asset Disposition, except that:

(a) Borrowers and their Subsidiaries may make Asset Dispositions (other than Asset Dispositions of Accounts Receivable) for fair value, provided (i) at least 75% of the aggregate sales price from such Asset Disposition shall be paid in Cash or Cash Equivalents and (ii) the aggregate Fair Market Value of all assets disposed of subsequent to the Initial Borrowing Date pursuant to this clause (f) plus the aggregate fair market value of all the assets then proposed to be disposed of does not exceed $25,000,000 in any Fiscal Year of Company; and

(b) Borrowers and their Subsidiaries may make an Asset Disposition of the MTBE Assets for fair value (but not less than all or substantially all of such MTBE Assets), including the Capital Stock of any Permitted MTBE JV; provided (i) at least 75% of the aggregate sales price from such Asset Disposition shall be paid in Cash or Cash Equivalents and (ii) no Unmatured Event of Default or Event of Default exists or would result therefrom;

 

- 109 -


In the event the Majority Lenders waive the provisions of this Section 8.4 with respect to the sale of any Collateral, or any Collateral is sold as permitted by Section 8.4, such Collateral shall be sold free and clear of the Liens created by the Security Documents, and the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to take any actions deemed appropriate in order to effect the foregoing.

8.5 Restricted Payments. No Borrower shall, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, make any Restricted Payment; provided, that:

(a) so long as no Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from making such Restricted Payment, Company may make Restricted Payments in the form of, and/or may make Restricted Payments to Holdings LP and Holdings GP for immediate use for: (i) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Capital Stock or options, warrants or other rights to acquire Capital Stock of Holdings GP, Company or any Subsidiary of Company in connection with any management equity subscription agreement, stock option agreement, shareholders’ agreement, stock appreciation rights program, severance agreement, employee benefit plan or agreement or similar agreement, or (ii) the repurchase for value of any Capital Stock or options, warrants or other rights to acquire Capital Stock of Holdings GP in the open market to satisfy stock options issues by Holdings GP that are outstanding; provided that the aggregate price paid for all such repurchases, redemptions, acquisitions or retirements after the Closing Date may not exceed $5,000,000 in any Fiscal Year or $12,500,000 in the aggregate on or after the Closing Date.

(b) so long as no Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, Company may make regularly scheduled interest payments on Permitted Junior Debt and any Permitted Refinancings thereof;

(c) Borrowers and their Subsidiaries may defease, redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire Indebtedness of any Credit Party that is subordinated to the Obligations with the net cash proceeds from a substantially concurrent Permitted Refinancing of such Indebtedness;

(d) Company may pay Dividends to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of Company issued on or after the Closing Date in accordance with Section 8.2 hereof;

(e) so long as either (1) neither Holdings GP nor Holdings LP (i) own any significant assets other than Capital Stock of Company or (ii) engage in any business other than holding the Capital Stock of Company or (2) Holdings GP, Holdings LP, Company and its Subsidiaries have entered into a Tax Sharing Agreement reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent, Company may pay cash Dividends or otherwise advance amounts to Holdings GP and Holdings LP solely for the purpose of paying, so long as the proceeds thereof are promptly used by Holdings GP and Holdings LP to pay (A) franchise taxes and other fees required to maintain its legal existence, (B) federal, state and local income taxes and interest and penalties with respect thereto; provided that any refund shall be promptly returned by Holdings GP and Holdings LP to Company, and (C) an amount not to exceed $200,000 in any Fiscal Year to permit Holdings GP and Holdings LP to pay corporate and overhead expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business.

 

- 110 -


(f) Company may repurchase options to acquire Capital Stock or Capital Stock if such purchase is deemed to occur upon the exercise of stock options to the extent such options to acquire Capital Stock or Capital Stock represent a portion of the exercise price of those stock options;

(g) Company may purchase fractional shares upon conversion of any securities of Company into options, warrants or other rights to acquire Capital Stock of Company;

(h) Company may issue Capital Stock of Company (other than Disqualified Stock) for other Capital Stock or options, warrants or other rights to acquire Capital Stock of Company in connection with any rights offering and payments for the redemption of fractional shares in connection with any rights offering;

(i) so long as (A) no Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur as a result of such Restricted Payment and any related Indebtedness incurred to make such Restricted Payment and (B) the Payment Condition is satisfied, Company may make additional Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount, when combined with Investments permitted under Section 8.7(o), that does not exceed (i) the amount of all Net Offering Proceeds from issuances of the Company’s Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) since the Closing Date minus (ii) the amount of such Net Offering Proceeds utilized for Acquisitions since the Closing Date; and

(j) so long as (A) no Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur as a result of such Restricted Payment and any related Indebtedness incurred to make such Restricted Payment, (B) the Payment Condition is satisfied, and (C) Company’s Leverage Ratio is less than 3.0 to 1.0 after giving effect to any Indebtedness incurred in connection with such Restricted Payments on a Pro Forma Basis, Company may make additional Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount, when combined with Investments permitted under Section 8.7(p), that does not exceed 25% of Company’s cumulative Consolidated Net Income accrued during the period (treated as one accounting period) from June 30, 2006 to the end of the most recent Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 7.1.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Company may pay Dividends within sixty (60) days after the date of declaration thereof if at such date of declaration such Dividend would have complied with this Section 8.5; provided, that any such Dividend shall be included (without duplication) in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments for purposes of the clause of Section 8.5 relied upon for the declaration of such Dividend.

8.6 Issuance of Subsidiary Stock. No Borrower shall, nor shall permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, issue, sell, assign, pledge or otherwise encumber or dispose of any shares of Capital Stock of any Subsidiary of Company, except (i) to Company, (ii) to another Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Company that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary, (iii) to qualify directors if required by applicable law or similar de minimus issuances of Capital Stock to comply with Foreign Requirements of Law, or (iv) pursuant to employee stock ownership or employee benefit plans in effect on the date hereof; provided, that, in the case of issuances of

 

- 111 -


preferred stock by a Subsidiary of Company, any subsequent issuance or transfer of Capital Stock that results in any such preferred stock being held by a Person other than Company or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Company shall be deemed to constitute an issuance of Capital Stock that was not permitted by this Section 8.6. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Company or is Subsidiaries shall be permitted to sell 100% of the outstanding Capital Stock of any Subsidiary, but not less than 100% of such Capital Stock, subject to Section 8.4.

8.7 Loans, Investment and Acquisitions. No Borrower shall, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, make any loans or make or own any Investments or make any Acquisitions except:

(a) Company and its respective Subsidiaries may acquire and hold Cash and Cash Equivalents;

(b) Investments existing on the date hereof and identified on Schedule 8.7, without giving effect to any additions thereto or replacements thereof;

(c) advances by Company or its Subsidiaries made to employees in the ordinary course of business in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $1,000,000 to any one Person or $3,000,000 in the aggregate at any one time outstanding;

(d) Investments (including debt obligations) received by Company or its Subsidiaries 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;

(e) Company may enter into Interest Rate Agreements in compliance with 8.2(g) and Other Hedging Agreements in compliance with Section 8.2(h);

(f) pledges or deposits made in the ordinary course of business;

(g) Investments by Company and each of its Subsidiaries in the Capital Stock of a Person who is a Domestic Subsidiary immediately before and after such Investment; provided, that (i) the requirements of Section 7.11 are satisfied, and (ii) the amount of such Investments by Credit Parties in Subsidiaries that are not Credit Parties, plus the amount of all loans, contributions to capital, Guarantee Obligations and advances referred to in clause (h) below that are made by Credit Parties to Subsidiaries that are not Credit Parties shall not exceed in the aggregate at any time outstanding $5,000,000;

(h) Investments constituting loans, Guarantee Obligations or advances made by Company to any of its Subsidiaries or made by any of its Subsidiaries to Company or any other Subsidiary, provided, that any such loans and advances made by a Credit Party shall be evidenced by a promissory note pledged pursuant to a Security Document and the amount of all such loans, contributions to capital, Guarantee Obligations and advances by Credit Parties to Subsidiaries that are not Credit Parties shall not exceed the limitations set forth in clause (g) above or (j) below, as applicable;

(i) Company or any other Credit Party may make Permitted Acquisitions;

 

- 112 -


(j) Foreign Investments in an aggregate amount not to exceed in the aggregate at any time outstanding $5,000,000; provided, that the aggregate amount of Foreign Investments may not be increased at any time that an Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default exists and is continuing or would result therefrom;

(k) Company and each of its Subsidiaries may acquire and hold debt securities and other non-cash consideration as partial consideration for an Asset Disposition permitted pursuant to Section 8.4;

(l) Investments in any Permitted MTBE Joint Venture consisting of all or part of the MTBE Assets;

(m) Investments the sole consideration for which are Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company;

(n) Guarantee Obligations permitted under Section 8.2;

(o) so long as no Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, additional Investments in an aggregate amount, when combined with Restricted Payments permitted under Section 8.5(i), that do not exceed (i) the amount of all Net Offering Proceeds from issuances of the Company’s Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) since the Closing Date minus (ii) the amount of such Net Offering Proceeds utilized for Acquisitions since the Closing Date;

(p) so long as (A) no Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, (B) Company’s Leverage Ratio is less than 3.0 to 1.0 after giving effect to any Indebtedness incurred in connection with such Investments on a Pro Forma Basis and (C) the Payment Condition is satisfied, additional Investments in an aggregate amount, when combined with Restricted Payments permitted under Section 8.5(j), that do not exceed 25% of Company’s cumulative Consolidated Net Income accrued during the period (treated as one accounting period) from June 30, 2006 to the end of the most recent Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 7.1; and

(q) additional Investments in an aggregate amount not to exceed $15,000,000.

8.8 Transactions with Affiliates. No Borrower shall, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into or permit to exist any transaction (including, without limitation, the purchase, sale, lease or exchange of any property or the rendering of any service) with or for the benefit of any of Company’s Affiliates (an “Affiliate Transaction”), other than transactions that are on terms fair and reasonable to Company or to any such Subsidiary and no less favorable to Company or to such Subsidiary than those that might reasonably have been obtained in a comparable transaction on an arm’s-length basis from a Person that is not an Affiliate. In addition to the foregoing with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of Affiliate Transactions involving a value or aggregate payments of $10,000,000 or more, the determination that such Affiliate Transaction or series of Affiliate Transactions is or are on terms that are fair and reasonable to Company or to any its Subsidiaries and is or are on terms that are no less favorable to Company or to such Subsidiary than those that might reasonably have been

 

- 113 -


obtained in a comparable transaction on an arm’s-length basis from a Person that is not an Affiliate will be made, prior to the consummation of any such Affiliate Transaction or series of Affiliate Transactions, reasonably and in good faith by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of Company and of such Subsidiary, as the case may be, and evidenced by a Board of Directors resolution delivered to Administrative Agent.

The foregoing restrictions will not apply to:

(1) reasonable and customary directors’ fees, indemnification and similar arrangements and payments thereunder;

(2) loans or advances to officers of Company and of its Subsidiaries for bona fide business purposes of Company or of such Subsidiary not to exceed $3,000,000 in the aggregate at any one time outstanding for Company and its Subsidiaries;

(3) any transaction between Company and any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Company to the extent that any such transaction is otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Agreement;

(4) Restricted Payments that do not violate Section 8.5 hereof or Investments that do not violate Section 8.7(n) hereof; or

(5) issuances of Capital Stock of Company to the extent permitted pursuant to Section 8.6 and the granting of registration rights thereto.

8.9 Intentionally Omitted.

8.10 Lines of Business. No Borrower shall, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into or acquire any line of business which is not reasonably related to the business engaged in as of the date hereof. No Borrower shall permit any MTBE Subsidiary to enter into or acquire any line of business or assets other than MTBE Assets.

8.11 Fiscal Year. No Borrower shall, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, change their Fiscal Year; provided, that any Subsidiary of Company may change its Fiscal Year to correspond to the Fiscal Year of Company.

8.12 Limitation on Voluntary Payments and Modifications of Indebtedness; Modifications of Certificate of Incorporation, By-Laws and Certain Other Agreements; Certain Derivative Transactions; etc. No Borrower shall, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to:

(a) make (or give any notice in respect of) any voluntary or optional payment or prepayment on or redemption or acquisition for value of (including, without limitation, by way of depositing with the trustee with respect thereto or any other Person money or securities before due for the purpose of paying when due) any Indebtedness that is either subordinate or junior in right of payment to the Obligations other than pursuant to a Permitted Refinancing or as permitted pursuant to Section 8.5;

 

- 114 -


(b) amend, terminate or modify, or permit the amendment, termination or modification of, any provision of any documents governing the Indebtedness described in clause (a) above, the Term Loan Credit Facility or the Intercreditor Agreement in a manner adverse to the interests of the Lenders (including specifically to shorten any maturity or the Weighted Average Life to Maturity, require any payment sooner than previously scheduled, increase the principal amount due thereunder or the interest rate or fees applicable thereto, alter the redemption provisions or price or terms at which such Indebtedness in required to be purchased, cause affirmative or negative covenants to be more restrictive than those originally contained in such documents or provide for any additional guarantor with respect thereto unless such Person becomes a Guarantor);

(c) amend, modify or change in any way adverse to the interests of the Lenders, its Organizational Documents (including, without limitation, by filing or modification of any certificate of designation) or by-laws, any Tax Sharing Agreement referred to in Section 8.5(e), the Huntsman Acquisition Agreement or any agreement entered into by it, with respect to its Capital Stock (including any shareholders’ agreement), or enter into any new agreement with respect to its Capital Stock which in any way could be adverse to the interests of the Lenders;

(d) enter into or maintain outstanding any derivative transaction or similar transaction obligating Company or any of its Subsidiaries to make any payment (other than a payment which may only be made in Ordinary Equity Interests or Permitted Preferred Stock) to any Person as a result of any change in value or market price of Capital Stock of Company.

8.13 Limitation on Certain Restrictions. No Borrower shall, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries, to (1) create or otherwise cause or permit to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to (i) pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock or pay any Indebtedness or other obligation owed to Company or any of its other Subsidiaries, (ii) make any loans or advances to Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iii) transfer any of its property or assets to Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (2) become a party to any agreement, note, indenture or other instrument or take any action which would prohibit the creation of a Lien on any of its properties or other assets in favor of Collateral Agent to the benefit of the Secured Creditors, as collateral for the Obligations; provided that this Section 8.13 shall not apply to (i) restrictions and conditions imposed by Requirements of Law, or by any Loan Document, (ii) restrictions and conditions in any agreement or contract existing on the Closing Date and any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals or replacements thereof that are not more restrictive, taken as a whole, than the restrictions existing on the Closing Date, (iii) customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of a Subsidiary or asset pending such sale; provided, that such restrictions and conditions apply only to the Subsidiary or asset that is to be sold and such sale is permitted hereunder, (iv) restrictions or conditions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement if such restrictions or conditions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness, (v) customary non-assignment provisions in any contract, easement or lease (including with respect to leases, restrictions on sub-letting), (vi) restrictions or conditions contained in any trading, netting, operating, construction, service, supply, purchase, sale or similar agreement to which Company or any Subsidiary is a party and which is entered into in the ordinary course of business; provided, that such agreement prohibits the encumbrance of solely the property or assets of

 

- 115 -


Company or such Subsidiary that are the subject of such agreement, the payment rights arising thereunder and/or the proceeds thereof and not to any other asset or property of Company or such Subsidiary or the assets or property of any other Credit Party or Subsidiary of a Credit Party and (vii) restrictions contained in documents evidencing Indebtedness existing at the time at which any such Person first becomes a Subsidiary, so long as such restriction applies only to such Subsidiary and its assets and was not agreed to or entered into solely in contemplation of such change in status, and any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals or replacements thereof that are not more restrictive, taken as a whole, than the restrictions existing at the time such Person first becomes a Subsidiary.

8.14 New Accounts. Except with the prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, no Borrower shall, or shall permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, open, maintain or otherwise have any checking, savings or other accounts at any bank or other financial institution, or any other account where money is or may be deposited or maintained with any Person, other than Deposit Accounts, securities accounts and investment accounts that are subject to a Control Agreement and the other accounts set forth on Schedule 6.24.

8.15 No Excess Cash. No Borrower shall, nor shall it permit any of its Domestic Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, maintain in the aggregate in all of the accounts described in Schedule 6.24, or otherwise, total cash balances and Cash Equivalents in excess of $15,000,000 for more than three (3) consecutive Business Days during which any Loans are outstanding.

8.16 New Collateral Locations. No Borrower shall, or shall permit any of its Subsidiaries to, open or establish any new location within the United States or Canada unless such Person (a) provides the Administrative Agent with ten (10) days prior written notice of any such new location, (b) delivers to the Administrative Agent, duly executed by the appropriate Person(s) where applicable, such agreements, documents and instruments as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably require to protect the Administrative Agent’s interest in the Collateral at such location and (c) delivers to the Administrative Agent such amendments to Schedule 1.1(a) as are required to make such disclosures complete and accurate.

8.17 Receivables Financing Programs. No Borrower shall, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, sell, pledge, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its Accounts, make any Investments or Restricted Payments or incur Indebtedness in connection with a receivables financing or securitization program.

ARTICLE IX

FINANCIAL COVENANTS

Borrowers hereby agree that, so long as any Loan remains outstanding and unpaid or any other amount is owing to any Lender or Administrative Agent hereunder:

9.1 Minimum Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. If a Liquidity Event occurs and is continuing during any Fiscal Quarter, then the Company shall have had at the end of the most recently completed four Fiscal Quarter period for which a Compliance Certificate has been delivered pursuant to Section 7.2(a), a Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of not less than 1.10 to 1.00.

 

- 116 -


ARTICLE X

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

10.1 Events of Default. Any of the following events, acts, occurrences or state of facts shall constitute an “Event of Default” for purposes of this Agreement:

(a) Failure to Make Payments When Due. Any Credit Party (i) shall default in the payment of principal on any of the Loans, or (ii) shall default in the payment of interest on any of the Loans or default in the payment of any fee or any Obligation owing hereunder or under any other Loan Document when due and such default in payment shall continue for three (3) Business Days; or

(b) Representations and Warranties. Any representation or warranty made by any Credit Party contained in any Loan Document or any document, instrument or certificate delivered pursuant hereto or thereto shall have been incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made, or

(c) Covenants. Any Credit Party shall default in the performance or observance of any term, covenant, condition or agreement on its part to be performed or observed (i) under Article VIII hereof or Sections 7.3(a), (ii) under Section 7.4, 7.8, or 7.11 and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of five (5) Business Days after the earlier of a Responsible Officer of Company becoming aware of such default or written notice to Company by Administrative Agent or any Lender or (iii) under any other term, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of thirty (30) days after the earlier of any Responsible Officer of Company becoming aware of such default or written notice to Company by Administrative Agent or any Lender;

(d) Default Under Other Loan Documents. Any Credit Party shall default in the performance or observance of any term, covenant, condition or agreement on its part to be performed or observed hereunder or under any Loan Document (and not constituting an Event of Default under any other clause of this Section 10.1) and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of thirty (30) days after the earlier of any Responsible Officer of Company becoming aware of such default or written notice thereof has been given to Company by Administrative Agent; or

(e) Voluntary Insolvency, Etc. Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall become insolvent or generally fail to pay, or admit in writing its inability to pay, its debts as they become due, or shall voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law in any jurisdiction or seeking dissolution or reorganization or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, court appointed monitor, administrator, administrative receiver, liquidator or other similar official for it or a substantial portion of its property, assets or business or to effect a plan or other arrangement with its creditors, or shall file any answer admitting the jurisdiction of the court and the material allegations of an involuntary

 

- 117 -


petition filed against it in any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar proceeding in any jurisdiction, or shall be adjudicated bankrupt, or shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall consent to, or acquiesce in the appointment of, a receiver, trustee, custodian, court appointed monitor, administrator, administrative receiver, liquidator or other similar official for a substantial portion of its property, assets or business, shall call a meeting of its creditors with a view to arranging a composition or adjustment of its debts or shall take any corporate action authorizing any of the foregoing; or

(f) Involuntary Insolvency, Etc. Involuntary proceedings or an involuntary petition shall be commenced or filed against Company or any of its Subsidiaries under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law in any jurisdiction or seeking the dissolution or reorganization of it or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, court appointed monitor, administrator, administrative receiver, liquidator or other similar official for it or of a substantial part of its property, assets or business or to effect a plan or other arrangement with its creditors, or any writ, judgment, warrant of attachment, execution or similar process shall be issued or levied against a substantial part of its property, assets or business, and such proceedings or petition shall not be dismissed, or such writ, judgment, warrant of attachment, execution or similar process shall not be released, vacated or fully bonded, within sixty (60) days after commencement, filing or levy, as the case may be, or any order for relief shall be entered in any such proceeding; or

(g) Default Under Other Agreements. (i) Any Credit Party shall default in the payment when due, whether at stated maturity or otherwise, of any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness owed to the Lenders under the Loan Documents) in excess of $10,000,000 in the aggregate beyond the period of grace, if any, provided in the instrument or agreement under which such Indebtedness was created, or (ii) a default shall occur in the performance or observance of any agreement or condition to any such Indebtedness or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event shall occur or condition exist, the effect of which default or other event or condition 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) to cause (determined without regard to whether any notice of acceleration or similar notice is required), any such Indebtedness to become due or be repaid prior to its stated maturity or (iii) any such Indebtedness of any Credit Party shall be declared to be due and payable, or required to be prepaid other than by a regularly scheduled required payment or mandatory prepayment arising other than due to the existence of a default, prior to the stated maturity thereof; or

(h) Invalidity of Subordination or Intercreditor Provisions. The subordination provisions of any agreement or instrument governing any Permitted Junior Debt, or any other documents evidencing, guaranteeing or otherwise governing subordinated Indebtedness or any Indebtedness which refinances such Indebtedness is for any reason revoked or invalidated, or otherwise ceases to be in full force and effect, or any provision of the Intercreditor Agreement is for any reason revoked or invalidated or otherwise ceases to be in full force or effect or any Person contests in any manner the validity or enforceability thereof or denies that it has any further liability or obligation thereunder, or the Loans and the other Obligations hereunder entitled to receive the benefits of any Loan Document is for any reason subordinated or does not have the priority contemplated by this Agreement or such lien subordination provisions or Intercreditor Agreement; or

 

- 118 -


(i) Judgments. One or more judgments or decrees shall be entered against any Credit Party involving, individually or in the aggregate, a liability (to the extent not paid or covered by an insurance company which has accepted liability in writing) of $5,000,000 or more and all such judgments or decrees shall not have been vacated, discharged, satisfied, stayed or bonded pending appeal within sixty (60) days from the entry thereof; or

(j) Security Documents. At any time after the execution and delivery thereof, any of the Security Documents shall cease to be in full force and effect or shall cease to give Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Creditors the Liens, rights, powers and privileges purported to be created thereby (including, without limitation, a perfected security interest in, and Lien on, all of the Collateral which the terms of the applicable Security Document require to be perfected), in favor of Administrative Agent, superior to and prior to the rights of all third Persons and subject to no other Liens (except to the extent expressly permitted herein or therein); or

(k) Guaranties. Any Guaranty or any provision thereof shall (other than as a result of the actions taken by Administrative Agent or the Lenders to release such Guaranty) cease to be in full force and effect in accordance with its terms, or any Guarantor or any Person acting by or on behalf of such Guarantor shall deny or disaffirm such Guarantor’s obligations under any Guaranty; or

(l) Employee Benefit Plans. (i) Either (a) any Termination Event shall have occurred, (b) a trustee shall be appointed by a United States District Court to administer any Plan or Multiemployer Plan, (c) the PBGC institutes proceedings to terminate any Plan or Multiemployer Plan or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan, (d) Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall become liable to the PBGC or any other party under Section 4062, 4063 or 4064 of ERISA with respect to any Plan, or (e) Company or any of its Subsidiaries fails to make a deficit reduction contribution required under Code Section 412(l) to any Plan by the due date for such contribution, and, as of the date thereof or any subsequent date, the sum of each of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ various liabilities (such liabilities to include, without limitation, any liability to the PBGC or to any other party under Section 4062, 4063 or 4064 of ERISA with respect to any Plan, or to any Multiemployer Plan under Section 4201 et seq. of ERISA) as a result of such events listed in subclauses (a) through (e) of this clause (i) exceeds $10,000,000 in the aggregate; or (ii) either (a) a foreign governmental authority has instituted proceedings to terminate a Foreign Pension Plan or a foreign governmental authority has appointed a trustee to administer any Foreign Pension Plan in place of the existing administrator, in each case by reason of a distress termination within the meaning of Section 4041(c) of ERISA, treating such Foreign Pension Plan as if it were subject to ERISA; or (b) any Foreign Pension Plan that is required by applicable law to be funded in a trust or other funding vehicle has failed to comply with such funding requirements, and, as of the date thereof or as of any subsequent date, the sum of each of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ various liabilities to any Foreign Pension Plan solely as a result of the occurrence of such events listed in subclauses (a) and (c) of this clause (ii) exceeds $10,000,000 in the aggregate;

 

- 119 -


(m) Dissolution. Any order, judgment or decree shall be entered against Company or any of its Subsidiaries decreeing its involuntary dissolution or split up and such order shall remain undischarged and unstayed for a period in excess of sixty (60) days; or Company or any Subsidiaries shall otherwise dissolve or cease to exist except as specifically permitted by this Agreement; or

(n) Change of Control. There shall occur a Change of Control.

If any of the foregoing Events of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, Administrative Agent, at the written direction of the Majority Lenders, shall take one or more of the following actions: (i) by written or oral or telephonic notice (in the case of oral or telephonic notice confirmed in writing immediately thereafter) to Company declare all or any part of the Commitments to be terminated whereupon the Commitments (or the part thereof so declared) shall forthwith terminate, (ii) by written or oral or telephonic notice (in the case of oral or telephonic notice confirmed in writing immediately thereafter) to Company declare all or any part of the sums then owing by each Credit Party hereunder and under the Loan Documents to be forthwith due and payable, whereupon all such sums shall become and be immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by Company on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries, or (iii) terminate any Letter of Credit in accordance with its terms, (iv) direct Company to pay (and Company agrees that upon receipt of such notice, or upon the occurrence of any Event of Default specified in Section 10.1(e) or Section 10.1(f) with respect to Company it will pay) to Administrative Agent at the Payment Office such additional amount of cash or Cash Equivalents in an amount equal to 105% of the Letter of Credit Obligations, to be held as security by Administrative Agent, and (v) enforce, as Administrative Agent, all of the Liens and security interests created pursuant to the Security Documents. In cases of any occurrence of any Event of Default described in Section 10.1(e) or Section 10.1(f), the Loans, together with accrued interest thereon, shall become due and payable forthwith without the requirement of any such acceleration or request, and without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are expressly waived by Company on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries, any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding, and other amounts payable by each Credit Party hereunder shall also become immediately due and payable all without notice of any kind.

Anything in this Section 10.1 to the contrary notwithstanding, Administrative Agent shall, at the request of the Majority Lenders, rescind and annul any acceleration of the Loans by written instrument filed with Company; provided that at the time such acceleration is so rescinded and annulled: (A) all past due interest and principal, if any, on the Loans and all other sums payable under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall have been duly paid, and (B) no other Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing which shall not have been waived in accordance with the provision of Section 12.1 hereof.

10.2 Rights Not Exclusive. The rights provided for in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any other rights, powers, privileges or remedies provided by law or in equity, or under any other instrument, document or agreement now existing or hereafter arising.

 

- 120 -


ARTICLE XI

THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

In this Article XI, the Lenders and Administrative Agent agree among themselves (and no Credit Party shall have any rights as a third party beneficiary of such provisions) as follows:

11.1 Appointment. Each of the Lenders hereby appoint DB to act on its behalf as Administrative Agent hereunder and under all applicable Security Documents (for purposes of this Agreement, the term “Administrative Agent” shall include DB in its capacity as Administrative Agent pursuant to the Security Documents) to act as herein specified herein and in the other Loan Documents. Each Lender hereby irrevocably authorizes and each holder of any Note by the acceptance of such Note shall be deemed to irrevocably authorize Administrative Agent to take such action on its behalf under the provisions hereof, the other Loan Documents (including, without limitation, to give notices and take such actions on behalf of the Majority Lenders as are consented to in writing by the Majority Lenders) and any other instruments, documents and agreements referred to herein or therein and to exercise such powers hereunder and thereunder as are specifically delegated to Administrative Agent by the terms hereof and thereof and such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Administrative Agent may perform any of its duties hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, by or through its officers, directors, agents, employees or affiliates.

11.2 Nature of Duties. Administrative Agent shall have no duties or responsibilities except those expressly set forth in this Agreement. The duties of Administrative Agent shall be mechanical and administrative in nature. EACH LENDER HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT SHALL NOT HAVE, BY REASON OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, A FIDUCIARY RELATIONSHIP TO OR IN RESPECT OF ANY LENDER. Nothing in any of the Loan Documents, expressed or implied, is intended to or shall be so construed as to impose upon Administrative Agent any obligations in respect of any of the Loan Documents except as expressly set forth herein or therein. Each Lender shall make its own independent investigation of the financial condition and affairs of the Credit Parties in connection with the making and the continuance of the Loans hereunder and shall make its own appraisal of the credit worthiness of the Credit Parties, and Administrative Agent shall have no duty or responsibility, either initially or on a continuing basis, to provide any Lender with any credit or other information with respect thereto, whether coming into its possession before making of the Loans or at any time or times thereafter. Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender at any time that the Majority Lenders have instructed it to act or refrain from acting pursuant to Article X.

11.3 Exculpation, Rights Etc. Neither Administrative Agent nor any of its officers, directors, agents employees or affiliates shall be liable for any action taken or omitted by them hereunder or under any of the other Loan Documents, or in connection herewith or therewith, unless caused by its or their gross negligence or willful misconduct. Administrative Agent shall not be responsible to any Lender for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties herein or for the execution, effectiveness, genuineness, validity, enforceability, collectability, or sufficiency of any of the Loan Documents or any other document or the financial condition of

 

- 121 -


any Credit Party. Administrative Agent shall not be required to make any inquiry concerning either the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions or conditions of this Agreement or any of the Loan Documents or any other Document or the financial condition of any Credit Party, or the existence or possible existence of any Unmatured Event of Default or Event of Default unless requested to do so by the Majority Lenders. Administrative Agent may at any time request instructions from the Lenders with respect to any actions or approvals (including the failure to act or approve) which by the terms of any of the Loan Documents, Administrative Agent is permitted or required to take or to grant, and if such instructions are requested, Administrative Agent shall be absolutely entitled to refrain from taking any action or to withhold any approval and shall not be under any liability whatsoever to any Person for refraining from any action or withholding any approval under any of the Loan Documents until it shall have received such instructions from the Majority Lenders or all Lenders, as applicable. Without limiting the foregoing, no Lender shall have any right of action whatsoever against Administrative Agent as a result of Administrative Agent acting, approving or refraining from acting or approving under any of the Loan Documents in accordance with the instructions of the Majority Lenders or, to the extent required by Section 12.1, all of the Lenders.

11.4 Reliance. Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any notice, writing, resolution notice, statement, certificate, order or other document (including any electronic message, internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) or any telephone, telex, teletype or telecopier message believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person, and, with respect to all matters pertaining herein or to any of the other Loan Documents and its duties hereunder or thereunder, upon advice of counsel selected by Administrative Agent.

11.5 Indemnification. To the extent Administrative Agent is not, for any reason, indefeasibly reimbursed and indemnified by the Borrowers as required pursuant to Section 12.4, the Lenders will reimburse and indemnify Administrative Agent, on an after-tax basis, for and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, claims, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever which may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against Administrative Agent, acting pursuant hereto in such capacity in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or any action taken or omitted by Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, in proportion to each Lender’s Proportionate Share of the outstanding Loans; provided, however, that no Lender shall be liable for any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, claims, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulting from Administrative Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. The obligations of the Lenders under this Section 11.5 shall survive the payment in full of the Notes and the termination of this Agreement.

11.6 Administrative Agent In Its Individual Capacity. With respect to its Loans and Commitments, Administrative Agent shall have and may exercise the same rights and powers hereunder and is subject to the same obligations and liabilities as and to the extent set forth herein for any other Lender or holder of Obligations. The terms “Lenders”, “holder of Obligations” or “Majority Lenders” or any similar terms shall, unless the context clearly otherwise indicates, include Administrative Agent in its individual capacity as a Lender, one of the Majority Lenders or a holder of Obligations. Administrative Agent may accept deposits

 

- 122 -


from, lend money to, and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust or other business with any Credit Party or any Subsidiary or affiliate of any Credit Party as if it were not acting as Administrative Agent hereunder or under any other Loan Document, including, without limitation, the acceptance of fees or other consideration for services without having to account for the same to any of the Lenders.

11.7 Notice of Default. Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default hereunder unless Administrative Agent has received written notice from a Lender or Company referring to this Agreement, describing such Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of default”. In the event that Administrative Agent receives such a notice, Administrative Agent shall give prompt notice thereof to the Lenders.

11.8 Holders of Obligations. Administrative Agent may deem and treat the payee of any Obligation as reflected on the books and records of Administrative Agent as the owner thereof for all purposes hereof unless and until a written notice of the assignment or transfer thereof shall have been filed with Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 12.8(c). Any request, authority or consent of any Person who, at the time of making such request or giving such authority or consent, is the holder of any Obligation shall be conclusive and binding on any subsequent holder, transferee or assignee of such Obligation or of any Obligation or Obligations granted in exchange therefor.

11.9 Resignation by Administrative Agent. (a) Administrative Agent may resign from the performance of all its functions and duties hereunder at any time by giving fifteen (15) Business Days’ prior written notice to Company and the Lenders. Such resignation shall take effect upon the acceptance by a successor Administrative Agent of appointment pursuant to clauses (b) and (c) below or as otherwise provided below.

(b) Upon any such notice of resignation, the Majority Lenders shall appoint a successor Administrative Agent who shall be satisfactory to Company and shall be an incorporated bank or trust company.

(c) If a successor Administrative Agent shall not have been so appointed within said fifteen (15) Business Day period, Administrative Agent, with the consent of Company, may then appoint a successor Administrative Agent who shall serve as Administrative Agent until such time, if any, as the Majority Lenders, with the consent of Company, appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided above.

(d) If no successor Administrative Agent has been appointed pursuant to clause (b) or (c) by the twentieth (20th) Business Day after the date such notice of resignation was given by Administrative Agent, Administrative Agent’s resignation shall become effective and the Majority Lenders shall thereafter perform all the duties of Administrative Agent hereunder until such time, if any, as the Majority Lenders, with the consent of Company, appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided above.

11.10 The Joint Lead Arrangers, Joint Book Runners and Collateral Agent. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or any provision of any other Loan

 

- 123 -


Document, each of the Joint Lead Arrangers, Joint Book Collateral Agent Runners and Collateral Agent are named as such for recognition purposes only, and in their respective capacities as such shall have no powers, duties, responsibilities or liabilities with respect to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby; it being understood and agreed that the Joint Lead Arrangers, Joint Book Runners and Collateral Agent shall be entitled to all indemnification and reimbursement rights in favor of “Agents” as provided for under Section 11.5. Without limitation of the foregoing, none of Joint Lead Arrangers, Joint Book Runners, Collateral Agent shall, solely by reason of this Agreement or any other Loan Documents, have any fiduciary relationship in respect of any Lender or any other Person.

ARTICLE XII

MISCELLANEOUS

12.1 No Waiver; Modifications in Writing.

(a) No failure or delay on the part of Administrative Agent or any Lender in exercising any right, power or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right, power or remedy preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy. The remedies provided for herein are cumulative and are not exclusive of any remedies that may be available to Administrative Agent or any Lender at law or in equity or otherwise. Neither this Agreement nor any terms hereof may be amended, modified, supplemented, waived, discharged, terminated or otherwise changed unless such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver, discharge, termination or other change is in writing signed by the respective Credit Parties party thereto and the Majority Lenders, provided that no such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver, discharge, termination or other change shall, without the consent of each Lender (other than a Defaulting Lender) (with Obligations directly affected thereby in the case of the following clause (i)),

(i) increase the percentages in clause (a)(i) or (a)(ii) of the definition of the term Borrowing Base to a percentage greater than that in effect on the Closing Date,

(ii) extend the final scheduled maturity of any Loan or Note, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest or fees thereon, or reduce the principal amount thereof,

(iii) release all or substantially all of the Guarantors or all or substantially all of the Collateral (except as expressly provided in the Security Documents),

(iv) amend, modify or waive any provision of this Section 12.1(a), or reduce the percentage specified in the definition of Majority Lenders; or

(v) consent to the assignment or transfer by any Credit Party of any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement;

 

- 124 -


provided, further, that no such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver, discharge, termination or other change shall:

(A) increase the Commitments of any Lender over the amount thereof then in effect without the consent of such Lender,

(B) without the consent of Administrative Agent, amend, modify or waive any provision of Article XI as same applies to Administrative Agent or any other provisions as same relates to the rights or obligations of Administrative Agent,

(C) without the consent of Administrative Agent, amend, modify or waive any provisions relating to the rights or obligations of Administrative Agent under the other Loan Documents,

provided, however, that any provision of this Agreement may be amended, modified, supplemented, waived, discharged terminated or otherwise changed by an agreement in writing signed by the respective Credit Parties thereto, the Majority Lenders (measured after giving effect to such amendment, supplement, waiver, discharger or termination) and Administrative Agent if (a) by the terms of such agreement all Commitments of each Lender not consenting to the actions therein shall terminate upon the effectiveness of such agreement and (b) at the time such agreement becomes effective, each Lender not consenting thereto receives payment in full of the principal of and interest accrued on each Loan made by it and all other Obligations owing to it or accrued for its account under this Agreement.

(b) If, in connection with any proposed change, waiver, discharge or termination of any of the provisions of this Agreement as contemplated by clauses (a)(i) through (iv), inclusive, of the first proviso to the third sentence of Section 12.1(a), the consent of the Majority Lenders is obtained but the consent of one or more of such other Lenders whose consent is required is not obtained, then Company shall have the right to replace each such non-consenting Lender or Lenders (or, at the option of Company if the respective Lender’s consent is required with respect to less than all Loans, to replace only the respective Loans of the respective non-consenting Lender which gave rise to the need to obtain such Lender’s individual consent) with one or more Replacement Lenders pursuant to Section 4.13 so long as at the time of such replacement, each such Replacement Lender consents to the proposed amendment, modification, supplement. waiver, discharge, termination or other change.

12.2 Further Assurances. Company agrees, on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries, to do such further acts and things and to execute and deliver to Administrative Agent such additional assignments, agreements, powers and instruments, as Administrative Agent may reasonably require or deem advisable to carry into effect the purposes of this Agreement or any of the Loan Documents or to better assure and confirm unto Administrative Agent it rights, powers and remedies hereunder.

12.3 Notices, Etc. (a) Except where telephonic instructions or notices are authorized herein to be given (and except as provided in paragraph (b) below), all notices, demands, instructions and other communications required or permitted to be given to or made upon any party hereto or any other Person shall be in writing and shall be personally delivered or sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or by a reputable overnight or courier delivery service, or by telecopier, and shall be deemed to be given for purposes of this

 

- 125 -


Agreement when received or in the case of notice delivered by telecopy, upon completion of transmission with a copy of such notice also being delivered under any of the methods provided above, all in accordance with the provisions of this Section 12.3. Unless otherwise specified in a notice sent or delivered in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 12.3, notices, demands, instructions and other communications in writing shall be given to or made upon the respective parties hereto at their respective addresses (or to their respective telecopier numbers) indicated on Schedule 12.3(a) attached hereto or, in the case of any Assignee, on its signature page to its Assignment and Assumption Agreement and, in the case of telephonic instructions or notices, by calling the telephone number or numbers indicated for such party on Schedule 12.3(a) attached hereto or such Assignment and Assumption Agreement, as the case may be.

(b) Notices and other communications to or by the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Facing Agent hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices pursuant to Article II unless otherwise agreed by Administrative Agent and the applicable Lender and, to the extent applicable, the Facing Agent. Administrative Agent or Company may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

Unless 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 sent after 5:00 p.m. (New York City time), 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.

12.4 Costs and Expenses; Indemnification.

(a) Generally. The Borrowers agree to pay promptly upon request by Administrative Agent (or any Lender in connection with any enforcement or atonement as provided below) (i) all reasonable out of pocket costs and expenses in connection with the negotiation, preparation, printing, typing, reproduction, syndication, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the documents and instruments referred to herein and therein and any amendment, waiver or consent relating hereto or thereto or other modifications of (or supplements to) any of the foregoing and any and all other documents and instruments furnished pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby are consummated), including without limitation, the reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses of independent public accountants and other outside experts retained by Administrative Agent with Company’s consent (provided that such consent shall not be required (i) for experts retained prior to the Closing Date, (ii) for experts who determine eligibility criteria or Net Orderly Liquidation Values of Accounts

 

- 126 -


Receivable or Inventory or (iii) if an Unmatured Event of Default or Event of Default exists at the time any expert is retained) and of Winston & Strawn LLP, special counsel to Administrative Agent, and any local counsel retained by Administrative Agent relative thereto and other Attorney Costs, in connection with the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and all search fees, appraisal fees and expenses, title insurance policy fees, costs and expenses and filing and recording fees and any other Expenses, (ii) all costs and expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, including the fees, charges and Attorney Costs, in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or in connection with the Loans made hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans. In addition, the Borrowers shall pay any and all present and future stamp, transfer, excise and other similar taxes payable or determined to be payable in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, any Loan Document, or the making of any Loan, and each agrees to save and hold Administrative Agent and each Lender harmless from and against any and all liabilities with respect to or resulting from any delay by any Borrower in paying, or omission by any Borrower to pay, such taxes. Any portion of the foregoing fees, costs and expenses which remains unpaid more than thirty (30) days following Administrative Agent’s or any Lender’s statement and request for payment thereof shall bear interest from the date of such statement and request to the date of payment at the Default Rate.

(b) Indemnification. The Borrowers will indemnify and hold harmless Administrative Agent and each Lender and each director, officer, employee, agent and Affiliate of Administrative Agent and each Lender (each such Person an “Indemnified Person” and collectively, the “Indemnified Persons”) from and against all losses, claims, damages, obligations (including Remedial Actions), expenses or liabilities to which such Indemnified Person may become subject or which may be asserted against such Indemnified Person by any third party or by any Credit Party, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, penalties, obligations (including Remedial Actions), expenses or liabilities (or actions, suits or proceedings including any inquiry or investigation or claims in respect thereof (whether or not Administrative Agent or any Lender is a party thereto)) arise out of, in any way relate to, or result from (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by the Issuing Bank to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any violation of or liability arising under any Environmental Laws or Environmental Permits or for the Release or threatened Release of any Contaminants into the environment for which any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries has any liability or which occurs upon the Mortgaged Property or which is related to any Premises or Former Premises of any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any real property to which Contaminants related to any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries came to be located, or by reason of the imposition of any Environmental Lien or which occurs by a breach of any of the representations, warranties or covenants relating to environmental matters contained herein, or any orders, requirements or demands of Governmental Authorities related thereto, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ and consultants’ fees, investigation and laboratory fees, costs arising from any Remedial Action,

 

- 127 -


court costs and litigation expenses, provided that, with respect to any liabilities arising from acts or failure to act for which any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is strictly liable under any Environmental Law or Environmental Permit, any Borrower’s obligation to each Indemnified Person under this indemnity shall likewise be without regard to fault on the part of the Borrowers or any such Subsidiary or (iv) any claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory and regardless of whether brought by a third party or by a Credit Party and regardless of whether any Indemnified Person is a party thereto, and to reimburse each Indemnified Person upon their demand, for any Attorney Costs or other expenses incurred in connection with investigating, preparing to defend or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability, action or claim; provided, however,

(i) that no Indemnified Person shall have the right to be so indemnified hereunder for any loss, claim, damage, penalties, obligations, expense or liability to the extent it arises or results from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnified Person as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction; and

(ii) that nothing contained herein shall affect the express contractual obligations of the Lenders to any Credit Party contained herein or in the other Loan Documents.

