EX-99.B 4 dex99b.htm REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT Revolving Credit Agreement

Exhibit (b)

EXECUTION COPY

 

REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

dated as of September 9, 2005

 

among

 

FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP

as Borrower

 

and

 

THE LENDERS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO

 

and

 

SUNTRUST BANK

as Administrative Agent

 

SUNTRUST CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.

as Arranger and Book Manager


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page

ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS; CONSTRUCTION

   1

Section 1.1.   Definitions.

   1

Section 1.2.   Accounting Terms and Determination

   10

Section 1.3.   Terms Generally

   10

ARTICLE II. AMOUNT AND TERMS OF THE REVOLVING COMMITMENT

   11

Section 2.1.   Revolving Loans and Revolving Credit Note

   11

Section 2.2.   Procedure for Revolving Loans

   11

Section 2.3.   Funding of Borrowings

   11

Section 2.4.   Interest Elections

   12

Section 2.5.   Optional Reduction and Termination of Revolving Commitments

   13

Section 2.6.   Repayment and Prepayments of Revolving Loans

   13

Section 2.7.   Interest on Loans

   14

Section 2.8.   Evidence of Indebtedness

   14

Section 2.9.   Fees

   15

Section 2.10. Computation of Interest and Fees

   15

Section 2.11. Inability to Determine Interest Rates

   15

Section 2.12. Illegality

   15

Section 2.13. Increased Costs

   16

Section 2.14. Funding Indemnity

   16

Section 2.15. Taxes

   17

Section 2.16. Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs

   18

Section 2.17. Mitigation of Obligations; Replacement of Lenders

   19

ARTICLE III. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO REVOLVING LOANS

   19

Section 3.1.   Conditions to Initial Revolving Loan

   19

Section 3.2.   Each Revolving Loan

   20

ARTICLE IV. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

   21

Section 4.1.   Existence; Power

   21

Section 4.2.   Organizational Power; Authorization

   21

Section 4.3.   Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts

   21

Section 4.4.   Financial Statements

   21

Section 4.5.   Litigation and Environmental Matters

   21

Section 4.6.   Compliance with Laws and Agreements

   22

Section 4.7.   Investment Company Act, Etc..

   22

Section 4.8.   Taxes.

   22

Section 4.9.   Margin Regulations

   22

Section 4.10. ERISA.

   22

Section 4.11. Disclosure

   22

Section 4.12. Subsidiaries

   23

Section 4.13. Dividend Restrictions; Other Restrictions

   23

 

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     Page

Section 4.14. Capital Measures.

   23

Section 4.15. FDIC Insurance.

   23

Section 4.16. OFAC.

   23

Section 4.17. Patriot Act.

   23

ARTICLE V. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

   24

Section 5.1.    Financial Statements and Other Information

   24

Section 5.2.    Notices of Material Events.

   25

Section 5.3.    Existence; Conduct of Business

   25

Section 5.4.    Compliance with Laws, Etc.

   25

Section 5.5.    Books and Records.

   26

Section 5.6.    Visitation, Inspection, Etc..

   26

Section 5.7.    Maintenance of Properties; Insurance.

   26

Section 5.8.    Use of Proceeds

   26

ARTICLE VI. FINANCIAL COVENANTS

   26

Section 6.1.    Reverse Coverage

   26

Section 6.2.    Return on Average Assets

   26

Section 6.3.    Nonperforming Assets

   27

Section 6.4.    Double Leverage Ratio

   27

Section 6.5.    Capital Measures

   27

ARTICLE VII. NEGATIVE COVENANTS

   27

Section 7.1.    Indebtedness

   27

Section 7.2.    Negative Pledge.

   28

Section 7.3.    Fundamental Changes

   28

Section 7.4.    Restricted Payments.

   29

Section 7.5.    Restricted Agreements

   29

Section 7.6.    Investments, Etc

   29

Section 7.7.    Sale and Leaseback Transactions

   30

ARTICLE VIII. EVENTS OF DEFAULT

   30

Section 8.1.    Events of Default

   30

ARTICLE IX. THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

   32

Section 9.1.    Appointment of Administrative Agent

   32

Section 9.2.    Nature of Duties of Administrative Agent

   33

Section 9.3.    Lack of Reliance on the Administrative Agent

   33

Section 9.4.    Certain Rights of the Administrative Agent

   33

Section 9.5.    Reliance by Administrative Agent

   33

Section 9.6.    The Administrative Agent in its Individual Capacity

   34

Section 9.7.    Successor Administrative Agent

   34

 

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     Page

ARTICLE X. MISCELLANEOUS

   34

Section 10.1.    Notices

   34

Section 10.2.    Waiver ;Amendments

   36

Section 10.3.    Expenses; Indemnification

   37

Section 10.4.    Successors and Assigns

   38

Section 10.5.    Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process

   39

Section 10.6.    Waiver of Jury Trial

   40

Section 10.7.    Right of Set-off

   40

Section 10.8.    Counterparts; Integration

   40

Section 10.9.    Survival

   40

Section 10.10. Severability

   40

Section 10.11. Confidentiality

   41

Section 10.12. Interest Rate Limitation

   41

Section 10.13. Patriot Act

   41

 

Schedules

    

Schedule 4.12

   Subsidiaries

Schedule 7.1

   Outstanding Indebtedness

Exhibits

    

Exhibit A

   Revolving Credit Note

Exhibit 2.2

   Notice of Borrowing

 

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REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

THIS REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of September 9, 2005, by and among FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP, an Ohio corporation (the “Borrower”), the several banks and other financial institutions from time to time party hereto (the “Lenders”), and SUNTRUST BANK, in its capacity as Administrative Agent for the Lenders (the “Administrative Agent”).

 

W I T N E S S E T H:

 

WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested the Lenders, and the Lenders have agreed, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, to establish a 364-day revolving credit facility in an original principal amount of $50,000,000;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants herein contained, the Borrower and the Lender agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS; CONSTRUCTION

 

Section 1.1. Definitions. In addition to the other terms defined herein, the following terms used herein shall have the meanings herein specified (to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):

 

Acquisition” shall mean any transaction or a series of related transactions for the purpose of, or resulting, directly or indirectly, in (a) the acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets of a Person, or of any business or division of any Person, (b) the acquisition of greater than 50% of the capital stock, partnership interest, membership interest or other equity of any Person, or otherwise causing a Person to become a Subsidiary, or (c) a merger or consolidation of, or any other combination with, another Person (other than a Person that is a Subsidiary), provided that the Borrower or any Subsidiary is the surviving entity.

 

Administrative Agent” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the opening paragraph hereof.

 

Administrative Questionnaire” shall mean, with respect to each Lender, an administrative questionnaire in the form prepared by the Administrative Agent and submitted to the Administrative Agent duly completed by such Lender.

 

Affiliate” shall mean, as to any Person, any other Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such Person.

 

Aggregate Revolving Commitments” shall mean the sum of the Revolving Commitments of all Lenders at any time outstanding. On the Closing Date, the Aggregate Revolving Commitments equal $50,000,000.

 

Allowance for Loan Losses” shall mean the amount set forth under the line item “allowance for loan losses” on the Borrower’s consolidated balance sheet delivered under either Section 5.1(a) or 5.1(b) as determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

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Applicable Margin” shall mean (a) if the outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Loans of all Lenders is less than 50% the Aggregate Revolving Commitments, 0.75% per annum or (b) if the outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Loans of all Lenders is greater than 50% of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments, 0.875% per annum.

 

Availability Period” shall mean the period from the Closing Date to the Commitment Termination Date.

 

Base Rate” shall mean the higher of (i) the per annum rate which the Administrative Agent publicly announces from time to time to be its prime lending rate, as in effect from time to time, and (ii) the Federal Funds Rate, as in effect from time to time, plus one-half of one percent (0.50%). The Administrative Agent’s prime lending rate is a reference rate and does not necessarily represent the lowest or best rate charged to customers. The Administrative Agent may make commercial loans or other loans at rates of interest at, above or below the Administrative Agent’s prime lending rate. Each change in the Administrative Agent’s prime lending rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced as being effective.

 

Borrowing” shall mean a borrowing consisting of a Revolving Loan from each Lender of the same Type made, converted or continued on the same date and in case of Eurodollar Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect.

 

Business Day” shall mean (i) any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in Atlanta, Georgia are authorized or required by law to close and (ii) if such day relates to a borrowing or continuation of, a payment or prepayment of principal or interest on, or an Interest Period for, a Eurodollar Loan or a notice with respect thereto, any day on which dealings in Dollars are carried on in the London interbank market.

 

Call Report” shall mean, with respect to Financial Institution Subsidiary, the “Consolidated Reports of Condition and Income” (FFIEC Form 031 or 041 or any successor form of the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council).

 

Change in Control” shall mean (a) with respect to the Borrower, the occurrence of one or more of the following events: (i) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Borrower to any Person or “group” (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder in effect on the date hereof), (ii) the acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any Person or “group” (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder as in effect on the date hereof) of 25% or more of the outstanding shares of the voting stock of the Borrower or (iii) occupation of a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of directors of the Borrower by Persons who were neither (A) nominated by the current board of directors or (B) appointed by directors so nominated, or (b) the Borrower shall own, directly or indirectly, less than 100% of the voting stock of any Financial Institution Subsidiary.

 

Change in Law” shall mean (i) the adoption of any applicable law, rule or regulation after the date of this Agreement, (ii) any change in any applicable law, rule or regulation, or any change in the interpretation or application thereof, by any Governmental Authority after the date of this Agreement, or (iii) compliance by any Lender (or for purposes of Section 2.13(b), by such Lender’s holding company, if applicable) with any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the date of this Agreement.

 

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Closing Date” shall mean the date on which the conditions precedent set forth in Section 3.1 and Section 3.2 have been satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 10.2, and unless otherwise indicated, shall be the date of this Agreement.

 

Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended an in effect from time to time.

 

Commitment Termination Date” shall mean September 8, 2006, or such later date as the Revolving Commitment has been extended pursuant to Section 2.5, or earlier if terminated pursuant to Section 2.5 or Section 8.1.

 

Control” shall mean the power, directly or indirectly, either to (i) vote 5% or more of securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors (or persons performing similar functions) of a Person or (ii) direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. The terms “Controlling”, “Controlled by”, and “under common Control with” have meanings correlative thereto.

 

Default” shall mean any condition or event that, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

 

Default Interest” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.7(b).

 

Dollar(s)” and the sign “$” shall mean lawful money of the United States of America.

 

Double Leverage Ratio” shall mean the ratio of (a) the Borrower’s investments in Subsidiaries and affiliated companies to (b) the Borrower’s total stockholders’ equity and outstanding trust preferred securities and junior subordinated debt (to the extent that the Governmental Authority having regulatory authority over the Borrower permits the inclusion of such securities and debt in the calculation of its regulatory capital ratios under Section 6.5), each calculated on a non-consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

Environmental Laws” shall mean all laws, rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions, notices or binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by or with any Governmental Authority, relating in any way to the environment, preservation or reclamation of natural resources, the management, Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Material or to health and safety matters.

 

Environmental Liability” shall mean any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental investigation and remediation, costs of administrative oversight, fines, natural resource damages, penalties or indemnities), of the Borrower or any Subsidiary directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) any actual or alleged violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) any actual or alleged exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Materials or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

 

ERISA” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

 

ERISA Affiliate” shall mean any trade or business (whether or not incorporated), which, together with the Borrower, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or, solely for

 

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the purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

 

ERISA Event” shall mean (a) any “reportable event”, as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the 30-day notice period is waived); (b) the existence with respect to any Plan of an “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(d) of the Code or Section 303(d) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (d) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (e) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator appointed by the PBGC of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (f) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.

 

Eurodollar” when used in reference to any Revolving Loan or any Borrowing, refers to whether such Revolving Loan or such Borrowing bears interest at a rate determined by reference to LIBOR.

