Document:

ex10-5.htm

Exhibit 10.5

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

Dated as of February 10, 2011

 

among

 

BENIHANA INC.

and

BENIHANA NATIONAL CORP.

as collectively the Borrowers,

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Administrative Agent, Sweep Plus Lender and

L/C Issuer,

 

and

 

THE OTHER LENDERS PARTY HERETO

 

  

  

  

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

	  	  	  	
Page

	 	 	 
	
ARTICLE I

	
     DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

	
1

	  	
1.01

	
Defined Terms

	
1

	  	
1.02

	
Other Interpretive Provisions

	
32

	  	
1.03

	
Accounting Terms

	
33

	  	
1.04

	
Rounding

	
34

	  	
1.05

	
Times of Day

	
34

	  	
1.06

	
Letter of Credit Amounts

	
34

	
ARTICLE II

	
     THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS

	
34

	  	
2.01

	
The Revolving Credit Loans

	
34

	  	
2.02

	
Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans

	
35

	  	
2.03

	
Letters of Credit

	
36

	  	
2.04

	
Sweep Plus Loans.

	
45

	  	
2.05

	
Prepayments

	
48

	  	
2.06

	
Termination or Reduction of Commitments

	
50

	  	
2.07

	
Repayment of Loans

	
51

	  	
2.08

	
Interest

	
51

	  	
2.09

	
Fees

	
52

	  	
2.10

	
Computation of Interest and Fees

	
53

	  	
2.11

	
Evidence of Debt

	
53

	  	
2.12

	
Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback

	
54

	  	
2.13

	
Sharing of Payments by Lenders

	
56

	  	
2.14

	
Defaulting Lenders

	
56

	  	
2.15

	
Increased Facilities

	
57

	  	
2.16

	
Appointment of Borrower Agent

	
59

	  	
2.17

	
Joint and Several Liability of the Borrowers

	
59

	
ARTICLE III

	
     TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

	
60

	  	
3.01

	
Taxes

	
60

	  	
3.02

	
Illegality

	
62

	  	
3.03

	
Inability to Determine Rates

	
63

	  	
3.04

	
Increased Costs; Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans

	
63

	  	
3.05

	
Compensation for Losses

	
65

	  	
3.06

	
Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders

	
65

 

  

i

  

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

	  	  	  	
Page

	 	 	 	 
	  	
3.07

	
Survival

	
65

	
ARTICLE IV

	
     CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO Credit Extensions

	
66

	  	
4.01

	
Conditions of Initial Credit Extension

	
66

	  	
4.02

	
Conditions to all Credit Extensions

	
69

	
ARTICLE V

	
     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

	
70

	  	
5.01

	
Existence, Qualification and Power

	
70

	  	
5.02

	
Authorization; No Contravention

	
70

	  	
5.03

	
Governmental Authorization; Other Consents

	
71

	  	
5.04

	
Binding Effect

	
71

	  	
5.05

	
Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect; No Internal Control Event

	
71

	  	
5.06

	
Litigation

	
72

	  	
5.07

	
No Default

	
72

	  	
5.08

	
Ownership of Property; Liens; Investments

	
72

	  	
5.09

	
Environmental Compliance

	
73

	  	
5.10

	
Insurance

	
74

	  	
5.11

	
Taxes

	
74

	  	
5.12

	
ERISA Compliance

	
75

	  	
5.13

	
Subsidiaries; Equity Interests; Loan Parties

	
75

	  	
5.14

	
Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act; Public Utility Holding Company Act

	
76

	  	
5.15

	
Disclosure

	
76

	  	
5.16

	
Compliance with Laws

	
76

	  	
5.17

	
Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.

	
77

	  	
5.18

	
Solvency

	
77

	  	
5.19

	
Casualty, Etc.

	
77

	  	
5.20

	
Labor Matters

	
77

	  	
5.21

	
Unit Locations; Franchised Unit Locations

	
77

	  	
5.22

	
Franchise Agreements

	
78

	  	
5.23

	
Collateral Documents

	
78

	  	
5.24

	
Operating Accounts

	
78

 

  

ii

  

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

	  	  	  	
Page

	 	 	 	 
	  	
5.25

	
Liquor Licenses

	
78

	  	
5.26

	
Private Club

	
78

	  	
5.27

	
Compliance with OFAC Rules and Regulations

	
79

	  	
5.28

	
Foreign Assets Control Regulations, Etc.

	
79

	 	 	 
	
ARTICLE VI

	
     AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

	
79

	  	
6.01

	
Financial Statements

	
79

	  	
6.02

	
Certificates; Other Information

	
81

	  	
6.03

	
Notices

	
83

	  	
6.04

	
Payment of Obligations

	
83

	  	
6.05

	
Preservation of Existence; Liquor Licenses

	
84

	  	
6.06

	
Maintenance of Properties

	
84

	  	
6.07

	
Maintenance of Insurance

	
84

	  	
6.08

	
Compliance with Laws

	
84

	  	
6.09

	
Books and Records

	
84

	  	
6.10

	
Inspection Rights

	
85

	  	
6.11

	
Use of Proceeds

	
85

	  	
6.12

	
Covenant to Guarantee Obligations and Give Security

	
85

	  	
6.13

	
Compliance with Environmental Laws

	
87

	  	
6.14

	
[Intentionally Omitted]

	
87

	  	
6.15

	
Further Assurances

	
87

	  	
6.16

	
Compliance with Terms of Leaseholds

	
87

	  	
6.17

	
Intentionally Omitted

	
87

	  	
6.18

	
Material Contracts

	
88

	  	
6.19

	
Operating Accounts

	
88

	  	
6.20

	
Control Agreements

	
88

	
ARTICLE VII

	
     NEGATIVE COVENANTS

	
89

	  	
7.01

	
Liens

	
89

	  	
7.02

	
Indebtedness

	
90

	  	
7.03

	
Investments

	
91

	  	
7.04

	
Fundamental Changes

	
92

 

  

iii

  

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

	  	  	  	
Page

	 	 	 	 
	  	
7.05

	
Dispositions

	
93

	  	
7.06

	
Restricted Payments

	
94

	  	
7.07

	
Change in Nature of Business; Restaurant Concepts

	
94

	  	
7.08

	
Transactions with Affiliates

	
95

	  	
7.09

	
Burdensome Agreements

	
95

	  	
7.10

	
Use of Proceeds

	
95

	  	
7.11

	
Financial Covenants

	
95

	  	
7.12

	
Growth Capital Expenditures

	
96

	  	
7.13

	
Amendments of Organization Documents, Etc.

	
96

	  	
7.14

	
Accounting Changes

	
96

	  	
7.15

	
Prepayments, Etc. of Indebtedness

	
96

	  	
7.16

	
Amendment, Etc. of Indebtedness and Material Contracts

	
97

	 	 	 
	
ARTICLE VIII

	
     EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

	
97

	  	
8.01

	
Events of Default

	
97

	  	
8.02

	
Remedies upon Event of Default

	
100

	  	
8.03

	
Application of Funds

	
100

	
ARTICLE IX

	
     ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

	
101

	  	
9.01

	
Appointment and Authority

	
101

	  	
9.02

	
Rights as a Lender

	
102

	  	
9.03

	
Exculpatory Provisions

	
102

	  	
9.04

	
Reliance by Administrative Agent

	
103

	  	
9.05

	
Delegation of Duties

	
103

	  	
9.06

	
Resignation of Administrative Agent

	
104

	  	
9.07

	
Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders

	
105

	  	
9.08

	
No Other Duties, Etc.

	
105

	  	
9.09

	
Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim

	
105

	  	
9.10

	
Collateral and Guaranty Matters

	
106

	  	
9.11

	
Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements

	
106

	
ARTICLE X

	
     MISCELLANEOUS

	
107

	  	
10.01

	
Amendments, Etc.

	
107

 

  

iv

  

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

	  	  	  	
Page

	 	 	 	 
	  	
10.02

	
Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communications

	
108

	  	
10.03

	
No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies

	
110

	  	
10.04

	
Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver

	
111

	  	
10.05

	
Payments Set Aside

	
112

	  	
10.06

	
Successors and Assigns

	
113

	  	
10.07

	
Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality

	
118

	  	
10.08

	
Right of Setoff

	
119

	  	
10.09

	
Interest Rate Limitation

	
119

	  	
10.10

	
Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness

	
119

	  	
10.11

	
Survival of Representations and Warranties

	
120

	  	
10.12

	
Severability

	
120

	  	
10.13

	
Replacement of Lenders

	
120

	  	
10.14

	
Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

	
121

	  	
10.15

	
Waiver of Jury Trial

	
122

	  	
10.16

	
No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility

	
122

	  	
10.17

	
USA Patriot Act Notice

	
123

	  	
10.18

	
Time of the Essence

	
123

	  	
10.19

	
General Release

	
123

	  	
10.20

	
ENTIRE AGREEMENT

	
123

	  	
10.21

	
Transitional Arrangements

	
123

  

v

  

 

SCHEDULES

 

	  	
1.01-A

	
EBITDA Addbacks

	  	
2.01

	
Revolving Credit Commitments and Applicable Percentages

	  	
4.01

	
Local Counsel

	  	
5.05

	
Supplement to Interim Financial Statements

	  	
5.06

	
Disclosed Litigation

	  	
5.08(b)

	
Existing Liens

	  	
5.08(c)

	
Owned Real Property

	  	
5.08(d)(i)

	
Leased Real Property (Lessee)

	  	
5.08(d)(ii)

	
Leased Real Property (Lessor)

	  	
5.08(e)

	
Existing Investments

	  	
5.11

	
Taxes

	  	
5.13

	
Subsidiaries and Other Equity Investments; Loan Parties

	  	
5.17

	
Intellectual Property Matters

	  	
5.21

	
Unit Locations; Franchise Locations

	  	
5.22

	
Franchise Agreements

	  	
5.24

	
Operating Accounts

	  	
5.26

	
Private Clubs

	  	
7.02

	
Existing Indebtedness

	  	
10.02

	
Administrative Agent’s Office, Certain Addresses for Notices

 

EXHIBITS

 

	  	
Form of

	  	  	  
	  	
A

	
Committed Loan Notice

	  	
B

	
[Reserved]

	  	
C

	
Revolving Credit Note

	  	
D

	
Compliance Certificate

	  	
E

	
Assignment and Assumption

	  	  	  

 

  

  

  

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

This AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is entered into as of February 10, 2011, among BENIHANA INC., a Delaware corporation (“Benihana Inc.”), BENIHANA NATIONAL CORP., a Delaware corporation (“BNC” and, collectively with Benihana Inc., the “Borrower” or the “Borrowers”), WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (as successor by merger to Wachovia Bank, National Association) and each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “Lenders” and individually, a “Lender”), and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (as successor by merger to Wachovia Bank, National Association), as Administrative Agent, Sweep Plus Lender and L/C Issuer.

 

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS:

 

Benihana Inc., the Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer are parties to the Credit Agreement dated as of March 15, 2007 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or modified and in effect immediately prior to the date hereof, the “Existing Credit Agreement”), pursuant to which certain of the Lenders made loans and other extensions of credit to the Borrower.

 

Benihana Inc. has requested and the Administrative Agent, the Sweep Plus Lender, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders have agreed to amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement in its entirety as set forth herein and to make BNC a joint and several borrower under the Agreement.

 

BNC desires to become a borrower under this Agreement.

 

The Lenders, the Sweep Plus Lender and the L/C Issuer are willing to provide extensions of credit to the Borrower to allow the Borrower to make Capital Expenditures, for ongoing working capital requirements and other general corporate purposes of the Borrower not in contravention of any Law or of any Loan Document, in each case, subject to the terms contained herein.

 

In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree to amend and restate and supersede the Existing Credit Agreement in its entirety as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

 

1.01           Defined Terms.  As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

 

“Account Control Agreement” means any deposit account control agreement, securities account control agreement or similar agreement entered into by a Loan Party, the Administrative Agent and the applicable financial institution, granting to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties to secure the Obligations, a perfected, first-priority Lien and “control” (as defined in the UCC) in the applicable deposit account or securities account of a Loan Party.

 

  

1

  

 

“Administrative Agent” means Wells Fargo in its capacity as administrative agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent.

 

“Administrative Agent’s Office” means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 10.02, or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify to the Borrower and the Lenders.

 

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

 

“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.

 

“Aggregate Commitments” means the Revolving Credit Commitments of all the Lenders.

 

“Aggregate Credit Exposures” means, at any time, the sum of (i) the unused portion of the Revolving Credit Facility at such time and (ii) the Total Outstandings at such time.

 

“Agreement” means this Credit Agreement.

 

“Applicable Percentage” means with respect to any Revolving Credit Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Revolving Credit Facility represented by such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment at such time.  If the commitment of each Revolving Credit Lender to make Revolving Credit Loans and the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02, or if the Revolving Credit Commitments have expired, then the Applicable Percentage of each Revolving Credit Lender shall be determined based on the Applicable Percentage of such Revolving Credit Lender most recently in effect, giving effect to any subsequent assignments.  The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender in respect of each Facility is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.

 

“Applicable Rate” means (i) from the Closing Date to the date on which the Administrative Agent receives a Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 6.02(b) for the Fiscal Quarter ending March 27, 2011, the applicable percentage per annum set forth in Pricing Level 2 shall apply and (ii) thereafter, the applicable percentage per annum set forth below determined by reference to the Consolidated Lease-Adjusted Leverage Ratio as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.02(b):

 

 

  

2

  

 

	
Applicable Rate

	 
	
Pricing Level

	
Consolidated Lease-Adjusted Leverage Ratio

	 	
Eurodollar

Rate

(Letters of

Credit)

	 	
Base Rate

	 	
Applicable Commitment Fee

	
1

	
Greater than or equal to 3.25 to 1.00

	 	 	4.50	%	 	 	3.50	%	 	 	0.75	%
	
2

	
Greater than or equal to 3.00 but less than 3.25 to 1.00

	 	 	4.25	%	 	 	3.25	%	 	 	0.50	%
	
3

	
Less than 3.00 to 1.00

	 	 	4.00	%	 	 	3.00	%	 	 	0.50	%

 

Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Consolidated Lease-Adjusted Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the first Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(b); provided, however, that if a Compliance Certificate is not delivered when due in accordance with such Section, then Pricing Level 1 shall apply as of the first Business Day after the date on which such Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered and shall continue to apply until the first Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered to the Administrative Agent.  In the event either the Borrower or the Administrative Agent determines, in good faith, that the calculation of the Consolidated Lease-Adjusted Leverage Ratio on which the Applicable Rate for any particular period was determined is inaccurate and, as a consequence thereof, the Applicable Rate originally calculated was lower than it would have been if the Consolidated Lease-Adjusted Leverage Ratio had been correctly calculated, (i) the Borrower shall immediately deliver to the Administrative Agent a corrected Compliance Certificate for such period (and if such Compliance Certificate is not accurately restated and delivered within five days after (A) the first discovery of such inaccuracy by the Borrower, or (B) after written notice is given by the Administrative Agent upon its discovery thereof, as applicable, then Pricing Level 1 shall apply retroactively for such period notwithstanding any subsequent restatement thereof after such five day period), (ii) the Administrative Agent shall thereupon determine and notify the Borrower of the amount of interest that would have been due in respect of any outstanding Obligations during such period had the Applicable Rate been calculated based on the corrected Consolidated Lease-Adjusted Leverage Ratio (or the Pricing Level 1 Applicable Rate if such corrected Compliance Certificate was not delivered within the required five-day time period) and (iii) the Borrower shall promptly thereafter pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders the difference between that amount and the amount actually paid in respect of such period.  The foregoing notwithstanding shall in no way limit the rights of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders to exercise their rights to impose the Default Rate as provided herein or any other remedies provided in the Loan Documents.

 

“Appropriate Lender” means, at any time, (a) with respect to any of the Revolving Credit Facility, a Revolving Credit Lender that has a Revolving Credit Commitment or holds a Revolving Credit Loan, respectively, at such time, (b) with respect to the Letter of Credit Sublimit, (i) the L/C Issuer and (ii) if any Letters of Credit have been issued pursuant to Section 2.03(a), the Revolving Credit Lenders and (c) with respect to the Sweep Plus Loans, (i) the Sweep Plus Lender and (ii) if any Sweep Plus Loans are outstanding pursuant to Section 2.04(a), the Revolving Credit Lenders.

 

  

3

  

 

“Approved Fund” means any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

 

“Arranger” means Wells Fargo Securities, in its capacity as sole lead arranger and sole bookrunner.

 

“Assignee Group” means two or more Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates of one another or two or more Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor.

 

“Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 10.06(b), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit E or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

“Attributable Indebtedness” means, on any date, (a) in respect of any Capitalized Lease of any Person, the capitalized amount thereof that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP, (b) in respect of any Synthetic Lease Obligation, the capitalized amount of the remaining lease or similar payments under the relevant lease or other applicable agreement or instrument that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP if such lease or other agreement or instrument were accounted for as a Capitalized Lease and (c) all Synthetic Debt of such Person.

 

“Audited Financial Statements” means the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the Fiscal Year ended March 28, 2010, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such Fiscal Year of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including the notes thereto.

 

“Auto-Extension Letter of Credit” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(b).

 

“Auto-Reinstatement Letter of Credit” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(b).

 

“Availability Period” means the period from and including the Closing Date to the earliest of (i) the Maturity Date, (ii) the date of termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments in its entirety pursuant to Section 2.06, and (iii) the date of termination of the commitment of each Revolving Credit Lender to make Revolving Credit Loans and of the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions pursuant to Section 8.02.

 

“Base Rate” means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1%, (b) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by Wells Fargo as its “prime rate” and (c) clause (b) of the definition of Eurodollar Rate plus 1.50%.  The “prime rate” is a rate set by Wells Fargo based upon various factors including Wells Fargo’s costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate.  Any change in such rate announced by Wells Fargo shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change.

 

  

4

  

 

“Base Rate Loan” means a Revolving Credit Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate.

 

“BBA LIBOR” means the British Bankers Association LIBOR Rate, as published by Reuters (or, where the rate is undeterminable from Reuters, another commercially available source providing quotations of BBA LIBOR as designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of the applicable Interest Period.

 

“Benihana Inc.” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

“BNC” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

“Borrower” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

“Borrower Materials” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

 

“Borrowing” means a Revolving Credit Borrowing or a Sweep Plus Borrowing, as the context may require.

 

“BOT” means Benihana of Tokyo, Inc.

 

“Budget” has the meaning specified in Section 6.01(c).

 

“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the state where the Administrative Agent’s Office is located and, if such day relates to any Loan determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate or the determination of BBA LIBOR, means any such day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank eurodollar market.

 

“Capital Expenditures” means, with respect to any Person for any period, any expenditure in respect of the purchase or other acquisition of any fixed or capital asset (including expenditures for the remodel of existing Restaurants but, in any case, excluding normal replacements and maintenance which are properly charged to current operations) and the repurchase of any Franchised Units from a Franchisee, plus to the extent not included in the calculation of such Capital Expenditures, Consolidated Restaurant Pre-Opening Costs for such period.

 

“Capitalized Leases” means all leases that have been or should be, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as capitalized leases.

 

“Cash Collateral Account” means a blocked interest bearing deposit account of one or more of the Loan Parties at Wells Fargo in the name of the Administrative Agent and under the sole dominion and control of the Administrative Agent, and otherwise established in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

  

5

  

 

“Cash Collateralize” means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer or Sweep Plus Lender (as applicable) and the Lenders, as collateral for the L/C Obligations, Obligations in respect of Sweep Plus Loans, or obligations of Lenders to fund participations in respect of either thereof (as the context may require), cash or deposit account balances pursuant to documentation in form and substance satisfactory to the (a) Administrative Agent and (b) the L/C Issuer or the Sweep Plus Lender (as applicable) (which documents are hereby consented to by the Lenders).  “Cash Collateral” shall have a meaning correlative to the foregoing and shall include proceeds of such cash collateral and other credit support.

 

“Cash Equivalents” means any of the following types of Investments, to the extent owned by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens created under the Collateral Documents):

 

(a)           readily marketable obligations issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof having maturities of not more than 360 days from the date of acquisition thereof; provided that the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged in support thereof;

 

(b)           time deposits with, or insured certificates of deposit or bankers’ acceptances of, any commercial bank that (i) (A) is a Lender or (B) is organized under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia or is the principal banking subsidiary of a bank holding company organized under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, and is a member of the Federal Reserve System, (ii) issues (or the parent of which issues) commercial paper rated as described in clause (c) of this definition and (iii) has combined capital and surplus of at least $500,000,000, in each case with maturities of not more than 180 days from the date of acquisition thereof;

 

(c)           commercial paper issued by any Person organized under the laws of any state of the United States of America and rated at least “Prime-1” (or the then equivalent grade) by Moody’s or at least “A-1” (or the then equivalent grade) by S&P, in each case with maturities of not more than 180 days from the date of acquisition thereof; and

 

(d)           Investments, classified in accordance with GAAP as current assets of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, in money market investment programs registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, which are administered by financial institutions that have the highest rating obtainable from either Moody’s or S&P, and the portfolios of which are limited solely to Investments of the character, quality and maturity described in clauses (a), (b) and (c) of this definition.

 

“Cash Management Agreement” means any agreement to provide cash management services, including treasury, depository, overdraft, credit or debit card, electronic funds transfer and other cash management arrangements.

 

  

6

  

 

“Cash Management Bank” means any Person that, at the time it enters into a Cash Management Agreement, is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, in its capacity as a party to such Cash Management Agreement.

 

“CERCLA” means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980.

 

“CERCLIS” means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Information System maintained by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

 

“CFC” means a Person that is a controlled foreign corporation under Section 957 of the Code.

 

“Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority.

 

“Change of Control” means an event or series of events by which:

 

(a)           any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but excluding BOT, those Persons who beneficially own the Equity Interests of BOT as of the Closing Date, BFC Financial Corporation, any employee benefit plan of such person or its subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except that a person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all securities that such person or group has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time (such right, an “option right”)), directly or indirectly, of 25% or more of the equity securities of the Borrower entitled to vote for members of the board of directors or equivalent governing body of the Borrower on a fully-diluted basis (and taking into account all such securities that such “person” or “group” has the right to acquire pursuant to any option right); or

 

(b)           during any period of twelve consecutive months, a majority of the members of the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of the Borrower cease to be composed of individuals (i) who were members of that board or equivalent governing body on the first day of such period, (ii) whose election or nomination to that board or equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clause (i) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body or (iii) whose election or nomination to that board or other equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body (excluding, in the case of both clause (ii) and clause (iii), any individual whose initial nomination for, or assumption of office as, a member of that board or equivalent governing body occurs as a result of an actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents for the election or removal of one or more directors by any person or group other than a solicitation for the election of one or more directors by or on behalf of the board of directors); or

 

  

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(c)           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 thereof, 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 control over the equity securities of the Borrower entitled to vote for members of the board of directors or equivalent governing body of the Borrower on a fully-diluted basis (and taking into account all such securities that such Person or Persons have the right to acquire pursuant to any option right) representing 25% or more of the combined voting power of such securities unless such consummation would not cause a Change of Control under paragraph (a) of the definition of Change of Control or unless such consummation is contingent on either (i) the consent of the Required Lenders without penalty or liability if such consent is not received or (ii) payment in full in cash of the Obligations prior to or simultaneously with such consummation; or

 

(d)           except as expressly permitted under Sections 7.04 and 7.05, Borrower shall cease, directly or indirectly, to own and control legally and beneficially (i) all of the Equity Interests of the Existing Subsidiaries and (ii) all of the Equity Interests of any newly formed Subsidiary of the Borrower created after the Closing Date.

 

“Closing Date” means the first date all the conditions precedent in Section 4.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 10.01.

 

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

 

“Collateral” means all of the “Collateral” referred to in the Collateral Documents and all of the other property that is or is intended under the terms of the Collateral Documents to be subject to Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

 

“Collateral Documents” means, collectively, the Security Agreement, the Securities Pledge Agreement, the Intellectual Property Security Agreements, each Account Control Agreement, each of the Mortgages, collateral assignments, security agreements, securities pledge agreements, intellectual property security agreements or other similar agreements in favor of the Secured Parties and delivered to the Administrative Agent from time to time, and each of the other agreements, instruments or documents that creates or purports to create a Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, each such document, instrument and agreement to be in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

“Committed Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Revolving Credit Borrowing, (b) a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A.

 

“Compliance Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit D.

 

“Consolidated Adjusted Rental Expense” means, as of the date of determination, for the applicable Measurement Period, Consolidated Rental Expense for such Measurement Period multiplied by eight (8).

 

  

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“Consolidated EBITDA” means, at any date of determination, an amount equal to Consolidated Net Income of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for the applicable Measurement Period plus (a) the following to the extent deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income and without duplication for such Measurement Period: (i) Consolidated Interest Charges, (ii) the provision for Federal, state, local and foreign income taxes payable, (iii) depreciation and amortization expense, (iv) other non-recurring expenses reducing such Consolidated Net Income which do not represent a cash item in such period or any future period (in each case of or by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such Measurement Period), including non-cash impairment charges and compensation payable in common stock of the Borrower or an Affiliate of the Borrower, (v) Consolidated Restaurant Pre-Opening Costs in an amount not to exceed $300,000 for any single Restaurant opened after the Closing Date and during such Measurement Period, (vi) fees, costs and out-of-pocket expenses (including, without limitation, accounting, consulting, legal, and financing costs and expenses and litigation costs and expenses) incurred in connection with the financing transaction contemplated by this Agreement or in connection with sale or potential sale of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (regardless of whether any such sale is consummated) and paid on or prior to first anniversary of the Closing Date, (vii) fees, costs and out-of-pocket expenses in connection with proxy solicitation, shareholder disputes, special committee costs and expenses including attorneys fees and investment banker fees and expenses and (viii) each of the items set forth on Schedule 1.01-A minus (b) the following to the extent included in calculating such Consolidated Net Income and without duplication for such Measurement Period:  (i) Federal, state, local and foreign income tax credits, and (ii) all non-cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income (in each case of or by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such Measurement Period).

 

“Consolidated EBITDAR” means, for the applicable Measurement Period, an amount equal to (without duplication) (i) Consolidated EBITDA for such Measurement Period, plus (ii) Consolidated Rental Expense for such Measurement Period but without duplication of rental expense included in the calculation of Consolidated Restaurant Pre-Opening Expenses.

 

“Consolidated Financial Obligations” means, for the applicable Measurement Period, the sum of (a) Consolidated Interest Charges paid or payable in cash by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period and (b) Consolidated Rental Expense of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period.  Demand obligations shall be deemed to be due and payable during any period during which such obligations are outstanding to the extent not demanded in any prior Fiscal Quarter.

 

“Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, for the applicable Measurement Period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDAR for such Measurement Period, less (i) to the extent added back to Consolidated Net Income in connection with the calculation of Consolidated EBITDAR for such Measurement Period, the aggregate amount of Federal, state, local and foreign income taxes paid or payable in cash during such Measurement Period, less (ii) the aggregate amount of all Maintenance Capital Expenditures made during such Measurement Period, less (iii) the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made pursuant to Section 7.06(e) during such Measurement Period to (b) Consolidated Financial Obligations, in each case, of or by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such Measurement Period.

 

  

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“Consolidated Funded Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the sum of (a) the outstanding principal amount of all obligations, whether current or long-term, for borrowed money (including Obligations hereunder) and all obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments, (b) all purchase money Indebtedness, (c) all direct obligations arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments, (d) all obligations in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business), (e) all Attributable Indebtedness, (f) without duplication, all Guarantees with respect to outstanding Indebtedness of the types specified in clauses (a) through (e) above of Persons other than the Borrower or any Subsidiary, and (g) all Indebtedness of the types referred to in clauses (a) through (f) above of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which the Borrower or a Subsidiary is a general partner or joint venturer, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to the Borrower or such Subsidiary; provided that for clarity, Consolidated Funded Indebtedness shall not include the Series B preferred shares of Benihana Inc. so long as the terms of such preferred shares remain as in effect on the Closing Date..

 

“Consolidated Interest Charges” means, for the applicable Measurement Period, the sum of (a) all interest, premium payments, debt discount, fees, charges and related expenses in connection with borrowed money (including capitalized interest) or in connection with the deferred purchase price of assets, in each case to the extent treated as interest in accordance with GAAP, (b) all interest paid or payable with respect to discontinued operations and (c) the portion of rent expense under Capitalized Leases that is treated as interest in accordance with GAAP, in each case, of or by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for such period.

 

“Consolidated Lease-Adjusted Leverage Ratio” means, for the applicable Measurement Period, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Funded Indebtedness as of the last day of such Measurement Period, plus Consolidated Adjusted Rental Expense for such Measurement Period minus the aggregate amount in excess of $1,500,000 of cash and Cash Equivalents of the Loan Parties subject to a duly perfected first-priority Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties to (b) Consolidated EBITDAR of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for such Measurement Period.

 

“Consolidated Net Income” means, at any date of determination, the net income (or loss) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for the applicable Measurement Period; provided that Consolidated Net Income shall exclude (a) extraordinary gains and extraordinary losses for such Measurement Period, (b) the net income of any Subsidiary during such Measurement Period to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Subsidiary of such income is not permitted by operation of the terms of its Organization Documents or any agreement, instrument or Law applicable to such Subsidiary during such Measurement Period, except that the Borrower’s equity in any net loss of any such Subsidiary for such Measurement Period shall be included in determining Consolidated Net Income, and (c) any income (or loss) for such period of any Person if such Person is not a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Borrower (other than Subsidiaries Controlled directly or indirectly by the Borrower with a de minimus minority ownership interest held by a third-party that is not a Loan Party solely for compliance with liquor license laws and regulations), except that the Borrower’s equity in the net income of any such Person for such Measurement Period shall be included in Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate amount of cash actually distributed by such Person during such Period to the Borrower or a Subsidiary as a dividend or other distribution (and in the case of a dividend or other distribution to a Subsidiary, such Subsidiary is not precluded from further distributing such amount to the Borrower as described in clause (b) of this proviso).

 

  

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“Consolidated Rental Expense” means, for the applicable Measurement Period, all cash rental expense of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries paid or payable during such Measurement Period, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, incurred under any rental agreements or leases (whether calculated as base rent or as a percentage of unit-level revenue or operating income), other than cash rent incurred with respect to a particular lease site for periods prior to the opening of the Restaurant to be operated on such site, common area maintenance fees and obligations in respect of any Capitalized Leases and Synthetic Lease Obligations.

 

“Consolidated Restaurant Pre-Opening Costs” means “Start-up costs” (such term used herein as defined in SOP 98-5 published by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants) incurred by Borrower and/or its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis related to the acquisition, opening and organizing of New Operating Units, such costs to include, without limitation, the cost of feasibility studies, staff-training, and recruiting and travel costs for employees engaged in such start-up activities.

 

“Contractual Obligation” means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.

 

 “Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise.  “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.

 

“Credit Extension” means each of the following:  (a) a Borrowing and (b) an L/C Credit Extension.

 

“Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.

 

“Default” means any event or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or that, with the giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of Default.

 

“Default Rate” means (a) when used with respect to Obligations other than Letter of Credit Fees, an interest rate equal to (i) the Base Rate plus (ii) the Applicable Rate otherwise applicable to Base Rate Loans plus (iii) 3% per annum; provided, however, that with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to Eurodollar Rate Loan plus 3% per annum and (b) when used with respect to Letter of Credit Fees, a rate equal to the Applicable Rate plus 3% per annum.

 

  

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“Defaulting Lender” means any Lender that, as determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion, (a) has failed to fund any portion of its Loans, participations in L/C Obligations, participations in Sweep Plus Loans or other obligations required to be funded by it hereunder, within one Business Day of the date required to be funded by it hereunder, (b) has notified the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any Lender that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations hereunder or has made a public statement to that effect, (c) has failed, within three (3) Business Days after request by the Administrative Agent, to confirm in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, that it will comply with its funding obligations hereunder, (d) has otherwise failed to pay over to the Administrative Agent, the Sweep Plus Lender, the L/C Issuer, or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within one Business Day of the date when due, unless the subject of a good faith dispute, or (e) has been deemed insolvent or become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding.

 

“Designated Account” means that certain non-interest bearing deposit account maintained by the BNC with the Sweep Plus Lender entitled BENIHANA NATIONAL CORP OPERATING ACCOUNT ZBA MASTER # 2696208760376 or such other deposit account agreed to by the Borrower and the Sweep Plus Lender; provided that in any event such account shall be subject to an Account Control Agreement.

 

“Disclosed Litigation” has the meaning provided in Section 5.06.

 

“Disposition” or “Dispose” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (including any sale and leaseback transaction) of any property by any Person (or the granting of any option or other right to do any of the foregoing), including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith.

 

“Dollar” and “$” mean lawful money of the United States.

 

“Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the Laws of any political subdivision of the United States.

 

“Eligible Assignee” means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under Section 10.06(b)(iii) and (v) (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 10.06(b)(iii)).

 

“Environmental Laws” means any and all Federal, state, local, and foreign statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements or governmental restrictions relating to pollution and the protection of the environment or the release of any materials into the environment, including those related to hazardous substances or wastes, air emissions and discharges to waste or public systems.

 

  

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“Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Subsidiaries directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

 

“Equity Interests” means, with respect to any Person, all of the shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person or warrants, rights or options for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of such shares (or such other interests), and all of the other ownership or profit interests in such Person (including partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not such shares, warrants, options, rights or other interests are outstanding on any date of determination.

 

“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

 

“ERISA Affiliate” means, as to any Loan Party, any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that is a member of a group which includes such Loan Party and which is treated as a single employer under Sections 414(b), (c), (m) and (o) of the Code

 

“ERISA Event” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) a withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization; (d) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate, the treatment of a Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (e) an event or condition which constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (f) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate.

 

“Eurodollar Base Rate” has the meaning specified in the definition of Eurodollar Rate.

 

“Eurodollar Rate” means

 

(a)           for any Interest Period with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, a rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent pursuant to the following formula:

 

	 	 Eurodollar Rate  =	Eurodollar Base Rate	 
	 	 	1.00 – Eurodollar Reserve Percentage	 

 

  

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Where,

 

“Eurodollar Base Rate” means, for such Interest Period, the rate per annum equal to BBA LIBOR for Dollar deposits (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period.  If such rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the “Eurodollar Base Rate” for such Interest Period shall be the rate per annum for such Interest Period reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent.

 

“Eurodollar Reserve Percentage” means, for any day during any Interest Period, the reserve percentage (expressed as a decimal, carried out to five decimal places) in effect on such day, whether or not applicable to any Lender, under regulations issued from time to time by the FRB for determining the maximum reserve requirement (including any emergency, supplemental or other marginal reserve requirement) with respect to Eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency liabilities”).  The Eurodollar Rate for each outstanding Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be adjusted automatically as of the effective date of any change in the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage; and

 

(b)           for any interest calculation with respect to a Base Rate Loan on any date, the rate per annum equal to (i) BBA LIBOR for Dollar deposits being delivered in the London interbank market for a term of one month commencing that day or (ii) if such rate is not available at such time for any reason, the rate per annum for such Base Rate Loan reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent.

 

“Eurodollar Rate Loan” means a Revolving Credit Loan that bears interest at a rate based on clause (a) of the definition of Eurodollar Rate.

 

“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01.

