EX-99.3 4 dex993.htm AMENDED & RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT Amended & Restated Credit Agreement

Exhibit 99.3

EXECUTION COPY

AMENDED AND RESTATED

CREDIT AGREEMENT

dated as of

May 21, 2007

among

DELHAIZE AMERICA, INC.,

DELHAIZE GROUP S.A.,

The SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS Party Hereto,

The LENDERS Party Hereto,

and

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent, Issuing Bank and Swingline Lender

$500,000,000 5-YEAR REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY

 


J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.,

as Lead Arranger and Bookrunner

 


BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

FORTIS CAPITAL CORP.,

ING LUXEMBOURG S.A.,

WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

and

COBANK, ACB,

as Syndication Agents


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 


 

          PAGE
   ARTICLE 1   
   DEFINITIONS   
Section 1.01.    Defined Terms    1
Section 1.02.    Classification of Loans and Borrowings    25
Section 1.03.    Terms Generally    25
Section 1.04.    Accounting Terms; IFRS    26
   ARTICLE 2   
   THE CREDITS   
Section 2.01.    Commitments    26
Section 2.02.    Loans and Borrowings    26
Section 2.03.    Requests for Revolving Borrowings    27
Section 2.04.    Swingline Loans    28
Section 2.05.    Funding of Borrowings    29
Section 2.06.    Interest Elections    30
Section 2.07.    Termination and Reduction of Commitments    32
Section 2.08.    Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt    32
Section 2.09.    Prepayment of Loans    33
Section 2.10.    Fees    34
Section 2.11.    Interest    35
Section 2.12.    Alternate Rate of Interest    36
Section 2.13.    Increased Costs    37
Section 2.14.    Break Funding Payments    38
Section 2.15.    Taxes    39
Section 2.16.    Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs    41
Section 2.17.    Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders    42
Section 2.18.    Letters of Credit    43
Section 2.19.    Competitive Bid Procedure    48
Section 2.20.    Increase of Commitments    50
Section 2.21.    Extension of Maturity    52
Section 2.22.    Regulation D Compensation    53
   ARTICLE 3   
   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES   
Section 3.01.    Organization; Powers    54
Section 3.02.    Authorization; Enforceability    54
Section 3.03.    Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts    54
Section 3.04.    Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change    55

 

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Section 3.05.    Properties    55
Section 3.06.    Litigation and Environmental Matters    55
Section 3.07.    Compliance with Laws and Agreements    56
Section 3.08.    Investment Company Status    56
Section 3.09.    Taxes    56
Section 3.10.    ERISA    56
Section 3.11.    Disclosure    56
Section 3.12.    Margin Stock    57
Section 3.13.    No Burdensome Restrictions    57
Section 3.14.    Subsidiaries    57
Section 3.15.    Solvency    57
   ARTICLE 4   
   CONDITIONS TO FUNDING   
Section 4.01.    Restatement Date    57
Section 4.02.    Each Credit Event    59
   ARTICLE 5   
   AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS   
Section 5.01.    Financial Statements and Other Information    59
Section 5.02.    Notices of Material Events    61
Section 5.03.    Existence; Conduct of Business    61
Section 5.04.    Payment of Obligations    62
Section 5.05.    Maintenance of Properties; Insurance    62
Section 5.06.    Books and Records; Inspection and Appraisal Rights    62
Section 5.07.    Compliance with Laws and Material Contractual Obligations    62
Section 5.08.    Use of Proceeds    62
Section 5.09.    Change in Ratings    63
Section 5.10.    Additional Subsidiaries    63
Section 5.11.    Change in Control Approval    63
   ARTICLE 6   
   NEGATIVE COVENANTS   
Section 6.01.    Liens    63
Section 6.02.    Limitations on Indebtedness of Subsidiaries    65
Section 6.03.    Fundamental Changes.    65
Section 6.04.    Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions; Hedging Agreements    66
Section 6.05.    Transactions with Affiliates    68
Section 6.06.    Restricted Equity Payments.    68
Section 6.07.    Fixed Charges Coverage    69

 

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Section 6.08.    Ratio of Consolidated Adjusted Debt to Consolidated EBITDAR    69
Section 6.09.    Limitation on Sales of Assets    69
Section 6.10.    Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries; Negative Pledge    70
   ARTICLE 7   
   EVENTS OF DEFAULT   
Section 7.01.    Events of Default.    71
   ARTICLE 8   
   THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT   
   ARTICLE 9   
   MISCELLANEOUS   
Section 9.01.    Notices    76
Section 9.02.    Waivers; Amendments    77
Section 9.03.    Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver    78
Section 9.04.    Successors and Assigns    79
Section 9.05.    Survival    83
Section 9.06.    Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness    83
Section 9.07.    Severability    83
Section 9.08.    Right of Setoff    84
Section 9.09.    Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent of Service of Process    84
Section 9.10.    WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL    85
Section 9.11.    Headings    85
Section 9.12.    Confidentiality    85
Section 9.13.    Interest Rate Limitation    86
Section 9.14.    USA Patriot Act    86
   ARTICLE 10   
   THE GUARANTEES   
Section 10.01.    The Loan Guarantees    86
Section 10.02.    Guarantees Unconditional    87
Section 10.03.    Discharge Only Upon Payment In Full; Reinstatement In Certain Instances    87
Section 10.04.    Waiver By Each Guarantor    88
Section 10.05.    Subrogation and Contribution    88
Section 10.06.    Stay Of Acceleration    88
Section 10.07.    Limit Of Liability    88
Section 10.08.    Indemnity    88

 

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SCHEDULES:   
Schedule 2.01    Commitments
Schedule 3.14    Subsidiaries of Borrower
Schedule 6.01    Existing Liens
EXHIBITS:   
Exhibit A    Form of Assignment and Assumption
Exhibit B-1    Form of Opinion of Borrower’s External Counsel
Exhibit B-2    Form of Opinion of Borrower’s Internal Counsel
Exhibit C    Guaranty Supplement

 

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AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

AGREEMENT dated as of May 21, 2007 among DELHAIZE AMERICA, INC., DELHAIZE GROUP S.A., the SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS party hereto, the LENDERS party hereto and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Issuing Bank and Swingline Lender.

WITNESSETH :

WHEREAS, the parties hereto other than Delhaize Group S.A., are parties to a Credit Agreement dated as of April 22, 2005 (the “Existing Agreement”);

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 6.02(a) of the Existing Agreement, the Borrower (as this and other capitalized terms are defined in Section 1.01 below) may Guarantee Indebtedness of the Parent only upon satisfaction of certain conditions; and

WHEREAS, the parties hereto are entering into this Amended Agreement in order that the Parent give its Guarantee of Indebtedness under this Agreement and undertake the other obligations set forth herein in satisfaction of certain of the conditions specified in said Section 6.02(a);

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.01. Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

ABR”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.

Acquired Debt” means, with respect to any Acquired Entity or Business or any Sold Entity or Business for any period, the Debt of such Acquired Entity or Business or Sold Entity or Business.

Acquired EBITDA” means, with respect to any Acquired Entity or Business or any Sold Entity or Business for any period, the Consolidated EBITDA of such Acquired Entity or Business or Sold Entity or Business (determined assuming that all references to the “Parent” and the “Consolidated Subsidiaries” contained in the definition of Consolidated EBITDA and any related


definitions are references to such Acquired Entity or Business or Sold Entity or Business, and its consolidated subsidiaries, as the context may require).

Acquired EBITDAR” means, with respect to any Acquired Entity or Business or any Sold Entity or Business for any period, the Consolidated EBITDAR of such Acquired Entity or Business or Sold Entity or Business (determined assuming that all references to the “Parent” and the “Consolidated Subsidiaries” contained in the definition of Consolidated EBITDAR and any related definitions are references to such Acquired Entity or Business or Sold Entity or Business, and its consolidated subsidiaries, as the context may require).

Acquired Entity or Business” means, for any period, any Person, property, business or asset acquired, other than those acquired in the ordinary course of business, during such period pursuant to a transaction permitted under Section 6.04 and not subsequently sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of during such period to the extent acquired by the Parent or any Consolidated Subsidiary during such period.

Acquired Interest Expense” means, with respect to any Acquired Entity or Business or any Sold Entity or Business for any period, the Consolidated Interest Expense of such Acquired Entity or Business or Sold Entity or Business (determined assuming that all references to the “Parent” and the “Consolidated Subsidiaries” contained in the definition of Consolidated Interest Expense and any related definitions are references to such Acquired Entity or Business or Sold Entity or Business, and its consolidated subsidiaries, as the context may require).

Acquired Rentals” means, with respect to any Acquired Entity or Business or any Sold Entity or Business for any period, the Rentals of such Acquired Entity or Business or Sold Entity or Business (determined assuming that all references to the “Borrower” and the “Consolidated Subsidiaries” contained in the definition of Rentals and any related definitions are references to such Acquired Entity or Business or Sold Entity or Business, and its consolidated subsidiaries, as the context may require).

Additional Lender” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.21(c).

Administrative Agent” means JPMCB, in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders under this Agreement.

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

Affiliate” means, with respect to a specified 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.

 

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Agreement” means the Existing Agreement, including the Schedules and Exhibits thereto, as amended by this Amended Agreement, and as the same may be further amended from time to time after the date hereof.

Alternate Base Rate” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greater of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day and (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day plus 1/2 of 1%. Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate, respectively.

Amended Agreement” means this Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of May 21, 2007.

Amortization” means for any period the sum of all amortization expenses of the Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such period, as determined in accordance with IFRS.

Applicable Percentage” means, with respect to any Lender, the percentage of the total Commitments represented by such Lender’s Commitment. If the Commitments have terminated or expired, the Applicable Percentages shall be determined based upon the Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments.

Applicable Rate” means, for any day, with respect to any ABR Loan or Eurodollar Revolving Loan, or with respect to the facility fees payable hereunder, as the case may be, the applicable rate per annum set forth below under the caption “ABR Spread”, “Eurodollar Spread” or “Facility Fee Rate”, as the case may be, based upon the ratings by Moody’s and S&P, respectively, applicable on such date to the Index Debt:

 

S&P/Moody’s Index Debt Ratings:

   ABR
Spread
    Eurodollar
Spread
    Facility
Fee Rate
 

Category 1 BBB+/Baa1 or higher

   0 %   0.45 %   0.10 %

Category 2 BBB/Baa2

   0 %   0.50 %   0.125 %

Category 3 BBB-/Baa3

   0 %   0.60 %   0.15 %

Category 4 BB+/Ba1

   0 %   0.825 %   0.175 %

Category 5 Below BB+/Ba1

   0.25 %   1.0 %   0.25 %

 

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For purposes of the foregoing, (i) if either Moody’s or S&P shall not have in effect a rating for the Index Debt (other than by reason of the circumstances referred to in the last sentence of this definition), then such rating agency shall be deemed to have established a rating in Category 5; (ii) if the ratings established or deemed to have been established by Moody’s and S&P for the Index Debt shall fall within different Categories, the Applicable Rate shall be based on the higher of the two ratings unless one of the two ratings is two or more Categories lower than the other, in which case the Applicable Rate shall be determined by reference to the Category next above that of the lower of the two ratings (it being understood that Category 1 is the highest Category); and (iii) if the ratings established or deemed to have been established by Moody’s and S&P for the Index Debt shall be changed (other than as a result of a change in the rating system of Moody’s or S&P), such change shall be effective as of the date on which it is first announced by the applicable rating agency. Each change in the Applicable Rate shall apply during the period commencing on the effective date of such change and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change. If the rating system of Moody’s or S&P shall change, or if either such rating agency shall cease to be in the business of rating corporate debt obligations, the Borrower and the Lenders shall negotiate in good faith to amend this definition to reflect such changed rating system or the unavailability of ratings from such rating agency and, pending the effectiveness of any such amendment, the Applicable Rate shall be determined by reference to the rating most recently in effect prior to such change or cessation.

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

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 9.04), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit A or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

Availability Period” means the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the earlier of the Maturity Date and the date of termination of the Commitments.

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

Borrower” means Delhaize America, Inc., a North Carolina corporation.

 

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Borrowing” means (a) Revolving Loans of the same Type made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect, (b) a Competitive Loan or group of Competitive Loans of the same Type made on the same date and as to which a single Interest Period is in effect or (c) a Swingline Loan.

Borrowing Request” means a request by the Borrower for a Revolving Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03.

Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided that, when used in connection with a Eurodollar Loan, the term “Business Day” shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open for dealings in Dollar deposits in the London interbank market.

Capital Lease Obligations” of any Person means the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under IFRS, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with IFRS.

Capital Stock” means any capital stock of any Person, whether common or preferred.

Capitalized Lease” means any lease which is required to be capitalized on a consolidated balance sheet of the lessee and its subsidiaries in accordance with IFRS.

Cash Collateral Account” means an account with the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the Lenders, under the sole dominion and control of the Administrative Agent and otherwise established in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

Cash Equivalents” means:

(i) direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States of America (or by any agency thereof to the extent such obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America), in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof;

(ii) investments in commercial paper maturing within 270 days from the date of acquisition thereof and having, at such date of acquisition, a rating of at least P-1 by Moody’s or A-1 by S&P;

 

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(iii) investments in certificates of deposit, banker’s acceptances and time deposits maturing within 180 days from the date of acquisition thereof issued or guaranteed by or placed with, and money market deposit accounts issued or offered by, any domestic office of any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or any State thereof which has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $250,000,000;

(iv) investments consisting of cash deposits in operating accounts maintained by the Parent or any Subsidiary; and

(v) repurchase agreements with a term of not more than 30 days for securities described in clause (i) above and entered into with a financial institution satisfying the criteria described in clause (iii) above; and

(vi) other short-term investments utilized by the Parent and by Subsidiaries organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States in accordance with normal investment practices for cash management in investments of a type analogous to the foregoing.

Change in Control” means (a) the failure of the Parent or any wholly-owned subsidiary of the Parent to own, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, shares representing more than a majority of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Capital Stock of the Borrower; (b) occupation of a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of directors of the Borrower by Persons who were not (i) nominated by the board of directors of the Borrower, (ii) appointed by directors so nominated or (iii) nominated by the Parent, (c) the acquisition of direct or indirect Control of the Borrower by any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) other than the Parent or any wholly-owned subsidiary of the Parent or (d) any Person or group shall own, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, shares representing more than 35% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Capital Stock of the Parent; provided that the foregoing clauses (c) and (d) above will become effective as part of this definition of “Change in Control” only upon the satisfaction of the Shareholder Consent Condition set forth in Section 5.11.

Change in Law” means (a) the adoption of any law, rule, regulation or treaty after the date of this Agreement, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority after the date of this Agreement or (c) compliance by any Lender or the Issuing Bank (or, for purposes of Section 2.13(b), by any lending office of such Lender or the Issuing Bank or by such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding

 

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company, if any) with any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the date of this Agreement.

Charges” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.13.

Class”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Revolving Loans, Competitive Loans or Swingline Loans.

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make Revolving Loans and to acquire participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans hereunder, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.07 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 9.04. The initial amount of each Lender’s Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01, or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Commitment, as applicable. The initial aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Commitments is $500,000,000.

Competitive Bid” means an offer by a Lender to make a Competitive Loan in accordance with Section 2.19.

Competitive Bid Rate” means, with respect to any Competitive Bid, the Margin or the Fixed Rate, as applicable, offered by the Lender making such Competitive Bid.

Competitive Bid Request” means a request by the Borrower for Competitive Bids in accordance with Section 2.19.

Competitive Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.19.

Consolidated” means, when used in connection with any defined term, and not otherwise defined, such term as it applies to the Parent and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, after eliminating all intercompany items.

Consolidated Adjusted Debt” means at any date (i) the Debt of the Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries plus (ii) 8 times Rentals (but excluding any payments with respect to a Capital Lease to the extent such Capital Lease is included in clause (i)) payable by the Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for the period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters ended on or most recently prior to such date, determined on a consolidated basis as of such date. Consolidated Adjusted Debt shall be calculated by (a) including in the determination thereof the

 

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Acquired Debt and the Acquired Rentals of any Acquired Entity or Business, based on the actual Acquired Debt and Acquired Rentals of such Acquired Entity or Business for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such acquisition) and (b) excluding in the determination thereof the Acquired Debt and the Acquired Rentals of any Sold Entity or Business based on the actual Acquired Debt and Acquired Rentals of such Sold Entity or Business for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such sale, transfer or disposition).

Consolidated EBITDA” for any period means the sum of (i) Consolidated Net Income for such period plus, in each case to the extent deducted in determining such Consolidated Net Income and without duplication, (ii) Consolidated Interest Expense for such period, (iii) Consolidated Depreciation expenses of the Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, (iv) Consolidated Amortization expenses of the Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, and (v) all federal, state, local and foreign income taxes of the Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries. Consolidated EBITDA shall be calculated by (a) including in the determination thereof the Acquired EBITDA of any Acquired Entity or Business, based on the actual Acquired EBITDA of such Acquired Entity or Business for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such acquisition) and (b) excluding in the determination thereof the Acquired EBITDA of any Sold Entity or Business based on the actual Acquired EBITDA of such Sold Entity or Business for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such sale, transfer or disposition).

Consolidated EBITDAR” for any period means the sum of (i) Consolidated Net Income for such period plus, in each case to the extent deducted in determining such Consolidated Net Income and without duplication, (ii) Consolidated Depreciation expenses of the Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, (iii) Consolidated Amortization expenses of the Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, (iv) all federal, state, local and foreign income taxes of the Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, and (v) Consolidated Fixed Charges. Consolidated EBITDAR shall be calculated by (a) including in the determination thereof the Acquired EBITDAR of any Acquired Entity or Business, based on the actual Acquired EBITDAR of such Acquired Entity or Business for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such acquisition) and (b) excluding in the determination thereof the Acquired EBITDAR of any Sold Entity or Business based on the actual Acquired EBITDAR of such Sold Entity or Business for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such sale, transfer or disposition).

