-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, LBJkbNkRs2vwH/U/43SBA3c1byd+j61KljySmW823AOW/aza6fgluSww+tP5tyAn h/CzIo32NDpft/C6o0lKRQ== 0001104659-06-029611.txt : 20060501 0001104659-06-029611.hdr.sgml : 20060501 20060501140725 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001104659-06-029611 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 7 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20060427 ITEM INFORMATION: Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement ITEM INFORMATION: Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant ITEM INFORMATION: Financial Statements and Exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20060501 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20060501 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: WATTS WATER TECHNOLOGIES INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000795403 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: MISCELLANEOUS FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS [3490] IRS NUMBER: 042916536 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 0630 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-11499 FILM NUMBER: 06794041 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 815 CHESTNUT ST CITY: NORTH ANDOVER STATE: MA ZIP: 01845 BUSINESS PHONE: 9786881811 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 815 CHESTNUT STREET CITY: NORTH ANDOVER STATE: MA ZIP: 01845 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: WATTS INDUSTRIES INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19920703 8-K 1 a06-10770_18k.htm CURRENT REPORT OF MATERIAL EVENTS OR CORPORATE CHANGES

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

 

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): April 27, 2006

 

 

WATTS WATER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

 (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

DELAWARE

 

001-11499

 

04-2916536

(State or Other Jurisdiction

 

(Commission File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

of Incorporation)

 

 

 

Identification No.)

 

815 Chestnut Street, North Andover, Massachusetts 01845

 (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

 

(978) 688-1811

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

o  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 



 

Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

 

2006 Note Purchase Agreement; Amendment to 2003 Note Purchase Agreement

 

On April 27, 2006, Watts Water Technologies, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into a Note Purchase Agreement with certain institutional investors (the “2006 Note Purchase Agreement”), a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated herein by reference. The following is a summary of the material terms and conditions of the 2006 Note Purchase Agreement and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the 2006 Note Purchase Agreement.

 

Pursuant to the 2006 Note Purchase Agreement, on April 27, 2006, the Company issued $225 million of its 5.85% senior notes due April 30, 2016 (the “Notes”) in a private placement solely to institutional investors. The Company will pay interest on the outstanding balance of the Notes at the rate of 5.85% per annum, payable semi-annually on April 30 and October 30 until the principal on the Notes shall have become due and payable. The Company may, at its option, upon notice, prepay at any time all or part of the Notes in an amount not less than $1 million by paying the principal amount plus a Make-Whole Amount (as defined in the 2006 Note Purchase Agreement).

 

The 2006 Note Purchase Agreement includes operational and financial covenants, with which the Company is required to comply, including, among others, maintenance of certain financial ratios and restrictions on additional indebtedness, liens and dispositions. Events of defaults under the 2006 Note Purchase Agreement include failure to comply with the financial and operational covenants, as well as bankruptcy and other insolvency events. The Company will use the proceeds from the private placement to repay $147 million outstanding under the Company’s previous credit facility and will use the balance of the proceeds to finance future acquisitions and for general corporate purposes.

 

In connection with the 2006 Note Purchase Agreement, certain subsidiaries of the Company entered into a Subsidiary Guaranty, dated as of April 27, 2006 (the “Subsidiary Note Guaranty”), pursuant to which such subsidiaries have agreed to guarantee the obligations of the Company under the Notes and the 2006 Note Purchase Agreement. The Subsidiary Note Guaranty is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.3 and incorporated herein by reference. The above summary of the Subsidiary Note Guaranty is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Subsidiary Note Guaranty.

 

On April 27, 2006, the Company also amended the Note Purchase Agreement dated as of May 15, 2003 (the “2003 Note Purchase Agreement”) to reflect the existence of the subsidiary guarantors and to substantially conform certain provisions of the 2003 Note Purchase Agreement to the equivalent provisions of the 2006 Note Purchase Agreement. A copy of The First Amendment, dated as of April 27, 2006, to Note Purchase Agreement dated as of May 15, 2003 (the “Note Amendment”) is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.4 and incorporated herein by reference. The above summary of the Note Amendment is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Note Amendment.

 

Credit Agreement

 

On April 27, 2006, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) among the Company, certain subsidiaries of the Company who become borrowers under the Credit Agreement, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and Letter of Credit Issuer, and the other lenders referred to therein, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.5 and incorporated herein by reference. The following is a summary of the material terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Credit Agreement.

 

2



 

The Credit Agreement provides for a $350 million, five-year, senior unsecured revolving credit facility which may be increased to $500 million under certain circumstances, which amends and restates the unsecured revolving credit facility provided under the Credit Agreement dated as of September 23, 2004, as amended (the “Prior Credit Agreement”), among the Company, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and the other lenders referred to therein.

 

Borrowings outstanding under the Credit Agreement bear interest at a fluctuating rate per annum equal to an applicable percentage equal to (i) in the case of Eurocurrency rate loans, the British Bankers Association LIBOR rate plus an applicable percentage, ranging from 0.40% to 0.90%, determined by reference to the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio and debt rating, or (ii) in the case of base rate loans and swing line loans, the higher of (a) the federal funds rate plus 0.5% and (b) the rate of interest in effect for such day as announced by Bank of America, N.A. as its “prime rate.”

 

As of April 28, 2006, the Company had approximately 33.5 million euros of outstanding borrowings and approximately $32.6 million of outstanding standby letters of credit under the Credit Agreement.

 

The Company’s obligations under the Credit Agreement are initially guaranteed by certain of the Company’s domestic subsidiaries. The obligations of the Company’s Netherlands subsidiary are required to be guaranteed by certain other European subsidiaries of the Company.

 

The Credit Agreement matures on April 27, 2011. Loans outstanding under the Credit Agreement may be repaid from time to time without premium or penalty, other than customary breakage costs, if any, in the case of prepayment of LIBOR (in the case of US Dollar) or Offshore LIBOR (in the case of EURO) borrowings.

 

The Credit Agreement imposes various restrictions on the Company and its subsidiaries, including restrictions pertaining to:  (i) the incurrence of additional indebtedness, (ii) limitations on liens, (iii) making distributions, dividends and other payments if the Company is in default under the Credit Agreement or such payment would result in a default, (iv) mergers, consolidations and acquisitions, (v) dispositions of assets, (vi) the maintenance of minimum consolidated net worth, certain consolidated leverage ratios and consolidated interest coverage ratios, (vii) transactions with affiliates, and (viii) changes to governing documents.

 

The Credit Agreement contains usual and customary events of default. If an event of default occurs and is continuing, the lenders have the right to accelerate and require the Company to repay all amounts outstanding under the Credit Agreement.

 

The Company and certain subsidiaries of the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Guaranty, dated as of April 27, 2006 (the “Credit Guaranty”), a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.6 and incorporated herein by reference. Pursuant to the Credit Guaranty, such subsidiaries have agreed to guarantee payment of the obligations of the Company under the Credit Agreement. The above summary of the Credit Guaranty is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Credit Guaranty.

 

The documents filed as exhibits to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated in this Item 1.01 by reference have been included herein to provide information regarding the terms of the respective documents. The documents are not intended to provide any other factual information about the Company. Such information can be found in the public filings the Company makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available without charge at www.sec.gov and in the Investors Section of the Company’s website at www.wattswater.com.

 

3



 

Item 2.03. Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant

 

The information contained in Item 1.01 above is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

10.1         Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 27, 2006, between the Company and the Purchasers named in Schedule A thereto relating to the Company’s $225,000,000 5.85% Senior Notes due April 30, 2016.

 

10.2         Form of 5.85% Senior Note due April 30, 2016.

 

10.3         Subsidiary Guaranty, dated as of April 27, 2006,  in connection with the Company’s 5.85% Senior Notes due April 30, 2016 executed by the subsidiary guarantors party thereto, including the form of Joinder to Subsidiary Guaranty.

 

10.4         First Amendment, dated as of April 27, 2006, to Note Purchase Agreement dated as of May 15, 2003 among the Company and the purchasers named therein.

 

10.5         Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of April 27, 2006, among the Company, certain subsidiaries of the Company as Borrowers, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer and the other lenders referred to therein.

 

10.6         Amended and Restated Guaranty, dated as of April 27, 2006, by the Company, the Subsidiaries of the Company set forth therein and Watts Industries Europe B.V., in favor of Bank of America, N.A.

 

4



 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: May 1, 2006

WATTS WATER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

 

 

 

By:

 

 

/s/ William C. McCarntney

 

 

William C. McCartney

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

5



 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

10.1

 

Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 27, 2006, between the Company and the Purchasers named in Schedule A thereto relating to the Company’s $225,000,000 5.85% Senior Notes due April 30, 2016.

 

 

 

10.2

 

Form of 5.85% Senior Note due April 30, 2016.

 

 

 

10.3

 

Subsidiary Guaranty, dated as of April 27, 2006, in connection with the Company’s 5.85% Senior Notes due April 30, 2016 executed by the subsidiary guarantors party thereto, including the form of Joinder to Subsidiary Guaranty.

 

 

 

10.4

 

First Amendment, dated as of April 27, 2006, to Note Purchase Agreement dated as of May 15, 2003 among the Company and the purchasers named therein.

 

 

 

10.5

 

Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of April 27, 2006, among the Company, certain subsidiaries of the Company as Borrowers, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer and the other lenders referred to therein.

 

 

 

10.6

 

Amended and Restated Guaranty, dated as of April 27, 2006, by the Company, the Subsidiaries of the Company set forth therein and Watts Industries Europe B.V., in favor of Bank of America, N.A.

 

6


EX-10.1 2 a06-10770_1ex10d1.htm EX-10

Exhibit 10.1

 

EXECUTION COPY

 

 

 

WATTS WATER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

 

 

$225,000,000

5.85% Senior Notes

Due April 30, 2016

 

 


 

NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 


 

 

Dated as of April 27, 2006

 

 

 

PPN: 942749 A# 9

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Section

 

 

Page

1.

AUTHORIZATION OF NOTES

1

 

 

 

2.

SALE AND PURCHASE OF NOTES

1

 

 

 

3.

CLOSING

2

 

 

 

4.

CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

2

 

4.1.

Representations and Warranties

2

 

4.2.

Performance; No Default

2

 

4.3.

Compliance Certificates

3

 

4.4.

Opinions of Counsel

3

 

4.5.

Purchase Permitted By Applicable Law, etc

3

 

4.6.

Sale of Other Notes

3

 

4.7.

Payment of Special Counsel Fees

3

 

4.8.

Private Placement Number

4

 

4.9.

Changes in Corporate Structure

4

 

4.10.

Subsidiary Guaranty

4

 

4.11.

New Credit Agreement

4

 

4.12.

Proceedings and Documents.

4

 

 

 

 

5.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

4

 

5.1.

Organization; Power and Authority

4

 

5.2.

Authorization, etc

5

 

5.3.

Disclosure

5

 

5.4.

Organization and Ownership of Shares of Subsidiaries; Affiliates

6

 

5.5.

Financial Statements

6

 

5.6.

Compliance with Laws, Other Instruments, etc

7

 

5.7.

Governmental Authorizations, etc.

7

 

5.8.

Litigation; Observance of Agreements, Statutes and Orders

7

 

5.9.

Taxes

8

 

5.10.

Title to Property; Leases

8

 

5.11.

Licenses, Permits, etc

8

 

5.12.

Compliance with ERISA

9

 

5.13.

Private Offering by the Company

10

 

5.14.

Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations

10

 

5.15.

Existing Debt; Future Liens

10

 

5.16.

Foreign Assets Control Regulations, Anti-Terrorism Order, etc.

11

 

5.17.

Status under Certain Statutes

11

 

5.18.

Environmental Matters

11

 

 

 

 

6.

REPRESENTATIONS OF THE PURCHASERS.

12

 

6.1.

Purchase for Investment

12

 

6.2.

Source of Funds

12

 

 

 

 

7.

INFORMATION AS TO COMPANY

14

 

i



 

 

7.1.

Financial and Business Information

14

 

7.2.

Officer’s Certificate

16

 

7.3.

Inspection

17

 

 

 

 

8.

PREPAYMENT OF THE NOTES.

18

 

8.1.

No Scheduled Prepayments

18

 

8.2.

Optional Prepayments with Make-Whole Amount

18

 

8.3.

Allocation of Partial Prepayments

18

 

8.4.

Maturity; Surrender, etc

18

 

8.5.

Purchase of Notes

19

 

8.6.

Make-Whole Amount

19

 

 

 

 

9.

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

20

 

9.1.

Compliance with Law

20

 

9.2.

Insurance

20

 

9.3.

Maintenance of Properties

21

 

9.4.

Payment of Taxes and Claims

21

 

9.5.

Corporate Existence, etc

21

 

 

 

 

10.

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

21

 

10.1.

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio

22

 

10.2.

Priority Debt

22

 

10.3.

Liens.

22

 

10.4.

Sale of Assets

23

 

10.5.

Mergers, Consolidations, etc

25

 

10.6.

Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries

25

 

10.7.

Subsidiary Guaranty.

26

 

10.8.

Nature of Business.

26

 

10.9.

Transactions with Affiliates

26

 

 

 

 

11.

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

27

 

 

 

12.

REMEDIES ON DEFAULT, ETC

29

 

12.1.

Acceleration

29

 

12.2.

Other Remedies

30

 

12.3.

Rescission

30

 

12.4.

No Waivers or Election of Remedies, Expenses, etc

30

 

 

 

 

13.

REGISTRATION; EXCHANGE; SUBSTITUTION OF NOTES

30

 

13.1.

Registration of Notes

30

 

13.2.

Transfer and Exchange of Notes

31

 

13.3.

Replacement of Notes

31

 

 

 

 

14.

PAYMENTS ON NOTES.

32

 

14.1.

Place of Payment

32

 

14.2.

Home Office Payment

32

 

 

 

 

15.

EXPENSES, ETC

32

 

15.1.

Transaction Expenses

32

 

15.2.

Survival

33

 

ii



 

16.

SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; ENTIRE AGREEMENT

33

 

 

 

17.

AMENDMENT AND WAIVER

33

 

17.1.

Requirements

33

 

17.2.

Solicitation of Holders of Notes

33

 

17.3.

Binding Effect, etc

34

 

17.4.

Notes held by Company, etc

34

 

 

 

 

18.

NOTICES

34

 

 

 

19.

REPRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS

35

 

 

 

20.

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

35

 

 

 

21.

SUBSTITUTION OF PURCHASER

36

 

 

 

22.

RELEASE OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR

36

 

 

 

23.

MISCELLANEOUS

37

 

23.1.

Successors and Assigns

37

 

23.2.

Payments Due on Non-Business Days

37

 

23.3.

Severability

37

 

23.4.

Construction

37

 

23.5.

Counterparts

38

 

23.6.

Governing Law

38

 

iii



 

SCHEDULE A

Information Relating to Purchasers

SCHEDULE B

Defined Terms

 

 

 

SCHEDULE 4.9

Changes in Corporate Structure

SCHEDULE 5.3

Disclosure

SCHEDULE 5.4

Subsidiaries; Affiliates

SCHEDULE 5.5

Financial Statements

SCHEDULE 5.11

Licenses, Permits, etc.

SCHEDULE 5.14

Use of Proceeds

SCHEDULE 5.15

Existing Debt

SCHEDULE 10.3

Liens

 

 

 

EXHIBIT 1

Form of Senior Note

EXHIBIT 4.4(a)(i)

Form of Opinion of Counsel for the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors

EXHIBIT 4.4(a)(ii)

Form of Opinion of Kenneth R. Lepage, Assistant General Counsel of the Company

EXHIBIT 4.4(b)

Form of Opinion of Special Counsel for the Purchasers

EXHIBIT B-1

Form of Subsidiary Guaranty

 

iv



 

WATTS WATER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

815 Chestnut Street

North Andover, MA  01845

(978) 688-1811

Fax:  (978) 794-1848

 

$225,000,000

5.85% Senior Notes, due April 30, 2016

 

Dated as of April 27, 2006

 

TO EACH OF THE PURCHASERS LISTED IN

THE ATTACHED SCHEDULE A:

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

WATTS WATER TECHNOLOGIES, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), agrees with you as follows:

 

1.                                      AUTHORIZATION OF NOTES.

 

The Company has authorized the issue and sale of $225,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 5.85% Senior Notes due April 30, 2016 (the “Notes”, such term to include any such notes issued in substitution therefor pursuant to Section 13 of this Agreement). The Notes shall be substantially in the form set out in Exhibit 1, with such changes therefrom, if any, as may be approved by you and the Company. Certain capitalized terms used in this Agreement are defined in Schedule B; references to a “Schedule” or an “Exhibit” are, unless otherwise specified, to a Schedule or an Exhibit attached to this Agreement. Subject to Section 22, the Notes will be guaranteed by each domestic Subsidiary that is now or in the future becomes a borrower under the Credit Agreement or a signatory to the Bank Guaranties (individually, a “Subsidiary Guarantor” and collectively, the “Subsidiary Guarantors”) pursuant to a guaranty substantially in the form of Exhibit B-1 (the “Subsidiary Guaranty”).

 

2.                                      SALE AND PURCHASE OF NOTES.

 

Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company will issue and sell to you and each of the other purchasers named in Schedule A (the “Other Purchasers”), and you and the Other Purchasers will purchase from the Company, at the Closing provided for in Section 3, Notes in the principal amount specified opposite your names in Schedule A at the purchase price of 100% of the principal amount thereof. Your obligation hereunder and the obligations of the Other Purchasers are several and not joint obligations and you shall have no

 



 

liability to any Person for the performance or non-performance by any Other Purchaser hereunder.

 

3.                                      CLOSING.

 

The sale and purchase of the Notes to be purchased by you and the Other Purchasers shall occur at the offices of Gardner Carton & Douglas LLP, 191 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 3700, Chicago, Illinois  60606 at 9:00 a.m., Chicago time, at a closing (the “Closing”) on April 27, 2006 or on such other Business Day thereafter on or prior to April 30, 2006 as may be agreed upon by the Company and you and the Other Purchasers. At the Closing the Company will deliver to you the Notes to be purchased by you in the form of a single Note (or such greater number of Notes in denominations of at least $100,000 as you may request) dated the date of the Closing and registered in your name (or in the name of your nominee), against delivery by you to the Company or its order of immediately available funds in the amount of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of immediately available funds for the account of the Company to account number 9429158549 at Bank of America, 100 Federal Street, Boston, MA 02110, ABA No. 026-009-593. If at the Closing the Company fails to tender such Notes to you as provided above in this Section 3, or any of the conditions specified in Section 4 shall not have been fulfilled to your satisfaction, you shall, at your election, be relieved of all further obligations under this Agreement, without thereby waiving any rights you may have by reason of such failure or such nonfulfillment.

 

4.                                      CONDITIONS TO CLOSING.

 

Your obligation to purchase and pay for the Notes to be sold to you at the Closing is subject to the fulfillment to your satisfaction, prior to or at the Closing, of the following conditions:

 

4.1.         Representations and Warranties.

 

The representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement shall be correct when made and at the time of the Closing.

 

4.2.         Performance; No Default.

 

The Company shall have performed and complied with all agreements and conditions contained in this Agreement required to be performed or complied with by it prior to or at the Closing and after giving effect to the issue and sale of the Notes (and the application of the proceeds thereof as contemplated by Section 5.14) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary shall have entered into any transaction since the date of the Memorandum that would have been prohibited by Section 10 had such Section applied since such date.

 

2



 

4.3.         Compliance Certificates.

 

(a)           Officer’s Certificate. The Company shall have delivered to you an Officer’s Certificate, dated the date of the Closing, certifying that the conditions specified in Sections 4.1, 4.2 and 4.9 have been fulfilled.

 

(b)           Secretary’s Certificate. The Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor shall have delivered to you a certificate certifying as to the resolutions attached thereto and other corporate proceedings relating to the authorization, execution and delivery of the Notes and the Agreement or the Subsidiary Guaranty, as the case may be.

 

4.4.         Opinions of Counsel.

 

You shall have received opinions in form and substance satisfactory to you, dated the date of the Closing (a)(i) from Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, counsel to the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, covering the matters set forth in Exhibit 4.4(a)(i) and (a)(ii) Kenneth R. Lepage, Assistant General Counsel of the Company, covering the matters set forth in Exhibit 4.4(a)(ii) (and the Company instructs its counsel to deliver such opinions to you) and (b) from Gardner Carton & Douglas LLP, your special counsel in connection with such transactions, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit 4.4(b) and covering such other matters incident to such transactions as you may reasonably request.

 

4.5.         Purchase Permitted By Applicable Law, etc.

 

On the date of the Closing your purchase of Notes shall (i) be permitted by the laws and regulations of each jurisdiction to which you are subject, without recourse to provisions (such as Section 1405(a)(8) of the New York Insurance Law) permitting limited investments by insurance companies without restriction as to the character of the particular investment, (ii) not violate any applicable law or regulation (including, without limitation, Regulation U, T or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System) and (iii) not subject you to any tax, penalty or liability under or pursuant to any applicable law or regulation, which law or regulation was not in effect on the date hereof. If requested by you, you shall have received an Officer’s Certificate certifying as to such matters of fact as you may reasonably specify to enable you to determine whether such purchase is so permitted.

 

4.6.         Sale of Other Notes.

 

Contemporaneously with the Closing the Company shall sell to the Other Purchasers and the Other Purchasers shall purchase the Notes to be purchased by them at the Closing as specified in Schedule A.

 

4.7.         Payment of Special Counsel Fees.

 

Without limiting the provisions of Section 15.1, the Company shall have paid on or before the Closing the fees, charges and disbursements of your special counsel referred to in Section 4.4, to the extent reflected in a statement of such counsel rendered to the Company at least one Business Day prior to the Closing.

 

3



 

4.8.         Private Placement Number.

 

A Private Placement Number issued by Standard & Poor’s CUSIP Service Bureau (in cooperation with the Securities Valuation Office of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners) shall have been obtained for the Notes by Gardner Carton & Douglas LLP.

 

4.9.         Changes in Corporate Structure.

 

Except as specified in Schedule 4.9, the Company shall not have changed its jurisdiction of incorporation or been a party to any merger or consolidation and shall not have succeeded to all or any substantial part of the liabilities of any other entity, at any time following the date of the most recent financial statements referred to in Schedule 5.5.

 

4.10.       Subsidiary Guaranty.

 

Each Subsidiary Guarantor shall have executed and delivered the Subsidiary Guaranty in favor of you and the Other Purchasers and you shall have received a copy of a fully executed counterpart thereof.

 

4.11.       New Credit Agreement.

 

You and your special counsel shall have received a copy of the executed Credit Agreement.

 

4.12.       Proceedings and Documents.

 

All corporate and other proceedings in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and all documents and instruments incident to such transactions shall be satisfactory to you and your special counsel, and you and your special counsel shall have received all such counterpart originals or certified or other copies of such documents as you or they may reasonably request.

 

5.                                      REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.

 

The Company represents and warrants to you that:

 

5.1.         Organization; Power and Authority.

 

The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required by law, other than those jurisdictions as to which the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has the corporate power and authority to own or hold under lease the properties it purports to own or hold under lease, as described in the Memorandum, to transact the business it transacts and proposes to transact as described in the Memorandum, to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Notes and to perform the provisions hereof and thereof.

 

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5.2.         Authorization, etc.

 

This Agreement and the Notes have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company, and this Agreement constitutes, and upon execution and delivery thereof each Note will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

The Subsidiary Guaranty has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of each Subsidiary Guarantor and upon execution and delivery thereof will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of each Subsidiary Guarantor, enforceable against each Subsidiary Guarantor in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

5.3.         Disclosure.

 

The Company, through its agent, Banc of America Securities LLC, has delivered to you and each Other Purchaser a copy of a Confidential Private Placement Memorandum, dated March 2006, which includes the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 (the “Form 10-K” and, together with the Confidential Private Placement Memorandum, the “Memorandum”), relating to the transactions contemplated hereby. The Memorandum fairly describes, in all material respects, the general nature of the business and principal properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries. Except as disclosed in Schedule 5.3, this Agreement, the Memorandum, the documents, certificates or other writings delivered to you by or on behalf of the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the financial statements listed in Schedule 5.5, taken as a whole, do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under which they were made. Except as disclosed in the Memorandum or as expressly described in Schedule 5.3, or in one of the documents, certificates or other writings identified therein, or in the financial statements listed in Schedule 5.5, since December 31, 2005, there has been no change in the financial condition, operations, business or properties of the Company or any Subsidiary except changes that individually or in the aggregate would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There is no fact known to the Company that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect that has not been set forth herein or in the Memorandum or in the other documents, certificates and other writings delivered to you by or on behalf of the Company specifically for use in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

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5.4.         Organization and Ownership of Shares of Subsidiaries; Affiliates.

 

(a)           Schedule 5.4 contains (except as noted therein) complete and correct lists of:  (i) the Company’s Subsidiaries, showing, as to each Subsidiary, the correct name thereof, the jurisdiction of its organization, whether such Subsidiary is a Restricted Subsidiary and the percentage of shares of each class of its capital stock or similar equity interests outstanding owned by the Company and each other Subsidiary, (ii) the Company’s Affiliates, other than Subsidiaries, and (iii) the Company’s directors and senior officers.

 

(b)           All of the outstanding shares of capital stock or similar equity interests of each Subsidiary shown in Schedule 5.4 as being owned by the Company and its Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable (to the extent that such concepts are legally applicable) and are owned by the Company or another Subsidiary free and clear of any Lien (except as otherwise disclosed in Schedule 5.4).

 

(c)           Each Subsidiary identified in Schedule 5.4 is a corporation or other legal entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation or other legal entity and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required by law, other than those jurisdictions as to which the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each such Subsidiary has the corporate or other power and authority to own or hold under lease the properties it purports to own or hold under lease and to transact the business it transacts and proposes to transact.

 

(d)           No Subsidiary is a party to, or otherwise subject to, any legal restriction or any agreement (other than this Agreement, the agreements listed on Schedule 5.4 and customary limitations imposed by corporate, partnership or comparable law statutes) restricting the ability of such Subsidiary to pay dividends out of profits or make any other similar distributions of profits to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that owns outstanding shares of capital stock or similar equity interests of such Subsidiary.

 

5.5.         Financial Statements.

 

The Company has delivered to you and each Other Purchaser copies of the financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries listed on Schedule 5.5. All of said financial statements (including in each case the related schedules and notes) fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the respective dates specified in such Schedule and the consolidated results of their operations and cash flows for the respective periods so specified and have been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the periods involved except as set forth in the notes thereto (subject, in the case of any interim financial statements, to normal year-end adjustments).

 

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5.6.         Compliance with Laws, Other Instruments, etc.

 

The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the Notes will not (i) contravene, result in any breach of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation of any Lien in respect of any property of the Company or any Subsidiary under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan, purchase or credit agreement, lease, corporate charter or by-laws, or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any Subsidiary is bound or by which the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties may be bound or affected, (ii) conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any order, judgment, decree, or ruling of any court, arbitrator or Governmental Authority applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary or (iii) violate any provision of any statute or other rule or regulation of any Governmental Authority, including, without limitation, the USA Patriot Act, applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

The execution, delivery and performance by each Subsidiary Guarantor of the Subsidiary Guaranty will not (i) contravene, result in any breach of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation of any Lien in respect of any property of such Subsidiary Guarantor under, any agreement, or corporate charter or by-laws, to which such Subsidiary Guarantor is bound or by which such Subsidiary Guarantor or any of its properties may be bound or affected, (ii) conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any order, judgment, decree, or ruling of any court, arbitrator or Governmental Authority applicable to such Subsidiary Guarantor or (iii) violate any provision of any statute or other rule or regulation of any Governmental Authority applicable to such Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

5.7.         Governmental Authorizations, etc.

 

No consent, approval or authorization of, or registration, filing or declaration with, any Governmental Authority is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by the Company of this Agreement or the Notes, or the execution, delivery or performance by each Subsidiary Guarantor of the Subsidiary Guaranty.

 

5.8.         Litigation; Observance of Agreements, Statutes and Orders.

 

(a)           Except as disclosed under the caption “Business–Product Liability, Environmental and Other Litigation Matters” in the Form 10-K, there are no actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company or any Subsidiary or any property of the Company or any Subsidiary in any court or before any arbitrator of any kind or before or by any Governmental Authority that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b)           Except as disclosed under the caption “Business–Product Liability, Environmental and Other Litigation Matters” in the Form 10-K, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in default under any term of any agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it is bound, or any order, judgment, decree or ruling of any court, arbitrator or Governmental Authority or is in violation of any applicable law, ordinance, rule or regulation (including Environmental Laws and the USA Patriot Act) of any

 

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Governmental Authority, which default or violation, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.9.         Taxes.

 

The Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries have filed all tax returns that are required to have been filed in any jurisdiction, and have paid all taxes shown to be due and payable on such returns and all other taxes and assessments levied upon them or their properties, assets, income or franchises, to the extent such taxes and assessments have become due and payable and before they have become delinquent, except for the filing of any tax returns of which the failure to file, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and except for the payment of any taxes and assessments (i) the amount of which is not individually or in the aggregate Material or (ii) the amount, applicability or validity of which is currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which the Company or a consolidated Subsidiary, as the case may be, has established adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP. The Company knows of no basis for any other tax or assessment that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries in respect of Federal, state or other taxes for all fiscal periods are adequate. The Federal income tax liabilities of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries have been determined by the Internal Revenue Service and paid for all fiscal years up to and including the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001.

 

5.10.       Title to Property; Leases.

 

The Company and its Subsidiaries have good and sufficient title to their respective properties that individually or in the aggregate are Material, including all such properties reflected in the most recent audited balance sheet referred to in Section 5.5 or purported to have been acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary after said date (except as sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business), in each case free and clear of Liens prohibited by this Agreement. All leases that individually or in the aggregate are Material are valid and subsisting and are in full force and effect in all material respects.

 

5.11.       Licenses, Permits, etc.

 

Except as disclosed in Schedule 5.11,

 

(a)           the Company and its Subsidiaries own or possess all licenses, permits, franchises, authorizations, patents, copyrights, service marks, trademarks and trade names, or rights thereto, that individually or in the aggregate are Material, without known conflict with the rights of others;

 

(b)           to the best knowledge of the Company, no product of the Company infringes in any material respect any license, permit, franchise, authorization, patent, copyright, service mark, trademark, trade name or other right owned by any other Person; and

 

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(c)           to the best knowledge of the Company, there is no Material violation by any Person of any right of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to any patent, copyright, service mark, trademark, trade name or other right owned or used by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

5.12.       Compliance with ERISA.

 

(a)           The Company and each ERISA Affiliate have operated and administered each Plan in compliance with all applicable laws except for such instances of noncompliance as have not resulted in and would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any liability pursuant to Title I or IV of ERISA or the penalty or excise tax provisions of the Code relating to employee benefit plans (as defined in Section 3 of ERISA), and no event, transaction or condition has occurred or exists that would reasonably be expected to result in the incurrence of any such liability by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate, or in the imposition of any Lien on any of the rights, properties or assets of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate, in either case pursuant to Title I or IV of ERISA or to such penalty or excise tax provisions or to Section 401(a)(29) or 412 of the Code, other than such liabilities or Liens as would not be individually or in the aggregate Material.

 

(b)           The amount (determined under GAAP) by which the present value of the aggregate benefit liabilities under each of the Plans that is subject to Title IV of ERISA (other than Multiemployer Plans), determined as of the end of such Plan’s most recently ended plan year on the basis of the actuarial assumptions specified for funding purposes in such Plan’s most recent actuarial valuation report, exceeded the aggregate current value of the assets of such Plan allocable to such benefit liabilities is disclosed in the notes to financial statements accompanying the most recent audited financial statements of the Company listed on Schedule 5.5. Subject to the provisions of the preceding sentence, the term “benefit liabilities” has the meaning specified in section 4001 of ERISA and the terms “current value” and “present value” have the meaning specified in section 3 of ERISA.

 

(c)           The Company and its ERISA Affiliates have not incurred withdrawal liabilities (and are not subject to contingent withdrawal liabilities) under section 4201 or 4204 of ERISA in respect of Multiemployer Plans that individually or in the aggregate are Material.

 

(d)           The expected postretirement benefit obligation (determined as of the last day of the Company’s most recently ended fiscal year in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 106, without regard to liabilities attributable to continuation coverage mandated by section 4980B of the Code) of the Company and its Subsidiaries is not Material.

 

(e)           The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Notes hereunder will not involve any transaction that is subject to the prohibitions of section 406 of ERISA or in connection with which a tax could be imposed pursuant to section 4975(c)(1)(A)-(D) of the Code. The representation by the Company in the first

 

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sentence of this Section 5.12(e) is made in reliance upon and subject to the accuracy of your representation in Section 6.2 as to the sources of the funds used to pay the purchase price of the Notes to be purchased by you.

 

5.13.       Private Offering by the Company.

 

Neither the Company nor anyone acting on its behalf has offered the Notes, the Subsidiary Guaranty or any similar securities for sale to, or solicited any offer to buy any of the same from, or otherwise approached or negotiated in respect thereof with, any Person other than you and the Other Purchasers and not more than five other Institutional Investors, each of which has been offered the Notes at a private sale for investment. Neither the Company nor anyone acting on its behalf has taken, or will take, any action that would subject the issuance or sale of the Notes or the execution and delivery of the Subsidiary Guaranty to the registration requirements of Section 5 of the Securities Act.

 

5.14.       Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations.

 

The Company will apply the proceeds of the sale of the Notes to refinance or repay Debt of the Company as set forth in Schedule 5.14 and for general corporate purposes. No part of the proceeds from the sale of the Notes will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of buying or carrying any margin stock within the meaning of Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (12 CFR 221), or for the purpose of buying or carrying or trading in any securities under such circumstances as to involve the Company in a violation of Regulation X of said Board (12 CFR 224) or to involve any broker or dealer in a violation of Regulation T of said Board (12 CFR 220). Margin stock does not constitute more than 1% of the value of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries and the Company does not have any present intention that margin stock will constitute more than 1% of the value of such assets. As used in this Section, the terms “margin stock” and “purpose of buying or carrying” shall have the meanings assigned to them in said Regulation U.

 

5.15.       Existing Debt; Future Liens.

 

(a)           Except as described therein, Schedule 5.15 sets forth a complete and correct list of all outstanding Debt of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2005, since which date there has been no Material change in the amounts, interest rates, sinking funds, installment payments or maturities of the Debt of the Company or its Subsidiaries. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in default and no waiver of default is currently in effect in the payment of any principal or interest on any Debt of the Company or such Subsidiary and no event or condition exists with respect to any Debt of the Company or any Subsidiary that would permit (or that with notice or the lapse of time, or both, would permit) one or more Persons to cause such Debt to become due and payable before its stated maturity or before its regularly scheduled dates of payment.

 

(b)           Except as disclosed in Schedule 5.15, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has agreed or consented to cause or permit in the future (upon the happening

 

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of a contingency or otherwise) any of its property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, to be subject to a Lien not permitted by Section 10.3.

 

5.16.       Foreign Assets Control Regulations, Anti-Terrorism Order, etc.

 

(a)           Neither the sale of the Notes by the Company hereunder nor its use of the proceeds thereof will violate (i) the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, (ii) any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) or any enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto or (iii) to the knowledge of the Company, the Anti-Terrorism Order. Without limiting the foregoing, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary (A) is a blocked Person described in Section 1 of the Anti-Terrorism Order or (B) engages in any dealings or transactions, or is otherwise associated, with any such Person.

 

(b)           No part of the proceeds from the sale of the Notes hereunder 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 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, assuming in all cases that such Act applies to the Company.

 

5.17.       Status under Certain Statutes.

 

Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Interstate Commerce Act, as amended by the ICC Termination Act, as amended, or the Federal Power Act, as amended.

 

5.18.       Environmental Matters.

 

Except as disclosed under the caption “Business–Product Liability, Environmental and Other Litigation Matters” in the Form 10-K, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has knowledge of any claim or has received any notice of any claim, and no proceeding has been instituted raising any claim against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective real properties now or formerly owned, leased or operated by any of them or other assets, alleging any damage to the environment or violation of any Environmental Laws, except, in each case, such as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Except as disclosed in the Form 10-K,

 

(a)           neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has knowledge of any facts which would give rise to any claim, public or private, of violation of Environmental Laws or damage to the environment emanating from, occurring on or in any way related to real properties now or formerly owned, leased or operated by any of them or to other assets or their use, except, in each case, such as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(b)           neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has stored any Hazardous Materials on real properties now or formerly owned, leased or operated by any of them or

 

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disposed of any Hazardous Materials in a manner contrary to any Environmental Laws in each case in any manner that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

(c)           all buildings on all real properties now owned, leased or operated by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries are in compliance with applicable Environmental Laws, except where failure to comply would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.                                      REPRESENTATIONS OF THE PURCHASERS.

 

6.1.         Purchase for Investment.

 

You represent that you are purchasing the Notes for your own account or for one or more separate accounts maintained by you or for the account of one or more pension or trust funds and not with a view to the distribution thereof, provided that the disposition of your or their property shall at all times be within your or their control. You understand that the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act and may be resold only if registered pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Act or if an exemption from registration is available, except under circumstances where neither such registration nor such an exemption is required by law, and that the Company is not required to register the Notes. You represent that you are an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

6.2.         Source of Funds.

 

You represent that at least one of the following statements is an accurate representation as to each source of funds (a “Source”) to be used by you to pay the purchase price of the Notes to be purchased by you hereunder:

 

(a)           the Source is an “insurance company general account” (as the term is defined in the United States Department of Labor’s Prohibited Transaction Exemption (“PTE”) 95-60) in respect of which the amount of reserves and liabilities (as defined by the annual statement for life insurance companies approved by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (the “NAIC Annual Statement”) for the general account contract(s) held by or on behalf of any employee benefit plan together with the amount of the reserves and liabilities for the general account contract(s) held by or on behalf of any other employee benefit plans maintained by the same employer (or affiliate thereof as defined in PTE 95-60) or by the same employee organization in the general account do not exceed 10% of the total reserves and liabilities of the general account (exclusive of separate account liabilities) plus surplus as set forth in the NAIC Annual Statement filed with such Purchaser’s state of domicile, such percentage limitation being determined in accordance with PTE 95-60; or

 

(b)           the Source is a separate account that is maintained solely in connection with such Purchaser’s fixed contractual obligations under which the amounts payable, or credited, to any employee benefit plan (or its related trust) that has any interest in such

 

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separate account (or to any participant or beneficiary of such plan (including any annuitant)) are not affected in any manner by the investment performance of the separate account; or

 

(c)           the Source is either (i) an insurance company pooled separate account, within the meaning of PTE 90-1 (issued January 29, 1990), or (ii) a bank collective investment fund, within the meaning of PTE 91-38 (issued July 12, 1991) and, except as you have disclosed to the Company in writing pursuant to this paragraph (c), no employee benefit plan or group of plans maintained by the same employer or employee organization beneficially owns more than 10% of all assets allocated to such pooled separate account or collective investment fund; or

 

(d)           the Source constitutes assets of an “investment fund” (within the meaning of Part V of PTE 84-14 (the “QPAM Exemption”)) managed by a “qualified professional asset manager” or “QPAM” (within the meaning of Part V of the QPAM Exemption), no employee benefit plan’s assets that are included in such investment fund, when combined with the assets of all other employee benefit plans established or maintained by the same employer or by an affiliate (within the meaning of Section V(c)(1) of the QPAM Exemption) of such employer or by the same employee organization and managed by such QPAM, exceed 20% of the total client assets managed by such QPAM, the conditions of Part I(c), (f) and (g) of the QPAM Exemption are satisfied, neither the QPAM nor a Person controlling or controlled by the QPAM (applying the definition of “control” in Section V(e) of the QPAM Exemption) owns a 5% or more interest in the Company and (i) the identity of such QPAM and (ii) the names of all employee benefit plans whose assets are included in such investment fund have been disclosed to the Company in writing pursuant to this clause (d); or

 

(e)           the Source constitutes assets of a “plan(s)” (within the meaning of Section IV of PTE 96-23 (the “INHAM Exemption”)) managed by an “in-house asset manager” or “INHAM” (within the meaning of Part IV of the INHAM exemption), the conditions of Part I(a), (d), (g) and (h) of the INHAM Exemption are satisfied, neither the INHAM nor a Person controlling or controlled by the INHAM (applying the definition of “control” in Section IV(h) of the INHAM Exemption) owns a 5% or more interest in the Company and (i) the identity of such INHAM and (ii) the name(s) of the employee benefit plan(s) whose assets constitute the Source have been disclosed to the Company in writing pursuant to this clause (e); or

 

(f)            the Source is a governmental plan; or

 

(g)           the Source is one or more employee benefit plans, or a separate account or trust fund comprised of one or more employee benefit plans, each of which has been identified to the Company in writing pursuant to this paragraph (g); or

 

(h)           the Source does not include assets of any employee benefit plan, other than a plan exempt from the coverage of ERISA.

 

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As used in this Section 6.2, the terms “employee benefit plan”, “governmental plan” and “separate account” shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in Section 3 of ERISA.

