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8-K - FORM 8-K - Caribou Coffee Company, Inc.d245599d8k.htm

 

 

CREDIT AGREEMENT

DATED AS OF OCTOBER 14, 2011

AMONG

CARIBOU COFFEE COMPANY, INC.,

THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO,

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

AND

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

AS LEAD ARRANGER

 

 

 


Table of Contents

 

     Page  
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS      7   
ARTICLE II THE CREDITS      22   

2.1.

  Commitment      22   

2.2.

  Required Payments; Termination      22   

2.3.

  Ratable Loans      22   

2.4.

  [Reserved.]      22   

2.5.

  [Reserved.]      22   

2.6.

  Fees and Deposits      22   

2.7.

  Minimum Amount of Each Advance      23   

2.8.

  Optional Principal Payments      23   

2.9.

  Notice for New Advances      23   

2.10.

  Reductions in Aggregate Commitment; Optional Principal Payments      23   

2.11.

  Interest Rates      23   

2.12.

  Rates Applicable After Event of Default      24   

2.13.

  Method of Payment      24   

2.14.

  Noteless Agreement; Evidence of Indebtedness      24   

2.15.

  Telephonic Notices      25   

2.16.

  Interest Payment Dates; Interest and Fee Basis      25   

2.17.

  Notification of Advances, Interest Rates, Prepayments and Commitment Reductions      25   

2.18.

  Lending Installations      25   

2.19.

  Non-Receipt of Funds by the Administrative Agent      26   

2.20.

  Facility LCs      26   

2.21.

  Replacement of Lender      31   

2.22.

  Limitation of Interest      31   

2.23.

  Defaulting Lenders      32   
ARTICLE III YIELD PROTECTION; TAXES      34   

3.1.

  Yield Protection      34   

3.2.

  Changes in Capital Adequacy Regulations      35   

 

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3.3.

  [Reserved]      36   

3.4.

  [Reserved]      36   

3.5.

  Taxes      36   

3.6.

  Lender Statements; Survival of Indemnity      38   

ARTICLE IV CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

     38   

4.1.

  Initial Credit Extension      38   

4.2.

  Each Credit Extension      39   

ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     39   

5.1.

  Existence and Standing      39   

5.2.

  Authorization and Validity      39   

5.3.

  No Conflict; Government Consent      40   

5.4.

  Financial Statements      40   

5.5.

  Material Adverse Change      40   

5.6.

  Taxes      40   

5.7.

  Litigation and Contingent Obligations      40   

5.8.

  Subsidiaries      41   

5.9.

  ERISA      41   

5.10.

  Accuracy of Information      41   

5.11.

  Regulation U      41   

5.12.

  Material Agreements      41   

5.13.

  Compliance With Laws      41   

5.14.

  Ownership of Properties      41   

5.15.

  Plan Assets; Prohibited Transactions      42   

5.16.

  Environmental Matters      42   

5.17.

  Investment Company Act      42   

5.18.

  Insurance      42   

5.19.

  Solvency      42   

ARTICLE VI COVENANTS

     43   

6.1.

  Financial Reporting      43   

6.2.

  Use of Proceeds      44   

6.3.

  Notice of Event of Default      44   

6.4.

  Conduct of Business      44   

6.5.

  Taxes      44   

 

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6.6.

  Insurance      45   

6.7.

  Compliance with Laws      45   

6.8.

  Maintenance of Properties      45   

6.9.

  Inspection      45   

6.10.

  Material Domestic Subsidiaries; Foreign Subsidiaries      45   

6.11.

  Indebtedness      46   

6.12.

  Merger      47   

6.13.

  Sale of Assets      47   

6.14.

  Investments      47   

6.15.

  Acquisitions      48   

6.16.

  Liens      48   

6.17.

  Affiliates      50   

6.18.

  Sale of Accounts      50   

6.19.

  [Reserved]      50   

6.20.

  Restricted Payments      50   

6.21.

  Financial Covenants      50   

6.22.

  Cash Management Services      50   

ARTICLE VII DEFAULTS

     50   

ARTICLE VIII ACCELERATION, WAIVERS, AMENDMENTS AND REMEDIES

     53   

8.1.

  Acceleration; Remedies      53   

8.2.

  Application of Funds      54   

8.3.

  Amendments      55   

8.4.

  Preservation of Rights      55   

ARTICLE IX GENERAL PROVISIONS

     56   

9.1.

  Survival of Representations      56   

9.2.

  Governmental Regulation      56   

9.3.

  Headings      56   

9.4.

  Entire Agreement      56   

9.5.

  Several Obligations; Benefits of this Agreement      56   

9.6.

  Expenses; Indemnification      56   

9.7.

  Numbers of Documents      57   

9.8.

  Accounting      57   

9.9.

  Severability of Provisions      58   

 

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9.10.

  Nonliability of Lenders      58   

9.11.

  Confidentiality      58   

9.12.

  Nonreliance      59   

9.13.

  Disclosure      59   

9.14.

  USA PATRIOT ACT NOTIFICATION      59   

ARTICLE X THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

     60   

10.1.

  Appointment; Nature of Relationship      60   

10.2.

  Powers      60   

10.3.

  General Immunity      60   

10.4.

  No Responsibility for Loans, Recitals, etc      60   

10.5.

  Action on Instructions of Lenders      61   

10.6.

  Employment of Administrative Agents and Counsel      61   

10.7.

  Reliance on Documents; Counsel      61   

10.8.

  Administrative Agent’s Reimbursement and Indemnification      61   

10.9.

  Notice of Event of Default      62   

10.10.

  Rights as a Lender      62   

10.11.

  Lender Credit Decision, Legal Representation      62   

10.12.

  Successor Administrative Agent      63   

10.13.

  Administrative Agent and Arranger Fees      64   

10.14.

  Delegation to Affiliates      64   

10.15.

  Execution of Collateral Documents      64   

10.16.

  Collateral Releases      64   

10.17.

  Co-Administrative Agents, Documentation Administrative Agent, Syndication Administrative Agent, etc      64   

ARTICLE XI SETOFF; RATABLE PAYMENTS

     64   

11.1.

  Setoff      64   

11.2.

  Ratable Payments      64   

ARTICLE XII BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT; ASSIGNMENTS; PARTICIPATIONS

     65   

12.1.

  Successors and Assigns      65   

12.2.

  Participations      65   

12.3.

  Assignments      66   

12.4.

  Dissemination of Information      68   

12.5.

  Tax Treatment      68   

 

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ARTICLE XIII NOTICES

     68   

13.1.

  Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication      68   

ARTICLE XIV COUNTERPARTS; INTEGRATION; EFFECTIVENESS; ELECTRONIC EXECUTION

     70   

14.1.

  Counterparts; Effectiveness      70   

14.2.

  Electronic Execution of Assignments      70   

ARTICLE XV CHOICE OF LAW; CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL

     70   

15.1.

  CHOICE OF LAW      70   

15.2.

  CONSENT TO JURISDICTION      70   

15.3.

  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL      71   

SCHEDULE I Commitments

     73   

 

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EXHIBIT A – Form of Opinion

EXHIBIT B – Compliance Certificate

EXHIBIT C – Assignment and Assumption Agreement

EXHIBIT D – Form of Borrowing Notice

EXHIBIT F – Form of Note

 

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CREDIT AGREEMENT

THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of October 14, 2011, is made by and among CARIBOU COFFEE COMPANY, INC., a Minnesota corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders from time to time party hereto and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, as Administrative Agent. The parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

As used in this Agreement:

“Acquisition” means any transaction, or any series of related transactions, consummated on or after the date of this Agreement, by which Borrower or any Subsidiary of Borrower (i) acquires any going business or all or substantially all of the assets of any firm, corporation or limited liability company, or division thereof, whether through purchase of assets, merger or otherwise or (ii) directly or indirectly acquires (in one transaction or as the most recent transaction in a series of transactions) at least a majority (in number of votes) of the securities of a corporation which have ordinary voting power for the election of directors (other than securities having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) or a majority (by percentage or voting power) of the outstanding ownership interests of a partnership or limited liability company.

“Adjusted Consolidated Rentals” shall mean, with reference to any period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters, Consolidated Rentals during such period multiplied by six.

“Adjusted Total Debt” shall mean, as of any date of determination, (i) Consolidated Funded Indebtedness, plus (ii) Adjusted Consolidated Rentals for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on, or most recently ended prior to, such date.

“Advance” means a borrowing hereunder made by some or all of the Lenders on the same Borrowing Date.

“Administrative Agent” means U.S. Bank in its capacity as contractual representative of the Lenders pursuant to Article X, and not in its individual capacity as a Lender, and any successor Administrative Agent appointed pursuant to Article X.

“Affected Lender” is defined in Section 2.21.

“Affiliate” of any Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person, including, without limitation, such Person’s Subsidiaries. A Person shall be deemed to control another Person if the controlling Person owns 10% or more of any class of voting securities (or other ownership interests) of the controlled Person or possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of the controlled Person, whether through ownership of stock, by contract or otherwise.

 

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“Aggregate Commitment” means the aggregate of the Commitments of all the Lenders, as reduced from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof. As of the date of this Agreement, the Aggregate Commitment is $25,000,000.

“Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure” means, at any time, the aggregate of the Outstanding Credit Exposure of all the Lenders.

“Agreement” means this credit agreement, as it may be amended or modified and in effect from time to time.

“Applicable Pledge Percentage” means 100%, but 65% (or such lower percentage as may be necessary to avoid a Deemed Dividend Problem) in the case of a pledge by Borrower or any Subsidiary of Borrower of the Equity Interests in any Foreign Subsidiary.

“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.

“Arabica” means Arabica Funding, Inc. and its successors and assigns

“Arranger” means U.S. Bank, and its successors, in its capacity as Lead Arranger.

“Article” means an article of this Agreement unless another document is specifically referenced.

“Authorized Officer” means any of the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Controller, General Counsel or Secretary, or any Senior Vice President, of the Borrower, acting singly.

“Available Aggregate Commitment” means, at any time, the Aggregate Commitment then in effect minus the Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure at such time.

“Borrower” means Borrower and its successors and assigns.

“Borrowing Date” means a date on which an Advance is made or a Facility LC is issued hereunder.

“Borrowing Notice” is defined in Section 2.9.

“Business Day” means a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks generally are open in Minneapolis, Minnesota for the conduct of substantially all of their commercial lending activities and interbank wire transfers can be made on the Fedwire system.

 

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“Capitalized Lease” of a Person means any lease of Property by such Person as lessee which would be capitalized on a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP.

“Capitalized Lease Obligations” of a Person means the amount of the obligations of such Person under Capitalized Leases which would be shown as a liability on a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP.

“Cash Equivalents” means (a) marketable direct obligations issued by, or unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States Government or issued by any agency thereof and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition; (b) certificates of deposit, time deposits, eurodollar time deposits or overnight bank deposits having maturities of six months or less from the date of acquisition issued by any Lender or by any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof having combined capital and surplus of not less than $500,000,000; (c) commercial paper of an issuer rated at least A-1 by S&P or P-1 by Moody’s, or carrying an equivalent rating by a nationally recognized rating agency, if both of the two named rating agencies cease publishing ratings of commercial paper issuers generally, and maturing within six months from the date of acquisition; (d) repurchase obligations of any Lender or of any commercial bank satisfying the requirements of clause (b) of this definition, having a term of not more than 30 days, with respect to securities issued or fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government; (e) securities with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition issued or fully guaranteed by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States, by any political subdivision or taxing authority of any such state, commonwealth or territory or by any foreign government, the securities of which state, commonwealth, territory, political subdivision, taxing authority or foreign government (as the case may be) are rated at least A by S&P or A by Moody’s; (f) securities with maturities of six months or less from the date of acquisition backed by standby letters of credit issued by any Lender or any commercial bank satisfying the requirements of clause (b) of this definition; (g) money market mutual or similar funds that invest exclusively in assets satisfying the requirements of clauses (a) through (f) of this definition; or (h) money market funds that (i) comply with the criteria set forth in SEC Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and (ii) are rated AAAm or AAA-G by S&P, or Aaa-mf by Moody’s.

“Cash Management Services” means any banking services provided to the Borrower or any Subsidiary of Borrower by the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates (other than pursuant to this Agreement), including without limitation: (a) credit cards, (b) credit card processing services, (c) debit cards, (d) purchase cards, (e) stored value cards, (f) automated clearing house or wire transfer services, or (g) treasury management, including controlled disbursement, consolidated account, lockbox, overdraft, return items, sweep and interstate depository network services.

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, reformed or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

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“Collateral Assignment and Pledge Agreement” means that certain Collateral Assignment and Pledge Agreement dated the date hereof between Borrower and Administrative Agent, for the benefit of Lenders, as amended restated, or otherwise modified from time to time.

“Collateral Documents” means, collectively, each Subsidiary Guaranty, each Security Agreement, each Intellectual Property Security Agreement, each Pledge Agreement, and the Collateral Assignment and Pledge Agreement and all other security documents from time to time delivered to the Lenders to secure the Obligations of the Borrower.

“Collateral Shortfall Amount” is defined in Section 8.1.

“Commitment” means, for each Lender, the obligation of such Lender to make Revolving Loans to, and participate in Facility LCs issued upon the application of, the Borrower in an aggregate amount not exceeding the amount set forth on Schedule I, as it may be modified as a result of any assignment that has become effective pursuant to Section 12.3.3 or as otherwise modified from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof.

“Consolidated EBIT” means Consolidated Net Income plus, to the extent deducted from revenues in determining Consolidated Net Income, (i) Consolidated Interest Expense, (ii) expense for taxes paid in cash or accrued, (iii) extraordinary non-cash expenses, charges or losses incurred other than in the ordinary course of business and (iv) non-cash expenses related to stock based compensation, minus, to the extent included in Consolidated Net Income, (1) extraordinary income or gains realized other than in the ordinary course of business, (2) interest income, (3) income tax credits and refunds (to the extent not netted from tax expense), (4) any cash payments made during such period in respect of items described in clauses (iii) or (iv) above subsequent to the fiscal quarter in which the relevant non-cash expenses, charges or losses were incurred, all calculated for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

“Consolidated EBITDA” means Consolidated Net Income plus, to the extent deducted from revenues in determining Consolidated Net Income, (i) Consolidated Interest Expense, (ii) expense for taxes paid in cash or accrued, (iii) depreciation, (iv) amortization, (v) extraordinary non-cash expenses, charges or losses incurred other than in the ordinary course of business and (vi) non-cash expenses related to stock based compensation, minus, to the extent included in Consolidated Net Income, (1) extraordinary income or gains realized other than in the ordinary course of business, (2) interest income, (3) income tax credits and refunds (to the extent not netted from tax expense), (4) any cash payments made during such period in respect of items described in clauses (v) or (vi) above subsequent to the fiscal quarter in which the relevant non-cash expenses, charges or losses were incurred, all calculated for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. For the purposes of calculating Consolidated EBITDA for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters (each, a “Reference Period”), (i) if at any time during such Reference Period the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall have made any Material Disposition, the Consolidated EBITDA for such Reference Period shall be reduced by an amount equal to the Consolidated EBITDA (if positive) attributable to the property that is the subject of such Material Disposition for such Reference Period or increased by an amount equal to the Consolidated EBITDA (if negative) attributable thereto for such Reference Period, and (ii) if during such Reference Period the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall have made a Material Acquisition, Consolidated EBITDA for such Reference Period shall be calculated after giving

 

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pro forma effect thereto on a basis approved by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable credit judgment as if such Material Acquisition occurred on the first day of such Reference Period. As used in this definition, “Material Acquisition” means any Acquisition that involves the payment of consideration by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in excess of $5,000,000; and “Material Disposition” means any sale, transfer or disposition of property or series of related sales, transfers, or dispositions of property that yields gross proceeds to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of $5,000,000.

“Consolidated Funded Indebtedness” means at any time the Consolidated Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries plus the Net Mark to Market Exposure under Rate Management Transactions and other Financial Contracts minus the undrawn face amount of commercial Letters of Credit.

“Consolidated Indebtedness” means at any time the Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries calculated on a consolidated basis as of such time.

“Consolidated Interest Expense” means, with reference to any period, the interest expense of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries calculated on a consolidated basis for such period.

“Consolidated Net Income” means, with reference to any period, the net income (or loss) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries calculated on a consolidated basis for such period.

“Consolidated Rentals” means, with reference to any period, the Rentals of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries calculated on a consolidated basis for such period.

“Contingent Obligation” of a Person means any agreement, undertaking or arrangement by which such Person assumes, guarantees, endorses, contingently agrees to purchase or provide funds for the payment of, or otherwise becomes or is contingently liable upon, Indebtedness of any other Person, or agrees to maintain the net worth or working capital or other financial condition of any other Person, or otherwise assures any creditor of such other Person against loss relating to Indebtedness of such Person, including, without limitation, the obligations of any such Person as general partner of a partnership with respect to the liabilities of the partnership.

“Controlled Group” means all members of a controlled group of corporations or other business entities and all trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) under common control which, together with the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, are treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

“Credit Extension” means the making of an Advance or the issuance of a Facility LC hereunder.

“Deemed Dividend Problem” means, with respect to any Foreign Subsidiary, any portion of such Foreign Subsidiary’s accumulated and undistributed earnings and profits being deemed to be repatriated to the Borrower or the applicable parent Domestic Subsidiary for U.S. federal income tax purposes and the effect of such repatriation causing adverse tax consequences to the Borrower or such parent Domestic Subsidiary, in each case as determined by the Borrower in its commercially reasonable judgment acting in good faith and in consultation with its legal and tax advisors.

 

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“Default” means an event which but for the lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a Event of Default.

“Defaulting Lender” means any Lender, as determined by the Administrative Agent, that has (a) failed to fund any portion of its Loans or participations in Facility LCs within one Business Day of the date required in the determination of the Administrative Agent to be funded by it hereunder, (b) notified the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the LC Issuer or any Lender in writing that it does not intend to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement or has made a public statement to the effect that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations (i) under this Agreement or (ii) under other agreements in which it is obligated to extend credit unless, in the case of this clause (ii), such obligation is the subject of a good faith dispute, (c) failed, within one Business Day after request by the Administrative Agent, to confirm that it will comply with the terms of this Agreement relating to its obligations to fund prospective Loans and participations in then outstanding Facility LCs, (d) 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 (e) (i) become or is insolvent or has a parent company that has become or is insolvent or (ii) become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or custodian, appointed for it, or has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointment or has a parent company that has become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or custodian appointed for it, or has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointment; provided, that a Lender shall not become a Defaulting Lender solely as the result of (x) the acquisition or maintenance of an ownership interest in such Lender or a Person controlling such Lender or (y) the exercise of control over a Lender or a Person controlling such Lender, in each case, by a governmental authority or an instrumentality thereof.

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

“Domestic Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary of the Borrower incorporated or organized under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia.

“Eligible Assignee” means (i) a Lender; (ii) an Approved Fund; (iii) a commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States, or any state thereof, and having total assets in excess of $3,000,000,000, calculated in accordance with the accounting principles prescribed by the regulatory authority applicable to such bank in its jurisdiction of organization; (iv) a commercial bank organized under the laws of any other country that is a member of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (“OECD”), or a political subdivision of any such country, and having total assets in excess of $3,000,000,000, calculated in accordance with the accounting principles prescribed by the regulatory authority applicable to such bank in its jurisdiction of organization, so long as such bank is acting through a branch or agency located in the country in which it is organized or another country that is described in this clause (iv); or (v) the central bank of any country that is a member of the OECD; provided, however, that neither the Borrower nor any Affiliate of the Borrower shall qualify as an Eligible Assignee.

