Exhibit 10.28
Published CUSIP Number: 22283DAA1
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Dated as of December 21, 2006
among
COVENANT ASSET MANAGEMENT, INC.,
as the Borrower,
COVENANT TRANSPORT, INC.
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender
and
L/C Issuer,
and
The Other Lenders Party Hereto
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC,
as
Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Book Manager
REGIONS BANK (successor by merger to
AmSouth Bank),
as
Syndication Agent
and
SUNTRUST BANK,
as
Documentation Agent
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section | Page | |
ASSIGNMENT AND ALLOCATIONS; DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS | 1 | |
1.01 | Assignment and Allocations | 1 |
1.02 | Defined Terms | 3 |
1.03 | Other Interpretive Provisions | 30 |
1.04 | Accounting Terms | 30 |
1.05 | Rounding | 31 |
1.06 | Times of Day | 31 |
1.07 | Letter of Credit Amounts | 31 |
1.08 | Accounting for Acquisitions | 31 |
ARTICLE II. | THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS | 32 |
2.01 | Revolving Loans | 32 |
2.02 | Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Revolving Loans | 32 |
2.03 | Letters of Credit | 34 |
2.04 | Swing Line Loans | 42 |
2.05 | Prepayments | 45 |
2.06 | Termination or Reduction of Commitments | 46 |
2.07 | Repayment of Loans | 46 |
2.08 | Interest | 46 |
2.09 | Fees | 47 |
2.10 | Computation of Interest and Fees | 48 |
2.11 | Evidence of Debt | 48 |
2.12 | Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback | 48 |
2.13 | Sharing of Payments by Lenders | 50 |
2.14 | Increase in Commitments | 51 |
ARTICLE III. | TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY | 52 |
3.01 | Taxes | 52 |
3.02 | Illegality | 54 |
3.03 | Inability to Determine Rates | 54 |
3.04 | Increased Costs | 55 |
3.05 | Compensation for Losses | 56 |
3.06 | Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders | 57 |
3.07 | Survival | 57 |
ARTICLE IV. | CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS | 57 |
4.01 | Conditions of Initial Credit Extension | 57 |
4.02 | Conditions to all Credit Extensions | 60 |
ARTICLE IVA | SECURITY | 60 |
4A.01 | Security | 60 |
4A.02 | Pledged Stock | 61 |
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4A.03 | Further Assurances | 61 |
4A.04 | Information Regarding Collateral | 61 |
4A.05 | Collateral Agent | 62 |
ARTICLE V. | REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES | 62 |
5.01 | Organization and Authority | 62 |
5.02 | Loan Documents | 63 |
5.03 | Solvency | 63 |
5.04 | Subsidiaries and Stockholders | 63 |
5.05 | Ownership Interests | 64 |
5.06 | Financial Condition; No Internal Control Event | 64 |
5.07 | Title to Properties | 64 |
5.08 | Taxes | 65 |
5.09 | Other Agreements | 65 |
5.10 | Litigation | 65 |
5.11 | Margin Stock | 65 |
5.12 | Regulated Company | 66 |
5.13 | Patents, Etc | 66 |
5.14 | No Untrue Statement | 66 |
5.15 | No Consents, Etc | 66 |
5.16 | Employee Benefit Plans | 66 |
5.17 | No Default | 67 |
5.18 | Environmental Laws | 68 |
5.19 | Employment Matters | 68 |
ARTICLE VI. | AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS | 68 |
6.01 | Financial Reports, Etc | 69 |
6.02 | Maintain Properties | 71 |
6.03 | Existence, Qualification, Etc | 71 |
6.04 | Taxes | 71 |
6.05 | Insurance | 72 |
6.06 | True Books | 72 |
6.07 | Right of Inspection | 72 |
6.08 | Observe all Laws | 72 |
6.09 | Governmental Licenses | 72 |
6.10 | Covenants Extending to Other Persons | 72 |
6.11 | Officers Knowledge of Default | 73 |
6.12 | Suits or Other Proceedings | 73 |
6.13 | Notice of Environmental Complaint or Condition | 73 |
6.14 | Environmental Compliance | 73 |
6.15 | Indemnification | 73 |
6.16 | Further Assurances | 74 |
6.17 | Employee Benefit Plans | 74 |
6.18 | Continued Operations | 75 |
6.19 | Use of Proceeds | 75 |
6.20 | New Subsidiaries | 75 |
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6.21 | Internal Control Event | 76 |
ARTICLE VII. | NEGATIVE COVENANTS | 77 |
7.01 | Financial Covenants | 77 |
7.02 | Acquisitions | 77 |
7.03 | Liens | 77 |
7.04 | Indebtedness | 78 |
7.05 | Transfer of Assets | 80 |
7.06 | Investments | 80 |
7.07 | Merger or Consolidation | 81 |
7.08 | Restricted Payments | 81 |
7.09 | Transactions with Affiliates | 81 |
7.10 | Compliance with ERISA, the Code and Foreign Benefit Laws | 82 |
7.11 | Fiscal Year | 82 |
7.12 | Dissolution, Etc | 82 |
7.13 | Limitations on Sales and Leasebacks | 82 |
7.14 | Change of Control | 83 |
7.15 | Rate Hedging Obligations | 83 |
7.16 | Negative Pledge Clauses | 83 |
7.17 | [Intentionally Omitted] | 83 |
7.18 | Change in Accountants | 84 |
7.19 | Modification or Prepayment of Indebtedness and Certain Documentation | 84 |
7.20 | Partnerships | 84 |
7.21 | Restrictive Agreements | 84 |
ARTICLE VIII. | EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES | 84 |
8.01 | Events of Default | 84 |
8.02 | Remedies Upon Event of Default | 87 |
8.03 | Application of Funds | 87 |
ARTICLE IX. | ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT | 88 |
9.01 | Appointment and Authority | 88 |
9.02 | Rights as a Lender | 88 |
9.03 | Exculpatory Provisions | 89 |
9.04 | Reliance by Administrative Agent | 90 |
9.05 | Delegation of Duties | 90 |
9.06 | Resignation of Administrative Agent | 90 |
9.07 | Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders | 91 |
9.08 | No Other Duties, Etc | 91 |
9.09 | Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim | 91 |
9.10 | Collateral and Guaranty Matters | 92 |
ARTICLE X. | MISCELLANEOUS | 93 |
10.01 | Amendments, Etc | 93 |
10.02 | Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication | 94 |
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10.03 | No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies | 96 |
10.04 | Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver | 96 |
10.05 | Payments Set Aside | 98 |
10.06 | Successors and Assigns | 98 |
10.07 | Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality | 102 |
10.08 | Right of Setoff | 103 |
10.09 | Interest Rate Limitation | 103 |
10.10 | Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness | 103 |
10.11 | Survival of Representations and Warranties | 104 |
10.12 | Severability | 104 |
10.13 | Replacement of Lenders | 104 |
10.14 | Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc | 105 |
10.15 | Waiver of Jury Trial | 106 |
10.16 | No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility | 106 |
10.17 | USA PATRIOT Act Notice | 107 |
SIGNATURES | S-1 |
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SCHEDULES
1.02 | Existing Letters of Credit |
2.01 | Commitments and Applicable Percentages |
4.01(a)(iv) | Jurisdictions Requiring Qualification |
4A.04 | Information Regarding Collateral |
5.04 | Subsidiaries and Investments in Other Persons |
5.06 | Indebtedness |
5.07 | Liens |
5.08 | Tax Matters |
5.10 | Litigation |
10.02 | Administrative Agent’s Office; Certain Addresses for Notices |
EXHIBITS
Form of | |
A | Revolving Loan Notice |
B | Swing Line Loan Notice |
C | Note |
D | Compliance Certificate |
E | Assignment and Assumption |
F-1 | Parent Guaranty |
F-2 | Subsidiary Guaranty |
G | Opinion Matters |
H-1 | Fourth Amended and Restated Parent Stock Pledge and Security Agreement |
H-2 | Fourth Amended and Restated Guarantor Stock Pledge and Security Agreement |
I | Borrowing Base Certificate |
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SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
This SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is entered into as of December 21, 2006, among Covenant Asset Management, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Borrower”), Covenant Transport, Inc., a Nevada corporation and the owner of 100% of the issued and outstanding common stock of the Borrower (the “Parent”), each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “Lenders” and individually, a “Lender”), and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer.
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Borrower, the Parent, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders have entered into that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of December 16, 2004, as amended by (i) that certain Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of July 18, 2005, (ii) that certain Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of March 3, 2006, (iii) that certain Amendment No. 3 and Limited Waiver to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of August 11, 2006, and (iv) that certain Amendment No. 4, Consent and Limited Waiver to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of October 20, 2006 (as further amended or modified from time to time prior to the date hereof, the “Existing Credit Agreement”; the capitalized terms used in this Agreement not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings given thereto in the Existing Credit Agreement), pursuant to which the Lenders have made available to the Borrower various revolving credit facilities, including a letter of credit facility and a swing line facility;
WHEREAS, the Borrower and the Parent have requested that the Existing Credit Agreement be amended and restated in order to, among other things, extend the maturity date of the revolving credit facility, provide for increases to such revolving credit agreement from time to time, subject to the conditions set forth herein, in an amount not to exceed $75,000,000 in the aggregate for all such increases, modify the commitments of the Lenders, and make certain other amendments to the Existing Credit Agreement (the “Amendment and Restatement”); and
WHEREAS, the Borrower, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent have agreed to and desire to amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement upon the terms and conditions set forth herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Borrower, the Parent, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I.
ASSIGNMENT AND ALLOCATIONS; DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
1.01 Assignment and Allocations. In order to facilitate the Amendment and Restatement of the Existing Credit Agreement and otherwise to effectuate the desires of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders:
(a) The parties hereto agree that (i) each of the Revolving Credit Commitments (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) shall, subject to the terms hereof, constitute a
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Commitment (as defined in this Agreement) hereunder. As of the close of business on the date immediately preceding the Closing Date, the Revolving Credit Commitments, the Applicable Commitment Percentage (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) of the Lenders (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) and the Revolving Credit Outstandings (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement were as follows:
Lender | Revolving Credit Commitment | Lender’s Applicable Commitment Percentage | Revolving Credit Outstandings |
Bank of America, N.A. | $35,000,000 | 23.333333334% | $29,606,153.47 |
SunTrust Bank | $22,500,000 | 15.000000000% | $19,032,527.25 |
Branch Banking and Trust Company | $22,500,000 | 15.000000000% | $19,032,527.25 |
National City Bank of Kentucky | $20,000,000 | 13.333333333% | $16,917,802.00 |
BNP Paribas | $20,000,000 | 13.333333333% | $16,917,802.02 |
Regions Bank (succesor by merger to AmSouth Bank) | $15,000,000 | 10.000000000% | $12,688,351.50 |
First Tennessee Bank National Association | $15,000,000 | 10.000000000% | $12,688,351.50 |
(ii) each of the Existing Letters of Credit shall constitute a Letter of Credit hereunder, and (iii) each outstanding Swing Line Loan (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) shall constitute an outstanding Swing Line Loan hereunder.
(b) Simultaneously with the Closing Date, the parties hereby agree that the Commitments shall be as set forth in Schedule 2.01 and the Revolving Credit Outstandings and participations in Existing Letters of Credit under the Existing Credit Facility shall be reallocated in accordance with such Commitments and the requisite assignments shall be deemed to be made in such amounts by and between the Lenders and from each Lender to each other Lender, with the same force and effect as if such assignments were evidenced by applicable Assignments and Acceptances (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) under the Existing Credit Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 13.1 of the Existing Credit Agreement or Section 10.06 of this Agreement, no other documents or instruments, including any Assignment and Assumption, shall be executed, and no fees otherwise provided for in such section as payable to the Administrative Agent in connection with assignments will be payable, in connection with these assignments (all of which requirements are hereby waived), and such assignments shall be deemed to be made with all applicable representations, warranties and covenants as if evidenced by an Assignment and Acceptance. On the Closing Date, the Lenders shall make full cash settlement with the Administrative Agent, as the Administrative Agent may direct or approve, with respect to all assignments, reallocations and other changes in Commitments and the Outstanding Amount of Revolving Loans such that after giving effect to such settlements each Lender’s Applicable Percentage shall be as set forth on Schedule 2.01.
(c) The Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereby agree that upon the effectiveness of this Agreement, the terms and provisions of the Existing Credit Agreement
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shall be and hereby are amended and restated in their entirety by the terms, conditions and provisions of this Agreement, and the terms and provisions of the Existing Credit Agreement, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, shall be superseded by this Agreement.
Notwithstanding this Amendment and Restatement of the Existing Credit Agreement, including anything in this Section 1.01, and in any related Loan Documents (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement and referred to herein, individually or collectively, as the “Existing Loan Documents”), (i) all of the indebtedness, liabilities and obligations owing by any Person under the Existing Credit Agreement shall continue as Obligations hereunder, (ii) all of the indebtedness, liabilities and obligations owing by any Person under the Existing Loan Documents other than the Existing Credit Agreement shall continue under the corresponding such amended and restated Loan Document (as defined herein) and (iii) each of this Agreement and the Notes and any other Loan Document that is amended and restated in connection with this Agreement is given as a substitution of, and not as a payment of, the indebtedness, liabilities and obligations of the Borrower and the Guarantors under the Existing Credit Agreement or any Existing Loan Document, and neither the execution and delivery of such documents nor the consummation of any other transaction contemplated hereunder is, or is intended to constitute, a novation of the Existing Credit Agreement or of any of the other Existing Loan Documents or any obligations thereunder. Upon the effectiveness of this Agreement, all Loans owing by the Borrower and outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement shall (i) in the case of Base Rate Loans (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement), continue as Base Rate Loans hereunder and (ii) in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement), be converted on the Closing Date to and, subject to conversion after the Closing Date, shall continue as Base Rate Loans hereunder, and all Letters of Credit outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement and any of the Existing Loan Documents shall continue as Letters of Credit hereunder; provided that if any Eurodollar Rate Loans (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) are so converted on a day other than the last day of an Interest Period (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement), the Borrower shall compensate the Lenders holding such Eurodollar Rate Loans pursuant to Section 3.05 for any loss, cost or expense arising from such conversion on the Closing Date of Eurodollar Rate Loans to Base Rate Loans hereunder; provided, further that on and after the Closing Date, the Applicable Margin and fees applicable to Loans and Letters of Credit hereunder shall apply without regard to any margins or fees otherwise applicable thereto under the Existing Credit Agreement prior to the Closing Date.
1.02 Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
“Acquisition” means the acquisition of (i) a controlling equity interest in another Person (including the purchase of an option, warrant or convertible or similar type security to acquire such a controlling interest at the time it becomes exercisable by the holder thereof), whether by purchase of such equity interest or upon exercise of an option or warrant for, or conversion of securities into, such equity interest, or (ii) assets of another Person which constitute all or substantially all of the assets of such Person or of a line or lines of business conducted by such Person.
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“Acquisition Adjustments” means the adjustments to certain financial terms and computations more particularly described in Section 1.08.
“Administrative Agent” means Bank of America in its capacity as administrative agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent.
“Administrative Agent’s Office” means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 10.02, or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify to the Borrower and the Lenders.
“Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified, and an Affiliate of the Borrower or the Parent means any Person which beneficially owns or holds 5% or more of any class of the outstanding voting stock (or in the case of a Person which is not a corporation, 5% or more of the equity interest) of the Borrower or the Parent; or 5% or more of any class of the outstanding voting stock (or in the case of a Person which is not a corporation, 5% or more of the equity interest) of which is beneficially owned or held by the Borrower or the Parent.
“Aggregate Commitments” means the Commitments of all the Lenders, which on the Closing Date are in a principal amount equal to $200,000,000, as reduced from time to time in accordance with Section 2.06 and as increased from time to time in accordance with Section 2.14.
“Agreement” means this Credit Agreement.
“Amendment and Restatement” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Applicable Percentage” means with respect to any Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Aggregate Commitments represented by such Lender’s Commitment at such time. If the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02 or if the Aggregate Commitments have expired, then the Applicable Percentage of each Lender shall be determined based on the Applicable Percentage of such Lender most recently in effect, giving effect to any subsequent assignments. The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.
“Applicable Rate” means, from time to time, the following percentages per annum, based upon the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as set forth below:
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Applicable Rate
Pricing Level | Consolidated Leverage Ratio | Commitment Fee | Eurodollar Rate Loans ------------------------ Letter of Credit Fee | Base Rate Loans |
1 | Less than 1.50x | 0.125% | 0.625% | 0.00% |
2 | Greater than or equal to 1.50x but less than 2.00x | 0.150% | 0.750% | 0.00% |
3 | Greater than or equal to 2.00x but less than 2.50x | 0.200% | 1.000% | 0.00% |
4 | Greater than or equal to 2.50x but less than 3.00x | 0.250% | 1.250% | 0.00% |
5 | Greater than or equal to 3.00x | 0.350% | 1.625% | 0.375% |
Initially, the Applicable Rate shall be determined based upon the Consolidated Leverage Ratio specified in the certificate delivered pursuant to Section 4.01(a)(viii). Thereafter, any change in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall be determined based upon the computation of the Consolidated Leverage Ratio set forth in the Compliance Certificate furnished to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.01(a)(ii) and Section 6.01(b)(ii), subject to review and approval of such computations by the Administrative Agent, and shall be effective commencing on the fifth Business Day following the date such Compliance Certificate is received until the fifth Business Day following the date on which a new Compliance Certificate is delivered or is required to be delivered, whichever shall first occur. Notwithstanding the provisions of the two preceding sentences, if the Borrower shall fail to deliver any such Compliance Certificate within the time period required by Section 6.01, then the Applicable Rate shall be pricing level 5 from the date such Compliance Certificate was due until the fifth Business Day following the date the appropriate Compliance Certificate is so delivered. In the event the Consolidated Leverage Ratio in any Compliance Certificate is later determined to have been inaccurate, the Applicable Rate shall be adjusted retroactively to the date of delivery of such inaccurate Compliance Certificate to the percentage corresponding to the correct Consolidated Leverage Ratio for that date, and such adjusted Applicable Rate shall be applicable for the same period as that period during which the Applicable Rate was incorrectly determined based on the original inaccurate Consolidated Leverage Ratio.
“Approved Fund” means any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.
“Arranger” means Banc of America Securities LLC, in its capacity as sole lead arranger and sole book manager.
“Assignee Group” means two or more Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates of one another or two or more Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor.
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“Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 10.06(b)), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit E or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.
“Audited Financial Statements” means the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Parent and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, including the notes thereto.
“Availability Period” means the period from and including the Closing Date to the earliest of (a) the Maturity Date, (b) the date of termination of the Aggregate Commitments pursuant to Section 2.06, and (c) the date of termination of the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and of the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions pursuant to Section 8.02.
“Bank of America” means Bank of America, N.A. and its successors.
“Base Rate” means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the higher of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1% and (b) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by Bank of America as its “prime rate.” The “prime rate” is a rate set by Bank of America based upon various factors including Bank of America’s costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate. Any change in such rate announced by Bank of America shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change.
“Base Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the Base Rate.
“Base Rate Revolving Loan” means a Revolving Loan that is a Base Rate Loan.
“Borrower” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.
“Borrower Materials” has the meaning specified in Section 6.01.
“Borrowing” means a Revolving Borrowing or a Swing Line Borrowing, as the context may require.
“Borrowing Base” means, in each case determined at the end of each fiscal quarter and certified by the Borrower and the Parent in a Borrowing Base Certificate, the difference of (i) 90% of the total net book value of Eligible Revenue Equipment less (ii) the sum of (x) all unsecured Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Sections 7.04(h) and (i), (y) any other unsecured Indebtedness which is not permitted as of the Closing Date but which may be permitted after the Closing Date in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, as this Agreement may be subsequently amended and (z) any other unsecured Indebtedness not permitted pursuant to Section 7.04; provided that despite any determination of “Borrowing Base” which includes any Indebtedness under clause (ii)(z) above, nothing in this definition shall be deemed to permit any Indebtedness not expressly permitted under this Agreement or to constitute a waiver or cure of
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any Default or Event of Default that arises as a result of the incurrence of Indebtedness that is not permitted under this Agreement.
“Borrowing Base Certificate” means a certificate in the form attached hereto as Exhibit I and incorporated herein by reference.
“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the state where the Administrative Agent’s Office is located and, if such day relates to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, means any such day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank eurodollar market.
“Capital Leases” means all leases which have been or should be capitalized in accordance with GAAP as in effect from time to time including Statement No. 13 of the Financial Accounting Standards Board and any successor thereof.
“Cash Collateralize” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(g).
“Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority.
“Change of Control” means, at any time:
(i) any “person” or “group” (each as used in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) other than David Parker, Jacqueline Parker, or Elizabeth Fuller, or any of their lineal descendants, or any such “group” including any of them (the “Exempt Group”) either (A) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act ), directly or indirectly, of Voting Securities of the Parent (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for such Voting Securities) representing 30% or more of the combined voting power of all Voting Securities of the Parent (on a fully diluted basis) or (B) otherwise has the ability, directly or indirectly, to elect a majority of the board of directors of the Parent;
(ii) during any period of up to 24 consecutive months, commencing on the Closing Date, individuals who at the beginning of such 24-month period were directors of the Parent shall cease for any reason (other than the death, disability, removal or retirement of a director of the Parent so long as an officer of the Parent replaces such Person as a director or such Person is replaced as a director by a Person whose election or appointment is approved by a majority of the board of directors at the time of such replacement) to constitute a majority of the board of directors of the Parent;
(iii) any Person or two or more Persons acting in concert, other than the Exempt Group, shall have acquired by contract or otherwise, or shall have entered into a contract or arrangement that, upon consummation thereof, will result in its or their
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acquisition of the power to exercise, directly or indirectly, a controlling influence on the management or policies of the Borrower or the Parent; or
(iv) the Parent shall cease to own, beneficially and of record, 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interest of the Borrower and each other Subsidiary of the Parent existing on the Closing Date or thereafter acquired or organized.
“CIP” means CIP, Inc., a Nevada corporation.
“Closing Date” means the first date all the conditions precedent in Section 4.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 10.01.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
“Collateral” means, collectively, all property of the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of either the Parent or the Borrower, or any other Person in which the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender is granted a Lien under any Security Instrument as security for all or any portion of the Obligations or any other obligation arising under any Loan Document.
“Collateral Agent” means Bank of America in its capacity as Collateral Agent under each of the Security Instruments for the benefit of the Credit Secured Parties and any successor thereto acting in such capacity.
“Commitment” means, as to each Lender, its obligation to (a) make Revolving Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01, (b) purchase participations in L/C Obligations, and (c) purchase participations in Swing Line Loans, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.
“Compliance Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit D.
“Consolidated EBITDAR” means, with respect to the Parent and its Subsidiaries for any Four-Quarter Period ending on the date of computation thereof, the sum of, without duplication, (i) Consolidated Net Income, (ii) Consolidated Interest Expense, (iii) taxes on income, (iv) depreciation, (v) amortization, and (vi) Consolidated Lease Payments, all of the above determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, subject to Acquisition Adjustments.
“Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, with respect to the Parent and its Subsidiaries for any Four-Quarter Period ending on the date of computation thereof, the ratio of (i) Consolidated EBITDAR for such period less taxes on income paid in cash during such period, subject to Acquisition Adjustments, to (ii) the sum of Consolidated Fixed Charges for such
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period plus twenty-five percent (25%) of the Outstanding Amount of Revolving Loans as of the date of computation.
“Consolidated Fixed Charges” means, with respect to the Parent and its Subsidiaries for any Four-Quarter Period ending on the date of computation thereof, the sum of, without duplication, (i) Consolidated Interest Expense for such period, (ii) current maturities of Consolidated Indebtedness during such period, provided, that in connection with the Permitted Receivables Securitization, current maturities thereof shall be excluded from the calculation of Consolidated Fixed Charges unless any notice of termination has been received by the Borrower or a mandatory amortization payment thereunder has been required, in which case, the amount subject to such termination or amortization, as applicable, shall be included in such calculation, and (iii) Consolidated Lease Payments for such period, all determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, subject to Acquisition Adjustments.
“Consolidated Indebtedness” means all Indebtedness for Money Borrowed of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, all determined on a consolidated basis.
“Consolidated Interest Expense” means, with respect to any period of computation thereof, the gross interest expense of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, including without limitation (i) the current amortized portion of debt discounts to the extent included in gross interest expense, (ii) the current amortized portion of all fees (including fees payable in respect of any Rate Hedging Obligation) payable in connection with the incurrence of Indebtedness to the extent included in gross interest expense and (iii) the portion of any payments made in connection with Capital Leases allocable to interest expense, all determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, subject to Acquisition Adjustments; provided, however, that Consolidated Interest Expense shall include the amount of payments in respect of Synthetic Lease Obligations and the Permitted Receivables Securitization that are in the nature of interest.
“Consolidated Lease Payments” means the gross amount of all lease or rental payments, whether or not characterized as rent, of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, excluding payments in respect of Capital Leases constituting Indebtedness or in respect of Synthetic Lease Obligations, all determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, subject to Acquisition Adjustments.
“Consolidated Leverage Ratio” means, as of the date of computation thereof, the ratio of (i) Consolidated Total Adjusted Indebtedness (determined as at such date) to (ii) Consolidated EBITDAR (for the Four-Quarter Period ending on (or most recently ended prior to) such date), subject to Acquisition Adjustments.
“Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period of computation thereof, the gross revenues from operations of the Parent and its Subsidiaries (including payments received by the Parent and its Subsidiaries of (i) interest income, and (ii) dividends and distributions made in the ordinary course of their businesses by Persons in which investment is permitted pursuant to this Agreement and not related to an extraordinary event), less all operating and non-operating expenses of the Parent and its Subsidiaries including taxes on income, all determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; but excluding (for all purposes other than
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compliance with Section 7.01(a)) as income: (i) net gains on the acquisition, retirement, sale or other disposition of capital stock and other securities of the Parent or its Subsidiaries, (ii) net gains on the collection of proceeds of life insurance policies, (iii) any write-up of any asset, and (iv) any other net gain or credit of an extraordinary nature as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, subject to Acquisition Adjustments.
“Consolidated Shareholders’ Equity” means, as of any date on which the amount thereof is to be determined, (i) the sum of the following in respect of the Parent and its Subsidiaries (determined on a consolidated basis and excluding any upward adjustment after the Closing Date due to revaluation of assets): (a) the amount of issued and outstanding share capital, (b) the amount of additional paid-in capital and retained earnings (or, in the case of a deficit, minus the amount of such deficit), and (c) the amount of any foreign currency translation adjustment (if positive, or, if negative, minus the amount of such translation adjustment), (ii) minus the amount of any treasury stock, all as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
“Consolidated Tangible Net Worth” means, as of any date on which the amount thereof is to be determined, Consolidated Shareholders’ Equity minus the net book value of all assets of the Parent and its Subsidiaries which would be treated as intangible assets, such as (without limitation) goodwill (whether representing the excess of cost over book value of assets acquired or otherwise), capitalized expenses, unamortized debt discount and expense, consignment inventory rights, patents, trademarks, trade names, copyrights, franchises and licenses, all as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
“Consolidated Total Adjusted Indebtedness” means the sum of, without duplication, (i) Consolidated Indebtedness, (ii) the amount of the present value of all future Consolidated Lease Payments (calculated using a discount rate determined by the Borrower in its reasonable discretion in light of current market conditions; provided, however, that (A) in no event shall the discount rate exceed 11 percent and (B) as of any date of determination, the Borrower shall provide notice to the Agent of any change in the discount rate used by the Parent and its Subsidiaries from that used on the prior date of determination) for which the Parent or any Subsidiary of the Parent is obligated, and (iii) all Contingent Obligations consisting of a guaranty of Indebtedness for Money Borrowed by the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, all determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, subject to Acquisition Adjustments.
“Consolidated Total Assets” means, as of any date on which the amount thereof is to be determined, the net book value of all assets of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
“Contingent Obligation” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect liability of that Person with respect to any Indebtedness, lease, dividend, guaranty, letter of credit or other obligation (each a “primary obligation”) of another Person (the “primary obligor”), whether or not contingent, (a) to purchase, repurchase or otherwise acquire any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor, or (b) to advance or provide funds (i) for the payment or discharge of any such primary obligation, or (ii) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor in respect of any such primary obligation or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency or any balance sheet item, level of income or financial condition of such primary obligor, or (c) to purchase property, securities or services
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primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor thereof to make payment of such primary obligation, or (d) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the owner of any such primary obligation against loss or failure or inability to perform in respect thereof. The amount of any Contingent Obligation shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such Contingent Obligation is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof.
“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 ownership of voting stock, by contract or otherwise. “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.
“Cost of Acquisition” means, with respect to any Acquisition, as at the date of entering into any agreement therefor, the sum of the following (without duplication): (i) the value of the capital stock, warrants or options to acquire capital stock of Parent or any Subsidiary of the Parent to be transferred in connection therewith, (ii) the amount of any cash and fair market value of other property (excluding property described in clause (i) and the unpaid principal amount of any debt instrument) given as consideration, (iii) the amount (determined by using the face amount or the amount payable at maturity, whichever is greater) of any Indebtedness incurred, assumed or acquired by the Parent or any Subsidiary of the Parent in connection with such Acquisition, (iv) all additional purchase price amounts in the form of earnouts and other contingent obligations that should be recorded on the financial statements, or the footnotes thereto, of the Parent and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, (v) all amounts paid in respect of covenants not to compete, consulting agreements, and other affiliated contracts in connection with such Acquisition that should be recorded on financial statements of the Parent and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, (vi) the aggregate fair market value of all other consideration given by the Parent or any Subsidiary of the Parent in connection with such Acquisition, and (vii) out of pocket transaction costs for the services and expenses of attorneys, accountants and other consultants incurred in effecting such transaction, and other similar transaction costs so incurred. For purposes of determining the Cost of Acquisition for any transaction, (A) the capital stock of the Parent shall be valued (I) in the case of capital stock that is then designated as a national market system security by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (“NASDAQ”) or is listed on a national securities exchange, the average of the last reported bid and ask quotations or the last prices reported thereon, and (II) with respect to any other shares of capital stock, as determined by the Board of Directors of the Parent and, if requested by the Administrative Agent, determined to be a reasonable valuation by an independent appraisal firm reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Parent, (B) the capital stock of any Subsidiary of the Parent shall be valued as determined by the Board of Directors of such Subsidiary and, if requested by the Administrative Agent, determined to be a reasonable valuation by an independent appraisal firm reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Parent, and (C) with respect to any Acquisition accomplished pursuant to the exercise of options or warrants or the conversion of securities, the Cost of Acquisition shall include both the cost of acquiring such option, warrant or convertible security as well as the cost of exercise or conversion.
“Credit Extension” means each of the following: (a) a Borrowing and (b) an L/C Credit Extension.
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“Credit Secured Parties” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, each Lender, and each Affiliate of a Lender that is party to any Swap Agreement.
“CTI” means Covenant Transport, Inc., a Tennessee corporation, a Subsidiary of the Parent and an Affiliate of the Borrower.
“CVTI” means CVTI Receivables Corp., a Nevada corporation.
“Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.
“Default” means any event or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or that, with the giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of Default.
“Default Rate” means (a) when used with respect to Obligations other than Letter of Credit Fees, an interest rate equal to (i) the Base Rate plus (ii) the Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to Base Rate Loans plus (iii) 2% per annum; provided, however, that with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus 2% per annum, and (b) when used with respect to Letter of Credit Fees, a rate equal to the Applicable Rate plus 2% per annum.
“Defaulting Lender” means any Lender that (a) has failed to fund any portion of the Revolving Loans, participations in L/C Obligations or participations in Swing Line Loans required to be funded by it hereunder within one Business Day of the date required to be funded by it hereunder unless such failure has been cured, (b) has otherwise failed to pay over to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within one Business Day of the date when due, unless the subject of a good faith dispute or unless such failure has been cured, or (c) has been deemed insolvent or become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding.
“Direct Foreign Subsidiary” of any Person means a Subsidiary other than a Domestic Subsidiary of such Person a majority of whose Voting Securities, or a majority of whose Subsidiary Securities, are owned by such Person or a Domestic Subsidiary of such Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Direct Foreign Subsidiary” shall specifically exclude Volunteer Insurance Limited.
“Dollar” and “$” mean lawful money of the United States.
“Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of any political subdivision of the United States.
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“Eligible Assignee” means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under Section 10.06(b)(iii), (v) and (vi) (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 10.06(b)(iii)).
“Eligible Revenue Equipment” means any equipment, including all tractors, trucks, trailers and similar equipment used in the conduct of the trucking business of the Parent and its Subsidiaries and not constituting inventory, owned by the Parent or any Subsidiary of the Parent, and including those tractors, trucks, trailers and similar equipment owned by the Parent or any Subsidiary of the Parent previously used in the conduct of the trucking business of the Parent and its Subsidiaries and which are held for sale by the Parent or any Subsidiary of the Parent at the time of determination of “Eligible Revenue Equipment”, which, in each case, (i) is subject to no Lien other than Liens permitted by Section 7.03(a), to the extent such Liens are in favor of the Collateral Agent, or Section 7.03(b) or (c), (ii) is in salable and good working condition, and (iii) is not stored, garaged or permanently located at a location other than a place of business of the Parent or any Subsidiary of the Parent.
“Eligible Securities” means the following obligations and any other obligations previously approved in writing by the Administrative Agent:
(a) Government Securities;
(b) obligations of any corporation organized under the laws of any state of the United States or under the laws of any other nation, payable in the United States, expressed to mature not later than 92 days following the date of issuance thereof and rated in an investment grade rating category by S&P and Moody’s; and
(c) interest bearing demand or time deposits issued by any Lender or certificates of deposit maturing within one year from the date of issuance thereof and issued by a bank or trust company organized under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof having capital surplus and undivided profits aggregating at least $400,000,000 and being rated “A” or better by S&P or “A” or better by Moody’s.
“Employee Benefit Plan” means (i) any employee benefit plan, including any Pension Plan, within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA which (A) is maintained for employees of the Parent or any of its ERISA Affiliates, or any Subsidiary of the Parent or is assumed by the Parent or any of its ERISA Affiliates, or any Subsidiary of the Parent in connection with any Acquisition or (B) has at any time been maintained for the employees of the Parent, any current or former ERISA Affiliate, or any Subsidiary of the Parent and (ii) any plan, arrangement, understanding or scheme maintained by the Parent or any Subsidiary of the Parent that provides retirement, deferred compensation, employee or retiree medical or life insurance, severance benefits or any other benefit covering any employee or former employee and which is administered under any Foreign Benefit Law or regulated by any Governmental Authority other than the United States of America.
“Environmental Laws” means any and all federal, state, local, and foreign statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements or governmental restrictions relating to pollution and the
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protection of the environment or the release of any materials into the environment, including those related to hazardous substances or wastes, air emissions and discharges to waste or public systems.
“Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Subsidiaries directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
“ERISA Affiliate”, as applied to the Parent or the Borrower, respectively, means any Person or trade or business which is a member of a group which is under common control with the Parent or the Borrower, respectively, who together with the Parent or the Borrower, respectively, is treated as a single employer within the meaning of Section 414(b) and (c) of the Code.
“Eurodollar Base Rate” has the meaning specified in the definition of Eurodollar Rate.
“Eurodollar Rate” means for any Interest Period with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, a rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent pursuant to the following formula:
Eurodollar Rate = | Eurodollar Base Rate |
1.00 - Eurodollar Reserve Percentage |
Where,
“Eurodollar Base Rate” means, for such Interest Period, the rate per annum equal to the British Bankers Association LIBOR Rate (“BBA LIBOR”), as published by Reuters (or other commercially available source providing quotations of BBA LIBOR as designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, for Dollar deposits (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period. If such rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the “Eurodollar Base Rate” for such Interest Period shall be the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate at which deposits in Dollars for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period in same day funds in the approximate amount of the Eurodollar Rate Loan being made, continued or converted by Bank of America and with a term equivalent to such Interest Period would be offered by Bank of America’s London Branch to major banks in the London interbank eurodollar market at their request at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period.
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“Eurodollar Rate Loan” means a Revolving Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the Eurodollar Rate.
“Eurodollar Reserve Percentage” means, for any day during any Interest Period, the reserve percentage (expressed as a decimal, carried out to five decimal places) in effect on such day, whether or not applicable to any Lender, under regulations issued from time to time by the FRB for determining the maximum reserve requirement (including any emergency, supplemental or other marginal reserve requirement) with respect to Eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency liabilities”). The Eurodollar Rate for each outstanding Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be adjusted automatically as of the effective date of any change in the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage.
“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Excluded Taxes” means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder, (a) taxes imposed on or measured by its overall net income (however denominated), and franchise taxes imposed on it (in lieu of net income taxes), by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable Lending Office is located, (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located and (c) in the case of a Foreign Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 10.13), any withholding tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party hereto (or designates a new Lending Office) or is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s failure or inability (other than as a result of a Change in Law) to comply with Section 3.01(e), except to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new Lending Office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to Section 3.01(a).
“Existing Credit Agreement” means that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of December 16, 2004 among the Borrower, the Parent, the Administrative Agent and a syndicate of lenders, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of July 18, 2005, Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of March 3, 2006, Amendment No. 3 and Limited Waiver to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of August 11, 2006, and Amendment No. 4, Consent and Limited Waiver to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of October 20, 2006.
“Existing Letters of Credit” means those Letters of Credit described in Schedule 1.02 hereto.
“Existing Loan Documents” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.01.
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“Facility Termination Date” means the date as of which all of the following shall have occurred: (a) the Borrower shall have permanently terminated the credit facilities under the Loan Documents by final payment in full of all Outstanding Amounts, together with all accrued and unpaid interest and fees thereon, other than (i) the undrawn portion of Letters of Credit and (ii) all letter of credit fees relating thereto accruing after such date (which fees shall be payable solely for the account of the L/C Issuer and shall be computed (based on interest rates and the Applicable Rate then in effect) on such undrawn amounts to the respective expiry dates of the Letters of Credit), in each case as have been fully Cash Collateralized or as to which other arrangements with respect thereto satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer shall have been made; (b) all Commitments shall have terminated or expired; (c) the obligations and liabilities of the Borrower and each other Loan Party under all Swap Agreements with any of the Lenders or their Affiliates shall have been fully, finally and irrevocably paid and satisfied in full and the Swap Agreements with any of the Lenders or their Affiliates shall have expired or been terminated, or other arrangements satisfactory to the counterparties shall have been made with respect thereto; and (d) the Borrower and each other Loan Party shall have fully, finally and irrevocably paid and satisfied in full all of their respective obligations and liabilities arising under the Loan Documents, including with respect to the Borrower and the Obligations (except for future obligations consisting of continuing indemnities and other contingent Obligations of the Borrower or any Loan Party that may be owing to any of its Related Parties or any Lender pursuant to the Loan Documents and expressly survive termination of the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document).
“Federal Funds Rate” means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by federal funds brokers on such day, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day; provided that (a) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%) charged to Bank of America on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent.
“Fee Letter” means the letter agreement, dated October 18, 2006, among the Borrower, the Parent, the Administrative Agent and the Arranger.
“Fiscal Year” means the twelve month fiscal period of the Parent and its Subsidiaries commencing on January 1 of each calendar year and ending on December 31 of each calendar year.
“Foreign Benefit Law” means any applicable statute, law, ordinance, code, rule, regulation, order or decree of any foreign nation or any province, state, territory, protectorate or other political subdivision thereof regulating, relating to, or imposing liability or standards of conduct concerning, any Employee Benefit Plan.
“Foreign Lender” means any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes. For purposes of this
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definition, the United States, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.
“Four-Quarter Period” means a period of four full consecutive fiscal quarters of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, taken together as one accounting period.
“FRB” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.
“Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied.
“Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).
“Government Securities” means direct obligations of, or obligations the timely payment of principal and interest on which are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States.
“Guarantors” means, collectively, the Parent, CTI and, with the exception of CVTI and Volunteer Insurance Limited, all the Subsidiaries of the Parent executing the Subsidiary Guaranty on the Closing Date and all other Subsidiaries that enter into a Subsidiary Guaranty Joinder Agreement pursuant to Section 6.20.
“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.
“Indebtedness” means as to any Person, without duplication, (a) all Indebtedness for Money Borrowed of such Person, (b) all Rate Hedging Obligations of such Person, (c) all indebtedness secured by any Lien on any property or asset owned or held by such Person regardless or whether the indebtedness secured thereby shall have been assumed by such Person or is non-recourse to the credit of such Person, and (d) all Contingent Obligations of such Person,
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including all such items incurred by any partnership or joint venture as to which such Person is liable as a general partner or joint venturer.
“Indebtedness for Money Borrowed” means with respect to any Person, without duplication, all indebtedness in respect of money borrowed, including without limitation, all obligations under Capital Leases, all amounts outstanding under Permitted Receivables Securitizations, all Synthetic Lease Obligations, all Subordinated Indebtedness, the deferred purchase price of any property or services, the aggregate face amount of all surety bonds, letters of credit, and bankers’ acceptances, and (without duplication) all payment and reimbursement obligations in respect thereof whether or not matured, evidenced by a promissory note, bond, debenture or similar written obligation for the payment of money (including reimbursement agreements and conditional sales or similar title retention agreements), including all such items incurred by any partnership or joint venture as to which such Person is liable as a general partner or joint venturer, other than trade payables and accrued expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business.
“Indemnified Taxes” means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.
“Indemnitees” has the meaning specified in Section 10.04(b).
“Information” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07.
“Interest Payment Date” means, (a) as to any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date; provided, however, that if any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Rate Loan exceeds three months, the respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates; and (b) as to any Base Rate Loan (including a Swing Line Loan), the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date.
“Interest Period” means, as to each Eurodollar Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such Eurodollar Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Rate Loan and ending on the date one, two, three or six months thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its Revolving Loan Notice; provided that:
(i) any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;
(ii) any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and
(iii) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date.
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“Internal Control Event” means a material weakness in, or fraud that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in, the Borrower’s internal controls over financial reporting, in each case as described in the Securities Laws.
“IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.
“ISP” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the “International Standby Practices 1998” published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance).
“Issuer Documents” means with respect to any Letter of Credit, the Letter of Credit Application, and any other document, agreement and instrument entered into by the L/C Issuer and the Borrower (or any Subsidiary) or in favor the L/C Issuer and relating to such Letter of Credit.
“Laws” means, collectively, all international, foreign, federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case whether or not having the force of law.
“L/C Advance” means, with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s funding of its participation in any L/C Borrowing in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.
“L/C Borrowing” means an extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any Letter of Credit which has not been reimbursed on the date when made or refinanced as a Revolving Borrowing.
“L/C Credit Extension” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the issuance thereof or extension of the expiry date thereof, or the increase of the amount thereof.
“L/C Issuer” means Bank of America in its capacity as issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, or any successor issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder.
“L/C Obligations” means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate amount available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all Unreimbursed Amounts, including all L/C Borrowings. For purposes of computing the amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.07. For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the ISP, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” in the amount so remaining available to be drawn.
“Lender” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto and, as the context requires, includes the Swing Line Lender.
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“Lending Office” means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
“Letter of Credit” means each standby letter of credit issued hereunder and shall include the Existing Letters of Credit.
“Letter of Credit Application” means an application and agreement for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit in the form from time to time in use by the L/C Issuer.
“Letter of Credit Expiration Date” means the day that is seven days prior to the Maturity Date then in effect (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day).
“Letter of Credit Fee” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(i).
“Letter of Credit Sublimit” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $100,000,000 and (b) the Aggregate Commitments. The Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Commitments.
“Licensing Agreements” means, collectively, each written license agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, by and among the Borrower or any other Loan Party, as licensee, and CIP, as licensor, pursuant to which the Borrower or such Loan Party or Parties will have the right to use all trademarks, trade names, goodwill, rights under certain license agreements regarding source code, internally developed software, and certain know-how conducive to the operation of a trucking company, and shall pay royalties to CIP, in connection with such use in amounts established by such license agreement, including, but not limited to, that certain Intellectual Property License and Services Agreement dated October 1, 1999 by and between CIP, as licensor, and CTI, as licensee, that certain Intellectual Property License and Services Agreement dated October 1, 1999 by and between CIP, as licensor, and Southern Refrigerated Transport, Inc., as licensee, that certain Intellectual Property License and Services Agreement dated June 1, 2006 by and between CIP, as licensor, and Covenant Transport Solutions, Inc., as licensee, and that certain Intellectual Property License and Services Agreement dated October 11, 2006 by and between CIP, as licensor, and Star Transportation, Inc. as licensee.
“Lien” means any interest in property securing any obligation owed to, or a claim by, a Person other than the owner of the property, whether such interest is based on the common law, statute or contract, and including but not limited to the lien or security interest arising from a mortgage, encumbrance, pledge, security agreement, conditional sale or trust receipt or a lease, consignment or bailment for security purposes. For the purposes of this Agreement, the Parent and any Subsidiary of the Parent shall be deemed to be the owner of any property which it has acquired or holds subject to a conditional sale agreement, financing lease, or other arrangement pursuant to which title to the property has been retained by or vested in some other Person for security purposes.
“Loan” means an extension of credit by a Lender to the Borrower under Article II in the form of a Revolving Loan or a Swing Line Loan.
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“Loan Documents” means this Agreement, each Note, each Issuer Document, the Fee Letter, the Parent Guaranty, the Subsidiary Guaranty, each Subsidiary Guaranty Joinder Agreement, each Pledge Agreement, each Pledge Joinder Agreement and each other Security Instrument.
“Loan Parties” means, collectively, the Borrower, the Parent, each Guarantor and each other Person granting a Lien on, or collectively assigning, Collateral pursuant to any Security Instrument.