 

7.                                      INFORMATION AS TO COMPANY.

 

7.1.         Financial and Business Information

 

The Company will deliver to each holder of Notes that is an Institutional Investor:

 

(a)           Quarterly Statements — within 60 days after the end of each quarterly fiscal period in each fiscal year of the Company (other than the last quarterly fiscal period of each such fiscal year), duplicate copies of,

 

(i)            consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such quarter,

 

(ii)           consolidated statements of income of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such quarter and (in the case of the second and third quarters) for the portion of the fiscal year ending with such quarter, and

 

(iii)          consolidated statements of cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such quarter or (in the case of the second and third quarters) for the portion of the fiscal year ending with such quarter,

 

setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding periods in the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, prepared in accordance with GAAP applicable to quarterly financial statements generally, and certified by a Senior Financial Officer as fairly presenting, in all material respects, the financial position of the companies being reported on and their results of operations and cash flows, subject to changes resulting from year-end adjustments, provided that delivery within the time period specified above of copies of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q prepared in compliance with the requirements therefor and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this Section 7.1(a), provided, further, that the Company shall be deemed to have made such delivery of such Form 10-Q if it shall have timely made such Form 10-Q available on “EDGAR” and on its home page on the worldwide web (at the date of this Agreement located at:  http//www.wattswater.com) and shall have given each Purchaser prior notice of such availability on EDGAR and on its home page in connection with each delivery (such availability and notice thereof being referred to as “Electronic Delivery”);

 

(b)           Annual Statements — within 105 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, duplicate copies of,

 

(i)            consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries, as at the end of such year, and

 

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(ii)           consolidated statements of income, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries, for such year,

 

setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, prepared in accordance with GAAP, and accompanied by an opinion of independent certified public accountants of recognized national standing, which opinion shall state that such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the companies being reported upon and their results of operations and cash flows and have been prepared in conformity with GAAP, and that the examination of such accountants in connection with such financial statements has been made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, and that such audit provides a reasonable basis for such opinion in the circumstances, provided that the delivery within the time period specified above of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for such fiscal year (together with the Company’s annual report to shareholders, if any, prepared pursuant to Rule 14a-3 under the Exchange Act) prepared in accordance with the requirements therefor and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this Section 7.1(b), provided, further, that the Company shall be deemed to have made such delivery of such Form 10-K if it shall have timely made Electronic Delivery thereof;

 

(c)           Unrestricted Subsidiaries — if, at the time of delivery of any financial statements pursuant to Section 7.1(a) or (b), Unrestricted Subsidiaries account for more than 10% of (i) the consolidated total assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries reflected in the balance sheet included in such financial statements or (ii) the consolidated revenues of the Company and its Subsidiaries reflected in the consolidated statement of income included in such financial statements, an unaudited balance sheet for all Unrestricted Subsidiaries taken as whole as at the end of the fiscal period included in such financial statements and the related unaudited statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for such Unrestricted Subsidiaries for such period, together with consolidating statements reflecting all eliminations or adjustments necessary to reconcile such group financial statements to the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall be delivered together with the financial statements required pursuant to Sections 7.1(a) and (b);

 

(d)           SEC and Other Reports — promptly upon their becoming available, one copy of (i) each financial statement, report, notice or proxy statement sent by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to public securities holders generally, and (ii) each regular or periodic report, each registration statement other than registration statements on Form S-8 (without exhibits except as expressly requested by such holder), and each prospectus and all amendments thereto filed by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary with the Securities and Exchange Commission and of all press releases and other statements made available generally by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to the public concerning developments that are Material;

 

(e)           Notice of Default or Event of Default — promptly, and in any event within five Business Days after a Responsible Officer becoming aware of the existence of any

 

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Default or Event of Default or that any Person has given any notice or taken any action with respect to a claimed default hereunder or that any Person has given notice or taken any action with respect to a claimed default of the type referred to in Section 11(f), a written notice specifying the nature and period of existence thereof and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto;

 

(f)            ERISA Matters — promptly, and in any event within five Business Days after a Responsible Officer becoming aware of any of the following, a written notice setting forth the nature thereof and the action, if any, that the Company or an ERISA Affiliate proposes to take with respect thereto:

 

(i)            with respect to any Plan, any reportable event, as defined in section 4043(b) of ERISA and the regulations thereunder, for which notice thereof has not been waived pursuant to such regulations as in effect on the date hereof; or

 

(ii)           the taking by the PBGC of steps to institute, or the threatening by the PBGC of the institution of, proceedings under section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Plan, or the receipt by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate of a notice from a Multiemployer Plan that such action has been taken by the PBGC with respect to such Multiemployer Plan; or

 

(iii)          any event, transaction or condition that would result in the incurrence of any liability by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate pursuant to Title I or IV of ERISA or the penalty or excise tax provisions of the Code relating to employee benefit plans, or in the imposition of any Lien on any of the rights, properties or assets of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate pursuant to Title I or IV of ERISA or such penalty or excise tax provisions, if such liability or Lien, taken together with any other such liabilities or Liens then existing, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(g)           Notices from Governmental Authority — promptly, and in any event within 30 days of receipt thereof, copies of any notice to the Company or any Subsidiary from any Federal or state Governmental Authority relating to any order, ruling, statute or other law or regulation that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

(h)           Requested Information — with reasonable promptness, such other data and information relating to the business, operations, affairs, financial condition, assets or properties of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or relating to the ability of the Company to perform its obligations hereunder and under the Notes as from time to time may be reasonably requested by any such holder of Notes.

 

7.2.         Officer’s Certificate.

 

Each set of financial statements delivered to a holder of Notes pursuant to Section 7.1(a) or (b) shall be accompanied by a certificate of a Senior Financial Officer setting

 

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forth (which, in the case of Electronic Delivery of any such financial statements, shall be by separate concurrent delivery of such certificate to each holder of Notes):

 

(a)           Covenant Compliance — the information (including detailed calculations) required in order to establish whether the Company was in compliance with the requirements of Section 10.1 through Section 10.9, inclusive, during the quarterly or annual period covered by the statements then being furnished (including with respect to each such Section, where applicable, the calculations of the maximum or minimum amount, ratio or percentage, as the case may be, permissible under the terms of such Sections, and the calculation of the amount, ratio or percentage then in existence); and

 

(b)           Event of Default — a statement that such officer has reviewed the relevant terms hereof and has made, or caused to be made, under his or her supervision, a review of the transactions and conditions of the Company and its Subsidiaries from the beginning of the quarterly or annual period covered by the statements then being furnished to the date of the certificate and that such review shall not have disclosed the existence during such period of any condition or event that constitutes a Default or an Event of Default or, if any such condition or event existed or exists (including any such event or condition resulting from the failure of the Company or any Subsidiary to comply with any Environmental Law), specifying the nature and period of existence thereof and what action the Company shall have taken or proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

7.3.         Inspection.

 

The Company will permit the representatives of each holder of Notes that is an Institutional Investor:

 

(a)           No Default — if no Default or Event of Default then exists, at the expense of such holder and upon reasonable prior notice to the Company, to visit the principal executive office of the Company, to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Company and its Subsidiaries with the Company’s officers, and (with the consent of the Company, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld) its independent public accountants, and (with the consent of the Company, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld) to visit the other offices and properties of the Company and each Restricted Subsidiary, all at such reasonable times and as often as may be reasonably requested in writing; and

 

(b)           Default — if a Default or Event of Default then exists, at the expense of the Company, to visit and inspect any of the offices or properties of the Company or any Subsidiary, to examine all their respective books of account, records, reports and other papers, to make copies and extracts therefrom, and to discuss their respective affairs, finances, and accounts with their respective officers and independent public accountants (and by this provision the Company authorizes said accountants to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Company and its Subsidiaries), all at such times and as often as may be requested.

 

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8.                                      PREPAYMENT OF THE NOTES.

 

8.1.         No Scheduled Prepayments.

 

No regularly scheduled prepayments are due on the Notes prior to their stated maturity.

 

8.2.         Optional Prepayments with Make-Whole Amount.

 

The Company may, at its option, upon notice as provided below, prepay at any time all, or from time to time any part of, Notes in an amount not less than $1,000,000 in the aggregate in the case of a partial prepayment, at 100% of the principal amount so prepaid, plus the Make-Whole Amount determined for the prepayment date with respect to such principal amount. The Company will give each holder of Notes written notice of each optional prepayment under this Section 8.2 not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for such prepayment. Each such notice shall specify such date, the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be prepaid on such date, the principal amount of each Note held by such holder to be prepaid (determined in accordance with Section 8.3), and the interest to be paid on the prepayment date with respect to such principal amount being prepaid, and shall be accompanied by a certificate of a Senior Financial Officer as to the estimated Make-Whole Amount due in connection with such prepayment (calculated as if the date of such notice were the date of the prepayment), setting forth the details of such computation. Two Business Days prior to such prepayment, the Company shall deliver to each holder of Notes a certificate of a Senior Financial Officer specifying the calculation of such Make-Whole Amount as of the specified prepayment date.

 

8.3.         Allocation of Partial Prepayments.

 

In the case of each partial prepayment of Notes pursuant to this Section 8, the principal amount of the Notes to be prepaid shall be allocated among all of the Notes at the time outstanding in proportion, as nearly as practicable, to the respective unpaid principal amounts thereof not theretofore called for prepayment.

 

8.4.         Maturity; Surrender, etc.

 

In the case of each prepayment of Notes pursuant to this Section 8, the principal amount of each Note to be prepaid shall mature and become due and payable on the date fixed for such prepayment, together with interest on such principal amount accrued to such date and the applicable Make-Whole Amount, if any. From and after such date, unless the Company shall fail to pay such principal amount when so due and payable, together with the interest and Make-Whole Amount, if any, as aforesaid, interest on such principal amount shall cease to accrue. Any Note paid or prepaid in full shall be surrendered to the Company and canceled and shall not be reissued, and no Note shall be issued in lieu of any prepaid principal amount of any Note.

 

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8.5.         Purchase of Notes.

 

The Company will not and will not permit any Affiliate to purchase, redeem, prepay or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any of the outstanding Notes except upon the payment or prepayment of the Notes in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Notes. The Company will promptly cancel all Notes acquired by it or any Affiliate pursuant to any payment, prepayment or purchase of Notes pursuant to any provision of this Agreement and no Notes may be issued in substitution or exchange for any such Notes.

 

8.6.         Make-Whole Amount.

 

The term “Make-Whole Amount” means, with respect to any Note, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Discounted Value of the Remaining Scheduled Payments with respect to the Called Principal of such Note over the amount of such Called Principal, provided that the Make-Whole Amount may in no event be less than zero. For the purposes of determining the Make-Whole Amount, the following terms have the following meanings:

 

“Called Principal” means, with respect to any Note, the principal of such Note that is to be prepaid pursuant to Section 8.2 or has become or is declared to be immediately due and payable pursuant to Section 12.1, as the context requires.

 

“Discounted Value” means, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, the amount obtained by discounting all Remaining Scheduled Payments with respect to such Called Principal from their respective scheduled due dates to the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, in accordance with accepted financial practice and at a discount factor (applied on the same periodic basis as that on which interest on the Notes is payable) equal to the Reinvestment Yield with respect to such Called Principal.

 

“Reinvestment Yield” means, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, .50% over the yield to maturity implied by (i) the yields reported, as of 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the second Business Day preceding the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, on the display designated as the “PX1 Screen” on the Bloomberg Financial Market Service (or such other display as may replace the PX1 Screen on Bloomberg Financial Market Service) for actively traded U.S. Treasury securities having a maturity equal to the Remaining Average Life of such Called Principal as of such Settlement Date, or (ii) if such yields are not reported as of such time or the yields reported as of such time are not ascertainable, the Treasury Constant Maturity Series Yields reported, for the latest day for which such yields have been so reported as of the second Business Day preceding the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) (or any comparable successor publication) for actively traded U.S. Treasury securities having a constant maturity equal to the Remaining Average Life of such Called Principal as of such Settlement Date. Such implied yield will be determined, if necessary, by (a) converting U.S. Treasury bill quotations to bond-equivalent yields in accordance with accepted financial practice and (b) interpolating linearly between (1) the actively traded U.S. Treasury security with the maturity closest to and greater than the Remaining

 

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Average Life and (2) the actively traded U.S. Treasury security with the maturity closest to and less than the Remaining Average Life.

 

“Remaining Average Life” means, with respect to any Called Principal, the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth year) obtained by dividing (i) such Called Principal into (ii) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the principal component of each Remaining Scheduled Payment with respect to such Called Principal by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth year) that will elapse between the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal and the scheduled due date of such Remaining Scheduled Payment.

 

“Remaining Scheduled Payments” means, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, all payments of such Called Principal and interest thereon that would be due after the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal if no payment of such Called Principal were made prior to its scheduled due date, provided that if such Settlement Date is not a date on which interest payments are due to be made under the terms of the Notes, then the amount of the next succeeding scheduled interest payment will be reduced by the amount of interest accrued to such Settlement Date and required to be paid on such Settlement Date pursuant to Section 8.2 or 12.1.

 

“Settlement Date” means, with respect to the Called Principal of any Note, the date on which such Called Principal is to be prepaid pursuant to Section 8.2 or has become or is declared to be immediately due and payable pursuant to Section 12.1, as the context requires.

 

9.                                      AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.

 

The Company covenants that so long as any of the Notes are outstanding:

 

9.1.         Compliance with Law.

 

The Company will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, comply with all laws, ordinances or governmental rules or regulations to which each of them is subject, including, without limitation, Environmental Laws, and will obtain and maintain in effect all licenses, certificates, permits, franchises and other governmental authorizations necessary to the ownership of their respective properties or to the conduct of their respective businesses, in each case to the extent necessary to ensure that non-compliance with such laws, ordinances or governmental rules or regulations or failures to obtain or maintain in effect such licenses, certificates, permits, franchises and other governmental authorizations would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

9.2.         Insurance.

 

The Company will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to, maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurers, insurance with respect to their respective properties and businesses against such casualties and contingencies, of such types, on such terms and in such amounts (including deductibles, co-insurance and self-insurance, if adequate reserves are

 

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maintained with respect thereto) as is customary in the case of entities of established reputations engaged in the same or a similar business and similarly situated.

 

9.3.         Maintenance of Properties.

 

The Company will and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary to maintain and keep, or cause to be maintained and kept, their respective properties in good repair, working order and condition (other than ordinary wear and tear), so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly conducted at all times, provided that this Section shall not prevent the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from discontinuing the operation and the maintenance of any of its properties if such discontinuance is desirable in the conduct of its business and the Company has concluded that such discontinuance would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

9.4.         Payment of Taxes and Claims.

 

The Company will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, file all income tax or similar tax returns required to be filed in any jurisdiction and to pay and discharge all taxes shown to be due and payable on such returns and all other taxes, assessments, governmental charges, or levies imposed on them or any of their properties, assets, income or franchises, to the extent such taxes and assessments have become due and payable and before they have become delinquent and all claims for which sums have become due and payable that have or might become a Lien on properties or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary, provided that neither the Company nor any Subsidiary need pay any such tax or assessment or claims if (i) the amount, applicability or validity thereof is contested by the Company or such Subsidiary on a timely basis in good faith and in appropriate proceedings, and the Company or a Subsidiary has established adequate reserves therefor in accordance with GAAP on the books of the Company or such Subsidiary or (ii) the nonpayment of all such taxes and assessments in the aggregate would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

9.5.         Corporate Existence, etc.

 

The Company will at all times preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence. Subject to Sections 10.4 and 10.5, the Company will at all times preserve and keep in full force and effect the corporate existence of each of its Restricted Subsidiaries (unless merged into the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) and all rights and franchises of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries unless, in the good faith judgment of the Company, the termination of or failure to preserve and keep in full force and effect such corporate existence, right or franchise would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

10.                               NEGATIVE COVENANTS.

 

The Company covenants that so long as any of the Notes are outstanding:

 

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10.1.       Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.

 

The Company will not permit the ratio of Consolidated Income Available for Fixed Charges to Consolidated Fixed Charges (in each case for the Company’s then most recently completed four fiscal quarters) to be less than 2.00 to 1.00 at any time.

 

10.2.       Priority Debt.

 

The Company will not permit Priority Debt to exceed 20% of Consolidated Total Assets at any time.

 

10.3.       Liens.

 

The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, permit to exist, create, assume or incur, directly or indirectly, any Lien on its properties or assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired (unless it makes, or causes to be made, effective provision whereby the Notes will be equally and ratably secured with any and all other obligations thereby secured, such security to be pursuant to an agreement or agreements reasonably satisfactory to the Required Holders), except:

 

(a)           Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges not then due and delinquent or the nonpayment of which is permitted by Section 9.4;

 

(b)           Liens incidental to the conduct of business or the ownership of properties and assets (including landlords’, lessors’, carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s and other similar Liens) and Liens to secure the performance of bids, tenders, leases or trade contracts, or to secure statutory obligations (including obligations under workers compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation), surety or appeal bonds or other Liens of like general nature incurred in the ordinary course of business and not in connection with the borrowing of money;

 

(c)           any attachment or judgment Lien, unless the judgment it secures has not, within 60 days after the entry thereof, been discharged or execution thereof stayed pending appeal, or has not been discharged within 60 days after the expiration of any such stay;

 

(d)           Liens securing Debt of a Restricted Subsidiary owed to the Company or to another Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(e)           Liens securing Debt existing on property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary as of the date of this Agreement that are described in Schedule 10.3;

 

(f)            encumbrances in the nature of leases, subleases, zoning restrictions, easements, rights of way, minor survey exceptions and other rights and restrictions of record on the use of real property and defects in title arising or incurred in the ordinary course of business, which, individually and in the aggregate, do not materially impair the use of the property or assets subject thereto by the Company or such Restricted

 

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Subsidiary in their business or which relate only to assets that in the aggregate are not Material;

 

(g)           Liens (i) existing on property at the time of its acquisition by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary and not created in contemplation thereof, whether or not the Debt secured by such Lien is assumed by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary; or (ii) on property created contemporaneously with its acquisition or within 365 days of the acquisition or completion of construction or improvements thereof to secure or provide for all or a portion of the purchase price or cost of construction or improvements of such property after the date of Closing; or (iii) existing on property of a Person at the time such Person is merged or consolidated with, or becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of, or substantially all of its assets are acquired by, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary and not created in contemplation thereof; provided that such Liens do not extend to additional property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than property that is an improvement to or is acquired for specific use in connection with the subject property) and that the aggregate principal amount of Debt secured by each such Lien does not exceed the lesser of cost of acquisition or construction or the fair market value (determined in good faith by one or more officers of the Company to whom authority to enter into the transaction has been delegated by the board of directors of the Company) of the property subject thereto;

 

(h)           Liens on accounts receivable and related contract rights granted in favor of purchasers or providers of financing in connection with Receivables Securitization Financings;

 

(i)            Liens resulting from extensions, renewals or replacements of Liens permitted by paragraphs (e) and (g), provided that (i) there is no increase in the principal amount or decrease in maturity of the Debt secured thereby at the time of such extension, renewal or replacement, (ii) any new Lien attaches only to the same property theretofore subject to such earlier Lien and (iii) immediately after such extension, renewal or replacement no Default or Event of Default would exist; and

 

(j)            Liens securing Debt not otherwise permitted by paragraphs (a) through (i) above, provided that, after giving effect to the incurrence of the Debt so secured, Priority Debt does not exceed 20% of Consolidated Total Assets.

 

10.4.       Sale of Assets.

 

Except as permitted by Section 10.5, the Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of, including by way of merger (collectively a “Disposition”), any assets, including capital stock of Restricted Subsidiaries, in one or a series of transactions, to any Person, other than:

 

(a)           Dispositions in the ordinary course of business;

 

(b)           Dispositions by the Company to a Restricted Subsidiary or by a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary; or

 

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(c)           Dispositions not otherwise permitted by Section 10.4(a) or (b), provided that:

 

(i)            each such Disposition is made in an arms length transaction for a consideration at least equal to the fair market value of the property subject thereto;

 

(ii)           the sum of (A) the aggregate net book value of all assets disposed of in any period of 365 consecutive days pursuant to this Section 10.4(c) and (B) the maximum amount of third-party financing outstanding during such period pursuant to Section 10.4(d)(i) does not exceed 10% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the end of the immediately preceding fiscal year; and

 

(iii)          at the time of such Disposition and after giving effect thereto no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

(d)           Dispositions of receivables and related assets in a Receivables Securitization Financing, provided that the sum of (i) the maximum outstanding amount of third-party financing with respect to such Receivables Securitization Financing during any period of 365 days and (ii) the aggregate net book value of all assets disposed of during such period pursuant to Section 10.4(c)(ii) does not exceed 10% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the end of the immediately preceding fiscal year.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may, or may permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, make a Disposition and the assets subject to such Disposition shall not be subject to or included in the foregoing limitations and computations contained in Section 10.4(c)(ii) and Section 10.4(d) to the extent that each such Disposition is for a consideration at least equal to the fair market value of the property subject thereto, and

 

(A)          such assets are leased back by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, as lessee, within 365 days of the original acquisition or construction thereof by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary; or

 

(B)           the net proceeds from such Disposition are within 365 days of such Disposition:

 

(i)            reinvested in productive assets used or useful in carrying on the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries; or

 

(ii)           applied to the payment or prepayment of any outstanding Debt of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that is pari passu with or senior to the Notes, including the Notes.

 

Any prepayment of Notes pursuant to this Section 10.4 shall be in accordance with Sections 8.2 and 8.3, without regard to the minimum prepayment requirements of Section 8.2 if such proceeds are less than such minimum.

 

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10.5.       Mergers, Consolidations, etc.

 

The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, consolidate with or merge with any other Person or convey, transfer, sell or lease all or substantially all of its assets in a single transaction or series of transactions to any Person except that:

 

(a)           the Company may consolidate or merge with any other Person or convey, transfer, sell or lease all or substantially all of its assets in a single transaction or series of transactions to any Person, provided that:

 

(i)            the successor formed by such consolidation or the survivor of such merger or the Person that acquires by conveyance, transfer, sale or lease all or substantially all of the assets of the Company as an entirety, as the case may be, is a solvent corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States or any state thereof (including the District of Columbia), and, if the Company is not such corporation, such corporation (y) shall have executed and delivered to each holder of any Notes its assumption of the due and punctual performance and observance of each covenant and condition of this Agreement and the Notes and (z) shall have caused to be delivered to each holder of any Notes an opinion of nationally recognized independent counsel or other independent counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Required Holders, to the effect that all agreements or instruments effecting such assumption are enforceable in accordance with their terms and comply with the terms hereof; and

 

(ii)           immediately before and after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

(b)           Any Restricted Subsidiary may (x) merge into the Company (provided that the Company is the surviving corporation) or a Restricted Subsidiary or (y) sell, transfer or lease all or any part of its assets to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, or (z) merge or consolidate with, or sell, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its assets to, any Person in a transaction that is permitted by Section 10.4 or, as a result of which, such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary; provided in each instance set forth in clauses (x) through (z) that immediately before and after giving effect thereto, there shall exist no Default or Event of Default.

 

No such conveyance, transfer, sale or lease of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company shall have the effect of releasing the Company or any successor corporation that shall theretofore have become such in the manner prescribed in this Section 10.5 from its liability under this Agreement or the Notes.

 

10.6.       Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

 

The Company may designate any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary and any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary by notice in writing given to the holders of the Notes; provided that,

 

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(a)           if such Subsidiary initially is designated a Restricted Subsidiary, then such Restricted Subsidiary may be subsequently designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary and such Unrestricted Subsidiary may be subsequently designated as a Restricted Subsidiary, but no further changes in designation may be made;

 

(b)           if such Subsidiary initially is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary, then such Unrestricted Subsidiary may be subsequently designated as a Restricted Subsidiary and such Restricted Subsidiary may be subsequently designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, but no further changes in designation may be made; and

 

(c)           the Company may not designate a Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless:  (i) such Restricted Subsidiary does not own, directly or indirectly, any Debt or capital stock of the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) such designation, considered as a sale of assets, is permitted under Section 10.4(c)(ii), and (iii) immediately before and after such designation there exists no Default or Event of Default.

 

10.7.       Subsidiary Guaranty.

 

The Company will not permit any domestic Subsidiary to become a borrower under the Credit Agreement or a party to the Bank Guaranties or to directly or indirectly guaranty any of the Company’s obligations under the Credit Agreement unless such Subsidiary is, or concurrently therewith becomes, a party to the Subsidiary Guaranty.

 

10.8.       Nature of Business.

 

The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, engage in any business if, as a result, the general nature of the business in which the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, would then be engaged would be substantially changed from the general nature of the business in which the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, are engaged on the date of this Agreement as described in the Memorandum.

 

10.9.       Transactions with Affiliates.

 

The Company will not and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to enter into directly or indirectly any Material transaction or Material group of related transactions (including without limitation the purchase, lease, sale or exchange of properties of any kind or the rendering of any service) with any Affiliate (other than the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary), except in the ordinary course of the Company’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s business and upon fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary than would be obtainable in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a Person not an Affiliate.

 

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11.                               EVENTS OF DEFAULT.

 

An “Event of Default” shall exist if any of the following conditions or events shall occur and be continuing:

 

(a)           the Company defaults in the payment of any principal or Make-Whole Amount on any Note when the same becomes due and payable, whether at maturity or at a date fixed for prepayment or by declaration or otherwise; or

 

(b)           the Company defaults in the payment of any interest on any Note for more than five Business Days after the same becomes due and payable; or

 

(c)           the Company defaults in the performance of or compliance with any term contained in Sections 10.1 through 10.9; or

 

(d)           the Company defaults in the performance of or compliance with any term contained herein (other than those referred to in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 11) and such default is not remedied within 30 days after the earlier of (i) a Responsible Officer obtaining actual knowledge of such default or (ii) the Company receiving written notice of such default from any holder of a Note; or

 

(e)           any representation or warranty made in writing by or on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor or by any officer of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor in this Agreement, the Subsidiary Guaranty or in any writing furnished in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby proves to have been false or incorrect in any material respect on the date as of which made; or

 

(f)            (i) the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary is in default (as principal or as guarantor or other surety) in the payment of any principal of or premium or make-whole amount or interest on any Debt that is outstanding in an aggregate principal amount greater than $30,000,000 beyond any period of grace provided with respect thereto, or (ii) the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary is in default in the performance of or compliance with any term of any evidence of any Debt that is outstanding in an aggregate principal amount greater than $30,000,000 or of any mortgage, indenture or other agreement relating thereto or any other condition exists, and as a consequence of such default or condition such Debt has become, or has been declared (or one or more Persons are entitled to declare such Debt to be), due and payable before its stated maturity or before its regularly scheduled dates of payment, or (iii) as a consequence of the occurrence or continuation of any event or condition (other than the passage of time or the right of the holder of Debt to convert such Debt into equity interests), (x) the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary has become obligated to purchase or repay Debt before its regular maturity or before its regularly scheduled dates of payment in an aggregate outstanding principal amount greater than $30,000,000, or (y) one or more Persons have the right to require the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary so to purchase or repay such Debt; or

 

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(g)           the Company or any Material Restricted Subsidiary (i) is generally not paying, or admits in writing its inability to pay, its debts as they become due, (ii) files, or consents by answer or otherwise to the filing against it of, a petition for relief or reorganization or arrangement or any other petition in bankruptcy, for liquidation or to take advantage of any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar law of any jurisdiction, (iii) makes an assignment for the benefit of its creditors, (iv) consents to the appointment of a custodian, receiver, trustee or other officer with similar powers with respect to it or with respect to any substantial part of its property, (v) is adjudicated as insolvent or to be liquidated, or (vi) takes corporate action for the purpose of any of the foregoing; or

 

(h)           a court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction enters an order appointing, without consent by the Company or any Material Restricted Subsidiary, a custodian, receiver, trustee or other officer with similar powers with respect to it or with respect to any substantial part of its property, or constituting an order for relief or approving a petition for relief or reorganization or any other petition in bankruptcy or for liquidation or to take advantage of any bankruptcy or insolvency law of any jurisdiction, or ordering the dissolution, winding-up or liquidation of the Company or any Material Restricted Subsidiary, or any such petition shall be filed against the Company or any Material Restricted Subsidiary and such petition shall not be dismissed within 60 days; or

 

(i)            a final judgment or judgments for the payment of money aggregating more than $30,000,000 are rendered against one or more of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, which judgments are not, within 60 days after entry thereof, bonded, discharged or stayed pending appeal, or are not discharged within 60 days after the expiration of such stay; or

 

(j)            if (i) any Plan shall fail to satisfy the minimum funding standards of ERISA or the Code for any plan year or part thereof or a waiver of such standards or extension of any amortization period is sought or granted under section 412 of the Code, (ii) a notice of intent to terminate any Plan shall have been or is reasonably expected to be filed with the PBGC or the PBGC shall have instituted proceedings under ERISA section 4042 to terminate or appoint a trustee to administer any Plan or the PBGC shall have notified the Company or any ERISA Affiliate that a Plan may become a subject of any such proceedings, (iii) the aggregate “amount of unfunded benefit liabilities” (within the meaning of section 4001(a)(18) of ERISA) under all Plans determined in accordance with Title IV of ERISA, shall be greater than $30,000,000, (iv) the Company or any ERISA Affiliate shall have incurred or is reasonably expected to incur any liability pursuant to Title I or IV of ERISA or the penalty or excise tax provisions of the Code relating to employee benefit plans, (v) the Company or any ERISA Affiliate withdraws from any Multiemployer Plan, or (vi) the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary establishes or amends any employee welfare benefit plan that provides post-employment welfare benefits in a manner that would increase the liability of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary thereunder; and any such event or events described in clauses (i) through (vi) above, either individually or together with any other such event or events, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

28



 

(k)           any Subsidiary Guarantor defaults in the performance of or compliance with any term or condition contained in the Subsidiary Guaranty or the Subsidiary Guaranty ceases to be in full force and effect, except as provided in Section 22, or is declared to be null and void in whole or in material part by a court or other governmental or regulatory authority having jurisdiction or the validity or enforceability thereof shall be contested by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor or any of them renounces any of the same or denies that it has any or further liability thereunder.

 

As used in Section 11(j), the terms “employee benefit plan” and “employee welfare benefit plan” shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in Section 3 of ERISA.

 

12.                               REMEDIES ON DEFAULT, ETC.

 

12.1.       Acceleration.

 

(a)           If an Event of Default with respect to the Company described in paragraph (g) or (h) of Section 11 (other than an Event of Default described in clause (i) of paragraph (g) or described in clause (vi) of paragraph (g) by virtue of the fact that such clause encompasses clause (i) of paragraph (g)) has occurred, all the Notes then outstanding shall automatically become immediately due and payable.

 

(b)           If any other Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding may at any time at its or their option, by notice or notices to the Company, declare all the Notes then outstanding to be immediately due and payable.

 

(c)           If any Event of Default described in paragraph (a) or (b) of Section 11 has occurred and is continuing, any holder or holders of Notes at the time outstanding affected by such Event of Default may at any time, at its or their option, by notice or notices to the Company, declare all the Notes held by it or them to be immediately due and payable.

 

Upon any Notes becoming due and payable under this Section 12.1, whether automatically or by declaration, such Notes will forthwith mature and the entire unpaid principal amount of such Notes, plus (x) all accrued and unpaid interest thereon and (y) any applicable Make-Whole Amount determined in respect of such principal amount (to the full extent permitted by applicable law) , shall all be immediately due and payable, in each and every case without presentment, demand, protest or further notice, all of which are hereby waived. The Company acknowledges, and the parties hereto agree, that each holder of a Note has the right to maintain its investment in the Notes free from repayment by the Company (except as herein specifically provided for) and that the provision for payment of a Make-Whole Amount by the Company in the event that the Notes are prepaid or are accelerated as a result of an Event of Default is intended to provide compensation for the deprivation of such right under such circumstances.

 

29



 

12.2.       Other Remedies.

 

If any Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and irrespective of whether any Notes have become or have been declared immediately due and payable under Section 12.1, the holder of any Note at the time outstanding may proceed to protect and enforce the rights of such holder by an action at law, suit in equity or other appropriate proceeding, whether for the specific performance of any agreement contained herein or in any Note, or for an injunction against a violation of any of the terms hereof or thereof, or in aid of the exercise of any power granted hereby or thereby or by law or otherwise.

 

12.3.       Rescission.

 

At any time after any Notes have been declared due and payable pursuant to clause (b) or (c) of Section 12.1, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, by written notice to the Company, may rescind and annul any such declaration and its consequences if (a) the Company has paid all overdue interest on the Notes, all principal of and any Make-Whole Amount on any Notes that are due and payable and are unpaid other than by reason of such declaration, and all interest on such overdue principal and any Make-Whole Amount and (to the extent permitted by applicable law) any overdue interest in respect of the Notes, at the Default Rate, (b) all Events of Default and Defaults, other than non-payment of amounts that have become due solely by reason of such declaration, have been cured or have been waived pursuant to Section 17, and (c) no judgment or decree has been entered for the payment of any monies due pursuant hereto or to the Notes. No rescission and annulment under this Section 12.3 will extend to or affect any subsequent Event of Default or Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

12.4.       No Waivers or Election of Remedies, Expenses, etc.

 

No course of dealing and no delay on the part of any holder of any Note in exercising any right, power or remedy shall operate as a waiver thereof or otherwise prejudice such holder’s rights, powers or remedies. No right, power or remedy conferred by this Agreement or by any Note upon any holder thereof shall be exclusive of any other right, power or remedy referred to herein or therein or now or hereafter available at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise. Without limiting the obligations of the Company under Section 15, the Company will pay to the holder of each Note on demand such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover all costs and expenses of such holder incurred in any enforcement or collection under this Section 12, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees, expenses and disbursements.

 

13.                               REGISTRATION; EXCHANGE; SUBSTITUTION OF NOTES.

 

13.1.       Registration of Notes.

 

The Company shall keep at its principal executive office a register for the registration and registration of transfers of Notes. The name and address of each holder of one or more Notes, each transfer thereof and the name and address of each transferee of one or more Notes shall be registered in such register. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer,

 

30



 

the Person in whose name any Note shall be registered shall be deemed and treated as the owner and holder thereof for all purposes hereof, and the Company shall not be affected by any notice or knowledge to the contrary. The Company shall give to any holder of a Note that is an Institutional Investor, promptly upon request therefor, a complete and correct copy of the names and addresses of all registered holders of Notes.

 

13.2.       Transfer and Exchange of Notes.

 

Upon surrender of any Note at the principal executive office of the Company for registration of transfer or exchange (and in the case of a surrender for registration of transfer, duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer duly executed by the registered holder of such Note or his attorney duly authorized in writing and accompanied by the address for notices of each transferee of such Note or part thereof), the Company shall execute and deliver, at the Company’s expense (except as provided below), one or more new Notes (as requested by the holder thereof) in exchange therefor, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the unpaid principal amount of the surrendered Note. Each such new Note shall be payable to such Person as such holder may request and shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit 1. Each such new Note shall be dated and bear interest from the date to which interest shall have been paid on the surrendered Note or dated the date of the surrendered Note if no interest shall have been paid thereon. The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any stamp tax or governmental charge imposed in respect of any such transfer of Notes. Notes shall not be transferred in denominations of less than $100,000, provided that if necessary to enable the registration of transfer by a holder of its entire holding of Notes, one Note may be in a denomination of less than $100,000. Any transferee, by its acceptance of a Note registered in its name (or the name of its nominee), shall be deemed to have made the representation set forth in Section 6.2.

 

13.3.       Replacement of Notes.

 

Upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of the ownership of and the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of any Note (which evidence shall be, in the case of an Institutional Investor, notice from such Institutional Investor of such ownership and such loss, theft, destruction or mutilation), and

 

(a)           in the case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it (provided that if the holder of such Note is, or is a nominee for, an original Purchaser or another Institutional Investor holder of a Note with a minimum net worth of at least $50,000,000, such Person’s own unsecured agreement of indemnity shall be deemed to be satisfactory), or

 

(b)           in the case of mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation thereof,

 

the Company at its own expense shall execute and deliver, in lieu thereof, a new Note, dated and bearing interest from the date to which interest shall have been paid on such lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated Note or dated the date of such lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated Note if no interest shall have been paid thereon.

 

31



 

14.                               PAYMENTS ON NOTES.

 

14.1.       Place of Payment.

 

Subject to Section 14.2, payments of principal, Make-Whole Amount, if any, and interest becoming due and payable on the Notes shall be made in Chicago, Illinois at the principal office of Bank of America in such jurisdiction. The Company may at any time, by notice to each holder of a Note, change the place of payment of the Notes so long as such place of payment shall be either the principal office of the Company in such jurisdiction or the principal office of a bank or trust company in such jurisdiction.

 

14.2.       Home Office Payment.

 

So long as you or your nominee shall be the holder of any Note, and notwithstanding anything contained in Section 14.1 or in such Note to the contrary, the Company will pay all sums becoming due on such Note for principal, Make-Whole Amount, if any, and interest by the method and at the address specified for such purpose below your name in Schedule A, or by such other method or at such other address as you shall have from time to time specified to the Company in writing for such purpose, without the presentation or surrender of such Note or the making of any notation thereon, except that upon written request of the Company made concurrently with or reasonably promptly after payment or prepayment in full of any Note, you shall surrender such Note for cancellation, reasonably promptly after any such request, to the Company at its principal executive office or at the place of payment most recently designated by the Company pursuant to Section 14.1. Prior to any sale or other disposition of any Note held by you or your nominee you will, at your election, either endorse thereon the amount of principal paid thereon and the last date to which interest has been paid thereon or surrender such Note to the Company in exchange for a new Note or Notes pursuant to Section 13.2. The Company will afford the benefits of this Section 14.2 to any Institutional Investor that is the direct or indirect transferee of any Note purchased by you under this Agreement and that has made the same agreement relating to such Note as you have made in this Section 14.2.

 

15.                               EXPENSES, ETC.

 

15.1.       Transaction Expenses.

 

Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Company will pay all costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees of a special counsel and, if reasonably required, local or other counsel) incurred by you and each Other Purchaser or holder of a Note in connection with such transactions and in connection with any amendments, waivers or consents under or in respect of this Agreement, the Notes or the Subsidiary Guaranty (whether or not such amendment, waiver or consent becomes effective), including: (a) the costs and expenses incurred in enforcing or defending (or determining whether or how to enforce or defend) any rights under this Agreement, the Notes or the Subsidiary Guaranty or in responding to any subpoena or other legal process or informal investigative demand issued in connection with this Agreement, the Notes or the Subsidiary Guaranty, or by reason of being a holder of any Note, and (b) the costs and expenses, including financial advisors’ fees, incurred in connection with the insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company or any

 

32



 

Subsidiary or in connection with any work-out or restructuring of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Notes. The Company will pay, and will save you and each other holder of a Note harmless from, all claims in respect of any fees, costs or expenses if any, of brokers and finders (other than those retained by you).

 

15.2.       Survival.

 

The obligations of the Company under this Section 15 will survive the payment or transfer of any Note, the enforcement, amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or the Notes, and the termination of this Agreement.

 

16.                               SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; ENTIRE AGREEMENT.

 

All representations and warranties contained herein shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Notes, the purchase or transfer by you of any Note or portion thereof or interest therein and the payment of any Note, and may be relied upon by any subsequent holder of a Note, regardless of any investigation made at any time by or on behalf of you or any other holder of a Note. All statements contained in any certificate or other instrument delivered by or on behalf of the Company pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed representations and warranties of the Company under this Agreement. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement and the Notes embody the entire agreement and understanding between you and the Company and supersede all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof.

 

17.                               AMENDMENT AND WAIVER.

 

17.1.       Requirements.

 

This Agreement, the Notes and the Subsidiary Guaranty may be amended, and the observance of any term hereof or of the Notes or such Subsidiary Guaranty may be waived (either retroactively or prospectively), with (and only with) the written consent of the Company and the Required Holders, except that (a) no amendment or waiver of any of the provisions of Section 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 21 hereof, or any defined term (as it is used therein), will be effective as to you unless consented to by you in writing, and (b) no such amendment or waiver may, without the written consent of the holder of each Note at the time outstanding affected thereby, (i) subject to the provisions of Section 12 relating to acceleration or rescission, change the amount or time of any prepayment or payment of principal of, or reduce the rate or change the time of payment or method of computation of interest or of the Make-Whole Amount on, the Notes, (ii) change the percentage of the principal amount of the Notes the holders of which are required to consent to any such amendment or waiver, or (iii) amend any of Sections 8, 11(a), 11(b), 12, 17 or 20.

 

17.2.       Solicitation of Holders of Notes.

 

(a)           Solicitation. The Company will provide each holder of the Notes (irrespective of the amount of Notes then owned by it) with sufficient information, sufficiently far in advance of the date a decision is required, to enable such holder to

 

33



 

make an informed and considered decision with respect to any proposed amendment, waiver or consent in respect of any of the provisions hereof or of the Notes. The Company will deliver executed or true and correct copies of each amendment, waiver or consent effected pursuant to the provisions of this Section 17 to each holder of outstanding Notes promptly following the date on which it is executed and delivered by, or receives the consent or approval of, the requisite holders of Notes.

 

(b)           Payment. The Company will not directly or indirectly pay or cause to be paid any remuneration, whether by way of supplemental or additional interest, fee or otherwise, or grant any security, to any holder of Notes as consideration for or as an inducement to the entering into by any holder of Notes or any waiver or amendment of any of the terms and provisions hereof unless such remuneration is concurrently paid, or security is concurrently granted, on the same terms, ratably to each holder of Notes then outstanding even if such holder did not consent to such waiver or amendment.

 

17.3.       Binding Effect, etc.

 

Any amendment or waiver consented to as provided in this Section 17 applies equally to all holders of Notes and is binding upon them and upon each future holder of any Note and upon the Company without regard to whether such Note has been marked to indicate such amendment or waiver. No such amendment or waiver will extend to or affect any obligation, covenant, agreement, Default or Event of Default not expressly amended or waived or impair any right consequent thereon. No course of dealing between the Company and the holder of any Note nor any delay in exercising any rights hereunder or under any Note shall operate as a waiver of any rights of any holder of such Note. As used herein, the term “this Agreement” or “the Agreement” and references thereto shall mean this Agreement as it may from time to time be amended or supplemented.

 

17.4.       Notes held by Company, etc.

 

Solely for the purpose of determining whether the holders of the requisite percentage of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding approved or consented to any amendment, waiver or consent to be given under this Agreement or the Notes, or have directed the taking of any action provided herein or in the Notes to be taken upon the direction of the holders of a specified percentage of the aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding, Notes directly or indirectly owned by the Company or any of its Affiliates shall be deemed not to be outstanding.

 

18.                               NOTICES.

 

All notices and communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing and sent (a) by facsimile if the sender on the same day sends a confirming copy of such notice by a recognized overnight delivery service (charges prepaid), or (b) by registered or certified mail with return receipt requested (postage prepaid), or (c) by a recognized overnight delivery service (with charges prepaid). Any such notice must be sent:

 

34



 

(i)            if to you or your nominee, to you or it at the address specified for such communications in Schedule A, or at such other address as you or it shall have specified to the Company in writing,

 

(ii)           if to any other holder of any Note, to such holder at such address as such other holder shall have specified to the Company in writing, or

 

(iii)          if to the Company, to the Company at its address set forth at the beginning hereof to the attention of the Chief Executive Officer, or at such other address as the Company shall have specified to the holder of each Note in writing.