Consolidated Fixed Charges” for any period means, without duplication, on a consolidated basis the sum of (i) all Rentals payable during such period by the Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, and (ii) Consolidated Interest Expense for such period. Consolidated Fixed Charges shall be calculated by (a) including in the determination thereof the Acquired Rentals and the

 

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Acquired Interest Expense of any Acquired Entity or Business, based on the actual Acquired Rentals and Acquired Interest Expense of such Acquired Entity or Business for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such acquisition) and (b) excluding in the determination thereof the Acquired Rentals and the Acquired Interest Expense of any Sold Entity or Business based on the actual Acquired Rentals and Acquired Interest Expense of such Sold Entity or Business for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such sale, transfer or disposition).

Consolidated Interest Expense” for any period means interest, whether expensed or capitalized, in respect of Debt of the Parent or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries outstanding during such period.

Consolidated Net Income” for any period means the gross revenues of the Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such period less all expenses and other proper charges (including taxes on income), determined on a consolidated basis after eliminating earnings or losses attributable to outstanding Minority Interests, but excluding in any event:

(a) any unusual or extraordinary gains or losses on the sale or other disposition of investments (excluding Cash Equivalents) or fixed or capital assets, and any taxes on such excluded gains and any tax deductions or credits on account of any such excluded losses;

(b) the proceeds of any life insurance policy;

(c) net earnings and losses of any Consolidated Subsidiary accrued prior to the date it became a Consolidated Subsidiary;

(d) net earnings and losses of any corporation (other than a Consolidated Subsidiary) substantially all the assets of which have been acquired in any manner by the Parent or any Consolidated Subsidiary, realized by such corporation prior to the date of such acquisition;

(e) net earnings and losses of any corporation (other than a Consolidated Subsidiary) with which the Parent or a Consolidated Subsidiary shall have consolidated or which shall have merged into or with the Parent or a Consolidated Subsidiary prior to the date of such consolidation or merger;

(f) net earnings and losses of any business entity (other than a Consolidated Subsidiary) in which the Parent or any Consolidated Subsidiary has an ownership interest unless such net earnings shall have actually been received by the Parent or such Consolidated Subsidiary in the form of cash distributions;

 

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(g) any portion of the net earnings of any Consolidated Subsidiary which for any reason is unavailable for payment of dividends to the Parent or any other Consolidated Subsidiary;

(h) earnings resulting from any reappraisal, revaluation, write-up or write-down of assets;

(i) any deferred or other credit representing any excess of the equity in any Subsidiary at the date of acquisition thereof over the amount invested in such Subsidiary;

(j) [reserved];

(k) any reversal of any contingency reserve except to the extent that provision for such contingency reserve shall have been made from income arising during such period; provided that any reversal of a contingency reserve from a prior period shall only be excluded from Consolidated Net Income to the extent that the aggregate amount of such reversals exceeds €10,000,000 during the immediately preceding four Fiscal Quarters;

(l) any other unusual or extraordinary gain or loss; and

(m) to the extent not excluded pursuant to any of the foregoing clauses, any material non-cash, non-recurring gain or loss.

Consolidated Subsidiary” means, at any date any Subsidiary or other entity the accounts of which, in accordance with IFRS, would be consolidated with those of the Parent in its consolidated financial statements as of such date.

Consolidated Total Assets” means at any time the total assets of the Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis, as set forth or reflected on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries.

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.

 

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Debt” of any Person means at any date, without duplication, (i) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (ii) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, (iii) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services, except trade accounts payable and accrued expenses arising in the ordinary course of business, (iv) all Capital Lease Obligations, (v) all obligations of such Person to reimburse any bank or other Person in respect of amounts payable under a banker’s acceptance, (vi) all Redeemable Preferred Stock of such Person (in the event such Person is a corporation), (vii) all obligations of such Person to reimburse any bank or other Person in respect of amounts paid under a letter of credit or similar instrument, (viii) all Debt of others secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person, whether or not such Debt is assumed by such Person, and (ix) all Debt of others Guaranteed by such Person.

Default” means any event or condition which constitutes an Event of Default or which upon notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.

Depreciation” means for any period the sum of all depreciation expenses of the Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such period, as determined in accordance with IFRS.

Dollars” or “$” refers to lawful money of the United States of America.

Effective Date” means the date on which the obligations of the Lenders under the Existing Agreement became effective.

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

Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Parent or any Subsidiary 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.

 

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

ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with the Borrower, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

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

Euro” and the sign “€” mean the single shared currency of the participating member states of the European Union.

Eurodollar”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the LIBO Rate.

Eurodollar Reserve Percentage” means for any day that percentage (expressed as a decimal) which is in effect on such day, as prescribed by the Board (or any successor), for determining the maximum reserve requirement for a member bank of the Federal Reserve System in New York City with deposits exceeding five billion dollars in respect of “Eurocurrency liabilities” (or in respect of any other category of liabilities which includes deposits by reference to which the interest rate on Eurodollar Loans is determined or any category of extensions of credit or other assets which includes loans by a non-United States office of any Lender to United States residents).

 

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Event of Default” has the meaning assigned to such term in Article 7.

Excluded Taxes” means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the Issuing Bank or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under this Agreement, (a) income or franchise taxes imposed on (or measured by) its net income by the United States of America, or by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender or the Issuing Bank, in which its applicable lending office is located, (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States of America or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which such Loan Party is located and (c) in the case of a Foreign Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 2.17(b)), any withholding tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party to this Agreement or is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s failure or inability to comply with Section 2.15(e), except to the extent that such Foreign Lender’s assignor (if any) was entitled, at the time of assignment, to receive additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to Section 2.15(a).

Existing Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.

Existing Maturity Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.21(a).

Existing Public Debt” means the Borrower’s $126,025,000 aggregate principal amount of 8.05% Notes due 2027, its $1,100,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 8.125% Notes due 2011 and its $855,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 9% Debentures due 2031.

Federal Funds Effective Rate” means, for any day, the weighted average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the rates on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by federal funds brokers, as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the quotations for such day for such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

Financial Officer” means the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower or the Parent.

Fiscal Quarter” means any fiscal quarter of the Parent.

Fiscal Year” means any fiscal year of the Parent.

 

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Fixed Rate” means, with respect to any Competitive Loan (other than a Eurodollar Competitive Loan), the fixed rate of interest per annum specified by the Lender making such Competitive Loan in its related Competitive Bid.

Fixed Rate Loan” means a Competitive Loan bearing interest at a Fixed Rate.

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

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

Granting Lender” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.04(h).

Guarantee” of or by any Person (the “guarantor”) means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (d) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness or obligation; provided, that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.

Guarantor” means the Parent or any Subsidiary Guarantor.

Guaranty Supplement” means a Guaranty Supplement, substantially in the form of Exhibit C, signed and delivered to the Administrative Agent for the purpose of adding a Subsidiary as a party hereto pursuant to Section 5.10.

Guaranteed Obligations means, with respect to each Guarantor, (i) all principal of, premium and interest on all Loans (including any interest

 

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(“Post-Petition Interest”) which accrues (or which would accrue but for such case, proceeding or action) after the commencement of any case, proceeding or other action relating to the bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Borrower (whether or not such interest is allowed or allowable as a claim in any such case, proceeding or other action) on all Loans), (ii) all unreimbursed LC Disbursements and interest thereon (including Post-Petition Interest thereon), (iii) all other amounts payable by the Borrower from time to time pursuant to this Agreement (including any Post-Petition Interest with respect to such amounts), and (iv) any renewals, refinancings or extensions of any of the foregoing (including any Post-Petition Interest).

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

Hedging Agreement” means any interest rate protection agreement, foreign currency exchange agreement, commodity price protection agreement or other interest or currency exchange rate or commodity price hedging arrangement.

IFRS” means the international accounting and reporting standards issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.

Indebtedness” of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person upon which interest charges are customarily paid (excluding current accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (d) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person, (e) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding current accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (f) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed, (g) all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others, (h) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (i) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit and letters of guaranty and (j) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers’ acceptances. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in or other

 

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relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor.

Indemnified Taxes” means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.

Indemnitee” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.03(b).

Index Debt” means senior, unsecured, long-term indebtedness for borrowed money of the Borrower that is not guaranteed by any other Person (other than a Guarantor) or subject to any other credit enhancement.

Information” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.12.

Insolvency” of any Person means the winding up, liquidation, dissolution, insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, administration, composition with creditors, or other analogous event, voluntary or involuntary, in any jurisdiction, of such Person or relating to such Person’s assets, it being understood that any such event for a Belgian Person shall mean a “vereffening/“liquidation”, “ontbinding/“dissolution”, “faillissement/“faillite”, “gerechtelijk akkoord”/“concordat judiciaire”, appointment of a “curator/“curateur”, “vereffenaar”/“liquidateur”, “voorlopig bewindvoerder”/“administrateur provisoire”, “gerechtelijk deskundige/“expert judiciaire”, “mandataris ad hoc/“mandataire ad hoc”, “commissaris inzake poschorting”/“commissaire au sursis”, “gerechtelijk bestuurder”/“administrateur judiciaire”, “sekwester/séquestre” or other similar officer in the Kingdom of Belgium.

Interest Election Request” means a request by the Borrower to convert or continue a Revolving Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.06.

Interest Payment Date” means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan (other than a Swingline Loan), the last day of each March, June, September and December, (b) with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three months duration, each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of three months duration after the first day of such Interest Period, (c) with respect to any Fixed Rate Loan, the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Fixed Rate Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than 90 days duration (unless otherwise specified in the applicable Competitive Bid Request), each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of 90 days duration after the first day of such Interest Period, and any other dates that are specified in the applicable Competitive Bid Request as Interest Payment Dates with respect to such Borrowing and (d) with respect to any Swingline Loan, the day such Loan is required to be repaid.

 

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Interest Period” means (a) with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one, two, three or six months (or, to the extent available to each Lender, twelve months) thereafter, as the Borrower may elect and (b) with respect to any Fixed Rate Borrowing, the period (which shall not be less than 14 days or more than 180 days) commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the date specified in the applicable Competitive Bid Request; provided, that (i) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing only, such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day, (ii) any Interest Period pertaining to a Eurodollar Borrowing that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period and (iii) any Interest Period that would otherwise end after the Maturity Date shall end on the Maturity Date. For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and, in the case of a Revolving Borrowing, thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.

Issuing Bank” means JPMCB and any other Lender who agrees to act as an Issuing Bank hereunder (with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent), in each case in its capacity as the issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, and its successors in such capacity as provided in Section 2.18. The Issuing Bank may, in its discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates of the Issuing Bank, in which case the term “Issuing Bank” shall include any such Affiliate with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate.

JPMCB” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

LC Disbursement” means a payment made by the Issuing Bank pursuant to a Letter of Credit.

LC Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit at such time plus (b) the aggregate amount of all LC Disbursements that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrower at such time. The LC Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the total LC Exposure at such time.

Lenders” means the Persons listed on Schedule 2.01 and any other Person that shall have become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant

 

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to an Assignment and Assumption. Unless the context requires otherwise, the term “Lenders” includes the Swingline Lender.

Letter of Credit” means any letter of credit issued pursuant to this Agreement.

LIBO Rate” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, the rate appearing on Reuters Screen LIBOR01 (or on any successor or substitute page of such Service, or any successor to or substitute for such Service, providing rate quotations comparable to those currently provided on such page of such Service, as determined by the Administrative Agent from time to time for purposes of providing quotations of interest rates applicable to Dollar deposits in the London interbank market) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, as the rate for Dollar deposits with a maturity comparable to such Interest Period. In the event that such rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the “LIBO Rate” with respect to such Eurodollar Borrowing for such Interest Period shall be the rate at which Dollar deposits of $5,000,000 and for a maturity comparable to such Interest Period are offered by the principal London office of the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period.

Lien” means, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, charge or security interest in, on or of such asset and (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset.

Loan Guarantee” means, with respect to each Guarantor, its Guarantee provided pursuant to Article 10 of this Agreement.

Loan Party” means the Borrower or any Guarantor.

Loans” means the loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement.

Majority Lenders” means, at any time, Lenders having Commitments representing more than 50% of the aggregate amount of the Commitments at such time (or, if the Commitments shall have terminated, Lenders holding Revolving Credit Exposures representing more than 50% of the total Revolving Credit Exposures at such time); provided that, for purposes of declaring the Loans to be due and payable pursuant to Article 7, and for all purposes after the Loans become due and payable pursuant to Article 7 or the Commitments expire or

 

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terminate, the outstanding Competitive Loans of the Lenders shall be included in their respective Revolving Credit Exposures in determining the Majority Lenders.

Margin” means, with respect to any Competitive Loan bearing interest at a rate based on the LIBO Rate, the marginal rate of interest, if any, to be added to or subtracted from the LIBO Rate to determine the rate of interest applicable to such Competitive Loan, as specified by the Lender making such Competitive Loan in its related Competitive Bid.

Material Adverse Change” means any event, development or circumstance that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, assets, operations, prospects or condition, financial or otherwise, of the Parent and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Loan Parties to perform any of their obligations under this Agreement or (c) the rights of or benefits available to the Lenders under this Agreement.

Material Indebtedness” means Indebtedness, or obligations in respect of one or more Hedging Agreements, of any one or more of the Parent and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $50,000,000. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the “principal amount” of the obligations of any Person in respect of any Hedging Agreement at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that such Person would be required to pay if such Hedging Agreement were terminated at such time.

Maturity Date” means the later of (a) April 22, 2010 and (b) if the maturity date is extended pursuant to Section 2.21, such extended maturity date as determined pursuant to such Section.

Maturity Extension Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.21(d).

Maximum Rate” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.13.

Medium Term Notes” means the medium term notes of the Borrower having interest rates ranging from 3.354% to 4.07% with due dates during 2007 and having an aggregate principal balance of $50,000,000.

Minority Interests” means any shares of stock of any class of a Consolidated Subsidiary (other than directors’ qualifying shares as required by law) that are not owned by the Parent and/or one or more of its Consolidated Subsidiaries.

 

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Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

Multiemployer Plan” means a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

Non-Extending Lender” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.21(b).

Notice Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.21(b).

Operating Lease” means any lease other than a Capitalized Lease.

Other Taxes” means any and 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 from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement.

Parent” means Delhaize Group S.A., a Belgian corporation.

Participant” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.04(e).

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

Permitted Encumbrances” means:

(a) Liens in relation to any credit balance on any bank account where such bank account is held with any financial institution and in the normal course of its banking arrangements for the purpose of netting debit and credit balances;

(b) title transfers or retention of title arrangements entered into in the normal course of the Parent’s or any Subsidiary’s trading activities on the counterparty’s standard or usual terms;

(c) Liens imposed by law for taxes, assessments and other governmental charges that are not yet due or are being contested in compliance with Section 5.04;

(d) carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s, landlords’ and other like Liens imposed by law, arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations that are not overdue by more than 30 days or are being contested in compliance with Section 5.04;

 

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(e) Liens granted to a landlord pursuant to a lease to secure the obligations of the lessee under such lease which apply only to property or assets of the lessee located at the leased premises;

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

(g) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds (so long as, with respect to any such appeal bonds posted with respect to any judgment, no Event of Default then exists under Section 7.01(k)), performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

(h) judgment liens provided no Event of Default then exists under Section 7.01(k);

(i) easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way and similar encumbrances on real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of business that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the affected property or interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Parent or any Subsidiary; and

(j) Liens granted in favor of the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, pursuant to Section 2.18(j).

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

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

Prime Rate” means the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by JPMCB as its prime rate in effect at its principal office in New York City; each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced as being effective.

 

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The “Ratings Condition” is satisfied on any date if, on such date, the Index Debt is rated at least BBB- by S&P or Baa3 by Moody’s, in either case with a stable outlook.

Redeemable Preferred Stock” of any Person means any preferred stock issued by such Person which is at any time prior to the Maturity Date either (i) mandatorily redeemable (by sinking fund or similar payments or otherwise) or (ii) redeemable at the option of the holder thereof.

Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.04(c).

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

Rentals” means and includes as of the date of any determination thereof all fixed payments (including as such all payments which the lessee is obligated to make to the lessor on termination of the lease or surrender of the property) payable by the Parent or a Consolidated Subsidiary, as lessee or sublessee under an Operating Lease or Capitalized Lease of real or personal property, but shall be exclusive of any amounts required to be paid by the Parent or a Consolidated Subsidiary (whether or not designated as rents or additional rents) on account of maintenance, repairs, insurance, taxes and similar charges. Fixed rents under any so-called “percentage leases” shall be computed solely on the basis of the minimum rents, if any, required to be paid by the lessee regardless of sales volume or gross revenues.

Requirement of Law” means, as to any Person, the Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws or other organizational or governing documents of such Person, and any law, treaty, rule or regulation or determination of an arbitrator or a court or other Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.

Response Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.21(b).

Restatement Date” means the date on which this Amended Agreement becomes effective in accordance with Section 4.01.

Restricted Equity Payment” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any equity interest in the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, 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 equity interest.

 

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Revolving Borrowing” means a Borrowing made pursuant to Section 2.03.

Revolving Credit Exposure” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the sum of the outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s Revolving Loans and its LC Exposure and its Swingline Exposure at such time.

Revolving Loan” means a Loan made under the Commitments pursuant to Section 2.03.

S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group, a division of The McGraw Hill Companies, Inc.

Shareholder Consent Condition” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.11.

Sold Entity or Business” means, for any period, any Person, property, business or asset sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by the Parent or any Consolidated Subsidiary, other than those disposed of in the ordinary course of business, during such period.

Solvent”, when used with respect to any Person, means that, as of any date of determination, (a) the amount of the “present fair saleable value” of the assets of such Person and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, will, as of such date, exceed the amount that will be required to pay all “liabilities of such Person and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, contingent or otherwise”, as of such date (as such quoted terms are determined in accordance with applicable federal and state laws governing determinations of the insolvency of debtors) as such debts become absolute and matured, (b) such Person and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, will not have, as of such date, an unreasonably small amount of capital with which to conduct their businesses, taking into account the particular capital requirements of such Person and its projected capital requirements and availability and (c) such Person and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, will be able to pay their debts as they mature, taking into account the timing of and amounts of cash to be received by such Person and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and the timing of and amounts of cash to be payable on or in respect of indebtedness of such Person and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole. For purposes of this definition, (i) “debt” means liability on a “claim”, and (ii) “claim” means any (x) right to payment, whether or not such a right is reduced to judgment, liquidated, unliquidated, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, disputed, undisputed, legal or equitable, secured or unsecured or (y) right to an equitable remedy for breach of performance if such breach gives rise to a right to payment, whether or not such right to an equitable remedy is reduced to judgment, fixed, contingent, matured or unmatured, disputed, undisputed, secured or unsecured.

 

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SPC” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.04(h).

subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person (the “parent”) at any date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent in the parent’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with IFRS as of such date, as well as any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held by such Person or one or more subsidiaries of such Person or by such Person and one or more subsidiaries of such Person.

Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Parent (or, if so specified, of another Person).

Subsidiary Guarantor” means any of (i) Food Lion, LLC, a North Carolina limited liability company, (ii) Kash n’ Karry Food Stores, Inc., a Delaware corporation, (iii) Hannaford Bros. Co., a Maine corporation, (iv) Boney Wilson & Sons, Inc., a North Carolina corporation, (v) FL Food Lion, Inc., a Florida corporation, (vi) Hannaford Procurement Corp., a Maine corporation, (vii) Hannbro Company, a Maine corporation, (viii) Martin’s Foods of South Burlington, Inc., a Vermont corporation, (ix) Risk Management Services, Inc., a North Carolina corporation, (x) Shop ‘n Save-Mass., Inc., a Massachusetts corporation, (xi) J.H. Harvey Co., LLC, a Georgia limited liability company, (xii) Victory Distributors, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation, (xiii) Hannaford Licensing Corp., a Maine corporation and (xiv) any other Subsidiary which becomes a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to Section 5.10.

Subsidiary Guarantee” means, with respect to each Subsidiary Guarantor, its Guarantee provided pursuant to Article 10 of this Agreement.

Swingline Exposure” means, at any time, the aggregate principal amount of all Swingline Loans outstanding at such time. The Swingline Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the total Swingline Exposure at such time.

Swingline Lender” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as lender of Swingline Loans hereunder.

Swingline Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.04.

 

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Syndication Agents” means Bank of America, N.A., Fortis Capital Corp., ING Luxembourg S.A., Wachovia Bank, National Association and CoBank, ACB, in each case in its capacity as syndication agent.

Taxes” means any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, charges or withholdings imposed by any Governmental Authority.

Transactions” means the execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of this Agreement, the borrowing of Loans and the use of the proceeds thereof, the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder and all other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Type”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the LIBO Rate or the Alternate Base Rate or, in the case of a Competitive Loan or Borrowing, the LIBO Rate or a Fixed Rate.

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

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

Section 1.02. Classification of Loans and Borrowings. For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a “Revolving Loan”) or by Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Loan”) or by Class and Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Revolving Loan”). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a “Revolving Borrowing”) or by Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Borrowing”) or by Class and Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing”).

Section 1.03. Terms Generally. 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 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 (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b)any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and

 

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assigns, (c) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (d) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement and (e) 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.

Section 1.04. Accounting Terms; IFRS. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with IFRS, as in effect from time to time; provided that, if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the date hereof in IFRS or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Majority Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in IFRS or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of IFRS as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith.

ARTICLE 2

THE CREDITS

Section 2.01. Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender with a Commitment agrees to make Revolving Loans to the Borrower from time to time during the Availability Period in an aggregate principal amount that will not result (x) in such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding such Lender’s Commitment or (y) the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure for all Lenders plus the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Competitive Loans exceeding the total Commitments as of such date. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans.

Section 2.02. Loans and Borrowings. (a) Each Revolving Loan shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Revolving Loans made by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Commitments. Each Competitive Loan shall be made in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.19. Each Swingline Loan shall be made in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.04. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder; provided that the

 

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Commitments and Competitive Bids of the Lenders are several and no Lender shall be responsible for any other Lender’s failure to make Loans as required.

(b) Subject to Section 2.12, (i) each Revolving Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Eurodollar Loans as the Borrower may request in accordance herewith and (ii) each Competitive Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of Eurodollar Loans or Fixed Rate Loans as the Borrower may request in accordance herewith. Each Swingline Loan shall be an ABR Loan. Each Lender at its option may make any Eurodollar Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan; provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

(c) At the commencement of each Interest Period for any Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $5,000,000 and not less than $25,000,000 (or, if less, the unused portion of the Commitments). At the time that each ABR Revolving Borrowing is made, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $5,000,000 and not less than $25,000,000 (or, if less, the unused portion of the Commitments). Each Competitive Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $5,000,000 and not less than $25,000,000. Each Swingline Loan shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000. Borrowings of more than one Type and Class may be outstanding at the same time; provided that there shall not at any time be more than a total of 10 Eurodollar Revolving Borrowings outstanding.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Borrower shall not be entitled to request, or to elect to convert or continue, any Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect thereto would end after the Maturity Date.

Section 2.03. Requests for Revolving Borrowings. To request a Revolving Borrowing, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by telephone (a) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, three Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing or (b) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date of the proposed Borrowing. Each such telephonic Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Borrowing Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the Borrower. Each such telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:

(i) the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing;

 

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(ii) the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;

(iii) whether such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing;

(iv) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, the initial Interest Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”; and

(v) the location and number of the Borrower’s account to which funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of Section 2.05.

If no election as to the Type of Revolving Borrowing is specified, then the requested Revolving Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period is specified with respect to any requested Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration. Promptly following receipt of a Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of the amount of such Lender’s Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing.

Section 2.04. Swingline Loans. (a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swingline Lender agrees to make Swingline Loans to the Borrower from time to time during the Availability Period, in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding that will not result in (i) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Swingline Loans exceeding $35,000,000 (or, if less, the total Commitments) or (ii) the sum of the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure of all Lenders plus the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Competitive Loans exceeding the total Commitments; provided that the Swingline Lender shall not be required to make a Swingline Loan to refinance an outstanding Swingline Loan. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Swingline Loans.

(b) To request a Swingline Loan, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by telephone (confirmed by telecopy), not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the day of a proposed Swingline Loan. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the requested date (which shall be a Business Day) and amount of the requested Swingline Loan. The Administrative Agent will promptly advise the Swingline Lender of any such notice received from the Borrower. The Swingline Lender shall make each Swingline Loan available to the Borrower by means of a credit to the general deposit account of the Borrower with the Swingline Lender (or, in the case of a Swingline Loan made to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as

 

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provided in Section 2.18(e), by remittance to the Issuing Bank) by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the requested date of such Swingline Loan.

(c) The Swingline Lender may by written notice given to the Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on any Business Day require the Lenders to acquire participations on such Business Day in all or a portion of the Swingline Loans outstanding. Such notice shall specify the aggregate amount of Swingline Loans in which Lenders will participate. Promptly upon receipt of such notice, the Administrative Agent will give notice thereof to each Lender, specifying in such notice such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans. Each Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees, upon receipt of notice as provided above, to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Swingline Lender, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans. Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations in Swingline Loans pursuant to this paragraph is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever. Each Lender shall comply with its obligation under this paragraph by wire transfer of immediately available funds, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.05 with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.05 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Lenders), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the Swingline Lender the amounts so received by it from the Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower of any participations in any Swingline Loan acquired pursuant to this paragraph, and thereafter payments in respect of such Swingline Loan shall be made to the Administrative Agent and not to the Swingline Lender. Any amounts received by the Swingline Lender from the Borrower (or other party on behalf of the Borrower) in respect of a Swingline Loan after receipt by the Swingline Lender of the proceeds of a sale of participations therein shall be promptly remitted to the Administrative Agent; any such amounts received by the Administrative Agent shall be promptly remitted by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders that shall have made their payments pursuant to this paragraph and to the Swingline Lender, as their interests may appear; provided that any such payment so remitted shall be repaid to the Swingline Lender or to the Administrative Agent, as applicable, if and to the extent such payment is required to be refunded to the Borrower for any reason. The purchase of participations in a Swingline Loan pursuant to this paragraph shall not relieve the Borrower of any default in the payment thereof.

Section 2.05. Funding of Borrowings. (a) Each Lender shall make each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds by 12:00 noon, New York City time, to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by

 

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notice to the Lenders; provided that Swingline Loans shall be made as provided in Section 2.04. The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the Borrower by promptly crediting the amounts so received, in like funds, to an account of the Borrower maintained with the Administrative Agent in New York City and designated by the Borrower in the applicable Borrowing Request or Competitive Bid Request; provided that ABR Revolving Loans made to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.18(e) shall be remitted by the Administrative Agent to the Issuing Bank.

(b) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing (if any), the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with paragraph (a) of this Section and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of such Lender, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or (ii) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to ABR Loans. If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing.

Section 2.06. Interest Elections. (a) Each Revolving Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request and, in the case of a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request. Thereafter, the Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section. The Borrower may elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing. It is understood that this Section shall not apply to Competitive Borrowings or Swingline Borrowings, which may not be converted or continued.

(b) To make an election pursuant to this Section, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such election by telephone by the time that a Borrowing Request would be required under Section 2.03 if the Borrower were requesting a Revolving Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election to be made on the effective date of such election. Each such telephonic Interest Election

 

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Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Interest Election Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the Borrower.

(c) Each telephonic and written Interest Election Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:

(i) the Borrowing to which such Interest Election Request applies and, if different options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the portions thereof to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv) below shall be specified for each resulting Borrowing);

(ii) the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Interest Election Request, which shall be a Business Day;

(iii) whether the resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR Revolving Borrowing or a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing; and

(iv) if the resulting Borrowing is a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, the Interest Period to be applicable thereto after giving effect to such election, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”.

If any such Interest Election Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration.

(d) Promptly following receipt of an Interest Election Request, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of such Lender’s portion of each resulting Borrowing.

(e) If the Borrower fails to deliver a timely Interest Election Request with respect to a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period such Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Revolving Borrowing. Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent, at the request of the Majority Lenders, so notifies the Borrower, then, so long as an Event of Default is continuing (i) no outstanding Revolving Borrowing may be converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing and (ii) unless repaid, each Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Revolving Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.

 

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Section 2.07. Termination and Reduction of Commitments. (a) Unless previously terminated, the Commitments shall terminate on the Maturity Date.

(b) The Borrower may at any time terminate, or from time to time reduce, the Commitments; provided that (i) each reduction of the Commitments shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $5,000,000 and not less than $25,000,000 and (ii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the Loans in accordance with Section 2.09, the sum of the Revolving Credit Exposures plus the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Competitive Loans would exceed the total Commitments.

(c) The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of any election to terminate or reduce the Commitments under paragraph (b) of this Section at least three Business Days prior to the effective date of such termination or reduction, specifying such election and the effective date thereof. Promptly following receipt of any notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each notice delivered by the Borrower pursuant to this Section shall be irrevocable; provided that a notice of termination of the Commitments delivered by the Borrower may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Any termination or reduction of the Commitments shall be permanent. Each reduction of the Commitments shall be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their respective Commitments.

Section 2.08. Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt. (a) The Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender with a Commitment the then unpaid principal amount of such Lender’s Revolving Loans on the Maturity Date, (ii) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender that has a Competitive Loan outstanding the then unpaid principal amount of such Loan on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan and (iii) to the Swingline Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Swingline Loan on the earlier of the Maturity Date and the date that is 7 days after such Swingline Loan is made; provided that on each date that a Revolving Borrowing or Competitive Borrowing is made, the Borrower shall repay Swingline Loans then outstanding in an aggregate principal amount equal to the Revolving Loans or Competitive Loans, as the case may be, made on such date.

(b) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such Lender, including the amounts of

 

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principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder.

(c) The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it shall record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Class and Type thereof and the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder for the account of the Lenders and each Lender’s share thereof.

(d) The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) of this Section shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein; provided that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

(e) Any Lender may request that Loans made by it be evidenced by a promissory note. In such event, the Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to the order of such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns) and in a form approved by the Administrative Agent. Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 9.04) be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form payable to the order of the payee named therein (or, if such promissory note is a registered note, to such payee and its registered assigns).

Section 2.09. Prepayment of Loans. (a) The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing in whole or in part, subject to prior notice in accordance with paragraph (b) of this Section; provided that the Borrower shall not have the right to prepay any Competitive Loan without the prior consent of the Lender thereof.

(b) The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent (and, in the case of prepayment of a Swingline Loan, the Swingline Lender) by telephone (confirmed by telecopy) of any prepayment hereunder (i) in the case of prepayment of a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, three Business Days before the date of prepayment, (ii) in the case of prepayment of an ABR Revolving Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, one Business Day before the date of prepayment or (iii) in the case of prepayment of a Swingline Loan, not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the date of prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid; provided that, if a notice of prepayment is given in connection with a conditional notice of termination of the Commitments as

 

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contemplated by Section 2.07, then such notice of prepayment may be revoked if such notice of termination is revoked in accordance with Section 2.07. Promptly following receipt of any such notice relating to a Revolving Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each partial prepayment of any Revolving Borrowing shall be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of an advance of a Revolving Borrowing of the same Type as provided in Section 2.02. Each prepayment of a Revolving Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing. Prepayments shall be accompanied by accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.11.

Section 2.10. Fees. (a) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a facility fee, which shall accrue at the Applicable Rate on the daily amount of the Commitment of such Lender (whether used or unused) during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the date on which such Commitment terminates; provided that, if such Lender continues to have any Revolving Credit Exposure after its Commitment terminates, then such facility fee shall continue to accrue on the daily amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure from and including the date on which its Commitment terminates to but excluding the date on which such Lender ceases to have any Revolving Credit Exposure. Accrued facility fees shall be payable in arrears on the last day of March, June, September and December of each year and on the date on which the Commitments terminate, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Effective Date; provided that any facility fees accruing after the date on which the Commitments terminate shall be payable on demand. All facility fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).

(b) The Borrower agrees to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a participation fee with respect to its participations in Letters of Credit, which shall accrue at the same Applicable Rate used to determine the interest rate applicable to Eurodollar Revolving Loans on the average daily amount of such Lender’s LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date on which such Lender’s Commitment terminates and the date on which such Lender ceases to have any LC Exposure, and (ii) to the Issuing Bank a fronting fee, which shall accrue at the rate or rates per annum separately agreed upon between the Borrower and the Issuing Bank on the average daily amount of the LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date of termination of the Commitments and the date on which there ceases to be any LC Exposure, as well as the Issuing Bank’s standard fees with respect to the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or

 

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processing of drawings thereunder. Accrued participation fees and fronting fees shall be payable in arrears on the last day of each March, June, September and December of each year and on the date on which the Commitments terminate; provided that any such fees accruing after the date on which the Commitments terminate shall be payable on demand. Any other fees payable to the Issuing Bank pursuant to this paragraph shall be payable within 10 days after demand. All participation fees and fronting fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).

(c) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own account, fees payable in the amounts and at the times separately agreed upon between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

(d) All fees payable hereunder shall be paid on the dates due, in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent (or to the Issuing Bank, in the case of fees payable to it) for distribution, in the case of facility fees and participation fees, to the Lenders. Fees paid shall not be refundable under any circumstances.

Section 2.11. Interest. (a) The Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing (including each Swingline Loan) shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.

(b) The Loans comprising each Eurodollar Borrowing shall bear interest (i) in the case of a Eurodollar Revolving Loan, at the LIBO Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Rate or (ii) in the case of a Eurodollar Competitive Loan, at the LIBO Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus (or minus, as applicable) the Margin applicable to such Loan.

(c) Each Fixed Rate Loan shall bear interest at the Fixed Rate applicable to such Loan.

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any principal of or interest on any Loan or any fee or other amount payable by the Borrower hereunder is not paid when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, such overdue amount shall bear interest, after as well as before judgment, at a rate per annum equal to (i) in the case of overdue principal of any Loan, 2% plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loan as provided above or (ii) in the case of any other amount, 2% plus the rate applicable to ABR Loans as provided above.

(e) Accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan and, in the case of Revolving Loans, upon termination of the Commitments; provided that (i) interest accrued pursuant to

 

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paragraph (d) of this Section shall be payable on demand, (ii) in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any Loan (other than a prepayment of an ABR Revolving Loan prior to the end of the Availability Period), accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment, (iii) in the event of any conversion of any Eurodollar Revolving Loan prior to the end of the current Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be payable on the effective date of such conversion and (iv) all accrued interest shall be payable upon termination of the Commitments.

(f) All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, except that interest computed by reference to the Alternate Base Rate at times when the Alternate Base Rate is based on the Prime Rate shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year), and in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). The applicable Alternate Base Rate or LIBO Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

Section 2.12. Alternate Rate of Interest. If prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing:

(a) the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period; or

(b) the Administrative Agent is advised by the Majority Lenders (or, in the case of a Eurodollar Competitive Loan, the Lender that is required to make such Loan) that the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders (or Lender) of making or maintaining their Loans (or its Loan) included in such Borrowing for such Interest Period;

then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders by telephone or telecopy as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (i) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Revolving Borrowing to, or continuation of any Revolving Borrowing as, a Eurodollar Borrowing shall be ineffective, (ii) if any Borrowing Request requests a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing and (iii) any request by the Borrower for a Eurodollar Competitive Borrowing shall be ineffective; provided that (A) if the circumstances giving rise to such notice do not affect all the Lenders, then requests by the Borrower for Eurodollar Competitive Borrowings may be made to Lenders that are not affected thereby

 

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and (B) if the circumstances giving rise to such notice affect only one Type of Borrowings, then the other Types of Borrowings shall be permitted.

Section 2.13. Increased Costs. (a) If any Change in Law shall:

(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Lender or the Issuing Bank; or

(ii) impose on any Lender or the Issuing Bank or the London interbank market any other condition affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Loans or Fixed Rate Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or any participation therein;

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making or maintaining any Eurodollar Loan or Fixed Rate Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan) or to increase the cost to such Lender or the Issuing Bank of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit, or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or the Issuing Bank hereunder (whether of principal, interest or otherwise), then the Borrower will pay to such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

(b) If any Lender or the Issuing Bank determines that any Change in Law regarding capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement or the Loans made by or participations in Letters of Credit held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by the Issuing Bank, to a level below that which such Lender or the Issuing Bank’s or such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender or the Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

(c) A certificate of a Lender or the Issuing Bank setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or the Issuing Bank or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent

 

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manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 15 days after receipt thereof.

(d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or the Issuing Bank to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or the Issuing Bank (or such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company) pursuant to this Section for any increased costs or reductions incurred more than ninety days prior to the date that such Lender or the Issuing Bank notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s intention, as the case may be, to claim compensation therefor; provided further that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the ninety-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.

(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, a Lender shall not be entitled to compensation pursuant to this Section in respect of any Competitive Loan if the Change in Law that would otherwise entitle it to such compensation has been publicly announced prior to submission of the Competitive Bid pursuant to which such Loan was made.

Section 2.14. Break Funding Payments. In the event of (a) the payment of any principal of any Eurodollar Loan or Fixed Rate Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default), (b) the conversion of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (c) the failure to borrow any Eurodollar Loan or Fixed Rate Loan, convert any ABR Loan into a Eurodollar Loan, continue any Eurodollar Loan or prepay any Eurodollar Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice is permitted to be revocable under Section 2.09(b) and is revoked in accordance herewith), (d) the failure to borrow any Competitive Loan after accepting the Competitive Bid to make such Loan or (e) the assignment of any Eurodollar Loan or Fixed Rate Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.17, then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event. In the case of a Eurodollar Loan, the loss to any Lender attributable to any such event shall be deemed to include an amount determined by such Lender to be equal to the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest that such Lender would pay for a deposit equal to the principal amount of such Loan for the period from the date of such payment, conversion, failure or assignment to the last day of the then current Interest Period for such Loan (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or

 

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continue, the duration of the Interest Period that would have resulted from such borrowing, conversion or continuation) if the interest rate payable on such deposit were equal to the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period, over (ii) the amount of interest that such Lender would earn on such principal amount for such period if such Lender were to invest such principal amount for such period at the interest rate that would be bid by such Lender (or an affiliate of such Lender) for Dollar deposits from other banks in the eurodollar market at the commencement of such period. A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 15 days after receipt thereof.

Section 2.15. Taxes. (a) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Loan Parties hereunder shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes; provided that if any Loan Party shall be required to deduct any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes from such payments, then (i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the Administrative Agent, Lender or the Issuing Bank (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) such Loan Party shall make such deductions and (iii) such Loan Party shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

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

(c) Each Loan Party shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Issuing Bank, within 10 days after written 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) paid by the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the Issuing Bank, 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 the Borrower by a Lender or the Issuing Bank, or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender or the Issuing Bank, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(d) As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by any Loan Party to a Governmental Authority, the relevant Loan Party shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a

 

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receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(e) Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments under this Agreement shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower, 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. No Loan Party shall be obligated to make any payments to a Foreign Lender pursuant to Section 2.15(a) to the extent that such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes became payable as a consequence of such Foreign Lender having failed to comply with this Section 2.15(e).

(f) If any Lender or the Issuing Bank shall determine, in its sole discretion, that it is entitled to receive a refund or credit (such credit to include any increase in any foreign tax credit) as a direct result of Indemnified Taxes (including any penalties or interest with respect thereto) as to which it has been indemnified by a Loan Party pursuant to this Section 2.15, it shall promptly notify the Borrower and such Loan Party of the availability of such refund or credit and shall, within 30 days after receipt of a request by such Loan Party, apply for such refund or credit at the Loan Parties’ expense, and in the case of any application for such refund or credit by a Loan Party, shall, if legally able to do so, deliver to the Borrower and such Loan Party such certificates, forms or other documentation as may be reasonably necessary to assist such Loan Party in such application. If any Lender or the Issuing Bank receives a refund or credit (such credit to include any increase in any foreign tax credit) in respect to any Indemnified Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by a Loan Party pursuant to this Section 2.15, it shall promptly notify the Borrower of such refund or credit and shall, within 30 days after receipt of such refund or the benefit of such credit (such benefit to include any reduction of the taxes for which any Lender or the Issuing Bank would otherwise be liable due to any increase in any foreign tax credit available to such Lender or the Issuing Bank), repay the amount of such refund or benefit of such credit (with respect to the credit, as determined by the Lender in its sole judgment) to such Loan Party (to the extent of amounts that have been paid by such Loan Party under this Section 2.15 with respect to Indemnified Taxes giving rise to such refund or credit), plus any interest received with respect thereto, net of all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, and without interest (other than interest actually received from the relevant taxing authority or other Governmental Authority with respect to such refund or credit); provided, however, that each Loan Party, upon the request of such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, agrees to return the amount

 

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of such refund or benefit of such credit (plus interest) to such Lender or the Issuing Bank in the event such Lender or the Issuing Bank is required to repay the amount of such refund or benefit of such credit to the relevant taxing authority or other Governmental Authority.

Section 2.16. Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs. (a) The Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest, fees, or under Section 2.13, 2.14 or 2.15, or otherwise) prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without set-off or counterclaim. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent at its offices at 1111 Fannin Road, 10th Floor, Houston, Texas 77002, except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.13, 2.14, 2.15 and 9.03 and payments to be made directly to the Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto. The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof. If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension. All payments hereunder shall be made in Dollars.

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

(c) If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of set-off or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Revolving Loans or participations in LC Disbursements or Swingline Loans resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Revolving Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by any other Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Revolving Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans of other Lenders to the extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Revolving Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans; provided that (i) if any

 

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such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and (ii) the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement (including Section 2.21(d)(iv)) or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or participations in LC Disbursements to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this paragraph shall apply). The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of set-off and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

(d) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or the Issuing Bank hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or the Issuing Bank, 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 Issuing Bank, as the case may be, 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 Federal Funds Effective Rate.

(e) If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.05(b) or 2.16(d), then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender to satisfy such Lender’s obligations under such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid.

Section 2.17. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders. (a) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.13, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.15, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, or to file any certificate or document reasonably requested by the Borrower, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation

 

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or assignment or filing (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.13 or 2.15, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

(b) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.13, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.15, or if any Lender defaults in its obligation to fund Loans hereunder, or if any Lender is a Non-Extending Lender under Section 2.21, then the Borrower 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 Section 9.04), all its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement (other than any outstanding Competitive Loans held by it) to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (i) the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans (other than Competitive Loans) and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts) and (iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.13 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.15, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments. A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply. A Lender shall not be required to pay any fee to the Administrative Agent in connection with such assignment and delegation (any such fee to be paid by the Borrower or the assignee).

Section 2.18. Letters of Credit. (a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may request the issuance of Letters of Credit for its own account, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank, at any time and from time to time during the Availability Period. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of any form of letter of credit application or other agreement submitted by the Borrower to, or entered into by the Borrower with, the Issuing Bank relating to any Letter of Credit, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control.

 

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(b) To request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or the amendment, renewal or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the Borrower shall hand deliver or telecopy (or transmit by electronic communication, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the Issuing Bank) to the Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent (reasonably in advance of the requested date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension) a notice requesting the issuance of a Letter of Credit, or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended, renewed or extended, and specifying the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (which shall be a Business Day), the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall comply with paragraph (c) of this Section), the amount of such Letter of Credit, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof and such other information as shall be necessary to prepare, amend, renew or extend such Letter of Credit. Promptly after receipt of such notice, the Administrative Agent shall deliver such notice to the Lenders. If requested by the Issuing Bank, the Borrower also shall submit a letter of credit application on the Issuing Bank’s standard form in connection with any request for a Letter of Credit. A Letter of Credit shall be issued, amended, renewed or extended only if (and upon issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of each Letter of Credit the Borrower shall be deemed to represent and warrant that), after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (i) the LC Exposure shall not exceed $100,000,000 (or, if less, the total Commitments at such time) and (ii) the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure of all Lenders plus the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Competitive Loans shall not exceed the total Commitments as of such date.

(c) Each Letter of Credit shall expire at or prior to the close of business on the earlier of (i) the date one year after the date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any renewal or extension thereof, one year after such renewal or extension) and (ii) the date that is five Business Days prior to the Maturity Date.

(d) By the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or an amendment to a Letter of Credit increasing the amount thereof) and without any further action on the part of the Issuing Bank or the Lenders, the Issuing Bank hereby grants to each Lender, and each Lender hereby acquires from the Issuing Bank, a participation in such Letter of Credit equal to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Issuing Bank, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of each LC Disbursement made by the Issuing Bank and not reimbursed by the Borrower on the date due as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section, or of any reimbursement payment required to be refunded to the Borrower for any reason. Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations pursuant to this paragraph in respect of Letters of Credit is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any

 

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circumstance whatsoever, including any amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever.

(e) If the Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement by paying to the Administrative Agent an amount equal to such LC Disbursement not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the date that such LC Disbursement is made, if the Borrower shall have received notice of such LC Disbursement prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on such date, or, if such notice has not been received by the Borrower prior to such time on such date, then not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on (i) the Business Day that the Borrower receives such notice, if such notice is received prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the day of receipt, or (ii) the Business Day immediately following the day that the Borrower receives such notice, if such notice is not received prior to such time on the day of receipt; provided that the Borrower may, subject to the conditions to borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with Section 2.03 that such payment be financed with an ABR Revolving Borrowing or a Swingline Loan in an equivalent amount and, to the extent so financed, the Borrower’s obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting ABR Revolving Borrowing or a Swingline Loan. If the Borrower fails to make such payment when due, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the applicable LC Disbursement, the payment then due from the Borrower in respect thereof and such Lender’s Applicable Percentage thereof. Promptly following receipt of such notice, each Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent its Applicable Percentage of the payment then due from the Borrower, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.05 with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.05 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Lenders), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the Issuing Bank the amounts so received by it from the Lenders. Promptly following receipt by the Administrative Agent of any payment from the Borrower pursuant to this paragraph, the Administrative Agent shall distribute such payment to the Issuing Bank or, to the extent that Lenders have made payments pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse the Issuing Bank, then to such Lenders and the Issuing Bank as their interests may appear. Any payment made by a Lender pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse the Issuing Bank for any LC Disbursement (other than the funding of ABR Revolving Loans or a Swingline Loan as contemplated above) shall not constitute a Loan and shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation to reimburse such LC Disbursement.

(f) The Borrower’s obligation to reimburse LC Disbursements as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under any and all circumstances whatsoever and irrespective of (i) any

 

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lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit or this Agreement, or any term or provision therein, (ii) any draft or other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent or invalid in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect, (iii) payment by the Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit, or (iv) any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of setoff against, the Borrower’s obligations hereunder. Neither the Administrative Agent, the Lenders nor the Issuing Bank, nor any of their Related Parties, shall have any liability or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to in the preceding sentence), or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of technical terms or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of the Issuing Bank; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse the Issuing Bank from liability to the Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to consequential damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable law) suffered by the Borrower that are caused by the Issuing Bank’s failure to exercise care when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof. The parties hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Issuing Bank (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), the Issuing Bank shall be deemed to have exercised care in each such determination. In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the parties agree that, with respect to documents presented which appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, the Issuing Bank may, in its sole discretion, either accept and make payment upon such documents without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make payment upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit.

(g) The Issuing Bank shall, promptly following its receipt thereof, examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit. The Issuing Bank shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower by telephone (confirmed by telecopy) of such demand for payment and whether the Issuing Bank has made or will make an LC Disbursement thereunder; provided that any failure to give or delay in giving such

 

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notice shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation to reimburse the Issuing Bank and the Lenders with respect to any such LC Disbursement.

(h) If the Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement, then, unless the Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement in full on the date such LC Disbursement is made, the unpaid amount thereof shall bear interest, for each day from and including the date such LC Disbursement is made to but excluding the date that the Borrower reimburses such LC Disbursement, at the rate per annum then applicable to ABR Revolving Loans; provided that, if the Borrower fails to reimburse such LC Disbursement when due pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section, then Section 2.11(d) shall apply. Interest accrued pursuant to this paragraph shall be for the account of the Issuing Bank, except that interest accrued on and after the date of payment by any Lender pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section to reimburse the Issuing Bank shall be for the account of such Lender to the extent of such payment.

(i) The Issuing Bank may be replaced at any time by written agreement among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the replaced Issuing Bank and the successor Issuing Bank. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of any such replacement of the Issuing Bank. At the time any such replacement shall become effective, the Borrower shall pay all unpaid fees accrued for the account of the replaced Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.10(b). From and after the effective date of any such replacement, (i) the successor Issuing Bank shall have all the rights and obligations of the Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit to be issued thereafter and (ii) references herein to the term “Issuing Bank” shall be deemed to refer to such successor or to any previous Issuing Bank, or to such successor and all previous Issuing Banks, as the context shall require. After the replacement of an Issuing Bank hereunder, the replaced Issuing Bank shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it prior to such replacement, but shall not be required to issue additional Letters of Credit.

(j) If any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, on the Business Day that the Borrower receives notice from the Administrative Agent or the Majority Lenders demanding the deposit of cash collateral pursuant to this paragraph, the Borrower shall deposit in the Cash Collateral Account an amount in cash equal to the LC Exposure as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon; provided that the obligation to deposit such cash collateral shall become effective immediately, and such deposit shall become immediately due and payable, without demand or other notice of any kind, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default with respect to the Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of Article 7. Such deposit shall be held by the Administrative Agent as collateral for the payment and performance of the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement. The Borrower grants to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of

 

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the Lenders, a continuing security interest in the Cash Collateral Account and any deposits therein as security for the payment and performance of the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over such account. Other than any interest earned on the investment of such deposits, which investments shall be made at the option and sole discretion of the Administrative Agent and at the Borrower’s risk and expense, such deposits shall not bear interest. Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in such account. Moneys in such account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse the Issuing Bank for LC Disbursements for which it has not been reimbursed and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Borrower for the LC Exposure at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated (but subject to the consent of Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 50% of the total LC Exposure), be applied to satisfy other obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement. If the Borrower is required to provide an amount of cash collateral hereunder as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default, such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Borrower within three Business Days after all Events of Default have been cured or waived.

Section 2.19. Competitive Bid Procedure. (a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, from time to time during the Availability Period the Borrower may request Competitive Bids and may (but shall not have any obligation to) accept Competitive Bids and borrow Competitive Loans; provided that the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure of all Lenders plus the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Competitive Loans at any time shall not exceed the total Commitments. To request Competitive Bids, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by telephone, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, four Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing and, in the case of a Fixed Rate Borrowing, not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, one Business Day before the date of the proposed Borrowing; provided that the Borrower may submit up to (but not more than) three Competitive Bid Requests on the same day, but a Competitive Bid Request shall not be made within five Business Days after the date of any previous Competitive Bid Request, unless any and all such previous Competitive Bid Requests shall have been withdrawn or all Competitive Bids received in response thereto rejected. Each such telephonic Competitive Bid Request shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Competitive Bid Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the Borrower. Each such telephonic and written Competitive Bid Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:

(i) the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing;

 

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(ii) the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;

(iii) whether such Borrowing is to be a Eurodollar Borrowing or a Fixed Rate Borrowing;

(iv) the Interest Period to be applicable to such Borrowing, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”; and

(v) the location and number of the Borrower’s account to which funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of Section 2.05.

Promptly following receipt of a Competitive Bid Request in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of the details thereof and invite the Lenders to submit Competitive Bids.

(b) Each Lender may (but shall not have any obligation to) make one or more Competitive Bids to the Borrower in response to a Competitive Bid Request. Each Competitive Bid by a Lender must be in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and must be received by the Administrative Agent, in the case of a Eurodollar Competitive Borrowing, not later than 9:30 a.m., New York City time, three Business Days before the proposed date of such Competitive Borrowing or, in the case of a Fixed Rate Borrowing, not later than 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on the proposed date of such Competitive Borrowing. Competitive Bids that do not conform substantially to the form approved by the Administrative Agent may be rejected by the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent shall notify the applicable Lender as promptly as practicable. Each Competitive Bid shall specify (i) the principal amount (which shall be a minimum of $5,000,000 and an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and which may equal the entire principal amount of the Competitive Borrowing requested by the Borrower) of the Competitive Loan or Loans that the Lender is willing to make, (ii) the Competitive Bid Rate or Rates at which the Lender is prepared to make such Competitive Loan or Loans (expressed as a percentage rate per annum in the form of a decimal to no more than four decimal places) and (iii) the Interest Period applicable to each such Competitive Loan and the last day thereof. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower of the Competitive Bid Rate and the principal amount specified in each Competitive Bid and the identity of the Lender that shall have made such Competitive Bid.

(c) Subject only to the provisions of this paragraph, the Borrower may accept or reject any Competitive Bid. The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent by telephone, confirmed in a form approved by the Administrative Agent, whether and to what extent it has decided to accept or reject each Competitive Bid, in the case of a Eurodollar Competitive Borrowing,

 

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not later than 10:30 a.m., New York City time, three Business Days before the date of the proposed Competitive Borrowing or, in the case of a Fixed Rate Borrowing, not later than 10:30 a.m., New York City time, on the proposed date of the Competitive Borrowing; provided that (i) the failure of the Borrower to give such notice shall be deemed to be a rejection of each Competitive Bid, (ii) the Borrower shall not accept a Competitive Bid made at a particular Competitive Bid Rate if the Borrower rejects a Competitive Bid made at a lower Competitive Bid Rate, (iii) the aggregate amount of the Competitive Bids accepted by the Borrower shall not exceed the aggregate amount of the requested Competitive Borrowing specified in the related Competitive Bid Request, (iv) to the extent necessary to comply with clause (iii) above, the Borrower may accept Competitive Bids at the same Competitive Bid Rate in part, which acceptance, in the case of multiple Competitive Bids at such Competitive Bid Rate, shall be made pro rata in accordance with the amount of each such Competitive Bid and (v) except pursuant to clause (iv) above, no Competitive Bid shall be accepted for a Competitive Loan unless such Competitive Loan is in a minimum principal amount of $5,000,000 and an integral multiple of $1,000,000; provided further that if a Competitive Loan must be in an amount less than $5,000,000 because of the provisions of clause (iv) above, such Competitive Loan may be for a minimum of $1,000,000 or any integral multiple thereof and, in calculating the pro rata allocation of acceptances of portions of multiple Competitive Bids at a particular Competitive Bid Rate pursuant to clause (iv), the amounts shall be rounded to integral multiples of $1,000,000 in a manner determined by the Borrower. A notice given by the Borrower pursuant to this paragraph shall be irrevocable.

(d) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each bidding Lender whether or not its Competitive Bid has been accepted (and, if so, the amount and Competitive Bid Rate so accepted), and each successful bidder will thereupon become bound, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, to make the Competitive Loan in respect of which its Competitive Bid has been accepted.

(e) If the Administrative Agent shall elect to submit a Competitive Bid in its capacity as a Lender, it shall submit such Competitive Bid directly to the Borrower at least one quarter of an hour earlier than the time by which the other Lenders are required to submit their Competitive Bids to the Administrative Agent pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section.

Section 2.20. Increase of Commitments. (a) Upon at least 15 days prior notice to the Administrative Agent (which notice the Administrative Agent shall promptly transmit to each of the Lenders), the Borrower shall have the right, subject to the terms and conditions set forth below, to increase the aggregate amount of the Commitments in multiples of $5,000,000; provided that the amount of such increase when added to the aggregate amount of all such prior increases in

 

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the Commitments hereunder (including by way of creating new Commitments) on or after the Effective Date does not exceed $150,000,000.

(b) Any such increase in the Commitments hereunder shall apply, at the option of the Borrower, (x) to the Commitment of one or more Lenders; provided that (i) the Administrative Agent and each Lender whose Commitment is to be increased shall consent to such increase, (ii) the amount set forth on Schedule 2.01 opposite the name of each Lender the Commitment of which is being so increased shall be amended to reflect the increased Commitment of such Lender, (iii) if any Revolving Loans are outstanding at the time of such an increase, the Borrower will, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, on the date of such increase, incur and repay or prepay one or more Revolving Loans in such amounts so that after giving effect thereto the Revolving Loans shall be outstanding on a pro rata basis (based on the Commitments of the Lenders after giving effect to the changes made pursuant to this Section 2.20 on such date) from all the Lenders and (iv) if any Letters of Credit are outstanding at the time of such an increase, the amount of the participations held by each Lender in each such Letter of Credit shall be adjusted so that, after giving effect to such adjustment, each Lender shall hold a participation in each such Letter of Credit in an amount equal to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage, calculated after giving effect to the increase in the Commitments pursuant to this Section 2.20, of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit or (y) to the creation of a new Commitment of an institution not then a Lender hereunder; provided that (i) such institution becomes a party to this Agreement as a Lender by execution and delivery to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of counterparts of this Agreement, (ii) Schedule 2.01 shall be amended to reflect the Commitment of such new Lender, (iii) if any Revolving Loans are outstanding at the time of the creation of such Commitment of such Lender, the Borrower will, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, on the date of the creation of such Commitment, incur and repay or prepay one or more Revolving Loans in such amounts so that after giving effect thereto the Revolving Loans shall be outstanding on a pro rata basis (based on the Commitments of the Lenders after giving effect to the changes made pursuant to this Section 2.20 on such date) from all the Lenders, (iv) if any Letters of Credit are outstanding at the time of the creation of such Commitment of such Lender, the amount of the participations held by each Lender in each such Letter of Credit shall be adjusted so that, after giving effect to such adjustment, each Lender shall hold a participation in each such Letter of Credit in an amount equal to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage, calculated after giving effect to the increase in the Commitments pursuant to this Section 2.20, of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit and (v) if such institution is not an Affiliate of a then existing Lender or an Approved Fund, such institution must be consented to by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld).

 

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(c) It is understood that any increase in the amount of the Commitments pursuant to this Section 2.20 shall not constitute an amendment of this Agreement. This Section shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.16(b) to the contrary.

Section 2.21. Extension of Maturity. (a) The Borrower may, by notice to the Administrative Agent (who shall promptly notify the Lenders) not earlier than 60 days and not later than 30 days prior to each anniversary of the Effective Date that occurs prior to the Maturity Date described in clause (a) of the definition thereof, request that each Lender extend the Maturity Date then in effect hereunder (the “Existing Maturity Date”) for an additional one year from the Existing Maturity Date; provided that the Borrower may only request that Lenders extend the Maturity Date for two additional one year periods after the Maturity Date described in clause (a) of the definition thereof.

(b) Each Lender, acting in its sole and individual discretion, shall, by notice to the Administrative Agent given not later than the date (the “Response Date”) that is 10 days after the date of receipt by the Administrative Agent of a request to extend the Maturity Date pursuant to clause (a), advise the Administrative Agent whether or not such Lender agrees to such extension (and each Lender that determines not to so extend its Maturity Date (a “Non-Extending Lender”) shall notify the Administrative Agent of such fact promptly after such determination (but in any event no later than the Response Date)) and any Lender that does not so advise the Administrative Agent on or before the Response Date shall be deemed to be a Non-Extending Lender. The election of any Lender to agree to such extension shall be made by such Lender in its sole discretion and shall not obligate any other Lender to so agree. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower of each Lender’s determination under this Section no later than the date that is 5 days after the Response Date (or, if such date is not a Business Day, on the next preceding Business Day) (the “Notice Date”).

(c) The Borrower shall have the right on or before the Maturity Extension Effective Date to replace each Non-Extending Lender with, and add as “Lenders” under this Agreement in place thereof, one or more institutions (each, an “Additional Lender”) as provided in Section 2.17(b).

(d) The extension of the Maturity Date of each Lender that has agreed to extend its Maturity Date and of each Additional Lender to the date falling one year after the Existing Maturity Date (or, if such date is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day) pursuant to this Section shall be effective on the date that is 5 days after the Notice Date (or, if such date is not a Business Day, on the next preceding Business Day) (the “Maturity Extension Effective Date”), each Additional Lender shall thereupon become a “Lender” for all purposes of this Agreement on the Maturity Extension Effective Date and the Commitment of

 

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each Non-Extending Lender shall be deemed to be terminated on the Maturity Extension Effective Date; provided that:

(i) the total of the Commitments of the Lenders that have agreed to extend their Maturity Date and the additional Commitments of the Additional Lenders shall be more than 50% of the aggregate amount of the Commitments in effect immediately prior to the Maturity Extension Effective Date;

(ii) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the Maturity Extension Effective Date and after giving effect to such extension;

(iii) the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement are true and correct on and as of the Maturity Extension Effective Date and after giving effect to such extension, as though made on and as of such date (or, if any such representation or warranty is expressly stated to have been made as of a specific date, as of such specific date); and

(iv) on or before the Maturity Extension Effective Date, the Borrower shall have (A) prepaid all Loans of each Non-Extending Lender outstanding on such date (and paid all accrued and unpaid interest on such Loans and all fees and other amounts payable to such Non-Extending Lender hereunder, including any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 2.14) and (B) deposited in the Cash Collateral Account an amount in cash equal to the LC Exposure of each Non-Extending Lender as of the Maturity Extension Effective Date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, .

(e) It is understood that any extension of the Maturity Date pursuant to this Section 2.21 shall not constitute an amendment of this Agreement. This Section shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.16(b) to the contrary.

Section 2.22. Regulation D Compensation. Each Lender may require the Borrower to pay, contemporaneously with each payment of interest on Eurodollar Loans, additional interest on the related Eurodollar Loan of such Lender at a rate per annum determined by such Lender up to but not exceeding the excess of (a) (i) the applicable LIBO Rate divided by (ii) one minus the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage over (b) the applicable LIBO Rate. Any Lender wishing to require payment of such additional interest (x) shall so notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, in which case such additional interest on the Eurodollar Loans of such Lender shall be payable to such Lender at the place indicated in such notice with respect to each Interest Period commencing at least three Business Days after the giving of such notice and (y) shall notify the Borrower at

 

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least five Business Days prior to each date on which interest is payable on the Eurodollar Loans of the amount then due it under this Section.

ARTICLE 3

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

Each Loan Party represents and warrants to the Lenders and the Issuing Bank that:

Section 3.01. Organization; Powers. Each of the Loan Parties and its respective Subsidiaries is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing in, every jurisdiction where such qualification is required.

Section 3.02. Authorization; Enforceability. The Transactions to be consummated by each Loan Party are within such Loan Party’s corporate or company powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or company and, if required, stockholder action. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party party thereto and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

Section 3.03. Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts. The Transactions (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except such consents, approvals, registrations or filings as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect, other than (i) routine filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and (ii) filings to maintain corporate good standing and routine licenses, (b) will not violate any applicable law or regulation or the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or any order of any Governmental Authority, (c) will not violate or result in a default under (i) any indenture, agreement or instrument relating to the Existing Public Debt or the Medium Term Notes or (ii) any other indenture, agreement or other instrument binding upon any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or its assets, other than defaults or violations for which consents or waivers have been obtained or, solely with respect to any indenture, agreement or instrument described in clause (ii), which defaults or violations, individually or in the aggregate could not reasonably

 

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be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (d) will not give rise to a right under any indenture, agreement or other instrument binding upon any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or its assets to require any payment to be made by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries other than any payments contemplated to be made in connection with the Transactions, and (e) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries.

Section 3.04. Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change. (a) The Parent has heretofore furnished to the Lenders its consolidated balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows as of and for the Fiscal Year ended December 31, 2006, reported on by Deloitte Reviseurs d’Entreprises/Bedrijfsrevisoren, Registered Auditors. Such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations and cash flows of the Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of such dates and for such periods in accordance with IFRS.

(b) Since December 31, 2006, there has been no Material Adverse Change in the business, assets, operations, prospects or condition, financial or otherwise, of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

Section 3.05. Properties. (a) Each Loan Party and its Subsidiaries has good title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all its real and personal property material to its business, except for defects in title that do not interfere with its ability to conduct its business as currently conducted or to utilize such properties for their intended purposes and except as may be permitted pursuant to Section 6.01.

(b) Each Loan Party and its Subsidiaries owns, or is licensed to use, all trademarks, tradenames, copyrights, patents and other intellectual property material to its business, and the use thereof by such Loan Party and its Subsidiaries does not infringe upon the rights of any other Person, except for any such infringements that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.06. Litigation and Environmental Matters. (a) There are no actions, suits or proceedings by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority pending against or, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, threatened against or affecting any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or that involve this Agreement, the Transactions as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination and that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) Except with respect to any other matters that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, no Loan Party nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) has failed to comply with any

 

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Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law, (ii) has become subject to any Environmental Liability, (iii) has received notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or (iv) knows of any basis for any Environmental Liability.

Section 3.07. Compliance with Laws and Agreements. Each Loan Party and its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all laws, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property and all indentures, agreements and other instruments binding upon it or its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No Default has occurred and is continuing.

Section 3.08. Investment Company Status. No Loan Party nor any of its Subsidiaries is an “investment company” as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940.

Section 3.09. Taxes. Each Loan Party and its Subsidiaries has timely filed or caused to be filed all Tax returns and reports required to have been filed and has paid or caused to be paid all Taxes required to have been paid by it, except (a) Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which such Loan Party or such Subsidiary, as applicable, has set aside on its books reserves as and to the extent required by IFRS or (b) to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.10. ERISA. No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events for which liability is reasonably expected to occur, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The present value of all accumulated benefit obligations under each Plan (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed the fair market value of the assets of such Plan by an amount that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, and the present value of all accumulated benefit obligations of all underfunded Plans (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed the fair market value of the assets of all such underfunded Plans by an amount that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.11. Disclosure. The Parent and the Borrower have disclosed to the Lenders and the Issuing Bank all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to their knowledge to which either of them or any of their

 

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respective Subsidiaries is subject, and all other matters known to them, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. None of the reports, financial statements, certificates or other information furnished by or on behalf of any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent or any Lender or the Issuing Bank in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, each Loan Party represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time. Any forward looking statements contained therein are inherently subject to risk and uncertainties, many of which cannot be predicted with accuracy, and some of which might not be anticipated. Future events and actual results, financial and otherwise, could differ materially from those set forth therein or contemplated by the forward looking statements contained therein.

Section 3.12. Margin Stock. Not more than 25% of the consolidated assets of any Loan Party consists of “margin stock” within the meaning of such term under Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

Section 3.13. No Burdensome Restrictions. No Requirement of Law or Contractual Obligation of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.14. Subsidiaries. Schedule 3.14 sets forth all of the Subsidiaries of the Parent at the Restatement Date.

Section 3.15. Solvency. As of the Effective Date and on the occasion of any Borrowing, the Borrower is Solvent.

ARTICLE 4

CONDITIONS TO FUNDING

Section 4.01. Restatement Date. This Amended Agreement shall not become effective until the date on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02):

(a) The Administrative Agent shall have received from each Loan Party and from Lenders comprising the Majority Lenders either (i) a counterpart of this Amended Agreement signed on behalf of such party or (ii) written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include telecopy

 

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transmission of a signed signature page of this Amended Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement.

(b) There shall be no actions, suits or proceedings by or before any arbitrator or governmental authority pending against or to the knowledge of the Borrower or the Parent threatened against or affecting the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or that involve the credit facility contemplated by this Agreement or this Agreement as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination and that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) On and as of the Restatement Date (i) the representations and warranties of each Loan Party set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct, and (ii) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

(d) The Administrative Agent shall have received favorable written opinions (addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and dated the Restatement Date) of Belgian and United States counsel to the Loan Parties satisfactory to the Administrative Agent covering such matters relating to the Loan Parties, this Agreement or the Transactions as the Administrative Agent or the Majority Lenders shall reasonably request. The Borrower and the Parent hereby request such counsel to deliver such opinions.

(e) The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, dated the Effective Date and signed by the President, a Vice President or a Financial Officer of the Borrower and the Parent, confirming compliance with the conditions set forth in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this Section and setting forth reasonably detailed calculations of compliance with Sections 6.07 and 6.08.

(f) The Administrative Agent shall have received such other legal opinions, documents and certificates as the Administrative Agent or its counsel may reasonably request relating to the organization, existence and good standing of the Loan Parties, the authorization of the Transactions and any other legal matters relating to the Loan Parties, this Agreement or the Transactions, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.

provided that this Amended Agreement shall not become effective or be binding on any party hereto unless all of the foregoing conditions are satisfied not later than May 21, 2007. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower, the Lenders and each other party to the Existing Agreement of the Restatement Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding on all parties hereto. On the Restatement Date, (i) the Existing Agreement shall be automatically amended and restated in its entirety to read as this Amended Agreement and (ii) the Parent shall become a Guarantor party to this Agreement.

 

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Section 4.02. Each Credit Event. The obligation of each Lender to make a Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing, and of the Issuing Bank to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit, is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions (or waiver thereof in accordance with Section 9.02):

(a) The representations and warranties of each Loan Party set forth in this Agreement (other than, at any time the Ratings Condition is satisfied before and after giving effect to such Borrowing or issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, the representation and warranty set forth in Section 3.04(b)) shall be true and correct on and as of the date of such Borrowing or the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date.

(b) At the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing or the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, (x) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (y) the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure of all Lenders plus the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Competitive Loans shall not exceed the total Commitments as of the date of such Borrowing or issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as the case may be.

Each Borrowing and each issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower on the date thereof as to the matters specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section.

ARTICLE 5

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

Until the Commitments have expired or been terminated, the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder shall have been paid in full, all Letters of Credit shall have expired or terminated and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed in full, the Parent covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:

Section 5.01. Financial Statements and Other Information. The Parent will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

(a) within 105 days after the end of each Fiscal Year, its audited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures as of the end of and for the previous Fiscal Year, all reported on by Deloitte & Touche Reviseurs d’ Enterprises SC s.f.d. SCRL or

 

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other independent public accountants of recognized international standing (without a “going concern” or like qualification or exception and without any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with IFRS consistently applied;

(b) within 60 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each Fiscal Year, its consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the Fiscal Year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous Fiscal Year, all certified by one of its Financial Officers as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Parent and its Consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with IFRS consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;

(c) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under clause (a) or (b) above, a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Parent (i) certifying as to whether a Default has occurred and, if a Default has occurred, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto, (ii) setting forth reasonably detailed calculations of the financial and negative covenants set forth in Sections 6.02, 6.07 and 6.08 and the baskets set forth in Section 6.06, and (iii) stating whether any change in IFRS or in the application thereof has occurred since the date of the audited financial statements referred to in Section 3.04(a) and, if any such change has occurred, specifying the effect of such change on the financial statements accompanying such certificate, which certificate shall be in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent.

(d) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under clause (a) above, a certificate of the accounting firm that reported on such financial statements stating whether they obtained knowledge during the course of their examination of such financial statements of any Default (which certificate may be limited to the extent required by accounting rules or guidelines);

(e) promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed (excluding exhibits) by the Parent or any Subsidiary with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all of the functions of said Commission or exercising comparable jurisdiction over the Parent, or with any national securities exchange, or distributed by the Parent to its shareholders generally, as the case may be; and

 

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(f) promptly following any request therefor, such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of the Parent or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of this Agreement, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender through the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.

Information required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a), 5.01(b), 5.01(d) or 5.01(e) above shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date on which the Parent provides notice to the Lenders that such information has been posted on the Parent’s website on the Internet (www.delhaizegroup.com), at sec.gov/edaux/searches.htm, at the Borrower’s intralinks site (www.intralinks.com) or at another website identified in such notice and accessible by the Lenders without charge; provided that (i) such notice may be included in a certificate delivered pursuant to 5.01(c) and such notice or certificate shall themselves be deemed to have been delivered upon being posted to the Parent’s intralinks site and (ii) the Parent shall deliver paper copies of the information referred to in Section 5.01(a), 5.01(b), 5.01(d) or 5.01(e) to any Lender which requests such delivery.

Section 5.02. Notices of Material Events. The Parent will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender prompt written notice of the following:

(a) the occurrence of any Default;

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

(c) the occurrence of any ERISA Event that, alone or together with any other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Parent and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding €20,000,000 subsequent to the date hereof; and

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

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

Section 5.03. Existence; Conduct of Business. The Parent will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal existence and the rights,

 

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licenses, permits, privileges and franchises material to the conduct of the business of the Parent and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole except to that extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution permitted under Section 6.03.

Section 5.04. Payment of Obligations. The Parent will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, pay its obligations, including Tax liabilities, that, if not paid, could result in a Material Adverse Effect before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where (a) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (b) the Parent or such Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with IFRS and (c) the failure to make payment pending such contest could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.05. Maintenance of Properties; Insurance. The Parent will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, (a) keep and maintain all property material to the conduct of its business in adequate working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, and (b) maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance in such amounts and against such risks as are customarily maintained by companies engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations.

Section 5.06. Books and Records; Inspection and Appraisal Rights. The Parent will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, keep proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries are made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities. The Parent will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, permit any representatives designated by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, upon reasonable prior notice, to visit and inspect its properties, to examine and make extracts from its books and records, and to discuss its affairs, finances and condition with its officers and independent accountants, all at such reasonable times and as often as reasonably requested.

Section 5.07. Compliance with Laws and Material Contractual Obligations. The Parent will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, comply with all laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property and all material Contractual Obligations, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to prevent the Parent or any such Subsidiary from contesting any of the same by appropriate proceedings.

Section 5.08. Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Loans will be used only for general corporate purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including as credit support for the Borrower’s commercial paper programs. No

 

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part of the proceeds of any Loan and no Letters of Credit will be used, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose that entails a violation of any of the Regulations of the Board, including Regulation U.

Section 5.09. Change in Ratings. The Parent will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender prompt written notice of any change in ratings established or deemed to have been established by Moody’s and S&P for any of its indebtedness for borrowed money, including the Index Debt or its senior, unsecured, short-term indebtedness for borrowed money (including commercial paper).

Section 5.10. Additional Subsidiaries. Any Subsidiary may become a party hereto by signing and delivering to the Administrative Agent a Guaranty Supplement whereupon such Subsidiary will become a “Subsidiary Guarantor” for purposes hereof.

Section 5.11. Change in Control Approval. The Parent will present to its shareholders for approval at its annual meeting of shareholders to be held in 2008 a resolution approving clauses (c) and (d) of the definition of Change in Control in Section 1.01 for inclusion within the full scope of such definition of “Change in Control” as used in, and for purposes of, the Event of Default described in clause (m) of Section 7.01, and undertakes that such resolution shall be accompanied by a proposed resolution by the Parent’s board of directors recommending the approval by the Parent’s shareholders . Upon approval thereof by the shareholders, the Parent will promptly cause the same to be filed with the Commercial Court, in accordance with Article 556 of the Belgian Company Code. The shareholders’ due approval of such resolution and such filing thereof are collectively referred to herein as the “Shareholder Consent Condition”.

ARTICLE 6

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

Until the Commitments have expired or been terminated, the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder shall have been paid in full, all Letters of Credit shall have expired or terminated and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed in full, the Parent covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:

Section 6.01. Liens. The Parent will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it, or assign or sell any income or revenues (including accounts receivable) or rights in respect of any thereof, except:

 

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(a) Permitted Encumbrances;

(b) any Lien on any property or asset of the Parent or any Subsidiary existing on the Restatement Date and set forth on Schedule 6.01 or resulting from operating leases existing on the Restatement Date being reclassified as Capitalized Leases in accordance with IFRS; provided that (i) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or asset (other than accessions, modifications and proceeds thereof) of the Parent or any Subsidiary and (ii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date hereof and extensions, renewals and replacements (subject to Section 6.02) thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;

(c) any Lien existing on any property or asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Parent or any Subsidiary or existing on any property or asset of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary on or after the date hereof prior to the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided that (i) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition or such Person becoming a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (ii) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or assets (other than accessions, modifications and proceeds thereof) of the Parent or any Subsidiary and (iii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person becomes a Subsidiary, as the case may be and extensions, renewals and replacements thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;

(d) Liens on fixed or capital assets acquired, constructed or improved by the Parent or any Subsidiary; provided that (i) such Liens and the Indebtedness secured thereby are incurred prior to or within 180 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement, (ii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed 100% of the cost of acquiring, constructing or improving such fixed or capital assets and (iii) such Liens shall not apply to any other property or assets (other than accessions, modifications and proceeds thereof) of the Parent or any Subsidiary and extensions, renewals and replacements thereof (subject to Section 6.02) that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;

(e) Liens on assets of a Subsidiary organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States of America which is not a Subsidiary Guarantor, securing obligations solely of such Subsidiary; and

(f) Liens not otherwise permitted pursuant to this Section 6.01 securing Indebtedness of the Parent or any Subsidiary (not otherwise prohibited hereunder) in an aggregate principal amount at no time exceeding (i) €30,000,000 minus (ii) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of Subsidiaries permitted solely by clause (g) of Section 6.02 outstanding at such time.

 

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Section 6.02. Limitations on Indebtedness of Subsidiaries. The Parent will not permit any Subsidiary (other than the Borrower) to create, incur, assume, become liable in respect of or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except any Indebtedness that is listed in one of the clauses below and is otherwise permitted under Section 6.08 hereof:

(a) Indebtedness (including Capital Lease Obligations) secured by Liens permitted under Section 6.01(b);

(b) (i) Indebtedness (including Capital Lease Obligations) secured by Liens permitted under Section 6.01(c) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed €200,000,000 and (ii) Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness permitted by clause (i)) consisting of Capital Lease Obligations;

(c) Indebtedness of any Subsidiary owed to the Parent or any other Subsidiary;

(d) Indebtedness of any Loan Party under this Agreement;

(e) Indebtedness of any Subsidiary Guarantor constituting a Guarantee of Indebtedness of the Parent or the Borrower;

(f) Indebtedness of Subsidiaries of the Parent that are not Loan Parties existing on the Restatement Date and all renewals, refinancings and replacements thereof; and

(g) additional Indebtedness of the Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount (for all Subsidiaries other than the Borrower) at no time exceeding (i) €100,000,000 minus (ii) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness secured by Liens permitted solely by clause (f) of Section 6.01 outstanding at such time;

provided that at any date the aggregate amount of Capital Lease Obligations of all Subsidiaries (other than any such Capital Lease Obligations incurred in reliance on clause (2)(i) of subsection (b)) and the aggregate amount of Capital Lease Obligations of the Parent will not exceed €1,000,000,000.

Section 6.03. Fundamental Changes. (a) The Parent will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, merge into or consolidate with any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it, or sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of the assets of the Parent and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole (whether now owned or hereafter acquired), or liquidate or dissolve, except that, if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Default shall have occurred and be continuing (i) the Parent or the Borrower may merge into any other Person in a transaction in which it is the surviving corporation, (ii) any

 

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Subsidiary (other than the Borrower) may merge into the Parent in a transaction in which the Parent is the surviving corporation and any Subsidiary Guarantor may merge into the Borrower in a transaction in which the Borrower is the surviving Person, (iii) any Subsidiary (other than the Borrower) may merge into any Subsidiary (other than the Borrower) in a transaction in which the surviving entity is a Subsidiary (and, if any Subsidiary Guarantor is a party to such merger, the surviving entity shall agree to be a “Subsidiary Guarantor” hereunder and be bound by the provisions of this Agreement), (iv) (x) any Subsidiary (other than the Borrower) may merge into any other Person in a transaction in which the surviving entity is a Subsidiary (and, if any Subsidiary Guarantor is a party to such merger, the surviving entity shall agree to be a “Subsidiary Guarantor” hereunder and be bound by the provisions of this Agreement) or (y) any Subsidiary (other than a Loan Party) may merge into any other Person in a transaction permitted by Section 6.09 and in which the surviving Person is not a Subsidiary; (v) subject to the last sentence of this subsection (a), any Subsidiary (other than the Borrower) may sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of its assets to the Parent or to another Subsidiary or in a transaction not constituting all or substantially all of the assets of the Parent and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole and which is permitted by Section 6.09 and (vi) any Subsidiary (other than a Loan Party) may liquidate or dissolve if the Parent determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in its best interests and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders; provided that any such merger involving a Person that is not a wholly owned Subsidiary immediately prior to such merger shall not be permitted unless also permitted by Section 6.04. In addition to the requirements set forth in the immediately preceding sentence, the Parent will not permit any Subsidiary Guarantor to sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (in one transaction or a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets to any Person except to (1) the Parent, (2) the Borrower, (3) an entity that is a Subsidiary prior to such sale, lease, transfer or other disposition or (4) any other Person in a transaction not constituting a sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Parent and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, and in which the surviving entity is a Subsidiary so long as, in the case of clauses (3) or (4), such Subsidiary or other Person shall agree to be a “Subsidiary Guarantor” hereunder and be bound by the provisions this Agreement.

(b) The Parent will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, engage to any material extent in any business other than businesses of the type conducted by the Parent and its Subsidiaries on the Effective Date and businesses reasonably related or incidental thereto.

Section 6.04. Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions; Hedging Agreements. (a) The Parent will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, purchase, hold or acquire (including pursuant to any merger with any Person that was not a wholly owned Subsidiary prior to such merger) any capital stock, evidences of Indebtedness or other securities (including

 

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any option, warrant or other right to acquire any of the foregoing) of, make or permit to exist any loans or advances to, guarantee any obligations of, otherwise provide any credit support to, or make or permit to exist any investment or any other interest in, any other Person, or purchase or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) any assets of any other Person constituting a business unit, except:

(i) Cash Equivalents;

(ii) extensions of trade credit in the ordinary course of business;

(iii) investments arising from the settlement of debts or as a result of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings or as a result of enforcement proceedings;

(iv) investments of the Parent and the Subsidiaries existing on the date hereof;

(v) (A) investments existing on the date hereof in the capital stock of Subsidiaries and (B) investments by the Parent or any Subsidiary consisting solely of the creation of one or more new Subsidiaries (it being understood that the purchase or other acquisition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of any assets of any other Person constituting a business unit shall not be permitted by this clause (v)(B));

(vi) loans, advances and other investments made by the Parent to or in any Subsidiary and made by any Subsidiary to or in the Parent or any other Subsidiary;

(vii) Guarantees by the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries of any Debt or Indebtedness of any Person, so long as (1) in the case of any Debt, such Debt and Guarantee would be permitted under Section 6.08 and (2) in the case of any Indebtedness, such Indebtedness is permitted under Section 6.02;

(viii) acquisitions of a Person or the assets of a Person constituting a business unit in the same line of business conducted by the Parent on the date hereof in an aggregate amount not to exceed $1,000,000,000 over the term of this Agreement; provided that acquisitions of equity interests in a Person which do not result in such Person constituting a Subsidiary shall not exceed an aggregate amount of $200,000,000; and

 

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(ix) investments not otherwise permitted pursuant to this Section 6.04(a) in an aggregate amount not to exceed €50,000,000 at any time outstanding.

(b) The Parent will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into any Hedging Agreement, other than (i) Hedging Agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business to hedge or mitigate risks to which the Parent or any Subsidiary is exposed in the conduct of its business or the management of its liabilities, and (ii) Hedging Agreements constituting “treasury-locks” or similar hedging arrangements entered into by the Parent or the Borrower in anticipation of an issuance of Debt by the Parent or the Borrower pursuant to a capital markets transaction.

Section 6.05. Transactions with Affiliates. The Parent will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, sell, lease or otherwise transfer any property or assets to, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any of its Affiliates, except (a) in the ordinary course of business at prices and on terms and conditions not less favorable to the Parent or such Subsidiary than could be obtained on an arm’s-length basis from unrelated third parties and (b) transactions between or among the Parent and its wholly owned Subsidiaries not involving any other Affiliate.

Section 6.06. Restricted Equity Payments. The Parent will not declare or make, or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Equity Payment, or incur any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to do so, except that (i) the Parent may declare and pay dividends with respect to its capital stock payable solely in additional shares of its capital stock, (ii) the Parent or a Subsidiary may purchase common stock or ADRs of the Parent, solely for the purpose of providing such stock or ADRs as compensation to employees of the Parent and its Subsidiaries pursuant to compensation plans of the Parent in the ordinary course of business, (iii) any Subsidiary may declare and pay dividends with respect to its capital stock and (iv) the Parent may declare or make Restricted Equity Payments not permitted by the foregoing clauses so long as, (x) after giving effect to any Restricted Equity Payment made in reliance on this clause (iv), the aggregate amount of all Restricted Equity Payments made in any Fiscal Year (other than any Restricted Equity Payments made at any time the Ratings Condition is satisfied, before and after giving effect to such Restricted Equity Payments) does not exceed 12.5% of Consolidated EBITDA for the immediately preceding Fiscal Year and (y) after declaring any Restricted Equity Payment in reliance on this clause (iv), the aggregate amount of all Restricted Equity Payments declared in any Fiscal Year (other than any Restricted Equity Payments made at any time the Ratings Condition is satisfied, before and after giving effect to such Restricted Equity Payments) does not exceed 12.5% of Consolidated EBITDA for such Fiscal Year.

 

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Section 6.07. Fixed Charges Coverage. At the end of each Fiscal Quarter ending during any period set forth below, the ratio of (i) Consolidated EBITDAR for the period of four Fiscal Quarters then ended to (ii) Consolidated Fixed Charges for such period, shall not have been less than the ratio set forth below opposite such Fiscal Quarter:

 

Period During Which Fiscal Quarter Ended

   Ratio

Last day of the fourth fiscal quarter 2006 to the day immediately preceding the last day of the fourth fiscal quarter 2007

   2.50:1

Last day of the fourth fiscal quarter 2007 to Maturity Date

   2.75:1

Section 6.08. Ratio of Consolidated Adjusted Debt to Consolidated EBITDAR. On each date during each period set forth below, the ratio of (i) Consolidated Adjusted Debt at such date to (ii) Consolidated EBITDAR for the period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters ended on or most recently prior to such date shall not exceed the ratio set forth below opposite such period:

 

Period

   Ratio

Last day of the fourth fiscal quarter 2006 to the day immediately preceding the last day of the fourth fiscal quarter 2007

   3.75:1

Last day of the fourth fiscal quarter 2007 to Maturity Date

   3.5:1

Section 6.09. Limitation on Sales of Assets. The Parent will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, convey, sell, lease, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its property, business or assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or discontinue or eliminate any business line or segment, except:

(a) the sale or other disposition of obsolete, surplus or worn out property in the ordinary course of business;

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

(c) as permitted by Section 6.03(a);

(d)(i) sales of assets in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions the aggregate book value of which is not greater than €25,000,000 in any one such transaction or series of related transactions; provided that if, within 180 days of any such assets sales, the Parent or any Subsidiary acquires similar assets having a use similar to and a fair market value at least equal to the assets sold, then the value of the assets sold shall not be included in calculating future

 

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assets sales permitted under this Section 6.09 and (ii) during the term of this Agreement, a sale of one warehouse/distribution center identified to the Lenders prior to such sale the aggregate book value of which is not greater than €100,000,000;

(e) dispositions and discontinuances of a business line or segment not otherwise permitted pursuant to this Section 6.09; provided that the aggregate assets to be so disposed of or the aggregate assets utilized in a business line or segment to be so discontinued (in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions), when combined with all other assets disposed of (including pursuant to a sale and leaseback transaction) and all other assets utilized in all other business lines or segments discontinued, during the period from the date of this Agreement through and including the date of any such disposition or discontinuation would not exceed 10% of Consolidated Total Assets as determined by reference to the Parent’s most recently audited financial statements provided to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders pursuant to Section 5.01(a) and provided, further that if, within 180 days of the sale of any assets, the Parent or any Subsidiary acquires similar assets having a use similar to and a fair market value at least equal to the assets so sold, then the value of the assets sold shall not be included in calculating future assets permitted to be sold under this Section 6.09; and

(f) conveyances, sales, leases, assignments, transfers or other dispositions of assets from the Parent to a wholly owned Subsidiary, from a Subsidiary to the Parent or from a Subsidiary to a wholly owned Subsidiary.

Section 6.10. Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries; Negative Pledge. (a) The Parent will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into, be bound by or suffer to exist any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Subsidiary to (i) pay dividends or make other distributions or pay any Debt or Indebtedness owed to the Parent or any Subsidiary, (ii) make loans or advances to the Parent or any Subsidiary, (iii) transfer any of its properties or assets to the Parent or any Subsidiary, (iv) create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, (v) Guarantee any Debt or Indebtedness of the Parent or another Subsidiary or (vi) suffer to exist any Lien on capital stock or other equity interests issued by it; except for any such encumbrance or restriction existing under or by reason of (A) any agreement in effect on the Restatement Date as any such agreement is in effect on such date, (B) this Agreement, (C) any agreement with respect to Indebtedness of any Subsidiary permitted to be incurred under Section 6.02 or Section 6.02(g) or secured by a Lien permitted to be incurred under Section 6.01(d), 6.01(e) or 6.01(f)and provided such encumbrance or restriction shall not apply to any assets of the Parent or its Subsidiaries other than the assets of such Subsidiary subject to such Lien, (D) any agreement binding upon such Subsidiary prior to the date on which such Subsidiary was acquired by the Parent

 

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and outstanding on such date and provided such encumbrance or restriction shall not apply to any assets of the Parent or its Subsidiaries other than such Subsidiary, (E) any agreement governing Indebtedness of any Subsidiary of the Parent that is not a Loan Party, which encumbrance or restriction is customary for reasonably comparable financing agreements in the jurisdiction in which such Subsidiary is incurring such Indebtedness or conducting business, (F) customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing any leasehold interest of any Subsidiary, (G) applicable law, (H) licenses or other agreements, including with respect to property, in the ordinary course of business consistent with prior practice and (I) any agreement binding upon such Subsidiary so long as such encumbrance or restriction is no more restrictive than those contained in this Agreement.

(b) The Parent will not enter into, be bound by or suffer to exist any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of the Parent or any Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, except for any such encumbrance or restriction existing under or by reason of (i) any agreement in effect on the Restatement Date as any such agreement is in effect on such date, (ii) any agreement with respect to Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under this Agreement, so long as such encumbrance or restriction is no more restrictive than encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of agreements described in clause (i), (iii) this Agreement, (iv) any agreement with respect to Indebtedness secured by a Lien permitted to be incurred under Section 6.01(d), 6.01(e) or 6.01(f) and provided such encumbrance or restriction shall not apply to any assets of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries other than the assets of such Subsidiary subject to such Lien, (v) any agreement governing Indebtedness of any Subsidiary of the Parent that is not a Loan Party, which encumbrance or restriction is customary for reasonably comparable financing agreements in the jurisdiction in which such Subsidiary is incurring such Indebtedness or conducting business, (vi) customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing any leasehold interest of any Subsidiary, (vii) applicable law, and (viii) licenses or other agreements, including with respect to property, in the ordinary course of business consistent with prior practice.

ARTICLE 7

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

Section 7.01. Events of Default.

If any of the following events (“Events of Default”) shall occur:

(a) the Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan or any reimbursement obligation in respect of any LC Disbursement when and as the

 

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same shall become due and payable, whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment thereof or otherwise;

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

(c) any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Parent or any Subsidiary in or in connection with this Agreement or any amendment or modification hereof, or in any report, certificate, financial statement or other document delivered pursuant to this Agreement or any amendment or modification thereof, shall prove to have been incorrect in any material way when made or deemed made;

(d) the Borrower or the Parent shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 5.02, 5.03 (with respect to the existence of the Borrower or the Parent) or 5.08 or in Article 6;

(e) any Loan Party shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in this Agreement (other than those specified in clause (a), (b) or (d) of this Article), and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of 30 days after notice thereof from the Administrative Agent (given at the request of any Lender) to the Borrower;

(f) the Parent or any Subsidiary shall fail to make any payment (whether of principal or interest and regardless of amount) in respect of any Material Indebtedness, when and as the same shall become due and payable;

(g) any event or condition occurs that results in any Material Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or that enables or permits (with or without the giving of notice, the lapse of time or both) the holder or holders of any Material Indebtedness or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to cause any Material Indebtedness to become due, or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity; provided that this clause (g) shall not apply to secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness;

(h) an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization or other relief in respect of the Parent, the Borrower or any other Subsidiary of the Parent or their respective debts, or of a substantial part of their respective assets, under any federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect or (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian,

 

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sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Parent, the Borrower or any other Subsidiary of the Parent or for a substantial part of their respective assets, and, in any such case, such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed for 60 days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;

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

(j) the Parent or any Subsidiary shall become unable, or admit in writing or fail generally, to pay their respective debts as they become due;

(k) one or more judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of $50,000,000 shall be rendered against the Parent, any Subsidiary or any combination thereof and the same shall remain undischarged for a period of 30 consecutive days during which execution shall not be effectively stayed, bonded or vacated, or any action shall be legally taken by a judgment creditor to attach or levy upon any assets of the Parent or any Subsidiary to enforce any such judgment;

(l) an ERISA Event shall have occurred that, in the opinion of the Majority Lenders, when taken together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

(m) a Change in Control shall occur;

(n) any Loan Guarantee shall cease to be enforceable, or any Loan Party or any of its Affiliates shall so assert in writing; or

(o) there shall be any Insolvency with respect to the Parent;

then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to the Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Majority Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrower, take either or both of the

 

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following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate the Commitments, and thereupon the Commitments shall terminate immediately, and (ii) declare the Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable), and thereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder, shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by each Loan Party; and in case of any event with respect to the Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article, the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder, shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by each Loan Party.

ARTICLE 8

THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

Each of the Lenders and the Issuing Bank hereby irrevocably appoints the Administrative Agent as its agent 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 this Agreement, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.

The bank serving as the Administrative Agent under this Agreement 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 such bank and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if it were not the Administrative Agent under this Agreement.

The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (a) the Administrative Agent shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing, (b) the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise in writing by the Majority Lenders, and (c) except as expressly set forth herein, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries that is communicated to or obtained by the bank serving as

 

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Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it with the consent or at the request of the Majority Lenders or 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 written notice thereof is given to the Administrative Agent by a Loan Party or a Lender, and the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or in connection herewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement or any other agreement, instrument or document, or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV of this Agreement or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or sent 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 be made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for a Loan Party), 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.

The Administrative Agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers 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 its duties and exercise its rights and powers through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of the preceding paragraphs 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.

Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Administrative Agent as provided in this paragraph, the Administrative Agent may resign at any time by notifying the Lenders, the Issuing Bank and the Borrower. Upon any such resignation, the Majority Lenders shall have the right (so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing with consent of the Borrower which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) to appoint a successor. If no successor shall have been so appointed by the Majority Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment

 

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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 Issuing Bank, appoint a successor Administrative Agent which shall be a bank with an office in New York, New York, or an Affiliate of any such bank. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder. The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Article and Section 9.03 shall continue in effect for its benefit in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was acting as Administrative Agent.

Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it 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 related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, none of the Syndication Agents in their capacity as such shall have any powers, duties, responsibilities or liabilities with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. Without limiting the foregoing, none of the Syndication Agents shall be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties.

ARTICLE 9

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 9.01. Notices. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone, 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 telecopy, as follows:

(a) if to any Loan Party, to it in care of the Borrower at 2110 Executive Drive, Salisbury, North Carolina 28145-1330, Attention of Richard James, Treasurer and Vice President of Finance (Telecopy No. 704-645-4498);

 

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(b) if to the Administrative Agent, to it at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Loan and Agency Services Group, 1111 Fannin Road, 10th Floor, Houston, Texas 77002, Attention of Vikki Toler (Telecopy No. (713) 750-2782), with a copy to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 270 Park Avenue, New York 10017, Attention of Peter Hayes (Telecopy No. (646) 534-3921);

(c) if to the Issuing Bank, to it at the address most recently notified to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent by such Issuing Bank;

(d) if to the Swingline Lender, to it at the address most recently notified to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent by such Swingline Lender; and

(e) if to any other Lender, to it at its address (or telecopy number) set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire.

Any party hereto may change its address or telecopy number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. All notices and other communications given to any party hereto in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given on the date of receipt.

Section 9.02. Waivers; Amendments. (a) No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or the Issuing Bank in exercising any right or power hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Bank under this Agreement are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by any Loan Party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan or the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent or any Lender or the Issuing Bank may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time.

(b) Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or modified except as contemplated by Section 5.10 or pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrower and the Majority Lenders or by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Majority Lenders; provided that no such agreement shall (i) increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender, (ii)

 

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reduce the principal amount of any Loan or any LC Disbursement or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iii) postpone the scheduled date of payment of the principal amount of any Loan or any LC Disbursement or any interest thereon, or any fees payable hereunder, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date of expiration of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iv) change Section 2.16(b) or (c) in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby, without the written consent of each Lender adversely affected thereby, (v) release any Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee without the consent of each Lender or (vi) change any of the provisions of this Section or the definition of “Majority Lenders” or any other provision of this Agreement specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender; provided further that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender, as the case may be.

Section 9.03. Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver. (a) The Borrower 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 and administration of this Agreement or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Issuing Bank in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder, and (iii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or the Issuing Bank, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent or any Lender or the Issuing Bank and any court costs, fees or taxes, in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with this Agreement, including its rights under this Section, or in connection with the Loans made or the Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including in connection with any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect thereof including actions in connection with this Agreement or the Loans or the Letters of Credit, arising, occurring or continuing subsequent to the Maturity Date (other than any such expenses directly related to a court enforcement action in which the Borrower prevails on the merits in a final and nonappealable judgment).

(b) The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons

 

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(each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee, incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or the consummation of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) any Loan or the use of the proceeds therefrom or any Letter of Credit or the use thereof, (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Parent 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 and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses 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.

(c) To the extent that the Borrower fails to pay any amount required to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender, 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, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender in its capacity as such.

(d) To the extent permitted by applicable law, no Loan Party shall assert, and each Loan Party 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 or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the Transactions, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof.

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

Section 9.04. Successors and Assigns. (a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of the Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), except that the Borrower

 

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may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower without such consent shall be null and void). 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 and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and the Issuing Bank) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

(b) Any Lender may 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 and the LC Disbursements at the time owing to it and the participations in Letters of Credit at the time held by it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) of (i) the Borrower; provided that no consent of the Borrower shall be required for an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund or, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any other assignee and (ii) the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender; provided that (A) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment or Loans of any Class, the amount of the Commitment 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) shall not be less than $10,000,000 unless each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent, (B) 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; provided that this clause shall not be construed to prohibit the assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations in respect of one Class of Commitments or Loans, (C) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500, and (D) the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire. Upon acceptance and recording pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement other than Section 9.12 (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 2.13, 2.14, 2.15 and 9.03 and

 

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subject to 9.12). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this paragraph 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 paragraph (e) of this Section.

(c) The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices in The City of New York 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 Commitment of, and principal amount of the Loans and LC Disbursements owing to, each Lender and the Issuing Bank pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank 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.

(d) Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, the assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section and any written consent to such assignment required by paragraph (b) of this Section, the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph.

(e) Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower, the Issuing Bank, Swingline Lender or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans and the LC Disbursements owing to it and the participations in Letters of Credit at the time held by it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the other Lenders 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, modification or waiver described in the first proviso to Section 9.02(b) that affects such Participant. Subject to paragraph (f) of this Section, the

 

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Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.13, 2.14 and 2.15 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section.

(f) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.13 or 2.15 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.15 unless the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 2.15(e) as though it were a Lender.

(g) Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement or any promissory note issued pursuant hereto to such Lender to secure obligations of such Lender, including any such pledge or assignment to a Federal Reserve Bank, and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

(h) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a “Granting Lender”) may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle (an “SPC”) of such Granting Lender, identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Lender to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, the option to provide to the Borrower all or any part of any Loan that such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to make to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement; provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment to make any Loan by any SPC and (ii) if an SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to provide all or any part of such Loan, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to make such Loan pursuant to the terms hereof. The making of a Loan by an SPC hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent, and as if, such Loan were made by the Granting Lender. Each party hereto hereby agrees that no SPC shall be liable for any payment under this Agreement for which a Lender would otherwise be liable, for so long as, and to the extent, the related Granting Lender makes such payment. In furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby agrees that, prior to the date that is one year and one day after the payment in full of all outstanding senior indebtedness of any SPC, it will not institute against, or join any other person in instituting against, such SPC any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceedings or similar proceedings under the laws of the United States or any State thereof. In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 9.04 any SPC may (i) with notice to, but without the prior written consent of, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent and without

 

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paying any processing fee therefor, assign all or a portion of its interests in any Loans to its Granting Lender or to any financial institutions (if consented to by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent) providing liquidity and/or credit facilities to or for the account of such SPC to fund the Loans made by such SPC or to support the securities (if any) issued by such SPC to fund such Loans and (ii) disclose on a confidential basis any non-public information relating to its Loans to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of a surety, guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPC. This Section may not be amended without the written consent of each SPC that holds any Loans at the time of such proposed amendment.

Section 9.05. Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Loan Parties herein and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of any Loans, and the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan and any LC Disbursement or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding and unpaid and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated. The provisions of Section 2.13, 2.14, 2.15, 9.03 and 9.12 and Article 8 shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans and the termination or expiration of all Letters of Credit, the expiration or termination of the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

Section 9.06. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent 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.

Section 9.07. Severability. Any provision of this Agreement held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining

 

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provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.

Section 9.08. Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender and each of its Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other indebtedness at any time owing by such Lender to or for the credit or the account of any Loan Party against any of and all the obligations of such Loan Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement held by such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement and although such obligations may be unmatured. The rights of each Lender under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) which such Lender may have.

Section 9.09. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent of Service of Process. (a) This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York.

(b) Each Loan Party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County and of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or, to the extent permitted by 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 shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement against any Loan Party or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

(c) Each Loan Party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

 

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(d) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

Section 9.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY 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 THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY 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 AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

Section 9.11. Headings. Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

Section 9.12. Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority, (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party to this Agreement, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the enforcement of rights thereunder, (f) subject to a written agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement, (g) with the consent of the Borrower or (h) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (ii) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than any Loan Party. For the purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Loan Parties relating to the Borrower, its

 

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Subsidiaries or their businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by a Loan Party; provided that, in the case of information received from any Loan Party after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section 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.

Section 9.13. Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan or any LC Disbursement, together with all fees, charges and other amounts which are treated as interest on such Loan or LC Disbursement under applicable law (collectively the “Charges”), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the “Maximum Rate”) which may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by the Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, holding such Loan or LC Disbursement in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Loan or LC Disbursement hereunder, as the case may be, together with all Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Charges that would have been payable in respect of such Loan or LC Disbursement, as the case may be, but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section shall be cumulated and the interest and Charges payable to such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, in respect of other Loans or LC Disbursements or periods shall be increased (but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the Federal Funds Effective Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be.

Section 9.14. USA Patriot Act. Each Lender hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Act”), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Act.

ARTICLE 10

THE GUARANTEES

Section 10.01. The Loan Guarantees. Each Guarantor jointly and severally hereby unconditionally guarantees the full and punctual payment (whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise) of the Guaranteed Obligations. Upon failure by the Borrower to pay punctually any Guaranteed

 

86


Obligation, each Guarantor agrees that it shall forthwith on demand pay the amount not so paid at the place and in the manner specified in this Agreement.

Section 10.02. Guarantees Unconditional. The obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall be unconditional and absolute and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, shall not be released, discharged or otherwise affected by (i) any extension, renewal, settlement, compromise, waiver or release in respect of any obligation of any other Loan Party or any other Person under this Agreement, by operation of law or otherwise, (ii) any modification or amendment of or supplement to this Agreement, (iii) any release, impairment, non-perfection or invalidity of any direct or indirect security for any obligation of the Borrower, such Guarantor, any other Loan Party or any other Person under this Agreement, (iv) any change in the corporate or company existence, structure or ownership of the Borrower, such Guarantor, any other Loan Party or any other Person or any of their respective Subsidiaries, or any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization or other similar proceeding affecting the Borrower, such Guarantor, any other Loan Party or any other Person or any of their assets or any resulting release or discharge of any obligation of the Borrower, such Guarantor, any other Guarantor or any other Person contained in this Agreement, (v) the existence of any claim, set-off or other rights which such Guarantor may have at any time against the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the Issuing Bank, any other Guarantor or any other Person, whether in connection herewith or any unrelated transactions; provided that nothing herein shall prevent the assertion of any such claim by separate suit or compulsory counterclaim, (vi) any invalidity or unenforceability relating to or against the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any other Person for any reason of this Agreement, or any provision of applicable law or regulation purporting to prohibit the payment by the Borrower, of the principal or the interest or any other amount payable by the Borrower under this Agreement or (vii) any other act or omission to act or delay of any kind by the Borrower, any other Loan Party, the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the Issuing Bank or any other Person or any other circumstance whatsoever which might, but for the provisions of this paragraph, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of or defense to obligations of such Guarantor hereunder.

Section 10.03. Discharge Only Upon Payment In Full; Reinstatement In Certain Instances. Each Guarantor’s obligations hereunder shall remain in full force and effect until the repayment in full of all Guaranteed Obligations, the termination of the Commitments and the termination or expiration of all Letters of Credit. If at any time any payment of Guaranteed Obligations payable by the Borrower is rescinded or must be otherwise restored or returned upon the insolvency or receivership of the Borrower or otherwise, each Guarantor’s obligations hereunder with respect thereto shall be reinstated as though such payment had been due but not made at such time. At any time prior to the termination of each Guarantor’s obligations hereunder, in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence, the Administrative Agent may release such

 

87


Guarantor from its obligations hereunder in accordance with Section 9.02(b) of this Agreement.

Section 10.04. Waiver By Each Guarantor. Each Guarantor irrevocably waives acceptance hereof, presentment, demand, protest and any notice not provided for herein, as well as any requirement that at any time any action be taken by any corporation or person against the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any other Person.

Section 10.05. Subrogation and Contribution. (a) Upon making any payment with respect to the Borrower hereunder, each Guarantor that has made such payment shall be subrogated to the rights of the payee against the Borrower with respect to such payment; provided that no Guarantor shall enforce any payment by way of subrogation until the repayment in full of all Guaranteed Obligations and the termination of the Commitments and the termination or expiration of all Letters of Credit.

(b) Each Guarantor (a “Contributing Guarantor”) agrees that, in the event a payment shall be made by any other Guarantor which is a Subsidiary Guarantor (the “Claiming Guarantor”) on account of the Contributing Guarantor’s Guaranteed Obligations under this Agreement, the Contributing Guarantor shall indemnify the Claiming Guarantor in an amount equal to the amount of such payment multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the net worth of the Contributing Guarantor on the date hereof and the denominator shall be the aggregate net worth of all the Guarantors on the date hereof (or, in the case of any Guarantor becoming a party hereto pursuant to Section 5.10, the date of the Guaranty Supplement hereto executed and delivered by such Guarantor).

Section 10.06. Stay Of Acceleration. In the event that acceleration of the time for payment of any Guaranteed Obligation is stayed upon insolvency or receivership of the Borrower or otherwise, all such Guaranteed Obligations otherwise subject to acceleration under the terms of this Agreement shall nonetheless be payable by each Guarantor hereunder forthwith on demand.

Section 10.07. Limit Of Liability. The obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder shall be limited to an aggregate amount equal to the largest amount that would not render its obligations hereunder subject to avoidance under Section 548 of the United States Bankruptcy Code or any comparable provisions of any applicable state law.

Section 10.08. Indemnity. Each Guarantor absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and each Lender that, if any sum owed to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or such Lender by such Guarantor under Section 10.01 is not recoverable from

 

88


such Guarantor for any reason whatsoever, then (notwithstanding that the same may have been known to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or such Lender) such Guarantor shall, forthwith upon demand by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or such Lender, pay such sum by way of a full indemnity. This indemnity constitutes a separate and independent cause of action if any sum is not recoverable from such Guarantor under Section 10.01.

 

89


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

 

DELHAIZE AMERICA, INC.
By:  

/s/ Richard A. James

 

 

Name:   Richard A. James
Title:   Vice President of Finance and Treasurer

 

DELHAIZE GROUP S.A.
By:  

/s/ Richard A. James

Name:   Richard A. James
Title:   Vice President - Finance

 

SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS:
FOOD LION, LLC
By:  

/s/ Richard A. James

 

Name:   Richard A. James
Title:   Treasurer

 

KASH N’ KARRY FOOD STORES, INC.
By:  

/s/ Emily D. Dickinson

 

Name:   Emily D. Dickinson
Title:   Assistant Secretary and Assistant Treasurer

 

90


HANNAFORD BROS. CO.
By:  

/s/ Emily D. Dickinson

 

Name:   Emily D. Dickinson
Title:   Secretary

 

BONEY WILSON & SONS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Emily D. Dickinson

 

Name:   Emily D. Dickinson
Title:   Secretary

 

FL FOOD LION, INC.
By:  

/s/ Richard A. James

 

Name:   Richard A. James
Title:   Treasurer

 

HANNAFORD PROCUREMENT CORP.
By:  

/s/ Emily D. Dickinson

 

Name:   Emily D. Dickinson
Title:   Secretary

 

HANNBRO COMPANY
By:  

/s/ Emily D. Dickinson

 

Name:   Emily D. Dickinson
Title:   President

 

91


MARTIN’S FOODS OF SOUTH BURLINGTON, INC.
By:  

/s/ Emily D. Dickinson

 

Name:   Emily D. Dickinson
Title:   Assistant Secretary

 

RISK MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
By:  

/s/ Richard A. James

 

Name:  

Richard A. James

Title:  

Treasurer

 

SHOP ‘N SAVE-MASS., INC.
By:  

/s/ Emily D. Dickinson

 

Name:   Emily D. Dickinson
Title:   Secretary

 

J.H. HARVEY CO., LLC
By:  

/s/ Richard A. James

 

Name:   Richard A. James
Title:   Treasurer

 

VICTORY DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Emily D. Dickinson

 

Name:   Emily D. Dickinson
Title:   Secretary

 

92


HANNAFORD LICENSING CORP.
By:  

/s/ Emily D. Dickinson

 

Name:   Emily D. Dickinson
Title:   Secretary

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.

By:  

/s/ James W. Peterson

 

Name:  

James W. Peterson

Title:   Vice President

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
By:  

/s/ Thomas J. Kane

 

Name:  

Thomas J. Kane

Title:   Senior Vice President

 

FORTIS CAPITAL CORP.

By:  

/s/ Daniel M. Jafee

 

Name:  

Daniel M. Jafee

Title:   Vice President
By:  

/s/ Timothy Streb

 

Name:  

Timothy Streb

Title:   Managing Director

 

93


ING LUXEMBURG S.A.
By:  

/s/ Vincent Vermeire

 

Name:   Vincent Vermeire
Title:   Head of Corporate & Inst. Banking
By:  

/s/ Yves Verhulst

 

Name:  

Yves Verhulst

Title:   Manager Financial Institutions

 

WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By:  

/s/ Thomas Harper

 

Name:  

Thomas Harper

Title:  

Senior Vice President

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK
By:  

/s/ Johna M. Fidanza

 

Name:  

Johna M. Fidanza

Title:   Vice President

 

94


BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI TRUST COMPANY

By:  

/s/ Harumi Kambra

 

Name:  

Harumi Kambra

Title:   Vice President

 

BNP PARIBAS
By:  

/s/ Nanette Baudon

 

Name:   Nanette Baudon
Title:   Vice President
By:  

/s/ Monique Vialatou

 

Name:  

Monique Vialatou

Title:   Managing Director

 

BRANCH BANKING AND TRUST COMPANY

By:  

/s/ Troy Weaver

 

Name:  

Troy Weaver

Title:   Senior Vice President

 

 

95


CITIBANK, N.A.
By:  

/s/ William G. Drewes

 

Name:  

William G. Drewes

Title:  

Vice President

 

KBC BANK N.V.
By:  

/s/ Jean - Pierre Diels

 

Name:  

Jean - Pierre Diels

Title:   First Vice President
By:  

/s/ Olivier Smeckens

 

Name:  

Olivier Smeckens

Title:   Assistant Vice President

 

COOPERATIEVE CENTRALE

RAIFFEISEN-BOERENLEENBANK B.A.

“RABOBANK INTERNATIONAL”,

NEW YORK BRANCH

By:  

/s/ Theodore W. Cox

 

Name:   Theodore W. Cox
Title:   Executive Director
By:  

/s/ Rebecca Mannow

 

Name:  

Rebecca Mannow

Title:   Executive Director

 

96


KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By:  

/s/ Brendan A. Lawlor

 

Name:  

Brendan A. Lawlor

Title:   Senior Vice President

 

MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK, LTD.
By:  

/s/ Bertram Tang

 

Name:  

Bertram Tang

Title:  

SVP & Team Leader

 

SOCIETE GENERALE
By:  

/s/ Anne-Marie Dumortler

 

Name:   Anne-Marie Dumortler
Title:   Director

 

97


Schedule 2.01

Commitment Schedule

 

Lender

   Commitment

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

   $ 45,000,000

Bank of America, N.A.

   $ 35,000,000

Fortis Capital Corp.

   $ 35,000,000

ING Luxemburg S.A.

   $ 35,000,000

Wachovia Bank, National Association

   $ 35,000,000

CoBank, ACB

   $ 35,000,000

The Bank of New York

   $ 27,500,000

Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Trust Company

   $ 27,500,000

BNP Paribas

   $ 27,500,000

Branch Banking and Trust Company

   $ 27,500,000

Calyon New York Branch

   $ 27,500,000

Citibank, N.A.

   $ 27,500,000

KBC Bank N.V.

   $ 27,500,000

Cooperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank B.A. “Rabobank International”, New York Branch

   $ 27,500,000

KeyBank National Association

   $ 20,000,000

Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd.

   $ 20,000,000

Societe Generale

   $ 20,000,000

Total:

   $ 500,000,000

 

98


Schedule 3.14

Subsidiaries of Borrower

Athenian Real Estate Development, Inc., a Virginia corporation, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Hannaford Bros. Co.

Boney Wilson & Sons, Inc., a North Carolina corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Hannaford Bros. Co.

DZA Brands, LLC, a Florida limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Borrower.

Delhaize Insurance Corp., Inc., a Vermont corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Borrower.

Essex Realty Corporation, a Vermont corporation, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Hannaford Bros. Co.

FL Food Lion, Inc., a Florida corporation, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Borrower.

Food Lion, LLC, a North Carolina limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Borrower.

Food Lion (Thailand), Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Borrower.

Food Lion (Thailand), Ltd., a private limited company formed under the laws of the Kingdom of Thailand, a subsidiary of Borrower in which Borrower holds a 51% interest.

Hannaford Bros. Co., a Maine corporation, and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Borrower.

Hannaford Licensing Corp., a Maine corporation, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Hannaford Bros. Co.

Hannaford Procurement Corp., a Maine corporation, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Hannaford Bros. Co.

Hannaford Trucking Company, a Maine corporation, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Hannaford Bros. Co.

 

99


Hannbro Company, a Maine corporation, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Hannaford Bros. Co.

Kash n’ Karry Food Stores, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Borrower.

Martin’s Foods of South Burlington, Inc., a Vermont corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Hannaford Bros. Co.

Plain Street Properties, Inc., a Maine corporation, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Hannaford Bros. Co.

Progressive Distributors, Inc., a Maine corporation, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Hannaford Bros. Co.

Risk Management Services, Inc., a North Carolina corporation, and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Borrower.

Shop ‘n Save-Mass., Inc., a Massachusetts corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Hannaford Bros. Co.

J.H. Harvey Co., LLC, a Georgia limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Borrower.

Victory Distributors, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Hannaford Bros. Co.

 

100


Schedule 6.01

Existing Liens

Liens representing the interest of the lessor under Capitalized Leases in existence on the Effective Date have an aggregate outstanding principal amount not exceeding $1,000,000,000.

 

101


EXHIBIT A

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

This Assignment and Assumption (the “Assignment and Assumption”) is dated as of the Effective Date set forth below and is entered into by and between [Insert name of Assignor] (the “Assignor”) and [Insert name of Assignee] (the “Assignee”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement identified below (as amended, the “Credit Agreement”), receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged by the Assignee. The Standard Terms and Conditions set forth in Annex 1 attached hereto are hereby agreed to and incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Assignment and Assumption as if set forth herein in full.

For an agreed consideration, the Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to the Assignee, and the Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from the Assignor, subject to and in accordance with the Standard Terms and Conditions and the Credit Agreement, as of the Effective Date inserted by the Administrative Agent as contemplated below (i) all of the Assignor’s rights and obligations in its capacity as a Lender under the Credit Agreement and any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto to the extent related to the amount and percentage interest identified below of all of such outstanding rights and obligations of the Assignor under the respective facilities identified below (including any letters of credit, guarantees, and swingline loans included in such facilities) and (ii) to the extent permitted to be assigned under applicable law, all claims, suits, causes of action and any other right of the Assignor (in its capacity as a Lender) against any Person, whether known or unknown, arising under or in connection with the Credit Agreement, any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto or the loan transactions governed thereby or in any way based on or related to any of the foregoing, including contract claims, tort claims, malpractice claims, statutory claims and all other claims at law or in equity related to the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clause (i) above (the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above being referred to herein collectively as the “Assigned Interest”). Such sale and assignment is without recourse to the Assignor and, except as expressly provided in this Assignment and Assumption, without representation or warranty by the Assignor.

 

1.      Assignor:      
2.      Assignee:      
        [and is an Affiliate/Approved Fund of [identify Lender] ]


3.      Borrower:    Delhaize America, Inc.
4.      Administrative Agent:    JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the administrative agent under the Credit Agreement
5.      Credit Agreement:    The $500,000,000 Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of May 21, 2007 among Delhaize America, Inc., Delhaize Group S.A., the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto, the Lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Issuing Bank and Swingline Lender
6.      Assigned Interest:   

 

Facility Assigned

  

Aggregate Amount of
Commitment/Loans for all Lenders

  

Amount of Commitment/Loans
Assigned

  

Percentage Assigned of
Commitment/Loans1

   $    $    %
   $    $    %
   $    $    %

Effective Date:                      , 20     [TO BE INSERTED BY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND WHICH SHALL BE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF RECORDATION OF TRANSFER IN THE REGISTER THEREFOR.]

The terms set forth in this Assignment and Assumption are hereby agreed to:

 

ASSIGNOR

 

[NAME OF ASSIGNOR]

 

By:

 

 

 

Title:

   

1

Set forth, to at least 9 decimals, as a percentage of the Commitment/Loans of all Lenders thereunder.


ASSIGNEE

[NAME OF ASSIGNEE]

By:

 

 

Title:

 

[Consented to and]2 Accepted:

 

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

By

 

 

Title:

 

[Consented to:]3

[NAME OF RELEVANT PARTY]

By

 

 

Title:

 

2

To be added only if the consent of the Administrative Agent is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement.

3

To be added only if the consent of the Borrower and/or other parties (e.g. Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender) is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement.


ANNEX 1

To Form of Assignment

and Assumption

STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

1. Representations and Warranties.

1.1 Assignor. The Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of the Assigned Interest, (ii) the Assigned Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim and (iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; and (b) assumes no responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement, (ii) the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Credit Agreement, (iii) the financial condition of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person obligated in respect of the Credit Agreement or (iv) the performance or observance by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person of any of their respective obligations under the Credit Agreement.

1.2. Assignee. The Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) it satisfies the requirements, if any, specified in the Credit Agreement that are required to be satisfied by it in order to acquire the Assigned Interest and become a Lender, (iii) from and after the Effective Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement as a Lender thereunder and, to the extent of the Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder, (iv) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.01 thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase the Assigned Interest on the basis of which it has made such analysis and decision independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, and (v) if it is a Foreign Lender, attached to the Assignment and Assumption is any documentation required to be delivered by it pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by the Assignee; and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent, the Assignor or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Credit


Agreement, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with its terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Credit Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

2. Payments. From and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments in respect of the Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to the Assignor for amounts which have accrued to but excluding the Effective Date and to the Assignee for amounts which have accrued from and after the Effective Date.

3. General Provisions. This Assignment and Assumption shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Assignment and Assumption may be executed in any number of counterparts, which together shall constitute one instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Assignment and Assumption by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Assumption. This Assignment and Assumption shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.


EXHIBIT B-1

Borrowers External Counsel

Form of Opinion

[To Come]


EXHIBIT B-2

Borrowers Internal Counsel

Form of Opinion

[To Come]


EXHIBIT C

Guaranty Supplement

GUARANTY SUPPLEMENT

GUARANTY SUPPLEMENT dated as of             , 20    , between [NAME OF SUBSIDIARY] (the “New Guarantor”) and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

WHEREAS, Delhaize America, Inc., Delhaize Group S.A., the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto, the Lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Issuing Bank and Swingline Lender, are party to an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of May 21, 2007 (the “Credit Agreement”) pursuant to which the Subsidiary Guarantors guarantee the Guaranteed Obligations; and

WHEREAS, the New Guarantor desires to become a party to the Credit Agreement as a Subsidiary Guarantor; and

WHEREAS, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and not otherwise defined herein have, as used herein, the respective meanings provided for therein;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. Subsidiary Guarantee. The New Guarantor unconditionally guarantees the full and punctual payment (whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise) of the Guaranteed Obligations. The New Guarantor acknowledges that, by signing this Guaranty Supplement and delivering it to the Administrative Agent, the New Guarantor becomes a “Subsidiary Guarantor” for all purposes of the Credit Agreement and that its obligations under the foregoing Subsidiary Guarantee are subject to all the provisions of the Credit Agreement (including those set forth in Article 10 of the Credit Agreement) applicable to the obligations of a Subsidiary Guarantor thereunder.

2. Party to Credit Agreement. Upon delivering this Guaranty Supplement to the Administrative Agent, the New Guarantor will become a party to the Credit Agreement and will thereafter have all the rights and obligations of a Subsidiary Guarantor thereunder and be bound by all the provisions thereof as fully as if the New Guarantor were one of the original parties thereto.

 

A-109


3. Representations and Warranties.4 (a) The New Guarantor is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of [jurisdiction of organization].

(b) The execution and delivery of this Guaranty Supplement by the New Guarantor and the performance by it of its obligations under the Credit Agreement as supplemented hereby are within its corporate or other powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other action, require no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency or official and do not contravene, or constitute a default under, any provision of applicable law or regulation or of its charter, by-laws or other organizational documents, or of any agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon it or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any of its assets.

(c) The Credit Agreement as supplemented hereby constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the New Guarantor, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity.

4. Governing Law. This Guaranty Supplement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Guaranty Supplement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

[NAME OF NEW GUARANTOR]

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

4

Modify as needed if the Lien Grantor is not a corporation.

 

A-110


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

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

A-111