“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (i) the business, properties, liabilities (actual or contingent), operations, prospects or condition, financial or otherwise, of the Parent and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (ii) the ability of any Loan Party to pay or perform its respective obligations, liabilities and indebtedness under the Loan Documents as such payment or performance becomes due in accordance with the terms thereof, or (iii) the rights, powers and remedies of the Administrative Agent or any Lender under any Loan Documents or the validity, legality or enforceability thereof.
“Maturity Date” means December 20, 2011; provided, however, that if such date is not a Business Day, the Maturity Date shall be the next preceding Business Day.
“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.
“Multiemployer Plan” means a “multiemployer plan” as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is making, or is accruing an obligation to make, contributions or has made, or been obligated to make, contributions within the preceding six (6) Fiscal Years.
“Note” means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of a Lender evidencing Loans made by such Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit C.
“Obligations” means the obligations, liabilities and Indebtedness of the Borrower with respect to (i) the principal and interest on the Loans as evidenced by the Notes, (ii) the L/C Obligations and otherwise in respect of the Letters of Credit, (iii) all liabilities of the Borrower or the Parent to any Lender (or any Affiliate of any Lender) which arise under a Swap Agreement, and (iv) the payment and performance of all other obligations, liabilities and Indebtedness of the Borrower to the Lenders (including the L/C Issuer), the Administrative Agent or the Arranger hereunder, under any one or more of the other Loan Documents or with respect to the Loans.
“Organization Documents” means, (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement; and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or
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organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.
“Organizational Action” means with respect to any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership or other legally authorized incorporated or unincorporated entity, any corporate, organizational or partnership action (including any required shareholder, member or partner action), or other similar official action, as applicable, taken by such entity.
“Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or under any other Loan Document or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
“Outstanding Amount” means (i) with respect to Revolving Loans and Swing Line Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Revolving Loans and Swing Line Loans, as the case may be, occurring on such date; and (ii) with respect to any L/C Obligations on any date, the amount of such L/C Obligations on such date after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension occurring on such date and any other changes in the aggregate amount of the L/C Obligations as of such date, including as a result of any reimbursements by the Borrower of Unreimbursed Amounts.
“Parent” means Covenant Transport, Inc., a Nevada corporation and the owner of 100% of the issued and outstanding common stock of the Borrower.
“Parent Guaranty” means the Parent Guaranty made by the Parent in favor of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, substantially in the form of Exhibit F-1.
“Participant” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(d).
“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
“PCAOB” means the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.
“Pension Plan” means any employee pension benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA, other than a Multiemployer Plan, which is subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code and which (i) is maintained for employees of the Parent or the Borrower or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates or is assumed by the Parent or the Borrower or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates in connection with any Acquisition or (ii) has at any time been maintained for the employees of the Parent or the Borrower or any current or former ERISA Affiliate.
“Permitted Receivables Securitization” means limited recourse or nonrecourse sales and assignments of accounts receivable of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Parent to one or more special purpose entities, in connection with the issuance of obligations by such special purpose entities secured by such accounts, the proceeds of the issuance of which obligations
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shall be made available to the Borrower or such Subsidiary of the Parent, as applicable, all pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Receivables Purchase Agreement.
“Permitted Share Repurchases” means purchases by the Parent of the common stock of the Parent made on the open market, on terms acceptable to the Administrative Agent and in compliance with applicable regulations, which purchases in the aggregate shall be subject to the limitations set forth in Section 7.08.
“Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.
“Platform” has the meaning specified in Section 6.01.
“Pledge Agreements” means, collectively, the following Pledge Agreements, as each of the same may be amended, supplemented (including by Pledge Agreement Supplement), amended and restated, or otherwise modified from time to time:
(i) that certain Fourth Amended and Restated Parent Stock Pledge and Security Agreement dated as of the Closing Date by the Parent in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Credit Secured Parties, amending and restating that certain Third Amended and Restated Parent Stock Pledge and Security Agreement dated as of December 16, 2004 by the Parent in favor of the Collateral Agent, substantially in the form of Exhibit H-1 attached hereto;
(ii) that certain Fourth Amended and Restated Guarantor Stock Pledge and Security Agreement dated as of the Closing Date by CTI in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Credit Secured Parties, amending and restating that certain Third Amended and Restated Guarantor Stock Pledge and Security Agreement dated as of December 16, 2004 by CTI in favor of the Collateral Agent, substantially in the form of Exhibit H-2 attached hereto;
(iii) any additional Pledge Agreement delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to Article IVA or Section 6.20 hereof, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit H-1 (with appropriate conforming changes);
(iv) any Pledge Joinder Agreement delivered to the Collateral Agent by any Subsidiary of the Parent pursuant to the provisions of Article IVA or Section 6.20 hereof (with appropriate conforming changes); and
(v) with respect to any Subsidiary Securities issued by a Direct Foreign Subsidiary of the Parent or the Borrower, any additional or substitute charge, agreement, document, instrument or conveyance, in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, conferring under applicable foreign law upon the Collateral Agent for the ratable benefit of the Credit Secured Parties a Lien upon such Subsidiary Securities as are owned by the Parent, the Borrower or any Domestic Subsidiary of the Parent or the Borrower.
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“Pledge Agreement Supplement” means, with respect to each Pledge Agreement, each Pledge Agreement Supplement substantially in the form affixed as an Exhibit to such Pledge Agreement.
“Pledge Joinder Agreement” means, with respect to each Pledge Agreement, the Pledge Joinder Agreement, substantially in the form affixed as an Exhibit to such Pledge Agreement.
“Pledged Interests” means (i) 100% of the Subsidiary Securities (or if the relevant Person shall own less than 100% of such Subsidiary Securities, then 100% of such Subsidiary Securities owned by such Person) of each of the existing or hereafter organized or acquired Domestic Subsidiaries of the Borrower and of the Parent or the Domestic Subsidiaries of any Domestic Subsidiaries of the Borrower and of the Parent; and (ii) 65% of the Voting Securities (or if the relevant Person shall own less than 65% of such Voting Securities, then 100% of the Voting Securities owned by such Person) and 100% of the nonvoting Subsidiary Securities of each of the existing or hereafter organized or acquired direct Foreign Subsidiaries of the Borrower, the Parent, or any other Guarantor (or if the relevant Person shall own less than 100% of such nonvoting Subsidiary Securities, then 100% of such Subsidiary Securities owned by such Person).
“Rate Hedge Value” means, with respect to each contract, instrument or other arrangement creating a Rate Hedging Obligation, the net obligations of the Borrower, the Parent, or any Subsidiary of the Parent thereunder equal to the termination value thereof as determined in accordance with its provisions (if such Rate Hedging Obligation has been terminated) or the mark to market value thereof as determined on the basis of available quotations from any recognized dealer in, or from Bloomberg or other similar service providing market quotations for, the applicable Rate Hedging Obligation (if such Rate Hedging Obligation has not been terminated).
“Rate Hedging Obligations” means, without duplication, any and all obligations of the Borrower, the Parent or any Subsidiary, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor), under (i) any and all agreements, devices or arrangements designed to protect at least one of the parties thereto from the fluctuations of interest rates, exchange rates or forward rates, including fuel prices, applicable to such party’s assets, liabilities or exchange transactions, including, but not limited to, Dollar-denominated or cross-currency interest rate exchange agreements, forward currency exchange agreements, interest rate cap or collar protection agreements, forward rate currency or interest rate options, puts, warrants and those commonly known as interest rate “swap” agreements and forward fuel purchase contracts, commitments, or options; (ii) all other “derivative instruments” as defined in Statement No. 133 of the Financial Accounting Standards Board and which are subject to the reporting requirements of Statement No. 133 of the Financial Accounting Standards Board; and (iii) any and all cancellations, buybacks, reversals, terminations or assignments of any of the foregoing. For purposes of any computation hereunder, each Rate Hedging Obligation shall be valued at the Rate Hedge Value thereof.
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“Receivables Purchase Agreement” means, collectively, (i) that certain Receivables Purchase Agreement dated as of December 12, 2000 by and among CTI, as an Originator, Southern Refrigerated Transport, Inc., as an Originator, and CVTI, as Purchaser, and (ii) that certain Loan Agreement dated as of December 12, 2000 by and among CVTI, as Borrower, the Parent, as Master Servicer, Three Pillars Funding Corporation, as Lender, and SunTrust Equitable Securities Corporation, as Administrator, each as amended to date, and as each may be amended from time to time in the future in accordance with the terms hereof.
“Register” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(c).
“Registered Public Accounting Firm” has the meaning specified in the Securities Laws and shall be independent of the Borrower as prescribed in the Securities Laws.
“Related Parties” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and of such Person’s Affiliates.
“Request for Credit Extension” means (a) with respect to a Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Revolving Loans, a Revolving Loan Notice, (b) with respect to an L/C Credit Extension, a Letter of Credit Application, and (c) with respect to a Swing Line Loan, a Swing Line Loan Notice.
“Required Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having more than 50% of the Aggregate Commitments or, if the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02, Lenders holding in the aggregate more than 50% of the Total Outstandings (with the aggregate amount of each Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans being deemed “held” by such Lender for purposes of this definition); provided that the Commitment of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.
“Responsible Officer” means the chief executive officer, president, any vice president, chief financial officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer or controller of a Loan Party, or in the case of Section 4.01(a)(iii), the secretary of a Loan Party. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Loan Party and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Loan Party.
“Restricted Payment” means (a) any dividend or other distribution, direct or indirect, on account of any shares of any class of stock of the Parent or any Subsidiary Securities (other than those payable or distributable solely to the Parent, or those payable or distributable to a Subsidiary of the Parent which are subsequently paid or distributed by such Subsidiary to the Parent, provided that any amount received by the Parent and not used to finance a Permitted Share Repurchase within thirty (30) days of its receipt shall be contributed as capital to the Borrower, other than amounts used by the Parent to make cash dividend payments as permitted
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by Section 7.08) now or hereafter outstanding, except a dividend payable solely in shares of a class of stock or equity interest to the holders of that class; (b) any redemption, conversion, exchange, retirement or similar payment, purchase or other acquisition for value, direct or indirect, of any shares of any class of stock of the Parent or any Subsidiary Securities (other than those payable or distributable solely to the Parent) now or hereafter outstanding; (c) any payment made to retire, or to obtain the surrender of, any outstanding warrants, options or other rights to acquire shares of any class of stock of Parent or any Subsidiary Securities of its Subsidiaries now or hereafter outstanding; and (d) any issuance and sale of Subsidiary Securities of any Subsidiary of the Parent or of the Borrower, (or any option, warrant or right to acquire such stock) other than in the case of Subsidiaries of the Borrower, to the Borrower or another of its Subsidiaries and in the case of any other Subsidiaries of the Parent, to the Parent or one of its Subsidiaries.
“Revolving Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Revolving Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01.
“Revolving Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.
“Revolving Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Revolving Borrowing, (b) a conversion of Revolving Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A.
“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and any successor thereto.
“Sarbanes-Oxley” means the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.
“Securities Laws” means the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Sarbanes-Oxley and the applicable accounting and auditing principles, rules, standards and practices promulgated, approved or incorporated by the SEC or the PCAOB.
“Security Instruments” means, collectively, the Pledge Agreements and all other agreements (including control agreements), instruments and other documents, whether now existing or hereafter in effect, pursuant to which the Borrower, the Parent or any Subsidiary of the Parent or of the Borrower or other Person shall grant or convey to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Credit Secured Parties a Lien in, or any other Person shall acknowledge any such Lien in, property as security for all or any portion of the Obligations or any other obligation under any Loan Document.
“Servicing Agreements” means, collectively, each written servicing agreement, in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent, by and between Covenant.com, Inc. and the Borrower and certain other Loan Parties pursuant to which Covenant.com, Inc. provides management information system services to such entities in return for a fee determined by such servicing agreement.
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“Solvent” means, when used with respect to any Person, that at the time of determination:
(a) the fair value of its assets (both at fair valuation and at present fair saleable value on an orderly basis) is in excess of the total amount of its liabilities, including Contingent Obligations; and
(b) it is then able and expects to be able to pay its debts as they mature; and
(c) it has capital sufficient to carry on its business as conducted and as proposed to be conducted.
“Star” means Star Transportation, Inc., a Tennessee corporation.
“Star Debt” has the meaning specified in Section 4.01(a)(x).
“Subordinated Indebtedness” means, (i) as at the Closing Date, Indebtedness for Money Borrowed then outstanding of the Borrower or any Guarantor which is subject to a Subordination Agreement or otherwise is fully subordinated in writing on terms acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders to the Obligations and, as applicable, other obligations of any Loan Party under the Loan Documents, and (ii) from and after the Closing Date, in addition, such other Indebtedness for Money Borrowed of the Borrower or any Guarantor permitted to be incurred hereunder and which is subject to a Subordination Agreement or otherwise is fully subordinated in writing on terms acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders to the Obligations and, as applicable, other obligations of any Loan Party under the Loan Documents.
“Subordination Agreement” means a Subordination Agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders, executed and delivered by the Borrower or any Guarantor which has issued Subordinated Indebtedness and by the holder or holders of such Subordinated Indebtedness.
“Subsidiary” of any Person means any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of securities or other interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than securities or interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are at the time beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person; provided, however, that each of CVTI and Volunteer Insurance Limited shall only be included as a Subsidiary of the Parent in the references to “Subsidiary” or “Subsidiaries” included in Sections 5.01(a) and (b), 5.04 (except for the last sentence thereof), 5.08, 5.09, 5.10, 6.01(f) and (g), 6.03, 6.04, 6.06, 6.07, 6.08, 6.09, 6.11, 6.12 and 7.14. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries both of the Parent and of the Borrower.
“Subsidiary Guaranty” means the Subsidiary Guaranty made by each of the existing Domestic Subsidiaries of the Borrower and of the Parent, with the exception of CVTI, on the Closing Date and each Subsidiary (including any Direct Foreign Subsidiary to the extent no
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material adverse tax consequences would result) formed or acquired after the Closing Date in favor of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, substantially in the form of Exhibit F-2.
“Subsidiary Guaranty Joinder Agreement” means the Subsidiary Guaranty Joinder Agreement made by each Subsidiary formed or acquired after the Closing Date in favor of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached to Exhibit F-2.
“Subsidiary Securities” means the shares of capital stock or the other equity interests issued by or equity participations in any Subsidiary of the Borrower or of the Parent (excluding CVTI and Volunteer Insurance Limited, and specifically including the capital stock of the Borrower, all of which is owned by the Parent), whether or not constituting a “security” under Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in any jurisdiction.
“Swap Agreement” means one or more agreements between the Borrower, the Parent and any Person, on terms mutually acceptable to the Borrower, the Parent and such Person and approved by the Required Lenders, which agreements create Rate Hedging Obligations; provided, however, that no such approval of the Lenders shall be required to the extent such agreements are entered into between the Borrower, the Parent and any Lender or any Affiliate of any Lender.
“Swing Line” means the revolving credit facility made available by the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.04.
“Swing Line Borrowing” means a borrowing of a Swing Line Loan pursuant to Section 2.04.
“Swing Line Lender” means Bank of America in its capacity as provider of Swing Line Loans, or any successor swing line lender hereunder.
“Swing Line Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(a).
“Swing Line Loan Notice” means a notice of a Swing Line Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.04(b), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit B.
“Swing Line Sublimit” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $10,000,000 and (b) the Aggregate Commitments. The Swing Line Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Commitments.
“Synthetic Lease Obligations” means generally all monetary obligations of a lessee under any tax retention or other synthetic leases which is treated as an operating lease under GAAP but the liabilities under which are or would be characterized as indebtedness of such Person for tax purposes or upon the insolvency of such Person. The amount of Synthetic Lease Obligations in respect of any synthetic lease at any date of determination thereof shall be equal to the aggregate purchase price of any property subject to such lease less the aggregate amount of payments of rent theretofore made which reduce the lessee’s obligations under such synthetic lease and which are not the financial equivalent of interest.
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“Taxes” means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings, assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
“Termination Event” means: (i) a “Reportable Event” described in Section 4043 of ERISA and the regulations issued thereunder (unless the notice requirement has been waived by applicable regulation); or (ii) the withdrawal of the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan during a plan year in which it was a “substantial employer” as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA or was deemed such under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; or (iii) the termination of a Pension Plan, the filing of a notice of intent to terminate a Pension Plan or the treatment of a Pension Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 of ERISA; or (iv) the institution of proceedings to terminate a Pension Plan by the PBGC; or (v) any other event or condition which would constitute grounds under Section 4042(a) of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan; or (vi) the partial or complete withdrawal of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan; or (vii) the imposition of a Lien pursuant to Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA; or (viii) any event or condition which results in the reorganization or insolvency of a Multiemployer Plan under Section 4241 or Section 4245 of ERISA, respectively; or (ix) any event or condition which results in the termination of a Multiemployer Plan under Section 4041A of ERISA or the institution by the PBGC of proceedings to terminate a Multiemployer Plan under Section 4042 of ERISA; or (x) any event or condition with respect to any Employee Benefit Plan which is regulated by any Foreign Benefit Law that results in the termination of such Employee Benefit Plan or the revocation of such Employee Benefit Plan’s authority to operate under the applicable Foreign Benefit Law.
“Total Outstandings” means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans and all L/C Obligations.
“Transplace” means Transplace, Inc., an Affiliate of the Parent.
“Type” means, with respect to a Revolving Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a Eurodollar Rate Loan.
“Uniform Commercial Code” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in any applicable jurisdiction.
“United States” and “U.S.” mean the United States of America.
“Unreimbursed Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(c)(i).
“Volunteer Insurance Limited” means Volunteer Insurance Limited, a Cayman Islands corporation.
“Voting Securities” means shares of capital stock issued by a corporation, or equivalent interests in any other Person, the holders of which are ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies,
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entitled to vote for the election of directors (or persons performing similar functions) of such Person, even if the right so to vote has been suspended by the happening of such a contingency.
1.03 Other Interpretive Provisions. With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:
(a) The 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, (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document (including any Organization Document) shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein or in any other Loan Document), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (iii) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document, shall be construed to refer to such Loan Document in its entirety and not to any particular provision thereof, (iv) all references in a Loan Document to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing or interpreting such law and any reference to any law or regulation shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and (vi) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.
(b) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including;” the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding;” and the word “through” means “to and including.”
(c) Section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
1.04 Accounting Terms. (a) General. All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP applied on a consistent basis, as in effect from time to time, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the Audited Financial Statements, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein.
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(b) Changes in GAAP. If at any time any change in GAAP would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either the Borrower or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided that, until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP.
(c) Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities. All references herein to consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries or to the determination of any amount for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis or any similar reference shall, in each case, be deemed to include each variable interest entity that the Borrower is required to consolidate pursuant to FASB Interpretation No. 46 - Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities: an interpretation of ARB No. 51 (January 2003) as if such variable interest entity were a Subsidiary as defined herein.
1.05 Rounding. Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).
1.06 Times of Day. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).
1.07 Letter of Credit Amounts. Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the stated amount of such Letter of Credit in effect at such time; provided, however, that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any Issuer Document related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at such time.
1.08 Accounting for Acquisitions. With respect to any Acquisition consummated on or after the Closing Date and so long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, the following shall apply:
(a) For each of the four Four-Quarter Periods ending next following the date of such Acquisition, (i) Consolidated EBITDAR shall include the results of operations of the Person or assets so acquired on a historical pro forma basis and which amounts may include such adjustments as are permitted under Regulation S-X of the SEC and reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent but (ii) for purposes of determining compliance with the provisions of
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Section 7.01(a), any increase in Consolidated Net Income resulting solely from such pro forma treatment of such Acquisition shall be disregarded; and
(b) For each of the four Four-Quarter Periods ending next following the date of each Acquisition, Consolidated Fixed Charges shall include the results of operations of the Person or assets so acquired, which amounts shall be determined on a historical pro forma basis, provided, however, Consolidated Interest Expense shall be adjusted on a historical pro forma basis to (i) eliminate interest expense accrued during such period on any Indebtedness repaid in connection with such Acquisition and (ii) include interest expense on any Indebtedness (including Indebtedness hereunder) incurred, acquired or assumed in connection with such Acquisition (“Incremental Debt”) calculated (x) as if all such Incremental Debt had been incurred as of the first day of such Four-Quarter Period and (y) at the following interest rates: (I) for all periods subsequent to the date of the Acquisition and for Incremental Debt assumed or acquired in the Acquisition and in effect prior to the date of Acquisition, at the actual rates of interest applicable thereto, and (II) for all periods prior to the actual incurrence of such Incremental Debt, equal to the average daily rate of interest actually applicable to such Incremental Debt hereunder or under other financing documents applicable thereto as at the end of each affected Four-Quarter Period, as the case may be.
ARTICLE II.
THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS
2.01 Revolving Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make loans (each such loan, a “Revolving Loan”) to the Borrower from time to time, on any Business Day during the Availability Period, in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lender’s Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Revolving Borrowing, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the lesser of (x) the Aggregate Commitments, or (y) the Borrowing Base, and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment. Within the limits of each Lender’s Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.01. Revolving Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein.
2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Revolving Loans.
(a) Each Revolving Borrowing, each conversion of Revolving Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (i) three Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans or of any conversion of Eurodollar Rate Loans to Base Rate Revolving Loans, and (ii) on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Revolving Loans. Each telephonic notice by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.02(a) must be confirmed promptly by delivery
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to the Administrative Agent of a written Revolving Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. Except as provided in Sections 2.03(c) and 2.04(c), each Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Revolving Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. Each Revolving Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting a Revolving Borrowing, a conversion of Revolving Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Revolving Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Revolving Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Revolving Loans are to be converted, and (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto. If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Revolving Loan in a Revolving Loan Notice or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Revolving Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base Rate Loans. Any such automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Eurodollar Rate Loans. If the Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans in any such Revolving Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month.
(b) Following receipt of a Revolving Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable Revolving Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans described in the preceding subsection. In the case of a Revolving Borrowing, each Lender shall make the amount of its Revolving Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in the applicable Revolving Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (and, if such Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section 4.01), the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of Bank of America with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the Borrower; provided, however, that if, on the date the Revolving Loan Notice with respect to such Borrowing is given by the Borrower, there are L/C Borrowings outstanding, then the proceeds of such Borrowing, first, shall be applied to the payment in full of any such L/C Borrowings, and second, shall be made available to the Borrower as provided above.
(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, a Eurodollar Rate Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurodollar Rate Loan. During the existence of a Default, no Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as Eurodollar Rate Loans without the consent of the Required Lenders.
(d) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Eurodollar Rate Loans upon determination
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of such interest rate. At any time that Base Rate Loans are outstanding, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of any change in Bank of America’s prime rate used in determining the Base Rate promptly following the public announcement of such change.
(e) After giving effect to all Revolving Borrowings, all conversions of Revolving Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Revolving Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than ten (10) Interest Periods in effect with respect to Revolving Loans.