 

Notices under this Section 18 will be deemed given only when actually received.

 

19.                               REPRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS.

 

This Agreement and all documents relating thereto, including, without limitation, (a) consents, waivers and modifications that may hereafter be executed, (b) documents received by you at the Closing (except the Notes themselves), and (c) financial statements, certificates and other information previously or hereafter furnished to you, may be reproduced by you by any photographic, photostatic, microfilm, microcard, miniature photographic or other similar process and you may destroy any original document so reproduced. The Company agrees and stipulates that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any such reproduction shall be admissible in evidence as the original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding (whether or not the original is in existence and whether or not such reproduction was made by you in the regular course of business) and any enlargement, facsimile or further reproduction of such reproduction shall likewise be admissible in evidence. This Section 19 shall not prohibit the Company or any other holder of Notes from contesting any such reproduction to the same extent that it could contest the original, or from introducing evidence to demonstrate the inaccuracy of any such reproduction.

 

20.                               CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.

 

For the purposes of this Section 20, “Confidential Information” means information delivered to you by or on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary in connection with the transactions contemplated by or otherwise pursuant to this Agreement that is proprietary in nature and that was clearly marked or labeled or otherwise adequately identified when received by you as being confidential information of the Company or such Subsidiary, provided that such term does not include information that (a) was publicly known or otherwise known to you prior to the time of such disclosure, (b) subsequently becomes publicly known through no act or omission by you or any Person acting on your behalf, (c) otherwise becomes known to you other than through disclosure by the Company or any Subsidiary or (d) constitutes financial statements delivered to you under Section 7.1 that are otherwise publicly available. You will maintain the confidentiality of such Confidential Information in accordance with procedures adopted by you in good faith to protect confidential information of third parties delivered to you, provided that you may deliver or disclose Confidential Information to (i) your directors, trustees, officers, employees, agents, attorneys and affiliates (to the extent such disclosure reasonably relates to the administration of the investment represented by your Notes), (ii) your financial

 

35



 

advisors and other professional advisors who agree to hold confidential the Confidential Information substantially in accordance with the terms of this Section 20, (iii) any other holder of any Note, (iv) any Institutional Investor to which you sell or offer to sell such Note or any part thereof or any participation therein (if such Person has agreed in writing prior to its receipt of such Confidential Information to be bound by the provisions of this Section 20), (v) any Person from which you offer to purchase any security of the Company (if such Person has agreed in writing prior to its receipt of such Confidential Information to be bound by the provisions of this Section 20), (vi) any federal or state regulatory authority having jurisdiction over you, (vii) the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any similar organization, or any nationally recognized rating agency that requires access to information about your investment portfolio or (viii) any other Person to which such delivery or disclosure may be necessary or appropriate (w) to effect compliance with any law, rule, regulation or order applicable to you, (x) in response to any subpoena or other legal process, (y) in connection with any litigation to which you are a party or (z) if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, to the extent you may reasonably determine such delivery and disclosure to be necessary or appropriate in the enforcement or for the protection of the rights and remedies under your Notes and this Agreement. Each holder of a Note, by its acceptance of a Note, will be deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to be entitled to the benefits of this Section 20 as though it were a party to this Agreement. On reasonable request by the Company in connection with the delivery to any holder of a Note of information required to be delivered to such holder under this Agreement or requested by such holder (other than a holder that is a party to this Agreement or its nominee), such holder will enter into an agreement with the Company embodying the provisions of this Section 20.

 

21.                               SUBSTITUTION OF PURCHASER.

 

You shall have the right to substitute any one of your Affiliates as the purchaser of the Notes that you have agreed to purchase hereunder, by written notice to the Company, which notice shall be signed by both you and such Affiliate, shall contain such Affiliate’s agreement to be bound by this Agreement and shall contain a confirmation by such Affiliate of the accuracy with respect to it of the representations set forth in Section 6. Upon receipt of such notice, wherever the word “you” is used in this Agreement (other than in this Section 21), such word shall be deemed to refer to such Affiliate in lieu of you. In the event that such Affiliate is so substituted as a purchaser hereunder and such Affiliate thereafter transfers to you all of the Notes then held by such Affiliate, upon receipt by the Company of notice of such transfer, wherever the word “you” is used in this Agreement (other than in this Section 21), such word shall no longer be deemed to refer to such Affiliate, but shall refer to you, and you shall have all the rights of an original holder of the Notes under this Agreement.

 

22.                               RELEASE OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR.

 

You and each subsequent holder of a Note agree to release any Subsidiary Guarantor from the Subsidiary Guaranty (i) if such Subsidiary Guarantor ceases to be such as a result of a Disposition permitted by Section 10.4 or 10.5, or (ii) at such time as the banks party to the Credit Agreement release such Subsidiary as a borrower under the Credit Agreement and/or as a guarantor under the Bank Guaranties; provided, however, that you and each subsequent

 

36



 

holder will not be required to release a Subsidiary Guarantor from the Subsidiary Guaranty upon such Subsidiary’s release from the Bank Guaranties if (A) a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (B) such Subsidiary Guarantor is to become a borrower under the Credit Agreement, or (C) such release is part of a plan of financing that contemplates such Subsidiary Guarantor guaranteeing any other Debt of the Company. Such Subsidiary Guarantor shall automatically be released from the Subsidiary Guaranty upon the delivery to the holders of the Notes of a certificate from a Senior Financial Officer of the Company stating that the requirements of this Section 22 have been met. If any fee or other form of consideration is given to any holder of Debt of the Company expressly for the purpose of such release, holders of the Notes shall receive equivalent consideration.

 

23.                               MISCELLANEOUS.

 

23.1.       Successors and Assigns.

 

All covenants and other agreements contained in this Agreement by or on behalf of any of the parties hereto bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns (including, without limitation, any subsequent holder of a Note) whether so expressed or not.

 

23.2.       Payments Due on Non-Business Days.

 

Anything in this Agreement or the Notes to the contrary notwithstanding, any payment of principal of or Make-Whole Amount or interest on any Note that is due on a date other than a Business Day shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day without including the additional days elapsed in the computation of the interest payable on such next succeeding Business Day; provided that if the maturity date of any Note is a date other than a Business Day, the payment otherwise due on such maturity date shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day and shall include the additional days elapsed in the computation of interest payable on such next succeeding Business Day.

 

23.3.       Severability.

 

Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall (to the full extent permitted by law) not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

23.4.       Construction.

 

Each covenant contained herein shall be construed (absent express provision to the contrary) as being independent of each other covenant contained herein, so that compliance with any one covenant shall not (absent such an express contrary provision) be deemed to excuse compliance with any other covenant. Where any provision herein refers to action to be taken by any Person, or which such Person is prohibited from taking, such provision shall be applicable whether such action is taken directly or indirectly by such Person.

 

37



 

23.5.       Counterparts.

 

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original but all of which together shall constitute one instrument. Each counterpart may consist of a number of copies hereof, each signed by less than all, but together signed by all, of the parties hereto.

 

23.6.       Governing Law.

 

This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and the rights of the parties shall be governed by, the law of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts excluding choice-of-law principles of the law of such Commonwealth that would require the application of the laws of a jurisdiction other than such Commonwealth.

 

*    *    *    *    *

 

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If you are in agreement with the foregoing, please sign the form of agreement on the accompanying counterpart of this Agreement and return it to the Company, whereupon the foregoing shall become a binding agreement between you and the Company.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

 

 

WATTS WATER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William C. McCartney

 

 

Name:

 William C. McCartney

 

 

Title:

   Chief Financial Officer

 

 

S-1



 

The foregoing is agreed

 

 

to as of the date thereof.

 

 

 

 

 

METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE
COMPANY

 

 

 

 

By:

 

/s/ Judith A. Gulotta

 

 

Name:

Judith A. Gulotta

 

 

Title:

Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE TRAVELERS INSURANCE COMPANY

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

/s/ Judith A. Gulotta

 

 

Name:

Judith A. Gulotta

 

 

Title:

Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE TRAVELERS LIFE AND ANNUITY
REINSURANCE COMPANY

 

 

 

 

 

METLIFE INVESTORS USA INSURANCE
COMPANY

 

 

 

 

 

METLIFE INVESTORS INSURANCE
COMPANY

 

 

 

 

 

By: Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, its
investment manager

 

 

 

 

By:

 

/s/ Judith A. Gulotta

 

 

Name:

Judith A. Gulotta

 

 

Title:

Director

 

 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL LIFE
INSURANCE COMPANY

 

 

By: BABSON CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC,
Its Investment Advisor

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

/s/ Elisabeth A. Perenick

 

 

Name:

Elisabeth A. Perenick

 

 

Title:

Managing Director

 

 

 

S-2



 

C.M. LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

 

 

By: BABSON CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC,
Its Investment Sub-Advisor

 

 

 

 

By:

 

/s/ Elisabeth A. Perenick

 

 

Name:

Elisabeth A. Perenick

 

 

Title:

Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

MASSMUTUAL ASIA LIMITED

 

 

By: BABSON CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC,
Its Investment Advisor

 

 

 

 

By:

 

/s/ Elisabeth A. Perenick

 

 

Name:

Elisabeth A. Perenick

 

 

Title:

Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

MML BAY STATE LIFE INSURANCE
COMPANY

 

 

By: BABSON CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC,
Its Investment Sub-Advisor

 

 

 

 

By:

 

/s/ Elisabeth A. Perenick

 

 

Name:

Elisabeth A. Perenick

 

 

Title:

Managing Director

 

 

 

 

JEFFERSON-PILOT LIFE INSURANCE
COMPANY

 

 

 

 

 

By: Delaware Investment Advisers, a series of
Delaware Management Business Trust, Attorney
in Fact

 

 

 

 

By:

 

/s/ Chuck Devereux

 

 

Name:

Chuck Devereux

 

 

Title:

Senior Vice President

 

 

 

S-3



 

JEFFERSON PILOT FINANCIAL INSURANCE
COMPANY

 

 

 

 

 

By: Delaware Investment Advisers, a series of
Delaware Management Business Trust, Attorney
in Fact

 

 

 

 

By:

 

/s/ Chuck Devereux

 

 

Name:

Chuck Devereux

 

 

Title:

Senior Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONNECTICUT GENERAL LIFE INSURANCE
COMPANY

 

 

By: CIGNA Investments, Inc. (authorized agent)

 

 

 

 

 

By:

       /s/ Lori E. Hopkins

 

 

 

Name:

  Lori E. Hopkins

 

 

 

Title:

    Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NORTH
AMERICA

 

 

By: CIGNA Investments, Inc. (authorized agent)

 

 

 

 

 

By:

       /s/ Lori E. Hopkins

 

 

 

Name:

  Lori E. Hopkins

 

 

 

Title:

    Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

BANKERS LIFE AND CASUALTY COMPANY

 

 

CONSECO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

 

 

CONSECO SENIOR HEALTH INSURANCE

 

 

COMPANY

 

 

CONSECO HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANY

 

 

WASHINGTON NATIONAL INSURANCE

 

 

COMPANY

 

 

 

 

By:

 

/s/ Timothy L. Powell

 

 

Name:

Timothy L. Powell

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

 

 

S-4



 

AMERICAN INVESTORS LIFE INSURANCE
COMPANY

 

 

 

 

 

By: AmerUs Capital Management Group, Inc.,
its authorized attorney-in-fact

 

 

 

 

 

By:

     /s/ Roger D. Fors

 

 

 

Name:

  Roger D. Fors

 

 

 

Title:

  Vice President – Private Placements

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAFAYETTE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

 

 

 

 

By:

  /s/ Kent R. Adams

 

 

Name:

 Kent R. Adams

 

 

Title:

 V.P. Fixed Income Securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

FARM BUREAU LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
OF MICHIGAN

 

 

 

 

By:

 /s/ Kent R. Adams

 

 

Name:

Kent R. Adams

 

 

Title:

V.P. Fixed Income Securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

AMERICAN UNITED LIFE INSURANCE
COMPANY

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kent R. Adams

 

 

Name:

Kent R. Adams

 

 

Title:

V.P. Fixed Income Securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE STATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

 

 

 

 

By:

  /s/ Kent R. Adams

 

 

Name:

Kent R. Adams

 

 

Title:

V.P. Fixed Income Securities

 

 

 

S-5



 

HARTFORD LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

 

 

By: Hartford Investment Management Company

 

 

Its: Agent and Attorney-in-Fact

 

 

 

 

 

By:

         /s/ Ronald A. Mendel

 

 

 

Name:

   Ronald A. Mendel

 

 

 

Title:

   Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

SWISS RE LIFE & HEALTH AMERICA INC.

 

 

By: Swiss Re Asset Management (Americas) Inc.

 

 

 

 

By:

     /s/ John H. DeMallie

 

 

Name:

John H. DeMallie

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASSURITY LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

 

 

 

 

By:

   /s/ Victor Weber

 

 

Name:

Victor Weber

 

 

Title:

Senior Director - Investments

 

 

 

6



 

SCHEDULE B

 

DEFINED TERMS

 

As used herein, the following terms have the respective meanings set forth below or set forth in the Section hereof following such term:

 

“Affiliate” means, at any time, and with respect to any Person, (a) any other Person that at such time directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries Controls, or is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such first Person, and (b) any Person beneficially owning or holding, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of any class of voting or equity interests of the Company or any Subsidiary or any corporation of which the Company and its Subsidiaries beneficially own or hold, in the aggregate, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of any class of voting or equity interests. As used in this definition, “Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. Unless the context otherwise clearly requires, any reference to an “Affiliate” is a reference to an Affiliate of the Company. Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing to the contrary, a Person that (i) would be an Affiliate of the Company solely by virtue of its ownership of voting or equity interests of the Company and (ii) is eligible pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b) under the Exchange Act to file a statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Schedule 13G, shall not be deemed to be an Affiliate.

 

“Anti-Terrorism Order” means 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)).

 

“Bank Guaranties” means the Guaranties of domestic Subsidiaries of Debt outstanding under the Credit Agreement, as such Guaranties or agreements may be amended, restated or otherwise modified, and any successors thereto.

 

“Business Day” means (a) for the purposes of Section 8.6 only, any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which commercial banks in New York City are required or authorized to be closed, and (b) for the purposes of any other provision of this Agreement, any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which commercial banks in Chicago, Illinois, Boston, Massachusetts or New York City are required or authorized to be closed.

 

“Capital Lease” means, at any time, a lease with respect to which the lessee is required concurrently to recognize the acquisition of an asset and the incurrence of a liability in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Closing” is defined in Section 3.

 

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time.

 



 

“Company” means Watts Water Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

“Confidential Information” is defined in Section 20.

 

“Consolidated EBITDA” means, for any period, the sum of Consolidated Net Income for such period, plus, to the extent deducted in determining such Consolidated Net Income, (i) Consolidated Interest Expense, (ii) federal, state, local and foreign income, franchise, value added and similar taxes, and (iii) depreciation and amortization expense.

 

“Consolidated Fixed Charges” means, for any period, the sum of (i) Consolidated Interest Expense for such period and (ii) Consolidated Rentals for such period under all leases other than Capital Leases.

 

“Consolidated Income Available for Fixed Charges” means, for any period, the sum of (i) Consolidated EBITDA for such period and (ii) Consolidated Rentals for such period under all leases other than Capital Leases.

 

“Consolidated Interest Expense” means, for any period, the consolidated interest expense of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, the net income or loss of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period (including, without duplication, income attributed to minority interests) determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, but in any event excluding extraordinary or nonrecurring gains or losses.

 

“Consolidated Rentals” means, for any period, the rental expense of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period under all leases, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Consolidated Total Assets” means, as of any date, the total assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

Credit Agreement” means the Credit Agreement dated as of April 27, 2006 among the Company, certain subsidiaries of the Company, the Lenders (as defined therein) and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer, as such agreement may be hereafter amended, restated, supplemented, refinanced, increased or reduced from time to time, and any successor credit agreement or similar facility.

 

“Debt” with respect to any Person means, at any time, without duplication,

 

(a)           its liabilities for borrowed money;

 

2



 

(b)           its liabilities for the deferred purchase price of property acquired by such Person (excluding accounts payable and other accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business but including all liabilities created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement with respect to any such property);

 

(c)           all liabilities appearing on its balance sheet in accordance with GAAP in respect of Capital Leases;

 

(d)           all liabilities for borrowed money secured by any Lien with respect to any property owned by such Person (whether or not it has assumed or otherwise become liable for such liabilities); and

 

(e)           any Guaranty of such Person with respect to liabilities of a type described in any of clauses (a) through (d) hereof.

 

“Default” means an event or condition the occurrence or existence of which would, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice or both, become an Event of Default.

 

“Default Rate” means that rate of interest that is the greater of (i) 2% per annum above the rate of interest stated in clause (a) of the first paragraph of the Notes or (ii) 2% over the rate of interest publicly announced by Bank of America in Chicago, Illinois as its “base” or “prime” rate.

 

“Disposition” is defined in Section 10.4.

 

“Electronic Delivery” is defined in Section 7.1(a).

 

“Environmental Laws” means any and all Federal, state, local, and foreign statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements or governmental restrictions relating to pollution and the protection of the environment or the release of any materials into the environment, including but not limited to those related to hazardous substances or wastes, air emissions and discharges to waste or public systems.

 

“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time in effect.

 

“ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that is treated as a single employer together with the Company under section 414 of the Code.

 

“Event of Default” is defined in Section 11.

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

3



 

“Form 10-K” is defined in Section 5.3.

 

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles as in effect from time to time in the United States of America.

 

“Governmental Authority” means

 

(a)           the government of

 

(i)            the United States of America or any State or other political subdivision thereof, or

 

(ii)           any jurisdiction in which the Company or any Subsidiary conducts all or any part of its business, or which asserts jurisdiction over any properties of the Company or any Subsidiary, or

 

(b)           any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of, or pertaining to, any such government.

 

“Guaranty” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation (except the endorsement in the ordinary course of business of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection) of such Person guaranteeing or in effect guaranteeing any indebtedness, dividend or other obligation of any other Person in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including (without limitation) obligations incurred through an agreement, contingent or otherwise, by such Person:

 

(a)           to purchase such indebtedness or obligation or any property constituting security therefor;

 

(b)           to advance or supply funds (i) for the purchase or payment of such indebtedness or obligation, or (ii) to maintain any working capital or other balance sheet condition or any income statement condition of any other Person or otherwise to advance or make available funds for the purchase or payment of such indebtedness or obligation;

 

(c)           to lease properties or to purchase properties or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of such indebtedness or obligation of the ability of any other Person to make payment of the indebtedness or obligation; or

 

(d)           otherwise to assure the owner of such indebtedness or obligation against loss in respect thereof.

 

In any computation of the indebtedness or other liabilities of the obligor under any Guaranty, the indebtedness or other obligations that are the subject of such Guaranty shall be assumed to be direct obligations of such obligor.

 

4



 

“Hazardous Material” means any and all pollutants, toxic or hazardous wastes or any other substances that might pose a hazard to health or safety, the removal of which may be required or the generation, manufacture, refining, production, processing, treatment, storage, handling, transportation, transfer, use, disposal, release, discharge, spillage, seepage, or filtration of which is or shall be restricted, prohibited or penalized by any applicable law (including, without limitation, asbestos, urea formaldehyde foam insulation and polycholorinated biphenyls).

 

“holder” means, with respect to any Note, the Person in whose name such Note is registered in the register maintained by the Company pursuant to Section 13.1.

 

“INHAM Exemption” is defined in Section 6.2(e).

 

“Institutional Investor” means (a) any original purchaser of a Note, (b)  any holder of more than $2,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding, and (c) any bank, trust company, savings and loan association or other financial institution, any pension plan, any investment company, any insurance company, any broker or dealer, or any other similar financial institution or entity, regardless of legal form.

 

“Lien” means, with respect to any Person, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or other encumbrance, or any interest or title of any vendor, lessor, lender or other secured party to or of such Person under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement or Capital Lease, upon or with respect to any property or asset of such Person (including in the case of stock, stockholder agreements, voting trust agreements and all similar arrangements).

 

“Make-Whole Amount” is defined in Section 8.6.

 

“Material” means material in relation to the business, operations, affairs, financial condition, assets or properties of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

 

“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, operations, affairs, financial condition, assets or properties of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or (b) the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Notes, or (c) the ability of any Material Subsidiary Guarantor to perform its obligations under the Subsidiary Guaranty, or (d) the validity or enforceability of this Agreement, the Notes or the Subsidiary Guaranty.

 

“Material Restricted Subsidiary” means, at any time, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any Restricted Subsidiary that would at such time account for more than 5% of (i) Consolidated Total Assets as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal quarter or (ii) consolidated revenue of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the four fiscal quarters ending as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal quarter.

 

5



 

“Material Subsidiary Guarantor” means, at any time, any Subsidiary Guarantor that would at such time account for more than 5% of (i) Consolidated Total Assets as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal quarter or (ii) consolidated revenue of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the four fiscal quarters ending as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal quarter.

 

“Memorandum” is defined in Section 5.3.

 

“Multiemployer Plan” means any Plan that is a “multiemployer plan” (as such term is defined in section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA).

 

“Notes” is defined in Section 1.

 

“Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate of a Senior Financial Officer or of any other officer of the Company whose responsibilities extend to the subject matter of such certificate.

 

“Other Purchasers” is defined in Section 2.

 

“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA or any successor thereto.

 

“Person” means an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, association, trust, unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

“Plan” means an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in section 3(3) of ERISA) that is or, within the preceding five years, has been established or maintained, or to which contributions are or, within the preceding five years, have been made or required to be made, by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate or with respect to which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate may have any liability.

 

“Priority Debt” means, as of any date, the sum (without duplication) of (a) outstanding unsecured Debt of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Subsidiary Guarantors other than (i) Debt owed to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) unsecured Debt of a Person outstanding at the time it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, provided that (A) such Person is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary and (B) such Debt was not incurred in contemplation of such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary, and (b) Debt of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries secured by Liens not otherwise permitted by the introductory clause of Section 10.3 and Sections 10.3 (a) through (i).

 

“property” or “properties” means, unless otherwise specifically limited, real or personal property of any kind, tangible or intangible, choate or inchoate.

 

“Purchaser” means each purchaser listed in Schedule A.

 

6



 

“QPAM Exemption” is defined in Section 6.2(d).

 

“Receivables Securitization Financing”  means a transaction or group of transactions typically referred to as a securitization in which a Person sells, directly or indirectly through another Person, its accounts receivable on a limited recourse basis in a transaction treated as a legal true sale to a special purpose bankruptcy remote entity that obtains debt financing or sells interests in such receivables to finance the purchase price.

 

“Required Holders” means, at any time, the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding (exclusive of Notes then owned by the Company or any of its Affiliates).

 

“Responsible Officer” means any Senior Financial Officer and any other officer of the Company with responsibility for the administration of the relevant portion of this Agreement.

 

“Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary (a) of which at least a majority of the voting securities are owned by the Company and/or one or more Restricted Subsidiaries and (b) that the Company has not designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary by notice in writing given to the holders of the Notes pursuant to Section 10.6.

 

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.

 

“Senior Financial Officer” means the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or comptroller of the Company.

 

“Source” is defined in Section 6.2.

 

“Subsidiary” means, as to any Person, any corporation, association or other business entity in which such Person or one or more of its Subsidiaries or such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries owns sufficient equity or voting interests to enable it or them (as a group) ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, to elect a majority of the directors (or Persons performing similar functions) of such entity, and any partnership, limited liability company or joint venture if more than a 50% interest in the profits or capital thereof is owned by such Person or one or more of its Subsidiaries or such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries (unless such partnership, limited liability company or joint venture can and does ordinarily take major business actions without the prior approval of such Person or one or more of its Subsidiaries). Unless the context otherwise clearly requires, any reference to a “Subsidiary” is a reference to a Subsidiary of the Company.

 

“Subsidiary Guarantor” is defined in Section 1.

 

“Subsidiary Guaranty” is defined in Section 1.

 

7



 

“this Agreement” or “the Agreement” is defined in Section 17.3.

 

“Unrestricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company that has been so designated by notice in writing given to the holders of the Notes.

 

“USA Patriot Act” means Public Law 107-56 of the United States of America, United and Strengthening America by Providing Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT) Act of 2001, as amended from time to time.

 

8


EX-10.2 3 a06-10770_1ex10d2.htm EX-10

EXHIBIT 10.2

 

[FORM OF SENIOR NOTE]

 

WATTS WATER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

 

5.85% SENIOR NOTE

DUE APRIL 30, 2016

 

No. R-[          ]

 

 

 

[Date]

$[                ]

 

 

 

PPN:

942749 A# 9

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, WATTS WATER TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (herein called the “Company”), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, promises to pay to [         ], or registered assigns, the principal sum of $[              ] on April 30, 2016, with interest (computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months) (a) on the unpaid balance thereof at the rate of 5.85% per annum from the date hereof, payable semiannually, on April 30 and October 30, in each year, commencing with the April 30 or October 30 next succeeding the date hereof (except that the first such payment shall be on October 30, 2006), until the principal hereof shall have become due and payable, and (b) to the extent permitted by law on any overdue payment (including any overdue prepayment) of principal, any overdue payment of interest and any overdue payment of any Make-Whole Amount (as defined in the Note Purchase Agreement referred to below), payable semiannually as aforesaid (or, at the option of the registered holder hereof, on demand), at a rate per annum from time to time equal to the greater of (i) 7.85% or (ii) 2% over the rate of interest publicly announced by Bank of America, or its successor, from time to time in Chicago, Illinois as its “base” or “prime” rate.

 

Payments of principal of, interest on and any Make-Whole Amount with respect to this Note are to be made in lawful money of the United States of America at the principal office of Bank of America in Chicago, Illinois or at such other place as the Company shall have designated by written notice to the holder of this Note as provided in the Note Purchase Agreement referred to below.

 

This Note is one of a series of Senior Notes (herein called the “Notes”) issued pursuant to a Note Purchase Agreement dated as of April 27, 2006 (as from time to time amended, the “Note Purchase Agreement”), between the Company and the respective Purchasers named therein and is entitled to the benefits thereof. Each holder of this Note will be deemed, by its acceptance hereof, (i) to have agreed to the confidentiality provisions set forth in Section 20 of the Note Purchase Agreement and (ii) to have made the representations set forth in Section 6 of the Note Purchase Agreement.

 



 

This Note is a registered Note and, as provided in the Note Purchase Agreement, upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer, duly endorsed, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer duly executed, by the registered holder hereof or such holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, a new Note for a like principal amount will be issued to, and registered in the name of, the transferee. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer, the Company may treat the person in whose name this Note is registered as the owner hereof for the purpose of receiving payment and for all other purposes, and the Company will not be affected by any notice to the contrary.

 

This Note is subject to optional prepayment, in whole or from time to time in part, at the times and on the terms specified in the Note Purchase Agreement but not otherwise.

 

If an Event of Default, as defined in the Note Purchase Agreement, occurs and is continuing, the principal of this Note may be declared or otherwise become due and payable in the manner, at the price (including any applicable Make-Whole Amount) and with the effect provided in the Note Purchase Agreement.

 

Payment of the principal of, and interest and Make-Whole Amount, if any, on this Note, and all other amounts due under the Note Purchase Agreement, is guaranteed pursuant to the terms of a Guaranty dated as of April 27, 2006 of certain Subsidiaries of the Company.

 

This Note shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and the rights of the parties shall be governed by, the law of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts excluding choice-of-law principles of the law of such Commonwealth that would require the application of the laws of a jurisdiction other than such Commonwealth.

 

 

WATTS WATER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 


EX-10.3 4 a06-10770_1ex10d3.htm EX-10

Exhibit 10.3

 

SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY

 

THIS GUARANTY (this “Guaranty”) dated as of April 27, 2006 is made by the undersigned (each, a “Guarantor”), in favor of the holders from time to time of the Notes hereinafter referred to, including each purchaser named in the Note Purchase Agreement hereinafter referred to, and their respective successors and assigns (collectively, the “Holders” and each individually, a “Holder”).

 

W I T N E S S E T H:

 

WHEREAS, WATTS WATER TECHNOLOGIES, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the initial Holders have entered into a Note Purchase Agreement dated as of April 27, 2006 (the Note Purchase Agreement, as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms and in effect, the “Note Purchase Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS, the Note Purchase Agreement provides for the issuance by the Company of $225,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes (as defined in the Note Purchase Agreement);

 

WHEREAS, the Company owns, directly or indirectly, all or a substantial portion of the issued and outstanding capital stock or partnership interests of each Guarantor and, by virtue of such ownership and otherwise, each Guarantor will derive substantial benefits from the issuance and sale of the Company’s Notes;

 

WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the obligation of the Holders to purchase the Notes that each Guarantor shall have executed and delivered this Guaranty to the Holders; and

 

WHEREAS, each Guarantor desires to execute and deliver this Guaranty to satisfy the conditions described in the preceding paragraph;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and other benefits to each Guarantor, and of the purchase of the Company’s Notes by the Holders, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are acknowledged, each Guarantor makes this Guaranty as follows:

 

SECTION 1. Definitions. Any capitalized terms not otherwise herein defined shall have the meanings attributed to them in the Note Purchase Agreement.

 

SECTION 2. Guaranty. Each Guarantor, jointly and severally with each other Guarantor, unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees to the Holders the due, prompt and complete payment by the Company of the principal of, Make-Whole Amount, if any, and interest on, and each other amount due under, the Notes or the Note Purchase Agreement, when and as the same shall become due and payable (whether at stated maturity or by required or optional prepayment or by declaration or otherwise) in accordance with the terms of the Notes and the Note Purchase Agreement (the Notes and the Note Purchase Agreement being sometimes hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Note Documents” and the amounts payable by the

 



 

Company under the Note Documents, and all other monetary obligations of the Company thereunder (including any attorneys’ fees and expenses), being sometimes collectively hereinafter referred to as the “Obligations”). This Guaranty is a guaranty of payment and not just of collectibility and is in no way conditioned or contingent upon any attempt to collect from the Company or upon any other event, contingency or circumstance whatsoever. If for any reason whatsoever the Company shall fail or be unable duly, punctually and fully to pay such amounts as and when the same shall become due and payable, each Guarantor, without demand, presentment, protest or notice of any kind, will forthwith pay or cause to be paid such amounts to the Holders under the terms of such Note Documents, in lawful money of the United States, at the place specified in the Note Purchase Agreement, or perform or comply with the same or cause the same to be performed or complied with, together with interest (to the extent provided for under such Note Documents) on any amount due and owing from the Company. Each Guarantor, promptly after demand, will pay to the Holders the reasonable costs and expenses of collecting such amounts or otherwise enforcing this Guaranty, including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the right of recovery against each Guarantor under this Guaranty is limited to the extent it is judicially determined with respect to any Guarantor that entering into this Guaranty would violate Section 548 of the United States Bankruptcy Code or any comparable provisions of any state law, in which case such Guarantor shall be liable under this Guaranty only for amounts aggregating up to the largest amount that would not render such Guarantor’s obligations hereunder subject to avoidance under Section 548 of the United States Bankruptcy Code or any comparable provisions of any state law.

 

SECTION 3. Guarantor’s Obligations Unconditional. The obligations of each Guarantor under this Guaranty shall be primary, absolute and unconditional obligations of each Guarantor, shall not be subject to any counterclaim, set-off, deduction, diminution, abatement, recoupment, suspension, deferment, reduction or defense based upon any claim each Guarantor or any other person may have against the Company or any other person, and to the full extent permitted by applicable law shall remain in full force and effect without regard to, and shall not be released, discharged or in any way affected by, any circumstance or condition whatsoever (whether or not each Guarantor or the Company shall have any knowledge or notice thereof), including:

 

(a)           any termination, amendment or modification of or deletion from or addition or supplement to or other change in any of the Note Documents or any other instrument or agreement applicable to any of the parties to any of the Note Documents;

 

(b)           any furnishing or acceptance of any security, or any release of any security, for the Obligations, or the failure of any security or the failure of any person to perfect any interest in any collateral;

 

(c)           any failure, omission or delay on the part of the Company to conform or comply with any term of any of the Note Documents or any other instrument or agreement referred to in paragraph (a) above, including, without limitation, failure to give notice to any Guarantor of the occurrence of a “Default” or an “Event of Default” under any Note Document;

 

2



 

(d)           any waiver of the payment, performance or observance of any of the obligations, conditions, covenants or agreements contained in any Note Document, or any other waiver, consent, extension, indulgence, compromise, settlement, release or other action or inaction under or in respect of any of the Note Documents or any other instrument or agreement referred to in paragraph (a) above or any obligation or liability of the Company, or any exercise or non-exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege under or in respect of any such instrument or agreement or any such obligation or liability;

 

(e)           any failure, omission or delay on the part of any of the Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right, power or remedy conferred on such Holder in this Guaranty, or any such failure, omission or delay on the part of such Holder in connection with any Note Document, or any other action on the part of such Holder;

 

(f)            any voluntary or involuntary bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, readjustment, assignment for the benefit of creditors, composition, receivership, conservatorship, custodianship, liquidation, marshaling of assets and liabilities or similar proceedings with respect to the Company, any Guarantor or to any other person or any of their respective properties or creditors, or any action taken by any trustee or receiver or by any court in any such proceeding;

 

(g)           any discharge, termination, cancellation, frustration, irregularity, invalidity or unenforceability, in whole or in part, of any of the Note Documents or any other agreement or instrument referred to in paragraph (a) above or any term hereof;

 

(h)           any merger or consolidation of the Company or any Guarantor into or with any other corporation, or any sale, lease or transfer of any of the assets of the Company or any Guarantor to any other person;

 

(i)            any change in the ownership of any shares of capital stock of the Company or any change in the corporate relationship between the Company and any Guarantor, or any termination of such relationship;

 

(j)            any release or discharge, by operation of law, of any Guarantor from the performance or observance of any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in this Guaranty; or

 

(k)           any other occurrence, circumstance, happening or event whatsoever, whether similar or dissimilar to the foregoing, whether foreseen or unforeseen, and any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable defense or discharge of the liabilities of a guarantor or surety or which might otherwise limit recourse against any Guarantor.

 

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SECTION 4. Full Recourse Obligations. The obligations of each Guarantor set forth herein constitute the full recourse obligations of such Guarantor enforceable against it to the full extent of all its assets and properties.

 

SECTION 5. Waiver. Each Guarantor unconditionally waives, to the extent permitted by applicable law, (a) notice of any of the matters referred to in Section 3, (b) notice to such Guarantor of the incurrence of any of the Obligations, notice to such Guarantor or the Company of any breach or default by such Company with respect to any of the Obligations or any other notice that may be required, by statute, rule of law or otherwise, to preserve any rights of the Holders against such Guarantor, (c) presentment to or demand of payment from the Company or the Guarantor with respect to any amount due under any Note Document or protest for nonpayment or dishonor, (d) any right to the enforcement, assertion or exercise by any of the Holders of any right, power, privilege or remedy conferred in the Note Purchase Agreement or any other Note Document or otherwise, (e) any requirement of diligence on the part of any of the Holders, (f) any requirement to exhaust any remedies or to mitigate the damages resulting from any default under any Note Document, (g) any notice of any sale, transfer or other disposition by any of the Holders of any right, title to or interest in the Note Purchase Agreement or in any other Note Document and (h) any other circumstance whatsoever which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge, release or defense of a guarantor or surety or which might otherwise limit recourse against such Guarantor.

 

SECTION 6. Subrogation, Contribution, Reimbursement or Indemnity. Until one year and one day after all Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, each Guarantor agrees not to take any action pursuant to any rights which may have arisen in connection with this Guaranty to be subrogated to any of the rights (whether contractual, under the United States Bankruptcy Code, as amended, including Section 509 thereof, under common law or otherwise) of any of the Holders against the Company or against any collateral security or guaranty or right of offset held by the Holders for the payment of the Obligations. Until one year and one day after all Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, each Guarantor agrees not to take any action pursuant to any contractual, common law, statutory or other rights of reimbursement, contribution, exoneration or indemnity (or any similar right) from or against the Company which may have arisen in connection with this Guaranty. So long as the Obligations remain, if any amount shall be paid by or on behalf of the Company to any Guarantor on account of any of the rights waived in this paragraph, such amount shall be held by such Guarantor in trust, segregated from other funds of such Guarantor, and shall, forthwith upon receipt by such Guarantor, be turned over to the Holders (duly endorsed by such Guarantor to the Holders, if required), to be applied against the Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in such order as the Holders may determine. The provisions of this paragraph shall survive the term of this Guaranty and the payment in full of the Obligations.

 

SECTION 7. Effect of Bankruptcy Proceedings, etc. This Guaranty shall continue to be effective or be automatically reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, in whole or in part, of any of the sums due to any of the Holders pursuant to the terms of the Note Purchase Agreement or any other Note Document is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by such Holder upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of the

 

4



 

Company or any other person, or upon or as a result of the appointment of a custodian, receiver, trustee or other officer with similar powers with respect to the Company or other person or any substantial part of its property, or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made. If an event permitting the acceleration of the maturity of the principal amount of the Notes shall at any time have occurred and be continuing, and such acceleration shall at such time be prevented by reason of the pendency against the Company or any other person of a case or proceeding under a bankruptcy or insolvency law, each Guarantor agrees that, for purposes of this Guaranty and its obligations hereunder, the maturity of the principal amount of the Notes and all other Obligations shall be deemed to have been accelerated with the same effect as if any Holder had accelerated the same in accordance with the terms of the Note Purchase Agreement or other applicable Note Document, and such Guarantor shall forthwith pay such principal amount, Make-Whole Amount, if any, and interest thereon and any other amounts guaranteed hereunder without further notice or demand.

 

SECTION 8. Term of Agreement. This Guaranty and all guaranties, covenants and agreements of each Guarantor contained herein shall continue in full force and effect and shall not be discharged until the earlier to occur of (i) such time as all of the Obligations shall be paid and performed in full and all of the agreements of such Guarantor hereunder shall be duly paid and performed in full and (ii) such Guarantor is released by the Holders.

 

SECTION 9. Representations and Warranties. Each Guarantor represents and warrants to each Holder that:

 

(a)           such Guarantor is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and has the requisite power and authority to own and operate its property, to lease the property it operates as lessee and to conduct the business in which it is currently engaged;

 

(b)           such Guarantor has the requisite power and authority and the legal right to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, this Guaranty, and has taken all necessary action to authorize its execution, delivery and performance of this Guaranty;

 

(c)           this Guaranty constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Guarantor enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law);

 

(d)           the execution, delivery and performance of this Guaranty will not (i) contravene, result in any breach of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation of any Lien in respect of any property of such Guarantor under any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan, credit agreement, corporate charter or by-laws, or any other agreement evidencing Debt, (ii) contravene, result in any breach of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation of any Lien in respect of any property of such Guarantor

 

5



 

under, any other agreement or instrument to which such Guarantor is bound or by which such Guarantor or any of its properties may be bound or affected, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (iii) conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any order, judgment, decree, or ruling of any court, arbitrator or Governmental Authority applicable to such Guarantor, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or (iv) violate any provision of any statute or other rule or regulation of any Governmental Authority applicable to such Guarantor, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(e)           no consent, approval or authorization of, or registration, filing or declaration with, any Governmental Authority is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by such Guarantor of this Guaranty;

 

(f)            except as disclosed in writing to the Holders, no litigation, investigation or proceeding of or before any arbitrator or governmental authority is pending or, to the knowledge of such Guarantor, threatened by or against such Guarantor or any of its properties or revenues (i) with respect to this Guaranty or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or (ii) which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(g)           such Guarantor (after giving due consideration to any rights of contribution) has received fair consideration and reasonably equivalent value for the incurrence of its obligations hereunder or as contemplated hereby and after giving effect to the transactions contemplated herein, (i) the fair value of the assets of such Guarantor (both at fair valuation and at present fair saleable value) exceeds its liabilities, (ii) such Guarantor is able to and expects to be able to pay its debts as they mature, and (iii) such Guarantor has capital sufficient to carry on its business as conducted and as proposed to be conducted.

 

SECTION 10. Notices. All notices and communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing and sent by telecopy if the sender on the same day sends a confirming copy of such notice by a recognized overnight delivery service (charges prepaid), or by registered or certified mail with return receipt requested (postage prepaid), or by a recognized overnight delivery service (with charges prepaid) (a) if to the Company or any Holder at the address set forth in the Note Purchase Agreement or (b) if to a Guarantor, in care of the Company at the Company’s address set forth in the Note Purchase Agreement, or in each case at such other address as the Company, any Holder or such Guarantor shall from time to time designate in writing to the other parties. Any notice so addressed shall be deemed to be given when actually received.

 

SECTION 11. Survival. All warranties, representations and covenants made by each Guarantor herein or in any certificate or other instrument delivered by it or on its behalf hereunder shall be considered to have been relied upon by the Holders and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Guaranty, regardless of any investigation made by any of the

 

6



 

Holders. All statements in any such certificate or other instrument shall constitute warranties and representations by such Guarantor hereunder.

 

SECTION 12. Submission to Jurisdiction. Each Guarantor irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of the courts of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and of the courts of the United States of America having jurisdiction in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the purpose of any legal action or proceeding in any such court with respect to, or arising out of, this Guaranty, the Note Purchase Agreement or the Notes. Each Guarantor consents to process being served in any suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested. Each Guarantor agrees that such service upon receipt (i) shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon it in any such suit, action or proceeding and (ii) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be taken and held to be valid personal service upon and personal delivery to such Guarantor.