 

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“Environmental Laws” means any and all federal, state, local and foreign statutes, laws, judicial decisions, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, plans, injunctions, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements and other governmental restrictions relating to (i) the protection of the environment, (ii) the effect of the environment on human health, (iii) emissions, discharges or releases of pollutants, contaminants, hazardous substances or wastes into surface water, ground water or land, or (iv) the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of pollutants, contaminants, hazardous substances or wastes or the clean-up or other remediation thereof.

“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and any rule or regulation issued thereunder.

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

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

“Eurocurrency Base Rate” means the one-month LIBOR rate quoted by Administrative Agent from Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page or any successor thereto, which shall be that one-month LIBOR rate in effect and reset each New York Banking Day, adjusted for any Reserve Requirement and any subsequent costs arising from a change in government regulation, such rate rounded up to the nearest one-sixteenth percent. The term “New York Banking Day” means any date (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which commercial banks are open for business in New York, New York. Administrative Agent’s internal records shall be determinative in absence of manifest error. In the event that, the applicable Reuters Screen for U.S. dollars is not available to the Administrative Agent for any reason, the applicable Eurocurrency Base Rate shall instead be

 

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the applicable British Bankers’ Association Interest Settlement Rate for deposits in U.S. dollars as reported by any other generally recognized financial information service selected by the Administrative Agent as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) in effect on such day, provided that, if no such British Bankers’ Association Interest Settlement Rate is available to the Administrative Agent, the applicable Eurocurrency Base Rate shall instead be the rate determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate at which U.S. Bank or one of its Affiliate banks offers to place deposits in U.S. dollars with first-class banks in the interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such day.

“Eurocurrency Rate” means, the annual rate of interest that shall at all times be equal to the Eurocurrency Base Rate plus one and one half percent (1.50%). The Eurocurrency Rate shall change on the effective date of any change in the Eurocurrency Base Rate.

“Event of Default” is defined in Article VII.

“Excluded Taxes” means, in the case of each Lender or applicable Lending Installation, the Administrative Agent 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 its overall net income, and franchise taxes imposed on it, by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such Lender or the Administrative Agent is incorporated or organized or the jurisdiction in which the Administrative Agent’s or such Lender’s principal executive office or such Lender’s applicable Lending Installation is located, (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States of America or any political subdivision or state thereof, or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which Borrower is located and (c) in the case of a Non-U.S. Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 2.21), any withholding tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such Non-U.S. Lender at the time such Non-U.S. Lender becomes a party to this Agreement (or designates a new lending office) or is attributable to such Non-U.S. Lender’s failure to comply with Section 3.5(vi), except to the extent that such Non-U.S. 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 3.5(i).

“Exhibit” refers to an exhibit to this Agreement, unless another document is specifically referenced.

“Existing Joint Venture” means Caribou MSP Airport, a partnership in which the Borrower owns a 49% interest.

“Facility LC” is defined in Section 2.20.1.

“Facility LC Application” is defined in Section 2.20.3.

“Facility LC Collateral Account” is defined in Section 2.20.11.

“Facility Termination Date” means October 31, 2016 or any earlier date on which the Aggregate Commitment is reduced to zero or otherwise terminated pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

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“Financial Contract” of a Person means (a) any exchange-traded or over-the-counter futures, forward, swap or option contract or other financial instrument with similar characteristics, or (b) any Rate Management Transaction.

“Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary organized under the laws of a jurisdiction not located in the United States of America.

“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 as in effect from time to time in the United States.

“Highest Lawful Rate” shall mean, on any day, the maximum non-usurious rate of interest permitted for that day by applicable federal or state law stated as a rate per annum.

“Indebtedness” of a Person means such Person’s (i) obligations for borrowed money, (ii) obligations representing the deferred purchase price of Property or services (other than accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of such Person’s business payable on terms customary in the trade), (iii) obligations, whether or not assumed, secured by Liens or payable out of the proceeds or production from Property now or hereafter owned or acquired by such Person, (iv) obligations which are evidenced by notes, acceptances, or other instruments, (v) obligations of such Person to purchase securities or other Property arising out of or in connection with the sale of the same or substantially similar securities or Property, (vi) Capitalized Lease Obligations, (vii) obligations of such Person as an account party with respect to standby and commercial Letters of Credit, (viii) Contingent Obligations of such Person, (ix) Net Mark to Market Exposure under Rate Management Transactions and other Financial Contracts, and (x) any other obligation for borrowed money which in accordance with GAAP would be shown as a liability on the consolidated balance sheet of such Person.

“Investment” of a Person means any loan, advance (other than commission, travel and similar advances to officers and employees made in the ordinary course of business), extension of credit (other than accounts receivable arising in the ordinary course of business on terms customary in the trade) or contribution of capital by such Person; stocks, bonds, mutual funds, partnership interests, notes, debentures or other securities (including warrants or options to purchase securities) owned by such Person; any deposit accounts and certificate of deposit owned by such Person; and structured notes, derivative financial instruments and other similar instruments or contracts owned by such Person.

“Joint Venture” means any corporation, limited liability company, joint venture or similar limited liability legal entity which was formed or entered into by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries with another Person in order to conduct a common venture or enterprise with such Person, which legal entity does not constitute a Subsidiary.

“LC Fee” is defined in Section 2.20.4.

 

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“LC Issuer” means U.S. Bank (or any subsidiary or affiliate of U.S. Bank designated by U.S. Bank) in its capacity as issuer of Facility LCs hereunder.

“LC Obligations” means, at any time, the sum, without duplication, of (i) the aggregate undrawn stated amount under all Facility LCs outstanding at such time plus (ii) the aggregate unpaid amount at such time of all Reimbursement Obligations.

“LC Payment Date” is defined in Section 2.20.5.

“Lenders” means the several banks and other financial institutions or entities from time to time parties to this Agreement.

“Lending Installation” means, with respect to a Lender or the Administrative Agent, the office, branch, subsidiary or affiliate of such Lender or the Administrative Agent listed on the signature pages hereof (in the case of the Administrative Agent) or on its Administrative Questionnaire (in the case of a Lender) or otherwise selected by such Lender or the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.18.

“Letter of Credit” of a Person means a letter of credit or similar instrument which is issued upon the application of such Person or upon which such Person is an account party or for which such Person is in any way liable.

“Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of calculation, the ratio of (i) Adjusted Total Debt outstanding on such date to (ii) Consolidated EBITDA plus Consolidated Rentals for the Borrower’s then most-recently ended four fiscal quarters.

“Lien” means any lien (statutory or other), mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance or preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including, without limitation, the interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale, Capitalized Lease or other title retention agreement).

“Loan” means, with respect to a Lender, such Lender’s loan made pursuant to its commitment to lend set forth in Section 2.1.

“Loan Documents” means this Agreement, the Facility LC Applications, the Collateral Documents, any note or notes executed by the Borrower in connection with this Agreement and payable to a Lender, and any other document or agreement, now or in the future, executed by the Borrower, or any other Loan Party for the benefit of the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with this Agreement.

“Loan Party” or “Loan Parties” means, individually or collectively, the Borrower, each Subsidiary Guarantor, the guarantors, and any grantor or pledgor party to a Collateral Document.

“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (i) the business, Property, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, or prospects of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (ii) the ability of Borrower to perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, or (iii) the validity or enforceability of any of the Loan Documents or the rights or remedies of the Administrative Agent, the LC Issuer or the Lenders thereunder.

 

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“Material Indebtedness” means Indebtedness in an outstanding principal amount of $1,000,000 or more in the aggregate (or the equivalent thereof in any currency other than U.S. dollars).

“Material Indebtedness Agreement” means any agreement under which any Material Indebtedness was created or is governed or which provides for the incurrence of Indebtedness in an amount which would constitute Material Indebtedness (whether or not an amount of Indebtedness constituting Material Indebtedness is outstanding thereunder).

“Material Subsidiary” means Arabica and each other Subsidiary of the Borrower which, as of the most recent fiscal quarter of the Borrower, for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters then ended, for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 6.1, contributed greater than ten percent (10%) of the Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period.

“Modify” and “Modification” are defined in Section 2.20.1.

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

“Multiemployer Plan” means a Plan maintained pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement or any other arrangement to which the Borrower or any member of the Controlled Group is a party to which more than one employer is obligated to make contributions.

“Net Mark-to-Market Exposure” of a Person means, as of any date of determination, the excess (or deficit) of all unrealized losses over all unrealized profits of such Person arising from Rate Management Transactions or other Financial Contracts. The Net Mark-to-Market Exposure of a Person will be a positive number if unrealized losses exceed unrealized profits and a negative number if unrealized profits exceed unrealized losses. “Unrealized losses” means the fair market value of the cost to such Person of replacing such Rate Management Transaction or other Financial Contract as of the date of determination (assuming the Rate Management Transaction or other Financial Contract were to be terminated as of that date), and “unrealized profits” means the fair market value of the gain to such Person of replacing such Rate Management Transaction or other Financial Contract as of the date of determination (assuming such Rate Management Transaction or other Financial Contract were to be terminated as of that date).

“Non-U.S. Lender” is defined in Section 3.5(iv).

“Note” is defined in Section 2.14.

“Obligations” means all unpaid principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans, all LC Obligations, all accrued and unpaid fees and all expenses, reimbursements, indemnities and other obligations of the Borrower to the Lenders or to any Lender, the Administrative Agent, the LC Issuer or any indemnified party arising under the Loan Documents.

 

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“Operating Lease” of a Person means any lease of Property (other than a Capitalized Lease) by such Person as lessee which has an original term (including any required renewals and any renewals effective at the option of the lessor) of one year or more.

“Other Taxes” is defined in Section 3.5(ii).

“Outstanding Credit Exposure” means, as to any Lender at any time, the sum of (i) the aggregate principal amount of its Loans outstanding at such time, plus (ii) an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of the LC Obligations at such time.

“Participants” is defined in Section 12.2.1.

“Payment Date” means the first day of each month.

“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, or any successor thereto.

“Permitted Acquisition” means any Acquisition made by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, provided that, (a) as of the date of the consummation of such Acquisition, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result from such Acquisition, and the representation and warranty contained in Section 5.11 shall be true both before and after giving effect to such Acquisition, (b) such Acquisition is consummated on a non-hostile basis pursuant to a negotiated acquisition agreement approved by the board of directors or other applicable governing body of the seller or entity to be acquired, (c) the business to be acquired in such Acquisition is in the same line of business as the Borrower’s, or a line of business reasonably related to the Borrower’s existing business, (d) as of the date of the consummation of such Acquisition, all material approvals required in connection therewith shall have been obtained, and (e) the Borrower shall have furnished to the Administrative Agent a certificate demonstrating in reasonable detail (i) a pro forma Leverage Ratio of less than or equal to 4.0 to 1.0 as of the date of such Acquisition, and (ii) pro forma compliance with the financial covenant contained in Section 6.21.2 for the four fiscal quarter period most recently ended prior to the date of such Acquisition, calculated as if such Acquisition, including the consideration therefor, had been consummated on the first day of such period.

“Person” means any natural person, corporation, firm, joint venture, partnership, limited liability company, association, enterprise, trust or other entity or organization, or any government or political subdivision or any agency, department or instrumentality thereof.

“Plan” means an employee pension benefit plan which is covered by Title IV of ERISA or subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Code as to which the Borrower or any member of the Controlled Group may have any liability.

“Pledge Agreements” shall mean collectively, (i) that certain Pledge Agreement by and between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of Lenders, dated the date hereof, and (ii) all other pledge agreements, share charges and similar instruments executed by a Loan Party in connection herewith on the date hereof or anytime in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent.

 

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“Pledgor” means the Borrower, any other pledgor party to a Collateral Document, and each of their successors and assigns.

“Property” of a Person means any and all property, whether real, personal, tangible, intangible, or mixed, of such Person, or other assets owned, leased or operated by such Person.

“Pro Rata Share” means, with respect to a Lender, a portion equal to a fraction the numerator of which is such Lender’s Commitment and the denominator of which is the Aggregate Commitment, provided, however, if all of the Commitments are terminated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, the “Pro Rata Share” means the percentage obtained by dividing (a) such Lender’s Outstanding Credit Exposure at such time by (b) the Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure at such time; and provided, further, that when a Defaulting Lender shall exist, “Pro Rata Share” shall mean the percentage of the Aggregate Commitment (disregarding any Defaulting Lender’s Commitment) represented by such Lender’s Commitment. If the Commitments have terminated or expired, the Pro Rata Shares shall be determined based upon the Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments.

“Purchasers” is defined in Section 12.3.1.

“Qualified Joint Venture Transaction” means a contribution of property by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to a Joint Venture formed to engage in same line of business as the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, or a line of business reasonably related to the existing lines of business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

“Rate Management Transaction” means any transaction (including an agreement with respect thereto) now existing or hereafter entered by the Borrower or any Subsidiary with a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender which is a rate swap, basis swap, forward rate transaction, commodity swap, commodity option, equity or equity index swap, equity or equity index option, bond option, interest rate option, foreign exchange transaction, cap transaction, floor transaction, collar transaction, forward transaction, currency swap transaction, cross-currency rate swap transaction, currency option or any other similar transaction (including any option with respect to any of these transactions) or any combination thereof, whether linked to one or more interest rates, foreign currencies, commodity prices, equity prices or other financial measures.

“Rate Management Obligations” of a Person means any and all obligations of such Person, 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 Rate Management Transactions, and (ii) any and all cancellations, buy backs, reversals, terminations or assignments of any Rate Management Transactions.

“Regulation D” means Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as from time to time in effect and any successor thereto or other regulation or official interpretation of said Board of Governors relating to reserve requirements applicable to member banks of the Federal Reserve System.

“Regulation U” means Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as from time to time in effect and any successor or other regulation or official interpretation of said Board of Governors relating to the extension of credit by banks for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stocks applicable to member banks of the Federal Reserve System.

 

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“Reimbursement Obligations” means, at any time, the aggregate of all obligations of the Borrower then outstanding under Section 2.20 to reimburse the LC Issuer for amounts paid by the LC Issuer in respect of any one or more drawings under Facility LCs.

“Rentals” of a Person means the aggregate fixed amounts payable by such Person under any Operating Lease.

“Reportable Event” means a reportable event as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA and the regulations issued under such section, with respect to a Plan, excluding, however, such events as to which the PBGC has by regulation waived the requirement of Section 4043(a) of ERISA that it be notified within 30 days of the occurrence of such event, provided, however, that a failure to meet the minimum funding standard of Section 412 of the Code and of Section 302 of ERISA shall be a Reportable Event regardless of the issuance of any such waiver of the notice requirement in accordance with either Section 4043(a) of ERISA or Section 412(d) of the Code.

“Reports” is defined in Section 9.6.

“Required Lenders” means Lenders in the aggregate having greater than 50% of the Aggregate Commitment or, if the Aggregate Commitment has been terminated, Lenders in the aggregate holding greater than 50% of the Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure.

“Reserve Requirement” means, with respect to an Advance, the maximum aggregate reserve requirement (including all basic, supplemental, marginal and other reserves) which is imposed under Regulation D on Eurocurrency liabilities.

“Restricted Payment” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any equity interest in the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such equity interests in the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof or any option, warrant or other right to acquire any such equity interest in the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof.

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

“Sale and Leaseback Transaction” means any sale or other transfer of Property by any Person with the intent to lease such Property as lessee.

“Schedule” refers to a specific schedule to this Agreement, unless another document is specifically referenced.

“Section” means a numbered section of this Agreement, unless another document is specifically referenced.

 

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“Secured Obligations” means, collectively, (i) the Obligations and (ii) all Rate Management Obligations relating to the Obligations and owing to one or more Lenders or their Affiliates.

“Security Agreement” shall mean (i) that certain Security Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, executed by Borrower in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders, (ii) that certain Security Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, executed by Arabica in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders, and (iii) each other security agreement executed from time to time in connection herewith in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent.

“Single Employer Plan” means a Plan maintained by the Borrower or any member of the Controlled Group for employees of the Borrower or any member of the Controlled Group.

“Stated Rate” is defined in Section 2.22.

“Subsidiary” of a Person means (i) any corporation more than 50% of the outstanding securities having ordinary voting power of which shall at the time be owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more of its Subsidiaries or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries, or (ii) any partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture or similar business organization more than 50% of the ownership interests having ordinary voting power of which shall at the time be so owned or controlled. Unless otherwise expressly provided, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” shall mean a Subsidiary of the Borrower.

“Subsidiary Guarantor” means Arabica and each Material Subsidiary that is or becomes party to a Subsidiary Guaranty, or any one or more of them, jointly and severally.

“Subsidiary Guaranty” shall mean, collectively, (i) that certain Guaranty, made by Arabica in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders, and (ii) each Guaranty, made by each Material Subsidiary of Borrower in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, executed and delivered by a Material Subsidiary of Borrower pursuant to Section 6.10.

“Substantial Portion” means, with respect to the Property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, Property which represents more than 10% of the consolidated assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or property which is responsible for more than 10% of the consolidated net income of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, in each case, as would be shown in the consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the beginning of the twelve-month period ending with the month in which such determination is made (or if financial statements have not been delivered hereunder for that month which begins the twelve-month period, then the financial statements delivered hereunder for the quarter ending immediately prior to that month).

“Taxes” means any and all present or future taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings, and any and all liabilities with respect to the foregoing, but excluding Excluded Taxes and Other Taxes.

 

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“Transferee” is defined in Section 12.4.

“Unfunded Liabilities” means the amount (if any) by which the present value of all vested and unvested accrued benefits under all Single Employer Plans exceeds the fair market value of all such Plan assets allocable to such benefits, all determined as of the then most recent valuation date for such Plans using PBGC actuarial assumptions for single employer plan terminations.

“U.S. Bank” means U.S. Bank National Association, a national banking association, in its individual capacity, and its successors.

“Wholly-Owned Subsidiary” of a Person means (i) any Subsidiary of which 100% of the beneficial ownership interests shall at the time be owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such Person, or by such Person and one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such Person, or (ii) any partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture or similar business organization of which 100% of the beneficial ownership interests shall at the time be so owned or controlled.

The foregoing definitions shall be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.

ARTICLE II

THE CREDITS

2.1. Commitment. From and including the date of this Agreement and prior to the Facility Termination Date, each Lender severally agrees, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, to make Loans to the Borrower in Dollars and participate in Facility LCs issued upon the request of the Borrower, provided that, after giving effect to the making of each such Loan and the issuance of each such Facility LC, such Lender’s Outstanding Credit Exposure shall not exceed its Commitment. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow at any time prior to the Facility Termination Date. The Commitments to extend credit hereunder shall expire on the Facility Termination Date. The LC Issuer will issue Facility LCs hereunder on the terms and conditions set forth in Section 2.20.

2.2. Required Payments; Termination. If at any time the Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure exceeds the lesser of the Aggregate Commitment, the Borrower shall immediately make a payment on the Obligations sufficient to eliminate such excess. The Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure and all other unpaid Obligations shall be paid in full by the Borrower on the Facility Termination Date.

2.3. Ratable Loans. Each Advance hereunder shall consist of Loans made from the several Lenders ratably according to their Pro Rata Shares.