2.03 Letters of Credit.
(a) The Letter of Credit Commitment.
(i) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (A) the L/C Issuer agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the Lenders set forth in this Section 2.03, (I) from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date until the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, to issue Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrower (or the Borrower and any Subsidiary of the Parent), and to amend or extend Letters of Credit previously issued by it, in accordance with subsection (b) below, and (II) to honor drawings under the Letters of Credit; and (B) the Lenders severally agree to participate in Letters of Credit issued for the account of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries and any drawings thereunder; provided that after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension with respect to any Letter of Credit, (I) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the lesser of (x) the Aggregate Commitments, or (y) the Borrowing Base, (II) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment, and (III) the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations shall not exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit. Each request by the Borrower for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be a representation by the Borrower that the L/C Credit Extension so requested complies with the conditions set forth in the proviso to the preceding sentence. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower’s ability to obtain Letters of Credit shall be fully revolving, and accordingly the Borrower may, during the foregoing period, obtain Letters of Credit to replace Letters of Credit that have expired or that have been drawn upon and reimbursed. All Existing Letters of Credit shall be deemed to have been issued pursuant hereto, and from and after the Closing Date shall be subject to and governed by the terms and conditions hereof.
(ii) The L/C Issuer shall not issue any Letter of Credit, if:
(A) subject to Section 2.03(b)(iii), the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur more than twelve months after the date of issuance or last extension, unless the Required Lenders have approved such expiry date; or
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(B) the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur after the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, unless all the Lenders have approved such expiry date.
(iii) The L/C Issuer shall not be under any obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if:
(A) any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain the L/C Issuer from issuing such Letter of Credit, or any Law applicable to the L/C Issuer or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over the L/C Issuer shall prohibit, or request that the L/C Issuer refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon the L/C Issuer with respect to such Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which the L/C Issuer is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date, or shall impose upon the L/C Issuer any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Closing Date and which the L/C Issuer in good faith deems material to it;
(B) the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of the L/C Issuer applicable to letters of credit generally;
(C) except as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer, such Letter of Credit is in an initial stated amount less than $500,000;
(D) such Letter of Credit is to be denominated in a currency other than Dollars; or
(E) a default of any Lender’s obligations to fund under Section 2.03(c) exists or any Lender is at such time a Defaulting Lender hereunder, unless the L/C Issuer has entered into satisfactory arrangements with the Borrower or such Lender to eliminate the L/C Issuer’s risk with respect to such Lender.
(iv) The L/C Issuer shall not amend any Letter of Credit if the L/C Issuer would not be permitted at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof.
(v) The L/C Issuer shall be under no obligation to amend any Letter of Credit if (A) the L/C Issuer would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof, or (B) the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit does not accept the proposed amendment to such Letter of Credit.
(vi) The L/C Issuer shall act on behalf of the Lenders with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith, and the L/C Issuer shall have all of the benefits and immunities (A) provided to the Administrative Agent in Article IX with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by the L/C Issuer in connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and Issuer
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Documents pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the term “Administrative Agent” as used in Article IX included the L/C Issuer with respect to such acts or omissions, and (B) as additionally provided herein with respect to the L/C Issuer.
(b) Procedures for Issuance and Amendment of Letters of Credit; Auto-Extension Letters of Credit.
(i) Each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be, upon the request of the Borrower delivered to the L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) in the form of a Letter of Credit Application, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Such Letter of Credit Application must be received by the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. at least two Business Days (or such later date and time as the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in their sole discretion) prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be. In the case of a request for an initial issuance of a Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the L/C Issuer: (A) the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (B) the amount thereof; (C) the expiry date thereof; (D) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof; (E) the documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (F) the full text of any certificate to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; and (G) such other matters as the L/C Issuer may require. In the case of a request for an amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the L/C Issuer (A) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (B) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (C) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (D) such other matters as the L/C Issuer may require. Additionally, the Borrower shall furnish to the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent such other documents and information pertaining to such requested Letter of Credit issuance or amendment, including any Issuer Documents, as the L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent may require.
(ii) Promptly after receipt of any Letter of Credit Application, the L/C Issuer will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has received a copy of such Letter of Credit Application from the Borrower and, if not, the L/C Issuer will provide the Administrative Agent with a copy thereof. Unless the L/C Issuer has received written notice from any Lender, the Administrative Agent or any Loan Party, at least one Business Day prior to the requested date of issuance or amendment of the applicable Letter of Credit, that one or more applicable conditions contained in Article IV shall not then be satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the L/C Issuer shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the Borrower (or the Borrower and any Subsidiary of the Parent) or enter into the applicable amendment, as the case may be, in each case in accordance with the L/C Issuer’s usual and customary business practices. Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit, each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the L/C Issuer a risk participation in such Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the product of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage times the amount of such Letter of Credit.
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(iii) If the Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the L/C Issuer may, in its sole and absolute discretion, agree to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic extension provisions (each, an “Auto-Extension Letter of Credit”); provided that any such Auto-Extension Letter of Credit must permit the L/C Issuer to prevent any such extension at least once in each twelve-month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a day (the “Non-Extension Notice Date”) in each such twelve-month period to be agreed upon at the time such Letter of Credit is issued. Unless otherwise directed by the L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to the L/C Issuer for any such extension. Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has been issued, the Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the L/C Issuer to permit the extension of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the Letter of Credit Expiration Date; provided, however, that the L/C Issuer shall not permit any such extension if (A) the L/C Issuer has determined that it would not be permitted, or would have no obligation, at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its revised form (as extended) under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of clause (ii) or (iii) of Section 2.03(a) or otherwise), or (B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is five Business Days before the Non-Extension Notice Date (1) from the Administrative Agent that the Required Lenders have elected not to permit such extension or (2) from the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied, and in each such case directing the L/C Issuer not to permit such extension.
(iv) Promptly after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter of Credit to an advising bank with respect thereto or to the beneficiary thereof, the L/C Issuer will also deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.
(c) Drawings and Reimbursements; Funding of Participations.
(i) Upon receipt from the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of any notice of a drawing under such Letter of Credit, the L/C Issuer shall notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent thereof. Not later than 11:00 a.m. on the date of any payment by the L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit (each such date, an “Honor Date”), the Borrower shall reimburse the L/C Issuer through the Administrative Agent in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing. If the Borrower fails to so reimburse the L/C Issuer by such time, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the Honor Date, the amount of the unreimbursed drawing (the “Unreimbursed Amount”), and the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage thereof. In such event, the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Revolving Borrowing of Base Rate Loans to be disbursed on the Honor Date in an amount equal to the Unreimbursed Amount, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified in Section 2.02 for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the Aggregate Commitments and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than the delivery of a Revolving Loan Notice). Any notice given by the L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.03(c)(i) may be given by telephone if immediately confirmed in writing;
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provided that the lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice.
(ii) Each Lender shall upon any notice pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) make funds available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer at the Administrative Agent’s Office in an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the Unreimbursed Amount not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in such notice by the Administrative Agent, whereupon, subject to the provisions of Section 2.03(c)(iii), each Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Revolving Loan to the Borrower in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the L/C Issuer.
(iii) With respect to any Unreimbursed Amount that is not fully refinanced by a Revolving Borrowing of Base Rate Loans because the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 cannot be satisfied or for any other reason, the Borrower shall be deemed to have incurred from the L/C Issuer an L/C Borrowing in the amount of the Unreimbursed Amount that is not so refinanced, which L/C Borrowing shall be due and payable on demand (together with interest) and shall bear interest at the Default Rate. In such event, each Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(ii) shall be deemed payment in respect of its participation in such L/C Borrowing and shall constitute an L/C Advance from such Lender in satisfaction of its participation obligation under this Section 2.03.
(iv) Until each Lender funds its Revolving Loan or L/C Advance pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) to reimburse the L/C Issuer for any amount drawn under any Letter of Credit, interest in respect of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such amount shall be solely for the account of the L/C Issuer.
(v) Each Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Loans or L/C Advances to reimburse the L/C Issuer for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit, as contemplated by this Section 2.03(c), shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the L/C Issuer, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever; (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided, however, that each Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Loans pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than delivery by the Borrower of a Revolving Loan Notice). No such making of an L/C Advance shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the L/C Issuer for the amount of any payment made by the L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit, together with interest as provided herein.
(vi) If any Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03(c) by the time specified in Section 2.03(c)(ii), the L/C Issuer shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from
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the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the L/C Issuer at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the L/C Issuer in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the L/C Issuer in connection with the foregoing. If such Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Revolving Loan included in the relevant Revolving Borrowing or L/C Advance in respect of the relevant L/C Borrowing, as the case may be. A certificate of the L/C Issuer submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (vi) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(d) Repayment of Participations.
(i) At any time after the L/C Issuer has made a payment under any Letter of Credit and has received from any Lender such Lender’s L/C Advance in respect of such payment in accordance with Section 2.03(c), if the Administrative Agent receives for the account of the L/C Issuer any payment in respect of the related Unreimbursed Amount or interest thereon (whether directly from the Borrower or otherwise, including proceeds of Cash Collateral applied thereto by the Administrative Agent), the Administrative Agent will distribute to such Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof in the same funds as those received by the Administrative Agent.
(ii) If any payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) is required to be returned under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.05 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the L/C Issuer in its discretion), each Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer its Applicable Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned by such Lender, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.
(e) Obligations Absolute. The obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the L/C Issuer for each drawing under each Letter of Credit and to repay each L/C Borrowing shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all circumstances, including the following:
(i) any lack of validity or enforceability of such Letter of Credit, this Agreement, or any other Loan Document;
(ii) the existence of any claim, counterclaim, setoff, defense or other right that the Borrower or any Subsidiary may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), the L/C Issuer or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by such Letter of Credit or any agreement or instrument relating thereto, or any unrelated transaction;
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(iii) any draft, demand, certificate or other document presented under such Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under such Letter of Credit;
(iv) any payment by the L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate that does not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; or any payment made by the L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit to any Person purporting to be a trustee in bankruptcy, debtor-in-possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver or other representative of or successor to any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit, including any arising in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law; or
(v) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, including any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, the Borrower or any Subsidiary.
The Borrower shall promptly examine a copy of each Letter of Credit and each amendment thereto that is delivered to it and, in the event of any claim of noncompliance with the Borrower’s instructions or other irregularity, the Borrower will immediately notify the L/C Issuer. The Borrower shall be conclusively deemed to have waived any such claim against the L/C Issuer and its correspondents unless such notice is given as aforesaid.
(f) Role of L/C Issuer. Each Lender and the Borrower agree that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit, the L/C Issuer shall not have any responsibility to obtain any document (other than any sight draft, certificates and documents expressly required by the Letter of Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such document or the authority of the Person executing or delivering any such document. None of the L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of the L/C Issuer shall be liable to any Lender for (i) any action taken or omitted in connection herewith at the request or with the approval of the Lenders or the Required Lenders, as applicable; (ii) any action taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct; or (iii) the due execution, effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any document or instrument related to any Letter of Credit or Issuer Document. The Borrower hereby assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee with respect to its use of any Letter of Credit; provided, however, that this assumption is not intended to, and shall not, preclude the Borrower’s pursuing such rights and remedies as it may have against the beneficiary or transferee at law or under any other agreement. None of the L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of the L/C Issuer shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in clauses (i) through (v) of Section 2.03(e); provided, however, that anything in such clauses to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrower may have a claim against the L/C Issuer, and the L/C Issuer may be liable to the Borrower, to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or exemplary, damages suffered by the Borrower which the Borrower proves were caused by the L/C Issuer’s willful misconduct or gross negligence or the L/C Issuer’s willful failure to pay under any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary of a sight
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draft and certificate(s) strictly complying with the terms and conditions of a Letter of Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, the L/C Issuer may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, and the L/C Issuer shall not be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason.
(g) Cash Collateral. Upon the request of the Administrative Agent, (i) if the L/C Issuer has honored any full or partial drawing request under any Letter of Credit and such drawing has resulted in an L/C Borrowing, or (ii) if, as of the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, any L/C Obligation for any reason remains outstanding, the Borrower shall, in each case, immediately Cash Collateralize the then Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations. Sections 2.05 and 8.02(c) set forth certain additional requirements to deliver Cash Collateral hereunder. For purposes of this Section 2.03, Section 2.05 and Section 8.02(c), “Cash Collateralize” means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the L/C Issuer and the Lenders, as collateral for the L/C Obligations, cash or deposit account balances pursuant to documentation in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer (which documents are hereby consented to by the Lenders). Derivatives of such term have corresponding meanings. The Borrower hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the L/C Issuer and the Lenders, a security interest in all such cash, deposit accounts and all balances therein and all proceeds of the foregoing. Cash Collateral shall be maintained in blocked, non-interest bearing deposit accounts at Bank of America.
(h) Applicability of ISP. Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the L/C Issuer and the Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued (including any such agreement applicable to an Existing Letter of Credit), the rules of the ISP shall apply to each Letter of Credit.
(i) Letter of Credit Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage a Letter of Credit fee (the “Letter of Credit Fee”) for each Letter of Credit equal to the Applicable Rate times the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.07. Letter of Credit Fees shall be (i) due and payable on the first Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand and (ii) computed on a quarterly basis in arrears. If there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the daily amount available to be drawn under each standby Letter of Credit shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, upon the request of the Required Lenders, while any Event of Default exists, all Letter of Credit Fees shall accrue at the Default Rate.
(j) Fronting Fee and Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to L/C Issuer. The Borrower shall pay directly to the L/C Issuer for its own account a fronting fee with respect to each Letter of Credit, at the rate per annum specified in the Fee Letter, computed on the daily
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amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit and on a quarterly basis in arrears. Such fronting fee shall be due and payable on the tenth Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December in respect of the most recently-ended quarterly period (or portion thereof, in the case of the first payment), commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.07. In addition, the Borrower shall pay directly to the L/C Issuer for its own account the customary issuance, presentation, amendment and other processing fees, and other standard costs and charges, of the L/C Issuer relating to letters of credit as from time to time in effect. Such customary fees and standard costs and charges are due and payable on demand and are nonrefundable.
(k) Conflict with Issuer Documents. In the event of any conflict between the terms hereof and the terms of any Issuer Document, the terms hereof shall control.
(l) Letters of Credit Issued for Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding that a Letter of Credit issued or outstanding hereunder is in support of any obligations of, or is for the account of, a Subsidiary of the Parent, the Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the L/C Issuer hereunder for any and all drawings under such Letter of Credit. The Borrower hereby acknowledges that the issuance of Letters of Credit for the account of Subsidiaries of the Parent inures to the benefit of the Borrower, and that the Borrower’s business derives substantial benefits from the businesses of such Subsidiaries of the Parent.
2.04 Swing Line Loans.
(a) The Swing Line. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swing Line Lender agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the other Lenders set forth in this Section 2.04, to make loans (each such loan, a “Swing Line Loan”) to the Borrower from time to time on any Business Day during the Availability Period in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of the Swing Line Sublimit, notwithstanding the fact that such Swing Line Loans, when aggregated with the Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of Revolving Loans and L/C Obligations of the Lender acting as Swing Line Lender, may exceed the amount of such Lender’s Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Swing Line Loan, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the lesser of (x) the Aggregate Commitments, or (y) the Borrowing Base, and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment, and provided, further, that the Borrower shall not use the proceeds of any Swing Line Loan to refinance any outstanding Swing Line Loan. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.04, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.04. Each Swing Line Loan shall be a Base Rate Loan. Immediately upon the making of a Swing Line Loan, each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the Swing Line Lender a risk participation in such Swing Line Loan in an amount equal to the product of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage times the amount of such Swing Line Loan.
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(b) Borrowing Procedures. Each Swing Line Borrowing shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. on the requested borrowing date, and shall specify (i) the amount to be borrowed, which shall be a minimum of $500,000, and (ii) the requested borrowing date, which shall be a Business Day. Each such telephonic notice must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent of a written Swing Line Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Promptly after receipt by the Swing Line Lender of any telephonic Swing Line Loan Notice, the Swing Line Lender will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has also received such Swing Line Loan Notice and, if not, the Swing Line Lender will notify the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) of the contents thereof. Unless the Swing Line Lender has received notice (by telephone or in writing) from the Administrative Agent (including at the request of any Lender) prior to 2:00 p.m. on the date of the proposed Swing Line Borrowing (A) directing the Swing Line Lender not to make such Swing Line Loan as a result of the limitations set forth in the proviso to the first sentence of Section 2.04(a), or (B) that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Article IV is not then satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Swing Line Lender will, not later than 3:00 p.m. on the borrowing date specified in such Swing Line Loan Notice, make the amount of its Swing Line Loan available to the Borrower either by (i) crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of the Swing Line Lender with such amount in immediately available funds, or (ii) wire transfer of such funds in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Swing Line Lender by the Borrower.
(c) Refinancing of Swing Line Loans.
(i) The Swing Line Lender at any time in its sole and absolute discretion may request, on behalf of the Borrower (which hereby irrevocably authorizes the Swing Line Lender to so request on its behalf), that each Lender make a Base Rate Revolving Loan in an amount equal to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the amount of Swing Line Loans then outstanding. Such request shall be made in writing (which written request shall be deemed to be a Revolving Loan Notice for purposes hereof) and in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.02, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified therein for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the unutilized portion of the Aggregate Commitments and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02. The Swing Line Lender shall furnish the Borrower with a copy of the applicable Revolving Loan Notice promptly after delivering such notice to the Administrative Agent. Each Lender shall make an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the amount specified in such Revolving Loan Notice available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds for the account of the Swing Line Lender at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the day specified in such Revolving Loan Notice, whereupon, subject to Section 2.04(c)(ii), each Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Revolving Loan to the Borrower in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the Swing Line Lender.
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(ii) If for any reason any Swing Line Loan cannot be refinanced by such a Revolving Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.04(c)(i), the request for Base Rate Revolving Loans submitted by the Swing Line Lender as set forth herein shall be deemed to be a request by the Swing Line Lender that each of the Lenders fund its risk participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan and each Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.04(c)(i) shall be deemed payment in respect of such participation.
(iii) If any Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.04(c) by the time specified in Section 2.04(c)(i), the Swing Line Lender shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the Swing Line Lender at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Swing Line Lender in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Swing Line Lender in connection with the foregoing. If such Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Revolving Loan included in the relevant Revolving Borrowing or funded participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan, as the case may be. A certificate of the Swing Line Lender submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (iii) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(iv) Each Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Loans or to purchase and fund risk participations in Swing Line Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the Swing Line Lender, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided, however, that each Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02. No such funding of risk participations shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to repay Swing Line Loans, together with interest as provided herein.
(d) Repayment of Participations.
(i) At any time after any Lender has purchased and funded a risk participation in a Swing Line Loan, if the Swing Line Lender receives any payment on account of such Swing Line Loan, the Swing Line Lender will distribute to such Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof in the same funds as those received by the Swing Line Lender.
(ii) If any payment received by the Swing Line Lender in respect of principal or interest on any Swing Line Loan is required to be returned by the Swing Line Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.05 (including pursuant to any
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settlement entered into by the Swing Line Lender in its discretion), each Lender shall pay to the Swing Line Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate. The Administrative Agent will make such demand upon the request of the Swing Line Lender. The obligations of the Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.
(e) Interest for Account of Swing Line Lender. The Swing Line Lender shall be responsible for invoicing the Borrower for interest on the Swing Line Loans. Until each Lender funds its Base Rate Revolving Loan or risk participation pursuant to this Section 2.04 to refinance such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of any Swing Line Loan, interest in respect of such Applicable Percentage shall be solely for the account of the Swing Line Lender.
(f) Payments Directly to Swing Line Lender. The Borrower shall make all payments of principal and interest in respect of the Swing Line Loans directly to the Swing Line Lender.
2.05 Prepayments.
(a) The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Revolving Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (A) three Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans and (B) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Revolving Loans; (ii) any prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof; and (iii) any prepayment of Base Rate Revolving Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof or, in each case, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Type(s) of Revolving Loans to be prepaid and, if Eurodollar Rate Loans are to be repaid, the Interest Period(s) of such Loans. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein. Any prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05. Each such prepayment shall be applied to the Revolving Loans of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages.
(b) The Borrower may, upon notice to the Swing Line Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at any time or from time to time, voluntarily prepay Swing Line Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. on the date of the prepayment, and (ii) any such prepayment shall be in a minimum principal amount of $100,000. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein.
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(c) If for any reason the Total Outstandings at any time exceed either the Aggregate Commitments or the Borrowing Base then in effect, the Borrower shall immediately prepay Loans and/or Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations in an aggregate amount equal to such excess; provided, however, that the Borrower shall not be required to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations pursuant to this Section 2.05(c) unless after the prepayment in full of the Loans the Total Outstandings exceed either the Aggregate Commitments or the Borrowing Base then in effect.
2.06 Termination or Reduction of Commitments. The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate the Aggregate Commitments, or from time to time permanently reduce the Aggregate Commitments; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. five Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction, (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, (iii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Aggregate Commitments if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Total Outstandings would exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (iv) if, after giving effect to any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments, the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit exceeds the amount of the Aggregate Commitments, such Sublimit shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such excess. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any such notice of termination or reduction of the Aggregate Commitments. Any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments shall be applied to the Commitment of each Lender according to its Applicable Percentage. All fees accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Aggregate Commitments shall be paid on the effective date of such termination.
2.07 Repayment of Loans.
(a) The Borrower shall repay to the Lenders on the Maturity Date the aggregate principal amount of Revolving Loans outstanding on such date.
(b) The Borrower shall repay each Swing Line Loan on the earlier to occur of (i) the date ten Business Days after such Loan is made and (ii) the Maturity Date.
2.08 Interest.
(a) Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) below, (i) each Eurodollar Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate; (ii) each Base Rate Revolving Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate; and (iii) each Swing Line Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.
(b) (i) If any amount of principal of any Loan is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per
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annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.
(ii) If any amount (other than principal of any Loan) payable by the Borrower under any Loan Document is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, then upon the request of the Required Lenders, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.
(iii) Upon the request of the Required Lenders, while any Event of Default exists, the Borrower shall pay interest on the principal amount of all outstanding Obligations hereunder at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.
(iv) Accrued and unpaid interest on past due amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable upon demand.
(c) Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein. Interest hereunder shall be due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and after the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law.
2.09 Fees. In addition to certain fees described in subsections (i) and (j) of Section 2.03:
(a) Commitment Fee. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage, a commitment fee equal to the Applicable Rate times the actual daily amount by which the Aggregate Commitments exceed the sum of (i) the Outstanding Amount of Revolving Loans and (ii) the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations. The commitment fee shall accrue at all times during the Availability Period, including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Article IV is not met, and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and on the last day of the Availability Period. The commitment fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears, and if there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the actual daily amount shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect.
(b) Other Fees. (i) The Borrower shall pay to the Arranger and the Administrative Agent for their own respective accounts fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the Fee Letter. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.
(ii) The Borrower shall pay to the Lenders such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.