 

SECTION 13. Miscellaneous. Any provision of this Guaranty which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. To the extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor hereby waives any provision of law that renders any provisions hereof prohibited or unenforceable in any respect. The terms of this Guaranty shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, each Guarantor and the Holders and their respective successors and assigns. No term or provision of this Guaranty may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated orally, but only by an instrument in writing signed by each Guarantor and the Required Holders. The section and paragraph headings in this Guaranty are for convenience of reference only and shall not modify, define, expand or limit any of the terms or provisions hereof, and all references herein to numbered sections, unless otherwise indicated, are to sections in this Guaranty. This Guaranty shall in all respects be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, including all matters of construction, validity and performance.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Guarantor has caused this Guaranty to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

 

WATTS REGULATOR CO.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William C. McCartney

 

 

Name:

William C. McCartney

 

 

Title:

President

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANDERSON-BARROWS METALS

 

CORPORATION

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William C. McCartney

 

 

Name:

William C. McCartney

 

 

Title:

President

 

 

 

 

 

 

WEBSTER VALVE, INC.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William C. McCartney

 

 

Name:

William C. McCartney

 

 

Title:

President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WATTS DISTRIBUTION COMPANY, INC.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William C. McCartney

 

 

Name:

William C. McCartney

 

 

Title:

President

 

 

 

 

 

 

HUNTER INNOVATIONS, INC.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William C. McCartney

 

 

Name:

William C. McCartney

 

 

Title:

President

 

 

 

 

 

 

CORE INDUSTRIES, INC.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William C. McCartney

 

 

Name:

William C. McCartney

 

 

Title:

President

 

 

8



 

 

DORMONT MANUFACTURING COMPANY

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William C. McCartney

 

 

Name:

William C. McCartney

 

 

Title:

President

 

 

 

 

 

 

FLOWMATIC SYSTEMS, INC.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William C. McCartney

 

 

Name:

William C. McCartney

 

 

Title:

President

 

 

9



 

FORM OF JOINDER TO SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY

 

The undersigned (the “Guarantor”), joins in the Subsidiary Guaranty dated as of April 27, 2006 from the Guarantors named therein in favor of the Holders, as defined therein, and agrees to be bound by all of the terms thereof and represents and warrants to the Holders that:

 

(a)           the Guarantor is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and has the requisite power and authority to own and operate its property, to lease the property it operates as lessee and to conduct the business in which it is currently engaged;

 

(b)           the Guarantor has the requisite power and authority and the legal right to execute and deliver this Joinder to Subsidiary Guaranty (“Joinder”) and to perform its obligations hereunder and under the Subsidiary Guaranty and has taken all necessary action to authorize its execution and delivery of this Joinder and its performance of the Subsidiary Guaranty;

 

(c)           the Subsidiary Guaranty constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Guarantor enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law);

 

(d)           the execution, delivery and performance of this Joinder will not (i) contravene, result in any breach of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation of any Lien in respect of any property of such Guarantor under any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan, credit agreement, corporate charter or by-laws, or any other agreement evidencing Debt, (ii) contravene, result in any breach of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation of any Lien in respect of any property of such Guarantor under, any other agreement or instrument to which such Guarantor is bound or by which such Guarantor or any of its properties may be bound or affected, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (iii) conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any order, judgment, decree, or ruling of any court, arbitrator or Governmental Authority applicable to such Guarantor, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or (iv) violate any provision of any statute or other rule or regulation of any Governmental Authority applicable to such Guarantor, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(e)           no consent, approval or authorization of, or registration, filing or declaration with, any Governmental Authority is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by such Guarantor of this Joinder;

 

10



 

(f)            except as disclosed in writing to the Holders, no litigation, investigation or proceeding of or before any arbitrator or governmental authority is pending or, to the knowledge of the Guarantor, threatened by or against the Guarantor or any of its properties or revenues (i) with respect to this Joinder, the Subsidiary Guaranty or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or (ii) that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(g)           such Guarantor (after giving due consideration to any rights of contribution) has received fair consideration and reasonably equivalent value for the incurrence of its obligations hereunder or as contemplated hereby and after giving effect to the transactions contemplated herein, (i) the fair value of the assets of such Guarantor (both at fair valuation and at present fair saleable value) exceeds its liabilities, (ii) such Guarantor is able to and expects to be able to pay its debts as they mature, and (iii) such Guarantor has capital sufficient to carry on its business as conducted and as proposed to be conducted.

 

Capitalized Terms used but not defined herein have the meanings ascribed in the Subsidiary Guaranty.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Joinder to Subsidiary Guaranty to be duly executed as of                       ,           .

 

 

 

[Name of Guarantor]

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

11


EX-10.4 5 a06-10770_1ex10d4.htm EX-10

Exhibit 10.4

 

Execution Copy

 

WATTS WATER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

 

FIRST AMENDMENT

TO NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

$50,000,000

4.87% Senior Notes, Series A

Due May 15, 2010

 

$75,000,000

5.47% Senior Notes, Series B

Due May 15, 2013

 

Dated as of April 27, 2006

 

To the Holders of the Senior Notes

of Watts Water Technologies, Inc.

Named in the Attached Schedule I

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Reference is made to the Note Purchase Agreement dated as of May 15, 2003 (the “Note Agreement”) among Watts Water Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (formerly, Watts Industries, Inc., the “Company”), and each of the Purchasers named in Schedule A thereto pursuant to which the Company issued $50,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 4.87% Senior Notes, Series A, due May 15, 2010 and $75,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 5.47% Senior Notes, Series B, due May 15, 2013 (together, the “Notes”). You are referred to herein individually as a “Holder” and collectively as the “Holders.”  Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined in this First Amendment to Note Purchase Agreement (this “Amendment”) shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Note Agreement, as amended hereby.

 

The Company has authorized the issuance and sale of $200,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 5.85% Senior Notes, due April 30, 2016 (the “2006 Notes”), pursuant to a Note Purchase Agreement dated as of April 27, 2006 among the Company and each of the Purchasers named in Schedule A thereto (the “2006 Note Agreement”). The 2006 Notes will be guaranteed by each domestic Subsidiary that is now or in the future becomes a borrower under the Credit Agreement or a signatory to the Bank Guaranties (individually, a “Subsidiary Guarantor” and, collectively, the “Subsidiary Guarantors”). The Subsidiary Guarantors executed and delivered a Subsidiary Guaranty in favor of the Holders dated as of February 22, 2006 substantially in the

 



 

form of Exhibit B-1 to the Note Agreement. It is necessary to amend portions of the Note Agreement to reflect the existence of such Subsidiary Guaranty. The Company also has requested the amendment of certain provisions in the Note Agreement to conform such provisions to the equivalent provisions in the 2006 Note Agreement. The Holders have agreed to modify the Note Agreement on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

 

In consideration of the premises and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are acknowledged, the Company and the Holders agree as follows:

 

1.             AMENDMENTS TO NOTE AGREEMENT

 

1.1.          Amendment of Section 7.1.

 

1.1.1.       The last paragraph of Section 7.1(a) of the Note Agreement is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

 

“setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding periods in the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, prepared in accordance with GAAP applicable to quarterly financial statements generally, and certified by a Senior Financial Officer as fairly presenting, in all material respects, the financial position of the companies being reported on and their results of operations and cash flows, subject to changes resulting from year-end adjustments, provided that delivery within the time period specified above of copies of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q prepared in compliance with the requirements therefor and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this Section 7.1(a), provided, further, that the Company shall be deemed to have made such delivery of such Form 10-Q if it shall have timely made such Form 10-Q available on “EDGAR” and on its home page on the worldwide web (at the date of this Agreement located at:  http//www.wattswater.com) and shall have given each Purchaser prior notice of such availability on EDGAR and on its home page in connection with each delivery (such availability and notice thereof being referred to as “Electronic Delivery”);”

 

1.1.2.       The last paragraph of Section 7.1(b) of the Note Agreement is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

 

“setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, prepared in accordance with GAAP, and accompanied by an opinion of independent certified public accountants of recognized national standing, which opinion shall state that such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the companies being reported upon and their results of operations and cash flows and have been prepared in conformity with

 

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GAAP, and that the examination of such accountants in connection with such financial statements has been made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, and that such audit provides a reasonable basis for such opinion in the circumstances, provided that the delivery within the time period specified above of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for such fiscal year (together with the Company’s annual report to shareholders, if any, prepared pursuant to Rule 14a-3 under the Exchange Act) prepared in accordance with the requirements therefor and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this Section 7.1(b), provided, further, that the Company shall be deemed to have made such delivery of such Form 10-K if it shall have timely made Electronic Delivery thereof;”

 

1.2.          Amendment of Section 7.2.

 

1.2.1       The first paragraph of Section 7.2 of the Note Agreement is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

 

 “Each set of financial statements delivered to a holder of Notes pursuant to Section 7.1(a) or (b) shall be accompanied by a certificate of a Senior Financial Officer setting forth (which, in the case of Electronic Delivery of any such financial statements, shall be by separate concurrent delivery of such certificate to each holder of Notes):”

 

1.2.2.      Section 7.2(a) of the Note Agreement is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

 

“(a)       Covenant Compliance — the information (including detailed calculations) required in order to establish whether the Company was in compliance with the requirements of Section 10.1 through Section 10.9, inclusive, during the quarterly or annual period covered by the statements then being furnished (including with respect to each such Section, where applicable, the calculations of the maximum or minimum amount, ratio or percentage, as the case may be, permissible under the terms of such Sections, and the calculation of the amount, ratio or percentage then in existence); and”

 

1.3.          Amendment of Section 10.2. Section 10.2 of the Note Agreement is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

 

“10.2     Priority Debt.

 

The Company will not permit Priority Debt to exceed 20% of Consolidated Total Assets at any time.”

 

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1.4.          Amendment of Section 10.3. Section 10.3(i) of the Note Agreement is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

 

“(i)          Liens securing Debt not otherwise permitted by paragraphs (a) through (h) above, provided that, after giving effect to the incurrence of the Debt so secured, Priority Debt does not exceed 20% of Consolidated Total Assets.”

 

1.5.          Addition of Section 10.9. New Section 10.9 is added to the Note Agreement to read as follows:

 

10.9.     Subsidiary Guaranty.

 

The Company will not permit any domestic Subsidiary to become a borrower under the Credit Agreement or a party to the Bank Guaranties or to directly or indirectly guaranty any of the Company’s obligations under the Credit Agreement unless such Subsidiary is, or concurrently therewith becomes, a party to the Subsidiary Guaranty.”

 

1.6.          Amendment of Section 11.

 

1.6.1. Section 11(c) of the Note Agreement is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

 

“(c)         the Company defaults in the performance of or compliance with any term contained in Sections 10.1 through 10.9; or”

 

1.6.2. Section 11(f) of the Note Agreement is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

 

“(f)          (i) the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary is in default (as principal or as guarantor or other surety) in the payment of any principal of or premium or make-whole amount or interest on any Debt that is outstanding in an aggregate principal amount greater than $30,000,000 beyond any period of grace provided with respect thereto, or (ii) the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary is in default in the performance of or compliance with any term of any evidence of any Debt that is outstanding in an aggregate principal amount greater than $30,000,000 or of any mortgage, indenture or other agreement relating thereto or any other condition exists, and as a consequence of such default or condition such Debt has become, or has been declared (or one or more Persons are entitled to declare such Debt to be), due and payable before its stated maturity or before its regularly scheduled dates of payment, or (iii) as a consequence of the occurrence or continuation of any event or condition (other than the passage of time or the right of the holder of Debt to convert such Debt into equity interests), (x) the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary has become obligated to purchase or repay Debt

 

4



 

before its regular maturity or before its regularly scheduled dates of payment in an aggregate outstanding principal amount greater than $30,000,000, or (y) one or more Persons have the right to require the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary so to purchase or repay such Debt; or”

 

1.6.3. Section 11(i) of the Note Agreement is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

 

“(i)           a final judgment or judgments for the payment of money aggregating more than $30,000,000 are rendered against one or more of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, which judgments are not, within 60 days after entry thereof, bonded, discharged or stayed pending appeal, or are not discharged within 60 days after the expiration of such stay; or”

 

1.6.4. Section 11(j) of the Note Agreement is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

 

“(j)           if (i) any Plan shall fail to satisfy the minimum funding standards of ERISA or the Code for any plan year or part thereof or a waiver of such standards or extension of any amortization period is sought or granted under section 412 of the Code, (ii) a notice of intent to terminate any Plan shall have been or is reasonably expected to be filed with the PBGC or the PBGC shall have instituted proceedings under ERISA section 4042 to terminate or appoint a trustee to administer any Plan or the PBGC shall have notified the Company or any ERISA Affiliate that a Plan may become a subject of any such proceedings, (iii) the aggregate “amount of unfunded benefit liabilities” (within the meaning of section 4001(a)(18) of ERISA) under all Plans determined in accordance with Title IV of ERISA, shall be greater than $30,000,000, (iv) the Company or any ERISA Affiliate shall have incurred or is reasonably expected to incur any liability pursuant to Title I or IV of ERISA or the penalty or excise tax provisions of the Code relating to employee benefit plans, (v) the Company or any ERISA Affiliate withdraws from any Multiemployer Plan, or (vi) the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary establishes or amends any employee welfare benefit plan that provides post-employment welfare benefits in a manner that would increase the liability of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary thereunder; and any such event or events described in clauses (i) through (vi) above, either individually or together with any other such event or events, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or”

 

5



 

1.7.          Amendment of Section 15. Section 15.1 of the Note Agreement is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

 

“15.1      Transaction Expenses.

 

Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Company will pay all costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees of a special counsel and, if reasonably required, local or other counsel) incurred by you and each Other Purchaser or holder of a Note in connection with such transactions and in connection with any amendments, waivers or consents under or in respect of this Agreement, the Notes or the Subsidiary Guaranty (whether or not such amendment, waiver or consent becomes effective), including: (a) the costs and expenses incurred in enforcing or defending (or determining whether or how to enforce or defend) any rights under this Agreement, the Notes or the Subsidiary Guaranty or in responding to any subpoena or other legal process or informal investigative demand issued in connection with this Agreement, the Notes or the Subsidiary Guaranty, or by reason of being a holder of any Note, and (b) the costs and expenses, including financial advisors’ fees, incurred in connection with the insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company or any Subsidiary or in connection with any work-out or restructuring of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Notes. The Company will pay, and will save you and each other holder of a Note harmless from, all claims in respect of any fees, costs or expenses if any, of brokers and finders (other than those retained by you).”

 

1.8.          Addition of Section 23. New Section 23 is added to the Note Agreement to read as follows:

 

“23.         RELEASE OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR.

 

You and each subsequent holder of a Note agree to release any Subsidiary Guarantor from the Subsidiary Guaranty (i) if such Subsidiary Guarantor ceases to be such as a result of a Disposition permitted by Section 10.4 or 10.5, or (ii) at such time as the banks party to the Credit Agreement release such Subsidiary as a borrower under the Credit Agreement and/or as a guarantor under the Bank Guaranties; provided, however, that you and each subsequent holder will not be required to release a Subsidiary Guarantor from the Subsidiary Guaranty upon such Subsidiary’s release from the Bank Guaranties if (A) a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (B) such Subsidiary Guarantor is to become a borrower under the Credit Agreement, or (C) such release is part of a plan of financing that contemplates such Subsidiary Guarantor guaranteeing any other Debt of the Company. Such Subsidiary Guarantor shall automatically be released from the Subsidiary Guaranty upon the delivery to the holders of the Notes of a certificate from a Senior Financial Officer of the Company stating that the requirements of this Section 23 have been met. If any fee or other form of consideration is given to any holder of Debt of the Company expressly for the

 

6



 

purpose of such release, holders of the Notes shall receive equivalent consideration.”

 

1.9.          Amendment of Schedule B.

 

1.9.1.       The definitions of Adjusted Consolidated Net Worth and Restricted Investments are deleted from Schedule B.

 

1.9.2.       The following definitions are added to Schedule B in the appropriate alphabetical order:

 

“Bank Guaranties” means the Guaranties of domestic Subsidiaries of Debt outstanding under the Credit Agreement, as such Guaranties or agreements may be amended, restated or otherwise modified, and any successors thereto.

 

“Company” means Watts Water Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

Credit Agreement” means the Credit Agreement dated as of April 27, 2006 among the Company, certain subsidiaries of the Company, the Lenders (as defined therein) and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer, as such agreement may be hereafter amended, restated, supplemented, refinanced, increased or reduced from time to time, and any successor credit agreement or similar facility.

 

“Electronic Delivery” is defined in Section 7.1(a).

 

“Material Subsidiary Guarantor” means, at any time, any Subsidiary Guarantor that would at such time account for more than 5% of (i) Consolidated Total Assets as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal quarter or (ii) consolidated revenue of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the four fiscal quarters ending as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal quarter.

 

1.9.3.       The following terms are amended to read in their entirety as follows:

 

“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, operations, affairs, financial condition, assets or properties of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or (b) the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Notes, or (c) the ability of any Material Subsidiary Guarantor to perform its obligations under the Subsidiary Guaranty, or (d) the validity or enforceability of this Agreement, the Notes or the Subsidiary Guaranty.

 

“Priority Debt” means, as of any date, the sum (without duplication) of (a) outstanding unsecured Debt of Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Subsidiary Guarantors other than (i) Debt owed to the Company or another Restricted

 

7



 

Subsidiary and (ii) unsecured Debt of a Person outstanding at the time it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, provided that (A) such Person is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary and (B) such Debt was not incurred in contemplation of such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary, and (b) Debt of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries secured by Liens not otherwise permitted by the introductory clause of Section 10.3 and Sections 10.3 (a) through (h).

 

2.             CONSENT TO RELEASE OF TWO SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS

 

The Holders consent to release Watts Premier, Inc. (“Premier”) and Watts Radiant, Inc. (“Radiant”) as guarantors under the Subsidiary Guaranty as of the date set forth above upon the satisfaction of the following conditions:

 

2.1.          Release of Premier and Radiant by Banks. The banks shall have released Premier and Radiant as guarantors under the Bank Guaranties.

 

2.2.          Certificate of Senior Financial Officer. The Holders shall have received a certificate from a Senior Financial Officer of the Company certifying that (a) a Default or Event of Default has not occurred and is not continuing, (b) neither Premier nor Radiant will become a borrower under the Credit Agreement, and (c) such release is not part of a plan of financing that contemplates Premier or Radiant guaranteeing any other Debt of the Company.

 

3.             REAFFIRMATION; REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

3.1.          Reaffirmation of Note Agreement. The Company reaffirms its agreement to comply with each of the covenants, agreements and other provisions of the Note Agreement and the Notes, including the additions and amendments of such provisions effected by this Amendment.

 

3.2.          Note Agreement. The Company represents and warrants that the representations and warranties contained in the Note Agreement are true and correct as of the date hereof, except (a) to the extent that any of such representations and warranties specifically relate to an earlier date, (b) for such changes, facts, transactions and occurrences that have arisen since May 15, 2003 in the ordinary course of business, (c) such other matters as have been previously disclosed in writing by the Company (including in its financial statements and notes thereto) to the Holders and (d) other changes that could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

3.3.          No Default or Event of Default. After giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby, there will exist no Default or Event of Default.

 

3.4.          Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Amendment have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and, except as provided herein, do not require any registration with, consent or approval of, notice to or action by, any Person (including any Governmental Authority) in order to be effective and enforceable. The Note Agreement and this Amendment each constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except

 

8



 

as such enforceability may be limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

4.             EFFECTIVE DATE

 

This Amendment shall become effective as of the date set forth above upon the satisfaction of the following conditions:

 

4.1.          Consent of Holders to Amendment. Execution by the Holders of at least a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding and receipt by the Holders of a counterpart of this Amendment duly executed by the Company.

 

4.2.          Credit Facility. The Holders shall have received a copy of the executed Credit Agreement.

 

4.3.          Expenses. The Company shall have paid all fees and expenses of special counsel to the Holders.

 

5.             MISCELLANEOUS

 

5.1.          Ratification. The Note Agreement, as amended hereby, shall remain in full force and effect and is ratified, approved and confirmed in all respects.

 

5.2.          Reference to and Effect on the Note Agreement. Upon the final effectiveness of this Amendment, each reference in the Note Agreement and in other documents describing or referencing the Note Agreement to the “Agreement,” “Note Agreement,” “hereunder,” “hereof,” “herein,” or words of like import referring to the Note Agreement, shall mean and be a reference to the Note Agreement, as amended hereby.

 

5.3.          Binding Effect. This Amendment shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the respective successors and assigns of the parties hereto.

 

5.4.          Governing Law. This Amendment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with Massachusetts law, excluding choice-of-law principles of the law of such Commonwealth that would require the application of the laws of a jurisdiction other than such Commonwealth.

 

5.5.          Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each executed counterpart constituting an original, but altogether only one instrument.

 

9



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Holders have caused this Amendment to be executed and delivered by their respective officer or officers thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

WATTS WATER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

 

 

 

 

By:

   /s/ William C. McCartney

 

 

Name:

William C. McCartney

 

 

Title:

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

S-1



 

HOLDERS:

 

 

 

 

 

CONNECTICUT GENERAL LIFE INSURANCE
COMPANY

 

 

By: CIGNA Investments, Inc. (authorized agent)

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Lori E. Hopkins

 

 

 

Name:

Lori E. Hopkins

 

 

 

Title:

   Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

HARTFORD FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY

 

 

HARTFORD LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

 

 

By: HARTFORD INVESTMENT SERVICES, INC.
Its Agent and Attorney in Fact

 

 

 

 

By:

   /s/ Ronald A. Mendel

 

 

Name:

Ronald A. Mendel

 

 

Title:

Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

PHYSICIAN’S LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

 

 

By: HARTFORD INVESTMENT SERVICES,
INC. Its Agent and Attorney in Fact

 

 

 

 

By:

    /s/ Ronald A. Mendel

 

 

Name:

Ronald A. Mendel

 

 

Title:

Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

 

 

 

 

By:

    /s/ Wayne T. Frisbee

 

 

Name:

Wayne T. Frisbee

 

 

Title:

Authorized Signatory

 

 

 

S-2



 

NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

 

NATIONWIDE MUTUAL INSURANCE

 

COMPANY

 

NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY

 

INSURANCE COMPANY

 

NATIONWIDE INDEMNITY COMPANY

 

SCOTTSDALE INSURANCE COMPANY

 

NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

 

OF AMERICA

 

 

 

By:

     /s/ Wayne T. Frisbee

 

 

Name:

Wayne T. Frisbee

 

 

Title:

Authorized Signatory

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE TRAVELERS INSURANCE COMPANY

 

 

By:

   /s/ Judith A. Gulotta

 

Name:

Judith A. Gulotta

 

Title:

Vice President

 

 

 

NATIONAL BENEFIT LIFE INSURANCE
COMPANY

 

By: Conning Asset Management Company, its

 

Investment Manager

 

 

By:

   /s/ David R. Miller

 

Name:

David R. Miller

 

Title:

Managing Director

 

 

 

PRIMERICA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

 

By: Conning Asset Management Company, its

 

Investment Manager

 

By:

   /s/ David R. Miller

 

Name:

David R. Miller

 

Title:

Managing Director

 

 

S-3



 

SWISS RE LIFE & HEALTH AMERICA, INC.

 

 

By: Swiss Re Asset Management (Americas) Inc.

 

 

 

 

By:

    /s/ John H. DeMallier

 

 

Name:

John H. DeMallier

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

FORT WAYNE HEALTH & CASUALTY

 

 

INSURANCE COMPANY

 

 

By: Swiss Re Asset Management (Americas) Inc.

 

 

 

 

By:

    /s/ John H. DeMallier

 

 

Name:

John H. DeMallier

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SOUTHWESTERN LIFE INSURANCE

 

 

COMPANY

 

 

By: Swiss Re Asset Management (Americas) Inc.

 

 

 

 

By:

    /s/ John H. DeMallier

 

 

Name:

John H. DeMallier

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AMERICAN INVESTORS LIFE INSURANCE

 

 

COMPANY

 

 

 

 

 

By: AmerUs Capital Management Group, Inc., its
authorized attorney-in-fact

 

 

 

 

By:

    /s/ Roger D. Fors

 

 

Name:

Roger D. Fors

 

 

Title:

Vice President – Private Placements

 

 

 

S-4



 

BANKERS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF

 

 

NEW YORK

 

 

 

 

 

By: AmerUs Capital Management Group, Inc., its
authorized attorney-in-fact

 

 

 

 

By:

    /s/ Roger D. Fors

 

 

Name:

Roger D. Fors

 

 

Title:

Vice President – Private Placements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INDIANAPOLIS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

 

 

 

 

 

By: AmerUs Capital Management Group, Inc., its
authorized attorney-in-fact

 

 

 

 

By:

    /s/ Roger D. Fors

 

 

Name:

Roger D. Fors

 

 

Title:

Vice President – Private Placements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AMERICAN UNITED LIFE INSURANCE

 

 

COMPANY

 

 

 

 

By:

    /s/ Keith R. Adams

 

 

Name:

Keith R. Adams

 

 

Title:

V. P. Fixed Income Securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

PIONEER MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

    /s/ Keith R. Adams

 

 

Name:

Keith R. Adams

 

 

Title:

V. P. Fixed Income Securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE STATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

 

 

 

 

By:

    /s/ Keith R. Adams

 

 

Name:

Keith R. Adams

 

 

Title:

V. P. Fixed Income Securities

 

 

 

S-5



 

ASSURITY LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

 

 

 

 

By:

    /s/ Victor Weber

 

 

Name:

Victor Weber

 

 

Title:

Senior Director - Investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASSURITY LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY,

 

 

successor in interest to Woodmen Accident and
Life Company

 

 

 

 

By:

    /s/ Victor Weber

 

 

Name:

Victor Weber

 

 

Title:

Senior Director - Investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECURITY FINANCIAL LIFE INSURANCE CO.

 

 

 

 

By:

     /s/ Kevin W. Hammond

 

 

Name:

Kevin W. Hammond

 

 

Title:

Senior Director - Investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT INSURANCE
AND ANNUITY COMPANY

 

 

 

 

By:

Prudential Investment Management, Inc., as

 

 

investment manager

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:  Vice President

 

 

 

S-6



 

Consent by Subsidiary Guarantors

 

The undersigned Subsidiary Guarantors hereby consent to the foregoing First Amendment to Note Purchase Agreement dated as of April 27, 2006 among Watts Water Technologies, Inc. and the Purchasers listed in Schedule A attached thereto.

 

 

WATTS REGULATOR CO.

 

ANDERSON-BARROWS METALS

 

CORPORATION

 

WEBSTER VALVE, INC.

 

HUNTER INNOVATIONS, INC.

 

WATTS DISTRIBUTION COMPANY, INC.

 

CORE INDUSTRIES, INC.

 

DORMONT MANUFACTURING COMPANY

 

FLOWMATIC SYSTEMS, INC.

 

 

By:

  /s/ William C. McCartney

 

 

Name:

William C. McCartney

 

Title:

President

 


EX-10.5 6 a06-10770_1ex10d5.htm EX-10

Exhibit 10.5

 

EXECUTION COPY

 

[Published CUSIP Number: 94274CAA3]

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED
CREDIT AGREEMENT


Dated as of April 27, 2006

among

WATTS WATER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

and

CERTAIN SUBSIDIARIES
as Borrowers,

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender
and L/C Issuer,

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Syndication Agent

 


KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
SUNTRUST BANK
and
WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Documentation Agents

and

The Other Lenders Party Hereto

 

 


BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
and
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.,

as
Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Book Managers

 

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Section

 

Page

 

 

 

ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

1

 

1.01

Defined Terms

1

 

1.02

Other Interpretive Provisions

26

 

1.03

Accounting Terms

27

 

1.04

Rounding

28

 

1.05

Exchange Rates; Currency Equivalents

28

 

1.06

Change of Currency

28

 

1.07

Times of Day

28

 

1.08

Letter of Credit Amounts

28

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE II. THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS

29

 

2.01

Committed Loans

29

 

2.02

Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans.

29

 

2.03

Letters of Credit.

31

 

2.04

Swing Line Loans.

40

 

2.05

Prepayments

43

 

2.06

Termination or Reduction of Commitments.

44

 

2.07

Repayment of Loans

45

 

2.08

Interest

45

 

2.09

Fees

46

 

2.10

Computation of Interest and Fees

46

 

2.11

Evidence of Debt

46

 

2.12

Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback

47

 

2.13

Sharing of Payments by Lenders

49

 

2.14

Designated Borrowers

49

 

2.15

Material Domestic Subsidiaries

51

 

2.16

Increase in Commitments.

51

 

2.17

Lenders Representation Regarding Dutch Banking Act

52

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE III. TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

53

 

3.01

Taxes.

53

 

3.02

Illegality

55

 

3.03

Inability to Determine Rates

56

 

3.04

Increased Costs; Reserves on Eurocurrency Rate Loans.

56

 

3.05

Compensation for Losses

58

 

3.06

Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.

59

 

3.07

Survival

59

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS

59

 

4.01

Conditions of Initial Credit Extension

59

 

4.02

Conditions to all Credit Extensions

61

 



 

Section

 

Page

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE V. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

62

 

5.01

Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws

62

 

5.02

Authorization; No Contravention

62

 

5.03

Governmental Authorization; Other Consents

62

 

5.04

Binding Effect

62

 

5.05

Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.

63

 

5.06

Litigation

63

 

5.07

No Default

63

 

5.08

Ownership of Property; Liens

64

 

5.09

Environmental Compliance

64

 

5.10

Insurance

64

 

5.11

Taxes

64

 

5.12

ERISA Compliance.

64

 

5.13

Subsidiaries; Equity Interests

65

 

5.14

Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act

65

 

5.15

Disclosure

65

 

5.16

Compliance with Laws

66

 

5.17

Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc

66

 

5.18

Senior Note Documents

66

 

5.19

Material Domestic Subsidiaries

66

 

5.20

Representations as to Foreign Loan Parties

67

 

5.21

Dutch Companies.

68

 

5.22

OFAC

68

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE VI. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

69

 

6.01

Financial Statements

69

 

6.02

Certificates; Other Information

70

 

6.03

Notices

72

 

6.04

Payment of Obligations

72

 

6.05

Preservation of Existence, Etc

72

 

6.06

Maintenance of Properties

73

 

6.07

Maintenance of Insurance

73

 

6.08

Compliance with Laws

73

 

6.09

Books and Records

73

 

6.10

Inspection Rights

73

 

6.11

Use of Proceeds

74

 

6.12

Approvals and Authorizations

74

 

6.13

Amendments to Governing Documents

74

 

6.14

Additional Domestic Guarantors.

74

 

6.15

Foreign Subsidiary Guarantors

75

 

6.16

Further Assurances

75

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII. NEGATIVE COVENANTS

75

 

7.01

Liens

75

 

7.02

Investments

76

 

7.03

Indebtedness

77

 

7.04

Fundamental Changes; Permitted Acquisitions

78

 

ii



 

Section

 

Page

 

 

 

 

7.05

Dispositions

80

 

7.06

Restricted Payments

81

 

7.07

Change in Nature of Business

81

 

7.08

Transactions with Affiliates

81

 

7.09

Burdensome Agreements

81

 

7.10

Use of Proceeds

81

 

7.11

Modification of Organization Documents

81

 

7.12

Senior Note Documents

82

 

7.13

Financial Covenants.

82

 

7.14

Swap Contracts

82

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII. EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

82

 

8.01

Events of Default

82

 

8.02

Remedies Upon Event of Default

85

 

8.03

Application of Funds.

85

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE IX. ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

87

 

9.01

Appointment and Authority

87

 

9.02

Rights as a Lender

87

 

9.03

Exculpatory Provisions

88

 

9.04

Reliance by Administrative Agent.

88

 

9.05

Delegation of Duties

89

 

9.06

Resignation of Administrative Agent

89

 

9.07

Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders

90

 

9.08

No Other Duties, Etc

90

 

9.09

Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim

90

 

9.10

Guaranty Matters

91

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE X. MISCELLANEOUS

91

 

10.01

Amendments, Etc

91

 

10.02

Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.

93

 

10.03

No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies

95

 

10.04

Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

95

 

10.05

Payments Set Aside

97

 

10.06

Successors and Assigns.

97

 

10.07

Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality

102

 

10.08

Right of Setoff

102

 

10.09

Interest Rate Limitation

103

 

10.10

Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness

103

 

10.11

Survival of Representations and Warranties

103

 

10.12

Severability

104

 

10.13

Replacement of Lenders

104

 

10.14

Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

104

 

10.15

Waiver of Jury Trial

105

 

10.16

No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility

106

 

10.17

USA PATRIOT Act Notice

106

 

10.18

Judgment Currency

107

 

iii



 

Section

 

Page

 

 

 

ARTICLE XI. NO NOVATION; REFERENCES TO THIS AGREEMENT IN LOAN DOCUMENTS

107

 

11.01

No Novation

107

 

11.02

References to This Agreement In Loan Documents

108

 

iv



 

SCHEDULES

 

 

 

 

2.01

Commitments and Applicable Percentages

 

5.06

Litigation

 

5.09

Environmental Matters

 

5.13

Subsidiaries

 

5.19

Material Domestic Subsidiaries

 

6.15

Foreign Subsidiary Guarantors

 

7.01

Existing Liens

 

7.02

Existing Investments

 

7.03

Existing Indebtedness

 

10.02

Administrative Agent’s Office; Certain Addresses for Notices

 

10.06

Processing and Recordation Fees

 

EXHIBITS

 

 

Form of

 

 

 

 

A

Committed Loan Notice

 

B

Swing Line Loan Notice

 

C

Note

 

D

Compliance Certificate

 

E

Assignment and Assumption

 

F

Amended and Restated Guaranty Agreement

 

G

Designated Borrower Request and Assumption Agreement

 

H

Designated Borrower Notice

 

v



 

AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

This AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of April 27, 2006, among WATTS WATER TECHNOLOGIES, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), certain Subsidiaries of the Company party hereto pursuant to Section 2.14 (each a “Designated Borrower” and, together with the Company, the “Borrowers” and, each a “Borrower”), each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “Lenders” and individually, a “Lender”) and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer.

 

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS

 

WHEREAS, the Company, the Initial Designated Borrower, certain Lenders and the Administrative Agent are parties to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of September 23, 2004 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof, the “Existing Credit Agreement”); and

 

WHEREAS, the Company, the Initial Designated Borrower, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent have agreed to amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement in its entirety.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree that the Existing Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as of the date hereof as follows:

 

ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

 

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

 

2003 Senior Note Purchase Agreement” means that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 15, 2003, as amended pursuant to Amendment No. 1 thereto dated as of the date hereof, pursuant to which the Company issued the 2003 Senior Notes, together with any further permitted amendments, supplements or modifications thereto.

 

2003 Senior Notes” means, collectively, (i) the Company’s $50,000,000 4.87% Senior Notes, Series A, due May 15, 2010 and (ii) the Company’s $75,000,000 5.47% Senior Notes, Series B, due May 15, 2013.

 

2006 Senior Note Purchase Agreement” means that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 27, 2006, pursuant to which the Company issued the 2006 Senior Notes, together with any permitted amendments, supplements or modifications thereto.

 

2006 Senior Notes” means the Company’s 5.85% Senior Notes due April 30, 2016.

 

Acquisition” means the acquisition, by purchase, merger or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the assets (or any part of the assets constituting all or substantially all of a

 

1



 

business or line of business) of any Person, whether such acquisition is direct or indirect, including through the acquisition of the business of, or more than 50% of the outstanding Voting Stock of, such Person, and whether such acquisition is effected in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, and the acquisition, by purchase, merger or otherwise, of additional shares of the outstanding Voting Stock of any Subsidiary that is not then a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company; provided, that an Investment permitted under Section 7.02(g) shall not constitute an Acquisition.

 

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

 

Administrative Agent Fee Letter” means the letter agreement, dated March 22, 2006, among the Company, the Initial Designated Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

 

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

 

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

 

Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.

 

Aggregate Commitments” means the Commitments of all the Lenders.

 

Agreement” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

Applicable Foreign Loan Party Documents” has the meaning specified in Section 5.20(a).

 

Applicable Percentage” means with respect to any Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Aggregate Commitments represented by such Lender’s Commitment at such time. If the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02 or if the Aggregate Commitments have expired, then the Applicable Percentage of each Lender shall be determined based on the Applicable Percentage of such Lender most recently in effect, giving effect to any subsequent assignments. The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.

 

Applicable Rate” means, from time to time, the following percentages per annum, based upon the Debt Rating as set forth below:

 

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Applicable Rate

 

Pricing
Level

 

Debt Ratings
S&P/Moody’s

 

Consolidated
Leverage Ratio

 

Facility
Fee

 

Eurocurrency Rate
and
Letter of Credit Fee

 

1

 

 

BBB+/Baa1
or better

 

<1.75

 

0.10

%

0.40

%

2

 

 

BBB/Baa2

 

>1.75 and <2.25

 

0.11

%

0.49

%

3

 

 

BBB-/Baa3

 

>2.25 and <2.75

 

0.125

%

0.625

%

4

 

 

BB+/Ba1

 

>2.75 and <3.25

 

0.175

%

0.70

%

5

 

 

BB/Ba2 or
worse

 

>3.25

 

0.225

%

0.90

%

 

Debt Rating” means, as of any date of determination, the rating as determined by either S&P or Moody’s (collectively, the “Debt Ratings”) of the Company’s non-credit-enhanced, senior unsecured long-term debt; provided that (a) if the respective Debt Ratings issued by the foregoing rating agencies differ by one level, then the higher of such Debt Ratings shall apply (with the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 1 being the highest and the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 5 being the lowest), (b) if there is a split in Debt Ratings of more than one level, the Pricing Level that is one level higher than the Pricing Level of the lower Debt Rating shall apply and (c) if the Company has only one Debt Rating, the Pricing Level for such Debt Rating shall apply. Initially, the Applicable Rate shall be determined based upon a Debt Rating of BBB/Baa2. After the Closing Date, each change in the Applicable Rate resulting from a publicly announced change in the Debt Rating shall be effective, in the case of an upgrade, during the period commencing on the date of delivery by the Company to the Administrative Agent of notice thereof pursuant to Section 6.03(e) and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change and, in the case of a downgrade, during the period commencing on the date of the public announcement thereof and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change.

 

If at any time the Company shall not carry any Debt Rating, “Applicable Rate” shall mean, from time to time, the percentages per annum, based upon the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.02(a) or 7.04(c)(iv), as set forth above. Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the first Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a) or 7.04(c)(iv); provided, however, that if a Compliance Certificate is not delivered when due in accordance with either such Section, then Pricing Level 5 shall apply as of the first Business Day after the date on which such Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered.

 

Applicant Borrower” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14.

 

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

 

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Arrangers” means, collectively, Banc of America Securities LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., in each case in its capacity as joint lead arranger and joint book manager.

 

Arrangers Fee Letter” means the letter agreement, dated March 22, 2006, among the Company, the Initial Designated Borrower, Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and the Arrangers.

 

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

 

Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 10.06(b)), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit E or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

Attributable Indebtedness” means, on any date, (a) in respect of any capital lease of any Person, the capitalized amount thereof that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP, (b) in respect of any Synthetic Lease Obligation, the capitalized amount of the remaining lease payments under the relevant lease that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP if such lease were accounted for as a capital lease, and (c) in respect of any Permitted Receivables Purchase Facility, the amount of obligations outstanding under such Permitted Receivables Purchase Facility that would be characterized as principal if such facility were structured as a secured lending transaction rather than as a purchase, whether such obligations constitute on-balance sheet Indebtedness or an off-balance sheet liability.

 

Audited Financial Statements” means the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year of the Company and its Subsidiaries, including the notes thereto.

 

Availability Period” means the period from and including the Closing Date to the earliest of (a) the Maturity Date, (b) the date of termination of the Aggregate Commitments pursuant to Section 2.06(a), (c) the date of the reduction of the Aggregate Commitments to zero pursuant to Section 2.06(b) and (d) the date of termination of the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and of the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions pursuant to Section 8.02.

 

Bank of America” means Bank of America, N.A. and its successors.

 

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

 

4



 

Base Rate Committed Loan” means a Committed Loan that is a Base Rate Loan.

 

Base Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate. All Base Rate Loans shall be denominated in Dollars.

 

Borrower” and “Borrowers” each has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

Borrower Materials” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

 

Borrowing” means a Committed Borrowing or a Swing Line Borrowing, as the context may require.

 

Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the state where the Administrative Agent’s Office with respect to Obligations denominated in Dollars is located and:

 

(a)           if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in Dollars, any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in Dollars in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, or any other dealings in Dollars to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, means any such day on which dealings in deposits in Dollars are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank eurodollar market; and

 

(b)           if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in Euro, any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in Euro in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, or any other dealings in Euro to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, means a TARGET Day.

 

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

 

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

 

 “Change of Control” means an event or series of events by which:

 

(a)           any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person or its subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) (other than the Horne Parties) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except that a person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all securities that such person or group has the right to acquire

 

5



 

(such right, an “option right”), whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of equity securities of the Company representing 35% or more of the aggregate voting power with respect to elections of members of the board of directors or equivalent governing body of the Company on a fully-diluted basis (and taking into account all such securities that such person or group has the right to acquire pursuant to any option right);

 

(b)           during any period of 12 consecutive months, a majority of the members of the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of the Company cease to be composed of individuals (i) who were members of that board or equivalent governing body on the first day of such period, (ii) whose election or nomination to that board or equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clause (i) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body or (iii) whose election or nomination to that board or other equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body (excluding, in the case of both clause (ii) and clause (iii), any individual whose initial nomination for, or assumption of office as, a member of that board or equivalent governing body occurs as a result of an actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents for the election or removal of one or more directors by any person or group other than a solicitation for the election of one or more directors by or on behalf of the board of directors); or

 

(c)           except for directors’ qualifying shares in jurisdictions where such qualifying shares are required, the Company shall fail to own directly or indirectly, one hundred percent (100%) of the Equity Interests of each Designated Borrower and, unless such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary as a result of a transaction permitted hereunder, each Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

Closing Date” means the first date all the conditions precedent in Section 4.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 10.01.

 

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

 

Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States of America and any Person succeeding to the functions thereof.

 

Commitment” means, as to each Lender, its obligation to (a) make Committed Loans to the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.01, (b) purchase participations in L/C Obligations, and (c) purchase participations in Swing Line Loans, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the Dollar amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

 

6



 

Committed Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Committed Loans of the same Type, in the same currency and, in the case of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01.