 

“Excess Cash Proceeds” means, for any Fiscal Year of the Borrower, the excess (if any) of (a)  the sum of (i) Consolidated EBITDA for such Fiscal Year and (ii) any Extraordinary Receipts actually received by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries during such Fiscal Year over (b) the sum (for such Fiscal Year) of (i) Consolidated Interest Charges actually paid in cash by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, (ii) all income taxes actually paid in cash by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and (iii) Capital Expenditures actually made by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in such Fiscal Year.

 

“Excluded Account” means any (a) deposit accounts specially and exclusively used in the ordinary course of business for payroll, payroll taxes and other employee wage and benefit payments to or for the benefit of any Loan Party’s salaried employees, which accounts are funded only in the ordinary course of business, (b) pension fund accounts and 401(k) accounts (c) local deposit accounts which, individually, do not contain a balance of funds in excess of $25,000 at any time; provided that such local deposit accounts shall only be considered Excluded Accounts under this clause (c) to the extent that all such funds in such local deposit accounts are automatically deposited on each Business Day to an Operating Account subject to an Account Control Agreement in favor of the Administrative Agent and in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

  

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“Excluded Taxes” means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder, (a) taxes imposed on or measured by its overall net income (however denominated), and franchise taxes imposed on it (in lieu of net income taxes), by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the Laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable Lending Office is located, (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located and (c) in the case of a Foreign Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 10.13), any withholding tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party hereto (or designates a new Lending Office) or is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s failure or inability (other than as a result of a Change in Law) to comply with Section 3.01(e), except to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new Lending Office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to Section 3.01(a).

 

“Existing Credit Agreement” has the meaning provided in the Preliminary Statements hereto.

 

“Existing Letters of Credit” means any letters of credit issued by Wachovia Bank, National Association (as predecessor to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association) under the Existing Credit Agreement.

 

“Extraordinary Receipt” means any cash received by or paid to or for the account of any Person not in the ordinary course of business, including tax refunds, pension plan reversions, proceeds of insurance (other than proceeds of business interruption insurance to the extent such proceeds constitute compensation for lost earnings), condemnation awards (and payments in lieu thereof), indemnity payments and any purchase price adjustments; provided, however, that an Extraordinary Receipt shall not include cash receipts from proceeds of insurance, condemnation awards (or payments in lieu thereof) or indemnity payments to the extent that such proceeds, awards or payments (a) in respect of loss or damage to equipment, fixed assets or real property are applied (or in respect of which expenditures were previously incurred) to replace or repair the equipment, fixed assets or real property or (b) are received by any Person in respect of any third party claim against such Person and applied to pay (or to reimburse such Person for its prior payment of) such claim and the costs and expenses of such Person with respect thereto.

 

“Existing Subsidiaries” means those Subsidiaries of the Borrower in existence on the Closing Date and as set forth on Part (a) of Schedule 5.13.

 

“Facility” means the Revolving Credit Facility.

 

“FASB ASC” means the Accounting Standards Codification of the Financial Accounting Standards Board.

 

  

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“FDD” means the Franchise Disclosure Document of the Loan Parties as in effect from time to time.

 

“Federal Funds Rate” means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers on such day, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day; provided that (a) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%) charged to Wells Fargo on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent.

 

“Fee Letter” means the letter agreement, dated as of even date hereof, among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Arranger.

 

“Fiscal Month” means each consecutive four-week accounting period such that there are thirteen four-week periods in each 52-week Fiscal Year.

 

“Fiscal Quarter” means the accounting period consisting of either (a) in the event of a 52-week Fiscal Year, (i) for the first Fiscal Quarter in such Fiscal Year, four Fiscal Months, totaling sixteen weeks and (ii) for each subsequent Fiscal Quarter in such Fiscal Year, three Fiscal Months, totaling twelve weeks each or (b) in the event of a 53-week Fiscal Year, (ii) for the first Fiscal Quarter in such Fiscal Year, four Fiscal Months, totaling sixteen weeks, (ii) for each of the subsequent second and third Fiscal Quarters in such Fiscal Year three Fiscal Months, totaling twelve weeks each, and (iii) for the final fourth Fiscal Quarter in such Fiscal Year, three Fiscal Months and an additional week, totaling thirteen weeks.

 

“Fiscal Year” means the Borrower’s 52- or 53-week accounting period consisting of four Fiscal Quarters  ending on the Sunday which falls between the dates March 26 and April 1 of each calendar year.

 

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

 

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

 

“Franchise Agreements” means each of the agreements entered into from time to time by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to which a Loan Party as Franchisor agrees to allow a Franchisee to operate a restaurant facility using any of the “Benihana”, “RA Sushi” or “Haru” restaurant concepts.

 

“Franchisee” means each third party unaffiliated restaurant operator identified as a franchisee in any Franchise Agreement.

 

  

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“Franchised Unit” means a restaurant facility consisting of real property (owned or leased by a Franchisee), equipment and other property, franchised by the Franchisor to the Franchisee pursuant to a Franchise Agreement.

 

“Franchised Unit Locations” means, collectively, the property comprising Franchised Unit Locations described in Part (b) of Schedule 5.21 (as such Schedule may be updated from time to time with the written consent of the Administrative Agent).

 

“Franchisor” means any Loan Party which is the franchisor under any Franchise Agreement.

 

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

 

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied.

 

“Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

 

“Granting Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(h).

 

“Growth Capital Expenditures” means, with respect to any Person for any period, any Capital Expenditures related to the construction, acquisition or opening of new Restaurants or Unit Locations during such period plus Capital Expenditures relating to the expansion of seating or customer capacity of any existing Restaurant or Unit Location (but otherwise not including Capital Expenditures incurred with the remodeling of existing Restaurants) for such period.

 

“Guarantee” means, as to any Person, (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation payable or performable by another Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance of such Indebtedness or other obligation, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity or level of income or cash flow of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation, or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) any Lien on any assets of such Person securing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness to obtain any such Lien).  The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the guaranteeing Person in good faith.  The term “Guarantee” as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

 

  

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“Guarantors” means, collectively, the Subsidiaries of the Borrower listed on part (d) of Schedule 5.13 and each other Subsidiary of the Borrower that shall be required to execute and deliver a guaranty or guaranty supplement pursuant to Section 6.12.

 

“Guaranty” means, collectively, the Subsidiary Guaranty, dated or to be dated on or prior to the Closing Date, made by the Guarantors in favor of the Secured Parties and in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, together with each other guaranty in favor of the Secured Parties and delivered to the Administrative Agent from time to time.

 

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

 

“Hedge Bank” means any Person that, at the time it enters into a Secured Hedge Agreement, is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, in its capacity as a party to such Secured Hedge Agreement.

 

“Indebtedness” means, as to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all of the following, whether or not included as indebtedness or liabilities in accordance with GAAP:

 

(a)           all obligations of such Person for borrowed money and all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments;

 

(b)           the maximum amount of all direct or contingent obligations of such Person arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments;

 

(c)           net obligations of such Person under any Swap Contract;

 

(d)           all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business and not past due for more than 60 days after the date on which such trade account was created);

 

  

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(e)           indebtedness (excluding prepaid interest thereon) secured by a Lien on property owned or being purchased by such Person (including indebtedness arising under conditional sales or other title retention agreements), whether or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse;

 

(f)           all Attributable Indebtedness in respect of Capitalized Leases and Synthetic Lease Obligations of such Person and all Synthetic Debt of such Person;

 

(g)           all obligations of such Person to purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise make any payment in respect of any Equity Interest in such Person or any other Person or any warrant, right or option to acquire such Equity Interest, valued, in the case of a redeemable preferred interest, at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid dividends; and

 

(h)           all Guarantees of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing.

 

For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to such Person.  The amount of any net obligation under any Swap Contract on any date shall be deemed to be the Swap Termination Value thereof as of such date.

 

“Indemnified Taxes” means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.

 

“Indemnitees” has the meaning specified in Section 10.04(b).

 

“Information” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07.

 

“Insurance Receipt” means any cash received by or paid to or for the account of any Person constituting proceeds of insurance (other than proceeds of business interruption insurance to the extent such proceeds constitute compensation for lost earnings) and condemnation awards (and payments in lieu thereof).

 

“Intellectual Property Security Agreements” means, collectively, each Trademark Collateral Security Agreement and each patent and copyright security agreement, each in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

“Interest Payment Date” means, as to any Loan, the first Business Day of each calendar month and the Maturity Date.

 

“Interest Period” means, as to each Eurodollar Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such Eurodollar Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Rate Loan and ending on the date one, two or three months thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its Committed Loan Notice; provided that:

 

(a)           any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;

 

  

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(b)           any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and

 

(c)           no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date of the Facility under which such Loan was made.

 

“Internal Control Event” means a material weakness in, or fraud that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in, the Borrower’s internal controls over financial reporting, in each case as described in the Securities Laws.

 

“Investment” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect acquisition or investment by such Person, whether by means of (a) the purchase or other acquisition of Equity Interests of another Person, (b) a loan, advance or capital contribution to, Guarantee or assumption of debt of, or purchase or other acquisition of any other debt or interest in, another Person, or (c) the purchase or other acquisition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of assets of another Person that constitute a business unit or all or a substantial part of the business of, such Person.  For purposes of covenant compliance, the amount of any Investment shall be the amount actually invested, without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment.

 

“IP Rights” has the meaning specified in Section 5.17.

 

“IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

“ISP” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the “International Standby Practices 1998” published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance).

 

“Issuer Documents” means with respect to any Letter of Credit, the Letter of Credit Application, and any other document, agreement and instrument entered into by the L/C Issuer and the Borrower (or any Subsidiary) or in favor the L/C Issuer and relating to such Letter of Credit.

 

“L/C Advance” means, with respect to each Revolving Credit Lender, such Lender’s funding of its participation in any L/C Borrowing in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.

 

“L/C Borrowing” means an extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any Letter of Credit which has not been reimbursed on the date when made or refinanced as a Revolving Credit Borrowing.

 

“L/C Credit Extension” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the issuance thereof or extension of the expiry date thereof, or the increase of the amount thereof.

 

  

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“L/C Issuer” means Wells Fargo in its capacity as issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, or any successor issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder.

 

“L/C Obligations” means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate amount available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all Unreimbursed Amounts, including all L/C Borrowings.  For purposes of computing the amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.06.  For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the ISP, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” in the amount so remaining available to be drawn.

 

“Laws” means, collectively, all international, foreign, Federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case whether or not having the force of law and including all Environmental Laws and Securities Laws.

 

“Lender” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto and, as the context requires, includes the Sweep Plus Lender.

 

“Lending Office” means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

 

“Letter of Credit” means any letter of credit issued hereunder and shall include the Existing Letters of Credit.  A Letter of Credit may be a commercial letter of credit or a standby letter of credit.

 

“Letter of Credit Application” means an application and agreement for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit in the form from time to time in use by the L/C Issuer.

 

“Letter of Credit Expiration Date” means the day that is seven days prior to the Maturity Date then in effect.

 

“Letter of Credit Fee” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(i).

 

“Letter of Credit Sublimit” means an amount equal to $5,000,000. The Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Revolving Credit Facility.

 

“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge, or preference, priority or other security interest or preferential arrangement in the nature of a security interest of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any easement, right of way or other encumbrance on title to real property, and any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

 

  

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“Loan” means an extension of credit by a Lender to the Borrower under Article II in the form of a Revolving Credit Loan or a Sweep Plus Loan.

 

“Loan Documents” means, collectively, (a) this Agreement, (b) the Notes, (c) the Guaranty, (d) the Collateral Documents, (e) the Fee Letter, (f) each Issuer Document, (g) each Secured Cash Management Agreement, (h)  each Secured Hedge Agreement and (i) each other document or instrument executed and delivered in connection therewith; provided that for purposes of the definition of “Material Adverse Effect” and Articles IV through IX, “Loan Documents” shall not include Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements.

 

“Loan Parties” means, collectively, the Borrower and each Guarantor.

 

“Maintenance Capital Expenditures” means, with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for any period, any Capital Expenditures that are not Growth Capital Expenditures.

 

“Material Adverse Effect” means (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the operations, business, properties, liabilities (actual or contingent), condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Borrower or the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent or any Lender under any Loan Document, or of the ability of any Loan Party to perform its obligations under any Loan Document to which it is a party; or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against any Loan Party of any Loan Document to which it is a party.

 

“Material Contract” means, with respect to any Person, each contract to which such Person is a party involving aggregate consideration payable to or by such Person of the Threshold Amount or more or which otherwise is material to the business, condition (financial or otherwise), operations, performance, properties or prospects of such Person.

 

“Maturity Date” means, February 10, 2014; provided, however, that if such date is not a Business Day, the Maturity Date shall be the next preceding Business Day.

 

“Measurement Period” means any period consisting of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

 

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.

 

“Mortgage” means any mortgages and deeds of trust which the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has given or may give to the Administrative Agent with respect to any fee and leasehold interests of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in the Real Estate in form and substance satisfactory to the Lender and the Administrative Agent, in each case, as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented, replaced or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

“Multiemployer Plan” means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the preceding five plan years, has made or been obligated to make contributions.

 

  

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“Net Cash Position” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(b).

 

“Net Cash Proceeds” means:

 

(a)           with respect to any Disposition by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Insurance Receipt received or paid to the account of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, the excess, if any, of (i) the sum of cash and Cash Equivalents received in connection with such transaction (including any cash or Cash Equivalents received by way of deferred payment pursuant to, or by monetization of, a note receivable or otherwise, but only as and when so received) over (ii) the sum of (A) the principal amount of any Indebtedness that is secured by the applicable asset and that is required to be repaid in connection with such transaction (other than Indebtedness under the Loan Documents), (B) the reasonable and customary out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such Loan Party or such Subsidiary in connection with such transaction and (C) income taxes reasonably estimated to be actually payable within two years of the date of the relevant transaction as a result of any gain recognized in connection therewith; provided that, if the amount of any estimated taxes pursuant to subclause (C) exceeds the amount of taxes actually required to be paid in cash in respect of such Disposition, the aggregate amount of such excess shall constitute Net Cash Proceeds; and

 

(b)           with respect to the sale or issuance of any Equity Interest by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, or the incurrence or issuance of any Indebtedness by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, the excess of (i) the sum of the cash and Cash Equivalents received in connection with such transaction over (ii) the underwriting discounts and commissions, and other reasonable and customary out-of-pocket expenses, incurred by such Loan Party or such Subsidiary in connection therewith.

 

“New Operating Units” means Unit Locations acquired after the Closing Date.

 

“Note” means a Revolving Credit Note.

 

“NPL” means the National Priorities List under CERCLA.

 

“Obligations” means all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Loan Party arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan or Letter of Credit, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding.

 

“Operating Account” means any bank account, deposit account, commodities accounts securities account or investment account of any Loan Party.

 

  

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“Organization Documents” means, (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement; and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.

 

“Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or under any other Loan Document or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

“Outstanding Amount” means (a) with respect to Revolving Credit Loans and Sweep Plus Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Revolving Credit Loans and Sweep Plus Loans, as the case may be, occurring on such date; and (b) with respect to any L/C Obligations on any date, the amount of such L/C Obligations on such date after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension occurring on such date and any other changes in the aggregate amount of the L/C Obligations as of such date, including as a result of any reimbursements by the Borrower of Unreimbursed Amounts.

 

“Participant” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(d).

 

“Patriot Act” has the meaning specified in Section 10.17.

 

 “PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

 

“PCAOB” means the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

 

“Pension Plan” means any “employee pension benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), other than a Multiemployer Plan, that is subject to Title IV of ERISA and is sponsored or maintained by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate contributes or has an obligation to contribute, or in the case of a multiple employer or other plan described in Section 4064(a) of ERISA, has made contributions at any time during the immediately preceding five plan years.

 

“Permitted Acquisition” means the purchase or other acquisition of all of the Equity Interests in, or all or substantially all of the property of, any Person organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia that, upon the consummation thereof, will be wholly-owned directly by the Borrower or one or more of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries (including as a result of a merger or consolidation); provided that, each of the following conditions have been satisfied:

 

 

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(a)           any such newly-created or acquired Subsidiary shall comply with the requirements of Section 6.12;

 

(b)           the lines of business of the Person to be (or the property of which is to be) so purchased or otherwise acquired shall be substantially the same lines of business as one or more of the principal businesses of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course;

 

(c)           such purchase or other acquisition shall not include or result in any contingent liabilities that could reasonably be expected to be material to the business, financial condition, operations or prospects of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole (as determined in good faith by the board of directors (or the persons performing similar functions) of the Borrower or such Subsidiary if the board of directors is otherwise approving such transaction and, in each other case, by a Responsible Officer);

 

(d)           the total cash and noncash consideration (including the fair market value of all Equity Interests issued or transferred to the sellers thereof, all indemnities, earnouts and other contingent payment obligations to, and the aggregate amounts paid or to be paid under noncompete, consulting and other affiliated agreements with, the sellers thereof, all write-downs of property and reserves for liabilities with respect thereto and all assumptions of debt, liabilities and other obligations in connection therewith) paid by or on behalf of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for any such purchase or other acquisition, when aggregated with the total cash and noncash consideration paid by or on behalf of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for all other purchases and other acquisitions made by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries pursuant to Section 7.03(h), shall not exceed $6,000,000 during the term of this Agreement;

 

(e)           (A) immediately before and immediately after giving pro forma effect to any such purchase or other acquisition, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (B) immediately after giving effect to such purchase or other acquisition, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be in pro forma compliance with all of the covenants set forth in Section 7.11 (and in the case of the Consolidated Lease-Adjusted Leverage Ratio for the Measurement Period most recently completed shall be at least 0.25 less than the Consolidated Lease-Adjusted Leverage Ratio required for such Measurement Period by Section 7.11), such compliance to be determined on the basis of the financial information most recently delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) as though such purchase or other acquisition had been consummated as of the first day of the Measurement Period covered thereby;

 

(f)           any and all consents and approvals of any Governmental Authority (including, for the avoidance of doubt, if applicable, in respect of liquor licenses acquired to the extent necessary) or landlord necessary for the consummation of such purchase or acquisition shall have been received;

 

(g)           the Loan Parties shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent, at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the date on which any such purchase or other acquisition is to be consummated, a certificate of a Responsible Officer, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, certifying that all of the requirements set forth in definition have been satisfied or will be satisfied on or prior to the consummation of such purchase or other acquisition;

 

 

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(h)           the Loan Parties shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent (i) at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the consummation of such purchase or acquisition, true, correct and complete copies of (a) the purchase and sale documents, together with a complete set of schedules, exhibits, side letters and other documents and instruments delivered in connection therewith, (b) audited financial statements (or, if unavailable, management-prepared financial statements) of the Person (or the assets of such Person, as applicable) to be acquired for such Person’s two previous fiscal years then most recently ended and all interim financial statements within the previous fiscal year then most recently ended  and (c) a revised version of the Budget most recently delivered to give pro forma effect to such purchase or acquisition and (ii) prior to the consummation of such purchase or acquisition, true, correct and complete copies of all acquisition agreements, instruments, side letters or other material agreements executed in connection with such purchase or acquisition;

 

(i)           the Loan Parties shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that all Liens with respect to the properties to be acquired, other than Liens permitted under Section 7.01, have been discharged in full; and

 

(j)           after giving effect to such purchase or acquisition, an aggregate amount of at least $5,000,000 shall remain available under the Revolving Credit Facility for at least 90 days following such purchase or acquisition.

 

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

 

“Plan” means any “employee benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) established by the Borrower or, with respect to any such plan that is subject to Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, any ERISA Affiliate.

 

“Platform” means an electronic delivery system (which may be provided by Administrative Agent, an Affiliate of Administrative Agent or any Person that is not an Affiliate of Administrative Agent), such as IntraLinks or a substantially similar electronic system.

 

“Pledged Collateral” means the “Securities Collateral” pledged by a Loan Party to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms of the Securities Pledge Agreement and all of the other property that is or is intended under the terms of the Securities Pledge Agreement to be subject to Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

 

“Pledged Indebtedness” means any promissory notes or other evidence of indebtedness pledged by a Loan Party to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms of the Security Agreement.

 

“Private Club Agreement” means, collectively, each agreement providing for the allocation of revenues derived from liquor sales at any Private Club, each such agreement to be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

 

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“Private Club” means each association or club formed for the sole purpose of selling and serving liquor at any Restaurant in jurisdictions where such sale or service would not otherwise be permitted.

 

“Real Estate Support Documents” means, with respect to any fee interest of any Loan Party, such mortgagee title insurance policies (in amounts and with endorsements acceptable to the Administrative Agent), surveys, environmental assessment reports, environmental questionnaires, flood hazard certifications, evidence of flood insurance, if required, and other fee mortgage-related documents as may reasonably be required by the Administrative Agent, in each case, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

“Reduction Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(b)(vi).

 

“Register” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(c).

 

“Registered Public Accounting Firm” has the meaning specified by the Securities Laws and shall be independent of the Borrower as prescribed by the Securities Laws.

 

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

 

“Reportable Event” means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than events for which the 30 day notice period has been waived.

 

“Request for Credit Extension” means (a) with respect to a Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Revolving Credit Loans, a Committed Loan Notice and (b) with respect to an L/C Credit Extension, a Letter of Credit Application.

 

“Required Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, if there are two or more Lenders, at least two Lenders holding at least 51% of the sum of the (a) Total Outstandings (with the aggregate amount of each Revolving Credit Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations and Sweep Plus Loans being deemed “held” by such Revolving Credit Lender for purposes of this definition) and (b) aggregate unused Revolving Credit Commitments; provided that the unused Revolving Credit Commitment of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.

 

“Responsible Officer” means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer or controller of a Loan Party.  Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Loan Party and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Loan Party.

 

“Restaurant” means a particular restaurant at a particular location that is owned (regardless of whether the real property is owned or leased) and operated by a Loan Party or any Subsidiary of a Loan Party.

 

 

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“Restricted Payment” means (a) any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any capital stock or other Equity Interest of any Person or any of its Subsidiaries, or (b) any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, defeasance, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such capital stock or other Equity Interest, or on account of any return of capital to any Person’s stockholders, partners or members (or the equivalent of any thereof), (c) or any option, warrant or other right to acquire any such dividend or other distribution or payment, or (d) any management fees, fee (consulting, advisory, management or otherwise), allowance or other similar arrangement directly or indirectly to any Affiliate that is not a Loan Party.

 

“Revolving Credit Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Revolving Credit Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Revolving Credit Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01.

 

“Revolving Credit Commitment” means, as to each Revolving Credit Lender, its obligation to (a) make Revolving Credit Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01, (b) purchase participations in L/C Obligations, and (c) purchase participations in Sweep Plus Loans, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01 under the caption “Revolving Credit Commitment” or opposite such caption in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

 

“Revolving Credit Facility” means, at any time, the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Lenders’ Revolving Credit Commitments at such time.

 

“Revolving Credit Lender” means, at any time, any Lender that has a Revolving Credit Commitment at such time.

 

“Revolving Credit Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.

 

“Revolving Credit Note” means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of a Revolving Credit Lender evidencing Revolving Credit Loans made by such Revolving Credit Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit C.

 

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

 

“Sanctioned Country” means a country subject to a sanctions program identified on the list maintained by OFAC and available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/ programs/index.shtml, or as otherwise published from time to time.

 

“Sanctioned Person” means (i) a Person named on the list of “Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons” maintained by OFAC available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/ enforcement/ofac/sdn/index.shtml, or as otherwise published from time to time, or (ii) (A) an agency of the government of a Sanctioned Country, (B) an organization controlled by a Sanctioned Country, or (C) a person resident in a Sanctioned Country, to the extent subject to a sanctions program administered by OFAC.

 

 

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“Sarbanes-Oxley” means the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.

 

“Secured Cash Management Agreement” means any Cash Management Agreement that is entered into by and between any Loan Party and any Cash Management Bank.

 

“Secured Hedge Agreement” means any interest rate Swap Contract permitted under this Credit Agreement that is entered into by and between the Borrower and any Hedge Bank.

 

“Secured Parties” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the L/C Issuer, the Hedge Banks, the Cash Management Banks, each co-agent or sub-agent appointed by the Administrative Agent from time to time pursuant to Section 9.05, and the other Persons the Obligations owing to which are or are purported to be secured by the Collateral under the terms of the Collateral Documents.

 

“Securities Laws” means the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Sarbanes-Oxley, and the applicable accounting and auditing principles, rules, standards and practices promulgated, approved or incorporated by the SEC or the PCAOB.

 

“Securities Pledge Agreement” means, collectively, the Amended and Restated Securities Pledge Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among the Loan Parties and the Administrative Agent, as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or modified from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof and each other securities pledge agreement in favor of the Secured Parties and delivered to the Administrative Agent from time to time.

 

“Security Agreement” means, collectively, the Amended and Restated Security Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among the Loan Parties and the Administrative Agent, as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof and each other security agreement in favor of the Secured Parties and delivered to the Administrative Agent from time to time.

 

“Solvent” and “Solvency” mean, with respect to any Person on any date of determination, that on such date (a) the fair value of the property of such Person is greater than the total amount of liabilities, including 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, (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, and (e) such Person is able to pay its debts and liabilities, contingent obligations and other commitments as they mature in the ordinary course of business.  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.

 

 

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“SPC” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(h).

 

“Subordinated Provisions” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01(m).

 

“Subsidiary” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of securities or other interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than securities or interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are at the time beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person.  Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower.

 

“Subsidiary Guaranty” means that certain Guaranty, dated as even date hereof, made by the Subsidiaries of the Borrower in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or modified from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.

 

“Swap Contract” means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.

 

“Swap Termination Value” means, in respect of any one or more Swap Contracts, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Swap Contracts, (a) for any date on or after the date such Swap Contracts have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the mark-to-market value(s) for such Swap Contracts, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Swap Contracts (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).

 

  

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“Sweep Plus” means the revolving credit facility made available by the Sweep Plus Lender pursuant to Section 2.04.

 

“Sweep Plus Borrowing” means a borrowing of a Sweep Plus Loan pursuant to Section 2.04.

 

“Sweep Plus Lender” means Wells Fargo in its capacity as provider of Sweep Plus Loans, or any successor lender hereunder.

 

“Sweep Plus Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(a).

 

“Sweep Plus Services Agreement” means that certain Sweep Plus Loan Service Agreement by and among the Borrower and Wells Fargo (as successor to Wachovia Bank), as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or modified in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

“Synthetic Debt” means, with respect to any Person as of any date of determination thereof, all obligations of such Person in respect of transactions entered into by such Person that are intended to function primarily as a borrowing of funds (including any minority interest transactions that function primarily as a borrowing) but are not otherwise included in the definition of “Indebtedness” or as a liability on the consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Synthetic Lease Obligation” means the monetary obligation of a Person under (a) a so-called synthetic, off-balance sheet or tax retention lease, or (b) an agreement for the use or possession of property (including sale and leaseback transactions), in each case, creating obligations that do not appear on the balance sheet of such Person but which, upon the application of any Debtor Relief Laws to such Person, would be characterized as the indebtedness of such Person (without regard to accounting treatment).

 

“Taxes” means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings, assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

 

“Termination of Revolving Credit Commitments Notice” means an irrevocable notice to terminate or reduce the Revolving Credit Commitments pursuant to Section 2.06, which shall be in writing and shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit C.

 

“Threshold Amount” means $4,000,000.

 

“Total Outstandings” means, at any date of determination, the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans and all L/C Obligations.

 

“Trademark Collateral Security Agreement” means, collectively, the Trademark Collateral Security and Pledge Agreement dated as of the date hereof, among the Loan Parties and the Administrative Agent as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or modified from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof and each other trademark collateral security agreement in favor of the Secured Parties and delivered to the Administrative Agent from time to time.

 

  

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“Transaction” means, collectively, (a) the entering into by the Loan Parties and their applicable Subsidiaries of the Loan Documents and the borrowing of the Term Loans hereunder, and (b) the payment of the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the consummation of the foregoing.

 

“Type” means, with respect to a Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a Eurodollar Rate Loan.

 

“UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York; provided that, if perfection or the effect of perfection or non-perfection or the priority of any security interest in any Collateral is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in a jurisdiction other than the State of New York, “UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in such other jurisdiction for purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such perfection, effect of perfection or non-perfection or priority.

 

“Unfunded Pension Liability” means the excess of a Pension Plan’s benefit liabilities under Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA, over the current value of that Pension Plan’s assets, determined in accordance with the assumptions used for funding the Pension Plan pursuant to Section 412 of the Code for the applicable plan year.

 

“Unit Locations” means, collectively, the property comprising the Restaurant locations or on which a Loan Party intends to build out a Restaurant.

 

“United States” and “U.S.” mean the United States of America.

 

“Unreimbursed Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(c)(i).

 

“U.S. Loan Party” means any Loan Party that is organized under the laws of one of the states of the United States of America and that is not a CFC.

 

“Wells Fargo” means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and its successors.

 

“Wells Fargo Securities” means Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and its successors.

 

1.02        Other Interpretive Provisions.  With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document (other than Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements), unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:

 

(a)           The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined.  Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms.  The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.”  The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.”  Unless the context requires otherwise, (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document (including any Organization Document) shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein or in any other Loan Document), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (iii) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document, shall be construed to refer to such Loan Document in its entirety and not to any particular provision thereof, (iv) all references in a Loan Document to Articles, Sections, Preliminary Statements, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Preliminary Statements, Exhibits and Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing or interpreting such law and any reference to any law or regulation shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and (vi) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

 

  

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(b)           In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including;” the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding;” and the word “through” means “to and including.”

 

(c)           Section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

(d)           Any reference to the “Borrower” shall be deemed to be a reference to both Borrowers; provided that any reference to “each Borrower”, “any Borrower”, “any other Borrower” or similar phrase shall be deemed to be a reference to each of Benihana Inc. and BNC as an individual Borrower, as the context would indicate.

 

1.03        Accounting Terms. (a) Generally.  All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP applied on a consistent basis, as in effect from time to time, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the Audited Financial Statements, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the purposes of determining compliance with any covenant (including the computation of any financial covenant) contained herein, Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried out at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof and the effects of FASB ASC 825 and FASB ASC 470 20 on financial liabilities shall be disregarded.

 

(b)           Changes in GAAP.  If at any time any change in GAAP would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either the Borrower or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided that, until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP.

 

  

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(c)           Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities.  All references herein to consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries or to the determination of any amount for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis or any similar reference shall, in each case, be deemed to include each variable interest entity that the Borrower is required to consolidate pursuant to FASB Interpretation No. 46 – Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities: an interpretation of ARB No. 51 (January 2003) as if such variable interest entity were a Subsidiary as defined herein.

 

1.04        Rounding.  Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).

 

1.05        Times of Day.  Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).

 

1.06        Letter of Credit Amounts.  Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the stated amount of such Letter of Credit in effect at such time; provided, however, that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any Issuer Document related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at such time.

 

ARTICLE II

 

THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS

 

2.01        The Revolving Credit Loans.  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Revolving Credit Lender severally agrees to make loans (each such loan, a “Revolving Credit Loan”) to the Borrower from time to time, on any Business Day during the Availability Period, in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Revolving Credit Borrowing, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Revolving Credit Facility, and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Credit Loans of any Lender, plus such Revolving Credit Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Revolving Credit Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Sweep Plus Loans shall not exceed such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment.  Within the limits of each Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.01.  Revolving Credit Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein.

 

  

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2.02        Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans.  (a) Each Revolving Credit Borrowing, each conversion of Revolving Credit Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone.  Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (i) three Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans or of any conversion of Eurodollar Rate Loans to Base Rate Loans, and (ii) one Business Day prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans.  Each telephonic notice by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.02(a) must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written Committed Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.  Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof.  Except as provided in Sections 2.03(c) and 2.04, each Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof.  Each Committed Loan Notice  (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting a Revolving Credit Borrowing, a conversion of Revolving Credit Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Revolving Credit Loans are to be converted, and (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto.  If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Loan in a Committed Loan Notice or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Revolving Credit Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base Rate Loans.  Any such automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Eurodollar Rate Loans.  If the Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans in any such Committed Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, a Sweep Plus Loan may not be converted to a Eurodollar Rate Loan.

 

(b)           Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of the Revolving Credit Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans described in Section 2.02(a).  In the case of a Revolving Credit Borrowing, each Appropriate Lender shall make the amount of its Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice.  Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (and, if such Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section 4.01), the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of Wells Fargo with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the Borrower; provided, however, that if, on the date a Committed Loan Notice with respect to a Revolving Credit Borrowing is given by the Borrower, there are L/C Borrowings outstanding, then the proceeds of such Revolving Credit Borrowing, first, shall be applied to the payment in full of any such L/C Borrowings, and second, shall be made available to the Borrower as provided above.

 

  

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(c)           Except as otherwise provided herein, a Eurodollar Rate Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurodollar Rate Loan.  During the existence of an Event of Default, no Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as Eurodollar Rate Loans without the consent of the Required Lenders.

 

(d)           The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Eurodollar Rate Loans upon determination of such interest rate.  At any time that Base Rate Loans are outstanding, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of any change in Wells Fargo’s prime rate used in determining the Base Rate promptly following the public announcement of such change.

 

(e)           After giving effect to all Revolving Credit Borrowings, all conversions of Revolving Credit Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Revolving Credit Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than 5 Interest Periods in effect in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility.

 

2.03        Letters of Credit.

 

(a)           The Letter of Credit Commitment.

 

(i)            Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (A) the L/C Issuer agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the Revolving Credit Lenders set forth in this Section 2.03, (1) from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date until the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, to issue Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and to amend or extend Letters of Credit previously issued by it, in accordance with Section 2.03(b), and (2) to honor drawings under the Letters of Credit; and (B) the Revolving Credit Lenders severally agree to participate in Letters of Credit issued for the account of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries and any drawings thereunder; provided that after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension with respect to any Letter of Credit, (x) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Revolving Credit Facility, (y) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Credit Loans of any Revolving Credit Lender, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Sweep Plus Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment, and (z) the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations shall not exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit.  Each request by the Borrower for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be a representation by the Borrower that the L/C Credit Extension so requested complies with the conditions set forth in the proviso to the preceding sentence.  Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower’s ability to obtain Letters of Credit shall be fully revolving, and accordingly the Borrower may, during the foregoing period, obtain Letters of Credit to replace Letters of Credit that have expired or that have been drawn upon and reimbursed.  All Existing Letters of Credit shall be deemed to have been issued pursuant hereto, and from and after the Closing Date shall be subject to and governed by the terms and conditions hereof.

 

  

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(ii)           The L/C Issuer shall not issue any Letter of Credit if:

 

(A)           subject to Section 2.03(b)(iii), the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur more than twelve months after the date of issuance or last extension, unless the Required Lenders have approved such expiry date; or

 

(B)           the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur after the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, unless all the Revolving Credit Lenders have approved such expiry date.

 

(iii)           The L/C Issuer shall not be under any obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if:

 

(A)          any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain the L/C Issuer from issuing such Letter of Credit, or any Law applicable to the L/C Issuer or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over the L/C Issuer shall prohibit, or request that the L/C Issuer refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon the L/C Issuer with respect to such Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which the L/C Issuer is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date, or shall impose upon the L/C Issuer any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Closing Date and which the L/C Issuer in good faith deems material to it;

 

(B)           the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of the L/C Issuer applicable to letters of credit generally;

 

(C)           except as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer, such Letter of Credit is in an initial stated amount less than $50,000;

 

(D)           such Letter of Credit is to be denominated in a currency other than Dollars;

 

(E)           such Letter of Credit contains any provisions for automatic reinstatement of the stated amount after any drawing thereunder; or

 

(F)           a default of any Lender’s obligations to fund under Section 2.03(c) exists or any Lender is at such time a Defaulting Lender hereunder, unless the L/C Issuer has entered into arrangements satisfactory to it in its sole discretion with the Borrower or such Lender to eliminate the L/C Issuer’s actual or potential risk with respect to such Lender.