 

Event of Default” shall have the meaning provided in Article VIII.

 

Excluded Taxes” shall mean with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder, (a) income or franchise taxes imposed on (or measured by) its net income by the United States of America, or by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable lending office is located, (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States of America or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located and (c) in the case of a Foreign Lender, any withholding tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party to this Agreement (or designates a new lending office) or is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s failure to comply with Section 2.15(e), except to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new lending office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to Section 2.16(a).

 

Existing Credit Agreement” shall mean that certain Credit Agreement dated as of September 13, 2002 among the Borrower, the lenders named therein, and the Northern Trust Company, as agent, as heretofore amended or otherwise modified.

 

Federal Funds Rate” shall mean, for any day, the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100th of 1%) equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with member banks of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the next succeeding Business Day or if such rate is not so published for any Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100th of 1% of the quotations for such day on such transactions received by the Lender from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by the Lender.

 

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Financial Institution Subsidiary” shall mean each of (a) each Subsidiary listed on Schedule 4.12 that is designated as a Financial Institution Subsidiary and (b) each other Subsidiary hereafter formed or acquired that is a regulated financial institution.

 

Fiscal Quarter” shall mean each fiscal quarter (including the fiscal quarter at the fiscal year-end) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

 

Foreign Lender” shall mean any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that of the Borrower. For purposes of this definition, the United States of America or any State thereof or the District of Columbia shall constitute one jurisdiction.

 

FR Report Y-9C” shall mean the “Consolidated Financial Statements for Bank Holding Companies-FR Y-9C” submitted by the Borrower as required by Section 5(c) of the Bank Holding Company Act (12 U.S.C. 1844) and Section 225.5(b) of Regulation Y [12 CFR 225.5(b)], or any successor or similar replacement report.

 

FR Report Y9-LP” shall mean the “Parent Company Only Financial Statements for Large Bank Holding Companies-FR Y-9LP” submitted by the Borrower as required by Section 5(c) of the Bank Holding Company Act (12 U.S.C. 1844) and Section 225.5(b) of Regulation Y [12 CFR 225.5(b)], or any successor or similar replacement report.

 

GAAP” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis and subject to the terms of Section 1.2.

 

Governmental Authority” shall mean the government of the United States of America, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.

 

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

 

Hedging Agreements” shall mean interest rate swap, cap or collar agreements, interest rate future or option contracts, currency swap agreements, currency future or option contracts, foreign exchange contracts (forward and/or spot), commodity agreements and other similar agreements or arrangements designed to protect against fluctuations in interest rates, currency values or commodity values.

 

Indebtedness” of any Person shall mean, without duplication (i) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (ii) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, (iii) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business), (iv) all obligations of such Person under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement(s) relating to property acquired by such Person, (v) all obligations of such Person under capital leases and all monetary obligations of such Person under Synthetic Leases, (vi) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of letters of credit, acceptances or similar extensions of credit, (vii) all guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others, (viii) all Indebtedness of a third party secured by any Lien on property owned by such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness has been assumed by such Person, (ix) all obligations of such Person, contingent or otherwise, to purchase, redeem, retire or otherwise acquire for value any common stock of such Person, and (x) all net obligations incurred by such Person under Hedging Agreements.

 

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Indemnified Taxes” shall mean Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.

 

Interest Period” shall mean, with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, a period of one, two, three or six months, provided that:

 

(i) the initial Interest Period for any such Revolving Loan shall commence on the date of such Revolving Loan and each Interest Period occurring thereafter in respect of such Revolving Loan shall commence on the day on which the next preceding Interest Period expires;

 

(ii) if any Interest Period would otherwise end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, unless such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period would end on the next preceding Business Day;

 

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

 

  (iv) no Interest Period may extend beyond the Commitment Termination Date.

 

Investments” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.6 hereof.

 

Lenders” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the opening paragraph of this Agreement.

 

LIBOR” shall mean, for any applicable Interest Period with respect to a Eurodollar Borrowing, that rate per annum that is equal to the quotient of:

 

(i) the rate per annum for deposits in Dollars for a period equal to such Interest Period on that page of the Telerate, Reuters or Bloomberg reporting services (whichever one is then currently being used by the Administrative Agent for quotations in Dollars) which displays the British Bankers’ Association Interest Settlement Rates for deposits in Dollars as of 11:00 a.m. (London, England time) on the day that is two Business Days prior to the first day of the Interest Period, or if such page or service shall cease to be available, such other page or such other service (as the case may be) for the purpose of displaying British Bankers’ Association Interest Settlement Rates for Dollars as the Administrative Agent, in its discretion, shall select; provided, that if the Administrative Agent determines that the relevant foregoing sources are unavailable for the relevant Interest Period, LIBOR shall mean the rate of interest determined by the Administrative Agent to be the average (rounded upward, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100th of 1%) of the rates per annum at which deposits in Dollars are offered to the Administrative Agent two (2) Business Days preceding the first day of such Interest Period by leading banks in the London interbank market as of 10:00 a. m. (Atlanta, Georgia time) for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period and for the number of days comprised therein, divided by

 

(ii) a percentage equal to 1.00 minus the maximum reserve percentages (including any emergency, supplemental, special or other marginal reserves) expressed as a decimal (rounded upward to the next 1/100th of 1%) in effect on any day to which the Bank is subject with respect to any Eurodollar Loan pursuant to regulations issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System with respect to eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “eurocurrency liabilities” under Regulation D). This percentage will be adjusted automatically on and as of the

 

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effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.

 

Lien” shall mean any mortgage, pledge, security interest, lien (statutory or otherwise), charge, encumbrance, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, or other arrangement having the practical effect of the foregoing or any preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement and any capital lease having the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

 

Loan Documents” shall mean, collectively, this Agreement, the Revolving Credit Notes, any Hedging Agreement entered into with any Lender in connection with the Indebtedness under this Agreement or the Revolving Credit Notes, each Notice of Borrowing and any and all other instruments, agreements, documents and writings executed in connection with any of the foregoing.

 

Material Adverse Effect” shall mean, with respect to any event, act, condition or occurrence of whatever nature (including any adverse determination in any litigation, arbitration, or governmental investigation or proceeding), whether singly or in conjunction with any other event or events, act or acts, condition or conditions, occurrence or occurrences whether or not related, a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect on, (i) the business, results of operations, financial condition, assets or liabilities of the Borrower and of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (ii) the ability of the Borrower to perform any of its obligations under the Loan Documents, (iii) the rights and remedies of Administrative Agent and the Lenders under any of the Loan Documents or (iv) the legality, validity or enforceability of any of the Loan Documents.

 

Multiemployer Plan” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

 

Nonperforming Assets” shall mean the sum of (a) Nonperforming Loans, (b) nonaccrual investment securities and (c) Other Real Estate Owned (determined in accordance with, and as set forth on, Borrower’s FR Report Y-9C).

 

Nonperforming Loans” shall mean the sum of (a) nonaccrual loans and lease financing receivables, (b) loans and lease financing receivables that are contractually past due 90 days or more as to interest or principal and are still accruing interest and (c) loans for which the terms have been modified due to a deterioration in the financial position of the borrower (determined in accordance with, and as set forth on, Borrower’s FR Report Y-9C).

 

Notice of Borrowing” shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 2.2.

 

Notice of Conversion/Continuation” shall mean the notice given by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent in respect of the conversion or continuation of an outstanding Borrowing as provided in Section 2.4(b).

 

Obligations” shall mean all amounts owing by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent and any Lender pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, including without limitation, all principal, interest (including any interest accruing after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or the commencement of any insolvency, reorganization or like proceeding relating to the Borrower, whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding), all reimbursement obligations under letters of credit, all net obligations under Hedging Agreements, fees, expenses, indemnification and reimbursement payments, costs and expenses (including all fees and expenses of counsel to Administrative Agent and any Lender incurred pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document), whether direct or indirect,

 

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absolute or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, now existing or hereafter arising hereunder or thereunder, together with all renewals, extensions, modifications or refinancings thereof.

 

Other Real Estate Owned” shall mean the sum of (a) real estate acquired in satisfaction of debts previously contracted and (b) other real estate owned, as set forth on Schedule HC-M of Borrower’s FR Report Y-9C.

 

Other Taxes” shall mean any and all present and future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Documents.

 

Participant” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.4(c).

 

Payment Office” shall mean the office of the Administrative Agent located at 303 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, Georgia 30308, or such other location as to which the Administrative Agent shall have given written notice to the Borrower and the other Lenders.

 

PBGC” shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA, and any successor entity performing similar functions.

 

Permitted Encumbrances” shall mean

 

(i) Liens imposed by law for taxes not yet due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which adequate reserves are being maintained in accordance with GAAP;

 

(ii) statutory Liens of landlords and Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen and other Liens imposed by law created in the ordinary course of business for amounts not yet due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which adequate reserves are being maintained in accordance with GAAP;

 

(iii) pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations;

 

(iv) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

 

(v) judgment and attachment liens not giving rise to an Event of Default or Liens created by or existing from any litigation or legal proceeding that are currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which adequate reserves are being maintained in accordance with GAAP; and

 

(vi) easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way and similar encumbrances on real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of business that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the affected property or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole;

 

provided, that the term “Permitted Encumbrances” shall not include any Lien securing Indebtedness.

 

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Person” shall mean any individual, partnership, firm, corporation, association, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or other entity, or any Governmental Authority.

 

Plan” means any employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, and in respect of which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.

 

Pro Rata Share” shall mean, with respect to any Lender at any time, a percentage, the numerator of which shall be such Lender’s Revolving Commitment and the denominator of which shall be the Aggregate Revolving Commitments; or if the Revolving Commitments have been terminated or expired or if the Revolving Loans have been declared to be due and payable, a percentage, the numerator of which shall be the sum of such Lender’s Revolving Loans and the denominator of which shall be the sum of the aggregate Revolving Loans of all Lenders.

 

Regulation D” shall mean Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as the same may be in effect from time to time, and any successor regulations.

 

Release” means any release, spill, emission, leaking, dumping, injection, pouring, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, leaching or migration into the environment (including ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or within any building, structure, facility or fixture.

 

Required Lenders” shall mean, at any time, Lenders holding more than 50% of the aggregate outstanding Revolving Loans at such time or if the Lenders have no Revolving Loans outstanding, then Lenders holding more than 50% of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments.

 

Responsible Officer” shall mean any of the president, the chief executive officer, the chief operating officer, the chief financial officer, the treasurer or a vice president of the Borrower or such other representative of the Borrower as may be designated in writing by any one of the foregoing with the consent of the Administrative Agent; and, with respect to the financial covenants only, the chief financial officer or the treasurer of the Borrower.

 

Revolving Commitment” shall mean, with respect to each Lender, the obligation of such Lender to make Revolving Loans to the Borrower in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding the amount set forth with respect to such Lender on the signature pages to this Agreement, or in the case of a Person becoming a Lender after the Closing Date, the amount of the assigned “Revolving Commitment” as provided in an assignment and acceptance agreement executed by such Person as an assignee, as the same may be changed pursuant to terms hereof.

 

Revolving Loan” shall mean a loan made by a Lender to the Borrower under its Revolving Commitment, which may be a Eurodollar Loan, a Base Rate Loan or a Federal Funds Rate Loan.

 

Revolving Credit Note” shall mean a promissory note of the Borrower payable to the order of a Lender in the principal amount of the Revolving Commitment, in substantially the form of Exhibit A.

 

SEC” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission and any successor agency.

 

Subsidiary” shall mean, with respect to any Person (the “parent”), any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, association or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent in the parent’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements

 

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were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date, as well as any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, association or other entity (i) of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 30% of the equity or more than 30% of the ordinary voting power, or in the case of a partnership, more than 30% of the general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned, Controlled or held, or (ii) that is, as of such date, otherwise Controlled, by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent. Unless otherwise indicated, all references to “Subsidiary” hereunder shall mean a Subsidiary of the Borrower.