 

Committed Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.

 

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

 

Company” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

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

 

Consolidated EBITDA” means, for any period, for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, an amount equal to Consolidated Net Income for such period plus (a) the following to the extent deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income: (i) Consolidated Total Interest Expense for such period, (ii) the provision for Federal, state, local and foreign income taxes payable by the Company and its Subsidiaries for such period, (iii) depreciation and amortization expense, (iv) other non-recurring expenses of the Company and its Subsidiaries reducing such Consolidated Net Income which do not represent a cash item in such period or any future period and (v) Losses from Discontinued Operations and minus (b) the following to the extent included in calculating such Consolidated Net Income: (i) Federal, state, local and foreign income tax credits of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such period and (ii) all non-cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income for such period; provided, however, when calculating Consolidated EBITDA for any period in which a Permitted Acquisition has occurred, the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA shall be made on a Pro Forma Basis.

 

Consolidated Funded Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination, for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the sum of (without duplication) (a) the outstanding principal amount of all obligations, whether current or long-term, for borrowed money (including Obligations hereunder) and all obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments, (b) all purchase money Indebtedness, (c) all direct obligations arising under letters of credit (excluding standby but including commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments, (d) all obligations in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business), (e) Attributable Indebtedness in respect of capital leases, Synthetic Lease Obligations and Permitted Receivables Purchase Facilities, (f) all Guarantees with respect to outstanding Indebtedness of the types specified in clauses (a) through (e) above of Persons other than the Company or any Subsidiary, and (g) all Indebtedness of the types referred to in clauses (a) through (f) above of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company or similar entity) in which the Company or a Subsidiary is a general partner or joint venturer, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to the Company or such Subsidiary.

 

7



 

Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of the four fiscal quarters most recently ended to (b) Consolidated Total Interest Expense for such period.

 

Consolidated Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Funded Indebtedness as of such date to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of the four fiscal quarters most recently ended; provided, however, when calculating the Consolidated Leverage Ratio for any period in which a Permitted Acquisition has occurred, the calculation of the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall be made on a Pro Forma Basis.

 

Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the net income of the Company and its Subsidiaries (excluding extraordinary gains and excluding non-cash extraordinary losses) for that period.

 

Consolidated Net Worth” means, as of any date of determination, for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, an amount equal to Shareholders’ Equity of the Company and its Subsidiaries on that date.

 

Consolidated Total Assets” means the total assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Consolidated Total Interest Expense” means, for any period, the aggregate amount of interest required to be paid or accrued by the Company and its Subsidiaries during such period on all Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries outstanding during all or any part of such period, whether such interest was or is required to be reflected as an item of expense or capitalized, including payments consisting of interest in respect of any capitalized leases, Synthetic Lease Obligations and Permitted Receivables Purchase Facilities, and including commitment fees, agency fees, facility fees, utilization fees, balance deficiency fees and similar fees or expenses in connection with the borrowing of money.

 

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

 

Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.

 

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

 

Debt Rating” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Applicable Rate.”

 

Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the

 

8



 

United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.

 

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

 

Default Rate” means (a) when used with respect to Obligations other than Letter of Credit Fees, an interest rate equal to (i) the Base Rate plus (ii) 2% per annum; provided, however, that with respect to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus 2% per annum, and (b) when used with respect to Letter of Credit Fees, a rate equal to the Applicable Rate plus 2% per annum.

 

Defaulting Lender” means any Lender that (a) has failed to fund any portion of the Committed Loans, participations in L/C Obligations or participations in Swing Line Loans required to be funded by it hereunder within one Business Day of the date required to be funded by it hereunder unless such failure has been cured prior to receipt by such Lender of notice from the Company pursuant to Section 10.13, (b) has otherwise failed to pay over to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within one Business Day of the date when due, unless the subject of a good faith dispute or unless such failure has been cured prior to receipt by such Lender of notice from the Company pursuant to Section 10.13, or (c) has been deemed insolvent or become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding.

 

Designated Borrower” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

Designated Borrower Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14.

 

Designated Borrower Request and Assumption Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14.

 

Disposition” or “Dispose” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (including any sale and leaseback transaction) of any property by any Person, including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith.

 

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

 

Dollar Equivalent” means, at any time, (a) with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, such amount, and (b) with respect to any amount denominated in Euros, the equivalent amount thereof in Dollars as determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, at such time on the basis of the Spot Rate (determined in respect of the most recent Revaluation Date) for the purchase of Dollars with Euros.

 

Domestic Designated Borrower” means any Designated Borrower that is a Domestic Subsidiary of the Company.

 

9



 

Domestic Loan Parties” means, collectively (i) the Company, (ii) each Domestic Designated Borrower and (iii) each Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of any political subdivision of the United States.

 

Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor” means (i) all of the Company’s Material Domestic Subsidiaries party to the Guaranty Agreement and (ii) all other Subsidiaries of the Company which become Domestic Subsidiary Guarantors in accordance with Section 6.14(b).

 

Dutch Banking Act” means the Dutch Act on the Supervision of Credit Institutions 1992 (Wet toezicht kredietwezen 1992).

 

Eligible Assignee” means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under Section 10.06(b)(iii), (v), (vi) and (vii) (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 10.06(b)(iii)).

 

EMU” means the economic and monetary union in accordance with the Treaty of Rome 1957, as amended by the Single European Act 1986, the Maastricht Treaty of 1992 and the Amsterdam Treaty of 1998.

 

EMU Legislation” means the legislative measures of the European Council for the introduction of, changeover to or operation of a single or unified European currency.

 

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

 

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

 

Equity Interests” means, with respect to any Person, all of the shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person or warrants, rights or options for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of such shares (or such other interests), and all of the other ownership or profit interests in such Person (including partnership, member

 

10



 

or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not such shares, warrants, options, rights or other interests are outstanding on any date of determination.

 

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

 

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

 

ERISA Event” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) a withdrawal by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization; (d) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate, the treatment of a Plan amendment as a termination under Sections 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (e) an event or condition which constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (f) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon the Company or any ERISA Affiliate.

 

Euro” and “EUR” mean the lawful currency of the Participating Member States introduced in accordance with the EMU Legislation.

 

Eurocurrency Rate” means, for any Interest Period with respect to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the rate per annum equal to the British Bankers Association LIBOR Rate (“BBA LIBOR”), as published by Reuters (or other commercially available source providing quotations of BBA LIBOR as designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, for deposits in the relevant currency (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period. If such rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the “Eurocurrency Rate” for such Interest Period shall be the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate at which deposits in the relevant currency for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period in Same Day Funds in the approximate amount of the Eurocurrency Rate Loan being made, continued or converted by Bank of America and with a term equivalent to such Interest Period would be offered by Bank of America’s London Branch (or other Bank of America branch or Affiliate) to major banks in the London or other offshore interbank market for such currency at their request at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period.

 

Eurocurrency Rate Loan” means a Committed Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the Eurocurrency Rate. Eurocurrency Rate Loans may be denominated in Dollars or in Euros. All Committed Loans denominated in Euros must be Eurocurrency Rate Loans.

 

11



 

Euro Equivalent” means, at any time, with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, the equivalent amount thereof in Euros as determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, at such time on the basis of the Spot Rate (determined in respect of the most recent Revaluation Date) for the purchase of Euros with Dollars.

 

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

 

Excluded Taxes” means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Borrower hereunder, (a) taxes imposed on or measured by its overall net income (however denominated), and franchise taxes imposed on it (in lieu of net income taxes), by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in which it has a branch office or carries on a trade or business, (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which such Borrower is located and (c) except as provided in the following sentence, in the case of a Foreign Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Company under Section 10.13), any withholding tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party hereto (or designates a new Lending Office) or is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s failure or inability (other than as a result of a Change in Law) to comply with Section 3.01(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 applicable Borrower with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to Section 3.01(a). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this definition, “Excluded Taxes” shall not include any withholding tax imposed at any time on payments made by or on behalf of a Foreign Loan Party to any Lender hereunder or under any other Loan Document, provided that such Lender shall have complied with the last paragraph of Section 3.01(e).

 

Exemption Regulation” means the Exemption Regulation (Vrijstellingsregeling) dated 26 June 2002, as amended from time to time, of the Ministry of Finance of the Netherlands, as promulgated in the Dutch Banking Act.

 

Existing Credit Agreement” has the meaning specified in the Preliminary Statements.

 

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

 

Fee Letters” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent Fee Letter and the Arrangers Fee Letter.

 

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Foreign Designated Borrower” means any Designated Borrower that is a Foreign Subsidiary of the Company.

 

Foreign Lender” means, with respect to any Borrower, any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which such Borrower is resident for tax purposes. For purposes of this definition, the United States, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.

 

Foreign Loan Parties” means, collectively, (i) the Foreign Designated Borrowers and (ii) the Foreign Subsidiary Guarantors.

 

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

 

Foreign Subsidiary Guarantor” means (i) any Subsidiary listed on Schedule 6.15 or (ii) any other Foreign Subsidiary party to one of the Guaranties, in each case, unless such Person shall constitute a Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

German Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company organized under the laws of Germany or any political subdivision thereof.

 

Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of 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 (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

 

Guarantee” means, as to any Person, any (a) obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation payable or performable by another Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the

 

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purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance of such Indebtedness or other obligation, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity or level of income or cash flow of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation, or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) Lien on any assets of such Person securing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness to obtain any such Lien). The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the guaranteeing Person in good faith. The term “Guarantee” as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

 

Guaranteed Swap Contract” means any Swap Contract to which the Company or any other Loan Party and any Lender (or any Affiliate of any Lender) is a party.

 

Guaranties” means the Guaranty Agreement and any other guaranty executed by any Designated Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor in favor of the Administrative Agent, on behalf of itself and the Lenders, in respect of the Obligations or, in the case of any Foreign Loan Party, the Obligations of each Foreign Designated Borrower.

 

Guaranty Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Guaranty made by the Loan Parties in favor of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, substantially in the form of Exhibit F.

 

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.

 

Horne Parties” means (i) Timothy P. Horne, (ii) any individual related by blood, marriage or adoption to Timothy P. Horne and (iii) the Horne Voting Trust and any other trust that holds shares for the primary benefit of one or more of the individuals described in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii).

 

Horne Voting Trust” means the trust established by the Amended and Restated George B. Horne Voting Trust Agreement – 1997, dated as of September 14, 1999.

 

Increase Effective Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.16(d).

 

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

 

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

 

(b)           all direct or contingent obligations of such Person arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(f)            Attributable Indebtedness in respect of capital leases (including in connection with any sale and leaseback transaction), Synthetic Lease Obligations and Permitted Receivables Purchase Facilities;

 

(g)           all obligations of such Person to purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise make any payment in respect of any Equity Interest in such Person or any other Person, valued, in the case of a redeemable preferred interest, at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid dividends; and

 

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

 

For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company or similar legal entity) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to such Person. The amount of any net obligation under any Swap Contract on any date shall be deemed to be the Swap Termination Value thereof as of such date.

 

Indemnified Taxes” means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.

 

Indemnitees” has the meaning specified in Section 10.04(b).

 

Initial Designated Borrower” means Watts Industries Europe B.V., a private company with limited liability organized under the laws of The Netherlands.

 

Interest Payment Date” means, (a) as to any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date; provided, however, that if any Interest Period for a Eurocurrency Rate Loan exceeds three months, the respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest

 

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Payment Dates; and (b) as to any Base Rate Loan (including a Swing Line Loan), the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(iii)          no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date.

 

Internal Control Event” means a material weakness in, or fraud that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in, the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting, in each case as described in the Securities Laws.

 

Investment” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect acquisition or investment by such Person, whether by means of (a) the purchase or other acquisition of capital stock or other securities of another Person, (b) a loan, advance or capital contribution to, Guarantee or assumption of debt of, or purchase or other acquisition of any other debt or equity participation or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person and any arrangement pursuant to which the investor Guarantees Indebtedness of such other Person, or (c) the purchase or other acquisition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of assets of another Person that constitute a business unit. For purposes of covenant compliance, the amount of any Investment shall be the amount actually invested, without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment.

 

IP Rights” has the meaning specified in Section 5.17.

 

IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

L/C Advance” means, with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s funding of its participation in any L/C Borrowing in accordance with its Applicable Percentage. All L/C Advances shall be denominated in Dollars.

 

L/C Borrowing” means an extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any Letter of Credit which has not been reimbursed on the date when made or refinanced as a Committed Borrowing. All L/C Borrowings shall be denominated in Dollars.

 

L/C Credit Extension” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the issuance thereof or extension of the expiry date thereof, or the increase of the amount thereof.

 

L/C Issuer” means Bank of America in its capacity as issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder or any successor issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder.

 

L/C Obligations” means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate amount available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all Unreimbursed Amounts, including all L/C Borrowings. For purposes of computing the amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.07. For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the ISP, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” in the amount so remaining available to be drawn.

 

Lender” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto and, as the context requires, includes the Swing Line Lender.

 

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

 

Letter of Credit” means any standby letter of credit issued hereunder. Letters of Credit may be issued in Dollars or in Euros.

 

Letter of Credit Application” means an application and agreement for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit in the form from time to time in use by the L/C Issuer.

 

Letter of Credit Expiration Date” means the day that is seven days prior to the Maturity Date then in effect (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day).

 

Letter of Credit Fee” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(i).

 

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Letter of Credit Sublimit” means an amount equal to $50,000,000. The Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Commitments.

 

Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge, or preference, priority or other security interest or preferential arrangement in the nature of a security interest of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any easement, right of way or other encumbrance on title to real property, and any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing), but not including the interest of a lessor under an operating lease or the interest of a purchaser of Permitted Receivables under any Permitted Receivables Purchase Facility.

 

Loan” means an extension of credit by a Lender to a Borrower under Article II in the form of a Committed Loan or a Swing Line Loan.

 

Loan Documents” means this Agreement, each Designated Borrower Request and Assumption Agreement, each Note, each Issuer Document, each Fee Letter and the Guaranties.

 

Loan Parties” means, collectively, each Domestic Loan Party and each Foreign Loan Party.

 

Losses from Discontinued Operations” means, for any period and without duplication, operating losses and losses and expenses incurred or charges taken in connection with the operations of James Jones Company and the discontinuance thereof.

 

Material Adverse Effect” means (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the operations, business, assets, liabilities (actual or contingent) or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company or the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the ability of any Loan Party to perform its obligations under any Loan Document to which it is a party; or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against any Loan Party of any Loan Document to which it is a party.

 

Maturity Date” means April 27, 2011.

 

Material Domestic Subsidiary” means any Domestic Subsidiary of the Company listed on Schedule 5.19 (as such Schedule may be revised pursuant to Section 2.15) or the most recent supplement thereto delivered in accordance with Section 6.02(f) or 7.04(c)(iv), as applicable.

 

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

 

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

 

Net Disposition Proceeds” means, with respect to any Disposition of any assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the excess of (a) the gross cash proceeds received by such

 

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Person from any such Disposition and any cash payments received in respect of promissory notes or other non-cash consideration delivered to such Person in respect thereof over (b) the sum (without duplication) of (i) all reasonable and customary legal, investment banking, brokerage and accounting and other professional fees and disbursements actually incurred in connection with such Disposition which have not been paid to Affiliates of the Borrower in connection therewith, (ii) all taxes and other governmental costs and expenses actually paid or estimated by such Person (in good faith) to be payable in cash in connection with such Disposition, and (iii) payments made by such Person to retire Indebtedness (other than the Credit Extensions) of such Person where payment of such Indebtedness is required in connection with such Disposition; provided, however, that if, after the payment of all taxes with respect to such Disposition, the amount of estimated taxes, if any, pursuant to clause (b)(ii) above exceeded the tax amount actually paid in cash in respect of such Disposition, the aggregate amount of such excess shall, at such time, constitute Net Disposition Proceeds.

 

Note” means a promissory note made by a Borrower in favor of a Lender evidencing Loans made by such Lender to such Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit C.

 

Obligations” means all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Loan Party arising under any Loan Document or Guaranteed Swap Contract or otherwise with respect to any Loan or Letter of Credit, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding.

 

OFAC” means the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control.

 

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

 

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

 

Outstanding Amount” means (i) with respect to Committed Loans on any date, the Dollar Equivalent amount of the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of such Committed Loans occurring on

 

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such date; (ii) with respect to Swing Line Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of such Swing Line Loans occurring on such date; and (iii) with respect to any L/C Obligations on any date, the Dollar Equivalent amount of the aggregate outstanding amount of such L/C Obligations on such date after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension occurring on such date and any other changes in the aggregate amount of the L/C Obligations as of such date, including as a result of any reimbursements by the Company of Unreimbursed Amounts.

 

Overnight Rate” means, for any day, (a) with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, the greater of (i) the Federal Funds Rate and (ii) an overnight rate determined by the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, or the Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, and (b) with respect to any amount denominated in Euros, the rate of interest per annum at which overnight deposits in Euros, in an amount approximately equal to the amount with respect to which such rate is being determined, would be offered for such day by a branch or Affiliate of Bank of America in the applicable offshore interbank market for Euros to major banks in such interbank market.

 

Participant” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(d).

 

Participating Member State” means each state so described in any EMU Legislation.

 

PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

 

PCAOB” means the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

 

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

 

Permitted Acquisition” has the meaning specified in Section 7.04(c).

 

Permitted Receivables” means all obligations of any obligor (whether now existing or hereafter arising) under a contract for sale of goods or services by any Loan Party or other Subsidiary of the Company, which shall include any obligation of such obligor (whether now existing or hereafter arising) to pay interest, finance charges or amounts with respect thereto, and, with respect to any of the foregoing receivables or obligations, (a) all of the interest of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the goods (including returned goods) the sale of which gave rise to such receivable or obligation after the passage of title thereto to any obligor, (b) all other Liens and property subject thereto from time to time purporting to secure payment of such receivables or obligations, and (c) all guarantees, insurance, letters of credit and other agreements or arrangements of whatever character from time to time supporting or securing payment of any such receivables or obligations.

 

Permitted Receivables Purchase Facility” means any agreement of any Loan Party or other Subsidiary of the Company providing for sales, transfers or conveyances of Permitted

 

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Receivables purporting to be sales (and considered sales under GAAP) that do not provide, directly or indirectly, for recourse against the seller of such Permitted Receivables (or against any of such seller’s Affiliates) by way of a guaranty or any other support arrangement, with respect to the amount of such Permitted Receivables (based on the financial condition or circumstances of the obligor thereunder), other than such limited recourse as is reasonable given market standards for transactions of a similar type, taking into account such factors as historical bad debt loss experience and obligor concentration levels.

 

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

 

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

 

Platform” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

 

PMP” means a “professional market party” (professionele marktpartij) within the meaning of the Exemption Regulation.

 

Pro Forma Basis”  means, with respect to any proposed Permitted Acquisition, the Consolidated Funded Indebtedness and Consolidated EBITDA for each of the four fiscal quarters immediately preceding such Permitted Acquisition being calculated with reference to the audited historical financial statements of the Person so acquired together with any interim financial statements of such Person so acquired prepared since the date of the last audited financial statements and prepared in a manner consistent with past practices (or, to the extent such Person so acquired has no audited historical financial statements, the management prepared financial statements of such Person so acquired, with such statements to be in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent), and the Company and its Subsidiaries for the applicable Test Period after giving effect on a pro forma basis to such Permitted Acquisition (and assuming that such Permitted Acquisition had been consummated at the beginning of such Test Period) in the manner described in clauses (i), and (ii) below; provided, however, that, in each case, in the event that either no historical financial statements are available with respect to the Person to be acquired, the Person to be acquired is not a separate legal entity, the Company or Subsidiary effecting the acquisition is acquiring only assets of another Person or, in the Administrative Agent’s reasonable discretion it determines the historical financial statements do not adequately reflect the financial statements of the Person or assets to be acquired, such calculations shall be made with reference to reasonable estimates of such past performance made by the Company based on existing data and other available information, such estimates to be acceptable to the Administrative Agent:

 

(i)            all Indebtedness (whether under this Credit Agreement or otherwise) and any other balance sheet adjustments incurred or made in connection with the Permitted Acquisition, if any, shall be deemed to have been incurred or made on the first day of the Test Period, and all Indebtedness of the Person to be acquired in such Permitted Acquisition which was repaid concurrently with the consummation of the Permitted Acquisition, if any, shall be deemed to have been repaid concurrently with the deemed

 

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incurrence of the Indebtedness, if any, incurred in connection with the Permitted Acquisition; and

 

(ii)           other reasonable cost savings, expenses and other income statement or operating statement adjustments, including, without limitation, those which are attributable to the change in ownership and/or management resulting from such Permitted Acquisition, as in any case are (i) set forth in a schedule delivered to the Administrative Agent concurrent with the consummation of such Permitted Acquisition and (ii) approved by the Administrative Agent, shall be deemed to have been realized on the first day of the Test Period; provided, that the Administrative Agent shall be deemed to have provided such consent if it shall not have objected to any such items within five Business Days of its receipt of such schedule.

 

Public Company” means any Person that is required to file periodic reports with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Laws (or any Person subject to similar requirements under the laws of any other Governmental Authority)

 

Purchase Price” means, with respect to any Acquisition, the aggregate amount of consideration for such Acquisition consisting of cash, Indebtedness directly or indirectly incurred or assumed in connection therewith (including, without limitation, Indebtedness of the Person subject to such Acquisition if effected as an acquisition of such Person’s Equity Interests or merger of such Person with and into the Company or any existing Subsidiary) and contingent obligations to repurchase Equity Interests issued as part of the consideration for such Acquisition.

 

Receivables Subsidiary” means a special purpose, bankruptcy remote wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company which may be formed for the sole and exclusive purpose of engaging in activities in connection with the purchase, sale and financing of Permitted Receivables in connection with and pursuant to a Permitted Receivables Purchase Facility.

 

Register” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(c).

 

Registered Public Accounting Firm” has the meaning specified in the Securities Laws and shall be independent of the Company as prescribed by the Securities Laws.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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Required Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having more than 50% of the Aggregate Commitments or, if the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02, Lenders holding in the aggregate more than 50% of the Total Outstandings (with the aggregate amount of each Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans being deemed “held” by such Lender for purposes of this definition); provided that the Commitment of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.

 

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

 

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

 

Revaluation Date” means (a) with respect to any Loan, each of the following:  (i) each date of a Borrowing of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in Euros, (ii) each date of a continuation of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in Euros pursuant to Section 2.02, and (iii) such additional dates as the Administrative Agent shall determine or the Required Lenders shall require; and (b) with respect to any Letter of Credit, each of the following:  (i) each date of issuance of a Letter of Credit denominated in Euros, (ii) each date of an amendment of any such Letter of Credit having the effect of increasing the amount thereof (solely with respect to the increased amount), (iii) each date of any payment by the L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit denominated in Euros and (iv) such additional dates as the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer shall determine or the Required Lenders shall require.

 

S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and any successor thereto.

 

Same Day Funds” means (a) with respect to disbursements and payments in Dollars, immediately available funds, and (b) with respect to disbursements and payments in Euros, same day or other funds as may be determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to be customary in the place of disbursement or payment for the settlement of international banking transactions in Euros.

 

Sarbanes-Oxley” means the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

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

 

Securities Laws” means the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Sarbanes-Oxley and the applicable accounting and auditing principles, rules, standards and practices promulgated, approved or incorporated by the SEC or the PCAOB.

 

Senior Note Documents” means, collectively, the 2003 Senior Notes, the 2003 Note Purchase Agreement, the 2006 Senior Notes, the 2006 Note Purchase Agreement, and, in each case, any other documents executed in connection therewith, together with any permitted amendments, supplements or modifications thereto.

 

Senior Notes” means, collectively, the 2003 Senior Notes and the 2006 Senior Notes.

 

Shareholders’ Equity” means, as of any date of determination, consolidated shareholders’ equity of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of that date determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Specified JV/Intercompany Asset Transfermeans the contribution or Disposition of any property (other than cash) (i) by any Domestic Loan Party to any Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Loan Party, (ii) by any Foreign Loan Party to any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party or (iii) by the Company or any Subsidiary to any joint venture in accordance with Section 7.02(g).

 

Spot Rate” for a currency means the rate determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as applicable, to be the rate quoted by the Person acting in such capacity as the spot rate for the purchase by such Person of such currency with another currency through its principal foreign exchange trading office at approximately 11:00 a.m. on the date two Business Days prior to the date as of which the foreign exchange computation is made; provided that the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer may obtain such spot rate from another financial institution designated by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer if the Person acting in such capacity does not have as of the date of determination a spot buying rate for any such currency; and provided further that the L/C Issuer may use such spot rate quoted on the date as of which the foreign exchange computation is made in the case of any Letter of Credit denominated in Euros.

 

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity (“Other Person”) of which more than 50% of the outstanding Voting Stock of such Other Person (irrespective of whether at the time Equity Interests of any other class or classes of such Other Person shall or might have voting power upon the occurrence of any contingency) is at the time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such Person, by such Person and one or more other Subsidiaries of such Person, or by one or more other Subsidiaries of such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Company.

 

Subsidiary Guarantors” means, collectively, the Domestic Subsidiary Guarantors and the Foreign Subsidiary Guarantors.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Synthetic Lease Obligation” means the monetary obligation of a Person under (a) a so-called synthetic, off-balance sheet or tax retention lease, or (b) an agreement for the use or possession of property creating obligations that do not appear on the balance sheet of such Person but which, upon the insolvency or bankruptcy of such Person, would be characterized as the indebtedness of such Person (without regard to accounting treatment).

 

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Target” has the meaning specified in Section 7.04(c).

 

TARGET Day” means any day on which the Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross Settlement Express Transfer (TARGET) payment system (or, if such payment system ceases to be operative, such other payment system (if any) determined by the Administrative Agent to be a suitable replacement) is open for the settlement of payments in Euro.

 

Taxes” means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings, assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

 

Test Period” means, with respect to any Permitted Acquisition, the period of four fiscal quarters included in any covenant calculation and occurring prior to the date of such Permitted Acquisition as set forth in the definition of “Pro Forma Basis”.

 

Threshold Amount” means $25,000,000.

 

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

 

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

 

Unfunded Pension Liability” means the excess of a Pension Plan’s benefit liabilities under Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA, over the current value of that Pension Plan’s assets, determined in accordance with the assumptions used for funding the Pension Plan pursuant to Section 412 of the Code for the applicable plan year.

 

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

 

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

 

Voting Stock” means Equity Interests, of any class or classes (however designated), the holders of which are at the time entitled, as such holders, to vote for the election of a majority of the directors (or persons performing similar functions) of the corporation, association, trust or other business entity involved, whether or not the right so to vote exists by reason of the happening of a contingency.

 

Watts Germany” means Watts Industries Deutschland GmbH, a company organized under the laws of Germany.

 

Watts Londa” means Watts Londa S.p.a., a company organized under the laws of Italy.

 

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

 

(i)            The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall

 

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include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.”  The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.”  Unless the context requires otherwise, (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document (including any Organization Document) shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein or in any other Loan Document), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (iii) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document, shall be construed to refer to such Loan Document in its entirety and not to any particular provision thereof, (iv) all references in a Loan Document to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing or interpreting such law and any reference to any law or regulation shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and (vi) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(b)           Changes in GAAP. If at any time any change in GAAP would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either the Company or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Company shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided that, until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Company shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation

 

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between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP.

 

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

 

1.05        Exchange Rates; Currency Equivalents. (a)  The Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as applicable, shall determine the Spot Rates as of each Revaluation Date to be used for calculating Dollar Equivalent amounts of Credit Extensions and Outstanding Amounts denominated in Euros. Such Spot Rates shall become effective as of such Revaluation Date and shall be the Spot Rates employed in converting any amounts between the applicable currencies until the next Revaluation Date to occur. Except for purposes of financial statements delivered by Loan Parties hereunder or calculating financial covenants hereunder or except as otherwise provided herein, the applicable amount of any currency (other than Dollars) for purposes of the Loan Documents shall be such Dollar Equivalent amount as so determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as applicable.

 

(b)           Wherever in this Agreement in connection with a Committed Borrowing, conversion, continuation or prepayment of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan or the issuance, amendment or extension of a Letter of Credit, an amount, such as a required minimum or multiple amount, is expressed in Dollars, but such Committed Borrowing, Eurocurrency Rate Loan or Letter of Credit is denominated in Euros, such amount shall be the Euro Equivalent of such Dollar amount (rounded to the nearest Euro, with 0.5 of a Euro being rounded upward), as determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be.

 

1.06        Change of Currency. Each provision of this Agreement shall be subject to such reasonable changes of construction as the Administrative Agent may from time to time specify to be appropriate to reflect the adoption of the Euro by any member state of the European Union and any relevant market conventions or practices relating to the Euro.

 

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

 

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

 

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ARTICLE II.
THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS

 

2.01        Committed Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make loans (each such loan, a “Committed Loan”) to the Borrowers in Dollars or in Euros from time to time, on any Business Day during the Availability Period, in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lender’s Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Committed Borrowing, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Committed Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment. Within the limits of each Lender’s Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrowers may borrow under this Section 2.01, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.01. Committed Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurocurrency Rate Loans, as further provided herein.

 

2.02        Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans.

 

(a)           Each Committed Borrowing, each conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be made upon the applicable Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (i) three Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars or of any conversion of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars to Base Rate Committed Loans, (ii) four Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Euros, and (iii) on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Committed Loans. Each telephonic notice by a Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.02(a) must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written Committed Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of such Borrower. Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $2,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. Except as provided in Sections 2.03(c) and 2.04(c), each Committed Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. Each Committed Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether the applicable Borrower is requesting a Committed Borrowing, a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Committed Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Committed Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Committed Loans are to be converted, (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto and (vi) the currency of the Committed Loans to be borrowed. If the applicable Borrower fails to specify a currency in a Committed Loan Notice requesting a Borrowing, then the Committed Loans so requested shall be made in Dollars. If the applicable Borrower fails to specify a Type of Committed Loan in a Committed Loan Notice or if the applicable Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable

 

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Committed Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base Rate Loans; provided, however, that in the case of a failure to timely request a continuation of Committed Loans denominated in Euros, such Loans shall be continued as Eurocurrency Rate Loans in Euros with an Interest Period of one month. Any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Eurocurrency Rate Loans. If a Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans in any such Committed Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month. No Committed Loan may be converted into or continued as a Committed Loan denominated in a different currency, but instead must be prepaid in the original currency of such Committed Loan and reborrowed in the other currency.

 

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

 

(c)           Except as otherwise provided herein, a Eurocurrency Rate Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurocurrency Rate Loan. During the existence of a Default, no Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as Eurocurrency Rate Loans (whether in Dollars or Euros) without the consent of the Required Lenders, and the Required Lenders may demand that any or all of the then outstanding Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Euros be prepaid, or redenominated into Dollars in the amount of the Dollar Equivalent thereof, on the last day of the then current Interest Period with respect thereto.

 

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

 

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(e)           After giving effect to all Committed Borrowings, all conversions of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Committed Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than six Interest Periods in effect with respect to Committed Loans.

 

2.03        Letters of Credit.

 

(a)           The Letter of Credit Commitment.

 

(i)            Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (A) the L/C Issuer agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the Lenders set forth in this Section 2.03, (1) from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date until the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, to issue Letters of Credit denominated in Dollars or in Euros for the account of (i) in the case of any Letter of Credit issued at the request of the Company, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) in the case of any Letter of Credit issued at the request of a Designated Borrower, such Designated Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, and to amend or extend Letters of Credit previously issued by it, in accordance with subsection (b) below, and (2) to honor drawings under the Letters of Credit; and (B) the Lenders severally agree to participate in Letters of Credit issued for the account of the Borrowers or their respective Subsidiaries and any drawings thereunder; provided that after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension with respect to any Letter of Credit, (x) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, (y) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Committed Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment, and (z) the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations shall not exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit. Each request by a Borrower for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be a representation by such Borrower that the L/C Credit Extension so requested complies with the conditions set forth in the proviso to the preceding sentence. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Borrowers’ ability to obtain Letters of Credit shall be fully revolving, and accordingly the Borrowers may, during the foregoing period, obtain Letters of Credit to replace Letters of Credit that have expired or that have been drawn upon and reimbursed.
 
(ii)           The L/C Issuer shall not issue any Letter of Credit, if:
 

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

 

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

 

(iii)          The L/C Issuer shall not be under any obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if:

 

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

 

(B)           the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of the L/C Issuer applicable to letters of credit generally;

 

(C)           except as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer, such Letter of Credit is in an initial stated amount less than $500,000;

 

(D)          the L/C Issuer does not as of the issuance date of such requested Letter of Credit issue Letters of Credit in the requested currency;

 

(E)           such Letter of Credit contains any provisions for automatic reinstatement of the stated amount after any drawing thereunder; or

 

(F)           a default of any Lender’s obligations to fund under Section 2.03(c) exists or any Lender is at such time a Defaulting Lender hereunder, unless the L/C Issuer has entered into satisfactory arrangements with the Company or such Lender to eliminate the L/C Issuer’s risk with respect to such Lender.

 

(iv)          The L/C Issuer shall not amend any Letter of Credit if the L/C Issuer would not be permitted at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof.
 
(v)           The L/C Issuer shall be under no obligation to amend any Letter of Credit if (A) the L/C Issuer would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof, or (B) the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit does not accept the proposed amendment to such Letter of Credit.
 
(vi)          The L/C Issuer shall act on behalf of the Lenders with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith, and the L/C Issuer shall have all of the benefits and immunities (A) provided to the Administrative Agent in Article IX with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by the L/C Issuer in connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and Issuer Documents pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the term “Administrative Agent” as used in Article IX included the L/C Issuer with respect to such acts or omissions, and (B) as additionally provided herein with respect to the L/C Issuer.

 

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

 

(i)            Each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be, upon the request of a Borrower delivered to the L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) in the form of a Letter of Credit Application, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of such Borrower or a person designated by a Responsible Officer thereof whose identity is notified in writing to the Administrative Agent. Such Letter of Credit Application must be received by the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. at least two Business Days (or such later date and time as the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in their sole discretion) prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be. In the case of a request for an initial issuance of a Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the L/C Issuer: (A) the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (B) the amount and currency thereof; (C) the expiry date thereof; (D) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof; (E) the documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (F) the full text of any certificate to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (G) the name of the applicant therefor and (H) such other matters as the L/C Issuer may require. In the case of a request for an amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the L/C Issuer (A) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (B) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (C) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (D) such other matters as the L/C Issuer may require. Additionally, the applicable Borrower shall furnish to the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent such other documents and information pertaining to such requested Letter of Credit issuance or amendment, including any Issuer Documents, as the L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent may require.
 
(ii)           Promptly after receipt of any Letter of Credit Application, the L/C Issuer will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has received a copy of such Letter of Credit Application from the applicable Borrower and, if not, the L/C Issuer will provide the Administrative Agent with a copy thereof. Unless the L/C Issuer has received written notice from any Lender, the Administrative Agent or any Loan Party, at least one Business Day prior to the requested date of issuance or amendment of the applicable Letter of Credit, that one or more applicable conditions contained in Article IV shall not then be satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the L/C Issuer shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the applicable Borrower (or the applicable Subsidiary thereof) or enter into the applicable amendment, as the case may be, in each case in accordance with the L/C Issuer’s usual and customary business practices. Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit, each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the L/C Issuer a risk participation in such Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the product of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage times the amount of such Letter of Credit.

 

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(iii)          If the applicable Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the L/C Issuer may, in its sole and absolute discretion, agree to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic extension provisions (each, an “Auto-Extension Letter of Credit”); provided that any such Auto-Extension Letter of Credit must permit the L/C Issuer to prevent any such extension at least once in each twelve-month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a day (the “Non-Extension Notice Date”) in each such twelve-month period to be agreed upon at the time such Letter of Credit is issued. Unless otherwise directed by the L/C Issuer, the applicable Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to the L/C Issuer for any such extension. Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has been issued, the Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the L/C Issuer to permit the extension of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the Letter of Credit Expiration Date; provided, however, that the L/C Issuer shall not permit any such extension if (A) the L/C Issuer has determined that it would not be permitted, or would have no obligation, at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its revised form (as extended) under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of clause (ii) or (iii) of Section 2.03(a) or otherwise), or (B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is five Business Days before the Non-Extension Notice Date (1) from the Administrative Agent that the Required Lenders have elected not to permit such extension or (2) from the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the applicable Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied, and in each such case directing the L/C Issuer not to permit such extension.
 
(iv)          Promptly after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter of Credit to an advising bank with respect thereto or to the beneficiary thereof, the L/C Issuer will also deliver to the applicable Borrower and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.
 

(c)           Drawings and Reimbursements; Funding of Participations.

 

(i)            Upon receipt from the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of any notice of a drawing under such Letter of Credit, the L/C Issuer shall notify the applicable Borrower and the Administrative Agent thereof. In the case of a Letter of Credit denominated in Euros, the Borrower that requested the issuance of such Letter of Credit shall reimburse the L/C Issuer in Euros, unless (A) the L/C Issuer (at its option) shall have specified in such notice that it will require reimbursement in Dollars, or (B) in the absence of any such requirement for reimbursement in Dollars, such Borrower shall have notified the L/C Issuer promptly following receipt of the notice of drawing that such Borrower will reimburse the L/C Issuer in Dollars. In the case of any such reimbursement in Dollars of a drawing under a Letter of Credit denominated in Euros, the L/C Issuer shall notify the applicable Borrower of the Dollar Equivalent of the amount of the drawing promptly following the determination thereof. Not later than 11:00 a.m. on the date of any payment by the L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit (each such date, an “Honor Date”), the Borrower that requested the issuance of such Letter of Credit shall reimburse the L/C Issuer through the Administrative Agent in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing and in the applicable currency. If the applicable Borrower fails to so reimburse

 

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the L/C Issuer by such time, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the Honor Date, the amount of the unreimbursed drawing (expressed in Dollars in the amount of the Dollar Equivalent thereof in the case of a Letter of Credit denominated in Euros) (the “Unreimbursed Amount”), and the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage thereof. In such event, the applicable Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans to be disbursed on the Honor Date in an amount equal to the Unreimbursed Amount, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified in Section 2.02 for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the Aggregate Commitments and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than the delivery of a Committed Loan Notice). Any notice given by the L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.03(c)(i) may be given by telephone if immediately confirmed in writing; provided that the lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice.
 
(ii)           Each Lender shall upon any notice pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) make funds available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer, in Dollars, at the Administrative Agent’s Office for Dollar-denominated payments in an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the Unreimbursed Amount not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in such notice by the Administrative Agent, whereupon, subject to the provisions of Section 2.03(c)(iii), each Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Committed Loan to the applicable Borrower in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the L/C Issuer in Dollars.
 
(iii)          With respect to any Unreimbursed Amount that is not fully refinanced by a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans because the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 cannot be satisfied or for any other reason, the applicable Borrower shall be deemed to have incurred from the L/C Issuer an L/C Borrowing in the amount of the Unreimbursed Amount that is not so refinanced, which L/C Borrowing shall be due and payable on demand (together with interest) and shall bear interest at the Default Rate. In such event, each Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(ii) shall be deemed payment in respect of its participation in such L/C Borrowing and shall constitute an L/C Advance from such Lender in satisfaction of its participation obligation under this Section 2.03.
 
(iv)          Until each Lender funds its Committed Loan or L/C Advance pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) to reimburse the L/C Issuer for any amount drawn under any Letter of Credit, interest in respect of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such amount shall be solely for the account of the L/C Issuer.
 
(v)           Each Lender’s obligation to make Committed Loans or L/C Advances to reimburse the L/C Issuer for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit, as contemplated by this Section 2.03(c), shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the L/C Issuer, any Borrower, any Subsidiary or any other Person for any reason whatsoever; (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default,

 

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or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided, however, that each Lender’s obligation to make Committed Loans pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than delivery by the applicable Borrower of a Committed Loan Notice). No such making of an L/C Advance shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the applicable Borrower to reimburse the L/C Issuer for the amount of any payment made by the L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit, together with interest as provided herein.
 
(vi)          If any Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03(c) by the time specified in Section 2.03(c)(ii), the L/C Issuer shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the L/C Issuer at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the L/C Issuer in connection with the foregoing. If such Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Committed Loan included in the relevant Committed Borrowing or L/C Advance in respect of the relevant L/C Borrowing, as the case may be. A certificate of the L/C Issuer submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (vi) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
 

(d)           Repayment of Participations.

 

(i)            At any time after the L/C Issuer has made a payment under any Letter of Credit and has received from any Lender such Lender’s L/C Advance in respect of such payment in accordance with Section 2.03(c), if the Administrative Agent receives for the account of the L/C Issuer any payment in respect of the related Unreimbursed Amount or interest thereon (whether directly from the applicable Borrower or otherwise, including proceeds of Cash Collateral applied thereto by the Administrative Agent), the Administrative Agent will distribute to such Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof in Dollars and in the same funds as those received by the Administrative Agent.
 
(ii)           If any payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) is required to be returned under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.05 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the L/C Issuer in its discretion), each Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer its Applicable Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned by such Lender, at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.
 

(e)           Obligations Absolute. The obligation of each Borrower to reimburse the L/C Issuer for each drawing under each Letter of Credit requested by such Borrower and to repay

 

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each L/C Borrowing in respect of such Letters of Credit shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all circumstances, including the following:

 

(i)            any lack of validity or enforceability of such Letter of Credit, this Agreement, or any other Loan Document;
 
(ii)           the existence of any claim, counterclaim, setoff, defense or other right that any Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), the L/C Issuer or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by such Letter of Credit or any agreement or instrument relating thereto, or any unrelated transaction;
 
(iii)          any draft, demand, certificate or other document presented under such Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under such Letter of Credit;
 
(iv)          any payment by the L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate that does not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; or any payment made by the L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit to any Person purporting to be a trustee in bankruptcy, debtor-in-possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver or other representative of or successor to any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit, including any arising in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law;
 
(v)           any adverse change in the relevant exchange rates or in the availability of Euros to any Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof or in the relevant currency markets generally; or
 
(vi)          any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, including any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, any Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof.
 