 

(iv)          The L/C Issuer shall not amend any Letter of Credit if the L/C Issuer would not be permitted at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof.

 

(v)           The L/C Issuer shall be under no obligation to amend any Letter of Credit if (A) the L/C Issuer would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof, or (B) the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit does not accept the proposed amendment to such Letter of Credit.

 

  

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(vi)          The L/C Issuer shall act on behalf of the Revolving Credit Lenders with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith, and the L/C Issuer shall have all of the benefits and immunities (A) provided to the Administrative Agent in Article IX with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by the L/C Issuer in connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and Issuer Documents pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the term “Administrative Agent” as used in Article IX included the L/C Issuer with respect to such acts or omissions, and (B) as additionally provided herein with respect to the L/C Issuer.

 

(b)           Procedures for Issuance and Amendment of Letters of Credit; Auto-Extension Letters of Credit.

 

(i)           Each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be, upon the request of the Borrower delivered to the L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) in the form of a Letter of Credit Application, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.  Such Letter of Credit Application must be received by the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. at least two Business Days (or such later date and time as the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in their sole discretion) prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be.  In the case of a request for an initial issuance of a Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the L/C Issuer:  (A) the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (B) the amount thereof; (C) the expiry date thereof; (D) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof; (E) the documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (F) the full text of any certificate to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; and (G) such other matters as the L/C Issuer may require.  In the case of a request for an amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the L/C Issuer (1) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (2) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (3) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (4) such other matters as the L/C Issuer may require.  Additionally, the Borrower shall furnish to the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent such other documents and information pertaining to such requested Letter of Credit issuance or amendment, including any Issuer Documents, as the L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent may require.

 

(ii)           Promptly after receipt of any Letter of Credit Application, the L/C Issuer will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has received a copy of such Letter of Credit Application from the Borrower and, if not, the L/C Issuer will provide the Administrative Agent with a copy thereof.  Unless the L/C Issuer has received written notice from any Revolving Credit Lender, the Administrative Agent or any Loan Party, at least one Business Day prior to the requested date of issuance or amendment of the applicable Letter of Credit, that one or more applicable conditions contained in Article IV shall not then be satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the L/C Issuer shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the Borrower (or the applicable Subsidiary) or enter into the applicable amendment, as the case may be, in each case in accordance with the L/C Issuer’s usual and customary business practices.  Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit, each Revolving Credit Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the L/C Issuer a risk participation in such Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the product of such Revolving Credit Lender’s Applicable Percentage times the amount of such Letter of Credit.

 

  

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(iii)           If the Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the L/C Issuer may, in its sole and absolute discretion, agree to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic extension provisions (each, an “Auto-Extension Letter of Credit”); provided that any such Auto-Extension Letter of Credit must permit the L/C Issuer to prevent any such extension at least once in each twelve-month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a day (the “Non-Extension Notice Date”) in each such twelve-month period to be agreed upon at the time such Letter of Credit is issued.  Unless otherwise directed by the L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to the L/C Issuer for any such extension.  Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has been issued, the Revolving Credit Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the L/C Issuer to permit the extension of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the Letter of Credit Expiration Date; provided, however, that the L/C Issuer shall not permit any such extension if (A) the L/C Issuer has determined that it would not be permitted, or would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its revised form (as extended) under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of clause (ii) or (iii) of Section 2.03(a) or otherwise), or (B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is five Business Days before the Non-Extension Notice Date (1) from the Administrative Agent that the Required Lenders have elected not to permit such extension or (2) from the Administrative Agent, any Revolving Credit Lender or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied, and in each such case directing the L/C Issuer not to permit such extension.

 

(iv)           Promptly after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter of Credit to an advising bank with respect thereto or to the beneficiary thereof, the L/C Issuer will also deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.

 

(c)           Drawings and Reimbursements; Funding of Participations.  (i) Upon receipt from the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of any notice of a drawing under such Letter of Credit, the L/C Issuer shall notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent thereof.  Not later than 11:00 a.m. on the date of any payment by the L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit (each such date, an “Honor Date”), the Borrower shall reimburse the L/C Issuer through the Administrative Agent in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing.  If the Borrower fails to so reimburse the L/C Issuer by such time, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Revolving Credit Lender of the Honor Date, the amount of the unreimbursed drawing (the “Unreimbursed Amount”), and the amount of such Revolving Credit Lender’s Applicable Percentage thereof.  In such event, the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Revolving Credit Borrowing of Base Rate Loans to be disbursed on the Honor Date in an amount equal to the Unreimbursed Amount, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified in Section 2.02 for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the Revolving Credit Commitments and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than the delivery of a Committed Loan Notice).  Any notice given by the L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.03(c)(i) may be given by telephone if immediately confirmed in writing; provided that the lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice.

 

  

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(ii)           Each Revolving Credit Lender shall upon any notice pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) make funds available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer at the Administrative Agent’s Office in an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the Unreimbursed Amount not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in such notice by the Administrative Agent, whereupon, subject to the provisions of Section 2.03(c)(iii), each Revolving Credit Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Loan to the Borrower in such amount.  The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the L/C Issuer.  If there shall exist a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent may apply Cash Collateral for the account of the L/C Issuer.

 

(iii)          With respect to any Unreimbursed Amount that is not fully refinanced by a Revolving Credit Borrowing of Base Rate Loans because the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 cannot be satisfied or for any other reason, the Borrower shall be deemed to have incurred from the L/C Issuer an L/C Borrowing in the amount of the Unreimbursed Amount that is not so refinanced, which L/C Borrowing shall be due and payable on demand (together with interest) and shall bear interest at the Default Rate.  In such event, each Revolving Credit Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(ii) shall be deemed payment in respect of its participation in such L/C Borrowing and shall constitute an L/C Advance from such Lender in satisfaction of its participation obligation under this Section 2.03.

 

(iv)         Until each Revolving Credit Lender funds its Revolving Credit Loan or L/C Advance pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) to reimburse the L/C Issuer for any amount drawn under any Letter of Credit, interest in respect of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such amount shall be solely for the account of the L/C Issuer.

 

(v)           Each Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans or L/C Advances to reimburse the L/C Issuer for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit, as contemplated by this Section 2.03(c), shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the L/C Issuer, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever; (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided, however, that each Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than delivery by the Borrower of a Committed Loan Notice ).  No such making of an L/C Advance shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the L/C Issuer for the amount of any payment made by the L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit, together with interest as provided herein.

 

  

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(vi)           If any Revolving Credit Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03(c) by the time specified in Section 2.03(c)(ii), the L/C Issuer shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the L/C Issuer at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the L/C Issuer in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the L/C Issuer in connection with the foregoing.  If such Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Revolving Credit Loan included in the relevant Borrowing or L/C Advance in respect of the relevant L/C Borrowing, as the case may be.  A certificate of the L/C Issuer submitted to any Revolving Credit Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this Section 2.03(c)(vi) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

(d)           Repayment of Participations.

 

(i)           At any time after the L/C Issuer has made a payment under any Letter of Credit and has received from any Revolving Credit Lender such Lender’s L/C Advance in respect of such payment in accordance with Section 2.03(c), if the Administrative Agent receives for the account of the L/C Issuer any payment in respect of the related Unreimbursed Amount or interest thereon (whether directly from the Borrower or otherwise, including proceeds of Cash Collateral applied thereto by the Administrative Agent), the Administrative Agent will distribute to such Revolving Credit Lender its pro rata share thereof determined by reference to the percentage of the L/C Borrowing funded by such Revolving Credit Lender in the same funds as those received by the Administrative Agent.

 

(ii)           If any payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) is required to be returned under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.05 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the L/C Issuer in its discretion), each Revolving Credit Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer its Applicable Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned by such Lender, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect.  The obligations of the Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

 

(e)           Obligations Absolute.  The obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the L/C Issuer for each drawing under each Letter of Credit and to repay each L/C Borrowing shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all circumstances, including the following:

 

(i)           any lack of validity or enforceability of such Letter of Credit, this Agreement, or any other Loan Document;

 

  

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(ii)           the existence of any claim, counterclaim, setoff, defense or other right that the Borrower or any Subsidiary may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), the L/C Issuer or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by such Letter of Credit or any agreement or instrument relating thereto, or any unrelated transaction;

 

(iii)           any draft, demand, certificate or other document presented under such Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under such Letter of Credit;

 

(iv)           any payment by the L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate that does not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; or any payment made by the L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit to any Person purporting to be a trustee in bankruptcy, debtor-in-possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver or other representative of or successor to any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit, including any arising in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law; or

 

(v)           any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, including any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

The Borrower shall promptly examine a copy of each Letter of Credit and each amendment thereto that is delivered to it and, in the event of any claim of noncompliance with the Borrower’s instructions or other irregularity, the Borrower will immediately notify the L/C Issuer.  The Borrower shall be conclusively deemed to have waived any such claim against the L/C Issuer and its correspondents unless such notice is given as aforesaid.

 

(f)           Role of L/C Issuer.  Each Lender and the Borrower agree that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit, the L/C Issuer shall not have any responsibility to obtain any document (other than any sight draft, certificates and documents expressly required by the Letter of Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such document or the authority of the Person executing or delivering any such document.  None of the L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of the L/C Issuer shall be liable to any Lender for (i) any action taken or omitted in connection herewith at the request or with the approval of the Revolving Credit Lenders or the Required Lenders, as applicable; (ii) any action taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct; or (iii) the due execution, effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any document or instrument related to any Letter of Credit or Issuer Document.  The Borrower hereby assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee with respect to its use of any Letter of Credit; provided, however, that this assumption is not intended to, and shall not, preclude the Borrower’s pursuing such rights and remedies as it may have against the beneficiary or transferee at law or under any other agreement.  None of the L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of the L/C Issuer shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in clauses (i) through (v) of Section 2.03(e); provided, however, that anything in such clauses to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrower may have a claim against the L/C Issuer, and the L/C Issuer may be liable to the Borrower, to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or exemplary, damages suffered by the Borrower which the Borrower proves were caused by the L/C Issuer’s willful misconduct or gross negligence or the L/C Issuer’s willful failure to pay under any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary of a sight draft and certificate(s) strictly complying with the terms and conditions of a Letter of Credit.  In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, the L/C Issuer may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, and the L/C Issuer shall not be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason.

 

  

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(g)           Cash Collateral.  Upon the request of the Administrative Agent, (i) if the L/C Issuer has honored any full or partial drawing request under any Letter of Credit and such drawing has resulted in an L/C Borrowing, or (ii) if, as of the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, any L/C Obligation for any reason remains outstanding, the Borrower shall, in each case, immediately Cash Collateralize the then Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations.  At any time there shall exist a Defaulting Lender, immediately upon the request of the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent Cash Collateral in an amount sufficient to cover all of the L/C Issuer’s fronting exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender.  Sections 2.04, 2.05 and 8.02(c) set forth certain additional requirements to deliver Cash Collateral hereunder.  The Borrower hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the L/C Issuer and the Lenders, a security interest in all such cash, deposit accounts and all balances therein and all proceeds of the foregoing.  Cash Collateral shall be maintained in blocked, non-interest bearing deposit accounts at Wells Fargo.  If at any time the Administrative Agent determines that any funds held as Cash Collateral are subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the Administrative Agent or that the total amount of such funds is less than the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, the Borrower will, forthwith upon demand by the Administrative Agent, pay to the Administrative Agent, as additional funds to be deposited as Cash Collateral, an amount equal to the excess of (x) such aggregate Outstanding Amount over (y) the total amount of funds, if any, then held as Cash Collateral that the Administrative Agent determines to be free and clear of any such right and claim.  Upon the drawing of any Letter of Credit for which funds are on deposit as Cash Collateral, such funds shall be applied, to the extent permitted under applicable Laws, to reimburse the L/C Issuer.

 

(h)           Applicability of ISP and UCP.  Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the L/C Issuer and the Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued (including any such agreement applicable to an Existing Letter of Credit), (i) the rules of the ISP shall apply to each standby Letter of Credit, and (ii) the rules of the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, as most recently published by the International Chamber of Commerce at the time of issuance shall apply to each commercial Letter of Credit.

 

(i)           Letter of Credit Fees.  The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Credit Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage a Letter of Credit fee (the “Letter of Credit Fee”) (i) for each commercial Letter of Credit equal to the Applicable Rate therefor times the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit and (ii) for each standby Letter of Credit equal to the Applicable Rate therefor times the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit; provided, however, any Letter of Credit Fees otherwise payable for the account of a Defaulting Lender with respect to any Letter of Credit as to which the Defaulting Lender has not provided Cash Collateral satisfactory to the L/C issuer or otherwise made arrangements satisfactory to the L/C Issuer pursuant to this Section 2.03 shall be payable to the L/C Issuer for its own account.   For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.06.  Letter of Credit Fees shall be (i) due and payable on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand and (ii) computed on a quarterly basis in arrears.  If there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the daily amount available to be drawn under each standby Letter of Credit shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, upon the request of the Required Lenders, while any Event of Default exists, all Letter of Credit Fees shall accrue at the Default Rate.

 

  

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(j)           Fronting Fee and Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to L/C Issuer.  The Borrower shall pay directly to the L/C Issuer for its own account a fronting fee (i) with respect to each commercial Letter of Credit, at the rate specified in the Fee Letter, computed on the amount of such Letter of Credit, and payable upon the issuance thereof, (ii) with respect to any amendment of a commercial Letter of Credit increasing the amount of such Letter of Credit, at a rate separately agreed between the Borrower and the L/C Issuer, computed on the amount of such increase, and payable upon the effectiveness of such amendment, and (iii) with respect to each standby Letter of Credit, at the rate per annum specified in the Fee Letter, computed on the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit on a quarterly basis in arrears.  Such fronting fee shall be due and payable on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December in respect of the most recently-ended quarterly period (or portion thereof, in the case of the first payment), commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand.  For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.06.  In addition, the Borrower shall pay directly to the L/C Issuer for its own account the customary issuance, presentation, amendment and other processing fees, and other standard costs and charges, of the L/C Issuer relating to letters of credit as from time to time in effect.  Such customary fees and standard costs and charges are due and payable on demand and are nonrefundable.

 

(k)           Conflict with Issuer Documents.  In the event of any conflict between the terms hereof and the terms of any Issuer Document, the terms hereof shall control.

 

(l)           Letters of Credit Issued for Subsidiaries.  Notwithstanding that a Letter of Credit issued or outstanding hereunder is in support of any obligations of, or is for the account of, a Subsidiary, the Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the L/C Issuer hereunder for any and all drawings under such Letter of Credit.  The Borrower hereby acknowledges that the issuance of Letters of Credit for the account of Subsidiaries inures to the benefit of the Borrower, and that the Borrower’s business derives substantial benefits from the businesses of such Subsidiaries.

 

  

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2.04        Sweep Plus Loans.

 

(a)           The Sweep Plus.  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Sweep Plus Lender agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the other Lenders set forth in this Section 2.04, to make loans (each such loan, a “Sweep Plus Loan”) to the Borrower from time to time on any Business Day during the Availability Period in an aggregate amount which, together with all outstanding Revolving Credit Loans and L/C Obligations then outstanding, shall not exceed the Revolving Credit Facility at such time; provided, however, that the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Credit Loans of any Revolving Credit Lender at such time, plus such Revolving Credit Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations at such time, plus such Revolving Credit Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Sweep Plus Loans at such time shall not exceed such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment.  Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.04, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.04.  Each Sweep Plus Loan shall bear interest only at a rate based on the Base Rate.  Immediately upon the making of a Sweep Plus Loan, each Revolving Credit Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the Sweep Plus Lender a risk participation in such Sweep Plus Loan in an amount equal to the product of such Revolving Credit Lender’s Applicable Percentage times the amount of such Sweep Plus Loan.

 

(b)           Borrowing Procedures.  The Sweep Plus Lender shall calculate the daily net cash position (the “Net Cash Position”) in the Designated Account on each Business Day, which shall be calculated by using the opening balance of available funds in the Designated Account, plus any deposits of collected funds (i.e. funds for which the Sweep Plus Lender has received credit and that therefore are available for use by the Sweep Plus Lender) posted to the Designated Account, minus (i) the daily posting of debits and account holds placed against the Designated Account by the Sweep Plus Lender, as depository bank, and (ii) any loan floor which has been established by the Sweep Plus Lender to cover returns, overdrafts, chargebacks, returned items, unpaid fees and charges assessed by the Sweep Plus Lender, as depository bank.  If the Net Cash Position on any Business Day is less than zero, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, including, without limitation, the requirement that the conditions specified in Article IV are then satisfied, the Sweep Plus Lender will extend a Sweep Plus Loan to the Designated Account on such Business Day in the amount equal to such Net Cash Position expressed as a positive number; provided that after giving effect to such Sweep Plus Loan, the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Revolving Credit Facility or the other limitations set forth in the first sentence of Section 2.04(a).  Sweep Plus Loans are hereby authorized to be made automatically by the Sweep Plus Lender on a daily basis, without requiring the Borrower to provide a Request for Credit Extension to the Sweep Plus Lender.  To the extent not set forth herein, the Sweep Plus Services Agreement shall control the borrowing procedures in which Sweep Plus Loans are extended to the Designated Account (which is the Checking Account referred to in the Sweep Plus Services Agreement).  The Sweep Plus Services Agreement may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented or modified in accordance with the terms thereof without the need to amend or modify this Agreement. The Borrower shall pay all of the Sweep Plus Lender’s standard fees and charges in connection with the Sweep Plus Services Agreement and the maintenance of the Designated Account, which fees and charges may change from time to time.  No Sweep Plus Loans shall be required to be made if a Default has occurred and is then continuing hereunder.

 

  

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(c)           Automatic Repayment of Sweep Plus Loans.  In the event that Sweep Plus Loans are outstanding and the Net Cash Position is a surplus on any Business Day, the Sweep Plus Lender shall automatically debit the Designated Account on such Business Day in an amount equal to the lesser of such surplus and the principal amount of Sweep Plus Loans outstanding.  In addition, the Sweep Plus Lender and the Administrative Agent may debit the Designated Account and apply such amount to the payment of interest or fees with respect to the Loans.  The Sweep Plus Lender and the Administrative Agent is hereby irrevocably authorized to debit the Designated Account as provided herein without requirement of the further consent of or notice to the Borrower.  The Borrower hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, on behalf of itself and the other Lenders, a security interest in, right of set-off against and lien upon all items and balances held in the Designated Accounts as collateral for the Obligations.

 

(d)           Refinancing of Sweep Plus Loans.

 

(i)           The Sweep Plus Lender at any time in its sole and absolute discretion may request, on behalf of the Borrower (which hereby irrevocably authorizes the Sweep Plus Lender to so request on its behalf), that each Revolving Credit Lender make a Base Rate Loan in an amount equal to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the amount of Sweep Plus Loans then outstanding.  Such request shall be made in writing (which written request shall be deemed to be a Committed Loan Notice for purposes hereof) and in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.02, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified therein for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the unutilized portion of the Revolving Credit Facility and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02.  The Sweep Plus Lender shall furnish the Borrower with a copy of the applicable Committed Loan Notice promptly after delivering such notice to the Administrative Agent.  Each Revolving Credit Lender shall make an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the amount specified in such Committed Loan Notice available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds (and, if there shall exist a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent may apply Cash Collateral available with respect to the applicable Sweep Plus Loan) for the account of the Sweep Plus Lender at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the day specified in such Committed Loan Notice, whereupon, subject to Section 2.04(d)(ii), each Revolving Credit Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Loan to the Borrower in such amount.  The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the Sweep Plus Lender.

 

(ii)           If for any reason any Sweep Plus Loan cannot be refinanced by such a Revolving Credit Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.04(d)(i), the request for Base Rate Loans submitted by the Sweep Plus Lender as set forth herein shall be deemed to be a request by the Sweep Plus Lender that each of the Revolving Credit Lenders fund its risk participation in the relevant Sweep Plus Loan and each Revolving Credit Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Sweep Plus Lender pursuant to Section 2.04(d)(i) shall be deemed payment in respect of such participation.

 

  

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(iii)           If any Revolving Credit Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Sweep Plus Lender any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.04(d) by the time specified in Section 2.04(d)(i), the Sweep Plus Lender shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the Sweep Plus Lender at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Sweep Plus Lender in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Sweep Plus Lender in connection with the foregoing.  If such Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Revolving Credit Loan included in the relevant Borrowing or funded participation in the relevant Sweep Plus Loan, as the case may be.  A certificate of the Sweep Plus Lender submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (iii) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  If the Sweep Plus Lender shall be unable to obtain such amount from such Revolving Credit Lender following demand therefor or there shall otherwise exist a Defaulting Lender, upon the request of the Administrative Agent or the Sweep Plus Lender, the Borrower shall immediately Cash Collateralize such amount.

 

(iv)           Each Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans or to purchase and fund risk participations in Sweep Plus Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(d) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the Sweep Plus Lender, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (B) the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided, however, that each Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(d) (but not to fund its risk participation with respect to a Sweep Plus Loan) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02.  No funding of risk participations shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to repay Sweep Plus Loans, together with interest as provided herein.

 

(e)           Repayment of Participations.

 

(i)           At any time after any Revolving Credit Lender has purchased and funded a risk participation in a Sweep Plus Loan, if the Sweep Plus Lender receives any payment on account of such Sweep Plus Loan, the Sweep Plus Lender will distribute to such Revolving Credit Lender its pro rata share thereof determined by reference to the percentage of the Sweep Plus Loan funded by such Revolving Credit Lender in the same funds as those received by the Sweep Plus Lender.

 

  

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(ii)           If any payment received by the Sweep Plus Lender in respect of principal or interest on any Sweep Plus Loan is required to be returned by the Sweep Plus Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.05 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Sweep Plus Lender in its discretion), each Revolving Credit Lender shall pay to the Sweep Plus Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned, at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Sweep Plus Lender in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Sweep Plus Lender in connection with the foregoing.  The Administrative Agent will make such demand upon the request of the Sweep Plus Lender.  The obligations of the Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

 

(f)           Interest for Account of Sweep Plus Lender.  The Sweep Plus Lender shall be responsible for invoicing the Borrower for interest on the Sweep Plus Loans.  Until each Revolving Credit Lender funds its Base Rate Loan or risk participation pursuant to this Section 2.04 to refinance such Revolving Credit Lender’s Applicable Percentage of any Sweep Plus Loan, interest in respect of such Applicable Percentage shall be solely for the account of the Sweep Plus Lender.

 

(g)           Payments Directly to Sweep Plus Lender.  The Borrower shall make all payments of principal and interest in respect of the Sweep Plus Loans directly to the Sweep Plus Lender.

 

2.05        Prepayments.

 

(a)           Optional.

 

(i)           The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Revolving Credit Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (A) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (1) three Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans and (2) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Loans; (B) any prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $250,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof; and (C) any prepayment of Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $250,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof or, in each case, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding.  Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Type(s) of Loans to be prepaid and, if Eurodollar Rate Loans are to be prepaid, the Interest Period(s) of such Loans.  The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s ratable portion of such prepayment (based on such Lender’s Applicable Percentage).  If such notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein.  Any prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05.

 

(ii)           The Borrower may, upon notice to the Sweep Plus Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at any time or from time to time, voluntarily prepay Sweep Plus Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (A) such notice must be received by the Sweep Plus Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. on the date of the prepayment, and (B) any such prepayment shall be in a minimum principal amount of $100,000.  Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment.  If such notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein.

 

  

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(b)           Mandatory.

 

(i)           If any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries Disposes of any property (other than any Disposition of any property permitted by Section 7.05(a), (b), (c), (d), or (g)) which results in the realization by such Person of Net Cash Proceeds, the Borrower shall prepay an aggregate principal amount of Loans equal to 100% of such Net Cash Proceeds immediately upon receipt thereof by such Person (such prepayments to be applied as set forth in clause (v) below); provided, however, that, with respect to any Net Cash Proceeds realized in connection with a Disposition described in this Section 2.05(b)(i), so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at any time during either 270 day period referred to below, at the election of the Borrower made in good faith (as notified in writing by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent prior to the date a mandatory prepayment of the Loans would otherwise be required hereunder), such Loan Party or such Subsidiary may reinvest all or any portion of such Net Cash Proceeds in assets (other than current assets) used or useful in the business of any Loan Party so long as within 270 days after the receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds, such Loan Party or such Subsidiary shall have either made such reinvestment or entered into a binding agreement to make such reinvestment and, if such binding agreement is entered into within such 270 day period, such reinvestment actually occurs within 270 days following the date such Loan Party or such Subsidiary entered into such binding agreement; and provided further, however, that if any Net Cash Proceeds are not so reinvested in accordance with the terms hereof, the Borrower shall prepay an aggregate principal amount of Loans equal to 100% of such uninvested Net Cash Proceeds within two (2) Business Days following the expiration of the initial 270 day period, or, if a binding agreement was entered into during such initial period, the next 270 day period (such prepayments to be applied as set forth in clauses (vi) below).

 

(ii)           Upon the incurrence or issuance by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness expressly permitted to be incurred or issued pursuant to Section 7.02), the Borrower shall prepay an aggregate principal amount of Loans equal to 100% of all Net Cash Proceeds received therefrom immediately upon receipt thereof by the Borrower or such Subsidiary (such prepayments to be applied as set forth in clause (vi) below).

 

(iii)           Upon any Insurance Receipt received by or paid to or for the account of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, and not otherwise included in clauses (i) or (ii) of this Section 2.05(b), the Borrower shall prepay an aggregate principal amount of Loans equal to 100% of all Net Cash Proceeds received therefrom immediately upon receipt thereof by such Loan Party or such Subsidiary (such prepayments to be applied as set forth in clause (vi) below); provided, however, that, so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at any time during either 270 day period referred to below, with respect to any Net Cash Proceeds realized in connection with the receipt of Insurance Receipts described in this Section 2.05(b)(iii), at the election of the Borrower made in good faith (as notified in writing by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent prior to the date a mandatory prepayment of the Loans would otherwise be required hereunder), such Loan Party or such Subsidiary may apply such Net Cash Proceeds to replace or repair the equipment, fixed assets or real property in respect of which such Net Cash Proceeds were received or other assets used or useful in the business (other than current assets) so long as within 270 days after the receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds, such Loan Party or such Subsidiary shall have either replaced or repaired such equipment, fixed asset or real property or entered into a binding agreement to replace or repair such assets and if such binding agreement is entered into within such 270 day period, such repair or replacement actually occurs within 270 days following the date of such Loan Party or such Subsidiary’s commitment under such binding agreement; and provided further, however, that if any Net Cash Proceeds are not so applied in accordance with the terms hereof, the Borrower shall prepay an aggregate principal amount of Loans equal to 100% of such unapplied Net Cash Proceeds within two (2) Business Days following the expiration of the initial 270 day period, or if a binding agreement to repair or replace such asset was entered into during such initial period, the next 180 day period (such prepayments to be applied as set forth in clauses (vi) below).

 

  

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(iv)           At any time that the Net Cash Position is a positive amount and Sweep Plus Loans are outstanding, the Sweep Plus Loans shall be repaid as provided in Section 2.04(c).

 

(v)           If for any reason the Total Outstandings at any time exceed the Revolving Credit Facility at such time, the Borrower shall immediately prepay Revolving Credit Loans, Sweep Plus Loans and L/C Borrowings and/or Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations (other than the L/C Borrowings) in an aggregate amount equal to such excess.

 

(vi)           Prepayments of the Revolving Credit Facility made pursuant to this Section 2.05(b), first, shall be applied ratably to the L/C Borrowings and the Sweep Plus Loans, second, shall be applied ratably to the outstanding Revolving Credit Loans, and, third, shall be used to Cash Collateralize the remaining L/C Obligations; and, in the case of prepayments of the Revolving Credit Facility required pursuant to clause (i), (ii) and (iii) of this Section 2.05(b), the amount  remaining, if any, after the prepayment in full of all L/C Borrowings, Sweep Plus Loans and Revolving Credit Loans outstanding at such time and the Cash Collateralization of the remaining L/C Obligations in full (the sum of such prepayment amounts, cash collateralization amounts and remaining amount being, collectively, the “Reduction Amount”) may be retained by the Borrower for use in the ordinary course of its business, and the Revolving Credit Facility shall be automatically and permanently reduced by the Reduction Amount as set forth in Section 2.06(b)(i).  Upon the drawing of any Letter of Credit that has been Cash Collateralized, the funds held as Cash Collateral shall be applied (without any further action by or notice to or from the Borrower or any other Loan Party) to reimburse the L/C Issuer or the Revolving Credit Lenders, as applicable.  Amounts to be applied as provided in this clause (vi) to the prepayment of the Revolving Credit Facility shall be applied first to reduce outstanding Base Rate Loans and thereafter shall be applied to prepay outstanding Eurodollar Rate Loans.

 

2.06        Termination or Reduction of Commitments.

 

(a)           Optional.  The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent pursuant to a Termination of Revolving Credit Commitment Notice, terminate the Revolving Credit Facility, the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Sweep Plus facility, or from time to time permanently reduce the Revolving Credit Facility or the Letter of Credit Sublimit; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. five Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction, (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $250,000 or any whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof or, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding, and (iii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce (A) the Revolving Credit Facility if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Total Outstandings would exceed the Revolving Credit Facility, or (B) the Letter of Credit Sublimit if, after giving effect thereto, the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations not fully Cash Collateralized hereunder would exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit.

 

  

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(b)           Mandatory.

 

(i)           The Revolving Credit Facility shall be automatically and permanently reduced on each date on which the prepayment of Revolving Credit Loans outstanding thereunder is required to be made pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(i) through (iii) by an amount equal to the applicable Reduction Amount.

 

(ii)           If after giving effect to any reduction or termination of Revolving Credit Commitments under this Section 2.06, the Letter of Credit Sublimit exceeds the Revolving Credit Facility at such time, the Letter of Credit Sublimit shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such excess.

 

(c)           Application of Commitment Reductions; Payment of Fees.  The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any termination or reduction of the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Revolving Credit Facility under this Section 2.06.  Upon any reduction of the Revolving Credit Facility, the Revolving Credit Commitment of each Revolving Credit Lender shall be reduced by such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such reduction amount.  All fees in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Revolving Credit Facility shall be paid on the effective date of such termination.

 

2.07        Repayment of Loans

 

(a)           Revolving Credit Loans.  The Borrower shall repay to the Revolving Credit Lenders on the Maturity Date the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Credit Loans outstanding on such date.

 

(b)           Sweep Plus Loans.  The Borrower shall repay each Sweep Plus Loan on the Maturity Date.

 

2.08        Interest.

 

(a)           Subject to the provisions of Section 2.08(b), (i) each Eurodollar Rate Loan under a Facility shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate for such Facility; (ii) each Base Rate Loan under a Facility shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate for such Facility; and (iii) each Sweep Plus Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate for the Revolving Credit Facility.

 

  

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(b)           (i)           If any amount of principal of any Loan is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise (including, without limitation, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default under Section 8.01(f), such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

 

(ii)           If any amount (other than principal of any Loan) payable by the Borrower under any Loan Document is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, then upon the request of the Required Lenders such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

 

(iii)           Upon the request of the Required Lenders, while any Event of Default exists, the Borrower shall pay interest on the principal amount of all outstanding Obligations hereunder at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

 

(iv)           Accrued and unpaid interest on past due amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable upon demand.

 

(c)           Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein.  Interest hereunder shall be due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and after the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law.

 

2.09        Fees.  In addition to certain fees described in Sections 2.03(i) and (j):

 

(a)           Commitment Fee.  The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Credit Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage, a commitment fee equal to the Applicable Rate for the “Commitment Fee” (as set forth in the definition of Applicable Rate) times the actual daily amount by which the Revolving Credit Facility exceeds the sum of (i) the Outstanding Amount of Revolving Credit Loans and (ii) the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations.  The commitment fee shall accrue at all times during the Availability Period, including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Article IV is not met, and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and on the last day of the Availability Period.  The commitment fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears, and if there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the actual daily amount shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect.

 

  

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(b)           Other Fees.

 

(i)           The Borrower shall pay to the Arranger and the Administrative Agent for their own respective accounts fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the Fee Letter.  Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

 

(ii)           The Borrower shall pay to the Lenders such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified.  Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

 

2.10        Computation of Interest and Fees.  All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans when the Base Rate is determined by Wells Fargo’s “prime rate” shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed.  All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365-day year).  Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid, provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.12(a), bear interest for one day.  Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

 

2.11        Evidence of Debt.

 

(a)           The Credit Extensions made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender and by the Administrative Agent in the ordinary course of business.  The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Credit Extensions made by the Lenders to the Borrower and the interest and payments thereon.  Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations.  In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.  Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records.  Each Lender may attach schedules to its Note and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.

 

(b)           In addition to the accounts and records referred to in Section 2.11(a), each Lender and the Administrative Agent shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice accounts or records evidencing the purchases and sales by such Lender of participations in Letters of Credit and Sweep Plus Loans.  In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by the Administrative Agent and the accounts and records of any Lender in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.

 

  

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2.12        Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback.  (a)  General.  All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in Dollars and in immediately available funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date specified herein.  The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its Applicable Percentage (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s Lending Office.  All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 2:00 p.m. shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue.  If any payment, including interest, principal and fees and costs, to be made by the Borrower shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected on computing interest or fees, as the case may be.

 

(b)           (i)  Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative Agent.  Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing of Eurodollar Rate Loans (or, in the case of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, prior to 12:00 noon on the date of such Borrowing) that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.02 (or, in the case of a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, that such Lender has made such share available in accordance with and at the time required by Section 2.02) and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount.  In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing, and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans.  If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such period.  If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing.  Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

 

  

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(ii)           Payments by Borrower; Presumptions by Administrative Agent.  Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the time at which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or the L/C Issuer hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Appropriate Lenders or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, the amount due.  In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Appropriate Lenders or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

 

A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this subsection (b) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

 

(c)           Failure to Satisfy Conditions Precedent.  If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Article II, and such funds are not made available to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in Article IV are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.

 

(d)           Obligations of Lenders Several.  The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Revolving Credit Loans, to fund participations in Letters of Credit and Sweep Plus Loans and to make payments pursuant to Section 10.04(c) are several and not joint.  The failure of any Lender to make any Loan, to fund any such participation or to make any payment under Section 10.04(c) on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Loan, to purchase its participation or to make its payment under Section 10.04(c).

 

(e)           Funding Source.  Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner.

