UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 20, 2007
Comfort Systems USA, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware |
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1-13011 |
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76-0526487 |
(State or other jurisdiction |
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(Commission |
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(IRS Employer |
of incorporation) |
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File Number) |
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Identification No.) |
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777 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 500 |
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Houston, Texas |
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77056 |
(Address of principal executive offices) |
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(Zip Code) |
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (713) 830-9600
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement
On February 20, 2007, Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (the Company) entered into an amended and restated senior credit facility (the Facility) arranged by Wachovia Bank, N.A. and provided by a syndicate of banks including Capital One, N.A. and Bank of Texas, N.A. The Facility is secured by substantially all of our assets except for assets related to projects subject to surety bonds. The Facility consists of a revolving credit facility that provides a $100 million line of credit to the Company. This line of credit replaces the Companys prior credit facility, which was entered into on June 30, 2005.
The new Facility will expire in February 2012. The Facility contains only two financial covenants, which are:
Leverage Ratio The Facility requires the ratio of the Companys indebtedness less cash and cash equivalents to its Credit Facility Adjusted EBITDA not exceed 2.50.
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio The Facility requires that the ratio of Credit Facility Adjusted EBITDA, less non-financed capital expenditures, tax provision, dividends and amounts used to repurchase stock to the sum of interest expense and scheduled principal payments be at least 1.50. Capital expenditures, tax provision, dividends and stock repurchase payments are defined under the Facility for purposes of this covenant to be amounts for the four quarters ending as of any given quarterly covenant compliance measurement date. The calculation of the fixed charge coverage ratio was redefined to exclude acquisitions, stock repurchases and the payment of cash dividends, provided that the Leverage Ratio does not exceed 1.0.
Other Restrictions The Facility permits acquisitions of up to $25 million per transaction, or $50 million in the aggregate. However, these limitations only apply when the Leverage Ratio is greater than 1.0.
The Company also issued a press release announcing the new Facility. A copy of the press release has been furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this current report.
The foregoing description does not purport to be a complete statement of the parties rights and obligations under the Facility. The above description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Facility, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this current report.
Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers
(b) In a letter dated February 26, 2007 addressed to the Company, Steven S. Harter resigned from the board of directors of the Company effective February 26, 2007. Prior to his resignation Mr. Harter served on the audit committee of the board of directors.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits
The following exhibits are included herein:
10.1 Amended and Restated Credit Agreement by and among Comfort Systems USA, Inc., as Borrower and Wachovia Bank, N.A., as Lead Arranger and Administrative Agent / Bank of Texas, N.A., as Co-Agent / Capital One, N.A. as Co-Agent / and Certain Financial Institutions as Lenders.
99.1 Press release dated February 26, 2007.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
COMFORT SYSTEMS USA, INC. |
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By: |
/s/ Trent T. McKenna |
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Trent T. McKenna, Vice President |
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and General Counsel |
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Date: February 26, 2007
Exhibit 10.1
AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
by and among
COMFORT SYSTEMS USA, INC.,
as Borrower
and
WACHOVIA BANK, N.A.,
as Lead Arranger and Administrative Agent
BANK OF TEXAS, N.A.,
as Co-Agent
CAPITAL ONE, N.A.,
as Co-Agent
and
CERTAIN FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
as Lenders
$100,000,000
February 20, 2007
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND REFERENCES |
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Section 1.1 |
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Defined Terms |
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Section 1.2 |
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Exhibits and Schedules; Additional Definitions |
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Section 1.3 |
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Amendment of Defined Instruments |
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Section 1.4 |
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References and Titles |
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Section 1.5 |
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Calculations and Determinations |
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Section 1.6 |
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Joint Preparation; Construction of Indemnities and Releases |
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ARTICLE II THE LOANS AND LETTERS OF CREDIT |
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Section 2.1 |
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Commitments to Lend; Notes |
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Section 2.2 |
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Requests for Revolving Loans |
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Section 2.3 |
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Continuations and Conversions of Existing Loans |
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Section 2.4 |
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Use of Proceeds |
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Section 2.5 |
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Interest Rates and Fees; Payment Dates |
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Section 2.6 |
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Optional Prepayments and Voluntary Reduction of Commitment. |
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Section 2.7 |
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Mandatory Prepayments |
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Section 2.8 |
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Intentionally Left Blank |
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Section 2.9 |
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Letters of Credit |
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Section 2.10 |
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Requesting Letters of Credit |
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Section 2.11 |
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Reimbursement and Participations |
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Section 2.12 |
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Letter of Credit Fees |
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Section 2.13 |
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No Duty to Inquire |
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Section 2.14 |
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LC Collateral |
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Section 2.15 |
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Existing Letters of Credit |
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ARTICLE III PAYMENTS TO LENDERS |
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Section 3.1 |
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General Procedures |
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Section 3.2 |
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Capital Reimbursement |
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Section 3.3 |
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Increased Cost of Eurodollar Loans or Letters of Credit |
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Section 3.4 |
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Illegality |
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Section 3.5 |
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Funding Losses |
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Section 3.6 |
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Reimbursable Taxes |
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Section 3.7 |
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Alternative Rate of Interest |
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Section 3.8 |
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Change of Applicable Lending Office; Replacement of Lenders |
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ARTICLE IV CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO LENDING |
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Section 4.1 |
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Documents to be Delivered |
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Section 4.2 |
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Additional Conditions Precedent |
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ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
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Section 5.1 |
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No Default |
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Section 5.2 |
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Organization and Good Standing |
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Section 5.3 |
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Authorization |
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Section 5.4 |
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No Conflicts or Consents |
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Section 5.5 |
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Enforceable Obligations |
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Section 5.6 |
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Initial Financial Statements |
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Section 5.7 |
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Other Obligations and Restrictions |
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Section 5.8 |
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Full Disclosure |
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Section 5.9 |
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Litigation |
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Section 5.10 |
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Labor Disputes and Acts of God |
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Section 5.11 |
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ERISA Plans and Liabilities |
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Section 5.12 |
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Environmental and Other Laws |
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Section 5.13 |
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Names and Places of Business |
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Section 5.14 |
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Subsidiaries |
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Section 5.15 |
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Government Regulation |
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Section 5.16 |
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Insider |
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Section 5.17 |
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Solvency |
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Section 5.18 |
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Tax Shelter Regulations |
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Section 5.19 |
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Title to Properties; Licenses |
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Section 5.20 |
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Regulation U |
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ARTICLE VI AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS OF BORROWER. |
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Section 6.1 |
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Payment and Performance |
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Section 6.2 |
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Books, Financial Statements and Reports |
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Section 6.3 |
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Other Information and Inspections |
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Section 6.4 |
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Notice of Material Events and Change of Address |
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Section 6.5 |
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Maintenance of Properties |
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Section 6.6 |
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Maintenance of Existence and Qualifications |
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Section 6.7 |
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Payment of Taxes |
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Section 6.8 |
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Insurance. |
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Section 6.9 |
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Performance on Borrowers Behalf |
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Section 6.10 |
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Interest |
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Section 6.11 |
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Compliance with Law |
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Section 6.12 |
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Environmental Matters; Environmental Reviews. |
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Section 6.13 |
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Intentionally Left Blank. |
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Section 6.14 |
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Bank Accounts; Offset |
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Section 6.15 |
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Guaranties of Borrowers Subsidiaries |
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Section 6.16 |
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Agreement to Deliver Security Documents |
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ARTICLE VII NEGATIVE COVENANTS OF BORROWER |
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Section 7.1 |
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Indebtedness |
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Section 7.2 |
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Limitation on Liens |
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Section 7.3 |
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Hedging Contracts |
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Section 7.4 |
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Limitation on Mergers, Issuances of Securities |
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Section 7.5 |
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Limitation on Sales of Property |
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Section 7.6 |
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Limitation on Distributions and Subordinated Debt |
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Section 7.7 |
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Limitation on Investments, Acquisitions, Capital Expenditures, and Lines of Business |
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Section 7.8 |
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Intentionally Omitted |
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Section 7.9 |
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Transactions with Affiliates |
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Section 7.10 |
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Prohibited Contracts |
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Section 7.11 |
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Financial Covenants |
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ARTICLE VIII EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES |
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Section 8.1 |
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Events of Default |
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Section 8.2 |
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Remedies |
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Section 8.3 |
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Application of Proceeds after Acceleration |
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ARTICLE IX AGENT |
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Section 9.1 |
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Appointment and Authority |
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Section 9.2 |
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Exculpation, Agents Reliance, Etc |
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Section 9.3 |
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Credit Decisions |
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Section 9.4 |
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Indemnification |
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Section 9.5 |
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Rights as Lender |
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Section 9.6 |
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Sharing of Set-Offs and Other Payments |
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Section 9.7 |
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Investments |
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Section 9.8 |
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Benefit of Article IX |
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Section 9.9 |
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Resignation |
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Section 9.10 |
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Notice of Default |
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Section 9.11 |
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Co-Agents |
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ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS |
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Section 10.1 |
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Waivers and Amendments; Acknowledgments. |
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Section 10.2 |
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Survival of Agreements; Cumulative Nature |
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Section 10.3 |
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Notices |
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Section 10.4 |
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Payment of Expenses; Indemnity. |
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Section 10.5 |
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Joint and Several Liability; Parties in Interest; Assignments |
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Section 10.6 |
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Confidentiality |
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Section 10.7 |
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Governing Law; Submission to Process |
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Section 10.8 |
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Limitation on Interest |
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Section 10.9 |
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Termination; Limited Survival |
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Section 10.10 |
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Severability |
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Section 10.11 |
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Counterparts; Fax |
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Section 10.12 |
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Intentionally Omitted |
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Section 10.13 |
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Waiver of Jury Trial, Punitive Damages, etc |
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Section 10.14 |
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Intentionally Left Blank |
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Section 10.15 |
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Renewal and Extension |
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Schedules and Exhibits:
Pricing Schedule |
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Exhibit 2.1 |
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Revolving Note |
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Exhibit 2.2(b) |
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Borrowing Notice |
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Exhibit 2.3(c) |
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Continuation/Conversion Notice |
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Exhibit 2.8 |
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Intentionally Left Blank |
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Exhibit 2.10 |
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Letter of Credit Application and Agreement |
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Exhibit 4.1(g)(i) |
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Opinion of Bracewell & Giuliani LLP, Counsel for Restricted Persons |
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Exhibit 4.1(g)(ii) |
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Opinion of Trent McKenna, In-House Counsel for Restricted Persons |
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Exhibit 6.2(b) |
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Certificate Accompanying Financial Statements |
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Exhibit 10.5 |
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Assignment and Acceptance Agreement |
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Pricing Schedule |
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Schedule 1.1(a) |
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Existing Liens |
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Schedule 1.1(b) |
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Existing Letters of Credit |
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Schedule 3.1 |
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Lenders Schedule |
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Schedule 4.1 |
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Security Documents |
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Schedule 5 |
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Disclosure Schedule |
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Section 5.6 |
Material Adverse Effect |
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Section 5.7 |
Material Restrictions |
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Section 5.9 |
Litigation |
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Section 5.10 |
Labor Disputes and Acts of God |
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Section 5.11 |
ERISA Disclosures |
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Section 5.12 |
Environmental and Other Laws |
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Section 5.13 |
Names and Places of Business |
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Section 5.14 |
Subsidiaries |
Schedule 7.1 |
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Existing Indebtedness |
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AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT is made as of February 20, 2007, by and among COMFORT SYSTEMS USA, INC., a Delaware corporation, WACHOVIA BANK, N.A., a national banking association, as administrative agent, and the Lenders referred to below.
W I T N E S S E T H:
In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein in consideration of the loans which may hereafter be made by Lenders and the Letters of Credit which may be made available by LC Issuer to Borrower, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto do hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND REFERENCES
Section 1.1 Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, each of the following terms has the meaning given to such term in this Section 1.1 or in the sections and subsections referred to below:
Account Debtor means the Person which is obligated on any Receivable.
Acquisition means the direct or indirect purchase or acquisition, whether in one or more related transactions, of all or substantially all of the capital stock of any Person or group of Persons or all or substantially all of the assets, liabilities, and business of any Person or group of Persons.
Adjusted Base Rate means, on any day, the Base Rate for such day plus the Base Rate Margin for such day, provided that the Adjusted Base Rate charged by any Person shall never exceed the Highest Lawful Rate.
Adjusted Eurodollar Rate means, for any Eurodollar Loan for any day during any Interest Period therefor, the rate per annum equal to the sum of (a) the Eurodollar Margin for such day plus (b) the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) determined by Agent to be equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the Eurodollar Rate for such Eurodollar Loan for such Interest Period by (ii) 1 minus the Reserve Requirement for such Eurodollar Loan for such Interest Period, provided that no Adjusted Eurodollar Rate charged by any Person shall ever exceed the Highest Lawful Rate. The Adjusted Eurodollar Rate for any Eurodollar Loan shall change whenever the Eurodollar Margin or the Reserve Requirement changes.
Affiliate means, as to any Person, each other Person that directly or indirectly (through one or more intermediaries or otherwise) controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. A Person shall be deemed to be controlled by any other Person if such other Person possesses, directly or indirectly, power to vote 20% or more of the securities or other equity interests (on a fully diluted basis) having ordinary voting power for the election of
directors, the managing general partner or partners or the managing member or members; or to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person whether by contract or otherwise.
Agent means Wachovia Bank, N.A., as administrative agent hereunder, and its successors in such capacity.
Aggregate Commitment means the aggregate of all Lenders Revolving Loan Commitments, as such may be reduced, amortized or adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.
Agreement means this Credit Agreement.
ALC Sale means the sale by United Environmental Services, L.P. and Comfort Systems USA (Twin Cities), Inc. of substantially all their assets to Automated Logic of Texas, LLC and Automated Logic of Minnesota, LLC, respectively, for aggregate cash consideration not in excess of $25,000,000.
Applicable Lending Office means, with respect to each Lender, such Lenders Domestic Lending Office in the case of Base Rate Loans and such Lenders Eurodollar Lending Office in the case of Eurodollar Loans.
Assignment and Acceptance means the agreement contemplated by Section 10.5.
Assignment of Prior Credit Documents means the Assignment of Notes, Liens and Security Agreements dated as of the Closing Date by the Prior Agent and each of the lenders party to the Prior Credit Agreement in favor of the Agent and the other Lender Parties.
Base Rate means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the higher of (a) the Federal Funds Rate for such day plus one-half of one percent (.5%) and (b) the Prime Rate for such day. Any change in the Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Rate shall be effective on the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate or Federal Funds Rate. As used in this definition, Prime Rate means the per annum rate of interest established from time to time by Citibank, N.A. as its Prime Rate, which rate may not be the lowest rate of interest charged by Citibank, N.A. to its customers.
Base Rate Loan means a Loan that bears interest at the Adjusted Base Rate.
Base Rate Margin means on any date, with respect to each Base Rate Loan, the rate per annum set forth as such on the Pricing Schedule.
Basis Point or bps means one one-hundredth of one percent (0.01%).
Bonded Receivables means any Receivable resulting from goods or services provided to an Account Debtor under a job which is covered by a surety bond provided by Borrower or its agent, that is secured by assets of any Restricted Person.
Borrower means Comfort Systems USA, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
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Borrowing means a borrowing of new Loans of a single Type (and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, with the same Interest Period) pursuant to Section 2.2 or a Continuation or Conversion of existing Loans into a single Type (and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, with the same Interest Period) pursuant to Section 2.3.