If any action, suit or proceeding arising from any of the foregoing is brought against Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other Person indemnified or intended to be indemnified pursuant to this Section 12.4, the Borrowers will, if requested by Administrative Agent, any Lender or any such Indemnified Person, resist and defend such action, suit or proceeding or cause the same to be resisted and defended by counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Person or Persons indemnified or intended to be indemnified. Each Indemnified Person shall, unless Administrative Agent, a Lender or other Indemnified Person has made the request described in the preceding sentence and such request has been complied with, have the right to employ its own counsel (or (but not as well as) staff counsel) to investigate and control the defense of any matter covered by such indemnity and the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnifying party.

If the Borrowers shall fail to do any act or thing which it has covenanted to do hereunder or any representation or warranty on the part of any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries contained herein or in any other Loan Document shall be breached, Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) do the same or cause it to be done or remedy any such breach, and may expend its funds for such purpose, and will use its best efforts to give prompt written notice to Company that it proposes to take such action. Any and all amounts so expended by Administrative Agent shall be repaid to it by the Borrowers promptly upon Administrative Agent’s demand therefor, with interest at the Default Rate in effect from time to time during the period including the date so expended by Administrative Agent to the date of repayment. To the extent that the undertaking to indemnify, pay or hold harmless Administrative Agent or any Lender as set forth in this Section 12.4 may be unenforceable because it is violative of any law or public policy, the Borrowers shall make the maximum contribution to the payment and satisfaction of each of the indemnified liabilities which is permissible under applicable law. The obligations of the Borrowers under this Section 12.4 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the discharge of the Borrowers’ other Obligations hereunder.

 

- 128 -


(c) Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrowers shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnified Person, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof. No Indemnified Person referred to in paragraph (b) above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

12.5 Confirmations. Each Borrower and each holder of any portion of the Obligations agrees from time to time, upon written request received by it from the other, to confirm to the other in writing (with a copy of each such confirmation to Administrative Agent) the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Loan or Loans and other Obligations then outstanding.

12.6 Adjustment; Setoff.

(a) If any lender (a “Benefited Lender”) shall at any time receive any payment of all or part of its Loans, or interest thereon, or receive any collateral in respect thereof (whether voluntarily or involuntarily, by setoff, pursuant to events or proceedings of the nature referred to in Section 10.1(e) or Section 10.1(f) hereof, or otherwise) in a greater proportion than any such payment to and collateral received by any other Lender in respect of such other Lender’s Loans or interest thereon, such Benefited Lender shall (i) notify Administrative Agent of that fact and (ii) purchase for cash at face value from the other Lenders such portion of each such other Lender’s Loans, or shall provide such other Lenders with the benefits of any such collateral, or the proceeds thereof, as shall be necessary to cause such Benefited Lender to share the excess payment or benefits of such collateral or proceeds ratably with each Lender; provided, however, that (x) if all or any portion of such excess payment or benefits is thereafter recovered from such Benefited Lender, such purchase shall be rescinded, and the purchase price and benefits returned, to the extent of such recovery, but without interest and (y) this Section 12.6(a) shall not apply to (1) any payment made by a Credit Party pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or (2) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment or sale of a participation to any assignee or participant, other than to any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof. Company agrees that each Lender so purchasing a portion of another Lender’s Loans may exercise all rights of payment (including, without limitation, rights of setoff) with respect to such portion as fully as if such Lender were the direct holder of such portion.

(b) In addition to any rights and remedies of the Lenders provided by law, each Lender shall have the right, without prior notice to Company or any of its Subsidiaries, any such notice being expressly waived by Company, on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, to setoff and apply against any Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, of Company or any Credit Party to such Lender, any amount owing from such Lender to Company or any of its Subsidiaries, at or at any time after, the happening of any of the above-mentioned events, and the aforesaid right of setoff may

 

- 129 -


be exercised by such Lender against Company or any Credit Party or against any trustee in bankruptcy, debtor in possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, receivers, administrator, administrative receiver, court appointed monitor or other similar official, or execution, judgment or attachment creditor of Company or any Credit Party, or against anyone else claiming through or against, Company or any Credit Party or such trustee in bankruptcy, debtor in possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, receivers, administrator, administrative receiver, court appointed monitor or other similar official, or execution, judgment or attachment creditor, notwithstanding the fact that such right of setoff shall not have been exercised by such Lender prior to the making, filing or issuance, or service upon such Lender of, or of notice of, any such petition, assignment for the benefit of creditors, appointment or application for the appointment of a receiver, administrator, administrative receiver, court appointed monitor or other similar official, or issuance of execution, subpoena, order or warrant. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify Company and Administrative Agent after any such setoff and application made by such Lender, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

(c) Company expressly agrees, on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries, that to the extent Company or any other Credit Party makes a payment or payments and such payment or payments, or any part thereof, are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or are required to be repaid to a trustee, receiver, administrator, administrative receiver, court appointed monitor or other similar official, or any other party under any bankruptcy act, state or federal law, common law or equitable cause in any jurisdiction, then to the extent of such payment or repayment, the Indebtedness to the Lenders or part thereof intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if said payment or payments had not been made.

12.7 Execution in Counterparts; Electronic Execution; Effectiveness.

(a) This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto on separate counterparts, each of which counterparts, when so executed and delivered, shall be deemed to be an original and all of which counterparts, taken together, shall constitute but one and the same Agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

(b) This Agreement shall become effective on the date (the “Effective Date”) on which Company and each of the Lenders shall have signed a counterpart of this Agreement (whether the same or different counterparts) and shall have delivered the same to the Administrative Agent at the Notice Office (or to Administrative Agent’s counsel as directed by such counsel) or, in the case of the Lenders, shall have given to Administrative Agent or telephonic (confirmed in writing), written, telex or facsimile notice (actually received) at such office or the office of Administrative Agent’s counsel that the same has been signed and mailed to it. Administrative Agent will give Company and each Lender prompt written notice of the occurrence of the Effective Date.

 

- 130 -


12.8 Binding Effect; Assignment; Addition and Substitution of Lenders.

(a) This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, Company and each other Credit Party hereto, Administrative Agent, the Lenders, all future holders of the Notes and their respective successors and assigns; provided, however, that Company may not assign its rights or obligations hereunder or in connection herewith or any interest herein (voluntarily, by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of Administrative Agent and all of the Lenders.

(b) Each Lender may at any time sell to one or more banks or other entities (“Participants”) participating interests in all or any portion of its Commitment and Loans or any other interest of such Lender hereunder (in respect of any Lender, its “Credit Exposure”). In the event of any such sale by a Lender of participating interests to a Participant, such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, such Lender shall remain solely responsible for the performance thereof, and the Credit Parties and Administrative Agent shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. At the time of the sale of a participating interest, the Lender transferring the interest (i) shall cause the Participant to provide the forms required under Section 2.8(d) as if such Participant became a Lender on the date of the sale and (ii) shall, if required under applicable law, deliver revised forms in accordance Section 2.8(d) reflecting the portion of the interest sold and the portion of the interest retained. Further, the Participant shall be subject to the obligations of Section 2.8 and Section 4.12 as if such Participant was a Lender. Company agrees that if amounts outstanding under this Agreement or any of the Loan Documents are due or unpaid, or shall have been declared or shall have become due and payable upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, each Participant shall be deemed to the extent permitted by law to have the right of setoff in respect of its participating interest in amounts owing under this Agreement and the Loan Documents to the same extent as if the amount of its participating interest were owing directly to it as a Lender under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; provided, however, that such right of setoff shall be subject to the obligation of such Participant to share with the Lenders, and the Lenders agree to share with such Participant, as provided in Section 12.6. Company also agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.8 and Section 4.12 with respect to its participation in the Loans outstanding from time to time, as if such Participant becomes a Lender on the date it acquired an interest pursuant to this Section 12.8(b). Each Lender agrees that any agreement between such Lender and any such Participant in respect of such participating interest shall not restrict such Lender’s right to approve or agree to any amendment, restatement, supplement or other modification to, waiver of, or consent under, this Agreement or any of the Loan Documents except to the extent that any of the forgoing would (i) extend the final scheduled maturity of any Loan or Note in which such Participant is participating or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest or fees on any such Loan or Note (except in connection with a waiver of applicability of any post-default increase in interest rates) or reduce the principal amount thereof, or increase the amount of the Participant’s participation over the amount thereof then in effect (it being understood that waivers or modifications of conditions precedent, covenants, representations, warranties, Events of Default or Unmatured Events of Default or of a mandatory reduction in Commitments shall not constitute a change in the terms of such participation, and that an increase in any Commitment or Loan shall be permitted without the consent of any Participant if the Participant’s participation is not increased as a result

 

- 131 -


thereof), (ii) consent to the assignment or transfer by Company of any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement or (iii) release all or substantially all of the Collateral under all of the Security Documents (except as expressly provided in the Loan Documents) supporting the Loans hereunder in which such Participant is participating.

(c) Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more Eligible Assignees, including an Affiliate thereof (each an “Assignee”), all or any part of its Credit Exposure pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption Agreement, provided that any assignment of all or any portion of any Lender’s Credit Exposure to an Assignee other than an Affiliate of such Lender or another Lender, or in the case of a Lender that is a Fund, any Related Fund of any Lender (i) shall be an assignment of its Credit Exposure in an amount not less than $5,000,000 (treating any Fund and its Related Funds as a single Eligible Assignee) (or if less the entire amount of Lender’s Credit Exposure, provided, that, if such Lender and its Affiliates (or in the case of a Fund and its Related Funds) collectively hold Credit Exposure at least equal to such minimum amounts, such Affiliates and/or Related Funds must simultaneously assign Credit Exposure such that the aggregate Credit Exposure assigned satisfies such minimum amount) and (ii) shall require the prior written consent of Administrative Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld) and, provided no Event of Default then exists and is continuing, Company (the consent of Company not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing limitations, any Lender may at any time assign all or any part of its Credit Exposure to any Affiliate of such Lender or to any other Lender (or in the case of a Lender which is a Fund, to any Related Fund of such Lender). Upon execution of an Assignment and Assumption Agreement and the payment of a nonrefundable assignment fee of $3,500 (provided that no such fee shall be payable upon assignments by any Lender which is a Fund to one or more Related Funds) in immediately available funds to Administrative Agent at its Payment Office in connection with each such assignment, written notice thereof by such transferor Lender to Administrative Agent and the recording by Administrative Agent of such assignment and the resulting effect upon the Loans of the assigning Lender and the Assignee, the Assignee shall have, to the extent of such assignment, the same rights, benefits and obligations as it would have if it were a Lender hereunder and the holder of the Obligations (provided that Company and Administrative Agent shall be entitled to continue to deal solely and directly with the assignor Lender in connection with the interests so assigned to the Assignee until written notice of such assignment, together with payment instructions, addresses and related information with respect to the Assignee, shall have been given to Company, and Administrative Agent by the assignor Lender and the Assignee) and, if the Assignee has expressly assumed, for the benefit of Company or any other Credit Party hereto, some or all of the transferor Lender’s obligations hereunder, such transferor Lender shall be relieved of its obligations hereunder to the extent of such assignment and assumption, and except as described above, no further consent or action by Company, the Lenders, or Administrative Agent shall be required. At the time of each assignment pursuant to this Section 12.8(c) to a Person which is not already a Lender hereunder, the respective Assignee shall provide to Company and Administrative Agent the appropriate forms and certificates as provided in Section 2.8(d), if applicable. Each Assignee shall take such Credit Exposure subject to the provisions of this Agreement and to any request made, waiver or consent given or other action taken hereunder, prior to the receipt by Administrative Agent and Company of written notice of such transfer, by each previous holder of such Credit Exposure. Such Assignment and Assumption Agreement shall be deemed to amend this Agreement and Annex I hereto, to the extent, and only to the extent, necessary to reflect the addition of such

 

- 132 -


Assignee as a Lender and the resulting adjustment of all or a portion of the rights and obligations of such transferor Lender under this Agreement, the Total Commitments, the determination of its Proportionate Share (rounded to twelve decimal places), the Loans and any new Notes, if requested, to be issued, at Company’s expense, to such Assignee, and no further consent or action by Company or the Lenders shall be required to effect such amendments.

(d) Company authorizes each Lender to disclose to any Participant, Assignee or permitted pledgee under clause (e) below (each, a “Transferee”) and any prospective Transferee any and all financial information in such Lender’s possession concerning Company and any of its Subsidiaries which has been delivered to such Lender by Company pursuant to this Agreement or which has been delivered to such Lender by Company in connection with such Lender’s credit evaluation of Company prior to entering into this Agreement, provided that, such Transferee or prospective Transferee agrees to treat any such information which is not public as confidential in accordance with the terms of Section 12.16 hereof.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision set forth in this Agreement, any Lender may at any time pledge or assign all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including, without limitation, the Notes held by it,) to any Federal Reserve Bank in accordance with Regulation A of the Federal Reserve Board without notice to, or the consent of, any Credit Party, provided that, no such pledge or assignment of a security interest under this Section 12.8(e) shall release a Lender from any obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto. Any Lender which is a fund may pledge all or any portion of its Notes or Loans to any holders of obligations or securities issued by such Lender, including to its trustee for or representative of such holders. No such pledge or assignment shall release the transferor Lender from its obligations hereunder.

12.9 Defaulting Lender.

(a) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender, prior to the time specified in such Section, that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent a Loan required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.2 or its L/C Participation Funding Amount pursuant to Section 3.6(b)(ii), the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such amounts available to the Administrative Agent in accordance with such Sections and the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrowers or the applicable Issuing Bank a corresponding amount on behalf of such Lender.

(b) If any amount referred to in subsection (a) of this Section 12.9 or in Section 2.3 is not made available to the Administrative Agent by a Lender (a “Defaulting Lender”) and the Administrative Agent has made such amount available to the Borrowers or an Issuing Bank, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to recover such amount on demand from such Defaulting Lender together with interest as hereinafter provided. If such Defaulting Lender does not pay such amount forthwith upon the Administrative Agent’s demand therefore, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Funds Administrator and the Borrowers shall immediately (but in no event later than five Business Days after such demand) pay such amount to the Administrative Agent together with interest calculated as hereinafter provided. The Administrative Agent shall also be entitled to recover from such Defaulting Lender and/or the

 

- 133 -


Borrowers, as the case may be, (i) interest on such amount in respect of each day from the date such corresponding amount was made available by the Administrative Agent to the Borrowers to the date such amount is recovered by the Administrative Agent, at a rate per annum equal to either (A) if paid by such Defaulting Lender, the overnight Federal Funds Rate or (B) if paid by the Borrowers, the then applicable rate of interest, calculated in accordance with Section 4.1 or Section 4.2, plus (ii) in each case, an amount equal to any costs (including legal expenses) and losses incurred as a result of the failure of such Defaulting Lender to provide such amount as provided in this Agreement. Nothing herein shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its duty to fulfill its obligations hereunder or to prejudice any rights which the Borrowers or any Issuing Bank, may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder, including the right of the Borrowers to seek reimbursement from any Defaulting Lender for any amounts paid by the Borrowers under clause (ii) above on account of such Defaulting Lender’s default.

(c)      (i) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, so long as any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or has rejected its Commitment, the Administrative Agent shall not be obligated to transfer to such Lender (A) any payments made by the Borrowers to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of such Lender or (B) any amounts contemplated by Section 2.3(b)(i); and, such Lender shall not be entitled to the sharing of any payments pursuant to Section 2.9. Amounts otherwise payable to such Lender under Section 2.9 shall instead be paid to the Administrative Agent.

(ii) For purposes of voting or consenting to matters with respect to the Credit Documents and determining Proportionate Share, such Defaulting Lender shall be deemed not to be a “Lender” and such Lender’s Commitment shall be deemed to be zero (0).

(iii) This Section 12.9(c) shall remain effective with respect to a Defaulting Lender until (a) the Obligations under this Agreement shall have been declared or shall have become immediately due and payable or (b) the Majority Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers shall have waived such Lender’s default in writing.

(iv) No Lender’s Commitment shall be increased or otherwise affected, and performance by the respective Borrowers shall not be excused, by the operation of this Section 12.9(c). Any payments of principal or interest which would, but for this subsection (c), be paid to any Lender, shall be paid to the Lenders who shall not be in default under their respective Commitments and who shall not have rejected any Commitment, for application to the Loans then due and payable or to the other Obligations then due and payable or to provide cash collateral to secure Obligations not then due and payable in such manner and order as shall be determined by the Administrative Agent.

12.10 CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; MUTUAL WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.

(a) ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER DOCUMENT MAY BE BROUGHT IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK OR COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND, BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT, EACH

 

- 134 -


CREDIT PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY ACCEPTS FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY, THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS. EACH CREDIT PARTY FURTHER IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO THE SERVICE OF PROCESS OUT OF ANY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED COURTS IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING BY THE MAILING OF COPIES THEREOF BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, POSTAGE PREPAID, TO SUCH CREDIT PARTY, AT THE ADDRESS PROVIDED FOR IN SECTION 12.3, SUCH SERVICE TO BECOME EFFECTIVE THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER SUCH MAILING. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, ANY LENDER OR THE HOLDER OF ANY NOTE TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR TO COMMENCE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS OR OTHERWISE PROCEED AGAINST EACH CREDIT PARTY IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.

(b) EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY OF THE AFORESAID ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT BROUGHT IN THE COURTS REFERRED OF IN CLAUSE (A) ABOVE AND HEREBY FURTHER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES AND AGREES NOT TO PLEAD OR CLAIM IN ANY SUCH COURT THAT ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.

(c) EACH OF THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY COURT OR JURISDICTION, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THOSE REFERRED TO IN CLAUSE (A) ABOVE, IN RESPECT TO ANY MATTER ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.

(d) THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH NOTE SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT MADE UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AND FOR ALL PURPOSES SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS AND DECISIONS OF SAID STATE, INCLUDING SECTIONS S-1401 AND S-1402 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW BUT EXCLUDING ALL OTHER CHOICE OF LAW AND CONFLICTS OF LAWS RULES.

12.11 Severability of Provisions. Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

12.12 Transfers of Notes. In the event that the holder of any Note (including any Lender) shall transfer such Note, it shall immediately advise Administrative Agent and Company

 

- 135 -


of such transfer, and Administrative Agent and Company shall be entitled conclusively to assume that no transfer of any Note has been made by any holder (including any Lender) unless and until Administrative Agent and Company shall have received written notice to the contrary. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or as otherwise expressly agreed in writing by all of the other parties hereto, no Lender shall, by reason of the transfer of a Note or otherwise, be relieved of any of its obligations hereunder. Each transferee of any Note shall take such Note subject to the provisions of this Agreement and to any request made, waiver or consent given or other action taken hereunder, prior to the receipt by Administrative Agent and Company of written notice of such transfer, by each previous holder of such Note, and, except as expressly otherwise provided in such transfer, Administrative Agent and Company shall be entitled conclusively to assume that the transferee named in such notice shall hereafter be vested with all rights and powers under this Agreement with respect to the Proportionate Share of the Loans of the Lender named as the payee of the Note which is the subject of such transfer.

12.13 Registry. Company hereby designates Administrative Agent to serve as Company’s agent, solely for purposes of this Section 12.13 to maintain a register (the “Register”) on which it will record the Commitments from time to time of each of the Lenders, the Loans made by each of the Lenders and each repayment in respect of the principal amount of the Loans of each Lender. Failure to make any such recordation, or any error in such recordation shall not affect any Credit Party’s obligations in respect of such Loans. With respect to any Lender, the transfer of the Commitments of such Lender and the rights to the principal of, and interest on, any Loan made pursuant to such Commitments shall not be effective until such transfer is recorded on the Register maintained by Administrative Agent with respect to ownership of such Commitments and Loans and prior to such recordation all amounts owing to the transferor with respect to such Commitments and Loans shall remain owing to the transferor. The registration of assignment or transfer of all or part of any Commitments and Loans shall be recorded by Administrative Agent on the Register only upon the acceptance by Administrative Agent of a properly executed and delivered Assignment and Assumption Agreement pursuant to Section 12.8. Coincident with the delivery of such an Assignment and Assumption Agreement to Administrative Agent for acceptance and registration of assignment or transfer of all or part of a Loan, or as soon thereafter as practicable, the assigning or transferor Lender shall surrender any Note evidencing such Loan, and thereupon, if requested by the assigning or transferor Lender or New Lender, one or more new Notes in the same aggregate principal amount then owing to such assignor or transferor Lender shall be issued to the assigning or transferor Lender and/or the new Lender.

12.14 Headings. The Table of Contents and Article and Section headings used in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the construction of this Agreement.

12.15 Termination of Agreement. This Agreement shall terminate when the Commitments of each Lender have terminated and all outstanding Obligations and Loans have been indefeasibly paid in full; provided, however, that the rights and remedies of Administrative Agent and each Lender with respect to any representation and warranty made by the Borrowers pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and the indemnification and expense reimbursement provisions contained in this Agreement and any other Loan Document, shall be continuing and shall survive any termination of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

- 136 -


12.16 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below) in accordance with its customary practices for handling such information, except that information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such information and instructed to keep such information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or the enforcement 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, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Company or any other Credit Party and its obligations, (g) with the consent of the Company or (h) to the extent such information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this section or (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than Company.

For purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from, or on behalf of, Company or any of its Subsidiaries relating to Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, to the extent necessary to avoid application of Treasury Regulation section 1.6011-4 (and in particular 1.6011-4(b)(3) with respect to confidential transactions), any such information shall not be treated as “Information.” Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information. In addition, Administrative Agent may disclose to any agency or organization that assigns standard identification numbers to loan facilities such basic information describing the facilities provided hereunder as is necessary to assign unique identifiers (and, if requested, supply a copy of this Agreement), it being understood that the Person to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of information and instructed to make available in the course of its business of assigning identification numbers.

12.17 Concerning the Collateral and the Loan Documents.

(a) Authority. Each Lender authorizes and directs DB to act as collateral agent and to enter into the Intercreditor Agreement and the Loan Documents relating to the Collateral for the benefit of the Lenders and the other secured parties. Each Lender agrees that any action taken by the Administrative Agent or the Majority Lenders (or, where required by the express terms, hereof, a different proportion of the Lenders) in accordance with the provisions

 

- 137 -


hereof or of the other Loan Documents, and the exercise by the Administrative Agent or the Majority Lenders (or, where so required, such different proportion) of the powers set forth herein or therein, together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto, shall be authorized and binding upon all of the Lenders. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall have the sole and exclusive right and authority to (i) act as the disbursing and collecting agent for the Lenders with respect to all payments and collections arising in connection herewith and with the Loan Documents relating to the Collateral; (ii) execute and deliver each Loan Document relating to the Collateral and accept delivery of each such agreement delivered by Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii) act as collateral trustee for the Lenders for purposes stated therein to the extent such action is provided for under the Loan Documents, provided, however, the Administrative Agent hereby appoints, authorizes and directs each Lender to act as collateral sub-agent for the Administrative Agent and the Lenders for purposes of the perfection of all security interests and Liens with respect to Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ respective deposit accounts maintained with, and Cash and Cash Equivalents held by, such Lender; (iv) manage, supervise and otherwise deal with the Collateral; (v) take such action as is necessary or desirable to maintain the perfection and priority of the security interests and liens created or purported to be created by the Loan Documents, and (vi) except as may be otherwise specifically restricted by the terms hereof or of any other Loan Document, exercise all remedies given to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders with respect to the Collateral under the Loan Documents relating thereto, applicable law or otherwise.

(b) Release of Collateral.

(i) The Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereby direct the Administrative Agent to release, in accordance with the terms hereof, any Lien held by the Administrative Agent, under the Security Documents:

(A) against all of the Collateral, upon termination of this Agreement as provided in Section 12.17;

(B) against any part of the Collateral sold or disposed of by Company or any of its Subsidiaries to the extent such sale or disposition is permitted hereby (or permitted pursuant to a waiver or consent of a transaction otherwise prohibited hereby);

(C) against any Collateral acquired by Company or any of its Subsidiaries after the Initial Borrowing Date financed with Indebtedness secured by a Lien permitted by Section 8.1(d);

(D) so long as no Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent upon the request of Company, against any part of the Collateral with a Fair Market Value of less than $5,000,000 in the aggregate during the term of this Agreement as such Fair Market Value may be certified to the Administrative Agent by Company in an officer’s certificate acceptable in form and substance to the Administrative Agent; and

 

- 138 -


(E) against a part of the Collateral which release does not require the consent of all of the Lenders as set forth in Section 12.1(a)(ii), if such release is consented to by the Majority Lenders;

provided, however, that (y) Administrative Agent shall not be required to execute any such document on terms which, in its opinion, would expose it to liability or create any obligation or entail any consequence other than the release of such Liens without recourse or warranty, and (z) such release shall not in any manner discharge, affect or impair the Obligations or any Liens upon (or obligations of any Credit Party in respect of) all interests retained by Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries, including (without limitation) the proceeds of any sale, all of which shall continue to constitute part of the Collateral.

(ii) Each of the Lenders hereby directs Administrative Agent to execute and deliver or file such termination and partial release statements and such other things as are necessary to release Liens to be released pursuant to this Section 12.17 promptly upon the effectiveness of any such release or enter into intercreditor agreements contemplated or permitted herein.

(c) No Obligation. The Administrative Agent shall not have any obligation whatsoever to any Lender or to any other Person to assure that the Collateral exists or is owned by Company or any of its Subsidiaries or is cared for, protected or insured or has been encumbered or that the Liens granted to the Administrative Agent herein or pursuant to the Loan Documents have been properly or sufficiently or lawfully created, perfected, protected or enforced or are entitled to any particular priority, or to exercise at all or in any particular manner or under any duty of care, disclosure or fidelity, or to continue exercising, any of the rights, authorities and powers granted or available to Administrative Agent in any of the Loan Documents, it being understood and agreed that in respect of the Collateral, or any act, omission or event related thereto, Administrative Agent may act in any manner it may deem appropriate, in its sole discretion, given the Administrative Agent’s own interests in the Collateral as one of the Lenders and that the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty or liability whatsoever to any Lender, provided, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall be responsible for its grossly negligent actions or actions constituting intentional misconduct.

12.18 Joint and Several Liability of Borrowers.

(a) Each of the Borrowers shall be jointly and severally liable hereunder and under each of the other Loan Documents with respect to all Obligations, regardless of which of the Borrowers actually receives the proceeds of the Loans or the benefit of any other extensions of credit hereunder, or the manner in which the Funds Administrator, the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders or any of the Issuing Banks account therefore in their respective books and records. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, (i) each Borrower’s obligations and liabilities with respect to proceeds of Loans which it receives or Letters of Credit issued for its account, and related fees, costs and expenses, and (ii) each Borrower’s obligations and liabilities arising as a result of the joint and several liability of the Borrowers hereunder with respect to proceeds of Loans received by, or Letters of Credit issued for the account of, any of the other Borrowers, together with the related fees, costs and expenses, shall be separate and distinct obligations, both of which are primary obligations of such

 

- 139 -


Borrower. Except as expressly provided in the Loan Documents, neither the joint and several liability of, nor the Liens granted to the Administrative Agent under the Security Documents by, any of the Borrowers shall be impaired or released by (A) the failure of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank, any successors or assigns thereof, or any holder of any Note or any of the Obligations to assert any claim or demand or to exercise or enforce any right, power or remedy against the Funds Administrator, any Borrower, any Subsidiary of any Borrower, any other Person, the Collateral or otherwise; (B) any extension or renewal for any period (whether or not longer than the original period) or exchange of any of the Obligations or the release or compromise of any obligation of any nature of any Person with respect thereto; (C) the surrender, release or exchange of all or any part of any property (including without limitation the Collateral) securing payment, performance and/or observance of any of the Obligations or the compromise or extension or renewal for any period (whether or not longer than the original period) of any obligations of any nature of any Person with respect to any such property; (D) any action or inaction on the part of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank, or any other event or condition with respect to any other Borrower, including any such action or inaction or other event or condition, which might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, such Borrower, or a guarantor or surety of or for any or all of the Obligations; and (E) any other act, matter or thing (other than payment or performance of the Obligations) which would or might, in the absence of this provision, operate to release, discharge or otherwise prejudicially affect the obligations of such Borrower or any other Borrower.

(b) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein or in any other of the Loan Documents, to the extent the joint obligations of a Borrower shall be adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason (including, without limitation, because of Section 548 of Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code or under any applicable state Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act, Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act or similar statute or common law) then the Obligations of each Borrower hereunder shall be limited to the maximum amount that is permissible under applicable law (whether federal or state and including, without limitation, the Bankruptcy Code).

(c) To the extent that any Borrower shall make a payment under this Section 12.18 of all or any of the Obligations (other than Loans made to that Borrower for which it is primarily liable) (a “Guarantor Payment”) that, taking into account all other Guarantor Payments then previously or concurrently made by any other Borrower, exceeds the amount that such Borrower would otherwise have paid if each Borrower had paid the aggregate Obligations satisfied by such Guarantor Payment in the same proportion that such Borrower’s Allocable Amount (as defined below) (as determined immediately prior to such Guarantor Payment) bore to the aggregate Allocable Amounts of each of the Borrowers as determined immediately prior to the making of such Guarantor Payment, then, following indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Obligations and termination of the Commitments, such Borrower shall be entitled to receive contribution and indemnification payments from, and be reimbursed by, each other Borrower for the amount of such excess, pro rata based upon their respective Allocable Amounts in effect immediately prior to such Guarantor Payment. As of any date of determination, the “Allocable Amount” of any Borrower shall be equal to the maximum amount of the claim that could then be recovered from such Borrower under this Section 12.18 without rendering such claim voidable or avoidable under Section 548 of Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code or under any applicable state Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act, Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act or similar statute or

 

- 140 -


common law. This Section 12.18(c) is intended only to define the relative rights of Borrowers and nothing set forth in this Section 12.18(c) is intended to or shall impair the obligations of Borrowers, jointly and severally, to pay any amounts as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Credit Agreement, including Section 12.18(a). Nothing contained in this Section 12.18(c) shall limit the liability of any Borrower to pay the Loans made directly or indirectly to that Borrower and accrued interest, Fees and Expenses with respect thereto for which such Borrower shall be primarily liable. The parties hereto acknowledge that the rights of contribution and indemnification hereunder shall constitute assets of the Borrower to which such contribution and indemnification is owing. The rights of the indemnifying Borrowers against other Credit Parties under this Section 12.18(c) shall be exercisable upon the full and indefeasible payment of the Obligations and the termination of the Commitments.

(d) The liability of Borrowers under this Section 12.18 is in addition to and shall be cumulative with all liabilities of each Borrower to Agent and Lenders under this Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Borrower is a party, without any limitation as to amount.

12.19 USA Patriot Act. Each Lender subject to the Patriot Act hereby notifies Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the Patriot Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies Borrower, which information includes the name and address of Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender to identify Borrower in accordance with the Patriot Act.

[signature pages follow]

 

- 141 -


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the date first above written.

 

TEXAS PETROCHEMICALS LP

By:

 

Texas Petrochemicals Inc., its General Partner

By:

 

/s/ Ruth I. Dreessen

Name:

 

Ruth I. Dreessen

Title:

 

Chief Financial Officer

TEXAS BUTYLENE CHEMICAL CORPORATION

By:

 

/s/ Christopher A. Artzer

Name:

 

Christopher A. Artzer

Title:

 

Secretary and General Counsel


DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY

AMERICAS, as Administrative Agent and as Lender

By:

 

/s/ Frank Fazio

Name:

 

Frank Fazio

Title:

 

Director

By:

 

/s/ Carin Keegan

Name:

 

Carin Keegan

Title:

 

Vice President

LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Collateral Agent

By:

 

/s/ Susan Hamilton

Name:

 

Susan Hamilton

Title:

 

First Vice President

LASALLE BUSINESS CREDIT, LLC, as Lender

By:

 

/s/ Susan Hamilton

Name:

 

Susan Hamilton

Title:

 

First Vice President

WACHOVIA BANK, N.A., as Lender

By:

 

/s/ M. Galonicon

Name:

 

M. Galonicon

Title:

 

Vice President

Signature Page to

Texas Petrochemicals LP

Revolving Loan Agreement


WELLS FARGO FOOTHILL, LLC, as Lender

By:

 

/s/ Rina Shinoda

Name:

 

Rina Shinoda

Title:

 

Vice President

NORTH FORK BUSINESS CAPITAL

CORPORATION, as Lender

By:

 

/s/ Robert Wallace

Name:

 

Robert Wallace

Title:

 

Vice President

ALLIED IRISH BANK, P.L.C., as Lender

By:

 

/s/ Martin Chin

Name:

 

Martin Chin

Title:

 

Senior Vice President

By:

 

/s/ Derrick Lynch

Name:

 

Derrick Lynch

Title:

 

Assistant Vice President

Signature Page to

Texas Petrochemicals LP

Revolving Loan Agreement


Annex I

Lenders; Commitments; Lending Offices

 

Lender

   Commitment   

Domestic Lending Office

  

Eurocurrency Lending Office

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas

   $ 18,000,000   

60 Wall Street

New York, NY 10005

   Provided separately to Administrative Agent

LaSalle Business Credit, LLC

   $ 27,000,000   

135 S. LaSalle, Suite 425

Chicago, IL 60603

   Provided separately to Administrative Agent

Wachovia Bank, N.A.

   $ 25,000,000   

5001 Lindon B Johnson Fwy.

Dallas, TX 75244

   Provided separately to Administrative Agent

Wells Fargo Foothill, LLC

   $ 20,000,000   

2450 Colorado Avenue,

Suite 3000W

Santa Monica, CA 90404

   Provided separately to Administrative Agent

North Fork Business Capital Corp.

   $ 10,000,000   

275 Broadhollow Road

PO Box 8914

Melville, NY 11747

   Provided separately to Administrative Agent

Allied Irish Bank, p.l.c.

   $ 15,000,000   

601 South Figueroa Street

Suite 4650

Los Angeles, CA90017-2513

   Provided separately to Administrative Agent

Administrative Agent Address:

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas

60 Wall Street

New York, New York 10005

Attention: Marguerite Sutton

Tel. No.: (212) 250-6150

Telecopier No.: (212) 797-4655


EXHIBIT 2.1(b)

FORM OF NOTE

 

$                    

                         , 2006

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, Texas Petrochemicals LP, a Texas limited partnership (“Company”) and Texas Butylene Chemical Corporation, a Texas corporation (“Texas Butylene” and together with Company, the “Borrowers”), hereby unconditionally promise to pay to the order of                      (the “Lender”) at the office of Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, located in New York, New York, in lawful money of the United States of America and in immediately available funds, the principal amount of                      DOLLARS ($            ). The principal amount of each Loan evidenced hereby shall be payable as set forth in the Revolving Credit Agreement hereinafter referred to, with any then outstanding principal amount of the Loans made by the Lender being payable on the Expiration Date. The Borrowers further agree to pay interest in like money at such office on the unpaid principal amount hereof from time to time outstanding at the applicable interest rate per annum determined as provided in, and payable as specified in, Article IV of the Revolving Credit Agreement.

The holder of this Note is authorized to record the date, Type and amount of each Loan made by the Lender pursuant to Section 2.1 of the Revolving Credit Agreement, each conversion thereof, the date of each interest rate continuation pursuant to Section 4.3 of the Revolving Credit Agreement and the principal amount subject thereto, the date and amount of each payment or prepayment of principal hereof and any such recordation shall (in the absence of manifest error) constitute prima facie evidence of the accuracy of the information endorsed; provided, however, that the failure to make any such endorsement shall not affect the obligations of the Borrowers in respect of such Loan.

This Note is one of the Notes referred to in the Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of June 27, 2006 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Revolving Credit Agreement”), among the Borrowers, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Administrative Agent, LaSalle Bank National Association, as Collateral Agent, and the financial institutions signatory thereto, and is subject to the provisions thereof, and is subject to optional and mandatory prepayment in whole or in part as provided therein. Terms defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement are used herein with their defined meanings unless otherwise defined herein.

Upon the occurrence of any one or more of the Events of Default specified in the Revolving Credit Agreement, all amounts then remaining unpaid on this Note may become, or may be declared to be, immediately due and payable, all as provided therein.

All parties now and hereafter liable with respect to this Note, whether maker, principal, surety, guarantor, endorser or otherwise, hereby waive presentment, demand, protest and all other notices of any kind.


THIS NOTE SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT MADE UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AND FOR ALL PURPOSES SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS AND DECISIONS OF SAID STATE, INCLUDING SECTIONS 5-1401 AND 5-1402 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW BUT EXCLUDING ALL OTHER CHOICE OF LAW AND CONFLICTS OF LAWS RULES.

 

TEXAS PETROCHEMICALS LP

By: Texas Petrochemicals Inc., its general partner

By:

   

Title:

 

Chief Financial Officer

TEXAS BUTYLENE CHEMICAL CORPORATION

By:

   

Title:

 

Chief Financial Officer


Schedule A to

Note

BASE RATE LOAN AND

REPAYMENT OF BASE RATE LOAN

 

Date

 

Amount of

Base Rate

Loan

 

Amount

Converted

to

Base Rate

Loan

 

Amount of

Principal

Repaid

 

Amount

Converted

to

Eurocurrency

Loan

 

Unpaid

Principal

Balance

of

Base Rate

Loan

 

Notation

Made By


Schedule B to

Note

EUROCURRENCY LOAN AND

REPAYMENT OF EUROCURRENCY LOAN

 

Date

 

Amount of

Eurocurrency

Loan

 

Amount

Converted

to

Eurocurrency

Loan

 

Interest

Period and

Eurocurrency

Rate with

Respect

Thereto

 

Amount of

Principal

Repaid

 

Amount

Converted

to

Base Rate

Loan

 

Unpaid

Principal

Balance of

Eurodollar

Loan

 

Notation

Made By


EXHIBIT 2.2(a)(i)

FORM OF NOTICE OF BORROWING FOR

LOANS

Date:                     

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas,

as Administrative Agent

60 Wall Street

New York, New York 10005

Attention: Frank Fazio

Telecopy: (212) 797-4655

Dear Sir or Madam:

Reference is made to that certain Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of June 27, 2006 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Revolving Credit Agreement”), by and among Texas Petrochemicals LP, a Texas limited partnership (“Company”), Texas Butylene Chemical Corporation, a Texas corporation (“Texas Butylene” and together with Company, the “Borrowers” with the Company acting in its capacity as Funds Administrator for the Borrowers), Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Administrative Agent, LaSalle Bank National Association, as Collateral Agent, and the Lenders named therein. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Revolving Credit Agreement. The undersigned hereby gives notice (this “Notice of Borrowing”) pursuant to Section 2.2 of the Revolving Credit Agreement of its request for the Lenders to make a Loan as follows.

 

1[.

  

Amount to be Borrowed

  

___________

  

2.

  

Base Rate Loans

  

___________

  

3.

  

Base Rate Loan Borrowing Date

  

___________

  

4.

  

Eurocurrency Loans

  

___________

  

5.

  

Eurocurrency Loan Borrowing Date

  

___________

  

6.

  

Eurocurrency Loan Interest Period

  

___________]

  

The undersigned represents and warrants that the Borrowing requested hereby complies with the requirements of Section 2.2 of the Revolving Credit Agreement.

The undersigned represents and warrants that, both immediately before and immediately after giving effect to the Borrowing being requested and the application of the proceeds therefrom, the representations and warranties contained in the Revolving Credit


Agreement and in each other Loan Document are each true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof, as though made on and as of such time, except to the extent such representations and warranties are expressly made as of a specific date in which event such representations and warranties shall have been true and correct on and as of such specified date.

The undersigned represents and warrants that, both immediately before and immediately after giving effect to the Borrowing being requested and the application of the proceeds therefrom, no Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of the Borrowing or will occur after giving effect to the requested Loan(s).

This Notice of Borrowing shall automatically terminate if the Revolving Credit Agreement terminates on or before the date on which the Loan(s) requested hereunder are to be made.

 

TEXAS PETROCHEMICALS LP, as Funds Administrator
By: Texas Petrochemicals Inc., its general partner

By:

   

Name:

   

Title:

   


EXHIBIT 2.8(d)(i)

FORM OF SECTION 2.8(d)(i) CERTIFICATE

Reference is hereby made to that certain Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of                          , 2006 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Revolving Credit Agreement”) by and among Texas Petrochemicals LP, a Texas limited partnership (“Company”), Texas Butylene Chemical Corporation, a Texas corporation (“Texas Butylene” and together with Company, the “Borrowers”), the financial institutions party thereto as lenders, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Administrative Agent (“Administrative Agent”), and LaSalle Bank National Association, as Collateral Agent. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Revolving Credit Agreement. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.8(d)(i) of the Revolving Credit Agreement, the undersigned (the “Lender”) hereby certifies that:

1. The Lender is not a “bank” for purposes of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

2. The Lender is not subject to regulatory or other legal requirements as a “bank” in any jurisdiction and has not been treated as a “bank” for purposes of any tax, securities law or other filing or submission made to any governmental authority, any application made to a rating agency or qualification for any exemption from tax, securities law or other legal requirements.

3. The Lender meets all of the requirements under Code Section 871(h) or 881(c) to be eligible for a complete exemption from withholding of United States Taxes on interest payments made to it under the Revolving Credit Agreement.

4. The Lender shall promptly notify the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent in writing if any of the representations and warranties made herein are no longer true and correct.

 

[NAME OF LENDER]

By:

   

Title:

   

Date:

 

                    ,             

Note: The Lender is also to deliver two accurate and complete original signed copies of IRS Form W-BEN (Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for United States Withholding or IRS Form W-8EIC (Certificate of Foreign Person’s Claim from Exemption From Withholding) on Income effectively connected with the conduct of a Trade or Business in the United States)(or successor form) certifying to Lender’s complete exemption from United States withholding tax with respect to interest payments


EXHIBIT 3.2(a)

FORM OF LETTER OF CREDIT REQUEST

 

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas,

Date:                     1

    as Administrative Agent

60 Wall Street

New York, New York 10005

Attention: Frank Fazio

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Issuing Bank

Global Loan Operations

Standby Letter of Credit Unit

60 Wall Street

New York, New York 10005 - MS NYC 60-278

Attention: Charles Ferris

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The undersigned, Texas Petrochemicals LP, a Texas limited partnership (“Company”), refers to the Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of June 27, 2006 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, from time to time, the “Agreement”), among Company, Texas Butylene Chemical Corporation, a Texas corporation (“Texas Butylene” and together with Company, the “Borrowers”), Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Administrative Agent, LaSalle Bank National Association, as collateral agent (as defined in the Agreement) and the various financial institutions party thereto as Lenders. For purposes of this Letter of Credit Request, unless otherwise defined herein, all capitalized terms used herein shall have the respective meanings provided in the Agreement.

The undersigned hereby request that the Issuing Bank issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the undersigned on                          ,              (the “Date of Issuance”) in the aggregate face amount of $            .              will be the account party under the Letter of Credit and                      will be the obligor.

The beneficiary of the requested Letter of Credit will be             ,2 and such Letter of Credit will be in support of             3 and will have a stated expiration date of             .4

 

 

1

At least three (3) Business Days’ prior notice is required and such notice must be given prior to 1:00 P.M. (New York City time) with a copy to the applicable Issuing Bank.

 

2

Insert name and address of beneficiary

 

3

Insert description of the supported obligations, name of agreement and/or the commercial transaction to which the requested Letter of Credit relates.