 

Synthetic Lease” of any Person shall mean (a) a lease designed to have the characteristics of a loan for federal income tax purposes while obtaining operating lease treatment for financial accounting purposes, or (b) an agreement for the use or possession of property creating obligations that are not required to appear on the balance sheet of such Person but which, upon the insolvency or bankruptcy of such Person would be characterized by a court of competent jurisdiction as indebtedness of such Person.

 

Tangible Net Worth” shall mean, as of any date, the total shareholders’ equity of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries that would be reflected on the Borrower’s consolidated balance sheet as of such date prepared in accordance with GAAP, minus the amount of all assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries that would be classified as intangible assets (including without limitation goodwill and net core deposit intangible) on the Borrower’s consolidated balance sheet as of such date prepared in accordance with GAAP.

 

Total Loans” shall mean for the Borrower on a consolidated basis the line item “Net Loans” (determined by deducting unearned income and allowance for loan losses from the line item “Total Loans”) set forth on the Borrower’s consolidated balance sheet delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a) and (b).

 

Total Tangible Assets” shall mean, as of any date, the total assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries that would be reflected on the Borrower’s consolidated balance sheet as of such date prepared in accordance with GAAP, minus the amount of all assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries that would be classified as intangible assets (including without limitation goodwill and net core deposit intangible) on the Borrower’s consolidated balance sheet as of such date prepared in accordance with GAAP.

 

Type”, when used in reference to a Revolving Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Revolving Loans, or on the Revolving Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to LIBOR, the Base Rate or the Federal Funds Rate.

 

Withdrawal Liability” shall mean liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.

 

Section 1.2. Accounting Terms and Determination. Unless otherwise defined or specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all accounting determinations hereunder shall be made, and all financial statements required to be delivered hereunder shall be prepared, in accordance with GAAP as in effect from time to time, applied on a basis consistent (except for such changes approved by the Borrower’s independent public accountants) with the most recent audited consolidated financial statement of the Borrower delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a); provided, that if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower wishes to amend any covenant in Article VI to eliminate the effect of any change in GAAP on the operation of such covenant (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders wish to amend Article VI for such purpose), then the Borrower’s compliance with such covenant shall be determined on the basis of GAAP in effect immediately before the relevant change in GAAP became effective, until either such notice is withdrawn or such covenant is amended in a manner satisfactory to the Borrower and the Required Lenders.

 

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Section 1.3. Terms Generally. The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including” and the word “to” means “to but excluding”. Unless the context requires otherwise (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as it was originally executed or as it may from time to time be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and permitted assigns, (iii) the words “hereof”, “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import shall be construed to refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision hereof, (iv) all references to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules to this Agreement and (v) all references to a specific time shall be construed to refer to the time in the city and state of the Administrative Agent’s principal office, unless otherwise indicated.

 

ARTICLE II

 

AMOUNT AND TERMS OF THE REVOLVING COMMITMENT

 

Section 2.1. Revolving Loans and Revolving Credit Note. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender agrees to make Revolving Loans to the Borrower, from time to time during the Availability Period, in an aggregate principal amount outstanding at any time that will not result in (i) such Lender’s aggregate Revolving Loans exceeding such Lender’s Revolving Commitment or (ii) the sum of the Revolving Loans of all Lenders exceeding the Aggregate Revolving Commitments. During the Availability Period, the Borrower shall be entitled to borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement; provided, that the Borrower may not borrow or reborrow should there exist a Default or Event of Default.

 

Section 2.2. Procedure for Revolving Loans. The Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of each Borrowing substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.2 attached hereto (a “Notice of Borrowing”) (x) prior to 11:00 a.m. one (1) Business Day prior to the requested date of each Base Rate Borrowing and Federal Funds Rate Borrowing and (y) prior to 11:00 a.m. three (3) Business Days prior to the requested date of each Eurodollar Borrowing. Each Notice of Borrowing shall be irrevocable and shall specify: (i) the aggregate principal amount of such Borrowing, (ii) the date of such Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the Type of such Revolving Loan comprising such Borrowing, (iv) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, the duration of the initial Interest Period applicable thereto (subject to the provisions of the definition of Interest Period) and (v) the location and number of the Borrower’s deposit account to which the proceeds of such Borrowing should be disbursed. Each Borrowing shall consist entirely of Base Rate Loans, Federal Funds Rate Loans or Eurodollar Loans, as the Borrower may request. The aggregate principal amount of each Eurodollar Borrowing shall be not less than $5,000,000 or a larger multiple of $1,000,000 and the aggregate principal amount of each Federal Funds Rate Borrowing and each Base Rate Borrowing, respectively, shall not be less than $1,000,000 or a larger multiple of $100,000. At no time shall the total number of Eurodollar Borrowings outstanding at any time exceed ten. Promptly following the receipt of a Notice of Borrowing in accordance herewith, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Loan to be made as part of the requested Revolving Borrowing.

 

Section 2.3. Funding of Borrowings.

 

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(a) Each Lender will make available each Revolving Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer in immediately available funds by 11:00 a.m. to the Administrative Agent at the Payment Office. The Administrative Agent will make such Revolving Loans available to the Borrower by promptly crediting the amounts that it receives, in like funds by the close of business on such proposed date, to an account maintained by the Borrower with the Administrative Agent or at the Borrower’s option, by effecting a wire transfer of such amounts to an account designated by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent in a Notice of Borrowing.

 

(b) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have been notified by any Lender prior to 5 p.m. one (1) Business Day prior to the date of a Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such amount available to the Administrative Agent on such date, and the Administrative Agent, in reliance on such assumption, may make available to the Borrower on such date a corresponding amount. If such corresponding amount is not in fact made available to the Administrative Agent by such Lender on the date of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to recover such corresponding amount on demand from such Lender together with interest at the Federal Funds Rate for up to two (2) days and thereafter at the rate specified for such Borrowing. If such Lender does not pay such corresponding amount forthwith upon the Administrative Agent’s demand therefor, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower, and the Borrower shall immediately pay such corresponding amount to the Administrative Agent together with interest at the rate specified for such Borrowing. Nothing in this subsection shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fund its Pro Rata Share of any Borrowing hereunder or to prejudice any rights which the Borrower may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder.

 

(c) All Revolving Loans shall be made by the Lenders on the basis of their respective Pro Rata Shares. No Lender shall be responsible for any default by any other Lender in its obligations hereunder, and each Lender shall be obligated to make its Revolving Loans provided to be made by it hereunder, regardless of the failure of any other Lender to make its Revolving Loans hereunder.

 

Section 2.4. Interest Elections.

 

(a) Each Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Notice of Borrowing, and in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Notice of Borrowing. Thereafter, the Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing into a different Type or to continue such Borrowing, and in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section.

 

(b) To make an election pursuant to this Section, the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent prior written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of each Borrowing (a “Notice of Conversion/Continuation”) that is to be converted or continued, as the case may be, (x) prior to 10:00 a.m. one (1) Business Day prior to the requested date of a conversion into a Base Rate Borrowing or a Federal Funds Rate Borrowing and (y) prior to 11:00 a.m. three (3) Business Days prior to a continuation of or conversion into a Eurodollar Borrowing. Each such Notice of Conversion/Continuation shall be irrevocable and shall specify (i) the Borrowing to which such Notice of Conversion/Continuation applies; (ii) the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Notice of Conversion/Continuation, which shall be a Business Day, (iii) whether the resulting Borrowing is to be a Base Rate Borrowing, a Federal Funds Rate Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing; and (iv) if the resulting Borrowing is to be a Eurodollar Borrowing, the Interest Period applicable thereto after giving effect to such election, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of “Interest Period”. If any such Notice of Conversion/Continuation requests a Eurodollar Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month. The principal amount of any

 

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resulting Borrowing shall satisfy the minimum borrowing amount for Eurodollar Borrowings, Federal Funds Rate Borrowings and Base Rate Borrowings set forth in Section 2.2.

 

(c) If, on the expiration of any Interest Period in respect of any Eurodollar Borrowing, the Borrower shall have failed to deliver a Notice of Conversion/ Continuation, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, the Borrower shall be deemed to have elected to convert such Borrowing to a Base Rate Borrowing. No Borrowing may be converted into, or continued as, a Eurodollar Borrowing if a Default or an Event of Default exists, unless the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders shall have otherwise consented in writing. No conversion of any Eurodollar Loans shall be permitted except on the last day of the Interest Period in respect thereof.

 

(d) Upon receipt of any Notice of Conversion/Continuation, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the details thereof and of such Lender’s portion of each resulting Borrowing.

 

Section 2.5. Optional Reduction and Termination of Revolving Commitments.

 

(a) The Aggregate Revolving Commitments shall terminate on the Commitment Termination Date; provided, that the Commitment Termination Date may be extended by the Lenders for additional 364-day periods in their sole discretion upon the receipt by the Administrative Agent of a written request for an extension from the Borrower not earlier than 60 days and not later than 45 days prior to then existing Commitment Termination Date. The Administrative Agent shall use its best efforts to notify the Borrower not later than 30 days prior to any Commitment Termination Date whether the Lenders have agreed to extend the then existing Commitment Termination Date for an additional 364-day period; provided, that the failure of the Administrative Agent to give any such notice to the Borrower shall mean that the then existing Commitment Termination Date will not be so extended.

 

(b) Upon at least three (3) Business Days’ prior written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) to the Administrative Agent (which notice shall be irrevocable), the Borrower may reduce the Aggregate Revolving Commitments in part or terminate the Aggregate Revolving Commitments in whole; provided, that (i) any partial reduction shall apply to reduce proportionately and permanently the Revolving Commitment of each Lender, (ii) any partial reduction pursuant to this Section 2.5 shall be in an amount of at least $1,000,000 and any larger multiple of $500,000 and (ii) no such reduction shall be permitted which would reduce the Aggregate Revolving Commitments (after giving effect thereto and any concurrent prepayments made under Section 2.6) to an amount less than the outstanding Revolving Loans of all Lenders.

 

Section 2.6. Repayment and Prepayments of Revolving Loans.

 

(a) The outstanding principal amount of all Revolving Loans shall be due and payable (together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon) on the Commitment Termination Date.

 

(b) The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing, in whole or in part, without premium or penalty, by giving irrevocable written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) to the Administrative Agent no later than (i) in the case of prepayment of any Eurodollar Borrowing, 11:00 a.m. not less than three (3) Business Days prior to any such prepayment, and (ii) in the case of any prepayment of any Base Rate Borrowing of Federal Funds Rate Borrowing, 11:00 a.m. not less than one (1) Business Day prior to the date of such prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the proposed date of such prepayment and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid. Upon receipt of any such notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the contents thereof and of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of any such prepayment. If such notice is given, the aggregate amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date designated in such notice, together

 

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with accrued interest to such date on the amount so prepaid in accordance with Section 2.7(c); provided, that if a Eurodollar Borrowing is prepaid on a date other than the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto, the Borrower shall also pay all amounts required pursuant to Section 2.14. Each partial prepayment of any Revolving Loan shall be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of an advance of a Borrowing of the same Type pursuant to Section 2.2. Each prepayment of a Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Revolving Loans comprising such Borrowing.

 

(c) The Borrower shall prepay the outstanding Revolving Loans in an aggregate amount equal to the net proceeds received from any issuance of capital stock or of any trust preferred securities.

 

(d) All prepayments shall be applied first to any outstanding Federal Funds Rate Loans, then to Base Rate Loans and finally to Eurodollar Loans in direct order of Interest Period maturities.

 

Section 2.7. Interest on Loans.

 

(a) The Borrower shall pay interest (i) on each Base Rate Loan, at the Base Rate in effect from time to time, (ii) on each Federal Funds Rate Loan, at the Federal Funds Rate in effect for such day, plus the Applicable Margin, and (iii) on each Eurodollar Loan, at LIBOR for the applicable Interest Period in effect for such Eurodollar Loan, plus the Applicable Margin.

