UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 


 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): April 15, 2008

 

Packaging Corporation of America
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

1-15399

 

36-4277050

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

 

(Commission File Number)

 

(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

1900 West Field Court, Lake Forest, Illinois 60045

(Address of Principal Executive Offices, including Zip Code)

 

(847) 482-3000

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

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 April 15, 2008, Packaging Corporation of America (“PCA”) entered into a five year credit agreement (the “New Credit Agreement”) with the lenders and agents named therein.  The New Credit Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1, which is incorporated by reference herein.  The description below does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the New Credit Agreement.

 

Under the New Credit Agreement, PCA may borrow on a revolving basis up to $150 million for general corporate purposes.  The agreement also includes a $35 million letter of credit facility.  Borrowings bear interest at the LIBOR rate plus a margin that is determined based upon PCA’s credit ratings.  The agreement has a five-year term and contains customary representations and warranties, conditions to borrowing and events of default (the occurrence of which would entitle the lenders to accelerate amounts outstanding).

 

PCA must comply with certain financial covenants, including maintaining a minimum interest coverage ratio, a minimum net worth and a maximum debt to capitalization ratio.  PCA is also limited in its ability to incur liens on its assets or incur indebtedness at the subsidiary level.

 

Other than approximately $19 million of letters of credit, no amounts are outstanding under the New Credit Agreement.

 

Item 1.02.  Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement

 

In connection with the entry into the New Credit Agreement, the Five Year Credit Agreement, dated as of July 21, 2003 (the “Old Credit Agreement”), by and among PCA and the lenders and agents named therein, was terminated on April 15, 2008.  The Old Credit Agreement is filed as Exhibit 10.2 to PCA’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2003 and is incorporated by reference herein.  Other than the letters of credit described in Item 1.01 above, which are now outstanding under the New Credit Agreement, no amounts were outstanding under the Old Credit Agreement at the time of termination.

 

Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

 

Exhibit

 

Description

 

10.1

 

Five Year Credit Agreement, dated as of April 15, 2008, by and among PCA and the lenders and agents named therein.

 

 

2



 

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.

 

 

 

PACKAGING CORPORATION OF AMERICA
(Registrant)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/  Kent A. Pflederer

 

 

 

Vice President, General Counsel
and Secretary

 

 

Date: April 18, 2008

 

 

3


 

Exhibit 10.1

 

EXECUTION COPY

 

FIVE YEAR CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

Dated as of April 15, 2008

 

Among

 

PACKAGING CORPORATION OF AMERICA

as Borrower

 

and

 

THE INITIAL LENDERS NAMED HEREIN

 

as Initial Lenders

 

and

 

DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH

 

as Syndication Agent

 

and

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.

 

as Administrative Agent

 

and

 

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC..

 

as Sole Lead Arranger and Book Manager

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE I

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1.01. Certain Defined Terms

4

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1.02. Computation of Time Periods

14

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1.03. Accounting Terms

14

 

 

 

ARTICLE II

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2.01. The Advances and Letters of Credit

14

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2.02. Making the Advances

15

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2.03. Issuance of and Drawings and Reimbursement Under Letters of Credit

16

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2.04. Fees

17

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2.05. Optional Termination or Reduction of the Commitments

17

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2.06. Repayment of Advances

17

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2.07. Interest on Advances

18

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2.08. Interest Rate Determination

19

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2.09. Optional Conversion of Advances

19

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2.10. Prepayments of Advances

20

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2.11. Increased Costs

20

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2.12. Illegality

20

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2.13. Payments and Computations

21

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2.14. Taxes

22

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2.15. Sharing of Payments, Etc.

23

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2.16. Evidence of Debt

23

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2.17. Use of Proceeds

24

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2.18. Increase in the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments

24

 



 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2.19. Extension of Termination Date

25

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2.20. Regulation D Compensation

27

 

 

 

ARTICLE III

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 3.01. Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness of Section 2.01

27

 

 

 

 

SECTION 3.02. Conditions Precedent to Each Borrowing and Issuance.

28

 

 

 

 

SECTION 3.03. Determinations Under Section 3.01

28

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 4.01. Representations and Warranties of the Borrower

29

 

 

 

ARTICLE V

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 5.01. Affirmative Covenants

30

 

 

 

 

SECTION 5.02. Negative Covenants

32

 

 

 

 

SECTION 5.03. Financial Covenants

35

 

 

 

ARTICLE VI

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 6.01. Events of Default

35

 

 

 

 

SECTION 6.02. Actions in Respect of the Letters of Credit upon Default

37

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 7.01. Authorization and Action

37

 

 

 

 

SECTION 7.02. Agent’s Reliance, Etc.

37

 

 

 

 

SECTION 7.03. JPMorgan and Affiliates

38

 

 

 

 

SECTION 7.04. Lender Credit Decision

38

 

 

 

 

SECTION 7.05. Indemnification

38

 

 

 

 

SECTION 7.06. Successor Agent

39

 

 

 

 

SECTION 7.07. Other Agents.

39

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 8.01. Amendments, Etc.

39

 

 

2



 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 8.02. Notices, Etc.

40

 

 

 

 

SECTION 8.03. No Waiver; Remedies

40

 

 

 

 

SECTION 8.04. Costs and Expenses

40

 

 

 

 

SECTION 8.05. Right of Set-off

41

 

 

 

 

SECTION 8.06. Binding Effect

41

 

 

 

 

SECTION 8.07. Assignments and Participations

41

 

 

 

 

SECTION 8.08. Confidentiality

43

 

 

 

 

SECTION 8.09. Governing Law

44

 

 

 

 

SECTION 8.10. Execution in Counterparts

44

 

 

 

 

SECTION 8.11. Jurisdiction, Etc.

44

 

 

 

 

SECTION 8.12. No Liability of the Issuing Banks

44

 

 

 

 

SECTION 8.13. Patriot Act Notice

44

 

 

 

 

SECTION 8.14. Waiver of Jury Trial

45

 

 

3



 

FIVE YEAR CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

Dated as of April 15, 2008

 

PACKAGING CORPORATION OF AMERICA, a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the banks, financial institutions and other institutional lenders (the “Initial Lenders”) and initial issuing banks (the “Initial Issuing Banks”) listed on the signature pages hereof, DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC., as sole lead arranger and book manager, DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, as syndication agent, and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. (“JPMorgan”), as agent (the “Agent”) for the Lenders (as hereinafter defined), agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

 

SECTION 1.01.  Certain Defined Terms.  As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings (such meanings to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):

 

Advance” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(a).

 

Affiliate” means, as to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such Person or is a director or officer of such Person.  For purposes of this definition, the term “control” (including the terms “controlling”, “controlled by” and “under common control with”) of a Person means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to vote 20% or more of the Voting Stock of such Person or to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of Voting Stock, by contract or otherwise.

 

Agent’s Account” means the account of the Agent maintained by the Agent at JPMorgan at its office at 1111 Fannin, 10th Floor, Houston, Texas 77002, Account No. 9008113381H0441, Attention:  Leslie Opeyemi; E-Mail Address: leslie.d.opeyemi@chase.com).

 

Applicable Lending Office” means, with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s Domestic Lending Office in the case of a Base Rate Advance and such Lender’s Eurodollar Lending Office in the case of a Eurodollar Rate Advance.

 

Applicable Margin” means, as of any date, a percentage per annum determined by reference to the Public Debt Rating in effect on such date as set forth below:

 

Public Debt Rating
S&P/Moody’s

 

Applicable Margin for
Base Rate Advances

 

Applicable Margin for
Eurodollar Rate Advances

 

Level 1

BBB+ or Baa1 or above

 

(0.125

%)

0.500

%

Level 2

BBB or Baa2

 

(0.150

%)

0.600

%

Level 3

BBB- or Baa3

 

(0.175

%)

0.700

%

 

4



 

Level 4

BB+ and Ba1

 

0.000

%

0.800

%

Level 5

Lower than Level 4

 

0.000

%

1.000

%

 

Applicable Percentage” means, as of any date, a percentage per annum determined by reference to the Public Debt Rating in effect on such date as set forth below:

 

Public Debt Rating
S&P/Moody’s

 

Applicable
Percentage

 

Level 1

BBB+ or Baa1 or above

 

0.125

%

Level 2

BBB or Baa2

 

0.150

%

Level 3

BBB- or Baa3

 

0.175

%

Level 4

BB+ and Ba1

 

0.200

%

Level 5

Lower than Level 4

 

0.250

%

 

Assignment and Acceptance” means an assignment and acceptance entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee, and accepted by the Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto.

 

Assuming Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 2.18(c).

 

Assumption Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 2.18(c)(ii).

 

Available Amount” of any Letter of Credit means, at any time, the maximum amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit at such time (assuming compliance at such time with all conditions to drawing).

 

Base Rate” means a fluctuating interest rate per annum in effect from time to time, which rate per annum shall at all times be equal to the higher of:

 

(a)           the rate of interest announced publicly by JPMorgan in New York, New York, from time to time, as JPMorgan’s prime rate; and

 

(b)           ½ of one percent per annum above the Federal Funds Rate.

 

Base Rate Advance” means an Advance that bears interest as provided in Section 2.07(a)(i).

 

Borrower Information” has the meaning specified in Section 8.08.

 

Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Advances of the same Type made by each of the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01(a).

 

Business Day” means a day of the year on which the Federal Reserve Banks or the banks in New York City are not required or authorized by law to close and, if the applicable Business Day relates to any Eurodollar Rate Advances, on which dealings are carried on in the London interbank market.

 

 

5



 

Change in Control” means any of (i) any Person or two or more Persons acting in concert shall have acquired beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), directly or indirectly, of Voting Stock of the Borrower (or other securities convertible into such Voting Stock) representing 35% or more of the combined voting power of all Voting Stock of the Borrower; or (ii) during any period of up to 12 consecutive months, commencing after the date of this Agreement, individuals who at the beginning of such 12-month period were directors of the Borrower shall cease for any reason (other than due to death or disability) to constitute a majority of the board of directors of the Borrower (except to the extent that individuals who at the beginning of such 12-month period were replaced by individuals (x) elected by a majority of the remaining members of the board of directors of the Borrower or (y) nominated for election by a majority of the remaining members of the board of directors of the Borrower and thereafter elected as directors by the shareholders of the Borrower); or (iii) any Person or two or more Persons acting in concert shall have acquired by contract or otherwise, or shall have entered into a contract or arrangement that, upon consummation, will result in its or their acquisition of the power to exercise, directly or indirectly, a controlling influence over the management or policies of the Borrower; or (iv) a “change in control” or similar event shall occur as provided in any instrument or agreement governing Debt of the Borrower, to the extent the outstanding principal amount of the Debt outstanding thereunder exceeds $25,000,000.

 

Commitment” means a Revolving Credit Commitment or a Letter of Credit Commitment.

 

Commitment Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.18(b).

 

Commitment Increase” has the meaning specified in Section 2.18(a).

 

Consenting Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 2.19(b).

 

Consolidated” refers to the consolidation of accounts in accordance with GAAP.

 

Convert”, “Conversion” and “Converted” each refers to a conversion of Advances of one Type into Advances of the other Type pursuant to Section 2.08 or 2.09.

 

Debt” of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such Person for the deferred purchase price of property or services, (c) all obligations of such Person evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or other similar instruments, (d) all obligations of such Person created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement with respect to property acquired by such Person (even though the rights and remedies of the seller or lender under such agreement in the event of default are limited to repossession or sale of such property), (e) all obligations of such Person as lessee under leases that have been or should be, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as capital leases, (f) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of acceptances, letters of credit or similar extensions of credit (excluding commercial letters of credit and letters of credit issued to support worker’s compensation or insurance obligations), (g) all net obligations of such Person in respect of Hedge Agreements, (h) all Invested Amounts, (i) all Debt of others referred to in clauses (a) through (h) above or clause (j) below (collectively, “Guaranteed Debt”) guaranteed directly or indirectly in any manner by such Person, or in effect guaranteed directly or indirectly by such Person through an agreement (1) to pay or purchase such Guaranteed Debt or to advance or supply funds for the payment or purchase of such Guaranteed Debt, (2) to purchase, sell or lease (as lessee or lessor) property, or to purchase or sell services, primarily for the purpose of enabling the debtor to make payment of such Guaranteed Debt or to assure the holder of such Guaranteed Debt against loss, (3) to supply funds to or in any other manner invest in the debtor (including any agreement to pay for property or services irrespective of whether such property is received or such services are rendered) or (4) otherwise to assure a creditor against loss, and (j) all Debt referred to in clauses (a) through (i) above (including Guaranteed Debt) secured by (or for which the holder of such Debt has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property (including, without limitation, accounts and contract rights) owned by such Person, even though such Person has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such Debt;

 

 

6



 

provided, that “Debt” shall not include obligations under trade payables, accrued expenses and other current liabilities (other than as described in clauses (a) or (c) above) incurred by any Person in accordance with its customary practices and in the ordinary course of business.

 

Default” means any Event of Default or any event that would constitute an Event of Default but for the requirement that notice be given or time elapse or both.

 

Domestic Lending Office” means, with respect to any Lender, the office of such Lender specified as its “Domestic Lending Office” opposite its name on Schedule I hereto or in the in the Assumption Agreement or the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender, or such other office of such Lender as such Lender may from time to time specify to the Borrower and the Agent.

 

EBITDA” means, for any period, net income (or net loss) plus the sum of (a) interest expense, (b) income tax expense, (c) depletion and depreciation expense and (d) amortization expense, in each case without giving effect to any extraordinary gains or losses or gains or losses from sales of assets other than inventory sold in the ordinary course of business, and determined in accordance with GAAP for such period.

 

Effective Date” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01.

 

Eligible Assignee” means (a) with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility (i) a Lender; (ii) an Affiliate of a Lender; (iii) a commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States, or any State thereof; (iv) a commercial bank organized under the laws of any other country that is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development or has concluded special lending arrangements with the International Monetary Fund associated with its General Arrangements to Borrow, or a political subdivision of any such country, so long as such bank is acting through a branch or agency located in the country in which it is organized or another country that is described in this clause (iv); and (v) any other Person approved by the Agent and, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time any assignment is effected in accordance with Section 8.07, the Borrower, such approvals not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed and (b) with respect to the Letter of Credit Facility, a Person that is an Eligible Assignee under subclause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) of clause (a) of this definition and is approved by the Agent and, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time any assignment is effected pursuant to Section 8.07, the Borrower; provided, however, that neither the Borrower nor an Affiliate of the Borrower shall qualify as an Eligible Assignee.

 

Environmental Action” means any action, suit, demand, demand letter, claim, notice of non-compliance or violation, notice of liability or potential liability, investigation, proceeding, consent order or consent agreement relating in any way to any Environmental Law, Environmental Permit or Hazardous Materials or arising from alleged injury or threat of injury to health, safety or the environment, including, without limitation, (a) by any governmental or regulatory authority for enforcement, cleanup, removal, response, remedial or other actions or damages and (b) by any governmental or regulatory authority or any third party for damages, contribution, indemnification, cost recovery, compensation or injunctive relief.

 

Environmental Law” means any federal, state, local or foreign statute, law, ordinance, rule, regulation, code, order, judgment, decree or judicial or agency interpretation, policy or guidance relating to pollution or protection of the environment, health, safety or natural resources, including, without limitation, those relating to the use, handling, transportation, treatment, storage, disposal, release or discharge of Hazardous Materials.

 

Environmental Permit” means any permit, approval, identification number, license or other authorization required under any Environmental Law.

 

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder.

 

 

7



 

ERISA Affiliate” means any Person that for purposes of Title IV of ERISA is a member of the Borrower’s controlled group, or under common control with the Borrower, within the meaning of Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

ERISA Event” means (a) (i) the occurrence of a reportable event, within the meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA, with respect to any Plan unless the 30-day notice requirement with respect to such event has been waived by the PBGC, or (ii) the requirements of subsection (1) of Section 4043(b) of ERISA (without regard to subsection (2) of such Section) are met with respect to a contributing sponsor, as defined in Section 4001(a)(13) of ERISA, of a Plan, and an event described in paragraph (9), (10), (11), (12) or (13) of Section 4043(c) of ERISA is reasonably expected to occur with respect to such Plan within the following 30 days; (b) the application for a minimum funding waiver with respect to a Plan; (c) the provision by the administrator of any Plan of a notice of intent to terminate such Plan pursuant to Section 4041(a)(2) of ERISA (including any such notice with respect to a plan amendment referred to in Section 4041(e) of ERISA); (d) the cessation of operations at a facility of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate in the circumstances described in Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (e) the withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiple Employer Plan during a plan year for which it was a substantial employer, as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA; (f)  the conditions for the imposition of a lien under Section 302(f) of ERISA shall have been met with respect to any Plan; (g) the adoption of an amendment to a Plan requiring the provision of security to such Plan pursuant to Section 307 of ERISA; or (h) the institution by the PBGC of proceedings to terminate a Plan pursuant to Section 4042 of ERISA, or the occurrence of any event or condition described in Section 4042 of ERISA that constitutes grounds for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, a Plan.

 

Eurocurrency Liabilities” has the meaning assigned to that term in Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as in effect from time to time.

 

Eurodollar Lending Office” means, with respect to any Lender, the office of such Lender specified as its “Eurodollar Lending Office” opposite its name on Schedule I hereto or in the Assumption Agreement or the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender (or, 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 the Borrower and the Agent.