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2.10 Computation of Interest and Fees. All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans when the Base Rate is determined by Bank of America’s “prime rate” shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed. All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365-day year). Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid, provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.12(a), bear interest for one day. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
2.11 Evidence of Debt.
(a) The Credit Extensions made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender and by the Administrative Agent in the ordinary course of business. The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Credit Extensions made by the Lenders to the Borrower and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error. Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to its Note and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.
(b) In addition to the accounts and records referred to in subsection (a), each Lender and the Administrative Agent shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice accounts or records evidencing the purchases and sales by such Lender of participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by the Administrative Agent and the accounts and records of any Lender in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.
2.12 Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback.
(a) General. All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in Dollars and in immediately available funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date specified herein. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to
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each Lender its Applicable Percentage (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 2:00 p.m. shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue. If any payment to be made by the Borrower shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be.
(b) (i) Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Revolving Borrowing of Eurodollar Rate Loans (or, in the case of any Revolving Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, prior to 12:00 noon on the date of such Revolving Borrowing) that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Revolving Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.02 (or, in the case of a Revolving Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, that such Lender has made such share available in accordance with and at the time required by Section 2.02) and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Revolving 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 in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing, and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans. If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Revolving Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Revolving Loan included in such Revolving Borrowing. Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.
(ii) Payments by Borrower; Presumptions by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or the L/C Issuer hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on
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demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.
A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this subsection (b) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.
(c) Failure to Satisfy Conditions Precedent. If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Article II, and such funds are not made available to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in Article IV are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.
(d) Obligations of Lenders Several. The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Revolving Loans, to fund participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans and to make payments pursuant to Section 10.04(c) are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Revolving Loan, to fund any such participation or to make any payment under Section 10.04(c) on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Revolving Loan, to purchase its participation or to make its payment under Section 10.04(c).
(e) Funding Source. Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner.
2.13 Sharing of Payments by Lenders. If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of the Revolving Loans made by it, or the participations in L/C Obligations or in Swing Line Loans held by it resulting in such Lender’s receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of such Revolving Loans or participations and accrued interest thereon greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Revolving Loans and subparticipations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans of the other Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Revolving Loans and other amounts owing them, provided that:
(i) if any such participations or subparticipations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations or
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subparticipations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest; and
(ii) the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to (x) any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or (y) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Revolving Loans or subparticipations in L/C Obligations or Swing Line Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section shall apply).
Each Loan Party consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against such Loan Party rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of such Loan Party in the amount of such participation.
2.14 Increase in Commitments.
(a) Request for Increase. Provided there exists no Default, upon notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders), the Borrower may from time to time, request an increase in the Aggregate Commitments by an amount (for all such requests) not exceeding $75,000,000; provided that (i) there shall have been no prior reduction by the Borrower of the Aggregate Commitments pursuant to Section 2.06; (ii) any such request for an increase shall be in a minimum amount of $10,000,000; (iii) the Borrower shall first offer to each existing Lender the right to increase its Commitment, provided, however, no existing Lender shall be required to increase its Commitment; (iv) the Borrower shall obtain an increased or additional Commitment, respectively, from existing Lenders or Eligible Assignees; and (v) no increase in the Aggregate Commitments shall increase either the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit. At the time of sending such notice, the Borrower (in consultation with the Administrative Agent) shall specify the time period within which each Lender is requested to respond (which shall in no event be less than ten Business Days from the date of delivery of such notice to the Lenders).
(b) Lender Elections to Increase. Each Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent within such time period whether or not it agrees to increase its Commitment and, if so, whether by an amount equal to, greater than, or less than its Applicable Percentage of such requested increase. Any Lender not responding within such time period shall be deemed to have declined to increase its Commitment.
(c) Notification by Administrative Agent; Additional Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and each Lender of the Lenders’ responses to each request made hereunder. To achieve the full amount of a requested increase and subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender (which approvals shall not be unreasonably withheld), the Borrower may also invite additional Eligible Assignees to become Lenders pursuant to a joinder agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.
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(d) Effective Date and Allocations. If the Aggregate Commitments are increased in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall determine the effective date (the “Increase Effective Date”) and the final allocation of such increase. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the final allocation of such increase and the Increase Effective Date.
(e) Conditions to Effectiveness of Increase. As a condition precedent to such increase, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of each Loan Party dated as of the Increase Effective Date (in sufficient copies for each Lender) signed by a Responsible Officer of such Loan Party (i) certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by such Loan Party approving or consenting to such increase, and (ii) in the case of the Borrower, certifying that, before and after giving effect to such increase, (A) the representations and warranties contained in Article V and the other Loan Documents are true and correct on and as of the Increase Effective Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 2.14, the representations and warranties contained in subsections (a) of Section 5.06 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 6.01, and (B) no Default exists. The Borrower shall prepay any Revolving Loans outstanding on the Increase Effective Date (and pay any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05) to the extent necessary to keep the outstanding Revolving Loans ratable with any revised Applicable Percentages arising from any nonratable increase in the Commitments under this Section.
(f) Conflicting Provisions. This Section shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.13 or 10.01 to the contrary.
ARTICLE III.
TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY
3.01 Taxes.
(a) Payments Free of Taxes. Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without reduction or withholding for any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes, provided that if the Borrower shall be required by applicable law to deduct any Indemnified Taxes (including any Other Taxes) from such payments, then (i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the Administrative Agent, Lender or L/C Issuer, as the case may be, receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower shall make such deductions and (iii) the Borrower shall timely pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.
(b) Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower. Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) above, the Borrower shall timely pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.
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(c) Indemnification by the Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the L/C Issuer, within 10 days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) paid by the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender or the L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender or the L/C Issuer, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(d) Evidence of Payments. As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by the Borrower to a Governmental Authority, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(e) Status of Lenders. Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that the Borrower is resident for tax purposes in the United States, any Foreign Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, but only if such Foreign Lender is legally entitled to do so), whichever of the following is applicable:
(i) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN claiming eligibility for benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party,
(ii) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI,
(iii) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not (A) a “bank” within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(A) of the
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Code, (B) a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or (C) a “controlled foreign corporation” described in section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code and (y) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN, or
(iv) any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in United States federal withholding tax duly completed together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit the Borrower to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made.
(f) Treatment of Certain Refunds. If the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer determines, in its sole discretion, that it has received a refund of any Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the Borrower or with respect to which the Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section, it shall pay to the Borrower an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Borrower under this Section with respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund), provided that the Borrower, upon the request of the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer in the event the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. This subsection shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes that it deems confidential) to the Borrower or any other Person.
3.02 Illegality. If any Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Eurodollar Rate Loans, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate, or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, Dollars in the London interbank market, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Eurodollar Rate Loans or to convert Base Rate Revolving Loans to Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all Eurodollar Rate Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans, either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.
3.03 Inability to Determine Rates. If the Required Lenders determine that for any reason in connection with any request for a Eurodollar Rate Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof that (a) Dollar deposits are not being offered to banks in the London
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interbank eurodollar market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Eurodollar Rate Loan, (b) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the Eurodollar Base Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Loan , or (c) the Eurodollar Base Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Borrower and each Lender. Thereafter, the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent (upon the instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Revolving Borrowing of Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein.
3.04 Increased Costs.
(a) Increased Costs Generally. If any Change in Law shall:
(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender (except any reserve requirement reflected in the Eurodollar Rate) or the L/C Issuer;
(ii) subject any Lender or the L/C Issuer to any tax of any kind whatsoever with respect to this Agreement, any Letter of Credit, any participation in a Letter of Credit or any Eurodollar Rate Loan made by it, or change the basis of taxation of payments to such Lender or the L/C Issuer in respect thereof (except for Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes covered by Section 3.01 and the imposition of, or any change in the rate of, any Excluded Tax payable by such Lender or the L/C Issuer); or
(iii) impose on any Lender or the L/C Issuer or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Rate Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein;
and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making or maintaining any Eurodollar Rate Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or to increase the cost to such Lender or the L/C Issuer of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its obligation to participate in or to issue any Letter of Credit), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or the L/C Issuer hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender or the L/C Issuer, the Borrower will pay to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.
(b) Capital Requirements. If any Lender or the L/C Issuer determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or the L/C Issuer or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company, if any, regarding capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s capital
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or on the capital of such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by the L/C Issuer, to a level below that which such Lender or the L/C Issuer or such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the L/C Issuer or such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.
(c) Certificates for Reimbursement. A certificate of a Lender or the L/C Issuer setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or the L/C Issuer or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in subsection (a) or (b) of this Section and delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.
(d) Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or the L/C Issuer to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s right to demand such compensation, provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or the L/C Issuer pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than nine months prior to the date that such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the nine-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).
3.05 Compensation for Losses. Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Borrower shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense incurred by it as a result of:
(a) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration, or otherwise);
(b) any failure by the Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on the date or in the amount notified by the Borrower; or
(c) any assignment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 10.13;
including any loss of anticipated profits and any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan or from fees payable to terminate
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the deposits from which such funds were obtained. The Borrower shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.
For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under this Section 3.05, each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Eurodollar Rate Loan made by it at the Eurodollar Rate for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the London interbank eurodollar market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such Eurodollar Rate Loan was in fact so funded.
3.06 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.
(a) Designation of a Different Lending Office. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or 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 3.01, or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different Lending Office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.04, as the case may be, in the future, or eliminate the need for the notice pursuant to Section 3.02, as applicable, and (ii) in each case, would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.
(b) Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or 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 3.01, the Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 10.13.
3.07 Survival. All of the Borrower’s obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments and repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.
ARTICLE IV.
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS
4.01 Conditions of Initial Credit Extension. The obligation of the L/C Issuer and each Lender to make its initial Credit Extension hereunder is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:
(a) The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or telecopies (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party, each dated the Closing Date (or, in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before the Closing Date) and each in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders:
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(i) executed counterparts of this Agreement, the Parent Guaranty, the Subsidiary Guaranty, and the Pledge Agreement sufficient in number for distribution to the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Borrower;
(ii) a Note executed by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting a Note;
(iii) such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party as the Administrative Agent may require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party;
(iv) such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that each Loan Party is duly organized or formed, and that each of the Borrower and the Guarantors is validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, which such jurisdictions are set forth on Schedule 4.01(a)(iv);
(v) a favorable opinion of Scudder Law Firm, P.C., L.L.O., counsel to the Loan Parties, and applicable local counsel opinions, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, as to the matters set forth in Exhibit G and such other matters concerning the Loan Parties and the Loan Documents as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may reasonably request;
(vi) a certificate of a Responsible Officer of each Loan Party either (A) attaching copies of all consents, licenses and approvals required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by such Loan Party and the validity against such Loan Party of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and such consents, licenses and approvals shall be in full force and effect, or (B) stating that no such consents, licenses or approvals are so required;
(vii) a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying (A) that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied; and (B) that there has been no event or circumstance since the date of the Audited Financial Statements, including without limitation any action, suit, investigation, or proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened, in any court or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority, that has had or could be reasonably expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;
(viii) a duly completed Compliance Certificate as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Borrower ended on September 30, 2006, signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower;
(ix) evidence that all insurance required to be maintained pursuant to the Loan Documents has been obtained and is in effect;
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(x) evidence that (A) all of the indebtedness of Star (the “Star Debt”) guaranteed by the Borrower and the Guarantors in connection with the acquisition of Star by the Parent has been or concurrently with the Closing Date is being repaid in full, (B) any related documentation has been or concurrently with the Closing Date is being terminated, and (C) all Liens securing such obligations have been or concurrently with the Closing Date are being released;
(xi) delivery of documents and/or evidence of other actions as may be reasonably necessary under applicable law to perfect the Liens of the Administrative Agent under the Pledge Agreement as a first priority Lien in and to such Pledged Interests as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require, including the delivery by the Borrower of all certificates evidencing Pledged Interests, accompanied in each case by duly executed stock powers (or other appropriate transfer documents) in blank affixed thereto;
(xii) an initial Borrowing Base Certificate for the most recently ended fiscal quarter, provided that, for purposes of determining the Borrowing Base as of the Closing Date, so long as the release of the Liens associated with the Star Debt to be reflected in the public record or otherwise is in the process of being released or filed to the satisfaction of the Administrative Agent, the equipment associated with such Liens which would otherwise not be permitted to be included in such Borrowing Base shall be permitted to be included in the calculation of such Borrowing Base;
(xiii) Revolving Loan Notice in connection with any conversions or Borrowings as of the Closing Date;
(xiv) copies of all documents governing or evidencing any Permitted Receivables Securitization, all as in effect as of the Closing Date, certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Borrower to be true, correct and complete copies thereof; and
(xv) such other assurances, certificates, documents, consents or opinions as the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender or the Required Lenders reasonably may require.
(b) Any fees required to be paid on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid.
(c) Unless waived by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall have paid all fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent (directly to such counsel if requested by the Administrative Agent) to the extent invoiced prior to or on the Closing Date, plus such additional amounts of such fees, charges and disbursements as shall constitute its reasonable estimate of such fees, charges and disbursements incurred or to be incurred by it through the closing proceedings (provided that such estimate shall not thereafter preclude a final settling of accounts between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent).
(d) The Closing Date shall have occurred on or before January 31, 2007.
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Without limiting the generality of the provisions of Section 9.04, for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4.01, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.
4.02 Conditions to all Credit Extensions. The obligation of each Lender to honor any Request for Credit Extension (other than a Revolving Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Revolving Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans) is subject to the following conditions precedent:
(a) The representations and warranties of the Borrower and each other Loan Party contained in Article V or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct on and as of the date of such Credit Extension, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 4.02, the representations and warranties contained in subsections (a) of Section 5.06 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 6.01.
(b) No Default shall exist, or would result from such proposed Credit Extension or from the application of the proceeds thereof.
(c) The Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.
Each Request for Credit Extension (other than a Revolving Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Revolving Loans to the other Type or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans) submitted by the Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.
ARTICLE IVA.
SECURITY
4A.01 Security. As security for the full and timely payment and performance of all Obligations, the Borrower shall, and shall cause all other Loan Parties to, on or before the Closing Date, do or cause to be done all things necessary in the opinion of the Administrative Agent and its counsel to grant to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Credit Secured Parties a duly perfected first priority security interest in all Collateral subject to no prior Lien or other encumbrance or restriction on transfer (other than restrictions on transfer imposed by applicable securities laws).
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4A.02 Pledged Stock. Without limiting the generality of Section 4A.01, the Parent and each other Guarantor having rights in any Subsidiary Securities shall on the Closing Date deliver to the Collateral Agent, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, (A) a Pledge Agreement which shall pledge to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Credit Secured Parties (i) 65% of the Voting Securities of each Direct Foreign Subsidiary (or if the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries shall own less than 65%, then all of the Voting Securities owned by them) and 100% of the other Subsidiary Securities of such Direct Foreign Subsidiary, and (ii) all of the Subsidiary Securities of all Domestic Subsidiaries of the Parent, (B) if such Subsidiary Securities are in the form of certificated securities, such certificated securities, together with undated stock powers or other appropriate transfer documents endorsed in blank pertaining thereto, (C) if such Subsidiary Securities do not constitute securities and the Subsidiary has not elected to have such interests treated as securities under Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code, a control agreement sufficient to confer control (within the meaning of Section 9-106 of the Uniform Commercial Code), and (D) Uniform Commercial Code financing statements reflecting the Lien in favor of the Collateral Agent on such Subsidiary Securities, each in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, and shall take such further action and deliver or cause to be delivered such further documents as required by the Security Instruments or otherwise as the Collateral Agent or the Administrative Agent may request to effect the transactions contemplated by this Article IV.A. The Borrower and the Parent shall, and shall cause each of their Subsidiaries to, pledge to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Credit Secured Parties (and as appropriate to reaffirm its prior pledge of) all of the Subsidiary Securities which may be issued or acquired after the Closing Date, and to deliver to the Collateral Agent all of the documents and instruments in connection therewith as are required pursuant to the terms of Section 6.20 and of the Security Instruments.
4A.03. Further Assurances. At the request of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, the Borrower will or will cause all other Loan Parties, as the case may be, to execute, by its duly authorized officers, alone or with the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, any certificate, instrument, financing statement, control agreement, statement or document, or to procure any such certificate, instrument, statement or document, or to take such other action (and pay all connected costs) which the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent reasonably deems necessary from time to time to create, continue or preserve the Liens in Collateral (and the perfection and priority thereof) of the Collateral Agent contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents and specifically including all Subsidiary Securities and all other Collateral acquired by the Borrower or other Loan Party after the Closing Date. The Collateral Agent is hereby irrevocably authorized to execute and file or cause to be filed, with or if permitted by applicable law without the signature of the Borrower or any Loan Party appearing thereon, all Uniform Commercial Code financing statements reflecting the Borrower or any other Loan Party as “debtor” and the Collateral Agent as “secured party”, and continuations thereof and amendments thereto, as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent reasonably deems necessary or advisable to give effect to the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents.
4A.04. Information Regarding Collateral. The Borrower represents, warrants and covenants that (i) the chief
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executive office of the Borrower and each other Loan Party (each, a “Grantor”) at the Closing Date is located at the address or addresses specified on Schedule 4A.04, and (ii) Schedule 4A.04 contains a true and complete list of (a) the exact legal name, jurisdiction of formation, and address of each Grantor, (b) the exact legal name, jurisdiction of formation, and each location of the chief executive office of each Grantor at any time since December 1, 1999, and (c) each trade name, trademark or other trade style used by any Grantor since January 1, 2004 and the purposes for which it was used. Borrower shall not change, and shall not permit any other Grantor to change, its name, jurisdiction of formation (whether by reincorporation, merger or otherwise), the location of its chief executive office, or use or permit any other Grantor to use, any additional trade name, trademark or other trade style, except upon giving not less than thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent and taking or causing to be taken all such action at Borrower’s or such other Grantor’s expense as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent to perfect or maintain the perfection of the Lien of the Collateral Agent in Collateral.
4A.05 Collateral Agent. Each Lender from time to time party hereto, the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and the Parent hereby irrevocably consents to the service by Bank of America in the capacity of Collateral Agent.
ARTICLE V.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
The Borrower represents and warrants with respect to itself and to its Subsidiaries and each other Loan Party, and the Parent represents and warrants with respect to itself and to its Subsidiaries (which representations and warranties shall survive the delivery of the documents mentioned herein and the making of Loans and issuing of Letters of Credit), that:
5.01 Organization and Authority.
(a) The Borrower, the Parent and each of their Subsidiaries and each other Loan Party is a corporation, limited liability company or partnership, as the case may be, duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation;
(b) The Borrower, the Parent and each of their Subsidiaries and each other Loan Party (x) has the requisite power and authority to own its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now being conducted and as contemplated in the Loan Documents, and (y) is qualified to do business in every jurisdiction in which failure so to qualify could have a Material Adverse Effect,
(c) The Borrower has the power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and the Notes, and to borrow hereunder, and to execute, deliver and perform each of the other Loan Documents to which it is a party;
(d) Each Loan Party (other than the Borrower) has the power and authority to execute, deliver and perform the Parent Guaranty (in the case of the Parent), Subsidiary Guaranty (in the case of any Subsidiary) and each of the other Loan Documents to which it is a party; and
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(e) When executed and delivered, each of the Loan Documents to which any Loan Party is a party will be the legal, valid and binding obligation or agreement, as the case may be, of such Loan Party, enforceable against such Loan Party in accordance with its terms, subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, moratorium, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law affecting the enforceability of creditors’ rights generally and to the effect of general principles of equity (whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity).
5.02 Loan Documents. The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each of the Loan Documents to which it is a party:
(a) have been duly authorized by all requisite Organizational Action of such Loan Party required for the lawful execution, delivery and performance thereof;
(b) do not violate any provisions of (i) any applicable law, rule or regulation, (ii) any judgment, writ, order, determination, decree or arbitral award of any Governmental Authority or arbitral authority binding on such Loan Party or its properties, or (iii) the Organizational Documents of such Loan Party;
(c) does not and will not be in conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute an event of default, or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute an event of default, under any contract, indenture, agreement or other instrument or document to which such Loan Party is a party, or by which the properties or assets of such Loan Party are bound; and
(d) does not and will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of such Loan Party or any Subsidiary of the Borrower or the Parent except any Liens in favor of the Credit Secured Parties created by the Security Instruments.
5.03 Solvency. Each Loan Party is Solvent after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents.
5.04 Subsidiaries and Stockholders. The Borrower and the Parent have no Subsidiaries other than those Persons listed as Subsidiaries thereof in Schedule 5.04 and additional Subsidiaries created or acquired after the Closing Date in compliance with Section 6.20; Schedule 5.04 states as of the date hereof the organizational form of each entity, the authorized and issued capitalization of each Subsidiary listed thereon, the number of shares or other equity interests of each class of capital stock or interest issued and outstanding of each such Subsidiary and the number and/or percentage of outstanding shares or other equity interest (including options, warrants and other rights to acquire any interest) of each such class of capital stock or other equity interest owned by the Parent, the Borrower or by any such Subsidiary thereof; the outstanding shares or other equity interests of each such Subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable; and the Borrower, the Parent and each such Subsidiary owns beneficially and of record all the shares and other interests it is listed as owning in Schedule 5.04, free and clear of any Lien except for Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Credit Secured Parties. Each Subsidiary of the Parent
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(other than the Borrower, CVTI and Volunteer Insurance Limited) existing as of the Closing Date has entered into a Subsidiary Guaranty delivered on the Closing Date.
5.05 Ownership Interests. Neither the Borrower nor the Parent owns an interest in any Person other than the Persons listed in Schedule 5.04, equity investments in Persons not constituting Subsidiaries permitted under Section 7.06 and additional Subsidiaries created or acquired after the Closing Date in compliance with Section 6.20.
5.06 Financial Condition; No Internal Control Event.
(a) The Parent has heretofore furnished to each Lender the Audited Financial Statements as examined and certified by KPMG LLP and unaudited consolidated and consolidating interim financial statements of the Parent and its Subsidiaries consisting of a consolidated and consolidating balance sheets and related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows, in each case without notes, for and as of the end of the nine (9) month period ending September 30, 2006. Except as set forth therein, such financial statements (including the notes thereto) present fairly the financial condition of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such Fiscal Year and nine (9) month period and results of their operations and the changes in its stockholders’ equity for the Fiscal Year and interim period then ended, all in conformity with GAAP, subject however, in the case of unaudited interim statements to year end audit adjustments;
(b) since the later of (i) the date of the Audited Financial Statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.06(a) hereof or (ii) the date of the audited financial statements most recently delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) hereof, there has not occurred any event, condition or circumstance including but not limited to any fire, explosion, earthquake, accident, strike, lockout, combination of workers, flood, embargo or act of God which has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(c) except as set forth in the financial statements referred to in Section 5.06(a) or in Schedule 5.06 or permitted by Section 7.04, neither the Parent nor any Subsidiary of the Parent has incurred, other than in the ordinary course of business, (i) any material Indebtedness or Contingent Obligation which remains outstanding or unsatisfied, or (ii) any other commitment or liability which remains outstanding or unsatisfied which has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and
(d) To the best knowledge of each of the Parent and the Borrower, no Internal Control Event exists or has occurred since the date of the Audited Financial Statements that has resulted in or could reasonably be expected to result in a misstatement in any material respect, in any financial information delivered or to be delivered to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders, of (i) covenant compliance calculations provided hereunder or (ii) the assets, liabilities, financial condition or results of operations of the Parent and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.