Borrowing Notice means a written or telephonic request, or a written confirmation, made by Borrower which meets the requirements of Section 2.2.
Business Day means a day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, on which commercial banks are open for business with the public in Houston, Harris County, Texas. Any Business Day in any way relating to Eurodollar Loans (such as the day on which an Interest Period begins or ends) must also be a day on which, in the judgment of Agent, significant transactions in dollars are carried out in the interbank eurocurrency market.
Capital Asset means any asset which would be classified as a fixed or capital asset on a Consolidated balance sheet of any Person prepared in accordance with GAAP.
Capital Expenditures means, without duplication, any expenditures for any purchase or other acquisition of any Capital Asset, excluding (i) the cost of assets acquired with Capitalized Lease Obligations, other purchase money financing, or the proceeds of Loans under this Agreement, (ii) expenditures of insurance proceeds to rebuild or replace any asset after a casualty loss, and (iii) leasehold improvement expenditures for which such Person is reimbursed promptly by the lessor.
Capital Lease means a lease with respect to which the lessee is required concurrently to recognize the acquisition of an asset and the incurrence of a liability in accordance with GAAP.
Capital Lease Obligation means, with respect to any Person and a Capital Lease, the amount of the obligation of such Person as the lessee under such Capital Lease which would, in accordance with GAAP, appear as a liability on a balance sheet of such Person.
Cash Equivalents means Investments in:
(a) marketable obligations, maturing within twelve months after acquisition thereof, issued or unconditionally guaranteed by the United States of America or an instrumentality or agency thereof and entitled to the full faith and credit of the United States of America;
(b) demand deposits, and time deposits (including certificates of deposit) maturing within twelve months from the date of deposit thereof, with any office of any Lender or with a domestic office of any national or state bank or trust company which is organized under the Laws of the United States of America or any state therein, which has capital, surplus and undivided profits of at least $500,000,000, and whose long term certificates of deposit are rated at least Aa3 by Moodys or AA- by S & P;
(c) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven days for underlying securities of the types described in subsection (a) above entered into with any commercial bank meeting the specifications of subsection (b) above;
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(d) open market commercial paper, maturing within 270 days after acquisition thereof, which are rated at least P-1 by Moodys or A-1 by S & P; and
(e) money market or other mutual funds substantially all of whose assets comprise securities of the types described in subsections (a) through (d) above.
Change of Control means the occurrence of any of the following events: (a) any Person or two or more Persons acting as a group shall acquire beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1934, as amended, and including holding proxies to vote for the election of directors other than proxies held by Borrowers management or their designees to be voted in favor of Persons nominated by Borrowers Board of Directors) of 35% or more of the outstanding voting securities of Borrower, measured by voting power (including both common stock and any preferred stock or other equity securities entitling the holders thereof to vote with the holders of common stock in elections for directors of Borrower) or (b) a majority of the directors of Borrower shall consist of Persons not nominated by Borrowers Board of Directors (not including as Board nominees any directors which the Board is obligated to nominate pursuant to shareholders agreements, voting trust arrangements or similar arrangements).
Closing Date means the date on which all of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.1 and Section 4.2 shall have been satisfied or waived.
Collateral means all property of any Restricted Person of any kind which, under the terms of any Security Document, is subject to or is purported to be subject to a Lien in favor of Lenders (or in favor of Agent for the benefit of Lenders).
Commitment Fee shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(c).
Commitment Fee Rate means, on any date, the rate per annum designated as such and set forth on the Pricing Schedule.
Commitment Period means the period from and including the Closing Date until the Maturity Date (or, if earlier, the day on which the obligations of Lenders to make Loans hereunder or the obligations of LC Issuer to issue Letters of Credit have been terminated or the Notes become due and payable in full).
Consolidated refers to the consolidation of any Person, in accordance with GAAP, with its properly consolidated subsidiaries. References herein to a Persons Consolidated financial statements, financial position, financial condition, liabilities, etc. refer to the consolidated financial statements, financial position, financial condition, liabilities, etc. of such Person and its properly consolidated subsidiaries.
Consolidated Capital Expenditures means, for any Person for any period, the Capital Expenditures of such Person calculated on a Consolidated basis for such period.
Consolidated EBITDA means, for any Person for any period, the sum of (a) such Persons Consolidated Net Income during such period, plus (b) all interest expense which was deducted in determining such Persons Consolidated Net Income; plus (c) all income taxes which
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were deducted in determining such Persons Consolidated Net Income; plus (d) all depreciation and amortization which were deducted in determining such Persons Consolidated Net Income; plus (e) other non-cash charges, including non-cash amortization of debt incurrence costs and net mark-to-market losses.
Consolidated Interest Expense means, for any Person, for any period without duplication, all interest paid or accrued during such period on Indebtedness (including capital lease obligations) excluding amortization of debt incurrence expenses, original issue discount, and mark-to-market interest expense.
Consolidated Net Income means, for any Person, for any period, such Persons Consolidated net income for such period after eliminating earnings or losses attributable to outstanding minority interests and excluding the net income of any Person other than a Subsidiary in which such Person has an ownership interest plus any Goodwill Impairment Charges.
Consolidated Total Indebtedness means, for any Person, as of any date, the sum of the following (without duplication): (a) all Indebtedness which is classified as long-term indebtedness on a Consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP and any current maturities and other principal amount in respect of such Indebtedness due within one year but which was classified as long-term indebtedness at the creation thereof, (b) Indebtedness for borrowed money of such Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries outstanding under a revolving credit or similar agreement providing for borrowings (and renewals and extensions thereof) over a period of more than one year, notwithstanding the fact that any such borrowing is made within one year of the expiration of such agreement, and (c) all Indebtedness in respect of Capital Leases of such Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, minus (d) LC Exclusions.
Continuation shall refer to the continuation pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof of a Eurodollar Loan as a Eurodollar Loan from one Interest Period to the next Interest Period.
Continuation/Conversion Notice means a written or telephonic request, or a written confirmation, made by Borrower which meets the requirements of Section 2.3.
Conversion shall refer to a conversion pursuant to Section 2.3 or Article III of one Type of Loan into another Type of Loan.
Default means any Event of Default and any default, event or condition which would, with the giving of any requisite notices and the passage of any requisite periods of time, constitute an Event of Default.
Default Rate means, at the time in question (a) with respect to any Base Rate Loan any other Obligation except as described in the immediately following clause (b), the rate per annum equal to four percent (4%) above the Adjusted Base Rate then in effect for such Loan or other Obligation and (b) with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, the rate per annum equal to four percent (4%) above the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate then in effect for such Loan or other Obligation, provided in each case that no Default Rate charged by any Person shall ever exceed the Highest Lawful Rate.
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Disclosure Schedule means Schedule 5 hereto.
Distribution means (a) any dividend or other distribution made by a Restricted Person on or in respect of any stock, partnership interest, or other equity interest in such Restricted Person or any other Restricted Person (including any option or warrant to buy such an equity interest), or (b) any payment made by a Restricted Person to purchase, redeem, acquire or retire any stock, partnership interest, or other equity interest in such Restricted Person or any other Restricted Person (including any such option or warrant).
Domestic Lending Office means, with respect to any Lender, the office of such Lender specified as its Domestic Lending Office below its name on Schedule 3.1 hereto, or such other office as such Lender may from time to time specify to Borrower and Agent; with respect to LC Issuer, the office, branch, or agency through which it issues Letters of Credit; and, with respect to Agent, the office, branch, or agency through which it administers this Agreement.
Eligible Transferee means a Person which either (a) is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, or (b) is consented to as an Eligible Transferee by Agent and, so long as no Default or Event of Default is continuing, by Borrower, which consents in each case will not be unreasonably withheld (provided that no Person organized outside the United States may be an Eligible Transferee if Borrower would be required to pay withholding taxes on interest or principal owed to such Person).
Environmental Laws means any and all Laws relating to the environment or to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of pollutants, contaminants, chemicals, or industrial, toxic or hazardous substances or wastes into the environment including ambient air, surface water, ground water, or land, or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport, or handling of pollutants, contaminants, chemicals, or industrial, toxic or hazardous substances or wastes.
Equity means shares of capital stock or a partnership, profits, capital, member or other equity interest, or options, warrants or any other rights to substitute for or otherwise acquire the capital stock or a partnership, profits, capital, member or other equity interest of any Person.
ERISA means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and any successor statutes or statute, together with all rules and regulations promulgated with respect thereto.
ERISA Affiliate means each Restricted Person and all members of a controlled group of corporations and all trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) under common control that, together with such Restricted Person, are treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code.
ERISA Plan means any employee pension benefit plan subject to Title IV of ERISA maintained by any ERISA Affiliate with respect to which any Restricted Person has a fixed or contingent liability.
Eurodollar Lending Office means, with respect to any Lender, the office of such Lender specified as its Eurodollar Lending Office below its name on Schedule 3.1 hereto (or,
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if no such office is specified, its Domestic Lending Office), or such other office of such Lender as such Lender may from time to time specify to Borrower and Agent.
Eurodollar Loan means a Loan that bears interest at the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate.
Eurodollar Margin means, on any date, with respect to each Eurodollar Loan, the rate per annum set forth on the Pricing Schedule.
Eurodollar Rate means, for any Eurodollar Loan within a Borrowing and with respect to the related Interest Period therefor, (a) the interest rate per annum (carried out to the fifth decimal place) equal to the rate determined by the Agent to be the offered rate that appears on the page of the Telerate Screen that displays an average British Bankers Association Interest Settlement Rate (such page currently being page number 3750) for deposits in U.S. dollars (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period, determined as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period, or (b) in the event the rate referenced in the preceding subsection (a) does not appear on such page or service or such page or service shall cease to be available, the rate per annum (carried out to the fifth decimal place) equal to the rate determined by the Agent to be the offered rate on such other page or other service that displays an average British Bankers Association Interest Settlement Rate for deposits in U.S. dollars (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period, determined as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period, or (c) in the event the rates referenced in the preceding subsections (a) and (b) are not available, the rate per annum determined by the Agent as the rate of interest at which deposits in U.S. dollars (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) in same day funds in the approximate amount of the applicable Eurodollar Loan and with a term equivalent to such Interest Period would be offered by its London branch to major banks in the offshore U.S. dollar market at their request at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period.
Event of Default has the meaning given to such term in Section 8.1.
Existing Letters of Credit means the letters of credit listed on Schedule 1.1(b).
Federal Funds Rate means, for any day, the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100th of one percent) equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers on such day, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day, provided that (a) if the day for which such rate is to be determined is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if such rate is not so published for any day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate quoted to Agent on such day on such transactions as determined by Agent.
Fiscal Quarter means a three-month period ending on March 31, June 30, September 30 or December 31 of any year.
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Fiscal Year means a twelve-month period ending on December 31 of any year.
GAAP means those generally accepted accounting principles and practices which are recognized as such by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (or any generally recognized successor) and which, in the case of Restricted Persons and their Consolidated Subsidiaries, are applied for all periods after the date hereof in a manner consistent with the manner in which such principles and practices were applied to the Initial Financial Statements. If any change in any accounting principle or practice is required by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (or any such successor) in order for such principle or practice to continue as a generally accepted accounting principle or practice, all reports and financial statements required hereunder with respect to any Restricted Person or with respect to any Restricted Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries may be prepared in accordance with such change, but all calculations and determinations to be made hereunder may be made in accordance with such change only after notice of such change is given to each Lender, and Required Lenders and Agent agree to such change insofar as it affects the accounting of such Restricted Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries.
Goodwill Impairment Charges means accounting charges resulting from the write-up or write-down of acquired goodwill and other intangible assets in accordance with FAS 142.
Guarantors means, collectively, (a) each Subsidiary of the Borrower existing on the Closing Date, other than an Immaterial Subsidiary and (b) any Subsidiary of Borrower which executes and delivers a Guaranty to Agent after the date hereof, pursuant to Section 6.15.
Guaranty means (a) that certain Amended and Restated Subsidiary Guaranty dated as of the date hereof, executed by each Guarantor existing on the Closing Date, in favor of the Agent for the ratable benefit of the Lenders, and (b) any Guaranty or joinder to a Guaranty executed by a Guarantor after the Closing Date, in favor of the Agent for the ratable benefit of the Lenders, in each case as such Guaranties may be amended, supplemented, or modified and in effect from time to time.
Hazardous Materials means any substances regulated under any Environmental Law, whether as pollutants, contaminants, or chemicals, or as industrial, toxic or hazardous substances or wastes, or otherwise.
Hedging Contract means (a) any agreement providing for options, swaps, floors, caps, collars, forward sales or forward purchases involving interest rates, commodities or commodity prices, equities, currencies, bonds, or indexes based on any of the foregoing, (b) any option, futures or forward contract traded on an exchange, and (c) any other derivative agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement.
Highest Lawful Rate means, with respect to each Lender Party to whom Obligations are owed, the maximum nonusurious rate of interest that such Lender Party is permitted under applicable Law to contract for, take, charge, or receive with respect to such Obligations. All determinations herein of the Highest Lawful Rate, or of any interest rate determined by reference to the Highest Lawful Rate, shall be made separately for each Lender Party as appropriate to
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assure that the Loan Documents are not construed to obligate any Person to pay interest to any Lender Party at a rate in excess of the Highest Lawful Rate applicable to such Lender Party.
Immaterial Subsidiary means one or more Subsidiaries with aggregate gross assets of less than $500,000.
Indebtedness of any Person means obligations in any of the following categories:
(a) debt for borrowed money;
(b) an obligation to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services;
(c) obligations evidenced by a bond, debenture, note or similar instrument;
(d) Off-Balance Sheet Liabilities;
(e) obligations arising under Hedging Contracts (on a net basis to the extent netting is provided for in the applicable Hedging Contract);
(f) Capital Lease Obligations;
(g) obligations arising under conditional sales or other title retention agreements;
(h) obligations owing under direct or indirect guaranties of Indebtedness of any other Person or otherwise constituting obligations to purchase or acquire or to otherwise protect or insure a creditor against loss in respect of Indebtedness of any other Person (such as obligations under working capital maintenance agreements, agreements to keep-well, or agreements to purchase Indebtedness, assets, goods, securities or services), but excluding endorsements in the ordinary course of business of negotiable instruments in the course of collection;
(i) obligations to purchase or redeem securities or other property, if such obligations arise out of or in connection with the sale or issuance of the same or similar securities or property (for example, repurchase agreements, mandatorily redeemable preferred stock and sale/leaseback agreements);
(j) obligations with respect to letters of credit or applications or reimbursement agreements therefore; or
(k) obligations with respect to bankers acceptances.
provided, however, that the Indebtedness of any Person shall not include obligations that were incurred by such Person to vendors, suppliers, or other Persons providing goods and services for use by such Person in the ordinary course of its business.
Initial Financial Statements means (a) the audited annual Consolidated financial statements of Borrower dated as of December 31, 2005, and (b) the unaudited quarterly Consolidated financial statements of Borrower dated as of September 30, 2006.