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

 

(f)            Role of L/C Issuer. Each Lender and each Borrower agree that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit, the L/C Issuer shall not have any responsibility to obtain any document (other than any sight draft, certificates and documents expressly required by the Letter of Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such document or the authority of the Person executing or delivering any such document. None of the L/C Issuer, the

 

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Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of the L/C Issuer shall be liable to any Lender for (i) any action taken or omitted in connection herewith at the request or with the approval of the Lenders or the Required Lenders, as applicable; (ii) any action taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct; or (iii) the due execution, effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any document or instrument related to any Letter of Credit or Issuer Document. Each Borrower hereby assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee with respect to its use of any Letter of Credit; provided, however, that this assumption is not intended to, and shall not, preclude such Borrower’s pursuing such rights and remedies as it may have against the beneficiary or transferee at law or under any other agreement. None of the L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of the L/C Issuer shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in clauses (i) through (v) of Section 2.03(e); provided, however, that anything in such clauses to the contrary notwithstanding, a Borrower may have a claim against the L/C Issuer, and the L/C Issuer may be liable to a Borrower, to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or exemplary, damages suffered by such Borrower which such Borrower proves were caused by the L/C Issuer’s willful misconduct or gross negligence or the L/C Issuer’s willful failure to pay under any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary of a sight draft and certificate(s) strictly complying with the terms and conditions of a Letter of Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, the L/C Issuer may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, and the L/C Issuer shall not be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason.

 

(g)           Cash Collateral. (i)  Upon the request of the Administrative Agent, (A) if the L/C Issuer has honored any full or partial drawing request under any Letter of Credit and such drawing has resulted in an L/C Borrowing, or (B) if, as of the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, any L/C Obligation for any reason remains outstanding, the Borrowers shall, in each case, immediately Cash Collateralize the then Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations; provided, that, in the case of the foregoing clause (A), such cash collateral shall be released to the Borrower upon repayment of such L/C Borrowing or the refinancing of such L/C Borrowing pursuant to a Committed Borrowing.

 

(ii)           In addition, if the Administrative Agent notifies the Company at any time that the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations at such time exceeds 105% of the Letter of Credit Sublimit then in effect, then, within two Business Days after receipt of such notice, the Borrowers shall Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations in an amount equal to the amount by which the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations exceeds the Letter of Credit Sublimit.
 
(iii)          The Administrative Agent may from time to time after the initial deposit of Cash Collateral, at any time that the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations exceeds 100% of the Letter of Credit Sublimit then in effect, request that additional Cash Collateral be provided in order to protect against the results of further exchange rate fluctuations.

 

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(iv)          Sections 2.05, 2.06(b) and 8.02(c) set forth certain additional requirements to deliver Cash Collateral hereunder. For purposes of this Section 2.03, Section 2.05, Section 2.06(b) and Section 8.02(c), “Cash Collateralize” means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the L/C Issuer and the Lenders, as collateral for the L/C Obligations, cash or deposit account balances pursuant to documentation in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer (which documents are hereby consented to by the Lenders). Derivatives of such term have corresponding meanings. Upon any such pledge, deposit or delivery, the Company shall be deemed to have granted to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the L/C Issuer and the Lenders, a security interest in all such cash, deposit accounts and all balances therein and all proceeds of the foregoing and shall execute such additional documentation with respect to such grant of security as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request. Cash Collateral shall be maintained in a blocked interest-bearing deposit account at Bank of America.
 

(h)           Applicability of ISP. Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the L/C Issuer and the Company when a Letter of Credit is issued, the rules of the ISP shall apply to each Letter of Credit.

 

(i)            Letter of Credit Fees. Each Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage, in Dollars, a Letter of Credit fee (the “Letter of Credit Fee”) for each Letter of Credit issued at the request of such Borrower equal to the Applicable Rate times the Dollar Equivalent of the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.07. Letter of Credit Fees shall be (i) computed on a quarterly basis in arrears and (ii) due and payable on the first Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. If there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the daily amount available to be drawn under each Letter of Credit shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, upon the request of the Required Lenders, while any Event of Default exists, all Letter of Credit Fees shall accrue at the Default Rate.

 

(j)            Fronting Fee and Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to L/C Issuer. Each Borrower shall pay directly to the L/C Issuer for its own account, in Dollars, a fronting fee with respect to each Letter of Credit issued at the request of such Borrower at the rate per annum specified in the Administrative Agent Fee Letter, computed on the Dollar Equivalent of the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit on a quarterly basis in arrears, and due and payable on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.07. In addition, each Borrower shall pay directly to the L/C Issuer for its own account, in Dollars, with respect to each Letter of Credit issued at the request of such Borrower, the customary issuance, presentation, amendment and

 

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other processing fees, and other standard costs and charges, of the L/C Issuer relating to letters of credit as from time to time in effect. Such customary fees and standard costs and charges are due and payable on demand and are nonrefundable.

 

(k)           Conflict with Issuer Documents. In the event of any conflict between the terms hereof and the terms of any Issuer Document, the terms hereof shall control.

 

(l)            Letters of Credit Issued for Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding that a Letter of Credit issued or outstanding hereunder is in support of any obligations of, or is for the account of, a Subsidiary thereof, the applicable Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the L/C Issuer hereunder for any and all drawings under such Letter of Credit. Each Borrower hereby acknowledges that the issuance of Letters of Credit for the account of its Subsidiaries inures to the benefit of such Borrower, and that such Borrower’s business derives substantial benefits from the businesses of such Subsidiaries.

 

2.04        Swing Line Loans.

 

(a)           The Swing Line. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swing Line Lender agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the other Lenders set forth in this Section 2.04, to make loans in Dollars (each such loan, a “Swing Line Loan”) to the Company from time to time on any Business Day during the Availability Period in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of the Swing Line Sublimit, notwithstanding the fact that such Swing Line Loans, when aggregated with the Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of Committed Loans and L/C Obligations of the Lender acting as Swing Line Lender, may exceed the amount of such Lender’s Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Swing Line Loan, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Committed Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment, and provided, further, that the Company shall not use the proceeds of any Swing Line Loan to refinance any outstanding Swing Line Loan. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Company may borrow under this Section 2.04, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.04. Each Swing Line Loan shall be a Base Rate Loan. Immediately upon the making of a Swing Line Loan, each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the Swing Line Lender a risk participation in such Swing Line Loan in an amount equal to the product of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage times the amount of such Swing Line Loan.

 

(b)           Borrowing Procedures. Each Swing Line Borrowing shall be made upon the Company’s irrevocable notice to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. on the requested borrowing date, and shall specify (i) the amount to be borrowed, which shall be a minimum of $100,000, and (ii) the requested borrowing date, which shall be a Business Day. Each such telephonic notice must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent of a written Swing Line Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the

 

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Company. Promptly after receipt by the Swing Line Lender of any telephonic Swing Line Loan Notice, the Swing Line Lender will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has also received such Swing Line Loan Notice and, if not, the Swing Line Lender will notify the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) of the contents thereof. Unless the Swing Line Lender has received notice (by telephone or in writing) from the Administrative Agent (including at the request of any Lender) prior to 2:00 p.m. on the date of the proposed Swing Line Borrowing (A) directing the Swing Line Lender not to make such Swing Line Loan as a result of the limitations set forth in the proviso to the first sentence of Section 2.04(a), or (B) that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Article IV is not then satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Swing Line Lender will, not later than 3:00 p.m. on the borrowing date specified in such Swing Line Loan Notice, make the amount of its Swing Line Loan available to the Company either by (i)  crediting the account of the Company on the books of the Swing Line Lender in Same Day Funds or (ii) wire transferring such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Swing Line Lender by the Company.

 

(c)           Refinancing of Swing Line Loans.

 

(i)            The Swing Line Lender at any time in its sole and absolute discretion may (and shall no less than twice per calendar month) request, on behalf of the Company (which hereby irrevocably authorizes the Swing Line Lender to so request on its behalf), that each Lender make a Base Rate Committed Loan in an amount equal to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the amount of Swing Line Loans then outstanding. Such request shall be made in writing (which written request shall be deemed to be a Committed Loan Notice for purposes hereof) and in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.02, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified therein for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the unutilized portion of the Aggregate Commitments and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02. The Swing Line Lender shall furnish the Company with a copy of the applicable Committed Loan Notice promptly after delivering such notice to the Administrative Agent. Each Lender shall make an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the amount specified in such Committed Loan Notice available to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds for the account of the Swing Line Lender at the Administrative Agent’s Office for Dollar-denominated payments not later than 1:00 p.m. on the day specified in such Committed Loan Notice, whereupon, subject to Section 2.04(c)(ii), each Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Committed Loan to the Company in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the Swing Line Lender.
 
(ii)           If for any reason any Swing Line Loan cannot be refinanced by such a Committed Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.04(c)(i), the request for Base Rate Committed Loans submitted by the Swing Line Lender as set forth herein shall be deemed to be a request by the Swing Line Lender that each of the Lenders fund its risk participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan and each Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.04(c)(i) shall be deemed payment in respect of such participation.

 

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(iii)          If any Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.04(c) by the time specified in Section 2.04(c)(i), the Swing Line Lender shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the Swing Line Lender at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Swing Line Lender in connection with the foregoing. If such Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Committed Loan included in the relevant Committed Borrowing or funded participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan, as the case may be. A certificate of the Swing Line Lender submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (iii) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
 
(iv)          Each Lender’s obligation to make Committed Loans or to purchase and fund risk participations in Swing Line Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the Swing Line Lender, the Company or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided, however, that each Lender’s obligation to make Committed Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02. No such funding of risk participations shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Company to repay Swing Line Loans, together with interest as provided herein.
 

(d)           Repayment of Participations.

 

(i)            At any time after any Lender has purchased and funded a risk participation in a Swing Line Loan, if the Swing Line Lender receives any payment on account of such Swing Line Loan, the Swing Line Lender will distribute to such Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof in the same funds as those received by the Swing Line Lender.
 
(ii)           If any payment received by the Swing Line Lender in respect of principal or interest on any Swing Line Loan is required to be returned by the Swing Line Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.05 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Swing Line Lender in its discretion), each Lender shall pay to the Swing Line Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned, at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate. The Administrative Agent will make such demand upon the request of the Swing Line Lender. The obligations of the Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

 

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

 

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

 

2.05        Prepayments. (a)  Each Borrower may, upon notice from such Borrower to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Committed Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (A) three Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars, (B) four Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Euros, and (C) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans; (ii) any prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars shall be in a principal amount of $2,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof; (iii) any prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Euros shall be in a minimum principal amount of $2,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof; and (iv) any prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof or, in each case, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Type(s) of Committed Loans to be prepaid and, if Eurocurrency Rate Loans are to be prepaid, the Interest Period(s) of such Loans. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such prepayment. If such notice is given by a Borrower, such Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein. Any prepayment of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05. Each such prepayment shall be applied to the Committed Loans of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages.

 

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

 

(c)           If the Administrative Agent notifies the Company at any time that the Total Outstandings at such time exceed an amount equal to 105% of the Aggregate Commitments then in effect, then, within two Business Days after receipt of such notice, the Borrowers shall prepay Loans and/or the Company shall Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations in an aggregate amount sufficient to reduce the Total Outstandings as of such date of payment to an amount not to

 

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exceed 100% of the Aggregate Commitments then in effect; provided, however, that, subject to the provisions of Section 2.03(g)(ii), the Company shall not be required to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations pursuant to this Section 2.05(c) unless after the prepayment in full of the Loans the Total Outstandings exceed the Aggregate Commitments then in effect. The Administrative Agent may from time to time after the initial deposit of such Cash Collateral, at any time that the Total Outstandings exceed 100% of the Aggregate Commitments then in effect, request that additional Cash Collateral be provided in order to protect against the results of further exchange rate fluctuations.

 

2.06        Termination or Reduction of Commitments.

 

(a)           Optional Commitment Reductions. The Company may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate the Aggregate Commitments, or from time to time permanently reduce the Aggregate Commitments; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. five Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction, (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and (iii) the Company shall not terminate or reduce the Aggregate Commitments if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Total Outstandings would exceed the Aggregate Commitments. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any such notice of termination or reduction of the Aggregate Commitments. Subject to subsection (c) of this Section 2.06, the amount of any such Aggregate Commitment reduction shall not be applied to the Letter of Credit Sublimit unless otherwise specified by the Company. Any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments pursuant to this Section 2.06(a) shall be applied to the Commitment of each Lender according to its Applicable Percentage. All fees accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Aggregate Commitments shall be paid on the effective date of such termination.

 

(b)           Mandatory Commitment Reduction. Upon the consummation of any Disposition (other than any Disposition permitted under clauses (a) through (h) of Section 7.05) by the Company or any Subsidiary, the Aggregate Commitments shall be reduced by an amount equal to the Net Disposition Proceeds of such Disposition; provided, that the following shall not be subject to a reduction of the Aggregate Commitments pursuant to this clause (b): (x) Net Disposition Proceeds that are reinvested in equipment or other assets within ninety (90) days following receipt thereof and (y) Net Disposition Proceeds of such Dispositions not reinvested as described in the foregoing clause (x) of less than $50,000,000 in the aggregate in any fiscal year. In connection with any such reduction of the Aggregate Commitments, the Borrowers shall prepay Loans and/or the Company shall Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations in an aggregate amount sufficient to reduce the Total Outstanding as of the date of such reduction to an amount not to exceed the Aggregate Commitments after giving effect to such reduction; provided, however, that, subject to the provisions of Section 2.03(g)(ii), the Borrowers shall not be required to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations pursuant to this Section 2.06(b) unless after the prepayment in full of the Loans the Total Outstandings exceed the Aggregate Commitments after giving effect to such reduction.

 

(c)           Effect on Commitments and Sublimits. Any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments pursuant to this Section 2.06 shall be applied to the Commitment of each Lender

 

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according to its Applicable Percentage. If, after giving effect to any such reduction of the Aggregate Commitments, the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit exceeds the amount of the Aggregate Commitments, such sublimit shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such excess.

 

2.07        Repayment of Loans. (a)  Each Borrower shall repay to the Lenders on the Maturity Date the aggregate principal amount of Committed Loans made to such Borrower outstanding on such date.

 

(b)           The Company shall repay each Swing Line Loan on the Maturity Date.

 

2.08        Interest. (a)  Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) below, (i) each Eurocurrency Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the Eurocurrency Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate; (ii) each Base Rate Committed Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate; and (iii) each Swing Line Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate.

 

(b)           (i)  If any amount of principal of any Loan is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

 

(ii)           If any amount (other than principal of any Loan) payable by any Borrower under any Loan Document is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, then upon the request of the Required Lenders, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.
 
(iii)          Upon the request of the Required Lenders, while any Event of Default exists, the Borrowers shall pay interest on the principal amount of all outstanding Obligations hereunder at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.
 
(iv)          Accrued and unpaid interest on past due amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable upon demand.
 

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

 

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

 

(a)           Facility Fee. The Company shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage, a facility fee in Dollars equal to the Applicable Rate times the actual daily amount of the Aggregate Commitments regardless of usage (or, if the Aggregate Commitments have terminated, on the Total Outstandings). The facility fee shall accrue at all times during the Availability Period (and thereafter so long as any Committed Loans, Swing Line Loans or L/C Obligations remain outstanding), including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Article IV is not met, and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and on the last day of the Availability Period (and, if applicable, thereafter on demand). The facility fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears, and if there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the actual daily amount shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect.

 

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

 

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

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

 

2.11        Evidence of Debt. (a)  The Credit Extensions made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender and by the Administrative Agent in the ordinary course of business. The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Credit Extensions made by the Lenders to the Borrowers and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrowers hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters,

 

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the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error. Upon the request of any Lender to a Borrower made through the Administrative Agent, such Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans to such Borrower in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to a Note and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount, currency and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.

 

(b)           In addition to the accounts and records referred to in subsection (a), each Lender and the Administrative Agent shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice accounts or records evidencing the purchases and sales by such Lender of participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by the Administrative Agent and the accounts and records of any Lender in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.

 

2.12        Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback. (a)  General. All payments to be made by the Borrowers shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein and except with respect to principal of and interest on Loans denominated in Euros, all payments by the Borrowers hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the applicable Administrative Agent’s Office in Dollars and in Same Day Funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date specified herein. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrowers hereunder with respect to principal and interest on Loans denominated in Euros shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the applicable Administrative Agent’s Office in Euros and in Same Day Funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date specified herein. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent may require that any payments due under this Agreement be made in the United States. If, for any reason, any Borrower is prohibited by any Law from making any required payment hereunder in Euros, such Borrower shall make such payment in Dollars in the Dollar Equivalent of the Euro payment amount. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its Applicable Percentage (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative Agent (i) after 2:00 p.m., in the case of payments in Dollars, or (ii) after 2:00 p.m. in the case of payments in Euros, shall in each case be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue. If any payment to be made by any Borrower shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be.

 

(b)           (i)  Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Committed Borrowing of Eurocurrency Rate Loans (or, in the case of any Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, prior to 12:00 noon on the date of such Committed Borrowing) that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Committed Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.02 (or, in the case of a Committed

 

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Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, that such Lender has made such share available in accordance with and at the time required by Section 2.02) and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the applicable Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the applicable Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount in Same Day Funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to such Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the Overnight Rate, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing, and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by such Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans. If such Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to such Borrower the amount of such interest paid by such Borrower for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Committed Loan included in such Committed Borrowing. Any payment by such Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim such Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

 

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

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

 

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

 

(d)           Obligations of Lenders Several. The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Committed Loans, to fund participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans and to make payments pursuant to Section 10.04(c) are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender

 

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to make any Committed Loan, to fund any such participation or to make any payment under Section 10.04(c) on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Committed Loan, to purchase its participation or to make its payment under Section 10.04(c).

 

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

 

2.13        Sharing of Payments by Lenders. If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of the Committed Loans made by it, or the participations in L/C Obligations or in Swing Line Loans held by it resulting in such Lender’s receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of such Committed Loans or participations and accrued interest thereon greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Committed Loans and subparticipations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans of the other Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, 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 Committed Loans and other amounts owing them, provided that:

 

(i)            if any such participations or subparticipations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations or subparticipations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest; and
 
(ii)           the provisions of this Section 2.13 shall not be construed to apply to (x) any payment made by a Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or (y) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Committed Loans or subparticipations in L/C Obligations or Swing Line Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to the Company or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section 2.13 shall apply).
 

Each Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against such Borrower rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of such Borrower in the amount of such participation.

 

2.14        Designated Borrowers. (a)  The Initial Designated Borrower is a “Designated Borrower” hereunder and may receive Loans for its account and request that Letters of Credit be issued for the account of itself or its Subsidiaries, in each case on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

 

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(b)           The Company may at any time, upon not less than 15 Business Days’ notice from the Company to the Administrative Agent (or such shorter period as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), designate any additional Subsidiary of the Company (an “Applicant Borrower”) as a Designated Borrower to receive Loans and request the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder by delivering to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly deliver counterparts thereof to each Lender) a duly executed notice and agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit G (a “Designated Borrower Request and Assumption Agreement”). The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that prior to any Applicant Borrower becoming entitled to utilize the credit facilities provided for herein the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received such supporting resolutions, incumbency certificates, opinions of counsel and other documents or information, in form, content and scope reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, as may be required by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders in their sole discretion, and Notes signed by such new Borrowers to the extent any Lenders so require. If the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders agree that an Applicant Borrower shall be entitled to receive Loans and request the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder, then promptly following receipt of all such requested resolutions, incumbency certificates, opinions of counsel and other documents or information, the Administrative Agent shall send a notice in substantially the form of Exhibit H (a “Designated Borrower Notice”) to the Company and the Lenders specifying the effective date upon which the Applicant Borrower shall constitute a Designated Borrower for purposes hereof, whereupon each of the Lenders agrees to permit such Designated Borrower to receive Loans and request the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder, on the terms and conditions set forth herein, and each of the parties agrees that such Designated Borrower otherwise shall be a Borrower for all purposes of this Agreement; provided that no Committed Loan Notice or Letter of Credit Application may be submitted by such Designated Borrower until the date five Business Days after such effective date.

 

(c)           Concurrently with the delivery of each Designated Borrower Request and Assumption Agreement, the related Applicant Borrower shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a counterpart of the Guaranty Agreement or such other document as the Administrative Agent shall deem appropriate in order for such Subsidiary to provide an unconditional guaranty of the Obligations of each other Borrower (in the case of any Domestic Designated Borrower) or each other Foreign Designated Borrower (in the case of any Foreign Designated Borrower), in form, content and scope reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(d)           Each Subsidiary of the Company that is or becomes a “Designated Borrower” pursuant to this Section 2.14 hereby irrevocably appoints the Company as its agent for all purposes relevant to this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents, including (i) the giving and receipt of notices, (ii) the execution and delivery of all documents, instruments and certificates contemplated herein and all modifications hereto, (iii) the receipt of the proceeds of any Loans made by the Lenders to any such Designated Borrower hereunder and (iv) the receipt and examination of a copy any Letter of Credit issued by the L/C Issuer at the request of such Designated Borrower hereunder. Any acknowledgment, consent, direction, certification or other action which might otherwise be valid or effective only if given or taken by all Borrowers, or by each Borrower acting singly, shall be valid and effective if given or taken only by the Company, whether or not any such other Borrower joins therein. Any notice, demand, consent, acknowledgement, direction, certification or other communication delivered to the Company in

 

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accordance with the terms of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been delivered to each Designated Borrower.

 

(e)           The Company may from time to time, upon not less than 15 Business Days’ notice from the Company to the Administrative Agent (or such shorter period as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), terminate a Designated Borrower’s status as such, provided that (i) there are no outstanding Loans payable by such Designated Borrower and (ii) there are not outstanding Letters of Credit that were issued at the request of such Designated Borrower, or other amounts payable by such Designated Borrower on account of any Loans made to it or Letters of Credit issued at its request, as of the effective date of such termination. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any such termination of a Designated Borrower’s status.

 

2.15        Domestic Subsidiary Guarantors. The Company may at any time deliver to the Administrative Agent a revised Schedule 5.19 setting forth Domestic Subsidiaries of the Company sufficient to cause the representation and warranty set forth in Section 5.19 to be true and correct as of the date of delivery of such revised Schedule. On the date of delivery by the Company of a revised Schedule 5.19 pursuant to this Section 2.15, which revised Schedule indicates that any Domestic Subsidiary has become a Material Domestic Subsidiary, the Company shall cause such Domestic Subsidiary to (x) become a Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor by executing and delivering to the Administrative Agent a counterpart of the Guaranty Agreement or such other document as the Administrative Agent shall deem appropriate in order for such Domestic Subsidiary to provide an unconditional guaranty of the Obligations of the Borrowers and (y) deliver to the Administrative Agent documents of the types referred to in clauses (iii), (iv) and (vii) of Section 4.01(a) and, if requested by the Administrative Agent, favorable opinions of counsel to such Person (which shall cover, among other things, the legality, validity, binding effect and enforceability of the documentation referred to in clause (x)), all in form, content and scope reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. Promptly following (i) delivery by the Company of a revised Schedule 5.19 pursuant to this Section 2.15, which revised Schedule indicates that any Domestic Subsidiary has ceased to constitute a Material Domestic Subsidiary and (ii) delivery by the Company of any documentation required pursuant to the foregoing sentence with respect to such revised Schedule, the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to, and shall promptly, execute and deliver to the Company such documentation as the Company may reasonably request in order to release such Domestic Subsidiary from the Guaranty Agreement.

 

2.16        Increase in Commitments.

 

(a)           Request for Increase. Provided there exists no Default, upon notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders), the Company may from time to time, request an increase in the Aggregate Commitments by an amount (for all such requests in the aggregate) not exceeding $150,000,000; provided that any such request for an increase shall be in a minimum amount of $5,000,000. At the time of sending such notice, the Company (in consultation with the Administrative Agent) shall specify the time period within which each Lender is requested to respond (which shall in no event be less than ten Business Days from the date of delivery of such notice to the Lenders).

 

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(b)           Lender Elections to Increase. Each Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent within such time period whether or not it agrees to increase its Commitment and, if so, whether by an amount equal to, greater than, or less than its Applicable Percentage of such requested increase. Any Lender not responding within such time period shall be deemed to have declined to increase its Commitment.

 

(c)           Notification by Administrative Agent; Additional Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Company and each Lender of the Lenders’ responses to each request made hereunder. To achieve the full amount of a requested increase and subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer (which approvals shall not be unreasonably withheld), the Company may also invite additional Eligible Assignees to become Lenders pursuant to a joinder agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.

 

(d)           Effective Date and Allocations. If the Aggregate Commitments are increased in accordance with this Section 2.16, the Administrative Agent and the Company shall determine the effective date (the “Increase Effective Date”) and the final allocation of such increase. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Company and the Lenders of the final allocation of such increase and the Increase Effective Date.

 

(e)           Conditions to Effectiveness of Increase. As a condition precedent to such increase, the Company shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of each Loan Party dated as of the Increase Effective Date (in sufficient copies for each Lender) signed by a Responsible Officer of such Loan Party (I) certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by such Loan Party approving or consenting to such increase, and (II) in the case of the Company, certifying that, before and after giving effect to such increase, (A) the representations and warranties contained in Article V and the other Loan Documents are (i) with respect to any representations or warranties that contain a materiality qualifier, true and correct in all respects and (ii) with respect to any representations or warranties that do not contain a materiality qualifier, true and correct in all material respects, on and as of the Increase Effective Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct in such respects as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 2.16, the representations and warranties contained in subsection (a) of Section 5.05 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b) of Section 6.01 (subject, in the case of any unaudited statements furnished pursuant to clause (b) of Section 6.01, to the absence of footnotes and to normal year-end audit adjustments), and (B) no Default exists. The Borrowers shall prepay any Committed Loans outstanding on the Increase Effective Date (and pay any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05) on a non-ratable basis to the extent necessary to keep the outstanding Committed Loans ratable with any revised Applicable Percentages arising from any nonratable increase in the Commitments under this Section 2.16.

 

(f)            Conflicting Provisions. This Section 2.16 shall supersede any provisions in Sections 2.13 or 10.01 to the contrary.

 

2.17        Lenders Representation Regarding Dutch Banking Act. Each Lender which is a party to this Agreement on the date hereof represents and warrants to the Initial Designated

 

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Borrower on the date hereof that (i) it is a PMP, (ii) it is aware that it does not benefit from the protection offered by the Dutch Banking Act to Lenders which are not PMPs, and (iii) it has made its own independent appraisal of risks arising under or in connection with any Loan Documents. Each Lender acknowledges that the Initial Designated Borrower has relied upon such representation and warranty.

 

ARTICLE III.
TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

 

3.01        Taxes.

 

(a)           Payments Free of Taxes. Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the respective Borrowers hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without reduction or withholding for any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes, provided that if the applicable Borrower shall be required by applicable law to deduct any Indemnified Taxes (including any 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 3.01) the Administrative Agent, Lender or L/C Issuer, as the case may be, receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) such Borrower shall make such deductions and (iii) such Borrower shall timely pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

 

(b)           Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrowers. Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) above, each Borrower shall timely pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

 

(c)           Indemnification by the Borrowers. Each Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the L/C Issuer, within 10 days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 3.01) paid by the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, 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 a Borrower by a Lender or the L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender or the L/C Issuer, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

(d)           Evidence of Payments. As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by any Borrower to a Governmental Authority, such 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)           Status of Lenders. Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which a Borrower is resident for

 

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tax purposes, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall deliver to the Company (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Company or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if requested by the Company or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Company or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Company or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements.

 

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that a Borrower is resident for tax purposes in the United States, any Foreign Lender shall deliver to Company and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the request of the Company or the Administrative Agent, but only if such Foreign Lender is legally entitled to do so), whichever of the following is applicable:

 

(i)            duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN claiming eligibility for benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party,
 
(ii)           duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI,
 
(iii)          in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not (A) a “bank” within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (B) a “10 percent shareholder” of the applicable Borrower within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or (C) a “controlled foreign corporation” described in section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code and (y) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN, or
 
(iv)          any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in United States Federal withholding tax duly completed together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit the Company to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made.
 

Without limiting the obligations of the Lenders set forth above regarding delivery of certain forms and documents to establish each Lender’s status for U.S. withholding tax purposes, each Lender agrees promptly to deliver to the Administrative Agent or the Company, as the Administrative Agent or the Company shall reasonably request, on or prior to the Closing Date, and in a timely fashion thereafter, such other documents and forms required by any relevant taxing authorities under the Laws of any other jurisdiction, duly executed and completed by such Lender, as are required under such Laws to confirm such Lender’s entitlement to any available exemption from, or reduction of, applicable withholding taxes in respect of all payments to be made to such Lender outside of the U.S. by the Borrowers pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise to establish such Lender’s status for withholding tax purposes in such other

 

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jurisdiction. Each Lender shall promptly (i) notify the Administrative Agent of any change in circumstances which would modify or render invalid any such  claimed exemption or reduction, and (ii) take such steps as shall not be materially disadvantageous to it, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, and as may be reasonably necessary (including the re-designation of its Lending Office) to avoid any requirement of applicable Laws of any such jurisdiction that any Borrower make any deduction or withholding for taxes from amounts payable to such Lender. Additionally, each of the Borrowers shall promptly deliver to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, as the Administrative Agent or such Lender shall reasonably request, on or prior to the Closing Date, and in a timely fashion thereafter, such documents and forms required by any relevant taxing authorities under the Laws of any jurisdiction, duly executed and completed by such Borrower, as are required to be furnished by such Lender or the Administrative Agent under such Laws in connection with any payment by the Administrative Agent or any Lender of Taxes or Other Taxes, or otherwise in connection with the Loan Documents, with respect to such jurisdiction.

 

(f)            Treatment of Certain Refunds. If the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer determines, in its sole discretion, that it has received a refund of any Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by any Borrower or with respect to which any Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 3.01, it shall pay to such Borrower an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by such Borrower under this Section 3.01 with respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund), provided that each Borrower, upon the request of the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer, agrees to repay the amount paid over to such Borrower (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer in the event the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. This subsection shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes that it deems confidential) to any Borrower or any other Person.

 

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

 

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Loans, either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurocurrency Rate Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurocurrency Rate Loans. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrowers shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.

 

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

 

3.04        Increased Costs; Reserves on Eurocurrency Rate Loans.

 

(a)           Increased Costs Generally. If any Change in Law shall:

 

(i)            impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender (except any reserve requirement contemplated by Section 3.04(e), other than as set forth below) or the L/C Issuer;
 
(ii)           subject any Lender or the L/C Issuer to any tax of any kind whatsoever with respect to this Agreement, any Letter of Credit, any participation in a Letter of Credit or any Eurocurrency Rate Loan made by it, or change the basis of taxation of payments to such Lender or the L/C Issuer in respect thereof (except for Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes covered by Section 3.01 and the imposition of, or any change in the rate of, any Excluded Tax payable by such Lender or the L/C Issuer); or
 
(iii)          impose on any Lender or the L/C Issuer or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or Eurocurrency Rate Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein;
 

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making or maintaining any Eurocurrency Rate Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or to increase the cost to such Lender or the L/C Issuer of participating in, issuing or

 

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maintaining any Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its obligation to participate in or to issue any Letter of Credit), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or the L/C Issuer hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender or the L/C Issuer, the Company will pay (or cause the applicable Designated Borrower to pay) to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

 

(b)           Capital Requirements. If any Lender or the L/C Issuer determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or the L/C Issuer or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company, if any, regarding capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by the L/C Issuer, to a level below that which such Lender or the L/C Issuer or such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Company will pay (or cause the applicable Designated Borrower to pay) to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the L/C Issuer or such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

 

(c)           Certificates for Reimbursement. A certificate of a Lender or the L/C Issuer setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or the L/C Issuer or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in subsection (a) or (b) of this Section 3.04 and delivered to the Company shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Company shall pay (or cause the applicable Designated Borrower to pay) such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.

 

(d)           Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or the L/C Issuer to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.04 shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s right to demand such compensation, provided that no Borrower shall be required to compensate a Lender or the L/C Issuer pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.04 for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than nine months prior to the date that such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, notifies the Company of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the nine-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).

 

(e)           Additional Reserve Requirements. The Company shall pay (or cause the applicable Designated Borrower to pay) to each Lender, (i) as long as such Lender shall be required to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency funds or deposits (currently known as “Eurocurrency liabilities”), additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Eurocurrency Rate Loan equal to the actual costs

 

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of such reserves allocated to such Loan by such Lender (as determined by such Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive), and (ii) as long as such Lender shall be required to comply with any reserve ratio requirement or analogous requirement of any other central banking or financial regulatory authority imposed in respect of the maintenance of the Commitments or the funding of the Eurocurrency Rate Loans, such additional costs (expressed as a percentage per annum and rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest five decimal places) equal to the actual costs allocated to such Commitment or Loan by such Lender (as determined by such Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive), which in each case shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan, provided the Company shall have received at least 10 days’ prior notice (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such additional interest or costs from such Lender. If a Lender fails to give notice 10 days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date, such additional interest or costs shall be due and payable 10 days from receipt of such notice.

 

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

 

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

 

(b)           any failure by any Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to (i) prepay or borrow any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan or (ii) continue or convert any Loan as or into a Eurocurrency Rate Loan, in each case on the date or in the amount notified by the Company or the applicable Designated Borrower;

 

(c)           any failure by any Borrower to make payment of any Loan or drawing under any Letter of Credit (or interest due thereon) denominated in Euros on its scheduled due date or any payment thereof in a different currency; or

 

(d)           any assignment of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Company pursuant to Section 10.13;

 

including any foreign exchange losses and any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan, from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained or from the performance of any foreign exchange contract. The Company shall also pay (or cause the applicable Designated Borrower to pay) any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.

 

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

 

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3.06        Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.

 

(a)           Designation of a Different Lending Office. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or any Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02, 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 judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.04, as the case may be, in the future, or eliminate the need for the notice pursuant to Section 3.02, as applicable, and (ii) in each case, would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Company hereby agrees to pay (or to cause the applicable Designated Borrower to pay) all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

 

(b)           Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04 or provides notice under Section 3.02, or if any Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, the Company may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 10.13.

 

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

 

ARTICLE IV.
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS

 

4.01        Conditions of Initial Credit Extension. The obligation of the L/C Issuer and each Lender to make its initial Credit Extension hereunder is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)           The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or telecopies (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party (or, in the case of the Initial Designated Borrower, an officer of the Initial Designated Borrower authorized to represent the Initial Designated Borrower, as evidenced by a recent extract from the Dutch Trade Register or otherwise), each dated the Closing Date (or, in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before the Closing Date) and each in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders:

 

(i)            counterparts of (i) this Agreement executed by each Borrower and (ii) the Guaranty Agreement executed by each Borrower and each Material Domestic Subsidiary as of the Closing Date, sufficient in number for distribution to the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Company;
 
(ii)           Notes executed by the Borrowers in favor of each Lender requesting Notes;

 

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(iii)          such certificates or resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party as the Administrative Agent may require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party;
 
(iv)          such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that each Loan Party is duly organized or formed, and that each Loan Party is validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in its jurisdiction of organization;
 
(v)           a favorable opinion of (i) Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, U.S. counsel to the Loan Parties, and (ii) Kenneth R. Lepage, Assistant General Counsel of the Company, in each case addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent and each Lender;
 
(vi)          a favorable opinion of NautaDutilh, Dutch counsel to the Administrative Agent, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent and each Lender;
 
(vii)         a certificate of a Responsible Officer of each Loan Party either (A) attaching copies of all consents, licenses and approvals required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by such Loan Party and the validity against such Loan Party of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and such consents, licenses and approvals shall be in full force and effect, or (B) stating that no such consents, licenses or approvals are so required;
 
(viii)        a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Company certifying (A) that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied and (B) that there has been no event or circumstance since the date of the Audited Financial Statements that has had or could be reasonably expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;
 
(ix)           a copy of each of (i) the 2006 Note Purchase Agreement and (ii) Amendment No. 1 to the 2003 Note Purchase Agreement, in each case duly executed by each party thereto and in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each Lender; and
 
(x)            such other assurances, certificates, documents, consents or opinions as the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender or the Required Lenders reasonably may require.
 

(b)           Any fees required to be paid on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid.

 

(c)           Unless waived by the Administrative Agent, the Company shall have paid all fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent to the extent invoiced prior to or on the Closing Date, plus such additional amounts of such fees, charges and disbursements as shall constitute its reasonable estimate of such fees, charges and disbursements incurred or to be

 

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incurred by it through the closing proceedings (provided that such estimate shall not thereafter preclude a final settling of accounts between the Company and the Administrative Agent).

 

Without limiting the generality of the provisions of Section 9.04, for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4.01, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received written notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.

 

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

 

(a)           The representations and warranties of (i) the Borrowers contained in Article V (other than, in the case of any Credit Extension after the initial Credit Extension hereunder, the representation and warranty set forth in Section 5.05(c)) and (ii) each Loan Party contained in each other Loan Document or in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be (x) with respect to any representations or warranties that contain a materiality qualifier, true and correct in all respects and (y) with respect to any representations or warranties that do not contain a materiality qualifier, true and correct in all material respects, on and as of the date of such Credit Extension, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct in such respects as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 4.02, the representations and warranties contained in subsection (a) of Section 5.05 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b) of Section 6.01 (subject, in the case of any unaudited statements furnished pursuant to clause (b) of Section 6.01, to the absence of footnotes and to normal year-end audit adjustments).

 

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

 

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

 

(d)           If the applicable Borrower is a Designated Borrower (other than the Initial Designated Borrower), then the conditions of Section 2.14(b) to the designation of such Borrower as a Designated Borrower shall have been met to the satisfaction of the Administrative Agent.

 

(e)           In the case of a Credit Extension to be denominated in Euros, there shall not have occurred any change in national or international financial, political or economic conditions or currency exchange rates or exchange controls which in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent, the Required Lenders (in the case of any Loans to be denominated in

 

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Euros) or the L/C Issuer (in the case of any Letter of Credit to be denominated in Euros) would make it impracticable for such Credit Extension to be denominated in Euros.

 

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

 

ARTICLE V.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

Except as otherwise provided in Section 5.20, each Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

 

5.01        Existence, Qualification and Power. Each Loan Party and each Subsidiary thereof (a)(i) is duly organized or formed and validly existing and (ii) is in good standing (to the extent such concept is applicable to such entity), in each case under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority and all requisite governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to (i) own or lease its assets and carry on its business and (ii) execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party and (c) is duly qualified and is licensed and, as applicable, in good standing under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification or license; except in each case referred to in clause (a)(ii), (b)(i) or (c), to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.02        Authorization; No Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is party, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and do not and will not (a) contravene the terms of any of such Person’s Organization Documents; (b) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien under, or require any payment to be made under (i) any Contractual Obligation to which such Person is a party or affecting such Person or the properties of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Person or its property is subject; or (c) violate any Law. Each Loan Party and each Subsidiary thereof is in compliance with all Contractual Obligations referred to in clause (b)(i), except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.03        Governmental Authorization; Other Consents. No approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person (other than those already obtained) is necessary or required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

5.04        Binding Effect. This Agreement has been, and each other Loan Document, when delivered hereunder, will have been, duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party that is

 

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party thereto. This Agreement constitutes, and each other Loan Document when so delivered will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against each Loan Party that is party thereto in accordance with its terms.

 

5.05        Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.

 

(a)           The Audited Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; (ii) fairly present the financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; and (iii) show all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness.

 

(b)           There has been furnished to each Lender a copy of the projections of the annual operating budgets of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, balance sheets and cash flow statements for the 2006 to 2011 fiscal years. The Company has disclosed all material assumptions made with respect to general economic, financial and market conditions used in formulating such projections and such projections. The projections reflect the reasonable estimates of the Company and its Subsidiaries of the results of operations and other information projected therein.

 

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

 

(d)           To the best knowledge of the Company, (i) no Internal Control Event involving fraud exists or has occurred since the date of the Audited Financial Statements and (ii) no Internal Control Event resulting from a material weakness in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect exists or has occurred since the date of the Audited Financial Statements.

 

5.06        Litigation. There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or against any of their properties or revenues that (a) purport to affect or pertain to the Existing Credit Agreement, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any of the transactions contemplated thereby or hereby, or (b) except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 5.06, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.07        No Default. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in default under or with respect to any Contractual Obligation that could, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

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5.08        Ownership of Property; Liens. Each of the Company and each Subsidiary has good record and marketable title in fee simple to, or valid leasehold interests in, all real property necessary or used in the ordinary conduct of its business, except for such defects in title as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The property of the Company and its Subsidiaries is subject to no Liens, other than Liens permitted by Section 7.01.

 

5.09        Environmental Compliance. The Company and its Subsidiaries conduct in the ordinary course of business a review of the effect of existing Environmental Laws and claims alleging potential liability or responsibility for violation of any Environmental Law on their respective businesses, operations and properties, and as a result thereof the Company has reasonably concluded that, except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 5.09, such Environmental Laws and claims could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.10        Insurance. The properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Company, in such amounts (after giving effect to any self-insurance compatible with the following standards), with such deductibles and covering such risks as are customarily carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in localities where the Company or the applicable Subsidiary operates.

 

5.11        Taxes. The Company and its Subsidiaries have filed all Federal, state and other material tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all Federal, state and other material taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges levied or imposed upon them or their properties, income or assets otherwise due and payable, except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP. There is no proposed tax assessment against the Company or any Subsidiary that would, if made, have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither any Loan Party nor any Subsidiary thereof is party to any tax sharing agreement.

 

5.12        ERISA Compliance.

 

(a)           Each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other Federal or state Laws. Each Plan that is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS or an application for such a letter is currently being processed by the IRS with respect thereto and, to the best knowledge of the Company, nothing has occurred which could reasonably be expected to prevent, or cause the loss of, such qualification. The Company and each ERISA Affiliate have made all required contributions to each Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code, and no application for a funding waiver or an extension of any amortization period pursuant to Section 412 of the Code has been made with respect to any Plan.