 

Eurodollar Rate” means, for any Interest Period for each Eurodollar Rate Advance comprising part of the same Borrowing, the rate per annum appearing on Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page (or any successor page) as the London interbank offered rate for deposits in U.S. dollars at approximately 11:00 A.M. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period for a term comparable to such Interest Period or, if for any reason such rate is not available, the average (rounded upward to the nearest whole multiple of 1/10,000 of 1% per annum, if such average is not such a multiple) of the rate per annum at which deposits in U.S. dollars are offered by the principal office of each of the Reference Banks in London, England to prime banks in the London interbank market at 11:00 A.M. (London time) two Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period in an amount substantially equal to such Reference Bank’s Eurodollar Rate Advance comprising part of such Borrowing to be outstanding during such Interest Period and for a period equal to such Interest Period.  If the Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page (or any successor page) is unavailable, the Eurodollar Rate for any Interest Period for each Eurodollar Rate Advance comprising part of the same Borrowing shall be determined by the Agent on the basis of applicable rates furnished to and received by the Agent from the Reference Banks two Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period, subject, however, to the provisions of Section 2.08.

 

Eurodollar Rate Advance” means an Advance that bears interest as provided in Section 2.07(a)(ii).

 

Eurodollar Rate Reserve Percentage” for any Interest Period for all Eurodollar Rate Advances comprising part of the same Borrowing means the reserve percentage applicable two Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period under regulations issued from time to time by the Board of Governors

 

 

8



 

of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor) for determining the maximum reserve requirement (including, without limitation, any emergency, supplemental or other marginal reserve requirement) for a member bank of the Federal Reserve System in New York City with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency Liabilities (or with respect to any other category of liabilities that includes deposits by reference to which the interest rate on Eurodollar Rate Advances is determined) having a term equal to such Interest Period.

 

Events of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 6.01.

 

Extension Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.19(b).

 

Federal Funds Rate” means, for any period, a fluctuating interest rate per annum equal for each day during such period to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published for such day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, for the next preceding Business Day) by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the average of the quotations for such day on such transactions received by the Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

 

GAAP” has the meaning specified in Section 1.03.

 

Hazardous Materials” means (a) petroleum and petroleum products, byproducts or breakdown products, radioactive materials, asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls and radon gas and (b) any other chemicals, materials or substances designated, classified or regulated as hazardous or toxic or as a pollutant or contaminant under any Environmental Law.

 

Hedge Agreements” means interest rate swap, cap or collar agreements, interest rate future or option contracts, currency swap agreements, currency future or option contracts and other similar agreements.

 

Increase Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.18(a).

 

Increasing Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 2.18(b).

 

Information Memorandum” means the information memorandum dated March 4, 2008 used by the Agent in connection with the syndication of the Commitments.

 

Interest Period” means, for each Eurodollar Rate Advance comprising part of the same Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Eurodollar Rate Advance or the date of the Conversion of any Base Rate Advance into such Eurodollar Rate Advance and ending on the last day of the period selected by the Borrower pursuant to the provisions below and, thereafter each subsequent period commencing on the last day of the immediately preceding Interest Period and ending on the last day of the period selected by the Borrower pursuant to the provisions below.  The duration of each such Interest Period shall be one, two, three or six months, as the Borrower may, upon notice received by the Agent not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the first day of such Interest Period, select; provided, however, that:

 

(a)           the Borrower may not select any Interest Period with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Advance that ends after the final Termination Date;

 

(b)           Interest Periods commencing on the same date for Eurodollar Rate Advances comprising part of the same Borrowing shall be of the same duration;

 

 

9



 

(c)           whenever the last day of any Interest Period would otherwise occur on a day other than a Business Day, the last day of such Interest Period shall be extended to occur on the next succeeding Business Day, provided, however, that, if such extension would cause the last day of such Interest Period to occur in the next following calendar month, the last day of such Interest Period shall occur on the next preceding Business Day; and

 

(d)           whenever the first day of any Interest Period occurs on a day of an initial calendar month for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that succeeds such initial calendar month by the number of months equal to the number of months in such Interest Period, such Interest Period shall end on the last Business Day of such succeeding calendar month.

 

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

 

Invested Amounts” means the amounts invested by investors that are not Affiliates of the Borrower in connection with a Permitted Receivables Financing and paid to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, as reduced by the aggregate amounts received by such investors from the payment of receivables and applied to reduce such invested amounts.

 

Issuing Bank” means an Initial Issuing Bank, any Eligible Assignee to which a portion of a Letter of Credit Commitment hereunder has been assigned pursuant to Section 8.07 or any Lender so long as such Eligible Assignee or such Lender expressly agrees to perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations that by the terms of this Agreement are required to be performed by it as an Issuing Bank and notifies the Agent of its Applicable Lending Office (which information shall be recorded by the Agent in the Register), for so long as the Initial Issuing Bank, Eligible Assignee or Lender, as the case may be, shall have a Letter of Credit Commitment.

 

L/C Cash Collateral Account” means an interest bearing cash collateral account to be established and maintained by the Agent, over which the Agent shall have sole dominion and control, upon terms as may be satisfactory to the Agent.

 

L/C Related Documents” has the meaning specified in Section 2.06(b)(i).

 

Lenders” means the Initial Lenders, each Issuing Bank, each Assuming Lender that shall become a party hereto pursuant to Section 2.18 or 2.19 and each Person that shall become a party hereto pursuant to Section 8.07.

 

Letter of Credit” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(b).

 

Letter of Credit Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(a).

 

Letter of Credit Commitment” means as to any Issuing Bank (a) the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule I hereto under the caption “Letter of Credit Commitment” or (b) in the case of each Initial Issuing Bank that has entered into an Assignment and Acceptance and in the case of each other Issuing Bank, the amount set forth for such Issuing Bank in the Register maintained by the Agent pursuant to Section 8.07(d) as such Issuing Bank’s “Letter of Credit Commitment”, as such amount may be reduced pursuant to Section 2.05.

 

Letter of Credit Facility” means, at any time, an amount equal to the lesser of (a) the aggregate amount of the Issuing Banks’ Letter of Credit Commitments at such time and (b) $35,000,000, as such amount may be reduced at or prior to such time pursuant to Section 2.05.

 

 

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Lien” means any lien, security interest or other charge or encumbrance of any kind, or any other type of preferential arrangement, including, without limitation, the lien or retained security title of a conditional vendor and any easement, right of way or other encumbrance on title to real property.

 

Loan Document” means this Agreement, the Notes, the other L/C Related Documents and each Guaranty delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(j).

 

Loan Parties” means the Borrower and each Subsidiary of the Borrower party to the Subsidiary Guaranties delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(j).

 

Material Adverse Change” means any material adverse change in the business, condition (financial or otherwise), operations, performance or properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

 

Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, condition (financial or otherwise), operations, performance or properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the rights and remedies of the Agent or the Lenders under any Loan Document or (c) the ability of the Loan Parties to perform their obligations under the Loan Documents.

 

Material Subsidiary” of the Borrower means, at any time, any Subsidiary of the Borrower (other than Packaging Credit Company LLC and Packaging Receivables Company LLC) that, together with its Subsidiaries, has (a) Consolidated assets with a value of not less than 10% of the total value of the assets of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (b) Consolidated EBITDA not less than 10% of the Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in each case as of the end of or for the most recently completed fiscal quarter of the Borrower.

 

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

 

Multiemployer Plan” means a multiemployer plan, as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is making or accruing an obligation to make contributions, or has within any of the preceding five plan years made or accrued an obligation to make contributions.

 

Multiple Employer Plan” means a single employer plan, as defined in Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA, that (a) is maintained for employees of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate and at least one Person other than the Borrower and the ERISA Affiliates or (b) was so maintained and in respect of which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate could have liability under Section 4064 or 4069 of ERISA in the event such plan has been or were to be terminated.

 

Non-Consenting Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 2.19(b).

 

Note” means a promissory note of the Borrower payable to the order of any Lender, delivered pursuant to a request made under Section 2.16 in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto, evidencing the aggregate indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from the Advances made by such Lender.

 

Notice of Borrowing” has the meaning specified in Section 2.02(a).

 

Notice of Issuance” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(a).

 

PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (or any successor).

 

Permitted Liens” means such of the following as to which no enforcement, collection, execution, levy or foreclosure proceeding shall have been commenced:  (a) Liens for taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies to the extent not required to be paid under Section 5.01(b) hereof; (b) Liens imposed by law, such as materialmen’s, mechanics’, carriers’, workmen’s, repairmen’s and customs Liens

 

 

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and other similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business securing obligations that are not overdue for a period of more than 30 days unless being contested in good faith by proper proceedings and as to which appropriate reserves are being maintained; (c) pledges or deposits to secure obligations under workers’ compensation laws or similar legislation or to secure public or statutory obligations; and (d) easements, rights of way and other encumbrances, restrictions or deficiencies on title to real property that do not render title to the property encumbered thereby unmarketable or materially adversely affect the use of such property for its present purposes.

 

Permitted Receivables Financing” means any financing pursuant to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower may sell, convey, or otherwise transfer to a Receivables Subsidiary or any other Person, or grant a security interest in, any accounts receivable (and related assets) of the Borrower or such Subsidiary, provided that such financing shall be on customary market terms and shall be with limited or no recourse to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (other than the Receivables Subsidiary) except to the extent customary for such transactions.

 

Person” means an individual, partnership, corporation (including a business trust), joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity, or a government or any political subdivision or agency thereof.

 

Plan” means a Single Employer Plan or a Multiple Employer Plan.

 

Public Debt Rating” means, as of any date, the rating that has been most recently announced by either S&P or Moody’s, as the case may be, for any class of non-credit enhanced long-term senior unsecured debt issued by the Borrower or, if any such rating agency shall have issued more than one such rating, the lowest such rating issued by such rating agency.  For purposes of the foregoing, (a) if only one of S&P and Moody’s shall have in effect a Public Debt Rating, the Applicable Margin and the Applicable Percentage shall be determined by reference to the available rating; (b) if neither S&P nor Moody’s shall have in effect a Public Debt Rating, the Applicable Margin and the Applicable Percentage will be set in accordance with Level 5 under the definition of “Applicable Margin” or “Applicable Percentage”, as the case may be; (c) if the ratings established by S&P and Moody’s shall fall within different levels, the Applicable Margin and the Applicable Percentage shall be based upon the higher rating unless the such ratings differ by two or more levels, in which case the applicable level will be deemed to be one level above the lower of such levels; (d) if any rating established by S&P or Moody’s shall be changed, such change shall be effective as of the date on which such change is first announced publicly by the rating agency making such change; and (e) if S&P or Moody’s shall change the basis on which ratings are established, each reference to the Public Debt Rating announced by S&P or Moody’s, as the case may be, shall refer to the then equivalent rating by S&P or Moody’s, as the case may be.

 

Ratable Share” of any amount means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the product of (a) a fraction the numerator of which is the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment at such time and the denominator of which is the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments at such time and (b) such amount.

 

Receivables Subsidiary” means a bankruptcy-remote, special-purpose wholly owned Subsidiary formed in connection with a Permitted Receivables Financing.

 

Reference Banks” means JPMorgan, Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch and Bank of America, N.A.

 

Register” has the meaning specified in Section 8.07(d).

 

Required Lenders” means, at any time, Lenders owed or holding at least a majority in interest of the sum of (a) the aggregate principal amount of the Advances outstanding at such time, (b) the aggregate Available Amount of all Letters of Credit outstanding at such time and (c) the aggregate Unused Revolving

 

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Credit Commitments at such time.  For purposes of this definition, the Available Amount of each Letter of Credit shall be considered to be owed to the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Revolving Credit Commitments.

 

Revolving Credit Commitment” means as to any Lender (a) the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule I hereto under the caption “Revolving Credit Commitment”, (b) if such Lender has become a Lender hereunder pursuant to an Assumption Agreement, the amount set forth in such Assumption Agreement or (c) if such Lender has entered into an Assignment and Acceptance, the amount set forth for such Lender in the Register maintained by the Agent pursuant to Section 8.07(d) as such Lender’s “Revolving Credit Commitment”, as such amount may be reduced pursuant to Section 2.05 or increased pursuant to Section 2.18.

 

Revolving Credit Facility” means, at any time, the aggregate of the Revolving Credit Commitments at such time.

 

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

 

Single Employer Plan” means a single employer plan, as defined in Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA, that (a) is maintained for employees of the Borrower or any  ERISA Affiliate and no Person other than the Borrower and the ERISA Affiliates or (b) was so maintained and in respect of which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate could have liability under Section 4069 of ERISA in the event such plan has been or were to be terminated.

 

Solvent” and “Solvency” mean, 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, without limitation, contingent liabilities, of such Person, (b) the present fair salable 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 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 Person’s ability to pay such debts and liabilities as they mature and (d) such Person is not engaged in business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in business or a transaction, for which such Person’s property would constitute an unreasonably small capital.  The amount of contingent liabilities at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in the light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

 

Subsidiary” of any Person means any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or estate of which (or in which) more than 50% of (a) the issued and outstanding capital stock having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the Board of Directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether at the time capital stock of any other class or classes of such corporation shall or might have voting power upon the occurrence of any contingency), (b) the interest in the capital or profits of such limited liability company, partnership or joint venture or (c) the beneficial interest in such trust or estate is at the time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such Person, by such Person and one or more of its other Subsidiaries or by one or more of such Person’s other Subsidiaries.

 

Subsidiary Guarantor” means each Subsidiary of the Borrower that shall be required to execute and deliver a guaranty pursuant to Section 5.01(j).

 

Subsidiary Guaranty” means the guaranty of the Subsidiary Guarantors delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(j).

 

Termination Date” means the earlier of (a) April 15, 2013, subject to the extension thereof pursuant to Section 2.19 and (b) the date of termination in whole of the Revolving Credit Commitments and the Letter of Credit Commitments pursuant to Section 2.05 or 6.01; provided, however, that the Termination Date of any Lender that is a Non-Consenting Lender to any requested extension pursuant to

 

 

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Section 2.19 shall be the Termination Date in effect immediately prior to the applicable Extension Date for all purposes of this Agreement.

 

Type” refers to the distinction between Advances bearing interest at the Base Rate and Advances bearing interest at the Eurodollar Rate.

 

Unissued Letter of Credit Commitment” means, with respect to any Issuing Bank, such Issuing Bank’s Letter of Credit Commitment minus the aggregate Available Amount of all Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank.

 

Unused Revolving Credit Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender at any time, (a) such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment at such time minus (b) the sum of (i) the aggregate principal amount of all Advances made by such Lender (in its capacity as a Lender) and outstanding at such time, plus (ii) such Lender’s Ratable Share of the aggregate Available Amount of all the Letters of Credit outstanding at such time.

 

Voting Stock” means capital stock issued by a corporation, or equivalent interests in any other Person, the holders of which are ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, entitled to vote for the election of directors (or persons performing similar functions) of such Person, even if the right so to vote has been suspended by the happening of such a contingency.

 

SECTION 1.02.  Computation of Time Periods.  In this Agreement in the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from”  means “from and including” and the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding”.

 

SECTION 1.03.  Accounting Terms.  All accounting terms not specifically defined herein shall be construed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as in effect in the United States from time to time (“GAAP”), provided that (a) if there is any change in GAAP from such principles applied in the preparation of the audited financial statements referred to in Section 4.01(e) (“Initial GAAP”), that is material in respect of the calculation of compliance with the covenants set forth in Section 5.03, the Borrower shall give prompt notice of such change to the Agent and the Lenders, (b) if the Borrower notifies the Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment of any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change in GAAP (or the application thereof) from Initial GAAP (or if the Agent or the Required Lenders request an amendment of any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP (or the application thereof), then such provision shall be applied on the basis of generally accepted accounting principles as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision is amended in accordance herewith.

 

ARTICLE II

 

AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF THE ADVANCES AND LETTERS OF CREDIT

 

SECTION 2.01.  The Advances and Letters of Credit.  (a)  Advances.  Each Lender severally agrees, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, to make advances (each, an “Advance”) to the Borrower from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Effective Date until the Termination Date applicable to such Lender in an amount not to exceed such Lender’s Unused Revolving Credit Commitment at such time.  Each Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount of $5,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and shall consist of Advances of the same Type made on the same day by the Lenders ratably according to their respective Revolving Credit Commitments.  Within the limits of each Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01(a), prepay pursuant to Section 2.10 and reborrow under this Section 2.01(a).

 

(b)           Letters of Credit.  Each Issuing Bank agrees, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, to issue letters of credit (each, a “Letter of Credit”) for the account of the Borrower from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Effective Date until 30 days before the Termination Date applicable to

 

 

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such Issuing Bank in an aggregate Available Amount (i) for all Letters of Credit issued by each Issuing Bank not to exceed at any time the lesser of (x) the Letter of Credit Facility at such time and (y) such Issuing Bank’s Letter of Credit Commitment at such time and (ii) for each such Letter of Credit not to exceed an amount equal to the Unused Revolving Credit Commitments of the Lenders at such time.  Other than as specified on Schedule 2.01(b), no Letter of Credit shall have an expiration date (including all rights of the Borrower or the beneficiary to require renewal) later than (x) the date that is one year after the date of issuance thereof and (y) 10 Business Days prior to the final Termination Date, provided that no Letter of Credit may expire after the Termination Date of any Non-Consenting Lender if, after giving effect to such issuance, the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments of the Consenting Lenders (including any replacement Lenders) for the period following such Termination Date would be less than the Available Amount of the Letters of Credit expiring after such Termination Date.  Within the limits of the Letter of Credit Facility and subject to the limits referred to above, the Borrower may request the issuance of Letters of Credit under this Section 2.01(b), repay any Advances resulting from drawings thereunder pursuant to Section 2.03(c) and request the issuance of additional Letters of Credit under this Section 2.01(b).  Each letter of credit listed on Schedule 2.01(b) shall be deemed to constitute a Letter of Credit issued hereunder, and each Lender that is an issuer of such a Letter of Credit shall, for purposes of Section 2.03, be deemed to be an Issuing Bank for each such letter of credit, provided than any renewal or replacement of any such letter of credit shall be issued by an Issuing Bank pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 2.02.  Making the Advances.  (a)  Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.03, each Borrowing shall be made on notice, given not later than (x) 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the date of the proposed Borrowing in the case of a Borrowing consisting of Eurodollar Rate Advances or (y) 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the date of the proposed Borrowing in the case of a Borrowing consisting of Base Rate Advances, by the Borrower to the Agent, which shall give to each Lender prompt notice thereof by telecopier.  Each such notice of a Borrowing (a “Notice of Borrowing”) shall be by telephone, confirmed immediately in writing, or telecopier in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto, specifying therein the requested (i) date of such Borrowing, (ii) Type of Advances comprising such Borrowing, (iii) aggregate amount of such Borrowing, and (iv) in the case of a Borrowing consisting of Eurodollar Rate Advances, initial Interest Period for such Advances.  Each Lender shall, before 1:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the date of such Borrowing make available for the account of its Applicable Lending Office to the Agent at the Agent’s Account, in same day funds, such Lender’s ratable portion of such Borrowing in accordance with the respective Revolving Credit Commitments of such Lender and the other Lenders.  After the Agent’s receipt of such funds and upon fulfillment of the applicable conditions set forth in Article III, the Agent will make such funds available to the Borrower at the Agent’s address referred to in Section 8.02.