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Intercreditor Agreement means (i) that certain Intercreditor Agreement dated as of October 23, 2003 among Federal Insurance Company, an Indiana corporation, Arch Insurance Company, a Missouri corporation, and Bank of Texas, N.A., as amended by the First Amendment to Intercreditor Agreement dated as of March 1, 2005, as amended by the Second Amendment to Intercreditor Agreement dated as of June 30, 2005, as assigned to the Prior Agent pursuant to the Assignment of Notes and Liens dated June 30, 2005 among Bank of Texas, N.A., the Prior Agent and the Borrower, as amended by the Third Amendment to Intercreditor Agreement dated as of September 29, 2006, as amended by the Fourth Amendment to Intercreditor Agreement dated as of February 20, 2007, and as assigned to the Agent pursuant to the Assignment of Prior Credit Documents (as defined in Schedule 4.1), and (ii) any other agreement to which Borrower, the Agent, and any surety are parties that establishes the priorities of the parties with respect to Bonded Receivables.
Interest Payment Date means (a) with respect to each Base Rate Loan, the first Business Day of each Fiscal Quarter; and (b) with respect to each Eurodollar Loan, the last day of the Interest Period that is applicable thereto and, if such Interest Period is greater than three months in length, then the first Business Day of each Fiscal Quarter shall also be an Interest Payment Date for each such Eurodollar Loan.
Interest Period means, with respect to each Eurodollar Loan, the period specified in the Borrowing Notice or Continuation/Conversion Notice applicable to such Eurodollar Loan, beginning on and including the date specified in such Borrowing Notice or Continuation/Conversion Notice (which must be a Business Day), and ending one, two, three, and six months thereafter, as Borrower may elect in such notice; provided that: (a) any Interest Period which would otherwise end on a day which is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day; (b) any Interest Period which begins on the last Business Day in a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day in a calendar month; and (c) notwithstanding the foregoing, any Interest Period which would otherwise end after the last day of the Commitment Period shall end on the last day of the Commitment Period (or, if the last day of the Commitment Period is not a Business Day, on the next preceding Business Day).
Internal Revenue Code means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time and any successor statute or statutes, together with all rules and regulations promulgated with respect thereto.
Investment means any investment, made directly or indirectly, in any Person, whether by purchase, acquisition of equity interests, indebtedness or other obligations or securities or by extension of credit, loan, advance, capital contribution or otherwise and whether made in cash, by the transfer of property, or by any other means.
Law means any statute, law, regulation, ordinance, rule, treaty, judgment, order, decree, permit, concession, franchise, license, agreement or other governmental restriction of the United States or any state or political subdivision thereof or of any foreign country or any department, province or other political subdivision thereof. Any reference to a Law includes any
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amendment or modification to such Law, and all regulations, rulings, and other Laws promulgated under such Law.
LC Application means any application for a Letter of Credit hereafter made by Borrower to LC Issuer.
LC Collateral has the meaning given to such term in Section 2.14(b).
LC Conditions means the conditions for issuance of a Letter of Credit set forth in Sections 2.9 and 2.10.
LC Exclusions means the sum of (a) LC Obligations for Letters of Credit issued in the ordinary course of Borrowers business for insurance, state qualification and routine licensing purposes and (b) LC Obligations, up to $2,000,000, for Letters of Credit issued for purposes other than those set forth in subsection (a) above.
LC Issuer means Wachovia Bank, N.A. in its capacity as the issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, and its successors in such capacity, and any issuer of an Existing Letter of Credit. Agent may, with the consent of Borrower and the Lender in question, appoint any Lender hereunder as an LC Issuer in place of or in addition to Wachovia Bank, N.A.
LC Obligations means, at the time in question, the sum of all Matured LC Obligations plus the maximum amounts which LC Issuer might then or thereafter be called upon to advance under all Letters of Credit then outstanding.
Lead Arranger means Wachovia Bank, N.A., a national banking association.
Lender Hedging Obligations means Indebtedness to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender arising out of any Hedging Contract permitted under Section 7.3.
Lender Parties means Agent, LC Issuer, all Lenders, and any Affiliate of a Lender that holds Lender Hedging Obligations.
Lenders means each signatory hereto (other than Borrower and any Restricted Person that is a party hereto), and the successors of each such party as Lender hereunder pursuant to Section 10.5.
Lenders Schedule means Schedule 3.1 hereto.
Letter of Credit means any letter of credit issued by LC Issuer hereunder at the application of Borrower, and shall include the Existing Letters of Credit, in each case as extended or otherwise modified by the LC Issuer Bank from time to time.
Liabilities means, as to any Person, all liabilities that would appear as such on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP.
Lien means, with respect to any property or assets, any right or interest therein of a creditor to secure Liabilities owed to it or any other arrangement with such creditor which
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provides for the payment of such Liabilities out of such property or assets or which allows such creditor to have such Liabilities satisfied out of such property or assets prior to the general creditors of any owner thereof, including any lien, mortgage, security interest, pledge, rights of a vendor under any title retention or conditional sale agreement or lease substantially equivalent thereto, tax lien, mechanics or materialmans lien, or any other charge or encumbrance for security purposes, whether arising by Law or agreement or otherwise, but excluding any right of offset which arises without agreement in the ordinary course of business.
Loan Documents means this Agreement, the Notes, the Security Documents, the Letters of Credit, the LC Applications, any and all Hedging Contracts and Intercreditor Agreements to which Borrower and any Lender are a party, and all other agreements, certificates, documents, instruments and writings at any time delivered in connection herewith or therewith (exclusive of term sheets and commitment letters).
Loans means the Revolving Loans as otherwise described in Section 2.1.
Margin Stock means margin stock, as such term is defined in Regulation U promulgated by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
Material Adverse Change means a material and adverse change, from the state of affairs presented in the Initial Financial Statements or as represented or warranted in any Loan Document, to (a) Borrowers Consolidated financial condition, (b) Borrowers Consolidated business, assets, operations or properties, considered as a whole, (c) Borrowers ability to timely pay the Obligations, or (d) the enforceability of the material terms of any Loan Documents.
Matured LC Obligations means all amounts paid by LC Issuer on drafts or demands for payment drawn or made under or purported to be made under any Letter of Credit and all other amounts due and owing to LC Issuer under any LC Application for any Letter of Credit, to the extent the same have not been repaid to LC Issuer (with the proceeds of Loans or otherwise).
Maturity Date means five (5) years from the date hereof.
Maximum Drawing Amount means at the time in question the sum of the maximum amounts which LC Issuer might then or thereafter be called upon to advance under all Letters of Credit which are then outstanding.
Moodys means Moodys Investors Service, Inc., or its successor.
Net Casualty Proceeds means (a) cash insurance proceeds (other than proceeds of business interruption insurance) received by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with a loss, damage, destruction, or casualty of any or all of the assets of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (the Casualty Assets), minus (b) the amount of such cash insurance proceeds reinvested by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, so long as such reinvestment is (i) consummated or irrevocably committed to be consummated within 365 days after the receipt of such proceeds and (ii) to restore, repair, or replace the Casualty Assets, or purchase other assets with substantially the same utility and in the same line of business as the Casualty Assets
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Net Leverage Ratio means the ratio, determined as of the end of each of Borrowers Fiscal Quarters for the then most-recently ended four consecutive Fiscal Quarters, of (a) its Consolidated Total Indebtedness on such day minus cash and Cash Equivalents to (b) its Consolidated EBITDA for such period.
Note(s) means the Revolving Notes.
Obligations means all indebtedness, liabilities and obligations, whether matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, primary or secondary, direct or indirect, absolute, fixed or contingent, from time to time owing by any Restricted Person to any Lender Party under or pursuant to any of the Loan Documents, including all LC Obligations and any Lender Hedging Obligations. Obligation means any part of the Obligations.
Off-Balance Sheet Liability of a Person means (a) any repurchase obligation or liability of such Person with respect to accounts or notes receivable sold by such Person, (b) Synthetic Lease Obligations, or (c) any obligation arising with respect to any other transaction which is the functional equivalent of or takes the place of borrowing but which does not constitute a liability on the balance sheets of such Person (but, for the avoidance of doubt, excluding any operating leases other than a Synthetic Lease).
Percentage Share means, with respect to any Lender (a) when used in Section 2.1, 2.2 or 2.5, in any Borrowing Notice or when no Loans are outstanding hereunder, the percentage set forth opposite such Lenders name on Schedule 3.1 hereto or in the most recent Assignment and Acceptance, if any, executed by such Lender, as such amount may be adjusted, if at all, from time to time in accordance with this Agreement, and (b) when used otherwise, the percentage obtained by dividing (i) the sum of the unpaid principal balance of such Lenders Loans at the time in question plus the Matured LC Obligations which such Lender has funded pursuant to Section 2.11(c) plus the portion of the Maximum Drawing Amount which such Lender might be obligated to fund under Section 2.11(c), by (ii) the sum of the aggregate unpaid principal balance of all Loans at such time plus the aggregate amount of LC Obligations outstanding at such time.
Permitted Acquisition means an Acquisition that is permitted by Section 7.7(c).
Permitted Investments means:
(a) Cash Equivalents;
(b) existing Investments described in the Disclosure Schedule;
(c) extensions of credit by Restricted Persons to their customers for buying goods and services in the ordinary course of business or to another Restricted Person in the ordinary course of business;
(d) extensions of credit among Restricted Persons which are subordinated to the Obligations upon terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to the Agent;
(e) Investments by Restricted Persons in the Equity of Subsidiaries of the Borrower;
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(f) Investments by Restricted Persons in the Equity of another Person made in connection with a Permitted Acquisition;
(g) repurchases by Restricted Persons of their Equity that are permitted pursuant to Section 7.6; and
(h) any Investment made as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from a sale, transfer, lease, exchange, alienation, or disposition of assets that is permitted pursuant to Section 7.5.
Permitted Liens means:
(a) statutory Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges or levies which are not yet delinquent or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate action and for which adequate reserves have been maintained in accordance with GAAP;
(b) landlords, operators, carriers, warehousemens, repairmens, mechanics, materialmens, workers, suppliers or other like Liens, in each case only to the extent arising in the ordinary course of business and only to the extent securing obligations (i) which are not delinquent or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings; and (ii) for which adequate reserves have been maintained in accordance with GAAP;
(c) zoning restrictions, easements, licenses, and minor defects and irregularities in title to any real property, so long as such defects and irregularities do not materially impair the value of such property or the use of such property for the purposes for which such property is held;
(d) pledges or deposits of cash or securities to secure (i) the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations and other obligations of a like nature (excluding appeal bonds) incurred in the ordinary course of business; or (ii) obligations under workers compensation, unemployment insurance, social security, or public Laws or similar legislation (excluding Liens arising under ERISA).
(e) Liens under the Security Documents;
(f) with respect only to property subject to any particular Security Document, Liens burdening such property which are expressly allowed by such Security Document;
(g) any Lien in favor of a surety that is subject to the provisions of an Intercreditor Agreement;
(h) deposits securing, or in lieu of, surety, appeal or customs bonds in proceedings to which Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is a party;
(i) any attachment or judgment Lien not constituting an Event of Default under Section 8.1;
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(j) Liens existing on the date hereof and renewals and extensions thereof, which Liens are set forth on Schedule 1.1(a);
(k) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.1(c), provided that such Liens attach only to the assets financed by such Indebtedness and any proceeds thereof;
(l) common law security interests of a surety in the actual proceeds of a project subject to the underlying surety bond provided by such surety; and
(m) inchoate Liens arising under ERISA to secure contingent Liabilities of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.
Person means an individual, corporation, general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, association, joint stock company, trust or trustee thereof, estate or executor thereof, Tribunal, or any other legally recognizable entity.
Pricing Schedule means the Schedule attached hereto identified as such.
Prior Agent means Capital One, N.A., a national banking association formerly known as Hibernia National Bank, in its capacity as agent under the Prior Credit Documents.
Prior Credit Agreement means that certain Credit Agreement dated as of June 30, 2005, as amended from time to time heretofore, among Borrower, the Prior Agent, as agent and a lender thereunder, and the other financial institutions party thereto, as lenders.
Prior Credit Documents means the Prior Credit Agreement, together with the promissory notes made by Borrower thereunder and any and all other documents and instruments executed in connection therewith.
Prior Indebtedness means all Indebtedness outstanding under the Prior Credit Documents on the date hereof.
Receivables means all present and future rights of Borrower or any Subsidiary of Borrower to payment for goods sold or leased or for services rendered (except those evidenced by instruments or chattel paper), whether now existing or hereafter arising and wherever arising and whether or not earned by performance.
Regulation D means Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as from time to time in effect.
Required Lenders means Lenders having aggregate Percentage Shares equal or exceed sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66⅔%).
Reserve Requirement means, at any time, the maximum rate at which reserves (including any marginal, special, supplemental, or emergency reserves) are required to be maintained under regulations issued from time to time by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor) by member banks of the Federal Reserve System against Eurocurrency liabilities (as such term is used in Regulation D). Without limiting the effect of
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the foregoing, the Reserve Requirement shall reflect any other reserves required to be maintained by such member banks with respect to (a) any category of liabilities which includes deposits by reference to which the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate is to be determined, or (b) any category of extensions of credit or other assets which include Eurodollar Loans.
Restricted Person means any of Borrower, each Subsidiary of Borrower, and each Guarantor.
Revolving Facility Usage means, at the time in question, without duplication, the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Revolving Loans and LC Obligations at such time.
Revolving Lenders means those Lenders having a Revolving Loan Commitment.
Revolving Loan(s) means, at any time, the aggregate amount of loans made to Borrower pursuant to Article II hereof.
Revolving Loan Commitment means as to any Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make its Percentage Share of Revolving Loans or incur its Percentage Share of LC Obligations as set forth on Schedule 3.1 hereto or in the most recent Assignment and Acceptance, if any, executed by such Lender, as such amount may be adjusted, if at all, from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.
Revolving Notes has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2.1.
S & P means Standard & Poors Ratings Services (a division of The McGraw Hill Companies), or its successor.
Secured Obligations means all Obligations.
Security Documents means the instruments listed on Schedule 4.1 and all other security agreements, deeds of trust, mortgages, chattel mortgages, pledges, financing statements, continuation statements, extension agreements and other agreements or instruments now, heretofore, or hereafter delivered by any Restricted Person to Agent in connection with this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby to secure the payment of any part of the Obligations or the performance of any Restricted Persons other duties and obligations under the Loan Documents.
Solvent means, with respect to any Person on a particular date, that on such date (a) the fair value of the property of such Person is greater than the total amount of liabilities, including subordinated and contingent liabilities, of such Person; (b) the present fair saleable value of the assets of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts and liabilities, including subordinated and contingent liabilities as they become absolute and matured; (c) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Persons ability to pay as such debts and liabilities mature; and (d) such Person is not engaged in a business or transaction, and is not about to engage in a business or transaction, for which such Persons property would constitute an unreasonably small capital. The amount of contingent liabilities (such as litigation, guaranties and pension plan liabilities) at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in light of all the
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facts and circumstances existing at the time, represents the amount that can be reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.
Subordinated Debt means unsecured Indebtedness that is subordinated to the Obligations in a manner and form reasonably satisfactory to Agent, as to the right and time of payment and as to any and all other rights and remedies thereunder.
Subsidiary means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, association, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, or other business or corporate entity, enterprise or organization which is directly or indirectly (through one or more intermediaries) controlled by or owned fifty percent or more by such Person.
Synthetic Lease Obligations means an arrangement treated as an operating lease for financial accounting purposes and a financing lease for tax purposes.