2.4. [Reserved.]

2.5. [Reserved.]

2.6. Fees and Deposits.

 

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(i) Deposit. Prior to the date hereof, Borrower paid to Lenders a commitment fee of $35,000.00 to be applied against the Lenders’ costs and third party fees, and any remaining balance will be returned to the Borrower.

(ii) Non-Use Fee. On the first (1st) day of the first month following the end of each quarter prior to the Facility Termination Date commencing January 1, 2012 and continuing every three months thereafter (January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1) until the Obligations are satisfied in full, and on the Facility Termination Date, Borrower shall pay Bank a fee (the “Unused Revolving Credit Fee”) in an amount equal to one quarter of one percent (0.25%) per annum multiplied by the difference between the maximum Aggregate Commitment and the average daily outstanding principal balance of the Loans and LC Obligations for the immediately preceding calendar quarter, as calculated by the Administrative Agent. If applicable, the first and last payment of the Unused Revolving Credit Fee shall be prorated if the period of time between the date of this Agreement and the first payment date or the period of time between the most recent payment date and the Facility Termination Date is more or less than a full calendar quarter.

2.7. Minimum Amount of Each Advance. Each Advance shall be in the minimum amount of $100,000.

2.8. Optional Principal Payments. The Borrower may from time to time pay or prepay, without penalty or premium, all or any portion of the outstanding Advances.

2.9. Notice for New Advances. The Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent irrevocable notice in the form of Exhibit D (a “Borrowing Notice”) not later than 10:00 a.m. (central time) on the Borrowing Date for each Advance in Dollars, specifying:

 

  (i) the Borrowing Date, which shall be a Business Day, of such Advance, and

 

  (ii) the aggregate amount of such Advance.

Not later than noon (central time) on each Borrowing Date, each Lender shall make available its Loan or Loans in funds immediately available to the Administrative Agent at its address specified pursuant to Article XIII. The Administrative Agent will make the funds so received from the Lenders available to the Borrower at the Administrative Agent’s aforesaid address.

2.10. Reductions in Aggregate Commitment; Optional Principal Payments. The Borrower may permanently reduce the Aggregate Commitment in whole, or in part ratably among the Lenders in integral multiples of $1,000,000, upon at least five Business Days’ written notice to the Administrative Agent, which notice shall specify the amount of any such reduction, provided that the amount of the Aggregate Commitment may not be reduced below the Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure. All accrued commitment fees shall be payable on the effective date of any termination of the obligations of the Lenders to make Revolving Loans hereunder.

2.11. Interest Rates. The unpaid principal amount of the Loans shall bear interest at the Eurocurrency Rate.

 

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2.12. Rates Applicable After Event of Default. During the continuance of an Event of Default the Required Lenders may, at their option, by notice to the Borrower (which notice may be revoked at the option of the Required Lenders notwithstanding any provision of Section 8.3 requiring unanimous consent of the Lenders to changes in interest rates), declare that (i) each Advance shall bear interest at the rate otherwise applicable to such Advance plus 2% per annum, and (ii) the LC Fee shall be increased by 2% per annum, provided that, during the continuance of a Event of Default under Section 7.6 or 7.7, the interest rates set forth in clause (i) above and the increase in the LC Fee set forth in clause (ii) above shall be applicable to all Credit Extensions without any election or action on the part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender. After an Event of Default has been cured or waived, the interest rate applicable to advances and the LC Fee shall revert to the rates applicable prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default.

2.13. Method of Payment. Each Advance shall be repaid and each payment of interest thereon shall be paid in the currency in which such Advance was made. All payments of the Obligations hereunder shall be made, without setoff, deduction, or counterclaim, in immediately available funds to the Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent’s address specified pursuant to Article XIII, or at any other Lending Installation of the Administrative Agent specified in writing by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower, by noon (Minneapolis time) on the date when due and shall (except (i) in the case of Reimbursement Obligations for which the LC Issuer has not been fully indemnified by the Lenders, or (ii) as otherwise specifically required hereunder) be applied ratably by the Administrative Agent among the Lenders. Each payment delivered to the Administrative Agent for the account of any Lender shall be delivered promptly by the Administrative Agent to such Lender in the same type of funds that the Administrative Agent received at its address specified pursuant to Article XIII or at any Lending Installation specified in a notice received by the Administrative Agent from such Lender. The Administrative Agent is hereby authorized to charge the account of the Borrower maintained with U.S. Bank for each payment of principal, interest, Reimbursement Obligations and fees as it becomes due hereunder. Each reference to the Administrative Agent in this Section 2.13 shall also be deemed to refer, and shall apply equally, to the LC Issuer, in the case of payments required to be made by the Borrower to the LC Issuer pursuant to Section 2.20.6.

2.14. Noteless Agreement; Evidence of Indebtedness. (a) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such Lender from time to time, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder.

(b) The Administrative Agent shall also maintain accounts in which it will record (a) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, (b) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder, (c) the original stated amount of each Facility LC and the amount of LC Obligations outstanding at any time, and (d) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder from the Borrower and each Lender’s share thereof.

(c) The entries maintained in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraphs (i) and (ii) above shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the Obligations therein recorded; provided, however, that the failure of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Obligations in accordance with their terms.

 

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(d) Any Lender may request that its Loans be evidenced by a promissory note, substantially in the form of Exhibit F (each a “Note”). In such event, the Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender such Note or Notes payable to the order of such Lender in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent. Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such Note and interest thereon shall at all times (prior to any assignment pursuant to Section 12.3) be represented by one or more Notes payable to the order of the payee named therein, except to the extent that any such Lender subsequently returns any such Note for cancellation and requests that such Loans once again be evidenced as described in clauses (b) (i) and (ii) above.

2.15. Telephonic Notices. The Borrower hereby authorizes the Lenders and the Administrative Agent to extend, continue Advances, and to transfer funds based on telephonic notices made by any person or persons the Administrative Agent or any Lender in good faith believes to be acting on behalf of the Borrower, it being understood that the foregoing authorization is specifically intended to allow Borrowing Notices to be given telephonically. The Borrower agrees to deliver promptly to the Administrative Agent a written confirmation (which may include e-mail) of each telephonic notice authenticated by an Authorized Officer. If the written confirmation differs in any material respect from the action taken by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, the records of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall govern absent manifest error.

2.16. Interest Payment Dates; Interest and Fee Basis. Interest accruing on the Loan shall be due and payable as specified in the Note. Interest on each Advance shall be computed on the basis of a year consisting of 360 days, but charged for the actual days the principal remains outstanding. If any payment of principal of or interest on an Advance shall become due on a day which is not a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day.

2.17. Notification of Advances, Interest Rates, Prepayments and Commitment Reductions. Promptly after receipt thereof, the Administrative Agent will notify each Lender of the contents of each Aggregate Commitment reduction notice, Borrowing Notice, and repayment notice received by it hereunder. Promptly after notice from the LC Issuer, the Administrative Agent will notify each Lender of the contents of each request for issuance of a Facility LC hereunder.

2.18. Lending Installations. Each Lender may book its Advances and its participation in any LC Obligations and the LC Issuer may book the Facility LCs at any Lending Installation selected by such Lender or the LC Issuer, as the case may be, and may change its Lending Installation from time to time. All terms of this Agreement shall apply to any such Lending Installation and the Loans, Facility LCs, participations in LC Obligations and any Notes issued hereunder shall be deemed held by each Lender or the LC Issuer, as the case may be, for the benefit of any such Lending Installation. Each Lender and the LC Issuer may, by written notice to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in accordance with Article XIII, designate replacement or additional Lending Installations through which Loans will be made by it or Facility LCs will be issued by it and for whose account Loan payments or payments with respect to Facility LCs are to be made.

 

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2.19. Non-Receipt of Funds by the Administrative Agent. Unless the Borrower or a Lender, as the case may be, notifies the Administrative Agent prior to the date on which it is scheduled to make payment to the Administrative Agent of (i) in the case of a Lender, the proceeds of a Loan or (ii) in the case of the Borrower, a payment of principal, interest or fees to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders, that it does not intend to make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that such payment has been made. The Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make the amount of such payment available to the intended recipient in reliance upon such assumption. If such Lender or the Borrower, as the case may be, has not in fact made such payment to the Administrative Agent, the recipient of such payment shall, on demand by the Administrative Agent, repay to the Administrative Agent the amount so made available together with interest thereon in respect of each day during the period commencing on the date such amount was so made available by the Administrative Agent until the date the Administrative Agent recovers such amount at a rate per annum equal to (x) in the case of payment by a Lender, the Eurocurrency Rate for such day for the first three days and, thereafter, the interest rate applicable to the relevant Loan or (y) in the case of payment by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to the relevant Loan.

2.20. Facility LCs.

2.20.1. Issuance. The LC Issuer hereby agrees, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, to issue standby and commercial Letters of Credit denominated in Dollars (each, a “Facility LC”) and to renew, extend, increase, decrease or otherwise modify each Facility LC (“Modify,” and each such action a “Modification”), from time to time from and including the date of this Agreement and prior to the Facility Termination Date upon the request of the Borrower; provided that immediately after each such Facility LC is issued or Modified, (i) the aggregate outstanding LC Obligations shall not exceed $4,000,000 and (ii) the Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitment. No Facility LC shall have an expiry date later than the earlier to occur of (x) the fifth Business Day prior to the Facility Termination Date and (y) one year after its issuance; provided, however, that the expiry date of a Facility LC may be up to one year later than the fifth Business Day prior to the Facility Termination Date if the Borrower has posted on or before the fifth Business Day prior to the Facility Termination Date cash collateral in the Facility LC Collateral Account on terms satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in an amount equal to 105% of the LC Obligations with respect to such Facility LC.

2.20.2. Participations. Upon the issuance or Modification by the LC Issuer of a Facility LC in accordance with this Section 2.20, the LC Issuer shall be deemed, without further action by any party hereto, to have unconditionally and irrevocably sold to each Lender, and each Lender shall be deemed, without further action by any party hereto, to have unconditionally and irrevocably purchased from the LC Issuer, a participation in such Facility LC (and each Modification thereof) and the related LC Obligations in proportion to its Pro Rata Share.

 

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2.20.3. Notice. Subject to Section 2.20.1, the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent notice prior to 10:00 a.m. (central time) at least two Business Days prior to the proposed date of issuance or Modification of each Facility LC, specifying the beneficiary, the proposed date of issuance (or Modification) and the expiry date of such Facility LC, and describing the proposed terms of such Facility LC and the nature of the transactions proposed to be supported thereby. Upon receipt of such notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the LC Issuer and each Lender, of the contents thereof and of the amount of such Lender’s participation in such proposed Facility LC. The issuance or Modification by the LC Issuer of any Facility LC shall, in addition to the conditions precedent set forth in Article IV, be subject to the conditions precedent that such Facility LC shall be satisfactory to the LC Issuer and that the Borrower shall have executed and delivered such usual and customary application agreement and/or such other instruments and agreements relating to such Facility LC as the LC Issuer shall have reasonably requested (each, a “Facility LC Application”). The LC Issuer shall have no independent duty to ascertain whether the conditions set forth in Article IV have been satisfied; provided, however, that the LC Issuer shall not issue a Facility LC if, on or before the proposed date of issuance, the LC Issuer shall have received notice from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders that any such condition has not been satisfied or waived. In the event of any conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of any Facility LC Application, the terms of this Agreement shall control.

2.20.4. LC Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares, with respect to each Facility LC, a letter of credit fee at a per annum rate equal to one and one half percent on the original face amount of the Facility LC for the period from the date of issuance to the scheduled expiration date of such Facility LC, such fee to be payable at the time of issuance of the Facility LC (the “LC Fee”). The Borrower shall also pay to the LC Issuer for its own account (x) a fronting fee in an amount agreed upon between the LC Issuer and the Borrower and (y) on demand, all amendment, drawing and other fees regularly charged by the LC Issuer to its letter of credit customers and all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the LC Issuer in connection with the issuance, Modification, administration or payment of any Facility LC.

2.20.5. Administration; Reimbursement by Lenders. Upon receipt from the beneficiary of any Facility LC of any demand for payment under such Facility LC, the LC Issuer shall notify the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and each other Lender as to the amount to be paid by the LC Issuer as a result of such demand and the proposed payment date, which date shall be not less than one Business Day after the effective date of such notice (the “LC Payment Date”). The responsibility of the LC Issuer to the Borrower and each Lender shall be only to determine that the documents (including each demand for payment) delivered under each Facility LC in connection with such presentment shall be in conformity in all material respects with such Facility LC. The LC Issuer shall endeavor to exercise the same care in the issuance and administration of the Facility LCs as it does with respect to letters of credit in which no participations are granted, it being understood that in the absence of any gross negligence or willful misconduct by the LC Issuer, each Lender

 

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shall be unconditionally and irrevocably liable without regard to the occurrence of any Event of Default or any condition precedent whatsoever, to reimburse the LC Issuer on demand for (i) such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the amount of each payment made by the LC Issuer under each Facility LC to the extent such amount is not reimbursed by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.20.6 below and there are not funds available in the Facility LC Collateral Account to cover the same, plus (ii) interest on the foregoing amount to be reimbursed by such Lender, for each day from the date of the LC Issuer’s demand for such reimbursement (or, if such demand is made after 11:00 a.m. (Central Time) on such date, from the next succeeding Business Day) to the date on which such Lender pays the amount to be reimbursed by it, at a rate of interest per annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate for the first three days and, thereafter, at a rate of interest equal to the rate applicable to Advances hereunder.

2.20.6. Reimbursement by Borrower. The Borrower shall be irrevocably and unconditionally obligated to reimburse the LC Issuer on or before the applicable LC Payment Date for any amounts to be paid by the LC Issuer upon any drawing under any Facility LC, without presentment, demand, protest or other formalities of any kind; provided that neither the Borrower nor any Lender shall hereby be precluded from asserting any claim for direct (but not consequential) damages suffered by the Borrower or such Lender to the extent, but only to the extent, caused by (i) the willful misconduct or gross negligence of the LC Issuer in determining whether a request presented under any Facility LC issued by it complied with the terms of such Facility LC or (ii) the LC Issuer’s failure to pay under any Facility LC issued by it after the presentation to it of a request strictly complying with the terms and conditions of such Facility LC. All amounts paid by the LC Issuer upon any drawing under any Facility LC and remaining unpaid by the Borrower shall bear interest, payable on demand, for each day until paid at a rate per annum equal to (x) at the rate applicable to Advances hereunder for such day if such day falls on or before the applicable LC Payment Date and (y) the sum of 2% plus the rate applicable to Advances for such day if such day falls after such LC Payment Date. The LC Issuer will pay to each Lender ratably in accordance with its Pro Rata Share all amounts received by it from the Borrower for application in payment, in whole or in part, of the Reimbursement Obligation in respect of any Facility LC issued by the LC Issuer, but only to the extent such Lender has made payment to the LC Issuer in respect of such Facility LC pursuant to Section 2.20.5. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement (including without limitation the submission of a Borrowing Notice in compliance with Section 2.9 and the satisfaction of the applicable conditions precedent set forth in Article IV), the Borrower may request an Advance hereunder for the purpose of satisfying any Reimbursement Obligation.

2.20.7. Obligations Absolute. The Borrower’s obligations under this Section 2.20 shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances and irrespective of any setoff, counterclaim or defense to payment which the Borrower may have or have had against the LC Issuer, any Lender or any beneficiary of a Facility LC. The Borrower further agrees with the LC Issuer and the Lenders that the LC Issuer and the Lenders shall not be responsible for, and the Borrower’s Reimbursement Obligation in respect of any Facility LC shall not be affected by, among other things, the validity or genuineness of documents or of any endorsements thereon, even if such documents should in fact prove

 

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to be in any or all respects invalid, fraudulent or forged, or any dispute between or among the Borrower, any of its Affiliates, the beneficiary of any Facility LC or any financing institution or other party to whom any Facility LC may be transferred or any claims or defenses whatsoever of the Borrower or of any of its Affiliates against the beneficiary of any Facility LC or any such transferee. The LC Issuer shall not be liable for any error, omission, interruption or delay in transmission, dispatch or delivery of any message or advice, however transmitted, in connection with any Facility LC. The Borrower agrees that any action taken or omitted by the LC Issuer or any Lender under or in connection with each Facility LC and the related drafts and documents, if done without gross negligence or willful misconduct, shall be binding upon the Borrower and shall not put the LC Issuer or any Lender under any liability to the Borrower. Nothing in this Section 2.20.7 is intended to limit the right of the Borrower to make a claim against the LC Issuer for damages as contemplated by the proviso to the first sentence of Section 2.20.6.

2.20.8. Actions of LC Issuer. The LC Issuer shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any Facility LC, draft, writing, resolution, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, cablegram, telegram, telecopy, telex, teletype or electronic mail message, statement, order or other document believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person or Persons, and upon advice and statements of legal counsel, independent accountants and other experts selected by the LC Issuer. The LC Issuer shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under this Agreement unless it shall first have received such advice or concurrence of the Required Lenders as it reasonably deems appropriate or it shall first be indemnified to its reasonable satisfaction by the Lenders against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2.20, the LC Issuer shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement in accordance with a request of the Required Lenders, and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon the Lenders and any future holders of a participation in any Facility LC.

2.20.9. Indemnification. The Borrower hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Lender, the LC Issuer and the Administrative Agent, and their respective directors, officers, agents and employees from and against any and all claims and damages, losses, liabilities, costs or expenses which such Lender, the LC Issuer or the Administrative Agent may incur (or which may be claimed against such Lender, the LC Issuer or the Administrative Agent by any Person whatsoever) by reason of or in connection with the issuance, execution and delivery or transfer of or payment or failure to pay under any Facility LC or any actual or proposed use of any Facility LC, including, without limitation, any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs or expenses which the LC Issuer may incur by reason of or in connection with (i) the failure of any other Lender to fulfill or comply with its obligations to the LC Issuer hereunder (but nothing herein contained shall affect any rights the Borrower may have against any defaulting Lender) or (ii) by reason of or on account of the LC Issuer issuing any Facility LC which specifies that the term “Beneficiary” included therein includes any successor by operation of law of the named Beneficiary, but which Facility LC does not require that any drawing by any such successor Beneficiary be accompanied by a copy of a legal document,

 

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satisfactory to the LC Issuer, evidencing the appointment of such successor Beneficiary; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to indemnify any Lender, the LC Issuer or the Administrative Agent for any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs or expenses to the extent, but only to the extent, caused by (x) the willful misconduct or gross negligence of the LC Issuer in determining whether a request presented under any Facility LC complied with the terms of such Facility LC or (y) the LC Issuer’s failure to pay under any Facility LC after the presentation to it of a request strictly complying with the terms and conditions of such Facility LC. Nothing in this Section 2.20.9 is intended to limit the obligations of the Borrower under any other provision of this Agreement.

2.20.10. Lenders’ Indemnification. Each Lender shall, ratably in accordance with its Pro Rata Share, indemnify the LC Issuer, its affiliates and their respective directors, officers, agents and employees (to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrower) against any cost, expense (including reasonable counsel fees and disbursements), claim, demand, action, loss or liability (except such as result from such indemnitees’ gross negligence or willful misconduct or the LC Issuer’s failure to pay under any Facility LC after the presentation to it of a request strictly complying with the terms and conditions of the Facility LC) that such indemnitees may suffer or incur in connection with this Section 2.20 or any action taken or omitted by such indemnitees hereunder.