 

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

 

  

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2.13        Sharing of Payments by Lenders.  If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of (a) Obligations in respect of any the Facilities due and payable to such Lender hereunder and under the other Loan Documents at such time in excess of its ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such Obligations due and payable to such Lender at such time to (ii) the aggregate amount of the Obligations in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility due and payable to all Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents at such time) of payments on account of the Obligations in respect of the Facilities due and payable to all Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents at such time obtained by all the Lenders at such time or (b) Obligations in respect of any of the Facilities owing (but not due and payable) to such Lender hereunder and under the other Loan Documents at such time in excess of its ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such Obligations owing (but not due and payable) to such Lender at such time to (ii) the aggregate amount of the Obligations in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility owing (but not due and payable) to all Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents at such time) of payment on account of the Obligations in respect of the Facilities owing (but not due and payable) to all Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents at such time obtained by all of the Lenders at such time then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans and subparticipations in L/C Obligations and Sweep Plus Loans of the other Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of Obligations in respect of the Facilities then due and payable to the Lenders or owing (but not due and payable) to the Lenders, as the case may be, provided that:

 

(i)           if any such participations or subparticipations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations or subparticipations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest; and

 

(ii)           the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to (A) any payment made by or on behalf of the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement (including the application of funds arising from the existence of a Defaulting Lender), (B) the application of Cash Collateral in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or (C) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or subparticipations in L/C Obligations or Sweep Plus Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section shall apply).

 

Each Loan Party consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against such Loan Party rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of such Loan Party in the amount of such participation.

 

2.14        Defaulting Lenders.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, until such time as that Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, to the extent permitted by applicable Law;

 

  

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(a)           Waivers and Amendments.  That Defaulting Lender’s right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement shall be restricted as set forth in Section 10.01.

 

(b)           Reallocation of Payments.  Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of that Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article VIII or otherwise, and including any amounts made available to the Administrative Agent by that Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 10.08), shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable judgment or as determined by the Required Lenders; provided that once the Obligations owing to the Secured Parties that are not Defaulting Lenders have been indefeasibly paid in full, such amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Default Lender shall be applied to such Defaulting Lender.  Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 2.14(b) (or other provisions hereof relating to the posting of Cash Collateral with respect to a Defaulting Lender) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by that Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

 

(c)           Certain Fees.  That Defaulting Lender shall be limited in its right to receive Letter of Credit Fees as provided in Section 2.03(i).

 

2.15        Increased Facilities.

 

(a)           Request.  Subject to the terms and conditions contained in this Section 2.15, provided no Default or Event of Default exists or would result therefrom, upon Borrower’s written notice to the Administrative Agent (who shall promptly notify the Lenders), the Borrower may, on a one-time basis, request an increase in the Revolving Credit Facility (an “Increased Facility”) or a new revolving credit facility (an “Incremental Facility”) in an aggregate amount not exceeding $5,000,000.  At the time of sending such notice, the Borrower (in consultation with the Administrative Agent) shall specify the time period within which each Revolving Credit Lender is requested to respond (which shall in no event be less than ten Business Days from the date of delivery of such notice to the Revolving Credit Lenders).

 

(b)           Lender Elections to Increase.  Each Revolving Credit Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent within such time period whether or not it agrees to participate in such Increased Facility or such Incremental Facility, as the case may be (it being understood that no Revolving Credit Lender will be obligated under any circumstances to do so) and, if so, whether by an amount equal to, greater than, or less than its Applicable Percentage of the existing Revolving Credit Facility.  Any Revolving Credit Lender not responding within such time period shall be deemed to have declined to participate in the Increased Facility or Incremental Facility, as the case may be.

 

(c)           Notification by Administrative Agent; Additional Revolving Credit Lenders.  The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and each Revolving Credit Lender of the Revolving Credit Lenders’ responses to a request made hereunder.  To achieve the full amount of an Increased Facility or Incremental Facility, as the case may be, and subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent, the Borrower may also invite additional Eligible Assignees (excluding all Affiliates of the Loan Parties) to become Lenders pursuant to a joinder agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

  

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(d)           Effective Date and Allocations.  If a request for an Increased Facility or an Incremental Facility, as the case may be, is granted in accordance with this Section 2.15, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall determine the effective date (the “Accordion Effective Date”).  The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the final allocation with respect to any such Increased Facility or Incremental Facility, as the case may be, and the Accordion Effective Date.

 

(e)           Conditions to Effectiveness of Increase.  As a condition precedent to any Increased Facility or Incremental Facility, (i) the Administrative Agent shall have received a satisfactory Compliance Certificate in accordance with the requirements of Section 6.02 demonstrating that the Consolidated Lease-Adjusted Leverage Ratio of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is 0.25 less than the Consolidated Lease Adjusted Ratio required by Section 7.11 for the Measurement Period most recently ended, after giving pro forma effect to such Increased Facility or Incremental Facility, as the case may be, and assuming that such Increased Facility or Incremental Facility, as the case may be, and the Revolving Credit Facility is then fully drawn, (ii) the Loan Parties shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of each Loan Party dated as of the Accordion Effective Date signed by a Responsible Officer of such Loan Party (x) certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by such Loan Party approving or consenting to such Increased Facility or Incremental Facility, as the case may be, (y) certifying and attaching the documents described in Section 4.01(a)(viii) and (z) certifying that, before and after giving effect to such Increased Facility, (A) the representations and warranties contained in Article V and the other Loan Documents are true and correct on and as of the Accordion Effective Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 2.15, the representations and warranties contained in clauses (a) and (b) of Section 5.05 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 6.01, and (B) no Default or Event of Default exists or would result from such Increased Facility or Incremental Facility, as the case may be, (iii) the terms and conditions of the Increased Facility or Incremental Facility, as the case may be, shall be satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (iv) each Loan Party shall execute and/or deliver to the Administrative Agent each such agreement, instrument, certificate, legal opinion, or document and take each such action reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, including, without limitation, an amendment to evidence and document such Increased Facility or Incremental Facility and the Loan Parties’ respective obligations with respect thereto, either as a borrower or a guarantor, as the case may be, as described in Section 2.15(f) and (v) the Loan Parties shall pay all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent to implement such Increased Facility or Incremental Facility and otherwise in connection with such Increased Facility or Incremental Facility, as the case may be.

 

(f)           Amendment.  So long as the other conditions contained in this Section 2.15 are satisfied, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the lenders participating in such Increased Facility or Incremental Facility, as the case may be and the Borrower shall execute an amendment to this Agreement to evidence and document such Increased Facility or Incremental Facility, as the case may be.

 

  

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2.16        Appointment of Borrower Agent.  Each Borrower hereby designates Benihana Inc. as its representative and agent on its behalf for the purposes of issuing Committed Loan Notices, giving instructions with respect to the disbursement of the proceeds of the Loans, selecting interest rate options, requesting Letters of Credit, giving and receiving all other notices and consents hereunder or under any of the other Loan Documents and taking all other actions (including in respect of compliance with covenants) on behalf of any Borrower or Borrowers under the Loan Documents.  The Borrower Agent hereby accepts such appointment.   The Administrative Agent and each Lender may regard any notice or other communication pursuant to any Loan Document from the Borrower Agent as a notice or communication from all Borrowers, and may give any notice, communication or other deliverable required or permitted to be given to any Borrower or Borrowers hereunder to the Borrower Agent on behalf of such Borrower or Borrowers.  Each Borrower agrees that each notice, election, representation and warranty, covenant, agreement and undertaking made on its behalf by the Borrower Agent shall be deemed for all purposes to have been made by such Borrower and shall be binding upon and enforceable against such Borrower to the same extent as if the same had been made directly by such Borrower.

 

2.17        Joint and Several Liability of the Borrowers.  Each Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that it is jointly and severally liable for all of the liabilities, obligations, covenants and agreements of the Borrowers hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, whether now or hereafter existing or due or to become due.  The obligations of the Borrowers under the Loan Documents may be enforced by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders against any Borrower or all Borrowers in any manner or order selected by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders in their sole discretion.  Each Borrower hereby irrevocably waives (i) any rights of subrogation and (ii) any rights of contribution, indemnity or reimbursement, in each case, that it may acquire or that may arise against any other Borrower due to any payment or performance made under this Agreement, in each case until all Obligations shall have been fully satisfied. Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.16, each Borrower acknowledges and agrees that:

 

(a)           its obligations under this Agreement shall remain enforceable against it even though such obligations may be unenforceable or not allowable against any other Borrower due to the existence of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law involving any other Borrower;

 

(b)           its obligations under this Agreement are independent of the obligations of any other Borrower, and a separate action or actions may be brought and prosecuted against it in respect of such obligations irrespective of whether any action is brought against any other Borrower or any other Borrower is joined in any such action or actions;

 

  

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(c)           it hereby irrevocably waives any defenses it may now have or hereafter acquire in any way relating to, any or all of the following:

 

(i)           any lack of validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any agreement or instrument relating thereto in respect of any other Borrower;

 

(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 any other Borrower under or in respect of this Agreement, or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to departure from this Agreement, in respect of any other Borrower;

 

(iii)           any change, restructuring or termination of the structure or existence of any other Borrower;

 

(iv)           the failure of any other Person to execute or deliver any other agreement or the release or reduction of liability of any other Person with respect to any obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement; or

 

(v)           any other circumstance (including any statute of limitations but other than the Obligations having been fully satisfied) or any existence of or reliance on any representation by any other Person that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, any other Borrower;

 

(d)           its obligations under this Agreement shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any payment of any such obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be returned by any Person upon the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law of any other Borrower, all as though such payment had not been made; and

 

(e)           it hereby unconditionally and irrevocably waives any right to revoke its joint and several liability under the Loan Documents and acknowledges that such liability is continuing in nature and applies to all obligations of the Borrowers under the Loan Documents, whether existing now or in the future.

 

ARTICLE III

TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

 

3.01        Taxes.

 

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

 

  

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(b)           Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower.  Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) above, the Borrower shall timely pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

 

(c)           Indemnification by the Borrower.  The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the L/C Issuer, within 10 days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) paid by the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority.  A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender or the L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender or the L/C Issuer, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

(d)           Evidence of Payments.  As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by the Borrower to a Governmental Authority, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(e)           Status of Lenders.  Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding.  In addition, any Lender, if requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements.

 

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if the Borrower is resident for tax purposes in the United States, any Foreign Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, but only if such Foreign Lender is legally entitled to do so), whichever of the following is applicable:

 

(i)           duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN claiming eligibility for benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party,

 

(ii)           duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI,

 

  

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(iii)           in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under section 881(c) of the Code, (A) a certificate to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not (1) a “bank” within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (2) a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or (3) a “controlled foreign corporation” described in section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code and (B) duly completed copies of  Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN, or

 

(iv)           any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in United States Federal withholding tax duly completed together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit the Borrower to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made.

 

(f)           Treatment of Certain Refunds.  If the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer determines, in its sole discretion, that it has received a refund of any Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the Borrower or with respect to which the Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section, it shall pay to the Borrower an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Borrower under this Section with respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund), provided that the Borrower, upon the request of the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer if the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority.  This subsection shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes that it deems confidential) to the Borrower or any other Person.

 

3.02        Illegality.  If any Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate, or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, Dollars in the London interbank market, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, (i) any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Eurodollar Rate Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended, and (ii) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender making or maintaining Base Rate Loans the interest on which is determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate, the interest on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Eurodollar Rate, in each case, until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist.  Upon receipt of such notice, (x) the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all Eurodollar Rate Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans (as determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Eurodollar Rate), either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans and (y) until the Administrative Agent is advised in writing by such Lender that it is no longer illegal or subject to such material restrictions, as the case may be, for such Lender to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate, the Administrative Agent shall compute the Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to the Eurodollar Rate.  Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.

 

  

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3.03        Inability to Determine Rates.  If the Required Lenders determine that for any reason in connection with any request for a Eurodollar Rate Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof that (a) Dollar deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank eurodollar market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Eurodollar Rate Loan, (b) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the Eurodollar Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Loan or in connection with an existing or proposed Base Rate Loan, or (c) the Eurodollar Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Borrower and each Lender.  Thereafter, the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Eurodollar Rate Loans and the utilization of the Eurodollar Rate component of the Base Rate, in each case, shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent (upon the instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice.  Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein.

 

3.04        Increased Costs; Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans.

 

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

 

(i)           impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender (except any reserve requirement contemplated by Section 3.04(c)) or the L/C Issuer;

 

(ii)           subject any Lender or the L/C Issuer to any tax of any kind whatsoever with respect to this Agreement, any Letter of Credit, any participation in a Letter of Credit or any Eurodollar Rate Loan made by it, or change the basis of taxation of payments to such Lender or the L/C Issuer in respect thereof (except for Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes covered by Section 3.01 and the imposition of, or any change in the rate of, any Excluded Tax payable by such Lender or the L/C Issuer); or

 

(iii)           impose on any Lender or the L/C Issuer or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Rate Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein;

 

  

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and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making or maintaining any Loan the interest of which is determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or to increase the cost to such Lender or the L/C Issuer of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its obligation to participate in or to issue any Letter of Credit), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or the L/C Issuer hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender or the L/C Issuer, the Borrower will pay to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

 

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

 

(c)           Certificates for Reimbursement.  A certificate of a Lender or the L/C Issuer setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or the L/C Issuer or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in subsection (a) or (b) of this Section and delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  The Borrower shall pay such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.

 

(d)           Delay in Requests.  Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or the L/C Issuer to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s right to demand such compensation, provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or the L/C Issuer pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than nine months prior to the date that such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the nine-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).

 

  

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3.05        Compensation for Losses.  Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Borrower shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense incurred by it as a result of:

 

(a)          any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration, or otherwise);

 

(b)          any failure by the Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on the date or in the amount notified by the Borrower; or

 

(c)          any assignment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 10.13;

 

including any loss of anticipated profits and any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained.  The Borrower shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.

 

For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under this Section 3.05, each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Eurodollar Rate Loan made by it at the Eurodollar Rate for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the London interbank eurodollar market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such Eurodollar Rate Loan was in fact so funded.

 

3.06        Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.

 

(a)           Designation of a Different Lending Office.  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different Lending Office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.04, as the case may be, in the future, or eliminate the need for the notice pursuant to Section 3.02, as applicable, and (ii) in each case, would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender.  The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

 

(b)           Replacement of Lenders.  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, or if a Lender is a Defaulting Lender, the Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 10.13.

 

3.07        Survival.  All of the Borrower’s obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments and repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.

 

  

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ARTICLE IV

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS

 

4.01        Conditions of Initial Credit Extension.  The obligation of the L/C Issuer and each Lender to make its initial Credit Extension hereunder is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent (unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion):

 

(a)           The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals, electronic copies or telecopies (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party, each dated the Closing Date (or, in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before the Closing Date) and each in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders:

 

(i)           executed counterparts of this Agreement and the Guaranty, sufficient in number for distribution to the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Borrower;

 

(ii)          a Note executed by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting a Note;

 

(iii)         executed counterparts of the Security Agreement, duly executed by each Loan Party, together with:

 

(A)          acknowledgment copies of proper financing statements, duly filed on or before the day of the initial Credit Extension under the Uniform Commercial Code in all jurisdictions that the Administrative Agent may deem necessary or desirable in order to perfect the Liens created under the Security Agreement, covering the Collateral described in the Security Agreement,

 

(B)           completed requests for information, dated on or before the date of the initial Credit Extension, listing all  effective financing statements filed in the jurisdictions referred to in clause (A) above that name any Loan Party as debtor, together with copies of such other financing statements,

 

(C)           evidence that all other action that the Administrative Agent may deem necessary or desirable in order to perfect the Liens created under the Security Agreement has been taken (including receipt of duly executed payoff letters and UCC-3 termination statements, and

 

(D)           evidence of the completion of all other actions, recordings and filings of or with respect to the Security Agreement that the Administrative Agent may deem necessary or desirable in order to perfect the Liens created thereby;

 

(iv)         executed counterparts of the Securities Pledge Agreement, duly executed by each Loan Party, together with:

 

  

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(A)          certificates representing the Pledged Collateral accompanied by undated transfer powers executed in blank and instruments evidencing the Pledged Indebtedness accompanied by undated allonges executed in blank,

 

(B)           evidence that all other action that the Administrative Agent may deem necessary or desirable in order to perfect the Liens created under the Securities Pledge Agreement has been taken;

 

(v)          the Intellectual Property Security Agreements, duly executed by each Loan Party, together with evidence that all actions that the Administrative Agent may deem necessary or desirable in order to perfect the Liens created under the Intellectual Property Security Agreements has been taken;

 

(vi)         solely to the extent not previously delivered by the Loan Parties in connection with the Existing Credit Agreement, with respect to each fee-owned real property of a Loan Party, (a) a duly executed Mortgage, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent granting the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a perfected first-priority Lien in each real property, (b) an amendment to each Mortgage delivered in connection with the Existing Credit Agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent reaffirming to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, that the applicable original Mortgage creates a perfected first-priority Lien in the real property covered by such Mortgage and otherwise amending the Mortgage as the Administrative Agent requires, (c) all Real Estate Support Documents reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent and (d) all opinions, certificates, agreements and documents reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent.

 

(vii)        the Fee Letter, duly executed by the Borrower;

 

(viii)       such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party as the Administrative Agent may require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party or is to be a party;

 

(ix)          such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that each Loan Party is duly organized or formed, and that each Loan Party and its Subsidiaries is validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(x)           a favorable opinion of Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod LLP, counsel to the Loan Parties, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, each in form, scope and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

 

(xi)          favorable opinions from those local counsel to the Loan Parties, listed on Schedule 4.01, addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, each in form, scope and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

 

  

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(xii)         a certificate of a Responsible Officer of each Loan Party either (A) attaching copies of all consents, licenses and approvals required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by such Loan Party and the validity against such Loan Party of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and such consents, licenses and approvals shall be in full force and effect, or (B) stating that no such consents, licenses or approvals are so required;

 

(xiii)        a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying (A) that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied, (B) that there has been no event or circumstance since the date of the Audited Financial Statements that has had or could be reasonably expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; and (C) that the Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the Measurement Period most recently ended prior to the Closing Date, calculated on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the Transaction shall be greater than or equal to $30,000,000, together with all detail and supporting information reasonably requested by and satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

 

(xiv)        certificates from a Responsible Officer of each Loan Party attesting to the Solvency of each Loan Party both before and after giving effect to the Transactions;

 

(xv)         evidence that all insurance required to be maintained pursuant to the Loan Documents has been obtained and is in effect, together with the binding certificates of insurance, naming the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, as an additional insured or loss payee, as the case may be, under all insurance policies maintained with respect to the assets and properties of the Loan Parties that constitute Collateral;

 

(xvi)        such other assurances, certificates, documents, consents or opinions as the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Sweep Plus Lender reasonably may require.

 

(b)           (i) All fees required to be paid to the Administrative Agent and the Arranger on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid and (ii) all fees required to be paid to the Administrative Agent for itself or on behalf of Lenders on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid.

 

(c)           Unless waived by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall have paid all fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent (directly to such counsel if requested by the Administrative Agent) to the extent invoiced prior to or on the Closing Date, plus such additional amounts of such fees, charges and disbursements as shall constitute its reasonable estimate of such fees, charges and disbursements incurred or to be incurred by it through the closing proceedings (provided that such estimate shall not thereafter preclude a final settling of accounts between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent).

 

(d)           The Administrative Agent shall have received, reviewed and be satisfied with the Budget and projections delivered to the Administrative Agent prior to the Closing Date;

 

(e)           The capital and ownership structure and the shareholding arrangements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (and all agreements related thereto), after giving pro forma effect to the Transactions, shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Arranger.

 

  

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(f)           The Loan Parties shall have provided the documentation and other information to the Lenders required pursuant to Section 10.17.

 

(g)           The Lenders shall have completed a due diligence investigation of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in scope, and with results, satisfactory to the Lenders, and shall have been given such access to the management records, books of account, contract and properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and shall have received such financial, business and other information regarding each of the foregoing Persons and businesses as they shall have requested.  All of the information made available to the Administrative Agent prior to the Closing Date shall be complete and correct in all material respects; and no changes or developments shall have occurred, and no new or additional information shall have been received or discovered by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders regarding the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or the Transaction after September 12, 2010 that (A) either individually or in the aggregate could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (B) purports to adversely affect the Facilities or any other aspect of the Transaction, nothing shall have come to the attention of the Lenders during the course of such due diligence investigation to lead them to believe that the Transaction will have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(h)           There shall be no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower after due and diligent investigation, threatened or contemplated, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or against any of their properties or revenues that (a) purport to affect or pertain to this Agreement, any other Loan Document or the consummation of the Transactions, or (b) except for the Disclosed Litigation, either individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and there has been no adverse change in the status, or financial effect on any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof, of the Disclosed Litigation.

 

Without limiting the generality of the provisions of Section 9.04, for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4.01, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.

 

4.02       Conditions to all Credit Extensions.  The obligation of each Lender, the L/C Issuer or the Sweep Plus Lender to honor any Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans) or to advance any Sweep Plus Loan is subject to the following conditions precedent:

 

  

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(a)           The representations and warranties of the Borrower and each other Loan Party contained in Article V or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct on and as of the date of such Credit Extension, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 4.02, the representations and warranties contained in Sections 5.05(a) and (b) shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to Sections 6.01(a) and (b), respectively.

 

(b)           No Default shall exist, or would result from such proposed Credit Extension or from the application of the proceeds thereof.

 

(c)           With respect to any Revolving Credit Borrowing or L/C Credit Extension, the Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the L/C Issuer or the Sweep Plus Lender shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.

 

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

 

Each Request for Credit Extension (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Loans to the other Type or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans) submitted by the Borrower and each advance of a Sweep Plus Loan pursuant to the automatic authorization set forth in Section 2.04(b) hereof shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.

 

ARTICLE V

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

Each Loan Party represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders as of the Closing Date and as of the date of each Credit Extension that:

 

5.01       Existence, Qualification and Power.  Each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries (a) is duly organized or formed, validly existing and, as applicable, in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority and all requisite governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to (i) own or lease its assets and carry on its business and (ii) execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party and consummate the Transaction, and (c) is duly qualified and is licensed and, as applicable, in good standing under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification or license; except in each case referred to in clause (b)(i) or (c), to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.02       Authorization; No Contravention.  The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is or is to be a party have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and do not and will not (a) contravene the terms of any of such Person’s Organization Documents; (b) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien under, or require any payment to be made under (i) any Contractual Obligation to which such Person is a party or affecting such Person or the properties of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Person or its property is subject; or (c) violate any Law.

 

  

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5.03       Governmental Authorization; Other Consents.  Except for the filing and the recordation of documents necessary to perfect the Administrative Agent’s Lien in the Collateral securing the Obligations pursuant to the Collateral Documents which have been filed or recorded or, in the case only of the amendments to the Mortgages referred to in Section 4.01(a)(vi), will be recorded contemporaneously with the Closing, no approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is necessary or required in connection with (a) the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or for the consummation of the Transaction, (b) the grant by any Loan Party of the Liens granted by it pursuant to the Collateral Documents, (c) the perfection or maintenance of the Liens created under the Collateral Documents (including the first priority nature thereof) or (d) the exercise by the Administrative Agent or any Lender of its rights under the Loan Documents or the remedies in respect of the Collateral pursuant to the Collateral Documents.  All applicable waiting periods in connection with the Transaction have expired without any action having been taken by any Governmental Authority restraining, preventing or imposing materially adverse conditions upon the Transaction or the rights of the Loan Parties or their Subsidiaries freely to transfer or otherwise dispose of, or to create any Lien on, any properties now owned or hereafter acquired by any of them.

 

5.04       Binding Effect.  This Agreement has been, and each other Loan Document, when delivered hereunder, will have been, duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party that is party thereto.  This Agreement constitutes, and each other Loan Document when so delivered will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against each Loan Party that is party thereto in accordance with its terms.

 

5.05       Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect; No Internal Control Event.

 

(a)           The Audited Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; (ii) fairly present the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; and (iii) show all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof, including, without limitation, material liabilities for taxes, material commitments.

 

(b)           The unaudited consolidated balance sheets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries dated September 12, 2010, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the Fiscal Quarter ended on that date (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein, and (ii) fairly present the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby, subject, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), to the absence of footnotes and to normal year-end audit adjustments.  Schedule 5.05 sets forth all material Indebtedness and material liabilities for taxes of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the date of such financial statements.

 

  

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(c)           Since the date of the Audited Financial Statements, there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(d)           To the best knowledge of the Borrower, no Internal Control Event exists or has occurred since the date of the Audited Financial Statements that has resulted in or could reasonably be expected to result in a misstatement in any material respect, in any financial information delivered or to be delivered to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders, of (i) covenant compliance calculations provided hereunder or (ii) the assets, liabilities, financial condition or results of operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

 

(e)           The consolidated forecasted balance sheets, statements of income and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries delivered pursuant to Section 4.01 and Section 6.01(c) were prepared in good faith on the basis of the assumptions stated therein, which assumptions were fair in light of the conditions existing at the time of delivery of such forecasts, and represented, at the time of delivery, the Borrower’s best estimate of its future financial condition and performance.

 

5.06       Litigation.  There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or threatened in writing, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or against any of their properties or revenues that (a) purport to affect or pertain to this Agreement, any other Loan Document or the consummation of the Transaction, or (b) except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 5.06 (the “Disclosed Litigation”), either individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and there has been no change in the status, or financial effect on any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof, of the Disclosed Litigation that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.07       No Default.  Neither any Loan Party nor any Subsidiary thereof is in default under or with respect to, or a party to, any Contractual Obligation that could, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  No Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

5.08       Ownership of Property; Liens; Investments.

 

(a)           Each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries has good record and marketable title in fee simple to, or valid leasehold interests in, all real property necessary or used in the ordinary conduct of its business, except for such defects in title as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b)           Schedule 5.08(b) (as it may be updated from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement) sets forth, as of the date such Schedule 5.08(b) was most recently delivered to the Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, a complete and accurate list of all Liens on the property or assets of each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries, showing the lienholder thereof, the principal amount of the obligations secured thereby and the property or assets of such Loan Party or such Subsidiary subject thereto.  The property of each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries is subject to no Liens, other than Liens set forth on Schedule 5.08(b), and as otherwise permitted by Section 7.01.

 

  

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(c)           Schedule 5.08(c) (as it may be updated from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement) sets forth, as of the date such Schedule 5.08(c) was most recently delivered to the Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, a complete and accurate list of all real property owned by each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries, showing the street address, county or other relevant jurisdiction, state, record owner and book and fair value thereof.  Each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries has good, marketable and insurable fee simple title to the real property owned by such Loan Party or such Subsidiary, free and clear of all Liens, other than Liens created or permitted by the Loan Documents.

 

(d)           (i)           Schedule 5.08(d)(i) (as it may be updated from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement) sets forth, as of the date such Schedule 5.08(d)(i) was most recently delivered to the Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, a complete and accurate list of all leases of real property under which any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of a Loan Party is the lessee, showing the street address, county or other relevant jurisdiction, state, lessor, lessee, expiration date and annual rental cost thereof.  Each such lease is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the lessor thereof, enforceable in accordance with its terms.

 

(ii)           Schedule 5.08(d)(ii) (as it may be updated from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement) sets forth, as of the date such Schedule 5.08(d)(ii) was most recently delivered to the Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, a complete and accurate list of all leases of real property under which any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of a Loan Party is the lessor, showing the street address, county or other relevant jurisdiction, state, lessor, lessee, expiration date and annual rental cost thereof.  Each such lease is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the lessee thereof, enforceable in accordance with its terms.

 

(e)           Schedule 5.08(e) (as it may be updated from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement) sets forth, as of the date such Schedule 5.08(e) was most recently delivered to the Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, a complete and accurate list of all Investments held by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of a Loan Party, including the amount, obligor or issuer and maturity, if any, thereof.

 

5.09       Environmental Compliance.

 

(a)           The Loan Parties and their respective Subsidiaries conduct in the ordinary course of business a review of the effect of existing Environmental Laws and claims alleging potential liability or responsibility for violation of any Environmental Law on their respective businesses, operations and properties, and as a result thereof the Borrower has reasonably concluded that, such Environmental Laws and claims could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  

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(b)           None of the properties currently or (to the best knowledge of the Loan Parties) formerly owned or operated by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is listed or proposed for listing on the NPL or on the CERCLIS or any analogous foreign, state or local list or, to the best knowledge of the Loan Parties and except for the Wheeling, Illinois property owned by the Borrower or its Subsidiary, is adjacent to any such property; there are no and, to the best knowledge of the Loan Parties, never have been any underground or above-ground storage tanks or any surface impoundments, septic tanks, pits, sumps or lagoons in which Hazardous Materials are being or have been treated, stored or disposed in violation of any Environmental Laws on any property currently owned or operated by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the best of the knowledge of the Loan Parties, on any property formerly owned or operated by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries; there is no material amount of asbestos or asbestos-containing material in violation of any Environmental Laws on any property currently owned or operated by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries; and Hazardous Materials have not been released, discharged or disposed of in violation of Environmental Laws on (i) any property currently owned or operated by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries on any property formerly owned or operated by any of them.

 

(c)           Neither any Loan Party nor any of its Subsidiaries is undertaking, and has not completed, either individually or together with other potentially responsible parties, any investigation or assessment or remedial or response action relating to any actual or threatened release, discharge or disposal of Hazardous Materials at any site, location or operation, either voluntarily or pursuant to the order of any Governmental Authority or the requirements of any Environmental Law; and all Hazardous Materials generated, used, treated, handled or stored at, or transported to or from, any property currently or formerly owned or operated by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries have been disposed of in a manner not reasonably expected to result in material liability to any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

5.10       Insurance.  The properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Borrower, in such amounts, with such deductibles and covering such risks as are customarily carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in localities where the Borrower or the applicable Subsidiary operates.

 

5.11       Taxes.  Except as set forth on Schedule 5.11 hereto, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries have filed all Federal, state and other material tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all Federal, state and other material taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges levied or imposed upon them or their properties, income or assets otherwise due and payable, except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP.  There is no proposed tax assessment against the Borrower or any Subsidiary that would, if made, have a Material Adverse Effect.  Neither any Loan Party nor any Subsidiary thereof is party to any tax sharing agreement.

 

  

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5.12       ERISA Compliance.

 

(a)           Each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other Federal or state Laws.  Each Plan that is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS or an application for such a letter is currently being processed by the IRS with respect thereto and nothing has occurred which would prevent, or cause the loss of, such qualification.  The Borrower and each ERISA Affiliate have made all required contributions to each Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code, and no application for a funding waiver or an extension of any amortization period pursuant to Section 412 of the Code has been made with respect to any Plan.

 

(b)           There are no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  There has been no prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c)           (i) No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; (ii) no Pension Plan has any Unfunded Pension Liability; (iii) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan (other than premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA); (iv) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability (and no event has occurred which, with the giving of notice under Section 4219 of ERISA, would result in such liability) under Section 4201 or 4243 of ERISA with respect to a Multiemployer Plan; and (v) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA.

 

5.13       Subsidiaries; Equity Interests; Loan Parties.

 

(a)           Part (a) of Schedule 5.13 (as it may be updated from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement), sets forth, as of the date such Schedule 5.13 was most recently delivered to the Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, a complete and accurate list of all Subsidiaries of each Loan Party and, as of the date such Schedule 5.13 was most recently delivered to the Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, all of the outstanding Equity Interests in such Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by a Loan Party in the amounts specified on Part (a) of such Schedule 5.13, free and clear of all Liens other than Liens permitted under the Loan Documents and Liens created under the Collateral Documents.

 

(b)           Part (b) of Schedule 5.13 (as it may be updated from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement), sets forth, as of the date such Schedule 5.13 was most recently delivered to the Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, a complete and accurate list of each Loan Party’s equity investments in any other Person.

 

  

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(c)           Part (c) of Schedule 5.13 (as it may be updated from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement), sets forth, as of the date such Schedule 5.13 was most recently delivered to the Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, a complete and accurate list of all Loan Parties, showing as to each Loan Party, the jurisdiction of its organization, the address of its principal place of business and its U.S. taxpayer identification number or, in the case of any non-U.S. Loan Party that does not have a U.S. taxpayer identification number, its unique identification number issued to it by the jurisdiction of its organization.

 

The copy of the Organization Documents of each Loan Party and each amendment thereto provided pursuant to Section 4.01(a) is a true and correct copy of each such document, each of which is valid and in full force and effect.

 

5.14       Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act; Public Utility Holding Company Act.

 

(a)           The Borrower is not engaged and will not engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the FRB), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock.

 

(b)           None of the Borrower, any Person Controlling the Borrower, or any Subsidiary (i) is a “holding company,” or a “subsidiary company” of a “holding company,” or an “affiliate” of a “holding company”, as such terms are defined in the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005, and neither Borrower nor or any of its Subsidiaries is subject to regulation as a “public utility” under the Federal Power Act, as amended, or (ii) is or is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

5.15       Disclosure.  The Borrower has disclosed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which it or any of its Subsidiaries or any other Loan Party is subject, and all other matters known to it, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.  No report, financial statement, certificate or other information furnished (whether in writing or orally) by or on behalf of any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder or under any other Loan Document (in each case as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time.

 

5.16       Compliance with Laws.  Each Loan Party and each Subsidiary thereof is in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its properties, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted or (b) the failure to comply therewith, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  

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5.17       Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.  Each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries own, or possess the right to use, all of the trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, patents, patent rights, franchises, licenses and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “IP Rights”) that are reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses, without conflict with the rights of any other Person.  To the best knowledge of the Borrower, no slogan or other advertising device, product, process, method, substance, part or other material now employed, or now contemplated to be employed, by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries infringes upon any rights held by any other Person.  No claim or litigation regarding any of the foregoing is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, threatened, which, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect except as set forth on Schedule 5.17. Schedule 5.17 (as it may be updated from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement) sets forth, as of the date such Schedule 5.17 was most recently delivered to the Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, a complete and accurate list of all registered or material Intellectual Property owned or used by each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries.

 

5.18       Solvency.  Each Loan Party is, individually and together with its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, Solvent.

 

5.19       Casualty, Etc.  Neither the businesses nor the properties of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries are affected by any fire, explosion, accident, strike, lockout or other labor dispute, drought, storm, hail, earthquake, embargo, act of God or of the public enemy or other casualty (whether or not covered by insurance) that, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.20       Labor Matters.  There are no collective bargaining agreements or Multiemployer Plans and neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary has suffered any strikes, walkouts, work stoppages or other material labor difficulty within the last five years.

 

5.21       Unit Locations; Franchised Unit Locations.  Part (a) of Schedule 5.21 (as it may be updated from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement) sets forth, as of the date such Schedule 5.21 was most recently delivered to the Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, a complete and accurate list of all Unit Locations held by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of a Loan Party as of the Closing Date or, if later, the most-recent date on which such Schedule has been updated.  Part (b) of Schedule 5.21 (as it may be updated from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement) sets forth, as of the date such Schedule 5.21 was most recently delivered to the Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, a complete and accurate list of all Franchised Unit Locations franchised by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of a Loan Party as Franchisor to any Franchisee as of the Closing Date or, if later, the most-recent date on which such Schedule has been updated.

 

  

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5.22       Franchise Agreements.

 

(a)           Schedule 5.22 (as it may be updated from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement) sets forth, as of the date such Schedule 5.22 was most recently delivered to the Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, a complete and accurate list of all Franchise Agreements.

 

(b)           Each Franchise Agreement is in full force and effect except to the extent the failure to comply therewith, either individually or in the aggregate with all other failures to comply with any Franchise Agreement, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, without any amendment or modification from the form or copy delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders except for amendments permitted hereunder and which do not materially and adversely affect the rights of the Lenders.