 

4

Expiration date must be not later than the earlier of one year from the Date of Issuance and thirty (30) days prior to the Expiration Date.


The undersigned represents and warrants that the issuance of the Letter of Credit requested hereby complies with the requirements of Section 3.2(a) and Section 5.2 of the Agreement.

The undersigned represents and warrants that, both immediately before and immediately after giving effect to the Letter of Credit being requested and the application of the proceeds therefrom, the representations and warranties contained in the Agreement and the Loan Documents are each true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof, as though made on and as of such time, except to the extent such representations and warranties are expressly made as of a specified date in which event such representation and warranties shall be true and correct as of such specified date.

The undersigned represents and warrants that, both immediately before and immediately after giving effect to the Letter of Credit being requested and the application of the proceeds therefrom, no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of the issuance of the Letter of Credit or will occur after giving effect to the requested Letter of Credit.

Copies of all documentation which the Issuing Bank has reasonably requested with respect to the supported transaction are attached hereto.

 

TEXAS PETROCHEMICALS LP, as Company

By: Texas Petrochemicals Inc., its general partner

By:    
Name:     
Title:    


EXHIBIT 4.3(a)

FORM OF

NOTICE OF CONTINUATION5

 

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas,

Date:                          , 200_

    as Administrative Agent

60 Wall Street

New York, New York 10005

Attention: Frank Fazio

Telecopy: (212) 797-4655

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is made to that certain Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of June 27, 2006 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Revolving Credit Agreement”), among Texas Petrochemicals LP, a Texas limited partnership (“Company”), Texas Butylene Chemical Corporation, a Texas corporation (“Texas Butylene” and together with Company, the “Borrowers” with the Company acting in its capacity as Funds Administrator for the Borrowers), Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Administrative Agent, LaSalle Bank National Association, as Collateral Agent, and the financial institutions parties thereto as Lenders. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Revolving Credit Agreement. The undersigned hereby gives notice pursuant to Section 4.3(a) of the Revolving Credit Agreement that it elects to continue Eurocurrency Loans under the Revolving Credit Agreement. The terms on which such continuation is requested to be made are set forth below:

 

1.

   Date of continuation (which date is a Business Day and which date is the last day of the Interest Period therefor):   

___________

  

2.

   Aggregate amount of Loans to be continued:   

___________

  

3.

   Nature of the proposed continuation:   

___________

  

4.

   Interest Period (if the Loans are to be continued as Eurocurrency Loan)6:   

___________

  

 

5

This notice must be received by Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) at least three Business Days in advance of the date of Continuation relating to Eurocurrency Rate Loans.

 

6

Which shall be subject to the definition of “Interest Period” set forth in Section 4.5 of the Revolving Credit Agreement.


Very truly yours,

 

TEXAS PETROCHEMICALS LP, as Funds Administrator

 

By: Texas Petrochemicals Inc., its general partner

By:    
Name:     
Title:    


EXHIBIT 4.3(b)

FORM OF

NOTICE OF CONVERSION7

 

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas,

Date:                          ,200_

    as Administrative Agent

60 Wall Street

New York, New York 10005

Attention: Frank Fazio

Telecopy: (212) 797-4655

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is made to that certain Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of June 27, 2006 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Revolving Credit Agreement”), among Texas Petrochemicals LP, a Texas limited partnership (“Company”), Texas Butylene Chemical Corporation, a Texas corporation (“Texas Butylene” and together with Company, the “Borrowers” with the Company acting in its capacity as Funds Administrator for the Borrowers), Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Administrative Agent, LaSalle Bank National Association, as Collateral Agent, and the financial institutions parties thereto as Lenders. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Revolving Credit Agreement. The undersigned hereby gives notice pursuant to Section 4.3(b) of the Revolving Credit Agreement that it elects to convert the entire amount of, or a portion of all Loans of one Type comprising the same Borrowing into Loans of another Type. The terms on which such conversion is requested to be made are set forth below:

 

1.

   Date of conversion (which date is a Business Day and, if a conversion from a Eurocurrency Loan, which date is the last day of the Interest Period therefor):   

___________

  

2.

   Aggregate amount of Loans to be converted8 :   

___________

  

3.

   Nature of the proposed conversion:   

___________

  

 

7

This notice must be received by Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) (i) one Business Day in advance of any proposed Conversion into Base Rate Loans and (ii) at least three Business Days in advance of any proposed Conversion into Eurocurrency Loans.

 

8

Each Conversion shall be in an aggregate amount for the Loans of all Lenders of not less than $2,000,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof.


4.

   Interest Period (if the Loans are to be converted into Eurocurrency Loan)9:   

___________

  

 

Very truly yours,

 

TEXAS PETROCHEMICALS LP, as Funds Administrator

 

By: Texas Petrochemicals Inc., its general partner

By:    
Name:     
Title:    

 

9

Which shall be subject to the definition of “Interest Period” set forth in Section 4.5 of the Revolving Credit Agreement.


EXHIBIT 5.1(a)(ii)

FORM OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY

(See attached.)


SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (REVOLVER)

SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEE AGREEMENT dated as of June 27, 2006 (as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Guarantee”), made by each of the undersigned companies and each Person that becomes a party hereto in accordance with Section 18(b) hereof (each, a “Guarantor” and collectively, the “Guarantors”) in favor of the Beneficiaries (as hereinafter defined). Capitalized terms used herein are defined in Section 1 of this Guarantee.

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, pursuant to a Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of June 27, 2006 among Texas Petrochemicals LP, a Texas limited partnership (“Company”), Texas Butylene Chemical Corporation, a Texas corporation (“Texas Butylene” and together with the Company, the “Borrowers”), the financial institutions party thereto (the “Lenders”), Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (“DB”), as agent for the Lenders thereunder (the “Administrative Agent”), and LaSalle Bank National Association, as Collateral Agent (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement), the Lenders have severally agreed to make Loans and to issue the Letters of Credit upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein (as used herein, the term “Revolving Credit Agreement” means the Revolving Credit Agreement described above in this paragraph, including all annexes, exhibits and schedules thereto, as from time to time amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified);

WHEREAS, each Guarantor is a material Domestic Subsidiary of Company;

WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the obligation of the Lenders to make Loans and other Extensions of Credit that each Material Domestic Subsidiary of Company shall have executed and delivered this Guarantee to Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Beneficiaries;

WHEREAS, the proceeds of the Loans and other Extensions of Credit will be used in part to enable the Borrowers to make Valuable Transfers to each of the Guarantors in connection with the operation of their respective businesses; and

WHEREAS, the Borrowers and the Guarantors are engaged in related businesses, and each Guarantor will derive substantial direct and indirect benefit from the making of the Extensions of Credit to the Borrowers.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and to induce Administrative Agent and the Lenders to enter into the Revolving Credit Agreement and to induce the Lenders to make their respective Loans and other Extensions of Credit, each Guarantor hereby agrees as follows:

Section 1. Definitions. As used in this Guarantee, capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings provided for such terms in the Revolving Credit Agreement and the following terms shall have the meanings indicated, all such definitions to be equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined:

Bankruptcy Code” shall mean all of the applicable sections of Title 11 of the United States Code, as from time to time in effect.


Beneficiaries” means each of the Lenders, Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent under the Revolving Credit Agreement.

Collateral Agent” means DB acting as collateral agent for the Secured Creditors (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement) pursuant to its appointment as Administrative Agent in the Revolving Credit Agreement or in any Security Document, and any successor collateral agent in such capacity.

Extension of Credit” shall mean (i) all Loans (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement) and the issuance of the Letters of Credit and (ii) to the extent not otherwise included in the foregoing, all Guaranteed Obligations.

Guaranteed Obligations” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2(a).

Security Agreement” means that certain Security Agreement dated as of the date hereof by and among the Borrowers, certain Domestic Subsidiaries of Company and Collateral Agent, as it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Subordinate Claims” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 8.

Termination Date” means the date on which (a) the Loans have been repaid in full in cash, (b) all other Obligations under the Revolving Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents have been completely discharged (other than contingent and indemnification obligations which expressly survive the termination of the Loan Documents and for which no claim is currently pending), (c) all Letter of Credit Obligations have been cancelled, backstopped by standby letters of credit acceptable to Administrative Agent or cash collateralized in a manner reasonably satisfactory to Collateral Agent and (c) the Borrowers shall not have any further right to borrow any monies under the Revolving Credit Agreement.

Valuable Transfers” means, as to any Guarantor, (i) all loans, advances or capital contributions made, directly or indirectly, to such Guarantor with proceeds of Guaranteed Obligations, (ii) all debt securities or other obligations of such Guarantor acquired from such Guarantor or retired by such Guarantor, directly or indirectly, with proceeds of Guaranteed Obligations, (iii) the fair market value of all property acquired, directly or indirectly, with proceeds of Guaranteed Obligations and transferred, absolutely and not as collateral to such Guarantor and (iv) the value of any economic benefits not included in clauses (i) through (iii) above, but included in accordance with applicable federal and state laws governing determinations of the insolvency of debtors, accruing to such Guarantor as a result of the incurrence of Guaranteed Obligations.

Section 2. Guarantee of Obligations. (a) Each Guarantor hereby jointly and severally, unconditionally and irrevocably reaffirms and continues to guarantee to each of the Beneficiaries to whom the following obligations are owed, as the primary obligation and debt of such Guarantor and not as a surety, the due and punctual payment of, without duplication, (i) all principal, interest, fees and other amounts required to be paid, from time to time, by the


Borrowers under or in respect of the Revolving Credit Agreement, including the Notes when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether on the due date therefor, upon stated maturity, by acceleration, upon demand or otherwise, according to the terms of the Revolving Credit Agreement or the other Loan Documents, (ii) all obligations of the Borrowers under the Security Agreement, and (iii) all other present and future obligations and liabilities (whether absolute, fixed or contingent, matured or unmatured, joint, several or independent and howsoever acquired) of the Borrowers to the Beneficiaries, or any of them, arising out of or in any way relating to any and all of the Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby (all of the foregoing, collectively, the “Guaranteed Obligations”). In case of the failure of the Borrowers or any Guarantor to duly, punctually and indefeasibly make any such payment in full as and when due and payable, each Guarantor hereby agrees to duly, punctually and indefeasibly make such payment as and when the same shall become due and payable, whether on the due date therefor, upon stated maturity, by acceleration, upon demand or otherwise, in accordance with the terms of this Guarantee, the Revolving Credit Agreement, the other Loan Documents and the other agreements underlying the respective Guaranteed Obligations.

(b) No payment or payments made by the Borrowers, any Guarantor, any other guarantor or any other Person, or received or collected by Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent or any Beneficiary from the Borrowers, any Guarantor, any other guarantor or any other Person, whether by virtue of any action or proceeding or any set-off, appropriation or application at any time or from time to time in reduction of or in payment of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be deemed to modify, reduce, release or otherwise affect the liability of any Guarantor hereunder which shall, notwithstanding any such payment or payments remain liable for the Guaranteed Obligations; provided, that with respect to any particular Guarantor, payments made by or received or collected from such Guarantor in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations shall reduce the Guaranteed Obligations of such Guarantor.

(c) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein or in any other of the Loan Documents, to the extent the obligations of a Guarantor shall be adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason (including, without limitation, because of Section 548 of Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code or under any applicable state Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act, Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act or similar statute or common law) then the Guaranteed Obligations of such Guarantor hereunder shall be limited to the maximum amount that is permissible under applicable law (whether federal or state and including, without limitation, the federal Bankruptcy Code).

(d) To the extent that any Guarantor shall make a payment under this Guaranty of all or any of the Guaranteed Obligations (a “Guarantor Payment”) which, taking into account all other Guarantor Payments hereunder, then previously or concurrently made by the other Guarantors hereunder (collectively, the “Contributing Guarantors”), exceeds the amount which any Guarantor would otherwise have paid if such Guarantor and each of the Contributing Guarantors had paid the aggregate Guaranteed Obligations satisfied by such Guarantor Payment in the same proportion that such Guarantor’s “Allocable Amount” (as defined below) (in effect immediately prior to such Guarantor Payment) bore to the aggregate Allocable Amounts of all of Contributing Guarantors in effect immediately prior to the making of such Guarantor Payment, then,


following the Termination Date, such Guarantor shall be entitled to receive contribution and indemnification payments from, and be reimbursed by, each of the other Contributing Guarantors for the amount of such excess, pro rata based upon their respective Allocable Amounts in effect immediately prior to such Guarantor Payment.

(e) As of any date of determination, the “Allocable Amount” of each of the Contributing Guarantors shall be equal to the maximum amount of the claim which could then be recovered from such Contributing Guarantor under this Guaranty, without rendering such claim voidable or avoidable under Section 548 of Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code or under any applicable state Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act, Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act or similar statute or common law.

(f) Sections 2(c) and (d) are intended only to define the relative rights of the Contributing Guarantors and nothing set forth in Section 2(c) or (d) is intended to or shall impair the obligations of the Contributing Guarantors, jointly and severally, to pay any amounts as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Guarantee.

(g) The rights of Guarantors under Section 2(c) shall be exercisable upon the Termination Date.

(h) The parties hereto acknowledge that the rights of contribution and indemnification hereunder shall constitute assets of any Guarantor to the extent such contribution and indemnification is owing.

Section 3. Right of Set-off. During any period in which an Event of Default shall have occurred and is continuing, Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and each other Beneficiary are hereby irrevocably authorized by each Guarantor at any time and from time to time, without notice to such Guarantor (any such notice being hereby waived by such Guarantor) to set off and appropriate and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final), in any currency, and any other credits, indebtedness or claims, in any currency, in each case whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, at any time held or owing by Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent or such other Beneficiary to or for the credit or the account of such Guarantor, or any part thereof, in such amounts as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent or such other Beneficiary may elect on account of the obligations or liabilities of such Guarantor hereunder and claims of every nature and description of Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent or such other Beneficiary against such Guarantor, in any currency, whether arising hereunder, under the Revolving Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, whether or not Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent or such other Beneficiary has made any demand for payment and although such obligations, liabilities and claims may be contingent or unmatured. Each Beneficiary shall notify such Guarantor and Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent promptly of any such set-off made by it and the application made by it of the proceeds thereof; provided, however, that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application. The rights of Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and any other Beneficiary under this paragraph are in addition to other rights and remedies (including, without limitation, other rights of set-off) which such party may have.


Section 4. Amendments, etc, with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations. Each Guarantor shall remain obligated hereunder notwithstanding that, without any reservation of rights against such Guarantor or any other Guarantor, and without notice to or further assent by such Guarantor, any demand for payment of any of the Guaranteed Obligations made by Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent or any other Beneficiary may be rescinded by Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent or such other Beneficiary, and any of the Guaranteed Obligations continued, and the Guaranteed Obligations, or the liability of any other Person upon or for any part thereof, or any collateral security or guarantee therefor or right of offset with respect thereto, may, from time to time, in whole or in part, be renewed, extended, amended, modified, accelerated, compromised, waived, surrendered or released by Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent or any other Beneficiary, and the Revolving Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document, any other document relating to Guaranteed Obligations and any other documents executed and delivered in connection therewith may be amended, modified, supplemented or terminated, in whole or in part, as the relevant holders of the Guaranteed Obligations may deem advisable from time to time and otherwise in accordance with the Revolving Credit Agreement, and any collateral security, guarantee or right of offset at any time held by Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent or any other Beneficiary for the payment of the Guaranteed Obligations may be sold, exchanged, waived, surrendered or released. None of Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent or any other Beneficiary shall have any obligation to protect, secure, perfect or insure any Lien at any time held by it as security for the Guaranteed Obligations or for this Guarantee or any property subject thereto.

Section 5. Guarantee Absolute and Unconditional. Each Guarantor waives any and all notice of the creation, renewal, extension or accrual of any of the Guaranteed Obligations and notice of or proof of reliance by Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent or any other Beneficiary upon this Guarantee or any other Loan Document to which such Guarantor is a party or acceptance of this Guarantee or any such other Loan Document; and all dealings between the Borrowers or any Guarantor and Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent or any other Beneficiary shall likewise be conclusively presumed to have been had or consummated in reliance upon this Guarantee and the other Loan Documents. Each Guarantor waives diligence, presentment, protest, demand for payment and notice of default or nonpayment to or upon Company or any Guarantor with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations. This Guarantee shall be construed as a continuing, absolute and unconditional guarantee of payment without regard to:

(i) the validity or enforceability of the Revolving Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document, any of the Guaranteed Obligations or any collateral security therefor or guarantee or right of offset with respect thereto at any time or from time to time held by Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent or any other Beneficiary,

(ii) any defense (including, without limitation, any statute of limitations), set-off or counterclaim (other than a defense of payment or performance) which may at any time, be available to or be asserted by the Borrowers against Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent or any other Beneficiary (each Guarantor hereby agrees not to assert any such defense, set-off or counterclaim),


(iii) any change in the time, manner or place of any application of collateral security, or proceeds thereof to or of all or any of the Guaranteed Obligations, or any manner of sale or other disposition of any collateral security for all or any of the Guaranteed Obligations or any other assets of Company or any of its Domestic Subsidiaries,

(iv) any change, restructuring or termination of the corporate, limited liability company or partnership structure or existence of Company or any of its Domestic Subsidiaries, or

(v) any other circumstance whatsoever (with or without notice to or knowledge of the Borrowers or any Guarantor) which constitutes, or might be construed to constitute, an equitable or legal discharge of the Borrowers for the Guaranteed Obligations, or of any Guarantor under this Guarantee, in bankruptcy or in any other instance and each Guarantor hereby covenants that this Guarantee will not be discharged except by final, complete, indefeasible and irrevocable payment and performance of the obligations contained in the agreements, instruments and documents evidencing or securing the Guaranteed Obligations and this Guarantee.

When Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent or any other Beneficiary is pursuing its rights and remedies hereunder against any Guarantor, Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent or any other Beneficiary may, but shall be under no obligation to, pursue such rights and remedies as it may have against the Borrowers or any other Person or against any collateral security or guarantee for the Guaranteed Obligations or any right of offset with respect thereto, and any failure by Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent or any other Beneficiary to pursue such other rights or remedies or to collect any payments from the Borrowers or any such other Person or to realize upon any such collateral security or guarantee or to exercise any such right of offset, or any release of the Borrowers or any such other Person or of any such collateral security, guarantee or right of offset, shall not relieve any Guarantor of any liability hereunder, and shall not impair or affect the rights and remedies, whether express, implied or available as a matter of law, of Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and any other Beneficiary against such Guarantor.

Section 6. Reinstatement. Each Guarantor further agrees that if at any time all or any part of any payment theretofore applied by any Beneficiary to any of the Guaranteed Obligations is, or must be, rescinded or returned by such Beneficiary for any reason whatsoever, including without limitation, the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of any Borrower, any other Guarantor or any other Domestic Subsidiary of Company or any other guarantor of all or any portion of the Guaranteed Obligations, such Guaranteed Obligations or applicable portion thereof, for purposes of this Guarantee, to the extent that such payment is or must be rescinded or returned, shall be deemed to have continued in existence notwithstanding such application, and this Guarantee shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, as to such Guaranteed Obligations or applicable portion thereof as though such application had not been made, irrespective of whether any note or other evidence of indebtedness has been surrendered or cancelled.


Section 7. No Subrogation, Contribution, Reimbursement or Indemnity. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Guarantee, the Revolving Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents, each Guarantor hereby irrevocably waives, until the Termination Date, all rights which may have arisen in connection with this Guarantee, the Revolving Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents to be subrogated to any of the rights (whether contractual, under the Bankruptcy Code, including Section 509 thereof, under common law or otherwise) of any Beneficiary against the Borrowers or against any collateral security or guarantee or right of offset held by any Beneficiary for the payment of the Guaranteed Obligations. Each Guarantor hereby further irrevocably waives, until the Termination Date, all contractual common law, statutory or other rights of reimbursement, contribution, exoneration or indemnity (or any similar right) from or against the Borrowers or any other Person which may have arisen in connection with this Guarantee, the Revolving Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents. So long as the Guaranteed Obligations remain outstanding, if any amount shall be paid by or on behalf of the Borrowers or any Guarantor to any other Guarantor on account of any of the rights waived in this paragraph, such amount shall be held by such Guarantor in trust, segregated from other funds of such Guarantor, and shall forthwith upon receipt by such Guarantor, be turned over to Administrative Agent in the exact form received by such Guarantor (duly indorsed by such Guarantor to Collateral Agent, if required), to be applied against the Guaranteed Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in such order as Collateral Agent may determine. The provisions of this paragraph shall survive the term of this Guarantee.

Section 8. Subordination. So long as any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be outstanding, all claims of any kind or character of any Guarantor or any of its successors and assigns against the Borrowers (all such claims of any kind or character of such Guarantor or any of its successors and assigns being hereinafter referred to as “Subordinate Claims”), shall be subordinated in right of payment to the prior indefeasible payment in full of such Guaranteed Obligations and any Subordinate Claims collected or received by such Guarantor after an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, upon notice by Administrative Agent to such Guarantor, shall be held in trust for Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Beneficiaries and, at the direction of Administrative Agent to such Guarantor, shall forthwith be paid over to Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Beneficiaries to be credited and applied against the Guaranteed Obligations but without affecting, impairing or limiting in any manner the liability of such Guarantor under any other provision of this Guarantee.

Section 9. Representations, Warranties and Covenants. Each Guarantor represents and warrants to Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and each Beneficiary that:

(a) such Guarantor is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and has the organizational power and authority and the legal right to own and operate its property, to lease the property it operates as lessee and to conduct the business in which it is currently engaged;

(b) such Guarantor has the organizational power and authority and the legal right to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, this Guarantee, and has taken all necessary action to authorize its execution, delivery and performance of this Guarantee;


(c) this Guarantee constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Guarantor enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles; and

(d) the execution, delivery and performance of this Guarantee by such Guarantor (i) are within such Guarantor’s organizational power, (ii) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate, shareholder, member, partner or other action on the part of each Person whose authorization is required, (iii) do not violate any Requirement of Law or any Contractual Obligation applicable to such Guarantor, (iv) will not result in or require the creation or imposition of any Lien of any nature upon or with respect to any of the properties now owned or hereafter acquired by such Person and (v) will not require any authorization or approval or other action by, or notice to or filing or registration with, any Governmental Authority (other than those which have been obtained and are in force and effect).

Each Guarantor hereby acknowledges and agrees that it has received a copy of the Revolving Credit Agreement and hereby (i) reaffirms all representations and warranties contained therein to the extent applicable to it and (ii) agrees to comply with all covenants and agreements contained therein to the extent applicable to it and as the same may be amended or modified from time to time in accordance with the terms of the Revolving Credit Agreement.

Section 10. Events of Default. If an Event of Default arises and is continuing, then in any such event and at any time thereafter (so long as such failure shall not have been cured or waived in accordance with Section 14 hereof), Administrative Agent may, and at the direction of the Required Lenders shall declare the obligations of the Borrowers under the Revolving Credit Agreement (whether or not then due under the Revolving Credit Agreement) immediately due and payable pursuant to this Guarantee as to the Guarantors, and Administrative Agent shall be entitled to enforce, or direct Collateral Agent to enforce, the joint and several obligations of the Guarantors hereunder.

Section 11. Application of Proceeds. Subject to any applicable agreements in effect from time to time relating to the sharing and priority of payment of proceeds of collateral, the net proceeds of any collection, recovery, receipt appropriation or realization, after deducting all costs and expenses of every kind incurred in connection with the foregoing, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and legal expenses, shall be applied to the payment in whole or in part of the Guaranteed Obligations, in such order as proceeds of Collateral would be applied pursuant to the Revolving Credit Agreement.

Section 12. (a) GOVERNING LAW. THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF THE GUARANTORS AND THE COLLATERAL AGENT UNDER THIS GUARANTEE AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS SHALL, PURSUANT TO NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW SECTION 5-1401, BE GOVERNED BY THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES.


Section 13. Enforceability. Any provision of this Guarantee that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction. If this Guarantee would be held or determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a judicial proceeding to be void, voidable, invalid or unenforceable on account of the amount of the aggregate liability of any Guarantor under this Guarantee or by reason of any inconsistent contractual provision binding on any Guarantor, then, notwithstanding any other provision of this Guarantee to the contrary, the aggregate amount of the liability of each Guarantor under this Guarantee shall, without any further action by any Guarantor, the Beneficiaries or any other Person, be automatically limited and reduced to the maximum amount which is valid and enforceable.

Section 14. Remedies Not Exclusive; Amendment. No failure or delay on the part of any Beneficiary in exercising any right, power or remedy under this Guarantee shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right, power or remedy preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy. The remedies provided for in this Guarantee are cumulative and are not exclusive of any remedies that may be available to any Beneficiary at law or in equity or otherwise. No amendment, modification, supplement, termination or waiver of or to any provision of this Guarantee, nor consent to any departure by any Guarantor therefrom shall be effective unless the same shall be consented to in writing by all of the Lenders or the Required Lenders, as the case may be, pursuant to Section 12.1 of the Revolving Credit Agreement, as such terms are defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement. Any amendment, modification or supplement of or to any provision of this Guarantee, any waiver of any provision of this Guarantee, and any consent to any departure by any Guarantor from the terms of any provision of this Guarantee, shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which made or given. Except where notice is specifically required by this Guarantee, no notice to or demand on any Guarantor in any case shall entitle such Guarantor or any other Guarantor to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.

Section 15. Consent to Certain Transactions. Each Guarantor acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Revolving Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents in the form in which each was executed and delivered by the parties thereto, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified as of the Initial Borrowing Date, and agrees that such copies constitute adequate notice of all matters contained therein and consents to the execution and delivery of such agreements and the performance of all transactions provided for or contemplated therein; provided, however, that none of the Beneficiaries shall be obligated to furnish to any Guarantor any copies of any amendments, modifications or supplements or waivers with respect to the Revolving Credit Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents.

Section 16. Notices. All notices, demands, instructions and other communications required or permitted to be given to or made upon any party hereto or any other Person hereunder shall be in writing and shall be personally delivered or sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or by a reputable overnight or courier delivery service, or by telecopier, and shall be deemed to be given for purposes of this Guarantee on the third day after deposit in registered or certified mail postage prepaid, and otherwise on the day that such writing is delivered or sent to the intended recipient thereof, or in the case of a


notice delivered by telecopy, upon completion of transmission with a copy of such notice also being delivered under any of the methods provided above, all in accordance with the provisions of this subsection. Unless otherwise specified in a notice sent or delivered in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this subsection, notices, demands, instructions and other communications in writing shall be given to or made upon the respective parties hereto at their respective addresses (or to their respective telecopier numbers) indicated on each respective signature page to this Guarantee or any supplement hereto or with regard to the Beneficiaries, on the respective signature pages of the Revolving Credit Agreement, and, in the case of telephonic instructions or notices, by calling the telephone number or numbers indicated for each on such signature pages.

Section 17. Successors and Assigns. This Guarantee shall be binding upon each Guarantor and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each of the Beneficiaries and their respective successors and assigns (including any permitted assignee of any Lender in accordance with Section 12.8 of the Revolving Credit Agreement); provided, however, that no Guarantor may assign or transfer any of its obligations under this Guarantee without the prior written consent of the Required Lenders, except pursuant to intercompany mergers and consolidations permitted under Section 8.3 of the Revolving Credit Agreement.

Section 18. Further Assurances, Additional Guarantors. (a) Each Guarantor, jointly and severally, agrees to do such further acts and things and to execute and deliver such additional agreements, powers and instruments, as any Beneficiary may reasonably require or reasonably deem advisable to carry into effect the purposes of this Guarantee or to better assure and confirm unto the Beneficiaries their rights, powers and remedies under this Guarantee, the Revolving Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document.

(b) An additional Material Domestic Subsidiary of Company may become a Guarantor under this Guarantee pursuant to the requirements of Section 7.11 of the Revolving Credit Agreement by executing and delivering to Administrative Agent a supplement to this Guarantee in the form of Exhibit A hereto (with only such changes thereto as are agreed to by Administrative Agent), whereupon, without further action, approval or consent by any other Person, such Material Domestic Subsidiary shall be deemed to be a Guarantor for all purposes under this Guarantee.

Section 19. Submission to Jurisdiction. Each Guarantor, jointly and severally, hereby irrevocably and unconditionally consents and submits to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of any United States Federal or New York State court sitting in New York City in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Guarantee, and each Guarantor, jointly and severally, hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of such action or proceeding brought against any of the Beneficiaries in respect of this Guarantee shall be brought in such United States Federal or New York State court. Each Guarantor, jointly and severally, irrevocably consents to the service of any and all process in any such action or proceeding brought in any court in or of the State of New York by the delivery of copies of such process to such Guarantor at its address specified on its respective signature page hereto or by certified or registered mail directed to such address. Nothing herein shall affect the right of any of the Beneficiaries to serve process in any other manner permitted by law or to commence legal proceedings or otherwise proceed against any Guarantor in any other jurisdiction.


Section 20. Waiver of Trial by Jury. THE GUARANTORS AND THE COLLATERAL AGENT EACH HEREBY WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF THIS GUARANTEE, THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS OR ANY OTHER AGREEMENTS OR TRANSACTIONS RELATED HERETO OR THERETO.

Section 21. Fees and Expenses. Each Guarantor, jointly and severally, agrees to pay promptly, to the extent not previously finally and indefeasibly paid in full by the Borrowers, all reasonable costs and expenses of any Beneficiary in connection with (A) any and all amounts which any Beneficiary has paid relative to the curing of any default resulting from the acts or omissions of any Guarantor under this Guarantee and (B) the enforcement of this Guarantee and the preservation of the Beneficiaries’ rights hereunder.

Section 22. Taxes. Each of the agreements set forth in Section 2.8 of the Revolving Credit Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference mutatis mutandis with the same effect as if such agreements had been set forth herein (it being understood that the intent of the parties under this Section 22 is to provide that, subject to the limitations of Section 2.8 of the Revolving Credit Agreement, each Beneficiary receive and retain the same amount net of all Taxes that such Beneficiary would have received had payment been made by the Borrowers under the Revolving Credit Agreement). All references in such incorporated provisions to “the Borrowers” shall be deemed references to each Guarantor and all references in such incorporated provisions to “this Agreement” shall be deemed references to this Guarantee. Each Guarantor further agrees to pay any and all stamp, transfer and other taxes or fees payable or determined to be payable in connection with the execution, delivery, filing and recording of any instrument or document that may be delivered in connection with this Guarantee, and agrees to save Collateral Agent and each other Beneficiary harmless from and against any and all liabilities with respect to or resulting from any delay in paying, or omission to pay, such taxes, fees and expenses.

Section 23. Payments in U.S. Dollars. Each sum due under this Guarantee or in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be paid in Dollars. If any sum due from any Guarantor under this Guarantee has to be converted into Dollars, it shall be converted at the exchange rate determined as of the date such sums are paid hereunder.

Section 24. Counterparts. This Guarantee may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the different parties hereto on separate counterparts, each of which counterparts, when so executed and delivered, shall be deemed to be an original and all of which counterparts, taken together, shall constitute but one and the same Guarantee.

Section 25. Headings. Section and other headings used in this Guarantee are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction of this Guarantee.

Section 26. Release. Upon the sale of all of the capital stock of any Guarantor in accordance with Section 8.6 of the Revolving Credit Agreement, such Guarantor and each of its Subsidiaries shall automatically be released from all of its obligations under this Guarantee.


[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Guarantors has caused this Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by its proper and duly authorized officer as of the day and year first above written by signing a separate signature page.

 

Acknowledged and Agreed to:

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS,

as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent

By:    
Name:    
Title:    
Notice Address:
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
60 Wall Street
New York, New York 10005
Attention: Marguerite Sutton
Tel. No.: (212) 250-6150
Telecopier No.: (212) 797-4655


GUARANTORS:
TP CAPITAL CORP.
By:    
Name:    
Title:    
TEXAS OLEFINS DOMESTIC-INTERNATIONAL SALES CORPORATION
By:    
Name:    
Title:    
HOUSTON FUELS, LLC
By:    
Name:    
Title:    
PORT NECHES FUELS, LLC
By:    
Name:    
Title:    
Notice Address:
5151 San Felipe
Suite 800
Houston, Texas 77056
Attention: Charles W. Shaver
Telecopier No.: [        ]


EXHIBIT A

to

SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEE AGREEMENT

FORM OF SUPPLEMENT TO

SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEE AGREEMENT

THIS SUPPLEMENT NO.                      dated as of                                          (this “Supplement”) to the Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement (as defined below) is made by                                                              , a                                                           (“New Guarantor”), in favor of the Beneficiaries (as defined in the Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement).

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, Texas Petrochemicals LP, a Texas limited partnership (“Company”) and Texas Butylene Chemical Corporation, a Texas corporation (“Texas Butylene” and together with Company, the “Borrowers”) is a party to that certain Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of                              , 2006 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Revolving Credit Agreement”), with Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Administrative Agent, LaSalle Bank National Association, as Collateral Agent (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement), and the Lenders identified therein;

WHEREAS, New Guarantor is a Material Domestic Subsidiary under the Revolving Credit Agreement;

WHEREAS, as a condition precedent to their entering into the Revolving Credit Agreement, Administrative Agent, and the Lenders thereunder required Company to cause each of its Material Domestic Subsidiaries to execute and deliver that certain Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement dated as of                              , 2006 (as heretofore or hereafter amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement”);

WHEREAS, the proceeds of Extensions of Credit (as defined in the Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement) heretofore have been and hereafter will be used in part to enable the Borrowers to make Valuable Transfers (as defined in the Subsidiary Guarantee) to each of the Guarantors (including New Guarantor) in connection with the operation of its business;

WHEREAS, the Borrowers and New Guarantor are engaged in related businesses, and New Guarantor will derive substantial direct and indirect benefit from the making of Extensions of Credit;

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 7.11 of the Revolving Credit Agreement, Company is required to cause each Material Domestic Subsidiary that was not in existence (or not such a Subsidiary) on the date of the Revolving Credit Agreement to become a Guarantor under the Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement upon becoming a material Domestic Subsidiary; and

WHEREAS, Section 18(b) of the Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement provides that additional Material Domestic Subsidiaries of Company may become Guarantors under the Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement by execution and delivery of an instrument in the form of this Supplement.


NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and to induce the Lenders to continue to make Extensions of Credit, New Guarantor hereby as follows:

Section 1 Definitions. Each capitalized term used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement or, if not defined herein or in the Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement, in the Revolving Credit Agreement.

Section 2 Guarantee of Obligations. In accordance with Section 18(b) of the Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement, New Guarantor, by its execution and delivery of this Supplement, hereby becomes a Guarantor under the Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement for all purposes thereunder with the same force and effect as if originally named therein as a Guarantor, without further action, approval or consent by any other Person, and New Guarantor hereby (a) agrees to all the terms and provisions of the Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement applicable to it as a Guarantor thereunder and (b) represents and warrants that the representations and warranties deemed to be made by it as a Guarantor thereunder are true and correct on and as of the date hereof. Each reference to a “Guarantor” in the Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement shall be deemed for all purposes to include New Guarantor. All of the terms of the Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement are hereby incorporated in their entirety.

Section 3 Representations and Warranties. New Guarantor represents and warrants to the Beneficiaries that this Supplement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by it and is its legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

Section 4 Counterparts. This Supplement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the different parties hereto on separate counterparts, each of which counterparts, when so executed and delivered, shall be deemed to be an original and all of which counterparts, taken together, shall constitute but one and the same Supplement.

Section 5 Full Force and Effect. Except as expressly supplemented hereby, the Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement remains in full force and effect.

Section 6 GOVERNING LAW. THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF THE GUARANTORS AND THE COLLATERAL AGENT UNDER THIS SUPPLEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS SHALL, PURSUANT TO NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW SECTION 5-1401, BE GOVERNED BY THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES.


Section 7 Enforceability. Any provision of this Supplement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction. If this Supplement would be held or determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a judicial proceeding to be void, voidable, invalid or unenforceable on account of the amount of the aggregate liability of New Guarantor under the Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement or by reason of any inconsistent contractual provision binding on New Guarantor and in effect on or prior to the date hereof, then, notwithstanding any other provision of this Supplement or the Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement to the contrary, the aggregate amount of the liability of New Guarantor under the Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement shall, without any further action by any Guarantor, the Beneficiaries or any other Person, be automatically limited and reduced to the maximum amount which is valid and enforceable.

Section 8 Fees. New Guarantor agrees to reimburse Collateral Agent for its respective reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including Attorney Costs) incurred in connection with the preparation, execution and delivery of this Supplement.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the New Guarantor his caused this Supplement No.                      to the Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by its properly and duly authorized officer as of the date first written above.

 

[NEW GUARANTOR]
By:    
Name:    
Title:    
Notice Address:
 
 
 
Acknowledged and Agreed to:

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS,

as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent

By:    
Name:    
Title:    
Notice Address:

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas

60 Wall Street

New York, New York 10005

Attention: Marguerite Sutton

Tel. No.: (212) 250-6150

Telecopier No.: (212) 797-4655


EXHIBIT 5.1(a)(iii)

FORM OF SECURITY AGREEMENT

(See attached.)


SECURITY AGREEMENT (REVOLVING LOAN)

SECURITY AGREEMENT, dated as of June 30, 2006 (as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Security Agreement”), made by TEXAS PETROCHEMICALS, LP, a Texas limited partnership, each of the other undersigned companies and each Person that becomes a party hereto in accordance with Section 25 hereof (each, a “Grantor” and collectively, the “Grantors”) and DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, in its capacity as Administrative Agent (the “Collateral Agent”) for its benefit and the benefit of (i) the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under the Revolving Credit Agreement hereinafter referred to (collectively, the “Revolving Creditors”) and (ii) if one or more Lenders or one or more Affiliates of such Lenders has entered into or hereafter enters into one or more agreements evidencing (a) an interest-rate transaction, including an interest-rate swap, basis swap, forward rate agreement, interest rate option (including a cap, collar, and floor), and any other instrument linked to interest rates that gives rise to similar credit risks (including when-issued securities and forward deposits accepted), (b) an exchange-rate transaction (other than a spot-rate exchange), including a cross-currency interest-rate swap, a forward foreign-exchange contract, a currency option, and any other instrument linked to exchange rates that gives rise to similar credit risks, (c) an equity derivative transaction that gives rise to a contingent cash or similar payment obligation (other than as a result of an event which would constitute a Change of Control), including an equity-linked swap, an equity-linked option, a forward equity-linked contract, and any other instrument linked to equities that gives rise to similar credit risk or (d) a commodity (including precious metal) derivative transaction, including a commodity-linked swap, a commodity-linked option, a forward commodity-linked contract, and any other instrument linked to commodities that gives rise to similar credit risks, in each case, with, or guaranteed by, a Grantor and which is permitted pursuant to Section 8.2(g) or (h) of the Revolving Credit Agreement and prior to entering into any such document evidencing such a transaction, (a) Company shall have delivered written notice thereof to the Collateral Agent stating (I) the maximum amount of the Borrowers’ Liabilities in respect thereof which are to be secured by the Collateral and (II) the aggregate amount of cash or short-term investments subject to Liens securing any of the obligations described in clause (xii) of the definition of “Customary Permitted Liens” and (b) such Lender or Affiliate shall have received written notice from the Collateral Agent confirming such amounts (collectively, “Approved Secured Derivative Transaction Agreements”), any such Lender or Lenders or Affiliate or Affiliates of such Lenders (even if the respective Lender subsequently ceases to be a Lender under the Revolving Credit Agreement for any reason) so long as any such Lender or Affiliate participates in the extension of such Approved Secured Derivative Transaction Agreements and their subsequent assigns, if any (collectively the “Other Creditors”, and together with the Revolving Creditors, the “Secured Creditors”).

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of June 30, 2006 among Texas Petrochemicals LP, a Texas limited partnership (“Company”), Texas Butylene Chemical Corporation, a Texas corporation, the financial institutions party thereto (the “Lenders”), Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Administrative Agent for the Lenders thereunder (the “Administrative Agent”) and LaSalle Bank National Association, as collateral agent (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement) (including all annexes, exhibits and schedules thereto, as from time to time amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Revolving Credit Agreement”), the Lenders have agreed to make the Loans to and to incur Letter of Credit Obligations on behalf of the Borrowers;


WHEREAS, the Grantors may at any time and from time to time enter into or guarantee one or more Approved Secured Derivative Transaction Agreements;

WHEREAS, TP Capital Corp., a Delaware corporation, Texas Olefins Domestic-International Sales Corporation, a Texas corporation, Port Neches Fuels, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and Houston Fuels, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company have entered into that certain Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement dated as of June 30, 2006 in order to guarantee the Secured Obligations hereinafter referred to;

WHEREAS, in order to induce the Administrative Agent to enter into the Revolving Credit Agreement and the Loan Documents and to induce the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to make the Loans and to incur Letter of Credit Obligations as provided for in the Revolving Credit Agreement, Grantors have agreed to grant a continuing Lien on the Collateral (as hereinafter defined) to secure the Secured Obligations;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants herein contained and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

1. DEFINED TERMS.

All capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings given to them in the Revolving Credit Agreement. All other terms contained in this Security Agreement, unless the context indicates otherwise, have the meanings provided for by the NY UCC to the extent the same are used or defined therein.

Capitalized Lease” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, any lease of property, real or personal, in respect of which the present value of the minimum rental commitment is capitalized on the balance sheet of the lessee in accordance with GAAP.

Capitalized Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a Capitalized Lease which would at such time be so required to be capitalized on the balance sheet of the lessee in accordance with GAAP, and the stated maturity thereof shall be the date of the last payment of rent or any other amount due under such lease prior to the first date upon which such lease may be prepaid by the lessee without payment of a penalty.

Capital Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights in or other equivalents (however designated) of such Person’s capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests or other equivalent interests and any rights (other than debt securities convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock), warrants or options exchangeable for or convertible into such capital stock or other equity interests.

Certificated Collateral” means Pledged Securities that are represented by a certificate and Pledged Indebtedness that is represented by a note or instrument.


Claims” shall mean any and all property and other taxes, assessments and special assessments, levies, fees and all governmental charges imposed upon or assessed against, and landlords’, carriers’, mechanics’, workmen’s, repairmen’s, laborers’, materialmen’s, suppliers’ and warehousemen’s Liens and other claims arising by operation of law against, all or any portion of the Collateral.

Contracts” shall mean, collectively, with respect to each Grantor, all sale, service, performance, equipment or property lease contracts, agreements and grants and all other contracts, agreements or grants (in each case, whether written or oral) between such Grantor and another Person, and all assignments, amendments, restatements, supplements, extensions, renewals, replacements or modifications thereof.

Copyrights” shall mean, collectively, with respect to each Grantor, all copyrights (whether statutory or common law, whether established or registered in the United States or any other country or any political subdivision thereof, whether registered or unregistered and whether published or unpublished) and all copyright registrations and applications made by such Grantor, in each case, whether now owned or hereafter created or acquired by or assigned to such Grantor, together with any and all (i) rights and privileges arising under applicable law with respect to such Grantor use of such copyrights, (ii) reissues, renewals, continuations and extensions thereof, (iii) income, fees, royalties, damages, claims and payments now or hereafter due and/or payable with respect thereto, including damages and payments for past, present or future infringements thereof, (iv) rights corresponding thereto throughout the world and (v) rights to sue for past, present or future infringements thereof.

Copyright Security Agreement” shall mean an agreement substantially in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit D.

Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary other than a Foreign Subsidiary.