 

(b)           Anything in subsection (a) above to the contrary notwithstanding, (i) the Borrower may not select Eurodollar Rate Advances for any Borrowing if the aggregate amount of such Borrowing is less than $5,000,000 or if the obligation of the Lenders to make Eurodollar Rate Advances shall then be suspended pursuant to Section 2.08 or 2.12 and (ii) Borrowings comprised of Eurodollar Rate Advances may not be outstanding as part of more than six separate Interest Periods.

 

(c)           Each Notice of Borrowing shall be irrevocable and binding on the Borrower.  In the case of any Borrowing that the related Notice of Borrowing specifies is to be comprised of Eurodollar Rate Advances, the Borrower shall indemnify each Lender against any loss, cost or expense incurred by such Lender as a result of any failure to fulfill on or before the date specified in such Notice of Borrowing the applicable conditions set forth in Article III, including, without limitation, any loss (excluding loss of anticipated profits), cost or expense incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired by such Lender to fund the Advance to be made by such Lender as part of such Borrowing when such Advance, as a result of such failure, is not made on such date.

 

(d)           Unless the Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Agent such Lender’s ratable portion of such Borrowing, the Agent may assume that such Lender has made such portion available to the Agent on the date of such Borrowing in accordance with subsection (a) of this Section 2.02 and the Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower on such date a corresponding amount.  If and to the extent that such Lender shall not have so made such ratable portion available to the Agent, such Lender and the Borrower severally agree to repay to the Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the date

 

 

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such amount is made available to the Borrower until the date such amount is repaid to the Agent, at (i) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable at the time to Advances comprising such Borrowing and (ii) in the case of such Lender, the Federal Funds Rate. If such Lender shall repay to the Agent such corresponding amount, such amount so repaid shall constitute such Lender’s Advance as part of such Borrowing for purposes of this Agreement.

 

(e)           The failure of any Lender to make the Advance to be made by it as part of any Borrowing shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation, if any, hereunder to make its Advance on the date of such Borrowing, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make the Advance to be made by such other Lender on the date of any Borrowing.

 

SECTION 2.03.  Issuance of and Drawings and Reimbursement Under Letters of Credit.  (a)  Request for Issuance.  (i) Each Letter of Credit shall be issued upon notice, given not later than 1:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the date of the proposed issuance of such Letter of Credit (or on such shorter notice as the applicable Issuing Bank may agree), by the Borrower to any Issuing Bank, and such Issuing Bank shall give the Agent prompt notice thereof by telecopier.  Each such notice of issuance of a Letter of Credit (a “Notice of Issuance”) shall be by telephone, confirmed immediately in writing, or telecopier, specifying therein the requested (A) date of such issuance (which shall be a Business Day), (B) Available Amount of such Letter of Credit, (C) expiration date of such Letter of Credit, (D) name and address of the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit and (E) form of such Letter of Credit, and shall be accompanied by such customary application and agreement for letter of credit as such Issuing Bank may specify to the Borrower requesting such issuance for use in connection with such requested Letter of Credit (a “Letter of Credit Agreement”).  If the requested form of such Letter of Credit is acceptable to such Issuing Bank in its sole discretion, such Issuing Bank will, upon fulfillment of the applicable conditions set forth in Article III, make such Letter of Credit available to the Borrower requesting such issuance at its office referred to in Section 8.02 or as otherwise agreed with the Borrower in connection with such issuance.  In the event and to the extent that the provisions of any Letter of Credit Agreement shall conflict with this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall govern.

 

(b)           Participations.  By the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or an amendment to a Letter of Credit increasing the amount thereof) and without any further action on the part of the applicable Issuing Bank or the Lenders, such Issuing Bank hereby grants to each Lender, and each Lender hereby acquires from such Issuing Bank, a participation in such Letter of Credit equal to such Lender’s Ratable Share of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit.  The Borrower hereby agrees to each such participation.  In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay to the Agent, for the account of such Issuing Bank, such Lender’s Ratable Share of each drawing made under a Letter of Credit funded by such Issuing Bank and not reimbursed by the Borrower on the date made, or of any reimbursement payment required to be refunded to the Borrower for any reason.  Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations pursuant to this paragraph in respect of Letters of Credit is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including any amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever.  Each Lender further acknowledges and agrees that its participation in each Letter of Credit will be automatically adjusted to reflect such Lender’s Ratable Share of the Available Amount of such Letter of Credit at each time such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment is amended pursuant to an assignment in accordance with Section 8.07 or otherwise pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(c)           Drawing and Reimbursement.  The payment by an Issuing Bank of a draft drawn under any Letter of Credit shall constitute for all purposes of this Agreement the making by such Issuing Bank of an Advance, which shall be a Base Rate Advance, in the amount of such draft.  Each Issuing Bank shall give prompt notice of each drawing under any Letter of Credit issued by it to the Borrower and the Agent.  Upon written demand by such Issuing Bank to the Agent, which the Agent shall promptly forward to the Lenders, each Lender shall pay to the Agent such Lender’s Ratable Share of such outstanding Advance, by making available for the account of its Applicable Lending Office to the Agent for the account of such Issuing Bank, by deposit to the Agent’s Account, in same day funds, an amount equal to the portion of the outstanding principal amount of such Advance to be funded by such Lender.  Promptly after receipt thereof, the Agent shall transfer such funds to such Issuing Bank.  Each Lender agrees to fund its Ratable Share of an outstanding Advance on (i) the Business Day on which demand therefor is made by such Issuing Bank, provided that notice of such demand is given not later than 11:00 A.M.

 

 

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(New York City time) on such Business Day, or (ii) the first Business Day next succeeding such demand if notice of such demand is given after such time.  If and to the extent that any Lender shall not have so made the amount of such Advance available to the Agent, such Lender agrees to pay to the Agent forthwith on demand such amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the date of demand by any such Issuing Bank until the date such amount is paid to the Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate for its account or the account of such Issuing Bank, as applicable.  If such Lender shall pay to the Agent such amount for the account of any such Issuing Bank on any Business Day, such amount so paid in respect of principal shall constitute an Advance made by such Lender on such Business Day for purposes of this Agreement, and the outstanding principal amount of the Advance made by such Issuing Bank shall be reduced by such amount on such Business Day.

 

(d)           Letter of Credit Reports.  Each Issuing Bank shall furnish (i) to the Agent on the first Business Day of each month a written report summarizing issuance and expiration dates of Letters of Credit issued by it during the preceding month and drawings during such month under all Letters of Credit and (ii) to the Agent on the first Business Day of each calendar quarter a written report setting forth the average daily aggregate Available Amount during the preceding calendar quarter of all Letters of Credit issued by it.  The Agent shall promptly forward to each Lender each report received by it in accordance with this Section 2.03(d).

 

(e)           Failure to Make Advances.  The failure of any Lender to make the Advance to be made by it on the date specified in Section 2.03(c) shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation hereunder to make its Advance on such date, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make the Advance to be made by such other Lender on such date.

 

SECTION 2.04.  Fees.  (a)  Facility Fee.  The Borrower agrees to pay to the Agent for the account of each Lender a facility fee on the aggregate amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment from the Effective Date in the case of each Initial Lender and from the effective date specified in the Assumption Agreement or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender in the case of each other Lender until the Termination Date applicable to such Lender at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Percentage in effect from time to time, payable in arrears quarterly on the last day of each March, June, September and December, commencing June 30, 2008, and on such Termination Date.

 

(b)           Letter of Credit Fees.  (i)  The Borrower shall pay to the Agent for the account of each Lender a commission on such Lender’s Ratable Share of the average daily aggregate Available Amount of all Letters of Credit outstanding from time to time at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Margin for Eurodollar Rate Advances in effect from time to time, payable in arrears quarterly on the last day of each March, June, September and December, commencing June 30, 2008, and on the Termination Date applicable to such Lender and after the final Termination Date payable upon demand.

 

(ii)           The Borrower shall pay to each Issuing Bank for its own account such fronting, issuance and other reasonable fees as may from time to time be agreed in writing between the Borrower and such Issuing Bank.

 

(c)           Agent’s Fees.  The Borrower shall pay to the Agent for its own account such fees as may from time to time be agreed between the Borrower and the Agent.

 

SECTION 2.05.  Optional Termination or Reduction of the Commitments.  The Borrower shall have the right, upon at least three Business Days’ notice (or, if the Facilities are to be refinanced in full, upon notice given on the date of such termination) to the Agent, to terminate in whole or permanently reduce in part the Unused Revolving Credit Commitments of the Lenders, provided that each partial reduction shall be in the aggregate amount of $5,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and shall be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their Commitments.

 

SECTION 2.06.  Repayment of Advances.  (a)  Advances.  The Borrower shall repay to the Agent for the account of each Lender on the Termination Date applicable to such Lender the aggregate principal amount of the Advances made by such Lender and then outstanding.

 

 

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(b)           Letter of Credit Reimbursements.  The obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement, any Letter of Credit Agreement and any other agreement or instrument, in each case, relating to any Letter of Credit shall be unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such Letter of Credit Agreement and such other agreement or instrument under all circumstances, including, without limitation, the following circumstances (it being understood that any such payment by the Borrower is without prejudice to, and does not constitute a waiver of, any rights the Borrower might have or might acquire as a result of the payment by any Issuing Bank of any draft or the reimbursement by the Borrower thereof):

 

(i)            any lack of validity or enforceability of this Agreement, any Letter of Credit, any Letter of Credit Agreement or any other agreement or instrument, in each case, relating thereto (all of the foregoing being, collectively, the “L/C Related Documents”);

 

(ii)           any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the obligations of the Borrower in respect of any L/C Related Document or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to departure from all or any of the L/C Related Documents;

 

(iii)          the existence of any claim, set-off, defense or other right that the Borrower may have at any time against any beneficiary or transferee of a Letter of Credit (or any Person for which any such beneficiary or transferee may be acting), any Issuing Bank or any other Person, whether in connection with the transactions contemplated by the L/C Related Documents or any unrelated transaction;

 

(iv)          any statement or any other document presented under a 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;

 

(v)           payment by any Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate that does not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit;

 

(vi)          any exchange, release or non-perfection of any collateral, or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent to departure from any guarantee, for all or any of the obligations of the Borrower in respect of the L/C Related Documents; or

 

(vii)         any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, including, without limitation, any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, the Borrower or a guarantor.

 

SECTION 2.07.  Interest on Advances.  (a)  Scheduled Interest.  The Borrower shall pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Advance owing to each Lender from the date of such Advance until such principal amount shall be paid in full, at the following rates per annum:

 

(i)            Base Rate Advances.  During such periods as such Advance is a Base Rate Advance, a rate per annum equal at all times to the sum of (x) the Base Rate in effect from time to time plus (y) the Applicable Margin in effect from time to time, payable in arrears quarterly on the last day of each March, June, September and December during such periods and on the date such Base Rate Advance shall be Converted or paid in full.

 

(ii)           Eurodollar Rate Advances.  During such periods as such Advance is a Eurodollar Rate Advance, a rate per annum equal at all times during each Interest Period for such Advance to the sum of (x) the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period for such Advance plus (y) the Applicable Margin in effect from time to time, payable in arrears on the last day of such Interest Period and, if such Interest Period has a duration of more than three months, on each day that occurs during such Interest Period every three months from the first day of such Interest Period and on the date such Eurodollar Rate Advance shall be Converted or paid in full.

 

 

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(b)           Default Interest.  Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default under Section 6.01(a), the Agent may, and upon the request of the Required Lenders shall, require the Borrower to pay interest (“Default Interest”) on (i) the overdue principal amount of each Advance owing to each Lender, payable in arrears on the dates referred to in clause (a)(i) or (a)(ii) above, at a rate per annum equal at all times to 2% per annum above the rate per annum required to be paid on such Advance pursuant to clause (a)(i) or (a)(ii) above and (ii) to the fullest extent permitted by law, the amount of any interest, fee or other amount payable hereunder that is not paid when due, from the date such amount shall be due until such amount shall be paid in full, payable in arrears on the date such amount shall be paid in full and on demand, at a rate per annum equal at all times to 2% per annum above the rate per annum required to be paid on Base Rate Advances pursuant to clause (a)(i) above, provided, however, that following acceleration of the Advances pursuant to Section 6.01, Default Interest shall accrue and be payable hereunder whether or not previously required by the Agent.

 

SECTION 2.08.  Interest Rate Determination.  (a)  Promptly after receipt of a Notice of Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.02(a), a notice of Conversion pursuant to Section 2.09 or a notice of selection of an Interest Period pursuant to the terms of the definition of “Interest Period”, the Agent shall give prompt notice to the Borrower and each Lender of the applicable interest rate determined by the Agent for purposes of Section 2.07(a)(i) or (ii), and the rate, if any, furnished by each Reference Bank for the purpose of determining the interest rate under Section 2.07(a)(ii).  Each Reference Bank agrees to furnish to the Agent timely information for the purpose of determining each Eurodollar Rate.  If any one or more of the Reference Banks shall not furnish such timely information to the Agent for the purpose of determining any such interest rate, the Agent shall determine such interest rate on the basis of timely information furnished by the remaining Reference Banks.

 

(b)           If the Borrower shall fail to select the duration of any Interest Period for any Eurodollar Rate Advances in accordance with the provisions contained in the definition of “Interest Period” in Section 1.01, the Agent will forthwith so notify the Borrower and the Lenders and such Advances will automatically, on the last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, Convert into Base Rate Advances.

 

(c)           On the date on which the aggregate unpaid principal amount of Eurodollar Rate Advances comprising any Borrowing shall be reduced, by payment or prepayment or otherwise, to less than $3,000,000, such Advances shall automatically Convert into Base Rate Advances.

 

(d)           Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, (i) each Eurodollar Rate Advance will automatically, on the last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, Convert into a Base Rate Advance and (ii) the obligation of the Lenders to make, or to Convert Advances into, Eurodollar Rate Advances shall be suspended.

 

(f)            If Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page is unavailable and none of the Reference Banks furnish timely information to the Agent for determining the Eurodollar Rate for any Eurodollar Rate Advances,

 

(i)            the Agent shall forthwith notify the Borrower and the Lenders that the interest rate cannot be determined for such Eurodollar Rate Advances, and

 

(ii)           so long as such circumstance continue, each such Advance will automatically, on the last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, Convert into a Base Rate Advance (or if such Advance is then a Base Rate Advance, will continue as a Base Rate Advance) and the obligation of the Lenders to make Eurodollar Rate Advances or to Convert Advances into Eurodollar Rate Advances shall be suspended.

 

SECTION 2.09.  Optional Conversion of Advances.  The Borrower may on any Business Day, upon notice given to the Agent not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the date of the proposed Conversion and subject to the provisions of Sections 2.08 and 2.12, Convert all or any portion of the Advances of one Type comprising the same Borrowing into Advances of the other Type; provided, however, that any Conversion of Eurodollar Rate Advances into Base Rate Advances shall be made only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurodollar Rate Advances, any Conversion of Base Rate Advances into Eurodollar Rate Advances shall be in an amount not less than the minimum amount specified in Section 2.02(b), no

 

 

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Conversion of any Advances shall result in more separate Borrowings under such Facility than permitted under Section 2.02(b) and each Conversion of Advances comprising part of the same Borrowing shall be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their Revolving Credit Commitments.  Each such notice of a Conversion shall, within the restrictions specified above, specify (i) the date of such Conversion, (ii) the Advances to be Converted, and (iii) if such Conversion is into Eurodollar Rate Advances, the duration of the initial Interest Period for each such Advance.  Each notice of Conversion shall be irrevocable and binding on the Borrower.

 

SECTION 2.10.  Prepayments of Advances.  The Borrower may on any Business Day, upon notice to the Agent not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) stating the date and aggregate principal amount of a proposed prepayment, and if such notice is given the Borrower shall, prepay the outstanding principal amount of the Advances comprising part of the same Borrowing in whole or ratably in part, together with accrued interest to the date of such prepayment on the principal amount prepaid; provided, however, that (x) each partial prepayment shall be in an aggregate principal amount of $5,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof  and (y) in the event of any such prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate Advance, the Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the Lenders in respect thereof pursuant to Section 8.04(c).