 

(c)           The FDD that has been most recently delivered to the Administrative Agent is accurate and complete in all material respects and is the most recent FDD registered by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries with any Governmental Authority.

 

5.23       Collateral Documents.  The provisions of the Collateral Documents are effective to create in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties a legal, valid and enforceable first priority Lien (subject to Liens permitted by Section 7.01) on all right, title and interest of the respective Loan Parties in the Collateral described therein.  Except for filings completed prior to the Closing Date and as contemplated hereby and by the Collateral Documents, no filing or other action will be necessary to perfect or protect such Liens.

 

5.24       Operating Accounts.  Schedule 5.24 (as it may be updated from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement) identifies, as of the date such Schedule 5.24 was most recently delivered to the Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, all Operating Accounts of the Loan Parties, including the following information for each Operating Account: the Loan Party who maintains such Operating Account, the account number of such Operating Account, the name of the applicable financial institution that maintains such Operating Account and the mailing address and other contact information for such financial institution.

 

5.25       Liquor Licenses.  Either through receipt of requisite liquor licenses in the name of the Borrower or its applicable Subsidiaries, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries have the requisite authority for the continued operation of all Restaurants owned by the applicable Loan Party with full food and liquor service in accordance with applicable Laws, except where the failure to have such authority, either in any individual instance or in aggregate with all such failures, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.26       Private Club.  Schedule 5.26 (as it may be updated from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement) identifies, as of the date such Schedule 5.26 was most recently delivered to the Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, a complete and accurate list of all Private Clubs.  Each Private Club is entitled to receive and receives only revenues from the sale of alcoholic beverages at the Restaurant with which it is associated, and substantially all of such revenue in excess of that amount required to restock inventories of alcoholic beverages at such Restaurant in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices is remitted to the Borrower or another Loan Party promptly but in any event no less frequently than once each calendar week.

 

  

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5.27       Compliance with OFAC Rules and Regulations.  Neither any Loan Party, nor any Subsidiary nor, to any Loan Party’s knowledge, any Affiliate of any Loan Party (i) is a Sanctioned Person, (ii) has any of its assets in Sanctioned Countries, or (iii) derives any of its operating income from investments in, or transactions with Sanctioned Persons or Sanctioned Countries.  No part of the proceeds of any Loan advanced hereunder will be used directly or indirectly to fund any operations in, finance any investments or activities in or make any payments to, a Sanctioned Person or a Sanctioned Country.

 

5.28       Foreign Assets Control Regulations, Etc.  Neither any Loan Party nor any Subsidiary is an “enemy” or an “ally of the enemy” within the meaning of Section 2 of the Trading with the Enemy Act of the United States of America (50 U.S.C. App. §§ 1 et seq.), as amended.  Neither any Loan Party nor any or Subsidiary is in violation in any material respect of (a) the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, (b) any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) or any enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto or (c) the Patriot Act.  Neither any Loan Party nor any Subsidiary (i) is a blocked person described in Section 1 of the Anti-Terrorism Order or (ii) to any Loan Party’s knowledge, engages in any dealings or transactions, or is otherwise associated, with any such blocked person.

 

ARTICLE VI

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

 

So long as any Lender shall have any Revolving Credit Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, the Borrower (it being understood that references to the Borrower in Section 6.01 shall be references only to Benihana Inc.) shall, and shall (except in the case of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.01, 6.02 and 6.03) cause each Subsidiary to:

 

6.01       Financial Statements.  Deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and detail satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:

 

(a)           as soon as available, but in any event within 105 days after the end of each Fiscal Year of the Borrower, (i) a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such Fiscal Year, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such Fiscal Year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous Fiscal Year, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, such consolidated statements to be audited and accompanied by (A) a report and opinion of a Registered Public Accounting Firm of nationally recognized standing reasonably acceptable to the Required Lenders, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and applicable Securities Laws and shall not be subject to any “going concern” or like qualification or exception or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit or with respect to the absence of any material misstatement and (B) an opinion of such Registered Public Accounting Firm independently assessing the Borrower’s internal controls over financial reporting in accordance with Item 308 of SEC Regulation S-K, PCAOB Auditing Standard No. 2, and Section 404 of Sarbanes-Oxley expressing a conclusion that contains no statement that there is a material weakness in such internal controls, except for such material weaknesses as to which the Required Lenders do not object, and (ii) a statement detailing unit level sales and cash flow of the Restaurants for such Fiscal Year, in each case, setting forth in comparative form, the corresponding information for the previous Fiscal Year and the corresponding information contained in the most recently delivered Budget, all in reasonable detail and duly certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower;

 

  

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(b)           as soon as available, but in any event within 45 days after the end of each Fiscal Quarter of each Fiscal Year of the Borrower, (i) a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such Fiscal Quarter, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such Fiscal Quarter and for the portion of the Borrower’s Fiscal Year then ended, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding Fiscal Quarter of the previous Fiscal Year and the corresponding portion of the previous Fiscal Year, all in reasonable detail, such consolidated statements to be certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower as fairly presenting the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes and (ii) a statement detailing unit level sales and cash flow of the Restaurants for such Fiscal Quarter, in each case, setting forth in comparative form, the corresponding information for the Fiscal Quarter of the previous Fiscal Year and the corresponding information contained in the most recently delivered Budget, all in reasonable detail and duly certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower;

 

(c)           as soon as available, but in any event no later than 30 days after the end of each Fiscal Year of the Borrower, an annual business plan and budget of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, including forecasts prepared by management of the Borrower, in form satisfactory to the Administrative Agent of consolidated balance sheets, statements of income or operations and cash flows, Maintenance Capital Expenditures and Growth Capital Expenditures of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a quarterly basis for the immediately following Fiscal Year and on an annual basis for each Fiscal Year thereafter through and including the Maturity Date (the “Budget”).

 

As to any information contained in materials furnished pursuant to Section 6.02(d), the Borrower shall not be separately required to furnish such information under Section 6.01(a) or (b) above, but the foregoing shall not be in derogation of the obligation of the Borrower to furnish the information and materials described in Sections 6.01(a) and (b) above at the times specified therein.  If the Borrower has filed its required quarterly reports for a particular Fiscal Quarter on Form 10-Q with the SEC on or prior to the date on which the Borrower is required to deliver to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders the information and materials described in Section 6.01(b) for such Fiscal Quarter, then to the extent such Form 10-Q contains any of the information described in Section 6.01(b) the Borrower may provide a copy of such Form 10-Q in lieu of the separate reports required under Section 6.01(b) with respect to such information.

 

  

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6.02       Certificates; Other Information.  Deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and detail satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:

 

(a)           concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Section 6.01(a), a certificate of its independent certified public accountants certifying such financial statements and stating that in making the examination necessary therefor no knowledge was obtained of any Default under the financial covenants set forth herein or, if any such Default shall exist, stating the nature and status of such event;

 

(b)           concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(a) and (b), (i) a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower and (ii) a copy of management’s discussion and analysis with respect to such financial statements;

 

(c)           promptly after receipt thereof, copies of any detailed audit reports, management letters or recommendations submitted to the board of directors (or the audit committee of the board of directors) of any Loan Party by independent accountants in connection with the accounts or books of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, or any audit of any of them;

 

(d)           promptly after the same are available, copies of each annual report, proxy or financial statement or other report or communication sent to the stockholders of the Borrower, and copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which the Borrower may file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or with any national securities exchange, and in any case not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto;

 

(e)           promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any statement or report furnished to any holder of debt securities of any Loan Party or of any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of any indenture, loan or credit or similar agreement and not otherwise required to be furnished to the Lenders pursuant to Section 6.01 or any other clause of this Section 6.02;

 

(f)           as soon as available, but in any event within 30 days after the end of each Fiscal Year of the Borrower, a report summarizing the insurance coverage (specifying type, amount and carrier) in effect for each Loan Party and its Subsidiaries and containing such additional information as the Administrative Agent, or any Lender through the Administrative Agent, may reasonably specify, together with binding insurance certificates identifying the Administrative Agent as additional insured or loss payee as applicable;

 

(g)           promptly, and in any event within five Business Days after receipt thereof by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof, copies of each notice or other correspondence received from the SEC or the Federal Trade Commission (or comparable agency in any applicable non-U.S. jurisdiction) concerning any investigation or possible investigation or other inquiry by such agency regarding financial or other operational results or the franchise operations of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof;

 

(h)           promptly upon completion thereof, any amendment or modification to, restatement of, any FDD or any additional FDD prepared by any Loan Party;

 

  

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(i)           promptly after the assertion or occurrence thereof, notice of any action or proceeding against or of any noncompliance by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries with any Environmental Law or Environmental Permit that could (i) reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) cause any property described in the Mortgages to be subject to any material restrictions on ownership, occupancy, use or transferability under any Environmental Law;

 

(j)           concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Section 6.01(a), updated Schedules 5.08(b), 5.08(c), 5.08(d)(i), 5.08(d)(ii), 5.08(e), 5.13, 5.21, 5.22, 5.24 and 5.26 certified to be true, correct and complete as of the date of such delivery by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower and in each case, in form substantially similar to such schedule that was previously delivered  to the Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

 

(k)          concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Section 6.01(b), an updated Schedule 5.17 certified to be true, correct and complete as of the date of such delivery by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, in form substantially similar to such schedule that was previously delivered  to the Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

 

(l)           concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Section 6.01(a), a certificate from a Responsible Officer of the Loan Parties detailing the prepayments made pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(i) through (iii) during such Fiscal Year covered by such financial statements, together with all supporting information reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; and

 

(m)         promptly, such additional information regarding the business, financial, legal or corporate affairs of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may from time to time reasonably request.

 

The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Arranger will make available to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks or another similar electronic system (the “Platform”) and (b) certain of the Lenders may be “public-side” Lenders (i.e., Lenders that do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities) (each, a “Public Lender”).  In the event that there is a Public Lender party to this Agreement, then the Borrower hereby agrees that upon the request of the Administrative Agent it will use commercially reasonable efforts to identify that portion of the Borrower Materials that may be distributed to the Public Lenders and that (w) all such Borrower Materials shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Arranger, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information (although it may be sensitive and proprietary) with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal and state securities Laws (provided, however, that to the extent such Borrower Materials are not marked “PUBLIC” and constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 10.07); (y) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Investor;” and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Arranger shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Investor.”  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall be under no Obligation to mark any Borrower Materials “PUBLIC”.

 

  

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6.03       Notices.  Promptly notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

 

(a)           of the occurrence of any Default;

 

(b)           of any matter that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, including (i) breach or non-performance of, or any default under, a Contractual Obligation of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof; (ii) any dispute, litigation, investigation, proceeding or suspension between any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof and any Governmental Authority; or (iii) the commencement of, or any material development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof, including pursuant to any applicable Environmental Laws;

 

(c)           of the occurrence of any ERISA Event;

 

(d)           of any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof;

 

(e)           of the determination by the Registered Accounting Firm providing the opinion required under Section 6.01(a)(ii) (in connection with its preparation of such opinion) or the Borrower’s determination at any time of the occurrence or existence of any Internal Control Event; and

 

(f)           of the (i) occurrence of any Disposition of property or assets for which the Borrower is required to make a mandatory prepayment pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(i), (ii) incurrence or issuance of any Indebtedness for which the Borrower is required to make a mandatory prepayment pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(ii) and (iii) any receipt of an Insurance Receipt for which the Borrower is required to make a mandatory prepayment to Section 2.05(b)(iii).

 

Each notice pursuant to Section 6.03 (other than Section 6.03(f)) shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto.  Each notice pursuant to Section 6.03(a) shall describe with particularity any and all provisions of this Agreement and any other Loan Document that have been breached.

 

6.04       Payment of Obligations.  Pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable, all its obligations and liabilities, including (a) all tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it or its properties or assets, unless the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by the Borrower or such Subsidiary; (b) all lawful claims which, if unpaid, would by law become a Lien upon its property; and (c) all Indebtedness, as and when due and payable, but subject to any subordination provisions contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing such Indebtedness.

 

  

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6.05       Preservation of Existence; Liquor Licenses, Etc.  (a)  Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence and good standing (except, in the case of a failure to maintain good standing, where no Material Adverse Effect could reasonably be expected to result therefrom and the relevant Loan Party takes steps to regain good standing promptly upon acquiring knowledge of such failure) under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section 7.04 or 7.05; provided, however, that the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may consummate any other merger or consolidation permitted under Section 7.04; (b) register, preserve, renew and maintain all of its Intellectual Property except where no Material Adverse Effect could reasonably be expected to result from the failure to do so; and (c) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges, permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business including, without limitation, any and all approvals by any Federal, state or local food or liquor authority necessary for the continued operation of any Restaurant operated by any Loan Party with full food and liquor service; provided that no Default shall result from a failure under this clause (c) if such failure, either individually or in the aggregate with all such failures, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.06       Maintenance of Properties.  (a) Maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted; (b) make all necessary repairs thereto and renewals and replacements thereof except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) use the standard of care typical in the industry in the operation and maintenance of its facilities.

 

6.07       Maintenance of Insurance.  Maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Borrower, insurance with respect to its properties and business against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by Persons engaged in the same or similar business, of such types and in such amounts as are customarily carried under similar circumstances by such other Persons and providing for not less than 30 days’ prior notice to the Administrative Agent of termination, lapse or cancellation of such insurance.

 

6.08       Compliance with Laws.  Comply in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted; or (b) the failure to comply therewith could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.09       Books and Records.  Maintain proper books of record and account, in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with GAAP consistently applied shall be made of all financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be.

 

  

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6.10       Inspection Rights.  Permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent and each Lender to visit and inspect any of its properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, officers, and independent public accountants, all at the expense of the Borrower and at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice to the Borrower; provided, however, that when an Event of Default exists the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Borrower at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice.

 

6.11       Use of Proceeds.  Use the proceeds of the Credit Extensions (i) to refinance any outstanding amounts under the Existing Credit Agreement, (ii) pay all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the closing of the Transaction, (iii) to make Capital Expenditures to the extent permitted by this Credit Agreement and (iv) to pay general corporate purposes not in contravention of any Law or of any Loan Document.

 

6.12       Covenant to Guarantee Obligations and Give Security.  (a) Upon the formation or acquisition of any new direct or indirect Subsidiary (that is not a CFC) by any Loan Party or the acquisition of any property by any Loan Party (not already subject to a perfected first priority Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties) other than property consisting of the Equity Interests in any CFC, then the Borrower shall, at the Borrower’s expense:

 

(i)           within 10 days of the acquisition of any ownership interest real property (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion), provide the Administrative Agent notice thereof along with a description of the property so acquired in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

 

(ii)           within 10 days after the end of each Fiscal Quarter of the Borrower (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion), cause each Subsidiary formed or acquired during such Fiscal Quarter and each direct and indirect parent of such Subsidiary (if it has not already done so) or the applicable Loan Party to duly execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent the documents specified in Sections 4.01(a)(viii) and  (ix), a Guaranty, and all Collateral Documents, as specified by and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (including delivery of all certificates representing Pledged Collateral and all instruments representing Pledged Indebtedness in and of such Subsidiary, and other instruments of the type specified in Section 4.01(a)(iii), (iv) and (v)), securing payment of all the Obligations of such Subsidiary or such parent or such Loan Party, as the case may be under the Loan Documents and constituting perfected first priority Liens on all the assets of such formed or acquired Subsidiary,

 

  

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(iii)           within 10 days after the end of each Fiscal Quarter of the Borrower (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion), cause each Subsidiary formed or acquired during such Fiscal Quarter and each direct and indirect parent of such Subsidiary (if it has not already done so) or such Loan Party to take whatever action (including the recording of mortgages and related consents, the filing of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements, the delivery of all certificates representing Pledged Collateral accompanied by undated transfer powers executed in blank,  the delivery of all instruments evidencing Pledged Indebtedness accompanied by undated allonges executed in blank,  the giving of notices and the endorsement of notices on title documents) as may be necessary or advisable in the opinion of the Administrative Agent to vest in the Administrative Agent (or in any representative of the Administrative Agent designated by it) valid and subsisting first priority Liens on the properties to be subject to the Collateral Documents, enforceable against all third parties in accordance with their terms,

 

(iv)           within 10 days after the end of each Fiscal Quarter of the Borrower (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion), cause each Subsidiary formed or acquired during such Fiscal Quarter, to deliver to the Administrative Agent, upon the request of the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion, a signed copy of favorable opinions, addressed to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, of counsel for the Loan Parties acceptable to the Administrative Agent as to the matters contained in clauses (i), (iii) and (iv) above, and as to such other matters as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, and

 

(v)           as promptly as practicable after the Administrative Agent’s request, deliver, upon the request of the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion, to the Administrative Agent with respect to each parcel of real property owned by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, Real Estate Support Documents, each in scope, form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, provided, however, that to the extent that any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries shall have otherwise received any of the foregoing items with respect to such real property, such items shall, promptly after the receipt thereof, be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

 

(b)           Upon the formation or acquisition of any new first tier CFC  by any Loan Party, then the Loan Parties shall, at the Loan Parties’ expense, cause the Persons holding the Equity Interests in such CFC to (i) duly execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent, a securities pledge agreement or a joinder agreement to an existing Securities Pledge Agreement, in each case, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, in which 65% of the voting Equity Interests and 100% of the non-voting Equity Interest of such CFC are pledged to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties to secure the Loan Parties’ payment and performance of the Obligations and (ii) deliver all opinions, certificates, agreements and documents reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, and to take all such other actions as may be necessary or advisable in the opinion of the Administrative Agent to vest in the Administrative Agent, valid and subsisting first-priority Liens on such Equity Interests.

 

(c)           At any time upon request of the Administrative Agent, promptly execute and deliver any and all further instruments and documents and take all such other action as the Administrative Agent may deem necessary or desirable in obtaining the full benefits of, or (as applicable) in perfecting and preserving the Liens of, such guaranties and Collateral Documents.

 

  

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6.13       Compliance with Environmental Laws.  Comply, and cause all lessees and other Persons operating or occupying its properties to comply, in all material respects, with all applicable Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits; obtain and renew all Environmental Permits necessary for its operations and properties; and conduct any investigation, study, sampling and testing, and undertake any cleanup, removal, remedial or other action necessary to remove and clean up all Hazardous Materials from any of its properties, in accordance with the requirements of all Environmental Laws; provided, however, that neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to undertake any such cleanup, removal, remedial or other action to the extent that its obligation to do so is being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings and appropriate reserves are being maintained with respect to such circumstances in accordance with GAAP.

 

6.14       [Intentionally Omitted]

 

6.15       Further Assurances.  Promptly upon request by the Administrative Agent, or any Lender through the Administrative Agent, (a) correct any material defect or error that may be discovered in any Loan Document or in the execution, acknowledgment, filing or recordation thereof, and (b) do, execute, acknowledge, deliver, record, re-record, file, re-file, register and re-register any and all such further acts, deeds, certificates, assurances and other instruments as the Administrative Agent, or any Lender through the Administrative Agent, may reasonably require from time to time in order to (i) carry out more effectively the purposes of the Loan Documents, (ii) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, subject any Loan Party’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ properties, assets, rights or interests to the Liens now or hereafter intended to be covered by any of the Collateral Documents, (iii) perfect and maintain the validity, effectiveness and priority of any of the Collateral Documents and any of the Liens intended to be created thereunder and (iv) assure, convey, grant, assign, transfer, preserve, protect and confirm more effectively unto the Secured Parties the rights granted or now or hereafter intended to be granted to the Secured Parties under any Loan Document or under any other instrument executed in connection with any Loan Document to which any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is or is to be a party, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to do so.

 

6.16       Compliance with Terms of Leaseholds.  Except, in any case, where the failure to do so, either individually or in the aggregate, could not be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, make all payments and otherwise perform all obligations in respect of all leases of real property to which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, keep such leases in full force and effect and not allow such leases to lapse or be terminated or any rights to renew such leases to be forfeited or cancelled, notify the Administrative Agent of any default by any party with respect to such leases and cooperate with the Administrative Agent in all respects to cure any such default, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to do so.

 

6.17       Private Club Agreements.  Cause each Private Club to apply and/or remit revenues from the sale of alcohol beverages in accordance with Section 5.26.  Cause each Private Club to enter into a Private Club Agreement and to observe all material terms and provisions thereof.

 

  

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6.18       Material Contracts.  Perform and observe all the terms and provisions of each Material Contract to be performed or observed by it, maintain each such Material Contract in full force and effect, and enforce each such Material Contract in accordance with its terms; other than in each case where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Upon request of the Administrative Agent, make to each other party to any Material Contract, other than Material Contracts made in the ordinary course of the operation of the business of the Loan Parties (including, without limitation food and beverage contracts), such demands and requests for information and reports or for action as any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is entitled to make under such Material Contract, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to do so.

 

6.19       Operating Accounts.  Cause all cash, including cash proceeds of accounts receivable, and Cash Equivalents (other than petty cash located at Restaurants for use in the ordinary course of business in an aggregate amount not to exceed $10,000 per Restaurant at any single time) to be deposited only into Operating Accounts.

 

6.20       Control Agreements.  Deliver an Account Control Agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent with respect to each Operating Account, including the Designated Account (other than Excluded Accounts).  The Administrative Agent’s rights with respect to each Operating Account subject to an Account Control Agreement shall be governed by such Account Control Agreement.  Following the Closing Date, the Borrower shall not, without giving the Administrative Agent at least three (3) Business Days’ prior written notice thereof, open any Operating Account without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent.  The Borrower shall not close any Operating Account (other than Excluded Accounts) without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent which in each case other than with respect to the Designated Account shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned..

 

6.21       Lender Meeting.  Upon the request of the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, participate in a meeting with the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, which meeting may be an in-person meeting or a conference call as requested by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders; provided that so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, such meetings shall be limited to no more than one meeting per Fiscal Year.

 

6.22       Post Closing Obligations.

 

(a)           On or before February 24, 2011 (or such later date agreed to in the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion), deliver any promissory notes evidencing indebtedness among the Loan Parties, together with transfer powers executed in blank.

 

(b)           On or before February 24, 2011 (or such later date agreed to in the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion), deliver to the Administrative Agent, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, one original each of (i) a stock certificate representing 100 shares of common stock of Benihana Monterey Corp. with Benihana National Corp. as the record owner, (ii) a stock certificate representing 100 shares of common stock of The Samurai, Inc. with Rudy’s Restaurant Group. Inc. as the record owner., (iii) a stock certificate representing 200 shares of common stock of RA Sushi Leawood Corps. with RA Sushi Holding Corp. as the record owner, (iv) a stock certificate representing 180 shares of common stock of Haru Holding Corp. and (v) a stock certificate representing 20 shares of common stock of Haru Holding Corp., in each case, together with duly executed stock powers executed in blank.

 

  

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(c)           On or before February 24, 2011 (or such later date agreed to in the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion), deliver binding certificates of insurance and endorsements, naming the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, as an additional insured or loss payee, as the case may be, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent under all insurance policies maintained with respect to the assets and properties of the Loan Parties that constitute Collateral.

 

ARTICLE VII

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

 

So long as any Lender shall have any Revolving Credit Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly:

 

7.01       Liens.  Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or sign or file or suffer to exist under the Uniform Commercial Code of any jurisdiction a financing statement that names the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries as debtor, or assign any accounts or other right to receive income, other than the following:

 

(a)           Liens pursuant to any Loan Document;

 

(b)           Liens existing on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 5.08(b) and any renewals or extensions thereof, provided that (i) the property covered thereby is not changed, (ii) the amount secured or benefited thereby is not increased except as contemplated by Section 7.02(f), (iii) the direct or any contingent obligor with respect thereto is not changed, and (iv) any renewal or extension of the obligations secured or benefited thereby is permitted by Section 7.02(f);

 

(c)           Liens for taxes not yet due or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person in accordance with GAAP (and as to which the property subject to any such Lien is not yet subject to foreclosure, sale or loss on account thereof);

 

(d)           statutory Liens of landlords, carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business which are (i) not due and payable, (ii) not overdue by more than 45 days and unfiled to the extent no other action has been taken to enforce the same or (iii) which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person, in each case, as to which the property subject to any such Lien is not yet subject to foreclosure, sale or loss on account thereof unless any such action to foreclose, sell or otherwise take such property has been stayed by an effective judicial order and such stay has not expired, been terminated or is otherwise no longer in effect;

 

  

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(e)           pledges or deposits in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation, other than any Lien imposed by ERISA;

 

(f)           deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts and leases (other than Indebtedness), statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(g)           easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar encumbrances affecting real property which, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount, and which do not in any case materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the applicable Person;

 

(h)           Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 8.01(h);

 

(i)           Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.02(f); provided that (i) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed by such Indebtedness, (ii) such Liens attaches to such property concurrently with or within thirty (30) days after the acquisition thereof and (iii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the cost or fair market value, whichever is lower, of the property being acquired on the date of acquisition;

 

(j)           Liens arising from precautionary UCC financing statement filings (or similar filings under other applicable Law) regarding leases arrangements entered into by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business; and

 

(k)           Liens (i) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 (or in New York, Section 4-208) of the UCC on items in the course of collection and (ii) in favor of a banking institution arising as a matter of law encumbering deposits (including the right of set-off) and which are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry to secure usual and customary fees, returned items and other like exposure with respect to such account relating to deposit accounts maintained by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries with such banking institution.

 

7.02       Indebtedness.  Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:

 

(a)           obligations (contingent or otherwise) existing or arising under any Swap Contract, provided that (i) such obligations are (or were) entered into by such Person in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of directly mitigating risks associated with fluctuations in interest rates or foreign exchange rates and (ii) such Swap Contract does not contain any provision exonerating the non-defaulting party from its obligation to make payments on outstanding transactions to the defaulting party;

 

(b)           Indebtedness of a Loan Party owed to another Loan Party, which Indebtedness shall (i) constitute Pledged Indebtedness, (ii) be on terms (including subordination terms) acceptable to the Administrative Agent and (iii) be otherwise permitted under the provisions of Section 7.03;

 

  

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(c)           Indebtedness under the Loan Documents;

 

(d)           Indebtedness outstanding on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 7.02 and any refinancings, refundings, renewals or extensions thereof; provided that the amount of such Indebtedness is not increased at the time of such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension except by an amount equal to a reasonable premium or other reasonable amount paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such refinancing and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder and the direct or any contingent obligor with respect thereto is not changed, as a result of or in connection with such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension; and provided, further, that the terms relating to principal amount, amortization, maturity, redemption, interest or dividend payments, subordination (if any), collateral (if any) and other material terms of any Indebtedness constituting such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension are no less favorable in any material respect to the Loan Parties or the Lenders than the terms of the Indebtedness listed on Schedule 7.02 on the Closing Date;

 

(e)           Guarantees of the Borrower or any Guarantor in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder of the Borrower or any other Guarantor;

 

(f)           Indebtedness in respect of Capitalized Leases, Synthetic Lease Obligations and purchase money obligations hereafter incurred by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to finance the purchase of fixed or capital assets, and renewals, refinancings, and extensions thereof, provided that (i) the total of all such Indebtedness for all such Persons taken together shall not exceed an aggregate principal amount of $2,000,000 at any one time outstanding; (ii) such Indebtedness when incurred shall not exceed the purchase price of the asset(s) financed; and (iii) no such Indebtedness shall be refinanced for a principal amount in excess of the principal balance outstanding thereon at the time of such refinancing; and

 

(g)          Indebtedness in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2,000,000 at any time outstanding on terms reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; provided that (i) no such Indebtedness shall be required to be contractually subordinated to the Obligations and (ii) if an Event of Default has occurred and is then continuing, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall not be able to incur additional Indebtedness under this clause (g);

 

(h)          Indebtedness of a Loan Party owing to another Loan Party so long as such Indebtedness is evidenced by Pledged Indebtedness and pledged and delivered to the Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms of the Security Agreement; and

 

(i)           Indebtedness consisting of take-or-pay obligations to trade vendors to the extent incurred in the ordinary course of business so long as the term of the arrangement with such vendors is twelve (12) months or less.

 

7.03       Investments.  Make or hold any Investments, except:

 

(a)          Investments held by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in the form of cash and Cash Equivalents;

 

  

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(b)           advances to employees of the Borrower and Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount not to exceed $100,000 at any time outstanding, for travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary business purposes;

 

(c)           Investments by any Loan Party in another Loan Party;

 

(d)           Investments consisting of extensions of credit in the nature of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising from the grant of trade credit in the ordinary course of business, and Investments received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from financially troubled account debtors to the extent reasonably necessary in order to prevent or limit loss;

 

(e)           Guarantees permitted by Section 7.02;

 

(f)            Investments existing on the date hereof (other than those referred to in Section 7.03(c)(i)) and set forth on Schedule 5.08(e);

 

(g)           Investments by the Borrower in Swap Contracts permitted under Section 7.02(a);

 

(h)           Investments that constitute Permitted Acquisitions;

 

(i)           Investments consisting of equity securities listed on any national securities exchange located in the United States or quoted on the NASDAQ National Market; provided that (i) the long-term credit rating of the corporation issuing such securities shall be A- (or the equivalent thereof) or better from S&P or A3 (or the equivalent thereof) or better from Moody’s and (ii) the aggregate purchase price paid for all such equity securities held at any time shall not exceed $500,000; and

 

(j)           Investments managed by the Borrower consisting of non-qualified deferred employee compensation plans.

 

7.04       Fundamental Changes.  Merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person, or 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 or in favor of any Person, except that, so long as no Event of Default exists or would result therefrom:

 

(a)           any Loan Party (other than the Borrower) may merge with (i) the Borrower, provided that the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving Person, or (ii) any one or more other Loan Parties (other than the Borrower);

 

(b)           any Loan Party (other than the Borrower) may Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to the Borrower or to another Loan Party;

 

(c)           any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party may dispose of all or substantially all its assets (including any Disposition that is in the nature of a liquidation) to (i) another Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party or (ii) to a Loan Party;

 

  

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(d)           any Subsidiary of the Borrower (i) may dissolve, liquidate or wind up its affairs at any time; provided that (x) if such Subsidiary is a Loan Party, then prior to such dissolution, liquidation or winding up, all assets of such Subsidiary shall be transferred to a Loan Party and (y) such dissolution, liquidation or winding up, as applicable, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

(e)           in connection with any Permitted Acquisition permitted under Section 7.03, any wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Borrower may merge into or consolidate with any other Person or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it; provided that (i) the Person surviving such merger shall be a Loan Party and a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Borrower and (ii) in the case of any such merger to which any Loan Party is a party, such Loan Party is the surviving Person.

 

7.05       Dispositions.  Make any Disposition or enter into any agreement to make any Disposition, except:

 

(a)           Dispositions of obsolete or worn out property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business;

 

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

 

(c)           Dispositions of equipment to the extent that (i) such property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property or (ii) the proceeds of such Disposition are reasonably promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement property;

 

(d)           Dispositions of property by any Loan Party to any other Loan Party; provided that if such property is subject to a lien in favor of the Administrative Agent securing the Obligations, such property shall continue to be subject to such lien;

 

(e)           Dispositions permitted by Section 7.04;

 

(f)           Dispositions by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries of property pursuant to sale-leaseback transactions; provided that the book value of all property so Disposed in any Fiscal Year shall not exceed an amount equal to $3,000,000 less the amount of Dispositions made pursuant to Section 7.05(h) during such Fiscal Year;

 

(g)           non-exclusive licenses of IP Rights to Franchisees in the ordinary course of business and substantially consistent with past practice;

 

(h)           Dispositions by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries not otherwise permitted under this Section 7.05; provided that (i) at the time of such Disposition, no Default or Event of Default shall exist or would result from such Disposition, (ii) the aggregate book value of all property Disposed of in reliance on this clause (h) in any Fiscal Year shall not exceed an amount equal to $3,000,000 less the amount of Dispositions made pursuant to Section 7.05(f) during such Fiscal Year and (iii) the purchase price paid in connection with such Disposition shall be paid to the Borrower or such Subsidiary solely in cash or otherwise on terms acceptable to the Administrative Agent; and

 

  

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(i)           Dispositions of one or more of the three fee properties owned by the Borrower or a Subsidiary of the Borrower and identified in writing by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the Closing Date;

 

provided, however, that any Disposition pursuant to Section 7.05(a) through Section 7.05(i)  (other than pursuant to Section 7.05(d)) shall be for fair market value.

 

7.06       Restricted Payments.  Declare or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, or incur any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to do so, or issue or sell any Equity Interests or accept any capital contributions, except that, so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of any action described below or would result therefrom:

 

(a)           each Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments to any Loan Party;

 

(b)           the Borrower and each Subsidiary may make Restricted Payment’s to any employee of such Borrower or Subsidiary pursuant to severance agreements in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2,000,000 in each Fiscal Year;

 

(c)           the Borrower and each Subsidiary may declare and make dividend payments or other distributions payable solely in the common stock of such Person, other common Equity Interests of such Person, or preferred stock of such Person which subject to terms reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, so long as in all such cases, the issued Equity Interests (including all certificates representing such Equity Interests, together with transfer powers executed in blank) are pledged and delivered to the Administrative Agent to secure the Obligations to the Administrative Agent’s reasonable satisfaction;

 

(d)           the Borrower and each Subsidiary may purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire its common Equity Interests with the proceeds received from the substantially concurrent issuance of new common Equity Interests so long as such newly issued Equity Interests (including all certificates representing such Equity Interests, together with transfer powers executed in blank) are pledged and delivered to the Administrative Agent to secure the Obligations to the Administrative Agent’s reasonable satisfaction; and

 

(e)           so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower may (i) declare and pay cash dividends to its stockholders and (ii) repurchase, redeem, retire, defease, acquire, cancel or terminate any of its Equity Interests; provided that (x) in any Fiscal Year, the amount of such Restricted Payments shall not exceed the Excess Cash Proceeds calculated for the immediately prior Fiscal Year and (y) such Restricted Payments shall  not exceed $7,500,000 in an aggregate during the term of this Agreement.

 

7.07       Change in Nature of Business; Restaurant Concepts.  Engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on the date hereof or any business substantially related or incidental thereto.  Own, operate or franchise any restaurant concept other than a “Benihana”, “RA Sushi” or “Haru” restaurant concept.

 

  

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7.08       Transactions with Affiliates.  Enter into any transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of the Borrower, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, other than on fair and reasonable terms similar to what would be obtainable by the Borrower or such Subsidiary at the time in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate; provided, however, that the foregoing restriction shall not apply to transactions between or among the Loan Parties.

 

7.09       Burdensome Agreements.  Become a general partner in a partnership without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent or enter into or permit to exist any Contractual Obligation (other than this Agreement or any other Loan Document) that (a) limits the ability (i) of any Subsidiary to make Restricted Payments to the Borrower or any Guarantor or to otherwise transfer property to or invest in the Borrower or any Guarantor, except for any agreement in effect at the time any 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) of any Subsidiary to Guarantee the Indebtedness of the Borrower or (iii) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on property of such Person; provided, however, that this clause (iii) shall not prohibit any restrictions set forth in this Agreement or any negative pledge incurred or provided in favor of any holder of Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.02(f) solely to the extent any such negative pledge relates to the property financed by or the subject of such Indebtedness; or (b) requires the grant of a Lien to secure an obligation of such Person if a Lien is granted to secure another obligation of such Person.