5.07 Title to Properties. The Borrower, the Parent and each of their Subsidiaries and each other Loan Party has good and marketable title to all its real and personal properties, subject
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to no transfer restrictions or Liens of any kind, except for the transfer restrictions and Liens described in Schedule 5.07 and Liens permitted by Section 7.03.
5.08 Taxes. Except as set forth in Schedule 5.08, the Borrower, the Parent and each of their Subsidiaries has filed or caused to be filed all federal, state and local tax returns which are required to be filed by it and, except for taxes and assessments being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and against which reserves reflected in the financial statements described in Section 5.06(a) or Sections 6.01(a) or (b) and satisfactory to the Borrower’s independent certified public accountants have been established, have paid or caused to be paid all taxes as shown on said returns or on any assessment received by it, to the extent that such taxes have become due.
5.09 Other Agreements. No Loan Party nor any Subsidiary thereof is
(a) a party to or subject to any judgment, order, decree, agreement, lease or instrument, or subject to other restrictions, which individually or in the aggregate could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or
(b) in default in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any of the obligations, covenants or conditions contained in any agreement or instrument to which such Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof is a party, which default has, or if not remedied within any applicable grace period could reasonably be likely to have, a Material Adverse Effect.
5.10 Litigation. Except as set forth in Schedule 5.10, there is no action, suit, investigation or proceeding at law or in equity or by or before any governmental instrumentality or agency or arbitral body pending, or, to the knowledge of the Borrower or the Parent, threatened by or against the Borrower or the Parent or any of their Subsidiaries or any other Loan Party or affecting the Borrower or the Parent or any of their Subsidiaries or any other Loan Party or any properties or rights of the Borrower or the Parent or any of their Subsidiaries or any other Loan Party, which could reasonably be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.11 Margin Stock. The proceeds of the borrowings made hereunder will be used by the Borrower only for the purposes expressly authorized herein. None of such proceeds will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin stock or for the purpose of reducing or retiring any Indebtedness which was originally incurred to purchase or carry margin stock (other than shares of common stock of the Parent to be purchased by the Parent in connection with a Permitted Share Repurchase, provided that all such Permitted Share Repurchases have been (to the extent consummated prior to the date hereof) and will be consummated, and the shares of stock so purchased have been (to the extent acquired prior to the date hereof) and will be retired, or limited in amount, as shall be necessary for compliance with Regulation U (12 CFR Part 221) as the same may be applicable to Permitted Share Repurchases from time to time), or for any other purpose which violates or which would be inconsistent with Regulation U (12 CFR Part 221) or Regulation X (12 CFR Part 224) of the FRB. Neither the Borrower, the Parent, nor any agent acting in their behalf has taken or will take any action which might cause this Agreement or any of the documents or instruments delivered pursuant hereto or any use of proceeds of Loans to violate any regulation of the FRB or to violate any Securities Laws, in each case as in effect on the date hereof.
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5.12 Regulated Company. No Loan Party is an “investment company,” or an “affiliated person” of, or “promoter” or “principal underwriter” for, an “investment company”, as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (15 U.S.C. § 80a-1, et seq.). The application of the proceeds of the Loans and repayment thereof by the Borrower and the performance by the Borrower and the other Loan Parties of the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents will not violate any provision of said Act, or any rule, regulation or order issued by the SEC thereunder, in each case as in effect on the date hereof.
5.13 Patents, Etc. The Borrower and each other Loan Party owns or has the right to use, under valid license agreements or otherwise, all material patents, licenses, franchises, trademarks, trademark rights, trade names, trade name rights, trade secrets, copyrights and know-how necessary to or used in the conduct of its businesses as now conducted and as contemplated by the Loan Documents, without known conflict with any patent, license, franchise, trademark, trade secret, trade name, copyright, other proprietary right of any other Person; all the foregoing which is not owned by the Borrower or such Loan Party is licensed thereto by CIP pursuant to a Licensing Agreement.
5.14 No Untrue Statement. Neither this Agreement nor any other Loan Document or certificate or document executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Borrower or any other Loan Party in accordance with or pursuant to any Loan Document contains any misrepresentation or untrue statement of material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary, in light of the circumstance under which it was made, in order to make any such warranty, representation or statement contained therein not misleading.
5.15 No Consents, Etc. Neither the respective businesses or properties of the Loan Parties or any Subsidiary thereof, nor any relationship among the Loan Parties or any Subsidiary thereof and any other Person, nor any circumstance in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby, is such as to require a consent, approval or authorization of, or filing, registration or qualification with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person on the part of any Loan Party as a condition to the execution, delivery and performance of, or consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents, which, if not obtained or effected, would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, or if so, such consent, approval, authorization, filing, registration or qualification has been duly obtained or effected, as the case may be.
5.16 Employee Benefit Plans.
(a) The Borrower, the Parent and each ERISA Affiliate are in compliance with all applicable provisions of ERISA and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder and in compliance with all Foreign Benefit Laws with respect to all Employee Benefit Plans except for any required amendments for which the remedial amendment period as defined in Section 401(b) of the Code has not yet expired. Each Employee Benefit Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has been determined or the Borrower or the Parent or their Subsidiaries is in the process of obtaining a determination by the IRS to be so qualified, each trust related to such plan has been determined to be exempt under Section 501(a) of the Code, and each Employee Benefit Plan subject to any Foreign Benefit Law has received the required approvals by any Governmental Authority regulating such Employee Benefit Plan. No
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material liability has been incurred by the Borrower or the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate which remains unsatisfied for any taxes or penalties with respect to any Employee Benefit Plan or any Multiemployer Plan;
(b) Neither the Borrower, the Parent nor any ERISA Affiliate has (i) engaged in a nonexempt prohibited transaction described in Section 4975 of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA affecting any of the Employee Benefit Plans or the trusts created thereunder which could subject any such Employee Benefit Plan or trust to a material tax or penalty on prohibited transactions imposed under Internal Revenue Code Section 4975 or ERISA, (ii) incurred any accumulated funding deficiency with respect to any Employee Benefit Plan, whether or not waived, or any other liability to the PBGC which remains outstanding other than the payment of premiums and there are no premium payments which are due and unpaid, (iii) failed to make a required contribution or payment to a Multiemployer Plan, (iv) failed to make a required installment or other required payment under Section 412 of the Code, Section 302 of ERISA or the terms of such Employee Benefit Plan, or (v) failed to make a required contribution or payment, or otherwise failed to operate in compliance with any Foreign Benefit Law regulating any Employee Benefit Plan;
(c) No Termination Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan, and neither the Borrower, the Parent, nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any unpaid withdrawal liability with respect to any Multiemployer Plan;
(d) The present value of all vested accrued benefits under each Employee Benefit Plan which is subject to Title IV of ERISA, or the funding of which is regulated by any Foreign Benefit Law did not, as of the most recent valuation date for each such plan, exceed the then current value of the assets of such Employee Benefit Plan allocable to such benefits;
(e) To the best of the Borrower’s and the Parent’s knowledge, each Employee Benefit Plan which is subject to Title IV of ERISA or the funding of which is regulated by any Foreign Benefit Law, maintained by the Borrower or the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate, has been administered in accordance with its terms in all material respects and is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable requirements of ERISA, applicable Foreign Benefit Law and other applicable laws, regulations and rules;
(f) The consummation of the Loans provided for herein will not involve any prohibited transaction under ERISA which is not subject to a statutory or administrative exemption; and
(g) No material proceeding, claim, lawsuit and/or investigation exists or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower after due inquiry, is threatened concerning or involving any Employee Benefit Plan.
5.17 No Default. As of the date hereof, there does not exist any Default or Event of Default hereunder.
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5.18 Environmental Laws. The Borrower, the Parent, and each of their Subsidiaries is in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws and has been issued and currently maintains all required federal, state and local permits, licenses, certificates and approvals except for any non-compliance that could not reasonably be expected to cause any Material Adverse Effect. Except as would not reasonably be expected to cause any Material Adverse Effect, neither the Borrower, the Parent, nor any of their Subsidiaries has been notified of any pending or threatened action, suit, proceeding or investigation, and neither the Borrower, the Parent, nor any of their Subsidiaries is aware of any fact or facts, which (a) call into question, or could reasonably be expected to call into question, compliance by the Borrower, the Parent, or any of their Subsidiaries with any Environmental Laws, (b) could reasonably be expected to form the basis of a meritorious proceeding, to suspend, revoke or terminate any license, permit or approval necessary for the operation of the Borrower’s, the Parent’s, or any of their Subsidiaries’ business or facilities or for the generation, handling, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, or (c) could reasonably be expected to form the basis of a meritorious proceeding to cause any property of the Borrower, the Parent, or any of their Subsidiaries or other Loan Party to be subject to any restrictions on ownership, use, occupancy or transferability under any Environmental Law.
5.19 Employment Matters.
(a) None of the employees of the Borrower, the Parent, or any of their Subsidiaries is subject to any collective bargaining agreement and there are no strikes, work stoppages, election or decertification petitions or proceedings, unfair labor charges, equal opportunity proceedings, or other material labor/employee related controversies or proceedings pending or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower or the Parent, threatened against the Borrower, the Parent, or any of their Subsidiaries or between the Borrower, the Parent, or any of their Subsidiaries and any of its employees, other than such matters, but excluding any matters concerning collective bargaining agreements, which could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Except to the extent a failure to maintain compliance would not have a Material Adverse Effect, the Borrower, the Parent and each of their Subsidiaries is in compliance in all respects with all applicable laws, rules and regulations pertaining to labor or employment matters, including without limitation those pertaining to wages, hours, occupational safety and taxation and there is neither pending or threatened any litigation, administrative proceeding nor, to the knowledge of the Borrower and the Parent, any investigation, in respect of such matters which, if decided adversely, could reasonably be likely, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.
ARTICLE VI.
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, the Borrower and the Parent, as applicable, will, and where applicable will cause each of their Subsidiaries:
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6.01 Financial Reports, Etc.
(a) As soon as practical and in any event within 90 days after the end of each Fiscal Year of the Parent, deliver or cause to be delivered to the Administrative Agent and each Lender (i) consolidated and consolidating balance sheets of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such Fiscal Year, and the notes thereto, and the related consolidated and consolidating statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows, and the respective notes thereto, for such Fiscal Year, setting forth (other than for consolidating statements) comparative financial statements for the preceding Fiscal Year, all prepared in accordance with GAAP and containing, (A) with respect to the consolidated financial statements, opinions of KPMG LLP, or other such Registered Public Accounting Firm selected by the Parent and meeting the requirements set forth in Section 7.18, as to whether such financial statements are free of material misstatement and which are unqualified as to the scope of the audit performed, the absence of material misstatement, and as to the “going concern” status of the Parent and without any exception not acceptable to the Required Lenders, and (B) for so long as the Parent shall be required to file the same with the SEC, an opinion of KPMG LLP, or other such Registered Public Accounting Firm selected by the Parent and meeting the requirements set forth in Section 7.18, independently assessing the Parent’s internal controls over financial reporting in accordance with Item 308 of SEC Regulation S-K, PCAOB Auditing Standard No. 2, and Section 404 of Sarbanes-Oxley expressing a conclusion that contains no statement that there is a material weakness in such internal controls, except for such material weaknesses as to which the Required Lenders do not object, and (ii) a certificate of a Responsible Officer demonstrating compliance with Sections 7.01(a) through 7.01(c) and 7.08, which certificate shall be in the form of Exhibit D;
(b) as soon as practical and in any event within 45 days after the end of each fiscal quarter (except the last fiscal quarter of the Fiscal Year), deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender (i) consolidated and consolidating balance sheets of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter, and the related consolidated and consolidating statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal quarter and for the period from the beginning of the then current Fiscal Year through the end of such reporting period, and accompanied by a certificate of a Responsible Officer to the effect that such financial statements present fairly the financial position of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal period and the results of their operations and the changes in their financial position for such fiscal period, in conformity with the standards set forth in Section 5.06(a) with respect to interim financial statements, and (ii) a certificate of a Responsible Officer containing computations for such quarter comparable to that required pursuant to Section 6.01(a)(ii);
(c) together with each delivery of the financial statements required by Section 6.01(a)(i), deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender a letter from the Parent’s accountants specified in Section 6.01(a)(i) stating that in performing the audit necessary to render an opinion on the financial statements delivered under Section 6.01(a)(i), they obtained no knowledge of any Default or Event of Default by the Borrower or the Parent in the fulfillment of the terms and provisions of this Agreement insofar as they relate to financial matters (which at the date of such statement remains uncured); or if the accountants have obtained knowledge of such Default or Event of Default, a statement specifying the nature and period of existence thereof;
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(d) promptly upon their becoming available to the Parent, the Parent shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender a copy of (i) all regular or special reports or effective registration statements which the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries shall file with the SEC, (ii) any proxy statement distributed by the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries to its shareholders, bondholders or the financial community in general, and (iii) any management letter or other report submitted to the Parent, the Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries by independent accountants in connection with any annual, interim or special audit of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;
(e) as soon as practical and in any event within forty-five (45) days after the end of each fiscal quarter, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender a Borrowing Base Certificate in the form of Exhibit I;
(f) together with each delivery of the financial statements required by Section 6.01(a) and (b), an unaudited balance sheet for each of CVTI and Volunteer Insurance Limited as of the end of the fiscal period included in such financial statements and the related unaudited statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of CVTI and Volunteer Insurance Limited for such period, together with consolidating statements or other reconciliations reflecting all eliminations or adjustments necessary to reconcile such financial statements to the consolidated financial statements of the Parent and its Subsidiaries; and
(g) promptly, from time to time, deliver or cause to be delivered to the Administrative Agent and each Lender (i) notice of any material changes in accounting or financial reporting practices, and (ii) such other information regarding the Parent’s, the Borrower’s, or any Subsidiary’s operations, business affairs and financial condition as the Administrative Agent or such Lender may reasonably request.
The Administrative Agent and the Lenders are hereby authorized to deliver a copy of any such financial or other information delivered hereunder to the Lenders (or any Affiliate of any Lender) or to the Administrative Agent, to any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders pursuant to any written request therefor or in the ordinary course of examination of loan files, or to any other Person who shall acquire or consider the assignment of, or acquisition of any participation interest in, any Obligation permitted by this Agreement.
Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a), (b) or (d) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address, www.covenanttransport.com; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on IntraLinks, or another Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that: (i) the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent or any Lender that requests the Borrower to deliver such paper copies until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent or such Lender and (ii) the
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Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender (by telecopier or electronic mail) of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in every instance the Borrower shall be required to provide paper copies of the Borrowing Base Certificates required by Section 6.01(e) to the Administrative Agent. Except for such Borrowing Base Certificates, the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery or to maintain copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Borrower with any such request for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such documents.
The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Arranger will make available to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks or another similar electronic system (the “Platform”) and (b) certain of the Lenders may be “public-side” Lenders (i.e., Lenders that do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities) (each, a “Public Lender”). The Borrower hereby agrees that (w) all Borrower Materials that are to be made available to Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC”, the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as either publicly available information or not material information (although it may be sensitive and proprietary) with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States federal and state securities laws; (y) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Investor”; and (z) the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Investor.”
6.02 Maintain Properties. Maintain all properties necessary to its operations in good working order and condition, make all needed repairs, replacements and renewals to such properties, and maintain free from Liens, all trademarks, trade names, patents, copyrights, trade secrets, know-how, and other intellectual property and proprietary information (or adequate licenses thereto), in each case as are reasonably necessary to conduct its business as currently conducted or as contemplated hereby, all in accordance with customary and prudent business practices.
6.03 Existence, Qualification, Etc. Except as otherwise expressly permitted under Section 7.07, do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence and all material rights and franchises, and maintain its license or qualification to do business as a foreign corporation and good standing in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the nature of its business makes such license or qualification necessary except where the failure to so qualify would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.04 Taxes. Pay all taxes, assessments, governmental charges, claims for labor, supplies, rent and any other obligation which, if unpaid, would become a Lien against any of its
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properties, except liabilities being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted provided that (i) adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person in accordance with GAAP and (ii) any Lien arising in connection with any such contest shall be permitted to exist to the extent provided in Section 7.03.
6.05 Insurance. (a) Keep all of its insurable properties adequately insured at all times with responsible insurance carriers against loss or damage by fire and other hazards to the extent and in the manner as are customarily insured against by similar businesses owning such properties similarly situated, (b) maintain general public liability insurance at all times with responsible insurance carriers against liability on account of damage to persons and property and (c) maintain insurance under all applicable workers’ compensation laws (or in the alternative, maintain required reserves if self-insured for workers’ compensation purposes) and against loss by reason of business interruption, such policies of insurance to have such limits, deductibles, exclusions, co-insurance and other provisions reasonably deemed adequate by the Parent and to be in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. Each of the policies of insurance described in this Section 6.05 shall provide that the insurer shall give the Administrative Agent not less than thirty (30) days’ prior written notice before any such policy shall terminate or be terminated, lapse or be altered in any manner.
6.06 True Books. Keep true books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries will be made of all of its dealings and transactions, and set up on its books such reserves as may be required by GAAP with respect to doubtful accounts and all taxes, assessments, charges, levies and claims and with respect to its business in general, and include such reserves in interim as well as year-end financial statements.
6.07 Right of Inspection. Permit any Person designated by any Lender or the Administrative Agent to visit and inspect at any time any of the properties, corporate books and financial reports of the Borrower, the Parent, or any of their Subsidiaries (provided that any such visit or inspection shall be at the Borrower’s expense (i) during the continuance of an Event of Default and (ii) otherwise up to once during any Fiscal Year), and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its principal officers and, if applicable, independent certified public accountants, all at reasonable times, at reasonable intervals and with reasonable prior notice.
6.08 Observe all Laws. Conform to and duly observe in all material respects all laws, rules and regulations and all other valid requirements of any Governmental Authority with respect to the conduct of its business, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.09 Governmental Licenses. Obtain and maintain all licenses, permits, certifications and approvals of all applicable Governmental Authorities as are required for the conduct of its business as currently conducted and as contemplated by the Loan Documents, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.10 Covenants Extending to Other Persons. Cause each of its Subsidiaries to do with respect to itself, its business and its assets, each of the things required of the Borrower and the Parent in Sections 6.02 through 6.09, and 6.18 inclusive.
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6.11 Officers Knowledge of Default. Upon any officer of the Borrower or the Parent obtaining knowledge of any Default or Event of Default hereunder or under any other obligation of the Borrower, the Parent or any of their Subsidiaries or any other Loan Party to any Lender, or any event, development or occurrence which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, cause such officer or a Responsible Officer to promptly notify the Administrative Agent of the nature thereof, the period of existence thereof, and what action the Borrower, the Parent, such Subsidiary or other Loan Party proposes to take with respect thereto.
6.12 Suits or Other Proceedings. Upon any officer of the Borrower or the Parent obtaining knowledge of any litigation or other proceedings or investigations being instituted by any Governmental Authority or any other Person against the Borrower or the Parent or any of their Subsidiaries or other Loan Party, or any attachment, levy, execution or other process being instituted against any assets of the Borrower or the Parent or any of their Subsidiaries or any other Loan Party, making a claim or claims in an aggregate amount greater than $10,000,000 not covered by insurance, promptly deliver to the Administrative Agent written notice thereof stating the nature and status of such litigation, dispute, proceeding, levy, execution or other process.
6.13 Notice of Environmental Complaint or Condition. Promptly provide to the Administrative Agent true, accurate and complete copies of any and all notices, complaints, orders, directives, claims or citations received by the Borrower or the Parent or any of their Subsidiaries relating to any (a) violation or alleged violation by the Borrower or the Parent or any of their Subsidiaries of any applicable Environmental Law; (b) release or threatened release by the Borrower or the Parent or any of their Subsidiaries, or by any Person handling, transporting or disposing of any Hazardous Material on behalf of Borrower or the Parent or any of their Subsidiaries, or at any facility or property owned or leased or operated by Borrower or the Parent or any of their Subsidiaries, of any Hazardous Material, except where occurring legally pursuant to a permit or license; or (c) liability or alleged liability of Borrower or the Parent or any of their Subsidiaries for the costs of cleaning up, removing, remediating or responding to a release of Hazardous Materials, in each case as reasonably would be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.14 Environmental Compliance. If Borrower or the Parent or any of their Subsidiaries shall receive any letter, notice, complaint, order, directive, claim or citation alleging that Borrower or the Parent or any of their Subsidiaries has violated any Environmental Law, has released any Hazardous Material, or is liable for the costs of cleaning up, removing, remediating or responding to a release of Hazardous Materials, the Borrower, the Parent and any such Subsidiary shall, within the time period permitted and to the extent required by the applicable Environmental Law or the Governmental Authority responsible for enforcing such Environmental Law, remove or remedy, or cause the applicable Subsidiary to remove or remedy, such violation or release or satisfy such liability.
6.15 Indemnification. Without limiting the generality of Section 10.04, each of the Parent, the Borrower and any respective Subsidiary of either of them hereby agrees to indemnify and hold the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders and any Affiliate of any Lender party to a Swap Agreement, and their respective officers, directors, employees and agents, harmless from and against any and all claims, losses, penalties, liabilities, damages and expenses (including assessment and cleanup costs and reasonable attorneys’, consultants’ or
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other expert fees, expenses and disbursements) arising directly or indirectly from, out of or by reason of (a) the violation of any Environmental Law by the Borrower or the Parent or any of their Subsidiaries or with respect to any property owned, operated or leased by the Borrower or the Parent or any of their Subsidiaries or (b) the handling, storage, transportation, treatment, emission, release, discharge or disposal of any Hazardous Materials by or on behalf of the Borrower or the Parent or any of their Subsidiaries, or on or with respect to property owned or leased or operated by the Borrower or the Parent or any of their Subsidiaries. The provisions of this Section 6.15 shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments and repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.
6.16 Further Assurances. At the Borrower’s cost and expense, upon request of the Administrative Agent, duly execute and deliver or cause to be duly executed and delivered, to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent such further instruments, documents, certificates, financing and continuation statements, and do and cause to be done such further acts that may be reasonably necessary or advisable in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent to carry out more effectively the provisions and purposes of this Agreement, the Security Instruments and the other Loan Documents.