2.20.11. Facility LC Collateral Account. The Borrower agrees that it will, upon the request of the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders and until the final expiration date of any Facility LC and thereafter as long as any amount is payable to the LC Issuer or the Lenders in respect of any Facility LC, maintain a special collateral account pursuant to arrangements satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (the “Facility LC Collateral Account”), in the name of the Borrower but under the sole dominion and control of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders and in which the Borrower shall have no interest other than as set forth in Section 8.1. Except as required under Section 8.1, the Administrative Agent may not require the Borrower to deposit any funds in the Facility LC Collateral Account unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing. The Borrower hereby pledges, assigns and grants to the Administrative Agent, on behalf of and for the ratable benefit of the Lenders and the LC Issuer, a security interest in all of the Borrower’s right, title and interest in and to all funds which may from time to time be on deposit in the Facility LC Collateral Account to secure the prompt and complete payment and performance of the Obligations. The Administrative Agent will invest any funds on deposit from time to time in the Facility LC Collateral Account in certificates of deposit of U.S. Bank having a maturity not exceeding 30 days. Nothing in this Section 2.20.11 shall either obligate the Administrative Agent to require the Borrower to deposit any funds in the Facility LC Collateral Account or limit the right of the Administrative Agent to release any funds held in the Facility LC Collateral Account in each case other than as required by Section 8.1.

2.20.12. Rights as a Lender. In its capacity as a Lender, the LC Issuer shall have the same rights and obligations as any other Lender.

2.20.13. Conflict with Reimbursement Agreement. In the event of a conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and any applicable Continuing Reimbursement Agreement entered into between Borrower and LC Issuer, this Agreement shall take precedence and control, except where the parties expressly state otherwise.

 

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2.21. Replacement of Lender. In the event that there is more than one Lender party to this Agreement, the following shall apply:

(a) If (i) any Lender requests compensation under Sections 3.1 or 3.2, or (ii) any Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.5, 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 (A) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.1, 3.2 or 3.5, as the case may be, in the future and (B) would not subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

(b) If any Lender (i) defaults in its obligation to make a Loan, reimburse the LC Issuer pursuant to Section 2.20.5 or declines to approve an amendment or waiver recommended by the Administrative Agent, or otherwise becomes a Defaulting Lender, or (ii) requests compensation under Sections 3.1 or 3.2, or requires any Borrower to pay any additional amount to such Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of such Lender pursuant to Section 3.5 (any Lender so affected an “Affected Lender”), the Borrower may elect to replace such Affected Lender as a Lender party to this Agreement, provided that, concurrently with such replacement (A) another bank or other entity which is reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall agree, as of such date, to purchase for cash the Advances and other Obligations due to the Affected Lender pursuant to an assignment substantially in the form of Exhibit C and to become a Lender for all purposes under this Agreement and to assume all obligations of the Affected Lender to be terminated as of such date and to comply with the requirements of Section 12.3 applicable to assignments, and (B) the Borrower shall pay to such Affected Lender in same day funds on the day of such replacement all interest, fees and other amounts then accrued but unpaid to such Affected Lender by the Borrower hereunder to and including the date of termination, including without limitation payments due to such Affected Lender under Sections 3.1, 3.2 and 3.5.

2.22. Limitation of Interest. The Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders intend to strictly comply with all applicable laws, including applicable usury laws. Accordingly, the provisions of this Section 2.22 shall govern and control over every other provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document which conflicts or is inconsistent with this Section 2.22, even if such provision declares that it controls. As used in this Section 2.22, the term “interest” includes the aggregate of all charges, fees, benefits or other compensation which constitute interest under applicable law, provided that, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, (a) any non-principal payment shall be characterized as an expense or as compensation for something other than the use, forbearance or detention of money and not as interest, and (b) all interest at any time contracted for, reserved, charged or received shall be amortized, prorated, allocated and spread, in equal parts during the full term of the Obligations. In no event shall the Borrower or any other Person be obligated to pay, or any Lender have any right or privilege to

 

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reserve, receive or retain, (a) any interest in excess of the maximum amount of nonusurious interest permitted under the applicable laws (if any) of the United States or of any applicable state, or (b) total interest in excess of the amount which such Lender could lawfully have contracted for, reserved, received, retained or charged had the interest been calculated for the full term of the Obligations at the Highest Lawful Rate. On each day, if any, that the interest rate (the “Stated Rate”) called for under this Agreement or any other Loan Document exceeds the Highest Lawful Rate, the rate at which interest shall accrue shall automatically be fixed by operation of this sentence at the Highest Lawful Rate for that day, and shall remain fixed at the Highest Lawful Rate for each day thereafter until the total amount of interest accrued equals the total amount of interest which would have accrued if there were no such ceiling rate as is imposed by this sentence. Thereafter, interest shall accrue at the Stated Rate unless and until the Stated Rate again exceeds the Highest Lawful Rate when the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence shall again automatically operate to limit the interest accrual rate. The daily interest rates to be used in calculating interest at the Highest Lawful Rate shall be determined by dividing the applicable Highest Lawful Rate per annum by the number of days in the calendar year for which such calculation is being made. None of the terms and provisions contained in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document which directly or indirectly relate to interest shall ever be construed without reference to this Section 2.22, or be construed to create a contract to pay for the use, forbearance or detention of money at an interest rate in excess of the Highest Lawful Rate. If the term of any Obligation is shortened by reason of acceleration of maturity as a result of any Event of Default or by any other cause, or by reason of any required or permitted prepayment, and if for that (or any other) reason any Lender at any time, including but not limited to, the stated maturity, is owed or receives (and/or has received) interest in excess of interest calculated at the Highest Lawful Rate, then and in any such event all of any such excess interest shall be canceled automatically as of the date of such acceleration, prepayment or other event which produces the excess, and, if such excess interest has been paid to such Lender, it shall be credited pro tanto against the then-outstanding principal balance of the Borrower’s obligations to such Lender, effective as of the date or dates when the event occurs which causes it to be excess interest, until such excess is exhausted or all of such principal has been fully paid and satisfied, whichever occurs first, and any remaining balance of such excess shall be promptly refunded to its payor.

2.23. Defaulting Lenders. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the following provisions shall apply for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender:

(a) fees shall cease to accrue on the unfunded portion of the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.6;

(b) the Commitment and Outstanding Credit Exposure of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether all Lenders or the Required Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder;

 

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(c) if any LC Obligations shall exist at the time a Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender then:

 

  (i) all or any part of the unfunded participations in and commitments with respect to such Facility LCs shall be reallocated among the non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares but only to the extent (x) the sum of all non-Defaulting Lenders’ Outstanding Credit Exposure plus such Defaulting Lender’s Loans and participations in and commitments with respect to Loans and Facility LCs does not exceed the total of all non-Defaulting Lender’s Commitments and (y) the conditions set forth in Article IV are satisfied at such time; provided, that the LC Fees payable to the Lenders shall be determined taking into account of such reallocation.

 

  (ii) if the reallocation described in clause (i) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrower shall within one Business Day following notice by the Administrative Agent cash collateralize such Defaulting Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the LC Obligations in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 8.1 for so long as such Facility LC Exposure is outstanding;

 

  (iii) if the Borrower cash collateralizes any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s Facility LC Exposure pursuant to clause (i) above, the Borrower shall not be required to pay any fees to such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.20.4 with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s Facility LC Exposure during the period such Defaulting Lender’s Facility LC Exposure is cash collateralized; and

 

  (iv) if any Defaulting Lender’s Facility LC Exposure is not cash collateralized pursuant to clause (ii) above, then, without prejudice to any rights or remedies of the LC Issuer or any Lender hereunder, all letter of credit fees payable under Section 2.20.4 with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s Facility LC Exposure shall be payable to the LC Issuer until such Facility LC Exposure is cash collateralized;

(d) so long as any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, the LC Issuer shall not be required to issue or Modify any Facility LC, unless it is satisfied that the related exposure will be 100% covered by cash collateral provided by the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.23(c); and

(e) any amount payable to such Defaulting Lender hereunder (whether on account of principal, interest, fees or otherwise and including any amount that would otherwise be payable to such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 11.2 but excluding Section 2.21) shall, in lieu of being distributed to such Defaulting Lender, be retained by the Administrative Agent in a segregated account and, subject to any applicable requirements of law, be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent (i) first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder, (ii) second, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the LC Issuer hereunder, (iii) third, to the funding of any Revolving Loan or the funding or cash collateralization of any participating interest in any Facility LC in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to

 

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fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent, (iv) fourth, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, held in such account as cash collateral for future funding obligations of the Defaulting Lender under this Agreement, (v) fifth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower or the Lenders as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower or any Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement, and (vi) sixth, if so determined by the Administrative Agent, distributed to the Lenders other than the Defaulting Lender until the ratio of the Outstanding Credit Exposure of such Lenders to the Aggregate Outstanding Exposure equals such ratio immediately prior to the Defaulting Lender’s failure to fund any portion of any Loans or participations in Facility LCs and (vii) seventh, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided, that if such payment is a prepayment of the principal amount of any Loans or Reimbursement Obligations in respect of draws under Facility LCs with respect to which the LC Issuer has funded its participation obligations, such payment shall be applied solely to prepay the Loans of, and Reimbursement Obligations owed to, all Lenders that are not Defaulting Lenders pro rata prior to being applied to the prepayment of any Loans, or Reimbursement Obligations owed to, any Defaulting Lender.

In the event that the Administrative Agent, the Borrower, the LC Issuer agrees that a Defaulting Lender has adequately remedied all matters that caused such Lender to be a Defaulting Lender, then the Facility LC Exposure of the Lenders shall be readjusted to reflect the inclusion of such Lender’s Commitment and on such date such Lender shall purchase at par such of the Loans of the other Lenders as the Administrative Agent shall determine may be necessary in order for such Lender to hold the Revolving Loans in accordance with its Pro Rata Share. For purposes of this Section 2.23, “Facility LC Exposure” shall mean, with respect to any Defaulting Lender at any time, such Defaulting Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the LC Obligations at such time.

Nothing contained in the foregoing shall be deemed to constitute a waiver by the Borrower of any of its rights or remedies (whether in equity or law) against any Lender which fails to fund any of its Loans hereunder at the time or in the amount required to be funded under the terms of this Agreement.

ARTICLE III

YIELD PROTECTION; TAXES

3.1. Yield Protection.

(a) If, on or after the date of this Agreement, the adoption of any law or any governmental or quasi-governmental rule, regulation, policy, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law), or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any governmental or quasi-governmental authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any Lender or applicable Lending Installation or the LC Issuer with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any such authority, central bank or comparable agency:

 

  (i) subjects any Lender or any applicable Lending Installation or the LC Issuer to any Taxes, or changes the basis of taxation of payments (other than with respect to Excluded Taxes) to any Lender or the LC Issuer in respect of its Loans, Facility LCs or participations therein, or

 

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  (ii) imposes or increases or deems applicable any reserve, assessment, insurance charge, special deposit or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Lender or any applicable Lending Installation or the LC Issuer (other than reserves and assessments taken into account in determining the interest rate applicable to Advances), or

 

  (iii) imposes any other condition the result of which is to increase the cost to any Lender or any applicable Lending Installation or the LC Issuer of making, funding or maintaining its Loans, or of issuing or participating in Facility LCs, or reduces any amount receivable by any Lender or any applicable Lending Installation or the LC Issuer in connection with its Loans, Facility LCs or participations therein, or requires any Lender or any applicable Lending Installation or the LC Issuer to make any payment calculated by reference to the amount of Loans, Facility LCs or participations therein held or interest or LC Fees received by it, by an amount deemed material by such Lender or the LC Issuer as the case may be,

and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Lender or applicable Lending Installation or the LC Issuer, as the case may be, of making or maintaining its Loans or Commitment or of issuing or participating in Facility LCs or to reduce the return received by such Lender or applicable Lending Installation or the LC Issuer, as the case may be, in connection with such Loans or Commitment, Facility LCs or participations therein, then, within 15 days of demand by such Lender or the LC Issuer, as the case may be, the Borrower shall pay such Lender or the LC Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the LC Issuer, as the case may be, for such increased cost or reduction in amount received (provided that the Lenders or the LC Issuer have not been compensated for such additional costs or reduction in return or amounts received in the calculation of the Eurocurrency Base Rate).

(b) Each Lender or LC Issuer shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of any event of which it has knowledge, occurring after the date hereof, which will entitle such Lender to compensation pursuant to this Section 3.1. The Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to this Section 3.1 for any increased costs or reduction in return or amounts received incurred more than 180 days prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of the change giving rise to such increased costs or reductions.

3.2. Changes in Capital Adequacy Regulations. If a Lender or the LC Issuer determines the amount of capital required or expected to be maintained by such Lender or the LC Issuer, any Lending Installation of such Lender or the LC Issuer, or any corporation controlling such Lender or the LC Issuer is increased as a result of a Change, then, within 15 days of demand by such Lender or the LC Issuer, the Borrower shall pay such Lender or the LC Issuer the amount necessary to compensate for any shortfall in the rate of return on the portion of such increased capital which such Lender or the LC Issuer determines is attributable to this Agreement, its Outstanding Credit Exposure or its Commitment to make Loans and issue or participate in Facility LCs, as the case may be, hereunder (after taking into account such

 

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Lender’s or the LC Issuer’s policies as to capital adequacy). “Change” means (i) any change after the date of this Agreement in the Risk-Based Capital Guidelines or (ii) any adoption of or change in any other law, governmental or quasi-governmental rule, regulation, policy, guideline, interpretation, or directive (whether or not having the force of law) after the date of this Agreement which affects the amount of capital required or expected to be maintained by any Lender or the LC Issuer or any Lending Installation or any corporation controlling any Lender or the LC Issuer. “Risk-Based Capital Guidelines” means (i) the risk-based capital guidelines in effect in the United States on the date of this Agreement, including transition rules, and (ii) the corresponding capital regulations promulgated by regulatory authorities outside the United States including transition rules, and any amendments to such regulations adopted prior to the date of this Agreement.

3.3. [Reserved].

3.4. [Reserved].

3.5. Taxes. (i) All payments by the Borrower to or for the account of any Lender, the LC Issuer or the Administrative Agent hereunder or under any Note or Facility LC Application shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any and all Taxes. If the Borrower shall be required by law to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable hereunder to any Lender, the LC Issuer or the Administrative Agent, (a) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.5) such Lender, the LC Issuer or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (b) the Borrower shall make such deductions, (c) the Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant authority in accordance with applicable law and (d) the Borrower shall furnish to the Administrative Agent the original copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof within 30 days after such payment is made.

(ii) In addition, the Borrower hereby agrees to pay any present or future stamp or documentary taxes and any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies which arise from any payment made hereunder or under any Note or Facility LC Application or from the execution or delivery of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any Note or Facility LC Application (“Other Taxes”).

(iii) The Borrower hereby agrees to indemnify the Administrative Agent, the LC Issuer and each Lender for the full amount of Taxes or Other Taxes (including, without limitation, any Taxes or Other Taxes imposed on amounts payable under this Section 3.5) paid by the Administrative Agent, the LC Issuer or such Lender as a result of its Commitment, any Loans made by it hereunder, or otherwise in connection with its participation in this Agreement and any liability (including penalties, interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto. Payments due under this indemnification shall be made within 30 days of the date the Administrative Agent, the LC Issuer or such Lender makes demand therefor pursuant to Section 3.6.

(iv) Each Lender that is not incorporated under the laws of the United States of America or a state thereof (each a “Non-U.S. Lender”) agrees that it will, not more than ten

 

36


Business Days after the date of this Agreement, (i) deliver to the Administrative Agent two duly completed copies of United States Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8ECI, certifying in either case that such Lender is entitled to receive payments under this Agreement without deduction or withholding of any United States federal income taxes, and (ii) deliver to the Administrative Agent a United States Internal Revenue Form W-8 or W-9, as the case may be, and certify that it is entitled to an exemption from United States backup withholding tax. Each Non-U.S. Lender further undertakes to deliver to each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (x) renewals or additional copies of such form (or any successor form) on or before the date that such form expires or becomes obsolete, and (y) after the occurrence of any event requiring a change in the most recent forms so delivered by it, such additional forms or amendments thereto as may be reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent. All forms or amendments described in the preceding sentence shall certify that such Lender is entitled to receive payments under this Agreement without deduction or withholding of any United States federal income taxes, unless an event (including without limitation any change in treaty, law or regulation) has occurred prior to the date on which any such delivery would otherwise be required which renders all such forms inapplicable or which would prevent such Lender from duly completing and delivering any such form or amendment with respect to it and such Lender advises the Borrower and the Administrative Agent that it is not capable of receiving payments without any deduction or withholding of United States federal income tax.

(v) For any period during which a Non-U.S. Lender has failed to provide the Borrower with an appropriate form pursuant to clause (iv), above (unless such failure is due to a change in treaty, law or regulation, or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any governmental authority, occurring subsequent to the date on which a form originally was required to be provided), such Non-U.S. Lender shall not be entitled to indemnification under this Section 3.5 with respect to Taxes imposed by the United States; provided that, should a Non-U.S. Lender which is otherwise exempt from or subject to a reduced rate of withholding tax become subject to Taxes because of its failure to deliver a form required under clause (iv), above, the Borrower shall take such steps as such Non-U.S. Lender shall reasonably request to assist such Non-U.S. Lender to recover such Taxes.

(vi) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax with respect to payments under this Agreement or any Note pursuant to the law of any relevant jurisdiction or any treaty shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate.

(vii) If the U.S. Internal Revenue Service or any other governmental authority of the United States or any other country or any political subdivision thereof asserts a claim that the Administrative Agent did not properly withhold tax from amounts paid to or for the account of any Lender (because the appropriate form was not delivered or properly completed, because such Lender failed to notify the Administrative Agent of a change in circumstances which rendered its exemption from withholding ineffective, or for any other reason), such Lender shall indemnify the Administrative Agent fully for all amounts paid, directly or indirectly, by the Administrative Agent as tax, withholding therefor, or otherwise, including penalties and interest, and including taxes imposed by any jurisdiction on amounts payable to the Administrative Agent under this

 

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subsection, together with all costs and expenses related thereto (including attorneys fees and time charges of attorneys for the Administrative Agent, which attorneys may be employees of the Administrative Agent). The obligations of the Lenders under this Section 3.5(vii) shall survive the payment of the Obligations and termination of this Agreement.

3.6. Lender Statements; Survival of Indemnity. To the extent reasonably possible, each Lender shall designate an alternate Lending Installation with respect to its Loans to reduce any liability of the Borrower to such Lender under Sections 3.1, 3.2 and 3.5, so long as such designation is not, in the judgment of such Lender, disadvantageous to such Lender. Each Lender shall deliver a written statement of such Lender to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) as to the amount due, if any, under Section 3.1, 3.2 or 3.5. Such written statement shall set forth in reasonable detail the calculations upon which such Lender determined such amount and shall be final, conclusive and binding on the Borrower in the absence of manifest error. Determination of amounts payable under such Sections in connection with a Loan shall be calculated as though each Lender funded its Loan through the purchase of a deposit of the type and maturity corresponding to the deposit used as a reference in determining the Eurocurrency Rate applicable to such Loan, whether in fact that is the case or not. Unless otherwise provided herein, the amount specified in the written statement of any Lender shall be payable on demand after receipt by the Borrower of such written statement. The obligations of the Borrower under Sections 3.1, 3.2 and 3.5 shall survive payment of the Obligations and termination of this Agreement.