 

(b) While an Event of Default exists or after acceleration, at the option of the Required Lenders, the Borrower shall pay interest (“Default Interest”) with respect to all Eurodollar Loans at the rate otherwise applicable for the then-current Interest Period plus an additional 2% per annum until the last day of such Interest Period, and thereafter, and with respect to all Base Rate Loans, Federal Funds Rate Loans and all other Obligations hereunder (other than Loans), at the Base Rate, plus 2% per annum.

 

(c) Interest on the principal amount of all Revolving Loans shall accrue from and including the date such Revolving Loans are made to but excluding the date of any repayment thereof. Interest on all outstanding Eurodollar Loans shall be payable on the last day of each Interest Period applicable thereto and in the case of Eurodollar Loans having an Interest Period longer than three months, on the date which occurs every three months after the initial date of such Interest Period, and in any case on the Commitment Termination Date. Interest on all Base Rate Loans shall be payable on the last day of each calendar quarter and interest on all Federal Funds Rate Loans shall be payable on the last day of each calendar month and in any case on the Commitment Termination Date. All Default Interest shall be payable on demand.

 

(d) The Administrative Agent shall determine each interest rate applicable to the Revolving Loans hereunder and shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of such rate in writing (or by telephone, promptly confirmed in writing). Any such determination shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

 

Section 2.8. Evidence of Indebtedness. (a) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice appropriate records evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Revolving Loan made by such Lender from time to time, including the amounts of principal and interest payable thereon and paid to such Lender from time to time under this Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall maintain appropriate records in which shall be recorded (i) the Revolving Commitment of each Lender, (ii) the amount of each Revolving Loan made hereunder by each Lender, the Type thereof and the Interest Period applicable thereto (if any), (iii) the date of each continuation thereof pursuant to Section 2.4, (iv) the date of each conversion of all or a portion thereof to another Type pursuant to Section 2.4, (v) the date and amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder in respect of such Revolving Loans and (vi) both the date and amount of any amount received by the

 

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Administrative Agent hereunder from the Borrower in respect of the Revolving Loans and each Lender’s Pro Rata Share thereof. The entries made in such records shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations of the Borrower therein recorded; provided, that the failure or delay of any Lender or the Administrative Agent in maintaining or making entries into any such record or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Revolving Loans (both principal and unpaid accrued interest) of such Lender in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

(b) At the request of any Lender at any time, the Borrower agrees that it will execute and deliver to such Lender a Revolving Credit Note, payable to the order of such Lender.

 

Section 2.9. Fees. The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a facility fee, which shall accrue at 0.175% per annum on the daily amount of the Revolving Commitment (whether used or unused) of such Lender during the Availability Period; provided, that if such Lender continues to have any Revolving Loans after the Commitment Termination Date, then the facility fee shall continue to accrue on the amount of such Lender’s unused Revolving Commitment from and after the Commitment Termination Date to the date that all of such Lender’s Revolving Loans have been paid in full. Accrued facility fees shall be payable in arrears on the last day of each March, June, September and December of each year and on the Commitment Termination Date, commencing on the first such date after the Closing Date; provided further, that any facility fees accruing after the Commitment Termination Date shall be payable on demand.

 

Section 2.10. Computation of Interest and Fees. All computations of interest and fees hereunder shall be made on the basis of a year of 360 days for the actual number of days (including the first day but excluding the last day) occurring in the period for which such interest or fees are payable (to the extent computed on the basis of days elapsed). Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest amount or fee hereunder shall be made in good faith and, except for manifest error, shall be final, conclusive and binding for all purposes.

 

Section 2.11. Inability to Determine Interest Rates. If prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for any Borrowing of Eurodollar Loans, the Administrative Agent shall have determined (which determination shall be conclusive and binding upon the Borrower) that (a) by reason of circumstances affecting the relevant interbank market, adequate means do not exist for ascertaining LIBOR for such Interest Period, or (b) the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Required Lenders that LIBOR does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making, funding or maintaining its Eurodollar Loans for such Interest Period, the Administrative Agent shall give written notice (or telephonic notice, promptly confirmed in writing) to the Borrower as soon as practicable thereafter. Until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (x) the obligations of the Lenders to make Eurodollar Loans or to continue or convert outstanding Revolving Loans as or into Eurodollar Loans shall be suspended and (y) all such affected Revolving Loans shall be converted into Base Rate Loans on the last day of the then current Interest Period unless the Borrower elects to prepay such Revolving Loans in accordance with this Agreement.

 

Section 2.12. Illegality. If any Change in Law shall make it unlawful or impossible for any Lender to make, maintain or fund any Eurodollar Loan and such Lender shall so notify the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent shall promptly give notice thereof to the Borrower and the other Lenders, whereupon until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such suspension no longer exist, the obligation of such Lender to make Eurodollar Loans, or to continue or convert any outstanding Revolving Loans as or into Eurodollar Loans, shall be suspended. In the case of the making of a Eurodollar Borrowing, such Lender’s Revolving Loan shall be made as a Base Rate Loan as part of the same Eurodollar Borrowing for the same Interest Period and if the affected Eurodollar Loan is then outstanding, such

 

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Loan shall be converted to a Base Rate Loan either (x) on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable to such Eurodollar Loan if the Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Loan to such date or (y) immediately if such Lender shall determine that it may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Loan to such date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the affected Lender shall, prior to giving such notice to the Administrative Agent, designate a different Applicable Lending Office if such designation would avoid the need for giving such notice and if such designation would not be disadvantageous to such Lender in the good faith exercise of its discretion.

 

Section 2.13. Increased Costs.

 

(a) If any Change in Law shall:

 

(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit or similar requirement that is not otherwise included in the determination of LIBOR hereunder against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Lender (except any such reserve requirement reflected in the calculation of LIBOR); or

 

(ii) impose on any Lender or the eurodollar interbank market any other condition affecting this Agreement or any Eurodollar Loans made by such Lender;

 

and the result of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Lender of making, converting into, continuing or maintaining a Eurodollar Loan or to reduce the amount received or receivable by such Lender hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount), then the Borrower shall promptly pay, upon written notice from and demand by such Lender (with a copy of such notice and demand to the Administrative Agent), to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender, within five Business Days after the date of such notice and demand, additional amount or amounts sufficient to compensate such Lender for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

 

(b) If any Lender shall have determined that on or after the date of this Agreement any Change in Law regarding capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s capital (or on the capital of such Lender’s parent corporation) as a consequence of its obligations hereunder to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender’s parent corporation could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies or the policies of such Lender’s parent corporation with respect to capital adequacy) then, from time to time, within five (5) Business Days after receipt by the Borrower of written demand by such Lender (with a copy thereof to the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender’s parent corporation for any such reduction suffered.

 

(c) A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its parent corporation, as the case may be, specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) and shall be conclusive, absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay any such Lender such amount or amounts within 10 days after receipt thereof.

 

(d) Failure or delay on the part of a Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation.

 

Section 2.14. Funding Indemnity. In the event of (a) the payment of any principal of a Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default), (b) the conversion or continuation of a Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, or (c) the failure by the Borrower to borrow, prepay, convert or continue any

 

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Eurodollar Loan on the date specified in any applicable notice (regardless of whether such notice is withdrawn or revoked), then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate each Lender, within five (5) Business Days after written demand from such Lender, for any loss, cost or expense attributable to such event. In the case of a Eurodollar Loan, such loss, cost or expense shall be deemed to include an amount determined by such Lender to be the excess, if any, of (A) the amount of interest that would have accrued on the principal amount of such Eurodollar Loan if such event had not occurred at LIBOR applicable to such Eurodollar Loan for the period from the date of such event to the last day of the then current Interest Period therefor (or in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or continue, for the period that would have been the Interest Period for such Eurodollar Loan) over (B) the amount of interest that would accrue on the principal amount of such Eurodollar Loan for the same period if LIBOR were set on the date such Eurodollar Loan was prepaid or converted or the date on which the Borrower failed to borrow, convert or continue such Eurodollar Loan. A certificate as to any additional amount payable under this Section 2.14 submitted to the Borrower by any Lender shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

 

Section 2.15. Taxes.

 

(a) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes; provided, that if the Borrower shall be required to deduct any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes from such payments, then (i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the Administrative Agent or any Lender (as the case may be) shall receive an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower shall make such deductions and (iii) the Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

 

(b) In addition, the Borrower shall pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

 

(c) The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender, within five (5) Business Days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes paid by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, on or with respect to any payment by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender, or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

(d) As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by the Borrower to a Governmental Authority, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(e) Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments under this Agreement shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Foreign Lender agrees that it will deliver to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (or in the case of a

 

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Participant, to the Lender from which the related participation shall have been purchased) two (2) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form 1001 or 4224, or any successor form thereto, as the case may be, certifying in each case that such Foreign Lender is entitled to receive payments made by the Borrower hereunder and under the Revolving Credit Notes payable to it, without deduction or withholding of any United States federal income taxes and (ii) a duly completed Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 or W-9, or any successor form thereto, as the case may be, to establish an exemption from United State backup withholding tax. Each such Foreign Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent such forms on or before the date that it becomes a party to this Agreement (or in the case of a Participant, on or before the date such Participant purchases the related participation). In addition, each such Lender shall deliver such forms promptly upon the obsolescence or invalidity of any form previously delivered by such Lender. Each such Lender shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent at any time that it determines that it is no longer in a position to provide any previously delivered certificate to the Borrower (or any other form of certification adopted by the U.S. taxing authorities for such purpose).

 

Section 2.16. Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs.

 

(a) The Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest or fees or of amounts payable under Section 2.13, 2.14 or 2.15, or otherwise) prior to 12:00 noon, on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without set-off or counterclaim. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent at the Payment Office, except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.13, 2.14 and 2.15 and 10.3 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto. The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof. If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be made payable for the period of such extension. All payments hereunder shall be made in Dollars.

 

(b) If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied first, towards payment of interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties, and second, towards payment of principal then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal then due to such parties.

 

(c) If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of set-of or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Revolving Loans that would result in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Revolving Loans and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by any other Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Revolving Loans of other Lenders to the extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Revolving Loans; provided, that (i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and (ii) the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Revolving Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this paragraph shall apply). The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so

 

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under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of set-off and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

 

(d) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders the amount or amounts due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then the Lenders severally agree to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to the Lenders with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

 

(e) If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.3(b), 2.16 (d) or 10.3(d), then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender to satisfy such Lender’s obligations under such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid.

 

Section 2.17. Mitigation of Obligations; Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.13, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.15, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the sole judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable under Section 2.13 or Section 2.15, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with such designation or assignment.

 

ARTICLE III

 

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO REVOLVING LOANS

 

Section 3.1. Conditions To Initial Revolving Loans. The obligations of each Lender to make its initial Revolving Loan hereunder shall not become effective until the date on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 10.2).

 

(a) The Administrative Agent shall have received all fees and other amounts due and payable on or prior to the Closing Date, including reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent) required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrower hereunder, under any other Loan Document and under any agreement with the Administrative Agent or SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, a division of SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc., as Arranger.

 

(b) The Administrative Agent shall have received the following documents in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:

 

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(i) a counterpart of this Agreement signed by or on behalf of each party thereto or written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include telecopy transmission of a signed signature page of this Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement;

 

(ii) if requested by any Lender, a duly executed Revolving Credit Note payable to such Lender;

 

(iii) a certificate of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Borrower, attaching and certifying copies of its bylaws and of the resolutions of its boards of directors, authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents and certifying the name, title and true signature of each officer of the Borrower authorized to execute the Loan Documents;

 

(iv) certified copies of the articles of incorporation of the Borrower, together with good standing certificates (or the equivalent) as may be available from the Secretary of State of the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Borrower and First Financial Bank, National Association and each other jurisdiction where the Borrower or First Financial Bank, National Association is required to be qualified to do business as a foreign corporation;

 

(v) a favorable written opinion the Borrower’s general counsel, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, and covering such matters relating to the Borrower, the Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated therein as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request; and

 

(vi) evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that the Existing Credit Agreement has been cancelled and that all outstanding Indebtedness thereunder has been paid.