Termination Event means (a) the occurrence with respect to any ERISA Plan of (i) a reportable event described in Section 4043(c)(5) or (6) of ERISA or (ii) any other reportable event described in Section 4043(c) of ERISA other than a reportable event not subject to the provision for 30-day notice to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation pursuant to a waiver by such corporation under Section 4043(a) or 4043(b)(4) of ERISA, or (b) the withdrawal of any ERISA Affiliate from an ERISA Plan during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA, or (c) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate any ERISA Plan or the treatment of any ERISA Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041(c) of ERISA, or (d) the institution of proceedings to terminate any ERISA Plan by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation under Section 4042 of ERISA, or (e) any other event or condition which might constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any ERISA Plan.
Tribunal means any government, any arbitration panel, any court or any governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality of the United States of America or any state, province, commonwealth, nation, territory, possession, county, parish, town, township, village or municipality, whether now or hereafter constituted or existing.
Type means, with respect to any Loans, the characterization of such Loans as either Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Loans.
Section 1.2 Exhibits and Schedules; Additional Definitions. All Exhibits and Schedules attached to this Agreement are a part hereof for all purposes. Reference is hereby made to Schedule 4.1 for the meaning of certain terms defined therein and used but not defined herein, which definitions are incorporated herein by reference.
Section 1.3 Amendment of Defined Instruments. Unless the context otherwise requires or unless otherwise provided herein the terms defined in this Agreement which refer to a particular agreement, instrument or document also refer to and include all renewals, extensions, modifications, amendments and restatements of such agreement, instrument or document, provided that nothing contained in this section shall be construed to authorize any such renewal, extension, modification, amendment or restatement.
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Section 1.4 References and Titles. All references in this Agreement to Exhibits, Schedules, articles, sections, subsections and other subdivisions refer to the Exhibits, Schedules, articles, sections, subsections and other subdivisions of this Agreement unless expressly provided otherwise. Exhibits and Schedules to any Loan Document shall be deemed incorporated by reference in such Loan Document. References to any document, instrument, or agreement (a) shall include all exhibits, schedules, and other attachments thereto, and (b) shall include all documents, instruments, or agreements issued or executed in replacement thereof. Titles appearing at the beginning of any subdivisions are for convenience only and do not constitute any part of such subdivisions and shall be disregarded in construing the language contained in such subdivisions. The words this Agreement, this instrument, herein, hereof, hereby, hereunder and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular subdivision unless expressly so limited. The phrases this section and this subsection and similar phrases refer only to the sections or subsections hereof in which such phrases occur. The word or is not exclusive, and the word including (in its various forms) means including without limitation. Pronouns in masculine, feminine and neuter genders shall be construed to include any other gender, and words in the singular form shall be construed to include the plural and vice versa, unless the context otherwise requires. Accounting terms have the meanings assigned to them by GAAP, as applied the accounting entity to which they refer. References to days shall mean calendar days, unless the term Business Day is used. Unless otherwise specified, references herein to any particular Person also refer to its successors and permitted assigns.
Section 1.5 Calculations and Determinations. All calculations under the Loan Documents of interest chargeable with respect to Eurodollar Loans and of fees shall be made on the basis of actual days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last) and a year of 360 days. All other calculations of interest made under the Loan Documents shall be made on the basis of actual days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last) and a year of 365 or 366 days, as appropriate. Each determination by a Lender Party of amounts to be paid under Article III or any other matters which are to be determined hereunder by a Lender Party (such as any Eurodollar Rate, Adjusted Eurodollar Rate, Business Day, Interest Period, or Reserve Requirement) shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein or unless Required Lenders otherwise consent all financial statements and reports furnished to any Lender Party hereunder shall be prepared and all financial computations and determinations pursuant hereto shall be made in accordance with GAAP.
Section 1.6 Joint Preparation; Construction of Indemnities and Releases. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents have been reviewed and negotiated by sophisticated parties with access to legal counsel and no rule of construction shall apply hereto or thereto which would require or allow any Loan Document to be construed against any party because of its role in drafting such Loan Document. All indemnification and release provisions of this Agreement shall be construed broadly (and not narrowly) in favor of the Persons receiving indemnification or being released.
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ARTICLE II
THE LOANS AND LETTERS OF CREDIT
Section 2.1 Commitments to Lend; Notes. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each Revolving Lender agrees, severally and not jointly, to make Revolving Loans to Borrower upon the request of Borrower from time to time during the Commitment Period, provided that (a) subject to Sections 3.3, 3.4 and 3.6, Revolving Loans of the same Type made on the same day shall be made by Revolving Lenders in accordance with their respective Percentage Shares and as part of the same Borrowing; and (b) after giving effect to such Revolving Loans, the Revolving Facility Usage does not exceed the Aggregate Commitment then in effect. The amount of all Revolving Loans in any Borrowing must be greater than or equal to $100,000, or must equal the remaining availability under the Aggregate Commitment. The obligation of Borrower to repay to each Revolving Lender the aggregate amount of all Revolving Loans made by such Revolving Lender, together with interest accruing in connection therewith, shall be evidenced by one or more promissory notes made by Borrower payable to the order of such Revolving Lender in the principal amount of the Revolving Loan Commitment of the applicable Revolving Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.1 (each a Revolving Note and, collectively, the Revolving Notes). The amount of principal owing on any Revolving Note at any given time shall be the aggregate amount of all Revolving Loans theretofore made by such Revolving Lender minus all payments of principal theretofore received by such Revolving Lender on such Revolving Note. Interest on each Revolving Note shall accrue and be due and payable as provided herein. Each Revolving Note shall be due and payable as provided herein, and shall be due and payable in full on the Maturity Date. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, Borrower may borrow, repay, and reborrow hereunder.
Section 2.2 Requests for Revolving Loans. Borrower must give to Agent written or electronic notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of any requested Borrowing of new Revolving Loans to be advanced by Revolving Lenders. Each such notice constitutes a Borrowing Notice hereunder and must:
Each such written request or confirmation must be made in the form and substance of the Borrowing Notice attached hereto as Exhibit 2.2(b), duly completed. Each such telephonic request shall be deemed a representation, warranty, acknowledgment and agreement by Borrower as to the matters which are required to be set out in such written confirmation. Upon receipt of any such Borrowing Notice, Agent shall give each Lender prompt notice of the terms thereof. If all conditions precedent to such new Revolving Loans have been met, each Revolving Lender will on the date requested promptly remit to Agent at Agents office in Houston, Texas
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the amount of such Revolving Lenders new Revolving Loan in immediately available funds, and upon receipt of such funds, unless to its actual knowledge any conditions precedent to such Revolving Loans have been neither met nor waived as provided herein, Agent shall promptly make such Revolving Loans available to Borrower. Unless Agent shall have received prompt notice from a Revolving Lender that such Revolving Lender will not make available to Agent such Revolving Lenders new Revolving Loan, Agent may in its discretion assume that such Revolving Lender has made such Revolving Loan available to Agent in accordance with this section and Agent may if it chooses, in reliance upon such assumption, make such Revolving Loan available to Borrower. If and to the extent such Revolving Lender shall not so make its new Revolving Loan available to Agent, such Revolving Lender and Borrower severally agree to pay or repay to Agent within three days after demand the amount of such Revolving Loan together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount was made available to Borrower until the date such amount is paid or repaid to Agent, with interest at (i) the Federal Funds Rate, if such Revolving Lender is making such payment and (ii) the interest rate applicable at the time to the other new Revolving Loans made on such date, if Borrower is making such repayment. If neither such Revolving Lender nor Borrower pays or repays to Agent such amount within such three-day period, Agent shall in addition to such amount be entitled to recover from such Revolving Lender and from Borrower, on demand, interest thereon at the Default Rate, calculated from the date such amount was made available to Borrower. The failure of any Revolving Lender to make any new Revolving Loan to be made by it hereunder shall not relieve any other Revolving Lender of its obligation hereunder, if any, to make its new Revolving Loan, but no Revolving Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Revolving Lender to make any new Revolving Loan to be made by such other Revolving Lender.
Section 2.3 Continuations and Conversions of Existing Loans. Borrower may make the following elections with respect to Loans already outstanding: to convert Base Rate Loans to Eurodollar Loans, to convert Eurodollar Loans to Base Rate Loans on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, and to continue Eurodollar Loans beyond the expiration of such Interest Period by designating a new Interest Period to take effect at the time of such expiration. In making such elections, Borrower may combine existing Loans made pursuant to separate Borrowings into one new Borrowing or divide existing Loans made pursuant to one Borrowing into separate new Borrowings, provided that Borrower may have no more than five Borrowings of Eurodollar Loans outstanding at any time. To make any such election, Borrower must give to Agent written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of any such Conversion or Continuation of existing Loans, with a separate notice given for each new Borrowing. Each such notice constitutes a Continuation/Conversion Notice hereunder and must:
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Each such written request or confirmation must be made in the form and substance of the Continuation/Conversion Notice attached hereto as Exhibit 2.3(c), duly completed. Each such telephonic request shall be deemed a representation, warranty, acknowledgment and agreement by Borrower as to the matters which are required to be set out in such written confirmation. Upon receipt of any such Continuation/Conversion Notice, Agent shall give each Lender prompt notice of the terms thereof. Each Continuation/Conversion Notice shall be irrevocable and binding on Borrower. During the continuance of any Default, Borrower may not make any election to convert existing Loans into Eurodollar Loans or continue existing Loans as Eurodollar Loans. If (due to the existence of a Default or for any other reason) Borrower fails to timely and properly give any Continuation/Conversion Notice with respect to a Borrowing of existing Eurodollar Loans at least three days prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, such Eurodollar Loans shall automatically be converted into Base Rate Loans at the end of such Interest Period. No new funds shall be repaid by Borrower or advanced by any Lender in connection with any Continuation or Conversion of existing Loans pursuant to this section, and no such Continuation or Conversion shall be deemed to be a new advance of funds for any purpose; such Continuations and Conversions merely constitute a change in the interest rate applicable to already outstanding Loans.
Section 2.4 Use of Proceeds. Borrower shall use the Loans to (i) refinance Prior Indebtedness under the Prior Credit Documents; (ii) refinance Matured LC Obligations; and (iii) provide working capital for its operations and for other general business purposes. Borrower shall use all Letters of Credit for its general corporate purposes. In no event shall the funds from any Loan or any Letter of Credit be used directly or indirectly by any Person for personal, family, household or agricultural purposes or for the purpose, whether immediate, incidental or ultimate, of purchasing, acquiring or carrying any Margin Stock or to extend credit to others directly or indirectly for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any such Margin Stock. Borrower represents and warrants that Borrower is not engaged principally, or as one of Borrowers important activities, in the business of extending credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying such Margin Stock.
Section 2.5 Interest Rates and Fees; Payment Dates. (a) Interest. Subject to subsection (b) below, (i) each Base Rate Loan shall bear interest on each day it is outstanding at the Adjusted Base Rate in effect on such day, and (ii) each Eurodollar Loan shall bear interest on each day during the related Interest Period at the related Adjusted Eurodollar Rate in effect on such day, and (iii) if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, all Loans shall bear interest on each day outstanding at the applicable Default Rate. Past due payments of principal and interest shall bear interest at the rates and in the manner set forth in the Notes. Notwithstanding the forgoing, Borrower may request from time to time that Borrower and the Lender enter into a Hedging Contract providing for interest rate protection (1) for a term expiring no earlier than one year after the Closing Date; and (2) with other terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to Agent.
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Section 2.6 Optional Prepayments and Voluntary Reduction of Commitment.. Borrower may, without penalty, (a) upon notice to Agent to be received no later than 11:00 a.m., Houston, Texas time, with respect to any Base Rate Loan and (b) upon three Business Days notice to each Lender with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, from time to time and without premium or penalty prepay the Loans, in whole or in part, provided (i) that the aggregate amounts of all partial prepayments of principal on the Notes equals $100,000 or any higher integral multiple of $100,000; and (ii) that if Borrower prepays any Eurodollar Loan on any day other than the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, it shall pay to Lenders any amounts due under Section 3.5. Each prepayment of principal of any Eurodollar Loan under this section shall be accompanied by all interest then accrued and unpaid on the principal so prepaid. Any principal or interest prepaid pursuant to this section shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, all payments otherwise required to be paid under the Loan Documents at the time of such prepayment.
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Section 2.7 Mandatory Prepayments. (a) If at any time the Revolving Facility Usage exceeds the Revolving Loan Commitment (whether due to a reduction in the Revolving Loan Commitment in accordance with this Agreement, or otherwise), Borrower shall immediately upon demand prepay the principal of the Loans (and after the Loans are repaid in full, provide LC Collateral in accordance with Section 2.14(b)) in an amount at least equal to such excess.
Section 2.8 Intentionally Left Blank.
Section 2.9 Letters of Credit. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, Borrower may during the Commitment Period request LC Issuer to, and LC Issuer shall, issue one or more Letters of Credit, provided that, after taking such Letter of Credit into account:
All Existing Letters of Credit shall be deemed to have been issued pursuant hereto, and from and after the Closing Date shall be subject to and governed by the terms and conditions hereof.
Section 2.10 Requesting Letters of Credit. Borrower must make written application for any Letter of Credit at least two (2) Business Days (or such shorter period as LC Issuer may in its discretion from time to time agree) before the date on which Borrower desires for LC Issuer to issue such Letter of Credit. By making any such written application Borrower shall be deemed to have represented and warranted that the LC Conditions described in Section 2.11 will be met as of the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit. Each such written application for a Letter of Credit must be made in writing in the form and substance of Exhibit 2.10, the terms and provisions of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference (or in such other form as may mutually be agreed upon by LC Issuer and Borrower). Two (2) Business Days after the LC Conditions for a Letter of Credit have been met (or if LC Issuer otherwise desires to issue such Letter of Credit), LC Issuer will issue such Letter of Credit at LC Issuers office in Houston, Texas. If any provisions of any LC Application conflict with any provisions of this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall govern and control. Borrower shall promptly examine a
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copy of each Letter of Credit and each amendment thereto that is delivered to it and, in the event of any claim of noncompliance with Borrowers instructions or other irregularity, Borrower will promptly notify LC Issuer.
Section 2.11 Reimbursement and Participations. (a) Reimbursement by Borrower. Each Matured LC Obligation shall constitute a Revolving Loan by LC Issuer to Borrower. Borrower promises to pay to LC Issuer, or to LC Issuers order, on the Business Day immediately following the day on which a demand is made, the full amount of each Matured LC Obligation, together with interest thereon at the Default Rate applicable to Base Rate Loans. The obligation of Borrower to reimburse LC Issuer for each Matured LC Obligation shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (including any LC Application) under all circumstances, including the following: (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of such Letter of Credit or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto; (ii) the existence of any claim, counterclaim, set-off, defense or other right that Borrower may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), LC Issuer or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by such Letter of Credit or any agreement or instrument relating thereto, or any unrelated transaction; (iii) any draft, demand, certificate or other document presented under such Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under such Letter of Credit; (iv) any payment by LC Issuer under such Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate that does not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; or (v) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is expressly agreed that the absolute and unconditional nature of Borrowers obligations under this section to reimburse LC Issuer for each drawing under a Letter of Credit will not be excused by the gross negligence or willful misconduct of LC Issuer. However, the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse LC Issuer from liability to Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to consequential damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable Law) suffered by Borrower that are caused by LC Issuers gross negligence or willful misconduct in determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof.