 

7.10       Use of Proceeds.  Use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U of the FRB) or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock or to refund indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose.

 

7.11       Financial Covenants.

 

(a)           Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.  Permit the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio calculated for any Measurement Period ending during any of the periods described in the table set forth below and tested as of the last day of such Measurement Period to be less than the ratio set forth below opposite such period:

 

  

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Period Ending (inclusive of end dates)

	
Minimum

Consolidated

Fixed Charge

Coverage Ratio

	 	 
	
Closing Date through January 1, 2012 (last day of the third Fiscal Quarter in the Fiscal Year ending in 2012)

	
1.50 to 1.00

	
January 2, 2012 (first day of the fourth Fiscal Quarter in the Fiscal Year ending in 2012) through January 6, 2013 ((last day of the third Fiscal Quarter in the Fiscal Year ending in 2013)

	
1.25 to 1.00

	
January 7, 2013 (first day of the fourth Fiscal Quarter in the Fiscal Year ending in 2013) through the Maturity Date

	
1.50 to 1.00

 

(b)           Consolidated Lease-Adjusted Leverage Ratio.  Permit the Consolidated Lease-Adjusted Leverage Ratio calculated for any Measurement Period and tested as of the last day of such Measurement Period to be greater than 3.75 to 1.00.

 

7.12       Growth Capital Expenditures.  Make or become legally obligated to make any Growth Capital Expenditures for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries during any Fiscal Year, in an aggregate amount in excess of 50% of the Consolidated EBITDA of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the prior Fiscal Year, as reflected in the financial statements for such Fiscal Year delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.01(a).

 

7.13       Amendments of Organization Documents, Etc..  Amend any of its Organization Documents in a manner adverse to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent or without promptly delivering a copy of any such amendment to the Administrative Agent.  Nothing herein shall be deemed to prohibit any Loan Party from amending its Organization Documents as necessary to prevent an Event of Default under Section 8.01(o).

 

7.14       Accounting Changes.  Make any change in (a) accounting policies or reporting practices, except as required by GAAP, or (b) Fiscal Year, Fiscal Quarter or Fiscal Month, in each case, without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent.

 

7.15       Prepayments, Etc. of Indebtedness.  Prepay, redeem, purchase, defease or otherwise satisfy prior to the scheduled maturity thereof in any manner, or make any payment in violation of any subordination terms of, any Indebtedness, except (a) the prepayment of the Credit Extensions in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and (b) regularly scheduled or required repayments or redemptions of Indebtedness set forth in Schedule 7.02 and refinancings and refundings of such Indebtedness in compliance with Section 7.02(f).

 

  

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7.16       Amendment, Etc. of Indebtedness and Material Contracts.  Amend, modify or change in any manner any term or condition of any Indebtedness set forth in Schedule 7.02, except for any refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension thereof permitted by Section 7.02(f).  Terminate, amend, modify, or change any Material Contract, give any consent, waiver (including a waiver of any default or breach) or approval thereof, or take any other action in connection therewith other than to the extent such termination, amendment, modification, change, consent, waiver, approval or action could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

ARTICLE VIII

EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

 

8.01       Events of Default.  Any of the following shall constitute an Event of Default:

 

(a)           Non-Payment.  The Borrower or any other Loan Party fails to (i) pay when and as required to be paid herein, any amount of principal of any Loan or any L/C Obligation or deposit any funds as Cash Collateral in respect of L/C Obligations, or (ii) pay when due, any interest on any Loan or on any L/C Obligation, or any fee due hereunder, or (iii) pay within five days after the same becomes due (or in the case of reimbursement requirements relating to payments to third parties, within thirty days of receipt by the Borrower of a copy of such third party invoice), any other amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document; or

 

(b)           Specific Covenants.  The Borrower fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 6.01, 6.02, 6.03, 6.05, 6.07, 6.10, 6.11, 6.12, 6.16, 6.17, 6.19, 6.20, 6.21, 6.22 or Article VII, (ii) any of the Guarantors fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in the Guaranty or (iii) subject to all applicable cure periods set forth in such Security Agreement or Collateral Document, any of the Loan Parties fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in the Security Agreement or any other Collateral Document to which it is a party; or

 

(c)           Other Defaults.  Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in Section 8.01(a) or (b) above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for thirty (30) days; or

 

(d)           Representations and Warranties.  Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower or any other Loan Party herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document or certificate delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect or misleading when made or deemed made; or

 

  

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(e)           Cross-Default.  (i) Any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof (A) fails to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise) in respect of any Indebtedness or Guarantee (other than Indebtedness hereunder and Indebtedness under Swap Contracts) having an aggregate principal amount (including undrawn committed or available amounts and including amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit arrangement) of more than the Threshold Amount, or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or Guarantee or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event occurs, the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness or the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Guarantee (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness to be demanded or to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity, or such Guarantee to become payable or cash collateral in respect thereof to be demanded; or (ii) there occurs under any Swap Contract an Early Termination Date (as defined in such Swap Contract) resulting from (A) any event of default under such Swap Contract as to which a Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof is the Defaulting Party (as defined in such Swap Contract) or (B) any Termination Event (as so defined) under such Swap Contract as to which a Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof is an Affected Party (as so defined) and, in either event, the Swap Termination Value owed by such Loan Party or such Subsidiary as a result thereof is greater than the Threshold Amount; or

 

(f)           Insolvency Proceedings, Etc.  Any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for 60 calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for 60 calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or

 

(g)           Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment.  (i) Any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of any such Person and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within 30 days after its issue or levy; or

 

(h)           Judgments.  There is entered against any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof (i) one or more final judgments or orders for the payment of money in an aggregate amount (as to all such judgments and orders) exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer is rated at least “A” by A.M. Best Company, has been notified of the potential claim and does not dispute coverage), or (ii) any one or more non-monetary final judgments that have, or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and, in either case, (A) enforcement proceedings are commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order, or (B) there is a period of 30 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect; or

 

  

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(i)            ERISA.  (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrower under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount, or (ii) the present value of all benefit liabilities under all Pension Plans exceeds the fair market value of the assets of such Pension Plans by an amount in excess of the Threshold Amount; or

 

(j)            Invalidity of Loan Documents.  Any provision of any Loan Document, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder or satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect; or any Loan Party or any other Person contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any provision of any Loan Document; or any Loan Party denies that it has any or further liability or obligation under any provision of any Loan Document, or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any provision of any Loan Document; or

 

(k)           Change of Control.  There occurs any Change of Control; or

 

(l)            Collateral Documents.  Any Collateral Document after delivery thereof pursuant to Section 4.01 or 6.12 shall for any reason (other than pursuant to the terms thereof) cease to create a valid and perfected first priority Lien (subject to Liens permitted by Section 7.01) on the Collateral purported to be covered thereby; or

 

(m)           Subordination.  (i)  The subordination provisions of the documents evidencing or governing any subordinated Indebtedness (the “Subordinated Provisions”) shall, in whole or in part, terminate, cease to be effective or cease to be legally valid, binding and enforceable against any holder of the applicable subordinated Indebtedness; or (ii) the Borrower or any other Loan Party shall, directly or indirectly, disavow or contest in any manner (A) the effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any of the Subordination Provisions, (B) that the Subordination Provisions exist for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer or (C) that all payments of principal of or premium and interest on the applicable subordinated Indebtedness, or realized from the liquidation of any property of any Loan Party, shall be subject to any of the Subordination Provisions; or

 

(n)           Material Franchisee Agreement Default.  Any (i) event of default (howsoever defined under any Franchise Agreement) under any Franchise Agreement as it relates to the failure by such Franchisee to make any material payment required thereunder if such payment is not made within thirty (30) days of the date on which it was originally due, (ii) any Franchisee instituting or consenting to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or making an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or (iii) any Franchisee applying for or consenting to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer for it or for all or substantially all of its property; in each case, which, either individually or in the aggregate with all other such similar events under any Franchise Agreement, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

(o)           Failure to Amend Charter Documents.  Within sixty days after the Closing Date, the Organization Documents of each Loan Party (other than Benihana Inc.) is not amended, to the extent necessary and in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, to delete in its entirety any provision contained therein providing that a compromise or arrangement between creditors of such Loan Party is binding on any other creditor of such Loan Party regardless of whether such other creditor consents to such compromise or arrangement.

 

  

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8.02       Remedies upon Event of Default.  If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Lenders, take any or all of the following actions:

 

(a)           declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;

 

(b)           declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower;

 

(c)           require that the Borrower Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to the then Outstanding Amount thereof); and

 

(d)           exercise on behalf of itself, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer all rights and remedies available to it, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer under the Loan Documents;

 

provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, and the obligation of the Borrower to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations as aforesaid shall automatically become effective, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

 

8.03       Application of Funds.  After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable and the L/C Obligations have automatically been required to be Cash Collateralized as set forth in the proviso to Section 8.02), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall, subject to Sections 2.03(g), 2.04(d)(iii) and 2.14, be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:

 

First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent and amounts payable under Article III) payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;

 

Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal, interest and Letter of Credit Fees) payable to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Lenders and the L/C Issuer (including fees and time charges for attorneys who may be employees of any Lender or the L/C Issuer) and amounts payable under Article III, ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;

 

  

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Third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid Letter of Credit Fees and interest on the Loans, L/C Borrowings and other Obligations under the Loan Documents (other than the Secured Cash Management Agreements and the Secured Hedge Agreements), ratably among the Lenders and the L/C Issuer in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;

 

Fourth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans, L/C Borrowings and amounts owing under Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements, ratably among the Lenders, the L/C Issuer, the Cash Management Banks and the Hedge Banks in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them;

 

Fifth, to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer, to Cash Collateralize that portion of L/C Obligations comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit; and

 

Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.

 

Subject to Section 2.03(c), amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to clause Fifth above shall be applied to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they occur.  If any amount remains on deposit as Cash Collateral after all Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount shall be applied to the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Obligations arising under Secured Cash Management Agreements (other than Secured Cash Management Agreements where Wells Fargo or any of its Affiliates is the Cash Management Bank) and Secured Hedge Agreements (other than Secured Hedge Agreements where Wells Fargo or any of its Affiliates is the Hedge Bank) shall be excluded from the application described above if the Administrative Agent has not received written notice thereof, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, from the applicable Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank, as the case may be.  Each Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank not party to the Credit Agreement that has given notice contemplated by the preceding sentence, by such notice, shall be deemed to have acknowledged and accepted the appointment of the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms of Article IX hereof for itself and its Affiliates as a “Lender” party hereto.

 

ARTICLE IX

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

 

9.01       Appointment and Authority.

 

(a)           Each of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer hereby irrevocably appoints Wells Fargo to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.  The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, and neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.

 

  

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(b)           The Administrative Agent shall also act as the “collateral agent” under the Loan Documents, and each of the Lenders (in its capacities as a Lender, Sweep Plus Lender (if applicable), potential Cash Management Bank and potential Hedge Bank) and the L/C Issuer hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to act as the agent of such Lender and the L/C Issuer for purposes of acquiring, holding and enforcing any and all Liens on Collateral granted by any of the Loan Parties to secure any of the Obligations, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto.  In this connection, the Administrative Agent, as “collateral agent” and any co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact appointed by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.05 for purposes of holding or enforcing any Lien on the Collateral (or any portion thereof) granted under the Collateral Documents, or for exercising any rights and remedies thereunder at the direction of the Administrative Agent), shall be entitled to the benefits of all provisions of this Article IX and Article X (including Section 10.04(c), as though such co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact were the “collateral agent” under the Loan Documents) as if set forth in full herein with respect thereto.

 

9.02       Rights as a Lender.  The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity.  Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

 

9.03       Exculpatory Provisions.  The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:

 

(a)           shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;

 

(b)           shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents), provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law; and

 

(c)           shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.

 

  

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The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 10.01 and 8.02) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct.  The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, a Lender or the L/C Issuer.

 

The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, or the creation, perfection or priority of any Lien purported to be created by the Collateral Documents, (v) the value or the sufficiency of any Collateral, or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

 

9.04       Reliance by Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person.  The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon.  In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or the L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or the L/C Issuer unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or the L/C Issuer prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit.  The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

 

9.05       Delegation of Duties.  The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties.  The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.

 

  

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9.06       Resignation of Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Borrower.  Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrower, to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States.  If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may on behalf of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above; provided that if the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (a) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders or the L/C Issuer under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and (b) all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender and the L/C Issuer directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above in this Section.  Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section).  The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor.  After the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 10.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent.

 

Any resignation by Wells Fargo as Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section shall also constitute its resignation as L/C Issuer and Sweep Plus Lender.  Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, (i) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer and Sweep Plus Lender, (ii) the retiring L/C Issuer and Sweep Plus Lender shall be discharged from all of their respective duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, and (iii) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to the retiring L/C Issuer to effectively assume the obligations of the retiring L/C Issuer with respect to such Letters of Credit.

 

  

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9.07       Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders.  Each Lender and the L/C Issuer acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement.  Each Lender and the L/C Issuer also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

 

9.08       No Other Duties, Etc.  Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Syndication Agent, Documentation Agent, Sole Bookrunner of Sole Lead Arrangers listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender or the L/C Issuer hereunder.

 

9.09       Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim.  In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or L/C Obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise

 

(a)           to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, L/C Obligations and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent under Section 2.03(i) and (j), 2.09 and 10.04) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

 

(b)           to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

 

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and the L/C Issuer to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, if the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 10.04.

 

Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender or the L/C Issuer any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or the L/C Issuer to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender or the L/C Issuer or in any such proceeding.

 

  

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9.10       Collateral and Guaranty Matters.  Each of the Lenders (including their Affiliates and in their capacities as potential Cash Management Bank and a potential Hedge Bank) and the L/C Issuer irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion,

 

(a)           to release any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document (i) upon termination of the Aggregate Commitments and payment in full of all Obligations (other than (A) contingent indemnification obligations and (B) obligations and liabilities under Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements if all Obligations (other than obligations and liabilities under Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements) have been paid in full) and the expiration or termination of all Letters of Credit, (ii) that is sold or to be sold as part of or in connection with any sale permitted hereunder or under any other Loan Document, or (iii)  if approved, authorized or ratified in writing in accordance with Section 10.01;

 

(b)           to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty if such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary as a result of a transaction permitted hereunder; and

 

(c)           to subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted by Section 7.01(h).

 

Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release or subordinate its interest in particular types or items of property, or to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty pursuant to this Section 9.10.  In each case as specified in this Section 9.10, the Administrative Agent will, at the Borrower’s expense, execute and deliver to the applicable Loan Party such documents as such Loan Party may reasonably request to evidence the release of such item of Collateral from the assignment and security interest granted under the Collateral Documents or to subordinate its interest in such item, or to release such Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents and this Section 9.10.

 

9.11       Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements.  No Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank that obtains the benefits of Section 8.03, any Guaranty or any Collateral by virtue of the provisions hereof or of any Guaranty or any Collateral Document shall have any right to notice of any action or to consent to, direct or object to any action hereunder or under any other Loan Document or otherwise in respect of the Collateral (including the release or impairment of any Collateral) other than in its capacity as a Lender and, in such case, only to the extent expressly provided in the Loan Documents.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article IX to the contrary, the Administrative Agent shall not be required to verify the payment of, or that other satisfactory arrangements have been made with respect to, Obligations arising under Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements unless the Administrative Agent has received written notice of such Obligations, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, from the applicable Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank, as the case may be.

 

  

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ARTICLE X

MISCELLANENOUS

 

10.01     Amendments, Etc.  No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (other than Secured Cash Management Agreements and Secured Hedge Agreements as it is understood that any amendment, modification, waiver or consent thereto shall be governed by the applicable terms thereunder), and no consent to any departure by the Borrower or any other Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and the Borrower or the applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

 

(a)           waive any condition set forth in Section 4.02, without the written consent of each Lender;

 

(b)           extend or increase the Revolving Credit Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Revolving Credit Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 8.02) without the written consent of such Lender;

 

(c)           postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to the Lenders (or any of them) hereunder or under such other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender entitled to such payment;

 

(d)           reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or L/C Borrowing, or (subject to clause (v) of the second proviso to this Section 10.01) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document, or change the manner of computation of any financial ratio (including any change in any applicable defined term) used in determining the Applicable Rate that would result in a reduction of any interest rate on any Loan or any fee payable hereunder without the written consent of each Lender entitled to such amount; provided, however, that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend the definition of “Default Rate” or to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest or Letter of Credit Fees at the Default Rate;

 

(e)           change (i) Section 8.03 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender or (ii) the order of application of any prepayment of Loans among the Facilities from the application thereof set forth in Section 2.05(b), or any related reduction respectively, in the Revolving Credit Commitment, in any manner that materially and adversely affects the Lenders under the Revolving Credit Facility without the written consent of the Required Credit Lenders;

 

(f)           change any provision of this Section 10.01 or the definition of “Required Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender;

 

  

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(g)           except as otherwise permitted under Section 9.10, release all or substantially all of the Collateral in any transaction or series of related transactions, without the written consent of each Lender;

 

(h)           release all or substantially all of the value of the Guaranty, without the written consent of each Lender; or

 

(i)           impose any greater restriction on the ability of any Lender under the Revolving Credit Facility to assign any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the written consent of the Required Lenders;

 

and provided, further, that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the L/C Issuer in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the L/C Issuer under this Agreement or any Issuer Document relating to any Letter of Credit issued or to be issued by it; (ii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Sweep Plus Lender in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Sweep Plus Lender under this Agreement; (iii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; (iv) Section 10.06(h) may not be amended, waived or otherwise modified without the consent of each Granting Lender all or any part of whose Loans are being funded by an SPC at the time of such amendment, waiver or other modification; and (v) the Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder, (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders, all Revolving Credit Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders), except that (x) the Commitment of any Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Defaulting Lender and (y) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders, all Revolving Credit Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms affects any Defaulting Lender more adversely than other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender.

 

If any Lender does not consent to a proposed amendment, waiver, consent or release with respect to any Loan Document that requires the consent of each Lender and that has been approved by the Required Lenders, the Borrower may replace such non-consenting Lender in accordance with Section 10.13; provided that such amendment, waiver, consent or release can be effected as a result of the assignment contemplated by such Section (together with all other such assignments required by the Borrower to be made pursuant to this paragraph).

 

10.02     Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communications.  (a)  Notices Generally.  Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopier as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:

 

  

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(i)           if to the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Sweep Plus Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.02; and

 

(ii)           if to any other Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire.

 

Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by telecopier shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient).  Notices delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in subsection (b) below shall be effective as provided in such subsection (b).

 

(b)           Electronic Communications.  Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or the L/C Issuer pursuant to Article II if such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication.  The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

 

Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.

 

  

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(c)           The Platform.  THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.”  THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS.  NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM.  In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent Parties”) have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of Borrower Materials through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided, however, that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages).

 

(d)           Change of Address, Etc.  Each of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Sweep Plus Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.  Each other Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Sweep Plus Lender.  In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, telecopier number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender.

 

(e)           Reliance by Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer and Lenders. The Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Committed Loan Notices and Sweep Plus Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof.  The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower.  All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

 

10.03     No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies.  No failure by any Lender, the L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege.  The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided, and provided under each other Loan Document, are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.

 

  

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10.04     Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.  (a)  Costs and Expenses.  The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent), in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the L/C Issuer in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer), and shall pay all fees and time charges for attorneys who may be employees of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer, in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or (B) in connection with Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit.

 

(b)           Indemnification by the Borrower.  The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender and the L/C Issuer, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), and shall indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee from all fees and time charges and disbursements for attorneys who may be employees of any Indemnitee, incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or, in the case of the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by the L/C Issuer to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party or any of the Borrower’s or such Loan Party’s directors, shareholders or creditors, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto, in all cases, whether or not caused by or arising, in whole or in part, out of the comparative, contributory or sole negligence of the Indemnitee; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or (y) result from a claim brought by the Borrower or any other Loan Party against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if the Borrower or such Loan Party has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

  

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(c)           Reimbursement by Lenders.  To the extent that the Borrower for any reason fails to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), the L/C Issuer or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), the L/C Issuer or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount, provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or the L/C Issuer in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or L/C Issuer in connection with such capacity.  The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 2.12(d).

 

(d)           Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc.  To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof.  No Indemnitee referred to in subsection (b) above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed to such unintended recipients by such Indemnitee through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby other than for direct or actual damages resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee as determined by a final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

(e)           Payments.  All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than ten Business Days after demand therefor.

 

(f)           Survival.  The agreements in this Section shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Sweep Plus Lender, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.

 

10.05     Payments Set Aside.  To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower is made to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender and the L/C Issuer severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect.  The obligations of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

 

  

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10.06     Successors and Assigns.  (a)  Successors and Assigns Generally.  The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.06(b), (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.06(d), (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of Section 10.06(f), or (iv) to an SPC in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.06(h) (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void).  Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in subsection (d) of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

(b)           Assignments by Lenders.  Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Revolving Credit Commitment(s) and the Loans (including for purposes of this Section 10.06(b), participations in L/C Obligations and in Sweep Plus Loans) at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

 

(i)           Minimum Amounts.

 

(A)           in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment under the Revolving Credit Facility and the Revolving Credit Loans at the time owing to it thereunder or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and

 

(B)           in any case not described in subsection (b)(i)(A) of this Section, the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the Revolving Credit Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $5,000,000 in the case of any assignment in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility, unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided, however, that concurrent assignments to members of an Assignee Group and concurrent assignments from members of an Assignee Group to a single Eligible Assignee (or to an Eligible Assignee and members of its Assignee Group) will be treated as a single assignment for purposes of determining whether such minimum amount has been met;

 

  

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(ii)           Proportionate Amounts.  Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans or the Revolving Credit Commitment assigned, except that this clause (ii) shall not apply to the Sweep Plus Lender’s rights and obligations in respect of Sweep Plus Loans;

 

(iii)           Required Consents.  No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by subsection (b)(i)(B) of this Section and, in addition:

 

(A)           the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (1) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund;

 

(B)           the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for assignments in respect of any Revolving Credit Commitment if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender with a Revolving Credit Commitment in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender; and

 

(C)           the consent of the L/C Issuer (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment that increases the obligation of the assignee to participate in exposure under one or more Letters of Credit (whether or not then outstanding); and

 

(D)           the consent of the Sweep Plus Lender (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility.

 

(iv)           Assignment and Assumption.  The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee in the amount of $3,500; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment.  The assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

 

(v)           No Assignment to Certain Persons.  No such assignment shall be made to (a) the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries, (b) a natural person, (c) to any Defaulting Lender or any of its Affiliates or to a Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (c).

 

  

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(vi)           Certain Additional Payments.  In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or sub-participations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon) and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans and participations in Letters of Credit and Sweep Plus Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under applicable Law without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occur.

 

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04, 3.05 and 10.04 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment).  Upon request, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender.  Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with Section 10.06(d).

 

(c)           Register.  The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Revolving Credit Commitments of, and principal amounts of the Loans and L/C Obligations owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”).  The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary.  The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

  

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(d)           Participations.  Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person, a Defaulting Lender or any of its Affiliates, or the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Revolving Credit Commitment and/or the Loans (including such Lender’s participations in L/C Obligations and/or Sweep Plus Loans) owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.  Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to Section 10.01 that affects such Participant.  Subject to subsection (e) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section 10.06(b).  To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender.

 

(e)           Limitations upon Participant Rights.  A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 3.01 or 3.04 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent.  A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 3.01 unless the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 3.01(e) as though it were a Lender.

 

(f)           Certain Pledges.  Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note, if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

 

(g)           Electronic Execution of Assignments.  The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

 

  

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(h)           Special Purpose Funding Vehicles.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a “Granting Lender”) may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Lender to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (an “SPC”) the option to provide all or any part of any Loan that such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to make pursuant to this Agreement; provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment by any SPC to fund any Loan, and (ii) if an SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to make all or any part of such Loan, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to make such Loan pursuant to the terms hereof or, if it fails to do so, to make such payment to the Administrative Agent as is required under Section 2.12(b)(ii).  Each party hereto hereby agrees that (i) neither the grant to any SPC nor the exercise by any SPC of such option shall increase the costs or expenses or otherwise increase or change the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement (including its obligations under Section 3.04), (ii) no SPC shall be liable for any indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement for which a Lender would be liable, and (iii) the Granting Lender shall for all purposes, including the approval of any amendment, waiver or other modification of any provision of any Loan Document, remain the lender of record hereunder.  The making of a Loan by an SPC hereunder shall utilize the Revolving Credit Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent, and as if, such Loan were made by such Granting Lender.  In furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby agrees (which agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement) that, prior to the date that is one year and one day after the payment in full of all outstanding commercial paper or other senior debt of any SPC, it will not institute against, or join any other Person in instituting against, such SPC any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, or liquidation proceeding under the laws of the United States or any State thereof.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any SPC may (i) with notice to, but without prior consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and with the payment of a processing fee in the amount of $3,500 (which processing fee may be waived by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion) assign all or any portion of its right to receive payment with respect to any Loan to the Granting Lender and (ii) disclose on a confidential basis any non-public information relating to its funding of Loans to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of any surety or Guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPC.

 

(i)           Resignation as L/C Issuer or Sweep Plus Lender after Assignment.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if at any time Wells Fargo assigns all of its Revolving Credit Commitments and Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to Section 10.06(b), Wells Fargo may, (i) upon 30 days’ notice to the Borrower and the Lenders, resign as L/C Issuer and/or (ii) upon 30 days’ notice to the Borrower, resign as Sweep Plus Lender.  In the event of any such resignation as L/C Issuer or Sweep Plus Lender, the Borrower shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a successor L/C Issuer or Sweep Plus Lender hereunder; provided, however, that no failure by the Borrower to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of Wells Fargo as L/C Issuer or Sweep Plus Lender, as the case may be.  If Wells Fargo resigns as L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c)).  If Wells Fargo resigns as Sweep Plus Lender, it shall retain all the rights of the Sweep Plus Lender provided for hereunder with respect to Sweep Plus Loans made by it and outstanding as of the effective date of such resignation, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Sweep Plus Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(d).  Upon the appointment of a successor L/C Issuer and/or Sweep Plus Lender, (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer or Sweep Plus Lender, as the case may be, and (b) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to Wells Fargo to effectively assume the obligations of Wells Fargo with respect to such Letters of Credit.

 

  

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10.07     Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality.  Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below) other than Information marked Public as provided in Section 6.02, except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates’ respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors and representatives (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable Laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Borrower and its obligations, (g) with the consent of the Borrower or (h) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (ii) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower.

 

For purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof relating to any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof or their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof.  Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

 

  

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Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer acknowledges that (a) the Information may include material non-public information concerning the Borrower or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and (c) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with applicable Law, including Federal and state securities Laws.

 

10.08     Right of Setoff.  If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, the L/C Issuer and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender, the L/C Issuer or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, irrespective of whether or not such Lender or the L/C Issuer shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrower may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Lender or the L/C Issuer different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness, provided that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, all amount so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for application in accordance with Section 2.14. The rights of each Lender, the L/C Issuer and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, the L/C Issuer or their respective Affiliates may have.  Each Lender and the L/C Issuer agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

 

10.09     Interest Rate Limitation.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “Maximum Rate”).  If the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrower.  In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.

 

10.10     Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract.  This Agreement and the other Loan Documents constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof.  Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

  

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10.11     Survival of Representations and Warranties.  All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof.  Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding.

 

10.12     Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions.  The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

10.13     Replacement of Lenders.  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or if any other circumstance exists hereunder that gives the Borrower the right to replace a Lender as a party hereto, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 10.06), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:

 

(a)           the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee specified in Section 10.06(b);

 

(b)           such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and L/C Advances, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 3.05) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);

 

  

120

  

 

(c)           in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter; and

 

(d)           such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws.

 

A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

 

10.14     Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.  (a)  GOVERNING LAW.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OR CHOICE OF LAW PRINCIPLES (OTHER THAN SECTION 5-1401 AND SECTION 5-1402 OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.)

 

(b)           SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION.  THE BORROWER AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW.  NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER OR THE L/C ISSUER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST THE BORROWER OR ANY OTHER LOAN PARTY OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

 

(c)           WAIVER OF VENUE.  THE BORROWER AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

 

  

121

  

 

(d)           SERVICE OF PROCESS.  EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 10.02.  NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW

 

10.15     Waiver of Jury Trial.  EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).  EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

 

10.16     No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby, the Borrower and the Loan Parties each acknowledge and agree, and acknowledge their respective Affiliates’ understanding, that: (i) the credit facilities provided for hereunder and any related arranging or other services in connection therewith (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document) are an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Borrower, the other Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Arranger, , on the other hand, and each of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties is capable of evaluating and understanding and understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents (including any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or thereof); (ii) in connection with the process leading to such transaction, the Administrative Agent and the Arranger each is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the financial advisor, agent or fiduciary, for the Borrower, the other Loan Parties or any of their respective Affiliates, stockholders, creditors or employees or any other Person; (iii) neither the Administrative Agent nor the Arranger has assumed or will assume an advisory, agency or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Borrower or any other Loan Party with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto, including with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document (irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent or the Arranger has advised or is currently advising the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Affiliates on other matters) and neither the Administrative Agent nor the Arranger has any obligation to the Borrower, such other Loan Party or any of their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; (iv) the Administrative Agent and the Arranger and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower, the other Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent nor the Arranger has any obligation to disclose any of such interests by virtue of any advisory, agency or fiduciary relationship; and (v) the Administrative Agent and the Arranger have not provided and will not provide any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby (including any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document) and each of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate.  Each of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent and the Arranger with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty.

 

  

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10.17     USA Patriot Act Notice.  Each Lender that is subject to the Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Patriot Act”), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each Loan Party, which information includes the name and address of each Loan Party and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify each Loan Party in accordance with the Patriot Act.

 

10.18     Time of the Essence.  Time is of the essence of the Loan Documents.

 

10.19     General Release.  In consideration of the Lenders’ and the Administrative Agent’s agreements contained in this Agreement, each Loam Party hereby irrevocably releases and forever discharge the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their affiliates, subsidiaries, successors, assigns, directors, officers, employees, agents, consultants, attorneys, managers, investment managers, principles and portfolio companies (each, a “Released Person”) of and from any and all claims, suits, actions, investigations, proceedings or demands, whether based in contract, tort, implied or express warranty, strict liability, criminal or civil statute or common law of any kind or character, known or unknown, which such Loan Party ever had or now has against Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other Released Person which relates, directly or indirectly, to any acts or omissions of Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other Released Person relating to the Existing Credit Agreement or any other loan document entered into in connection therewith or any transaction relating to this Agreement that occurred on or prior to the date hereof.

 

10.20     ENTIRE AGREEMENT.  THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES.  THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS AMONG THE PARTIES.

 

10.21     Transitional Arrangements.  On the Closing Date, this Agreement shall amend and restate and supersede the Existing Credit Agreement in its entirety.  On the Closing Date, the rights and obligations of the parties evidenced by the Existing Credit Agreement and the Credit Documents (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) shall be evidenced by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.  In the event that any payment made by any Loan Party under the Existing Credit Agreement must be disgorged or otherwise returned by any Lender thereunder, such Lender shall be entitled to the benefits of the Existing Credit Agreement and the Loan Parties shall unconditionally be obligated to repay the same along with any applicable interest and fees.  This Agreement represents a modification, and not a novation, of the credit facility under the Existing Credit Agreement.  All interest, fees and expenses, if any, owing or accruing under or in respect of the Existing Credit Agreement through the Closing Date shall be calculated as of the Closing Date (pro rated in the case of any fractional periods), and shall be paid on the Closing Date.  The Loan Parties acknowledge, represent and warrant that they have no claims, defenses or offsets with respect to the Existing Credit Agreement or any of the Loan Documents (as defined therein) related thereto and that immediately prior to the effectiveness of this Agreement, the Existing Credit Agreement and such other loan and collateral documents are valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

  

123

  

10.22     Lender Acknowledgments With Respect to Secured Hedge Agreements.  Each Lender for itself and on behalf of its Affiliates as Hedge Bank or potential Hedge Bank acknowledges and agrees that it has been informed that the following language should be added to any Secured Hedge Agreement in order to allow such Lender or such Affiliate to bring suit directly on such Secured Hedging Agreement (as opposed to the Administrative Agent first foreclosing on any mortgage or deed of trust governed by the laws of Alaska); provided that for the avoidance of doubt, the exercise of rights and remedies with respect to the collateral covered by such mortgage or deed of trust shall be vested in the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) in accordance with the terms of such mortgage or deed of trust and the other Loan Documents:

 

Reference is made to that that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of February 10, 2011 (as amended or modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), by and among Benihana Inc. (“Benihana Inc.”), Benihana National Corp. (“BNC” and together with Benihana Inc., the “Borrower”), the lenders from time to time party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, in its capacity as administrative agent (the “Administrative Agent”)

 

Solely for the purposes of allowing the Administrative Agent to more effectively exercise its rights and remedies under the Mortgage (as defined in the Credit Agreement) over the fee property of BNC in Anchorage, Alaska in favor of the Administrative Agent, BNC hereby agrees that BNC is personally obligated for the full amount due under this agreement.  [Insert Name of Lender or Affiliate] in accordance with the terms of this agreement and the Credit Agreement has the right to sue on this agreement and obtain a personal judgment against BNC for satisfaction of the amount due under this agreement (either before or after a judicial foreclosure by the Administrative Agent of such Mortgage under AS 09.45.170 - 09.45.220); provided that for the avoidance of doubt, the exercise of rights and remedies with respect to the collateral covered by such Mortgage shall be vested in the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) in accordance with the terms of such Mortgage and the other Loan Documents.

 

  

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10.23     Alaska Mortgages and Deeds of Trust.  Solely for the purposes of allowing the Administrative Agent to more effectively exercise its rights and remedies under the Mortgage over the fee property of BNC in Anchorage, Alaska in favor of the Administrative Agent, BNC agrees that BNC is personally obligated for the full amount of the Obligations. Subject to any limitation on recovery contained in such Mortgage, the Administrative Agent (on behalf of each of the Secured Parties) in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents, has the right to sue on the Credit Agreement, the Notes and the other Loan Documents and obtain a personal judgment against BNC for satisfaction of the amount due under the Credit Agreement, the Notes or the other Loan Documents either before or after a judicial foreclosure of such Mortgage under AS 09.45.170 - 09.45.220.

 

  

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

	 	BORROWER:	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	BENIHANA INC.	 
	 	 	 	 
	
 

	
By: 

	/s/ Richard C. Stockinger 	 
	 	Name: Richard C. Stockinger	 
	 	Title: President and Chief Executive Officer	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	BENIHANA NATIONAL CORP.	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ Richard C. Stockinger  	 
	 	Name: Richard C. Stockinger	 
	 	Title: President and Chief Executive Officer	 

 

  

S - 1

  

 

	 	
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL

ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent

	 
	 	 	 	 
	
 

	
By: 

	/s/ Stephen A. Leon 	 
	 	Name: Stephen A. Leon 	 
	 	Title: Managing Director	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL

ASSOCIATION, as a Lender, L/C Issuer and Sweep Plus Lender

	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ Stephen A. Leon 	 
	 	Name: Stephen A. Leon	 
	 	Title: Managing Director	 

 

  

S - 2

  

 

SCHEDULE 2.01

 

REVOLVING CREDIT COMMITMENTS

AND APPLICABLE PERCENTAGES

 

	
Lender

	
Revolving Credit Commitment

	
Revolving Credit

Applicable Percentage

	
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

	
$30,000,000

	
100.000000000%

	  	  	  
	
Total

	
$30,000,000

	
100.000000000%

 

 

S - 1ex4-1.htm

Exhibit 4.1

 

VERSAR, INC.