ARTICLE IV

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

4.1. Initial Credit Extension. The Lenders shall not be required to make the initial Credit Extension hereunder unless each of the following conditions is satisfied:

 

  (i) The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, signed by the chief financial officer of the Borrower, stating that on the date of the initial Credit Extension no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

 

  (ii) The Administrative Agent shall have received a written opinion of the Borrower’s counsel, addressed to the Lenders in substantially the form of Exhibit A.

 

  (iii) The Administrative Agent shall have received any Notes requested by a Lender pursuant to Section 2.14 payable to the order of each such requesting Lender.

 

  (iv) The Administrative Agent shall have received such documents and certificates relating to the organization, existence and good standing of the Borrower and Arabica, the authorization of the transactions contemplated hereby and any other legal matters relating to the Borrower and Arabica, the Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.

 

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  (v) If the initial Credit Extension will be the issuance of a Facility LC, the Administrative Agent shall have received a properly completed Facility LC Application.

 

  (vi) The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence satisfactory to it that any credit facility currently in effect for Arabica shall have been terminated and cancelled and all indebtedness thereunder shall have been fully repaid (except to the extent being so repaid with the initial Loans) and any and all liens thereunder shall have been terminated (or will be terminated upon disbursement of the initial Loans).

 

  (vii) The Administrative Agent shall have received all fees and other amounts due and payable on or prior to the date hereof, including, to the extent invoiced, reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrower hereunder.

4.2. Each Credit Extension. The Lenders shall not be required to make any Credit Extension unless on the applicable Borrowing Date:

 

  (i) There exists no Default or Event of Default.

 

  (ii) The representations and warranties contained in Article V are true and correct as of such Borrowing Date except to the extent any such representation or warranty is stated to relate solely to an earlier date, in which case such representation or warranty shall have been true and correct on and as of such earlier date.

Each Borrowing Notice, or request for issuance of a Facility LC with respect to each such Credit Extension shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower that the conditions contained in Sections 4.2(i) and (ii) have been satisfied.

ARTICLE V

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

The Borrower represents and warrants to the Lenders that:

5.1. Existence and Standing. The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries is a corporation, partnership (in the case of Subsidiaries only), limited liability company or joint venture duly and properly incorporated or organized, as the case may be, validly existing and (to the extent such concept applies to such entity) in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization and has all requisite authority to conduct its business in each jurisdiction in which its business is conducted.

5.2. Authorization and Validity. Each Loan Party has the power and authority and legal right to execute and deliver the Loan Documents to which it is a party and to perform its obligations thereunder. The execution and delivery by each Loan Party of the Loan Documents to which it is a party and the performance of its obligations thereunder have been duly authorized by proper corporate proceedings, and the Loan Documents to which each Loan Party is a party constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of such Loan Party, enforceable against such Loan Party in accordance with their terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally.

 

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5.3. No Conflict; Government Consent. Neither the execution and delivery by each Loan Party of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, nor the consummation of the transactions therein contemplated, nor compliance with the provisions thereof will violate (i) in any material respect, any law, rule, regulation, order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree or award binding on the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) the Borrower’s or any of its Subsidiary’s articles or certificate of incorporation, partnership agreement, certificate of partnership, articles or certificate of organization, by-laws, or operating or other management agreement, as the case may be, or (iii) the provisions of any material indenture, instrument or agreement to which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or is subject, or by which it, or its Property, is bound, or conflict with or constitute a default thereunder, or result in, or require, the creation or imposition of any Lien in, of or on the Property of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of any such indenture, instrument or agreement. No order, consent, adjudication, approval, license, authorization, or validation of, or filing, recording or registration with, or exemption by, or other action in respect of any governmental or public body or authority, or any subdivision thereof, which has not been obtained by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, is required to be obtained by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents, the borrowings under this Agreement, the payment and performance by the Borrower of the Obligations or the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability of any of the Loan Documents.

5.4. Financial Statements. The audited consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries dated January 2, 2011, and their unaudited financial statements dated as of July 3, 2011, heretofore delivered to the Lenders were prepared in accordance with GAAP as in effect on the date such statements were prepared and fairly present the consolidated financial condition and operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries at such dates and the consolidated results of their operations for the periods then ended.

5.5. Material Adverse Change. Since the date of the most recent audited financial statements delivered to the Administrative Agent there has been no Material Adverse Effect.

5.6. Taxes. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have filed all United States federal tax returns and all other tax returns which are required to be filed and have paid all taxes due pursuant to said returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, except (a) such taxes, if any, as are being contested in good faith and as to which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP, and (b) to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in respect of any taxes or other governmental charges are adequate.

5.7. Litigation and Contingent Obligations. There is no litigation, arbitration, governmental investigation, proceeding or inquiry pending or, to the knowledge of any of their respective officers, threatened against or affecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or which seeks to prevent, enjoin or delay the making of any Credit Extensions. As of the date of this Agreement, the

 

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Borrower has no material Contingent Obligations not provided for or disclosed in the financial statements referred to in Section 5.4, other than any liability incident to any litigation, arbitration or proceeding which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.8. Subsidiaries. Schedule 5.8 contains an accurate list of all Subsidiaries of the Borrower as of the date of this Agreement, setting forth their respective jurisdictions of organization and the percentage of their respective capital stock or other ownership interests owned by the Borrower or other Subsidiaries. All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock or other ownership interests of such Subsidiaries have been (to the extent such concepts are relevant with respect to such ownership interests) duly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable.

5.9. ERISA. No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events for which liability is reasonably expected to occur, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

5.10. Accuracy of Information. No information, exhibit or report furnished by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to the Administrative Agent or to any Lender in connection with the negotiation of, or compliance with, the Loan Documents contained any material misstatement of fact or omitted to state a material fact or any fact necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time.

5.11. Regulation U. Margin stock (as defined in Regulation U) constitutes less than 25% of the value of those assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries which are subject to any limitation on sale, pledge, or other restriction hereunder.

5.12. Material Agreements. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is in default in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any of the obligations, covenants or conditions contained in any agreement to which it is a party, which default could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.13. Compliance With Laws. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have complied in all material respects with all applicable statutes, rules, regulations, orders and restrictions of any domestic or foreign government or any instrumentality or agency thereof having jurisdiction over the conduct of their respective businesses or the ownership of their respective Property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

5.14. Ownership of Properties. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have good title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all its real and personal property material to the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except for minor defects in title that do not interfere with its ability to conduct its business as currently conducted or to utilize such properties for their intended purposes. There are no Liens on any of the real or personal properties of the Borrower or any Subsidiary except for Liens permitted by Section 6.16.

 

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5.15. Plan Assets; Prohibited Transactions. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is an entity deemed to hold “plan assets” within the meaning of 29 C.F.R. § 2510.3-101 of an employee benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) which is subject to Title I of ERISA or any plan (within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code), and neither the execution of this Agreement nor the making of Credit Extensions hereunder gives rise to a prohibited transaction within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.

5.16. Environmental Matters. Except with respect to any other matters that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries has failed to comply with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice to the effect that its operations are not in material compliance with any of the requirements of applicable Environmental Laws or are the subject of any federal or state investigation evaluating whether any remedial action is needed to respond to a release of any toxic or hazardous waste or substance into the environment, which non-compliance or remedial action could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

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

5.18. Insurance. The Borrower maintains, and has caused each of its Subsidiaries to maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies insurance on all their Property in such amounts, subject to such deductibles and self-insurance retentions and covering such properties and properties and risks as may be consistent with sound business practice.

5.19. Solvency. (i) Immediately after the consummation of the transactions to occur on the date hereof and immediately following the making of each Credit Extension, if any, made on the date hereof and after giving effect to the application of the proceeds of such Credit Extensions, (a) the fair value of the assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, at a fair valuation, will exceed the debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis; (b) the present fair saleable value of the Property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis will be greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis on their debts and other liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured; (c) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis will be able to pay their debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured; and (d) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis will not have unreasonably small capital with which to conduct the businesses in which they are engaged as such businesses are now conducted and are proposed to be conducted after the date hereof.

(ii) The Borrower does not intend to, or to permit any of their Subsidiaries to, and does not believe that it or any of its Subsidiaries will, incur debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature, taking into account the timing of and amounts of cash to be received by it or any such Subsidiary and the timing of the amounts of cash to be payable on or in respect of its Indebtedness or the Indebtedness of any such Subsidiary.

 

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ARTICLE VI

COVENANTS

During the term of this Agreement, unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise consent in writing:

6.1. Financial Reporting. The Borrower will maintain, for itself and each of its Subsidiaries, a system of accounting established and administered in accordance with GAAP, and furnish to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders:

 

  (i) Within 90 days after the close of each of its fiscal years, an unqualified (except for qualifications relating to changes in accounting principles or practices reflecting changes in GAAP) audit report, with no going concern modifier, certified by Ernst & Young, LLP or other independent certified public accountants reasonably acceptable to the Lenders, prepared in accordance with GAAP on a consolidated basis for itself and its Subsidiaries, including balance sheets as of the end of such period, related profit and loss and shareholder’s equity statements, and a statement of cash flows, accompanied by a certificate of said accountants that, in the course of their examination necessary for their certification of the foregoing, they have obtained no knowledge of any Default or Event of Default, or if, in the opinion of such accountants, any Default or Event of Default shall exist, stating the nature and status thereof.

 

  (ii) Within 45 days after the close of the first three quarterly periods of each of its fiscal years, for itself and its Subsidiaries, consolidated unaudited balance sheets as at the close of each such period and consolidated profit and loss and shareholder’s equity statements and a statement of cash flows for the period from the beginning of such fiscal year to the end of such quarter, all certified by its chief financial officer.

 

  (iii) Together with the financial statements required under Sections 6.1(i) and (ii), a compliance certificate in substantially the form of Exhibit B signed by its chief financial officer showing the calculations necessary to determine compliance with this Agreement and stating that no Default or Event of Default exists, or if any Default or Event of Default exists, stating the nature and status thereof.

 

  (iv) Promptly upon the furnishing thereof to the shareholders of the Borrower, copies of all financial statements, reports and proxy statements so furnished.

 

  (v) Promptly upon the filing thereof, copies of all registration statements and annual, quarterly, monthly or other regular reports which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries files with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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  (vi) Such other information (including non-financial information) as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may from time to time reasonably request.

If any information which is required to be furnished to the Lenders under this Section 6.1 is required by law or regulation to be filed by the Borrower with a government body on an earlier date, then the information required hereunder shall be furnished to the Lenders at such earlier date.

(vii) Any financial statement required to be furnished pursuant to Section 6.1(i) or Section 6.1(ii), or financial statement, report, proxy statement or registration statement required to be furnished pursuant to Section 6.1(iv) or (v), may be furnished electronically, and shall be deemed to have been furnished (i) on the date on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the website on the Internet at the Borrower’s website address; or (ii) on the date on which the Administrative Agent receives notice that the Borrower has filed such financial statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is available on the EDGAR website on the Internet at www.sec.gov or any successor government website that is freely and readily available to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders without charge; provided that the Borrower shall notify (which notice may be made by facsimile or electronic mail) the Administrative Agent of the posting of any such documents.

6.2. Use of Proceeds. Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, use the proceeds of the Credit Extensions to repay certain existing Indebtedness, finance the working capital needs, and for general corporate purposes, of Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including Permitted Acquisitions and the purchase or redemption of capital stock of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as permitted hereunder. Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, use any of the proceeds of the Advances to purchase or carry any “margin stock” (as defined in Regulation U).

6.3. Notice of Event of Default. Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, give notice in writing to the Lenders, promptly and in any event within ten (10) days after an officer of Borrower obtains knowledge thereof, of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default and of any other development, financial or otherwise, which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.4. Conduct of Business. Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, carry on and conduct its business in substantially the same manner and in substantially the same, complementary, similar or reasonably related fields of enterprise as it is presently conducted and do all things necessary to remain duly incorporated or organized, validly existing and (to the extent such concept applies to such entity) in good standing as a domestic corporation, partnership or limited liability company in its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization, as the case may be, and maintain all requisite authority to conduct its business in each jurisdiction in which its business is conducted.

6.5. Taxes. Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, pay all taxes, assessments and governmental charges and levies upon it or its income, profits or Property that, if not paid, could result in a Material Adverse Effect before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, with respect to which adequate reserves have been set aside in accordance with GAAP and which could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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6.6. Insurance. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies insurance on all their Property in such amounts and covering such risks as is consistent with sound business practice, and the Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent such information regarding the insurance carried as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.

6.7. Compliance with Laws. Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, comply in all material respects with all laws, rules, regulations, orders, writs, judgments, injunctions, decrees or awards to which it may be subject including, without limitation, all Environmental Laws, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

6.8. Maintenance of Properties. Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, do all things necessary to maintain, preserve, protect and keep all Property material to the conduct of its business in good repair, working order and condition (ordinary wear and tear and damages from casualty excepted), and make all necessary and proper repairs, renewals and replacements so that its business carried on in connection therewith may be properly conducted at all times; provided, that this Section shall not prevent Borrower or any Subsidiary of Borrower from discontinuing the operation and maintenance of any of its Property if such discontinuance is desirable in the conduct of its business and Borrower has concluded that such discontinuance would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.9. Inspection. Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, permit the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, by their respective representatives and agents upon reasonable prior notice, to inspect any of the Property, books and financial records of the Borrower and each Subsidiary, to examine and make copies of the books of accounts and other financial records of the Borrower and each Subsidiary, and to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Borrower and each Subsidiary with, and to be advised as to the same by, their respective officers at such reasonable times and intervals as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may designate; provided, that so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall have no obligation to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent or any Lender for costs and expenses relating to any such visitation and inspection (other than one visitation and inspection during any fiscal year).

6.10. Material Domestic Subsidiaries; Foreign Subsidiaries.

 

  (i)

As promptly as possible but in any event within thirty (30) days (or such later date as may be agreed upon by the Administrative Agent) after any Person becomes a Material Subsidiary of any Borrower, (a) notify the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in writing thereof, (b) cause such Material Subsidiary to execute and deliver a Subsidiary Guaranty (or otherwise become a party thereto in the manner provided therein) and execute and deliver a Security Agreement, and (c) if any

 

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  equity securities issued by any such Material Subsidiary are owned or held by or on behalf of Borrower or any Subsidiary, cause such equity securities to be pledged pursuant to a Pledge Agreement; together, in each case, to be accompanied by appropriate corporate resolutions, other corporate documentation and legal opinions in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.

 

  (ii) If Borrower or any Domestic Subsidiary owns any equity interest in a material Foreign Subsidiary, it will execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a Pledge Agreement in a form satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, together with such supporting documentation (including, without limitation, authorizing resolutions and opinions of counsel) as the Administrative Agent may request in order to create a perfected, first-priority security interest in the equity interests in such Foreign Subsidiary, provided that such pledges shall not exceed the Applicable Pledge Percentage of the equity interests of such Foreign Subsidiary.

6.11. Indebtedness. Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, create, incur or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:

 

  (i) The Obligations, including without limitation the Loans and the Reimbursement Obligations.

 

  (ii) Indebtedness arising under Rate Management Transactions and other Financial Contracts.

 

  (iii) (A) Indebtedness of Borrower or a Material Subsidiary to any other Borrower or Material Subsidiary; and (B) Indebtedness of any non-Material Subsidiary to Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

  (iv) Indebtedness incurred to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of any fixed or capital assets, including Capital Lease Obligations and any Indebtedness assumed in connection with the acquisition of any such assets or secured by a Lien on any such assets prior to the acquisition thereof, and extensions, renewals and replacements of any such Indebtedness that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof; provided that (i) such Indebtedness is incurred prior to or within 90 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness permitted by this clause (iv) shall not exceed $1,000,000 at any time outstanding.

 

  (v) Indebtedness as an account party in respect of trade letters of credit.

 

  (vi) Indebtedness with respect to any surety bonds, performance bonds, customs bonds and other obligations of a like nature which shall not exceed $1,000,000 at any time outstanding.

 

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  (vii) Indebtedness existing on the date hereof and described in Schedule 6.11 and any renewal or extension of such Indebtedness that does not increase the principal amount thereof.

 

  (viii) Other Indebtedness, provided that the aggregate amount of such other Indebtedness does not exceed $1,000,000 at any time outstanding.

6.12. Merger. Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, merge or consolidate with or into any other Person, except that a Subsidiary may merge into the Borrower or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary or a Subsidiary Guarantor.

6.13. Sale of Assets. Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, lease, sell or otherwise dispose of its Property to any other Person, except:

 

  (i) Sales of inventory, or used, worn-out or surplus equipment, all in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (ii) The sale of equipment to the extent that such equipment is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement equipment, or the proceeds of such sale are applied with reasonable promptness to the purchase price of such replacement equipment;

 

  (iii) Leases, sales or other dispositions of its Property that, together with all other Property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries previously leased, sold or disposed of during the twelve-month period ending with the month in which any such lease, sale or other disposition occurs (excluding Property leased, sold or otherwise disposed of pursuant to subparagraphs (i), and (ii) above), do not constitute a Substantial Portion of the Property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;

 

  (iv) The transfer or other disposition of any of Arabica’s Property to the Borrower; and

 

  (v) Except as otherwise permitted under Section 6.13 (iv), (A) the sale, transfer or other disposition of Property of Borrower or any Subsidiary to Borrower or any Material Subsidiary, and (B) the sale, transfer or other disposition of Property of Borrower or any Subsidiary to any non-Material Subsidiary; provided, that any such sale, transfer or other disposition does not exceed $1,000,000 in the aggregate for all such sales, transfers or other dispositions during any fiscal year.

6.14. Investments. Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, make or suffer to exist any Investments (including without limitation, loans and advances to, and other Investments in, Subsidiaries), or commitments therefor, or to create any Subsidiary or to become or remain a partner in any partnership or joint venture, except:

 

  (i) Cash Equivalent Investments.

 

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  (ii) (A) Existing Investments in Subsidiaries and other Investments in existence on the date hereof and described in Schedule 6.14, (B) Investments by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the capital stock of any other Subsidiary that does not constitute a Material Subsidiary, and (C) Investments by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the capital stock of any Subsidiary which enters into or joins the Subsidiary Guaranty in accordance with the requirements of Section 6.10(i) hereof.

 

  (iii) Investments in the Existing Joint Venture and other Qualified Joint Ventures; provided that the aggregate amount of such Investments does not exceed $1,500,000.

 

  (iv) Investments constituting Permitted Acquisitions.

 

  (v) (A) Travel advances to management personnel and employees in the ordinary course of business, and (B) advances to management personnel and employees to meet other expenses incurred by such employees in the ordinary course of business not to exceed $500,000, in the aggregate, at any time outstanding.

 

  (vi) Receivables owing to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries arising from the provision of services or the sale of inventory under usual and customary terms in the ordinary course of business.

 

  (vii) (A) Loans to officers, directors and employees in connection with the granting of stock options or as incentive or bonus compensation, and (B) Investments in qualified and non-qualified benefit plans established for the benefit of officers, directors or employees of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

 

  (viii) Other Investments, provided that the aggregate amount of such other Investments does not exceed $500,000 at any time outstanding.

6.15. Acquisitions. Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary, to make any Acquisition other than a Permitted Acquisition.