Excludable Property” shall mean:

(i) any permit, lease, license or Contract held by any Grantor that validly prohibits the creation by such Grantor of a security interest therein;

(ii) any property or assets held by any Grantor to the extent that any Requirement of Law applicable thereto prohibits the creation of a security interest therein; and

(iii) Equipment owned by any Grantor on the date hereof or hereafter acquired that is subject to a Lien securing indebtedness incurred for purposes of financing such item of Equipment of any Credit Party to which such Lien is attached (a “Purchase Money Obligation”) or Capitalized Lease Obligation permitted to be incurred pursuant to the provisions of the Revolving Credit Agreement if the contract or other agreement in which such Lien is granted (or the documentation providing for such Purchase Money Obligation or Capitalized Lease Obligation) validly prohibits the creation of any other Lien on such Equipment;


(iv) any capital stock, membership interests, or other equity or ownership interests in entities that are not Wholly Owned Subsidiaries that are subject as of the Closing Date to an existing and enforceable negative pledge provision;

(v) 35% of the capital stock, membership interests, or other equity or ownership interests in each direct Foreign Subsidiary of any Grantor that is a “controlled foreign corporation” under the Code; and

(vi) cash and short-term investments deposited by any Grantor in margin accounts with or on behalf of futures contract brokers or paid over to other counterparties or pledged or deposited as collateral to a contract counterparty or issuer of surety bonds to secure obligations owing by such Grantor or any of its Subsidiaries, to the extent (x) the depositing of such cash and short-term investments by such Person is permitted under clause (xii) of the definition of “Customary Permitted Liens” in the Revolving Credit Agreement and (y) such contract or derivative expressly prohibits such cash or short-term investment to be pledged by such Grantor to the Collateral Agent hereunder;

provided, however, that such property shall constitute “Excludable Property” only to the extent and for so long as (a) in each case described in clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) and (vi) of this definition, such permit, lease, license, Contract or other agreement, Requirement of Law, or negative pledge provision applicable thereto validly prohibits the creation of a Lien on such property in favor of the Collateral Agent and, upon the termination of such prohibition (howsoever occurring), such property shall cease to constitute “Excludable Property” and (b) in each case described in clause (v) of this definition, such property is not required to be pledged under Section 5(f)(ii)(B).

Excluded Property” shall mean Excludable Property other than the following:

(a) the right to receive any payment of money (including Accounts, General Intangibles and Payment Intangibles) or any other rights referred to in Sections 9-406(f), 9-407(a) or 9-408(a) of the NY UCC to the extent that such sections of the NY UCC are effective to limit the prohibitions which make such property “Excludable Property”; and

(b) any Proceeds, substitutions or replacements of any Excludable Property (unless such Proceeds, substitutions or replacements would constitute Excludable Property).

Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

Goodwill” shall mean, collectively, with respect to each Grantor, the goodwill connected with such Grantor’s business including (i) all goodwill connected with the use of and symbolized by any Trademark or Trademark License in which such Grantor has any interest, (ii) all know-how, trade secrets, customer and supplier lists, proprietary information, inventions, methods, procedures, formulae, descriptions, compositions, technical data, drawings, specifications, name plates, catalogs, confidential information and the right to limit the use or disclosure thereof by any person, pricing and cost information, business and marketing plans and proposals, consulting agreements, engineering contracts and such other assets which relate to such goodwill and (iii) all product lines of such Grantor’s business.


Instruments” shall mean, collectively, with respect to each Grantor, all “instruments,” as such term is defined in Article 9, rather than Article 3, of the NY UCC, and shall include all promissory notes, drafts, bills of exchange or acceptances.

Intellectual Property Collateral” shall mean, collectively, each Grantor’s (a) Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, and Licenses, and (b) Goodwill related to the foregoing.

Investment Property” shall mean “investment property” as defined in Article 9 of the NY UCC.

Lease Documents” means all lease agreements, lease-purchase agreements and similar agreements governing the lease of equipment, fixtures or real property by any Grantor (collectively, “Lease Agreements”) and all mortgages, security agreements and other agreements and documents entered into in connection with such Lease Agreements.

Licenses” shall mean, collectively, with respect to each Grantor, all license and distribution agreements with, and covenants not to sue, any other party with respect to any Patent, Trademark or Copyright or any other patent, trademark or copyright, whether such Grantor is a licensor or licensee, distributor or distributee under any such license or distribution agreement, together with any and all (i) renewals, extensions, supplements and continuations thereof, (ii) income, fees, royalties, damages, claims and payments now and hereafter due and/or payable thereunder and with respect thereto including damages and payments for past, present or future infringements or violations thereof, (iii) rights to sue for past, present and future infringements or violations thereof and (iv) other rights to use, exploit or practice any or all of the Patents, Trademarks or Copyrights or any other patent, trademark or copyright.

Mortgaged Property” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Mortgages.

NY UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York.

Patent and Trademark Security Agreement” shall mean an agreement substantially in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit E.

Patents” shall mean, collectively, with respect to each Grantor, all patents issued or assigned to and all patent applications and registrations made by such Grantor (whether established or registered or recorded in the United States or any other country or any political subdivision thereof), together with any and all (i) rights and privileges arising under applicable law with respect to such Grantor’s use of any patents, (ii) inventions and improvements described and claimed therein, (iii) reissues, divisions, continuations, renewals, extensions and continuations-in-part thereof, (iv) income, fees, royalties, damages, claims and payments now or hereafter due and/or payable thereunder and with respect thereto including damages and payments for past, present or future infringements thereof, (v) rights corresponding thereto throughout the world and (vi) rights to sue for past, present or future infringements thereof.

Pledged Entity” means an issuer of Pledged Securities.


Pledged Indebtedness” means the Indebtedness evidenced by promissory notes and instruments listed on Part B of Schedule VI hereto.

Pledged Securities” shall mean (i) all of the issued and outstanding Capital Stock of each Subsidiary at any time owned by any Grantor, except Capital Stock that is Excluded Property, and (ii) in any event until released in accordance with the terms of this Security Agreement or the Revolving Credit Agreement, all of the Capital Stock listed on Part A of Schedule VI hereto.

Secured Obligations” shall mean (i) all obligations (including, without limitation, all “Obligations” as such term is defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement and all obligations which, but for the automatic stay under Section 362(a) of the Bankruptcy Code, would become due) and liabilities of Borrowers and each Guarantor now existing or hereafter incurred under, arising out of, or in connection with the Revolving Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document to which any Borrower or any Guarantor is a party (all such obligations and liabilities being herein collectively called the “Revolving Credit Agreement Obligations”); (ii) all obligations (including obligations which, but for the automatic stay under Section 362(a) of the Bankruptcy Code, would become due) and liabilities of any Borrower and each Grantor now existing or hereafter incurred under, arising out of or in connection with any Approved Secured Derivative Transaction Agreement, whether such Approved Secured Derivative Transaction Agreement is now in existence or hereafter arising and the due performance and compliance by each Borrower and each Grantor with all of the terms, conditions and agreements contained therein; provided that at no time shall the aggregate Liabilities of the Borrowers in respect of this clause (ii) which are secured by the Security Documents be greater than $20,000,000 (all such obligations and liabilities described in this clause (ii) being herein collectively called the “Other Obligations”); (iii) any and all sums reasonably advanced by the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent in order to preserve the Collateral or preserve its security interest in the Collateral; (iv) in the event of any proceeding for the collection or enforcement of any Revolving Credit Agreement Obligations or Other Obligations, after an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the reasonable expenses of taking, holding, preparing for sale or lease, selling or otherwise disposing of or realizing on the Collateral, or of any exercise by the Collateral Agent of its rights hereunder, together with reasonable attorneys’ fees and court costs; and (v) all amounts paid by Collateral Agent as to which Collateral Agent has the right to reimbursement under Section 5(g) of this Security Agreement. It is acknowledged and agreed that the “Secured Obligations” shall include extensions of credit of the types described above, whether outstanding on the date of this Security Agreement or extended from time to time after the date of this Security Agreement.

Securities Collateral” shall mean, collectively, the Pledged Securities and Pledged Indebtedness.

Significant Copyrights” means, at any time, those Copyrights which the relevant Grantor believes in its reasonable judgment to be material to its business at such time.

Significant Patents” means, at any time, those Patents which the relevant Grantor believes in its reasonable judgment to be material to its business at such time.


Significant Trademarks” means, at any time, those Trademarks which the relevant Grantor believes in its reasonable judgment to be material to its business at such time.

Termination Date” means the date on which (i) the Loans have been repaid in full in cash, (ii) all other Obligations under the Revolving Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents have been completely discharged (other than contingent and indemnification obligations which expressly survive the termination of the Loan Documents and for which no claim is currently pending), (iii) all Letter of Credit Obligations have been cancelled, backstopped by standby letters of credit acceptable to Administrative Agent or cash collateralized in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, (iv) no Borrower shall have any further right to borrow any monies under the Revolving Credit Agreement, and (v) all Approved Secured Derivative Transaction Agreements have been terminated, or the maximum amount of Other Obligations has been distributed to the Other Creditors pursuant to Section 10.

Trademark License” shall mean each agreement, whether written or oral, providing for the grant by or to Grantor of any right to use any Trademark.

Trademarks” shall mean, collectively, with respect to each Grantor, all trademarks (including service marks), slogans, logos, certification marks, trade dress, uniform resource locations (URLs), domain names, corporate names and trade names, whether registered or unregistered, owned by or assigned to such Grantor and all registrations and applications for the foregoing (whether statutory or common law and whether established or registered in the United States or any other country or any political subdivision thereof), together with any and all (i) rights and privileges arising under applicable law with respect to such Grantor’s use of any trademarks, (ii) reissues, continuations, extensions and renewals thereof, (iii) income, fees, royalties, damages and payments now and hereafter due and/or payable thereunder and with respect thereto, including damages, claims and payments for past, present or future infringements thereof, (iv) rights corresponding thereto throughout the world and (v) rights to sue for past, present and future infringements thereof.

Uniform Commercial Code jurisdiction” means any jurisdiction that has adopted all or substantially all of Article 9 as contained in the 2000 Official Text of the Uniform Commercial Code, as recommended by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws and the American Law Institute, together with any subsequent amendments or modifications to the Official Text.

2. GRANT OF LIEN.

(a) To secure the prompt and complete payment, performance and observance of all of the Secured Obligations, each Grantor hereby grants, assigns, conveys, mortgages, pledges, hypothecates and transfers to Collateral Agent a Lien upon all of its right, title and interest in, to and under all personal property (other than the rights of Grantors under the Lease Documents and proceeds thereof), whether now owned by or owing to, or hereafter acquired by or arising in favor of such Grantor (including under any trade names, styles or derivations thereof), and whether owned or consigned by or to, or leased from or to, such Grantor, and regardless of where located (all of which being hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Collateral”), including:

(i) all Accounts;


(ii) all Equipment, Goods, Inventory and Fixtures;

(iii) all Documents (as defined in the NY UCC), Instruments and Chattel Paper;

(iv) all Letters of Credit (as defined in the NY UCC) and Letter-of-Credit Rights;

(v) all Securities Collateral;

(vi) all Investment Property (excluding any Securities Collateral and any Capital Stock that is Excluded Property);

(vii) all Intellectual Property Collateral;

(viii) the Commercial Tort Claims described on Schedule V hereto;

(ix) all Deposit Accounts of any Grantor and all other bank accounts and all deposits therein;

(x) all General Intangibles;

(xi) all money, cash or cash equivalents of any Grantor;

(xii) all Supporting Obligations of any Grantor;

(xiii) all books and records relating to the Collateral; and

(xiv) all other personal property of such Grantor, whether tangible or intangible, and all Proceeds and products of each of the foregoing and all accessories to, substitutions and replacements for, and rents, profits and products of, each of the foregoing, any and all Proceeds of any insurance, indemnity, warranty or guaranty payable to such Grantor from time to time with respect to any of the foregoing.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in clauses (i) through (xiv) above, the security interest created by this Security Agreement shall not extend to, and the term “Collateral” shall not include any Excluded Property. The Grantors shall from time to time at the reasonable request of the Collateral Agent (which request shall refer to this Section 2(a)) give written notice to the Collateral Agent identifying in reasonable detail the Excludable Property (and stating in such notice that such Excludable Property constitutes “Excluded Property”) and shall provide to the Collateral Agent such other information regarding the Excludable Property as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request. From and after the Closing Date, no Grantor shall permit to become effective in any agreement or other document creating, governing or providing for any material permit, lease or license, a provision that would prohibit the creation of a Lien on such permit, lease or license in favor of the Collateral Agent unless such Grantor believes, in its reasonable judgment, that such prohibition is usual and customary in transactions of such type.


(b) In addition, to secure the prompt and complete payment, performance and observance of the Secured Obligations and in order to induce Collateral Agent as aforesaid, each Grantor hereby grants to Collateral Agent, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, a right of set-off against the Collateral of such Grantor held by Collateral Agent, now or hereafter in the possession or custody of or in transit to Collateral Agent, for any purpose, including safekeeping, collection or pledge, for the account of such Grantor, or as to which such Grantor may have any right or power.

3. COLLATERAL AGENT’S RIGHTS; LIMITATIONS ON COLLATERAL AGENT’S OBLIGATIONS.

(a) It is expressly agreed by Grantors that, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, each Grantor shall remain liable under each of its Contracts and each of its Licenses to observe and perform all the conditions and obligations to be observed and performed by it thereunder. Collateral Agent shall not have any obligation or liability under any Contract or License by reason of or arising out of this Security Agreement or the granting herein of a Lien thereon or the receipt by Collateral Agent of any payment relating to any Contract or License pursuant hereto. Collateral Agent shall not be required or obligated in any manner to perform or fulfill any of the obligations of any Grantor under or pursuant to any Contract or License, or to make any payment, or to make any inquiry as to the nature or the sufficiency of any payment received by it or the sufficiency of any performance by any party under any Contract or License, or to present or file any claims, or to take any action to collect or enforce any performance or the payment of any amounts which may have been assigned to it or to which it may be entitled at any time or times.

(b) Collateral Agent may at any time upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, without prior notice to any Grantor, notify Account Debtors and other Persons obligated on the Collateral that Collateral Agent has a security interest therein, and that payments shall be made directly to Collateral Agent. Upon the request of Collateral Agent during any such time, each Grantor shall so notify Account Debtors and other Persons obligated on Collateral. Once any such notice has been given to any Account Debtor or other Person obligated on the Collateral, the affected Grantor shall not give any contrary instructions to such Account Debtor or other Person without Collateral Agent’s prior written consent (which consent shall be given if such Event of Default is no longer continuing and no other Event of Default then exists).

(c) Collateral Agent may at any time in Collateral Agent’s own name, in the name of a nominee of Collateral Agent or in the name of any Grantor communicate (by mail, telephone, facsimile or otherwise) with Account Debtors, parties to Contracts and obligors in respect of Instruments to verify with such Persons, to Collateral Agent’s reasonable satisfaction, the existence, amount terms of, and any other matter relating to, Accounts, Instruments, Chattel Paper, Contracts and/or payment intangibles. If an Unmatured Event of Default under Section 10.1(f) of the Revolving Credit Agreement or an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Grantor, at its own expense, shall, or at the request of the Collateral Agent shall cause the independent certified public accountants then engaged by such Grantor to, prepare and deliver to Collateral Agent at any time and from time to time promptly upon Collateral Agent’s request, the following reports with respect to each Grantor: (i) a reconciliation of all Accounts; (ii) an aging of all Accounts; (iii) trial balances; and (iv) a test verification of such Accounts. Each Grantor, at its own expense, shall deliver to Collateral Agent the results of each physical verification, if any, which such Grantor may in its discretion have made, or caused any other Person to have made on its behalf, of all or any portion of its Inventory.


4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. Each Grantor represents and warrants that:

(a) Each Grantor has rights in and the power to transfer each item of the Collateral upon which it purports to grant a Lien hereunder free and clear of any and all Liens other than Permitted Liens.

(b) No effective security agreement, financing statement, equivalent security or Lien instrument or continuation statement covering all or any part of the Collateral is on file or of record in any public office, except such as may have been filed (i) in favor of Collateral Agent pursuant to this Security Agreement or the other Loan Documents, and (ii) in connection with any other Permitted Liens. No person other than Grantors and Collateral Agent has control or possession of all or any part of the Collateral, except pursuant to the Term Loan Credit Facility Documents, as permitted by the Revolving Credit Agreement and except for any Collateral in transit out for repair or otherwise off-site in the ordinary course of business.

(c) This Security Agreement is effective to create a valid and continuing Lien in favor of Collateral Agent in the Collateral. Upon the filing of the appropriate financing statements listed on Schedule I hereto and the delivery of any original certificates, notes, and instruments representing Certificated Collateral, together with stock powers in blank or note powers in blank, as appropriate, to the Collateral Agent, such Lien shall be fully perfected (to the extent such Lien can be perfected by filing under the NY UCC or, with respect to Certificated Collateral, possession) prior and superior in right to any other Person (except Permitted Liens, and only to the extent that priority can be obtained by filing or, in the case of Certificated Collateral, possession). All actions required by Section 5 to protect and perfect Liens on the Collateral (including the delivery of any original certificates, notes or instruments representing Certificated Collateral together with stock powers or note powers, as applicable, to Collateral Agent or its bailee) have been duly taken except as not required pursuant to Section 5(a)(ii) with respect to Chattel Paper and Section 5(r) with respect to Equipment subject to certificates of title.

(d) Schedule II hereto lists all Instruments, Letter-of-Credit Rights and Chattel Paper of each Grantor in each case in an amount greater than $100,000.

(e) Schedule VI hereto lists all Pledged Securities and Pledged Indebtedness of each Grantor.

(f) No Grantor has or operates in any jurisdiction, or in the preceding 12 months has had or has operated in any jurisdiction, under any trade names, fictitious names or other names (including, without limitation, any names of divisions or operations) except its legal name and such other trade, fictitious or other names as are listed under its name on Schedule III. Each Grantor’s name as it appears in official filings in the state of its incorporation or other organization, the type of entity of each Grantor (including corporation, partnership, limited partnership or limited liability company), organizational identification number issued by each Grantor’s state of incorporation or organization or a statement that no such number has been


issued, each Grantor’s state of organization or incorporation, the location of each Grantor’s chief executive office, principal place of business, offices, all warehouses and premises where Collateral is stored or located, and the locations of its books and records concerning the Collateral are set forth on Schedule III hereto. Each Grantor has only one state of incorporation or organization.

(g) All Claims imposed upon or assessed against the Collateral (other than any immaterial part thereof) have been paid and discharged except to the extent such Claims constitute a Permitted Lien.

(h) With respect to the Accounts of each Grantor, except as specifically disclosed in the most recent Borrowing Base Certificate delivered to Collateral Agent, (i) such Accounts represent bona fide sales of Inventory or rendering of services to Account Debtors in the ordinary course of each Grantor’s business and are not evidenced by a judgment, Instrument or Chattel Paper; (ii) except to the extent permitted pursuant to the definition of Eligible Accounts Receivable, there are no material setoffs, claims or disputes existing or asserted with respect thereto and no Grantor has made any agreement with any Account Debtor for any material extension of time for the payment thereof, any compromise or settlement for materially less than the full amount thereof, any release of any Account Debtor from liability therefor, or any material deduction therefrom except a discount or allowance allowed by such Grantor in the ordinary course of its business for prompt payment; (iii) to each Grantor’s knowledge, except to the extent permitted pursuant to the definition of Eligible Accounts Receivable, there are no facts, events or occurrences which in any way impair the validity or enforceability thereof or could reasonably be expected to materially reduce the amount payable thereunder as shown on any Grantor’s books and records and any invoices, statements and Borrowing Base Certificates delivered to Collateral Agent with respect thereto; (iv) no Grantor has received any notice of proceedings or actions which are threatened or pending against any material Account Debtor which might result in any material adverse change in such Account Debtor’s financial condition; and (v) no Grantor has knowledge that any material Account Debtor is unable generally to pay its debts as they become due. Further with respect to the Accounts (x) the amounts shown on all invoices, statements and Borrowing Base Certificates which may be delivered to the Collateral Agent with respect thereto are actually and absolutely owing to such Grantor materially as indicated thereon and are not in any way contingent; (y) no payments have been or shall be made thereon except payments immediately delivered to the applicable lockboxes or depository accounts or the Collateral Agent as required pursuant to the terms of Section 2.5(b) of the Revolving Credit Agreement; and (z) to each Grantor’s knowledge, all Account Debtors have the capacity to contract.

(i) With respect to any Inventory scheduled or listed on the most recent Borrowing Base Certificate delivered to Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of this Security Agreement or the Revolving Credit Agreement, of a Grantor (i) such Inventory is located at one of the applicable Grantor’s locations set forth on Schedule III hereto, as applicable, or is in transit, out for repair or, with respect to de minimis amounts of Inventory, otherwise off-site in the ordinary course of business, (ii) the applicable Grantor has good, indefeasible and merchantable title to such Inventory and such Inventory is not subject to any Lien or security interest or document whatsoever except for the Lien granted to Collateral Agent and except for Permitted Liens, (iii) except as specifically disclosed in the most recent Borrowing Base Certificate delivered to Collateral Agent, such Inventory is Eligible Inventory of good and


merchantable quality, free from any material defects and (iv) such Inventory is not subject to any licensing, patent, royalty, trademark, trade name or copyright agreements with any third parties which would require any consent of any third party upon sale or disposition of that Inventory or the payment of any monies to any third party upon such sale or other disposition.

(j) No Grantor has any interest in, or title to, any Significant Patent, Significant Trademark or Significant Copyright except as set forth in Schedule IV hereto. This Security Agreement is effective to create valid and continuing and, upon filing of the Copyright Security Agreements with the United States Copyright Office and filing of the Patent Trademark Security Agreements with the United State Patent and Trademark Office and the filing of appropriate financing statements listed on Schedule I hereto, perfected Liens in favor of Collateral Agent on each Grantor’s Significant Patents, Significant Trademarks and Significant Copyrights and such perfected Liens are enforceable as such as against any and all creditors of any Grantor.

(k) Such Grantor is, and at the time of delivery of any certificates representing the Pledged Securities to the Collateral Agent, will be, the sole holder of record and the sole beneficial owner of such certificated Pledged Securities pledged by such Grantor free and clear of any Lien thereon or affecting the title thereto, except for any Lien created by this Security Agreement, Permitted Liens that would not be prior to the Lien of the Collateral Agent and the first priority Lien of the lenders under the Term Loan Credit Facility that shall be prior to the Lien of the Collateral Agent under this Security Agreement. Such Grantor is and at the time of delivery of any notes or instruments representing the Pledged Indebtedness to the Collateral Agent will be, the sole owner of such Pledged Indebtedness represented by notes or instruments free and clear of any Lien thereon or affecting title thereto, except for any Lien created by this Security Agreement, Permitted Liens that would be prior to the Lien of the Collateral Agent and the first priority Lien of the lenders under the Term Loan Credit Facility that shall be prior to the Lien of the Collateral Agent under this Security Agreement.

(l) All of the Pledged Securities have been duly authorized, validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable, and the Pledged Indebtedness issued by any Affiliate of Grantor has been duly authorized, authenticated or issued and delivered by, and is the legal, valid and binding obligations of, the issuer of such Pledged Indebtedness, and, in each case, no Pledged Entity or issuer is in default thereunder.

(m) Such Grantor has the right and requisite authority to pledge, assign, transfer, deliver, deposit and set over the Collateral pledged by such Grantor to Collateral Agent as provided herein.

(n) None of the Pledged Securities or Pledged Indebtedness has been issued or transferred in violation of the securities registration, securities disclosure or similar laws of any jurisdiction to which such issuance or transfer may be subject.

(o) All of the Pledged Securities are presently owned by such Grantor, and, if represented by certificates, are presently represented by the certificates listed on of Schedule VI hereto. As of the date hereof, there are no existing options, warrants, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to the Pledged Securities. The Pledged Securities constitute (i) 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Capital Stock of each Pledged Entity that is a


Domestic Subsidiary, (ii) 100% of the issued and outstanding non-voting Capital Stock of each Pledged Entity that is a Foreign Subsidiary owned by such Grantor or (iii) 65% (or such other percentage as is required by this Security Agreement) of the issued and outstanding voting stock of each Pledged Entity that is a Foreign Subsidiary. No Grantor directly owns Capital Stock in any Subsidiary other than the Pledged Entities.

(p) No consent, approval, authorization or other order or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is required for the pledge by Grantor of the Securities Collateral pursuant to this Security Agreement or for the execution, delivery or performance of this Security Agreement by Grantor or for the exercise by Collateral Agent of the voting or other rights provided for in this Security Agreement or the remedies in respect of the Collateral pursuant to this Security Agreement, except as may be required in connection with such disposition by laws affecting the offering and sale of securities generally.

(q) All information set forth herein, including the schedules annexed hereto, and all information contained in any documents, schedules and lists heretofore delivered to any Secured Party, including the Perfection Certificate and the schedules thereto, in connection with this Security Agreement, in each case, relating to the Collateral, is accurate and complete in all material respects.

5. COVENANTS. Each Grantor covenants and agrees with Collateral Agent that from and after the date of this Security Agreement and until the Termination Date:

(a) Further Assurances; Pledge of Instruments; Chattel Paper; Commercial Tort Claims.

(i) At any time and from time to time, upon the request of Collateral Agent and at the sole expense of Grantors, each Grantor shall promptly and duly execute and deliver any and all such further instruments and documents and take such further actions as Collateral Agent may reasonably deem desirable to obtain the full benefits of this Security Agreement and of the rights and powers herein granted, including (A) using its commercially reasonable efforts to secure all consents and approvals necessary or appropriate for the assignment to or for the benefit of Collateral Agent of any License or Contract held by such Grantor and material to its business and to enforce the security interests granted hereunder and (B) approving or filing any financing or continuation statements under the NY UCC (or the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in any other relevant Uniform Commercial Code jurisdiction) with respect to the Liens granted hereunder or under any other Loan Document; provided, however, that prior to the occurrence and continuation of an Event of Default, (x) no filing, registration, or recording in any jurisdiction outside the United States of America shall be required to evidence the Liens created hereby in the Intellectual Property Collateral and (y) to the extent a materiality or dollar threshold, a commercially reasonable efforts or other efforts standard, or a grace period or specific deadline is expressly provided for in this Security Agreement or any other Loan Document, such threshold, standard, grace period or deadline shall limit actions required by this clause (i).


(ii) Unless Collateral Agent shall otherwise consent in writing (which consent may be revoked), each Grantor shall deliver to Collateral Agent all Collateral consisting of negotiable Documents, certificated securities, Chattel Paper and Instruments that, in the case of negotiable Documents, Chattel Paper, or Instruments, have a face amount in excess of $100,000 (in each case, accompanied by stock powers, allonges or other instruments of transfer executed in blank) promptly after such Credit Party receives the same.

(iii) At any time and from time to time, within 60 days of any request of Collateral Agent and at the sole expense of Grantors, each Grantor shall use commercially reasonable efforts to or, if a Liquidity Event exists, shall obtain waivers or subordinations of Liens from landlords and mortgagees, and obtain signed acknowledgements of Collateral Agent’s Liens from bailees having possession of any Grantor’s Goods, Inventory or Equipment that they hold for the benefit of Collateral Agent; provided that no such waiver or subordination shall be required from landlords with respect to locations where less than $1,000,000 of Collateral is located, or from any bailee that holds less than $1,000,000 of Collateral.

(iv) Each Grantor shall obtain authenticated control agreements from each issuer of uncertificated Pledged Securities (other than a Subsidiary of such Grantor), securities intermediary or commodities intermediary issuing or holding any material financial assets or commodities for any Grantor.

(v) Each Grantor shall obtain such blocked account, lockbox or similar agreements with each bank or financial institution holding a Deposit Account for such Grantor to the extent required by Section 2.5(b) of the Revolving Credit Agreement.

(vi) If any Grantor is or becomes the beneficiary of one or more letters of credit having a stated amount of over $250,000 individually or $500,000 in the aggregate (and provided the related Letter-of-Credit Rights are not “supporting obligations” as defined in the NY UCC) such Grantor shall promptly, and in any event within two (2) Business Days after becoming a beneficiary of such letters of credit, notify Collateral Agent thereof, and shall thereafter enter into a tri-party agreement with Collateral Agent and the issuer and/or confirmation bank with respect to such Letter-of-Credit Rights assigning such Letter-of-Credit Rights to Collateral Agent and directing all payments thereunder to the applicable collection account specified by the Collateral Agent, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Collateral Agent.

(vii) Each Grantor shall take all steps necessary to grant the Collateral Agent control of all electronic chattel paper in accordance with the NY UCC and all “transferable records” as defined in each of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act and the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act; provided that prior to a request by the Collateral Agent after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, such steps need only be taken to the extent such Collateral has a value in excess of $250,000 individually or $500,000 in the aggregate.


(viii) Each Grantor hereby irrevocably authorizes the Collateral Agent at any time and from time to time in its reasonable discretion to file in any filing office in any Uniform Commercial Code jurisdiction any initial financing statements and amendments thereto that (a) indicate the Collateral (i) as all personal property assets of such Grantor or words of similar effect, regardless of whether any particular asset comprised in the Collateral falls within the scope of Article 9 of the NY UCC or such jurisdiction or (ii) as being of an equal or lesser scope or with greater detail, and (b) contain any other information required by part 5 of Article 9 of the NY UCC for the sufficiency or filing office acceptance of any financing statement or amendment, including whether such Grantor is an organization, the type of organization and any organization identification number issued to such Grantor. Each Grantor agrees to furnish any such information to the Collateral Agent promptly upon request. Each Grantor also ratifies its authorization for the Collateral Agent to have filed in any Uniform Commercial Code jurisdiction any initial financing statements or amendments thereto if filed prior to the date hereof.

(ix) To the extent effective under applicable law, each Grantor hereby further authorizes the Collateral Agent to file filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or United States Copyright Office (or any successor office or, subject to Section 5(a)(i)(x) of this Security Agreement, any similar office in any other country), including this Security Agreement, the Copyright Security Agreement and the Patent and Trademark Security Agreement, or other documents for the purpose of perfecting, confirming, continuing, enforcing or protecting the security interest in Significant Patents, Significant Trademarks, and Significant Copyrights granted by such Grantor hereunder, without the signature of such Grantor to the extent such a filing would be effective, and naming such Grantor, as debtor, and the Collateral Agent, as secured party.

(x) Each Grantor shall promptly, and in any event within fifteen (15) Business Days after the same is acquired by it, notify Collateral Agent of any commercial tort claim (as defined in the NY UCC) acquired by it and unless otherwise consented to by Collateral Agent, such Grantor shall thereafter enter into a supplement to this Security Agreement, granting to Collateral Agent a Lien in such commercial tort claim.

(b) Maintenance of Records. Grantors shall keep and maintain, at their own cost and expense, adequate and complete records of the Collateral, including a record of any and all payments received and any and all credits granted with respect to the Collateral and all other dealings with the Collateral. If, with Collateral Agent’s consent, any Grantor retains possession of any Chattel Paper, Instruments or Investment Property that would otherwise be required to be delivered to the Collateral Agent, such Chattel Paper, Instruments or Investment Property shall be marked with the following legend: “This writing and the obligations evidenced or secured hereby are subject to the security interest of Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Collateral Agent”; provided that with respect to Chattel Paper, Instruments or Investment Property in the possession of any Grantor on the date hereof, such Grantor shall cause such Chattel Paper, Instruments or Investment Property to be so marked within thirty (30) after the date hereof.

(c) Access to Collateral, Books and Records; Other Information. The Collateral Agent, its agents, accountants and attorneys shall have full and free access to visit and inspect all of the Collateral and Mortgaged Property as provided in Section 7.6 of the Revolving Credit Agreement.


(d) Locations of Inventory and Equipment. Each Grantor agrees that it shall not move any Goods, Inventory or Equipment that is Collateral to any location outside of the United States or Canada or to any location in the United States or Canada other than one set forth on Schedule III (except for Collateral that is in transit, out for repair, or, with respect de minimis amounts of Collateral, otherwise off-site in the ordinary course of business), until (i) it shall have given the Collateral Agent not less than 10 days’ prior written notice of its intention so to do, clearly describing such new location within the United States or Canada and providing such other information, agreements, documents and instruments in connection therewith as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request and (ii) with respect to such new location, such Grantor shall have taken all action reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent to maintain the perfection and priority of the security interest of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties in the Collateral intended to be granted hereby, including using commercially reasonable efforts to obtain waivers of landlord’s or warehousemen’s and/or bailee’s liens with respect to such new location, if applicable, and if requested by the Collateral Agent.

(e) Covenants Regarding Patent, Trademark and Copyright Collateral.

(i) Such Grantor shall notify Collateral Agent immediately if it knows or has reason to know that any application or registration relating to any Significant Patent, Significant Trademark or Significant Copyright (now or hereafter existing) may become abandoned or dedicated, or of any adverse determination or development (including the institution of, or any such determination or development in, any proceeding in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office or any court) regarding such Grantor’s ownership of any Significant Patent, Significant Trademark or Significant Copyright, its right to register the same, or to keep and maintain the same.

(ii) Upon any Grantor, either itself or through any agent, employee, licensee or designee, filing an application for the registration of any Significant Patent, Significant Trademark or Significant Copyright with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office or any similar office or agency, such Grantor will give the Collateral Agent written notice within fifteen (15) days thereof, and, upon request of Collateral Agent, Grantor shall execute and deliver any and all patent security agreements, copyright security agreements or trademark security agreements as Collateral Agent may reasonably request to evidence Collateral Agent’s Lien on such Significant Patent, Significant Trademark or Significant Copyright, and the General Intangibles of such Grantor relating thereto or represented thereby.

(iii) Such Grantor shall take all actions necessary or requested by Collateral Agent to maintain and pursue each application, to obtain the relevant registration and to maintain the registration of, each of the Significant Patents, Significant Trademarks and Significant Copyrights (now or hereafter existing), including the filing of applications for renewal, affidavits of use, affidavits of noncontestability and opposition and interference and cancellation proceedings.

(iv) In the event that any of the Significant Patents, Significant Trademarks or Significant Copyrights are infringed upon, or misappropriated or diluted by a third party, such Grantor shall comply with Section 8 of this Security Agreement. Such Grantor shall promptly take such other actions as Collateral Agent shall reasonably deem appropriate under the circumstances to protect such Significant Patent, Significant Trademark or Significant Copyright.


(f) Additional Pledged Securities.

(i) As long as no Unmatured Event of Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and until written notice shall be given to Grantors in accordance with Section 7(a) hereof, (x) each Grantor shall have the right, from time to time, to vote and give consents with respect to the Collateral, or any part thereof for all purposes not inconsistent with the provisions of this Security Agreement, the Revolving Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, and (y) each Grantor shall be entitled, from time to time, to collect and receive for its own use all cash dividends and interest paid in respect of the Pledged Securities and Pledged Indebtedness to the extent not in violation of the Revolving Credit Agreement; provided, however, that until actually paid all rights to such distributions shall remain subject to the Lien created by this Security Agreement.

(ii) Each Grantor covenants and agrees that:

(A) Such Grantor will, upon obtaining ownership of any additional Capital Stock that constitutes Pledged Securities or promissory notes or instruments with an outstanding principal amount in excess of $100,000, which Capital Stock, notes or instruments are not already Collateral, promptly (and in any event within sixty (60) days) deliver to Collateral Agent a Pledge Amendment, duly executed by such Grantor, in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto (a “Pledge Amendment”) in respect of any such additional Capital Stock, notes or instruments, pursuant to which such Grantor shall pledge to Collateral Agent all of such additional stock, notes and instruments. Such Grantor hereby authorizes Collateral Agent to attach each Pledge Amendment to this Security Agreement and agrees that all Pledged Securities and Pledged Indebtedness listed on any Pledge Amendment delivered to Collateral Agent shall for all purposes hereunder be considered Collateral; and

(B) If following a change in the relevant sections of the NY UCC or the regulations, rules, rulings, notices or other official pronouncements issued or promulgated thereunder, the Collateral Agent concludes in its reasonable discretion that with respect to any Foreign Subsidiary which has not already had all of its stock pledged pursuant to this Security Agreement that a pledge of additional (in the case of a direct Foreign Subsidiary) or all (in the case of any indirect Foreign Subsidiary) of the total combined voting power of all classes of capital stock of such Foreign Subsidiary entitled to vote, would not cause any undistributed earnings of a Foreign Subsidiary as determined for United States Federal income tax purposes to be treated as a deemed dividend to a Foreign Subsidiary’s United States parent for United States Federal income tax purposes and would not cause any other adverse tax consequences to any Grantor, then that portion of such Foreign Subsidiary’s outstanding capital stock not theretofore pledged pursuant to this Security Agreement shall be pledged upon entering into all necessary documents with Collateral Agent pursuant to this Security Agreement (or another pledge agreement in substantially similar form, if needed) to the extent that


entering into such agreement is permitted by the laws of the respective foreign jurisdiction; provided, however, that the amount of additional stock that may be pledged pursuant to this Section 5(f)(ii) shall not exceed the amount of such stock that can be pledged without causing any such undistributed earnings of a Foreign Subsidiary to be treated as a deemed dividend or causing any other adverse tax consequences to any Grantor; provided, further that if the Company disagrees with the determination of the Collateral Agent, the Company shall have sixty (60) days to provide the Collateral Agent with an opinion of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent that concludes that such pledge would cause adverse United States Federal income tax consequences, in which case, such additional pledge shall not be required. All reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Collateral Agent to obtain such an opinion shall be paid by the Company.

(g) Indemnification. In any suit, proceeding or action brought by Collateral Agent relating to any Collateral for any sum owing with respect thereto or to enforce any rights or claims with respect thereto, each Grantor will save, indemnify and keep Collateral Agent harmless from and against all expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses), loss or damage suffered by reason of any defense, setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or reduction of liability whatsoever of the Account Debtor or other Person obligated on the Collateral, arising out of a breach by any Grantor of any obligation thereunder or arising out of any other agreement, indebtedness or liability at any time owing to, or in favor of, such obligor or its successors from such Grantor, except to the extent such expense, loss, or damage is attributable to the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of Collateral Agent as finally judicially determined. All such obligations of Grantors shall be and remain enforceable against and only against Grantors and shall not be enforceable against Collateral Agent.

(h) Compliance with Terms of Accounts, etc. In all material respects, each Grantor will perform and comply with its obligations in respect of the Collateral and all other agreements to which it is a party or by which it is bound relating to the Collateral. No Grantor shall rescind or cancel any obligations evidenced by any Account or modify any term thereof or make any adjustment with respect thereto except in the ordinary course of business consistent with prudent business practice, or extend or renew any such obligations except in the course of its business consistent with prudent business practice or compromise or settle any dispute, claim, suit or legal proceeding relating thereto or sell any Account or interest therein except in the ordinary course of its business consistent with prudent business practice without the prior written consent of the Collateral Agent. Each Grantor shall timely fulfill all obligations on its part to be fulfilled under or in connection with the Accounts. Each Grantor shall cause to be collected from the Account Debtor of each of the Accounts, as and when due in the ordinary course of business (including Accounts that are delinquent, such Accounts to be collected in accordance with generally accepted commercial collection procedures), any and all amounts owing under or on account of such Account, and apply forthwith upon receipt thereof all such amounts as are so collected to the outstanding balance of such Account, except that any Grantor may, with respect to an Account, allow in the ordinary course of business and consistent with such Grantor’s past practices and prudent business practice (i) a refund or credit due as a result of returned or damaged or defective merchandise, (ii) such extensions of time to pay amounts due in respect of Accounts and such other modifications of payment terms or settlements in respect of Accounts as shall be commercially reasonable in the circumstances, and (iii) such other adjustments, extensions, renewals, compromises, settlements, and sales as are deemed commercially reasonable. The costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) of collection, in any case, whether incurred by any Grantor, the Collateral Agent or any Secured Party, shall be paid by the Grantors.


(i) Limitation on Liens on Collateral. No Grantor will create, permit or suffer to exist, and each Grantor will defend the Collateral against, and take such other action as is necessary to remove, any Lien on the Collateral except Permitted Liens, and will defend the right, title and interest of Collateral Agent in and to any of such Grantor’s rights to the Collateral against the claims and demands of all Persons whomsoever except holders of Permitted Liens.

(j) Limitations on Disposition. No Grantor will sell, license, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of the Collateral, or attempt or contract to do so except as not prohibited by Section 8.4 of the Revolving Credit Agreement.

(k) Further Identification of Collateral. Grantors will, if so requested by Collateral Agent, furnish to Collateral Agent, as often as Collateral Agent reasonably requests, statements and schedules further identifying and describing the Collateral and such other reports in connection with the Collateral as Collateral Agent may reasonably request, all in such detail as Collateral Agent may reasonably specify.

(l) Notices. Grantors will advise Collateral Agent promptly, in reasonable detail, of any Lien (other than Permitted Liens), or claim made or asserted against any of the Collateral.

(m) Good Standing Certificates. Upon request of Collateral Agent (not to exceed once per calendar year excluding such requests as are made after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default), each Grantor shall provide to Collateral Agent a certificate of good standing from its state of incorporation or organization.

(n) No Reincorporation. Without limiting the prohibitions on mergers involving the Grantors contained in the Revolving Credit Agreement, no Grantor shall reincorporate or reorganize itself under the laws of any jurisdiction other than the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated or organized as of the date hereof except as permitted by Section 8.3 of the Revolving Credit Agreement.

(o) Terminations; Amendments Not Authorized. Each Grantor acknowledges that it is not authorized to file any financing statement or amendment or termination statement with respect to any financing statement without the prior written consent of Collateral Agent and agrees that it will not do so without the prior written consent of Collateral Agent, subject to such Grantor’s rights under Section 9-509(d)(2) of the NY UCC.

(p) Insurance. In the event that the proceeds of any insurance claim are paid to a Grantor after the Collateral Agent has exercised its right to foreclose after an Event of Default, such proceeds of a Recovery Event shall be paid to the Collateral Agent to apply in accordance with the Revolving Credit Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement.

(q) Consents, etc. In the event that the Collateral Agent desires to exercise any remedies, voting or consensual rights or attorney-in-fact powers set forth in this Security Agreement and determines it necessary to obtain any approvals or consents of any Governmental


Authority or any other person therefor, then, upon the reasonable request of the Collateral Agent, such Grantor agrees to use its commercially reasonable best efforts to assist and aid the Collateral Agent to obtain as soon as practicable any necessary approvals or consents for the exercise of any such remedies, rights and powers.

(r) Motor Vehicles. Upon the request of the Collateral Agent, each Grantor shall deliver to the Collateral Agent originals of the certificates of title or ownership for the motor vehicles (and any other Equipment covered by certificates of title or ownership) owned by it with the Collateral Agent listed as lienholder therein; provided, that, (i) prior to the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, the Collateral Agent may make such request only with respect to motor vehicles and Equipment with a fair market value of more than $100,000 individually or to the extent that the Grantors own motor vehicles or Equipment subject to certificates of title or ownership with a fair market value of more than $1,000,000 in the aggregate and (ii) after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, the Collateral Agent may make such request regardless of the fair market value of such motor vehicles and Equipment.

(s) Contesting Claims. Each Grantor may at its own expense contest the validity, amount or applicability of any Claims so long as the contest thereof shall be conducted in accordance with, and permitted pursuant to the provisions of, the Revolving Credit Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 5(s), (i) no contest of any Claim may be pursued by such Grantor if such contest would expose the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to (A) any possible criminal liability or (B) any additional civil liability for failure to comply with such obligations unless such Grantor shall have furnished a bond or other security therefor satisfactory to the Collateral Agent or such Secured Party, as the case may be, and (ii) if at any time payment or performance of any Claim contested by such Grantor pursuant to this Section 5(s) shall become necessary to prevent the imposition of remedies because of non-payment and such remedies could reasonably be expected to have an effect on Collateral with a value in excess of $250,000, such Grantor shall pay or perform the same in sufficient time to prevent the imposition of remedies in respect of such default or prospective default.