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irrevocably agrees to accept and purchase and hereby accepts and purchases from LC Issuer, on the terms and conditions hereinafter stated and for such Lenders own account and risk, an undivided interest equal to such Lenders Percentage Share of LC Issuers obligations and rights under each Letter of Credit issued hereunder and the amount of each Matured LC Obligation paid by LC Issuer thereunder. Each Lender unconditionally and irrevocably agrees with LC Issuer that, if a Matured LC Obligation is paid under any Letter of Credit for which LC Issuer is not reimbursed in full by Borrower in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the related LC Application (including any reimbursement by means of concurrent Loans or by the application of LC Collateral), such Lender shall (in all circumstances and without set-off or counterclaim) pay to LC Issuer on demand, in immediately available funds at LC Issuers address for notices hereunder, such Lenders Percentage Share of such Matured LC Obligation (or any portion thereof which has not been reimbursed by Borrower). Each Lenders obligation to pay LC Issuer pursuant to the terms of this subsection is irrevocable and unconditional. If any amount required to be paid by any Lender to LC Issuer pursuant to this subsection is paid by such Lender to LC Issuer within three Business Days after the date such payment is due, LC Issuer shall in addition to such amount be entitled to recover from such Lender, on demand, interest thereon calculated from such due date at the Federal Funds Rate. If any amount required to be paid by any Lender to LC Issuer pursuant to this subsection is not paid by such Lender to LC Issuer within three Business Days after the date such payment is due, LC Issuer shall in addition to such amount be entitled to recover from such Lender, on demand, interest thereon calculated from such due date at the Default Rate.
Section 2.12 Letter of Credit Fees. In consideration of LC Issuers issuance of any Letter of Credit, Borrower agrees to pay (a) to Agent, for the account of all Lenders in accordance with their respective Percentage Shares, a per annum letter of credit issuance fee at a rate equal to 75% of the Eurodollar Margin in effect for Revolving Loans, and (b) to such LC Issuer for its own account, a letter of credit fronting fee at a rate equal to 0.125% per annum. The letter of credit fee and the letter of credit fronting fee will be calculated on the undrawn face amount of each Letter of Credit outstanding on each day at the above-applicable rates and will be due and payable in arrears on the first day of each Fiscal Quarter and at the end of the Commitment Period.
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Section 2.13 No Duty to Inquire. (a) Drafts and Demands. LC Issuer is authorized and instructed to accept and pay drafts and demands for payment under any Letter of Credit without requiring, and without responsibility for, any determination as to the existence of any event giving rise to said draft, either at the time of acceptance or payment or thereafter. LC Issuer is under no duty to determine the proper identity of anyone presenting such a draft or making such a demand (whether by tested telex or otherwise) as the officer, representative or Agent of any beneficiary under any Letter of Credit, and payment by LC Issuer to any such beneficiary when requested by any such purported officer, representative or Agent is hereby authorized and approved. Borrower releases each Lender Party from, and agrees to hold each Lender Party harmless and indemnified against, any liability or claim in connection with or arising out of the subject matter of this section, which indemnity shall apply whether or not any such liability or claim is in any way or to any extent caused, in whole or in part, by any negligent act or omission of any kind by any Lender Party, provided only that no Lender Party shall be entitled to indemnification for that portion, if any, of any liability or claim which is proximately caused by its own individual gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined in a final judgment.
Section 2.14 LC Collateral. (a) Intentionally Left Blank.
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the aggregate LC Obligations which are then outstanding, which amount shall be held by LC Issuer as security for LC Obligations (the LC Collateral) and the other Obligations, and such LC Collateral may be applied from time to time to any Matured LC Obligations or any other Obligations which are due and payable.
Section 2.15 Existing Letters of Credit. On the effective date of this Agreement, without further action by any party hereto, (x) the applicable LC Issuer for each Existing Letter of Credit shall be deemed to have granted to each Lender, and each Lender shall be deemed to have acquired from the LC Issuer, a participation in each of the Existing Letters of Credit equal to such Lenders Percentage Share of (A) the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Existing Letters of Credit and (B) the aggregate amount of any outstanding reimbursement obligations in respect thereof. With respect to each of the Existing Letters of Credit (i) if the applicable LC Issuer has heretofore sold a participation therein to a Lender, the applicable LC Issuer and such Lender agree that such participation shall be automatically canceled on the effective date of this Agreement and (ii) if the applicable LC Issuer has heretofore sold a participation therein to any bank or financial institution that is not a Lender, then the applicable LC Issuer shall procure the termination of such participation on or prior to the effective date of this Agreement. On and after the effective date of this Agreement, each of the Existing Letters
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of Credit shall be a Letter of Credit issued hereunder. Further, with respect to that certain Existing Letter of Credit issued by Prior Agent on January 14, 2004 in the amount of $20,287,414.00 for the benefit of American Zurich Insurance Co., Borrower shall use commercially reasonable efforts to replace such Existing Letter of Credit with a Letter of Credit issued by Wachovia Bank, N.A., as LC Issuer, on or before the expiration of sixty (60) days immediately following the effective date of this Agreement.
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ARTICLE III
PAYMENTS TO LENDERS
Section 3.1 General Procedures. Borrower will make each payment which it owes under the Loan Documents to Agent for the account of the Lender Party to whom such payment is owed, in lawful money of the United States of America, without set-off, deduction or counterclaim, and in immediately available funds. Each such payment must be received by Agent not later than 11:00 a.m., Houston, Texas time, on the date such payment becomes due and payable. Any payment received by Agent after such time will be deemed to have been made on the next following Business Day. Should any such payment become due and payable on a day other than a Business Day, the maturity of such payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of a payment of principal or past due interest, interest shall accrue and be payable thereon for the period of such extension as provided in the Loan Document under which such payment is due. Each payment under a Loan Document shall be due and payable at the place set forth for Agent on Schedule 3.1 hereto. When Agent collects or receives money on account of the Obligations, Agent shall distribute all money so collected or received, and each Lender Party shall apply all such money so distributed, as follows (except as otherwise provided in Section 8.3):
All payments applied to principal or interest on any Note shall be applied first to any interest then due and payable, then to principal then due and payable, and last to any prepayment of principal and interest in compliance with Sections 2.6 and 2.7. All distributions of amounts described in any of subsections (b), (c) or (d) above shall be made by Agent pro rata to each Lender Party then owed Obligations described in such subsection in proportion to all amounts owed to all Lender Parties which are described in such subsection; provided that if any Lender then owes payments to LC Issuer for the purchase of a participation under Section 2.13(c) or to Agent under Section 9.9, any amounts otherwise distributable under this section to such Lender shall be deemed to belong to LC Issuer, or Agent, respectively, to the extent of such unpaid payments, and Agent shall apply such amounts to make such unpaid payments rather than distribute such amounts to such Lender.
Section 3.2 Capital Reimbursement. If either (a) the introduction or implementation after the date hereof of or the compliance with or any change after the date hereof in or in the interpretation of any Law regarding capital adequacy, or (b) the introduction or implementation
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after the date hereof of or the compliance with any request, directive or guideline issued after the date hereof from any central bank or other governmental authority (whether or not having the force of Law) regarding capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on any Lender Partys capital, or on the capital of any corporation controlling such Lender Party, as a consequence of the Loans made, or Letters of Credit issued, by such Lender Party, to a level below that which such Lender Party or such corporation could have achieved but for such change (taking into consideration such Lender Partys policies and the policies of any such corporation with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time Borrower will pay to Agent for the benefit of such Lender Party, within five (5) Business Days of demand therefore by such Lender Party, such additional amount or amounts which such Lender Party shall determine to be appropriate to compensate such Lender Party for such reduction.
Section 3.3 Increased Cost of Eurodollar Loans or Letters of Credit. (a) If any change after the date hereof in any applicable Law (whether now in effect or hereinafter enacted or promulgated, including Regulation D) or any interpretation or administration thereof by any governmental authority charged with the interpretation or administration thereof (whether or not having the force of Law):
the result of which is to increase the cost to any Lender Party of agreeing to make or making, funding or maintaining Eurodollar Loans or (as the case may be) issuing or participating in Letters of Credit, or a reduction in the amount received or receivable by such Lender in connection with any of the foregoing, then such Lender Party shall promptly notify Agent and Borrower in writing of the happening of such event and of the amount required to compensate such Lender Party for such additional costs or reduced return (on an after-tax basis, taking into account any taxes on and deductions, credits or other tax benefits in respect of such compensation), whereupon (i) Borrower shall pay such amount to Agent for the account of such Lender Party and (ii) Borrower may elect, by giving to Agent and such Lender Party not less than three Business Days notice, to convert all (but not less than all) of any such Eurodollar Loans of such Lender Party into Base Rate Loans.
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Section 3.4 Illegality. If any change after the date hereof in applicable Laws, or in the interpretation or administration thereof of or in any jurisdiction whatsoever, domestic or foreign, shall make it unlawful for any Lender Party to fund or maintain Eurodollar Loans, then, upon notice by such Lender Party to Borrower and Agent, (a) Borrowers right to elect Eurodollar Loans from such Lender Party shall be suspended to the extent and for the duration of such illegality, (b) all Eurodollar Loans of such Lender Party which are then the subject of any Borrowing Notice and which cannot be lawfully funded shall be funded as Base Rate Loans of such Lender Party, and (c) all Eurodollar Loans of such Lender Party shall be converted automatically to Base Rate Loans on the respective last days of the then current Interest Periods with respect to such Loans or within such earlier period as required by Law. If any such conversion of a Eurodollar Loan occurs on a day which is not the last day of the then current Interest Period with respect thereto, Borrower shall pay to such Lender Party such amounts, if any, as may be required pursuant to Section 3.5.
Section 3.5 Funding Losses. In addition to its other obligations hereunder, Borrower will indemnify each Lender Party against, and reimburse each Lender Party on demand for, any loss or expense incurred or sustained by such Lender Party (including any loss or expense incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired by a Lender Party to fund or maintain Eurodollar Loans but excluding any loss of Base Rate Margin or Eurodollar Margin), as a result of (a) any payment or prepayment (whether authorized or required hereunder or otherwise) of all or a portion of a Eurodollar Loan on a day other than the day on which the applicable Interest Period ends, (b) any payment or prepayment, whether required hereunder or otherwise, of a Loan made after the delivery, but before the effective date, of a Continuation/Conversion Notice requesting the continuation of outstanding Eurodollar Loans as, or the conversion of outstanding Base Rate Loans to, Eurodollar Loans, if such payment or prepayment prevents such Continuation/Conversion Notice from becoming fully effective, (c) the failure of any Loan to be made or of any Continuation/Conversion Notice requesting the continuation of outstanding Eurodollar Loans as, or the conversion of outstanding Base Rate Loans to, Eurodollar Loans to become effective due to any condition precedent not being satisfied or due to any other action or inaction of any Restricted Person, (d) any Conversion (whether authorized or required hereunder or otherwise) of all or any portion of any Eurodollar Loan into a Base Rate Loan or into a different Eurodollar Loan on a day other than the day on which the applicable Interest Period ends, or (e) any assignment of a Eurodollar Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by Borrower pursuant to Section 3.8(b).
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Section 3.6 Reimbursable Taxes. Borrower covenants and agrees that:
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Section 3.7 Alternative Rate of Interest. If prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Borrowing of Eurodollar Loans:
then Agent shall give notice thereof to Borrower and Lenders by telephone or telecopy as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until Agent notifies Borrower and Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (i) any Continuation/Conversion Notice that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Borrowing of Eurodollar Loans shall be ineffective and shall be deemed a request to continue such Borrowing as a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans and (ii) if any Borrowing Notice requests a Borrowing of Eurodollar Loans, such Borrowing shall be made as a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans. Upon receipt of such notice, Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Loans.
Section 3.8 Change of Applicable Lending Office; Replacement of Lenders.
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ARTICLE IV
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO LENDING
Section 4.1 Documents to be Delivered. No Lender has any obligation to make its first Loan, and LC Issuer has no obligation to issue the first Letter of Credit, unless Agent shall have received all of the following, at Agents office in Houston, Texas, duly executed and delivered and in form, substance and date reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, the Lenders and their counsel:
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Section 4.2 Additional Conditions Precedent. No Lender has any obligation to make any Loan (including its first), and LC Issuer has no obligation to issue any Letter of Credit (including its first), unless the following conditions precedent have been satisfied:
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ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
To confirm each Lenders understanding concerning Restricted Persons and Restricted Persons businesses, properties and obligations and to induce each Lender to enter into this Agreement and to extend credit hereunder, Borrower represents and warrants to each Lender that:
Section 5.1 No Default. No event has occurred and is continuing which constitutes a Default or an Event of Default.
Section 5.2 Organization and Good Standing. Each Restricted Person is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of organization, having all powers required to carry on its business and enter into and carry out the transactions contemplated hereby. Each Restricted Person is duly qualified, in good standing, and authorized to do business in all other jurisdictions within the United States wherein the character of the properties owned or held by it or the nature of the business transacted by it makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to so qualify or be authorized could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. Each Restricted Person has taken all actions and procedures customarily taken in order to enter, for the purpose of conducting business or owning property, each jurisdiction outside the United States wherein the character of the properties owned or held by it or the nature of the business transacted by it makes such actions and procedures desirable could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.
Section 5.3 Authorization. Each Restricted Person has the power and authority to execute, deliver, and perform its respective obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Each Restricted Person has taken all action necessary to authorize the execution and delivery by it of the Loan Documents to which it is a party and to authorize the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby and the performance of its obligations thereunder. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents have been duly executed and delivered by Borrower and each other Restricted Person a Party thereto. Borrower is duly authorized to borrow funds hereunder.
Section 5.4 No Conflicts or Consents. The execution and delivery by the various Restricted Persons of the Loan Documents to which each is a party, the performance by each of its obligations under such Loan Documents, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the various Loan Documents, do not and will not (a) conflict with any provision of (i) any Law, (ii) the organizational documents of any Restricted Person, or (iii) any material agreement, judgment, license, order or permit applicable to or binding upon any Restricted Person; (b) result in the acceleration of any Indebtedness owed by any Restricted Person; or (c) result in or require the creation of any Lien upon any assets or properties of any Restricted Person except as expressly contemplated or permitted in the Loan Documents. Except as expressly contemplated in the Loan Documents, no permit, consent, approval, authorization or order of, and no notice to or filing with, any Tribunal or third party is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by any Restricted Person of any Loan Document or to consummate any transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents.
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Section 5.5 Enforceable Obligations. This Agreement is, and the other Loan Documents when duly executed and delivered will be, legal, valid and binding obligations of each Restricted Person which is a party hereto or thereto, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms except as such enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar Laws of general application relating to the enforcement of creditors rights.
Section 5.6 Initial Financial Statements. Restricted Persons have heretofore delivered to each Lender true, correct and complete copies of the Initial Financial Statements. The Initial Financial Statements fairly present Borrowers Consolidated financial position at the respective dates thereof and the Consolidated results of Borrowers operations and Borrowers Consolidated cash flows for the respective periods thereof. Since the date of the annual Initial Financial Statements, no Material Adverse Change has occurred, except as reflected in the quarterly Initial Financial Statements or in Section 5.6 of the Disclosure Schedule.
Section 5.7 Other Obligations and Restrictions. As of the Closing Date, no Restricted Person has any outstanding Liabilities of any kind which are, in the aggregate, material to Borrower or material with respect to Borrowers Consolidated financial condition and not shown in the Initial Financial Statements or disclosed in Section 5.7 of the Disclosure Schedule or otherwise permitted under Section 7.1. Except as shown in the Initial Financial Statements or disclosed in Section 5.7 of the Disclosure Schedule, no Restricted Person is subject to or restricted by any franchise, contract, deed, charter restriction, or other instrument or restriction which could reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Change.