 

SECTION 2.11.  Increased Costs.  (a)  If, due to either (i) the introduction after the date hereof of or any change after the date hereof in or in the interpretation of any law or regulation or (ii) the compliance with any guideline or request issued after the date hereof from any central bank or other governmental authority (whether or not having the force of law), there shall be any increase in the cost to any Lender of agreeing to make or making, funding or maintaining Eurodollar Rate Advances or agreeing to issue or of issuing or maintaining or participating in Letters of Credit (excluding for purposes of this Section 2.11 any  such increased costs resulting from (i) Taxes or Other Taxes (as to which Section 2.14 shall govern) and (ii) changes after the date hereof in the basis of taxation of overall net income or overall gross income by the United States or by the foreign jurisdiction or state under the laws of which such Lender is organized or has its Applicable Lending Office or any political subdivision thereof), then the Borrower shall from time to time, upon demand by such Lender (with a copy of such demand to the Agent), pay to the Agent for the account of such Lender additional amounts sufficient to compensate such Lender for such increased cost; provided, however, that before making any such demand, each Lender agrees to use reasonable efforts (consistent with its internal policy and legal and regulatory restrictions) to designate a different Applicable Lending Office if the making of such a designation would avoid the need for, or reduce the amount of, such increased cost and would not, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, be otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender.  A certificate as to the amount of such increased cost, submitted to the Borrower and the Agent by such Lender, shall be prima facie evidence of the correctness thereof for all purposes, absent manifest error.

 

(b)           If any Lender reasonably determines that compliance with any law or regulation or any guideline or request from any central bank or other governmental authority (whether or not having the force of law) adopted or issued after the date hereof affects or would affect the amount of capital required or expected to be maintained by such Lender or any corporation controlling such Lender and that the amount of such capital is increased by or based upon the existence of such Lender’s commitment to lend hereunder and other commitments of this type, then, upon demand by such Lender (with a copy of such demand to the Agent), the Borrower shall pay to the Agent for the account of such Lender, from time to time as specified by such Lender, additional amounts sufficient to compensate such Lender or such corporation in the light of such circumstances, to the extent that such Lender reasonably determines such increase in capital to be allocable to the existence of such Lender’s commitment to lend hereunder.  A certificate as to such amounts submitted to the Borrower and the Agent by such Lender shall be prima facie evidence of the correctness thereof for all purposes, absent manifest error.

 

(c)           Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to this Section for any increased costs or reductions incurred more than six months prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of the change or circumstance giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided further that, if the change or circumstance giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the six-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.

 

SECTION 2.12.  Illegality.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if any Lender shall notify the Agent that the introduction of or any change in or in the interpretation of any law or regulation

 

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makes it unlawful, or any central bank or other governmental authority asserts that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its Eurodollar Lending Office to perform its obligations hereunder to make Eurodollar Rate Advances or to fund or maintain Eurodollar Rate Advances hereunder, (a) each Eurodollar Rate Advance made by such Lender will automatically, on the last day of the current Interest Period or, if required by law, upon such demand, Convert into a Base Rate Advance and (b) the obligation of such Lender to make Eurodollar Rate Advances or to Convert Advances into Eurodollar Rate Advances shall be suspended until the Agent shall notify the Borrower and such Lender that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist; provided, however, that before making any such demand, such Lender agrees to use reasonable efforts (consistent with its internal policy and legal and regulatory restrictions) to designate a different Eurodollar Lending Office if the making of such a designation would allow such Lender or its Eurodollar Lending Office to continue to perform its obligations to make Eurodollar Rate Advances or to continue to fund or maintain Eurodollar Rate Advances and would not, in the judgment of such Lender, be otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender.  Each request for a Eurodollar Rate Borrowing or a Conversion into Eurodollar Rate Advances shall, as to such affected Lender only, be deemed to be a request for a Base Rate Advance, and all payments and prepayments of principal which would otherwise have been applied to repay the Eurodollar Rate Advances of such Lender shall instead be applied to repay or prepay the Base Rate Advances made by such Lender in lieu thereof, or resulting from the Conversion of, such Eurodollar Rate Advances.

 

SECTION 2.13.  Payments and Computations.  (a)  The Borrower shall make each payment hereunder, irrespective of any right of counterclaim or set-off, not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the day when due in U.S. dollars to the Agent at the Agent’s Account in same day funds.  The Agent will promptly thereafter cause to be distributed like funds relating to the payment of principal or interest or fees or commissions ratably (other than amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.03, 2.06, 2.11, 2.14, 2.20 or 8.04(c)) to the Lenders for the account of their respective Applicable Lending Offices, and like funds relating to the payment of any other amount payable to any Lender to such Lender for the account of its Applicable Lending Office, in each case to be applied in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.  Upon any Assuming Lender becoming a Lender hereunder as a result of a Commitment Increase pursuant to Section 2.18 or an extension of the Termination Date pursuant to Section 2.19, and upon the Agent’s receipt of such Lender’s Assumption Agreement and recording of the information contained therein in the Register, from and after the applicable Increase Date or Extension Date, as the case may be, the Agent shall make all payments hereunder and under any Notes issued in connection therewith in respect of the interest assumed thereby to the Assuming Lender.  Upon its acceptance of an Assignment and Acceptance and recording of the information contained therein in the Register pursuant to Section 8.07(c), from and after the effective date specified in such Assignment and Acceptance, the Agent shall make all payments hereunder and under the Notes in respect of the interest assigned thereby to the Lender assignee thereunder, and the parties to such Assignment and Acceptance shall make all appropriate adjustments in such payments for periods prior to such effective date directly between themselves.

 

(b)           All computations of interest based on the Base Rate shall be made by the Agent on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and all computations of interest based on the Eurodollar Rate or the Federal Funds Rate and of fees and Letter of Credit commissions shall be made by the Agent on the basis of a year of 360 days, in each case for the actual number of days (including the first day but excluding the last day) occurring in the period for which such interest, fees or commissions are payable.  Each determination by the Agent of an interest rate hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

 

(c)           Whenever any payment hereunder or under the Notes shall be stated to be due on a day other than a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and such extension of time shall in such case be included in the computation of payment of interest, facility fee or commission, as the case may be; provided, however, that, if such extension would cause payment of interest on or principal of Eurodollar Rate Advances to be made in the next following calendar month, such payment shall be made on the next preceding Business Day.

 

(d)           Unless the Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Lenders hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment in full, the Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment in full to the Agent on such date and the Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, cause to be distributed to each Lender on such due date an amount equal to the amount then due such Lender.  If and to the extent the Borrower shall not have so made such payment in full to the Agent, each Lender shall repay to the Agent forthwith on demand such amount distributed to such Lender together with interest

 

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thereon, for each day from the date such amount is distributed to such Lender until the date such Lender repays such amount to the Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate.

 

SECTION 2.14.  Taxes.  (a)  Any and all payments by the Borrower to or for the account of any Lender or the Agent hereunder or under the Notes or any other documents to be delivered hereunder shall be made, in accordance with Section 2.13 or the applicable provisions of such other documents, free and clear of and without deduction for any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings, and all liabilities with respect thereto, excluding, in the case of each Lender and the Agent, taxes imposed on its overall net income, and franchise taxes imposed on it in lieu of net income taxes, by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such Lender or the Agent (as the case may be) is organized or any political subdivision thereof and, in the case of each Lender, taxes imposed on its overall net income, and franchise taxes imposed on it in lieu of net income taxes, by the jurisdiction of such Lender’s Applicable Lending Office or any political subdivision thereof (all such non-excluded taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges, withholdings and liabilities in respect of payments hereunder or under the Notes being hereinafter referred to as “Taxes”).  If the Borrower shall be required by law to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable hereunder or under any Note or any other documents to be delivered hereunder to any Lender or the Agent, (i) the sum payable shall be increased as may be necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2.14) such Lender or the Agent (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower shall make such deductions and (iii) the Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant taxation authority or other authority in accordance with applicable law.

 

(b)           In addition, the Borrower shall pay any present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies that arise from any payment made hereunder or under the Notes or any other documents to be delivered hereunder or from the execution, delivery or registration of, performing under, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or the Notes or any other documents to be delivered hereunder (hereinafter referred to as “Other Taxes”).

 

(c)           The Borrower shall indemnify each Lender and the Agent for and hold it harmless against the full amount of Taxes or Other Taxes (including, without limitation, taxes of any kind imposed or asserted by any jurisdiction on amounts payable under this Section 2.14) imposed on or paid by such Lender or the Agent (as the case may be) and any liability (including penalties, interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto.  This indemnification shall be made within 30 days from the date such Lender or the Agent (as the case may be) makes written demand therefor.

 

(d)           Within 30 days after the date of any payment of Taxes, the Borrower shall furnish to the Agent, at its address referred to in Section 8.02, the original or a certified copy of a receipt evidencing such payment to the extent such a receipt is issued therefor, or other written proof of payment thereof that is reasonably satisfactory to the Agent.  In the case of any payment hereunder or under the Notes or any other documents to be delivered hereunder by or on behalf of the Borrower through an account or branch outside the United States or by or on behalf of the Borrower by a payor that is not a United States person, if the Borrower determines that no Taxes are payable in respect thereof, the Borrower shall furnish, or shall cause such payor to furnish, to the Agent, at such address, an opinion of counsel acceptable to the Agent stating that such payment is exempt from Taxes.  For purposes of this subsection (d) and subsection (e), the terms “United States” and “United States person” shall have the meanings specified in Section 7701 of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

(e)           Each Lender organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States, on or prior to the date of its execution and delivery of this Agreement in the case of each Initial Lender and on the date of the Assumption Agreement or the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it becomes a Lender in the case of each other Lender, and from time to time thereafter as reasonably requested in writing by the Borrower (but only so long as such Lender remains lawfully able to do so), shall provide each of the Agent and the Borrower with two original Internal Revenue Service Forms W-8BEN or W-8ECI, as appropriate, or any successor or other form prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service, certifying that such Lender is exempt from or entitled to a reduced rate of United States withholding tax on payments pursuant to this Agreement or the Notes.  If the form provided by a Lender at the time such Lender first becomes a party to this Agreement indicates a United States interest withholding tax rate in excess of zero, withholding tax at such rate shall be considered excluded from Taxes unless and until such Lender provides the appropriate forms certifying that a lesser rate applies, whereupon withholding tax

 

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at such lesser rate only shall be considered excluded from Taxes for periods governed by such form; provided, however, that, if at the date of the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which a Lender assignee becomes a party to this Agreement, the Lender assignor was entitled to payments under subsection (a) in respect of United States withholding tax with respect to interest paid at such date, then, to such extent, the term Taxes shall include (in addition to withholding taxes that may be imposed in the future or other amounts otherwise includable in Taxes) United States withholding tax, if any, applicable with respect to the Lender assignee on such date.  If any form or document referred to in this subsection (e) requires the disclosure of information, other than information necessary to compute the tax payable and information required on the date hereof by Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8ECI, that the Lender reasonably considers to be confidential, the Lender shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and shall not be obligated to include in such form or document such confidential information.

 

(f)            For any period with respect to which a Lender has failed to provide the Borrower with the appropriate form, certificate or other document described in Section 2.14(e) (other than if such failure is due to a change in law, or in the interpretation or application thereof, occurring subsequent to the date on which a form, certificate or other document originally was required to be provided, or if such form, certificate or other document otherwise is not required under subsection (e) above), such Lender shall not be entitled to indemnification under Section 2.14(a) or (c) with respect to Taxes imposed by the United States by reason of such failure; provided, however, that should a Lender become subject to Taxes because of its failure to deliver a form, certificate or other document required hereunder, the Borrower shall take such steps as the Lender shall reasonably request to assist the Lender to recover such Taxes.

 

(g)           Any Lender claiming any additional amounts payable pursuant to this Section 2.14 agrees to use reasonable efforts (consistent with its internal policy and legal and regulatory restrictions) to change the jurisdiction of its Eurodollar Lending Office if the making of such a change would avoid the need for, or reduce the amount of, any such additional amounts that may thereafter accrue and would not, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, be otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender.

 

SECTION 2.15.  Sharing of Payments, Etc.  If any Lender shall obtain any payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise of any right of set-off, or otherwise) on account of the Advances owing to it (other than pursuant to Section 2.11, 2.12, 2.14, 2.20 or 8.04(c)) in excess of its ratable share of payments on account of the Advances obtained by all the Lenders, such Lender shall forthwith purchase from the other Lenders such participations in the Advances owing to them as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender to share the excess payment ratably with each of them; provided, however, that if all or any portion of such excess payment is thereafter recovered from such purchasing Lender, such purchase from each Lender shall be rescinded and such Lender shall repay to the purchasing Lender the purchase price to the extent of such recovery together with an amount equal to such Lender’s ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such Lender’s required repayment to (ii) the total amount so recovered from the purchasing Lender) of any interest or other amount paid or payable by the purchasing Lender in respect of the total amount so recovered.  The Borrower agrees that any Lender so purchasing a participation from another Lender pursuant to this Section 2.15 may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, exercise all its rights of payment (including the right of set-off) with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were the direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

 

SECTION 2.16.  Evidence of Debt.  (a)  Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Advance owing to such Lender from time to time, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder in respect of Advances.  The Borrower agrees that upon notice by any Lender to the Borrower (with a copy of such notice to the Agent) to the effect that a Note is required or appropriate in order for such Lender to evidence (whether for purposes of pledge, enforcement or otherwise) the Advances owing to, or to be made by, such Lender, the Borrower shall promptly execute and deliver to such Lender a Note payable to the order of such Lender in a principal amount up to the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Lender.

 

(b)           The Register maintained by the Agent pursuant to Section 8.07(d) shall include a control account, and a subsidiary account for each Lender, in which accounts (taken together) shall be recorded (i) the date and amount of each Borrowing made hereunder, the Type of Advances comprising such Borrowing and, if appropriate, the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the terms of each Assumption Agreement and each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to and accepted by it, (iii) the amount of any principal or interest due and

 

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payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (iv) the amount of any sum received by the Agent from the Borrower hereunder and each Lender’s share thereof.

 

(c)           Entries made in good faith by the Agent in the Register pursuant to subsection (b) above, and by each Lender in its account or accounts pursuant to subsection (a) above, shall be prima facie evidence of the amount of principal and interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to, in the case of the Register, each Lender and, in the case of such account or accounts, such Lender, under this Agreement, absent manifest error; provided, however, that the failure of the Agent or such Lender to make an entry, or any finding that an entry is incorrect, in the Register or such account or accounts shall not limit or otherwise affect the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement.

 

SECTION 2.17.  Use of Proceeds.  The proceeds of the Advances shall be available (and the Borrower agrees that it shall use such proceeds) solely for general corporate purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

 

SECTION 2.18.  Increase in the Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments.  (a) The Borrower may, at any time but in any event not more than twice in any calendar year prior to the final Termination Date, by notice to the Agent, request that the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments be increased by an amount of $20,000,000 or an integral multiple thereof (each a “Commitment Increase”) to be effective as of a date that is at least 90 days prior to the scheduled final Termination Date then in effect (the “Increase Date”) as specified in the related notice to the Agent; provided, however that (i) in no event shall the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments at any time exceed $250,000,000 and (ii) on the date of any request by the Borrower for a Commitment Increase and on the related Increase Date (A) the representations and warranties contained in Section 4.01 shall correct on and as of such date, before and after giving effect to such Commitment Increase, as though made on and as of such date and (B) no event has occurred and is continuing, or would result from such Commitment Increase, that constitutes a Default.

 

(b)           The Agent shall promptly notify such Lenders or Eligible Assignees as the Borrower may direct of a request by the Borrower for a Commitment Increase, which notice shall include (i) the proposed amount of such requested Commitment Increase, (ii) the proposed Increase Date and (iii) the date by which Lenders wishing to participate in the Commitment Increase must commit to an increase in the amount of their respective Revolving Credit Commitments (the “Commitment Date”).  Each such Lender that is willing to participate in such requested Commitment Increase (each an “Increasing Lender”) shall, in its sole discretion, give written notice to the Agent on or prior to the Commitment Date of the amount by which it is willing to increase its Revolving Credit Commitment.  The requested Commitment Increase shall be allocated among the Lenders willing to participate therein and the applicable Assuming Lenders in such amounts as are agreed between the Borrower and the Agent.

 

(c)           On each Increase Date, each Eligible Assignee that accepts an offer to participate in a requested Commitment Increase in accordance with Section 2.18(b) (each such Eligible Assignee and each Eligible Assignee that agrees to an extension of the Termination Date in accordance with Section 2.19(c), an “Assuming Lender”) shall become a Lender party to this Agreement as of such Increase Date and the Revolving Credit Commitment of each Increasing Lender for such requested Commitment Increase shall be so increased by such amount (or by the amount allocated to such Lender pursuant to the last sentence of Section 2.18(b)) as of such Increase Date; provided, however, that the Revolving Credit Commitment of each such Eligible Assignee shall be in an amount of $5,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and the Agent shall have received on or before such Increase Date the following, each dated such date:

 

(i)            (A) certified copies of resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Borrower or the Executive Committee of such Board authorizing the Commitment Increase and (B) an opinion of counsel for the Borrower (which may be in-house counsel), in substantially the form of Exhibit D hereto;

 

(ii)           an assumption agreement from each Assuming Lender, if any, in form and substance satisfactory to the Borrower and the Agent (each an “Assumption Agreement”), duly executed by such Eligible Assignee, the Agent and the Borrower; and

 

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(iii)          confirmation from each Increasing Lender of the increase in the amount of its Revolving Credit Commitment in a writing satisfactory to the Borrower and the Agent.