6.17 Employee Benefit Plans.
(a) With reasonable promptness, and in any event within thirty (30) days thereof, give notice to the Administrative Agent of (a) the establishment of any new Pension Plan (which notice shall include a copy of such plan), (b) the commencement of contributions to any Employee Benefit Plan to which the Borrower, the Parent, or any of their ERISA Affiliates was not previously contributing, (c) any material increase in the benefits of any existing Employee Benefit Plan, (d) each funding waiver request filed with respect to any Pension Plan and all communications received or sent by the Borrower, the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate with respect to such request and (e) the failure of the Borrower, the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate to make a required installment or payment under Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code (in the case of Employee Benefit Plans regulated by the Code or ERISA) or under any Foreign Benefit Law (in the case of Employee Benefit Plans regulated by any Foreign Benefit Law) by the due date;
(b) Promptly and in any event within fifteen (15) days of becoming aware of the occurrence or forthcoming occurrence of any (a) Termination Event or (b) nonexempt “prohibited transaction,” as such term is defined in Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, in connection with any Employee Benefit Plan or any trust created thereunder, deliver to the Administrative Agent a notice specifying the nature thereof, what action the Borrower, the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate has taken, is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto and, when known, any action taken or threatened by the IRS, the Department of Labor or the PBGC with respect thereto; and
(c) With reasonable promptness but in any event within fifteen (15) days for purposes of clauses (a), (b) and (c), deliver to the Administrative Agent copies of (a) any unfavorable determination letter from the IRS regarding the qualification of an Employee Benefit Plan under Section 401(a) of the Code, (b) all notices received by the Parent, Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of the PBGC’s or any Governmental Authority’s intent to terminate any Pension Plan or
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to have a trustee appointed to administer any Pension Plan, (c) each Schedule B (Actuarial Information) to the annual report (Form 5500 Series) filed by the Borrower, the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate with the IRS with respect to each Employee Benefit Plan and (d) all notices received by the Borrower, the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan sponsor concerning the imposition or amount of withdrawal liability pursuant to Section 4202 of ERISA. The Borrower and the Parent will notify the Administrative Agent in writing within five (5) Business Days of the Borrower, the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate obtaining knowledge or reason to know that the Borrower, the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate has filed or intends to file a notice of intent to terminate any Pension Plan under a distress termination within the meaning of Section 4041(c) of ERISA.
6.18 Continued Operations. Continue at all times to conduct its business of transporting freight (or to otherwise engage in activities directly related to and in support of the Parent’s freight transportation business) and engage principally in the same line or lines of business of transporting freight (or such other related activities) substantially as heretofore conducted.
6.19 Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of the Credit Extensions for working capital, capital expenditures, and other lawful corporate purposes, including, without limitation, (i) to refinance certain indebtedness of Star guaranteed by the Borrower and the Guarantors in connection with the acquisition of Star by the Parent, and (ii) to finance (A) Permitted Share Repurchases and (B) Acquisitions permitted hereunder.
6.20 New Subsidiaries. Simultaneously with the acquisition or creation of any Subsidiary of the Borrower or the Parent, the Borrower and the Parent shall cause to be delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent (or to either of them as may be specified) each of the following:
(a) to the Administrative Agent, if such Subsidiary is a Domestic Subsidiary, a Subsidiary Guaranty Joinder Agreement executed by such Subsidiary;
(b) if the Subsidiary Securities issued by such Subsidiary that are, or are required to become, Pledged Interests, shall be owned by the Borrower or by a Subsidiary of the Parent or the Borrower who has not then executed and delivered to the Collateral Agent a Pledge Agreement granting a Lien to the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Credit Secured Parties, in such equity interests, a Pledge Joinder Agreement or a Pledge Agreement, as applicable, executed by the Borrower or by the Subsidiary that directly owns such Subsidiary Securities, with appropriate conforming changes (or, as to the Pledged Interests issued by any Direct Foreign Subsidiary of the Borrower or the Parent, in a form acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent), and if such Subsidiary Securities shall be owned by the Parent or a Subsidiary of the Parent who has previously executed a Pledge Agreement or Pledge Joinder Agreement, a Pledge Agreement Supplement in the form required by such Pledge Agreement pertaining to such Subsidiary Securities;
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(c) to the Collateral Agent, if the Pledged Interests issued by such Subsidiary constitute securities under Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code (i) the certificates representing 100% of such Subsidiary Securities and (ii) duly executed, undated stock powers or other appropriate powers of assignment in blank affixed thereto;
(d) (i) Uniform Commercial Code financing statements on form UCC-1 or otherwise duly executed by the pledgor as “Debtor” and naming the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Credit Secured Parties, as “Secured Party,” in form, substance and number sufficient in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent and its special counsel to be filed in all Uniform Commercial Code filing offices and in all jurisdictions in which filing is necessary or advisable to perfect in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Credit Secured Parties, the Lien on such Subsidiary Securities and (ii) if the Pledged Interests issued by such Subsidiary do not constitute securities and such Subsidiary has not elected to have such interests treated as securities under Article 8 of the applicable Uniform Commercial Code, a control agreement sufficient to confer control (within the meaning of Section 9-106 of the Uniform Commercial Code), and otherwise in form and substance acceptable to the Collateral Agent;
(e) an opinion of counsel to such Subsidiary dated as of the date of delivery of the Subsidiary Guaranty and other Loan Documents provided for in this Section 6.20 and addressed to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent (which opinion may include assumptions and qualifications of similar effect to those contained in the opinions of counsel delivered pursuant to Section 4.01(a)); and
(f) current copies of the Organizational Documents of such Subsidiary, minutes of duly called and conducted meetings (or duly effected consent actions) of the Board of Directors, partners, or appropriate committees thereof (and, if required by such Organizational Documents or applicable law, of the shareholders, members or partners) of such Subsidiary authorizing the actions and the execution and delivery of documents described in this Section 6.20.
6.21 Internal Control Event. Promptly notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender of any determination by KPMG LLP, or other such Registered Public Accounting Firm selected by the Parent and meeting the requirements set forth in Section 7.18, made in connection with its preparation of an opinion required under Section 6.01(a)(i)(B) or the Borrower’s determination at any time of the occurrence or existence of any Internal Control Event.
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ARTICLE VII.
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, neither the Borrower nor the Parent will, nor will either permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly:
7.01 Financial Covenants.
(a) Consolidated Tangible Net Worth. Permit Consolidated Tangible Net Worth to be less than (i) $139,842,320 from the Closing Date until (but excluding) the last day of the fiscal quarter that includes the Closing Date (the “Closing Date Quarter”), and (ii) as at the last day of each fiscal quarter of the Parent ending after the Closing Date and until (but excluding) the last day of the next following fiscal quarter of the Parent, the sum of (A) the amount of Consolidated Tangible Net Worth required to be maintained pursuant to this Section 7.01(a) as at the end of the immediately preceding fiscal quarter (or, in the case of the Closing Date Quarter, required to be maintained as of the Closing Date), plus (B) 50% of Consolidated Net Income (with no reduction for net losses during any period) for the fiscal quarter of the Parent ending on such day (including within “Consolidated Net Income” certain items otherwise excluded, as provided for in the definition of “Consolidated Net Income”), plus (C) 100% of the aggregate amount of all increases in the stated capital and additional paid-in capital accounts of the Parent resulting from the issuance, sale or exchange of equity securities or other capital investments.
(b) Consolidated Leverage Ratio. Permit the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as of the end of any Four-Quarter Period to be greater than 3.25 to 1.00 at any time prior to July 1, 2008 and 3.00 to 1.00 at any time thereafter.
(c) Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. Permit the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio as of the end of any Four-Quarter Period to be less than 1.20 to 1.00.
7.02 Acquisitions. Enter into any agreement, contract, binding commitment or other arrangement providing for any Acquisition, or take any action to solicit the tender of securities or proxies in respect thereof in order to effect any Acquisition, unless (i) the Person to be (or whose assets are to be) acquired does not oppose such Acquisition and the line or lines of business of the Person to be acquired are closely related to one or more line or lines of business conducted by the Borrower, the Parent, or its Subsidiaries, (ii) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing either immediately prior to or immediately after giving effect to such Acquisition, (iii) the Person acquired shall be a wholly-owned Subsidiary, or be merged into the Parent or a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Parent, immediately upon consummation of the Acquisition (or if assets are being acquired, the acquiror shall be the Parent or a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Parent), and (iv) after giving effect to such Acquisition, the aggregate Costs of Acquisition incurred in any Fiscal Year (on a noncumulative basis, with the effect that amounts not incurred in any Fiscal Year may not be carried forward to a subsequent period) shall not exceed twenty percent (20%) of Consolidated Total Assets as of the end of the immediately preceding Fiscal Year.
7.03 Liens. Incur, create or permit to exist any Lien, charge or other encumbrance of any nature whatsoever with respect to any property or assets now owned or hereafter acquired by the Borrower, the Parent, or any of their Subsidiaries (except for Transplace), other than:
(a) Liens created under the Security Instruments in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Credit Secured Parties, and otherwise existing as of the date hereof and as set forth in Schedule 5.07;
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(b) Liens imposed by law for taxes, assessments or charges of any Governmental Authority for claims not yet due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, and with respect to which adequate reserves are being maintained in accordance with GAAP, which Liens are not yet exercisable to effect the sale or seizure of property subject thereto;
(c) statutory Liens of landlords and Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen and other Liens arising in the ordinary course of business and in existence less than 90 days from the date of creation thereof for amounts not yet due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, and with respect to which adequate reserves are being maintained in accordance with GAAP, which Liens are not yet exercisable to effect the sale or seizure of property subject thereto;
(d) Liens incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security benefits or to secure the performance of tenders, bids, leases, surety and appeal bonds (not in excess of $5,000,000), contracts (other than for the repayment of Indebtedness), statutory obligations and other similar obligations or arising as a result of progress payments under government contracts;
(e) easements (including reciprocal easement agreements and utility agreements), rights-of-way, covenants, consents, reservations, encroachments, variations and zoning and other restrictions, charges or encumbrances (whether or not recorded), which do not interfere materially with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower, the Parent or any of their Subsidiaries and which do not materially detract from the value of the property to which they attach or materially impair the use thereof to the Borrower, the Parent or any of their Subsidiaries;
(f) purchase money Liens to secure Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.04(d); provided that no such Lien shall extend to any property other than the assets purchased with the proceeds of such Indebtedness;
(g) Liens arising in connection with Capital Leases permitted under Section 7.04; provided that no such Lien shall extend to any property other than the assets subject to such Capital Leases;
(h) Liens securing financing permitted by Section 7.04(j); and
(i) Liens on accounts receivable and proceeds thereof arising in connection with the transfer thereof pursuant to a Permitted Receivables Securitization.
7.04 Indebtedness. Incur, create, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness, howsoever evidenced, except:
(a) Indebtedness existing as of the Closing Date as set forth in the financial statements referred to in Section 5.06(a) (other than the Star Debt) or in Schedule 5.06, provided, none of the instruments and agreements evidencing or governing such Indebtedness shall be amended, modified or supplemented after the Closing Date to change any terms of
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subordination, repayment or rights of enforcement, conversion, put, exchange or other rights from such terms and rights as in effect on the Closing Date;
(b) Indebtedness owing to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with this Agreement, any Note or other Loan Document;
(c) the endorsement of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection or similar transactions in the ordinary course of business;
(d) purchase money Indebtedness not to exceed an aggregate outstanding principal amount at any time of $40,000,000;
(e) Indebtedness arising from Rate Hedging Obligations permitted under Section 7.15;
(f) Subordinated Indebtedness;
(g) unsecured intercompany Indebtedness for loans and advances made by the Borrower, the Parent or any Subsidiary of the Borrower or the Parent to the Borrower, the Parent or any other Guarantor which collectively do not exceed at any time in aggregate principal amount the sum of the Outstanding Amount of Revolving Loans at such time plus amounts available at such time under the Aggregate Commitments for borrowing by the Borrower as Revolving Loans;
(h) additional unsecured Indebtedness consisting of loans and advances made by Volunteer Insurance Limited, a direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Parent, to the Borrower or the Parent, provided that the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all such other Indebtedness permitted under this clause (h) shall in no event exceed $10,000,000 at any time for each of the Borrower, the Parent and each Subsidiary in the aggregate;
(i) additional unsecured Indebtedness for Money Borrowed not otherwise covered by clauses (a) through (h) above, provided that the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all such other Indebtedness permitted under this clause (i) shall in no event exceed $5,000,000 at any time for each of the Borrower, the Parent and each Subsidiary in the aggregate;
(j) Indebtedness secured by real property, Synthetic Lease Obligations and sale and leaseback obligations relating to real property, provided that the aggregate of (i) the outstanding principal amount of all Indebtedness secured by real property, (ii) the outstanding principal amount of all Indebtedness arising under Synthetic Lease Obligations, and (iii) the present value (calculated at a reasonable discount rate acceptable to the Administrative Agent) of the aggregate amount of all future lease payments incurred, acquired or assumed by the Borrower, the Parent or any of their Subsidiaries relating to the sale and leaseback of real property shall in no event exceed $60,000,000 at any time;
(k) Indebtedness arising in connection with any Permitted Receivables Securitization; and
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(l) Indebtedness extending the maturity of, or renewing, refunding or refinancing, in whole or in part, Indebtedness incurred under clauses (a), (d), (f), (h) and (i) of this Section 7.04, provided that (A) the terms of any such extension, renewal, refunding or refinancing Indebtedness (and of any agreement or instrument entered into in connection therewith) are no less favorable to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders than the terms of the Indebtedness as in effect prior to such action, and provided further that immediately before and immediately after giving effect to any such extension, renewal, refunding or refinancing, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, and (B) notwithstanding anything in the foregoing to the contrary, any renewal (other than annual renewals, which are specifically permitted), refunding or refinancing of the Permitted Receivables Securitization or any Synthetic Lease Obligations that may arise shall require the consent of the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders.
7.05 Transfer of Assets. Sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any assets of the Borrower, the Parent or any Subsidiary of either, other than (a) dispositions of inventory in the ordinary course of business, (b) dispositions of equipment or other property that is substantially worn, damaged, obsolete or, in the judgment of the Borrower or the Parent, no longer best used or useful in its business or that of any Subsidiary, (c) dispositions of accounts receivable in connection with a Permitted Receivables Securitization, (d) transfers of assets necessary to give effect to merger or consolidation transactions permitted by Section 7.07 or to sale and leaseback transactions permitted by Section 7.13, and (e) the disposition of Eligible Securities in the ordinary course of management of the investment portfolios of the Borrower, the Parent, and their Subsidiaries.
7.06 Investments. Purchase, own, invest in (by capital contribution, purchase of equity interest or otherwise) or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any stock or other securities, or make or permit to exist any interest whatsoever in any other Person or permit to exist any loans or advances to any Person, except::
(a) securities of any Person acquired in an Acquisition permitted hereunder, or securities acquired in connection with a Permitted Share Repurchase;
(b) Eligible Securities;
(c) investments existing as of the date hereof and as set forth in Schedule 5.04;
(d) accounts receivable arising and trade credit granted in the ordinary course of business and any securities received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof in connection with accounts of financially troubled Persons to the extent reasonably necessary in order to prevent or limit loss;
(e) investments in Subsidiaries which are Guarantors (and including Transplace) and investments by the Parent in the Borrower;
(f) loans by the Borrower or any Subsidiary to the Parent or to any other Guarantor as described in Section 7.04(g); and
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(g) additional loans, advances and investments not otherwise covered by clauses (a) through (f) above in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed $5,000,000.
7.07 Merger or Consolidation. (a) Consolidate with or merge into any other Person, or (b) permit any other Person to merge into it; provided, however, (i) any Subsidiary of the Borrower may merge or transfer all or substantially all of its assets into or consolidate with the Borrower or any wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Borrower, (ii) any other Subsidiary of the Parent (other than the Borrower) may merge with the Parent or any other wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Parent, (iii) any other Person may merge into or consolidate with the Borrower or the Parent or any wholly-owned Subsidiary (the Borrower, the Parent or such Subsidiary being the surviving corporation) and (iv) any Subsidiary (other than the Borrower) may merge into or consolidate with any other Person in order to consummate an Acquisition permitted by Section 7.02, provided further, that any resulting or surviving entity shall execute and deliver such agreements and other documents, including a Subsidiary Guaranty, and take such other action as the Administrative Agent may require to evidence or confirm its express assumption of the obligations and liabilities of its predecessor entities under the Loan Documents.
7.08 Restricted Payments. Make any Restricted Payment or apply or set apart any of their assets therefor or agree to do any of the foregoing, other than (i) Permitted Share Repurchases and (ii) cash dividends declared by the board of directors of the Parent and paid thereby to its stockholders; provided that the sum of (i) and (ii) from the Closing Date until the Maturity Date, shall not exceed the sum of $39,402,275 plus 50% of the Consolidated Net Income for each fiscal quarter commencing with the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2006 (such amount reduced by 100% of the amount of any negative Consolidated Net Income during any such period).
7.09 Transactions with Affiliates. Other than transactions permitted under Sections 7.06 and 7.07, enter into any transaction after the Closing Date, including, without limitation, the purchase, sale, lease or exchange of property, real or personal, or the rendering of any service, with any Affiliate of the Parent, except (a) that such Persons may render services to the Parent or its Subsidiaries for compensation at substantially the same or more favorable rates generally paid by Persons engaged in the same or similar businesses for the same or similar services, (b) that the Parent or any Subsidiary may render services to such Persons for compensation at the same rates generally charged by the Parent or such Subsidiary, (c) in either case (a) or (b) such transactions are in the ordinary course of business and pursuant to the reasonable requirements of the Parent’s (or any Subsidiary’s) business consistent with past practice of the Parent and its Subsidiaries and upon fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to the Parent (or any Subsidiary) than would be obtained in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a Person not an Affiliate, and (d) any other transactions that amount to less than $1,000,000 in the aggregate annually.
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7.10 Compliance with ERISA, the Code and Foreign Benefit Laws. With respect to any Pension Plan, Employee Benefit Plan or Multiemployer Plan:
(a) permit the occurrence of any Termination Event which would result in a liability on the part of the Borrower, the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate to the PBGC or to any Governmental Authority; or
(b) permit the present value of all benefit liabilities under all Pension Plans to exceed the current value of the assets of such Pension Plans allocable to such benefit liabilities; or
(c) permit any accumulated funding deficiency (as defined in Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code) with respect to any Pension Plan, whether or not waived; or
(d) fail to make any contribution or payment to any Multiemployer Plan which the Borrower, the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate may be required to make under any agreement relating to such Multiemployer Plan, or any law pertaining thereto; or
(e) engage, or permit any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate to engage, in any prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Sections 4975 of the Code for which a civil penalty pursuant to Section 502(I) of ERISA or a tax pursuant to Section 4975 of the Code may be imposed; or
(f) permit the establishment of any Employee Benefit Plan providing post-retirement welfare benefits or establish or amend any Employee Benefit Plan which establishment or amendment could result in liability to the Borrower or the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate or increase the obligation of the Borrower or the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate to a Multiemployer Plan; or
(g) fail, or permit the Borrower or the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate to fail, to establish, maintain and operate each Employee Benefit Plan in compliance in all material respects with the provisions of ERISA, the Code, all applicable Foreign Benefit Laws and all other applicable laws and the regulations and interpretations thereof.
7.11 Fiscal Year. Change its Fiscal Year.
7.12 Dissolution, Etc. Wind up, liquidate or dissolve (voluntarily or involuntarily) or commence or suffer any proceedings seeking any such winding up, liquidation or dissolution, except in connection with a merger or consolidation permitted pursuant to Section 7.07.
7.13 Limitations on Sales and Leasebacks. Enter into any arrangement or arrangements with any Person providing for the leasing by the Borrower, the Parent or any Subsidiary of either of real or personal property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired in a single transaction or series of related transactions, which has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Borrower, the Parent or any of their Subsidiaries to such Person or to any other Person to whom funds have been or are to be advanced by such Person on the security of such property or rental obligations of the Borrower, the Parent or any of their Subsidiaries, except for any such arrangements entered into in connection with (i) the Synthetic Lease Obligations, (ii) any sale and leaseback arrangement relating to the real property where the present value (calculated at a reasonable discount rate acceptable to the Administrative Agent) of the aggregate amount of all
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future lease payments incurred, acquired or assumed by the Borrower, the Parent or any of their Subsidiaries does not at any time exceed $60,000,000 less the sum of (A) the outstanding principal amount of all Indebtedness secured by real property and (B) the outstanding principal amount of all Indebtedness arising under Synthetic Lease Obligations, and (iii) the truck and trailer leasing program in an aggregate amount not to exceed in any Fiscal Year the sum of (A) $25,000,000 plus (B) 50% of the aggregate amount of Consolidated Net Income for each fiscal quarter commencing with the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2006 (such amount reduced by 100% of the amount of any negative Consolidated Net Income during any such fiscal quarter), as presently conducted and disclosed to the Administrative Agent and Lenders and hereafter conducted in accordance with such past practices; provided that not later than ten (10) Business Days prior to any additional truck or trailer sale and leaseback occurring after the Closing Date, the Parent and the Borrower shall deliver (i) an adjusted Borrowing Base Certificate giving pro forma effect to such sale and leaseback and (ii) a Compliance Certificate of a Responsible Officer demonstrating pro forma compliance with the financial covenants contained in Article VII, the covenant calculations in which shall be determined on a historical pro forma basis as of the Four-Quarter Period most recently ended and shall give pro forma effect to all lease payments incurred, acquired or assumed in connection with such transaction calculated as if all such lease payments had been incurred as of the first day of such Four-Quarter Period.
7.14 Change of Control. Cause, suffer or permit to exist or occur any Change of Control.
7.15 Rate Hedging Obligations. Incur any Rate Hedging Obligations or enter into any agreements, arrangements, devices or instruments relating to Rate Hedging Obligations, except (i) pursuant to Swap Agreements in an aggregate notional amount not to exceed at any time 50% of the Aggregate Commitment or as otherwise agreed by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and (ii) diesel fuel forward purchase contracts, commitments and options entered into in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practices, and not for speculative purposes.
7.16 Negative Pledge Clauses. Enter into or cause, suffer or permit to exist any agreement with any Person other than the Administrative Agent and the Lenders pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Documents which prohibits or limits the ability of any of the Borrower, the Parent or any of their Subsidiaries (other than Transplace) 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 Liens on shares acquired in connection with a Permitted Share Repurchase, Liens on any other shares of “margin stock” as such term is defined in Regulation U (12 CFR Part 221) of the FRB, and Liens on accounts receivable transferred in a Permitted Receivables Securitization; provided that the Borrower, the Parent and any of their Subsidiaries may enter into such an agreement in connection with, and that applies only to, real property which is collateral for Indebtedness permitted hereunder and property acquired with the proceeds of purchase money Indebtedness permitted hereunder subject to any Lien permitted by this Agreement and not released after the date hereof, when such prohibition or limitation is by its terms effective only against the assets subject to such Lien.
7.17 [Intentionally Omitted].