 

Section 3.2. Each Revolving Loan. The obligation of each Lender to make each Revolving Loan is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

 

(a) at the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Revolving Loan, no Default or Event of Default shall exist;

 

(b) all representations and warranties of the Borrower herein shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Revolving Loan both before and after giving effect thereto;

 

(c) since June 30, 2005, there shall have been no change which has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(d) the Administrative Agent shall have received a duly executed Notice of Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.2 and if any of the proceeds of the Revolving Loans made pursuant to such Notice of Borrowing is to be used to repurchase the common stock of the Borrower, a duly executed and completed Form U-1 for each Lender; and

 

(e) the Administrative Agent shall have received such other documents, certificates, information or legal opinions as it or the Required Lenders may reasonably request, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

Each Borrowing shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower on the date thereof as to the matters specified in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 3.2.

 

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ARTICLE IV

 

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

The Borrower represents and warrants to Administrative Agent and the Lenders as follows:

 

Section 4.1. Existence; Power. Each of the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries (i) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing as a corporation under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, (ii) has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted, and (iii) is duly qualified to do business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction where such qualification is required, except where a failure to be so qualified could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 4.2. Organizational Power; Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of each of the Loan Documents are within the Borrower’s corporate powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate, and if required, stockholder, action. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Borrower and constitutes, and each other Loan Document when executed and delivered by the Borrower will constitute, valid and binding obligations of the Borrower, enforceable against it in accordance with their respective terms, except as may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity.

 

Section 4.3. Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any action by, any Governmental Authority, except (i) those as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect and (ii) any filing with the SEC made after the Closing Date relating to this Agreement and the transactions hereunder, (b) will not violate any applicable law or regulation or the articles of incorporation or by-laws of the Borrower or any order of any Governmental Authority, (c) will not violate or result in a default under any indenture, material agreement or other material instrument binding on the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any of its assets or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and (d) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, except Liens (if any) created under the Loan Documents.

 

Section 4.4. Financial Statements. The Borrower has furnished to the Lender (i) the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2004 and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the fiscal year then ended prepared by Ernst & Young LLP and (ii) the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of June 30, 2005 and the related unaudited consolidated statements of income and cash flows for the fiscal quarter and year-to-date period then ending, certified by a Responsible Officer. Such financial statements fairly present, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of such dates and the consolidated results of operations and cash flows for such periods in conformity with GAAP consistently applied, subject to year end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes in the case of the statements referred to in clause (ii). Since June 30, 2005, there have been no changes with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries which have had or could reasonably be expected to have, singly or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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Section 4.5. Litigation and Environmental Matters . (a) No litigation, investigation or proceeding of or before any arbitrators or Governmental Authorities is pending against, or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against or affecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (i) as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination that could reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) which in any manner draws into question the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

(b) Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law, (ii) has become subject to any Environmental Liability, (iii) has received notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or (iv) knows of any basis for any Environmental Liability.

 

Section 4.6. Compliance with Laws and Agreements. The Borrower and each Subsidiary is in compliance with (a) all applicable laws (including without limitation all federal and state banking statutes) and all rules, regulations (including without limitation all applicable federal and state banking regulations) and orders of any Governmental Authority, and (b) all indentures, agreements or other instruments binding upon it or its properties, except where non-compliance, either singly or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 4.7. Investment Company Act, Etc. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is (a) an “investment company”, as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or (b) a “holding company” as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended.

 

Section 4.8. Taxes. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have timely filed or caused to be filed all Federal income tax returns and all other material tax returns that are required to be filed by them, and have paid all taxes shown to be due and payable on such returns or on any assessments made against it or its property and all other taxes, fees or other charges imposed on it or any of its property by any Governmental Authority, except (i) to the extent the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) where the same are currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, has set aside on its books adequate reserves.

 

Section 4.9. Margin Regulations. None of the proceeds of any of the Revolving Loans will be used for “purchasing” or “carrying” any “margin stock” with the respective meanings of each of such terms under Regulation U as now and from time to time hereafter in effect (except in connection with the purchase of the common stock of the Borrower to be held as “treasury stock”) or for any purpose that violates the provisions of Regulation U.

 

Section 4.10. ERISA. No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events for which liability is reasonably expected to occur, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The present value of all accumulated benefit obligations under each Plan (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Standards No. 87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed by more than $2,000,000 the fair market value of the assets of such Plan, and the present value of all accumulated benefit obligations of all underfunded Plans (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Standards No. 87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed by more than $2,000,000 the fair market value of the assets of all such underfunded Plans.

 

Section 4.11. Disclosure. The Borrower has disclosed to the Lenders all agreements, instruments, and corporate or other restrictions to which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, and all

 

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other matters known to any of them, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Documents included in any filings with the SEC by the Borrower prior to the Closing Date shall be deemed to have been disclosed to the Lenders. None of the reports (including without limitation all reports that the Borrower is required to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission), financial statements, certificates or other information furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the negotiation or syndication of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or delivered hereunder or thereunder (as modified or supplemented by any other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, taken as a whole, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

Section 4.12. Subsidiaries. Schedule 4.12 sets forth the name of, the ownership interest of the Borrower in, and the jurisdiction of incorporation of, each Financial Institution Subsidiary and each other direct Subsidiary, in each case as of the Closing Date.

 

Section 4.13. Dividend Restrictions; Other Restrictions. (a) No Financial Institution Subsidiary has violated any applicable regulatory restrictions on dividends, and no Governmental Authority has taken any action to restrict the payment of dividends by any Financial Institution Subsidiary.

 

(b) Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is under investigation by, or is operating under any restrictions (excluding any restrictions on the payment of dividends referenced in subsection (a) above) imposed by or agreed to with, any Governmental Authority, other than routine examinations by such Governmental Authorities.

 

Section 4.14. Capital Measures. On the Closing Date, both the Borrower and each Financial Institution Subsidiary have been, or are deemed to have been, notified by the appropriate Governmental Authority having regulatory authority over each of them that each of them is “well capitalized”, as determined in accordance with any regulations established by such Governmental Authority.

 

Section 4.15. FDIC Insurance. The deposits of each Financial Institution Subsidiary that is an “insured depository institution” (within the meaning of § 12 U. S. C. 1831(c)) are insured by the FDIC and no act has occurred that would adversely affect the status of such Financial Institution Subsidiary as an FDIC insured bank.

 

Section 4.16. OFAC. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) is a person whose property or interest in property is blocked or subject to blocking pursuant to Section 1 of Executive Order 13224 of September 23, 2001 Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism (66 Fed. Reg. 49079 (2001)), (ii) engages in any dealings or transactions prohibited by Section 2 of such executive order, or is otherwise associated with any such person in any manner violative of Section 2 or (iii) is a person on the list of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons or subject to the limitations or prohibitions under any other U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control regulation or executive order.

 

Section 4.17. Patriot Act. Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is in compliance, in all material respects, with (i) the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, and each of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) and any other enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto and (ii) the Uniting And Strengthening America By Providing Appropriate Tools Required To Intercept And Obstruct Terrorism (USA Patriot Act of 2001). No part of the proceeds of the Obligations will be used, directly or indirectly, for any payments to any governmental official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for political office, or anyone else

 

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acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.

 

ARTICLE V

 

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

 

The Borrower covenants and agrees that so long as any Lender has a Revolving Commitment hereunder or the principal of and interest on any Revolving Loan or any fee remains unpaid:

 

Section 5.1. Financial Statements and Other Information. The Borrower will deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

 

(a) as soon as available and in any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of Borrower, a copy of the annual audited report for such fiscal year for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, containing (i) a consolidated balance sheet and the related consolidated statements of income, of changes in shareholders’ equity and of cash flows (together with all footnotes thereto), and (ii) a condensed balance sheet of the Borrower only and the related condensed statements of income and of cash flows, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and reported on by Ernst & Young LLP or other independent public accountants of nationally recognized standing (without a “going concern” or like qualification, exception or explanation and without any qualification or exception as to scope of such audit) to the effect that such financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and the results of operations and cash flows on a consolidated basis of the Borrower for such fiscal year in accordance with GAAP and that the examination by such accountants in connection with such financial statements has been made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards;

 

(b) as soon as available and in any event within 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower, an unaudited balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis and of the Borrower on a stand alone basis as of the end of such fiscal quarter and the related unaudited statements of income and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis and of the Borrower on a stand alone basis, each for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding quarter and the corresponding portion of Borrower’s previous fiscal year, all certified by the chief financial officer or treasurer of the Borrower as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis and of the Borrower on a stand alone basis in accordance with GAAP, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;

 

(c) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in clauses (a) and (b) above, a certificate of a Responsible Officer, (i) certifying as to whether there exists a Default or Event of Default on the date of such certificate, and if a Default or an Event of Default then exists, specifying the details thereof and the action which the Borrower has taken or proposes to take with respect thereto, and (ii) setting forth in reasonable detail calculations demonstrating compliance with Article VI;

 

(d) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in clauses (a) and (b) above, duly executed copies of the Borrower’s then-current FR Report Y-9C and FR Report Y-9LP and a duly executed copy of the then-current Call Report for each Financial Institution Subsidiary;

 

(e) promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any

 

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Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all functions of said Commission, or with any national securities exchange, or distributed by the Borrower to its shareholders generally, as the case may be; and

 

(f) promptly following any request therefor, such other information regarding the results of operations, business affairs and financial condition of the Borrower or any Subsidiary as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request.

 

Section 5.2. Notices of Material Events. The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender prompt written notice of the following:

 

(a) the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default;

 

(b) the filing or commencement of any action, suit or proceeding by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority against or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, affecting the Borrower or any Subsidiary which, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(c) the occurrence of any ERISA Event that alone, or together with any other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding $2,000,000;

 

(d) any investigation of the Borrower or any Subsidiary by any Governmental Agency having regulatory authority over the Borrower or any such Subsidiary (other than routine examinations of the Borrower and/or any such Subsidiary);

 

(e) the issuance of any cease and desist order, written agreement, cancellation of insurance or other public or enforcement action by the FDIC or other Governmental Authority having regulatory authority over the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

 

(f) the issuance of any memorandum of understanding or proposed disciplinary action by or from any Governmental Authority having regulatory authority over the Borrower or any Subsidiary, to the extent that the Borrower or any such Subsidiary is permitted to disclose such information (provided that the Borrower shall take all reasonable efforts to obtain any necessary regulatory consents);

 

(g) any other development that results in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Each notice delivered under this Section shall be accompanied by a written statement of a Responsible Officer setting forth the details of the event or development requiring such notice and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.

 

Section 5.3. Existence; Conduct of Business. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence and its respective rights, licenses, permits, privileges, franchises, patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade names material to the conduct of its business and will continue to engage in the same business as presently conducted or such other businesses that are reasonably related thereto; provided, that nothing in this Section shall prohibit any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution permitted under Section 7.3.

 

Section 5.4. Compliance with Laws, Etc. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, comply with all laws, rules, regulations and requirements of any Governmental Authority (including without limitation all federal and state banking statutes and regulations) applicable to its assets, except

 

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where the failure to do so, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 5.5. Books and Records. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, keep proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries shall be made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities to the extent necessary to prepare the consolidated financial statements of Borrower in conformity with GAAP.

 

Section 5.6. Visitation, Inspection, Etc. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, permit any representative of the Administrative Agent and of each Lender to visit and inspect its properties, to examine its books and records and to make copies and take extracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with any of its officers and with its independent certified public accountants, all at such reasonable times and as often as the Administrative Agent or such Lender may reasonably request after reasonable prior notice to the Borrower.