 

On each Increase Date, upon fulfillment of the conditions set forth in the immediately preceding sentence of this Section 2.18(c), the Agent shall notify the Lenders (including, without limitation, each Assuming Lender) and the Borrower, on or before 1:00 P.M. (New York City time), by telecopier, of the occurrence of the Commitment Increase to be effected on such Increase Date and shall record in the Register the relevant information with respect to each Increasing Lender and each Assuming Lender on such date.  Each Increasing Lender and each Assuming Lender shall, before 2:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the Increase Date, make available for the account of its Applicable Lending Office to the Agent at the Agent’s Account, in same day funds, in the case of such Assuming Lender, an amount equal to such Assuming Lender’s ratable portion of the Revolving Credit Borrowings then outstanding (calculated based on its Revolving Credit Commitment as a percentage of the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments outstanding after giving effect to the relevant Commitment Increase) and, in the case of such Increasing Lender, an amount equal to the excess of (i) such Increasing Lender’s ratable portion of the Revolving Credit Borrowings then outstanding (calculated based on its Revolving Credit Commitment as a percentage of the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments outstanding after giving effect to the relevant Commitment Increase) over (ii) such Increasing Lender’s ratable portion of the Revolving Credit Borrowings then outstanding (calculated based on its Revolving Credit Commitment (without giving effect to the relevant Commitment Increase) as a percentage of the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments (without giving effect to the relevant Commitment Increase).  After the Agent’s receipt of such funds from each such Increasing Lender and each such Assuming Lender, the Agent will promptly thereafter cause to be distributed like funds to the other Lenders for the account of their respective Applicable Lending Offices in an amount to each other Lender such that the aggregate amount of the outstanding Revolving Credit Advances owing to each Lender after giving effect to such distribution equals such Lender’s ratable portion of the Revolving Credit Borrowings then outstanding (calculated based on its Revolving Credit Commitment as a percentage of the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments outstanding after giving effect to the relevant Commitment Increase).

 

SECTION 2.19.  Extension of Termination Date.  (a) At least 45 days but not more than 60 days prior to the first and/or second anniversary of the Effective Date, the Borrower, by written notice to the Agent, may request an extension of the Termination Date in effect at such time by one year from its then scheduled expiration.  The Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of such request, and each Lender shall in turn, in its sole discretion, not later than 20 days prior to the applicable anniversary date, notify the Borrower and the Agent in writing as to whether such Lender will consent to such extension.  If any Lender shall fail to notify the Agent and the Borrower in writing of its consent to any such request for extension of the Termination Date at least 20 days prior to the applicable anniversary date, such Lender shall be deemed to be a Non-Consenting Lender with respect to such request.  The Agent shall notify the Borrower not later than 15 days prior to the applicable anniversary date of the decision of the Lenders regarding the Borrower’s request for an extension of the Termination Date.

 

(b)           If all the Lenders consent in writing to any such request in accordance with subsection (a) of this Section 2.19, the Termination Date in effect at such time shall, effective as at the Termination Date (the “Extension Date”), be extended for one year; provided that on each Extension Date (i) the representations and warranties contained in Section 4.01 shall be correct on and as of such date, before and after giving effect to such Extension Date, as though made on and as of such date and (ii) no event shall have occurred and be continuing, or would result from such Extension Date, that constitutes a Default.  If less than all of the Lenders consent in writing to any such request in accordance with subsection (a) of this Section 2.19, the Termination Date in effect at such time shall, effective as at the applicable Extension Date and subject to subsection (d) of this Section 2.19, be extended as to those Lenders that so consented (each a “Consenting Lender”) but shall not be extended as to any other Lender (each a “Non-Consenting Lender”).  To the extent that the Termination Date is not extended as to any Lender pursuant to this Section 2.19 and the Commitment(s) of such Lender is not assumed in accordance with subsection (c) of this Section 2.19 on or prior to the applicable Extension Date, the Commitment(s) of such Non-Consenting Lender shall automatically terminate in whole on such unextended Termination Date without any further notice or other action by the Borrower, such Lender or any other Person; provided that such Non-Consenting Lender’s rights under Sections 2.11, 2.14 and 8.04, and its obligations under Section 7.05, shall survive the Termination Date for such Lender as to matters occurring prior to such date.  It is understood and agreed that no Lender shall have any obligation whatsoever to agree to any request made by the Borrower for any requested extension of the Termination Date.

 

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(c)           If less than all of the Lenders consent to any such request pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section 2.19, the Agent shall promptly so notify the Borrower, and the Borrower may arrange for one or more Consenting Lenders or other Eligible Assignees as Assuming Lenders to assume, effective as of the Extension Date, any Non-Consenting Lender’s Commitment(s) and all of the obligations of such Non-Consenting Lender under this Agreement thereafter arising, without recourse to or warranty by, or expense to, such Non-Consenting Lender; provided, however, that the amount of the Revolving Credit Commitment of any such Assuming Lender as a result of such substitution shall in no event be less than $5,000,000 unless the amount of the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Non-Consenting Lender is less than $5,000,000, in which case such Assuming Lender shall assume all of such lesser amount; and provided further that:

 

(i)            any such Consenting Lender or Assuming Lender shall have paid to such Non-Consenting Lender (A) the aggregate principal amount of, and any interest accrued and unpaid to the effective date of the assignment on, the outstanding Advances, if any, of such Non-Consenting Lender plus (B) any accrued but unpaid facility fees and commissions owing to such Non-Consenting Lender as of the effective date of such assignment;

 

(ii)           all additional costs reimbursements, expense reimbursements and indemnities payable to such Non-Consenting Lender, and all other accrued and unpaid amounts owing to such Non-Consenting Lender hereunder, as of the effective date of such assignment shall have been paid to such Non-Consenting Lender; and

 

(iii)          with respect to any such Assuming Lender, the applicable processing and recordation fee required under Section 8.07(a) for such assignment shall have been paid;

 

provided further that such Non-Consenting Lender’s rights under Sections 2.11, 2.14 and 8.04, and its obligations under Section 7.05, shall survive such substitution as to matters occurring prior to the date of substitution.  At least three Business Days prior to any Extension Date, (A) each such Assuming Lender, if any, shall have delivered to the Borrower and the Agent an Assumption Agreement, duly executed by such Assuming Lender, such Non-Consenting Lender, the Borrower and the Agent, (B) any such Consenting Lender shall have delivered confirmation in writing satisfactory to the Borrower and the Agent as to the increase in the amount of its Commitment(s) and (C) each Non-Consenting Lender being replaced pursuant to this Section 2.19 shall have delivered to the Agent any Note or Notes held by such Non-Consenting Lender.  Upon the payment or prepayment of all amounts referred to in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of the immediately preceding sentence, each such Consenting Lender or Assuming Lender, as of the Extension Date, will be substituted for such Non-Consenting Lender under this Agreement and shall be a Lender for all purposes of this Agreement, without any further acknowledgment by or the consent of the other Lenders, and the obligations of each such Non-Consenting Lender hereunder shall, by the provisions hereof, be released and discharged.

 

(d)           If (after giving effect to any assignments or assumptions pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section 2.19) Lenders having Revolving Credit Commitments equal to at least 50% of the Revolving Credit Commitments in effect immediately prior to the Extension Date consent in writing to a requested extension (whether by execution or delivery of an Assumption Agreement or otherwise) not later than one Business Day prior to such Extension Date, the Agent shall so notify the Borrower, and, subject to the condition that (i) the representations and warranties contained in Section 4.01 shall be correct on and as of such date, before and after giving effect to such Extension Date, as though made on and as of such date and (ii) no event shall have occurred and be continuing, or would result from such Extension Date, that constitutes a Default, the Termination Date then in effect shall be extended for the additional one-year period as described in subsection (a) of this Section 2.19, and all references in this Agreement, and in the other Loan Documents, to the “Termination Date” shall, with respect to each Consenting Lender and each Assuming Lender for such Extension Date, refer to the Termination Date as so extended.  Promptly following each Extension Date, the Agent shall notify the Lenders (including, without limitation, each Assuming Lender) of the extension of the scheduled Termination Date in effect immediately prior thereto and shall thereupon record in the Register the relevant information with respect to each such Consenting Lender and each such Assuming Lender.

 

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SECTION 2.20.  Regulation D CompensationEach Lender that is subject to reserve requirements of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor) may require the Borrower to pay, contemporaneously with each payment of interest on the Eurodollar Rate Advances, additional interest on the related Eurodollar Rate Advances of such Lender at the rate per annum equal to the excess of (i) (A) the applicable Eurodollar Rate divided by (B) one minus the Eurodollar Rate Reserve Percentage over (ii) the rate specified in clause (i)(A).  Any Lender wishing to require payment of such additional interest (x) shall so notify the Agent and the Borrower, in which case such additional interest on the Eurodollar Rate Advances of such Lender shall be payable to such Lender at the place indicated in such notice with respect to each Interest Period commencing at least five Business Days after the giving of such notice and (y) shall notify the Agent and the Borrower at least five Business Days prior to each date on which interest is payable of the amount then due it under this Section.

 

ARTICLE III

 

CONDITIONS TO EFFECTIVENESS AND LENDING

 

SECTION 3.01.  Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness of Section 2.01.  Section 2.01 of this Agreement shall become effective on and as of the first date (the “Effective Date”) on which the following conditions precedent have been satisfied:

 

(a)           There shall have occurred no event or circumstance that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change since December 31, 2007.

 

(b)           There shall exist no action, suit, investigation, litigation or proceeding affecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened before any court, governmental agency or arbitrator that (i) could be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) could be reasonably likely to adversely affect the legality, validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(c)           Nothing shall have come to the attention of the Lenders during the course of their due diligence investigation to lead them to believe that the Information Memorandum was or has become misleading, incorrect or incomplete in any material respect; without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Lenders shall have been given such access to the management, records, books of account, contracts and properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as they shall have requested.

 

(d)           All governmental and third party consents and approvals necessary in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall have been obtained (without the imposition of any conditions that are not acceptable to the Lenders) and shall remain in effect, and no law or regulation shall be applicable in the reasonable judgment of the Lenders that restrains, prevents or imposes materially adverse conditions upon the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(e)           The Borrower shall have notified each Lender and the Agent in writing as to the proposed Effective Date.

 

(f)            The Borrower shall have paid all reasonable and invoiced accrued fees and expenses of the Agent and the Lenders (including the accrued fees and expenses of counsel to the Agent).

 

(g)           On the Effective Date, the following statements shall be true and the Agent shall have received for the account of each Lender a certificate signed by a duly authorized officer of the Borrower, dated the Effective Date, stating that:

 

(i)            The representations and warranties contained in Section 4.01 are correct on and as of the Effective Date, and

 

(ii)           No event has occurred and is continuing that constitutes a Default.

 

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(h)           The Agent shall have received on or before the Effective Date the following, each dated such day, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and (except for the Notes) in sufficient copies for each Lender:

 

(i)            The Notes to the order of the Lenders to the extent requested by any Lender pursuant to Section 2.16.

 

(ii)           Certified copies of the resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Borrower approving this Agreement and the Notes, and of all documents evidencing other necessary corporate action and governmental approvals, if any, with respect to this Agreement and the Notes.

 

(iii)          A certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Borrower certifying the names and true signatures of the officers of the Borrower authorized to sign this Agreement and the Notes and the other documents to be delivered hereunder.

 

(iv)          Favorable opinions of (A) Mayer Brown LLP, New York counsel for the Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit D-1 hereto and (B) Kent Pflederer, General Counsel of the Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit D-2 hereto.

 

(i)            The Borrower shall have terminated the commitments of the lenders and repaid or prepaid in full all amounts outstanding under the Five Year Credit Agreement dated as of July 21, 2003 among the Borrower, the lenders parties thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as administrative agent.  By execution of this Agreement, each of the Lenders that is a lender under the credit agreement referred to above hereby waives the requirements set forth in Section 2.05 and 2.10 of such credit agreement of prior notice to the termination of its commitments and prepayment of advances thereunder.

 

SECTION 3.02.  Conditions Precedent to Each Borrowing and Issuance.  The obligation of each Lender to make an Advance (other than an Advance made by an Issuing Bank or any Lender pursuant to Section 2.03(c)) on the occasion of each Borrowing and the obligation of each Issuing Bank to issue a Letter of Credit, shall be subject to the conditions precedent that the Effective Date shall have occurred and on the date of such Borrowing or issuance (a) the following statements shall be true (and each of the giving of the applicable Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Issuance and the acceptance by the Borrower of the proceeds of such Borrowing or issuance shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower that on the date of such Borrowing or such issuance such statements are true):

 

(i)            the representations and warranties contained in Section 4.01 are correct on and as of such date, before and after giving effect to such Borrowing or such issuance and to the application of the proceeds therefrom, as though made on and as of such date, and

 

(ii)           no event has occurred and is continuing, or would result from such Borrowing or such issuance or from the application of the proceeds therefrom, that constitutes a Default;

 

and (b) the Agent shall have received such other approvals, opinions or documents as any Lender through the Agent may reasonably request.

 

SECTION 3.03.  Determinations Under Section 3.01.  For purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in Section 3.01, each Lender shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to the Lenders unless an officer of the Agent responsible for the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the date that the Borrower, by notice to the Lenders, designates as the proposed Effective Date, specifying its objection thereto.  The Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders of the occurrence of the Effective Date.

 

 

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ARTICLE IV

 

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

SECTION 4.01.  Representations and Warranties of the Borrower.  The Borrower represents and warrants as follows:

 

(a)           Each Loan Party is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the laws of its justification of organization.

 

(b)           The execution, delivery and performance by the each Loan Party of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, are within such Loan Party’s corporate or other organizational powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other action, and do not contravene (i) such Loan Party’s charter or by-laws or other organizational documents, (ii) law, (iii) any indenture, deed of trust, credit agreement or loan agreement binding on or affecting the Borrower or (iv) any other material agreement, contract or instrument binding on or affecting such Loan Party.

 

(c)           No authorization or approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory body is required for the due execution, delivery and performance by any Loan Party of the Loan Documents to which it is or is to be a party.  No authorization or approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any third party is required for the due execution, delivery and performance by any Loan Party of the Loan Documents to which it is or is to be a party, except to the extent that failure to so obtain or so file could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(d)           This Agreement has been, and each other Loan Document when delivered hereunder will have been, duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party party thereto.  This Agreement is, and each other Loan Document when delivered hereunder will be, legal, valid and binding obligations of each Loan Party party thereto enforceable against such Loan Party in accordance with their respective terms, subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or moratorium or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally and subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).

 

(e)           The Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at December 31, 2007, and the related Consolidated statements of income and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year then ended, accompanied by an opinion of Ernst & Young LLP, independent public accountants, copies of which have been furnished to each Lender, fairly present in accordance with GAAP the Consolidated financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at such date and the   Consolidated results of the operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the period ended on such date, all in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied.  Since December 31, 2007, no event or circumstance has occurred and is continuing that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

 

(f)            There is no pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened action, suit, investigation, litigation or proceeding, including, without limitation, any Environmental Action, affecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries before any court, governmental agency or arbitrator that (i) could be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) could be reasonably likely to adversely affect the legality, validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any other Loan Documents or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

 

(g)           The Borrower is not engaged in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), and no proceeds of any Advance will be used to purchase or

 

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carry any margin stock or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin stock.

 

(h)           The Borrower is not an “investment company”, or a company “controlled” by an “investment company”, within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

(i)            Each Loan Party is, individually and together with its Subsidiaries, Solvent.

 

(j)            Neither the Information Memorandum nor any of the other reports, financial statements, certificates or other information furnished in writing by or on behalf of the Borrower to the Agent or any Lender in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or delivered hereunder (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made and taken as a whole, not materially misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information and forward-looking statements, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time made and provided, further, that the Borrower makes no representation or warranty with respect to general industry information contained in the Information Memorandum derived from consultants or public or third party sources except that the Borrower believed, to the best of its knowledge and on the date of the Information Memorandum, such information to be reliable.

 

ARTICLE V

 

COVENANTS OF THE BORROWER

 

SECTION 5.01.  Affirmative Covenants.  So long as any Advance shall remain unpaid or any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, the Borrower will:

 

(a)           Compliance with Laws, Etc.  Comply, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to comply with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and orders, such compliance to include, without limitation, compliance with ERISA and Environmental Laws, except to the extent that failure to so comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b)           Payment of Taxes, Etc.  Pay and discharge, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay and discharge, before the same shall become delinquent, (i) all material taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed upon it or upon its property and (ii) all material lawful claims that, if unpaid, might by law become a Lien upon its property; provided, however, that neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to pay or discharge any such tax, assessment, charge or claim that is being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings and as to which appropriate reserves are being  maintained, unless and until any Lien resulting therefrom attaches to its property and enforcement actions are begun.

 

(c)           Maintenance of Insurance.  Maintain, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain, insurance with responsible and reputable insurance companies or associations in such amounts and covering such risks as is usually carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in the same general areas in which the Borrower or such Subsidiary operates.

 

(d)           Preservation of Corporate Existence, Etc.  Preserve and maintain, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to preserve and maintain, its corporate existence, rights (charter and statutory) and franchises; provided, however, that the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may consummate any transaction permitted under Section 5.02(b) and provided further that neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to preserve any right or franchise or, in the case of any Subsidiary, its corporate existence, if the Borrower shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Borrower or the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, and that the loss thereof is not

 

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disadvantageous in any material respect to the Borrower, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or the Lenders.

 

(e)           Visitation Rights.  At any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice, permit the Agent or any of the Lenders or any agents or representatives thereof, to examine and make copies of and abstracts from the records and books of account of, and visit the properties of, the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries, and to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries with any of their officers or directors and with their independent certified public accountants, provided that, so long as no Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Borrower shall have the right to participate in any discussions of the Agent or any Lender with any independent accountants of the Borrower.