 

2010 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

 

	 	 	As approved by the Board of 
	 	 	Directors on September 9,
	 	 	2010 and by the stockholders
	 	 	on November 17, 2010

 

 

       

   

 

  

  

  

 

VERSAR, Inc.

 

2010 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

 

	
1.

	
Establishment, Purpose, and Types of Awards

 

Versar, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby establishes this equity-based incentive compensation plan to be known as the “Versar, Inc. 2010 Stock Incentive Plan” (hereinafter referred to as the “Plan”), in order to provide incentives and awards to select employees and directors of the Company and its Affiliates for the following purposes:  (i) to enhance the Company’s ability to attract highly qualified personnel; (ii) to strengthen its retention capabilities of such employees; (iii) to enhance the long-term performance and competitiveness of the Company; and (iv) to align the interests of Plan participants with those of the Company’s shareholders.

 

The Plan permits the granting of the following types of awards (“Awards”), according to the Sections of the Plan listed here:

 

	 	
Section 6

	
Options

	 	
Section 7

	
Share Appreciation Rights (“SARs”)

	 	
Section 8

	
Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units

	 	
Section 9

	
Deferred Share Units

	 	
Section 10

	
Performance and Cash-settled Awards

	 	  	  

The Plan is not intended to affect and shall not affect any stock options, equity-based compensation, or other benefits that the Company or its Affiliates may have provided, or may separately provide in the future pursuant to any agreement, plan, or program that is independent of this Plan.

 

	
2.

	
Defined Terms

 

Terms in the Plan that begin with an initial capital letter have the defined meaning set forth in Appendix A, unless defined elsewhere in this Plan or the context of their use clearly indicates a different meaning.

 

	
3.

	
Shares Subject to the Plan

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 13 of the Plan, the maximum number of Shares that the Company may issue for all Awards is 1,000,000 Shares, subject to the limitation set forth in Section 5(c).  For all Awards, the Shares issued pursuant to the Plan may be authorized but unissued Shares, or Shares that the Company has reacquired or otherwise holds in treasury.

 

Any Shares reserved for Plan Awards will again be available for future Awards if the Shares for any reason will never be issued to a Participant or Beneficiary pursuant to an Award (for example, due to its settlement in cash rather than in Shares, or the Award’s forfeiture, cancellation, expiration, or net settlement through the issuance of Shares).  Further, and to the extent permitted under Applicable Law, the maximum number of Shares available for delivery under the Plan shall not be reduced by any Shares issued under the Plan through the settlement, assumption, or substitution of outstanding awards or obligations to grant future awards as a condition of the Company’s or an Affiliate’s acquiring another entity.  On the other hand, Shares that a Person owns and tenders in payment of all or part of the exercise price of an Award or in satisfaction of applicable Withholding Taxes shall not increase the number of Shares available for future issuance under the Plan.

 

  

  

  

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the number of Shares that are available for ISO Awards shall not exceed 1,000,000 Shares (as adjusted pursuant to Section 13 of the Plan, and as determined in accordance with Code Section 422).

 

	
4.

	
Administration

 

(a)          General.  The Committee shall administer the Plan in accordance with its terms, provided that the Board may act in lieu of the Committee on any matter.  The Committee shall hold meetings at such times and places as it may determine and shall prescribe, amend and rescind such rules and regulations and procedures for the conduct of its business as it deems advisable.  In the absence of a duly appointed Committee or to the extent permitted by federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the NYSE Amex if the Board otherwise chooses to act in lieu of the Committee, the Board shall function as the Committee for all purposes of the Plan.  Determinations under the Plan must be made by the Committee or Board as specified above, and not through delegation to management except that, if and to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Committee may authorize one or more Reporting Persons (or other officers) to make Awards to Eligible Persons who are not Reporting Persons (or other officers whom the Committee has specifically authorized to make Awards).

 

(b)         Committee Composition.  The Board shall appoint the members of the Committee. The Board may at any time appoint additional members to the Committee, remove and replace members of the Committee with or without Cause, and fill vacancies on the Committee however caused.

 

(c)          Powers of the Committee.  Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have the authority, in its sole discretion:

 

	
  

	
(i)

	
to grant Awards and to determine Eligible Persons to whom Awards shall be granted from time to time and the number of Shares, units, SARs or dollars to be covered by each Award;

 

	
  

	
(ii)

	
to determine, from time to time, the Fair Market Value of Shares;

 

	
  

	
(iii)

	
to determine, and to set forth in Award Agreements, the terms and conditions of all Awards, including any applicable exercise or purchase price, the installments and conditions under which an Award shall become vested (which may be based on performance), terminated, expired, cancelled, or replaced, and  the circumstances for vesting acceleration or waiver of forfeiture restrictions, and other restrictions and limitations;

 

	
  

	
(iv)

	
to approve the forms of Award Agreements and all other documents, notices and certificates in connection therewith which need not be identical either as to type of Award or among Participants;

 

  

- 2 -

  

 

	
  

	
(v)

	
to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and any Award Agreement, to determine the meaning of their terms, and to prescribe, amend, and rescind rules and procedures relating to the Plan and its administration;

 

	
  

	
(vi)

	
to the extent consistent with the purposes of the Plan and without amending the Plan, modify, cancel, or waive the Company’s rights with respect to any Awards, to adjust or to modify Award Agreements for changes in Applicable Law, and to recognize differences in foreign law, tax policies, or customs;

 

	
  

	
(vii)

	
establish, for itself or using the services of a third party, an automated system for the documentation, granting, settlement, or exercise of Awards, such as a system using an internet website or interactive voice response, and to implement paperless documentation, granting, settlement, or exercise of Awards by a Participant through the use of such an automated system; and

 

	
  

	
(viii)

	
to make all other interpretations and to take all other actions that the Committee may consider necessary or advisable to administer the Plan or to effectuate its purposes.

 

(d)         Deference to Committee Determinations.  The Committee shall have the discretion to interpret or construe ambiguous, unclear, or implied (but omitted) terms in any fashion it deems to be appropriate in its sole discretion, and to make any findings of fact needed in the administration of the Plan or Award Agreements.  The Committee’s prior exercise of its discretionary authority shall not obligate it to exercise its authority in a like fashion thereafter.  The Committee’s interpretation and construction of any provision of the Plan, or of any Award or Award Agreement, shall be final, binding, and conclusive.  The validity of any such interpretation, construction, decision or finding of fact shall not be given de novo review if challenged in court, by arbitration, or in any other forum, and shall be upheld unless clearly arbitrary or capricious.

 

(e)         No Liability; Indemnification.  Neither the Board nor any Committee member, nor any Person acting at the direction of the Board or the Committee, shall be liable for any act, omission, interpretation, construction or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement.  The Company and its Affiliates shall pay or reimburse any member of the Committee, as well as any Director, Employee, or Consultant who takes action in connection with the Plan, for all expenses incurred with respect to the Plan, and to the full extent allowable under Applicable Law shall indemnify each and every one of them for any claims, liabilities, and costs (including reasonable attorney’s fees) arising out of their good faith performance of duties under the Plan.  The Company and its Affiliates may obtain liability insurance for this purpose.

 

	
5.

	
Eligibility

 

(a)          General Rule.  Subject to the express provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall determine from the class of Eligible Persons those individuals to whom Awards under the Plan may be granted, the number of Shares subject to each Award, the price (if any) to be paid for the Shares or the Award and, in the case of Performance or Cash-settled Awards, in addition to the matters addressed in Section 10 below, the specific objectives, goals and performance criteria that further define the Performance or Cash-settled Award.  Each Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that sets forth terms and conditions not inconsistent with this Plan, signed by the Company and, if required by the Committee, by the Participant.  The Award Agreement shall set forth the material terms and conditions of the Award established by the Committee.  A Participant who has been granted an Award may be granted an additional Award or Awards if the Committee shall so determine, if such person is otherwise an Eligible Person and if otherwise in accordance with the terms of the Plan.

 

  

- 3 -

  

 

(b)         Limits on Awards.  During any consecutive three year period under the Plan, no single Participant may receive Awards that in the aggregate relate to more than 350,000 Shares.  The Committee will adjust this limitation pursuant to Section 13 below.

 

(c)         Replacement Awards.  Subject to Applicable Laws (including any associated Stockholder approval requirements), the Committee may, in its sole discretion and upon such terms as it deems appropriate, require as a condition of the grant of an Award to a Participant that the Participant surrender for cancellation some or all of the Awards or other grants that have previously been granted to the Participant under this Plan or otherwise.  An Award that is conditioned upon such surrender may or may not be the same type of Award, may cover the same (or a lesser or greater) number of Shares as such surrendered Award, may have other terms that are determined without regard to the terms or conditions of such surrendered Award, and may contain any other terms that the Committee deems appropriate.  In the case of Options and SARs, these other terms may not involve an Exercise Price that is lower than the Exercise Price of the surrendered Option or SAR unless (i) the Award is occurring in connection with the assumption or exchange of economically-equivalent awards in connection with a Change of Control or (ii) the Company’s stockholders approve the grant itself or the program under which the grant is made pursuant to the Plan.

 

	
6.

	
Option Awards

 

(a)         Types; Documentation.  The Committee may in its discretion grant ISOs to any Eligible Person specified in Section 6(b) below and Non-ISOs to any Eligible Person, and shall evidence any such grants in an Award Agreement that sets forth terms and conditions not inconsistent with this Plan and that is delivered to the Participant.  Each Option shall be designated in the Award Agreement as an ISO or a Non-ISO, and the same Award Agreement may grant both types of Options.  At the sole discretion of the Committee, any Option may be exercisable, in whole or in part, immediately upon the grant thereof, or only after the occurrence of a specified event, or only in installments, which installments may vary.  Options granted under the Plan may contain such terms and provisions not inconsistent with the Plan that the Committee shall deem advisable in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

(b)         Special ISO Provisions.  The following provisions shall control any grants of Options that are denominated as ISOs; provided that ISOs may not be granted more than ten (10) years after Board approval of the Plan.

 

	
  

	
(i)

	
Eligibility.  The Committee may grant ISOs only to Employees (including officers who are Employees) of the Company or an Affiliate that is a “parent corporation” or “subsidiary corporation” within the meaning of Section 424 of the Code, and may grant all other Awards to any Eligible Person.

 

  

- 4 -

  

 

	
  

	
(ii)

	
Documentation.  Each Option that is intended to be an ISO must be designated in the Award Agreement as an ISO, provided that any Option designated as an ISO will be a Non-ISO to the extent the Option fails to meet the requirements of Code Section 422 or the provisions of this Section 5(b).  In the case of an ISO, the Committee shall determine on the Date of Grant the acceptable methods of paying the exercise price for Shares, and it shall be included in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

	
  

	
(iii)

	
$100,000 Limit.  To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of Shares with respect to which ISOs first become exercisable by a Participant in any calendar year (under this Plan and any other plan of the Company or any Affiliate) exceeds U.S. $100,000, such excess Options shall be treated as Non-ISOs.  For purposes of determining whether the U.S. $100,000 limit is exceeded, the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to an ISO shall be determined as of the Grant Date.  In reducing the number of Options treated as ISOs to meet the U.S. $100,000 limit, the most recently granted Options shall be reduced first.  In the event that Code Section 422 is amended to alter the limitation set forth therein, the limitation of this paragraph shall be automatically adjusted accordingly.

 

	
  

	
(iv)

	
Grants to 10% Holders.  In the case of an ISO granted to an Employee who is a Ten Percent Holder on the Grant Date, the ISO’s term shall not exceed five years from the Grant Date, and the exercise price shall be at least 110% of the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares on the Grant Date.  In the event that Code Section 422 is amended to alter the limitations set forth therein, the limitation of this paragraph shall be automatically adjusted accordingly.

 

	
  

	
(v)

	
Substitution of Options.  In the event the Company or an Affiliate acquires (whether by purchase, merger, or otherwise) all or substantially all outstanding capital stock or assets of another corporation or in the event of any reorganization or other transaction qualifying under Code Section 424, the Committee may, in accordance with the provisions of that Section, substitute ISOs for ISOs previously granted under the plan of the acquired company provided (A) the excess of the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to an ISO immediately after the substitution over the aggregate exercise price of such shares is not more than the similar excess immediately before such substitution, and (B) the new ISO does not give additional benefits to the Participant, including any extension of the exercise period.

 

	
  

	
(vi)

	
Notice of Disqualifying Dispositions.  By executing an ISO Award Agreement, each Participant agrees to notify the Company in writing immediately after the Participant sells, transfers or otherwise disposes of any Shares acquired through exercise of the ISO, if such disposition occurs within the earlier of (A) two years of the Grant Date, or (B) one year after the exercise of the ISO being exercised.  Each Participant further agrees to provide any information about a disposition of Shares as may be requested by the Company to assist it in complying with any applicable tax laws.

 

  

- 5 -

  

 

(c)          Term of Options.  Each Award Agreement shall specify a term at the end of which the Option automatically expires, subject to earlier termination provisions contained in Section 6(h) hereof; provided, that, the term of any Option may not exceed ten years from the Grant Date and provided that the term of any ISO granted to an Employee who is a Ten Percent Holder on the Grant Date shall not exceed five years from the Grant Date.

 

(d)         Exercise Price.  Subject to Section 6(b) above, the exercise price of an Option shall be determined by the Committee in its discretion and shall be set forth in the Award Agreement, provided that such per Share exercise price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the Grant Date.  Neither the Company nor the Committee shall, without stockholder approval, allow for a repricing of Options within the meaning of the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the NYSE Amex.

 

(e)          Exercise of Option.  The Committee shall in its sole discretion determine the times, circumstances, and conditions under which an Option shall be exercisable, and shall set them forth in the Award Agreement.  The Committee shall have the discretion to determine whether and to what extent the vesting of Options shall be tolled during any unpaid leave of absence; provided, however, that in the absence of such determination, vesting of Options shall be tolled during any such leave approved by the Company.

 

(f)          Minimum Exercise Requirements.  An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.  The Committee may require in an Award Agreement that an Option be exercised as to a minimum number of Shares, provided that such requirement shall not prevent a Participant from purchasing the full number of Shares as to which the Option is then exercisable.

 

(g)         Methods of Exercise. Prior to its expiration pursuant to the terms of the applicable Award Agreement, and subject to the times, circumstances and conditions for exercise contained in the applicable Award Agreement, each Option may be exercised, in whole or in part (provided that the Company shall not be required to issue fractional shares), by delivery of written notice of exercise to the secretary of the Company accompanied by the full exercise price of the Shares being purchased.  In the case of an ISO, the Committee shall determine the acceptable methods of payment on the Grant Date and shall include such methods in the applicable Award Agreement.  The methods of payment that the Committee may in its discretion accept or commit to accept in an Award Agreement include:

 

	
  

	
(i)

	
cash or check payable to the Company (in U.S. dollars);

 

	
  

	
(ii)

	
other Shares that (A) are owned by the Participant who is purchasing Shares pursuant to an Option, (B) have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which the Option is being exercised, (C) are all, at the time of such surrender, free and clear of any and all claims, pledges, liens and encumbrances, or any restrictions which would in any manner restrict the transfer of such shares to or by the Company (other than such restrictions as may have existed prior to an issuance of such Shares by the Company to such Participant), and (D) are duly endorsed for transfer to the Company;

 

  

- 6 -

  

 

	
  

	
(iii)

	
a net exercise by surrendering to the Company Shares otherwise receivable upon exercise of the Option;

 

	
  

	
(iv)

	
a cashless exercise program that the Committee may approve, from time to time in its discretion, pursuant to which a Participant may concurrently provide irrevocable instructions (A) to such Participant’s broker or dealer to effect the immediate sale of the purchased Shares and remit to the Company, out of the sale proceeds available on the settlement date, sufficient funds to cover the exercise price of the Option plus all applicable taxes required to be withheld by the Company by reason of such exercise, and (B) to the Company to deliver the certificates for the purchased Shares directly to such broker or dealer in order to complete the sale;

 

	
  

	
(v)

	
a promissory note in a principal amount equal to the exercise price and otherwise in a form and with such terms as are approved by the Committee or cancellation of other indebtedness, provided no executive officer or director of the Company shall be permitted to pay any portion of an Option exercise price by issuance of a promissory note; or

 

	
  

	
(vi)

	
any combination of the foregoing methods of payment.

 

The Company shall not be required to deliver Shares pursuant to the exercise of an Option until payment of the full exercise price therefore and payment of all applicable Withholding Taxes required by reason of such exercise are received by the Company.

 

Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan to the contrary, no Participant who is a Director or an “executive officer” of the Company within the meaning of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act shall be permitted to make payment with respect to any Awards granted under the Plan, or continue any extension of credit with respect to such payment with a loan from the Company or a loan arranged by the Company in violation of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act.

 

(h)         Termination of Continuous Service.  The Committee may establish and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement the terms and conditions on which an Option shall remain exercisable, if at all, following termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service.  The Committee may waive or modify these provisions at any time.  To the extent that a Participant is not entitled to exercise an Option at the date of his or her termination of Continuous Service, or if the Participant (or other person entitled to exercise the Option) does not exercise the Option to the extent so entitled within the time specified in the Award Agreement or below (as applicable), the Option shall terminate and the Shares underlying the unexercised portion of the Option shall revert to the Plan and become available for future Awards.  In no event may any Option be exercised after the expiration of the Option term as set forth in the Award Agreement.

 

  

- 7 -

  

 

The following provisions shall apply to the extent an Award Agreement does not specify the terms and conditions upon which an Option shall terminate when there is a termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service:

 

	
  

	
(i)

	
Termination other than Upon Disability, Death or Retirement or for Cause.  In the event of termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service (other than as a result of Participant’s death, disability, retirement or termination for Cause), the Participant shall have the right to exercise an Option at any time within 90 days following such termination to the extent the Participant was entitled to exercise such Option at the date of such termination.

 

	
  

	
(ii)

	
Disability.  In the event of termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service as a result of his or her being Disabled, the Participant shall have the right to exercise an Option at any time within one year following such termination to the extent the Participant was entitled to exercise such Option at the date of such termination.

 

	
  

	
(iii)

	
Retirement.  In the event of termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service as a result of Participant’s retirement, the Participant shall have the right to exercise the Option at any time within one year following such termination to the extent the Participant was entitled to exercise such Option at the date of such termination.

 

	
  

	
(iv)

	
Death.  In the event of the death of a Participant during the period of Continuous Service since the Grant Date of an Option, or within thirty days following termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service, the Option may be exercised, at any time within one year following the date of the Participant’s death, by the Participant’s estate or by a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent the right to exercise the Option had vested at the date of death or, if earlier, the date the Participant’s Continuous Service terminated.

 

	
  

	
(v)

	
Cause.  If the Committee determines that a Participant’s Continuous Service terminated due to Cause, the Participant shall immediately forfeit the right to exercise any Option, and it shall be considered immediately null and void.

 

(i)          Reverse Vesting.  The Committee in its sole and absolute discretion may allow a Participant to exercise unvested Options, in which case the Shares then issued shall be Restricted Shares having analogous vesting restrictions to the unvested Options.

 

	
7.

	
Share Appreciate Rights (SARs)

 

(a)         Grants.  The Committee may grant SARs to any Eligible Person pursuant to an Award Agreement setting forth terms and conditions that are not inconsistent with the Plan, in any of the following forms:

 

	
  

	
(i)

	
SARs related to Options.  The Committee may grant SARs either concurrently with the grant of an Option or with respect to an outstanding Option, in which case the SAR shall extend to all or a portion of the Shares covered by the related Option.  An SAR shall entitle the Participant who holds the related Option, upon exercise of the SAR and surrender of the related Option, or portion thereof, to the extent the SAR and related Option each were previously unexercised, to receive payment of an amount determined pursuant to Section 7(e) below.  Any SAR granted in connection with an ISO will contain such terms as may be required to comply with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

  

- 8 -

  

 

	
  

	
(ii)

	
SARs Independent of Options.  The Committee may grant SARs which are independent of any Option subject to such conditions as the Committee may in its discretion determine which conditions will be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

	
  

	
(iii)

	
Limited SARs.  The Committee may grant SARs exercisable only upon or in respect of a Change in Control or any other specified event, and such limited SARs may relate to or operate in tandem or combination with or substitution for Options or other SARs, or on a stand-alone basis, and may be payable in cash or Shares based on the spread between the exercise price of the SAR, and (A) a price based upon or equal to the Fair Market Value of the Shares during a specified period, at a specified time within a specified period before, after or including the date of such event, or (B) a price related to consideration payable to Company’s stockholders generally in connection with the event.

 

(b)         Exercise Price.  The per Share exercise price of an SAR shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement, and shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares on the Grant Date.  The exercise price of an SAR related to an Option shall be the same as the exercise price of the related Option.  The exercise price of an SAR shall be subject to the special rules on pricing contained in Sections 6(d).  Neither the Company nor the Committee shall, without stockholder approval, allow for a repricing of SARs within the meaning of federal securities laws or the rules and regulations of the American Stock Exchange.

 

(c)         Exercise of SARs.  Unless the Award Agreement otherwise provides, an SAR related to an Option will be exercisable at such time or times, and to the extent, that the related Option will be exercisable; provided that the Award Agreement shall not, without the approval of the stockholders of the Company, provide for a vesting period for the exercise of the SAR that is more favorable to the Participant than the exercise period for the related Option.  An SAR may not have a term exceeding ten years from its Grant Date.  An SAR granted independently of any other Award will be exercisable pursuant to the terms of the Award Agreement.  Whether an SAR is related to an Option or is granted independently, the SAR may only be exercised when the Fair Market Value of the Shares underlying the SAR exceeds the exercise price of the SAR.

 

(d)         Effect on Available Shares.  At each time of exercise of a SAR that is settled in Shares, only those Shares that are issued or delivered in settlement of the exercise shall be counted against the number of Shares available for Awards under the Plan.

 

(e)         Payment. Upon exercise of an SAR related to an Option and the attendant surrender of an exercisable portion of any related Award, the Participant will be entitled to receive payment or Shares pursuant to Section 7(f) below of an amount determined by multiplying –

 

  

- 9 -

  

 

	
  

	
(i)

	
the excess of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise of the SAR over the exercise price per Share of the SAR, by

 

	
  

	
(ii)

	
the number of Shares with respect to which the SAR has been exercised.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, an SAR granted independently of an Option (i) may limit the amount payable to the Participant to a percentage, specified in the Award Agreement, of the amount determined pursuant to the preceding sentence, and (ii) shall be subject to any payment or other restrictions that the Committee may at any time impose in its discretion, including restrictions intended to conform the SARs with Section 409A of the Code.

 

(f)          Form and Terms of Payment.  Subject to Applicable Law, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, settle the amount determined under Section 7(e) above solely in Shares (valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise of the SAR), solely in cash, or partly in cash and partly in Shares.  In any event, cash shall be paid in lieu of fractional Shares.  Absent a contrary determination by the Committee, all SARs shall be settled in Shares as soon as practicable after exercise.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, in an Award Agreement, determine the maximum amount of cash or Shares or combination thereof that may be delivered upon exercise of an SAR.

 

(g)         Termination of Employment or Consulting Relationship.  The Committee shall establish and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement the terms and conditions on which an SAR shall remain exercisable, if at all, following termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service.  The provisions of Section 6(h) above shall apply to the extent an Award Agreement does not specify the terms and conditions upon which an SAR shall terminate when there is a termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service.

 

	
8.

	
Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units

 

(a)          Grants.  The Committee may in its discretion grant restricted shares (“Restricted Shares”) to any Eligible Person and shall evidence such grant in an Award Agreement that is not inconsistent with the Plan and that is delivered to the Participant setting forth the number of Restricted Shares, the purchase price for such Restricted Shares (if any), and the terms upon which the Restricted Shares may become vested.  In addition, the Company may in its discretion grant the right to receive Shares after certain vesting requirements are met (“Restricted Share Units”) to any Eligible Person and shall evidence such grant in an Award Agreement that is not inconsistent with the Plan and that is delivered to the Participant which sets forth the number of Shares (or formula, that may be based on future performance or conditions, for determining the number of Shares) that the Participant shall be entitled to receive upon vesting and the terms upon which the Shares subject to a Restricted Share Unit may become vested.  Such Award Agreement may include, without limitation, restrictions concerning voting rights and transferability, and such restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such times and pursuant to such circumstances or based on such criteria as selected by the Committee, including, without limitation, criteria based on participant’s duration of employment, directorship or consultancy with the Company, individual, group, or divisional performance criteria, company performance or other criteria selected by the Committee.  The Committee may condition any Award of Restricted Shares or Restricted Share Units to a Participant on receiving from the Participant such further assurances and documents as the Committee may require to enforce the restrictions.  In addition, the Committee may grant Awards hereunder in the form of unrestricted shares (“Unrestricted Shares”) which shall vest in full upon the Grant Date, or such other date as the Committee may determine, or which the Committee may issue pursuant to any program under which one or more Eligible Persons (selected by the Committee in its sole discretion) elect to pay for such Shares or to received Unrestricted Shares in lieu of cash bonuses that would otherwise be paid to such Eligible Persons.

 

  

- 10 -

  

 

(b)         Vesting and Forfeiture.  The Committee shall set forth in an Award Agreement granting Restricted Shares or Restricted Share Units, the terms and conditions under which the Participant’s interest in the Restricted Shares or the Shares subject to Restricted Share Units will become vested and non-forfeitable.  Except as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement or the Committee otherwise determines, upon termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service for any reason, the Participant shall forfeit his or her Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units; provided that if a Participant purchases the Restricted Shares and forfeits them for any reason, the Company shall return the purchase price to the Participant only if and to the extent set forth in an Award Agreement.

 

(c)          Issuance of Restricted Shares Prior to Vesting.  The Company shall issue stock certificates that evidence Restricted Shares pending the lapse of applicable restrictions, and that bear a legend making appropriate reference to such restrictions.  Except as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement or the Committee otherwise determines, the Company or a third party that the Company designates shall hold such Restricted Shares and any dividends that accrue with respect to Restricted Shares pursuant to Section 8(e) below.

 

(d)         Issuance of Shares upon Vesting.  As soon as practicable after vesting of a Participant’s Restricted Shares (or Shares underlying Restricted Share Units) and the Participant’s satisfaction of applicable tax withholding requirements, the Company shall release to the Participant, free from the vesting restrictions, one Share for each vested Restricted Share (or issue one Share free of the vesting restriction for each vested Restricted Share Unit), unless an Award Agreement provides otherwise.  No fractional shares shall be distributed, and cash shall be paid in lieu thereof.

 

(e)          Dividends Payable on Vesting. Whenever Shares are released to a Participant under Section 8(d) above pursuant to the vesting of Restricted Shares or the Shares underlying Restricted Share Units are issued to a Participant pursuant to Section 8(d) above, such Participant shall receive (unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement), with respect to each Share released or issued, an amount equal to any cash dividends (plus, in the discretion of the Committee, simple interest at a rate as the Committee may determine) and a number of Shares equal to any stock dividends, which were declared and paid to the holders of Shares between the Grant Date and the date such Share is released or issued.

 

(f)          Section 83(b) Elections.  A Participant may make an election under Section 83(b) of the Code (the “Section 83(b) Election”) with respect to Restricted Shares.  A Participant who has received Restricted Share Units may, within ten days after receiving the Award, provide the Committee with written notice of his or her desire to make a Section 83(b) Election with respect to the Shares subject to such Restricted Share Units.  The Committee may in its discretion permit such Section 83(b) Election by converting the Participant’s Restricted Share Units into Restricted Shares, on a one-for-one basis, in full satisfaction of the Participant’s Restricted Share Unit Award.  The Participant may then make a Section 83(b) Election with respect to those Restricted Shares; provided that the Participant’s Section 83(b) Election would be invalid if not filed with the Company and the appropriate U.S. tax authorities within 30 days after the Grant Date of the Restricted Share Units that are thereafter replaced by the Restricted Shares.  Shares with respect to which a Participant makes a Section 83(b) Election shall not be eligible for deferral pursuant to Section 9 below.

 

  

- 11 -

  

 

(g)         Deferral Elections.  At any time within the thirty-day period (or other shorter or longer period that the Committee selects) in which a Participant who is a member of a select group of management or highly compensated employees (within the meaning of the Code) receives an Award of either Restricted Shares or Restricted Share Units, the Committee may permit the Participant to irrevocably elect, on a form provided by and acceptable to the Committee, to defer the receipt of all or a percentage of the Shares that would otherwise be transferred to the Participant both more than 12 months after the date of Participant’s deferral election and upon the vesting of such Award.  If the Participant makes this election, the Shares subject to the election, and any associated dividends and interest, shall be credited to an account established pursuant to Section 9 hereof on the date such Shares would otherwise have been released or issued to the Participant pursuant to Section 8(d) above.

 

	
9.

	
Deferred Share Units

 

(a)         Elections to Defer.  The Committee may permit any Eligible Person (regardless of whether or not there is a deferral of the Eligible Person’s compensation) who is a Director, Consultant or member of a select group of management or highly compensated employees (within the meaning of the Code) to irrevocably elect, on a form provided by and acceptable to the Committee (the “Election Form”), to forego the receipt of cash or other compensation (including the Shares deliverable pursuant to any Award other than Restricted Shares for which a Section 83(b) Election has been made), and in lieu thereof to have the Company credit to an internal Plan account (the “Account”) a number of deferred share units (“Deferred Share Units”) having a Fair Market Value equal to the Shares and other compensation deferred.  These credits will be made at the end of each calendar month during which compensation is deferred.  Each Election Form shall take effect on the first day of the next calendar year (or on the first day of the next calendar month in the case of an initial election by a Participant who is first eligible to defer hereunder) after its delivery to the Company, subject to Section 8(g) regarding deferral of Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units and to Section 10(e) regarding deferral of Performance Awards, unless the Company sends the Participant a written notice explaining why the Election Form is invalid within five business days after the Company receives it.  Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence: (i) Election Forms shall be ineffective with respect to any compensation that a Participant earns before the date on which the Company receives the Election Form, and (ii) the Committee may unilaterally make awards in the form of Deferred Share Units, regardless of whether or not the Participant foregoes other compensation.  For any Participant who is subject to U.S. income taxation, the Committee shall only authorize deferral elections under this Section pursuant to written procedures, and using written Election Forms, that satisfy the requirements of Code Section 409A.

 

(b)         Vesting.  Unless an Award Agreement expressly provides otherwise, each Participant shall be 100% vested at all times in any Shares subject to Deferred Share Units.

 

(c)         Issuances of Shares.  Unless an Award Agreement expressly provides otherwise, the Company shall provide a Participant with one Share for each Deferred Share Unit in five substantially equal annual installments that are issued before the last day of each of the five calendar years that end after the date on which the Participant’s Continuous Service ends for any reason, unless –

 

  

- 12 -

  

 

	
  

	
(i)

	
the Participant has properly elected a different form of distribution, on a form approved by the Committee, that permits the Participant to select any combination of a lump sum and annual installments that are triggered by, and completed within ten years following, the last day of Participant’s Continuous Service, and

 

	
  

	
(ii)

	
the Company has accepted the Participant’s distribution election form at the time the Participant elects to defer the receipt of cash or other compensation pursuant to Section 9(a), provided that such election may be changed through any subsequent election that (i) is delivered to the Administrator at least one year before the date on which distributions are otherwise scheduled to commence pursuant to the Participant’s election, and (ii) defers the commencement of distributions by at least five years from the originally scheduled commencement date.

 

Fractional shares shall not be issued, and instead shall be paid out in cash.

 

(d)         Crediting of Dividends.  Whenever Shares are issued to a Participant pursuant to Section 9(c) above, such Participant shall also be entitled to receive, with respect to each Share issued, a cash amount equal to any cash dividends (plus simple interest at a rate of five percent per annum, or such other reasonable rate as the Committee may determine), and a number of Shares equal to any stock dividends which were declared and paid to the holders of Shares between the Grant Date and the date such Share is issued.

 

(e)         Emergency Withdrawals.  In the event a Participant suffers an unforeseeable emergency within the contemplation of this Section, the Participant may apply to the Company for an immediate distribution of all or a portion of the Participant’s Deferred Share Units.  The unforeseeable emergency must result from a sudden and unexpected illness or accident of the Participant, the Participant’s spouse, or a dependent (within the meaning of Section 152(a) of the Code) of the Participant, casualty loss of the Participant’s property, or other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable conditions beyond the control of the Participant.  Examples of purposes which are not considered unforeseeable emergencies include post-secondary school expenses or the desire to purchase a residence.  In no event will a distribution be made to the extent the unforeseeable emergency could be relieved through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise, or by liquidation of the Participant’s nonessential assets to the extent such liquidation would not itself cause a severe financial hardship.  The amount of any distribution hereunder shall be limited to the amount necessary to relieve the Participant’s unforeseeable emergency plus amounts necessary to pay taxes reasonably anticipated as a result of the distribution.  The number of Shares subject to the Participant’s Deferred Share Unit Awards shall be reduced by any Shares distributed to the Participant and by a number of Shares having a Fair Market Value on the date of the distribution equal to any cash paid to the Participant pursuant to this Section.  For all Deferred Share Units granted to Participants who are U.S. taxpayers, the term “unforeseeable emergency” shall be interpreted in accordance with Code Section 409A.  The Committee shall, in its sole and absolute discretion, determine whether a Participant has a qualifying unforeseeable emergency and the amount which qualifies for distribution, if any, and may determine whether or not to provide the Participant with cash or Shares.  The Committee may require evidence of the purpose and amount of the need, and may establish such application or other procedures as it deems appropriate.

 

  

- 13 -

  

 

(f)          Unsecured Rights to Deferred Compensation. A Participant’s right to Deferred Share Units shall at all times constitute an unsecured promise of the Company to pay benefits as they come due.  The right of the Participant or the Participant’s duly-authorized transferee to receive benefits hereunder shall be solely an unsecured claim against the general assets of the Company.  Neither the Participant nor the Participant’s duly-authorized transferee shall have any claim against or rights in any specific assets, shares, or other funds of the Company.

 

(g)         Termination of Service.  For purposes of this Section, a Participant’s “Continuous Service” shall only end when the Participant incurs a “separation from service” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations § 1.409A-1(h). A Participant shall be considered to have experienced a termination of Continuous Service when the facts and circumstances indicate that either (i) no further services will be performed for the Company or any Affiliate after a certain date, or (ii) that the level of bona fide services the Participant will perform after such date (whether as an Employee, Director, or Consultant) are reasonably expected to permanently decrease to no more than 50% of the average level of bona fide services performed by such Participant (whether as an Employee, Director, or Consultant) over the immediately preceding 36-month period (or full period of services to the Company and its Affiliates if the Participant has been providing such services for less than 36 months).

 

	
10.

	
Performance Awards

 

(a)         Performance Units.  Subject to the limitations set forth in paragraph (c) hereof, the Committee may in its discretion grant Performance Units to any Eligible Person and shall evidence such grant in an Award Agreement that is not inconsistent with the Plan and that is delivered to the Participant which sets forth the terms and conditions of the Award.  The Performance Unit Awards may have substantially the same financial benefits and other terms and conditions as options, SARs, Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units, that may be settled only in cash.