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7.18 Change in Accountants. Change its independent public accountants without the Administrative Agent’s consent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld; provided, the Parent may change its public accountants without the consent of the Administrative Agent to an independent certified public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and of nationally recognized standing at the time of such change.
7.19 Modification or Prepayment of Indebtedness and Certain Documentation.
(a) Amend, modify or change in any manner any term or condition of any Indebtedness described in Section 7.04(a), (d), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j), or (l), other than as permitted by Section 7.04(l), or any Subordination Agreement, the Receivables Purchase Agreement or any other document governing or evidencing a Permitted Receivables Securitization (except where the purpose of such amendment, modification or change is to add additional originators to the Permitted Receivables Securitization or to permit annual renewals of the Permitted Receivables Securitization), or any document governing or evidencing Synthetic Lease Obligations, so that the terms and conditions thereof are any less favorable to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders than the terms thereof as of the Closing Date or as thereafter initially entered into in compliance with the terms of this Agreement, or deprive the Borrower or any Guarantor or other Subsidiary of the Parent as a party to any Licensing Agreement or Servicing Agreement of any license or right granted thereunder necessary or conducive to the operation of its trucking business; and
(b) Terminate, or cause, offer or permit to occur the termination of, any of the provisions of any of the Licensing Agreements or any of the Servicing Agreements.
7.20 Partnerships. Become or be a general partner in any general or limited partnership except any partnership holding, solely, all or a portion of the equity interest in Transplace.
7.21 Restrictive Agreements. Enter into or cause, suffer or permit to exist any other agreement or arrangement with any other Person which prohibits, limits or restricts the ability of (i) any Subsidiary of the Parent or of the Borrower to make any payments, directly or indirectly, to the Parent or the Borrower, respectively, by way of dividends, advances, repayments of loans or advances, or other returns on investments, or (ii) the Parent to make any equity investment in, capital contribution to or loan or advance to the Borrower or to any other Subsidiary of the Parent.
ARTICLE VIII.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
8.01 Events of Default. Any of the following shall constitute an Event of Default:
(a) Non-Payment of Principal. If default shall be made in the due and punctual payment of the principal of any Loan, L/C Obligation or other Obligation, when and as the same
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shall be due and payable whether pursuant to any provision of Article II, at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise; or
(b) Non-Payment of Interest. If default shall be made in the due and punctual payment of any amount of interest on any Loan, L/C Obligation or other Obligation or of any fees or other amounts payable to any of the Lenders or the Administrative Agent on the date on which the same shall be due and payable; or
(c) Specific Covenants. If default shall be made in the performance or observance of any covenant set forth in Section 6.07, 6.11, 6.12, 6.20 or Article VII; or
(d) Loan Documents. If a default shall be made in the performance or observance of, or shall occur under, any covenant, agreement or provision contained in this Agreement or the Notes (other than as described in clauses (a), (b) or (c) above) and such default shall continue for thirty (30) or more days after the earlier of receipt of notice of such default by the Responsible Officer from the Administrative Agent or an officer of the Borrower or of the Parent becomes aware of such default, or if a default shall be made in the performance or observance of, or shall occur under, any covenant, agreement or provision contained in any of the other Loan Documents (beyond any applicable grace period, if any, contained therein) or in any instrument or document evidencing or creating any obligation, guaranty, or Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders or delivered to the Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any of the Obligations, or if any Loan Document ceases to be in full force and effect (other than as expressly provided for hereunder or thereunder or with the express written consent of the Administrative Agent), or if without the written consent of the Lenders, this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be disaffirmed or shall terminate, be terminable or be terminated or become void or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever (other than as expressly provided for hereunder or thereunder or with the express written consent of the Administrative Agent); or
(e) Defaults Under Other Agreements. If there shall occur (i) a default, which is not waived, in the payment of any principal, interest, premium or other amount with respect to (A) the Permitted Receivables Securitization, (B) the Synthetic Lease Obligations, or (C) any other Indebtedness (other than the Loans and other Obligations) of the Borrower, the Parent or any Subsidiary of either in an amount or Rate Hedge Value, as applicable, not less than $2,500,000 in the aggregate outstanding, or (ii) a default, which is not waived, in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any term or covenant contained in (A) the Receivables Purchase Agreement, (B) any document governing or evidencing the Synthetic Lease Obligations, or (C) any agreement or instrument under or pursuant to which any such Indebtedness or Rate Hedging Obligation may have been issued, created, assumed, guaranteed or secured by the Borrower, the Parent or any Subsidiary of the Parent, or (iii) with respect to any such Rate Hedging Obligation, any termination event shall occur as to which the Borrower, the Parent or any Subsidiary of the Parent is the “affected party” under the agreement or instrument governing such Rate Hedging Obligation, or (iv) any other event of default as specified in any agreement or instrument under or pursuant to which any such Indebtedness may have been issued, created, assumed, guaranteed or secured by the Borrower, the Parent or any Subsidiary of either, and such default or event of default or termination shall continue for more than the period of grace, if any, therein specified, or such default or event of default or termination event shall permit the holder of or counterparty
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to any such Indebtedness (or any agent or trustee acting on behalf of one or more holders or counterparties) to accelerate the maturity of any such Indebtedness or terminate any agreement or instrument governing any such Rate Hedging Obligation; or
(f) Representations and Warranties. If any representation, warranty or other statement of fact contained in any Loan Document or in any writing, certificate, report or statement at any time furnished to the Administrative Agent or any Lender by or on behalf of the Borrower, the Parent or any other Loan Party pursuant to or in connection with any Loan Document, or otherwise, shall be false or misleading in any material respect when given; or
(g) Inability to Pay Debts. If the Borrower, the Parent or any Subsidiary of either or other Loan Party shall be unable to pay its debts generally as they become due; file a petition to take advantage of any insolvency statute; make an assignment for the benefit of its creditors; commence a proceeding for the appointment of a receiver, trustee, liquidator or conservator of itself or of the whole or any substantial part of its property; file a petition or answer seeking liquidation, reorganization or arrangement or similar relief under the federal bankruptcy laws or any other applicable law or statute; or
(h) Insolvency Proceedings. If a court of competent jurisdiction shall enter an order, judgment or decree appointing a custodian, receiver, trustee, liquidator or conservator of the Borrower or the Parent or any Subsidiary of either or other Loan Party or of the whole or any substantial part of its properties and such order, judgment or decree continues unstayed and in effect for a period of sixty (60) days, or approve a petition filed against the Borrower or the Parent or any Subsidiary of either or other Loan Party seeking liquidation, reorganization or arrangement or similar relief under the federal bankruptcy laws or any other applicable law or statute of the United States or any state, which petition is not dismissed within sixty (60) days; or if, under the provisions of any other law for the relief or aid of debtors, a court of competent jurisdiction shall assume custody or control of the Borrower or the Parent or any Subsidiary of either or other Loan Party or of the whole or any substantial part of its properties, which control is not relinquished within sixty (60) days; or if there is commenced against the Borrower or the Parent or any Subsidiary of either or other Loan Party any proceeding or petition seeking reorganization, arrangement or similar relief under the federal bankruptcy laws or any other applicable law or statute of the United States or any state which proceeding or petition remains undismissed for a period of sixty (60) days; or if the Borrower or the Parent or any Subsidiary of either or other Loan Party takes any action to indicate its consent to or approval of any such proceeding or petition; or
(i) Judgments. If (i) one or more judgments or orders where the amount not covered by insurance (or the amount as to which the insurer denies liability) is in excess of $2,000,000 is rendered against the Borrower or the Parent or any Subsidiary of either, or (ii) there is any attachment, injunction or execution against any of the Borrower’s or Parent’s or either of their Subsidiaries’ properties for any amount in excess of $2,000,000 in the aggregate; and such judgment, attachment, injunction or execution remains unpaid, unstayed, undischarged, unbonded or undismissed for a period of thirty (30) days; or
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(j) Suspension of Material Operations. If the Borrower, the Parent or any Subsidiary of either shall, other than in the ordinary course of business (as determined by past practices), suspend all or any part of its operations material to the conduct of the business of the Borrower, the Parent or such Subsidiary for a period of more than 60 days; or
(k) Other Defaults. If there shall occur and not be waived an Event of Default as defined in any of the other Loan Documents.
8.02 Remedies Upon Event of Default. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Lenders, take any or all of the following actions:
(a) declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;
(b) declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower;
(c) require that the Borrower Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to the then Outstanding Amount thereof); and
(d) exercise on behalf of itself, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer all rights and remedies available to it, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer under the Loan Documents;
provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, and the obligation of the Borrower to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations as aforesaid shall automatically become effective, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.
8.03 Application of Funds. After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable and the L/C Obligations have automatically been required to be Cash Collateralized as set forth in the proviso to Section 8.02), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:
First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent and amounts payable under Article III) payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;
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Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal, interest and Letter of Credit Fees) payable to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Lenders and the L/C Issuer (including fees and time charges for attorneys who may be employees of any Lender or the L/C Issuer) and amounts payable under Article III), ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;
Third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid Letter of Credit Fees and interest on the Loans, L/C Borrowings and other Obligations, ratably among the Lenders and the L/C Issuer in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;
Fourth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations (i) constituting unpaid principal of the Loans and L/C Borrowings and (ii) consisting of liabilities under any Swap Agreement with any of the Lenders or their Affiliates, ratably among the Lenders, the L/C Issuer or Affiliates of Lenders (in connection with Swap Agreements) in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them;
Fifth, to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer, to Cash Collateralize that portion of L/C Obligations comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit; and
Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.
Subject to Section 2.03(c), amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to clause Fifth above shall be applied to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they occur. If any amount remains on deposit as Cash Collateral after all Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount shall be applied to the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above.
ARTICLE IX.
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
9.01 Appointment and Authority. Each of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer hereby irrevocably appoints Bank of America to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, and neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.
9.02 Rights as a Lender. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term “Lender” or
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“Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.
9.03 Exculpatory Provisions. The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:
(a) shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;
(b) shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents), provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law; and
(c) shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.
The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 10.01 and 8.02) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until written notice describing such Default is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, a Lender or the L/C Issuer.
The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.
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9.04 Reliance by Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or the L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or the L/C Issuer unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or the L/C Issuer prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.
9.05 Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.
9.06 Resignation of Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrower, to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may on behalf of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above; provided that if the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (1) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and (2) all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender and the L/C Issuer directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above in this Section. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section). The fees
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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 retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 10.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent.
Any resignation by Bank of America as Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section shall also constitute its resignation as L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender, (b) the retiring L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender shall be discharged from all of their respective duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, and (c) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to the retiring L/C Issuer to effectively assume the obligations of the retiring L/C Issuer with respect to such Letters of Credit.
9.07 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.
9.08 No Other Duties, Etc. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Book Managers, Arrangers, Syndication Agents or Documentation Agents listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender or the L/C Issuer hereunder.
9.09 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or L/C Obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise
(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, L/C Obligations and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the
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reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.03(i) and (j), 2.09 and 10.04) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and
(b) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;
and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and the L/C Issuer to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 10.04.
Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender or the L/C Issuer any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or the L/C Issuer to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender or the L/C Issuer in any such proceeding.
9.10 Collateral and Guaranty Matters. The Lenders and the L/C Issuer irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion,
(a) to release any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document (i) upon termination of the Aggregate Commitments and payment in full of all Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations) and the expiration or termination of all Letters of Credit, (ii) that is sold or to be sold as part of or in connection with any sale permitted hereunder or under any other Loan Document, or (iii) subject to Section 10.01, if approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Lenders;
(b) to subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted by Section 7.03(f), (g), (h) or (i); and
(c) to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Subsidiary Guaranty if such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary as a result of a transaction permitted hereunder.
Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release or subordinate its interest in particular types or items of property, or to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Subsidiary Guaranty pursuant to this Section 9.10.
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ARTICLE X.
MISCELLANEOUS
10.01 Amendments, Etc. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Borrower or any other Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and the Borrower or the applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:
(a) waive any condition set forth in Section 4.01(a) without the written consent of each Lender;
(b) extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 8.02) without the written consent of such Lender;
(c) postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment or mandatory prepayment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to the Lenders (or any of them) hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;
(d) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or L/C Borrowing, or (subject to clause (iv) of the second proviso to this Section 10.01) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; provided, however, that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary (i) to amend the definition of “Default Rate” or to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest or Letter of Credit Fees at the Default Rate or (ii) to amend any financial covenant hereunder (or any defined term used therein) even if the effect of such amendment would be to reduce the rate of interest on any Loan or L/C Borrowing or to reduce any fee payable hereunder;
(e) change Section 2.13 or Section 8.03 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender;
(f) change any provision of this Section or the definition of “Required Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender; or
(g) release all or substantially all of the Guarantors, or release all or substantially all of the Collateral in any transaction or series of transactions without the written consent of each Lender;
and, provided further, that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the L/C Issuer in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the L/C Issuer under this Agreement or any Issuer Document relating to any Letter of Credit issued or to be issued by it; (ii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and
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signed by the Swing Line Lender in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Swing Line Lender under this Agreement; (iii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; and (iv) the Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder, except that the Commitment of such Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender.
10.02 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.
(a) Notices Generally. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopier as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:
(i) if to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.02; and
(ii) if to any other Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire.
Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by telecopier shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient). Notices delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in subsection (b) below, shall be effective as provided in such subsection (b).
(b) Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or the L/C Issuer pursuant to Article II if such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.
Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested”
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function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.
(c) The Platform. THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent Parties”) have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of Borrower Materials through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided, however, that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages).
(d) Change of Address, Etc. Each of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender. In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, telecopier number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender.
(e) Reliance by Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer and Lenders. The Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Revolving Loan Notices and Swing Line Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting
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from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower. All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.
10.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure by any Lender, the L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.
10.04 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.
(a) Costs and Expenses. The 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, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the L/C Issuer in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer), and shall pay all fees and time charges for attorneys who may be employees of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer, in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or (B) in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit.
(b) Indemnification by the Borrower. Each of the Parent and the Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender and the L/C Issuer, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), and shall indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee from all fees and time charges and disbursements for attorneys who may be employees of any Indemnitee, incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by the Borrower or the Parent or any other Loan Party arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or, in the case of the Administrative agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan
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Documents, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by the L/C Issuer to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), or (iii) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower or by the Parent or any other Loan Party, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or (y) result from a claim brought by the Borrower or by the Parent or any other Loan Party against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if the Borrower or the Parent or such Loan Party has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(c) Reimbursement by Lenders. To the extent that the Borrower or the Parent for any reason fails to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), the L/C Issuer or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), the L/C Issuer or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount, provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or the L/C Issuer in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or L/C Issuer in connection with such capacity. The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 2.12(d).
(d) Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, neither the Parent nor the Borrower shall assert, and each of them hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof. No Indemnitee referred to in subsection (b) above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed to such unintended recipients by such Indemnitee through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby other than for direct or actual damages resulting from the gross negligence of willful misconduct of such Indemnitee as determined by a final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.
(e) Payments. All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than ten Business Days after demand therefor.
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(f) Survival. The agreements in this Section shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.
10.05 Payments Set Aside. To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Loan Party is made to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender and the L/C Issuer severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.
10.06 Successors and Assigns.
(a) Successors and Assigns Generally. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this Section, or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (f) of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in subsection (d) of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.
(b) Assignments by Lenders. Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans (including for purposes of this subsection (b), participations in L/C Obligations and in Swing Line Loans) at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:
(i) Minimum Amounts.
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(A) in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and
(B) in any case not described in subsection (b)(i)(A) of this Section, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $5,000,000 unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided, however, that concurrent assignments to members of an Assignee Group and concurrent assignments from members of an Assignee Group to a single assignee (or to an assignee and members of its Assignee Group) will be treated as a single assignment for purposes of determining whether such minimum amount has been met.
(ii) Proportionate Amounts. Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans or the Commitment assigned, except that this clause (ii) shall not apply to the Swing Line Lender’s rights and obligations in respect of Swing Line Loans.
(iii) Required Consents. No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by subsection (b)(i)(B) of this Section and, in addition:
(A) the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (1) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund;
(B) the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required if such assignment is to be a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender;
(C) the consent of the L/C Issuer (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment that increases the obligation of the assignee to participate in exposure under one or more Letters of Credit (whether or not then outstanding); and
(D) the consent of the Swing Line Lender (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment.
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(iv) Assignment and Assumption. The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee in the amount of $3,500; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment. The assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.
(v) No Assignment to Borrower. No such assignment shall be made to the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries or the Parent.
(vi) No Assignment to Natural Persons. No such assignment shall be made to a natural person.
Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04, 3.05, and 10.04 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment. Upon request, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with subsection (d) of this Section.
(c) Register. The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts of the Loans and L/C Obligations owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.
(d) Participations. Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person or the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans (including such Lender’s participations in L/C Obligations and/or Swing Line Loans) owing to it); provided that (i) such
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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 Lenders and the L/C Issuer shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.
Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to Section 10.01 that affects such Participant. Subject to subsection (e) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender.
(e) Limitations upon Participant Rights. A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 3.01 or 3.04 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 3.01 unless the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 3.01(e) as though it were a Lender.
(f) Certain Pledges. Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note, if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.
(g) Electronic Execution of Assignments. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.
(h) Resignation as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender after Assignment. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if at any time Bank of America assigns all of its Commitment and Loans pursuant to subsection (b) above, Bank of America may, (i) upon 30 days’ notice to the Borrower and the Lenders, resign as L/C Issuer and/or (ii)
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upon 30 days’ notice to the Borrower, resign as Swing Line Lender. In the event of any such resignation as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, the Borrower shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a successor L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender hereunder; provided, however, that no failure by the Borrower to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of Bank of America as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be. If Bank of America resigns as L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Revolving Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c)). If Bank of America resigns as Swing Line Lender, it shall retain all the rights of the Swing Line Lender provided for hereunder with respect to Swing Line Loans made by it and outstanding as of the effective date of such resignation, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Revolving Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(c). Upon the appointment of a successor L/C Issuer and/or Swing Line Lender, (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, and (b) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such successor or make other arrangements satisfactory to Bank of America to effectively assume the obligations of Bank of America with respect to such Letters of Credit.
10.07 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates’ respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors and representatives (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Borrower and its obligations, (g) with the consent of the Borrower or (h) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower.
For purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower, the Parent or any Subsidiary relating to the Borrower, the Parent or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower, the Parent or any Subsidiary, provided that, in the case of information received
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from the Borrower, the Parent or any Subsidiary after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.
Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer acknowledges that (a) the Information may include material non-public information concerning the Borrower or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and (c) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with applicable Law, including federal and state securities Laws.
10.08 Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, the L/C Issuer and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender, the L/C Issuer or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower or any other Loan Party against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower or such Loan Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, irrespective of whether or not such Lender or the L/C Issuer shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrower or such Loan Party may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Lender or the L/C Issuer different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness. The rights of each Lender, the L/C Issuer and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, the L/C Issuer or their respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.
10.09 Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “Maximum Rate”). If the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrower. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.
10.10 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different
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counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall become effective when they shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement and any other Loan Document by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
10.11 Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof. Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding.
10.12 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.
10.13 Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or 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 3.01, or if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, 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, and consents required by, Section 10.06), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:
(a) the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee specified in Section 10.06(b);
(b) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and L/C Advances, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts
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under Section 3.05) 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);
(c) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter; and
(d) such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws.
A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.
10.14 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.
(a) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE.
(b) SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. THE BORROWER AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE SITTING IN HAMILTON COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH TENNESSEE STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER OR THE L/C ISSUER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST THE BORROWER OR ANY OTHER LOAN PARTY OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.
(c) WAIVER OF VENUE. THE BORROWER AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES,
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TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.
(d) SERVICE OF PROCESS. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 10.02. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.
10.15 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
10.16 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby, the Borrower and each other Loan Party acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that: (i) the credit facility provided for hereunder and any related arranging or other services in connection therewith (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document) are an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Borrower and each other Loan Party and their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Arranger, on the other hand, the Borrower and each other Loan Party is capable of evaluating and understanding and understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents (including any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or thereof); (ii) in connection with the process leading to such transaction, the Administrative Agent and the Arranger each is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the financial advisor, agent or fiduciary, for the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Affiliates, stockholders, creditors or employees or any other Person; (iii) neither the Administrative Agent nor the Arranger has assumed or will assume an advisory, agency or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Borrower or any other Loan Party with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto, including with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document (irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent or the Arranger has advised or is currently advising the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Affiliates on other matters) and neither the Administrative Agent nor Arranger has any obligation to the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Affiliates with respect to the
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transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; (iv) the Administrative Agent and the Arranger and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower, the other Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent nor the Arranger has any obligation to disclose any of such interests by virtue of any advisory, agency or fiduciary relationship; and (v) the Administrative Agent and the Arranger have not provided and will not provide any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby (including any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document) and each of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate. Each of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent and the Arranger with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty.
10.17 USA PATRIOT Act Notice. Each Lender that is subject to the Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the 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 or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Act.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
COVENANT ASSET MANAGEMENT, INC., a Nevada corporation | ||
By: | /s/ Joey B. Hogan | |
Name: | Joey B. Hogan | |
Title: | Vice President | |
COVENANT TRANSPORT, INC., a Nevada corporation | ||
By: | /s/ Joey B. Hogan | |
Name: | Joey B. Hogan | |
Title: | Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer | |
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent | ||
By: | /s/ Ronaldo Naval | |
Name: | Ronaldo Naval | |
Title: | Vice President | |
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
Signature Page
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender, L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender | ||
By: | /s/ Andrew D. Bunton | |
Name: | Andrew D. Bunton | |
Title: | Vice President | |
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
Signature Page
NATIONAL CITY BANK | ||
By: | /s/ Kevin L. Anderson | |
Name: | Kevin L. Anderson | |
Title: | Sr. Vice President | |
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
Signature Page
BRANCH BANKING AND TRUST COMPANY | ||
By: | /s/ R. Andrew Beam | |
Name: | R. Andrew Beam | |
Title: | Senior Vice President | |
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
Signature Page
FIRST TENNESSEE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION | ||
By: | /s/ Robert T. Lusk | |
Name: | Robert T. Lusk | |
Title: | Vice President | |
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
Signature Page
REGIONS BANK, SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO AMSOUTH BANK | ||
By: | /s/ W. Walter Robinson III | |
Name: | W. Walter Robinson III | |
Title: | Vice President | |
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
Signature Page
SOVEREIGN BANK | ||
By: | /s/ Phillip J. Lynch | |
Name: | Phillip J. Lynch | |
Title: | Assistant Vice President | |
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
Signature Page
SUNTRUST BANK | ||
By: | /s/ J. H. Miles | |
Name: | J. H. Miles | |
Title: | Managing Director | |
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
Signature Page
LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION | ||
By: | /s/ Nick T. Weaver | |
Name: | Nick T. Weaver | |
Title: | Senior Vice President | |
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
Signature Page