6.16. Liens. Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, create, incur, or suffer to exist any Lien in, of or on the Property of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, except:

 

  (i) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or levies on its Property if the same shall not at the time be delinquent or thereafter can be paid without penalty, or are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP shall have been set aside on its books.

 

  (ii) Liens imposed by law, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s and mechanics’ liens and other similar liens arising in the ordinary course of business which secure payment of obligations not more than 60 days past due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves shall have been set aside on its books.

 

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  (iii) Liens arising out of pledges or deposits under worker’s compensation laws, unemployment insurance, old age pensions, or other social security or retirement benefits, or similar legislation.

 

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

 

  (v) Utility easements, building restrictions and such other encumbrances or charges against real property as are of a nature generally existing with respect to properties of a similar character and which do not in any material way affect the marketability of the same or interfere with the use thereof in the business of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries.

 

  (vi) Liens arising solely by virtue of any statutory or common law provision relating to bankers’ liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts or other funds maintained with a creditor depository institution.

 

  (vii) Judgment liens in respect of judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default under Section 7.9.

 

  (viii) Liens granted in the ordinary course of business to licensors which encumber licensed intellectual property and inventory produced thereunder (but not any receivables from the sale, distribution or licensing thereof).

 

  (ix) Liens existing on the date hereof and described in Schedule 6.16.

 

  (x) Liens on Property acquired in a Permitted Acquisition, provided that such Liens extend only to the Property so acquired and were not created in contemplation of such acquisition.

 

  (xi) Liens on fixed or capital assets acquired, constructed or improved by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; provided that (A) such Liens secure Indebtedness permitted by clause (iv) of Section 6.11, (B) such Liens and the Indebtedness secured thereby are incurred prior to or within 90 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement, (C) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed 90% (or 100% in the case of Capital Lease Obligations) of the cost of acquiring, constructing or improving such fixed or capital assets and (D) such Liens shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

  (xii) Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, granted pursuant to any Collateral Document.

 

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  (xiii) Other Liens securing Indebtedness, provided that the aggregate amount of Indebtedness secured by Liens described in this clause (xiii) at any time does not exceed $100,000 at any time outstanding.

6.17. Affiliates. Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into any transaction (including, without limitation, the purchase or sale of any Property or service) with, or make any payment or transfer to, any Affiliate except (a) pursuant to the reasonable requirements of the Borrower’s or such Subsidiary’s business and upon fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary than the Borrower or such Subsidiary would obtain in a comparable arms-length transaction, (b) transactions between or among the Borrower, its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries and its Material Subsidiaries not involving any other Affiliate, and (c) any Restricted Payment permitted under Section 6.20.

6.18. Sale of Accounts. Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, sell or otherwise dispose of any notes receivable or accounts receivable, with or without recourse. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the sale of notes receivable or accounts receivable, with or without recourse, for par value shall be permitted provided that all of the proceeds of such sale of notes or accounts receivable are used to repay any Advances then outstanding to the extent of such proceeds.

6.19. [Reserved].

6.20. Restricted Payments. Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, make any Restricted Payment, except that (i) any Subsidiary may declare and pay dividends or make distributions to the Borrower or to a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary or to any Material Subsidiary, and (ii) the Borrower may declare and pay dividends on its capital stock payable solely in additional shares of its common stock, (iii) the Borrower may make Restricted Payments pursuant to and in accordance with stock option plans or other benefit plans for management, employees or directors of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and (iv) the Borrower may make any other Restricted Payment provided that no Default or Event of Default shall exist before or after giving effect to such Restricted Payment or be created as a result thereof.

6.21. Financial Covenants.

6.21.1. Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. The Borrower will not permit the ratio, determined as of the end of each of its fiscal quarters for the then most-recently ended four fiscal quarters, of (i) Consolidated EBITDA plus Consolidated Rentals to (ii) Consolidated Interest Expense, plus Consolidated Rentals, plus current maturities of principal Indebtedness, all calculated for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, to be less than 1.25 to 1.0.

6.21.2. Leverage Ratio. The Borrower will not permit the Leverage Ratio, determined as of the end of each of its fiscal quarters, to be greater than 3.5 to 1.0, provided, however, that after the consummation of a Permitted Acquisition and at the election of the Borrower exercised by written notice from the Borrower to the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall not permit the Leverage Ratio, determined as of the end of each of its fiscal quarters, to be greater than 4.0 to 1.0 for the four fiscal quarters (the “Step Up Leverage Ratio”), provided, further, however that the Borrower shall be required to have a Leverage Ratio for two consecutive quarters of less than or equal to 3.5 to 1.0 prior to using the Step Up Leverage Ratio again.

 

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6.22. Cash Management Services. Within twelve (12) calendar months after the date hereof, the Borrower shall cause at least seventy percent (70%) of the total number of stores of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries located in the United States and within the reasonable service area of a physical depository branch of U.S. Bank to utilize U.S. Bank for their primary Cash Management Services.

ARTICLE VII

DEFAULTS

The occurrence of any one or more of the following events shall constitute a Event of Default:

7.1. Any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to the Lenders or the Administrative Agent under or in connection with this Agreement, any Credit Extension, or any certificate or information delivered in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be materially false on the date as of which made.

7.2. Nonpayment of principal of any Loan when due, nonpayment of any Reimbursement Obligation within one Business Day after the same becomes due, or nonpayment of interest upon any Loan or of any commitment fee, LC Fee or other Obligations under any of the Loan Documents within five days after the same becomes due.

7.3. The breach of any of the terms or provisions of Section 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.10, 6.11, 6.12, 6.13, 6.14, 6.15, 6.16, 6.17, 6.18, 6.19, 6.20 or 6.21.

7.4. The breach by Borrower (other than a breach which constitutes a Event of Default under another Section of this Article VII) of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement which is not remedied within 30 days after an Authorized Officer becoming aware of any such breach.

7.5. Failure of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to pay when due any Material Indebtedness; or the default by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the performance (beyond the applicable grace period with respect thereto, if any) of any term, provision or condition contained in any Material Indebtedness Agreement, or any other event shall occur or condition exist, the effect of which default, event or condition is to cause, or to permit the holder(s) of such Material Indebtedness or the lender(s) under any Material Indebtedness Agreement to cause, such Material Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity; or any Material Indebtedness of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall be declared to be due and payable or required to be prepaid or repurchased (other than by a regularly scheduled payment) prior to the stated maturity thereof; or Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall not pay, or admit in writing its inability to pay, its debts generally as they become due.

 

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7.6. Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall (i) have an order for relief entered with respect to it under the Federal bankruptcy laws as now or hereafter in effect, (ii) make an assignment for the benefit of creditors, (iii) apply for, seek, consent to, or acquiesce in, the appointment of a receiver, custodian, trustee, examiner, liquidator or similar official for it or any Substantial Portion of its Property, (iv) institute any proceeding seeking an order for relief under the Federal bankruptcy laws as now or hereafter in effect or seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking dissolution, winding up, liquidation, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of it or its debts under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors or fail to file an answer or other pleading denying the material allegations of any such proceeding filed against it, (v) take any corporate or partnership action to authorize or effect any of the foregoing actions set forth in this Section 7.6 or (vi) fail to contest in good faith any appointment or proceeding described in Section 7.7.

7.7. Without the application, approval or consent of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, a receiver, trustee, examiner, liquidator or similar official shall be appointed for Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any Substantial Portion of its Property, or a proceeding described in Section 7.6(iv) shall be instituted against Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and such appointment continues undischarged or such proceeding continues undismissed or unstayed for a period of 60 consecutive days.

7.8. Any court, government or governmental agency shall condemn, seize or otherwise appropriate, or take custody or control of, all or any portion of the Property of Borrower and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) which, when taken together with all other Property of Borrower and its Subsidiaries so condemned, seized, appropriated, or taken custody or control of, during the twelve-month period ending with the month in which any such action occurs, constitutes a Substantial Portion.

7.9. Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall fail within 30 days to pay, bond or otherwise discharge one or more (i) judgments or orders for the payment of money in excess of $1,000,000 (or the equivalent thereof in currencies other than U.S. Dollars) in the aggregate, or (ii) nonmonetary judgments or orders which, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, which judgment(s), in any such case, is/are not stayed on appeal or otherwise being appropriately contested in good faith.

7.10. An ERISA Event shall have occurred that, in the opinion of the Required Lenders, when taken together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

7.11. Nonpayment by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of any Rate Management Obligation in excess of $1,000,000 when due, or the breach by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of any term, provision or condition contained in any Rate Management Transaction or any transaction of the type described in the definition of “Rate Management Transactions,” whether or not any Lender or Affiliate of a Lender is a party thereto, which breach could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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7.12. The occurrence of any “default”, as defined in any Loan Document (other than this Agreement) or the breach of any of the terms or provisions of any Loan Document (other than this Agreement), which default or breach continues beyond any period of grace therein provided.

7.13. Any Collateral Document shall fail to remain in full force or effect (other than with the consent or agreement of the Administrative Agent), or any action shall be taken by any Loan Party to discontinue or to assert the invalidity or unenforceability of any Collateral Document.

ARTICLE VIII

ACCELERATION, WAIVERS, AMENDMENTS AND REMEDIES

8.1. Acceleration; Remedies. (i) If any Event of Default described in Section 7.6 or 7.7 occurs with respect to the Borrower, the obligations of the Lenders to make Loans hereunder and the obligation and power of the LC Issuer to issue Facility LCs shall automatically terminate and the Obligations shall immediately become due and payable without any election or action on the part of the Administrative Agent, the LC Issuer or any Lender and the Borrower will be and become thereby unconditionally obligated, without any further notice, act or demand, to pay to the Administrative Agent an amount in immediately available funds, which funds shall be held in the Facility LC Collateral Account, equal to the difference of (x) the amount of LC Obligations at such time, less (y) the amount on deposit in the Facility LC Collateral Account at such time which is free and clear of all rights and claims of third parties and has not been applied against the Obligations (such difference, the “Collateral Shortfall Amount”). If any other Event of Default occurs, the Required Lenders (or the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders) may (a) terminate or suspend the obligations of the Lenders to make Loans hereunder and the obligation and power of the LC Issuer to issue Facility LCs, or declare the Obligations to be due and payable, or both, whereupon the Obligations shall become immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which Borrower hereby expressly waives, and (b) upon notice to the Borrower and in addition to the continuing right to demand payment of all amounts payable under this Agreement, make demand on the Borrower to pay, and the Borrower will, forthwith upon such demand and without any further notice or act, pay to the Administrative Agent the Collateral Shortfall Amount, which funds shall be deposited in the Facility LC Collateral Account.

(ii) If at any time while any Event of Default is continuing, the Administrative Agent determines that the Collateral Shortfall Amount at such time is greater than zero, the Administrative Agent may make demand on the Borrower to pay, and the Borrower will, forthwith upon such demand and without any further notice or act, pay to the Administrative Agent the Collateral Shortfall Amount, which funds shall be deposited in the Facility LC Collateral Account.

(iii) The Administrative Agent may at any time or from time to time after funds are deposited in the Facility LC Collateral Account, apply such funds to the payment of the Obligations and any other amounts as shall from time to time have become due and payable by the Borrower to the Lenders or the LC Issuer under the Loan Documents, as provided in Section 8.2.

 

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(iv) At any time while any Event of Default is continuing, neither Borrower nor any Person claiming on behalf of or through the Borrower shall have any right to withdraw any of the funds held in the Facility LC Collateral Account. After all of the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full and the Aggregate Commitment has been terminated, any funds remaining in the Facility LC Collateral Account shall be returned by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower or paid to whomever may be legally entitled thereto at such time.

(v) If, within 30 days after acceleration of the maturity of the Obligations or termination of the obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and the obligation and power of the LC Issuer to issue Facility LCs hereunder as a result of any Event of Default (other than any Event of Default as described in Section 7.6 or 7.7 with respect to any Loan Party) and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the Obligations due shall have been obtained or entered, the Required Lenders (in their sole discretion) shall so direct, the Administrative Agent shall, by notice to the Borrower, rescind and annul such acceleration and/or termination.

(vi) Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of any other Event of Default, the Administrative Agent may, subject to the direction of the Required Lenders, exercise all rights and remedies under the Loan Documents and enforce all other rights and remedies under applicable law.

8.2. Application of Funds. After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.1 (or after the Obligations have automatically become immediately due and payable as set forth in the first sentence of Section 8.1(i)), any amounts received by the Administrative Agent on account of the Obligations shall be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:

8.2.1. First, to payment of 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;

8.2.2. Second, to payment of fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal, interest, LC Fees and Commitment Fees) payable to the Lenders and the LC Issuer (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Lenders and the LC Issuer as required by Section 9.6 and amounts payable under Article III);

8.2.3 Third, to payment of accrued and unpaid LC Fees, Commitment Fees and interest on the Loans and Reimbursement Obligations, ratably among the Lenders and the LC Issuer in proportion to the respective amounts described in this Section 8.2.3 payable to them;

8.2.4. Fourth, to payment of the unpaid principal of the Loans and Reimbursement Obligations, ratably among the Lenders in proportion to their Pro Rata Shares;

8.2.5. Fifth, to payment of all other Secured Obligations ratably among the Lenders;

 

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8.2.6. Sixth, to the Administrative Agent for deposit to the Facility LC Collateral Account; and

8.2.7. Last, the balance, if any, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by applicable law.

8.3. Amendments. Subject to the provisions of this Section 8.3, the Required Lenders (or the Administrative Agent with the consent in writing of the Required Lenders) and the Borrower may enter into agreements supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding or modifying any provisions to the Loan Documents or changing in any manner the rights of the Lenders or the Borrower hereunder or waiving any Event of Default hereunder; provided, however, that no such supplemental agreement shall:

 

  (i) without the consent of each Lender directly affected thereby, extend the final maturity of any Loan, or extend the expiry date of any Facility LC to a date after the Facility Termination Date (except as permitted under Section 2.20.1) or postpone any regularly scheduled payment of principal of any Loan or forgive all or any portion of the principal amount thereof or any Reimbursement Obligation related thereto, or reduce the rate (other than waivers of default interest) or extend the time of payment of interest or fees thereon or Reimbursement Obligations related thereto or increase the amount of the Commitment of any Lender hereunder.

 

  (ii) without the consent of all of the Lenders (other than any Defaulting Lender), reduce the percentage specified in the definition of Required Lenders.

 

  (iii) without the consent of all of the Lenders (other than any Defaulting Lender), extend the Facility Termination Date, or permit the Borrower to assign its rights under this Agreement.

 

  (iv) without the consent of all of the Lenders, amend this Section 8.3.

 

  (v) without the consent of all of the Lenders, release any guarantor of any Advance or, except as provided in the Collateral Documents, release all or substantially all of the Collateral.

No amendment of any provision of this Agreement relating to the Administrative Agent shall be effective without the written consent of the Administrative Agent, and no amendment of any provision relating to the LC Issuer shall be effective without the written consent of the LC Issuer.

8.4. Preservation of Rights. No delay or omission of the Lenders, the LC Issuer or the Administrative Agent to exercise any right under the Loan Documents shall impair such right or be construed to be a waiver of any Event of Default or an acquiescence therein, and the making of a Credit Extension notwithstanding the existence of a Event of Default or the inability of the Borrower to satisfy the conditions precedent to such Credit Extension shall not constitute any waiver or acquiescence. Any single or partial exercise of any such right shall not preclude other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, and no waiver, amendment or other

 

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variation of the terms, conditions or provisions of the Loan Documents whatsoever shall be valid unless in writing signed by the Lenders required pursuant to Section 8.3, and then only to the extent in such writing specifically set forth. All remedies contained in the Loan Documents or by law afforded shall be cumulative and all shall be available to the Administrative Agent, the LC Issuer and the Lenders until the Obligations have been paid in full.

ARTICLE IX

GENERAL PROVISIONS

9.1. Survival of Representations. All representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in this Agreement shall survive the making of the Credit Extensions herein contemplated.

9.2. Governmental Regulation. Anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, neither the LC Issuer nor any Lender shall be obligated to extend credit to the Borrower in violation of any limitation or prohibition provided by any applicable statute or regulation.

9.3. Headings. Section headings in the Loan Documents are for convenience of reference only, and shall not govern the interpretation of any of the provisions of the Loan Documents.

9.4. Entire Agreement. The Loan Documents embody the entire agreement and understanding among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the LC Issuer and the Lenders and supersede all prior agreements and understandings among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the LC Issuer and the Lenders relating to the subject matter thereof.

9.5. Several Obligations; Benefits of this Agreement. The respective obligations of the Lenders hereunder are several and not joint and no Lender shall be the partner or agent of any other (except to the extent to which the Administrative Agent is authorized to act as such). The failure of any Lender to perform any of its obligations hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender from any of its obligations hereunder. This Agreement shall not be construed so as to confer any right or benefit upon any Person other than the parties to this Agreement and their respective successors and assigns, provided, however, that the parties hereto expressly agree that the Arranger shall enjoy the benefits of the provisions of Sections 9.6, 9.10 and 10.11 to the extent specifically set forth therein and shall have the right to enforce such provisions on its own behalf and in its own name to the same extent as if it were a party to this Agreement.

9.6. Expenses; Indemnification. (i) The Borrower shall reimburse the Administrative Agent and the Arranger upon demand for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses paid or incurred by the Administrative Agent or the Arranger, including, without limitation, filing and recording costs and fees, costs of any environmental review (including the costs of internal review of a third party environmental review), charges and disbursements of outside counsel to the Administrative Agent and the Arranger (determined on the basis of such counsel’s generally applicable rates, which may be higher than the rates such counsel charges the Administrative Agent and the Arranger in certain matters), in connection with the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery, syndication, distribution (including, without limitation, via the internet), review, amendment, modification, and administration of the Loan Documents. The Borrower

 

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also agrees to reimburse the Administrative Agent, the Arranger, the LC Issuer and the Lenders for any costs, internal charges and out-of-pocket expenses, including charges and disbursements of outside counsel to the Administrative Agent, the Arranger, the LC Issuer and the Lenders (determined on the basis of such counsel’s generally applicable rates, which may be higher than the rates such counsel charges such parties in certain matters) and/or the allocated costs of in-house counsel incurred from time to time, paid or incurred by the Administrative Agent, the Arranger, the LC Issuer or any Lender in connection with the collection and enforcement of the Loan Documents. Expenses being reimbursed by the Borrower under this Section include, without limitation, costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Reports described in the following sentence. The Borrower acknowledges that from time to time the Administrative Agent may prepare and may distribute to the Lenders (but shall have no obligation or duty to prepare or to distribute to the Lenders) certain audit reports (the “Reports”) pertaining to the Borrower’s assets for internal use by the Administrative Agent from information furnished to it by or on behalf of the Borrower, after the Administrative Agent has exercised its rights of inspection pursuant to this Agreement.

(ii) The Borrower hereby further agrees to indemnify the Administrative Agent, the Arranger, the LC Issuer, each Lender, their respective affiliates, and each of their directors, officers and employees against all losses, claims, damages, penalties, judgments, liabilities and expenses (including, without limitation, all expenses of litigation or preparation therefor whether or not the Administrative Agent, the Arranger, the LC Issuer, any Lender or any affiliate is a party thereto) which any of them may pay or incur arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, the transactions contemplated hereby or the direct or indirect application or proposed application of the proceeds of any Credit Extension hereunder except to the extent that they are determined in a final non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the party seeking indemnification. The obligations of the Borrower under this Section 9.6 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

9.7. Numbers of Documents. At the request of the Administrative Agent, all statements, notices, closing documents, and requests hereunder (other than those furnished electronically) shall be furnished to the Administrative Agent with sufficient counterparts so that the Administrative Agent may furnish one to each of the Lenders.