 

(b)         Performance Compensation Awards.  Subject to the limitations set forth in paragraph (c) hereof, the Committee may, at the time of grant of a Performance Unit, designate such Award as a “Performance Compensation Award” (payable in cash or Shares) in order that such Award constitutes “qualified performance-based compensation” under Code Section 162(m), and has terms and conditions designed to qualify as such.  With respect to each such Performance Compensation Award, the Committee shall establish, in writing within the time required under Code Section 162(m), a “Performance Period,” “Performance Measure(s)”, and “Performance Formula(e)” (each such term being hereinafter defined).  Once established for a Performance Period, the Performance Measure(s) and Performance Formula(e) should not be amended or otherwise modified to the extent such amendment or modification would cause the compensation payable under the Award to fail to constitute qualified performance based compensation under Section 162m of the Code.

 

A Participant shall be eligible to receive payment in respect of a Performance Compensation Award only to the extent that the Performance Measure(s) for such Award is achieved and the Performance Formula(e) as applied against such Performance Measure(s) determines that all or some portion of such Participant’s Award has been earned for the Performance Period.  As soon as practicable after the close of each Performance Period, the Committee shall review and certify in writing whether, and to what extent, the Performance Measure(s) for the Performance Period have been achieved and, if so, determine and certify in writing the amount of the Performance Compensation Award to be paid to the Participant and, in so doing, may use negative discretion to decrease, but not increase, the amount of the Award otherwise payable to the Participant based upon such performance.

 

  

- 14 -

  

 

(c)         Limitations on Awards.  The maximum Performance Unit Award including any performance Compensation Award that Participants may receive in the aggregate for any one Performance Period shall not exceed 100,000 Shares subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 13 below (or, for Performance Unit Awards to be settled in cash $500,000, determined on the Grant Date).  The Committee shall have the discretion to provide in any Award Agreement that any amounts earned in excess of these limitations will be credited as Deferred Share Units.  Any amounts for which payment to the Participant is deferred pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be paid to the Participant in a future year or years not earlier than, and only to the extent that, the Participant is either not receiving compensation in excess of these limits for a Performance Period, or is not subject to the restrictions set forth under Section 162(b) of the Code.

 

(d)         Definitions.

 

	
  

	
(i)

	
“Performance Formula” means, for a Performance Period, one or more objective formulas or standards established by the Committee for purposes of determining whether or the extent to which an Award has been earned based on the level of performance attained or to be attained with respect to one or more Performance Measure(s).  Performance Formulae may vary from Performance Period to Performance Period and from Participant to Participant and may be established on a stand-alone basis, in tandem or in the alternative.

 

	
  

	
(ii)

	
“Performance Measure” means one or more of the following selected by the Committee to measure Company, Affiliate, and/or business unit performance for a Performance Period, whether in absolute or relative terms (including, without limitation, terms relative to a peer group or index):  basic, diluted, or adjusted earnings per share; sales or revenue; earnings before interest, taxes, and other adjustments (in total or on a per share basis); basic or adjusted net income; returns on equity, assets, capital, revenue or similar measure; economic value added; working capital; total stockholder return; and product development, product market share, research, licensing, litigation, human resources, information services, mergers, acquisitions, sales of assets of Affiliates or business units.  Each such measure shall be, to the extent applicable, determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as consistently applied by the Company (or such other standard applied by the Committee) and, if so determined by the Committee, and in the case of a Performance Compensation Award, to the extent permitted under Code Section 162(m), adjusted to omit the effects of extraordinary items, gain or loss on the disposal of a business segment, unusual or infrequently occurring events and transactions and cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles.  Performance Measures may vary from Performance Period to Performance Period and from Participant to Participant, and may be established on a stand-alone basis, in tandem or in the alternative.

 

  

- 15 -

  

 

	
  

	
(iii)

	
“Performance Period” means one or more periods of time (of not less than one fiscal year of the Company), as the Committee may designate, over which the attainment of one or more Performance Measure(s) will be measured for the purpose of determining a Participant’s rights in respect of an Award.

 

(e)         Deferral Elections. At any time prior to the date that is at least six months before the close of a Performance Period (or shorter or longer period that the Committee selects) with respect to a Performance Award, the Committee may permit a Participant who is a member of a select group of management or highly compensated employees (within the meaning of ERISA) to irrevocably elect, on a form provided by and acceptable to the Committee, to defer the receipt of all or a percentage of the Shares that would otherwise be transferred to the Participant upon the vesting of such Award.  If the Participant makes this election, the cash or Shares subject to the election, and any associated interest and dividends, shall be credited to an account established pursuant to Section 9 hereof on the date such Shares would otherwise have been released or issued to the Participant pursuant to Section 10(a) or Section 10(b) above.

 

	
11.

	
Taxes; Withholding

 

(a)         General. As a condition to the issuance or distribution of Shares pursuant to the Plan, the Participant (or in the case of the Participant’s death, the person who succeeds to the Participant’s rights) shall make such arrangements as the Company may require for the satisfaction of any applicable federal, state, local or foreign withholding tax (including penalty) obligations (“Withholding Taxes”) that may arise in connection with the Award and the issuance of Shares.  Neither the Company, any Affiliate, nor any of their employees, directors or agents shall have any obligation to mitigate, indemnify, or to otherwise hold any Participant harmless from any or all of such Withholding Taxes.  The Company shall not be required to issue any Shares (or to pay cash) under the Plan until such obligations are satisfied.  Except to the extent otherwise either provided in an Award Agreement or thereafter authorized by the Committee, the Company or any Affiliate will satisfy required Withholding Taxes that the Participant has not otherwise arranged to settle before the due date thereof –

 

	
  

	
(i)

	
first from withholding the cash otherwise payable to the Participant pursuant to the Award;

 

	
  

	
(ii)

	
then by withholding and cancelling the Participant’s rights with respect to a number of Shares that (A) would otherwise have been delivered to the Participant pursuant to the Award, and (B) have an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the Withholding Taxes (such withheld Shares to be valued on the basis of the aggregate Fair Market Value thereof on the date of the withholding); and

 

	
  

	
(iii)

	
finally, withholding the cash otherwise payable to the Participant by the Company.

 

  

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The number of Shares withheld and as to which Participant’s rights are cancelled to pay a Participant’s Withholding Taxes will be rounded up to the nearest whole Share sufficient to satisfy such taxes, with cash being paid to the Participant in an amount equal to the amount by which the Fair Market Value of such Shares exceeds the Withholding Taxes.

 

(b)         Surrender of Shares.  If permitted by the Committee, in its discretion, a Participant may elect to satisfy the minimum applicable Tax Withholding associated with an Award by surrendering Shares to the Company (including Shares that would otherwise be issued pursuant to the Award) that have a Fair Market Value determined as of the date the withholding must be paid equal to the amount required to be withheld.

 

(c)         U.S. Code Section 409A.  To the extent that the Committee determines that any Award granted under the Plan is subject to Code Section 409A, the Award Agreement evidencing such Award shall incorporate the terms and conditions required by Code Section 409A.  To the extent applicable, the Plan and Award Agreements shall be interpreted in accordance with Code Section 409A and Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the Effective Date.  Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Committee may adopt such amendments to the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, that the Committee determines are necessary or appropriate (i) to exempt the Award from Code Section 409A and/or preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided with respect to the Award, or (ii) to comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A and related Department of Treasury guidance and thereby avoid the application of any penalty taxes under such Section.

 

(d)         Unfunded Tax Status.  The Plan is intended to be an “unfunded” plan for incentive compensation.  With respect to any payments not yet made to a Person pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Award Agreement shall give the Person any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company or any Affiliate, and a Participant’s rights under the Plan at all times constitute an unsecured claim against the general assets of the Company for the collection of benefits as they come due.  Neither the Participant nor the Participant’s duly-authorized transferee or Beneficiaries shall have any claim against or rights in any specific assets, Shares, or other funds of the Company.

 

	
12.

	
Non-Transferability of Awards

 

(a)         General.  Except as set forth in this Section 12, or as otherwise approved by the Committee, Awards may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution.  The designation of a beneficiary by a Participant will not constitute a transfer.  An Award may be exercised, during the lifetime of the holder of an Award, only by such holder, the duly-authorized legal representative of a Participant who is Disabled, or a transferee permitted by this Section 12.

 

  

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(b)         Limited Transferability Rights. Notwithstanding anything else in this Section 12, the Committee may in its discretion provide in an Award Agreement that an Award other than an ISO Share-settled SAR, Restricted Shares or Performance Shares may be transferred, on such terms and conditions as the Committee deems appropriate, either (i) by instrument to the Participant’s “Immediate Family” (as defined below), (ii) by instrument to an inter vivos or testamentary trust (or other entity) in which the Award is to be passed to the Participant’s designated beneficiaries, or (iii) by gift to charitable institutions.  Any transferee of the Participant’s rights shall succeed and be subject to all of the terms of this Award Agreement and the Plan. “Immediate Family” means any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, and shall include adoptive relationships.

 

	
13.

	
Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization, Change in Control, Etc.

 

(a)         Changes in Capitalization.  The Committee shall equitably adjust the number of Shares covered by each outstanding Award, and the number of Shares that have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but as to which no Awards have yet been granted or that have been returned to the Plan upon cancellation, forfeiture, or expiration of an Award, as well as the exercise price or other price per Share covered by each such outstanding Award, to reflect any increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares resulting from a stock-split, reverse stock-split, stock dividend, combination, recapitalization or reclassification of the Shares, merger, consolidated, change in organization form or any other increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares effected without receipt of consideration by the Company.  In the event of any such transaction or event, the Committee may provide in substitution for any or all outstanding Options under the Plan such alternative consideration (including cash or securities of any surviving entity) as it may in good faith determine to be equitable under the circumstances and may require in connection therewith the surrender of all Awards so replaced.  In any case, such substitution of cash or securities shall not require the consent of any person who is granted Awards pursuant to the Plan.  Except as expressly provided herein, or in an Award Agreement, if the Company issues for consideration shares of stock of any class or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, the issuance shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be required to be made with respect to the number or price of Shares subject to any award.

 

(b)         Dissolution or Liquidation.  In the event of the dissolution or liquidation of the Company other than as part of a Change of Control, each Award will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such action, subject to the ability of the Committee to exercise any discretion authorized in the case of a Change in Control.

 

(c)         Change in Control.  In the event of a Change in Control but subject to the terms of any Award Agreements, Change in Control Severance Agreements, or other employment related agreements between the Company or any Affiliates and any Participant, the Committee may in its sole and absolute discretion and authority, without obtaining the approval or consent of the Company’s stockholders or any Participant with respect to his or her outstanding Awards, take one or more of the following actions:

 

	
  

	
(i)

	
arrange for or otherwise provide that each outstanding Award shall be assumed or a substantially similar award shall be substituted by a successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of such successor corporation (the “Successor Corporation”);

 

	
  

	
(ii)

	
accelerate the vesting of Awards so that Awards shall vest (and, to the extent applicable, become exercisable) as to the Shares that otherwise would have been unvested and provide that repurchase rights of the Company with respect to Shares issued upon exercise of an Award shall lapse as to the Shares subject to such repurchase right;

 

  

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(iii)

	
arrange or otherwise provide for the payment of cash or other consideration to Participants in exchange for the satisfaction and cancellation of outstanding Awards; or

 

	
  

	
(iv)

	
make such other modifications, adjustments or amendments to outstanding Awards or this Plan as the Committee deems necessary or appropriate, subject however to the terms of Section 15(a) below.

 

Notwithstanding the above, in the event a Participant holding an Award assumed or substituted by the Successor Corporation in a Change in Control is Involuntarily Terminated by the Successor Corporation in connection with, or within 12 months following consummation of, the Change in Control, then any assumed or substituted Award held by the terminated Participant at the time of termination shall accelerate and become fully vested (and exercisable in full in the case of Options and SARs), and any repurchase right applicable to any Shares shall lapse in full, unless an Award Agreement provides for a more restrictive acceleration or vesting schedule or more restrictive limitations on the lapse of repurchase rights or otherwise places additional restrictions, limitations and conditions on an Award.  The acceleration of vesting and lapse of repurchase rights provided for in the previous sentence shall occur immediately prior to the effective date of the Participant’s termination, unless an Award Agreement provides otherwise.

 

(d)         Certain Distributions.  In the event of any distribution to the Company’s stockholders of securities of any other entity or other assets (other than dividends payable in cash or stock of the Company) without receipt of consideration by the Company, the Committee may, in its discretion, appropriately adjust the price per Share covered by each outstanding Award to reflect the effect of such distribution.

 

	
14.

	
Time of Granting Awards.

 

The date of grant (“Grant Date”) of an Award shall be the date on which the Committee makes the determination granting such Award or such other date as is determined by the Committee consistent with Applicable Law and generally accepted accounting principles, provided that in the case of an ISO, the Grant Date shall be the later of the date on which the Committee makes the determination granting such ISO or the date of commencement of the Participant’s employment relationship with the Company.

 

	
15.

	
Modification of Awards and Substitution of Options.

 

(a)         Modification, Extension, and Renewal of Awards.  Within the limitations of the Plan, the Committee may modify an Award to accelerate the rate at which an Option or SAR may be exercised (including without limitation permitting an Option or SAR to be exercised in full without regard to the installment or vesting provisions of the applicable Award Agreement or whether the Option or SAR is at the time exercisable, to the extent it has not previously been exercised), to accelerate the vesting of any Award, to extend or renew outstanding Awards or to accept the cancellation of outstanding Awards to the extent not previously exercised.  However, except in connection with a Change in Control, the Committee may not cancel an outstanding Option or SAR that is underwater for the purpose of reissuing the Option or SAR to the participant at a lower exercise price or granting a replacement Award of a different type or otherwise allowing for “repricing” within the meaning of applicable federal securities laws, without stockholder approval.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provision, no modification of an outstanding Award shall materially and adversely affect such Participant’s rights thereunder, unless either the Participant provides written consent or there is an express Plan provision permitting the Committee to act unilaterally to make the modification.

 

  

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(b)         Substitution of Options. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provisions or limits under the Plan, in the event the Company or an Affiliate acquires (whether by purchase, merger or otherwise) all or substantially all of outstanding capital stock or assets of another corporation or in the event of any reorganization or other transaction qualifying under Section 424 of the Code, the Committee may, in accordance with the provisions of that Section, substitute Options for options under the plan of the acquired company provided (i) the excess of the aggregate fair market value of the shares subject to an option immediately after the substitution over the aggregate option price of such shares is not more than the similar excess immediately before such substitution and (ii) the new option does not give persons additional benefits, including any extension of the exercise period.

 

	
16.

	
Term of Plan.

 

The Plan shall continue in effect for a term of ten (10) years from its effective date as determined under Section 20 below, unless the Plan is sooner terminated under Section 17 below.  No Awards shall be made under the Plan after its termination.

 

	
17.

	
Amendment and Termination of the Plan.

 

The Board may amend or terminate the Plan as it shall deem advisable; provided that no change shall be made that increases the total number of Shares reserved for issuance pursuant to Awards (except pursuant to Section 13 above) unless such change is authorized by the shareholders of the Company.  A termination or amendment of the Plan shall not materially and adversely affect a Participant’s vested rights under an Award previously granted to him or her, unless the Participant consents in writing to such termination or amendment.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may amend the Plan to comply with changes in tax or securities laws or regulations, or in the interpretation thereof.  Furthermore, neither the Company nor the Committee shall, without shareholder approval, amend the Plan either (a) to allow for a “repricing” within the meaning of federal securities laws applicable to proxy statement disclosures, or (b) to cancel an outstanding Option or SAR whose exercise price is greater than Fair Market Value at the time of cancellation for the purpose of reissuing the Option or SAR to the Participant at a lower exercise price or granting a replacement award of a different type.

 

	
18.

	
Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or any agreement entered into by the Company pursuant to the Plan, the Company shall not be obligated, and shall have no liability for failure, to issue or deliver any Shares under the Plan unless such issuance or delivery would comply with Applicable Law, with such compliance determined by the Company in consultation with its legal counsel.

 

  

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19.

	
Reservation of Shares.

 

The Company, during the term of this Plan, will at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.

 

	
20.

	
Effective Date.

 

This Plan shall become effective on the date (the “Effective Date”) upon which it has received approval by a vote of a majority of the votes cast at a duly held meeting of the Company’s stockholders (or by such other stockholder vote that the Committee determines to be sufficient for the issuance of Shares and Awards according to the Company’s governing documents and Applicable Law).

 

	
21.

	
Controlling Law.

 

All disputes relating to or arising from the Plan shall be governed by the internal substantive laws (and not the laws of conflicts of laws) of the State of Virginia, to the extent not preempted by United States federal law.

 

	
22.

	
Laws And Regulations.

 

(a)         General Rules. This Plan, the granting of Awards, the exercise of Options and SARs, and the obligations of the Company hereunder (including those to pay cash or to deliver, sell or accept the surrender of any of its Shares or other securities) shall be subject to all Applicable Law.  In the event that any Shares are not registered under any Applicable Law prior to the required delivery of them pursuant to Awards, the Company may require, as a condition to their issuance or delivery, that the persons to whom the Shares are to be issued or delivered make any written representations and warranties (such as that such Shares are being acquired by the Participant for investment for the Participant’s own account and not with a view to, for resale in connection with, or with an intent of participating directly or indirectly in, any distribution of such Shares) that the Committee may reasonably require, and the Committee may in its sole discretion include a legend to such effect on the certificates representing any Shares issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan.

 

(b)         Black-out Periods.  Notwithstanding any contrary terms within the Plan or any Award Agreement, the Committee shall have the absolute discretion to impose a “blackout” period on the exercise of any Option or SAR, as well as the settlement of any Award, with respect to any or all Participants (including those whose Continuous Service has ended) to the extent that the Committee determines that doing so is either desirable or required in order to comply with applicable securities laws.

 

(c)         Severability; Blue Pencil.  In the event that any one or more of the provisions of this Plan shall be or become invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected thereby.  If, in the opinion of any court of competent jurisdiction such covenants are not reasonable in any respect, such court shall have the right, power and authority to excise or modify such provision or provisions of these covenants as to the court shall appear not reasonable and to enforce the remainder of these covenants as so amended.

 

  

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23.

	
No Stockholder Rights.

 

 Neither a Participant nor any transferee of a Participant shall have any rights as a stockholder of the Company with respect to any Shares underlying any Award until the date of issuance of a share certificate to a Participant or a transferee of a Participant for such Shares in accordance with the Company’s governing instruments and Applicable Law.  Prior to the issuance of Shares pursuant to an Award (unless otherwise provided herein or in an Award Agreement), a Participant shall not have the right to vote or to receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder with respect to the Shares underlying the Award, notwithstanding its exercise in the case of Options and SARs.  No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right that is determined based on a record date prior to the date the stock certificate is issued, except as otherwise specifically provided for in this Plan.

 

	
24.

	
No Employment Rights.

 

The Plan shall not confer upon any Participant any right to continue an employment, service or consulting relationship with the Company, nor shall it affect in any way a Participant’s right or the Company’s right to terminate the Participant’s employment, service, or consulting relationship at any time, with or without Cause.

 

	
25.

	
Termination, Rescission and Recapture.

 

(a)         Each Award under the Plan is intended to align the Participant’s long-term interest with those of the Company.  If the Participant engages in certain activities discussed below or any triggering events occur under any compensation “clawback” policy maintained at any time by the Company consistent with the requirements of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (a “Clawback Policy”), either during employment or after employment with the Company terminates for any reason, the Participant’s and the Company’s long-term interests are no longer aligned.  Accordingly, except as otherwise expressly provided in the Award Agreement, the Company may terminate any outstanding, unexercised, unexpired, unpaid, or deferred Awards (“Termination”), rescind any exercise, payment or delivery pursuant to the Award (“Rescission”), or recapture any Common Stock (whether restricted or unrestricted) or proceeds from the Participant’s sale of Shares issued pursuant to the Award (“Recapture”), if the Participant does not comply with the conditions of subsections (b) and (c) hereof (collectively, the “Conditions”) or the Committee determines that a triggering event has occurred under a Clawback Policy.

 

(b)         A Participant shall not, without the Company’s prior written authorization, disclose to anyone outside the Company, or use in other than the Company’s business, any proprietary or confidential information or material, as those or other similar terms are used in any applicable patent, confidentiality, inventions, secrecy, or other agreement between the Participant and the Company with regard to any such proprietary or confidential information or material.

 

(c)         Pursuant to any agreement between the Participant and the Company with regard to intellectual property (including but not limited to patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, inventions, developments, improvements, proprietary information, confidential business and personnel information), a Participant shall promptly disclose and assign to the Company or its designee all right, title, and interest in such intellectual property, and shall take all reasonable steps necessary to enable the Company to secure all right, title and interest in such intellectual property in the United States and in any foreign country.

 

  

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(d)         Upon exercise, payment, or delivery of cash or Common Stock pursuant to an Award, the Participant shall certify on a form acceptable to the Company that he or she is in compliance with the terms and conditions of the Plan and, if a severance of Continuous Service has occurred for any reason, shall state the name and address of the Participant’s then-current employer or any entity for which the Participant performs business services and the Participant’s title, and shall identify any organization or business in which the Participant owns a greater-than-five-percent equity interest.

 

(e)         If the Company determines, in its sole and absolute discretion, that (i) a Participant has violated any of the Conditions, (ii) during his or her Continuous Service, or within one year after its termination for any reason, a Participant (a) has rendered services to or otherwise directly or indirectly engaged in or assisted, any organization or business that, in the judgment of the Company in its sole and absolute discretion, is or is working to become competitive with the Company; (b) has solicited any non-administrative employee of the Company to terminate employment with the Company; or (c) has engaged in activities which are materially prejudicial to or in conflict with the interests of the Company, including any breaches of fiduciary duty or the duty of loyalty, or material breach or failure to comply with any Company policy applicable to Participant or (iii) a triggering event has occurred under a Clawback Policy, then the Company may, in its sole and absolute discretion, impose a Termination, Rescission, and/or Recapture with respect to any or all of the Participant’s relevant Awards, Shares, and the proceeds thereof.

 

(f)         Within ten days after receiving notice from the Company of any such determination, the Participant shall deliver to the Company the Shares acquired pursuant to the Award, or, if Participant has sold the Shares, the gain realized, or payment received as a result of the rescinded exercise, payment, or delivery; provided, that if the Participant returns Shares that the Participant purchased pursuant to the exercise of an Option (or the gains realized from the sale of such Common Stock), the Company shall promptly refund the exercise price, without earnings, that the Participant paid for the Shares.  Any payment by the Participant to the Company pursuant to this Section 25 shall be made either in cash or by returning to the Company the number of Shares that the Participant received in connection with the rescinded exercise, payment, or delivery.  It shall not be a basis for Termination, Rescission or Recapture if after termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service, the Participant purchases, as an investment or otherwise, stock or other securities of such an organization or business, so long as (i) such stock or other securities are listed upon a recognized securities exchange or traded over-the-counter, and (ii) such investment does not represent more than a five percent (5%) equity interest in the organization or business.

 

(g)         Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, the Company has sole and absolute discretion not to require Termination, Rescission and/or Recapture, and its determination not to require Termination, Rescission and/or Recapture with respect to any particular act by a particular Participant or Award shall not in any way reduce or eliminate the Company’s authority to require Termination, Rescission and/or Recapture with respect to any other act or Participant or Award.  Nothing in this Section shall be construed to impose obligations on the Participant to refrain from engaging in lawful competition with the Company after the termination of employment that does not violate subsections (b) or (c) of this Section, other than any obligations that are part of any separate agreement between the Company and the Participant or that arise under applicable law.

 

  

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(h)         All administrative and discretionary authority given to the Company under this Section shall be exercised by the most senior human resources executive of the Company or such other person or committee (including without limitation the Committee) as the Committee may designate from time to time.

 

(i)         Notwithstanding any provision of this Section, if any provision of this Section is determined to be unenforceable or invalid under any applicable law, such provision will be applied to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, and shall automatically be deemed amended in a manner consistent with its objectives to the extent necessary to conform to any limitations required under applicable law.  Furthermore, if any provision of this Section is illegal under any applicable law, such provision shall be null and void to the extent necessary to comply with applicable law.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, but subject to any contrary terms set forth in any Award Agreement, this Section shall not be applicable:  (i) to any Participant who is not, on the Award Date, an Employee of the Company or its Affiliates; and (ii) to any Participant from and after his or her termination of Continuous Service after a Change in Control.

 

  

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Versar, Inc.

 

2010 Stock Incentive Plan

 

 

Appendix A: Definitions

 

 

As used in the Plan, the following definitions shall apply:

 

“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person (as defined below), any other Person that directly or indirectly controls or is controlled by or under common control with such Person.  For the purposes of this definition, “control,” when used with respect to any Person, means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person or the power to elect directors, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “affiliated,” “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

 

“Applicable Law” means the legal requirements relating to the administration of options and share-based plans under applicable U.S. federal and state laws, the Code, any applicable stock exchange or automated quotation system (including the American Stock Exchange) rules or regulations, and the applicable laws of any other country or jurisdiction where Awards are granted, as such laws, rules, regulations and requirements shall be in place from time to time.

 

“Award” means any award made pursuant to the Plan, including awards made in the form of an Option, an SAR, a Restricted Share, a Restricted Share Unit, a Deferred Share Unit and a Performance Award, or any combination thereof, whether alternative or cumulative, authorized by and granted under this Plan.

 

“Award Agreement” means any written document setting forth the terms of an Award that has been authorized by the Committee. The Committee shall determine the form or forms of documents to be used, and may change them from time to time for any reason.

 

“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

“Cause” for termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service will exist if the Participant is terminated from employment or other service with the Company or an Affiliate for any of the following reasons: (i) the Participant’s willful failure to substantially perform his or her duties and responsibilities to the Company or deliberate violation of a material Company policy; (ii) the Participant’s commission of any material act or acts of fraud, embezzlement, dishonesty, or other willful misconduct; (iii) the Participant’s material unauthorized use or disclosure of any proprietary information or trade secrets of the Company or any other party to whom the Participant owes an obligation of nondisclosure as a result of his or her relationship with the Company; or (iv) Participant’s willful and material breach of any of his or her obligations under any written agreement or covenant with the Company.

 

  

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The Committee shall in its discretion determine whether or not a Participant is being terminated for Cause.  The Committee’s determination shall, unless arbitrary and capricious, be final and binding on the Participant, the Company, and all other affected persons.  The foregoing definition does not in any way limit the Company’s ability to terminate a Participant’s employment or consulting relationship at any time, and the term “Company” will be interpreted herein to include any Affiliate or successor thereto, if appropriate.

 

“Change in Control” means any of the following:

 

(a)          The acquisition in one or more transactions by any “Person” (as the term person is used for purposes of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”)), of “Beneficial Ownership” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the 1934 Act) of forty percent (40%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding voting securities (the “Voting Securities”), provided, however, that for purposes of this definition, Voting Securities acquired directly from the Company by any Person shall be excluded from the determination of such Person’s Beneficial Ownership of Voting Securities (but such Voting Securities shall be included in the calculation of the total number of Voting Securities then outstanding); or

 

(b)          The individuals who are members of the Incumbent Board, cease for any reason to constitute at least two-thirds of the Board; or

 

(c)          Approval by the stockholders of the Company of (i) a merger or consolidation involving the Company if the stockholders of the Company immediately before such merger or consolidation do not own, directly or indirectly, immediately following such merger or consolidation, more than sixty percent (60%) of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the corporation resulting from such merger or consolidation in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Voting Securities immediately before such merger or consolidation, or (ii) a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or an agreement for the sale or other disposition of all or subsequently all of the assets of the Company.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur solely because forty percent (40%) or more of the then outstanding Voting Securities is acquired by (i) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under one or more employee benefit plans maintained by the Company or any of its Affiliates, or (ii) any corporation, which, immediately prior to such acquisition, is owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in the same proportion as their ownership of stock in the Company immediately prior to such acquisition.

 

Moreover, notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur solely because any Person (the “Subject Person”) acquired Beneficial Ownership of more than the permitted amount of the outstanding Voting Securities as a result of the acquisition of Voting Securities by the Company which, by reducing the number of Voting Securities outstanding, increases the proportional number of shares Beneficially Owned by the Subject Person, provided, that if a Change in Control would occur (but for the operation of this sentence) as a result of the acquisition of Voting Securities by the Company, and after such share acquisition by the Company, the Subject Person becomes the Beneficial Owner of any additional Voting Securities which increases the percentage of the then outstanding Voting Security Beneficially Owned by the Subject Person, then a Change in Control shall occur.

 

  

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“Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

“Committee” means the Compensation Committee or one or more other committees or subcommittees comprised of at least three directors of the Board appointed by the Board to administer the Plan in accordance with Section 4 above.  With respect to any decision involving an Award intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee shall consist of Directors of the Company who are “outside directors” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.  With respect to any decision relating to a Reporting Person, the Committee shall consist of Directors who are non-employee directors within the meaning of Rule 16b-3.

 

“Company” means Versar, Inc., a Delaware corporation; provided, however, that in the event the Company reincorporates to another jurisdiction, all references to the term “Company” shall refer to the Company in such new jurisdiction.

 

“Consultant” means any person, including an advisor, who is engaged by the Company or any Affiliate to render services and is compensated for such services.

 

“Continuous Service” means a Participant’s period of service in the absence of any interruption or termination, as an Employee, Director, or Consultant.  Continuous Service shall not be considered interrupted in the case of:  (i) sick leave; (ii) military leave; (iii) any other leave of absence approved by the Committee, provided that such leave is for a period of not more than 90 days, unless reemployment upon the expiration of such leave is guaranteed by contract or statute, or unless provided otherwise pursuant to Company policy adopted from time to time; (iv) changes in status from Director to advisory director or emeritus status; or (iv) in the case of transfers between locations of the Company or between the Company, its Affiliates or their respective successors.  Changes in status between service as an Employee, Director, and a Consultant will not constitute an interruption of Continuous Service if the individual continues to provide bona fide services for the Company.  The Committee shall have the discretion to determine whether and to what extent the vesting of any Awards shall be tolled during any paid or unpaid leave of absence; provided, however, that in the absence of such determination, vesting for all Awards shall be tolled during any such unpaid leave (but not for a paid leave).

 

“Deferred Share Units” mean Awards pursuant to Section 9 of the Plan.

 

“Director” means a member of the Board, or a member of the board of directors of an Affiliate.

 

“Disabled” means a condition under which a Participant  --

 

(a)          is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, or

 

(b)          is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, received income replacement benefits for a period of not less than 3 months under an accident or health plan covering employees of the Company.

 

  

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“Eligible Person” means any Consultant, Director or Employee and includes non-Employees to whom an offer of employment has been extended.

 

“Employee” means any person whom the Company or any Affiliate classifies as an employee (including an officer) for employment tax purposes, whether or not that classification is correct.  The payment by the Company of a director’s fee to a Director shall not be sufficient to constitute “employment” of such Director by the Company.

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

“Fair Market Value” means, as of any date (the “Determination Date”) means: (i) the closing price of a Share on the NYSE Amex (the “Exchange”), on the Determination Date, or, if shares were not traded on the Determination Date, then on the nearest preceding trading day during which a sale occurred; or (ii) if such stock is not traded on the Exchange but is quoted on NASDAQ or a successor quotation system, (A) the last sales price or (B) if no last sale price, the mean between the closing representative bid and asked prices (in all other cases) for the stock on the Determination Date as reported by NASDAQ or such successor quotation system; or (iii) if such stock is not traded on the Exchange or quoted on NASDAQ but is otherwise traded in the over-the-counter, the mean between the representative bid and asked prices on the Determination Date; or (iv) if subsections (i)-(iii) do not apply, the fair market value established in good faith by the Board.

 

“Grant Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 14 of the Plan.

 

“Incentive Share Option or ISO” hereinafter means an Option intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, as designated in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

“Incumbent Board” shall mean the individuals who as of September 9, 2010 are members of the Board and any individual becoming a director subsequent to September 9, 2010 whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board; provided, however, that any individual who is not a member of the Incumbent Board at the time he or she becomes a member of the Board shall become a member of the Incumbent Board upon the completion of two full years as a member of the Board; provided, further, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, no individual shall be considered a member of the Incumbent Board if such individual initially assumed office (i) as a result of either an actual or threatened “election contest” (within the meaning of Rule 14a-11 promulgated under the 1934 Act) or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board (a “Proxy Contest”), or (ii) with the approval of the other Board members, but by reason of any agreement intended to avoid or settle a Proxy Contest.

 

“Involuntary Termination” means termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service under the following circumstances occurring on or after a Change in Control:

 

	
  

	
(i)

	
termination without Cause by the Company or an Affiliate or successor thereto, as appropriate; or

 

  

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(ii)

	
voluntary resignation by the Participant through the following actions: (1) the Participant provides the Company with written notice of the existence of one of the events, arising without the Participant’s consent, listed in clauses (A) through (C), below within thirty (30) days of the initial existence of such event; (2) the Company fails to cure such event within thirty (30) days following the date such notice is given; and (3) the Participant elects to voluntarily terminate employment within the ninety (90) day period immediately following such event. The events include: (A) a material reduction in the Participant’s authority, duties, and responsibilities, provided that a mere change in the Participant’s title shall not trigger an Involuntary Termination, (B) the Participant being required to relocate his place of employment, other than a relocation within fifty (50) miles of the Participant’s principal work site at the time of the Change in Control, or (C) a material reduction in the Participant’s Base Salary other than any such reduction consistent with a general reduction of pay for similarly-situated Participants.

 

“Non-ISO” means an Option not intended to qualify as an ISO, as designated in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

“Option” means any stock option granted pursuant to Section 6 of the Plan.

 

“Participant” means any holder of one or more Awards, or the Shares issuable or issued upon exercise of such Awards, under the Plan.

 

“Performance Awards” mean Performance Units and Performance Compensation Awards granted pursuant to Section 10.

 

“Performance Compensation Awards” mean Awards granted pursuant to Section 10(b) of the Plan.

 

“Performance Unit” means Awards granted pursuant to Section 10(a) of the Plan which may be paid in cash, in Shares, or such combination of cash and Shares as the Committee in its sole discretion shall determine.

 

“Person” means any natural person, association, trust, business trust, cooperative, corporation, general partnership, joint venture, joint-stock company, limited partnership, limited liability company, real estate investment trust, regulatory body, governmental agency or instrumentality, unincorporated organization or organizational entity.

 

“Plan” means this Versar, Inc. 2010 Stock Incentive Plan.

 

“Reporting Person” means an officer, Director, or greater than ten percent stockholder of the Company within the meaning of Rule 16a-2 under the Exchange Act, who is required to file reports pursuant to Rule 16a-3 under the Exchange Act.

 

“Restricted Shares” mean Shares subject to restrictions imposed pursuant to Section 8 of the Plan.

 

“Restricted Share Units” mean Awards pursuant to Section 8 of the Plan.

 

  

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“Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, as amended from time to time, or any successor provision.

 

“SAR” or “Share Appreciation Right” means Awards granted pursuant to Section 7 of the Plan.

 

“Share” means a share of common stock of the Company, as adjusted in accordance with Section 13 of the Plan.

 

“Ten Percent Holder” means a person who owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Affiliate.

 

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