 

Section 5.7. Maintenance of Properties; Insurance. (a) The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, (i) keep and maintain all property material to the conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear except where the failure to do so, either individually or it the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect and (ii) maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance with respect to its properties and business, and the properties and business of its Subsidiaries, against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by companies in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations.

 

(b) The deposits of each Financial Institution Subsidiary will at all times be insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”).

 

Section 5.8. Use of Proceeds. The Borrower will use the proceeds of all Revolving Loans to finance working capital needs (including without limitation acquisitions, the refinancing of the Indebtedness under the Existing Credit Agreement and the repurchase of common stock) and for other general corporate purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries. No part of the proceeds of any Revolving Loan will be used, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose that would violate any rule or regulation of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, including Regulation T, U or X.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

FINANCIAL COVENANTS

 

The Borrower covenants and agrees that so long as the Lender has its Revolving Commitment hereunder or the principal of or interest on or any Revolving Loan remains unpaid or any fee remains unpaid:

 

Section 6.1. Reserve Coverage. The Borrower on a consolidated basis will not permit at the end of each Fiscal Quarter its Allowance for Loan Losses to be less than 100% of its Nonperforming Loans.

 

Section 6.2. Return on Average Assets. The Borrower on a consolidated basis will have at the end of each Fiscal Quarter a Return on Average Assets for such Fiscal Quarter and the previous three Fiscal Quarters of not less than an average of 0.90%, determined by taking the sum of the Return on Average Assets (adjusted for special restructuring or exceptional charges but excluding any special charges with respect to additional loan loss reserves or other loan quality deterioration) for each such Fiscal Quarter (as such figure is

 

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disclosed in the Borrower’s consolidated financial statements that are submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Forms 10-K or 10-Q), divided by four (4).

 

Section 6.3. Nonperforming Assets. The Borrower on a consolidated basis will not permit at the end of each Fiscal Quarter Nonperforming Assets to be greater than 2.50% of the sum of Total Loans (excluding loans held for sale) and Other Real Estate Owned.

 

Section 6.4. Double Leverage Ratio. The Borrower will not permit at any time its Double Leverage Ratio to be greater than 1.10 to 1.00 from the Closing Date to the Commitment Termination Date.

 

Section 6.5. Capital Measures. (a) The Borrower will be “well-capitalized” for all applicable state and federal regulatory purposes at all times, and the Borrower (i) will have a Total Risk-based Capital Ratio of 10.0% or greater, a Tier 1 Risk-based Capital Ratio of 6.0% or greater, and a Leverage Ratio of 5.0% or greater (each as defined by applicable federal and state regulations or orders), and will not be subject to any written agreement, order, capital directive or prompt corrective action directive by any Governmental Authority having regulatory authority over the Borrower or (ii) if required by any Governmental Authority having regulatory authority over the Borrower in order to remain “well capitalized” and in compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements, will have such higher amounts of Total Risk-based Capital and Tier 1 Risk-based Capital and/or such greater Leverage Ratio as specified by such Governmental Authority.

 

(b) Each Financial Institution Subsidiary of the Borrower will be “well capitalized” for all applicable state and federal regulatory purposes at all times, and such Financial Institution Subsidiary (i) will have a Total Risk-based Capital Ratio of 10.0% or greater, a Tier 1 Risk-based Capital Ratio of 6.0% or greater, and a Leverage Ratio of 5.0% or greater (each as defined by applicable federal and state regulations or orders) and not be subject to any written agreement, order, capital directive or prompt corrective action directive by any Governmental Authority having regulatory authority over such Financial Institution Subsidiary or (ii) if required by any Governmental Authority having regulatory authority over such Financial Institution Subsidiary in order to remain “well capitalized” and in compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements, will have such higher amounts of Total Risk-based Capital and Tier 1 Risk-based Capital and/or such greater Leverage Ratio as specified by such Governmental Authority.

 

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at any time any such Governmental Authority changes the definition of “well capitalized” either by amending such ratios or otherwise, such amended definition, and any such amended or new ratios, shall automatically be incorporated by reference into this Agreement as the minimum standard for the Borrower or any Financial Institution Subsidiary, as the case may be, on and as of the date that any such amendment becomes effective by applicable statute, regulation, order or otherwise.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

 

The Borrower covenants and agrees that so long as any Lender has its Revolving Commitment hereunder or the principal of or interest on any Revolving Loan remains unpaid or any fee remains unpaid:

 

Section 7.1. Indebtedness. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:

 

(a) Indebtedness created pursuant to the Loan Documents;

 

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(b) Indebtedness existing on the date hereof (excluding any Indebtedness otherwise permitted under this Section 7.1) and set forth on Schedule 7.1 and extensions, renewals and replacements of any such Indebtedness that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof (immediately prior to giving effect to such extension, renewal or replacement) or shorten the maturity or the weighted average life thereof;

 

(c) Indebtedness of any Financial Institution Subsidiary (i) to the Federal Reserve Board or to the Federal Home Loan Bank Board or (ii) constituting federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase incurred in the ordinary course of business or (iii) otherwise incurred in the ordinary course of its banking business;

 

(d) Indebtedness constituting obligations of the Borrower and any Financial Institution Subsidiary under debentures, indentures, trust agreements and guarantees in connection with the issuance by such Persons of trust preferred securities;

 

(e) (i) Indebtedness owed by the Borrower or any “affiliate” of the Borrower (as defined in Regulation W of the FRB and sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act) to any Financial Institution Subsidiary not in violation of Regulation W of the FRB (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified), or (ii) Indebtedness owed by any Subsidiary to the Borrower or (iii) Indebtedness owed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary to a Subsidiary other than a Financial Institution Subsidiary; and

 

(f) Any other Indebtedness that is subordinated to the Indebtedness under this Agreement on the following terms: (i) no part of the principal of such Indebtedness is stated to be payable or is required to be paid (whether by way of mandatory sinking fund, mandatory redemption, mandatory prepayment or otherwise) prior to the Commitment Termination Date and the payment of principal of which and any other obligations of the Borrower with respect thereof (other than interest subject to clause (f)(ii)) are subordinated to the prior payment in full of principal and interest (including post-petition interest) and all other obligations and amounts of the Borrower to the Lender hereunder on terms and conditions first approved in writing by the Lender, (ii) no part of the interest accruing on such Indebtedness is payable, without the prior written consent of the Lender, after a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and (iii) such Indebtedness otherwise contains terms, covenants and conditions in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Lender as evidenced by its prior written approval thereof.

 

Section 7.2. Negative Pledge. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any of its assets or property now owned or hereafter acquired (including without limitation in the case of the Borrower, the capital stock of any Financial Institution Subsidiary), except:

 

(a) Liens (if any) created in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders pursuant to the Loan Documents;

 

(b) Permitted Encumbrances;

 

(c) Liens granted to secure any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 7.1(c) (as long as in the case of Section 7.1(c)(ii), such Lien shall only extend to those securities sold) and Section 7.1(e);

 

(d) Liens granted to secure any deposit liabilities with any Governmental Authority; and

 

(e) extensions, renewals, or replacements of any Lien referred to in paragraphs (a), (b) , (c) and (d) of this Section.

 

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Section 7.3. Fundamental Changes.

 

(a) The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, merge into or consolidate into any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of (in a single transaction or a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (other than in the ordinary course of business) or all or substantially all of the stock of any of its Subsidiaries or liquidate or dissolve; provided, that if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (i) the Borrower or any Subsidiary may merge with a Person if the Borrower (or such Subsidiary if the Borrower is not a party to such merger) is the surviving Person, (ii) any Subsidiary may sell, lease, transfer or dispose of its assets to the Borrower and (iii) any Subsidiary (other than a Financial Institution Subsidiary) or the assets of any Subsidiary may be sold or otherwise transferred, and any Subsidiary (including a Financial Institutions Subsidiary) may enter into a sale and leaseback transaction that is otherwise prohibited by Section 7.7, so long as the aggregate value of such assets (either sold outright or sold and leased back) and any such Subsidiary shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the Borrower’s consolidated total assets in any fiscal year, provided, that any Financial Institution Subsidiary may sell loans, investments or other assets in the ordinary course of its business.

 

(b) The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, engage to any material extent in any business other than businesses of the type conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on the date hereof and businesses reasonably related thereto and any types of businesses that are expressly permitted by any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Borrower and/or any Financial Institutions Subsidiary.

 

Section 7.4. Restricted Payments. Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of any Default or Event of Default (other than any Default or Event of Default resulting solely from a breach of Section 6.2, 6.3, or 6.4), the Borrower will not declare or make, or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any dividend on any class of its stock, or make any payment on account of, or set apart assets for a sinking or other analogous fund for, the purchase, redemption, retirement, defeasance or other acquisition of, any shares of common stock or Indebtedness subordinated to the Obligations of the Borrower or any options, warrants, or other rights to purchase such common stock or such Indebtedness, whether now or hereafter outstanding.

 

Section 7.5. Restrictive Agreements. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, enter into, incur or permit to exist any agreement that prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition upon (a) the ability of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to create, incur or permit any Lien upon any of its assets or properties, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or (b) the ability of any Subsidiary to pay dividends or other distributions with respect to its common stock, to make or repay loans or advances to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary, to guarantee Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary or to transfer any of its property or assets to the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower; provided, that (i) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions or conditions imposed by law or by this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the foregoing shall not apply to customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of a Subsidiary pending such sale, provided such restrictions and conditions apply only to the Subsidiary that is sold and such sale is permitted hereunder, and (iii) clause (a) shall not apply to customary provisions in leases restricting the assignment thereof.

 

Section 7.6. Investments, Etc. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, purchase, hold or acquire (including pursuant to any merger with any Person that was not a wholly-owned Subsidiary prior to such merger), any common stock, Indebtedness or other securities (including any option, warrant, or other right to acquire any of the foregoing) of, make or permit to exist any loans or advances to, Guarantee any obligations of, or make or permit to exist any investment or any other interest in, any

 

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other Person (all of the foregoing being collectively called “Investments”), or purchase or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) any assets of any other Person that constitute a business unit, except:

 

(a) Investments existing on the date hereof (including Investments in Subsidiaries) that have been disclosed to the Lender and/or that are set forth on the most current financial statements that have been delivered to the Lender;

 

(b) Investments purchased in the ordinary course of business by any Financial Institution Subsidiary;

 

(c) Investments made by the Borrower in or to any Subsidiary and by any Subsidiary in or to the Borrower or in or to another Subsidiary;

 

(d) Investments made for the purpose of making or consummating an Acquisition. provided, that (i) after giving effect to such Acquisition, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (ii) such Acquisitions are undertaken in accordance with all applicable laws, and (iii) the prior written consent or approval of such Acquisition of the board of directors or equivalent governing body of the Person being acquired. Upon the Borrower or any Subsidiary’s Investment of fifty percent or more of the voting stock any Person that is a regulated financial institution, such Person shall become a Financial Institution Subsidiary for purposes of this Agreement; and

 

(b) Other Investments permitted by applicable laws and regulations.