 

(f)            Keeping of Books.  Keep, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to keep, proper books of record and account, in which full and correct entries shall be made of all financial transactions and the assets and business of the Borrower and each such Subsidiary in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in effect from time to time.

 

(g)           Maintenance of Properties, Etc.  Maintain and preserve, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain and preserve, all of its properties that are used or useful in the conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear and loss or damage by casualty or condemnation excepted.

 

(h)           Transactions with Affiliates.  Conduct, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to conduct, all transactions otherwise permitted under this Agreement with any of their Affiliates on terms that are fair and reasonable and no less favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary than it would obtain in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a Person not an Affiliate, other than (i) transactions by and among the Borrower and its wholly-owned Subsidiaries and (ii) compensation of, or fees payable to, officers and directors of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

 

(i)            Reporting Requirements.  Furnish to the Agent:

 

(i)            as soon as available and in any event within 50 days after the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower, the Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such quarter and Consolidated statements of income and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the period commencing at the end of the previous fiscal year and ending with the end of such quarter, duly certified (subject to year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes) by the chief financial officer, chief executive officer or treasurer of the Borrower as having been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and certificates of the chief financial officer, chief executive officer or treasurer of the Borrower as to compliance with the terms of this Agreement and setting forth in reasonable detail the calculations necessary to demonstrate compliance with Section 5.03, provided that in the event of any change in generally accepted accounting principles used in the preparation of such financial statements, the Borrower shall also provide, if necessary for the determination of compliance with Section 5.03, a statement of reconciliation conforming such financial statements to GAAP;

 

(ii)           as soon as available and in any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a copy of the annual audit report for such year for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, containing the Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal year and Consolidated statements of income and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such fiscal year, in each case accompanied by an opinion reasonably acceptable to the Required Lenders by Ernst & Young LLP or other independent public accountants reasonably acceptable to the Required Lenders and certificates of the chief financial officer, chief executive officer or treasurer of the Borrower as to compliance with the terms of this

 

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Agreement and setting forth in reasonable detail the calculations necessary to demonstrate compliance with Section 5.03, provided that in the event of any change in generally accepted accounting principles used in the preparation of such financial statements, the Borrower shall also provide, if necessary for the determination of compliance with Section 5.03, a statement of reconciliation conforming such financial statements to GAAP;

 

(iii)          as soon as possible and in any event within five Business Days after the chief financial officer, the chief executive officer, the treasurer, the controller or the general counsel of the Borrower obtains actual knowledge of the occurrence of any Default continuing on the date of such statement, a statement of the chief financial officer, chief executive officer or treasurer of the Borrower setting forth details of such Default and the action that the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto;

 

(iv)          promptly after the sending or filing thereof, copies of all reports that the Borrower sends to its securityholders generally, and copies of all reports and registration statements that the Borrower or any Subsidiary files with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any national securities exchange;

 

(v)           promptly after the commencement thereof, notice of all actions and proceedings before any court, governmental agency or arbitrator affecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of the type described in Section 4.01(f); and

 

(vi)          such other information respecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries as any Lender through the Agent may from time to time reasonably request.

 

(j)            New Material Subsidiaries.  Promptly and in any event within 30 days following the request of the Required Lenders made after either (i) the organization or acquisition of any new Material Subsidiary or (ii) the delivery of audited annual financial statements pursuant to Section 5.01(i) that indicate that a Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not at such time a Subsidiary Guarantor is a Material Subsidiary, cause such Material Subsidiary to execute and deliver a Subsidiary Guaranty in substantially the form of Exhibit E hereto, together with such documents as the Required Lenders may reasonably request evidencing corporate action taken to authorize such execution and delivery and the incumbency and signatures of officers of such Material Subsidiary, provided that a Material Subsidiary shall not be required to become a Subsidiary Guarantor if (A) a guaranty by such Material Subsidiary would result in materially adverse tax consequences to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries or shareholders of the Borrower or (B) a guaranty by such Material Subsidiary is prohibited or limited by regulatory requirements or applicable law.

 

SECTION 5.02.  Negative Covenants.  So long as any Advance shall remain unpaid or any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, the Borrower will not:

 

(a)           Liens, Etc.  Create or suffer to exist, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to create or suffer to exist, any Lien on or with respect to any of its properties, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or assign, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to assign, any right to receive income, other than:

 

(i)            Permitted Liens,

 

(ii)           capital leases and purchase money Liens upon or in any real or personal property acquired or held by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business to secure the purchase price of such property or to secure Debt incurred solely for the purpose of financing the acquisition of such property, or Liens existing on such property at the time of its acquisition (other than any such Liens created in contemplation of such acquisition that were not incurred to finance the acquisition of such property) or extensions, renewals or replacements of any of the foregoing for the same or a lesser amount, provided, however, that no such Lien shall extend to or cover any properties of any character other than the property being acquired, and no

 

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such extension, renewal or replacement shall extend to or cover any properties not theretofore subject to the Lien being extended, renewed or replaced, provided further that the aggregate principal amount of the indebtedness secured by the Liens referred to in this clause (ii) shall not exceed $100,000,000 at any time outstanding,

 

(iii)          the Liens existing on the Effective Date and described on Schedule 5.02(a) hereto,

 

(iv)          Liens on property of a Person existing at the time such Person is merged into or consolidated with the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower or becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower; provided that such Liens were not created in contemplation of such merger, consolidation or acquisition and do not extend to any assets other than those of the Person so merged into or consolidated with the Borrower or such Subsidiary or acquired by the Borrower or such Subsidiary,

 

(v)           assignments of the right to receive income or Liens in connection with any Permitted Receivables Financing, to the extent permitted under Section 5.02(d)(iv),

 

(vi)          licenses, leases or subleases granted to other Persons in the ordinary course of business not materially interfering with the conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole,

 

(vii)         Liens arising from precautionary UCC financing statement filings regarding operating leases entered into by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (other than a Receivables Subsidiary) in the ordinary course of business,

 

(viii)        Liens arising out of judgments or awards in circumstances not constituting an Event of Default under Section 6.01 in respect of which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall in good faith be prosecuting an appeal or proceedings for review in respect of which there shall have been secured a subsisting stay of execution pending such appeal or proceedings, provided that the aggregate amount of all such judgments or awards does not exceed $25,000,000 at any time outstanding,

 

(ix)           statutory, contractual and common law landlords’ liens under leases or subleases permitted by this Agreement,

 

(x)            Liens (other than any Lien imposed by ERISA) (x) to secure the performance of tenders, statutory obligations (other than excise taxes), surety, stay, customs and appeal bonds, statutory bonds, bids, leases, government contracts, trade contracts, performance and return of money bonds and other similar obligations (exclusive of obligations for the payment of borrowed money) or (y) arising by virtue of deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure liability for premiums to insurance carriers, provided that the aggregate amount of deposits at any time pursuant to sub-clauses (x) and (y) shall not exceed $15,000,000 in the aggregate,

 

(xi)           any interest or title of a lessor, sublessor, licensee or licensor under any lease or license agreement permitted by this Agreement,

 

(xii)          Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods entered into by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business (excluding any general inventory financing),

 

(xiii)         other Liens securing Debt (whether incurred by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $50,000,000 at any time outstanding, and

 

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(xiv)        the replacement, extension or renewal of any Lien permitted by clause (iii) or (iv) above upon or in the same property theretofore subject thereto or the replacement, extension or renewal (without increase in the amount or change in any direct or contingent obligor) of the Debt secured thereby.

 

(b)           Mergers, Etc.  Merge or consolidate with or into, or convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to, any Person, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to do so, except that (i) any Subsidiary of the Borrower may merge or consolidate with or into, or dispose of assets to, any other Subsidiary of the Borrower, (ii) any Subsidiary of the Borrower may merge into or dispose of assets to the Borrower, (iii) the Borrower may merge with any other Person so long as the Borrower is the surviving corporation and (iv) any Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower may merge or consolidate with or into, or dispose of assets to, any other Person so long as the assets of such Subsidiaries, in aggregate, do not constitute all or substantially all of the assets of the Borrower or of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, provided, in each case, that no Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such proposed transaction or would result therefrom.

 

(c)           Accounting Changes.  Make or permit, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to make or permit, any change in accounting policies or reporting practices, except as required or permitted by generally accepted accounting principles.

 

(d)           Subsidiary Debt.  Permit any of its Subsidiaries to create or suffer to exist any Debt other than:

 

(i)            Debt owed to the Borrower or to a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Borrower,

 

(ii)           Debt existing on the Effective Date and described on Schedule 5.02(d) hereto (the “Existing Debt”), and any Debt extending the maturity of, or refunding or refinancing, in whole or in part, the Existing Debt, provided that the principal amount of such Existing Debt shall not be increased above the principal amount thereof outstanding immediately prior to such extension, refunding or refinancing, and the direct and contingent obligors therefor shall not be changed, as a result of or in connection with such extension, refunding or refinancing,

 

(iii)          Debt secured by Liens permitted by Section 5.02(a)(ii) or (xiii),

 

(iv)          Debt arising under Permitted Receivables Financings in an aggregate Invested Amount not to exceed $250,000,000 at any time outstanding,

 

(v)           unsecured Debt incurred in the ordinary course of business aggregating for all of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries not more than $35,000,000 at any one time outstanding,

 

(v)           endorsement of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection or similar transactions in the ordinary course of business, and

 

(vi)          Debt under the Subsidiary Guaranty.

 

(e)           Change in Nature of Business.  Make, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to make, any material change in the nature of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as carried on at the date hereof.

 

(f)            Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries.  Directly or indirectly enter into or suffer to exist, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to enter into or suffer to exist, any agreement or arrangement limiting the ability of any of its Subsidiaries to declare or pay dividends or other distributions in respect of its equity interests or repay or prepay any Debt owed to, make loans or advances to, or otherwise transfer

 

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assets to or invest in, the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower (whether through a covenant restricting dividends, loans, asset transfers or investments, a financial covenant or otherwise), except (i) any agreement in effect at the time such Subsidiary becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower, so long as such agreement was not entered into solely in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary of the Borrower, (ii) any customary agreement restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing a leasehold interest, (iii) customary provisions restricting assignment of any licensing agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business, (iv) customary provisions restricting the transfer of assets subject to Liens permitted pursuant to Section 5.02(a), (v) under an document evidencing a Permitted Receivables Financing and (vi) any encumbrance or restriction existing under or by reason of applicable law.

 

SECTION 5.03.  Financial Covenants.  So long as any Advance shall remain unpaid or any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, the Borrower will:

 

(a)           Net Worth.  Maintain an excess of Consolidated total assets over Consolidated total liabilities of not less than $500,000,000.

 

(b)           Capitalization Ratio.  Maintain a ratio of Consolidated Debt to the sum of Consolidated Debt plus Consolidated shareholders’ equity of not greater than 0.60 to 1, provided that Consolidated Debt for purposes of this covenant shall not include obligations under letters of credit in an amount not to exceed $35,000,000 and shall not include accrued interest.

 

(c)           Interest Coverage Ratio.  Maintain a ratio of Consolidated EBITDA as at the end of any quarter for the four quarter period then ended of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to the sum of interest payable on, and amortization of debt discount in respect of, all Debt during such period, in each case, by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries of not less than 3.5 to 1.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

 

SECTION 6.01.  Events of Default.  If any of the following events (“Events of Default”) shall occur and be continuing:

 

(a)           The Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Advance when the same becomes due and payable; or the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Advance or make any other payment of fees or other amounts payable under this Agreement or any Note within three Business Days after the same becomes due and payable; or

 

(b)           Any representation or warranty made by the Borrower herein or by the Borrower (or any of its officers) in connection with this Agreement shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made; or

 

(c)           (i) The Borrower shall fail to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in Section 5.01(d) (as it relates to the corporate existence of the Borrower), (e), (h) or (i)(iii), 5.02(a), (c), (d), (e) or (f) or 5.03, or (ii) the Borrower shall fail to perform or observe any other term, covenant or agreement contained in Section 5.01(i) if such failure shall remain unremedied for 10 days after written notice thereof shall have been given to the Borrower by the Agent or any Lender; or (iii) the Borrower shall fail to perform or observe any other term, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement on its part to be performed or observed if such failure shall remain unremedied for 20 days after written notice thereof shall have been given to the Borrower by the Agent or any Lender; or

 

(d)           The Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall fail to pay any principal of or premium or interest on any Debt that is outstanding in a principal (or, in the case of a Hedge Agreement, with a termination value) of at least $25,000,000 in the aggregate (but excluding Debt outstanding hereunder) of

 

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the Borrower or such Subsidiary (as the case may be), when the same becomes due and payable (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise), and such failure shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in the agreement or instrument relating to such Debt; or any other event shall occur or condition shall exist under any agreement or instrument relating to any such Debt and shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in such agreement or instrument, if the effect of such event or condition is to accelerate, or to permit the acceleration of, the maturity of such Debt; or any such Debt shall be declared to be due and payable, or required to be prepaid or redeemed (other than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment or redemption), purchased or defeased, or an offer to prepay, redeem, purchase or defease such Debt shall be required to be made, in each case prior to the stated maturity thereof; or

 

(e)           Any of (x) the Borrower, (y) any of the Material Subsidiaries or (z) any combination of Subsidiaries of the Borrower that, in aggregate own assets with a value of 15% or more of the total value of the assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, shall generally not pay its debts as such debts become due, or shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally, or shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or any proceeding shall be instituted by or against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking liquidation, winding up, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, protection, relief, or composition of it or its debts under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors, or seeking the entry of an order for relief or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for it or for any substantial part of its property and, in the case of any such proceeding instituted against it (but not instituted by it), either such proceeding shall remain undismissed or unstayed for a period of 60 days, or any of the actions sought in such proceeding (including, without limitation, the entry of an order for relief against, or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for, it or for any substantial part of its property) shall occur; or the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall take any corporate action to authorize any of the actions set forth above in this subsection (e); or

 

(f)            Judgments or orders for the payment of money in excess of $25,000,000 in the aggregate shall be rendered against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and either (i) unstayed enforcement proceedings shall have been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order or (ii) there shall be any period of 30 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment or order, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, shall not be in effect; provided, however, that any such judgment or order shall not be an Event of Default under this Section 6.01(f) if and for so long as (i) the amount of such judgment or order is covered by a valid and binding policy of insurance between the defendant and the insurer covering payment thereof and (ii) such insurer, which shall be rated at least “A” by A.M. Best Company, has been notified of, and has not disputed the claim made for payment of, the amount of such judgment or order; or

 

(g)           Any non-monetary judgment or order shall be rendered against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that could be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and there shall be any period of 30 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment or order, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, shall not be in effect; or

 

(h)           The Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates shall incur, or shall be reasonably likely to incur liability in excess of $25,000,000 in the aggregate as a result of one or more of the following:  (i) the occurrence of any ERISA Event; (ii) the partial or complete withdrawal of the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates from a Multiemployer Plan; or (iii) the reorganization or termination of a Multiemployer Plan; or

 

(i)            any Loan Document after delivery thereof pursuant to Section 3.01 or 5.01(j) shall for any reason cease to be valid and binding on or enforceable against any Loan Party party to it, or any such Loan Party shall so state in writing; or

 

(j)            a Change in Control;

 

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then, and in any such event, the Agent (i) shall at the request, or may with the consent, of the Required Lenders, by notice to the Borrower, declare the obligation of each Lender to make Advances (other than Advances by an Issuing Bank or a Lender pursuant to Section 2.03(c)) and of the Issuing Banks to issue Letters of Credit to be terminated, whereupon the same shall forthwith terminate, and (ii) shall at the request, or may with the consent, of the Required Lenders, by notice to the Borrower, declare the Advances, all interest thereon and all other amounts payable under this Agreement to be forthwith due and payable, whereupon the Advances, all such interest and all such amounts shall become and be forthwith due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or further notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower; provided, however, that in the event of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Federal Bankruptcy Code, (A) the obligation of each Lender to make Advances (other than Advances by an Issuing Bank or a Lender pursuant to Section 2.03(c)) and of the Issuing Banks to issue Letters of Credit shall automatically be terminated and (B) the Advances, all such interest and all such amounts shall automatically become and be due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or any notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower.

 

SECTION 6.02.  Actions in Respect of the Letters of Credit upon Default.  If any Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Agent may with the consent, or shall at the request, of the Required Lenders, irrespective of whether it is taking any of the actions described in Section 6.01 or otherwise, make demand upon the Borrower to, and forthwith upon such demand the Borrower will, (a) pay to the Agent on behalf of the Lenders in same day funds at the Agent’s office designated in such demand, for deposit in the L/C Cash Collateral Account, an amount equal to the aggregate Available Amount of all Letters of Credit then outstanding or (b) make such other arrangements in respect of the outstanding Letters of Credit as shall be acceptable to the Required Lenders; provided, however, that in the event of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Federal Bankruptcy Code, the Borrower will pay to the Agent on behalf of the Lenders in same day funds for deposit in the L/C Cash Collateral Account an amount equal to the aggregate Available Amount of all Letters of Credit then outstanding, without presentment, demand, protest or any notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower.  If at any time the Agent determines that any funds held in the L/C Cash Collateral Account are subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the Agent and the Lenders or that the total amount of such funds is less than the aggregate Available Amount of all Letters of Credit, the Borrower will, forthwith upon demand by the Agent, pay to the Agent, as additional funds to be deposited and held in the L/C Cash Collateral Account, an amount equal to the excess of (a) such aggregate Available Amount over (b) the total amount of funds, if any, then held in the L/C Cash Collateral Account that the Agent determines to be free and clear of any such right and claim.  Upon the drawing of any Letter of Credit, to the extent funds are on deposit in the L/C Cash Collateral Account, such funds shall be applied to reimburse the Issuing Banks to the extent permitted by applicable law.  After all such Letters of Credit shall have expired or been fully drawn upon and all other obligations of the Borrower hereunder and under the Notes shall have been paid in full, the balance, if any, in such L/C Cash Collateral Account shall be returned to the Borrower.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

THE AGENT

 

SECTION 7.01.  Authorization and Action.  Each Lender hereby appoints and authorizes the Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers and discretion under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as are delegated to the Agent by the terms hereof, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto.  As to any matters not expressly provided for by this Agreement (including, without limitation, enforcement or collection of the Notes), the Agent shall not be required to exercise any discretion or take any action, but shall be required to act or to refrain from acting (and shall be fully protected in so acting or refraining from acting) upon the instructions of the Required Lenders, and such instructions shall be binding upon all Lenders and all holders of Notes; provided, however, that the Agent shall not be required to take any action that exposes the Agent to personal liability or that is contrary to this Agreement or applicable law.  The Agent agrees to give to each Lender prompt notice of each notice given to it by the Borrower pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 7.02.  Agent’s Reliance, Etc.  Neither the Agent nor any of its directors, officers, agents or employees shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it or them under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except for its or their own gross negligence or willful misconduct. 