6. COLLATERAL AGENT’S APPOINTMENT AS ATTORNEY-IN-FACT.

On the Closing Date each Grantor shall execute and deliver to Collateral Agent a power of attorney (the “Power of Attorney”) substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A. The power of attorney granted pursuant to the Power of Attorney is a power coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable until the Termination Date. The powers conferred on Collateral Agent under the Power of Attorney are solely to protect Collateral Agent’s interests in the Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon Collateral Agent to exercise any such powers. Collateral Agent agrees that (a) except for the powers granted in clause (h) of the Power of Attorney, it shall not exercise any power or authority granted under the Power of Attorney unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and (b) Collateral Agent shall account for any moneys received by Collateral Agent in respect of any foreclosure on or disposition of Collateral pursuant to the Power of Attorney provided that Collateral Agent shall have no duty as to any Collateral, and Collateral Agent shall be accountable only for amounts that it actually receives as a result of the exercise of such powers. NONE OF COLLATERAL AGENT OR ITS AFFILIATES, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS OR REPRESENTATIVES SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE TO ANY GRANTOR FOR ANY ACT OR FAILURE TO ACT


UNDER ANY POWER OF ATTORNEY OR OTHERWISE, EXCEPT IN RESPECT OF DAMAGES TO THE EXTENT ATTRIBUTABLE TO THEIR OWN GROSS NEGLIGENCE, BAD FAITH OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT AS FINALLY JUDICIALLY DETERMINED, NOR FOR ANY PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES.

7. REMEDIES; RIGHTS UPON DEFAULT.

(a) In addition to all other rights and remedies granted to it under this Security Agreement, the Revolving Credit Agreement, the other Loan Documents and under any other instrument or agreement securing, evidencing or relating to any of the Secured Obligations, if any Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, Collateral Agent may exercise all rights and remedies of a secured party under the NY UCC. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Grantor expressly agrees that if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing Collateral Agent, without demand of performance or other demand, advertisement or notice of any kind (except the notice specified below of time and place of public or private sale and except for notices required under the Loan Documents, if any) to or upon such Grantor or any other Person (all and each of which demands, advertisements and notices are hereby expressly waived to the maximum extent permitted by the NY UCC and other applicable law), may (A) forthwith enter upon the premises of such Grantor where any Collateral is located through self-help, without judicial process, without first obtaining a final judgment or giving such Grantor or any other Person notice and opportunity for a hearing on Collateral Agent’s claim or action, (B) collect, receive, assemble, process, appropriate and realize upon the Collateral, or any part thereof, and (C) forthwith sell, lease, license, assign, give an option or options to purchase, or sell or otherwise dispose of and deliver said Collateral (or contract to do so), or any part thereof, in one or more parcels at a public or private sale or sales, at any exchange at such prices as it may deem acceptable, for cash or on credit or for future delivery without assumption of any credit risk. Collateral Agent shall have the right upon any such public sale or sales and, to the extent permitted by law, upon any such private sale or sales, to purchase the whole or any part of said Collateral so sold, free of any right or equity of redemption, which equity of redemption each Grantor hereby releases. Such sales may be adjourned and continued from time to time with or without notice. Collateral Agent shall have the right to conduct such sales on any Grantor’s premises or elsewhere and shall have the right to use any Grantor’s premises without charge for such time or times as Collateral Agent deems necessary or advisable.

If any Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Grantor further agrees, at Collateral Agent’s request, to assemble the Collateral and make it available to Collateral Agent at a place or places designated by Collateral Agent which are reasonably convenient to Collateral Agent and such Grantor, whether at such Grantor’s premises or elsewhere. Until Collateral Agent is able to effect a sale, lease, or other disposition of Collateral, Collateral Agent shall have the right to hold or use Collateral, or any part thereof, to the extent that it deems appropriate for the purpose of preserving Collateral or its value or for any other purpose deemed appropriate by Collateral Agent. Collateral Agent shall have no obligation to any Grantor to maintain or preserve the rights of such Grantor as against third parties with respect to Collateral while Collateral is in the possession of Collateral Agent. Collateral Agent may, if it so elects, seek the appointment of a receiver or keeper to take possession of Collateral and to enforce any of Collateral Agent’s remedies without prior notice or hearing as to such


appointment. Collateral Agent shall apply the net proceeds of any such collection, recovery, receipt, appropriation, realization or sale to the Secured Obligations as provided in Section 10 of this Security Agreement, and only after so paying over such net proceeds, and after the payment by Collateral Agent of any other amount required by any provision of law, need Collateral Agent account for the surplus, if any, to any Grantor. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, each Grantor waives all claims, damages, and demands against Collateral Agent arising out of the repossession, retention or sale of the Collateral except such as arise solely out of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of Collateral Agent as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction. Each Grantor agrees that ten (10) days prior notice by Collateral Agent of the time and place of any public sale or of the time after which a private sale may take place is reasonable notification of such matters. Grantors shall remain liable for any deficiency if the proceeds of any sale or disposition of the Collateral are insufficient to pay all Secured Obligations, including any attorneys’ fees and other expenses incurred by Collateral Agent to collect such deficiency.

(b) Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, each Grantor hereby waives presentment, demand, protest or any notice (other than any notice required under the Loan Documents, if any) (to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law) of any kind in connection with this Security Agreement or any Collateral.

(c) Collateral Agent shall not be required to make any demand upon, or pursue or exhaust any of its rights or remedies against, any Grantor, any other obligor, guarantor, Grantor or any other Person with respect to the payment of the Secured Obligations or to pursue or exhaust any of its rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral therefor or any direct or indirect guarantee thereof. Collateral Agent shall not be required to marshal the Collateral or any guarantee of the Secured Obligations or to resort to the Collateral or any such guarantee in any particular order, and all of its rights hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be cumulative. To the extent it may lawfully do so, each Grantor absolutely and irrevocably waives and relinquishes the benefit and advantage of, and covenants not to assert against the Collateral Agent until after the Termination Date, any valuation, stay, appraisement, extension, redemption or similar laws and any and all rights or defenses it may have as a surety now or hereafter existing which, but for this provision, might be applicable to the sale of any Collateral made under the judgment, order or decree of any court, or privately under the power of sale conferred by this Security Agreement, or otherwise.

8. GRANT OF LICENSE TO USE PATENT, TRADEMARK AND COPYRIGHT COLLATERAL; CERTAIN ADDITIONAL ACTIONS REGARDING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.

(a) For the purpose of enabling Collateral Agent to exercise rights and remedies under Section 7 hereof (including, without limiting the terms of Section 7 hereof, in order to take possession of, hold, preserve, process, assemble, prepare for sale, market for sale, sell or otherwise dispose of Collateral) at such time as Collateral Agent shall be lawfully entitled to exercise such rights and remedies, each Grantor hereby grants to Collateral Agent, an irrevocable, nonexclusive license (exercisable without payment of royalty or other compensation to such Grantor) to use, license or sublicense any Patent, Trademark, trade secret or Copyright now owned or hereafter acquired by such Grantor, and wherever the same may be located, and including in such license access to all media in which any of the licensed items may be recorded or stored and to all computer software and programs used for the compilation or printout thereof. Collateral Agent agrees that it shall not exercise any power or authority granted under any such license unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.


(b) If any Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, upon the written demand of the Collateral Agent, each Grantor shall execute and deliver to the Collateral Agent an assignment or assignments of the registered Patents, Trademarks and/or Copyrights and Goodwill and such other documents as are necessary or appropriate to carry out the intent and purposes hereof. Within five (5) Business Days of written notice thereafter from the Collateral Agent, each Grantor shall make available to the Collateral Agent, to the extent within such Grantor’s power and authority, such personnel in such Grantor’s employ on the date of the Event of Default as the Collateral Agent may reasonably designate to permit such Grantor to continue, directly or indirectly, to produce, advertise and sell the products and services sold by such Grantor under the registered Patents, Trademarks and/or Copyrights, and such persons shall be available to perform their prior functions on the Collateral Agent’s behalf.

9. SECURITIES COLLATERAL; PROXY.

(a) Until the Termination Date, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default and during the continuation of such Event of Default, and concurrently with written notice to Grantors, the Collateral Agent (personally or through an agent) is hereby authorized and empowered to transfer and register in its name or in the name of its nominee the whole or any part of the Securities Collateral, to exchange certificates or instruments representing or evidencing Securities Collateral for certificates or instruments of smaller or larger denominations, to exercise the voting and all other rights as a holder with respect thereto, to collect and receive all cash dividends, interest, principal and other distributions made thereon, to exercise all remedies set forth in Section 7 or under applicable law and to otherwise act with respect to the Securities Collateral as though Collateral Agent was the outright owner thereof. EACH GRANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY CONSTITUTES AND APPOINTS COLLATERAL AGENT UNTIL THE TERMINATION DATE AND DURING THE CONTINUANCE OF AN EVENT OF DEFAULT AS THE PROXY AND ATTORNEY-IN-FACT OF SUCH GRANTOR WITH RESPECT TO THE SECURITIES COLLATERAL, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO VOTE THE PLEDGED SECURITIES, WITH FULL POWER OF SUBSTITUTION TO DO SO. THE APPOINTMENT OF COLLATERAL AGENT HEREUNDER AS PROXY AND ATTORNEY-IN-FACT IS COUPLED WITH AN INTEREST AND SHALL BE IRREVOCABLE UNTIL THE TERMINATION DATE. IN ADDITION TO THE RIGHT TO VOTE THE PLEDGED SECURITIES DURING THE CONTINUANCE OF AN EVENT OF DEFAULT, THE APPOINTMENT OF COLLATERAL AGENT AS PROXY AND ATTORNEY-IN-FACT SHALL INCLUDE THE RIGHT TO EXERCISE ALL OTHER RIGHTS, POWERS, PRIVILEGES AND REMEDIES TO WHICH A HOLDER OF THE PLEDGED SECURITIES WOULD BE ENTITLED (INCLUDING GIVING OR WITHHOLDING WRITTEN CONSENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS, CALLING SPECIAL MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS AND VOTING AT SUCH MEETINGS). SUCH PROXY SHALL BE EFFECTIVE, AUTOMATICALLY DURING THE CONTINUANCE OF AN EVENT OF DEFAULT AND WITHOUT THE NECESSITY OF ANY ACTION (INCLUDING ANY TRANSFER OF ANY PLEDGED SECURITIES ON THE RECORD BOOKS OF THE ISSUER THEREOF) BY ANY PERSON (INCLUDING THE ISSUER OF THE PLEDGED SECURITIES OR ANY OFFICER OR AGENT THEREOF), UPON THE


OCCURRENCE OF AN EVENT OF DEFAULT. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE COLLATERAL AGENT SHALL NOT HAVE ANY DUTY TO EXERCISE ANY SUCH RIGHT OR TO PRESERVE THE SAME AND SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY FAILURE TO DO SO OR FOR ANY DELAY IN DOING SO OR (ii) EXERCISE ANY POWER OR AUTHORITY GRANTED UNDER THIS CLAUSE (a) UNLESS AN EVENT OF DEFAULT HAS OCCURRED AND IS CONTINUING.

(b) If, at the original time or times appointed for the sale of the whole or any part of the Securities Collateral, the highest bid, if there be but one sale, shall be inadequate to discharge in full all the Secured Obligations, or if the Securities Collateral be offered for sale in lots, if at any of such sales, the highest bid for the lot offered for sale would indicate to the Collateral Agent, in its discretion, that the proceeds of the sales of the whole of the Securities Collateral would be unlikely to be sufficient to discharge all the Secured Obligations, the Collateral Agent may, on one or more occasions and in its discretion, postpone any of said sales by public announcement at the time of sale or the time of previous postponement of sale, and no other notice of such postponement or postponements of sale need be given, any other notice being hereby waived; provided, however, that any sale or sales made after such postponement shall be after not less than ten (10) days’ notice to such Grantor.

(c) If, at any time when the Collateral Agent in its sole discretion determines, following the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, that, in connection with any actual or contemplated exercise of its rights (when permitted under this Section 9 to sell the whole or any part of the Securities Collateral hereunder, it is necessary or advisable to effect a public registration of all or part of the Securities Collateral pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (or any similar statute then in effect) (the “Act”), such Grantor shall, in an expeditious manner, cause the Pledged Entities to:

(i) Prepare and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement with respect to the Securities Collateral and in good faith use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become and remain effective;

(ii) Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such registration statement effective and to comply with the provisions of the Act with respect to the sale or other disposition of the Securities Collateral covered by such registration statement whenever Collateral Agent shall desire to sell or otherwise dispose of the Securities Collateral;

(iii) Furnish to the Collateral Agent such numbers of copies of a prospectus and a preliminary prospectus, in conformity with the requirements of the Act, and such other documents as the Collateral Agent may request in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the Securities Collateral by the Collateral Agent;

(iv) Use commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the Securities Collateral covered by such registration statement under such other securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions within the United States and Puerto Rico as the Collateral Agent shall request, and do such other reasonable acts and things as may be required of it to enable the Collateral Agent to consummate the public sale or other disposition in such jurisdictions of the Securities Collateral by the Collateral Agent;


(v) Furnish, at the request of the Collateral Agent, on the date that Securities Collateral are delivered to the underwriters for sale pursuant to such registration or, if the security is not being sold through underwriters, on the date that the registration statement with respect to such Securities Collateral becomes effective, (A) an opinion, dated such date, of the independent counsel representing such registrant for the purposes of such registration, addressed to the underwriters, if any, and in the event the Securities Collateral are not being sold through underwriters, then to the Collateral Agent, in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in such legal opinions; and (B) a comfort letter, dated such date, from the independent certified public accountants of such registrant, addressed to the underwriters, if any, and in the event the Securities Collateral are not being sold through underwriters, then to the Collateral Agent, in a customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered by such comfort letters and as the underwriters or the Collateral Agent shall reasonably request. The opinion of counsel referred to above shall additionally cover such other legal matters with respect to the registration in respect of which such opinion is being given as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request. The letter referred to above from the independent certified public accountants shall additionally cover such other financial matters with respect to the registration in respect of which such letter is being given as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request; and

(vi) Otherwise use commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable but not later than 18 months after the effective date of the registration statement, an earnings statement covering the period of at least 12 months beginning with the first full month after the effective date of such registration statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act.

All expenses incurred in complying with Section 9(c) hereof, including, without limitation, all registration and filing fees (including all expenses incident to filing with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.), printing expenses, fees and disbursements of counsel for the registrant, the fees and expenses of counsel for the Collateral Agent, expenses of the independent certified public accountants (including any special audits incident to or required by any such registration) and expenses of complying with the securities or blue sky laws or any jurisdictions, shall be paid by such Grantor.

(d) If, at any time when the Collateral Agent shall determine to exercise its right to sell the whole or any part of the Securities Collateral hereunder, such Securities Collateral or the part thereof to be sold shall not, for any reason whatsoever, be effectively registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (or any similar statute then in effect) (the “Act”), the Collateral Agent may, in its discretion (subject only to applicable requirements of law), sell such Securities Collateral or part thereof by private sale in such manner and under such circumstances as the Collateral Agent may deem necessary or advisable, but subject to the other requirements of this Security Agreement, and shall not be required to effect such registration or to cause the same to be effected. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,


in any such event, the Collateral Agent in its discretion (x) may, in accordance with applicable securities laws, proceed to make such private sale notwithstanding that a registration statement for the purpose of registering such Securities Collateral or part thereof could be or shall have been filed under said Act (or similar statute), (y) may approach and negotiate with a single possible purchaser to effect such sale, and (z) may restrict such sale to a purchaser who is an accredited investor under the Act and who will represent and agree that such purchaser is purchasing for its own account, for investment and not with a view to the distribution or sale of such Securities Collateral or any part thereof. In addition to a private sale as provided above in this Section 9, if any of the Securities Collateral shall not be freely distributable to the public without registration under the Act (or similar statute) at the time of any proposed sale pursuant to this Article, then Collateral Agent shall not be required to effect such registration or cause the same to be effected but, in its discretion (subject only to applicable requirements of law), may require that any sale hereunder (including a sale at auction) be conducted subject to restrictions:

(i) as to the financial sophistication and ability of any Person permitted to bid or purchase at any such sale;

(ii) as to the content of legends to be placed upon any certificates representing the Securities Collateral sold in such sale, including restrictions on future transfer thereof;

(iii) as to the representations required to be made by each Person bidding or purchasing at such sale relating to that Person’s access to financial information about such Grantor and such Person’s intentions as to the holding of the Collateral so sold for investment for its own account and not with a view to the distribution thereof; and

(iv) as to such other matters as the Collateral Agent may, in its discretion, deem necessary or appropriate in order that such sale (notwithstanding any failure so to register) may be effected in compliance with the Bankruptcy Code and other laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and the Act and all applicable state securities laws.

(e) Each Grantor recognizes that the Collateral Agent may be unable to effect a public sale of any or all the Collateral and may be compelled to resort to one or more private sales thereof in accordance with clause (d) above. Each Grantor also acknowledges that any such private sale may result in prices and other terms less favorable to the seller than if such sale were a public sale and, notwithstanding such circumstances, agrees that any such private sale shall not be deemed to have been made in a commercially unreasonable manner solely by virtue of such sale being private. The Collateral Agent shall be under no obligation to delay a sale of any of the Collateral for the period of time necessary to permit the Pledged Entity to register such securities for public sale under the Act, or under applicable state securities laws, even if such Grantor and the Pledged Entity would agree to do so.

(f) Each Grantor agrees to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law that following the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default it will not at any time plead, claim or take the benefit of any appraisal, valuation, stay, extension, moratorium or redemption law now or hereafter in force in order to prevent or delay the enforcement of this Security Agreement, or the absolute sale of the whole or any part of the Collateral or the


possession thereof by any purchaser at any sale hereunder, and each Grantor waives the benefit of all such laws to the extent it lawfully may do so. Each Grantor agrees that it will not interfere with any right, power and remedy of the Collateral Agent provided for in this Security Agreement or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute or otherwise, or the exercise or beginning of the exercise by the Collateral Agent of any one or more of such rights, powers or remedies. No failure or delay on the part of the Collateral Agent to exercise any such right, power or remedy and no notice or demand which may be given to or made upon such Grantor by the Collateral Agent with respect to any such remedies shall operate as a waiver thereof, or limit or impair the Collateral Agent’s right to take any action or to exercise any power or remedy hereunder, without notice or demand, or prejudice its rights as against such Grantor in any respect.

(g) Each Grantor further agrees that a breach of any of the covenants contained in this Section 9 will cause irreparable injury to the Collateral Agent, that the Collateral Agent shall have no adequate remedy at law in respect of such breach and, as a consequence, agrees that each and every covenant contained in this Section 9 shall be specifically enforceable against such Grantor, and each Grantor hereby waives and agrees not to assert any defenses against an action for specific performance of such covenants except for a defense that the Secured Obligations are not then due and payable in accordance with the agreements and instruments governing and evidencing such obligations.

10. APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS.

(a) All moneys collected by the Collateral Agent under this Security Agreement (or, to the extent any pledge agreement requires proceeds of Collateral under such agreement to be applied in accordance with the provisions of this Security Agreement, the Collateral Agent under such other agreement) upon any sale or other disposition of the Collateral, together with all other moneys received by the Collateral Agent hereunder, shall be applied as follows:

(i) first, to the payment of all amounts owing the Collateral Agent of the type described in clauses (iii) and (iv) of the definition of “Secured Obligations” and all amounts owing to the Administrative Agent of the type described in clause first of Section 2.5(d)(i) of the Revolving Credit Agreement (regardless of whether a Bankruptcy Event then exists);

(ii) second, to the extent proceeds remain after the application pursuant to the preceding clause (i), an amount equal to the outstanding Primary Obligations shall be paid to the Secured Creditors as provided in Section 10(c) hereof, with each Secured Creditor receiving an amount equal to such outstanding Primary Obligations or, if the proceeds are insufficient to pay in full all such Primary Obligations, its Pro Rata Share of the amount remaining to be distributed;

(iii) third, to the extent proceeds remain after the application pursuant to the preceding clauses (i) and (ii), an amount equal to the outstanding Secondary Obligations shall be paid to the Secured Creditors as provided in Section 10(c), with each Secured Creditor receiving an amount equal to its outstanding Secondary Obligations or, if the proceeds are insufficient to pay in full all such Secondary Obligations, its Pro Rata Share of the amount remaining to be distributed; and


(iv) fourth, to the extent proceeds remain after the application pursuant to the preceding clauses (i) through (iii), inclusive, and following the termination of this Security Agreement pursuant to Section 17 hereof, to such Grantor or to whoever may be lawfully entitled to receive such surplus.

(b) For purposes of this Security Agreement (i) “Pro Rata Share” shall mean, when calculating a Secured Creditor’s portion of any distribution or amount, that amount (expressed as a percentage) equal to a fraction the numerator of which is the then unpaid amount of such Secured Creditor’s Primary Obligations or Secondary Obligations, as the case may be, and the denominator of which is the then outstanding amount of all Primary Obligations or Secondary Obligations, as the case may be, (ii) “Primary Obligations” shall mean (A) in the case of the Revolving Credit Agreement Obligations, all principal of, and interest on, all Loans and all unreimbursed drawings under Letters of Credit (together with all interest accrued thereon), and the aggregate undrawn face amounts of all Letters of Credit issued (or deemed issued) under the Revolving Credit Agreement and (B) in the case of the Other Obligations, all amounts due under the Approved Secured Derivative Transaction Agreements (other than indemnities, fees (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees) and similar obligations and liabilities); provided that a maximum amount of $20,000,000 of such amounts shall constitute Other Obligations; and (iii) “Secondary Obligations” shall mean all Secured Obligations other than Primary Obligations.

(c) When payments to Secured Creditors are based upon their respective Pro Rata Shares, the amounts received by such Secured Creditors hereunder shall be applied (for purposes of making determinations under this Section 10 only) (i) first, to their Primary Obligations and (ii) second, to their Secondary Obligations. If any payment to any Secured Creditor of its Pro Rata Share of any distribution would result in overpayment to such Secured Creditor, such excess amount shall instead be distributed in respect of the unpaid Primary Obligations or Secondary Obligations, as the case may be, of the other Secured Creditors, with each Secured Creditor whose Primary Obligations or Secondary Obligations, as the case may be, have not been paid in full to receive an amount equal to such excess amount multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the unpaid Primary Obligations or Secondary Obligations, as the case may be, of such Secured Creditor and the denominator of which is the unpaid Primary Obligations or Secondary Obligations, as the case may be, of all Secured Creditors entitled to such distribution.

(d) Each of the Secured Creditors agrees and acknowledges that if the Revolving Creditors are to receive a distribution on account of undrawn amounts with respect to Letters of Credit issued (or deemed issued) under the Revolving Credit Agreement (which shall only occur after all outstanding Loans and unreimbursed drawings under Letters of Credit with respect to such Letters of Credit have been paid in full), such amounts shall be paid to the Administrative Agent under the Revolving Credit Agreement and held by it, for the equal and ratable benefit of the Revolving Creditors, as cash security for the repayment of Secured Obligations owing to the Revolving Creditors as such. If any amounts are held as cash security pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, then upon the termination of the outstanding Letters of Credit, and after the application of all such cash security to the repayment of all Secured Obligations owing to the Revolving Creditors after giving effect to the termination of all such Letters of Credit, if there remains any excess cash, such excess cash shall be returned by the Administrative Agent to the Collateral Agent for distribution in accordance with Section 10 hereof.


(e) Except as set forth in Section 10 hereof, all payments required to be made hereunder shall be made (i) if to the Revolving Creditors, to the Administrative Agent under the Revolving Credit Agreement for the account of the Revolving Creditors and (ii) if to the Other Creditors, to the trustee, paying agent or other similar representative (each a “Representative”) for the Other Creditors or, in the absence of such a Representative, directly to the Other Creditors.

(f) For purposes of applying payments received in accordance with this Section 10, the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to rely upon (i) the Administrative Agent under the Revolving Credit Agreement and (ii) the Representative for the Other Creditors or, in the absence of such a Representative, upon the Other Creditors for a determination (which the Administrative Agent, each Representative for any Secured Creditors and the Secured Creditors agree (or shall agree) to provide upon request of the Collateral Agent) of the outstanding Primary Obligations and Secondary Obligations owed to the Revolving Creditors or the Other Creditors, as the case may be. Unless it has actual knowledge (including by way of written notice from a Revolving Creditor or an Other Creditor) to the contrary, the Administrative Agent and each Representative, in furnishing information pursuant to the preceding sentence, and the Collateral Agent, in acting hereunder, shall be entitled to assume that no Secondary Obligations are outstanding. Unless it has actual knowledge (including by way of written notice from an Other Creditor) to the contrary, the Collateral Agent, in acting hereunder, shall be entitled to assume that no Approved Secured Derivative Transaction Agreements are in existence.

(g) It is understood and agreed that each Grantor shall remain jointly and severally liable to the extent of any deficiency between the amount of the proceeds of the Collateral hereunder and the aggregate amount of the sums referred to in clauses (i) through (iii), inclusive, of Section 10(a) hereof.

11. LIMITATION ON COLLATERAL AGENT’S DUTY IN RESPECT OF COLLATERAL.

Collateral Agent shall use reasonable care with respect to the Collateral in its possession or under its control. Collateral Agent shall not have any other duty as to any Collateral in its possession or control or in the possession or control of any agent or nominee of Collateral Agent, or any income thereon or as to the preservation of rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining thereto.

12. REINSTATEMENT.

This Security Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective should any petition be filed by or against any Grantor for liquidation or reorganization, should any Grantor become insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of any creditor or creditors or should a receiver or trustee be appointed for all or any significant part of any Grantor’s assets, and shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment and performance of the Secured Obligations, or any part thereof, is, pursuant to


applicable law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any obligee of the Secured Obligations, whether as a “voidable preference,” “fraudulent conveyance,” or otherwise, all as though such payment or performance had not been made. In the event that any payment, or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Secured Obligations shall be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.

13. NOTICES.

Except as otherwise provided herein, whenever it is provided herein that any notice, demand, request, consent, approval, declaration or other communication shall or may be given to or served upon any of the parties by any other party, or whenever any of the parties desires to give and serve upon any other party any communication with respect to this Security Agreement, each such notice, demand, request, consent, approval, declaration or other communication shall be in writing and shall be given in the manner, and deemed received, as provided for in the Revolving Credit Agreement.

14. SEVERABILITY.

Whenever possible, each provision of this Security Agreement shall be interpreted in such a manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Security Agreement shall be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this Security Agreement. This Security Agreement is to be read, construed and applied together with the Revolving Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents which, taken together, set forth the complete understanding and agreement of Collateral Agent and Grantors with respect to the matters referred to herein and therein.

15. NO WAIVER; CUMULATIVE REMEDIES; AMENDMENT.

Collateral Agent shall not by any act, delay, omission or otherwise be deemed to have waived any of its rights or remedies hereunder. A waiver by Collateral Agent of any right or remedy hereunder on any one occasion shall not be construed as a bar to any right or remedy which Collateral Agent would otherwise have had on any future occasion. No failure to exercise nor any delay in exercising on the part of Collateral Agent, any right, power or privilege hereunder, shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or future exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies hereunder provided are cumulative and may be exercised singly or concurrently, and are not exclusive of any rights and remedies provided by law. None of the terms or provisions of this Security Agreement may be waived, altered, modified or amended except by an instrument in writing, duly executed by the Grantors and Collateral Agent (with, to the extent required by Section 12.1 of the Revolving Credit Agreement, the written consent of the Required Lenders or all the Lenders, as applicable; provided, however, that any change, waiver, modification or variance affecting the rights and benefits of a single Class of Secured Creditors (and not all Secured Creditors in a like or similar manner) shall require the written consent of the Requisite Creditors of such affected Class. For the purpose of this Agreement, the term “Class” shall mean each class of Secured Creditors, i.e., whether (i) the Revolving Creditors as holders of the Revolving Credit Agreement Obligations or


(ii) the Other Creditors as the holders of the Other Obligations; and the term “Requisite Creditors” of any Class shall mean each of (A) with respect to the Revolving Credit Agreement Obligations, the Required Lenders and (B) with respect to the Other Obligations, the holders of at least a majority of all obligations outstanding from time to time under the Approved Secured Derivative Transaction Agreements.

16. LIMITATION BY LAW.

All rights, remedies and powers provided in this Security Agreement may be exercised only to the extent that the exercise thereof does not violate any applicable provision of law, and all the provisions of this Security Agreement are intended to be subject to all applicable mandatory provisions of law that may be controlling and to be limited to the extent necessary so that they shall not render this Security Agreement invalid, unenforceable, in whole or in part, or not entitled to be recorded, registered or filed under the provisions of any applicable law.

17. RELEASE OF COLLATERAL; TERMINATION OF THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT.

(a) After the Termination Date, this Security Agreement shall automatically terminate (subject to Section 12) and the Collateral Agent, at the request and expense of the Grantors, will execute and deliver to each Grantor a proper instrument or instruments or other release (including Uniform Commercial Code termination statements on form UCC-3) acknowledging the satisfaction and termination of this Security Agreement, and will duly assign, transfer and deliver to each Grantor (without recourse and without any representation or warranty) such of the Collateral of such Grantor as has not theretofore been sold or otherwise applied or released pursuant to this Security Agreement.

(b) In the event that any part of the Collateral is sold or otherwise disposed of in connection with a sale or other disposition permitted by Section 8.4 of the Revolving Credit Agreement or is otherwise released at the direction of the Required Lenders (or all the Lenders if required by Section 12.1 of the Revolving Credit Agreement), such Collateral will be sold free and clear of the Liens created by this Security Agreement. In the event that all the Capital Stock of any Grantor shall be sold, transferred, or otherwise disposed of, in accordance with the terms of the Revolving Credit Agreement, to a person that is not a Credit Party, such Grantor shall automatically be released from its obligations hereunder and the security interest granted hereby in the Collateral of such Grantor shall be automatically released. In connection with any of the foregoing, the Collateral Agent, at the request and expense of the Grantors, will duly assign, transfer and deliver to the relevant Grantor (without recourse and without any representation or warranty) such of the Collateral as is then being (or has been) so sold or released and has not theretofore been released pursuant to this Security Agreement and such documents and instruments (including stock certificates, notes, certificates of title and UCC termination statements or partial releases on form UCC-3) as such Grantor reasonably requests to evidence such release. The Collateral Agent shall also be entitled to and is hereby authorized and directed to duly assign, transfer and deliver such of the Collateral as provided in Section 12.8(b) or (c) of the Revolving Credit Agreement.

(c) At any time that a Grantor desires that the Collateral Agent take any action to acknowledge or give effect to any release of Collateral pursuant to the foregoing Section 17(a) or (b), as the case may be, it shall deliver to the Collateral Agent a certificate signed by an Authorized Officer stating that the release of the respective Collateral is permitted pursuant to Section 17(a) or (b), as the case may be.


(d) The Collateral Agent shall have no liability whatsoever to any Secured Creditor as a result of any release of Collateral by it in accordance with this Section 17.

18. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.

This Security Agreement and all obligations of Grantors hereunder shall be binding upon the successors and assigns of each Grantor (including any debtor-in-possession on behalf of such Grantor) and shall, together with the rights and remedies of Collateral Agent hereunder, inure to the benefit of Collateral Agent, all future holders of any instrument evidencing any of the Secured Obligations and their respective successors and assigns. No sales of participations, other sales, assignments, transfers or other dispositions of any agreement governing or instrument evidencing the Secured Obligations or any portion thereof or interest therein shall in any manner affect the Lien granted to Collateral Agent hereunder. No Grantor may assign, sell, hypothecate or otherwise transfer any interest in or obligation under this Security Agreement.

19. COUNTERPARTS.

This Security Agreement may be authenticated in any number of separate counterparts, each of which shall collectively and separately constitute one and the same agreement. This Security Agreement may be authenticated by manual signature, facsimile or, if approved in writing by Collateral Agent, electronic means, all of which shall be equally valid.

20. GOVERNING LAW.

THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT MADE UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AND FOR ALL PURPOSES SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS AND DECISIONS OF SAID STATE, INCLUDING SECTIONS S-1401 AND S-1402 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW BUT EXCLUDING ALL OTHER CHOICE OF LAW AND CONFLICTS OF LAWS RULES.

21. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.

EACH OF THE PARTIES TO THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY COURT OR JURISDICTION, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THOSE REFERRED TO IN SECTION 12.10(A) OF THE REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT, IN RESPECT TO ANY MATTER ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.


22. SECTION TITLES.

The Section titles contained in this Security Agreement are and shall be without substantive meaning or content of any kind whatsoever and are not a part of the agreement between the parties hereto.

23. NO STRICT CONSTRUCTION.

The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Security Agreement. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Security Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provisions of this Security Agreement.

24. ADVICE OF COUNSEL.

Each of the parties represents to each other party hereto that it has discussed this Security Agreement and, specifically, the provisions of Section 20 and Section 21, with its counsel.

25. ADDITIONAL GRANTORS.

An additional Material Domestic Subsidiary of any Borrower may become a Grantor under this Security Agreement pursuant to the requirements of Section 7.11 of the Revolving Credit Agreement by executing and delivering to the Collateral Agent a supplement to this Security Agreement in the form of Exhibit B hereto (with only such changes thereto as are agreed to by the Collateral Agent), whereupon, without further action, approval or consent by any other Person, such Material Domestic Subsidiary shall be deemed to be a Grantor for all purposes under this Security Agreement.

26. INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT CONFLICTS.

In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Security Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement shall control.

[signature page follows]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Security Agreement to be executed and delivered by its duly authorized officer as of the date first set forth above.

 

TEXAS PETROCHEMICALS LP
By: Texas Petrochemicals Inc., its General Partner
By:    
Name:    
Title:    
TEXAS BUTYLENE CHEMICAL CORPORATION
By:    
Name:    
Title:    
TP CAPITAL CORP.
By:    
Name:     
Title:    
TEXAS OLEFINS DOMESTIC-INTERNATIONAL SALES CORPORATION
By:    
Name:    
Title:    


PORT NECHES FUELS, LLC
By:    
Name:     
Title:    
[HOUSTON FUELS, LLC]
By:    
Name:    
Title:    


DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Collateral Agent
By:    
Name:     
Title:    


SCHEDULE I

to

SECURITY AGREEMENT

FILING JURISDICTIONS

[to be completed by Grantors]


SCHEDULE II

to

SECURITY AGREEMENT

INSTRUMENTS,

CHATTEL PAPER

AND

LETTER OF CREDIT RIGHTS

[to be completed by Grantors]


SCHEDULE III

to

SECURITY AGREEMENT

SCHEDULE OF GRANTOR INFORMATION, OFFICES, LOCATIONS OF COLLATERAL

AND RECORDS CONCERNING EACH GRANTOR’S COLLATERAL

 

I.

Each Grantor’s official name:

 

II.

Prior Names, Trade Names, Other Names Used in Last 12 Months:

 

III.

Type of entity (e.g. corporation, partnership, business trust, limited partnership, limited liability company):

 

IV.

Organizational identification number issued by each Grantor’s state of incorporation or organization or a statement that no such number has been issued:

 

V.

State or Incorporation or Organization of each Grantor:

 

VI.

Chief Executive Office and principal place of business of each Grantor:

 

VII.

Corporate Offices of each Grantor:

 

VIII.

Warehouses of each Grantor:

 

IX.

Other Premises at which Collateral is Stored or Located:

 

X.

Locations of Records Concerning Collateral:

[to be completed by Grantors]


SCHEDULE IV

to

SECURITY AGREEMENT

PATENTS, TRADEMARKS AND COPYRIGHTS

[to be completed by Grantors]


SCHEDULE V

to

SECURITY AGREEMENT

COMMERCIAL TORT CLAIMS

[to be completed by Grantors]


SCHEDULE VI

to

SECURITY AGREEMENT

PLEDGED SECURITIES and PLEDGED INDEBTEDNESS


EXHIBIT A

POWER OF ATTORNEY

This Power of Attorney is executed and delivered by each of the undersigned (individually, a “Grantor” and collectively, the “Grantors”) to Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (hereinafter referred to as “Attorney”), as Collateral Agent, under a Revolving Credit Agreement and a Security Agreement, both dated as of                          , 2006, and other related documents (the “Loan Documents”). No person to whom this Power of Attorney is presented, as authority for Attorney to take any action or actions contemplated hereby, shall be required to inquire into or seek confirmation from any Grantor as to the authority of Attorney to take any action described below, or as to the existence of or fulfillment of any condition to this Power of Attorney, which is intended to grant to Attorney unconditionally the authority to take and perform the actions contemplated herein, and each Grantor irrevocably waives any right to commence any suit or action, in law or equity, against any person or entity which acts in reliance upon or acknowledges the authority granted under this Power of Attorney. The power of attorney granted hereby is coupled with an interest, and may not be revoked or canceled by any Grantor without Attorney’s written consent.

Each Grantor hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints Attorney (and all officers, employees or agents designated by Attorney), with full power of substitution, as such Grantor’s true and lawful attorney-in-fact with full irrevocable power and authority in the place and stead of such Grantor and in the name of such Grantor or in its own name, from time to time in Attorney’s discretion, to take any and all appropriate action and to execute and deliver any and all documents and instruments which may be necessary or desirable to accomplish the purposes of the Loan Documents and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Grantor hereby grants to Attorney the power and right, on behalf of such Grantor, without notice to or assent by such Grantor, and at any time, to do the following: (a) change the mailing address of such Grantor, open a post office box on behalf of such Grantor, open mail for such Grantor, and ask, demand, collect, give acquittances and receipts for, take possession of, endorse any invoices, freight or express bills, bills of lading, storage or warehouse receipts, drafts against debtors, assignments, verifications, and notices in connection with any property of such Grantor; (b) effect any repairs to any asset of such Grantor, or continue or obtain any insurance and pay all or any part of the premiums therefor and costs thereof, and make, settle and adjust all claims under such policies of insurance, and make all determinations and decisions with respect to such policies; (c) pay or discharge any taxes, liens, security interests, or other encumbrances levied or placed on or threatened against such Grantor or its property; (d) defend any suit, action or proceeding brought against such Grantor if such Grantor does not defend such suit, action or proceeding or if Attorney believes that such Grantor is not pursuing such defense in a manner that will maximize the recovery to Attorney, and settle, compromise or adjust any suit, action, or proceeding described above and, in connection therewith, give such discharges or releases as Attorney may deem appropriate; (e) file or prosecute any claim, litigation, suit or proceeding in any court of competent jurisdiction or before any arbitrator, or take any other action otherwise deemed appropriate by Attorney for the purpose of collecting any and all such moneys due to such Grantor whenever payable and to enforce any other right in respect of such Grantor’s property; (f) cause the certified public accountants then engaged by such Grantor to prepare and deliver to Attorney at any time and from time to time, promptly upon Attorney’s request, the


following reports: (1) a reconciliation of all accounts, (2) an aging of all accounts, (3) trial balances, (4) test verifications of such accounts as Attorney may request, and (5) the results of each physical verification of inventory; (g) communicate in its own name with any party to any Contract with regard to the assignment of the right, title and interest of such Grantor in and under the Contracts and other matters relating thereto; (h) to file such financing statements with respect to the Security Agreement, with or without such Grantor’s signature, or to file a photocopy of the Security Agreement in substitution for a financing statement, as the Collateral Agent may deem appropriate and to execute in such Grantor’s name such financing statements and amendments thereto and continuation statements which may require such Grantor’s signature; and (i) execute, in connection with any sale provided for in any Loan Document, any endorsements, assignments or other instruments of conveyance or transfer with respect to the Collateral and to otherwise direct such sale or resale, all as though Attorney were the absolute owner of the property of such Grantor for all purposes, and to do, at Attorney’s option and such Grantor’s expense, at any time or from time to time, all acts and other things that Attorney reasonably deems necessary to perfect, preserve, or realize upon such Grantor’s property or assets and Attorney’s Liens thereon, all as fully and effectively as such Grantor might do. Each Grantor hereby ratifies, to the extent permitted by law, all that said Attorney shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Power of Attorney is executed by the Grantors, and each Grantor has caused its seal to be affixed pursuant to the authority of its board of directors this              day of                         .

 

GRANTOR:

By:

   

Title: 

   

[LIST EACH GRANTOR]


NOTARY PUBLIC CERTIFICATE

On this              day of                     , 200    , [officer’s name] who is personally known to me appeared before me in his/her capacity as the [title] of [Grantor] (“Grantor”) and executed on behalf of Grantor the Power of Attorney in favor of Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas to which this Certificate is attached.

 

 

Notary Public

]


EXHIBIT B

to

SECURITY AGREEMENT

FORM OF SUPPLEMENT TO

SECURITY AGREEMENT

THIS SUPPLEMENT NO.                      dated as of                          (this “Supplement”) to the Security Agreement (as defined below) is made by                                         , a                                          (“New Grantor”), in favor of the Collateral Agent (as defined in the Security Agreement).

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, TEXAS PETROCHEMICALS LP, a Texas limited partnership (“Company”), Texas Butylene Chemical Corporation, a Texas corporation (“Texas Butylene”) and together with Company, the “Borrowers”), is a party to that certain Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of June     , 2006 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Revolving Credit Agreement”), with Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Administrative Agent and as Collateral Agent, and the Lenders identified therein;

WHEREAS, New Grantor is a Material Domestic Subsidiary under the Revolving Credit Agreement;

WHEREAS, as a condition precedent to their entering into the Revolving Credit Agreement, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders thereunder required Company and each of its Domestic Subsidiaries to execute and deliver that certain Security Agreement dated as of June     , 2006 (as heretofore or hereafter amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Security Agreement”);

WHEREAS, Borrowers and New Grantor are engaged in related businesses, and New Grantor will derive substantial direct and indirect benefit from the making of Extensions of Credit (as defined in the Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement);

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 7.11 of the Revolving Credit Agreement, Borrowers are required to cause each Material Domestic Subsidiary that was not in existence (or not such a Subsidiary) on the date of the Revolving Credit Agreement to become a Guarantor under the Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement; and

WHEREAS, Section 25 of the Security Agreement provides that additional Material Domestic Subsidiaries of the Company may become Grantors under the Security Agreement by execution and delivery of an instrument in the form of this Supplement.


NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and to induce the Lenders to continue to make Extensions of Credit (as defined in the Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement), New Grantor hereby agrees as follows:

Section 1 Definitions. Each capitalized term used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreement or, if not defined herein or in the Security Agreement, in the Revolving Credit Agreement.

Section 2 Grantor Obligations. In accordance with Section 25 of the Security Agreement, New Grantor, by its execution and delivery of this Supplement, hereby becomes a Grantor under the Security Agreement for all purposes thereunder with the same force and effect as if originally named therein as a Grantor, without further action, approval or consent by any other Person, and New Grantor hereby (a) agrees to all the terms and provisions of the Security Agreement applicable to it as a Grantor thereunder and (b) represents and warrants that the representations and warranties deemed to be made by it as a Grantor thereunder are true and correct on and as of the date hereof. Each reference to a “Grantor” in the Security Agreement shall be deemed for all purposes to include New Grantor. All of the terms of the Security Agreement are hereby incorporated in their entirety.

Section 3 Schedules. The information contained on the Schedules to this Supplement shall be deemed to be part of the corresponding Schedules to the Security Agreement.

Section 4 Representations and Warranties. New Grantor represents and warrants to the Collateral Agent that this Supplement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by it and is its legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

Section 5 Counterparts. This Supplement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the different parties hereto on separate counterparts, each of which counterparts, when so executed and delivered, shall be deemed to be an original and all of which counterparts, taken together, shall constitute but one and the same Supplement.

Section 6 Full Force and Effect. Except as expressly supplemented hereby, the Security Agreement remains in full force and effect.

Section 7 GOVERNING LAW. THIS SUPPLEMENT SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT MADE UNDER THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AND FOR ALL PURPOSES BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH LAWS OF SAID STATE, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICT OF LAWS.