Section 5.8 Full Disclosure. No certificate, written statement or other written information delivered herewith or heretofore by any Restricted Person to any Lender in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or in connection with any transaction contemplated hereby contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact known to any Restricted Person (other than industry-wide risks normally associated with the types of businesses conducted by Restricted Persons) necessary to make the statements contained herein or therein, taken as a whole, not misleading as of the date made or deemed made. There is no fact known to any Restricted Person that has not been disclosed to each Lender in writing which could reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Change. There are no statements or conclusions in any report delivered by any Restricted Person to the Lenders which are based upon or include misleading information or fail to take into account material information regarding the matters reported therein.
Section 5.9 Litigation. Except as disclosed in the Initial Financial Statements or in Section 5.9 of the Disclosure Schedule: (a) there are no actions, suits or legal, equitable, arbitrative or administrative proceedings pending, or to the knowledge of any Restricted Person threatened, against any Restricted Person or affecting any Collateral (including any which challenge or otherwise pertain to any Restricted Persons title to any Collateral) before any Tribunal which could reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Change, and (b) there are no outstanding judgments, injunctions, writs, rulings or orders by any such Tribunal against any Restricted Person or, to the knowledge of Borrower, any Restricted Persons stockholders, partners, directors or officers, or affecting any Collateral or any of its material assets or property which could reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Change.
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Section 5.10 Labor Disputes and Acts of God. Except as disclosed in Section 5.10 of the Disclosure Schedule, neither the business nor the properties of any Restricted Person has been affected by any fire, explosion, accident, strike, lockout or other labor dispute, drought, storm, hail, earthquake, embargo, act of God or of the public enemy or other casualty (whether or not covered by insurance), which could reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Change.
Section 5.11 ERISA Plans and Liabilities. All ERISA Plans in effect on the Closing Date are listed in Section 5.11 of the Disclosure Schedule. Except as disclosed in the Initial Financial Statements or in Section 5.11 of the Disclosure Schedule, no Termination Event has occurred with respect to any ERISA Plan and all ERISA Affiliates are in compliance with ERISA which could reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Change. Except as permitted under Section 7.10 hereof, no ERISA Affiliate is required to contribute to, or has any other absolute or contingent liability in respect of, any multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001 of ERISA. Except as set forth in Section 5.11 of the Disclosure Schedule as of the Closing Date: (a) no accumulated funding deficiency (as defined in Section 412(a) of the Internal Revenue Code) exists with respect to any ERISA Plan, whether or not waived by the Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate, and (b) the current value of each ERISA Plans benefits does not exceed the current value of such ERISA Plans assets available for the payment of such benefits which could reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Change.
Section 5.12 Environmental and Other Laws. Except as disclosed in Section 5.12 of the Disclosure Schedule: (a) Restricted Persons are conducting their businesses in compliance with all applicable Laws, including Environmental Laws, which the failure to so comply could reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Change, and have and are in compliance with all licenses and permits required under any such Laws which the failure to so comply could reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Change; (b) none of the operations or properties of any Restricted Person is the subject of federal, state or local investigation evaluating whether any material remedial action is needed to respond to a release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or to the improper storage or disposal (including storage or disposal at offsite locations) of any Hazardous Materials which could reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Change; (c) no Restricted Person (and to the best knowledge of Borrower, no other Person) has filed any notice under any Law indicating that any Restricted Person is responsible for the improper release into the environment, or the improper storage or disposal, of any material amount of any Hazardous Materials or that any Hazardous Materials have been improperly released, or are improperly stored or disposed of, upon any property of any Restricted Person which could reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Change; (d) to the knowledge of Borrower, no Restricted Person has transported or arranged for the transportation of any Hazardous Material to any location which is (i) listed on the National Priorities List under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, listed for possible inclusion on such National Priorities List by the Environmental Protection Agency in its Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Information System List, or listed on any similar state list or (ii) the subject of federal, state or local enforcement actions or other investigations, in the case of either of the forgoing clauses (i) and (ii), which may lead to claims against any Restricted Person for clean-up costs, remedial work, damages to natural resources or for personal injury claims (whether under Environmental Laws or otherwise) which could reasonably be expected to cause
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a Material Adverse Change; and (e) no Restricted Person otherwise has any known material contingent liability under any Environmental Laws or in connection with the release into the environment, or the storage or disposal, of any Hazardous Materials which could reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Change. Each Restricted Person undertook, at the time of its acquisition of each of its material properties, all appropriate inquiry into the previous ownership and uses of the Property and any potential environmental liabilities associated therewith.
Section 5.13 Names and Places of Business. As of the Closing Date, no Restricted Person has, during the preceding two (2) years, been known by, or used any other trade or fictitious name, except as disclosed in Section 5.13 of the Disclosure Schedule. Except as otherwise indicated in Section 5.13 of the Disclosure Schedule, as of the Closing Date, the chief executive office and principal place of business of each Restricted Person are (and for the preceding two (2) years have been) located at the address of Borrower set out on Schedule 5.13. Except as indicated in Section 5.13 of the Disclosure Schedule otherwise disclosed in writing to Agent, no Restricted Person has any other office or place of business.
Section 5.14 Subsidiaries. Borrower does not presently have any Subsidiary except those listed in Section 5.14 of the Disclosure Schedule or disclosed to Agent in writing. No Restricted Person has any equity investments in any other Person except those listed in Section 5.14 of the Disclosure Schedule or otherwise permitted under this Agreement. Borrower owns, directly or indirectly, the equity interests in each of its Subsidiaries indicated in Section 5.14 of the Disclosure Schedule or as disclosed to Agent in writing.
Section 5.15 Government Regulation. Neither Borrower nor any other Restricted Person owing Obligations is (a) a registered holding company, or a subsidiary company of a registered holding company, or an affiliate of a registered holding company within the meaning of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended; or (b) an investment company or a company controlled by an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The pledge of the Equity of each Subsidiary of Borrower does not violate Regulation T, U, or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
Section 5.16 Insider. No Restricted Person, nor, to the knowledge of Borrower as of the Closing Date, any Person having control (as that term is defined in 12 U.S.C. § 375b(9) or in regulations promulgated pursuant thereto) of any Restricted Person, is a director or an executive officer or principal shareholder (as those terms are defined in 12 U.S.C. § 375b(8) or (9) or in regulations promulgated pursuant thereto) of any Lender, of a bank holding company of which any Lender is a Subsidiary or of any Subsidiary of a bank holding company of which any Lender is a Subsidiary.
Section 5.17 Solvency. Upon giving effect to the issuance of the Notes, the execution of the Loan Documents by Borrower and each Guarantor and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, Borrower and the Guarantors, on a Consolidated basis, will be Solvent. Neither Borrower nor any Restricted Person has incurred (whether under the Loan Documents or otherwise), nor does any Restricted Person intend to incur or believe that it will incur Liabilities which will be beyond its ability to pay as such debts mature.
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Section 5.18 Tax Shelter Regulations. Borrower does not intend to treat the Loans and/or Letters of Credit and related transactions as being a reportable transaction (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4). In the event Borrower determines to take any action inconsistent with such intention, it will promptly notify Agent thereof. If Borrower so notifies Agent, Borrower acknowledges that one or more of the Lenders may treat its Loans and/or Letters of Credit as part of a transaction that is subject to Treasury Regulation Section 301.6112-1, and such Lender or Lenders, as applicable, will maintain the lists and other records required by such Treasury Regulation.
Section 5.19 Title to Properties; Licenses. Each Restricted Person has good and defensible title to all of the Collateral and to all of its material properties and assets, free and clear of all Liens, encumbrances, or adverse claims other than Permitted Liens and free and clear of all impediments to the use of such properties and assets in such Restricted Persons business. Each Restricted Person possesses all licenses, permits, franchises, patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade names, and other intellectual property (or otherwise possesses the right to use such intellectual property without violation of the rights of any other Person) which are necessary to carry out its business as presently conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted hereafter, which could reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Change and no Restricted Person is in violation of the terms under which it possesses such intellectual property or the right to use such intellectual property, the violation of which could reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Change.
Section 5.20 Regulation U. None of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are engaged in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock, and no proceeds of any Loans will be used for a purpose which violates Regulation U.
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ARTICLE VI
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS OF BORROWER.
Borrower covenants and agrees that until the full and final payment of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement, unless Required Lenders have previously agreed otherwise:
Section 6.1 Payment and Performance. Borrower will cause each other Restricted Person to observe, perform and comply with every term, covenant and condition in any Loan Document.
Section 6.2 Books, Financial Statements and Reports. Each Restricted Person will at all times maintain full and accurate books of account and records. Borrower will maintain and will cause its Subsidiaries to maintain a standard system of accounting, will maintain its Fiscal Year, and will furnish the following statements and reports to each Lender Party at Borrowers expense:
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Section 6.3 Other Information and Inspections. Each Restricted Person will furnish to each Lender any information which Agent may from time to time reasonably request concerning any provision of the Loan Documents, any Collateral, or any matter in connection with Restricted Persons businesses, properties, prospects, financial condition and operations, including all evidence which Agent from time to time reasonably requests in writing as to the accuracy and validity of or compliance with all representations, warranties and covenants made by any Restricted Person in the Loan Documents, the satisfaction of all conditions contained therein, and all other matters pertaining thereto. Each Restricted Person will permit representatives appointed by Agent (including independent accountants, auditors, Agents, attorneys, appraisers and any other Persons) to visit and inspect during normal business hours any of such Restricted Persons property, including its books of account, other books and records, and any facilities or other business assets, and to make extra copies therefrom and photocopies and photographs thereof, and to write down and record any information such representatives obtain, and each Restricted Person shall permit Agent or its representatives to investigate and verify the accuracy of the information furnished to Agent or any Lender in connection with the Loan Documents and to discuss all such matters with its officers, employees and representatives.
Section 6.4 Notice of Material Events and Change of Address. Borrower will, after it has knowledge thereof, promptly notify each Lender in writing, stating that such notice is being given pursuant to this Agreement, of:
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Upon the occurrence of any of the foregoing Restricted Persons will take all necessary or appropriate steps to promptly remedy any such Material Adverse Change, Default, Event of Default, acceleration, default or Termination Event, to protect against any such adverse claim, to defend any such suit or proceeding, and to resolve all controversies on account of any of the foregoing. Borrower will also notify Agent and Agents counsel in writing at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the date that any Restricted Person changes its name or the location of its chief executive office or its location under the Uniform Commercial Code.
Section 6.5 Maintenance of Properties. Each Restricted Person will maintain, preserve, protect, and keep all Collateral and all other material property used or useful in the conduct of its business in good condition (ordinary wear and tear excepted) in accordance with reasonably prudent industry standards, and in compliance with all applicable Laws which could reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Change, in conformity with all applicable contracts, servitudes, leases and agreements which could reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Change, and will from time to time make all commercially reasonable repairs, renewals and replacements needed to enable the business and operations carried on in connection therewith to be promptly and advantageously conducted at all times.
Section 6.6 Maintenance of Existence and Qualifications. Except as permitted under Section 7.4, each Restricted Person will maintain and preserve its existence and its rights and franchises in full force and effect and will qualify to do business in all states or jurisdictions where required by applicable Law, except where the failure to maintain, preserve and qualify could reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Change.
Section 6.7 Payment of Taxes. Each Restricted Person will (a) timely file all required tax returns including any extensions; (b) timely pay all taxes, assessments, and other governmental charges or levies imposed upon it or upon its income, profits or property before the same become delinquent; and (c) maintain appropriate accruals and reserves for all of the foregoing in accordance with GAAP. Each Restricted Person may, however, delay paying or discharging any of the foregoing so long as it is in good faith contesting the validity thereof by appropriate proceedings, if necessary, and has set aside on its books adequate reserves therefore which are required by GAAP.
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Section 6.9 Performance on Borrowers Behalf. If any Restricted Person fails to pay any taxes, insurance premiums, expenses, attorneys fees or other amounts it is required to pay under any Loan Document, Agent may pay the same. Borrower shall immediately reimburse Agent for any such payments and each amount paid by Agent shall constitute an Obligation owed hereunder which is due and payable on the date such amount is paid by Agent.
Section 6.10 Interest. Borrower hereby promises to each Lender Party to pay interest at the Default Rate on all Obligations (including Obligations to pay fees or to reimburse or indemnify any Lender) which Borrower has in this Agreement promised to pay to such Lender Party and which are not paid when due. Such interest shall accrue from the date such Obligations become due until they are paid.
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Section 6.11 Compliance with Law. Each Restricted Person will conduct its business and affairs in compliance with all Laws applicable thereto. Each Restricted Person will cause all licenses and permits necessary or appropriate for the conduct of its business and the ownership and operation of its property used and useful in the conduct of its business to be at all times maintained in good standing and in full force and effect, except as could reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Change.
Section 6.14 Bank Accounts; Offset. To secure the repayment of the Obligations Borrower hereby grants to each Lender a security interest, a lien, and a right of offset, each of which shall be in addition to all other interests, liens, and rights of any Lender at common law, under the Loan Documents, or otherwise, and each of which shall be upon and against (a) any and all moneys, securities or other property (and the proceeds therefrom) of Borrower now or
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hereafter held or received by or in transit to any Lender from or for the account of Borrower, whether for safekeeping, custody, pledge, transmission, collection or otherwise, (b) any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) of Borrower with any Lender, and (c) any other credits and claims of Borrower at any time existing against any Lender, including claims under certificates of deposit. At any time and from time to time after the occurrence of any Event of Default, each Lender is hereby authorized to foreclose upon, or to offset against the Obligations then due and payable (in either case without notice to Borrower), any and all items hereinabove referred to. The remedies of foreclosure and offset are separate and cumulative, and either may be exercised independently of the other without regard to procedures or restrictions applicable to the other.
Section 6.15 Guaranties of Borrowers Subsidiaries. Each Subsidiary created, acquired or coming into existence after the date hereof, other than an Immaterial Subsidiary, shall, promptly upon request by Agent, execute and deliver to Agent an absolute and unconditional guaranty of the timely repayment of the Obligations and the due and punctual performance of the obligations of Borrower hereunder, which guaranty shall be reasonably satisfactory to Agent in form and substance. Borrower will cause each of its Subsidiaries hereafter formed or acquired, other than an Immaterial Subsidiary, to deliver to Agent, simultaneously with its delivery of such a guaranty, written evidence satisfactory to Agent and its counsel that such Subsidiary has taken all corporate or partnership action necessary to duly approve and authorize its execution, delivery and performance of such guaranty and any other documents which it is required to execute.
Section 6.16 Agreement to Deliver Security Documents. Borrower agrees to deliver and to cause each Guarantor to deliver, to further secure the Obligations whenever requested by Agent in its sole and absolute discretion, deeds of trust, mortgages, chattel mortgages, security agreements, financing statements continuation statements, extension agreements, acknowledgments, and other Security Documents in form and substance satisfactory to Agent for the purpose of granting, confirming, protecting and perfecting Liens or security interests in any personal property now owned or hereafter acquired by Borrower or any Guarantor.