 

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Without limitation of the generality of the foregoing, the Agent:  (i) may treat the Lender that made any Advance as the holder of the Debt resulting therefrom until the Agent receives and accepts an Assumption Agreement entered into by an Assuming Lender as provided in Section 2.18 or 2.19, as the case may be, or an Assignment and Acceptance entered into by such Lender, as assignor, and an Eligible Assignee, as assignee, as provided in Section 8.07; (ii) may consult with legal counsel (including counsel for the 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; (iii) makes no warranty or representation to any Lender and shall not be responsible to any Lender for any statements, warranties or representations (whether written or oral) made in or in connection with this Agreement; (iv) shall not have any duty to ascertain or to inquire as to the performance, observance or satisfaction of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of this Agreement or any other Loan Document on the part of any Loan Party or the existence at any time of any Default or to inspect the property (including the books and records) of any Loan Party; (v) shall not be responsible to any Lender for the due execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of, or the perfection or priority of any lien or security interest created or purported to be created under or in connection with, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto; and (vi) shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by acting upon any notice, consent, certificate or other instrument or writing (which may be by telecopier or telex) believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent by the proper party or parties.

 

SECTION 7.03.  JPMorgan and Affiliates.  With respect to its Commitment, the Advances made by it and the Note issued to it, JPMorgan shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement any each other Loan Document as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Agent; and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated, include JPMorgan in its individual capacity.  JPMorgan and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as trustee under indentures of, accept investment banking engagements from and generally engage in any kind of business with, the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries and any Person who may do business with or own securities of the Borrower or any such Subsidiary, all as if JPMorgan were not the Agent and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.  The Agent shall have no duty to disclose any information obtained or received by it or any of its Affiliates relating to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to the extent such information was obtained or received in any capacity other than as Agent.

 

SECTION 7.04.  Lender Credit Decision.  Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Agent or any other Lender and based on the financial statements referred to in Section 4.01 and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement.  Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

SECTION 7.05.  Indemnification.  (a)  Each Lender severally agrees to indemnify the Agent (to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrower) from and against such Lender’s Ratable Share of any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever that may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against the Agent in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any action taken or omitted by the Agent under or any other Loan Document (collectively, the “Indemnified Costs”), provided that no Lender shall be liable for any portion of the Indemnified Costs resulting from the Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.  Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender agrees to reimburse the Agent promptly upon demand for its ratable share of any out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable counsel fees) incurred by the Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, to the extent that the Agent is not reimbursed for such expenses by the Borrower.  In the case of any investigation, litigation or proceeding giving rise to any Indemnified Costs, this Section 7.05 applies whether any such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by the Agent, any Lender or a third party.

 

(b)           Each Lender severally agrees to indemnify the Issuing Banks (to the extent not promptly reimbursed by the Borrower) from and against such Lender’s Ratable Share of any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature

 

 

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whatsoever that may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against any such Issuing Bank in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any action taken or omitted by such Issuing Bank hereunder or in connection herewith; provided, however, that no Lender shall be liable for any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulting from such Issuing Bank’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.  Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender agrees to reimburse any such Issuing Bank promptly upon demand for its Ratable Share of any costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) payable by the Borrower under Section 8.04, to the extent that such Issuing Bank is not promptly reimbursed for such costs and expenses by the Borrower.

 

(c)           The failure of any Lender to reimburse the Agent or any Issuing Bank promptly upon demand for its Ratable Share of any amount required to be paid by the Lenders to the Agent or such Issuing Bank as provided herein shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation hereunder to reimburse the Agent or such Issuing Bank for its Ratable Share of such amount, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to reimburse the Agent or an Issuing Bank for such other Lender’s Ratable Share of such amount.  Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreement of any Lender hereunder, the agreement and obligations of each Lender contained in this Section 8.05 shall survive the payment in full of principal, interest and all other amounts payable hereunder and under the Notes.

 

SECTION 7.06.  Successor Agent.  The Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Lenders and the Borrower and may be removed at any time with or without cause by the Required Lenders.  Upon any such resignation or removal, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Agent with, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the consent of the Borrower, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.  If no successor Agent shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders, and shall have accepted such appointment, within 30 days after the retiring Agent’s giving of notice of resignation or the Required Lenders’ removal of the retiring Agent, then the retiring Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Agent, which shall be a commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or of any State thereof and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $500,000,000.  Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Agent hereunder by a successor Agent, such successor Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, discretion, privileges and duties of the retiring Agent, and the retiring Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.  After any retiring Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder as Agent, the provisions of this Article VII shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Agent under this Agreement.

 

SECTION 7.07.  Other Agents.  Each Lender hereby acknowledges that neither the documentation agent nor any other Lender designated as any “Agent” on the signature pages hereof has any liability hereunder other than in its capacity as a Lender.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

SECTION 8.01.  Amendments, Etc.  No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, nor consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Required Lenders, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that (a) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by all the Lenders, do any of the following:  (i) waive any of the conditions specified in Section 3.01, (ii) change the number of Lenders or the percentage of (x) the Commitments, (y) the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Advances or (z) the aggregate Available Amount of outstanding Letters of Credit that, in each case, shall be required for the Lenders or any of them to take any action hereunder or (iii) amend this Section 8.01 and (b) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Required Lenders and each Lender that is directly affected by such amendment, waiver or consent, (i) increase the Commitments of such Lender (other than as provided in Section 2.18), (ii) reduce the principal of, or interest on, the Notes held by such Lender or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder to such Lender, or (iii) postpone any date fixed for any payment of principal of, or interest on, the Notes held by such Lender or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder to such Lender (other than as provided in Section 2.19), and

 

39



 

provided further that no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Agent in addition to the Lenders required above to take such action, affect the rights or duties of the Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Issuing Banks in addition to the Lenders required above to take such action, adversely affect the rights or obligations of the Issuing Banks in their capacities as such under this Agreement.

 

SECTION 8.02.  Notices, Etc.  (a)  All notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing (including telecopier communication) and mailed, telecopied or delivered, if to the Borrower, at its address at 1900 West Field Court, Lake Forest, Illinois  60045, Attention:  Chief Financial Officer; if to any Initial Lender, at its Domestic Lending Office specified opposite its name on Schedule I hereto; if to any other Lender, at its Domestic Lending Office specified in the Assumption Agreement or the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender; and if to the Agent, at its address at 1111 Fannin, 10th Floor, Houston, Texas 77002, Attention:  Jeremy Jones (Telecopy No. (713) 750-2223; E-Mail Address:  jeremy.m.jones@jpmorgan.com), with a copy to 270 Park Avenue, 4th Floor, New York, New York 10017, Attention:  Peter S. Predun (Telecopy No. (212) 270-5100; E-Mail Address: peter.predun@jpmorgan.com); or, as to the Borrower or the Agent, at such other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to the other parties and, as to each other party, at such other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to the Borrower and the Agent.  All such notices and communications shall, when mailed, telecopied or delivered, be effective when deposited in the mails, telecopied or delivered, respectively, except that notices and communications to the Agent pursuant to Article II, III or VII shall not be effective until received by the Agent.  Delivery by telecopier of an executed counterpart of any amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or of any Exhibit hereto to be executed and delivered hereunder shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart thereof.

 

SECTION 8.03.  No Waiver; Remedies.  No failure on the part of any Lender or the Agent to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right hereunder or under any Note shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right.  The remedies herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.

 

SECTION 8.04.  Costs and Expenses.  (a)  The Borrower agrees to pay on demand all reasonable costs and expenses of the Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification and amendment of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and the other documents to be delivered hereunder, including, without limitation, (A) all due diligence, syndication (including printing, distribution and bank meetings), transportation, computer, duplication, appraisal, consultant, and audit expenses and (B) the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Agent with respect thereto and with respect to advising the Agent as to its rights and responsibilities under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.  The Borrower further agrees to pay on demand all costs and expenses of the Agent and the Lenders, if any (including, without limitation, reasonable counsel fees and expenses), in connection with the enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and the other documents to be delivered hereunder, including, without limitation, reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Agent and each Lender in connection with the enforcement of rights under this Section 8.04(a).

 

(b)           The Borrower agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Agent and each Lender and each of their Affiliates and their officers, directors, employees, agents and advisors (each, an “Indemnified Party”) from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) incurred by or asserted or awarded against any Indemnified Party, in each case arising out of or in connection with or by reason of (including, without limitation, in connection with any investigation, litigation or proceeding or preparation of a defense in connection therewith) (i) this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, any of the transactions contemplated herein or the actual or proposed use of the proceeds of the Advances or (ii) the actual or alleged presence of Hazardous Materials on any property of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any Environmental Action relating in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, except to the extent such claim, damage, loss, liability or expense resulted from such Indemnified Party’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.  In the case of an investigation, litigation or other proceeding to which the indemnity in this Section 8.04(b) applies, such indemnity shall be effective whether or not such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by the Borrower, its directors, equityholders or creditors or an Indemnified Party or any other Person, whether or not any Indemnified Party is otherwise a party thereto and whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated.  The Borrower also agrees not to assert any claim for special, indirect, consequential or

 

40



 

punitive damages against the Agent, any Lender, any of their Affiliates, or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, attorneys and agents, on any theory of liability, arising out of or otherwise relating to this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, any of the transactions contemplated herein or the actual or proposed use of the proceeds of the Advances.

 

(c)           If any payment of principal of, or Conversion of, any Eurodollar Rate Advance is made by the Borrower to or for the account of a Lender other than on the last day of the Interest Period for such Advance, as a result of a payment or Conversion pursuant to Section 2.08(d) or (e), 2.10 or 2.12, acceleration of the maturity of the Notes pursuant to Section 6.01 or for any other reason, or by an Eligible Assignee to a Lender other than on the last day of the Interest Period for such Advance upon an assignment of rights and obligations under this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.07 as a result of a demand by the Borrower pursuant to Section 8.07(a), the Borrower shall, upon demand by such Lender (with a copy of such demand to the Agent), pay to the Agent for the account of such Lender any amounts required to compensate such Lender for any additional losses, costs or expenses that it may reasonably incur as a result of such payment or Conversion, including, without limitation, any loss (excluding loss of anticipated profits), cost or expense incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired by any Lender to fund or maintain such Advance.

 

(d)           Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreement of the Borrower hereunder, the agreements and obligations of the Borrower contained in Sections 2.11, 2.14 and 8.04 shall survive the payment in full of principal, interest and all other amounts payable hereunder and under the Notes.

 

SECTION 8.05.  Right of Set-off.  Upon (i) the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default and (ii) the making of the request or the granting of the consent specified by Section 6.01 to authorize the Agent to declare the Notes due and payable pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.01, each Lender and each of its Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other indebtedness at any time owing by such Lender or such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of any Loan Party against any and all of the obligations of such Loan Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement, any Note held by such Lender and the other Loan Documents, whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement or such Note and although such obligations may be unmatured.  Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the applicable Loan Party after any such set-off and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application.  The rights of each Lender and its Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including, without limitation, other rights of set-off) that such Lender and its Affiliates may have.

 

SECTION 8.06.  Binding Effect.  This Agreement shall become effective (other than Section 2.01, which shall only become effective upon satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 3.01) when it shall have been executed by the Borrower and the Agent and when the Agent shall have been notified by each Initial Lender that such Initial Lender has executed it and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Borrower, the Agent and each Lender and their respective successors and assigns, except that the Borrower shall not have the right to assign its rights hereunder or any interest herein without the prior written consent of the Lenders.

 

SECTION 8.07.  Assignments and Participations.  (a)  Each Lender may with the consent of the Agent, each Issuing Bank and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower (which consents shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), and, if demanded by the Borrower (following a demand by such Lender pursuant to Section 2.11, 2.14 or 2.20) upon at least five Business Days’ notice to such Lender and the Agent, will assign to one or more Persons all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including, without limitation, all or a portion of its Revolving Credit Commitment, its Unissued Letter of Credit Commitment, the Advances owing to it, its participations in Letters of Credit and the Note or Notes held by it); provided, however, that (i) each such assignment shall be of a constant, and not a varying, percentage of all of its rights and obligations under this Agreement, (ii) except in the case of an assignment to a Person that, immediately prior to such assignment, was a Lender or an assignment of all of a Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, the amount of the Commitment of the assigning Lender being assigned pursuant to each such assignment (determined as of the date of the Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such assignment) shall in no event be less than (x) in the case of an assignment of Revolving Credit Commitment, $5,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and (y) in the case of an assignment of Unissued Letter of Credit

 

41



 

Commitment, $5,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, in each case unless the Agent and, if no Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise agree, (iii) each such assignment shall be to an Eligible Assignee, (iv) each such assignment made as a result of a demand by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 8.07(a) shall be arranged by the Borrower after consultation with the Agent and shall be either an assignment of all of the rights and obligations of the assigning Lender under this Agreement or an assignment of a portion of such rights and obligations made concurrently with another such assignment or other such assignments that together cover all of the rights and obligations of the assigning Lender under this Agreement, (v) no Lender shall be obligated to make any such assignment as a result of a demand by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 8.07(a) unless and until such Lender shall have received one or more payments from either the Borrower or one or more Eligible Assignees in an aggregate amount at least equal to the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Advances owing to such Lender, together with accrued interest thereon to the date of payment of such principal amount and all other amounts payable to such Lender under this Agreement, (vi) the parties to each such assignment shall execute and deliver to the Agent, for its acceptance and recording in the Register, an Assignment and Acceptance, together with any Note subject to such assignment and a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 payable by the parties to each such assignment, provided, however, that in the case of each assignment made as a result of a demand by the Borrower, such recordation fee shall be payable by the Borrower except that no such recordation fee shall be payable in the case of an assignment made at the request of the Borrower to an Eligible Assignee that is an existing Lender and (vii) no consent of the Borrower, the Agent or any Issuing Bank shall be required in the case of an assignment to any Affiliate of the assigning Lender or in the case of an assignment to a Person that, immediately prior to such assignment, was a Lender.  Upon such execution, delivery, acceptance and recording, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance, (x) the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder have been assigned to it pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender hereunder and (y) the Lender assignor thereunder shall, to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder have been assigned by it pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance, relinquish its rights (other than its rights under Sections 2.11, 2.14 and 8.04 to the extent any claim thereunder relates to an event arising prior to such assignment) and be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering all or the remaining portion of an assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto).

 

(b)           By executing and delivering an Assignment and Acceptance, the Lender assignor thereunder and the assignee thereunder confirm to and agree with each other and the other parties hereto as follows:  (i) other than as provided in such Assignment and Acceptance, such assigning Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with any Loan Document or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of, or the perfection or priority of any lien or security interest created or purported to be created under or in connection with, any Loan Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto; (ii) such assigning Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to the financial condition of any Loan Party or the performance or observance by any Loan Party of any of its obligations under any Loan Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto; (iii) such assignee confirms that it has received a copy of this Agreement, together with copies of the financial statements referred to in Section 4.01 and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into such Assignment and Acceptance; (iv) such assignee will, independently and without reliance upon the Agent, such assigning Lender or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Loan Documents; (v) such assignee confirms that it is an Eligible Assignee; (vi) such assignee appoints and authorizes the Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers and discretion under any Loan Document as are delegated to the Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto; and (vii) such assignee agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations that by the terms of this Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

 

(c)           Upon its receipt of an Assignment and Acceptance executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee representing that it is an Eligible Assignee, together with any Note or Notes subject to such assignment, the Agent shall, if such Assignment and Acceptance has been completed and is in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto, (i) accept such Assignment and Acceptance, (ii) record the information contained therein in the Register and (iii) give prompt notice thereof to the Borrower.

 

42



 

(d)                 The Agent shall maintain at its address referred to in Section 8.02 a copy of each Assumption Agreement and each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to and accepted by it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders and the Commitment of, and principal amount of the Advances owing to, each Lender from time to time (the “Register”).  The entries in the Register shall be prima facie evidence of the correctness thereof  and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement.  The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower or any Lender at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

(e)           Each Lender may sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (other than any Loan Party or any of its Affiliates) in or to all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including, without limitation, all or a portion of its Commitment, its participation in Letters of Credit, the Advances owing to it and any Note or Notes held by it); provided, however, that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement (including, without limitation, its Commitment to the Borrower hereunder) shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations, (iii) such Lender shall remain the holder of any such Note for all purposes of this Agreement, (iv) each Loan Party, the Agent and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement and (v) no participant under any such participation shall have any right to approve any amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any consent to any departure by any Loan Party therefrom, except to the extent that such amendment, waiver or consent would reduce the principal of, or interest on, the Notes or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder, in each case to the extent subject to such participation, or postpone any date fixed for any payment of principal of, or interest on, the Notes or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder, in each case to the extent subject to such participation.

 

(f)            Any Lender may, in connection with any assignment or participation or proposed assignment or participation pursuant to this Section 8.07, disclose to the assignee or participant or proposed assignee or participant, any information relating to the Loan Parties furnished to such Lender by or on behalf of the Loan Parties; provided that, prior to any such disclosure, the assignee or participant or proposed assignee or participant shall agree to preserve the confidentiality of any Borrower Information relating to the Loan Parties received by it from such Lender.

 

(g)           Notwithstanding any other provision set forth in this Agreement, any Lender may at any time create a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including, without limitation, the Advances owing to it and any Note or Notes held by it) in favor of any Federal Reserve Bank in accordance with Regulation A of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

 

SECTION 8.08.  Confidentiality.  Neither the Agent nor any Lender may disclose to any Person any confidential, proprietary or non-public information of the Loan Parties furnished to the Agent or the Lenders by any Loan Party (such information being referred to collectively herein as the “Borrower Information”), except that each of the Agent and each of the Lenders may disclose Borrower Information (i) to its and its affiliates’ employees, officers, directors, agents and advisors on a need to know basis (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Borrower Information and instructed to keep such Borrower Information confidential on substantially the same terms as provided herein), (ii) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority, (iii) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (iv) to any other party to this Agreement, (v) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement, the other Loan Documents or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (vi) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section 8.08, to any assignee or participant or prospective assignee or participant, (vii) to the extent such Borrower Information (A) is or becomes generally available to the public on a non-confidential basis other than as a result of a breach of this Section 8.08 by the Agent or a Lender, or (B) is or becomes available to the Agent or such Lender on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Loan Parties and (viii) with the consent of any Loan Party, provided, that, prior to any disclosure pursuant to (ii) or (iii) above, the disclosing party agrees that it will notify the Borrower as soon as practical in the event of any such request for a disclosure, unless such notification shall be prohibited by applicable law or legal process.

 

43



 

SECTION 8.09.  Governing Law.  This Agreement and the Notes shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

SECTION 8.10.  Execution in Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by telecopier or in .pdf or similar file shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 8.11.  Jurisdiction, Etc.  (a)  Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of any New York State court or federal court of the United States of America sitting in New York City, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in any such New York State court or, to the extent permitted by law, in such federal court. The Borrower hereby agrees and consents to the service of process in any action or proceeding in such courts by the mailing thereof by any parties hereto by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, to the Borrower at its address specified pursuant to Section 8.02.  Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law.  Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that any party may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents in the courts of any jurisdiction.

 

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

 

SECTION 8.12.  No Liability of the Issuing Banks.  Neither the Agent, the Lenders nor any Issuing Bank, nor any of their respective Affiliates or their respective officers, directors, employees, agents and advisors, shall have any liability or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to in Section 2.06(b)), or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of technical terms or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of the applicable Issuing Bank; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse any Issuing Bank from liability to the Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to consequential damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable law) suffered by the Borrower that are caused by such Issuing Bank’s failure to exercise care when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof.  The parties hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the applicable Issuing Bank, such Issuing Bank shall be deemed to have exercised care in each such determination.  In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the parties agree that, with respect to documents presented which appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, the applicable Issuing Bank may, in its sole discretion, either accept and make payment upon such documents without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make payment upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit.

 

SECTION 8.13.  Patriot Act Notice.  Each Lender hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Act”), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each borrower, guarantor or grantor (the “Loan Parties”), which information includes the name and address of each Loan Party and other information that will allow such Lender to identify such Loan Party in accordance with the Act.

 

44



 

SECTION 8.14.  Waiver of Jury Trial.  Each of the Borrower, the Agent and the Lenders hereby irrevocably waives all right to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim (whether based on contract, tort or otherwise) arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the actions of the Agent or any Lender in the negotiation, administration, performance or enforcement thereof.

 

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

 

 

PACKAGING CORPORATION OF AMERICA

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ Richard B. West

 

Title:          Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

 

     as Agent

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ Peter S. Predun

 

Title:  Executive Director

 

 

 

Initial Lenders

 

 

 

 

DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ signature illegible

 

Title:  Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ signature illegible

 

Title:  Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ Peter S. Predun

 

Title:  Executive Director

 

 

 

 

 

UNION BANK OF CALIFORNIA, N.A.

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ Christine Davis

 

Title:  Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.

 

 

 

 

 

By

 /s/ Michael L. Letson, Jr.

 

Title:  Vice President

 

 

 

45



 

 

 

 

WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ signature illegible

 

Title:  Director

 

 

 

 

 

BMO CAPITAL MARKETS FINANCING, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By

 /s/ Thad D. Rasche

 

Title:  Director

 

 

 

 

 

THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ signature illegible

 

Title:  Second Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

NATIONAL CITY BANK

 

 

 

 

 

By

Rachel M. Williamson

 

Title:  Vice President

 

46


 


SCHEDULE I

PACKAGING CORPORATION OF AMERICA

FIVE YEAR CREDIT AGREEMENT

APPLICABLE LENDING OFFICES

 

Name of Initial Lender

 

Revolving Credit Commitment

 

Letter of Credit Commitment

 

Domestic Lending Office

 

Eurodollar Lending Office

 

Bank of America, N.A.

 

$

18,750,000

 

 

 

315 Montgomery St.

San Francisco, CA 94104

Attn: Anna Marie Finn

T: 925 675-8312

F: 888 969-9238

 

315 Montgomery St.

San Francisco, CA 94104 Attn: Anna Marie Finn

T: 925 675-8312

F: 888 969-9238

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BMO Capital Markets Financing, Inc.

 

$

12,500,000

 

 

 

111 W. Monroe

Chicago, IL 60603

Attn: Blanca Velez

T: (312) 461-3775

F: (312) 293-5283

 

111 W. Monroe

Chicago, IL 60603

Attn: Blanca Velez

T: (312) 461-3775

F: (312) 293-5283

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch

 

$

25,000,000

 

 

 

60 Wall Street

New York, NY 10005

Attn: Joe Cusmai

T: (201) 593-2202

F: (201) 593-2313

 

60 Wall Street

New York, NY 10005

Attn: Joe Cusmai

T: (201) 593-2202

F: (201) 593-2313

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

 

$

25,000,000

 

$

35,000,000

 

1111 Fannin, 10th Floor

Houston, TX 77002

Attn: Jeremy Jones

(Telecopy T:

F: (713) 750-2223

 

with a copy to:

270 Park Avenue, 4th Floor

New York, NY 10017

Attn: Peter S. Predun

T: (212) 270-7005

F: (212) 270-5100

 

1111 Fannin, 10th Floor

Houston, TX 77002

Attn: Jeremy Jones

(Telecopy T:

F: (713) 750-2223

 

with a copy to:

270 Park Avenue, 4th Floor

New York, NY 10017

Attn: Peter S. Predun

T: (212) 270-7005

F: (212) 270-5100

 

 

 



 

National City Bank

 

$

12,500,000

 

 

 

One North Franklin

20th Floor

Chicago, IL 60606

Attn: Donna Benson

T: (312) 338-2207

F: (312) 782-7084

 

One North Franklin

20th Floor

Chicago, IL 60606

Attn: Donna Benson

T: (312) 338-2207

F: (312) 782-7084

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Northern Trust Company

 

$

12,500,000

 

 

 

50 S. LaSalle Street

Chicago, IL 60675

Attn: Linda Honda

T: 312 444-3532

F: 312 444-3502

 

50 S. LaSalle Street

Chicago, IL 60675

Attn: Linda Honda

T: 312 444-3532

F: 312 444-3502

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Union Bank of California, N.A.

 

$

25,000,000

 

 

 

1980 Saturn Street

Monterey Park, CA 91755

Attn: Shirley Davis

T: 323 720-2870

F: 323 724-6198

 

1980 Saturn Street

Monterey Park, CA 91755

Attn: Shirley Davis

T: 323 720-2870

F: 323 724-6198

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wachovia Bank, National Association

 

$

18,750,000

 

 

 

301 South College Street

Charlotte, NC 28288

Attn: Sherry Richards

T: 704 715-1459

F: 704 374-2802

 

301 South College Street

Charlotte, NC 28288

Attn: Sherry Richards

T: 704 715-1459

F: 704 374-2802

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total:

 

$

150,000,000

 

$

35,000,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

2



EXHIBIT A - FORM OF

PROMISSORY NOTE

 

U.S.$ 

 

 

Dated:

 

,200

 

 

 

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, Packaging Corporation of America, a Delaware corporation (the

Borrower”), HEREBY PROMISES TO PAY to the order of

 

(the “Lender”) for the account of its

 Applicable Lending Office on the Termination Date applicable to the Lender (each as defined in the Credit Agreement referred to below) the principal sum of U.S.$[amount of the Lender’s Commitment in figures] or, if less, the aggregate principal amount of the Advances made by the Lender to the Borrower pursuant to the Five Year Credit Agreement dated as of April 15, 2008 among the Borrower, the Lender and certain other lenders parties thereto, Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as syndication agent, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as sole lead arranger and book manager, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Agent for the Lender and such other lenders (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”; the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined) outstanding on such Termination Date.

 

The Borrower promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Advance from the date of such Advance until such principal amount is paid in full, at such interest rates, and payable at such times, as are specified in the Credit Agreement.

 

Both principal and interest are payable in lawful money of the United States of America to JPMorgan, as Agent, at 1111 Fannin, 10th Floor, Houston, Texas 77002, in same day funds.  Each Advance owing to the Lender by the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement, and all payments made on account of principal thereof, shall be recorded by the Lender and, prior to any transfer hereof, endorsed on the grid attached hereto which is part of this Promissory Note.

 

This Promissory Note is one of the Notes referred to in, and is entitled to the benefits of, the Credit Agreement.  The Credit Agreement, among other things, (i) provides for the making of Advances by the Lender to the Borrower from time to time in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the U.S. dollar amount first above mentioned, the indebtedness of the Borrower resulting from each such Advance being evidenced by this Promissory Note and (ii) contains provisions for acceleration of the maturity hereof upon the happening of certain stated events and also for prepayments on account of principal hereof prior to the maturity hereof upon the terms and conditions therein specified.

 

 

PACKAGING CORPORATION OF AMERICA

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

Title:

 



 

ADVANCES AND PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL

 


Date

 

 


Amount of
Advance

 

 

Amount of
Principal Paid
or Prepaid

 

 


Unpaid Principal
Balance

 

 


Notation
Made By

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2



 

 

EXHIBIT B - FORM OF NOTICE OF

BORROWING

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Agent

  for the Lenders parties

  to the Credit Agreement

  referred to below

  1111 Fannin, 10th Floor,

  Houston, Texas 77002

 

[Date]

 

Attention:  Loan and Agency Services

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

The undersigned, Packaging Corporation of America, refers to the Five Year Credit Agreement, dated as of April 15, 2008 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”, the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among the undersigned, certain Lenders parties thereto, Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as syndication agent, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as sole lead arranger and book manager, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Agent for said Lenders, and hereby gives you notice, irrevocably, pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Credit Agreement that the undersigned hereby requests a Borrowing under the Credit Agreement, and in that connection sets forth below the information relating to such Borrowing (the “Proposed Borrowing”) as required by Section 2.02(a) of the Credit Agreement:

 

(i)            The Business Day of the Proposed Borrowing is

                         

,200

.

 

(ii)           The Type of Advances comprising the Proposed Borrowing is [Base Rate Advances] [Eurodollar Rate Advances].

 

(iii)          The aggregate amount of the Proposed Borrowing is $

                              

.

 

[(iv)         The initial Interest Period for each Eurodollar Rate Advance made as part of the Proposed

Borrowing is

 

 month[s].]

 

The undersigned hereby certifies that the following statements are true on the date hereof, and will be true on the date of the Proposed Borrowing:

 

(A)          the representations and warranties contained in Section 4.01 of the Credit Agreement are correct, before and after giving effect to the Proposed Borrowing and to the application of the proceeds therefrom, as though made on and as of such date; and

 



 

 

(B)           no event has occurred and is continuing, or would result from such Proposed Borrowing or from the application of the proceeds therefrom, that constitutes a Default.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

PACKAGING CORPORATION OF AMERICA

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

Title:.

 

2



 

EXHIBIT C - FORM OF

ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE

 

Reference is made to the Five Year Credit Agreement dated as of April 15, 2008 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”) among Packaging Corporation of America, a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders (as defined in the Credit Agreement), Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as syndication agent, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as sole lead arranger and book manager, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Agent for the Lenders (the “Agent”).  Terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein with the same meaning.

 

The “Assignor” and the “Assignee” referred to on Schedule I hereto agree as follows:

 

1.             The Assignor hereby sells and assigns to the Assignee, and the Assignee hereby purchases and assumes from the Assignor, an interest in and to the Assignor’s rights and obligations under the Credit Agreement as of the date hereof equal to the percentage interest specified on Schedule 1 hereto of all outstanding rights and obligations under the Credit Agreement.  After giving effect to such sale and assignment, the Assignee’s Commitments and the amount of the Advances owing to the Assignee will be as set forth on Schedule 1 hereto.

 

2.             The Assignor (i) represents and warrants that it is the legal and beneficial owner of the interest being assigned by it hereunder and that such interest is free and clear of any adverse claim; (ii) makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of, or the perfection or priority of any lien or security interest created or purported to be created under or in connection with, the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto; (iii) makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to the financial condition of any Loan Party or the performance or observance by any Loan Party of any of its obligations under the Loan Documents or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto; and (iv) attaches the Note, if any, held by the Assignor [and requests that the Agent exchange such Note for a new Note payable to the order of [the Assignee in an amount equal to the Commitment[s] assumed by the Assignee pursuant hereto or new Notes payable to the order of the Assignee in an amount equal to the Commitment[s] assumed by the Assignee pursuant hereto and] the Assignor in an amount equal to the Commitment[s] retained by the Assignor under the Credit Agreement, [respectively,] as specified on Schedule 1 hereto.

 

3.             The Assignee (i) confirms that it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the financial statements referred to in Section 4.01 thereof and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Acceptance; (ii) agrees that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Agent, the Assignor or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents; (iii) confirms that it is an Eligible Assignee; (iv) appoints and authorizes the Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers and discretion under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents as are delegated to the Agent by the terms thereof, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto; (v) agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations that by the terms of the Credit Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender; and (vi) attaches any U.S. Internal Revenue Service forms required under Section 2.14 of the Credit Agreement.

 

4.             Following the execution of this Assignment and Acceptance, it will be delivered to the Agent for acceptance and recording by the Agent.  The effective date for this Assignment and Acceptance (the “Effective Date”) shall be the date of acceptance hereof by the Agent, unless otherwise specified on Schedule 1 hereto.

 

 

1



 

5.             Upon such acceptance and recording by the Agent, as of the Effective Date, (i) the Assignee shall be a party to the Credit Agreement and, to the extent provided in this Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender thereunder and (ii) the Assignor shall, to the extent provided in this Assignment and Acceptance, relinquish its rights and be released from its obligations under the Credit Agreement.

 

6.             Upon such acceptance and recording by the Agent, from and after the Effective Date, the Agent shall make all payments under the Credit Agreement and the Notes in respect of the interest assigned hereby (including, without limitation, all payments of principal, interest, facility fees and commission with respect thereto) to the Assignee.  The Assignor and Assignee shall make all appropriate adjustments in payments under the Credit Agreement and the Notes for periods prior to the Effective Date directly between themselves.

 

7.             This Assignment and Acceptance shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

8.             This Assignment and Acceptance may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of Schedule 1 to this Assignment and Acceptance by telecopier shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Acceptance.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Assignor and the Assignee have caused Schedule 1 to this Assignment and Acceptance to be executed by their officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date specified thereon.

 

 

2



 

Schedule 1

to

Assignment and Acceptance

 

Revolving Credit Facility:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percentage interest assigned:

 

 

 

 

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assignee’s Revolving Credit Commitment:

 

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aggregate outstanding principal amount of Advances assigned:

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Principal amount of Note payable to Assignee:

 

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Principal amount of Note payable to Assignor:

 

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Letter of Credit Facility:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Percentage interest assigned:

 

 

 

 

%

 

 

Assignee’s Letter of Credit Commitment:

 

 

$

 

 

 

Effective Date*:

 

,200

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NAME OF ASSIGNOR], as Assignor

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dated:

                              

, 200

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NAME OF ASSIGNEE], as Assignee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dated:

                              

, 200

 

 

 

 

 

Domestic Lending Office:

 

[Address]

 

 

 

Eurodollar Lending Office:

 

[Address]

 

 

Accepted [and Approved]* this


*              This date should be no earlier than five Business Days after the delivery of this Assignment and Acceptance to the Agent.

 

 

3



 

        

day of

                             

, 200

 

 

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Agent

 

By

 

 

 

Title:

 

[Approved this

      

 day

of

                              

, 200

 

 

 

 

PACKAGING CORPORATION OF AMERICA

 

By

 

]*

 

Title:

 

 

[Approved this

      

 day

of

                              

, 200

 

 

 

 

[NAME OF ISSUING BANK]

 

By

 

]**

 

Title:


*              Required if the Assignee is an Eligible Assignee solely by reason of clauses (a)(iii), (iv) or (v) or clause (b) of the definition of “Eligible Assignee”.

**           Required if the Assignee becomes a Lender under the Revolving Credit Facility and is an Eligible Assignee solely by reason of clauses (a)(iii), (iv) or (v) of the definition of “Eligible Assignee”.

 

 

4