9.8. Accounting. Except as provided to the contrary herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted and all accounting determinations hereunder shall be made in accordance with GAAP, except that any calculation or determination which is to be made on a consolidated basis shall be made for the Borrower and all of its Subsidiaries, including those Subsidiaries, if any, which are unconsolidated on the Borrower’s audited financial statements; provided, however that, notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made, without giving effect to any election under Accounting Standards Codification 825-10-25 (previously referred to as Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 159) (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Indebtedness or other liabilities of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries at “fair value”, as defined therein. If at any time any change in GAAP would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set

 

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forth in any Loan Document, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent 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, such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders reconciliation statements showing the difference in such calculation, together with the delivery of monthly, quarterly and annual financial statements required hereunder.

9.9. Severability of Provisions. Any provision in any Loan Document that is held to be inoperative, unenforceable, or invalid in any jurisdiction shall, as to that jurisdiction, be inoperative, unenforceable, or invalid without affecting the remaining provisions in that jurisdiction or the operation, enforceability, or validity of that provision in any other jurisdiction, and to this end the provisions of all Loan Documents are declared to be severable.

9.10. Nonliability of Lenders. The relationship between the Borrower on the one hand and the Lenders, the LC Issuer and the Administrative Agent on the other hand shall be solely that of borrower and lender. Neither the Administrative Agent, the Arranger, the LC Issuer nor any Lender shall have any fiduciary responsibilities to the Borrower. Neither the Administrative Agent, the Arranger, the LC Issuer nor any Lender undertakes any responsibility to the Borrower to review or inform the Borrower of any matter in connection with any phase of the Borrower’s business or operations. The Borrower agrees that neither the Administrative Agent, the Arranger, the LC Issuer nor any Lender shall have liability to the Borrower (whether sounding in tort, contract or otherwise) for losses suffered by the Borrower in connection with, arising out of, or in any way related to, the transactions contemplated and the relationship established by the Loan Documents, or any act, omission or event occurring in connection therewith, unless it is determined in a final non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction that such losses resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the party from which recovery is sought. Neither the Administrative Agent, the Arranger, the LC Issuer nor any Lender shall have any liability with respect to, and the Borrower hereby waives, releases and agrees not to sue for, any special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages suffered by the Borrower in connection with, arising out of, or in any way related to the Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated thereby.

9.11. Confidentiality. The Administrative Agent and each Lender agrees to hold any confidential information which it may receive from the Borrower in connection with this Agreement in confidence, except for disclosure (i) to its Affiliates and to the Administrative Agent and any other Lender and their respective Affiliates (it being understood that such Persons to whom disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such information and will be instructed to keep such information confidential), (ii) to legal counsel, accountants, and other professional advisors to the Administrative Agent or such Lender or to a Transferee provided any such parties agree or to be bound by this Section 9.11 or comparable confidentiality provisions), (iii) the extent requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it, (iv) to any Person as requested pursuant to or as required by law, regulation, or legal process, (v) to any Person in connection with any legal proceeding to which it is a party, provided such parties agree to be bound by this Section 9.11 or comparable confidentiality provisions, (vi) to its direct or indirect contractual counterparties in swap agreements or to legal counsel,

 

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accountants and other professional advisors to such counterparties, (vii) permitted by Section 12.4, and (viii) to rating agencies if requested or required by such agencies in connection with a rating relating to the Advances hereunder. Without limiting Section 9.4, the Borrower agrees that the terms of this Section 9.11 shall set forth the entire agreement between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and each Lender with respect to any confidential information previously or hereafter received by the Administrative Agent or such Lender in connection with this Agreement, and this Section 9.11 shall supersede any and all prior confidentiality agreements entered into by the Administrative Agent or any Lender with respect to such confidential information. In the case of any requested disclosure pursuant to clause (iv) or (v) above, the applicable Lender will give prompt notice of the request to the Borrower (unless prohibited by the terms of the applicable law, regulation, subpoena or other legal process or proceeding) so that the Borrower may endeavor to obtain a protective order or other assurance of confidential treatment.

9.12. Nonreliance. Each Lender hereby represents that it is not relying on or looking to any margin stock (as defined in Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System) for the repayment of the Credit Extensions provided for herein.

9.13. Disclosure. The Borrower and each Lender hereby acknowledge and agree that U.S. Bank and/or its Affiliates from time to time may hold investments in, make other loans to or have other relationships with the Borrower and its Affiliates.

9.14. USA PATRIOT ACT NOTIFICATION. The following notification is provided to Borrower pursuant to Section 326 of the USA Patriot Act of 2001, 31 U.S.C. Section 5318:

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

 

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ARTICLE X

THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

10.1. Appointment; Nature of Relationship. U.S. Bank National Association is hereby appointed by each of the Lenders as its contractual representative (herein referred to as the “Administrative Agent”) hereunder and under each other Loan Document, and each of the Lenders irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent to act as the contractual representative of such Lender with the rights and duties expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents. The Administrative Agent agrees to act as such contractual representative upon the express conditions contained in this Article X. Notwithstanding the use of the defined term “Administrative Agent,” it is expressly understood and agreed that the Administrative Agent shall not have any fiduciary responsibilities to any Lender by reason of this Agreement or any other Loan Document and that the Administrative Agent is merely acting as the contractual representative of the Lenders with only those duties as are expressly set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. In its capacity as the Lenders’ contractual representative, the Administrative Agent (i) does not hereby assume any fiduciary duties to any of the Lenders, (ii) is a “representative” of the Lenders within the meaning of the term “secured party” as defined in the Minnesota Uniform Commercial Code and (iii) is acting as an independent contractor, the rights and duties of which are limited to those expressly set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Each of the Lenders hereby agrees to assert no claim against the Administrative Agent on any agency theory or any other theory of liability for breach of fiduciary duty, all of which claims each Lender hereby waives.

10.2. Powers. The Administrative Agent shall have and may exercise such powers under the Loan Documents as are specifically delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms of each thereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The Administrative Agent shall have no implied duties to the Lenders, or any obligation to the Lenders to take any action thereunder except any action specifically provided by the Loan Documents to be taken by the Administrative Agent.

10.3. General Immunity. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its directors, officers, agents or employees shall be liable to the Borrower, the Lenders or any Lender for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it or them hereunder or under any other Loan Document or in connection herewith or therewith except to the extent such action or inaction is determined in a final non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have arisen from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Person.

10.4. No Responsibility for Loans, Recitals, etc. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its directors, officers, agents or employees shall be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into, or verify (a) any statement, warranty or representation made in connection with any Loan Document or any borrowing hereunder; (b) the performance or observance of any of the covenants or agreements of any obligor under any Loan Document, including, without limitation, any agreement by an obligor to furnish information directly to each Lender; (c) the satisfaction of any condition specified in Article IV, except receipt of items required to be delivered solely to the Administrative Agent; (d) the existence or possible existence of any Default or Event of Default; (e) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness, sufficiency or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other instrument or writing furnished in connection therewith; (f) the value, sufficiency, creation, perfection or priority of any Lien in any collateral security; or (g) the financial condition of the Borrower or any guarantor of any of the Obligations or of any of the Borrower’s or any such guarantor’s respective Subsidiaries.

 

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10.5. Action on Instructions of Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, hereunder and under any other Loan Document in accordance with written instructions signed by the Required Lenders, and such instructions and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding on all of the Lenders. The Lenders hereby acknowledge that the Administrative Agent shall be under no duty to take any discretionary action permitted to be taken by it pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement or any other Loan Document unless it shall be requested in writing to do so by the Required Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action hereunder and under any other Loan Document unless it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Lenders pro rata against any and all liability, cost and expense that it may incur by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action.

10.6. Employment of Administrative Agents and Counsel. The Administrative Agent may execute any of its duties as Administrative Agent hereunder and under any other Loan Document by or through employees, agents, and attorneys-in-fact and shall not be answerable to the Lenders, except as to money or securities received by it or its authorized agents, for the default or misconduct of any such agents or attorneys-in-fact selected by it with reasonable care. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to advice of counsel concerning the contractual arrangement between the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and all matters pertaining to the Administrative Agent’s duties hereunder and under any other Loan Document.

10.7. Reliance on Documents; Counsel. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon any Note, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telegram, facsimile, telex, electronic mail message, statement, paper or document believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed or sent by the proper person or persons, and, in respect to legal matters, upon the opinion of counsel selected by the Administrative Agent, which counsel may be employees of the Administrative Agent. For purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in Sections 4.1 and 4.2, 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 applicable date specifying its objection thereto.

10.8. Administrative Agent’s Reimbursement and Indemnification. The Lenders agree to reimburse and indemnify the Administrative Agent ratably in proportion to their respective Commitments (or, if the Commitments have been terminated, in proportion to their Commitments immediately prior to such termination) (i) for any amounts not reimbursed by the Borrower for which the Administrative Agent is entitled to reimbursement by the Borrower under the Loan Documents, (ii) for any other expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders, in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration and enforcement of the Loan Documents (including, without limitation, for any expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with any dispute between the Administrative Agent and any Lender or between two or more of the Lenders) and (iii) for any liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any

 

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kind and nature whatsoever which may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent in any way relating to or arising out of the Loan Documents or any other document delivered in connection therewith or the transactions contemplated thereby (including, without limitation, for any such amounts incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent in connection with any dispute between the Administrative Agent and any Lender or between two or more of the Lenders), or the enforcement of any of the terms of the Loan Documents or of any such other documents, provided that (i) no Lender shall be liable for any of the foregoing to the extent any of the foregoing is found in a final non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Administrative Agent and (ii) any indemnification required pursuant to Section 3.5(vii) shall, notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 10.8, be paid by the relevant Lender in accordance with the provisions thereof. The obligations of the Lenders under this Section 10.8 shall survive payment of the Obligations and termination of this Agreement.

10.9. Notice of Event of Default. The Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default hereunder unless the Administrative Agent has received written notice from a Lender or the Borrower referring to this Agreement describing such Default or Event of Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of default”. In the event that the Administrative Agent receives such a notice, the Administrative Agent shall give prompt notice thereof to the Lenders; provided that, except as expressly set forth in the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that is communicated to or obtained by the bank serving as Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.

10.10. Rights as a Lender. In the event the Administrative Agent is a Lender, the Administrative Agent shall have the same rights and powers hereunder and under any other Loan Document with respect to its Commitment and its Loans as any Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent, and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, at any time when the Administrative Agent is a Lender, unless the context otherwise indicates, include the Administrative Agent in its individual capacity. The Administrative Agent and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, and generally engage in any kind of trust, debt, equity or other transaction, in addition to those contemplated by this Agreement or any other Loan Document, with the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in which the Borrower or such Subsidiary is not restricted hereby from engaging with any other Person.

10.11. Lender Credit Decision, Legal Representation.

(a) Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the Arranger or any other Lender and based on the financial statements prepared by the Borrower and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the Arranger or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Except for any notice, report, document

 

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or other information expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent or Arranger hereunder, neither the Administrative Agent nor the Arranger shall have any duty or responsibility (either initially or on a continuing basis) to provide any Lender with any notice, report, document, credit information or other information concerning the affairs, financial condition or business of the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that may come into the possession of the Administrative Agent or Arranger (whether or not in their respective capacity as Administrative Agent or Arranger) or any of their Affiliates.

(b) Each Lender further acknowledges that it has had the opportunity to be represented by legal counsel in connection with its execution of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, that it has made its own evaluation of all applicable laws and regulations relating to the transactions contemplated hereby, and that the counsel to the Administrative Agent represents only the Administrative Agent and not the Lenders in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

10.12. Successor Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Lenders and the Borrower, such resignation to be effective upon the appointment of a successor Administrative Agent or, if no successor Administrative Agent has been appointed, forty-five days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its intention to resign. The Administrative Agent may be removed at any time with or without cause by written notice received by the Administrative Agent from the Required Lenders, such removal to be effective on the date specified by the Required Lenders. Upon any such resignation or removal, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint, on behalf of the Borrower and the Lenders, a successor Administrative Agent. If no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders within thirty days after the resigning Administrative Agent’s giving notice of its intention to resign, then the resigning Administrative Agent may appoint, on behalf of the Borrower and the Lenders, a successor Administrative Agent. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, the Administrative Agent may at any time without the consent of the Borrower or any Lender, appoint any of its Affiliates which is a commercial bank as a successor Administrative Agent hereunder. If the Administrative Agent has resigned or been removed and no successor Administrative Agent has been appointed, the Lenders may perform all the duties of the Administrative Agent hereunder and the Borrower shall make all payments in respect of the Obligations to the applicable Lender and for all other purposes shall deal directly with the Lenders. No successor Administrative Agent shall be deemed to be appointed hereunder until such successor Administrative Agent has accepted the appointment. Any such successor Administrative Agent shall be a commercial bank having capital and retained earnings of at least $100,000,000. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor Administrative Agent, such successor Administrative Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the resigning or removed Administrative Agent. Upon the effectiveness of the resignation or removal of the Administrative Agent, the resigning or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the Loan Documents. After the effectiveness of the resignation or removal of an Administrative Agent, the provisions of this Article X shall continue in effect for the benefit of such Administrative Agent in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was acting as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents.

 

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10.13. Administrative Agent and Arranger Fees. The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent and the Arranger, for their respective accounts, the fees agreed to by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Arranger as agreed from time to time in writing.

10.14. Delegation to Affiliates. The Borrower and the Lenders agree that the Administrative Agent may delegate any of its duties under this Agreement to any of its Affiliates. Any such Affiliate (and such Affiliate’s directors, officers, agents and employees) which performs duties in connection with this Agreement shall be entitled to the same benefits of the indemnification, waiver and other protective provisions to which the Administrative Agent is entitled under Articles IX and X.

10.15. Execution of Collateral Documents. The Lenders hereby empower and authorize the Administrative Agent to execute and deliver to the Borrower on their behalf any financing statements, agreements, documents or instruments as shall be necessary or appropriate to effect the purposes of the Collateral Documents.

10.16. Collateral Releases. The Lenders hereby empower and authorize the Administrative Agent to execute and deliver to the Borrower on their behalf any agreements, documents or instruments as shall be necessary or appropriate to effect any releases of Collateral which shall be permitted by the terms hereof or of any other Loan Document or which shall otherwise have been approved by the Required Lenders (or, if required by the terms of Section 8.2, all of the Lenders) in writing.

10.17. Co-Administrative Agents, Documentation Administrative Agent, Syndication Administrative Agent, etc. Neither any of the Lenders identified in this Agreement as a “co-agent” nor the Documentation Administrative Agent or the Syndication Administrative Agent shall have any right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement other than those applicable to all Lenders as such. Without limiting the foregoing, none of such Lenders shall have or be deemed to have a fiduciary relationship with any Lender. Each Lender hereby makes the same acknowledgments with respect to such Lenders as it makes with respect to the Administrative Agent in Section 10.11.

ARTICLE XI

SETOFF; RATABLE PAYMENTS

11.1. Setoff. The Borrower hereby grants each Lender a security interest in all deposits, credits and deposit accounts (including all account balances, whether provisional or final and whether or not collected or available) of the Borrower with such Lender or any Affiliate of such Lender (the “Deposits”). In addition to, and without limitation of, any rights of the Lenders under applicable law, if the Borrower becomes insolvent, however evidenced, or any Event of Default occurs, Borrower authorize each Lender to offset and apply all such Deposits toward the payment of the Obligations owing to such Lender, whether or not the Obligations, or any part thereof, shall then be due and regardless of the existence or adequacy of any collateral, guaranty or any other security, right or remedy available to such Lender or the Lenders.

11.2. Ratable Payments. If any Lender, whether by setoff or otherwise, has payment made to it upon its Outstanding Credit Exposure (other than payments received pursuant to

 

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Section 3.1, 3.2 or 3.5) in a greater proportion than that received by any other Lender, such Lender agrees, promptly upon demand, to purchase a portion of the Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure held by the other Lenders so that after such purchase each Lender will hold its Pro Rata Share of the Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure. If any Lender, whether in connection with setoff or amounts which might be subject to setoff or otherwise, receives collateral or other protection for its Obligations or such amounts which may be subject to setoff, such Lender agrees, promptly upon demand, to take such action necessary such that all Lenders share in the benefits of such collateral ratably in proportion to their respective Pro Rata Shares of the Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure. In case any such payment is disturbed by legal process, or otherwise, appropriate further adjustments shall be made.

ARTICLE XII

BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT; ASSIGNMENTS; PARTICIPATIONS

12.1. Successors and Assigns. The terms and provisions of the Loan Documents shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Borrower and the Lenders and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that (i) the Borrower shall not have the right to assign its rights or obligations under the Loan Documents without the prior written consent of each Lender, (ii) any assignment by any Lender must be made in compliance with Section 12.3, and (iii) any transfer by Participation must be made in compliance with Section 12.2. Any attempted assignment or transfer by any party not made in compliance with this Section 12.1 shall be null and void, unless such attempted assignment or transfer is treated as a participation in accordance with Section 12.3.3. The parties to this Agreement acknowledge that clause (ii) of this Section 12.1 relates only to absolute assignments and this Section 12.1 does not prohibit assignments creating security interests, including, without limitation, (x) any pledge or assignment by any Lender of all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement and any Note to a Federal Reserve Bank or (y) in the case of a Lender which is a Fund, any pledge or assignment of all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement and any Note to its trustee in support of its obligations to its trustee; provided, however, that no such pledge or assignment creating a security interest shall release the transferor Lender from its obligations hereunder unless and until the parties thereto have complied with the provisions of Section 12.3. The Administrative Agent may treat the Person which made any Loan or which holds any Note as the owner thereof for all purposes hereof unless and until such Person complies with Section 12.3; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent may in its discretion (but shall not be required to) follow instructions from the Person which made any Loan or which holds any Note to direct payments relating to such Loan or Note to another Person. Any assignee of the rights to any Loan or any Note agrees by acceptance of such assignment to be bound by all the terms and provisions of the Loan Documents. Any request, authority or consent of any Person, who at the time of making such request or giving such authority or consent is the owner of the rights to any Loan (whether or not a Note has been issued in evidence thereof), shall be conclusive and binding on any subsequent holder or assignee of the rights to such Loan.

12.2. Participations.

12.2.1. Permitted Participants; Effect. Any Lender may at any time sell to one or more banks or other entities (“Participants”) participating interests in any Outstanding Credit Exposure owing to such Lender, any Note held by such Lender, any Commitment

 

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of such Lender or any other interest of such Lender under the Loan Documents. In the event of any such sale by a Lender of participating interests to a Participant, such Lender’s obligations under the Loan Documents shall remain unchanged, such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations, such Lender shall remain the owner of its Outstanding Credit Exposure and the holder of any Note issued to it in evidence thereof for all purposes under the Loan Documents, all amounts payable by the Borrower under this Agreement shall be determined as if such Lender had not sold such participating interests, and the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under the Loan Documents.

12.2.2. Voting Rights. Each Lender shall retain the sole right to approve, without the consent of any Participant, any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of the Loan Documents other than any amendment, modification or waiver with respect to any Outstanding Credit Exposure or Commitment in which such Participant has an interest which would require consent of all of the Lenders pursuant to the terms of Section 8.2 or of any other Loan Document.