 

(b)           There are no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There has been no

 

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prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c)           (i)(x) No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; (y) neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan (other than premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA); and (z) neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability (and no event has occurred which, with the giving of notice under Section 4219 of ERISA, would result in such liability) under Sections 4201 or 4243 of ERISA with respect to a Multiemployer Plan, that, in the case of the foregoing clauses (x), (y) and (z) in the aggregate, has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Company under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount; (ii) no Pension Plan has any Unfunded Pension Liability in excess of the Threshold Amount; and (iii) neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Sections 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA.

 

5.13        Subsidiaries; Equity Interests. As of the Closing Date, the Company has no Subsidiaries other than those specifically disclosed in Schedule 5.13, and all of the outstanding Equity Interests in such Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by a Subsidiary in the amounts specified on Schedule 5.13 free and clear of all Liens. All of the outstanding Equity Interests in the Company have been validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable.

 

5.14        Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act.

 

(a)           No Borrower is engaged or will engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the FRB), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock. Following the application of the proceeds of each Borrowing or drawing under each Letter of Credit, not more than 25% of the value of the assets (either of the applicable Borrower only or of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis) subject to the provisions of Section 7.01 or Section 7.05 or subject to any restriction contained in any agreement or instrument between any Borrower and any Lender or any Affiliate of any Lender relating to Indebtedness and within the scope of Section 8.01(e) will be margin stock.

 

(b)           None of the Company, any Person Controlling the Company, or any Subsidiary is or is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

5.15        Disclosure. No report, financial statement, certificate or other information furnished (in writing) by or on behalf of any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder or under any other Loan Document (in each case, as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact (known to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the case of any document or information not furnished by one of its Subsidiaries) necessary to make the

 

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statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Company represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time.

 

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

 

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

 

5.18        Senior Note Documents. The Company has heretofore furnished to the Administrative Agent true, complete and correct copies of the Senior Note Documents (including schedules, exhibits and annexes thereto). The Senior Note Documents have not been amended, supplemented or modified since the Closing Date (except as otherwise consented to by the Required Lenders) and constitute the complete understanding among the parties thereto in respect of the matters and transactions covered thereby. No “Event of Default” under (and as defined in) either the 2003 Note Purchase Agreement or the 2006 Note Purchase Agreement has occurred and is continuing.

 

5.19        Material Domestic Subsidiaries. As of the Closing Date Schedule 5.19, or as of the date thereof the most recent supplement to Schedule 5.19 delivered by the Company pursuant to Section 6.02(f) or Section 7.04(c)(iv) or the most recent revised Schedule 5.19 delivered by the Company pursuant to Section 2.15, sets forth Domestic Subsidiaries of the Company (on a Pro Forma Basis, in the case of any supplement delivered pursuant to Section 7.04(c)(iv)) (i) the total assets of which (not including Equity Interests of its Subsidiaries), in the aggregate together with the total assets of the Company (not including Equity Interests of its Subsidiaries), exceed eighty-five percent (85.0%) of the total assets of the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries in the aggregate (not including Equity Interests of their respective Subsidiaries) and (ii) the EBITDA of which for the most recently ended fiscal quarter, in the aggregate together with the EBITDA of the Company for such fiscal quarter, exceeds eighty-five percent (85.0%) of the EBITDA of the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries in the aggregate for such fiscal quarter.

 

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As of the Closing Date, no Subsidiary of the Company (other than any Material Domestic Subsidiary) provides any Guarantee with respect to any Indebtedness of the Company (other than the Obligations).

 

5.20        Representations as to Foreign Loan Parties. Each of the Company and each Foreign Loan Party represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

 

(a)           Such Foreign Loan Party is subject to civil, commercial and common Laws with respect to its obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party (collectively as to such Foreign Loan Party, the “Applicable Foreign Loan Party Documents”), and the execution, delivery and performance by such Foreign Loan Party of the Applicable Foreign Loan Party Documents constitute and will constitute private and commercial acts and not public or governmental acts. Neither such Foreign Loan Party nor any of its property has any immunity from jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service or notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution, execution or otherwise) under the laws of the jurisdiction in which such Foreign Loan Party is organized and existing in respect of its obligations under the Applicable Foreign Loan Party Documents.

 

(b)           The Applicable Foreign Loan Party Documents are in proper legal form under the Laws of the jurisdiction in which such Foreign Loan Party is organized and existing for the enforcement thereof against such Foreign Loan Party under the Laws of such jurisdiction (or such other law as shall be specified in such documents), and to ensure the legality, validity, enforceability (except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally), priority and admissibility in evidence of the Applicable Foreign Loan Party Documents. It is not necessary to ensure the legality, validity, enforceability, priority or admissibility in evidence of the Applicable Foreign Loan Party Documents that the Applicable Foreign Loan Party Documents be filed, registered or recorded with, or executed or notarized before, any court or other authority in the jurisdiction in which such Foreign Loan Party is organized and existing or that any registration charge or stamp or similar tax be paid on or in respect of the Applicable Foreign Loan Party Documents or any other document, except for (i) any such filing, registration, recording, execution or notarization as has been made or is not required to be made until the Applicable Foreign Loan Party Document or any other document is sought to be enforced and (ii) any charge or tax as has been timely paid.

 

(c)           There is no tax, levy, impost, duty, fee, assessment or other governmental charge, or any deduction or withholding, imposed by any Governmental Authority in or of the jurisdiction in which such Foreign Loan Party is organized and existing either (i) on or by virtue of the execution or delivery of the Applicable Foreign Loan Party Documents or (ii) on any payment to be made by such Foreign Loan Party pursuant to the Applicable Foreign Loan Party Documents, except as has been disclosed to the Administrative Agent.

 

(d)           The execution, delivery and performance of the Applicable Foreign Loan Party Documents executed by such Foreign Loan Party are, under applicable foreign exchange control regulations of the jurisdiction in which such Foreign Loan Party is organized and existing, not subject to any notification or authorization except (i) such as have been made or obtained or (ii)

 

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such as cannot be made or obtained until a later date (provided that any notification or authorization described in clause (ii) shall be made or obtained as soon as is reasonably practicable).

 

5.21        Dutch Companies.

 

(a)           Entering into this Agreement and the other Loan Document and performing its obligations hereunder and thereunder does not and will not bring the Initial Designated Borrower within the definition of a “credit institution” (kredietinstelling) as defined in Section 1 of the Dutch Banking Act because the Initial Designated Borrower is and has always been the holding company of a group of European industrial Subsidiaries and is and has always been actively involved and concerned with the management and the business of its Subsidiaries and Affiliates. The Initial Designated Borrower does not passively invest in any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, nor has it done so in the past. The Loans and each previous loan provided to the Initial Designated Borrower serve and have always served solely and will only be used solely to support the activities and/or business of the Initial Designated Borrower and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates. All funds extended by the Initial Designated Borrower have been extended to its Subsidiaries and Affiliates only.

 

(b)           As of the Closing Date, no works council (ondernemingsraad) has been established or is in the process of being established with respect to the business of the Initial Designated Borrower.

 

(c)           To the best of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ knowledge, none of the assets owned by the Initial Designated Borrower have a public utility function, such that seizure of these assets is prohibited by virtue of sections 436 and 703 of the Dutch Code of Civil Procedure.

 

5.22        OFAC. None of the Loan Parties, any Subsidiary of any Loan Party or any Affiliate of any Loan Party (a) is a person named on the list of Specially Designated Nationals or Blocked Persons maintained by OFAC available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/eotffc/ofac/sdn/ index.html, or as otherwise published from time to time; (b) is (i) an agency of the government of a country, (ii) an organization controlled by a country, or (iii) a Person resident in a country that is subject to a sanctions program identified on the list maintained by OFAC and available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/eotffc/ofac/sanctions/index.html, or as otherwise published from time to time, as such program may be applicable to such agency, organization or Person; (c) derives more than 15% of its assets or operating income from investments in or transactions with any such country, agency, organization or Person; or (d) will use the proceeds of any Loan to finance any operations, investments or activities in, or make any payments to, any such country, agency, organization, or Person.

 

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ARTICLE VI.
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

 

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

 

6.01        Financial Statements. Deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and detail satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:

 

(a)           as soon as practicable, but in any event on or prior to the date 90 days after the end of each fiscal year (or, if earlier, the date five days after the date by which the Company shall be required to submit its Form 10-K (or any successor form) to the Commission with respect to such fiscal year), (i) a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, such consolidated statements to be audited and accompanied by (i) a report and opinion of a Registered Public Accounting Firm of nationally recognized standing reasonably acceptable to the Required Lenders, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and applicable Securities Laws and shall not be subject to any “going concern” or like qualification or exception or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit and such consolidating statements to be certified by a Responsible Officer of the Company to the effect that such statements are fairly stated in all material respects when considered in relation to the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries and (ii) consolidating statements of income or operations for the Company and its Subsidiaries to the extent that such financial statements are prepared and distributed to the senior management of the Company with respect to such fiscal year; and

 

(b)           as soon as practicable, but in any event on or prior to the date 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Company (or, if earlier, the date five days after the date by which the Company shall be required to submit its Form 10-Q (or any successor form) to the Commission with respect to such fiscal quarter), (x) a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations and cash flows for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the Company’s fiscal year then ended, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, such consolidated statements to be certified by a Responsible Officer of the Company as fairly presenting the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes and (y) consolidating statements of income or operations for the Company and its Subsidiaries to the extent that such financial statements are prepared and distributed to the senior management of the Company with respect to such fiscal quarter, such consolidating statements to be certified by a Responsible Officer of the Company to the effect that such statements are fairly

 

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stated in all material respects when considered in relation to the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

As to any information contained in materials furnished pursuant to Section 6.02(d), the Company shall not be separately required to furnish such information under clause (a) or (b) above, but the foregoing shall not be in derogation of the obligation of the Company to furnish the information and materials described in clauses (a) and (b) above at the times specified therein.

 

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

 

(a)           concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(a) and (b), a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Company;

 

(b)           promptly after any request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, copies of any detailed audit reports, management letters or recommendations submitted to the board of directors (or the audit committee of the board of directors) of the Company by independent accountants in connection with the accounts or books of the Company or any Subsidiary, or any audit of any of them;

 

(c)           promptly after the same are available, copies of each annual report, proxy or financial statement or other report or communication sent to the stockholders of the Company, and copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which the Company may file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto;

 

(d)           promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any statement or report furnished to any holder of debt securities of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof pursuant to the terms of any indenture, loan or credit or similar agreement and not otherwise required to be furnished to the Lenders pursuant to Section 6.01 or any other clause of this Section 6.02;

 

(e)           promptly, and in any event within five Business Days after receipt thereof by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof, copies of each notice or other correspondence received from the SEC (or comparable agency in any applicable non-U.S. jurisdiction) concerning any investigation or possible investigation or other inquiry by such agency regarding financial or other operational results of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof;

 

(f)            in the event the Company or any Domestic Subsidiary shall (i) engage in any corporate reorganization, (ii) contribute to the capital of or otherwise make an Investment in any Subsidiary or (iii) consummate any Disposition of property described in Section 7.05(e), in each case other than in the ordinary course of business, which transaction shall result in Domestic Subsidiaries that are not Domestic Subsidiary Guarantors (x) the total assets of which, in the aggregate, exceed fifteen percent (15.0%) of the total assets of the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries in the aggregate or (y) the EBITDA of which, in the aggregate for the most recent fiscal quarter, exceeds fifteen percent (15.0%) of the EBITDA of the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries in the aggregate for such fiscal quarter, the Company shall, promptly and in any

 

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event within thirty days of the consummation of such transaction, deliver to the Administrative Agent a supplement to Schedule 5.19 necessary to make the representation set forth in Section 5.19 true and correct as of the date of such supplement; and

 

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

 

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) or Section 6.02(c) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Company posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Company’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 10.02; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Company’s behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that: (i) the Company shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent or any Lender that requests the Company to deliver such paper copies until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent or such Lender and (ii) the Company shall notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender (by telecopier or electronic mail) of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in every instance the Company shall be required to provide paper copies of the Compliance Certificates required by Section 6.02(a) to the Administrative Agent. Except for such Compliance Certificates, the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery or to maintain copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Company with any such request for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such documents.

 

Each Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Arrangers will make available to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of such Borrower hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks or another similar electronic system (the “Platform”) and (b) certain of the Lenders may be “public-side” Lenders (i.e., Lenders that do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to any Borrower or its securities) (each, a “Public Lender”). Each Borrower hereby agrees that (w) all Borrower Materials that are to be made available to Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Borrowers shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information with respect to the Borrowers or their respective securities for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws (provided, however, that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 10.07); (y) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion

 

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of the Platform designated “Public Investor;” and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Investor.”

 

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

 

(a)           of the occurrence of any Default;

 

(b)           of any matter that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, including (i) breach or non-performance of, or any default under, a Contractual Obligation of the Company or any Subsidiary; (ii) any dispute, litigation, investigation, proceeding or suspension between the Company or any Subsidiary and any Governmental Authority; or (iii) the commencement of, or any material development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting the Company or any Subsidiary, including pursuant to any applicable Environmental Laws;

 

(c)           of the occurrence of any ERISA Event;

 

(d)           of any material change in accounting policies of, or financial reporting practices by, the Company or any Subsidiary;

 

(e)           of the determination by the Registered Public Accounting Firm providing the opinion required under Section 6.01(a)(ii) (in connection with its preparation of such  opinion) or the Company’s determination at any time of the occurrence or existence of any Internal Control Event; and

 

(f)            of any announcement by Moody’s or S&P of any change or, to the extent a Responsible Officer of the Company has actual knowledge thereof, any possible change in a Debt Rating.

 

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

 

6.04        Payment of Obligations. Pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable the following: (a) all tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it or its properties or assets; (b) all lawful claims which, if unpaid, would by law become a Lien upon its property; and (c) all Indebtedness, as and when due and payable, but subject to any subordination provisions contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing such Indebtedness; unless, in the case of any matter described in clauses (a), (b), and (c) above, the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by the Company or such Subsidiary.

 

6.05        Preservation of Existence, Etc. (a) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence and good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its

 

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organization except in a transaction permitted by Section 7.04 or 7.05; (b) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges, permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) preserve or renew all of its registered patents, trademarks, trade names and service marks, the non-preservation of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.06        Maintenance of Properties. (a) Maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted; and (b) make all necessary repairs thereto and renewals and replacements thereof except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.07        Maintenance of Insurance. Maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Company, insurance with respect to its properties and business against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by Persons engaged in the same or similar business and geographic area, of such types and in such amounts (after giving effect to any self-insurance compatible with the following standards) as are customarily carried under similar circumstances by such other Persons.

 

6.08        Compliance with Laws. (i) Comply in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted; or (b) the failure to comply therewith could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (ii) in the event the Initial Designated Borrower changes any of the characteristics of its business described in Section 5.21(a), comply with all applicable regulatory requirements (if any).

 

6.09        Books and Records. Maintain proper books of record and account, in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with GAAP consistently applied shall be made of all financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be.

 

6.10        Inspection Rights. Permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent and each Lender to visit and inspect any of its properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, officers, and independent public accountants, at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice to the Company; provided, the Company shall pay all costs and expenses of one such inspection per year (measured beginning with the Closing Date and each anniversary thereof) by the Administrative Agent and its representatives and independent contractors (and any representatives and independent contractors of the Lenders participating in such inspection); provided further, however, that when an Event of Default exists the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Company at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice.

 

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6.11        Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of the Credit Extensions for general corporate purposes, capital expenditures and Permitted Acquisitions, in each case not in contravention of any Law or of any Loan Document.

 

6.12        Approvals and Authorizations. Maintain all authorizations, consents, approvals and licenses from, exemptions of, and filings and registrations with, each Governmental Authority of the jurisdiction in which each Foreign Loan Party is organized and existing, and all approvals and consents of each other Person in such jurisdiction, in each case that are required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by such Foreign Loan Party of the Loan Documents to which it is a party.

 

6.13        Amendments to Governing Documents. Promptly furnish to the Administrative Agent any material amendment, supplement or modification to any of such Person’s Organization Documents permitted by Section 7.11.

 

6.14        Additional Domestic Subsidiary Guarantors.

 

(a)           In addition to causing each Material Domestic Subsidiary as of the Closing Date to execute and deliver a Guaranty, each as required by Section 4.01(a), cause each Subsidiary that becomes a Material Domestic Subsidiary after the Closing Date, as promptly as possible, but in any event within ninety (90) days after submission to the Administrative Agent by the Company of a supplement to Schedule 5.19 as required by Section 6.02(f) or Section 7.04(c)(iv) which supplement indicates that such Domestic Subsidiary has become a Material Domestic Subsidiary, to (x) become a Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor by executing and delivering to the Administrative Agent a counterpart of the Guaranty Agreement or such other document as the Administrative Agent shall deem appropriate in order for such Subsidiary to provide an unconditional guaranty of the Obligations of the Borrowers and (y) deliver to the Administrative Agent documents of the types referred to in clauses (iii), (iv) and (vii) of Section 4.01(a) and, if requested by the Administrative Agent, favorable opinions of counsel to such Person (which shall cover, among other things, the legality, validity, binding effect and enforceability of the documentation referred to in clause (x)), all in form, content and scope reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(b)           If at any time any Subsidiary of the Company (including any Foreign Subsidiary) that is not a Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor provides any Guarantee with respect to any Indebtedness of the Company or any Domestic Designated Borrower other than the Obligations, cause such Subsidiary, as promptly as possible but in any event within sixty (60) days after the date upon which such Subsidiary shall have guaranteed such Indebtedness, to (x) become a Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor by executing and delivering to the Administrative Agent a counterpart of the Guaranty Agreement or such other document as the Administrative Agent shall deem appropriate in order for such Subsidiary to provide an unconditional guaranty of the Obligations of the Borrowers and (y) deliver to the Administrative Agent documents of the types referred to in clauses (iii), (iv) and (vii) of Section 4.01(a) and, if requested by the Administrative Agent, favorable opinions of counsel to such Person (which shall cover, among other things, the legality, validity, binding effect and enforceability of the documentation referred to in clause (x)), all in form, content and scope reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

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6.15        Foreign Subsidiary Guarantors. Cause each Foreign Subsidiary listed on Schedule 6.15, on or before the date sixty (60) days after the Closing Date or such later date as may be agreed to in writing by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion, to (x) execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a counterpart of the Guaranty Agreement or such other document as the Administrative Agent shall deem appropriate in order for such Subsidiary to provide an unconditional guaranty of the Obligations of each Foreign Designated Borrower and (y) deliver to the Administrative Agent documents of the types referred to in clauses (iii) and (iv) of Section 4.01(a) and  favorable opinions of counsel to such Person (which shall cover, among other things, the legality, validity, binding effect and enforceability of the documentation referred to in clause (x)), all in form, content and scope reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

6.16        Further Assurances. Cooperate with the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and execute such further instruments and documents as the Lenders or the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request to carry out to their satisfaction the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

 

ARTICLE VII.
NEGATIVE COVENANTS

 

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, the Company shall not, nor shall it permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly:

 

7.01        Liens. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than the following:

 

(a)           Liens pursuant to any Loan Document;

 

(b)           Liens existing on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 7.01 and any renewals or extensions thereof, provided that (i) the property covered thereby is not changed in any material respect, (ii) the amount secured or benefited thereby is not increased except as contemplated by Section 7.03(b), and (iii) any renewal or extension of the obligations secured or benefited thereby is permitted by Section 7.03;

 

(c)           Liens for taxes not yet due or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person in accordance with GAAP;

 

(d)           carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business which are not overdue for a period of more than 30 days or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person;

 

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

 

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(f)            deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts and leases (other than Indebtedness), statutory obligations, surety bonds (other than bonds related to judgments or litigation), performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(g)           easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar encumbrances affecting real property which, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount, and which do not in any case materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the applicable Person;

 

(h)           Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 8.01(h) (including due to any such judgment having been stayed pending appeal) or securing appeal or other surety bonds related to such judgments;

 

(i)            Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Sections 7.03(f) and 7.03(g);

 

(j)            Liens on any property owned by Watts Germany, any Subsidiary thereof or any German Subsidiary of which Watts Germany is a Subsidiary, in each case securing Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.03(e)(ii); and

 

(k)           Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(h); provided, that (i) if the grantor of such Liens is a Domestic Loan Party, the grantee of such Liens must be a Domestic Loan Party and (ii) if the grantor of such Liens is a Foreign Loan Party, the grantee of such Liens must be a Loan Party.

 

7.02        Investments. Make any Investments, except:

 

(a)           existing Investments in Subsidiaries and other Investments in existence on the Closing Date and described in Schedule 7.02 and any renewal or extension of any such Investments that does not increase the amount of the Investment being renewed or extended as determined as of such date of renewal or extension;

 

(b)           Investments held by the Company or such Subsidiary in the form of cash equivalents or short-term marketable debt securities;

 

(c)           subject to the limitations set forth in Sarbanes-Oxley and all rules and regulations related thereto, (i) advances to officers, directors and employees of the Company and Subsidiaries for travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary business purposes and (ii) loans to employees of the Company pursuant to the terms of the Company’s non-qualified stock option plan, secured by pledges of the Equity Interests of the Company owned by such employee; provided that the aggregate outstanding amount of such Investments permitted pursuant to this Section 7.02(c) shall not exceed $3,000,000 at any time;

 

(d)           Investments from the Company to any Subsidiary or from any Subsidiary to the Company or any other Subsidiary;

 

(e)           Investments consisting of extensions of credit in the nature of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising from the grant of trade credit in the ordinary course of business, and

 

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Investments received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from financially troubled account debtors to the extent reasonably necessary in order to prevent or limit loss;

 

(f)            Guarantees permitted by Section 7.03;

 

(g)           Investments (other than Investments permitted pursuant to Section 7.02(a)) in or to joint ventures in lines of business that are the same or similar to the line of business in which the Company and its Subsidiaries are then engaged prior to such Investment; provided, that such Investments consisting of loans, advances, Guarantees or cash capital contributions shall not exceed $50,000,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding; and

 

(h)           Investments in Permitted Acquisitions;

 

provided, that the aggregate book value of all property subject to Specified JV/Intercompany Asset Transfers in any fiscal year, together with the book value of all property Disposed of in reliance on Section 7.05(i) during such fiscal year, shall not exceed 12.5% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the end of the preceding fiscal year.

 

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

 

(a)           Indebtedness under the Loan Documents;

 

(b)           Indebtedness outstanding on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 7.03, and any refinancings, refundings, renewals or extensions thereof; provided that (i) the amount of such Indebtedness is not increased at the time of such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension except by an amount equal to a reasonable premium or other reasonable amount paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such refinancing and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder and (ii) the terms relating to principal amount, amortization, maturity, collateral (if any) and subordination (if any), and other material terms taken as a whole, of any such refinancing, refunding, renewing or extending Indebtedness, and of any agreement entered into and of any instrument issued in connection therewith, are no less favorable in any material respect to the Loan Parties or the Lenders than the terms of any agreement or instrument governing the Indebtedness being refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended and the interest rate applicable to any such refinancing, refunding, renewing or extending Indebtedness does not exceed the then applicable market interest rate;

 

(c)           obligations (contingent or otherwise) of the Company or any Subsidiary existing or arising under any Swap Contract, provided that (i) such obligations are (or were) entered into by such Person in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of directly mitigating risks associated with liabilities, commitments, investments, assets, or property held or reasonably anticipated by such Person, or changes in the value of securities issued by such Person, and not for purposes of speculation or taking a “market view;” and (ii) such Swap Contract does not contain any provision exonerating the non-defaulting party from its obligation to make payments on outstanding transactions to the defaulting party;

 

(d)           unsecured Indebtedness of the Company (including, without limitation, the Senior Notes);

 

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(e)           (i) unsecured Indebtedness of any Subsidiary of the Company and (ii) secured Indebtedness (including Attributable Indebtedness in respect of capital leases, Synthetic Lease Obligations and Permitted Receivables Purchase Facilities and Indebtedness in respect of purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets) of Watts Germany and its Subsidiaries, in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not to exceed at any time 12.5% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the end of the preceding fiscal year;

 

(f)            secured Indebtedness (including Attributable Indebtedness in respect of capital leases, Synthetic Lease Obligations and Permitted Receivables Purchase Facilities and Indebtedness in respect of purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than Watts Germany and its Subsidiaries) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $50,000,000 at any time outstanding;

 

(g)           Attributable Indebtedness in respect of Permitted Receivables Purchase Facilities in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $100,000,000 at any time outstanding;

 

(h)           Indebtedness of (i) the Company owing to any Subsidiary thereof or (ii) any Subsidiary owing to the Company or any other Subsidiary; and

 

(i)            Guarantees of (i) the Company in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder of any Subsidiary and (ii) subject to Section 6.14(b), any Subsidiary in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder of the Company or any other Subsidiary.

 

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

 

(a)           any Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve voluntarily into, and may merge with and into (i) the Company, provided that the Company shall be the continuing or surviving Person, or (ii) any one or more other Subsidiaries, provided that (w) when any Domestic Designated Borrower is liquidating or dissolving into, or merging with and into, another Subsidiary, a Domestic Designated Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving Person, (x) when any Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor is liquidating or dissolving into, or merging with and into, another Subsidiary other than any Domestic Designated Borrower, a Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor shall be the continuing or surviving Person, (y) when any Foreign Designated Borrower is liquidating or dissolving into, or merging with and into, another Subsidiary other than any Domestic Loan Party, a Foreign Designated Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving Person and (z) when any Foreign Subsidiary Guarantor is liquidating or dissolving into, or merging with and into, another Subsidiary other than any Foreign Designated Borrower or any Domestic Loan Party, a Foreign Subsidiary Guarantor shall be the continuing or surviving Person;

 

(b)           any Subsidiary (other than any Designated Borrower) may Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to the Company or to another Subsidiary; provided that (i) if the transferor in such a transaction is a Domestic

 

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Subsidiary Guarantor, then the transferee must be a Domestic Loan Party and (ii) if the transferor in such a transaction is a Foreign Subsidiary Guarantor, then the transferee must be a Loan Party;

 

(c)           the Company or any Subsidiary may consummate any Acquisition with respect to which the following conditions are satisfied (a “Permitted Acquisition”):

 

(i)            the Person to be acquired (the “Target”) is not engaged in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by the Company and its Subsidiaries on the date hereof or any business substantially related or incidental thereto;

 

(ii)           the board of directors and (if required by applicable law) the shareholders, or the equivalent thereof, of each of the Company or the applicable Subsidiary and of the Target has approved such Acquisition; provided, that, in the case of any Target that is a Public Company, such approval of the board of directors of the Target shall have been obtained prior to any tender offer or similar solicitation of the holders of voting securities of the Target and shall not have been withdrawn;

 

(iii)          any Indebtedness directly or indirectly incurred or assumed in connection with such Acquisition shall have been permitted to be incurred or assumed pursuant to Section 7.03;

 

(iv)          if the Purchase Price for such Acquisition is greater than or equal to $75,000,000, then concurrent with the consummation of such Acquisition, the Company shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent (A) a Compliance Certificate prepared on a Pro Forma Basis demonstrating that the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter is not greater than 0.25x less than the maximum permitted Consolidated Leverage Ratio as of the end of such fiscal quarter pursuant to Section 7.13(c), (B) a supplement to Schedule 5.19 setting forth Domestic Subsidiaries of the Company necessary to make the representation and warranty set forth in Section 5.19 true and correct after giving effect to such Permitted Acquisition and (C) a certificate from the chief financial officer of the Company to the effect that (1) the Company and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated and consolidating basis, will be solvent both before and after consummating such Acquisition and (2) no Default or Event of Default then exists or would result after giving effect to such Acquisition;

 

(v)           in the case of an Acquisition by the Company or such Subsidiary of (i) Equity Interests of any Target organized under the laws of the United States or any State thereof, the Target shall become a direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company or (ii) any business or line of business of any Target, such business or line of business shall be acquired by a direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company;

 

(vi)          the business to be acquired would not subject the Administrative Agent or any Lender to regulatory or third party approvals in connection with the exercise of any of its rights and remedies under this Agreement or any other Loan Document;

 

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(vii)         no contingent obligations or liabilities will be incurred or assumed in connection with such acquisition which (x) are required to be described in the footnotes of the Company’s financial statements in accordance with GAAP and (y) could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

(viii)        the Consolidated Leverage Ratio immediately after giving effect to such Acquisition on a Pro Forma Basis shall not be greater than 0.25x less than the maximum permitted Consolidated Leverage Ratio as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter pursuant to Section 7.13(c).

 

7.05        Dispositions. Make any Disposition or enter into any agreement to make any Disposition, except:

 

(a)           Dispositions of obsolete or worn out property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business;

 

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

 

(c)           Dispositions of Permitted Receivables pursuant to Permitted Receivables Purchase Facilities;

 

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

 

(e)           Dispositions of property by (i) the Company to any Subsidiary or (ii) any Subsidiary to the Company or any other Subsidiary; provided, that the aggregate book value of all property subject to Specified JV/Intercompany Asset Transfers in any fiscal year, together with the book value of all property Disposed of in reliance on Section 7.05(i) during such fiscal year, shall not exceed 12.5% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the end of the preceding fiscal year;

 

(f)            Dispositions permitted by Section 7.04;

 

(g)           Dispositions by the Company and its Subsidiaries of property pursuant to sale-leaseback transactions; provided, that the book value of all property Disposed of in connection with such transactions from and after the Closing Date shall not exceed $25,000,000;

 

(h)           licenses of IP Rights, which licenses shall not, in the case of any license resulting in annual payments to the Company or any Subsidiary in excess of 1% of total consolidated sales of the Company during any such year, have a term exceeding fifteen years; and

 

(i)            Dispositions by the Company and its Subsidiaries not otherwise permitted under this Section 7.05; provided that (i) at the time of such Disposition, no Default shall exist or would result from such Disposition and (ii) the aggregate book value of all property Disposed of in reliance on this clause (i) in any fiscal year, together with the book value of all property

 

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subject to Specified JV/Intercompany Asset Transfers during such fiscal year, shall not exceed 12.5% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the end of the preceding fiscal year;

 

provided, however, that any Disposition pursuant to clauses (a) through (i) shall be for fair market value.

 

7.06        Restricted Payments. Declare or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, or incur any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to do so unless no Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the date of declaration or payment thereof or would result therefrom.

 

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

 

7.08        Transactions with Affiliates. Enter into any transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of the Company, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, other than on fair and reasonable terms substantially as favorable to the Company or such Subsidiary as would be obtainable by the Company or such Subsidiary at the time in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate; provided that any Loan Party may enter into transactions relating to any Permitted Receivables Purchase Facility.

 

7.09        Burdensome Agreements. Enter into or be subject to any Contractual Obligation (other than this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the Senior Note Documents) that (a) limits the ability (i) of any Subsidiary to make Restricted Payments to any Loan Party or to otherwise transfer property to any Loan Party, (ii) of any Material Domestic Subsidiary or any other Domestic Loan Party to Guarantee the Indebtedness of the Company or any Designated Borrower, (iii) of any Foreign Loan Party to Guarantee the Indebtedness of any Foreign Designated Borrower or (iv) of the Company or any Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on property of such Person; provided, however, that this clause (iv) shall not prohibit any negative pledge incurred or provided in favor of any holder of Indebtedness in respect of capital leases, Synthetic Lease Obligations and purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets, in each case solely to the extent any such negative pledge relates to the property financed by or the subject of such Indebtedness; or (b) requires the grant of a Lien to secure an obligation of such Person if a Lien is granted to secure another obligation of such Person; provided, that this Section 7.09 shall not apply to any Contractual Obligation binding solely on Watts Germany or any Subsidiary thereof.

 

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

 

7.11        Modification of Organization Documents. Consent to or agree to any amendment, supplement or other modification to the Organization Documents without the prior

 

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written consent of the Administrative Agent unless such amendment, supplement or modification could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

7.12        Senior Note Documents. Amend, supplement or otherwise modify the terms of any of the Senior Note Documents unless such amendment, supplement or modification could not reasonably be expected to (i) have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) have a material adverse effect on the rights and interests of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under the Loan Documents.

 

7.13        Financial Covenants.

 

(a)           Consolidated Net Worth. Permit Consolidated Net Worth at any time to be less than the sum of (i) $415,580,000, (ii) an amount equal to 50% of the Consolidated Net Income (excluding the impact of foreign currency translation adjustments) earned in each fiscal quarter beginning with the fiscal quarter ending April 2, 2006 (with no deduction for a net loss in any such fiscal quarter) and (iii) an amount equal to 100% of the aggregate increases in Shareholders’ Equity of the Company and its Subsidiaries after the date hereof by reason of the issuance and sale of Equity Interests of the Company or any Subsidiary (other than issuances to the Company or a wholly-owned Subsidiary), including upon any conversion of debt securities of the Company into such Equity Interests.

 

(b)           Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio. Permit the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter of the Company to be less than 3.50:1:00.

 

(c)           Consolidated Leverage Ratio. Permit the Consolidated Leverage Ratio at the end of any fiscal quarter of the Company to be greater than (i) with respect to each fiscal quarter of the Company ending on or prior to December 31, 2006, 3.50:1.00 and (ii) with respect to each other fiscal quarter of the Company, 3.25:1:00.

 

7.14        Swap Contracts. Enter into any Swap Contract except for Swap Contracts that are (or were) entered into in the ordinary course of the Company’s or such Subsidiary’s business for the purpose of mitigating risks associated with liabilities, commitments, investments, assets, earnings or properties held or reasonably anticipated by the Company or such Subsidiary, as applicable, and not for purposes of speculation.

 

ARTICLE VIII.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

 

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

 

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

 

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(b)           Specific Covenants. The Company fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 6.01, 6.02, 6.03, 6.05, 6.10, 6.11, 6.14 or 6.15 or Article VII; or

 

(c)           Other Defaults. Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in subsection (a) or (b) above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for 30 days; or

 

(d)           Representations and Warranties. Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Company or any other Loan Party herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith (i) with respect to any representations, warranties, certifications or statements that contain a materiality qualifier, shall be incorrect or misleading in any respect when made or deemed made and (ii) with respect to any representations, warranties, certifications or statements that do not contain a materiality qualifier, shall be incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed made; or

 

(e)           Cross-Default. (i) The Company or any Subsidiary (A) fails to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise) in respect of any Indebtedness or Guarantee (other than Indebtedness hereunder and Indebtedness under Swap Contracts) having an aggregate principal amount (including undrawn committed or available amounts and including amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit arrangement) of more than the Threshold Amount, or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or Guarantee or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event occurs, the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness or the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Guarantee (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness to be demanded or to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity, or such Guarantee to become payable or cash collateral in respect thereof to be demanded; (ii) there occurs under any Swap Contract an Early Termination Date (as defined in such Swap Contract) resulting from (A) any event of default under such Swap Contract as to which the Company or any Subsidiary is the Defaulting Party (as defined in such Swap Contract) or (B) any Termination Event (as so defined) under such Swap Contract as to which the Company or any Subsidiary is an Affected Party (as so defined) and, in either event, the Swap Termination Value owed by the Company or such Subsidiary as a result thereof is greater than the Threshold Amount; or (iii) there occurs any termination, liquidation, unwind or similar event or circumstance under any Permitted Receivables Purchase Facility, which permits any purchaser of receivables thereunder to cease purchasing such receivables or to apply all collections on previously purchased receivables thereunder to the repayment of such purchaser’s interest in such previously purchased receivables (other than any such event or circumstance that arises solely as a result of a down-grading of the credit rating of any bank or financial institution not affiliated with the Company that provides liquidity, credit or other support in connection with such facility) and the Attributable Indebtedness in respect of such Permitted Receivables Purchase Facility is greater than the Threshold Amount; or

 

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(f)            Insolvency Proceedings, Etc. Any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property (or any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries takes any corporate action to authorize or effect any of the foregoing actions); or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for 45 calendar days, or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for 45 calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding (or any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries fails to contest in good faith any such appointment or proceeding); or

 

(g)           Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment. (i) The Company or any Subsidiary becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of any such Person and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within 30 days after its issue or levy; or

 

(h)           Judgments. There is entered against the Company or any Subsidiary (i) any one or more final judgments or orders for the payment of money in an aggregate amount exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer does not dispute coverage), or (ii) any one or more non-monetary final judgments that have, or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and, in either case, (A) enforcement proceedings are commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order, or (B) there is a period of 60 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect; or

 

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

 

(j)            Invalidity of Loan Documents. Any provision of any Loan Document, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder or satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect; or any Loan Party or any other Person contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any provision of any Loan Document; or any Loan Party denies that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Loan Document, or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any provision of any Loan Document; or

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(d)           exercise on behalf of itself, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer all rights and remedies available to it, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer under the Loan Documents;

 

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

 

8.03        Application of Funds.

 

(a)           After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable and the L/C Obligations have automatically been required to be Cash Collateralized as set forth in the proviso to Section 8.02):

 

(i)            Any amounts received on account of the Obligations (other than amounts received solely on account of the Obligations of the Foreign Loan Parties) shall be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:

 

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

 

Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal, interest and Letter of Credit Fees) payable to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Lenders and the L/C Issuer (including fees and time charges for attorneys who may be employees of any Lender or the L/C Issuer) and amounts payable

 

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under Article III), ratably among them in proportion to the amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;

 

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

 

Fourth, to payment of (i) that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans and L/C Borrowings and (ii) that portion of the Obligations constituting Guaranteed Swap Obligations, ratably among the Lenders (and Affiliates thereof) and the L/C Issuer in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them;

 

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

 

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

 

provided, that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, apply such amounts solely to the Obligations of the Domestic Loan Parties or the Foreign Loan Parties, as applicable in the order and manner described in subclauses First through Fifth of this clause (i) prior to application of any such amounts to any Obligations of the other Loan Parties; and

 

(ii)           Any amounts received solely on account of the Obligations of the Foreign Loan Parties shall be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:

 

First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations of the Foreign Loan Parties constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent and amounts payable under Article III) payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;

 

Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations of the Foreign Loan Parties constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal, interest and Letter of Credit Fees) payable to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Lenders and the L/C Issuer (including fees and time charges for attorneys who may be employees of any Lender or the L/C Issuer) and amounts payable under Article III), ratably among them in proportion to the amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;

 

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

 

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Fourth, to payment of (i) that portion of the Obligations of the Foreign Loan Parties constituting unpaid principal of the Loans made to Foreign Designated Borrowers and L/C Borrowings of Foreign Designated Borrowers and (ii) that portion of the Obligations constituting Guaranteed Swap Obligations of the Foreign Loan Parties, ratably among the Lenders (and Affiliates thereof) and the L/C Issuer in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them;

 

Fifth, to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer, to Cash Collateralize that portion of L/C Obligations of the Foreign Designated Borrowers comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit issued at the request of the Foreign Designated Borrowers; and

 

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

 

(b)           Subject to Section 2.03(c), amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to subclause Fifth of either clause (i) or (ii) of Section 8.03(a) shall be applied to satisfy drawings under the applicable Letters of Credit as they occur. If any amount remains on deposit as Cash Collateral after all such Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount shall be applied to the other Obligations, if any, in accordance with Section 8.03(a).

 

ARTICLE IX.
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

 

9.01        Appointment and Authority. Each of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer hereby irrevocably appoints Bank of America to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, and no Borrower shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.

 

9.02        Rights as a Lender. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrowers or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

 

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9.03        Exculpatory Provisions. The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:

 

(a)           shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;

 

(b)           shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents), provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law; and

 

(c)           shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to any of the Borrowers or any of their respective Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as 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 (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 10.01 and 8.02) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given to the Administrative Agent by the Company, a Lender or the L/C Issuer.

 

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 this Agreement or any other 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 or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

 

9.04        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 (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise

 

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authenticated by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or the L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or the L/C Issuer unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or the L/C Issuer prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Company), independent 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 any such counsel, accountants or experts.

 

9.05        Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document 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 by or through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties 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.

 

9.06        Resignation of Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Company. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Company, to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may on behalf of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above; provided that if the Administrative Agent shall notify the Company and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (1) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders or the L/C Issuer under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and (2) all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender and the L/C Issuer directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above in this Section 9.06. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section 9.06). The fees payable by the Company to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Company

 

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and such successor. After the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 10.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent.

 

Any resignation by Bank of America as Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 9.06 shall also constitute its resignation as L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender, (b) the retiring L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender shall be discharged from all of their respective duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, and (c) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to the retiring L/C Issuer to effectively assume the obligations of the retiring L/C Issuer with respect to such Letters of Credit.

 

9.07        Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties 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 Lender and the L/C Issuer also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

 

9.08        No Other Duties, Etc. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Book Managers, Arrangers, Syndication Agent or Documentation Agents listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender or the L/C Issuer hereunder.

 

9.09        Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or L/C Obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on any Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

 

(a)           to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, L/C Obligations and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent and their

 

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respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.03(i) and (j), 2.09 and 10.04) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

 

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

 

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and the L/C Issuer to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 10.04.

 

Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender or the L/C Issuer any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or the L/C Issuer to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender or the L/C Issuer in any such proceeding.

 

9.10        Guaranty Matters. The Lenders and the L/C Issuer irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion, to release any Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty Agreement if such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary as a result of a transaction permitted hereunder or ceases to constitute a Material Domestic Subsidiary pursuant to Section 2.15. The Lenders and the L/C Issuer hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent to, and the Administrative Agent shall, release Watts Premier, Inc., an Arizona corporation, Watts Radiant, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and each Foreign Subsidiary party thereto from their respective obligations under the Guaranty Agreement on the Closing Date. Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release any Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under a Guaranty pursuant to this Section 9.10.

 

ARTICLE X.
MISCELLANEOUS

 

10.01      Amendments, Etc. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Company or any other Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and the Company or the applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

 

(a)           waive any condition set forth in Section 4.01(a) without the written consent of each Lender;

 

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(b)           extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 8.02) or reduce the Commitment of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.06 other than in accordance with its pro rata share of the related reduction of the Aggregate Commitment, in any case without the written consent of such Lender;

 

(c)           postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment or mandatory prepayment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to the Lenders (or any of them) or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;

 

(d)           reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or L/C Borrowing, or (subject to clause (iv) of the second proviso to this Section 10.01) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; provided, however, that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary (i) to amend the definition of “Default Rate” or to waive any obligation of any Borrower to pay interest or Letter of Credit Fees at the Default Rate or (ii) to amend any financial covenant hereunder (or any defined term used therein) even if the effect of such amendment would be to reduce the rate of interest on any Loan or L/C Borrowing or to reduce any fee payable hereunder;

 

(e)           change Section 2.13 or Section 8.03 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender;

 

(f)            change any provision of Article II or the definition of “Applicable Percentage” or any other provision hereof in manner that would cause any Lender to be obligated to make any Committed Loan or participate in any Letter of Credit or Swing Line Loan, in any case other than in accordance with its pro rata share of the Aggregate Commitment, without the written consent of such Lender;

 

(g)           change any provision of this Section 10.01 or the definition of “Required Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender; or

 

(h)           release (i) any Borrower from the Guaranties or (ii) all or substantially all of the value of the Guaranties of the Subsidiary Guarantors, in each case without the written consent of each Lender;

 

and, provided further, that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the L/C Issuer in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the L/C Issuer under this Agreement or any Issuer Document relating to any Letter of Credit issued or to be issued by it; (ii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Swing Line Lender in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Swing Line Lender under this Agreement; (iii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; and (iv) any Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges

 

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thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder, except that the Commitment of such Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender.

 

10.02      Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.

 

(a)           Notices Generally. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopier as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:

 

(i)            if to the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.02; and
 
(ii)           if to any other Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire.
 

Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by telecopier shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient). Notices delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in subsection (b) below, shall be effective as provided in such subsection (b).

 

(b)           Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or the L/C Issuer pursuant to Article II if such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Company may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

 

Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at

 

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its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.

 

(c)           The Platform. THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.”  THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent Parties”) have any liability to any Borrower, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of any Borrower’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of Borrower Materials through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided, however, that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to any Borrower, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages).

 

(d)           Change of Address, Etc. Each of the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Company, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender. In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, telecopier number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender.

 

(e)           Reliance by Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer and Lenders. The Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Committed Loan Notices and Swing Line Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of any Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof. The Company shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of any Borrower. All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

 

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10.03      No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure by any Lender or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.

 

10.04      Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

 

(a)           Costs and Expenses. The Company shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent), in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the L/C Issuer in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer), and shall pay all fees and time charges for attorneys who may be employees of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer, in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section 10.04, or (B) in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit.

 

(b)           Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender and the L/C Issuer, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, settlement costs and related expenses (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), and shall indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee from all reasonable fees and time charges and disbursements for attorneys who may be employees of any Indemnitee, incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by any Borrower or any other Loan Party arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or, in the case of the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by the L/C Issuer to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries,

 

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or any Environmental Liability related in any way to any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Company or any other Loan Party, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto, in all cases, whether or not caused by or arising, in whole or in part, out of the comparative, contributory or sole negligence of the Indemnitee; 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 by 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 Company or any other Loan Party against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if the Company or such other Loan Party has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

(c)           Reimbursement by Lenders. To the extent that the Company for any reason fails to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section 10.04 to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), the L/C Issuer or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), the L/C Issuer or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount, provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or the L/C Issuer in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or L/C Issuer in connection with such capacity. The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 2.12(d).

 

(d)           Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, no Borrower shall assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof. No Indemnitee referred to in subsection (b) above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed to such unintended recipients by such Indemnitee through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby other than for direct or actual damages resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee as determined by a final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

(e)           Payments. All amounts due under this Section 10.04 shall be payable not later than fifteen Business Days after demand therefor.

 

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(f)            Survival. The agreements in this Section 10.04 shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.

 

10.05      Payments Set Aside. To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of any Borrower is made to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender and the L/C Issuer severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect, in the applicable currency of such recovery or payment. The obligations of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

 

10.06      Successors and Assigns.

 

(a)           Successors and Assigns Generally. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that no Borrower may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an Eligible Assignee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section 10.06, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this Section 10.06, or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (f) of this Section 10.06 (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in subsection (d) of this Section 10.06 and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

(b)           Assignments by Lenders. Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans (including for purposes of this subsection (b), participations in L/C Obligations and in Swing Line Loans) at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

 

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(i)            Minimum Amounts.

 

(A)          in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and

 

(B)           in any case not described in subsection (b)(i)(A) of this Section 10.06, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $5,000,000  unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided, however, that concurrent assignments to members of an Assignee Group and concurrent assignments from members of an Assignee Group to a single assignee (or to an assignee and members of its Assignee Group) will be treated as a single assignment for purposes of determining whether such minimum amount has been met.

 

(ii)           Proportionate Amounts. Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans or the Commitment assigned, except that this clause (ii) shall not apply to the Swing Line Lender’s rights and obligations in respect of Swing Line Loans.

 

(iii)          Required Consents. No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by subsection (b)(i)(B) of this Section 10.06 and, in addition:

 

(A)          the consent of the Company (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (1) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund;

 

(B)           the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender;

 

(C)           the consent of the L/C Issuer (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment that increases the obligation of the assignee to participate in exposure under one or more Letters of Credit (whether or not then outstanding); and

 

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(D)          the consent of the Swing Line Lender (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment.

 

(iv)          Assignment and Assumption. The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee in the amount, if any, required as set forth in Schedule 10.06; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment. The assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

 

(v)           No Assignment to Company. No such assignment shall be made to the Company or any of the Company’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries.

 

(vi)          No Assignment to Natural Persons. No such assignment shall be made to a natural person.

 

(vii)         Euro Loans. The assignee shall be a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or another Person that, through its Lending Offices, is capable of lending Euros to the relevant Borrowers without the imposition of any Taxes or additional Taxes, as the case may be.

 

(viii)        Representation By New Lender. If on the date of any such assignment it is a requirement of Dutch law that each Lender must be a PMP, then (A) the assignee Lender must represent and warrant to the Initial Designated Borrower on the effective date of its purchase of a Commitment that (1) it is a PMP, (2) it is aware that it does not benefit from the protection offered by the Dutch Banking Act to Lenders which are not PMPs, and (3) it has made its own independent appraisal of risks arising under or in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and (B) the consent of the Initial Designated Borrower (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any such sale, assignment or transfer; provided, that if (x) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (y) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, then (I) the Initial Designated Borrower’s consent can only be withheld or delayed if the proposed assignee Lender is not a PMP or the Initial Designated Borrower has reasonable grounds to believe that it is not a PMP and (II) the Initial Designated Borrower will be deemed to have given its consent five (5) Business Days after the receipt by the Initial Designated Borrower and the Company of a written request by a Lender for such consent, unless such consent is expressly refused in writing by the Initial Designated Borrower in accordance with the terms of this Agreement within that time. Each Lender acknowledges that the Initial Designated Borrower has relied upon such representation and warranty.

 

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section 10.06, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a

 

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Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04, 3.05, and 10.04 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment. Upon request, each Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with subsection (d) of this Section 10.06.

 

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

 

(d)           Participations. Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, any Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person or the Company or any of the Company’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans (including such Lender’s participations in L/C Obligations and/or Swing Line Loans) owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.

 

Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to Section 10.01 that affects such Participant. Subject to subsection (e) of this Section 10.06, each Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section 10.06. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender.

 

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(e)           Limitation upon Participant Rights. A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 3.01 or 3.04 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Company’s prior written consent. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 3.01 unless the Company is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrowers, to comply with Section 3.01(e) as though it were a Lender.

 

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

 

(g)           Electronic Execution of Assignments. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

 

(h)           Resignation as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender after Assignment. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if at any time Bank of America assigns all of its Commitment and Loans pursuant to subsection (b) above, Bank of America may, (i) upon 30 days’ notice to the Company and the Lenders, resign as L/C Issuer and/or (ii) upon 30 days’ notice to the Company, resign as Swing Line Lender. In the event of any such resignation as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, the Company shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a successor L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender hereunder; provided, however, that no failure by the Company to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of Bank of America as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be. If Bank of America resigns as L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights and obligations of the L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Committed Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c)). If Bank of America resigns as Swing Line Lender, it shall retain all the rights of the Swing Line Lender provided for hereunder with respect to Swing Line Loans made by it and outstanding as of the effective date of such resignation, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Committed Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(c). Upon the appointment of a successor L/C Issuer and/or Swing Line Lender, (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, and (b) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory

 

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to Bank of America to effectively assume the obligations of Bank of America with respect to such Letters of Credit.

 

10.07      Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates’ respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors and representatives (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section 10.07, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to a Borrower and its obligations, (g) with the consent of the Company or (h) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 10.07 or (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Company.

 

For purposes of this Section 10.07, “Information” means all information received from the Company or any Subsidiary relating to the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Company or any Subsidiary, provided that, in the case of information received from the Company or any Subsidiary after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section 10.07 shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

 

Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer acknowledges that (a) the Information may include material non-public information concerning the Company or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and (c) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with applicable Law, including Federal and state securities Laws.

 

10.08      Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, the L/C Issuer and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever

 

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currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender, the L/C Issuer or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of any Borrower against any and all of the obligations of such Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, irrespective of whether or not such Lender or the L/C Issuer shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of such Borrower may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Lender or the L/C Issuer different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness. The rights of each Lender, the L/C Issuer and their respective Affiliates under this Section 10.08 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, the L/C Issuer or their respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer agrees to notify the Company and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

 

10.09      Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “Maximum Rate”). If the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Company. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.

 

10.10      Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

10.11      Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof. Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or

 

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any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding.

 

10.12      Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

10.13      Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04 or provides notice under Section 3.02, or if any Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, or if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, then the Company may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 10.06), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:

 

(a)           the Company shall have paid (or caused a Designated Subsidiary to pay) to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee specified in Section 10.06(b);

 

(b)           such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and L/C Advances, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 3.05) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Company or applicable Designated Subsidiary (in the case of all other amounts);

 

(c)           in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter; and

 

(d)           such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws.

 

A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Company to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

 

10.14      Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

 

(a)           GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

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(b)           SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. EACH BORROWER IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER OR THE L/C ISSUER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST ANY BORROWER OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

 

(c)           WAIVER OF VENUE. EACH BORROWER IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION 10.14. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

 

(d)           SERVICE OF PROCESS. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 10.02. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

 

10.15      Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY 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 OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF

 

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LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 10.15.

 

10.16      No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby, each Borrower acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that: (i) the credit facility provided for hereunder and any related arranging or other services in connection therewith (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document) is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Borrowers and their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers, on the other hand, and the Borrowers are capable of evaluating and understanding and understand and accept the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents (including any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or thereof); (ii) in connection with the process leading to such transaction, the Administrative Agent and each Arranger is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the financial advisor, agent or fiduciary, for any of the Borrowers or any of their respective Affiliates, stockholders, creditors or employees or any other Person; (iii) neither the Administrative Agent nor any Arranger has assumed or will assume an advisory, agency or fiduciary responsibility in favor of any Borrower with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto, including with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document (irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent or any Arranger has advised or is currently advising any of the Borrowers or their respective Affiliates on other matters) and neither the Administrative Agent nor any Arranger has any obligation to any of the Borrowers or their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; (iv) the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrowers and their respective Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent nor any Arranger has any obligation to disclose any of such interests by virtue of any advisory, agency or fiduciary relationship; and (v) the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers have not provided and will not provide any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby (including any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document) and each Borrower has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate. Each Borrower hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty. Nothing in this Section 10.16 shall modify any obligation of any Person under Section 10.07.

 

10.17      USA PATRIOT Act Notice. Each Lender that is subject to the Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrowers that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Act”), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrowers, which information includes the name

 

106



 

and address of each Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify such Borrower in accordance with the Act.

 

10.18      Judgment Currency. If, for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court, it is necessary to convert a sum due hereunder or any other Loan Document in one currency into another currency, the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Administrative Agent could purchase the first currency with such other currency on the Business Day preceding that on which final judgment is given. The obligation of each Borrower in respect of any such sum due from it to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders hereunder or under the other Loan Documents shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency (the “Judgment Currency”) other than that in which such sum is denominated in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Agreement (the “Agreement Currency”), be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by the Administrative Agent of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment Currency, the Administrative Agent may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase the Agreement Currency with the Judgment Currency. If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to the Administrative Agent from any Borrower in the Agreement Currency, such Borrower agrees, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify the Administrative Agent or the Person to whom such obligation was owing against such loss. If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is greater than the sum originally due to the Administrative Agent in such currency, the Administrative Agent agrees to return the amount of any excess to such Borrower (or to any other Person who may be entitled thereto under applicable law).

 

ARTICLE XI.
NO NOVATION; REFERENCES TO THIS AGREEMENT
IN LOAN DOCUMENTS

 

11.01      No Novation. It is the express intent of the parties hereto that this Agreement (i) shall re-evidence the Borrowers’ indebtedness under the Existing Credit Agreement, (ii) is entered into in substitution for, and not in payment of, the obligations of the Borrowers under the Existing Credit Agreement, and (iii) is in no way intended to constitute a novation of any of the Borrowers’ indebtedness which was evidenced by the Existing Credit Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents. All Loans made and Obligations incurred under the Existing Credit Agreement which are outstanding on the Closing Date shall continue as Loans and Obligations under (and shall be governed by the terms of) this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, upon the effectiveness hereof: (a) all letters of credit issued (or deemed issued) under the Existing Credit Agreement which remain outstanding on the Closing Date shall continue as Letters of Credit issued under (and shall be governed by the terms of) this Agreement, (b) all Obligations constituting Guaranteed Swap Obligations with any Lender or any Affiliate of any Lender which are outstanding on the Closing Date shall continue as Obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and (c) the Agent shall make such reallocations of each Lender’s share of the outstanding Loans under the Existing Credit Agreement as are necessary in order that each such Lender’s share of the outstanding Loans hereunder reflects such Lender’s ratable share of the Aggregate Commitments hereunder. On the Closing Date, the Borrowers shall pay to the Agent for the ratable account of the Lenders then party to the Existing Credit Agreement, (i) accrued and unpaid facility and utilization fees under the Existing Credit

 

107



 

Agreement through the Closing Date, (ii) accrued and unpaid interest on Base Rate Loans under (and as defined in) the Existing Credit Agreement through the Closing Date and (iii) any amounts due to such Lenders on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 3.05 of the Existing Credit Agreement.

 

11.02      References to This Agreement In Loan Documents. Upon the effectiveness of this Agreement, on and after the date hereof, each reference in any other Loan Document to the Existing Credit Agreement (including any reference therein to “the Credit Agreement,” “thereunder,” “thereof,” “therein” or words of like import referring thereto) shall mean and be a reference to this Agreement.

 

Remainder of page intentionally left blank.

 

108



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

 

WATTS WATER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 /s/ William C. McCartney

 

 

Name: William C. McCartney

 

Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

WATTS INDUSTRIES EUROPE B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ J. van Kouterik

 

 

Name: J. van Kouterik

 

Title: CFO Vice President

 

Signature Page to
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 



 

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as

 

Administrative Agent

 

 

 

 

 

By:

    /s/ David A. Johanson

 

 

Name:

David A. Johanson

 

Title:

Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender, an

 

L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By:

  /s/ Jonathan M. Phillips

 

 

Name:

Jonathan M. Phillips

 

Title:

Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

 

as Syndication Agent and a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By:

   /s/ Peter M. Killea

 

 

Name:

 Peter M. Killea

 

Title:

Vice President

 

 

KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

 

as a Documentation Agent and a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By:

  /s/ Thomas J. Purcell

 

 

Name:

Thomas J. Purcell

 

Title:

Senior Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

SUNTRUST BANK,

 

as a Documentation Agent and a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By:

  /s/ Robert W. Maddox

 

 

Name:

Robert W. Maddox

 

Title:

Vice President

 

Signature Page to
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 



 

 

WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL

 

ASSOCIATION, as a Documentation Agent

 

and a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By:

  /s/ Patrick D. Finn

 

 

Name:

Patrick D. Finn

 

Title:

Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

CALYON NEW YORK BRANCH,

 

as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By:

   /s/ James Gibson

 

 

Name:

James Gibson

 

Title:

Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

By:

   /s/ Philip Schubert

 

 

Name:

Philip Schubert

 

Title:

Director

 

 

 

 

 

CITIZENS BANK OF MASSACHUSETTS,

 

as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By:

   /s/ Daniel Bernard

 

 

Name:

Daniel Bernard

 

Title:

Senior Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

LASALLE BANK NATIONAL

 

ASSOCIATION, as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By:

   /s/ Gary A. Pirri

 

 

Name:

Gary A. Pirri

 

Title:

Senior Vice President

 

Signature Page to
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 



 

 

HSBC BANK USA, N.A., as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By:

  /s/ Manuel Burgueno

 

 

Name:

Manuel Burgueno

 

Title:

Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO.,

 

as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By:

  /s/ John D. Rogers

 

 

Name:

John D. Rogers

 

Title:

Senior Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL

 

ASSOCIATION, as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By:

  /s/ Derek D. Brust

 

 

Name:

Derek D. Brust

 

Title:

Senior Vice President

 

Signature Page to
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 


EX-10.6 7 a06-10770_1ex10d6.htm EX-10

Exhibit 10.6

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED GUARANTY

 

This AMENDED AND RESTATED GUARANTY (this “Guaranty”), dated as of April 27, 2006, is made by Watts Water Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), the Subsidiaries of the Company set forth on the signature pages hereto (the “Initial Subsidiary Guarantors”), Watts Industries Europe B.V., a private company with limited liability organized under the laws of The Netherlands (the “Initial Designated Borrower” and, together with the Company, the Initial Subsidiary Guarantors and any additional Subsidiaries of the Company that become parties to this Guaranty by executing a Supplement hereto in the form attached hereto as Annex I, the “Guarantors”), in favor of Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent (in such capacity, “Administrative Agent”) for the Lenders pursuant to the Credit Agreement hereinafter defined.

 

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS

 

WHEREAS, the Company, the Initial Designated Borrower and certain of the Initial Subsidiary Guarantors are parties to that certain Guaranty, dated as of September 23, 2004 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof, the “Existing Guaranty”), in favor of the Administrative Agent, which Existing Guaranty was entered into in connection with that certain Credit Agreement, dated as September 23, 2004 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified prior to the date hereof, the “Existing Credit Agreement”), by and among the Company, certain Subsidiaries of the Company party thereto, the lenders party thereto and the Administrative Agent;

 

WHEREAS, the Existing Credit Agreement has been amended and restated in its entirety pursuant to that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Credit Agreement”), among the Company, certain Subsidiaries of the Company party thereto pursuant to Section 2.14 thereof (the “Designated Borrowers” and, collectively with the Company, the “Borrowers”), the Lenders and the Administrative Agent;

 

WHEREAS, the Company is the parent of each Designated Borrower, and as such will derive direct and indirect economic benefits from the making of the Loans and other financial accommodations provided to the Designated Borrowers pursuant to the Credit Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, (i) each Domestic Designated Borrower is, with respect to the Company and each other Designated Borrower, a direct or indirect Subsidiary thereof and/or commonly owned and controlled by the Company, and as such will derive direct and indirect economic benefits from the making of the Loans and other financial accommodations provided to such other Borrowers pursuant to the Credit Agreement and (ii) each Foreign Designated Borrower is, with respect to each other Foreign Designated Borrower, a direct or indirect Subsidiary thereof and/or commonly owned and controlled by the Company, and as such will derive direct and indirect economic benefits from the making of the Loans and other financial accommodations provided to such other Foreign Designated Borrowers pursuant to the Credit Agreement;

 



 

WHEREAS, (i) each Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor is, with respect to each Borrower, a direct or indirect Subsidiary thereof and/or commonly owned and controlled by the Company, and as such will derive direct and indirect economic benefits from the making of the Loans and other financial accommodations provided to the Borrowers pursuant to the Credit Agreement and (ii) each Foreign Subsidiary Guarantor is, with respect to each Foreign Designated Borrower, a direct or indirect Subsidiary thereof and/or commonly owned and controlled by the Company, and as such will derive direct and indirect economic benefits from the making of the Loans and other financial accommodations provided to the Foreign Designated Borrowers pursuant to the Credit Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, the Domestic Subsidiaries of the Company party hereto as of the date hereof constitute the Material Domestic Subsidiaries of the Company as of the date hereof and shall be Domestic Subsidiary Guarantors hereunder; and

 

WHEREAS, in order to induce Administrative Agent and Lenders to enter into the Credit Agreement and other Loan Documents and to induce Lenders to make the Loans and other financial accommodations as provided for in the Credit Agreement, (i) the Company, each Domestic Designated Borrower and each Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor (collectively, the “Domestic Guarantors”) have agreed to guarantee payment of the Obligations of all of the Borrowers and (ii) each Foreign Designated Borrower and each Foreign Subsidiary Guarantor (collectively, the “Foreign Guarantors”) have agreed to guarantee payment of the Obligations of all of the Foreign Designated Borrowers.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants hereinafter contained, and to induce Lenders to provide the Loans and other financial accommodations under the Credit Agreement, it is agreed as follows:

 

1.             Guaranty. Each Domestic Guarantor hereby, jointly and severally, absolutely and unconditionally guarantees, as a guarantee of payment and not merely as a guarantee of collection, prompt payment when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, and at all times thereafter, of any and all existing and future Obligations of all of the Borrowers to the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Affiliates of the foregoing to whom Obligations are owed, and the respective successors, endorsees, transferees and assigns of each of the foregoing (each a “Holder of Obligations” and collectively the “Holders of Obligations”) (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and all costs, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred by the Holders of Obligations in connection with the collection or enforcement thereof) (collectively, the “Guaranteed Obligations”). Each Foreign Guarantor hereby, jointly and severally, absolutely and unconditionally guarantees, as a guarantee of payment and not merely as a guarantee of collection, prompt payment when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, and at all times thereafter, of any and all existing and future Obligations of all of the Foreign Designated Borrowers to the Holders of Obligations (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and all costs, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred by the Holders of Obligations in connection with the collection or enforcement thereof) (collectively, the “Guaranteed Foreign Obligations”; it being understood that all references to the “Guaranteed Obligations” herein (except in the first sentence of Section 10, in which instance the reference to “Guaranteed Obligations” shall refer to all existing and future Obligations of all of the Borrowers

 

2



 

to the Holders of Obligations) shall, in the case of any Foreign Guarantor, refer only to the Guaranteed Foreign Obligations). This Guaranty shall not be affected by the genuineness, validity, regularity or enforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations or any instrument or agreement evidencing any Guaranteed Obligations, or by the existence, validity, enforceability, perfection, or extent of any collateral therefor, or by any fact or circumstance relating to the Guaranteed Obligations which might otherwise constitute a defense to the obligations of any Guarantor under this Guaranty. Notwithstanding any provision herein contained to the contrary, each Guarantor’s liability hereunder shall be limited to an amount not to exceed as of any date of determination the greater of: (a) the net amount of all Loans and other extensions of credit (including Letters of Credit) advanced to another Loan Party under the Credit Agreement and directly or indirectly re-loaned or otherwise transferred to, or incurred for the benefit of, such Guarantor, plus interest thereon at the applicable rate specified in the Credit Agreement; or (b) the amount which could be claimed by the Administrative Agent and the Holders of Obligations from such Guarantor under this Guaranty without rendering such claim voidable or avoidable under Section 548 of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States or under any applicable state Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act, Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act or similar statute or common law.

 

2.             No Setoff or Deductions; Taxes. The Guarantors hereby represent, warrant and jointly and severally agree that, as of the date of this Guaranty, their obligations under this Guaranty are not subject to any offsets or defenses against the Administrative Agent or the Holders of Obligations or any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations of any kind. The Guarantors further jointly and severally agree that their obligations under this Guaranty shall not be subject to any counterclaims, offsets or defenses against the Administrative Agent or any Holder of Obligation or any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations of any kind which may arise in the future. All payments required to be made by each Guarantor hereunder shall be made to the Holders of Obligations free and clear of, and without deduction for, any and all present and future taxes. If any Guarantor shall be required by law to deduct any taxes from or in respect of any sum payable hereunder, (a) the sum payable shall be increased as much as shall be necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2) the Holders of Obligations receive an amount equal to the sum they would have received had no such deductions been made, (b) such Guarantor shall make such deductions, and (c) such Guarantor shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant taxing or other authority in accordance with applicable law. Within thirty (30) days after the date of any payment of such taxes, each applicable Guarantor shall furnish to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof. Each Guarantor shall jointly and severally indemnify and, within ten business (10) days of written demand therefor, pay each Holder of Obligations for the full amount of taxes paid by any Holder of Obligations in respect of any sum payable hereunder (including any taxes imposed on any Holder of Obligations by any jurisdiction on amounts payable under this Section 2) and any liability (including penalties, interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such taxes were correctly or legally asserted; provided, that no Foreign Guarantor shall be liable for any indemnity for (or otherwise with respect to) any taxes paid by a Holder of Obligations in respect of a payment received from any Domestic Guarantor.

 

3.             No Termination. This Guaranty is a continuing and irrevocable guaranty of all Guaranteed Obligations now or hereafter existing and shall remain in full force and effect until all Guaranteed Obligations and any other amounts payable under this Guaranty are indefeasibly

 

3



 

paid and performed in full and any commitments of the Lenders or facilities provided by the Lenders with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations are terminated. Payment by Guarantors shall be made to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds in Dollars or, as applicable, such other currency in which the related Guaranteed Obligations are required to be paid pursuant to the Credit Agreement, and shall be credited and applied to the Guaranteed Obligations.

 

4.             Waiver of Notices. Each Guarantor waives notice of the acceptance of this Guaranty and of the extension or continuation of the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof. Each Guarantor further waives presentment, protest, notice, dishonor or default, demand for payment and any other notices to which such Guarantor might otherwise be entitled.

 

5.             Subrogation. No Guarantor shall exercise any right of subrogation, contribution or similar rights with respect to any payments it makes under this Guaranty until all of the Guaranteed Obligations and any amounts payable under this Guaranty are indefeasibly paid and performed in full and any commitments of the Lenders or facilities provided by the Lenders with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations are terminated. If any amounts are paid to any Guarantor in violation of the foregoing limitation, then such amounts shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Holders of Obligations and shall promptly be paid to the Administrative Agent and shall be credited and applied to the Guaranteed Obligations, whether matured or unmatured.

 

6.             Indemnification. To the extent that any Guarantor shall make a payment under this Guaranty (any such payment, a “Guarantor Payment”) that, taking into account all other Guarantor Payments then previously or concurrently made by any other Guarantor, exceeds the amount that such Guarantor would otherwise have paid if each Guarantor had paid the aggregate Guaranteed Obligations satisfied by such Guarantor Payment in the same proportion that such Guarantor’s “Allocable Amount” (as defined below) (as determined immediately prior to such Guarantor Payment) bore to the aggregate Allocable Amounts of each of the Guarantors as determined immediately prior to the making of such Guarantor Payment, then, following the indefeasible payment in full of all Guaranteed Obligations and any other amounts payable under this Guaranty and the termination of any commitments of the Lenders or facilities provided by the Lenders with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations, such Guarantor shall be entitled to receive contribution and indemnification payments from, and be reimbursed by, each other Guarantor for the amount of such excess, pro rata based upon their respective Allocable Amounts in effect immediately prior to such Guarantor Payment. As of any date of determination, the “Allocable Amount” of any Guarantor shall be equal to the maximum amount of the claim that could then be recovered from such Guarantor under this Guaranty without rendering such claim voidable or avoidable under Section 548 of Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, under any applicable state Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act, Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act or similar statute or common law. This Section 6 is intended only to define the relative rights of the Guarantors and nothing set forth in this Section 6 is intended to or shall impair the obligations of the Guarantors, jointly and severally, to pay any amounts as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Guaranty. The rights of the parties under this Section 6 shall be exercisable upon the full and indefeasible payment of all Guaranteed Obligations and any other amounts payable under this Guaranty and the termination of any commitments of the Lenders or facilities provided by the Lenders with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations. The parties hereto acknowledge that the rights of contribution and indemnification hereunder shall constitute assets of the Guarantor or Guarantors to which such contribution and indemnification is owing.

 

4



 

7.             Waiver of Suretyship Defenses. Each Guarantor agrees that the Holders of Obligations may, at any time and from time to time, and without notice to the Guarantor, make any agreement with any Borrower or with any other person or entity liable on any of the Guaranteed Obligations or providing collateral as security for the Guaranteed Obligations, for the extension, renewal, payment, compromise, discharge or release of the Guaranteed Obligations, any other guarantor or any collateral (in whole or in part), or for any modification or amendment of the terms thereof or of any instrument or agreement evidencing the Guaranteed Obligations or the provision of collateral, all without in any way impairing, releasing, discharging or otherwise affecting the obligations of such Guarantor under this Guaranty. Each Guarantor waives any defense arising by reason of any disability or other defense of any Borrower or any other guarantor, or the cessation from any cause whatsoever of the liability of any Borrower, or any claim that such Guarantor’s obligations exceed or are more burdensome than those of any Borrower and waives the benefit of any statute of limitations affecting the liability of such Guarantor hereunder. Each Guarantor waives any right to enforce any remedy which any Holder of Obligations now has or may hereafter have against any Borrower and waives any benefit of and any right to participate in any security now or hereafter held by any Holder of Obligations.

 

8.             Exhaustion of Other Remedies Not Required. The obligations of each Guarantor hereunder are those of primary obligor, and not merely as surety, and are independent of the Guaranteed Obligations. Each Guarantor waives diligence by the Holders of Obligations and action on delinquency in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof, including, without limitation any provisions of law requiring any Holder of Obligations to exhaust any right or remedy or to take any action against any Borrower, any other guarantor or any other person, entity or property before enforcing this Guaranty against such Guarantor.

 

9.             Reinstatement. Notwithstanding anything in this Guaranty to the contrary, this Guaranty shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any payment of any portion of the Guaranteed Obligations is revoked, terminated, rescinded or reduced or must otherwise be restored or returned upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of any Borrower or any other person or entity or otherwise, as if such payment had not been made and whether or not the Administrative Agent or any other Holder of Obligations is in possession of or has released this Guaranty and regardless of any prior revocation, rescission, termination or reduction.

 

10.          Subordination. Each Guarantor hereby subordinates the payment of all obligations and indebtedness of any Loan Party owing to such Guarantor, whether now existing or hereafter arising, including but not limited to any obligation of any Loan Party to such Guarantor as subrogee of the Holders of Obligations or resulting from such Guarantor’s performance under this Guaranty, to the indefeasible payment in full of all Guaranteed Obligations. If the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Holders of Obligations, so requests, any such obligation or indebtedness of any Loan Party to such Guarantor shall be enforced and performance received by such Guarantor as trustee for the Holders of Obligations and the proceeds thereof shall be paid over to the Administrative Agent on account of the Guaranteed Obligations and shall be credited and applied to the Guaranteed Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, but without reducing or affecting in any manner the liability of any Guarantor under this Guaranty.

 

11.          Stay of Acceleration. In the event that acceleration of the time for payment of any of the Guaranteed Obligations is stayed, upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization

 

5



 

of any Borrower or any other person or entity, or otherwise, all such amounts shall nonetheless be payable by each Guarantor immediately upon demand by the Administrative Agent.

 

12.          Expenses. Each Guarantor shall pay on demand all out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses and the allocated cost and disbursements of internal legal counsel) in any way relating to the enforcement or protection of the Holders’ of Obligations rights under this Guaranty, including any incurred in the preservation, protection or enforcement of any rights of the Holders of Obligations in any case commenced by or against such Guarantor under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States or any similar or successor statute; provided, that no Foreign Guarantor shall be liable for any expenses in any way related to the enforcement or protection of the rights of the Holders of Obligations hereunder against any Domestic Guarantor. The obligations of each Guarantor under the preceding sentence shall survive termination of this Guaranty.

 

13.          Amendments. No provision of this Guaranty may be waived, amended, supplemented or modified, except by a written instrument executed by the Administrative Agent and each Guarantor.

 

14.          No Waiver; Enforceability. No failure by the Holders of Obligations to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right, remedy or power hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy or power hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right. The remedies herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law or in equity. The unenforceability or invalidity of any provision of this Guaranty shall not affect the enforceability or validity of any other provision herein. The obligations hereunder shall not be affected, limited or impaired by any acts of any legislative body or governmental authority affecting any Borrower, including but not limited to, any restrictions on or regarding the conversion of currency or repatriation or control of funds or any total or partial expropriation of any Borrower’s property, or by any economic, political, regulatory or other events in the countries where such Borrower is located.

 

15.          Binding Effect; Assignment. This Guaranty shall (a) bind each Guarantor and its successors and assigns; provided, that no Guarantor may assign its rights or obligations under this Guaranty without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment without such consent shall be void) and (b) inure to the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Holders of Obligations and their respective successors and assigns and any Holder of Obligations may, subject to the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement, without notice to the Guarantor and without affecting the Guarantor’s obligations hereunder, assign or sell participations in the Guaranteed Obligations and this Guaranty, in whole or in part. Each Guarantor agrees that the Administrative Agent or any Holder of Obligations may, subject to the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement, disclose to any prospective purchaser of all or part of the Guaranteed Obligations any and all information in such Person’s possession concerning such Guarantor, this Guaranty and any security for this Guaranty.

 

16.          Condition of the Borrowers. Each Guarantor acknowledges and agrees that it has the sole responsibility for, and has adequate means of, obtaining from each Borrower such information concerning the financial condition, business and operations of such Borrower as such Guarantor requires, and that neither the Administrative Agent nor any Holder of Obligations has any duty, and such Guarantor is not relying on any Holder of Obligations at any time, to disclose to such Guarantor any information relating to the business, operations or financial condition of any Borrower.

 

6



 

17.          Setoff. If and to the extent any payment is not made when due hereunder, each Holder of Obligations and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Holder of Obligation or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of any Guarantor against any and all of the obligations of such Guarantor now or hereafter existing under this Guaranty or any other Loan Document to such Holder of Obligations, irrespective of whether or not such Holder of Obligations shall have made any demand under this Guaranty or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of such Guarantor may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Holder of Obligations different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness. The rights of each Holder of Obligations and their respective Affiliates under this Section 17 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Holder of Obligations or its respective Affiliates may have. Each Holder of Obligations agrees to notify the Company and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application; provided, that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

 

18.          Representations and Warranties. Each Guarantor represents and warrants that:

 

(a)           Such Guarantor is duly organized and formed, validly existing and in good standing (to the extent such concept is applicable to such entity) under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization;

(b)           Such Guarantor has all requisite power and authority and all requisite governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to (i) own its assets and carry on its business and (ii) execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Guaranty; and

(c)           The making and performance of this Guaranty by such Guarantor have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and do not and will not (i) contravene the terms of any of such Guarantor’s Organization Documents; (ii) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien under, or require any payment to be made under (x) any Contractual Obligation to which such Guarantor is a party or affecting such Guarantor or the properties of such Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries or (y) any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Guarantor or its property is subject; or (iii) violate any Law.

 

19.          Foreign Currency. If any claim arising under or related to this Guaranty is reduced to judgment denominated in a currency (the “Judgment Currency”) other than the  currencies in which the applicable Guaranteed Obligations are denominated (collectively the “Obligations Currency”), the judgment shall be for the equivalent in the Judgment Currency of the amount of the claim denominated in the Obligations Currency included in the judgment, determined as of the date of judgment. The equivalent of any Obligations Currency amount in any Judgment Currency shall be calculated at the spot rate for the purchase of the Obligations Currency with the Judgment Currency quoted by the Administrative Agent in the place of the Administrative Agent’s choice at or about 8:00 a.m. on the date for determination specified above. Each Guarantor shall indemnify the Holders of Obligations and hold the Holders of Obligations harmless from and against all loss or damage resulting from any change in exchange rates between the date any claim is reduced to judgment and the date of payment thereof by any

 

7



 

Guarantor. If the Administrative Agent so notifies the Guarantors in writing, at the Administrative Agent’s sole and absolute discretion, payments under this Guaranty shall be the Dollar Equivalent of the Guaranteed Obligations or any portion thereof, determined as of the date payment is made.

 

20.          Further Assurances. Each Guarantor agrees, upon the written request of the Administrative Agent, to execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent, from time to time, any additional instruments or documents reasonably considered necessary by Administrative Agent to cause this Guaranty to be, become or remain valid and effective in accordance with its terms.

 

21.          Notices. Except as otherwise provided herein, whenever it is provided herein that any notice, demand, request, consent, approval, declaration or other communication shall or may be given to or served upon any of the parties by any other party, or whenever any of the parties desires to give and serve upon any other party any communication with respect to this Guaranty, each such notice, demand, request, consent, approval, declaration or other communication shall be in writing and shall be given in the manner, and deemed received, as provided for in the Credit Agreement, with respect to the Administrative Agent at its notice address therein and with respect to any Guarantor at the address set forth for the Company in the Credit Agreement or such other address or telecopy number as such party may hereafter specify for such purpose by notice to the Administrative Agent as provided for in the Credit Agreement.

 

22.          GOVERNING LAW. THIS GUARANTY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

23.          SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. EACH GUARANTOR IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. 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 GUARANTY OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY HOLDER OF OBLIGATIONS MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST ANY GUARANTOR OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

 

24.          WAIVER OF VENUE; SERVICE OF PROCESS. EACH GUARANTOR IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY OR ANY OTHER LOAN

 

8



 

DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN SECTION 23. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 21. NOTHING IN THIS GUARANTY WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

 

25.          WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY 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 OR RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS GUARANTY AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 25.

 

26.          Headings. Section headings in this Guaranty are for convenience of reference only and shall not govern the interpretation of any provision of this Guaranty.

 

27.          Additional Guarantors. Certain Subsidiaries of the Company shall be required to become, and the Company will promptly cause such Subsidiary to become, in accordance with the Credit Agreement, a Guarantor and be made a party to this Guaranty pursuant to this Section by the execution and delivery by the Administrative Agent and such Subsidiary of a supplement in the form of Annex I hereto (which supplement shall indicate whether such Subsidiary shall constitute a Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor or Foreign Subsidiary Guarantor) and such additional documentation and legal opinions as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request. The execution and delivery of any such instrument shall not require the consent of any Guarantor hereunder. The rights and obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the addition of any new Guarantor as a party to this Guaranty.

 

28.          No Novation; References to This Guaranty In Loan Documents.

 

(a)           It is the express intent of the parties hereto that this Guaranty (i) shall re-evidence the Guarantors’ obligations under the Existing Guaranty, (ii) is entered into in substitution for, and not in payment of, the obligations of the Guarantors under the Guaranty, and (iii) is in no way intended to constitute a novation of any of the Guarantors’ obligations that were evidenced by the Existing Guaranty or any of the other Loan Documents.

 

(b)           Upon the effectiveness of this Guaranty, on and after the date hereof, each reference in any other Loan Document to the Existing Guaranty (including any reference therein to “the Guaranty,” “thereunder,” “thereof,” “therein” or words of like import referring thereto) shall mean and be a reference to this Guaranty.

 

9



 

29.          Counterparts. This Guaranty may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Guaranty by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Guaranty.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]

 

10



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered this Guaranty as of the date first above written.

 

 

WATTS WATER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William C. McCartney

 

 

Name:

William C. McCartney

 

 

Title:

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

WATTS INDUSTRIES EUROPE B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ J. van Kouterik

 

 

Name:

J. van Kouterik

 

 

Title:

CFO Vice President

 

 



 

 

INITIAL SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS:

 

 

 

WATTS REGULATOR CO.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William C. McCartney

 

 

Name:

William C. McCartney

 

 

Title:

President

 

 

 

 

ANDERSON-BARROWS METALS

 

CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William C. McCartney

 

 

Name:

William C. McCartney

 

 

Title:

President

 

 

 

 

WEBSTER VALVE, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William C. McCartney

 

 

Name:

William C. McCartney

 

 

Title:

President

 

 

 

 

HUNTER INNOVATIONS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William C. McCartney

 

 

Name:

William C. McCartney

 

 

Title:

President

 

 

 

 

WATTS DISTRIBUTION COMPANY, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William C. McCartney

 

 

Name:

William C. McCartney

 

 

Title:

President

 

 



 

 

CORE INDUSTRIES INC.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William C. McCartney

 

 

Name:

William C. McCartney

 

 

Title:

President

 

 

 

 

DORMONT MANUFACTURING COMPANY

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William C. McCartney

 

 

Name:

William C. McCartney

 

 

Title:

President

 

 

 

 

FLOWMATIC SYSTEMS, INC.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William C. McCartney

 

 

Name:

William C. McCartney

 

 

Title:

President

 

 



 

ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED:

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as

Administrative Agent

 

 

By:

/s/ David A. Johnson

 

Name: David A. Johnson

Title: Vice President

 



 

ANNEX I TO
AMENDED AND RESTATED GUARANTY

 

Reference is hereby made to the Amended and Restated Guaranty (as from time to time amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Guaranty”), dated as of April 27, 2006, made by Watts Water Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), certain Subsidiaries of the Company (collectively, the “Initial Subsidiary Guarantors”), Watts Industries Europe B.V., a private company with limited liability organized under the laws of The Netherlands (“Watts Europe” and, together with the Company, the Initial Subsidiary Guarantors and any additional Subsidiaries of the Company that become parties to the Guaranty by executing a Supplement thereto in the form attached thereto as Annex I, the “Guarantors”), in favor of Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”). Each capitalized term used herein and not defined herein shall have the meaning given to it in the Guaranty.

 

By its execution below, the undersigned, [NAME OF NEW GUARANTOR], a [                                         ], agrees to become, and does hereby become, a Guarantor under the Guaranty and agrees to be bound by such Guaranty as if originally a party thereto. By its execution below, the undersigned represents and warrants that all of the representations and warranties contained in Section 18 of the Guaranty are true and correct in all respects as of the date hereof. The undersigned shall constitute a [Domestic Subsidiary Guarantor] [Foreign Subsidiary Guarantor] for all purposes under the Guaranty and the other Loan Documents.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, [NAME OF NEW GUARANTOR], a [                           ] has executed and delivered this Annex I counterpart to the Guaranty as of this                      day of                     ,        .

 

 

 

[NAME OF NEW GUARANTOR]

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 


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