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ARTICLE VII
NEGATIVE COVENANTS OF BORROWER
To conform with the terms and conditions under which each Lender is willing to have credit outstanding to Borrower, and to induce each Lender to enter into this Agreement and make the Loans, Borrower warrants, covenants and agrees that until the full and final payment of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement, unless Required Lenders have previously agreed otherwise:
Section 7.1 Indebtedness. No Restricted Person will in any manner owe or be liable for Indebtedness except:
Section 7.2 Limitation on Liens. Except for Permitted Liens, no Restricted Person will create, assume or permit to exist any Lien upon any of the properties or assets which it now owns or hereafter acquires.
Section 7.3 Hedging Contracts. No Restricted Person will be a party to or in any manner be liable on any Hedging Contract except Hedging Contracts entered into by a Restricted
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Person and the Agent or any other Lender with the purpose and effect of fixing interest rates on a principal amount of indebtedness of such Restricted Person that is accruing interest at a variable rate, provided that (a) the aggregate notional amount of such contracts never exceeds seventy-five percent (75%) of the anticipated outstanding principal balance of the indebtedness to be hedged by such contracts or an average of such principal balances calculated using a generally accepted method of matching interest swap contracts to declining principal balances, and (b) the floating rate index of each such contract generally matches the index used to determine the floating rates of interest on the corresponding indebtedness to be hedged by such contract.
Section 7.4 Limitation on Mergers, Issuances of Securities. No Restricted Person will merge or consolidate with or into any other Person, except that any Subsidiary of Borrower may be merged into or consolidated with (a) another Subsidiary of Borrower and, if a Guarantor is one of the merged entities, so long as a Guarantor is the surviving business entity, (b) Borrower, so long as Borrower is the surviving business entity, and (c) any other Person in connection with a sale of such Restricted Persons Equity that is permitted by Section 7.5. Borrower will not issue any securities other than shares of its common or preferred stock and any options or warrants giving the holders thereof only the right to acquire such shares. No Subsidiary of Borrower will issue any additional shares of its capital stock or other securities or any options, warrants or other rights to acquire such additional shares or other securities except to Borrower or another Subsidiary of Borrower and only to the extent not otherwise forbidden under the terms hereof. No Subsidiary of Borrower which is a partnership will allow any diminution of Borrowers interest (direct or indirect) therein.
Section 7.5 Limitation on Sales of Property. No Restricted Person will sell, transfer, lease, exchange, alienate or dispose of any of its material assets or properties or any material interest therein, or discount, sell, pledge or assign any notes payable to it, accounts receivable or future income, except:
Section 7.6 Limitation on Distributions and Subordinated Debt.
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Section 7.7 Limitation on Investments, Acquisitions, Capital Expenditures, and Lines of Business. No Restricted Person will
Section 7.8 Intentionally Omitted.
Section 7.9 Transactions with Affiliates. Neither Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries will engage in any material transaction with any of its Affiliates on terms which are less favorable to it than those which would have been obtainable at the time in arms-length dealing with Persons other than such Affiliates, provided that such restriction shall not apply to transactions among Borrower and its Subsidiaries.
Section 7.10 Prohibited Contracts. Except as expressly provided for in the Loan Documents, no Restricted Person will, directly or indirectly, enter into, create, or otherwise allow to exist any contract that restricts or other consensual restriction on, the ability of any Subsidiary of Borrower to: (a) pay dividends or make other Distributions to Borrower, (b) to redeem Equity held in it by Borrower, (c) to repay loans and other Indebtedness owing by it to Borrower, (d) to transfer any of its assets to Borrower, or (e) make loans or advances to Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries. No Restricted Person will enter, or permit the entry by any Restricted Person into, any contract, lease, or amendment that releases, qualifies, limits, makes contingent or otherwise materially detrimentally affects the rights and benefits of Agent or any Lender under or acquired pursuant to any Security Documents. No ERISA Affiliate will incur any obligation to contribute to any multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001 of ERISA, except in the ordinary course of business for employees subject to collective bargaining agreements.
Section 7.11 Financial Covenants.
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ARTICLE VIII
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
Section 8.1 Events of Default. Each of the following events constitutes an Event of Default under this Agreement:
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Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default described in subsection (k)(i), (k)(ii) or (k)(iii) of this section with respect to Borrower, all of the Obligations shall thereupon be immediately due and payable, without demand, presentment, notice of demand or of dishonor and nonpayment,
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protest, notice of protest, notice of intention to accelerate, declaration or notice of acceleration, or any other notice or declaration of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by Borrower and each Restricted Person who at any time ratifies or approves this Agreement. Upon any such acceleration, any obligation of any Lender and any obligation of LC Issuer to issue Letters of Credit hereunder to make any further Loans shall be permanently terminated. During the continuance of any other Event of Default, Agent at any time and from time to time may (and upon written instructions from Required Lenders, Agent shall), without notice to Borrower or any other Restricted Person, do either or both of the following: (1) terminate any obligation of Lenders to make Loans hereunder, and any obligation of LC Issuer to issue Letters of Credit hereunder, and (2) declare any or all of the Obligations immediately due and payable, and all such Obligations shall thereupon be immediately due and payable, without demand, presentment, notice of demand or of dishonor and nonpayment, protest, notice of protest, notice of intention to accelerate, declaration or notice of acceleration, or any other notice or declaration of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by Borrower and each Restricted Person who at any time ratifies or approves this Agreement.
Section 8.2 Remedies. If any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, each Lender Party may terminate its Revolving Loan Commitment and protect and enforce its rights under the Loan Documents by any appropriate proceedings, including proceedings for specific performance of any covenant or agreement contained in any Loan Document, and each Lender Party may enforce the payment of any Obligations due it or enforce any other legal or equitable right which it may have. All rights, remedies and powers conferred upon Lender Parties under the Loan Documents shall be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any other rights, remedies or powers available under the Loan Documents or at Law or in equity.
Section 8.3 Application of Proceeds after Acceleration. Except as otherwise provided in the Security Documents with respect to application of proceeds to any reimbursements due Agent thereunder and to the Lender Hedging Obligations, if Agent collects or receives money on account of the Obligations after the acceleration of the Obligations as provided in Section 8.1, Agent shall distribute all money so collected or received:
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Section 9.1 Appointment and Authority. Each Lender Party hereby irrevocably authorizes Agent, and Agent hereby undertakes, to receive payments of principal, interest and other amounts due hereunder as specified herein and to take all other actions and to exercise such powers under the Loan Documents as are specifically delegated to Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with all other powers reasonably incidental thereto. The relationship of Agent to the other Lender Parties is only that of one commercial lender acting as Agent for others, and nothing in the Loan Documents shall be construed to constitute Agent a trustee or other fiduciary for any Lender Party or any holder of any participation in a Note nor to impose on Agent duties and obligations other than those expressly provided for in the Loan Documents. With respect to any matters not expressly provided for in the Loan Documents and any matters which the Loan Documents place within the discretion of Agent, Agent shall not be required to exercise any discretion or take any action, and it may request instructions from Lenders with respect to any such matter, in which case it shall be required to act or to refrain from acting (and shall be fully protected and free from liability to all Lender Parties in so acting or refraining from acting) upon the instructions of Required Lenders (including itself), provided, however, that Agent shall not be required to take any action which exposes it to a risk of personal liability that it considers unreasonable or which is contrary to the Loan Documents or to applicable Law.
Section 9.2 Exculpation, Agents Reliance, Etc. Neither Agent nor any of its directors, officers, Agents, attorneys, or employees shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by any of them under or in connection with the Loan Documents, including their negligence of any kind, except that each shall be liable for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Agent (a) may treat the Person whose name is set forth on the Register as the holder of any Obligation as the holder thereof until Agent receives written notice of the assignment or transfer thereof in accordance with this Agreement, signed by such Person and in the form required under Section 10.5(c) payee and in form satisfactory to Agent; (b) may consult with legal counsel (including counsel for Borrower), independent public accountants and other experts selected by it and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts; (c) makes no warranty or representation to any other Lender and shall not be responsible to any other Lender Party for any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Loan Documents; (d) shall not have any duty to ascertain or to inquire as to the performance or observance of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of the Loan Documents on the part of any Restricted Person or to inspect the property (including the books and records) of any Restricted Person; (e) shall not be responsible to any other Lender for the due execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of any Loan Document or any instrument or document furnished in connection therewith; (f) may rely upon the representations and warranties of each Restricted Person or Lender Party in exercising its powers hereunder; and (g) shall incur no liability under or in respect of the Loan Documents by acting upon any notice, consent, certificate or other instrument or writing (including any facsimile, telegram, cable or telex) believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent by the proper Person or Persons.
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Section 9.3 Credit Decisions. Each Lender Party acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon any other Lender Party, made its own analysis of Borrower and the transactions contemplated hereby and its own independent decision to enter into this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Each Lender Party also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon any other Lender Party 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.
Section 9.4 Indemnification. Each Lender agrees to indemnify Agent (to the extent not reimbursed by Borrower within ten (10) days after demand) from and against such Lenders Percentage Share of any and all liabilities, obligations, claims, losses, damages, penalties, fines, actions, judgments, suits, settlements, costs, expenses or disbursements (including reasonable fees of attorneys, accountants, experts and advisors) of any kind or nature whatsoever (in this section collectively called liabilities and costs) which to any extent (in whole or in part) may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against Agent growing out of, resulting from or in any other way associated with any of the Collateral, the Loan Documents and the transactions and events (including the enforcement thereof) at any time associated therewith or contemplated therein (whether arising in contract or in tort and otherwise and including any violation or noncompliance with any Environmental Laws by any Person or any liabilities or duties of any Person with respect to Hazardous Materials found in or released into the environment).
THE FOREGOING INDEMNIFICATION SHALL APPLY WHETHER OR NOT SUCH LIABILITIES AND COSTS ARE IN ANY WAY OR TO ANY EXTENT OWED, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, UNDER ANY CLAIM OR THEORY OF STRICT LIABILITY, OR ARE CAUSED, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, BY ANY NEGLIGENT ACT OR OMISSION OF ANY KIND BY AGENT,
provided only that no Lender shall be obligated under this section to indemnify Agent for that portion, if any, of any liabilities and costs which is proximately caused by Agents own individual gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined in a final judgment. Cumulative of the foregoing, each Lender agrees to reimburse Agent promptly upon demand for such Lenders Percentage Share of any costs and expenses to be paid to Agent by Borrower under Section 10.4(a) to the extent that Agent is not timely reimbursed for such expenses by Borrower as provided in such section. As used in this section the term Agent shall refer not only to the Person designated as such in Section 1.1 but also to each director, officer, Agent, attorney, employee, representative and Affiliate of such Person.
Section 9.5 Rights as Lender. In its capacity as a Lender, Agent shall have the same rights and obligations as any Lender and may exercise such rights as though it were not Agent. Agent may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as trustee under indentures of, and generally engage in any kind of business with any Restricted Person or their Affiliates, all as if it were not Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to any other Lender.
Section 9.6 Sharing of Set-Offs and Other Payments. Each Lender Party agrees that if it shall, whether through the exercise of rights under Security Documents or rights of bankers lien, set off, or counterclaim against Borrower or otherwise, obtain payment of a portion of the aggregate Obligations owed to it which, taking into account all distributions made by Agent
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under Section 3.1, causes such Lender Party to have received more than it would have received had such payment been received by Agent and distributed pursuant to Section 3.1, then (a) it shall be deemed to have simultaneously purchased and shall be obligated to purchase interests in the Obligations as necessary to cause all Lender Parties to share all payments as provided for in Section 3.1, and (b) such other adjustments shall be made from time to time as shall be equitable to ensure that Agent and all Lender Parties share all payments of Obligations as provided in Section 3.1; provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall in any way affect the right of any Lender Party to obtain payment (whether by exercise of rights of bankers lien, set-off or counterclaim or otherwise) of indebtedness other than the Obligations. Borrower expressly consents to the foregoing arrangements and agrees that any holder of any such interest or other participation in the Obligations, whether or not acquired pursuant to the foregoing arrangements, may to the fullest extent permitted by Law exercise any and all rights of bankers lien, set-off, or counterclaim as fully as if such holder were a holder of the Obligations in the amount of such interest or other participation. If all or any part of any funds transferred pursuant to this section is thereafter recovered from the seller under this section which received the same, the purchase provided for in this section shall be deemed to have been rescinded to the extent of such recovery, together with interest, if any, if interest is required pursuant to the order of a Tribunal order to be paid on account of the possession of such funds prior to such recovery.
Section 9.7 Investments. Whenever Agent in good faith determines that it is uncertain about how to distribute to Lender Parties any funds which it has received, or whenever Agent in good faith determines that there is any dispute among Lender Parties about how such funds should be distributed, Agent may choose to defer distribution of the funds which are the subject of such uncertainty or dispute. If Agent in good faith believes that the uncertainty or dispute will not be promptly resolved, or if Agent is otherwise required to invest funds pending distribution to Lender Parties, Agent shall invest such funds pending distribution; all interest on any such Investment shall be distributed upon the distribution of such Investment and in the same proportion and to the same Persons as such Investment. All monies received by Agent for distribution to Lender Parties (other than to the Person who is Agent in its separate capacity as a Lender Party) shall be held by Agent pending such distribution solely as Agent for such Lender Parties, and Agent shall have no equitable title to any portion thereof.
Section 9.8 Benefit of Article IX. The provisions of this Article (other than the following Section 9.9) are intended solely for the benefit of Lender Parties, and no Restricted Person shall be entitled to rely on any such provision or assert any such provision in a claim or defense against any Lender. Lender Parties may waive or amend such provisions as they desire without any notice to or consent of Borrower or any Restricted Person.
Section 9.9 Resignation. Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to Lenders and Borrower. Each such notice shall set forth the date of such resignation. Upon any such resignation, Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint (with, unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the consent of Borrower, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) a successor Agent. A successor must be appointed for any retiring Agent, and such Agents resignation shall become effective when such successor accepts such appointment. If, within thirty days after the date of the retiring Agents resignation, no successor Agent has been appointed and has accepted such appointment, then the retiring Agent may appoint (with, unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the
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consent of Borrower, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) a successor Agent, which shall be a commercial bank organized or licensed to conduct a banking or trust business under the Laws of the United States of America or of any state thereof. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Agent hereunder by a successor Agent, the retiring Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. After any retiring Agents resignation hereunder the provisions of this Article IX shall continue to inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Agent under the Loan Documents.
Section 9.10 Notice of Default. Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default, except with respect to defaults in the payment of principal, interest and fees required to be paid to Agent for the account of Lenders, unless Agent shall have received written notice from a Lender or Borrower referring to this Agreement, describing such Default and stating that such notice is a notice of default. Agent will notify Lenders of its receipt of any such notice. Agent shall take such action with respect to such Default as may be directed by Required Lenders in accordance with Article VIII; provided, however, that unless and until Agent has received any such direction, Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Default as it shall deem advisable or in the best interest of Lenders.
Section 9.11 Co-Agents. The Parties identified on the facing page of this Agreement as Lead Arranger or Co-Agent have no right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility, or duty under the Loan Documents in such capacity. Without limiting the foregoing, each Party so identified as Lead Arranger and Co-Agent shall not have and shall not be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any other Lender. Each Lender acknowledges that it has not relied, and will not rely, on taking or not taking action hereunder.
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THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.