12.2.3. Benefit of Certain Provisions. The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be deemed to have the right of setoff provided in Section 11.1 in respect of its participating interest in amounts owing under the Loan Documents to the same extent as if the amount of its participating interest were owing directly to it as a Lender under the Loan Documents, provided that each Lender shall retain the right of setoff provided in Section 11.1 with respect to the amount of participating interests sold to each Participant. The Lenders agree to share with each Participant, and each Participant, by exercising the right of setoff provided in Section 11.1, agrees to share with each Lender, any amount received pursuant to the exercise of its right of setoff, such amounts to be shared in accordance with Section 11.2 as if each Participant were a Lender. The Borrower further agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.1, 3.2, 3.5, 9.6 and 9.10 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section 12.3, provided that (i) a Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 3.1, 3.2 or 3.5 than the Lender who sold the participating interest to such Participant would have received had it retained such interest for its own account, unless the sale of such interest to such Participant is made with the prior written consent of the Borrower, and (ii) any Participant not incorporated under the laws of the United States of America or any State thereof agrees to comply with the provisions of Section 3.5 to the same extent as if it were a Lender.

12.3. Assignments.

12.3.1. Permitted Assignments. Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more Eligible Assignees (“Purchasers”) all or any part of its rights and obligations under the Loan Documents. Such assignment shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit C or in such other form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent as may be agreed to by the parties thereto. Each such assignment with respect to a Purchaser which is not a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund shall either be in an amount equal to the entire applicable Commitment and Outstanding Credit Exposure of the

 

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assigning Lender or (unless each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consents) be in an aggregate amount not less than $5,000,000. The amount of the assignment shall be based on the Commitment or Outstanding Credit Exposure (if the Commitment has been terminated) subject to the assignment, determined as of the date of such assignment or as of the “Trade Date,” if the “Trade Date” is specified in the assignment.

12.3.2. Consents. The consent of the Borrower shall be required prior to an assignment becoming effective unless the Purchaser is a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, provided that the consent of the Borrower shall not be required if a Event of Default has occurred and is continuing. The consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required prior to an assignment becoming effective unless the Purchaser is a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund. The consent of the Issuing Bank shall be required prior to an assignment of a Revolving Commitment becoming effective unless the Purchaser is a Lender with a Revolving Commitment. Any consent required under this Section 12.3.2 shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

12.3.3. Effect; Effective Date. Upon (i) delivery to the Administrative Agent of an assignment, together with any consents required by Sections 12.3.1 and 12.3.2, and (ii) payment of a $3,500 fee to the Administrative Agent for processing such assignment (unless such fee is waived by the Administrative Agent), such assignment shall become effective on the effective date specified in such assignment. The assignment shall contain a representation by the Purchaser to the effect that none of the consideration used to make the purchase of the Commitment and Outstanding Credit Exposure under the applicable assignment agreement constitutes “plan assets” as defined under ERISA and that the rights and interests of the Purchaser in and under the Loan Documents will not be “plan assets” under ERISA. On and after the effective date of such assignment, such Purchaser shall for all purposes be a Lender party to this Agreement and any other Loan Document executed by or on behalf of the Lenders and shall have all the rights and obligations of a Lender under the Loan Documents, to the same extent as if it were an original party thereto, and the transferor Lender shall be released with respect to the Commitment and Outstanding Credit Exposure assigned to such Purchaser without any further consent or action by the Borrower, the Lenders or the Administrative Agent. In the case of an assignment covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a Lender hereunder but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of, and subject to, those provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents which survive payment of the Obligations and termination of the applicable agreement. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 12.3 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 Section 12.2. Upon the consummation of any assignment to a Purchaser pursuant to this Section 12.3.3, the transferor Lender, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall, if the transferor Lender or the Purchaser desires that its Loans be evidenced by Notes, make appropriate arrangements so that new Notes or, as appropriate, replacement Notes are issued to such transferor Lender and new Notes or, as appropriate, replacement Notes, are issued to such Purchaser, in each case in principal amounts reflecting their respective Commitments, as adjusted pursuant to such assignment.

 

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12.3.4. Register. The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices in the United States of America, 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 owing to, each Lender, and participations of each Lender in Facility LCs, 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 at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

12.4. Dissemination of Information. The Borrower authorizes each Lender to disclose to any Participant or Purchaser or any other Person acquiring an interest in the Loan Documents by operation of law (each a “Transferee”) and any prospective Transferee any and all information in such Lender’s possession concerning the creditworthiness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including without limitation any information contained in any Reports; provided that each Transferee and prospective Transferee agrees to be bound by Section 9.11 of this Agreement.

12.5. Tax Treatment. If any interest in any Loan Document is transferred to any Transferee which is not incorporated under the laws of the United States or any State thereof, the transferor Lender shall cause such Transferee, concurrently with the effectiveness of such transfer, to comply with the provisions of Section 3.5(iv).

ARTICLE XIII

NOTICES

13.1. 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 paragraph (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:

(i) if to any Borrower, at its address or telecopier number set forth on the signature page hereof;

(ii) if to the Administrative Agent, at its address or telecopier number set forth on the signature page hereof;

(iii) if to the Issuing Bank, at its address or telecopier number set forth on the signature page hereof;

(iv) if to a Lender, to it at its address (or telecopier number) set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire.

 

68


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 paragraph (b) below, shall be effective as provided in said paragraph (b).

(b) Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the Issuing Bank 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 or as otherwise determined by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or the Issuing Bank pursuant to Article II if such Lender or the Issuing Bank, 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 their respective discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it or as it otherwise determines, provided that such determination or approval may be limited to particular notices or communications, and provided further that the Administrative Agent shall furnish and deliver any notice of default in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.1(a).

Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), provided that if such notice or other communication is not given during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been given 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) Change of Address, Etc. Any party hereto may change its address or telecopier number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.

 

69


ARTICLE XIV

COUNTERPARTS; INTEGRATION; EFFECTIVENESS; ELECTRONIC EXECUTION

14.1. Counterparts; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. Except as provided in Article IV, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent, and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

14.2. Electronic Execution of Assignments. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any assignment and assumption agreement 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, or any other state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

ARTICLE XV

CHOICE OF LAW; CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL

15.1. CHOICE OF LAW. THE LOAN DOCUMENTS (OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINING A CONTRARY EXPRESS CHOICE OF LAW PROVISION) SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS (WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAWS PROVISIONS) OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, BUT GIVING EFFECT TO FEDERAL LAWS APPLICABLE TO NATIONAL BANKS.

15.2. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. THE BORROWER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY UNITED STATES FEDERAL OR STATE COURT SITTING IN MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENTS AND THE BORROWER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN ANY SUCH COURT AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE AS TO THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN SUCH A COURT OR THAT SUCH COURT IS AN INCONVENIENT FORUM. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL LIMIT THE RIGHT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, THE LC ISSUER OR ANY LENDER TO BRING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE BORROWER IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING BY THE BORROWER AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, THE LC ISSUER OR ANY LENDER OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, THE LC ISSUER

 

70


OR ANY LENDER INVOLVING, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ANY MATTER IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR CONNECTED WITH ANY LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL BE BROUGHT ONLY IN A COURT IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK.

15.3. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. THE BORROWER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, THE LC ISSUER AND EACH LENDER HEREBY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING INVOLVING, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ANY MATTER (WHETHER SOUNDING IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR CONNECTED WITH ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE RELATIONSHIP ESTABLISHED THEREUNDER.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

71


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrower, the Lenders, the LC Issuer and the Administrative Agent have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

CARIBOU COFFEE COMPANY, INC.
By:  

/s/ Timothy J. Hennessy

Title:  

Chief Financial Officer

  3900 Lakebreeze Avenue North
  Brooklyn Center, MN 55429
Attention:  

Dan Lee

  Telephone:   (763) 592-2456
  FAX:   (763) 592-2420

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as a Lender, as LC Issuer and as Administrative

Agent

By:  

/s/ Doug Pudvah

Title:  

Vice President

  BC-MN-H03W
  800 Nicollet Mall, 3rd Floor
  Minneapolis, MN 55402-7020
Attention:  

B. Doug Pudvah

  Telephone:   (612) 303-3558
  FAX:   (612) 303-3638

 

72


SCHEDULE I

Commitments

 

Name of Lender

   Commitment Amount  

U.S. Bank National Association

   $ 25,000,000   

 

73


EXHIBIT A

FORM OF OPINION

                    ,

The Administrative Agent, the LC Issuer and the Lenders who are parties to the Credit Agreement described below.

***The addresses should not be modified without the consent of U.S. Bank’s Law Department.***

Gentlemen/Ladies:

We are counsel for                      (the “Borrower”), and have represented the Borrower in connection with its execution and delivery of a Credit Agreement dated as of                      (the “Agreement”) among the Borrower, the Lenders named therein, and U.S. Bank National Association, as Administrative Agent and as LC Issuer, and providing for Credit Extensions in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $         at any one time outstanding. All capitalized terms used in this opinion and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings attributed to them in the Agreement.

We have examined the Borrower’s **[describe constitutive documents of Borrower and appropriate evidence of authority to enter into the transaction]**, the Loan Documents and such other matters of fact and law which we deem necessary in order to render this opinion. Based upon the foregoing, it is our opinion that:

l. Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company duly and properly incorporated or organized, as the case may be, validly existing and (to the extent such concept applies to such entity) in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization and has all requisite authority to conduct its business in each jurisdiction in which its business is conducted.

2. The execution and delivery by the Borrower of the Loan Documents **[to which it is a party]** and the performance by the Borrower of its obligations thereunder have been duly authorized by proper corporate proceedings on the part of the Borrower and will not:

(a) require any consent of the Borrower’ shareholders or members (other than any such consent as has already been given and remains in full force and effect);

(b) violate (i) any law, rule, regulation, order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree or award binding on the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) the Borrower’ or any Subsidiary’s articles or certificate of incorporation, partnership agreement, certificate of partnership, articles or certificate of organization, by-laws, or operating or other management agreement, as the case may be, or (iii) the provisions of any indenture, instrument or agreement to which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or is subject, or by which it, or its Property, is bound, or conflict with or constitute a default thereunder; or

 

EXH. A-1


(c) result in, or require, the creation or imposition of any Lien in, of or on the Property of the Borrower or a Subsidiary pursuant to the terms of any indenture, instrument or agreement binding upon the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

3. The Loan Documents to which the Borrower is a party have been duly executed and delivered by the Borrower and constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Borrower enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with their terms except to the extent the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and subject also to the availability of equitable remedies if equitable remedies are sought.

4. There is no litigation, arbitration, governmental investigation, proceeding or inquiry pending or, to the best of our knowledge after due inquiry, threatened against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries which, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5. No order, consent, adjudication, approval, license, authorization, or validation of, or filing, recording or registration with, or exemption by, or other action in respect of any governmental or public body or authority, or any subdivision thereof, which has not been obtained by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, is required to be obtained by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents, the borrowings under the Agreement, the payment and performance by the Borrower of the Obligations, or the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability of any of the Loan Documents.

6. The Obligations constitute senior indebtedness which is entitled to the benefits of the subordination provisions of all outstanding Subordinated Indebtedness.

7. The provisions of the Collateral Documents are sufficient to create in favor of the Lenders and, to the extent they have entered into Rate Management Transactions with the Borrower, the Lenders’ Affiliates, a security interest in all right, title and interest of the Borrower in those items and types of collateral described in the Collateral Documents in which a security interest may be created under Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect on the date hereof in [                    ]. Financing statements on Form UCC-1’s have been duly executed by the Borrower and have been duly filed in each filing office indicated in Exhibit A hereto under the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in each state in which said filing offices are located. The description of the collateral set forth in said financing statements is sufficient to perfect a security interest in the items and types of collateral described therein in which a security interest may be perfected by the filing of a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in such states. Such filings are sufficient to perfect the security interest created by the Collateral Documents in all right, title and interest of the Borrower in those items and types of collateral described in the Collateral Documents in which a security interest may be perfected by the filing of a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code in such states, except that we express no opinion as to personal property affixed to real property in such manner as to

 

EXH. A-2


become a fixture under the laws of any state in which the collateral may be located and we call your attention to the fact that the Lenders’ (and, if applicable, their Affiliates’) security interest in certain of such collateral may not be perfected by filing financing statements under the Uniform Commercial Code.

8. The Administrative Agent will have a perfected security interest in pledged securities upon delivery (within the meaning of Section 8-301 of the Uniform Commercial Code) to the Administrative Agent in the State of                      of the certificates representing the pledged securities in registered form, issued or endorsed in the name of the Administrative Agent or in blank by an effective endorsement or accompanied by undated stock powers duly endorsed in blank by an effective endorsement.

This opinion may be relied upon by the Administrative Agent, the LC Issuer, the Lenders and their participants, assignees and other transferees.

Very truly yours,

 

EXH. A-3


EXHIBIT B

COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

 

Caribou Coffee Company, Inc.        
COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE        

US BANK N.A

    FOR PERIOD ENDING    

 

   
Company Covenants         Actual   Requirement   when
6.21.1            

Fixed Charge Coverage > 1.25x on LTM basis

       

$                                                   —  

    /              $                                                 —       #DIV/0!   1.25   Quarterly

 

   

 

   

 

   

Numerator

    Denominator        

+net income

   

+Consolidated interest expense

  $ —           

+Consolidated interest expense

    +Consolidated Rentals   $ —           

+taxes (accrued or cash taxes)

   

+current maturities of Indebtedness

       

+depreciation

           

+amortization

           

+rents

           

- extraordinary income

           

+ extraordinary expense

           

Consolidated EBITDA

  $     —               
 

 

 

           

Consolidated Rentals

           
  $ —          $         —           
 

 

 

     

 

 

       

6.21.2

           

Leverage Ratio (Adjusted Total Debt/Consolidated EBITDAR < 3.5x)

       

$                                                 —  

    /              $                                                 —       #DIV/0!   3.50   Quarterly

 

   

 

   

 

   

Numerator

    Denominator        

+Consolidated funded Indebtedness

    Consolidated EBITDA   $ —           

Consolidated Rentals

  $ —        +Consolidated Rentals   $ —           

    × 6

           

Adjusted Consolidated Rentals

  $ —               
Adjusted Total Debt   $ —          $ —           
 

 

 

     

 

 

       
6.11 Indebtedness         $        —     < $1,000,000  
6.13 Sale of Assets         $        —     < 10% assets or net income
6.14 Investments         $        —     < $500,000  
6.16 Liens         $        —     < $100,000  

The undersigned hereby certifies that the foregoing information is true and correct in all particulars and is not in default under any Loan Agreement between itself and Bank.

 

   Caribou Coffee Company, Inc.            
              
   by:            
              
   its:            
              
   Date Signed:            


EXHIBIT C

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT

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

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

 

1.      Assignor:   

 

  
2.      Assignee:   

 

   [and is an Affiliate/ Approved Fund of [identify Lender]1
3.      Borrowers(s):   

 

  

 

1 

Select as applicable.

 

EXH. C-1


4.   Administrative Agent:                                                , as the agent under the Credit Agreement.
5.   Credit Agreement:   The [amount] Credit Agreement dated as of                      among [name of Borrowers(s)], the Lenders party thereto, U.S. Bank National Association, as Administrative Agent, and the other agents party thereto.
6.   Assigned Interest:  

 

Facility Assigned

   Aggregate Amount of
Commitment/Loans
for all Lenders*
     Amount of
Commitment/Loans
Assigned*
     Percentage Assigned
of

Commitment/Loans2
 

                    3

   $                    $                                          

                    

   $                    $                                          

                    

   $                    $                                          

 

7.   Trade Date:                                                       4

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

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

 

ASSIGNOR
[NAME OF ASSIGNOR]
By:  

 

Title:  
ASSIGNEE
[NAME OF ASSIGNEE]
By:  

 

Title:  

 

EXH. C-2


[Consented to and]5 Accepted:

U.S. BANK NATIONAL

ASSOCIATION, as

Administrative Agent

 

By:  

 

Title:  

[Consented to:]6

 

*

Amount to be adjusted by the counterparties to take into account any payments or prepayments made between the Trade Date and the Effective Date.

2 

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

3 

Fill in the appropriate terminology for the types of facilities under the Credit Agreement that are being assigned under this Assignment (e.g. “Revolving Credit Commitment,” “Term Loan Commitment,”, etc.)

4 

Insert if satisfaction of minimum amounts is to be determined as of the Trade Date.

5 

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

6 

To be added only if the consent of the Borrower and/or other parties (e.g. L/C Issuer) is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF RELEVANT PARTY]
By:  

 

Title:  

 

EXH. C-3


ANNEX 1

TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

1. Representations and Warranties.

1.1 Assignor. The Assignor represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of the Assigned Interest, (ii) the Assigned Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim and (iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. Neither the Assignor nor any of its officers, directors, employees, agents or attorneys shall be responsible for (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency, perfection, priority, collectibility, or value of the Loan Documents or any collateral thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person obligated in respect of any Loan Document, (iv) the performance or observance by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person of any of their respective obligations under any Loan Documents, (v) inspecting any of the property, books or records of the Borrower, or any guarantor, or (vi) any mistake, error of judgment, or action taken or omitted to be taken in connection with the Loans or the Loan Documents.

1.2. Assignee. The Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) from and after the Effective Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement as a Lender thereunder and, to the extent of the Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder, (iii) agrees that its payment instructions and notice instructions are as set forth in Schedule 1 to this Assignment and Assumption, (iv) confirms that none of the funds, monies, assets or other consideration being used to make the purchase and assumption hereunder are “plan assets” as defined under ERISA and that its rights, benefits and interests in and under the Loan Documents will not be “plan assets” under ERISA, (v) agrees to indemnify and hold the Assignor harmless against all losses, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees) and liabilities incurred by the Assignor in connection with or arising in any manner from the Assignee’s non-performance of the obligations assumed under this Assignment and Assumption, (vi) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of financial statements and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase the Assigned Interest on the basis of which it has made such analysis and decision independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, and (vii) attached as Schedule 1 to this Assignment and Assumption is any documentation required to be delivered by the Assignee with respect to its tax status pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by the Assignee and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent, the Assignor or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Loan Documents, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender.


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

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


EXHIBIT D

[FORM OF] BORROWING NOTICE

TO: U.S. Bank National Association, as administrative agent (the “Administrative Agent”) under that certain Credit Agreement (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), dated as of                      among                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         (the “Borrower”), the financial institutions party thereto, as lenders (the “Lenders”), and the Administrative Agent.

Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

The undersigned Borrower hereby gives to the Administrative Agent a Borrowing Request pursuant to Section 2.9 of the Credit Agreement, and the Borrower hereby requests to borrow on             , 20     (the “Borrowing Date”):

from the Lenders, on a pro rata basis, an aggregate principal amount of $         in Revolving Loans as:

The undersigned hereby certifies to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that (i) all of the representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in the Credit Agreement are true and correct (or, if any such representation or warranty is expressly stated to have been made as of a specific date, as of such specific date) on and as of the date of the Advance requested herein; (ii) at the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Advance, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and (iii) all other relevant conditions set forth in Section 4.2 of the Credit Agreement have been satisfied.

******

 

EXH. D-1


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Borrowing Notice to be executed by its authorized officer as of the date set forth below.

Dated:             , 20    

 

 

By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

EXH. D-2


EXHIBIT F

Form of Note attached.

 

EXH. F-1