Section 8 Enforceability. Any provision of this Supplement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction. If this Supplement would be held or determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a judicial proceeding to be void, voidable, invalid or unenforceable on account of the amount of the aggregate liability of New Grantor under the Security Agreement or by reason of any inconsistent contractual provision binding on New Grantor and in effect on or prior to the date hereof, then, notwithstanding any other provision of this Supplement or the Security Agreement


to the contrary, the aggregate amount of the liability of New Grantor under the Security Agreement shall, without any further action by any Grantor, the Collateral Agent or any other Person, be automatically limited and reduced to the maximum amount which is valid and enforceable.

Section 9 Fees. New Grantor agrees to reimburse the Collateral Agent for their respective reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable attorney costs) incurred in connection with the preparation, execution and delivery of this Supplement.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the New Grantor his caused this Supplement No.                      to the Security Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by its properly and duly authorized officer as of the date first written above.

 

[NEW GRANTOR]

By:

   

Name:

   

Title:

   

Notice Address:

 
 
 

Acknowledged and Agreed to:

 

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Collateral Agent

By:

   

Name:

   

Title:

   

Notice Address:

 

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas

90 Hudson Street, 1st Floor

Jersey City, New Jersey 07302

Mail Stop JYC05-0199

Attention: Peter J. Medina

Tel. No.: [            ]

Telecopier No.: [            ]

[CONFIRM ADDRESS]


EXHIBIT C

PLEDGE AMENDMENT

This Pledge Amendment, dated                     ,      is delivered pursuant to Section 5(f)(i) of the Security Agreement referred to below. All defined terms herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto or incorporated by reference in the Security Agreement. The undersigned hereby certifies that the representations and warranties in Section 4 of the Security Agreement are and continue to be true and correct, both as to the promissory notes, instruments and Capital Stock pledged prior to this Pledge Amendment and as to the promissory notes, instruments and Capital Stock pledged pursuant to this Pledge Amendment. The undersigned further agrees that this Pledge Amendment may be attached to that certain Security Agreement, dated June     , 2006, between undersigned, as Grantor, the other Grantors party thereto and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Collateral Agent, (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Security Agreement”) and that the Pledged Securities and Pledged Indebtedness listed on this Pledge Amendment shall be and become a part of the Collateral referred to in said Security Agreement and shall secure all Secured Obligations referred to in said Security Agreement. The undersigned acknowledges that any promissory notes, instruments or shares not included in the Collateral at the discretion of Collateral Agent may not otherwise be pledged by Pledgor to any other Person or otherwise used as security for any obligations other than the Secured Obligations and the other obligations secured by Permitted Liens.

 

 

By:

   

Name:

   

Title:

   

 

Name and

Address of Grantor

 

Pledged Entity

 

Class

of Stock

 

Certificate

Number(s)

 

Number

of Shares

       
       
       

Pledged Entity

 

Initial

Principal Amount

 

Issue Date

 

Maturity Date

 

Interest

Rate

       
       
       


EXHIBIT D

COPYRIGHT SECURITY AGREEMENT


EXHIBIT E

PATENT AND TRADEMARK SECURITY AGREEMENT


EXHIBIT 5.12(b)(i)

FORM OF PERFECTION CERTIFICATE

The undersigned, the                          of, a [corporation/limited liability company/limited partnership] (the “Company”), hereby certifies as follows on behalf of the Company:

1. Names. (a) The exact name of the Company as that name appears on its Certificate of Incorporation, Certificate of Limited Partnership or Limited Liability Company Certificate, as applicable, is as follows:

_______________________________________

Source: UCC §503(a)(i)

(b) The following is a list of all other names (including trade names or similar appellations) used by the Company, or any other business or organization to which the Company became the successor by merger, consolidation, acquisition, change in form, nature or jurisdiction of organization or otherwise, now or at any time during the past five years:

_______________________________________

Source:     UCC §9-507

(c) The following is the Company’s federal employer identification number:

        -                        

(d) The following is the Company’s corporation identification number or other applicable formation identification number.

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

Source: UCC §9-516(b)(5)

2. Current Locations. (a) The chief executive office and principal mailing address of the Company is:

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

Source: UCC §§9-516(b)(5), 9-301


(b) The following are all other locations in the United States of America in which the Company maintains any books or records relating to any of the Collateral consisting of accounts, contract rights, chattel paper, general intangibles or mobile goods:

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

Source:     UCC §§9-516(b)(5), 9-301

(c) The following are all other places of business of the Company in the United States of America:

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

Source:     UCC §9-301, 9-501

(d) The following are all other locations in the United States of America where any of the Collateral consisting of inventory or equipment is located:

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

Source:     UCC §9-301, 9-501

(e) The following is a list of all owned and leased real property held by the Company:

Owned Property

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

Leased Property

_______________________________________

_______________________________________


(f) The following are the names and addresses of all persons or entities other than the Company, such as lessees, consignees, warehousemen or purchasers of chattel paper, which have possession or are intended to have possession of any of the Collateral consisting of chattel paper, inventory or equipment:

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

Source:     UCC §§9-301 and 9-312; see also UCC §§2-326(3), 9-306, 9-330 and 9-505

3. Prior Locations. (a) Set forth below is the information required by subparagraphs (a)-(e) of §2 with respect to each location at which, or other person or entity with which, any of the Collateral has been previously held or any place of business previously maintained by the Company, in each case, at any time during the past twelve months:

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

Source:     UCC §§9-316

4. Fixtures. Set forth below is the information required by UCC §9-502(b)(3) and (b)(4) of each state in which any of the Collateral consisting of fixtures are or are to be located and the name and address of each real estate recording office where a mortgage on the real estate on which such fixtures are or are to be located would be recorded:

_______________________________________

_______________________________________

Source:     UCC §§9-501(a) and 9-502

5. Intellectual Property. The following is a complete list of all patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade names and service marks registered or for which applications are pending in the name of the Company:

 

 

UNITED STATES:

     

a.

 

Patents

  

Registration Number

  
 

____________________________________________________________

  

b.

 

Copyrights

  

Registration Number

  
 

____________________________________________________________

  


c.

 

Trademarks, Trade Name

and Service Marks

  

Registration Number

  
 

____________________________________________________________

  

FOREIGN:

  

a.

 

Patents

  

Registration Number

  
       
           

b.

 

Copyrights

  

Registration Number

  
       
           

c.

 

Trademarks, Trade Name

and Service Marks

  

Registration Number

  
       
           

6. Investment Property: Instruments. The following is a complete list of all stock, bonds, debentures, notes, commodity contracts and other securities owned by the Company (provide name of issuer, a description of security and, except with respect to Subsidiaries, value) and all securities accounts and commodity accounts owned by the Company (provide name of intermediary and, except with respect to Subsidiaries, value):

________________________________________________________________

7. Motor Vehicles. The following is a complete list of all motor vehicles owned by the Company (describe each vehicle by make, model, and year and indicate for each the state in which registered and the state in which based) with fair market value in excess of $30,000:

________________________________________________________________

8. Vessels. The following is a complete list of all vessels of the Company which are subject to any certificate of title or other registration statute of the United States, any state or any other jurisdiction:

________________________________________________________________

9. Other Titled Collateral. The following is a complete list of all aircraft and all other inventory, equipment and other goods of the Company which are subject to any certificate of title or other registration statute of the United States, any state or any other jurisdiction with a fair market value in excess of $30,000 (provide description of covered goods and indicate registration system and jurisdiction):

________________________________________________________________


10. Deposit Accounts. The following is a complete list of all Deposit accounts maintained by the Company (provide name and address of depository bank, type of account and account number):

________________________________________________________________

11. Commercial Tort Claims. The following is a complete list of claims arising in tort with respect to which the Company is claimant and which arose in the course of the Company’s business; together with case file numbers or other identification of such claim:

________________________________________________________________

Source:     UCC §§9-102(a)(13), 9-108, 9-504

12. Unusual Transactions. All of the Collateral has been originated by the Company in the ordinary course of the Company’s business or consists of goods which have been acquired by the Company in the ordinary course from a person in the business of selling goods of that kind, except for the following Collateral which was obtained outside the ordinary course of business, including, but not limited to, transactions involving bulk transfers:

________________________________________________________________

Source:     UCC §§1-201(9)

13. Timber. The following are all of the locations in the United States of America in which the Company possesses any timber to be cut:

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

Source:     UCC §9-301(3)(B) and Official Comment 5(c) to 9-301.

14. Extracted Collateral. The following are all of the locations in the United States of America in which the Company possesses any wellhead or minehead used in the extraction of minerals:

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

Source:     UCC §9-301(4) and Official Comment 5(d) to 9-301.


15. Farm Products. The following are all of the locations in the United States of America in which the Company possesses any farm products as defined in UCC §9-102(34):

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

Source:     UCC §9-302.

16. Authorization. The undersigned hereby irrevocably authorizes Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as administrative agent (the “Secured Party”) at any time (including, without limitation, any time prior to the execution of a definitive security agreement) and from time to time to file in any filing office in any jurisdiction any initial financing statements and amendments thereto and hereby ratifies its authorization for the Secured Party to have filed in any jurisdiction any initial financing statements or amendments thereto if filed prior to the date hereof.

[signature page follows]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certificate as of                          , 2006.

 

[NAME OF ENTITY]

By:    
 

Name:

 

Title:


EXHIBIT 5.1(f)(iv)

FORM OF INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT

(See attached.)


INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT

THIS INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of June 27, 2006, by and among (i) Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, acting in its capacity as Administrative Agent under the Revolving Credit Agreement (as hereinafter defined) (together with its successors and assigns in such capacity, the “Revolver Administrative Agent”), (ii) Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, acting in its capacity as agent under the Revolver Security Agreement (as hereinafter defined) for and on behalf of itself and the Revolver Secured Creditors (together with its successors and assigns in such capacity, the “Revolver Collateral Agent”), (iii) Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, acting in its capacity as Administrative Agent under the Term Loan Agreement (as hereinafter defined) (together with its successors and assigns in such capacity, the “Term Administrative Agent”), (iv) Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, acting in its capacity as collateral agent under the Term Security Agreement (as hereinafter defined) for and on behalf of itself and the Term Secured Creditors (together with its successors and assigns in such capacity, the “Term Collateral Agent”), (v) Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, acting on behalf of, and as beneficiary for the benefit of, itself and the Term Secured Creditors under the Mortgages (as hereinafter defined) (together with its successors and assigns in such capacity, the “Mortgagee”), and is acknowledged and consented to by Texas Petrochemicals L.P., a Texas limited partnership (“Company”) on its own behalf and on behalf of its subsidiaries listed on Annex 1 hereto.

R E C I T A L S

WHEREAS, contemporaneously herewith, in order to secure the Revolver Secured Obligations (as defined herein), Company, certain subsidiaries of Company parties thereto and the Revolver Collateral Agent are entering into a Security Agreement (as amended, replaced, modified, extended, renewed, supplemented or restated (in connection with a Refinancing or otherwise) or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Revolver Security Agreement”);

WHEREAS, contemporaneously herewith, in order to secure the Term Secured Obligations (as defined herein), Company, certain subsidiaries of Company parties thereto and the Term Collateral Agent are entering into a Security Agreement (as amended, replaced, modified, extended, renewed, supplemented or restated (in connection with a Refinancing or otherwise) or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Term Security Agreement”; and, together with the Revolver Security Agreement, the “Security Agreements”);

WHEREAS, contemporaneously herewith, Company and certain subsidiaries of Company are granting certain mortgages to secure the Obligations (as defined herein); and

WHEREAS, the Collateral Agents (as defined herein), the Administrative Agents (as defined herein), the Mortgagee and Company desire to enter into this Intercreditor Agreement for the purpose of setting forth the rights and obligations of the Collateral Agents and the respective secured parties with respect to the Collateral.


NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

Section 1. Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings (all such meanings to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):

Assignor” shall mean any Assignor (as defined in the Revolver Security Agreement) or any Assignor (as defined in the Term Security Agreement).

Administrative Agents” shall mean the Revolver Administrative Agent and the Term Administrative Agent.

Bankruptcy Code” shall mean the provisions of Title 11 of the United States Code, 11 U.S.C. 101 et seq. or any other applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws.

Bankruptcy Event” shall have the meaning provided in the Revolving Credit Agreement.

Bankruptcy Proceeding” shall mean, with respect to any person, any proceeding commenced, without the application or consent of such person, in any court, seeking the liquidation, reorganization, debt arrangement, dissolution, winding up, or composition or readjustment of debts of such person, the appointment of a trustee, receiver, custodian, liquidator, assignee, sequestrator or the like for such person or any substantial part of its assets, or any similar action with respect to such person under any law (foreign or domestic) relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, winding up or composition or adjustment of debts or any voluntary case or other proceeding under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, debt arrangement, dissolution or other similar law now or hereafter in effect.

Company” shall have the meaning provided in the first paragraph of this Agreement.

Collateral” shall mean the property from time to time consisting of Collateral (as defined in the Revolver Security Agreement), Collateral (as defined in the Term Security Agreement), the Mortgaged Property (as defined in the Mortgages) and any other property from time to time pledged pursuant to any Revolver Security Document or Term Security Document.

Collateral Agents” shall mean the Revolver Collateral Agent, the Term Collateral Agent and the Mortgagee.

Credit Agreement Obligations” shall mean the Revolver Obligations and the Term Obligations.

Credit Agreements” shall mean the Revolving Credit Agreement and the Term Loan Agreement.


Credit Documents” shall mean, collectively, the Revolver Loan Documents and the Term Loan Documents, or any of the foregoing.

Credit Party” shall mean any Credit Party (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement) or any Credit Party (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement). The term “Credit Parties” shall have a correlative meaning.

DBTCA” shall have the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.

First Priority Collateral” shall mean the Term First Priority Collateral or Revolver First Priority Collateral, as applicable.

Fully Paid” shall mean, with respect to any Obligation, that the respective obligee of such Obligation (which obligee shall, (i) in the case of the Revolver Obligations, be the Revolver Administrative Agent; and (ii) in the case of the Term Obligations, be the Term Administrative Agent), shall have certified to the respective Collateral Agent that such Obligation has terminated and that there remain no obligations of any kind whatsoever of the Company or any Credit Party with respect thereto (other than contingent indemnification obligations as to which no claims shall have accrued or be pending).

Lender” shall mean any Lender (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement) or any Lender (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement), in each case together with their respective successors and assigns in such capacity.

Liens” shall mean Liens (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement) and/or Liens (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement), as the context shall require.

Mortgagee” shall have the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.

Mortgages” shall mean Mortgages (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement) and Mortgages (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement), as the context shall require.

Obligations” shall mean, collectively, the Revolver Secured Obligations and the Term Secured Obligations. “Obligation” means any Revolver Secured Obligation or Term Secured Obligation, as the context shall require.

Refinance” shall mean, with respect to any Obligation, to refinance, extend, renew, repay, prepay, redeem, defease or retire, or to issue indebtedness in exchange or replacement for, such Obligation. “Refinancing” has a correlative meaning.

Revolver Administrative Agent” shall have the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.

Revolver Agent” shall mean the Revolver Administrative Agent and/or the Revolver Collateral Agent, as the case may be.


Revolver Collateral Agent” shall have the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.

Revolver First Priority Collateral” shall mean all Collateral other than the Term First Priority Collateral.

Revolver Loan Documents” shall mean the Loan Documents (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement) and all other documents, instruments and agreements now or hereafter evidencing or securing the whole or any part of the Revolver Obligations (including, without limitation, each of the loan documents as defined in any principal agreement evidencing Revolver Obligations, including any documents evidencing or securing any complete, partial or successive refunding, Refinancing or replacement of the Revolver Obligations or successive refunding, Refinancing or replacement, together with any amendments, replacements, modifications, extensions, renewals or supplements to, or restatements of, any of the foregoing).

Revolver Obligations” shall mean Obligations (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement), together with any obligations incurred to evidence any refunding, Refinancing, replacement or successive refunding, Refinancing or replacement thereof.

Revolver Second Priority Collateral” shall mean the Term First Priority Collateral.

Revolver Secured Creditors” shall mean all holders of the Revolver Secured Obligations.

Revolver Secured Obligations” shall mean the Secured Obligations (as defined in the Revolver Security Agreement), together with any obligations incurred to evidence any refunding, Refinancing, replacement or successive refunding, Refinancing or replacement thereof.

Revolver Security Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereto.

Revolver Security Documents” shall mean the Revolver Security Agreement and all other Security Documents (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement).

Revolving Credit Agreement” shall mean that certain Revolving Credit Agreement by and among Company, the other borrowers parties thereto, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as administrative agent and collateral agent, and the lenders parties thereto, together with any agreement or agreements from time to time executed by Company to evidence any refunding, Refinancing, replacement or successive refunding, Refinancing or replacement of all or any part of the Revolver Obligations (including any increase in the principal amount thereof to the extent permitted by the terms of the Term Loan Agreement), together with any amendments, replacements, modifications, extensions, renewals or supplements to, or restatements of, any of the foregoing.

Second Priority Collateral” shall mean the Term Second Priority Collateral or Revolver Second Priority Collateral, as applicable.


Secured Creditors” shall mean, collectively, the Revolver Secured Creditors and the Term Secured Creditors.

Security Agreements” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereto.

Security Documents” shall mean the Security Documents (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement) and the Security Documents (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement).

Term Administrative Agent” shall have the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.

Term Agent” shall mean the Term Administrative Agent and/or the Term Collateral Agent, as the case may be.

Term Collateral Agent” shall have the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.

Term Loan Agreement” shall mean that certain Term Loan Agreement by and among Company, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as administrative agent, and the lenders parties thereto, together with any agreement or agreements from time to time executed by Company to evidence any refunding, Refinancing, replacement or successive refunding, Refinancing or replacement of all or any part of the Term Obligations (including any increase in the principal amount thereof to the extent permitted by the Revolving Credit Agreement), together with any amendments, replacements, modifications, extensions, renewals, supplements to, or restatements of, any of the foregoing.

Term First Priority Collateral” shall mean all Collateral referenced in Annex II.

Term Loan Documents” shall mean the Loan Documents (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement) and all other documents, instruments and agreements now or hereafter evidencing or securing the whole or any part of the Term Obligations (including, without limitation, each of the loan documents as defined in any principal agreement evidencing Term Obligations, including any documents evidencing or securing any complete, partial or successive refunding, Refinancing or replacement of the Term Obligations or successive refunding, Refinancing or replacement, together with any amendments, replacements, modifications, extensions, renewals or supplements to, or restatements of, any of the foregoing).

Term Obligations” shall mean Obligations (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement), together with any obligations incurred to evidence any refunding, Refinancing, replacement or successive refunding, Refinancing or replacement thereof.

Term Second Priority Collateral” shall mean the Revolver First Priority Collateral.

Term Secured Creditors” shall mean all holders of the Term Secured Obligations.


Term Secured Obligations” shall mean the Secured Obligations (as defined in the Term Security Agreement), together with any obligations incurred to evidence any refunding, Refinancing or replacement or successive refunding, Refinancing or replacement thereof.

Term Security Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereto.

Term Security Documents” shall mean the Term Security Agreement and all other Security Documents (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement).

Uniform Commercial Code” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the relevant jurisdiction.

Section 2. Lien Priorities.

(a) (i) The parties hereto hereby agree that, notwithstanding the time, order or method of creation, attachment or perfection of the respective security interests and/or Liens granted in favor of the Collateral Agents to secure the Obligations or the filing or recording of financing statements or other Security Documents; the validity or enforceability of the security interests and Liens granted in favor of the Collateral Agents or the Revolver Secured Creditors or the Term Secured Creditors; the dating, execution or delivery of any agreement, document or instrument granting any Collateral Agent or Secured Creditor security interests and/or Liens in or on any or all of the property or assets of any pledgor; the date on which any indebtedness is extended; the giving or failure to give notice of the acquisition or expected acquisition of any purchase money or other security interest; any provision of the Uniform Commercial Code, including any rule for determining priority thereunder or under any other law or rule governing the relative priorities of secured creditors, including with respect to real property or fixtures; any provision set forth in any Credit Document; or the possession or control by any Collateral Agent or Secured Creditor or any bailee of all or any part of any Collateral as of the date hereof or otherwise, (w) the Liens granted on the Revolver First Priority Collateral under the Revolver Security Documents to secure the Revolver Secured Obligations shall be a first and prior security interest for all purposes in such Revolver First Priority Collateral, (x) the Liens granted on the Term First Priority Collateral under the Term Security Documents to secure the Term Secured Obligations shall be a first and prior security interest for all purposes in such Term First Priority Collateral, (y) the Liens granted on the Revolver First Priority Collateral under the Term Security Documents to secure the Term Secured Obligations shall be second and subordinated to the Liens granted under the Revolver Security Documents on the Revolver First Priority Collateral and (z) and the Liens granted on the Term First Priority Collateral under the Revolver Security Documents to secure the Revolver Secured Obligations shall be second and subordinated to the Liens granted under the Term Security Documents on the Term First Priority Collateral.


(ii) Notwithstanding the terms of any Credit Documents, in the event of any enforcement of any Liens or in connection with a Bankruptcy Proceeding, all proceeds of Collateral, including the proceeds of any collection, sale or disposition of the Collateral or any portion thereof in connection with the exercise of remedies under the Security Documents or otherwise and any proceeds or recoveries under any title insurance policy(ies) insuring any Mortgage, shall be distributed in accordance with the following procedure:

 

  (x)

Such proceeds of the Revolver First Priority Collateral shall be applied first to the Revolver Secured Obligations (including, without limitation, all interest thereon accruing subsequent to the filing of a bankruptcy case (or that would accrue but for such filing) at the rate provided for in the Revolving Credit Agreement, whether or not such interest is an allowed claim under applicable law) in accordance with Section 8.4 of the Revolver Security Agreement and, after the Revolver Secured Obligations have been Fully Paid, shall be applied to the Term Secured Obligations in accordance with Section 8.4 of the Term Security Agreement;

 

  (y)

Such proceeds of the Term First Priority Collateral shall be applied first to the Term Secured Obligations (including, without limitation, all interest thereon accruing subsequent to the filing of a bankruptcy case (or that would accrue but for such filing) at the rate provided for in the Term Loan Agreement, whether or not such interest is an allowed claim under applicable law) in accordance with Section 8.4 of the Term Security Agreement; and, after the Term Secured Obligations have been Fully Paid, shall be applied to the Revolver Secured Obligations in accordance with Section 8.4 of the Revolver Security Agreement; and

 

  (z)

In the event that any Collateral Agent receives the proceeds of any Collateral in contravention of the preceding paragraphs (x) and (y), it shall hold such proceeds in trust for, and promptly turn over such proceeds (in the same form as received, with any necessary non-recourse endorsement) to the proper Collateral Agent in accordance with the provisions of clause (x) and (y) above; provided, however, that in the event any Collateral Agent fails to provide any such endorsement, the applicable Collateral Agent, or any of its officers or employees, is hereby irrevocably authorized to make the same (which authorization, being coupled with an interest, is irrevocable).

(iii) For the avoidance of doubt, it is understood and agreed that the Revolver Collateral Agent may apply proceeds held in the Depository Account (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement), the Investment Account (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement), the Concentration Account (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement) and any Deposit Account (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement) pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of the Revolving Credit Agreement, and that the mandatory prepayments provided for in Sections 2.4 and 2.5(c) of the Revolving Credit Agreement and Section 4.4 of the Term Loan Agreement may be applied in a manner consistent with the terms of such respective agreements.


(iv) Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that the Lien priorities provided in this Agreement shall not be affected or impaired in any manner whatsoever, including, without limitation, on account of (i) the invalidity, irregularity or unenforceability of all or any part of the Credit Documents; (ii) any amendment, change or modification of any Credit Document, or (iii) any impairment, modification, change, exchange, release or subordination of or limitation on, any liability of, or stay of actions or lien enforcement proceedings against, any Credit Party, its property, or its estate in bankruptcy resulting from any bankruptcy, arrangement, readjustment, composition, liquidation, rehabilitation, similar proceeding or otherwise involving or affecting any Credit Party.

(v) The parties hereto shall not challenge or question (or support any other person in challenging or questioning) in any proceeding (including, without limitation, any Bankruptcy Proceeding) the validity, extent, perfection, priority or enforceability of this Agreement, as a whole, or any term or provision contained herein or the validity or enforceability of any Lien, Mortgage or financing statement in favor of any Collateral Agent or the relative priority of any such Lien or Mortgage.

(b) Each Collateral Agent hereby appoints each other as agent for purposes of perfecting its respective security interests, Liens and claims in the Collateral (in each case, whether such Collateral was delivered to the Revolver Collateral Agent, the Term Collateral Agent or the Mortgagee, as the case may be, prior to, on or after the date hereof), in each case to the extent that such perfection may be obtained by possession or control and hereby acknowledges that it holds possession of such Collateral, including, without limitation, any instruments, for the benefit of the other Collateral Agents. On the date on which the Revolver Secured Obligations are Fully Paid, the Revolver Collateral Agent shall deliver or cause to be delivered any Collateral in its possession or control to the Term Collateral Agent. On the date on which the Term Secured Obligations are Fully Paid, the Term Collateral Agent shall deliver or cause to be delivered any Collateral in its possession or control to the Revolver Collateral Agent.

(c) The Term Collateral Agent, for itself and each Term Secured Creditor, hereby waives any requirement on the part of the Revolver Collateral Agent or the Revolver Secured Creditors in respect of marshalling of assets constituting Revolver First Priority Collateral upon any exercise of remedies by the Revolver Collateral Agent or the Revolver Secured Creditors and, except as expressly set forth herein, any requirement that the Revolver Collateral Agent or any Revolver Secured Creditor exercise remedies with respect to collateral security for the Revolver Secured Obligations in any particular order or any particular manner. The Revolver Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and each Revolver Secured Creditor, hereby waives any requirement on the part of the Term Collateral Agent or the Term Secured Creditors in respect of marshalling of assets constituting Term First Priority Collateral upon any exercise of remedies by the Term Collateral Agent or the Term Secured Creditors and, except as expressly set forth herein, any requirement that the Term Collateral Agent or any Term Secured Creditor exercise remedies with respect to collateral security for the Term Secured Obligations in any particular order or any particular manner.


(d) Prior to the commencement of any Bankruptcy Proceeding by or against one or more of the Company or any other Credit Party, the parties hereto agree that neither the Company nor any other Credit Party shall:

(i) grant or permit any additional Liens on any asset or property to secure any Term Obligation unless it has granted or concurrently grants a Lien on such asset or property to secure the Revolver Obligations; or

(ii) grant or permit any additional Liens on any asset or property to secure any Revolver Obligation unless it has granted or concurrently grants a Lien on such asset or property to secure the Term Obligations.

To the extent any additional Liens are granted or any asset or property pursuant to this Section 2(d), the priority of such additional Liens shall be determined in accordance with Section 2(a). In addition, to the extent that the foregoing provisions are not complied with for any reason, without limiting any other rights and remedies available hereunder, the Revolver Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Revolver Secured Creditors and the Term Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Term Secured Creditors, agree that any amounts received by or distributed to any of them pursuant to or as a result of Liens granted in contravention of this Section 2(d) shall be subject to Section 2(a)(ii)(2).

(e) Nothing in this Agreement shall relieve any Assignor from the performance of any term, covenant, condition or agreement on such Assignor’s part to be performed or observed under or in respect of any of the Collateral pledged by it or from any liability to any Person under or in respect of any of such Collateral or impose any obligation on any Collateral Agent to perform or observe any such term, covenant, condition or agreement on such Assignor’s part to be so performed or observed or impose any liability on any Collateral Agent for any act or omission on the part of such Assignor relative thereto or for any breach of any representation or warranty on the part of such Assignor contained in this Agreement or any other Credit Document, or in respect of the Collateral pledged by it. The obligations of each Assignor contained in this paragraph shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the discharge of such Assignor’s other obligations hereunder.

Section 3. Agreement to Execute Documents upon Certain Refinancings.

(a) The parties hereto agree that it is their intention that the Collateral securing the Revolver Secured Obligations pursuant to the Revolver Security Documents and the Collateral securing the Term Secured Obligations pursuant to the Term Security Documents be identical. In furtherance of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree, subject to the other provisions of this Agreement:

(i) upon request by the Revolver Collateral Agent or the Term Collateral Agent, to cooperate in good faith from time to time in order to determine the specific items included in the Collateral securing the Revolver Secured Obligations pursuant to the Revolver Security Documents and the Collateral securing the Term Secured Obligations pursuant to the Term Security Documents and the steps taken to perfect their respective Liens thereon and the identity of the respective parties obligated under the Revolver Security Documents and the Term Security Documents; and

(ii) that the Revolver Security Documents and the Term Security Documents and guarantees for the Revolver Secured Obligations and the Term Secured Obligations shall be in all material respects the same forms of documents other than with respect to differences to reflect the nature of the lending arrangements.


(b) In the event the Term Collateral Agent enters into any amendment, waiver or consent in respect of any of the Term Security Documents for the purpose of adding to, or deleting from, or waiving or consenting to any departures from any provisions of, any Term Security Document or changing in any manner the rights of any parties thereunder with respect to the Term First Priority Collateral, then such amendment, waiver or consent shall apply automatically to any comparable provision of the comparable Revolver Security Document without the consent of or action by any Revolver Secured Party (with all such amendments, waivers and modifications subject to the terms hereof); provided that (i) no such amendment, waiver or consent shall have the effect of removing assets subject to the Lien of any Revolver Security Document, except to the extent that a release of such Lien is permitted by Section 4 of this Agreement, (ii) (other than with respect to amendments, modifications or waivers that secure additional extensions of credit and add additional secured creditors and do not violate the express provisions of the Revolver Loan Documents), any such amendment, waiver or consent that materially and adversely affects the rights of the Revolver Secured Parties and does not affect the Term Secured Parties in a like or similar manner shall not apply to the Revolver Security Documents without the consent of the Revolver Collateral Agent and (iii) notice of such amendment, waiver or consent shall be given to the Revolver Collateral Agent no later than 30 days after its effectiveness, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the effectiveness and validity thereof.

(c) In the event the Revolver Collateral Agent enters into any amendment, waiver or consent in respect of any of the Revolver Security Documents for the purpose of adding to, or deleting from, or waiving or consenting to any departures from any provisions of, any Revolver Security Document or changing in any manner the rights of any parties thereunder with respect to the Revolver First Priority Collateral, then such amendment, waiver or consent shall apply automatically to any comparable provision of the comparable Term Security Document without the consent of or action by any Term Secured Party (with all such amendments, waivers and modifications subject to the terms hereof); provided that (i) no such amendment, waiver or consent shall have the effect of removing assets subject to the Lien of any Term Security Document, except to the extent that a release of such Lien is permitted by Section 4, (ii) (other than with respect to amendments, modifications or waivers that secure additional extensions of credit and add additional secured creditors and do not violate the express provisions of the Term Loan Documents), any such amendment, waiver or consent that materially and adversely affects the rights of the Term Secured Parties and does not affect the Revolver Secured Parties in a like or similar manner shall not apply to the Term Security Documents without the consent of the Term Collateral Agent and (iii) notice of such amendment, waiver or consent shall be given to the Term Collateral Agent no later than 30 days after its effectiveness, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the effectiveness and validity thereof.

(d) In the event of any Refinancing of the Revolver Secured Obligations, the Term Collateral Agent and the Term Secured Creditors, do hereby confirm (and, upon request, agree to reconfirm at any time) the continued applicability of the provisions hereof in respect of the relative priority between the Liens securing the Term Secured Obligations and the Liens securing any Obligations incurred as a result of the Refinancing of the Revolver Secured Obligations, but


only to the extent that such Refinancing is consummated in accordance with all applicable provisions of the Term Loan Agreement. In connection with any Refinancing of all or any portion of the Revolver Secured Obligations prior to the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event, the Term Collateral Agent, on behalf of each Term Secured Creditor, shall, if requested by Company or the existing or new holders of the Revolver Secured Obligations, execute an intercreditor agreement or amend and restate this Agreement in a manner that is substantially similar to this Agreement with the lenders under such Refinancing.

(e) In the event of any Refinancing of the Term Secured Obligations, the Revolver Collateral Agent and the Revolver Secured Creditors, do hereby confirm (and, upon request, agree to reconfirm at any time) the continued applicability of the provisions hereof in respect of the relative priority between the Liens securing the Revolver Secured Obligations and the Liens securing any Obligations incurred as a result of the Refinancing of the Term Secured Obligations, but only to the extent that such Refinancing is consummated in accordance with all applicable provisions of the Revolving Credit Agreement. In connection with any Refinancing of all or any portion of the Term Secured Obligations prior to the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event, the Revolver Collateral Agent, on behalf of each Revolver Secured Creditor, shall, if requested by Company or the existing or new holders of the Term Secured Obligations, execute an intercreditor agreement or amend and restate this Agreement in a manner that is substantially similar to this Agreement with the lenders under such Refinancing.

Section 4. Sales of Collateral/Release of Liens.

(a) The Revolving Collateral Agent’s rights with respect to the Revolver First Priority Collateral shall include the right to release any or all of such Revolver First Priority Collateral from its security interest therein and the security interest of the Term Collateral Agent therein (without any further action on the part of the Term Collateral Agent) in connection with any sale or other disposition of such Revolver First Priority Collateral, even if the net proceeds of any such sale or other disposition may not be used to permanently prepay the Revolver Obligations. Without limiting the foregoing, if the Revolving Collateral Agent shall determine, in connection with any sale or other disposition of any Revolver First Priority Collateral that the release of the security interest of the Term Collateral Agent on any such Revolver First Priority Collateral in connection with any such sale or other disposition is necessary or advisable, the Term Collateral Agent shall execute and deliver such release documents and instruments and shall take such further actions as the Revolving Collateral Agent shall request. The Term Collateral Agent hereby appoints the Revolving Collateral Agent and any officer or duly authorized person of the Revolving Collateral Agent, with full power of substitution, as its true and lawful attorney-in-fact with full irrevocable power of attorney in the place and stead of the Term Collateral Agent, and in the name of the Term Collateral Agent or in the Revolving Collateral Agent’s own name, from time to time, in the Revolving Collateral Agent’s discretion, for the purposes of carrying out the terms of this paragraph, to take any and all appropriate action and to execute and deliver any and all documents and instruments as may be necessary or desirable to accomplish the purposes of this paragraph, including, without limitation, any financing statements, endorsements, assignments or other documents or instruments of transfer (which appointment, being coupled with an interest, is irrevocable). The Term Collateral Agent hereby ratifies all that said attorneys shall do or cause to be done under this paragraph.


(b) The Term Collateral Agent’s rights with respect to the Term First Priority Collateral shall include the right to release any or all of such Term First Priority Collateral from its security interest therein and the security interest of the Revolving Collateral Agent therein (without any further action on the part of the Revolving Collateral Agent) in connection with any sale or other disposition of such Term First Priority Collateral, even if the net proceeds of any such sale or other disposition may not be used to permanently prepay the Term Obligations. Without limiting the foregoing, if the Term Collateral Agent shall determine, in connection with any sale or other disposition of any Term First Priority Collateral that the release of the security interest of the Revolving Collateral Agent on any such Term First Priority Collateral in connection with any such sale or other disposition is necessary or advisable, the Revolving Collateral Agent shall execute and deliver such release documents and instruments and shall take such further actions as the Term Collateral Agent shall request. The Revolving Collateral Agent hereby appoints the Term Collateral Agent and any officer or duly authorized person of the Term Collateral Agent, with full power of substitution, as its true and lawful attorney-in-fact with full irrevocable power of attorney in the place and stead of the Revolving Collateral Agent and in the name of the Revolving Collateral Agent or in the Term Collateral Agent’s own name, from time to time, in the Term Collateral Agent’s discretion, for the purposes of carrying out the terms of this paragraph, to take any and all appropriate action and to execute and deliver any and all documents and instruments as may be necessary or desirable to accomplish the purposes of this paragraph, including, without limitation, any financing statements, endorsements, assignments or other documents or instruments of transfer (which appointment, being coupled with an interest, is irrevocable). The Revolving Collateral Agent hereby ratifies all that said attorneys shall do or cause to be done under this paragraph.

(c) Each of the Revolver Collateral Agent, the Term Collateral Agent and the Mortgagee may, at any time or from time to time, acting in accordance with the Revolver Security Agreement, the Term Security Agreement or, in the case of any Mortgage, the terms of the Credit Agreements, as the case may be, release any Liens held by such Collateral Agent against all or any portion of the Collateral.

Section 5. Notice of Intent to Foreclose.

(a) The Revolver Collateral Agent will give the Term Collateral Agent notice of its intent to enforce any Lien upon any of the Revolver First Priority Collateral. The Term Collateral Agent will give the Revolver Collateral Agent notice of its intent to enforce any Lien upon any of the Term First Priority Collateral. The notice required by this Section 5(a) shall be required to be given by a party only if it intends to:

(i) deliver to any Credit Party written notice of its intent to enforce a Lien in full or partial satisfaction of any obligation secured thereby;

(ii) commence legal action against any Credit Party for foreclosure or replevin or other enforcement of a Lien; or

(iii) take possession of or title to, or deliver to any third party possession of or title to, any real or personal property of any Credit Party (other than possession of cash in accounts expressly contemplated by the Credit Documents or possession of property by the Administrative Agents as a means of perfection);


(b) The notice required by Section 5(a):

(i) shall not be required in any other instance or as to any other action or event (including, for purposes of illustration and not by way of limitation, any incurrence, payment or acceleration of any of the Obligations or any amendment or waiver of the terms thereof, any exercise of a right of setoff, any notification to account debtors to make payment directly to the secured party or any other exercise of collection rights or the institution of any other legal proceedings, including suit to collect any debt or claim or the commencement of any bankruptcy case, receivership or insolvency proceeding);

(ii) need only state that it is given pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and that Lien enforcement action may be taken by the party giving the notice, and need not disclose or describe the action to be taken; and

(iii) shall be given at least five (5) business days prior to the date on which any enforcement action described above is taken, except that a party may give such notice promptly after taking such enforcement action if it in good faith believes that immediate enforcement action is or may be required to protect its interest in the property subject to its Liens.

(c) No liability or defense shall arise, no Lien shall be lost, invalidated or impaired, and no action taken in enforcement of a Lien shall be annulled, set aside, affected, or impaired, as a result of any notice required by this Agreement not being given or being defectively given.

Section 6. Consent to License of Intellectual Property; Access to Information; Access to Real Property to Process and Sell Inventory.

(a) (i) The Term Collateral Agent hereby (A) acknowledges and consents to the grant to the Revolver Collateral Agent by the Credit Parties on the date hereof of a limited, nonexclusive royalty-free license to use any patent, trademark, or proprietary information that is subject to a Lien held by the Term Collateral Agent in the form of Annex III hereto (the “Closing Date License”) and (B) agrees that its Liens in the Term First Priority Collateral shall be subject to the Closing Date License. Furthermore, in connection with any foreclosure sale conducted in foreclosure of any Lien on the Term First Priority Collateral, or any part thereof, the Term Collateral Agent hereby agrees that (x) any notice required to be given by the Term Collateral Agent in connection with such foreclosure sale shall contain an acknowledgement that such Term Collateral Agent’s Lien is subject to the Closing Date License and (y) it shall deliver a copy of the Closing Date License to any purchaser at such foreclosure and inform such purchaser that such Term Collateral Agent’s Lien is subject to the Closing Date License.

(ii) If so required by any Collateral Agent (the “Requesting Agent”), each other Collateral Agent (the “Responding Agent”) shall deliver its written consent (given without any representation, warranty, or obligation whatsoever) to any grant by any Credit Party to the Requesting Agent of a limited, non-exclusive royalty-free license to use any patent, trademark, or proprietary information that is subject to a Lien held by such Responding Agent, in connection with the enforcement of any Lien held by the Requesting Agent upon any of the Revolver First


Priority Collateral or the Term First Priority Collateral, as applicable, in accordance with the terms hereof, and to the extent appropriate, in the good faith opinion of the Requesting Agent, to process, ship, produce, store, complete, supply, lease, sell or otherwise dispose of any Revolver First Priority Collateral or Term First Priority Collateral or to collect or otherwise realize upon any Revolver First Priority Collateral consisting of accounts (“Account Collection”), as applicable, in any lawful manner for the purpose of disposing of such Collateral (any such actions or activities taken by the Requesting Agent shall be at the expense of the Requesting Agent). Any consent so delivered by the Responding Agent shall be binding on its successors and assigns.

(iii) If any Collateral Agent or any Lender becomes the owner of any patent, trademark or proprietary information of any Credit Party as a result of the exercise of remedies by such Collateral Agent with respect to its Lien on such patent, trademark or proprietary information, then upon request of the Requesting Agent, the Responding Agent shall grant to the Requesting Agent a limited, nonexclusive royalty-free license (a “Disposition License”) to use any such patent, trademark, or proprietary information to the extent necessary to enforce any Lien held by the Requesting Agent upon any of the Revolver First Priority Collateral or the Term First Priority Collateral, as applicable, and to the extent appropriate, in the good faith opinion of the Requesting Agent, to process, collect, ship, produce, store, complete, supply, lease, sell or otherwise dispose of any Revolver First Priority Collateral or Term First Priority Collateral in any lawful manner (any such actions or activities taken by the Requesting Agent shall be at the expense of the Requesting Agent). Any license so granted by the Responding Agent shall be binding on its successors and assigns. Furthermore, to the extent the Responding Agent becomes the owner of any patent, trademark or proprietary information of any Credit Party as a result of the exercise of remedies by such Collateral Agent with respect to its Lien on such patent, trademark or proprietary information, the Responding Agent shall not make any subsequent sale or transfer of such patent, trademark or proprietary information unless the purchaser or transferee thereof agrees in writing to provide a Disposition License to any Collateral Agent requesting one of such purchaser or transferee.

(b) If any Collateral Agent takes actual possession of any documentation of any Credit Party (whether such documentation is in the form of a writing or is stored in any data equipment or data record in the physical possession of such Collateral Agent), then upon request of the Requesting Agent and reasonable advance notice, the Responding Agent will permit the Requesting Agent or its representative to inspect and copy such documentation if and to the extent the Requesting Agent certifies to the Responding Agent that:

(i) such documentation contains or may contain information necessary or appropriate, in the good faith opinion of the Requesting Agent, to the enforcement of Requesting Agent’s Liens upon any Revolver First Priority Collateral or Term First Priority Collateral, as the case may be; and

(ii) the Requesting Agent is entitled to receive and use such information as against the Credit Parties and their suppliers, customers and contracts, and under applicable law, and, in doing so, will comply with all obligations imposed by law or contract in respect of the disclosure or use of such information.


(c) If, upon enforcement of the Term Collateral Agent’s Lien, such Term Collateral Agent takes actual possession of any real or personal property of any Credit Party, then, if so requested by the Revolver Collateral Agent and upon reasonable advance notice, the Term Collateral Agent will allow the Revolver Collateral Agent and its officers, employees, and agents reasonable and non-exclusive access to and use of such property for a period not exceeding 180 consecutive calendar days (the “Processing and Sale Period”), as necessary or reasonably appropriate to process, ship, produce, store, complete, supply, lease, sell, or otherwise dispose of, in any lawful manner, any inventory upon which the Revolver Collateral Agent holds a Lien, or to effectuate Account Collection, subject to the following conditions and limitations: (x) the Processing and Sale Period shall commence on the date the Term Collateral Agent takes possession of such real property and shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the day that is 180 days thereafter; and (ii) the day on which all inventory (other than inventory acknowledged to have been abandoned by the Revolver Collateral Agent) has been removed from such property and the Account Collection has been fully effectuated and (y) the Revolver Collateral Agent, at its expense, shall repair any damage to such property caused by its exercise of the rights contained in this Section 6(c). Furthermore, the Term Collateral Agent shall not sell or transfer such property during the Processing and Sale Period unless the purchaser or transferee agrees in writing to provide the access and use of such property for the remainder of the Processing and Sale Period.