Section 10.2 Survival of Agreements; Cumulative Nature. Except for representations and warranties given as of a specified date, all of Restricted Persons various representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in the Loan Documents shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the performance hereof and thereof, including the making or granting of the Loans and the delivery of the Notes and the other Loan Documents, and shall further survive until all of the Obligations are paid in full to each Lender Party and all of Lender Parties obligations to Borrower are terminated. All statements and agreements contained in any certificate or other instrument delivered by any
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Restricted Person to any Lender Party under any Loan Document shall be deemed representations and warranties by Borrower or agreements and covenants of Borrower under this Agreement. The representations, warranties, indemnities, and covenants made by Restricted Persons in the Loan Documents, and the rights, powers, and privileges granted to Lender Parties in the Loan Documents, are cumulative, and, except for expressly specified waivers and consents, no Loan Document shall be construed in the context of another to diminish, nullify, or otherwise reduce the benefit to any Lender Party of any such representation, warranty, indemnity, covenant, right, power or privilege. In particular and without limitation, no exception set out in this Agreement to any representation, warranty, indemnity, or covenant herein contained shall apply to any similar representation, warranty, indemnity, or covenant contained in any other Loan Document, unless the Loan Documents shall expressly provide that such exception shall apply to such similar representation, warranty, indemnity, or covenant.
Section 10.3 Notices. All notices, requests, consents, demands and other communications required or permitted under any Loan Document shall be in writing, unless otherwise specifically provided in such Loan Document (provided that Agent may give telephonic notices to the other Lender Parties), and shall be deemed sufficiently given or furnished if delivered by personal delivery, by facsimile or other electronic transmission, by delivery service with proof of delivery, or by registered or certified United States mail, postage prepaid, to Borrower and Restricted Persons at the address of Borrower specified on the signature pages hereto and to each Lender Party at its address specified on Schedule 3.1 hereto (unless changed by similar notice in writing given by the particular Person whose address is to be changed). Any such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been given (a) in the case of personal delivery or delivery service, as of the date of first attempted delivery during normal business hours at the address provided herein, (b) in the case of facsimile or other electronic transmission, upon receipt, or (c) in the case of registered or certified United States mail, three days after deposit in the mail; provided, however, that no Borrowing Notice shall become effective until actually received by Agent.
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THE FOREGOING INDEMNIFICATION SHALL APPLY WHETHER OR NOT SUCH LIABILITIES AND COSTS ARE IN ANY WAY OR TO ANY EXTENT OWED, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, UNDER ANY CLAIM OR THEORY OF STRICT LIABILITY OR CAUSED, IN WHOLE OR IN PART BY ANY NEGLIGENT ACT OR OMISSION OF ANY KIND BY ANY LENDER PARTY,
provided only that no Lender Party shall be entitled under this section to receive indemnification for that portion, if any, of any liabilities and costs which is proximately caused by its own individual gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined in a final judgment. If any Person (including Borrower or any of its Affiliates) ever alleges such gross negligence or willful misconduct by any Lender Party, the indemnification provided for in this section shall nonetheless be paid upon demand, subject to later adjustment or reimbursement, until such time as a court of competent jurisdiction enters a final judgment as to the extent and effect of the alleged gross negligence or willful misconduct. As used in this section the term Lender Party shall refer not only to each Person designated as such in Section 1.1 but also to each director, officer, Agent, trustee, attorney, employee, representative and Affiliate of or for such Person.
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Section 10.5 Joint and Several Liability; Parties in Interest; Assignments.
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Section 10.6 Confidentiality. Each Lending Party agrees to keep confidential any information furnished or made available to it by any Restricted Person pursuant to this Agreement that is financial information, information in connection with a proposed transaction, or information marked confidential; provided that nothing herein shall prevent any Lending Party from disclosing such information (a) to any other Lending Party or any Affiliate of any Lending Party, or any officer, director, employee, Agent, attorney, auditor, or advisor of any Lending Party or Affiliate of any Lending Party, (b) to any other Person if reasonably incidental to the administration of the credit facility provided herein, (c) as required by any Law, (d) upon the order of any court or administrative agency, (e) upon the request or demand of any Tribunal, (f) that is or becomes available to the public or that is or becomes available to any Lending Party other than as a result of a disclosure by any Lending Party prohibited by this Agreement, (g) to the extent necessary in connection with the exercise of any right or remedy under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (h) subject to provisions substantially similar to those contained in this section, to any actual or proposed participant or assignee or any actual or proposed contractual counterparty (or its advisors) to any securitization, hedge, or other derivative transaction relating to the parties obligations hereunder, and (i) if it is otherwise available in the public domain. Notwithstanding anything set forth herein to the contrary, each party to this Agreement and each of its employees, representatives, and other Agents is hereby expressly authorized to disclose the tax treatment and tax structure (as those terms are defined in Treas. Reg. §§ 1.6011-4(c)(8) and (9), respectively) of the transactions contemplated hereby and all materials of any kind, including opinions or other tax analyses, that have been provided to it by any other party relating to such tax treatment or tax structure. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of information described in this section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.
Section 10.7 Governing Law; Submission to Process. Except to the extent that the Law of another jurisdiction is expressly elected in a Loan Document, the Loan Documents shall be deemed contracts and instruments made under the Laws of the State of Texas and shall be construed and enforced in accordance with and governed by the Laws of the State of Texas and the Laws of the United States of America, without regard to principles of conflicts of law. Chapter 346 of the Texas Finance Code (which regulates certain revolving credit loan accounts and revolving tri-party accounts) does not apply to this Agreement or to the Notes. Borrower hereby irrevocably submits itself and each other Restricted Person to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in the State of Texas and agrees and consents that service of process may be made upon it or any Restricted Person in any legal proceeding relating to the Loan Documents or the Obligations by any means allowed under Texas or federal law. Any legal proceeding arising out of or in any way related to any of the Loan Documents shall be brought and litigated exclusively in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division, to the extent it has subject matter jurisdiction, and otherwise in the Texas District Courts sitting in Harris County, Texas. The parties hereto hereby waive and agree not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense or otherwise, that any such proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue thereof is improper, and further agree to a transfer of any such proceeding to a federal court sitting in the State of Texas to the extent that it has subject matter jurisdiction, and otherwise to a state court in Houston, Texas. In furtherance thereof, Borrower and Lender Parties each hereby acknowledge and agree that it was not inconvenient for
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them to negotiate and receive funding of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in such county and that it will be neither inconvenient nor unfair to litigate or otherwise resolve any disputes or claims in a court sitting in such county.
Section 10.8 Limitation on Interest. Lender Parties, Restricted Persons and any other parties to the Loan Documents intend to contract in strict compliance with applicable usury Law from time to time in effect. In furtherance thereof such Persons stipulate and agree that none of the terms and provisions contained in the Loan Documents shall ever be construed to create a contract to pay, for the use, forbearance or detention of money, interest in excess of the maximum amount of interest permitted to be charged by applicable Law from time to time in effect. Neither any Restricted Person nor any present or future guarantors, endorsers, or other Persons hereafter becoming liable for payment of any Obligation shall ever be liable for unearned interest thereon or shall ever be required to pay interest thereon in excess of the maximum amount that may be lawfully contracted for, charged, or received under applicable Law from time to time in effect, and the provisions of this section shall control over all other provisions of the Loan Documents which may be in conflict or apparent conflict herewith. Lender Parties expressly disavow any intention to contract for, charge, or collect excessive unearned interest or finance charges in the event the maturity of any Obligation is accelerated. If (a) the maturity of any Obligation is accelerated for any reason, (b) any Obligation is prepaid and as a result any amounts held to constitute interest are determined to be in excess of the legal maximum, or (c) any Lender or any other holder of any or all of the Obligations shall otherwise collect moneys which are determined to constitute interest which would otherwise increase the interest on any or all of the Obligations to an amount in excess of that permitted to be charged by applicable Law then in effect, then all sums determined to constitute interest in excess of such legal limit shall, without penalty, be promptly applied to reduce the then outstanding principal of the related Obligations or, at such Lenders or holders option, promptly returned to Borrower or the other payor thereof upon such determination. In determining whether or not the interest paid or payable, under any specific circumstance, exceeds the maximum amount permitted under applicable Law, Lender Parties and Restricted Persons (and any other payors thereof) shall to the greatest extent permitted under applicable Law, (i) characterize any non-principal payment as an expense, fee or premium rather than as interest, (ii) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (iii) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread the total amount of interest throughout the entire contemplated term of the instruments evidencing the Obligations in accordance with the amounts outstanding from time to time thereunder and the maximum legal rate of interest from time to time in effect under applicable Law in order to lawfully contract for, charge, or receive the maximum amount of interest permitted under applicable Law. In the event applicable Law provides for an interest ceiling under Chapter 303 of the Texas Finance Code (the Texas Finance Code) as amended, for that day, the ceiling shall be the weekly ceiling as defined in the Texas Finance Code, provided that if any applicable Law permits greater interest, the Law permitting the greatest interest shall apply. As used in this section the term applicable Law means the Laws of the State of Texas or the Laws of the United States of America, whichever Laws allow the greater interest, as such Laws now exist or may be changed or amended or come into effect in the future.
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Section 10.9 Termination; Limited Survival.
Section 10.10 Severability. If any term or provision of any Loan Document shall be determined to be illegal or unenforceable all other terms and provisions of the Loan Documents shall nevertheless remain effective and shall be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law.
Section 10.11 Counterparts; Fax. This Agreement may be separately executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to constitute one and the same Agreement. This Agreement and the Loan Documents may be validly executed and delivered by facsimile or other electronic transmission.
Section 10.12 Intentionally Omitted.
Section 10.13 Waiver of Jury Trial, Punitive Damages, etc. Each of the Borrower and each Lender Party hereby knowingly, voluntarily, intentionally, and irrevocably (a) waives, to the maximum extent not prohibited by Law, any right it may have to a trial by jury in respect of
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any litigation based hereon, or directly or indirectly at any time arising out of, under or in connection with the Loan Documents or any transaction contemplated thereby or associated therewith, before or after maturity; (b) waives, to the maximum extent not prohibited by Law, any right they may have to claim or recover in any such litigation any Special Damages, as defined below, (c) certifies that no party hereto nor any representative or Agent or counsel for any party hereto has represented, expressly or otherwise, or implied that such party would not, in the event of litigation, seek to enforce the foregoing waivers, and (d) acknowledges that it has been induced to enter into this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby by, among other things, the mutual waivers and certifications contained in this section. As used in this section, Special Damages includes all special, consequential, exemplary, or punitive damages (regardless of how named), but does not include any payments or funds which any party hereto has expressly promised to pay or deliver to any other party hereto.
Section 10.14 Intentionally Left Blank.
Section 10.15 Renewal and Extension. The Indebtedness arising under this Agreement is a renewal, extension and restatement on revised terms of (but not an extinguishment or novation of) the Prior Indebtedness and, from and after the date hereof, the terms and provisions of the Prior Credit Documents shall be superseded by the terms and provisions of this Agreement. Borrower hereby agrees that (i) the Prior Indebtedness, all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, and all accrued and unpaid fees under the Prior Credit Documents shall be deemed to be Indebtedness of Borrower outstanding under and governed by this Agreement and (ii) all Liens securing the Prior Indebtedness shall continue in full force and effect to secure the Secured Obligations.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement is executed as of the date first written above.
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COMFORT SYSTEMS USA, INC., |
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Borrower |
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/s/ William George, III |
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William George, III |
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Executive Vice President and |
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Chief Financial Officer |
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Address: |
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777 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 500 |
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Houston, Texas 77056 |
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Attention: William George, III |
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Telephone: (713) 830-9650 |
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Fax: (713) 830-9659 |
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WACHOVIA BANK, N.A., |
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Agent, LC Issuer and Lender |
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/s/ Gale Smith |
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Gale Smith |
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Senior Vice President |
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Wachovia Bank, N.A. |
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2800 Post Oak Blvd., Suite 3400 |
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Houston, Texas 77056 |
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Attention: Gale Smith |
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Telephone: (713) 402-3614 |
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CAPITAL ONE, N.A., |
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/s/ Debra Halling |
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Debra Halling |
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Senior Vice President |
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Capital One, N.A. |
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5718 Westheimer, Suite 600 |
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Houston, Texas 77057 |
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Attention: Debra Halling |
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BANK OF TEXAS, N.A., |
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/s/ Edward H. Braddock |
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Edward H. Braddock |
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Senior Vice President |
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Bank of Texas, N.A. |
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5 Houston Center |
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1401 McKinney, Suite 1650 |
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Houston, Texas 77010 |
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Attention: Edward H. Braddock |
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BANK OF SCOTLAND, |
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/s/ Karen Weich |
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Karen Weich |
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Vice President |
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Bank of Scotland |
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565 Fifth Avenue |
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New York, New York 10017 |
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Exhibit 99.1
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777 Post Oak Blvd, Suite 500 |
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CONTACT: |
William George |
Houston, Texas 77056 |
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Chief Financial Officer |
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(713) 830-9600 |
Fax 713-830-9696 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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--- Facility Increased to $100 Million; Improved Terms, Stability and Flexibility --- |
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--- Steven S. Harter Resigns after Ten Years of Distinguished Service --- |
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Houston, TX February 26, 2007 Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (NYSE: FIX), a leading provider of commercial, industrial and institutional heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) services, today announced that it has amended its existing senior debt facility to increase the amount to $100,000,000 and improve the covenants and flexibility. Wachovia Bank has joined the Companys bank group and is leading the facility, while the largest banks in the former agreement, which are Capital One N.A. and Bank of Texas, N.A., have remained as Co-Agents. In addition to the increased commitment, the facility now has a five-year term, lower borrowing and letter of credit costs, and provides additional flexibility for the Company with regards to acquisitions, dividends and stock buybacks.
Bill Murdy, Comfort Systems USAs Chairman and CEO, said, We are very pleased that our lenders have graciously provided us with improved terms and additional capacity as we work to improve Comfort Systems USA. The agreement affords our board of directors the flexibility to consider ways in which the Company might return value to its shareholders. A strong and stable facility complements our strong balance sheet and continues to provide a meaningful advantage in an industry where owners and general contractors value partners with strong financial foundations. Mr. Murdy concluded, This long-term facility will provide us with significant support to our operations and further strengthens our foundation for long-term growth.
Because the Company has a strong positive net cash position, initial cash borrowings under the new credit line will be zero.
Separately, the Company announced the resignation of Steven S. Harter from its board of directors effective today, February 26, 2007. Bill Murdy commented, Comfort Systems owes a debt to Steve Harter for his service over the last ten years. Without his founding vision, valuable guidance and specifically, his crucial role in helping obtain financing for the Company, the Company would not have reached its current standing as a respected and leading provider in the HVAC industry. We wish him well in his future endeavors.
Comfort Systems USA® is a premier provider of business solutions addressing workplace comfort, with 60 locations in 53 cities around the nation. For more information, visit the Companys website at www.comfortsystemsusa.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on the current plans and expectations of Comfort Systems USA, Inc. and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual future activities and results of operations to be materially different from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Important
factors that could cause actual results to differ include, among others, national or regional weakness in non-residential construction activity, difficulty in obtaining or increased costs associated with bonding, shortages of labor and specialty building materials, the use of incorrect estimates for bidding a fixed price contract, retention of key management, the Companys backlog failing to translate into actual revenue or profits, errors in the Companys percentage of completion method of accounting, the result of competition in the Companys markets, seasonal fluctuations in the demand for HVAC systems, the imposition of past and future liability from environmental, safety, and health regulations including the inherent risk associated with self-insurance, adverse litigation results and other risks detailed in the Companys reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ are discussed under Item 1A. Company Risk Factors in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release. Comfort Systems USA, Inc. expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in Comfort Systems USA, Inc.s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.