 

Section 7.7. Sale and Leaseback Transactions. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of the Subsidiaries to, enter into any arrangement, directly or indirectly, whereby it shall sell or transfer any property, real or personal, used or useful in its business, whether now owned or hereinafter acquired, and thereafter rent or lease such property or other property that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property sold or transferred.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

 

Section 8.1. Events of Default. If any of the following events (each an “Event of Default”) shall occur:

 

(a) the Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Revolving Loan when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment or otherwise; or

 

(b) the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Revolving Loan or any fee or any other amount (other than an amount payable under clause (a) of this Article) payable under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of three (3) days; or

 

(c) any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document (including the Schedules attached thereto) and any amendments or modifications hereof or waivers hereunder, or in any certificate, report, financial statement or other document submitted to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders by the Borrower or

 

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any representative of the Borrower pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall prove to be incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made or submitted; or

 

(d) the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant or agreement contained in Section 5.2, Section 5.3 (with respect to the Borrower’s existence) or Articles VI or VII; or

 

(e) the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant or agreement contained (i) in this Agreement (other than those referred to in clauses (a), (b) and (d) above), and such failure shall remain unremedied for 30 days after the earlier of (x) any officer of the Borrower becomes aware of such failure, or (y) notice thereof shall have been given to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or any Lender or (ii) in any other Loan Document (after taking into consideration any applicable grace periods); or

 

(f) the Borrower or any Subsidiary (whether as primary obligor or as guarantor or other surety) shall fail to pay any principal of or premium or interest on any Indebtedness owed to any other Person greater than $1,000,000 that is outstanding, when and as the same shall become due and payable (whether at scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise), and such failure shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in the agreement or instrument evidencing such Indebtedness; or any other event shall occur or condition shall exist under any agreement or instrument relating to such Indebtedness and shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in such agreement or instrument, if the effect of such event or condition is to accelerate, or permit the acceleration of, the maturity of such Indebtedness (without regard to whether such holders or other Person shall have exercised or waived their right to do so); or any such Indebtedness shall be declared to be due and payable; or required to be prepaid or redeemed (other than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment or redemption), purchased or defeased, or any offer to prepay, redeem, purchase or defease such Indebtedness shall be required to be made, in each case prior to the stated maturity thereof; or

 

(g) the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall (i) commence a voluntary case or other proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or seeking the appointment of a custodian, trustee, receiver, liquidator or other similar official of it or any substantial part of its property, (ii) consent to the institution of , or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition described in clause (i) of this Section, (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a custodian, trustee, receiver, liquidator or other similar official for the Borrower or any such Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or (vi) take any action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing; or

 

(h) an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization or other relief in respect of the Borrower or any Subsidiary or its debts, or any substantial part of its assets, under any federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or (ii) the appointment of a custodian, trustee, receiver, liquidator or other similar official for the Borrower or any Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, and in any such case, such proceeding or petition shall remain undismissed for a period of 60 days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered; or

 

(i) the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall become unable to pay, shall admit in writing its inability to pay, or shall fail to pay, its debts as they become due; or

 

(j) an ERISA Event shall have occurred that, in the opinion of the Required Lenders, when taken together with other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability to the Borrower and the Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding $2,000,000; or

 

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(k) any judgment or order for the payment of money in excess of $2,000,000 in the aggregate shall be rendered against the Borrower or any Subsidiary, and either (i) enforcement proceedings shall have been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order or (ii) there shall be a period of 30 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment or order, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, shall not be in effect; or

 

(l) any non-monetary judgment or order shall be rendered against the Borrower or any Subsidiary that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and there shall be a period of 30 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment or order, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, shall not be in effect; or

 

(m) a Change in Control shall occur or exist; or

 

(n) any Governmental Authority having regulatory authority over the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall impose any restriction upon the payment of dividends from any such Subsidiary to the Borrower; or

 

(o) any Financial Institution Subsidiary shall cease for any reason to be an insured bank under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as amended; or

 

(p) the FDIC or any other federal or state regulatory authority shall issue a cease and desist order or take other action of a disciplinary or remedial nature against the Borrower or any Financial Institution Subsidiary and such order or other action could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or there shall occur with respect to any Financial Institution Subsidiary any event that is grounds for the required submission of a capital restoration plan under 12 U. S. C. §1831o (e)(2) and the regulations thereunder; or

 

(q) the Borrower or any Financial Institution Subsidiary shall enter into a written agreement with any Governmental Authority having regulatory authority over such Person for any reason;

 

then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to the Borrower or any Subsidiary described in clause (g) or (h) of this Section) and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may, and upon the written request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrower, take any or all of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate the Aggregate Revolving Commitments; (ii) declare the principal of and any accrued interest on the Revolving Loans, and all other Obligations owing hereunder, to be, whereupon the same shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower and (iii) exercise all remedies contained in any other Loan Document; and that, if an Event of Default specified in either clause (g) or (h) shall occur, the Aggregate Revolving Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Revolving Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon, and all fees, and all other Obligations shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

 

Section 9.1. Appointment of Administrative Agent. Each Lender irrevocably appoints SunTrust Bank as the Administrative Agent and authorizes it to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents,

 

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together with all such actions and powers that are reasonably incidental thereto. The Administrative Agent may perform any of its duties hereunder by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers through any Affiliate. The exculpatory provisions set forth in this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and any Affiliate of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.

 

Section 9.2. Nature of Duties of Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (a) the Administrative Agent shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (b) the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except those discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated by the Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 10.2), and (c) except as expressly set forth in the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that is communicated to or obtained by the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 10.2) or in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default unless and until written notice thereof is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or any Lender, and the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with any Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements, or other terms and conditions set forth in any Loan Document, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article III or elsewhere in any Loan Document, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

 

Section 9.3. Lack of Reliance on the Administrative Agent. Each of the Lenders, the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Bank acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each of the Lenders, the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Bank also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking of any action under or based on this Agreement, any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

 

Section 9.4. Certain Rights of the Administrative Agent. If the Administrative Agent shall request instructions from the Required Lenders with respect to any action or actions (including the failure to act) in connection with this Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to refrain from such act or taking such act, unless and until it shall have received instructions from such Lenders; and the Administrative Agent shall not incur liability to any Person by reason of so refraining. Without limiting the foregoing, no Lender shall have any right of action whatsoever against the Administrative Agent as a result of the Administrative Agent acting or refraining from acting hereunder in accordance with the instructions of the Required Lenders where required by the terms of this Agreement.

 

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Section 9.5. Reliance by Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent may also rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be made by the proper Person and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (including counsel for the Borrower), independent public accountants and other experts selected by it and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts.

 

Section 9.6. The Administrative Agent in its Individual Capacity. The bank serving as the Administrative Agent shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement and any other Loan Document in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise or refrain from exercising the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent; and the terms “Lenders”, “Required Lenders”, “holders of Notes”, or any similar terms shall, unless the context clearly otherwise indicates, include the Administrative Agent in its individual capacity. The bank acting as the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Borrower as if it were not the Administrative Agent hereunder.

 

Section 9.7. Successor Administrative Agent.

 

(a) The Administrative Agent may resign at any time by giving notice thereof to the Lenders and the Borrower. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Administrative Agent, subject to the approval by the Borrower provided that no Default or Event of Default shall exist at such time. If no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed, and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which shall be a commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or a bank which maintains an office in the United States.

 

(b) Upon the acceptance of its appointment as the Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor, such successor Administrative Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. If within 45 days after written notice is given of the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation under this Section 9.7 no successor Administrative Agent shall have been appointed and shall have accepted such appointment, then on such 45th day (i) the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation shall become effective, (ii) the retiring Administrative Agent shall thereupon be discharged from its duties and obligations under the Loan Documents and (iii) the Required Lenders shall thereafter perform all duties of the retiring Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided above. After any retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Article IX shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent and its representatives and agents in respect of any actions taken or not taken by any of them while it was serving as the Administrative Agent.

 

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ARTICLE X

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 10.1. Notices.

 

(a) Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone, all notices and other communications to any party herein to be effective shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopy, as follows:

 

To the Borrower:   

First Financial Bancorp.

300 High Street, 8th Floor

Hamilton, Ohio 45011

    

Attn: J. Franklin Hall

Telephone Number: (513) 867-4954

Telecopy Number: (513) 867-3112

With a copy to:   

First Financial Bancorp.

300 High Street, 8th Floor

Hamilton, Ohio 45011

    

Attn: General Counsel

Telephone Number: (513) 867-5449

Telecopy Number: (513) 867-5112

To the Administrative Agent:   

SunTrust Bank

303 Peachtree Street

Atlanta, Georgia 30308

    

Attn: Alisa A. Waxman

Telephone Number: (404) 230-1919

Telecopy Number: (404) 581-1775

With a copy to:   

SunTrust Bank

Agency Services

303 Peachtree Street, 25th Floor

    

Atlanta, Georgia 30308

Attn: Doris Folsum

Telecopy Number: (404) 658-4906

 

Any party hereto may change its address or telecopy number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. All such notices and other communications shall, when transmitted by overnight delivery, or faxed, be effective when delivered for overnight (next-day) delivery, or transmitted in legible form by facsimile machine, respectively, or if mailed, upon the third Business Day after the date deposited into the mails or if delivered, upon delivery; provided, that notices delivered to the Administrative Agent shall not be effective until actually received by the Administrative Agent at its address specified in this Section 9.1.

 

35


(b) Any agreement of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders herein to receive certain notices by telephone or facsimile is solely for the convenience and at the request of the Borrower. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely on the authority of any Person purporting to be a Person authorized by the Borrower to give such notice and the Administrative Agent shall not have any liability to the Borrower or other Person on account of any action taken or not taken by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders in reliance upon such telephonic or facsimile notice. The obligation of the Borrower to repay the Revolving Loans and all other Obligations hereunder shall not be affected in any way or to any extent by any failure of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to receive written confirmation of any telephonic or facsimile notice or the receipt by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders of a confirmation which is at variance with the terms understood by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to be contained in any such telephonic or facsimile notice.

 

Section 10.2. Waiver; Amendments.

 

(a) No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder or any other Loan Document, and no course of dealing between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent or any Lender, shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power hereunder or thereunder. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Revolving Loan shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default or Event of Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of such Default or Event of Default at the time.

 

(b) No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, nor consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Borrower and the Required Lenders, or the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, that no amendment or waiver shall: (i) increase the Revolving Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender, (ii) reduce the principal amount of any Revolving Loan or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iii) postpone the date fixed for any payment of any principal of, or interest on, any Revolving Loan or interest thereon or any fees hereunder or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date for the termination or reduction of any Revolving Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iv) change Section 2.16 (b) or (c) in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby, without the written consent of each Lender, (v) change any of the provisions of this Section or the definition of “Required Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders which are required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the consent of each Lender; (vi) release any guarantor or limit the liability of any such guarantor under any guaranty agreement; (vii) release all or substantially all collateral (if any) securing any of the Obligations or agree to subordinate any Lien in such collateral to any other creditor of the Borrower or any Subsidiary; provided further, that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights, duties or obligations of the Administrative Agent without the prior written consent of such Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any provision of this Agreement may be amended by an agreement in writing entered into by the

 

36


Borrower, the Required Lenders and the Administrative Agent if (i) by the terms of such agreement the Revolving Commitment of each Lender not consenting to the amendment provided for therein shall terminate (but such Lender shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.13, 2.14, and 2.15 and 10.3) upon the effectiveness of such amendment and (ii) at the time such amendment becomes effective, each Lender not consenting thereto receives payment in full principal of and interest accrued on each Revolving Loan made by it and all other amounts owing to it or accrued for its account under this Agreement and is released from its obligations hereunder.

 

Section 10.3. Expenses; Indemnification.

 

(a) The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable, out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of outside counsel and the allocated cost of inside counsel for the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates) in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation and administration of the Loan Documents and any amendments, modifications or waivers thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be consummated), and (ii) all out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of outside counsel and the allocated cost of inside counsel) incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with this Agreement, including its rights under this Section, or in connection with the Revolving Loans made hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Revolving Loans.

 

(b) The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender and each officer, director, employee, agents, advisors and Affiliates of the Administrative Agent and each Lender (each, an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each of them harmless from, any and all costs, losses, liabilities, claims, damages and related expenses, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee, which may be incurred by any Indemnitee, or asserted against any Indemnitee by the Borrower or any third Person, arising out of, in connection with or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of any this Agreement or any other agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) any Revolving Loan or any actual or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom, (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether brought by the Borrower or any third Person and whether based on contract, tort, or any other theory and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided, that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or (y) result from a claim brought by the Borrower against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if the Borrower has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

(c) The Borrower shall pay, and hold the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders harmless from and against, any and all present and future stamp, documentary, and other similar taxes with respect to this Agreement and any other Loan Documents, any collateral described therein, or any payments due thereunder, and save the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders harmless from and against any and all liabilities with respect to or resulting from any delay or omission to pay such taxes.