(d) The Term Collateral Agent may condition its performance of any obligation set forth in this Section 6 upon its prior receipt (without cost to it) of:

(i) such assurances as it may reasonably request to confirm that the performance of such obligation and all activities of the Revolver Collateral Agent or its officers, employees, and agents in connection therewith or incidental thereto:

(x) will be permitted, lawful, and enforceable as against the Credit Parties and their suppliers, customers, and contracts and under applicable law and will be conducted in accordance with prudent manufacturing practices; and

(y) will not impose upon the Term Collateral Agent any legal duty, legal liability, or risk of uninsured loss; and

(ii) such indemnity or insurance as the Term Collateral Agent may reasonably request in connection therewith.

(e) The Company and the other Credit Parties consent to the performance by the Term Collateral Agent of the obligations set forth in this Agreement and acknowledge and agree that the Term Collateral Agent shall never be accountable or liable for any action taken or omitted by the Revolver Collateral Agent or its officers, employees, and agents in connection therewith or incidental thereto or in consequence thereof, including any improper use or disclosure or any proprietary information or other intellectual property by the Revolver Collateral Agent or its officers, employees, agents, successors, or assigns or any other damage to or misuse or loss of any property of any Credit Party as a result of any action taken or omitted by the Revolver Collateral Agent. The Revolver Collateral Agent hereby agrees to indemnify the Term Collateral Agent for any losses or liabilities described in this Section 6(e).


Section 7. Insurance Proceeds.

(a) Unless and until all Revolver Obligations have been Fully Paid, the Revolver Agent shall have the sole and exclusive right, subject to the rights of the Company under the Credit Documents, to adjust settlement for any insurance policy governing the Revolver First Priority Collateral in the event of any loss thereunder and to approve any award granted in any condemnation or similar proceeding affecting the Revolver First Priority Collateral.

(b) Unless and until all Term Secured Obligations have been Fully Paid, the Term Collateral Agent shall have the sole and exclusive right, subject to the rights of the Company under the Credit Documents, to adjust settlement for any insurance policy governing the Term First Priority Collateral in the event of any loss thereunder and to approve any award granted in any condemnation or similar proceeding affecting the Term First Priority Collateral.

Section 8. Exercise of Remedies - Collateral Agents.

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or the Term Loan Documents, until the Revolver Obligations are Fully Paid and, so long as all Liens on the Revolver First Priority Collateral securing the Revolver Secured Obligations have not been released, (i) neither the Term Collateral Agent nor any Term Secured Creditor shall have any right or power to exercise or seek to exercise any rights or remedies prior to any Bankruptcy Proceeding (including setoff or recoupment) with respect to any Revolver First Priority Collateral (other than to receive a share of the Proceeds (as defined in the Term Security Agreement or the applicable Mortgage, as the case may be) of such Revolver First Priority Collateral, if any, as and when provided in the Term Security Agreement or the applicable Mortgage, as the case may be), including, without limitation, the following: (w) to institute any action or proceeding with respect to any Revolver First Priority Collateral, including, without limitation, any action of foreclosure, (x) contest, protest or object to (1) any foreclosure proceeding or action brought by the Revolver Collateral Agent, (2) the exercise of any right under any lockbox agreement, control agreement, landlord waiver or bailee’s letter or similar agreement or arrangement to which the Revolver Collateral Agent is a party, or (3) any other exercise by any such party, of any rights and remedies relating to the Revolver First Priority Collateral under any Revolver Loan Documents or otherwise, (y) object to the forbearance by the Revolver Collateral Agent from bringing or pursuing any foreclosure proceeding or action or any other exercise of any rights or remedies relating to the Revolver First Priority Collateral or (z) demand, accept or obtain any lien, mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, collateral assignment, security interest, encumbrance, charge, deposit arrangement or other similar encumbrance on any Revolver First Priority Collateral (other than from time to time as granted pursuant to the Term Security Agreement or the Mortgages), provided that the Term Collateral Agent may demand a second and subordinate lien on any Revolver First Priority Collateral; and (ii) the Revolver Collateral Agent shall have the exclusive right to enforce rights, exercise remedies (including, without limitation, setoff, recoupment and the right to credit bid any Revolver Secured Obligations) and make determinations regarding release (subject to Section 4), disposition, or restrictions with respect to the Revolver First Priority Collateral without any consultation with or the consent of the Term Collateral Agent. In exercising rights and remedies with respect to the Revolver First Priority Collateral, the Revolver Collateral Agent may (acting in accordance with the terms of the applicable Credit Documents) enforce the provisions of the Revolver Loan


Documents and exercise remedies thereunder, all in such order and in such manner as it may determine in the exercise of its sole discretion. Such exercise and enforcement shall include, without limitation, the rights of an agent or other representative appointed by it to sell or otherwise dispose of Revolver First Priority Collateral upon foreclosure, to incur expenses in connection with such sale or disposition, and to exercise all the rights and remedies of a secured lender under the Uniform Commercial Code of any applicable jurisdiction and of a secured creditor under bankruptcy or similar laws of any applicable jurisdiction.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or the Revolver Loan Documents, until the Term Secured Obligations are Fully Paid and, so long as all Liens on the Term First Priority Collateral securing the Term Secured Obligations have not been released, (i) neither the Revolver Collateral Agent nor any Revolver Secured Creditor shall have any right or power to exercise or seek to exercise any rights or remedies prior to any Bankruptcy Proceeding (including setoff or recoupment) with respect to any Term First Priority Collateral (other than to receive a share of the Proceeds (as defined in the Revolver Security Agreement or the applicable Mortgage, as the case may be) of such Term First Priority Collateral, if any, as and when provided in the Revolver Security Agreement or the applicable Mortgage, as the case may be), including, without limitation, the following: (w) to institute any action or proceeding with respect to any Term First Priority Collateral, including, without limitation, any action of foreclosure, (x) contest, protest or object to (1) any foreclosure proceeding or action brought by the Term Collateral Agent, (2) the exercise of any right under any lockbox agreement, control agreement, landlord waiver or bailee’s letter or similar agreement or arrangement to which the Term Collateral Agent is a party, or (3) any other exercise by any such party, of any rights and remedies relating to the Term First Priority Collateral under any Term Loan Documents or otherwise, (y) object to the forbearance by the Term Collateral Agent from bringing or pursuing any foreclosure proceeding or action or any other exercise of any rights or remedies relating to the Term First Priority Collateral or (z) demand, accept or obtain any lien, mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, collateral assignment, security interest, encumbrance, charge, deposit arrangement or other similar encumbrance on any Term First Priority Collateral (other than from time to time as granted pursuant to the Revolver Security Agreement or the Mortgages), provided that the Revolver Collateral Agent may demand a second and subordinate lien on any Term First Priority Collateral; and (ii) the Term Collateral Agent shall have the exclusive right to enforce rights, exercise remedies (including, without limitation, setoff, recoupment and the right to credit bid any Term Secured Obligations) and make determinations regarding release (subject to Section 4), disposition, or restrictions with respect to the Term First Priority Collateral without any consultation with or the consent of the Revolver Collateral Agent. In exercising rights and remedies with respect to the Term First Priority Collateral, the Term Collateral Agent may (acting in accordance with the terms of the applicable Credit Documents) enforce the provisions of the Term Loan Documents and exercise remedies thereunder, all in such order and in such manner as it may determine in the exercise of its sole discretion. Such exercise and enforcement shall include, without limitation, the rights of an agent or other representative appointed by it to sell or otherwise dispose of Term First Priority Collateral upon foreclosure, to incur expenses in connection with such sale or disposition, and to exercise all the rights and remedies of a secured lender under the Uniform Commercial Code of any applicable jurisdiction and of a secured creditor under bankruptcy or similar laws of any applicable jurisdiction.


Section 9. Provisions Applicable After Bankruptcy. Each party hereto agrees, solely in its capacity as a holder of Second Priority Collateral and without prejudice to its rights as a holder of First Priority Collateral, that in any bankruptcy proceeding of any Credit Party it will not:

(i) object to or oppose (or encourage any other Person to object to or oppose) any motion for relief from the automatic stay by a holder of related First Priority Collateral;

(ii) seek relief from the automatic stay with respect to its liens and security interests in its Second Priority Collateral without the prior express written consent of the Collateral Agent representing the holders of the related First Priority Collateral (which consent may be given or withheld by such Collateral Agent in its sole discretion) except, and then only to the extent that, such Collateral Agent has sought such relief with respect to the related First Priority Collateral and such holder seeks such relief with respect to its Second Priority Collateral in accordance with this Section 9 and the other terms and provisions of this Agreement;

(iii) object to or oppose (or encourage any other Person to object to or oppose) any request by or grant to any holder of related First Priority Collateral of adequate protection with respect to such First Priority Collateral, including, without limitation, cash payments as adequate protection; provided, that if such holder of First Priority Collateral receives additional or replacement liens or administrative claims as adequate protection with respect to such First Priority Collateral, the holder of related Second Priority Collateral shall be entitled to the same additional or replacement liens or administrative claims on account of its liens and security interests in such Second Priority Collateral, but with the same relative junior and subordinated priority therein as set forth in this Agreement with respect to such Second Priority Collateral;

(iv) except as set forth in clause (iii) above, seek or obtain adequate protection with respect to its Second Priority Collateral without the prior express written consent of the Collateral Agent representing the holders of the related First Priority Collateral (which consent may be given or withheld by such Collateral Agent in its sole discretion);

(v) object to or oppose (or encourage any other Person to object to or oppose) any use of Collateral that constitutes First Priority Collateral, including cash collateral, under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code which is consented to by the Collateral Agent representing the holders of such First Priority Collateral;

(vi) object to or oppose (or encourage any other Person to object to or oppose) any debtor in possession financing under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code to the extent secured solely by Collateral that constitutes First Priority Collateral and which is consented to by the Collateral Agent representing the holders of such First Priority Collateral, including any such financing that repays all or any portion of the Obligations having seniority hereunder on such Collateral; or

(vii) object to or oppose (or encourage any other Person to object to or oppose), and will be deemed to have consented to, any sale or other disposition of Collateral that constitutes First Priority Collateral free and clear of its security interests, liens and other claims under Section 363, Section 1123(a)(5)(D) or any other provision of the Bankruptcy Code if the


Collateral Agent representing the holders of such First Priority Collateral has consented to such sale or disposition and if the proceeds thereof are fully applied in accordance with the relative priorities set forth in this Agreement or, to the extent not so applied, the security interests, liens and claims of the holders of the related Second Priority Collateral attach to the proceeds thereof with the same relative junior and subordinated priority as set forth in this Agreement.

Section 10. Separate Grants of Security and Separate Classification.

(a) (i) The Term Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the Term Secured Creditors, and the Revolver Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the Revolver Secured Creditors, acknowledges and agrees that the grants of Liens pursuant to the Revolver Security Documents and the Term Security Documents constitute separate and distinct grants of Liens, and because of, among other things, their differing rights in the Collateral, the Term Secured Obligations are fundamentally different from the Revolver Secured Obligations and must be separately classified in any plan of reorganization proposed or adopted in a Bankruptcy Proceeding. In furtherance of the foregoing, each of the Term Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the Term Secured Creditors, and the Revolver Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the Revolver Secured Creditors, agrees that the Term Secured Creditors and the Revolver Secured Creditors will vote as separate classes in connection with any plan of reorganization in any Bankruptcy Proceeding and that no Collateral Agent, Administrative Agent, nor any Revolver Secured Creditor or Term Secured Creditor will seek to vote with the other as a single class in connection with any plan of reorganization in any Proceeding.

(ii) To further effectuate the intent of the parties as provided in this Section 10, if it is held that the claims of the Term Secured Creditors and the Revolver Secured Creditors in respect of the Term First Priority Collateral constitute only one secured claim (rather than separate classes of senior and junior secured claims), then each of the Term Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the Term Secured Creditors, and the Revolver Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the Revolver Secured Creditors, hereby acknowledges and agrees that, subject to Section 2, all distributions shall be made as if there were separate classes of senior and junior secured claims against the Company and other Credit Parties in respect of the Term First Priority Collateral (with the effect being that, to the extent that the aggregate value of the Collateral securing the Term Secured Obligations is sufficient (for this purpose ignoring all claims held by the Revolver Secured Creditors), the Term Secured Creditors shall be entitled to receive, in addition to amounts distributed to them in respect of principal, pre-petition interest and other claims, all amounts owing in respect of post-petition interest, including any additional interest payable pursuant to the Term Loan Agreement, arising from or related to a default, which is disallowed as a claim in any Bankruptcy Proceeding) before any distribution from the proceeds of the Term First Priority Collateral is made in respect of the claims held by the Revolver Secured Creditors, hereby acknowledging and agreeing to turn over to the Term Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the Term Secured Creditors, amounts otherwise received or receivable by them to the extent necessary to effectuate the intent of this sentence, even if such turnover has the effect of reducing the claim or recovery of the Revolver Secured Creditors).

(iii) To further effectuate the intent of the parties provided in this Section 10, if it is held that the claims of the Term Secured Creditors and the Revolver Secured Creditors in respect of the Revolver First Priority Collateral constitute only one secured claim (rather than


separate classes of senior and junior secured claims), then each of the Term Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the Term Secured Creditors, and the Revolver Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the Revolver Secured Creditors, hereby acknowledges and agrees that, subject to Section 2, all distributions shall be made as if there were separate classes of senior and junior secured claims against the Credit Parties in respect of the Revolver First Priority Collateral (with the effect being that, to the extent that the aggregate value of the Collateral securing the Revolver Secured Obligations is sufficient (for this purpose ignoring all claims held by the Term Secured Creditors), the Revolver Secured Creditors shall be entitled to receive, in addition to amounts distributed to them in respect of principal, pre-petition interest and other claims, all amounts owing in respect of the post-petition interest, including any additional interest payable pursuant to the Revolving Credit Agreement, arising from or related to a default, which is disallowed as a claim in any Bankruptcy Proceeding) before any distribution from the proceeds of the Revolver First Priority Collateral is made in respect of the claims held by the Term Secured Creditors, with the Term Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the Term Secured Creditors, hereby acknowledging and agreeing to turn over to the Revolver Collateral Agent, for itself and on behalf of the Revolver Secured Creditors, amounts otherwise received or receivable by them to the extent necessary to effectuate the intent of this sentence, even if such turnover has the effect of reducing the claim or recovery of the Term Secured Creditors).

Section 11. Reliance; Disclaimers, Etc.

(a) The Revolving Credit Agreement, the other Revolver Loan Documents and all related documents and agreements are deemed to have been executed and delivered, and all loans and other extensions of credit thereunder are deemed to have been made or incurred, in reliance upon this Agreement. The Term Administrative Agent expressly waives all notice of the acceptance of and reliance on this Agreement by the Revolver Administrative Agent and the Revolver Secured Creditors.

(b) The Term Loan Agreement, the other Term Loan Documents and all related documents and agreements are deemed to have been executed and delivered, and all loans and other extensions of credit thereunder are deemed to have been made or incurred, in reliance upon this Agreement. The Revolver Administrative Agent expressly waives all notice of the acceptance of and reliance on this Agreement by the Term Administrative Agent and the Term Secured Creditors.

(c) The Term Administrative Agent, on the one hand, and the Revolver Administrative Agent, on the other hand, acknowledge and agree that neither has made any representation or warranty with respect to the execution, validity, legality, completeness, collectibility or enforceability of the Revolving Credit Agreement or any other Revolver Loan Document or the Term Loan Agreement or any other Term Loan Document. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the Revolver Administrative Agent, on the one hand, and the Term Administrative Agent, on the other hand, will be entitled to manage and supervise their respective loans, extensions of credit and extensions of indebtedness to Company and the Credit Parties, as the case may be, in accordance with law and their usual practices, modified from time to time as they deem appropriate.


(d) Each party executing this Agreement agrees, for itself and on behalf of the relevant Secured Creditors, that (i) each Collateral Agent may act as the Revolver Administrative Agent or the Term Administrative Agent, as the case may be, may direct (regardless of whether any Secured Creditor or any holder represented thereby agrees, disagrees or abstains with respect to such request), (ii) each Collateral Agent shall have no liability for acting in accordance with such request (provided such action does not, on its face, conflict with the express terms of this Agreement) and (iii) no Secured Creditor or any holder represented thereby shall have any liability to any other Secured Creditor or any holder represented thereby for any such request.

(e) For the avoidance of doubt, each Collateral Agent may at any time request directions from the Revolver Administrative Agent or the Term Administrative Agent, as the case may be, as to any course of action or other matter relating hereto or as to any Security Document. Except as otherwise expressly specified in this Agreement, any such directions given by the Revolver Administrative Agent or the Term Administrative Agent shall be binding on the Revolver Secured Creditors and the Term Secured Creditors, respectively, for all purposes as described in this Agreement.

(f) Notwithstanding the use of the term “Agent” herein and/or in any Credit Document, it is expressly understood and agreed that no Collateral Agent shall have any fiduciary responsibilities to any Secured Creditor by reason of this Agreement, any Security Agreement or any Credit Document and that each Collateral Agent is merely acting as the contractual representative of the applicable Secured Creditors with only those duties as are expressly set forth in this Agreement and the Security Agreements and Mortgages, as the case may be. In its capacity as the Secured Creditors’ contractual representative, no Collateral Agent assumes any fiduciary duties to any of the Secured Creditors and each is acting as an independent contractor, the rights and duties of which are limited to those expressly set forth in this Agreement and the Security Agreements and Mortgages, as the case may be. Each party hereto, for itself and on behalf of the relevant Secured Creditors hereby agrees not to assert a claim against a Collateral Agent on any agency theory or any other theory of liability for breach of fiduciary duty, all of which claims each party hereto, on behalf of each Secured Creditor, hereby waives. In addition, no Collateral Agent shall have any implied duties to any Secured Creditor or any obligation to any Secured Creditor to take any action hereunder or under any Security Agreement or Mortgage, except any action specifically provided herein or therein to be taken by such Collateral Agent.

Section 12. Notices of Default and of Payment in Full of Indebtedness. Each party hereto agrees to use reasonable efforts to give to the others copies of any written notices of default, termination, demand for payment, redemption, acceleration, foreclosure, exercise of remedies and any other written notice of a like nature, which may be given under or pursuant to the terms of any of the applicable Credit Documents and of any notice contemplated under the definition of the term “Fully Paid” herein, in each case concurrently with, or as soon as practicable after, the giving of such notice to such party; provided, however, that no failure of any party to give a copy of any such notice as provided herein shall in any event affect the validity or effectiveness of the notice or render the party liable to any other party in any respect or relieve any party of its obligations and agreements contained herein; provided, further, however, that in no event shall this Section 11 require the delivery of any notices to Company.


Section 13. Notices. All notices and communications hereunder shall be sent or delivered by mail, telecopier or overnight courier service and all such notices and communications shall (i) in the case of a notice or communication sent by mail, be effective three Business Days following deposit with proper prepaid postage in the mail; (ii) in the case of a notice or communication sent by telecopier, be effective when sent, provided appropriate confirmation is received by the sender; and (iii) in the case of a notice or communication sent by overnight courier, be effective on the date of delivery. All notices, requests, demands or other communications shall be in writing and addressed as follows:

 

  (i)

If to the Revolver Collateral Agent or Revolver Administrative Agent:

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas

60 Wall Street, 2nd Floor

NYC60 - 0219

New York, New York 10005

Attention: Frank Fazio

Telephone No.: (212) 250-2267

Telecopier No.: (212) 797-4655

with a copy to:

Winston & Strawn LLP

35 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, Illinois 60601

Attention: Charles B. Boehrer

Telephone Number: (312) 558-5600

Telecopier Number: (312) 558-5700

 

  (ii)

If to the Term Collateral Agent or Term Administrative Agent or Mortgagee:

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas

31 West 52nd Street

New York, New York 10022

Attention: John Anos

Telephone No.: (212) 469-2750

Telecopier No.: (212) 469-3632

with a copy to:

Winston & Strawn LLP

35 West Wacker Drive

Chicago, Illinois 60601

Attention: Charles B. Boehrer

Telephone Number: (312) 558-5600

Telecopier Number: (312) 558-5700


or at such other address or to any such successor or assign as any party may designate by notice to the other party in accordance with the provisions hereof. In the event that any Secured Creditor shall be required by the Uniform Commercial Code or any other applicable law to give notice to the Company or any other Secured Creditor of the intended disposition of any Collateral, such notice shall be given as provided in the Term Security Agreement and ten days notice shall be deemed to be commercially reasonable. Each Term Secured Creditor hereby appoints the Term Collateral Agent as its agent and representative for purposes of giving and receiving notices under the Term Security Documents.

Section 14. GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT MADE UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AND FOR ALL PURPOSES SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS AND DECISIONS OF SAID STATE, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW (EXCEPT SECTION 5-1401 OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW).

Section 15. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE BROUGHT IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK OR COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND, BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT, EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY ACCEPTS FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY, THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR COLLATERAL AGENT UNDER, OR ANY OTHER SECURED PARTY TO COMMENCE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS OR OTHERWISE PROCEED AGAINST ANY PARTY HERETO IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.

Section 16. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY WAIVE THEIR RESPECTIVE RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, OR ANY DEALINGS BETWEEN THEM RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS AGREEMENT. THE PARTIES HERETO ALSO WAIVE ANY BOND OR SURETY OR SECURITY UPON SUCH BOND THAT MIGHT, BUT FOR THIS WAIVER, BE REQUIRED OF THE PARTIES HERETO. THE SCOPE OF THIS WAIVER IS INTENDED TO BE ALL-ENCOMPASSING OF ANY AND ALL DISPUTES THAT MAY BE FILED IN ANY COURT AND THAT RELATE TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS AGREEMENT, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS, BREACH OF DUTY CLAIMS, AND ALL OTHER COMMON LAW AND STATUTORY CLAIMS. THE PARTIES HERETO EACH ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS WAIVER IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT TO ENTER INTO A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP, THAT EACH HAS ALREADY RELIED ON THE WAIVER IN ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THAT EACH WILL CONTINUE TO RELY ON THE WAIVER IN THEIR RELATED FUTURE DEALINGS. THE PARTIES HERETO FURTHER WARRANT AND REPRESENT THAT EACH HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER WITH ITS LEGAL COUNSEL, AND THAT EACH KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ITS JURY TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL. THIS WAIVER IS IRREVOCABLE, MEANING THAT IT MAY NOT BE MODIFIED EITHER ORALLY OR IN


WRITING, AND THE WAIVER SHALL APPLY TO ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS, SUPPLEMENTS OR MODIFICATIONS TO THIS AGREEMENT. IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE FILED AS A WRITTEN CONSENT TO A TRIAL BY THE COURT.

Section 17. Section Titles. The section titles contained in this Agreement are and shall be without substantive meaning or content of any kind whatsoever and are not a part of the Agreement between the parties hereto.

Section 18. Counterparts. This Agreement and any amendments, waivers, consents or supplements may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed an original, but all of which counterparts together shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

Section 19. Severability. The invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of any provision in or obligation under this Agreement shall not affect or impair the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions or obligations under this Agreement.

Section 20. Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto, the Revolver Secured Creditors, and the Term Secured Creditors and their respective successors and assigns regardless of whether such successors or assigns are signatories hereto. The term “Company” as used herein shall also refer to the permitted successors and assigns of the Company, including, without limitation, a receiver, trustee, custodian or debtor-in-possession. The Secured Creditors shall have the right to assign, transfer or grant participations in part or all of the senior debt owed to them, the security therefor and their rights hereunder.

Section 21. Conflict with Other Agreements. The parties hereto agree that in the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of any Credit Document, the provisions of this Agreement shall control.

Section 22. Amendments and Waivers. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties hereto and does not affect any rights and remedies except as expressly provided herein. This Agreement shall be amended, modified or waived only with the written consent of the Revolver Collateral Agent (with such written requisite consent of the Lenders (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement) as may be required pursuant to Section 12.1 of the Revolving Credit Agreement) and the Term Collateral Agent (with the written consent of the Required Lenders (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement)), except that written consent of the Company shall be required if the amendment, modification or waiver would impose, or have the effect of imposing, on the Company more restrictive covenants or greater obligations than those applicable to the Company under this Agreement or any of the Credit Documents as of the date hereof. No waiver shall be deemed to be made by any Collateral Agent of its rights hereunder, unless the same shall be in writing signed by such Collateral Agent (acting in accordance with this Section 21), and each waiver, if any, shall be a waiver only with respect to the specific instance involved and shall in no way impair the rights of such Collateral Agent, in any other respect at any other time.


Section 23. Miscellaneous. This Agreement is solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights and priorities of the parties hereto and that of the Revolver Secured Creditors and the Term Secured Creditors and their respective successors and assigns with respect to the Collateral, and no other person, firm, entity or corporation shall have any right, benefit, priority or interest under, or because of the existence of, this Agreement. It is expressly acknowledged and agreed that the Revolver Collateral Agent and the Term Collateral Agent may be referred to in one or more Security Documents by other defined terms, including, without limitation, the “Revolving Credit Agreement Collateral Agent” and the “Term Loan Agreement Collateral Agent”, respectively. No such use of such different terminology is intended to affect the enforcement of this Agreement or any other Security Document. This Agreement shall not inure to the benefit of the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, or their respective successors and assigns. The parties hereto agree and acknowledge that they shall not challenge or question in any proceeding the validity, perfection, priority or enforceability of this Agreement, as a whole, or any term or provision contained herein. Without limiting the terms of this Agreement, the parties intend that this Agreement shall be enforceable in a bankruptcy proceeding, including pursuant to Section 510(a) of the Bankruptcy Code.

Section 24. Termination. Upon the one hundred twenty-first (121st) day after all Credit Agreement Obligations have been Fully Paid, this Agreement shall immediately terminate and cease to be effective and the Collateral Agents, the Administrative Agents, the Lenders, and the Credit Parties shall be released from their respective obligations hereunder (other than such obligations that by their terms are stated to survive the termination of this Agreement); provided, however, this Agreement shall be automatically reinstated if at any time payment of, in whole or in part, any of the Credit Agreement Obligations are challenged by the initiation of any suit or proceeding by any party, or are rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by any Administrative Agent or any Lender as a preference, fraudulent conveyance or otherwise under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law, or under any other state or federal law, the common law or any ruling in equity, all as though such payment had not been made, and in such event, all reasonable documented costs and expenses (including, without limitation, any reasonable documented legal fees and disbursements) incurred by any Administrative Agent or any Lender in defending any such action or proceeding or enforcing such reinstatement shall be deemed included as part of the Revolver Obligations or Term Obligations, as the case may be.

[signature pages follow]


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

 

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Revolver Administrative Agent
 

By:

   
 

Name:

   
 

Title:

   
 

By:

   
 

Name: 

   
 

Title:

   
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Revolver Collateral Agent
 

By:

   
 

Name: 

   
 

Title:

   
 

By:

   
 

Name:

   
 

Title:

   
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Term Administrative Agent
 

By:

   
 

Name: 

   
 

Title:

   
 

By:

   
 

Name:

   
 

Title:

   


DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Term Collateral Agent
 

By:

   
 

Name: 

   
 

Title:

   
 

By:

   
 

Name:

   
 

Title:

   
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Mortgagee
 

By:

   
 

Name: 

   
 

Title:

   
 

By:

   
 

Name:

   
 

Title:

   

Acknowledged and Agreed:

 

TEXAS PETROCHEMICALS, LP
By:    
Name:     
Title:    


Annex I

[List of Credit Parties other than Company]


Annex II

Term First Priority Collateral

All of the right, title and interest of each Assignor in, to and under all of its assets, whether now existing or hereafter from time to time acquired, but excluding

 

  (a)

all Accounts,

 

  (b)

all Inventory,

 

  (c)

all payments and receivables in respect of Inventory and Accounts,

 

  (d)

all General Intangibles relating to the foregoing,

 

  (e)

all books and records relating to the foregoing; and

 

  (f)

all Proceeds and products of any and all of the foregoing (including without, limitation, all insurance and claims for insurance effected or held for the benefit of such Assignor in respect thereof).

Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Annex II shall have the meanings given such terms in the Term Security Agreement.


Annex III

Closing Date License


EXHIBIT 7.1(d)

FORM OF LEVERAGE CERTIFICATE

This Leverage Certificate is given by Texas Petrochemicals LP (“Company”), for itself and the other Borrowers, pursuant to Section 7.1(d) of that certain Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of June 27, 2006, among Company, the other Borrowers named therein, the Lenders signatory thereto from time to time, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Administrative Agent, and LaSalle Bank National Association, as Collateral Agent (as such agreement may have been amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Revolving Credit Agreement”). Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings set forth in the Revolving Credit Agreement.

The undersigned is a Responsible Financial Officer of the Company and is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Leverage Certificate on behalf of Borrowers. By executing this Leverage Certificate such officer hereby certifies to the Administrative Agent and Lenders that (a) the Leverage Ratio of the Company is              as set forth in the calculations set forth on Schedule 1 hereto and (b) based upon the calculation of the Leverage Ratio as set forth on Schedule 1 hereto, the Applicable Base Rate Margin and the Applicable Eurocurrency Margin shall be calculated using Level         .

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Leverage Certificate to be executed this              day of                     .

 

By:    
Name:    
Title:    


LEVERAGE RATIO

 

1. Consolidated Debt of Company and its Subsidiaries (Last day of Test Period) (Line 6)

   $             

2. Consolidated EBITDA of Company and its Subsidiaries (Line 7 plus Line 8 minus Line 9)

   $             

3. Leverage Ratio (Line 1 divided by Line 2)1

     _____
Consolidated Debt   

4. Indebtedness of Company and its Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis to the extent classified on a balance sheet of Company and its Subsidiaries as liabilities in accordance with GAAP (and in any event, but without duplication, including Disqualified Stock but excluding (a) Indebtedness related to Permitted Preferred Stock and Ordinary Equity Interests to the extent such amount is characterized as debt due to SFAS 150 and (b) the mark-to-market exposure in respect of Interest Rate Agreements and Other Hedging Agreements)

   $             

5. Attributable Debt of Company and its Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis

   $             

6. Consolidated Debt (Line 4 plus Line 5)

   $             
Consolidated EBITDA   

7. Consolidated Net Income

   $             

8. To the extent deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income the sum of:

  

(a) Consolidated Interest Expense

   $             

(b) charges against income for foreign, federal, state and local taxes in each case based on income and for franchise taxes

   $             

(c) depreciation expense

   $             

 

1

Additional details relating to the Leverage Ratio to be provided upon request of Administrative Agent.


(d) amortization expense, including, without limitation, amortization of good will and other intangible assets, fees, costs and expenses in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of any of the Transaction Documents and other fees, costs and expenses in connection with Acquisitions

   $             

(e) write-off of deferred financing costs originally incurred in connection with Indebtedness being repaid on the Closing Date

   $             

(f) non-cash charges resulting from any write-down of assets

   $             

(g) non-cash, non-recurring charges, including non-cash impairment, abandonment and restructuring charges

   $             

(h) non-cash expenses for Capital Stock-based compensation related to Capital Stock-based compensation plans that do not represent a cash item in any future period

   $             

Sum of (a) through (h)

   $             

9 To the extent added in computing Consolidated Net Income the sum of

  

(a) non-cash nonrecurring after-tax gains (or minus non-cash nonrecurring after-tax losses)

   $             

(b) any gain resulting from any write-up of assets (other than with respect to any company owned life insurance program)

   $             

Sum of (a) and (b)

   $             


EXHIBIT 7.2(a)

FORM OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

TEXAS PETROCHEMICALS LP

Date:                              ,             

This Compliance Certificate is given by Texas Petrochemicals LP (“Company”), for itself and its Subsidiaries, pursuant to Section 7.2(a) of that certain Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of June __, 2006 among Company, the other Borrowers named therein, the Lenders signatory thereto from time to time, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Administrative Agent, and LaSalle Bank National Association, as Collateral Agent (as such agreement may have been amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Revolving Credit Agreement”). Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings set forth in the Revolving Credit Agreement.

The undersigned is a Responsible Financial Officer of the Company and is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Compliance Certificate on behalf of Company. By executing this Compliance Certificate such officer hereby certifies to the Administrative Agent and Lenders that:

(a) the financial statements delivered with this Compliance Certificate in accordance with Section 7.1[(a)]/[(b)] of the Revolving Credit Agreement fairly present in all material respects, in accordance with GAAP, the results of operations and financial condition of Company and its Subsidiaries as of the dates of such financial statements;

(b) I have no knowledge of the existence as of the date hereof, of any continuing condition or event that constitutes an Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default, except as set forth on Schedule 1 hereto, which includes a description of the nature and period of existence of such Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default and what action Company has taken, is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto;

(c) except as set forth on Schedule 1 hereto, Borrowers are in compliance with the covenants contained in Articles 7, 8 and 9 of the Revolving Credit Agreement, as demonstrated on Schedule 1 hereto; [TO BE COMPLETED ONLY WITH QUARTERLY CERTIFICATION (INCLUDING FISCAL YEAR END)];

(d) the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company is          as set forth in the calculations set forth on Schedule 1 hereto;

(e) the Leverage Ratio of the Company is          as set forth in the calculations set forth on Schedule 1 hereto; based upon the calculation of the Leverage Ratio as set forth on Schedule 1 hereto, the Applicable Base Rate Margin and the Applicable Eurocurrency Margin shall be calculated using Level     ; [TO BE COMPLETED ONLY WITH QUARTERLY CERTIFICATION (INCLUDING FISCAL YEAR END)]; and


(f) the aggregate amount of cash or short-term investments subject to Liens described in clause (xii) of the definition of “Customary Permitted Liens” is $            ; and the sum of such amount plus the amount of Approved Secured Derivative Transaction Liabilities does not exceed $20,000,000.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Company has caused this Compliance Certificate to be executed by its                      this      day of                                     ,             .

 

By:

   

Name: 

   

Title:

   


SCHEDULE 1

CONDITIONS OR EVENTS THAT CONSTITUTE AN EVENT OF DEFAULT OR

UNMATURED EVENT OF DEFAULT

[If any condition or event exists that constitutes an Event of Default or an Unmatured Event of Default, specify nature and period of existence and what action Company has taken, is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto; if no condition or event exists, state “None.”]


LEVERAGE RATIO

 

1. Consolidated Debt of Company and its Subsidiaries (Last day of Test Period) (Line 6)

   $             

2. Consolidated EBITDA of Company and its Subsidiaries (Line 7 plus Line 8 minus Line 9)

   $             

3. Leverage Ratio (Line 1 divided by Line 2)2

     ______
Consolidated Debt   

4. Indebtedness of Company and its Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis to the extent classified on a balance sheet of Company and its Subsidiaries as liabilities in accordance with GAAP (and in any event, but without duplication, including Disqualified Stock but excluding (a) Indebtedness related to Permitted Preferred Stock and Ordinary Equity Interests to the extent such amount is characterized as debt due to SFAS 150 and (b) the mark-to-market exposure in respect of Interest Rate Agreements and Other Hedging Agreements)

   $             

5. Attributable Debt of Company and its Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis

   $             

6. Consolidated Debt (Line 4 plus Line 5)

   $             
Consolidated EBITDA   

7. Consolidated Net Income

   $             

8. To the extent deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income the sum of:

  

(a) Consolidated Interest Expense

   $             

(b) charges against income for foreign, federal, state and local taxes in each case based on income and for franchise taxes

   $             

(c) depreciation expense

   $             

 

2

Additional details relating to the Leverage Ratio to be provided upon request of Administrative Agent.


(d) amortization expense, including, without limitation, amortization of good will and other intangible assets, fees, costs and expenses in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of any of the Transaction Documents and other fees, costs and expenses in connection with Acquisitions

   $             

(e) write-off of deferred financing costs originally incurred in connection with Indebtedness being repaid on the Closing Date

   $             

(f) non-cash charges resulting from any write-down of assets

   $             

(g) non-cash, non-recurring charges, including non-cash impairment, abandonment and restructuring charges

   $             

(h) non-cash expenses for Capital Stock-based compensation related to Capital Stock-based compensation plans that do not represent a cash item in any future period

   $             

Sum of (a) through (h)

   $             

9. To the extent added in computing Consolidated Net Income the sum of

  

(a) non-cash nonrecurring after-tax gains (or minus non-cash nonrecurring after-tax losses)

   $             

(b) any gain resulting from any write-up of assets (other than with respect to any company owned life insurance program)

   $             

Sum of (a) and (b)

   $             


RESTRICTED PAYMENTS

(Section 8.5)

A. Restricted Payments in the form of, and/or Restricted Payments to Holdings LP and Holdings GP for immediate use for: (i) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Capital Stock or options, warrants or other rights to acquire Capital Stock of Holdings GP, Company or any Subsidiary of Company in connection with any management equity subscription agreement, stock option agreement, shareholders’ agreement, stock appreciation rights program, severance agreement, employee benefit plan or agreement or similar agreement, or (ii) the repurchase for value of any Capital Stock or options, warrants or other rights to acquire Capital Stock of Holdings GP in the open market to satisfy stock options issues by Holdings GP that are outstanding:

 

Actual (Fiscal Year to date)

   $                 

Permitted (Fiscal Year to date)

   $ 5,000,000

In compliance

     Yes/No

Actual (term of Revolving Credit Agreement)

   $                 

Permitted (term of Revolving Credit Agreement)

   $ 12,500,000

In compliance

     Yes/No

B. Other Restricted Payments not expressly permitted by Section 8.5 of Revolving Credit Agreement

 

1. Actual (from and after Closing Date)

   $             

2. Investments made pursuant to Section 8.7(p)

   $             

3. Sum of Line 1 and Line 2

   $             

4. Company's cumulative Consolidated Net Income (from June 30, 2006 through end of most recent Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered

   $             

5. Line 4 multiplied by 0.25

   $             

6. Line 3 less than or equal to Line 5?

     Yes/No

In compliance

     Yes/No


MINIMUM CONSOLIDATED FIXED CHARGE COVERAGE RATIO

(Section 9.1)

 

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio3 :

   _____

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Requirement

   1.00 to 1.00

 

 

3

Although the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is calculated for each Fiscal Quarter, it is tested only if a Liquidity Event occurs or continues during the Fiscal Quarter following the Fiscal Quarter for which this certificate is being delivered. Details relating to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio to be provided upon request of Administrative Agent.


EXHIBIT 7.2(g)

FORM OF BORROWING BASE CERTIFICATE

Pursuant to Section 7.2(g) of the Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of June 27, 2006, among the undersigned, Texas Butylene Chemical Corporation, a Texas corporation (“Texas Butylene” and together with the undersigned, the “Borrowers”), the financial institutions party thereto as Lenders, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Administrative Agent, and LaSalle Bank National Association, as Collateral Agent (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Revolving Credit Agreement”), the undersigned certifies that as of the close of business on                          , 200    , the Borrowing Base is computed as set forth below. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings specified in the Revolving Credit Agreement.

 

VALUE OF ELIGIBLE INVENTORY      
          Expressed in (000)

Total Inventory balance:

      $             
Less (without duplication) Inventory that is (aggregate of (a) through (i) shall constitute “Ineligible Inventory”):      

(a)    not owned by a Borrower

   $               

(b)    not subject to perfected first priority security interest in favor of Administrative Agent

   $               

(c)    subject to other claims, liens, security interests or encumbrances, other than Permitted Liens

   $               

(d)    not located on one of the premises listed on Schedule 1.1(a) to the Revolving Credit Agreement or other locations of which Administrative Agent has been advised in writing

   $               

(e)    in transit (except for Inventory in transit from one of such locations listed on Schedule 1.1(a) to the Revolving Credit Agreement or other locations of which Administrative Agent has been advised in writing) to another location in the United States

   $               


(f)     not new and unused or not free from defects that would adversely affect its market value, if held for sale or lease or furnishing under contracts of service

   $                

(g)    stored with a bailee, consignee, warehouseman, processor or similar party w/o warehouse receipts, Bailee Waivers, Landlord Consents and such other documents as Administrative Agent shall require or no 3 month reserve of rent or charges is maintained with respect thereto

   $                

(h)    unacceptable due to age, type, category or quantity

   $                

(i)     Inventory with respect to which any of the representations and warranties contained in the Revolving Credit Agreement are untrue

   $                

(j)     Inventory which violates any of the covenants of the Borrowers contained in the Revolving Credit Agreement

   $                

         Ineligible Inventory

   $                

Eligible Inventory

      $             

2.      65% of Eligible Inventory

      $             

3.      85% of Net Orderly Liquidation Value

      $             

4.      Lesser of (i) Line 2 and (ii) Line 3

      $             
VALUE OF ELIGIBLE ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE      

Total Accounts Receivable Balance

      $             

Less (without duplication) Accounts that are (aggregate of (a) through (t) shall constitute “Ineligible Accounts Receivable”):

     

(a)    not genuine and not in all respects what it purports to be

   $                

(b)    not owned by a Borrower

   $                


(c)    not subject to perfected first priority security interest in favor of Administrative Agent

   $                

(d)    subject to other claims, liens, security interests or encumbrances, other than Permitted Liens

   $                

(e)    arising from the sale or lease of goods and either (i) such goods have not been completed in accordance with the account debtor’s specifications (if any) and delivered or shipped to the account debtor, (ii) such account debtor has refused to accept, returned or offered to return, any of the goods which are the subject of such Account, or (iii) if applicable, such Borrower does not have possession of, or such Borrower has not delivered to Administrative Agent (at Administrative Agent’s request) shipping and delivery receipts evidencing delivery of such goods

   $                

(f)     arising from the performance of services and such services have not been acknowledged and accepted by the account debtor

   $                

(g)    not evidenced by an invoice rendered to the account debtor thereunder (or the goods have been shipped and title passed prior to invoice, but no invoice has been rendered within 30 days thereafter or, if sooner, before the 15th of the month following the month such goods have been shipped), or such invoice is not due and payable within sixty (60) days after the date of the invoice or remains unpaid sixty (60) days past the due date thereof; provided, however, that if more than fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate dollar amount of invoices owing by a particular account debtor remain unpaid sixty (60) days after the respective due dates thereof, then all Accounts owing by that account debtor shall be deemed ineligible

   $                

(h)    not valid, legally enforceable or unconditional obligations of the account debtor thereunder

   $                


(i)     subject to setoff, counterclaim, credit, allowance or adjustment by account debtor or any claim by account debtor denying liability in whole or in part

   $                

(j)     arising out of a contract or order which fails in any material respect to comply with the requirements of applicable law

   $                

(k)    Accounts whose account debtors are Affiliates of a Credit Party

   $                

(l)     Accounts whose account debtor is U.S., any State, political subdivision, etc. unless applicable Borrower has assigned right to payment to Administrative Agent in compliance with the Assignment of Claims Act of 1940 or other applicable Requirement of Law

   $                

(m)   Accounts whose account debtor is located in a state that requires filing of a certificate of authority to do business and be in good standing in such state or file a notice of business activities report or similar report with such state’s taxing authority unless the applicable Borrower has taken such action or if such Borrower’s failure to take such action may be cured retroactively or if such Borrower is exempt from such requirements

   $                

(n)    not payable in U.S. Dollars

   $                

(o)    Accounts whose account debtors are outside the U.S. and Canada, unless the Account is supported or secured by an irrevocable letter of credit which is in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent and issued by a financial institution acceptable to Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent has a first priority perfected security interest in such letter of credit and the related Letter-of-credit rights and Supporting Obligations or the amount of such Account when aggregated with all other such Accounts does not exceed $5,000,000

   $                


(p)    subject to any repurchase obligation or return right, as with sales made on a bill-and-hold, guaranteed sale, sale on approval, sale or return or consignment basis;

   $                

(q)    Accounts with respect to which any of the representations and warranties contained in the Revolving Credit Agreement are untrue

   $                

(r)     Accounts which violate any of the covenants of the Borrowers contained in the Revolving Credit Agreement

   $                

(s)    Accounts which, when aggregated with all other Accounts of such account debtor (and any Affiliate thereof), exceeds 20 percent (20%), in face value of all Accounts of the Borrowers combined then outstanding, to the extent of such excess; provided that Accounts insured in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, guaranteed by a guarantor reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent or supported or secured by an irrevocable letter of credit in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and issued by a financial institution satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent has a first priority perfected security interest in such letter of credit and related Letter-of-Credit Rights and Supporting Obligations (each as defined in the UCC), shall be excluded for the purposes of such calculation to the extent of the face amount of such letter of credit or, in the case of insurance or guarantees, as determined by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion

     

(t)     Accounts whose account debtor is the subject of an Act of Bankruptcy unless payment is secured by assets of or guaranteed by, in either case in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, a Person not subject to an Act of Bankruptcy and acceptable to the Administrative Agent, or the Administrative Agent shall have determined that timely payment and collection will not be impaired

     


(u)      Accounts the goods giving rise to which are Eligible Inventory

     

           Total Ineligible Receivables:

   $                

Eligible Accounts Receivable

      $            

5.        85% of Eligible Receivables

      $            
TOTAL BORROWING BASE      

6.        (Add Lines 4 and 5)

      $            

7.        Net Approved Secured Derivative Transaction Liabilities (if greater than $0)

   $                

8.        (Line 6 minus line 7)

      $            

9.        Amount of reserves established by Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion

   $                

10.      Borrowing Base (Line 8 minus line 9)

      $            
REVOLVING LOANS OUTSTANDING      

11.      Principal amount of Loans outstanding

      $            
LETTERS OF CREDIT      

12.      Aggregate Letter of Credit Obligations

      $            
REVOLVING LOAN AVAILABILITY      

13.      Lesser of (a) Line of Credit and (b) Line 10 minus sum of Line 11 and Line 12

      $            

The calculation of the Borrowing Base and the determination of Eligible Inventory and Eligible Accounts Receivable are based upon calculations and determinations made in accordance with the terms of the Revolving Credit Agreement.


The Borrowers hereby certify that the foregoing and the attached schedule(s) (if any) are true and correct in all material respects. The Borrowers hereby certify and warrant that, except as contemplated or permitted by the Revolving Credit Agreement, on the date of this certificate, the Eligible Accounts Receivable and the Eligible Inventory reported herein are free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens.

 

TEXAS PETROCHEMICALS LP

By: Texas Petrochemicals Inc., its general partner

By:

   

Title:

 

Chief Financial Officer

Date:                     

 

TEXAS BUTYLENE CHEMICAL CORPORATION

By:

   

Title:

 

Chief Financial Officer

Date:                     


EXHIBIT 12.8(c)

FORM OF

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT

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

For an agreed consideration, Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to Assignee, and Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from Assignor, subject to and in accordance with the Standard Terms and Conditions and the Revolving Credit Agreement, as of the Effective Date inserted by Administrative Agent as contemplated below, the interest in and to all of Assignor’s rights and obligations under the Revolving Credit Agreement and any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto that represents the amount and percentage interest identified below of all of Assignor’s outstanding rights and obligations under the respective facilities identified below (including, to the extent included in any such facilities, Letters of Credit) (the “Assigned Interest”). Such sale and assignment is without recourse to Assignor and, except as expressly provided in this Assignment, without representation or warranty by Assignor.

 

1.

   Assignor:    __________________________________________

2.

   Assignee:    __________________________________________

3.

   Revolving Credit Agreement:    The Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of June 27, 2006 among Texas Petrochemicals, LP, Texas Butylene Chemical Corporation, the Lenders party thereto, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Administrative Agent and LaSalle Bank National Association, as Collateral Agent.


4.

Assigned Interest:

 

Facility Assigned

   Aggregate
Amount of
Commitment/
Loans

for all Lenders
   Amount of
Commitment/Loans
Assigned
   Percentage
Assigned of
Commitment/Loans4
 

Revolving Credit Facility

   $                 $                         

 

4

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


Effective Date:                          , 20    

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

 

ASSIGNOR

[NAME OF ASSIGNOR]

   

ASSIGNEE

[NAME OF ASSIGNEE]

By: 

       

By: 

   
 

Name:

     

Name:

 

Title:

     

Title:

      Payment Instructions:
     

 

     

 

     

 

     

Attention:

   
     

Reference: 

   
     

Address for Notices:

     

 

     

 

     

 

     

Relationship Contact: 

   
     

Telephone: 

   
     

Fax: 

   

[Consented to and]5 Accepted:

 

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Administrative Agent

By

   
 

Name:

 

Title:

 

5

To be added only if the consent of the Administrative Agent is required by the terms of Section 12.8 of the Revolving Credit Agreement.


[Consented to:]6

 

TEXAS PETROCHEMICALS LP

By: Texas Petrochemicals Inc., its general partner

By

   
 

Name:

 

Title:

TEXAS BUTYLENE CHEMICAL CORPORATION

By:

   
 

Name:

 

Title:

 

6

To be added only in the circumstances set forth in Section 12.8 of the Revolving Credit Agreement.


ANNEX 1

TO ASSIGNMENT

STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR ASSIGNMENT

AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT

1. Representations and Warranties.

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

1.2. Assignee. Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Revolving Credit Agreement, (ii) it meets all requirements of an Eligible Assignee under the Revolving Credit Agreement, (iii) from and after the Effective Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Revolving Credit Agreement and, to the extent of the Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder, (iv) it has received a copy of the Revolving Credit Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 7.1 thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and to purchase the Assigned Interest on the basis of which it has made such analysis and decision, and (v) if it is a Lender organized under the law of a jurisdiction outside of the United States, attached to the Assignment is any documentation required to be delivered by it pursuant to the terms of the Revolving Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by the Assignee; and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance on the Agent, the Assignor or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Loan Documents, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

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


3. General Provisions. This Assignment shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Assignment may be executed in any number of counterparts, which together shall constitute one instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Assignment by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment. THIS ASSIGNMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (INCLUDING SECTION 5-1401 OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW).


Schedule 1.1(a)

Business and Collateral Locations

Business Locations:

 

Credit Party

  

Mailing Address

  

Landlord (if applicable,
including address and
telephone number)

  

County,
State

  

Purpose

Texas Petrochemicals LP   

4601 Baker Road

Baytown, Texas 77512

   Owned    Harris, Texas    Corporate Office and Collateral Location
   8600 Park Place Blvd, Houston, TX 77017    Owned    Harris, Texas    Corporate Office and Collateral Location
  

5151 San Felipe, Suite 800

Houston, Texas 77056

  

Sage Plaza One LTD

2121 Sage Rd, Suite 333,

Houston, TX 77056

(713) 622-0000 x 22

   Harris, Texas    Corporate Office and Collateral Location
TP Capital Corp.   

5151 San Felipe, Suite 800

Houston, Texas 77056

  

Sage Plaza One LTD

2121 Sage Rd, Suite 333,

Houston, TX 77056

(713) 622-0000 x 22

   Harris, Texas    Corporate Office and Collateral Location
Texas Butylene Chemical Corporation   

5151 San Felipe, Suite 800

Houston, Texas 77056

  

Sage Plaza One LTD

2121 Sage Rd, Suite 333,

Houston, TX 77056

(713) 622-0000 x 22

   Harris, Texas    Corporate Office and Collateral Location
  

3524 Cities Service Highway

Westlake, LA 70669

  

Fred & Juanita Vincent

2425 Katy Drive, Sulfur LA 70665

Tel # Not Applicable

   Calcasieu, Louisiana    Corporate Office and Collateral Location


Credit Party

  

Mailing Address

  

Landlord (if applicable,
including address and
telephone number)

  

County,
State

  

Purpose

Texas Olefins Domestic-International Sales Corporation   

5151 San Felipe, Suite 800

Houston, Texas 77056

  

Sage Plaza One LTD

2121 Sage Rd, Suite 333,

Houston, TX 77056

(713) 622-0000 x 22

   Harris, Texas    Corporate Office and Collateral Location
Port Neches Fuels, LLC   

2102 Spur 136

Port Neches, Texas 77651

   Owned    Jefferson, Texas    Corporate Office and Collateral Location
Houston Fuels, LLC    8600 Park Place Blvd, Houston, TX 77017    Owned    Harris, Texas    Corporate Office and Collateral Location

Other Collateral Locations:

 

Credit Party Maintaining
Collateral

  

Landlord or Operator

  

Location Address

  

City, State, Zip

  

Purpose

All Credit Parties

  

Texas Brine

(713) 433-4595

   3000 Feldmon RD.    Houston, Texas 77045    Inventory Location

All Credit Parties

  

Afton Chemical

(618) 853 - 1377

   501 Monsanto Ave    Sauget, Illinois 62201    Inventory Location

All Credit Parties

  

Chem Central

(713) 675 - 5241

   11235 FM 529    Houston, Texas 77041    Inventory Location

All Credit Parties

  

Third Coast Terminals

(281) 997-4300

   1871 Mykawa Road    Pearland, Texas 77851    Terminal

All Credit Parties

  

CSXT Transflo

(518) 458-7233

   One Exchange St    Albany, New York 12205    Inventory Location

All Credit Parties

  

Valero

(409) 948-8260

   111 Dock Road    Texas City, Texas 77590    Inventory Location

All Credit Parties

  

Wolflake Terminals

(219) 937-4300

   3200 Sheffield Avenue    Hammond, Indiana 46325    Terminal

All Credit Parties

  

Afton Chemical

(713) 740-8424

   1000 N. South Avenue    Pasadena, Texas 77503    Inventory Location

All Credit Parties

  

Targa Resources

(713) 450-7200

   12510 American Petroleum Road    Galena Park, Texas 77547    Inventory Location

All Credit Parties

  

Unocal Beaumont Terminal

(409) 722-3441

   Highway 366    Nederland, Texas 77627    Terminal


Schedule 1.1(b)

Consolidated EBITDA

Consolidated EBITDA for each fiscal quarter set forth below shall be deemed to be equal to the corresponding amounts set forth below:

 

September 30, 2005

   $ 36,866M

December 31, 2005

   $ 15,780M

March 31, 2006

   $ 19,500M

June 30, 2006

   $ 29,583M


Schedule 1.1(c)

Permitted Subordinated Debt Provisions

See attached.


SCHEDULE 1.1(c)

SUBORDINATION TERMS

ARTICLE 1

SUBORDINATION

Section 1.01 Agreement To Subordinate The Issuer agrees, and. each Holder by accepting a Note agrees, that the payment of all Obligations owing in respect of the Notes is subordinated in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner provided in this Article 1, to the prior payment in full of all existing and future Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer and that the subordination is for the benefit of and enforceable by the holders of such Senior Indebtedness. The Notes shall in all respects rank part passu in right of payment with all existing and future Pari Passu Indebtedness of the Issuer, and will be senior in right of payment to all existing and future Subordinated Indebtedness of the Issuer; and only Indebtedness of the Issuer that is Senior Indebtedness shall rank senior to the Notes in accordance with the provisions set forth herein. All provisions of this Article 1 shall be subject to Section 1.12.

Section 1.02 Liquidation, Dissolution, Bankruptcy Upon any payment or distribution of the assets of the Issuer to creditors upon a total or partial liquidation or a total or partial dissolution of the Issuer or in a bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, receivership or similar proceeding relating to the Issuer or its property:

(i) the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer shall be entitled to receive payment in full in cash of such Senior Indebtedness before Holders shall be entitled to receive any payment; and

(ii) until the Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer is paid in full in cash, any payment or distribution to which Holders would be entitled but for the subordination provisions hereof shall be made to holders of such Senior Indebtedness as their interests may appear, except that Holders may receive Permitted Junior Securities.

Section 1.03 Default on Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer The Issuer shall not pay principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes (or pay any other Obligations relating to the Notes, including Additional Interest; fees, costs, expenses, indemnities and rescission or damage claims) or make any deposit pursuant to Article 8 [Discharge of Indenture/Defeasance] or Article 13 [Miscellaneous] hereof and may not purchase, redeem or otherwise retire any Notes (collectively, “pay the Notes”) (except in the form of Permitted Junior Securities) if either of the following occurs (a “Payment Default”):

(i) any Obligation on any Designated Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer is not paid in full in cash when due (after giving effect to any applicable grace period); or

(ii) any other default on Designated Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer occurs and the maturity of such Designated Senior Indebtedness is accelerated in accordance with its terms;

unless, in either case, the Payment Default has been cured or waived and any such acceleration has been rescinded or such Designated Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full in cash; provided, however, that the Issuer shall be entitled to pay the Notes without regard to the foregoing if the Issuer and the Trustee receive written notice approving such payment from the Representatives of all Designated Senior Indebtedness with respect to which the Payment Default has occurred and is continuing.


During the continuance of any default (other than a Payment Default) (a “Non-Payment Default”) with respect to any Designated Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer pursuant to which the maturity thereof may be accelerated without further notice (except such notice as may be required to effect such acceleration) or the expiration of any applicable grace periods, the Issuer shall not pay the Notes (except in the form of Permitted Junior Securities) for a period (a “Payment Blockage Period”) commencing upon the receipt by the Trustee (with a copy to the Issuer) of written notice (a “Blockage Notice”) of such Non- Payment Default from the Representative of such Designated Senior Indebtedness specifying an election to effect a Payment Blockage Period and ending 179 days thereafter. So long as there shall remain out standing any Senior Indebtedness under the Senior Credit Facilities, a Blockage Notice may be given only by the administrative agent thereunder unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the requisite lenders named therein. The Payment Blockage Period shall end earlier if such Payment Blockage Period is terminated (i) by written notice to the Trustee and die Issuer from the Person or Persons who gave such Blockage Notice; (ii) because the default giving rise to such Blockage Notice is cured, waived or otherwise no longer continuing; or (iii) because such Designated Senior Indebtedness has been discharged or repaid in full in cash.

Notwithstanding the provisions described in the immediately preceding two sentences (but subject to the provisions contained in the first sentence of this Section 1.03 and Section 1.02 hereof), unless the holders of such Designated Senior Indebtedness or the Representative of such Designated Senior Indebtedness shall have accelerated the maturity of such Designated Senior Indebtedness or a Payment Default has occurred and is continuing, the Issuer shall be entitled to resume paying the Notes after the end of such Payment Blockage Period. The Notes shall not be subject to more than one Payment Blockage Period in any consecutive 360-day period irrespective of the number of defaults with respect to Designated Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer during such period; provided that if any Blockage Notice is delivered to the Trustee by or on behalf of the holders of Designated Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer (other than the holders of Indebtedness under the Senior Credit Facilities), a Representative of holders of Indebtedness under the Senior Credit Facilities may give another Blockage Notice within such period. However, in no event shall the total number of days during which any Payment Blockage Period or Periods of the Notes, is in effect exceed 179 days in the aggregate during any consecutive 360-day period, and there must be at least 181 days during any consecutive 360-day period during which no Payment Blockage Period is in effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, no default that existed or was continuing on the date of delivery of any Blockage Notice to the Trustee shall be, or be made, the basis for a subsequent Blockage Notice unless such default shall have been waived for a period of not less than 90 days (it being acknowledged that any subsequent action, or any breach of any financial covenants during the period after the date of delivery of a Blockage Notice, that, in either case, would give rise to a Non-Payment Default pursuant to any provisions under which a Non-Payment Default previously existed or was continuing shall constitute a new Non-Payment Default for this purpose).

Section 1.04 Acceleration of Payment of Notes If payment of the Notes is accelerated because of an Event of Default, the Issuer shall promptly notify the holders of the Designated Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer or the Representative of such Designated Senior Indebtedness of the acceleration; provided that any failure to give such notice shall have no effect whatsoever on the provisions of this Article 1. If any Designated Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer is outstanding, the Issuer may not pay the Notes until five Business Days after the holders of such Designated Senior Indebtedness (or their Representatives) receive notice of such acceleration and, thereafter, may pay the Notes only if this Indenture otherwise permits payment at that time.

Section 1.05 When Distribution Must Be Paid Over If a distribution is made to Holders that, due to the subordination provisions contained in this Article, should not have been made to them, such Holders or the Trustee are required to hold it in trust for the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer and pay it over to them as their interests may appear.


Section 1.06 Subrogation After all Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer is paid in full and until the Notes are paid in full, Holders shall be subrogated to the rights of holders of such Senior Indebtedness to receive distributions applicable to such Senior Indebtedness. A distribution made under this Article 1 to holders of such Senior Indebtedness which otherwise would have been made to Holders is not, as between the Issuer and Holders, a payment by the Issuer on such Senior Indebtedness.

Section 1.07 Relative Rights This Article 1 defines the relative rights of Holders and holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer. Nothing in this Indenture shall:

(i) impair, as between the Issuer and Holders, the obligation of the Issuer, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay principal of and interest on the Notes in accordance with their terms;

(ii) prevent the Trustee or any Holder from exercising its available remedies upon a Default, subject to the rights of holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer to receive payments or distributions otherwise payable to Holders and such other rights of such holders of Senior Indebtedness as set forth herein; or

(iii) affect the relative rights of Holders and creditors of the Issuer other than their rights in relation to holders of Senior Indebtedness.

Section 1.08 Subordination May Not Be Impaired by Issuer No right of any holder of Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer to enforce the subordination of the Indebtedness evidenced by the Notes shall be impaired by any actor failure to act by the Issuer or by its failure to comply with this Indenture.

Section 1.09 Rights of Trustee and Paving Agent Notwithstanding Section 1.03 hereof, the Trustee or any Paying Agent may continue to make payments on the Notes and shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of facts that would prohibit the making of any payments unless, not less than two Business Days prior to the date of such payment, a Responsible Officer of the Trustee receives notice satisfactory to him that payments may not be made under this Article 1. The Issuer, the Registrar, the Paying Agent, a Representative or a holder of Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer shall be entitled to give the notice; provided, however, that, if an issue of Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer has a Representative, only the Representative shall be entitled to give the notice.

The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity shall be entitled to hold Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall be entitled to do the same with like rights. The Trustee shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article 1 with respect to any Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer which may at any time be held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of such Senior Indebtedness; and. nothing in Article 7 [Trustee] shall deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder. Nothing in this Article 1 shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 7.07 [Compensation and Indemnity] hereof or any other Section of this Indenture.

Section 1.10 Distribution or Notice to Representative Whenever a distribution is to be made or a notice given to holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer, the distribution may be made and the notice given to their Representative (if any).

Section 1.11 Article 1 Not To Prevent Events of Default or Limit Right To Accelerate The failure to make a payment pursuant to the Notes by reason of any provision in this Article 1 shall not be construed as preventing the occurrence of a Default. Nothing in this Article 1 shall have any effect on the right of the Holders or the Trustee to accelerate the maturity of the Notes.


Section 1.12 Trust Moneys Not Subordinated Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, payments from money or the proceeds of Government Securities held in trust by the Trustee for the payment of principal of and interest on the Notes pursuant to Article 8 [Discharge of Indenture/ Defeasance] or Article 13 [Miscellaneous] hereof shall not be subordinated to the prior payment of any Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer or subject to the restrictions set forth in this Article 1, and none of the Holders shall be obligated to pay over any such amount to the Issuer or any holder of Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer or any other creditor of fee Issuer, provided that the subordination provisions of this Article 1 were not violated at the time the applicable amounts were deposited in trust pursuant to Article 8 or Article 13 hereof, as the case may be.

Section 1.13 Trustee Entitled To Rely Upon any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article l the Trustee and the Holders shall be entitled to rely (a) upon any order or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction in which any proceedings of the nature referred to in Section 1.02 hereof are pending, (b) upon a certificate of the liquidating trustee or agent or other Person making such payment or distribution to the Trustee or to the Holders or (c) upon the Representatives of Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such payment or distribution, the holders of such Senior Indebtedness and other Indebtedness of (he Issuer, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article 1. In the event that the Trustee determines, in good faith, that evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article 1, the Trustee shall be entitled to request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of such Senior Indebtedness held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article 1, and, if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee shall be entitled to defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment. The provisions of Sections 7.01 [Duties of Trustee] and 7.02 [Rights of Trustee] hereof shall be applicable to all actions or omissions of actions by the Trustee pursuant to this Article 1.

Section 1.14 Trustee To Effectuate Subordination A Holder by its acceptance of a Note agrees to be bound by this Article 1 and authorizes and expressly directs the Trustee, on his behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination between the Holders and the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer as provided in this Article 1 and appoints the Trustee as attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.

Section 1.15 Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer and shall not be liable to any such holders if it shall mistakenly pay over or distribute to Holders or the Issuer or any other Person, money or assets to which any holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer shall be entitled by virtue of this Article 1 or otherwise.

Section 1.16 Reliance by Holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer on Subordination Provisions Each Holder by accepting a Note acknowledges and agrees that the foregoing subordination provisions are, and are intended to be, an inducement and a consideration to each holder of any Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer, whether such Senior Indebtedness was created or acquired before or after the issuance of the Notes, to acquire and continue to hold, or to continue to hold, such Senior Indebtedness and such holder of such Senior Indebtedness shall be deemed conclusively to have relied on such subordination provisions in acquiring and continuing to hold, or in continuing to hold, such Senior Indebtedness.


Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph, the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer may, at any time and from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Trustee or the Holders, without incurring responsibility to the Trustee or the Holders and without impairing or releasing the subordination provided in this Article 1 or the obligations hereunder of the Holders to the holders of the Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer, do any one or more of the following: (i) change the manner, place or terms of payment or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer, or otherwise amend or supplement in any manner Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer, or any instrument evidencing the same or any agreement under which Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer is outstanding; (ii) sell, exchange, release or otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise securing Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer; (iii) release any Person liable in any manner for me payment or collection of Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer, and (iv) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against the Issuer and any other Person.

Section 1.17 DefinitionsDesignated Senior Indebtedness” means (a) any and all Indebtedness outstanding under the Senior Credit Facilities and (b) any other Senior Indebtedness with a principal amount in excess of $             .1

guarantee” means a guarantee other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business, direct or indirect, in any manner including, without limitation, through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof, of all or any part of any Indebtedness or other obligations.

Guarantee” means any guarantee of the obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes by a Guarantor in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture. When used as a verb, “Guarantee” shall have a corresponding meaning.

Guarantor” means any Person that incurs a Guarantee of the Notes; provided that upon the release and discharge of such Person from its Guarantee in accordance with this Indenture, such Person shall cease to be a Guarantor.

Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under:

(1) currency exchange, interest rate or commodity swap agreements, currency exchange, interest rate or commodity cap agreements and currency exchange, interest rate or commodity collar agreements; and

(2) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in currency exchange, interest rates or commodity prices.

Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person,

(a) any indebtedness (including principal and premium) of such Person, whether or not contingent,

 

 

1

to be agreed by Company and Administrative Agent at time of issuance.


(i) in respect of borrowed money,

(ii) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit (or, without double counting, reimbursement agreements in respect thereof),

(iii) representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property (including Capitalized Lease Obligations), except (A) any such balance that constitutes a trade payable or similar obligation to a trade creditor, in each case accrued in tine ordinary course of business and (B) reimbursement obligations in respect of trade letters of credit obtained in the ordinary course of business with expiration dates not in excess of 365 days from the date of issuance (x) to the extent undrawn or (y) if drawn, to the extent repaid in full within 20 business days of any such drawing, or

(iv) representing any Hedging Obligations, if and to the extent that any of the foregoing Indebtedness (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP,

(b) Disqualified Stock of such Person,

(c) to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation by such Person to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, on the Indebtedness of another Person (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business),

(d) to the extent not otherwise included, Indebtedness of another Person secured by a Lien on any asset owned by such Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person), and

(e) to the extent not otherwise included, the amount then outstanding (i.e., advanced, and received by, and available for use by, the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) under any Securitization Financing (as set forth in me books and records of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary and confirmed by the agent, trustee or other representative of the institution or group providing such Securitization Financing).

“Pari Passu Indebtedness” means:

(1) with respect to the Issuer, the Notes and any Indebtedness which ranks pari passu in right of payment to the Notes; and

(2) with respect to any Guarantor, its Guarantee and any Indebtedness which ranks pari passu in right of payment to such Guarantor’s Guarantee.

“Permitted Junior Securities” means unsecured debt of the Issuer or any Guarantor or any successor corporation or equity securities of any direct or indirect parent entity or any successor corporation that are subordinated to the payment of all then outstanding Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor, as applicable, at least to the same extent that the Notes are subordinated to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor, as applicable, on the Issue Date; provided that if any Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor, as applicable, outstanding on the date of consummation of any such plan of reorganization or readjustment is not paid in full in cash on such date, the holders of any such Senior Indebtedness not so paid in full in cash have consented to the terms of such plan of reorganization or readjustment.


Revolving Credit Agreement” means that certain Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of June 27,2006 among the Issuer, certain other subsidiaries of the Issuer from time to time parry thereto, the Lenders party thereto, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Administrative Agent, LaSalle Bank, National Association, as Collateral Agent and the other agents and lenders party thereto from time to lime, including any related notes, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and in each case as amended, restated, supplemented, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced from time to time in one or more agreements or indentures (in each case with the same or new lenders or institutional investors), including any agreement or indenture extending the maturity thereof or otherwise restructuring all or any portion of the Indebtedness thereunder or increasing the amount loaned or issued thereunder or altering the maturity thereof.

Senior Credit Facilities” mean (i) Term Loan Agreement and (ii) Revolving Credit Agreement and all collateral documents, guaranties, agreements and instruments executed in connection with either of the foregoing, in each case, as amended, amended and restated, supplemented, extended, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced from time to time, including, without limitation, increases in principal amount and extensions of term loans and other financings.

Senior Indebtedness” means:

(1) all Indebtedness of the Issuer or any Guarantor outstanding under the Senior Credit Facilities and related guarantees (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or similar proceeding or for reorganization of the Issuer or any Guarantor (at the rate provided for in the documentation with respect thereto, regardless of whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such proceedings)), and any and all other fees, expense reimbursement obligations, indemnification amounts, penalties, and other amounts (whether existing on the Issue Date or thereafter created or incurred) and all obligations of the Issuer or any Guarantor to reimburse any bank or other Person in respect of amounts paid under letters of credit, acceptances or other similar instruments;

(2) all Hedging Obligations (and guarantees thereof) owing to a Lender (as defined in the Senior Credit Facilities) or any Affiliate of such Lender (or any Person that was a Lender or an Affiliate of such Lender at the time the applicable agreement giving rise to such Hedging Obligation was entered into), provided that such Hedging Obligations are permitted to be incurred under the terms of this Indenture;

(3) any other Indebtedness (including Hedging Obligations) of the Issuer or any Guarantor (other man the Notes) permitted to be incurred under the terms of this Indenture, unless the instrument under which such Indebtedness is incurred expressly provides that it is on a parity with or subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or any related Guarantee;

(4) any deferrals, renewals, refinancings, replacements or extensions of such Senior Indebtedness; and

(5) all obligations with respect to the items listed in the preceding clauses (1), (2), (3) and (4);

provided, however, that Senior Indebtedness shall not include:

(a) any obligation of such Person to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries;

(b) any liability for federal, state, local or other taxes owed or owing by such Person;


(c) any accounts payable or other liability to trade creditors arising in the ordinary course of business (including guarantees thereof or instruments evidencing such liability);

(d) any Indebtedness or other Obligation of such Person which is subordinate or junior in any respect to any other Indebtedness or other Obligation of such Person;

(e) any obligations with respect to any capital stock of the Issuer except in respect of mandatory redemptions thereof; or

(f) that portion of any Indebtedness which at the time of incurrence is incurred in violation of this Indenture.

Subordinated Indebtedness” means, with respect to the Notes,

(1) any Indebtedness of the Issuer which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to fee Notes, and

(2) any Indebtedness of any Guarantor which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the Guarantee of such entity of the Notes.

Term Loan Agreement” means that certain Term Loan Agreement dated as of June 27, 2006 among the Issuer, the Lenders party thereto and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Administrative Agent and the other agents and lenders party thereto from time to time, including any related notes,, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and in each case as amended, restated, supplemented, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced from time to time in one or more agreements or indentures (in each case with the same or new lenders or institutional investors), including any agreement or indenture extending the maturity thereof or otherwise restructuring all or any portion of the Indebtedness thereunder or increasing the amount loaned or issued thereunder or altering the maturity thereof.


Schedule 3.9

Letter of Credit Outstanding on the Closing Date

 

Issuer:

  

LaSalle Bank, N.A.

Beneficiary:

  

Burns and McDonnell Engineering Co. Inc.

9400 Ward Parkway

Kansas City, Missouri 64114

L/C Number:

  

S 583314

Amount:

  

$2,300,000.00

Issued:

  

August 10, 2005

Expires:

  

March 31, 2007


Schedule 6.5(a)

Pro Forma Balance Sheet

See attached.


Texas Petrochemicals

Balance Sheet

($ in 000’s)

 

     Consolidated
Proforma
5/31/2006
ASSETS   

Current assets:

  

Cash and cash equivalents

   37,516

Accounts receivable - trade

   139,466

Inventories

   72,852

Other current assets

   12,142
    

Total current assets

   261,976

Property, plant and equipment, net

   413,275

Investment in limited partnership

   1,926

Other assets, not of accumulated amortization

   18,212
    

Total assets

   695,389
    
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ EQUITY   

Current liabilities:

  

Bank overdraft

   2,671

Accounts payable - trade

   139,774

Accrued expenses

   74,342
    

Total current liabilities

   216,787

Long-term debt

   210,000

Deferred income taxes

   40,976
    

Total Liabilities

   467,763

Equity:

  

Partners’ equity

   227,626
    

Total abilities and partners’ equity

   695,389
    


Texas Petrochemicals

Consolidated Core EBITDA

($ in 000’s)

 

     Quarter Ended
31-Mar-05
   Quarter Ended
30-Jun-05
   Quarter Ended
30-Sep-05
   Quarter Ended
31-Dec-05
   Quarter Ended
31-Mar-06
   Estimate of
Quarter Ended
30-Jun-06

Consolidated EBITDA

   17,263    30,646    36,866    15,780    19,500    29,583

 

Target:

  

2005 Quarterly Core EBITDA derived from Target Unaudited Management Reports

Adjusted for Overhead & Stand-Alone Costs-net $2,325 M/Qtr

LOU Outage Adjustment- $4,250 M/Qtr

December 31, 2005 - LOU Adjustment accounts for Impact of Hurricane Rita

Qtrly 2006 EBITDA Estimated- $5.0 MM


Schedule 6.5(d)

Projections

See attached.


Texas Petrochemicals

Consolidated EBITDA Projections

($ in 000’s)

 

     For Fiscal Year
     2006    2007    2008    2009    2010    2011    2012

EBITDA from Operations

   158,165    90,671    138,910    133,775    134,955    135,979    137,063


Schedule 6.10

Foreign Pension Plans

None.


Schedule 6.11(c)

Owned or Leased Real Property

 

    

Property Address

  

Owner/Lessee

  

Type of Interest

  

Subject to
Mortgage?

1.    Louisiana, Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, 3524 City Service Highway, Westlake    Fred & Juanita Vincent/Texas Butylene Chemical Corporation    Lease    No
2.    Texas, Harris County, 8600 Park Place Blvd., Houston    Texas Petrochemicals, LP    Fee Title    Yes
3.    Texas, Harris County, 4601 Baker Road, Baytown    Texas Petrochemicals, LP    Fee Title    Yes
4.    Texas, Harris County, Three Riverway, Suite 1500, Houston    AVPF Riverway Ltd./Texas Petrochemicals, LP    Lease    No
5.    Texas, Harris County, 5151 San Felipe, Suite 800, Houston    Sage Plaza One LTD/Texas Petrochemicals LP    Lease    No
6.    Texas, Harris, Parking Lot adjacent to TPC Houston plant    Bayer Corporation/Texas Petrochemicals, LP    Lease    No
7.    Texas, Jefferson; C4 Plant Site in Port Neches    Texas Petrochemicals, LP    Fee Title    Yes
8.    Texas, Jefferson; Isoprene Unit Site in Port Neches    Texas Petrochemicals, LP    Fee Title    Yes
9.    Texas, Jefferson; Wedge Tract in Port Neches    Texas Petrochemicals, LP    Fee Title    Yes
10.    Texas, Jefferson; Flare Site in Port Neches    Texas Petrochemicals, LP    Fee Title    Yes
11.    Texas, Jefferson; Loading Rack Site in Port Neches    Texas Petrochemicals, LP    Fee Title    Yes
12.    Texas, Jefferson; Joint Wastewater Treatment Plant in Port Neches    Huntsman Petrochemical Corporation/Texas Petrochemicals, LP    16.01% undivided interest to be acquired at Closing resulting in a tenancy in common with Huntsman Petrochemical Corporation    Yes
13.    Texas, Jefferson; Land Farm Site in Port Neches    Huntsman Petrochemical Corporation/Texas Petrochemicals, LP    16.01% undivided interest to be acquired at Closing resulting in a tenancy in common with Huntsman Petrochemical Corporation    Yes
14.    Texas, Jefferson; Dock Site in Port Neches    Huntsman Petrochemical Corporation/Texas Petrochemicals, LP    50% undivided interest to be acquired at Closing resulting in a tenancy in common with Huntsman Petrochemical Corporation    Yes
15.    Texas, Jefferson; River Pump House Site in Port Neches    Texas Petrochemicals, LP    Fee Title    Yes


Schedule 6.14

Capitalization of Company

 

Owner

  

Type and Percentage of Interest

Texas Petrochemicals Inc.

  

99% general partnership interest

Texas Petrochemicals LLC

  

1% limited partnership interest


Schedule 6.15(a)

Subsidiaries

 

Legal Name

  

Jurisdiction
of
Organization

  

State

Identification

Number

  

Federal

Employer
Identification

Number

  

Ownership

(by Holder and Percentage Interest)

  

Subsidiary
Guarantor?

TP Capital Corp.    Delaware    3783577    20-0926248    100% Texas Petrochemicals LP    Yes
Texas Butylene Chemical Corporation    Texas    66131300    76-0107440    100% Texas Petrochemicals LP    Yes
Texas Olefins Domestic-International Sales Corporation    Texas    47946200    74-2054241    100% Texas Petrochemicals LP    Yes
Houston Fuels, LLC    Delaware    4178891    68-0631636    100% Texas Petrochemicals LP    Yes
Port Neches Fuels, LLC    Delaware    4178893    68-0631641    100% Texas Petrochemicals LP    Yes


Schedule 6.24

Accounts

 

LaSalle Salle Bank N.A.

135 South LaSalle St., Suite 1525

Chicago, Illinois 60603

  

Acct #

  

Account Holder

1. Master Funding

     

Texas Petrochemicals LP

2. Master Collection

     

Texas Petrochemicals LP

3. Employee Payroll

     

Texas Petrochemicals LP

4. Accounts Payable

     

Texas Petrochemicals LP

5. Concentration Account

     

TP Capital Corp.

6. Collection

     

Port Neches Fuels, LLC

7. Funding

     

Port Neches Fuels, LLC

8. Collection

     

Houston Fuels, LLC

9. Funding

     

Houston Fuels, LLC

LaSalle Bank Credit, LLC

135 South LaSalle St., Suite 1525

Chicago, Illinois 60603

  

Acct #

  

Account Holder

1. Investment Account

     

Texas Petrochemicals LP


Schedule 7.8

Insurance

See attached.


PROPERTY SUMMARY

 

COVERAGE

  

POLICY DATA

  

LIMITS

  

REMARKS

Property & Business Interruption (Includes London, Domestic & Bermuda Placements)   

Various U.S. and

European Companies

Policy Nos.

2610366

EPR N04064069

30460723001

PCA 5915307-01

HHP000923800

AN0601638

NME1110

AN0601641

P00780/005

6-16-2006 to 6-16-2007

  

$400,000,000

(Property)

$150,000,000

(Aggregate Flood, Quake, & Named Windstorm)

 

  

Covers direct damage to real and business personal property.

 

Includes Boiler & Machinery, Business Interruption, Direct Contingent Business Interruption, Extra Expense, and Direct Contingent Extra Expense.

 

         Deductible:    $1,000,000    Property Damage (Plant)
            $250,000    Property Damage (Terminals)
      Other Sub-limits Apply      

2%

of Insured Value

   Named Windstorm $1,000,000 Minimum
            45 Day Wait    Business Interruption $7,500,000 Minimum
Builder’s Risk   

Great Lakes Reinsurance UK

New Hampshire Ins. Co.

Policy No. AN0501241

8-1-2005 to 3-31-2007

  

$34,000,000

Boiler NOx Project

  

Physical loss of or physical damage to the temporary and permanent works, plant, equipment, materials and all other property for use in or in connection with the project.

 

         Deductible:    $250,000    Hot testing
            $100,000    Other except Flood, Wind, Quake, Tsunami

The extent of insurance is at all times governed by the complete terms and conditions of the policy.


PROPERTY SUMMARY

(Terrorism)

 

COVERAGE

  

POLICY DATA

  

LIMITS

  

REMARKS

Stand Alone Terrorism Property (1st Layer)   

Lloyd’s Syndicates (100%)

Policy No. AN0501256

8-1-2005 to 8-1-2006

   $50,000,000   

Real and Personal Property of the Assured as declared to and as covered by the Assured’s Property Policy, including property in the course of construction, reconstruction, erection, fabrication, assembly, installation, alteration, and/or testing at existing locations (AHP Policy No. AN0501242).

 

Business Interruption/Contingent Business Interruption

 

         Deductible:    $1,000,000   

Any One Occurrence except

            $100,000   

Terminals

            30 Day Wait   

BI except

            7 Day Wait   

Port Blockage

Stand Alone Terrorism Property (2nd Layer)   

Lloyd’s Syndicates (100%)

Policy No. AN0501257

8-1-2005 to 8-1-2006

   $50,000,000   

Real and Personal Property of the Assured as declared to and as covered by the Assured’s Property Policy, including property in the course of construction, reconstruction, erection, fabrication, assembly, installation, alteration, and/or testing at existing locations (AHP Policy No. AN0501242).

 

Business Interruption/Contingent Business Interruption


LIABILITY SUMMARY

 

COVERAGE

  

POLICY DATA

  

LIMITS

  

REMARKS

General Liability    Not Carried    None    Self-Insured

Umbrella Liability

(1st Excess Layer)

  

Lexington Insurance Company Policy No. 5115602

8-1-2005 to 8-1-2006

   $25,000,000    Claims Made Form providing coverage excess of a Terrorism (Declined)

Excess Liability

(2nd Excess Layer)

  

XL Europe Ltd.

Policy No. AK0500528

8-1-2005 to 8-1-2006

   $25,000,000   

Occurrence Reported. Includes coverage excess of Terminal Operators and Excess Marine $25,000,000.

Terrorism (Included)

Excess Liability

(3nd Excess Layer)

  

Allied World Assurance Co. Ltd.

Policy No. C005130001

8-1-2005 to 8-1-2006

   $50,000,000   

Occurrence Reported.

Terrorism (Included)

Stand Alone Terrorism Liability   

Lloyd’s Syndicates (100%)

Policy No. AK0500531

8-1-2005 to 8-1-2006

   $25,000,000   

To indemnify the Insured for their Legal Liability to pay compensation to Third Parties arising out of their business operations worldwide. Covers both certified and non-certified acts of terrorism.

$2,000,000 Per Occurrence

Automobile Liability   

New Hampshire Insurance Co. Policy No. AL7591931

8-1-2005 to 8-1-2006

   $1,000,000    Provides coverage for owned, hired and non-owned vehicles. Deductible - $1,000 – Comp/Collision – All Hired Autos
Workers’ Compensation   

Commerce & Industry Ins. Co. Policy No. WC7207649

8-1-2005 to 8-1-2006

  

Statutory Limits

Employers Liability

$1,000,000

MEL

$1,000,000

   Covers Job related injury or illness and lawsuits (if any) filed in connection with work related injury to employees. Includes occupational disease.
Environmental Impairment Liability   

Indian Harbor Insurance Co.

Policy No. PEC001015801

10-2-2004 to 8-1-2006

  

$ 10,000,000/

$ 20,000,000

Aggregate

  

Provides (subject to policy terms and conditions):

Pollution Legal Liability

Remediation Legal Liability

Legal Defense Expense

The extent of insurance is at all times governed by the complete terms and conditions of the policy.


OTHER SUMMARY

 

COVERAGE

  

POLICY DATA

  

LIMITS

  

REMARKS

Marine Ocean Cargo/Storage   

New York Marine & General Insurance company Policy No. 36080MC505

8-1-2005 to 8-1-2006

  

$10,000,000

$1,000,000

(Plant - Storage)

  

Applies to ocean & barge cargo shipments. Storage included.

Terrorism (Included)

 

         Deductible:    0.5%    of insured value.
            $25,000    Plant – Storage
            $10,000    Terminal – Storage
Terminal Operator’s Liability / Charterer’s Legal Liability   

Navigators Insurance Co.

Policy No. 05L175001

8-1-2005 to 8-1-2006

   $1,000,000   

Addresses liability exposures relative to vessel charters and dock operations. Has Tankerman’s Endorsement.

 

         Deductible:    $25,000    General
            $100,000    Pollution
Excess Marine Liabilities   

Navigators Insurance Co. / American Home Assurance Co. St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co.

Policy No. 05L1755002

C2286

OX0880024

8-1-2005 to 8-1-2006

   $25,000,000   

Provides Additional limits over Primary Terminal Operators; Tankerman’s Legal Liability; & Charterer’s Legal Liability Coverage.

Terrorism (Included)

Fiduciary Liability   

Twin City Fire Ins. Co.

Policy No. DO00R384000597

5-31-2005 to 8-1-2006

   $5,000,000 Aggregate   

Pension and Benefit Plan Fiduciary Liability. Insured Plans – Texas Petrochemical LP Retirement Plan and Texas Petrochemical LP Employee Insurance Benefit Plan.

 

         Deductible:    $0    Insured Fiduciary
            $50,000    Sponsor Company

The extent of insurance is at all times governed by the complete terms and conditions of the policy.


Schedule 8.1(c)

Permitted Liens

None.


Schedule 8.2(j)

Indebtedness to Remain Outstanding

None


Schedule 8.7

Existing Investments

 

1.

100% equity interest in TP Capital Corp., a Delaware corporation.

 

2.

100% equity interest in Texas Butylene Chemical Corporation, a Texas corporation.

 

3.

100% equity interest in Texas Olefins Domestic-International Sales Corporation, a Texas corporation.

 

4.

100% LLC interest in Port Neches Fuels, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

5.

100% LLC interest in Houston Fuels, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

6.

50% limited partnership interest in Hollywood/Texas Olefins, Ltd., a Texas limited partnership.

 

7.

16.01% interest in Joint Wastewater Treatment Plant.


Schedule 12.3(a)

Notice Addresses.

Borrowers and all Subsidiary Guarantors:

Texas Petrochemicals LP

5151 San Felipe

Suite 800

Houston, TX 77056

Attention: Ruth I. Dreesen

Tel. No.: (713) 475-5246

Telecopier No.: (713) 475-5203

With a Copy to:

Christopher A. Artzer

5151 San Felipe

Suite 800

Houston, TX 77056

Tel. No.: (713) 475-5201

Telecopier No.: (713) 475-5203

Administrative Agent:

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas

60 Wall Street

New York, New York 10005

Attention: Marguerite Sutton

Tel. No.: (212) 250-6150

Telecopier No.: (212) 797-4655

With a Copy to:

60 Wall Street

New York, New York 10005

Attention: Frank Fazio

Tel. No.: (212) 250-2267

Telecopier No.: (212) 797-4655