 

37


(d) To the extent that the Borrower fails to pay any amount required to be paid to the Administrative Agent under clauses (a), (b) or (c) hereof, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s Pro Rata Share (determined as of the time that the unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) such unpaid amount; provided, that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified payment, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such.

 

(e) To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to actual or direct damages) arising out of, in connection with or as a result of, this Agreement or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated therein, any Revolving Loan or the use of proceeds thereof.

 

(f) All amounts due under this Section shall be payable promptly after written demand therefor.

 

Section 10.4. Successors and Assigns.

 

(a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, except that the Borrower may not assign or transfer any of its rights hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower without such consent shall be null and void).

 

(b) Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Revolving Loans at the time owing to it); provided, that (i) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender , each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (and, in the case of an assignment of all or a portion of a Revolving Commitment) must give their prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), (ii) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an assignment of the entire amount of the assigning Lender’s Revolving Commitment hereunder or an assignment while an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the amount of the Revolving Commitment of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the assignment and acceptance agreement with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall not be less than $1,000,000 (unless the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall otherwise consent), (iii) each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (iv) the assigning Lender and the assignee shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an assignment and acceptance agreement in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent, together with a processing and recordation fee payable by the assigning Lender or the assignee (as determined between such Persons) in an amount equal to $3,500 and (v) such assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver a duly completed administrative questionnaire to the Administrative Agent; provided, that any consent of the Borrower otherwise required hereunder shall not be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing. Upon the execution and delivery of the such assignment and acceptance agreement and payment by such assignee to the assigning Lender of an amount equal to the purchase price agreed between such Persons, such assignee shall become a party to this Agreement and any other Loan Documents to which such assigning Lender is a party and, to the extent of such interest assigned by such assignment and acceptance agreement, shall have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender shall be released from its obligations hereunder to a corresponding extent (and, in the case of an assignment and acceptance agreement covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to

 

38


the benefits of Sections 2.13, 2.14 and 2.15 and 10.3) Upon the consummation of any such assignment hereunder, the assigning Lender, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall make appropriate arrangements to have new promissory notes issued if so requested by either or both the assigning Lender or the assignee. Any assignment or other transfer by a Lender that does not fully comply with the terms of this clause (b) shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale of a participation pursuant to clause (c) below.

 

(c) Each Lender may at any time, without the consent of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement; provided, that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of its obligations hereunder, and (iii) the Borrower shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Any agreement between such Lender and the Participant with respect to such participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right and responsibility to enforce this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the right to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents; provided, that such participation agreement may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver of this Agreement described in the first proviso of Section 9.2(b) that affects the Participant. The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.8, 2.9 and 2.10 to the same extent as if it were a Lender hereunder and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b); provided, that no Participant shall be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.10 than such Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant unless the sale of such participation is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent.

 

(d) The Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement and the Revolving Credit Note to secure its obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank without complying with this Section; provided, that no such pledge or assignment shall release the Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

 

Section 10.5. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process.

 

(a) This Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be construed in accordance with and be governed by the law (without giving effect to the conflict of law principles thereof) of the State of Georgia.

 

(b) The Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any Federal and/or state court located in the State of Georgia (including without limitation the Business Case Division of the Fulton County Superior Court, if applicable) and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such Georgia state court or, to the extent permitted by applicable law, such Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall affect any right that the Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document against the Borrower or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

 

(c) The Borrower irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding described in paragraph (b) of this Section and brought in any court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section. Each of the parties hereto

 

39


irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

 

(d) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to the service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 10.1. Nothing in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document will affect the right of any party hereto to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

 

Section 10.6. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).

 

Section 10.7. Right of Setoff. In addition to any rights now or hereafter granted under applicable law and not by way of limitation of any such rights, each Lender shall have the right, at any time or from time to time upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, without prior notice to the Borrower, any such notice being expressly waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply against all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) of the Borrower at any time held or other obligations at any time owing by such Lender to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any and all Obligations held by such Lender, irrespective of whether such Lender shall have made demand hereunder and although such Obligations may be unmatured. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower after any such set-off and any application made by such Lender; provided, that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application.

 

Section 10.8. Counterparts; Integration. This Agreement may be executed by one or more of the parties to this Agreement on any number of separate counterparts (including by telecopy), and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement, the other Loan Documents, and any separate letter agreement(s) relating to any fees payable to the Administrative Agent constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto and thereto regarding the subject matters hereof and thereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, regarding such subject matters.

 

Section 10.9. Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Borrower herein and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of any Revolving Loans, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Revolving Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding and unpaid and so long as the Revolving Commitment has not expired or terminated. The provisions of Sections 2.13, 2.14 and 2.15 and Article XI shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Revolving Loans, the expiration or termination of the Revolving Commitment or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof. All representations and warranties made herein, in the certificates, reports, notices, and other documents delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and the making of the Revolving Loans.

 

Section 10.10. Severability. Any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the

 

40


extent of such illegality, invalidity or unenforceability without affecting the legality, validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof or thereof; and the illegality, invalidity or unenforceability of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

Section 10.11. Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent and each Lender agrees to take normal and reasonable precautions to maintain the confidentiality of any information designated in writing as confidential and provided to it by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, except that such information may be disclosed (i) to any officer, director, agent, affiliate or representative of the Administrative Agent or any such Lender, including without limitation accountants, legal counsel and other advisors, (ii) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (iii) to the extent requested by any regulatory agency or authority, (iv) to the extent that such information becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section, or which becomes available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower, (v) in connection with the exercise of any remedy hereunder or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the enforcement of rights hereunder, and (ix) subject to provisions substantially similar to this Section 10.11, to any actual or prospective assignee or Participant, or (vi) with the consent of the Borrower. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of any information as provided for in this Section 10.11 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 its own confidential information.

 

Section 10.12. Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Revolving Loan, together with all fees, charges and other amounts which may be treated as interest on such Loan under applicable law (collectively, the “Charges”), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate of interest (the “Maximum Rate”) which may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by a Lender holding such Revolving Loan in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Revolving Loan hereunder, together with all Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Charges that would have been payable in respect of such Revolving Loan but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section shall be cumulated and the interest and Charges payable to such Lender in respect of other Revolving Loans or periods shall be increased (but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the Federal Funds Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender.

 

Section 10.13. Patriot Act. The Administrative Agent and each Lender hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Patriot Act”), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Patriot Act. The Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, provide to the extent commercially reasonable, such information and take such other actions as are reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in order to assist the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in maintaining compliance with the Patriot Act.

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

41


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed under seal in the case of the Borrower by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

       

FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP

   

[SEAL]

      By:  

/s/    J. Franklin Hall

               

Name: J. Franklin Hall

Title: Senior VP and Chief Financial Officer

 

[the signatures of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders appear on the following page]

 

42


SUNTRUST BANK

            as Administrative Agent and Lender

By:  

/s/    Alisa A. Waxman

   

Name: Alisa A. Waxman

Title: Director

    Revolving Commitment: $ 35,000,000

THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY

By:  

/s/    Lisa McDermott

   

Name: Lisa McDermott

Title: Vice President

    Revolving Commitment: $15,000,000

 

43


SCHEDULE 4.12

 

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION SUBSIDIARIES

 

Name


   Ownership % by
Borrower


  Jurisdiction of
Incorporation


First Financial Bank, National Association

   100%   U. S.

Fidelity Federal Savings Bank

   100%   U. S.

 

OTHER SUBSIDIARIES

 

First Financial Bancorp Service Corp.

   100%   Ohio

First Financial Capital Advisors LLC

   100%   Ohio

MXG, Inc.

   100%   Ohio

FFBC Capco, Inc.

   100%   Ohio

First Financial (OH) Statutory Trust I

   100%   Ohio

First Financial (OH) Statutory Trust II

   100%   Ohio

 

Schedule 4.12


SCHEDULE 7.1

 

OUTSTANDING INDEBTEDNESS

 

None

 

Schedule 7.1


EXHIBIT A

 

REVOLVING CREDIT NOTE

 

$    ,000,000.00

Atlanta, Georgia

September     , 2005

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, First Financial Bancorp., an Ohio corporation (the Borrower), hereby promises to pay to [name of Lender] (the Lender”) or its registered assigns at the principal office of SunTrust Bank, as Administrative Agent, or any other office that the Administrative Agent designates, on the Commitment Termination Date (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of September     , 2005 (as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement), among the Borrower, the lenders from time to time a party thereto (including the Lender) and SunTrust Bank, as Administrative Agent, the lesser of the principal sum of [amount of such Lender’s Revolving Commitment] Million and no/100 Dollars ($    ,000,000) and the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Revolving Loans made by the Lender to the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement, in lawful money of the United States of America in immediately available funds, and to pay interest from the date hereof on the principal amount thereof from time to time outstanding, in like funds, at said office, at the rate or rates per annum and payable on such dates as provided in the Credit Agreement. In addition, should legal action or an attorney-at-law be utilized to collect any amount due hereunder, the Borrower further promises to pay all costs of collection, including the reasonable attorneys’ fees of the Lender.

 

The Borrower promises to pay interest, on demand, on any overdue principal and, to the extent permitted by law, overdue interest from their due dates at a rate or rates provided in the Credit Agreement.

 

All borrowings evidenced by this Revolving Credit Note and all payments and prepayments of the principal hereof and the date thereof shall be endorsed by the holder hereof on the schedule attached hereto and made a part hereof or on a continuation thereof which shall be attached hereto and made a part hereof, or otherwise recorded by such holder in its internal records; provided, that the failure of the holder hereof to make such a notation or any error in such notation shall not affect the obligations of the Borrower to make the payments of principal and interest in accordance with the terms of this Revolving Credit Note and the Credit Agreement.

 

This Revolving Credit Note is issued in connection with, and is entitled to the benefits of, the Credit Agreement which, among other things, contains provisions for the acceleration of the maturity hereof upon the happening of certain events, for prepayment of the principal hereof prior to the maturity hereof and for the amendment or waiver of certain provisions of the Credit Agreement, all upon the terms and conditions therein specified. THIS REVOLVING CREDIT NOTE SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA AND ANY APPLICABLE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

 

FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP

By:    
   

Name:

Title:

    [SEAL]

 

Exhibit A-1


LOANS AND PAYMENTS

 

Date  

Amount and

Type of Loan

 

Payments of

Principal

 

Unpaid Principal

Balance of

Note

 

Name of Person

Making

Notation

                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 

 

Exhibit A-2


EXHIBIT 2.2

 

SunTrust Bank, as Administrative Agent

303 Peachtree Street, 3rd Floor

Atlanta, Georgia 30308

 

Attention:

 

Dear Sirs:

 

Reference is made to the Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of September __, 2005 (as amended and in effect on the date hereof, the “Credit Agreement”), among the undersigned, as Borrower, the Lenders named therein and SunTrust Bank, as Administrative Agent. Terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein with the same meanings. This notice constitutes a Notice of Borrowing, and the Borrower hereby requests a Revolving Borrowing under the Credit Agreement, and in that connection the Borrower specifies the following information with respect to the Revolving Borrowing requested hereby:

 

(A) Principal amount of Revolving Borrowing:                                              

 

(B) Date of Revolving Borrowing (which is a Business Day):                     

 

(C) Interest Rate Basis:

 

(D) Interest Period:

 

(E) Location and number of Borrower’s account to which proceeds of Revolving Borrowing are to be disbursed:                     

 

The Borrower hereby represents and warrants that the conditions specified in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of Section 3.2 of the Credit Agreement are satisfied.

 

Very truly yours,

 

FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP

By:    
   

Name:

Title: