Document:

Exhibit 10.1

 

Published CUSIP Number: 550819106

 

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

Dated as of June 16, 2011

 

between

 

LYDALL, INC.,

as the Borrower,

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

as Lender

 

  

  

  

TABLE OF CONTENTS

	
Section

	 	  	 	
Page

	 	 	 	 	 
	
ARTICLE I.

	 	
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

	 	
1

	 	 	 	 	 
	
1.01

	 	
Defined Terms

	 	
1

	
1.02

	 	
Other Interpretive Provisions

	 	
22

	
1.03

	 	
Accounting Terms

	 	
23

	
1.04

	 	
Rounding

	 	
24

	
1.05

	 	
Exchange Rates; Currency Equivalents

	 	
24

	
1.06

	 	
Additional Alternative Currencies

	 	
24

	
1.07

	 	
Change of Currency

	 	
25

	
1.08

	 	
Times of Day

	 	
25

	
1.09

	 	
Letter of Credit Amounts

	 	
25

	 	 	 	 	 
	
ARTICLE II.

	 	

THE COMMITMENT AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS

	 	
25

	 	 	 	 	 
	
2.01

	 	
Committed Loans

	 	
25

	
2.02

	 	
Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans

	 	
26

	
2.03

	 	
[Intentionally Omitted]

	 	
27

	
2.04

	 	
Letters of Credit

	 	
28

	
2.05

	 	
[Intentionally Omitted]

	 	
33

	
2.06

	 	
Prepayments

	 	
33

	
2.07

	 	
Termination or Reduction of Commitment

	 	
34

	
2.08

	 	
Repayment of Loans

	 	
34

	
2.09

	 	
Interest

	 	
35

	
2.10

	 	
Fees

	 	
35

	
2.11

	 	
Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate

	 	
36

	
2.12

	 	
Evidence of Debt

	 	
36

	
2.13

	 	
Payments Generally

	 	
37

	
2.14

	 	
[Intentionally Omitted]

	 	
37

	
2.15

	 	
[Intentionally Omitted]

	 	
37

	
2.16

	 	
Increase in Commitment

	 	
38

	
2.17

	 	
Cash Collateral

	 	
38

	
2.18

	 	
[Intentionally Omitted]

	 	
39

	 	 	 	 	 
	
ARTICLE III.

	 	
TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

	 	
39

	 	 	 	 	 
	
3.01

	 	
Taxes

	 	
39

	
3.02

	 	
Illegality

	 	
41

	
3.03

	 	
Inability to Determine Rates

	 	
42

	
3.04

	 	
Increased Costs; Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans

	 	
42

	
3.05

	 	
Compensation for Losses

	 	
44

	
3.06

	 	
Mitigation Obligations

	 	
45

	
3.07

	 	
Survival

	 	
45

 

  

i

  

 

	
ARTICLE IV.

	 	
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS

	 	45
	 	 	 	 	 
	
4.01

	 	
Conditions of Initial Credit Extension

	 	
45

	
4.02

	 	
Conditions to all Credit Extensions

	 	
48

	 	 	 	 	 
	
ARTICLE V.

	 	
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

	 	
49

	 	 	 	 	 
	
5.01

	 	
Existence, Qualification and Power

	 	
49

	
5.02

	 	
Authorization; No Contravention

	 	
49

	
5.03

	 	
Governmental Authorization; Other Consents

	 	
49

	
5.04

	 	
Binding Effect

	 	
49

	
5.05

	 	
Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect

	 	
50

	
5.06

	 	
Litigation

	 	
50

	
5.07

	 	
No Default

	 	
50

	
5.08

	 	
Ownership of Property; Liens

	 	
50

	
5.09

	 	
Environmental Compliance

	 	
51

	
5.10

	 	
Insurance

	 	
51

	
5.11

	 	
Taxes

	 	
51

	
5.12

	 	
ERISA Compliance

	 	
51

	
5.13

	 	
Subsidiaries; Equity Interests

	 	
52

	
5.14

	 	
Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act

	 	
52

	
5.15

	 	
Disclosure

	 	
53

	
5.16

	 	
Compliance with Laws

	 	
53

	
5.17

	 	
Taxpayer Identification Number

	 	
53

	
5.18

	 	
Collateral Documents

	 	
53

	
5.19

	 	
Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc

	 	
53

	
5.20

	 	
Solvency

	 	
54

	
5.20

	 	
Rights in Collateral; Priority of Liens

	 	
54

	 	 	 	 	 

	
ARTICLE VI.

	 	
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

	 	
54

	 	 	 	 	 
	
6.01

	 	
Financial Statements

	 	
54

	
6.02

	 	
Certificates; Other Information

	 	
55

	
6.03

	 	
Notices

	 	
56

	
6.04

	 	
Payment of Obligations

	 	
57

	
6.05

	 	
Preservation of Existence, Etc

	 	
57

	
6.06

	 	
Maintenance of Properties

	 	
57

	
6.07

	 	
Maintenance of Insurance

	 	
57

	
6.08

	 	
Compliance with Laws

	 	
58

	
6.09

	 	
Books and Records

	 	
58

	
6.10

	 	
Inspection Rights

	 	
58

	
6.11

	 	
Use of Proceeds

	 	
58

	
6.12

	 	
Additional Guarantors

	 	
58

	
6.13

	 	
Collateral Records

	 	
58

	
6.14

	 	
Further Assurances

	 	
59

	
6.15

	 	
Operating Accounts

	 	
59

 

  

ii

  

 

	
ARTICLE VII.

	 	
NEGATIVE COVENANTS

	 	60
	 	 	 	 	 
	
7.01

	 	
Liens

	 	
60

	
7.02

	 	
Investments

	 	
61

	
7.03

	 	
Indebtedness

	 	
61

	
7.04

	 	
Fundamental Changes

	 	
62

	
7.05

	 	
Dispositions

	 	
62

	
7.06

	 	
Restricted Payments

	 	
63

	
7.07

	 	
Change in Nature of Business

	 	
63

	
7.08

	 	
Transactions with Affiliates

	 	
63

	
7.09

	 	
Burdensome Agreements

	 	
64

	
7.10

	 	
Use of Proceeds

	 	
64

	
7.11

	 	
Bank Accounts

	 	
64

	
7.12

	 	
Inconsistent Agreements; Charter Amendments

	 	
64

	
7.13

	 	
Accounting Changes

	 	
64

	
7.14

	 	
Amendment, Etc. of Indebtedness

	 	
64

	
7.15

	 	
Financial Covenants

	 	
65

	 	 	 	 	 
	
ARTICLE VIII.

	 	
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

	 	
65

	 	 	 	 	 
	
8.01

	 	
Events of Default

	 	
65

	
8.02

	 	
Remedies Upon Event of Default

	 	
68

	
8.03

	 	
Application of Funds

	 	
68

	 	 	 	 	 
	
ARTICLE IX.

	 	
[INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]

	 	
69

	 	 	 	 	 
	
ARTICLE X.

	 	
MISCELLANEOUS

	 	
69

	 	 	 	 	 
	
10.01

	 	
Amendments, Etc

	 	
69

	
10.02

	 	
Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication

	 	
69

	
10.03

	 	
No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement

	 	
70

	
10.04

	 	
Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver

	 	
70

	
10.05

	 	
Payments Set Aside

	 	
72

	
10.06

	 	
Successors and Assigns

	 	
72

	
10.07

	 	
Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality

	 	
75

	
10.08

	 	
Right of Setoff

	 	
76

	
10.09

	 	
Interest Rate Limitation

	 	
76

	
10.10

	 	
Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness

	 	
76

	
10.11

	 	
Survival of Representations and Warranties

	 	
77

	
10.12

	 	
Severability

	 	
77

	
10.13

	 	
[Intentionally Omitted]

	 	
77

	
10.14

	 	
Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc

	 	
77

	
10.15

	 	
Waiver of Jury Trial

	 	
78

	
10.16

	 	
No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility

	 	
79

	
10.17

	 	
Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents

	 	
79

	
10.18

	 	
USA PATRIOT Act

	 	
79

	
10.19

	 	
Judgment Currency

	 	
79

	
10.19

	 	
Prejudgment Remedy Waiver

	 	
80

 

  

iii

  

 

	 	SIGNATURES 	 	S-1

 

	
SCHEDULES

	  
	 	 
	
1.01

	
Mandatory Cost Formulae

	
4.01(b)

	
Schedule of Responsible Officers for the Loan Parties

	
5.12(c)

	
ERISA Related Disclosure

	
5.12(d)

	
Schedule of Pension Plans

	
5.13

	
Subsidiaries; Other Equity Investments

	
5.19

	
Intellectual Property Matters

	
6.14(b)

	
Landlord and Warehousemen Waivers

	
7.01

	
Existing Liens

	
7.03

	
Existing Indebtedness

	
7.09

	
Burdensome Agreements

	
7.11

	
Schedule of Bank Accounts

	
10.02

	
Lender’s Office; Certain Addresses for Notices

	  	  
	
EXHIBITS

	  
	  	
Form of

	 	 
	
A

	
Committed Loan Notice

	
B

	
[Intentionally Omitted]

	
C

	
[Intentionally Omitted]

	
D

	
Note

	
E

	
Compliance Certificate

	
F

	
Assignment and Assumption

	
G

	
Guaranty

 

  

iv

  

CREDIT AGREEMENT

This CREDIT AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is entered into as of June 16, 2011, among LYDALL, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. (“Lender”).

 

The Borrower has requested that Lender provide a revolving credit facility, and Lender is willing to do so on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

 

In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree 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:

 

“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.

 

“Agreement” means this Credit Agreement.

 

“Alternative Currency” means each of Euro, Sterling, Canadian Dollar and each other currency (other than Dollars) that is approved in accordance with Section 1.06.

 

“Alternative Currency Equivalent” means, at any time, with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, the equivalent amount thereof in the applicable Alternative Currency as determined by Lender, at such time on the basis of the Spot Rate (determined in respect of the most recent Revaluation Date) for the purchase of such Alternative Currency with Dollars.

 

“Alternative Currency Sublimit” means an amount equal to the lesser of the Commitment and $10,000,000.  The Alternative Currency Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Commitment.

 

“Applicable Rate” means the following percentages per annum, based upon the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by Lender pursuant to Section 6.02(b):

  

1

  

 

	
Applicable Rate

	 
	
Pricing

Level

	  	
Consolidated

Leverage Ratio

	  	
Unused

Commitment

Fee

	  	
For

Eurodollar

Rate

Committed

Loans and

Letters of

Credit

	  	
For Base

Rate

Committed

Loans

	
1

	  	
<1.00:1

	  	
25 bps

	  	
175 bps

	  	
75 bps

	
2

	  	
≥1.00:1 but <1.50:1

	  	
25 bps

	  	
225 bps

	  	
125 bps

	
3

	  	
≥1.50:1 but ≤2.00:1

	  	
37.5 bps

	  	
250 bps

	  	
150 bps

	
4

	
  

	
>2.00:1

	
  

	
50 bps

	
  

	
275 bps

	
  

	
175 bps

 

Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Consolidated 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 upon Lender’s election, Pricing Level 4 shall apply as of the first Business Day after the date on which such Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered and shall remain in effect until the date on which such Compliance Certificate is delivered.  The Applicable Rate in effect from the Closing Date through September 30, 2011 shall be determined based upon Pricing Level 1.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this definition, the determination of the Applicable Rate for any period shall be subject to the provisions of Section 2.11(b).

 

“Applicable Time” means, with respect to any borrowings and payments in any Alternative Currency, the local time in the place of settlement for such Alternative Currency as may be determined by Lender, to be necessary for timely settlement on the relevant date in accordance with normal banking procedures in the place of payment.

 

“Approved Fund” means any Fund that is administered or managed by Lender or an Affiliate of Lender.

 

“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 Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 10.06(b)), and accepted by Lender, in substantially the form of Exhibit F or any other form approved by Lender.

 

“Attributable Indebtedness” means, on any date, (a) in respect of any Capital 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, and (b) in respect of any Synthetic Lease Obligation, the capitalized amount of the remaining lease payments under the relevant lease that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP if such lease were accounted for as a Capital Lease.

  

2

  

 

“Audited Financial Statements” means the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended December 31, 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.

 

“Availability Period” means the period from and including the Closing Date to the earliest of (a) the Maturity Date, (b) the date of termination of the Commitment pursuant to Section 2.07, and (c) the date of termination of the commitment of Lender to make Loans and of the obligation of Lender to make L/C Credit Extensions pursuant to Section 8.02.

 

“Bank of America” means Bank of America, N.A. and its successors.

 

“Base Rate” means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the 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 Bank of America as its “prime rate,” and (c) the Eurodollar Rate plus 1.00%.  The “prime rate” is a rate set by Bank of America based upon various factors including Bank of America’s costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate.  Any change in such prime rate announced by Bank of America shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

“Borrowing” means a Committed Borrowing.

 

“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 Lender’s Office with respect to Obligations denominated in Dollars is located and:

 

(a) if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to a Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan denominated in Dollars, any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in Dollars in respect of any such Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan, or any other dealings in Dollars to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan, means any such day on which dealings in deposits in Dollars are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank eurodollar market;

  

3

  

(b) if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to a Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan denominated in Euro, any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in Euro in respect of any such Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan, or any other dealings in Euro to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan, means a TARGET Day;

 

(c) if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to a Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan denominated in a currency other than Dollars or Euro, means any such day on which dealings in deposits in the relevant currency are conducted by and between banks in the London or other applicable offshore interbank market for such currency; and

 

(d) if such day relates to any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in a currency other than Dollars or Euro in respect of a Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan denominated in a currency other than Dollars or Euro, or any other dealings in any currency other than Dollars or Euro to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan (other than any interest rate settings), means any such day on which banks are open for foreign exchange business in the principal financial center of the country of such currency.

 

“Capital Assets”  means fixed assets, both tangible (such as land, buildings, fixtures, machinery and equipment) and intangible (such as patents, copyrights, trademarks, franchises and good will); provided that Capital Assets shall not include any item customarily charged directly to expense or depreciated over a useful life of twelve (12) months or less in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

 

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

 

“Cash Collateralize” means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to Lender, for the benefit of Lender as collateral for L/C Obligations, cash or deposit account balances or, if Lender shall agree in its sole discretion, other credit support, in each case, in an amount equal to 105% of the applicable obligations secured thereby and pursuant to documentation in form and substance satisfactory to Lender. “Cash Collateral” shall have a meaning correlative to the foregoing and shall include the proceeds of such cash collateral and other credit support.

 

“Cash Flow” means for any period (a) Consolidated EBITDA as adjusted by deducting therefrom (b) cash taxes, (c) dividends and other distributions and (d) Non-Financed Capital Expenditures.

 

“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:

  

4

  

(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 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);

 

(b)          during any period of 12 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

 

(c)           the consummation of any contract or arrangement whereupon any Person or two or more Persons acting in concert shall have acquired by contract or otherwise, 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 group has the right to acquire pursuant to any option right) representing 25% or more of the combined voting power of such securities.

 

“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, as amended.

 

“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 Lender provided that there shall be excluded from the Collateral (a) any account, instrument, chattel paper or other obligation or property of any kind due from, owed by, or belonging to a Sanctioned Entity or (b) any lease in which the lessee is a Sanctioned Person or Sanctioned Entity.

  

5

  

 

“Collateral Documents” means, collectively, the Security Agreements, the Intellectual Property Security Agreement, the Stock Pledge Agreement, each of the collateral assignments, security agreements, pledge agreements or other similar agreements now or hereafter delivered to Lender, and each of the other agreements, instruments or documents that creates or purports to create a Lien in favor of Lender.

 

“Commitment” means, Lender’s obligation to (a) make Committed Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01 and (b) issue of Letters of Credit pursuant to Section 2.04, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed $35,000,000.00, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

 

 “Committed Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of a Committed Loan made by Lender pursuant to Section 2.01.

 

“Committed Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.

 

“Committed Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Committed Borrowing, (b) a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Committed 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 E.

 

“Consolidated Capital Expenditures”  means amounts paid or Indebtedness incurred by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, whether paid in cash or financed through Indebtedness incurred under the Loan Documents or otherwise, in connection with (a) the purchase or lease by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of Capital Assets that would be required to be capitalized and shown on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP or (b) the lease of any assets by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries as lessee under any Synthetic Lease to the extent that such assets would have been Capital Assets had the Synthetic Lease been treated for accounting purposes as a Capitalized Lease, in each case net of the proceeds of the sale or trade of similar assets in connection with such purchase or sale or otherwise within 90 days after the date thereof.

 

“Consolidated EBITDA” means, for any period, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, an amount equal to Consolidated Net Income for such period plus (a) the following to the extent deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income: (i) Consolidated Interest Charges for such period, (ii) the provision for Federal, state, local and foreign income taxes payable by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period, (iii) depreciation and amortization expense and (iv) other non-recurring expenses of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries reducing such Consolidated Net Income which do not represent a cash item in such period or any future period, plus (b) loss from discontinued operations and extraordinary items, plus (c) non-cash stock based compensation, minus (d) income from discontinued operations and extraordinary items, and minus (e) the following to the extent included in calculating such Consolidated Net Income: (i) Federal, state, local and foreign income tax credits of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period and (ii) all non-cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income for such period.

  

6

  

 

“Consolidated Fixed Charges” means, for any period, an amount equal to the sum of (a) Consolidated Interest Charges for such period, plus (b) the amount of any and all scheduled repayments of principal during such period in respect of Indebtedness (other than repayments of Committed Loans) that become due and payable or that are to become due and payable during such period pursuant to any agreement or instrument to which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is a party relating to (i) the borrowing of money or the obtaining of credit, (ii) the deferred purchase price of assets (other than trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business), (ii) any Synthetic Lease or any Capitalized Lease, (iv) any reimbursement obligations in respect of letters of credit due and payable during such period, and (v) without duplication, Indebtedness of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) above of another Person that is guaranteed by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

“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 standby letters of credit, 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) Attributable Indebtedness in respect of Capital Leases and Synthetic Lease Obligations, (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.

 

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

 

 “Consolidated Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Funded Indebtedness as of such date to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of the four fiscal quarters most recently ended.

 

  

7

  

 

“Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the net income of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (excluding extraordinary gains and extraordinary losses in accordance with GAAP) for that period.

 

 “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 Committed 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, if any, applicable to Base Rate Committed Loans plus (iii) 2% per annum; provided, however, that with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate and any Mandatory Cost) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus 2% per annum, and (b) when used with respect to Letter of Credit Fees, a rate equal to the Applicable Rate plus 2% per annum.

 

“Direct Foreign Subsidiaries” means each of Lydall Netherlands B.V., Lydall France S.A.S., and Lydall Deutschland Holdings Company.

 

“Disposition” or “Dispose” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (including any sale and leaseback transaction) of any property by any Person, 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.

 

“Dollar Equivalent” means, at any time, (a) with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, such amount, and (b) with respect to any amount denominated in any Alternative Currency, the equivalent amount thereof in Dollars as determined by Lender at such time on the basis of the Spot Rate (determined in respect of the most recent Revaluation Date) for the purchase of Dollars with such Alternative Currency.

 

  

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“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)).

 

“EMU” means the economic and monetary union in accordance with the Treaty of Rome 1957, as amended by the Single European Act 1986, the Maastricht Treaty of 1992 and the Amsterdam Treaty of 1998.

 

“EMU Legislation” means the legislative measures of the European Council for the introduction of, changeover to or operation of a single or unified European currency.

 

“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.

 

“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 any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control with the Borrower within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code (and Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code for purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the Code).

  

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“ERISA Event” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) the withdrawal of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which such entity 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 or the treatment of a Pension Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 or 4041A of ERISA; (e) the institution by the PBGC of proceedings to terminate a Pension Plan; (f) any 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; (g) the determination that any Pension Plan is considered an at-risk plan or a plan in endangered or critical status within the meaning of Sections 430, 431 and 432 of the Code or Sections 303, 304 and 305 of ERISA; or (h) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA and any liability under Title IV of ERISA described in (a) - (g) above, upon  the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate.

 

“Euro,” “EUR” and “€” mean the lawful currency of the Participating Member States introduced in accordance with the EMU Legislation.

 

“Eurodollar Rate” means:

 

(a)           for any Interest Period with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan, the rate per annum equal to (i) the British Bankers Association LIBOR Rate (“BBA LIBOR”), as published by Reuters (or such other commercially available source providing quotations of BBA LIBOR as may be designated by Lender from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two London Banking Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, for deposits in the relevant currency (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period or, (ii) if such rate is not available at such time for any reason, the rate per annum determined by Lender to be the rate at which deposits in the relevant currency for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period in Same Day Funds in the approximate amount of the Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan being made, continued or converted and with a term equivalent to such Interest Period would be offered by Bank of America’s London Branch to major banks in the London interbank eurodollar market at their request at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two London Banking Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period; and

 

(b)           for any interest calculation with respect to a Base Rate Committed Loan on any date, the rate per annum equal to (i) BBA LIBOR, at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time determined two London Banking Days prior to such date for Dollar deposits being delivered in the London interbank market for a term of one month commencing that day or (ii) if such published rate is not available at such time for any reason, the rate per annum determined by Lender to be the rate at which deposits in Dollars for delivery on the date of determination in same day funds in the approximate amount of the Base Rate Committed Loan being made or maintained and with a term equal to one month would be offered by Bank of America’s London Branch to major banks in the London interbank Eurodollar market at their request at the date and time of determination.

 

  

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“Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan” means a Committed Loan that bears interest at a rate based on clause (a) of the definition of “Eurodollar Rate.”  Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans may be denominated in Dollars or in an Alternative Currency.  All Committed Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency must be Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans.

 

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

 

“Excluded Taxes” means, with respect to Lender 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 Lender, in which its 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 or any other jurisdiction disclosed in clause (a) above, (c) any backup withholding tax that is required by the Code to be withheld from amounts payable to Lender that has failed to comply with clause (A) of Section 3.01(e)(ii), and (d) in the case of a Foreign Lender, any United States withholding tax that (i) is required to be imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender pursuant to the Laws in force at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party hereto (or designates a new Lending Office) or (ii) is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s failure or inability (other than as a result of a Change in Law) to comply with clause (B) of Section 3.01(e)(ii), 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)(ii) or (c).

 

“Existing Credit Agreement” means that certain Loan and Security Agreement dated as of March 11, 2009 among the Borrower, certain Subsidiaries of the Borrower, and Wells Fargo Business Credit.

 

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

 

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

 

  

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 “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means the ratio of Cash Flow to Consolidated Fixed Charges.

 

“Foreign Lender” means any assignee of 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.

 

“Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary which is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

 

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

 

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

 

“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).

 

“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, Lydall Thermal/Acoustical, Inc., Lydall Filtration/Separation, Inc. and Lydall International, Inc.

 

“Guaranty” means the Guaranty made by the Guarantors in favor of Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit G.

 

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

 

“Indebtedness” means, as to any Person 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)         all direct or contingent obligations of such Person arising under standby letters of credit, 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, in each case, not past due for more than 60 days after the date on which such trade account payable was created);

 

(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)          Capital Leases and Synthetic Lease Obligations;

 

  

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(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, 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)         without duplication, 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.  The amount of any Capital Lease or Synthetic Lease Obligation as of any date shall be deemed to be the amount of Attributable Indebtedness in respect 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.

 

“Intellectual Property Security Agreement” means that certain intellectual property security agreement from Borrower granting a security interest to Lender in IP Rights as may be required by Lender in connection with this Agreement.

 

“Interest Payment Date” means, (a) as to any Loan other than a Base Rate Committed Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date; provided, however, that if any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan exceeds three months, the respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates; and (b) as to any Base Rate Committed Loan, the last Business Day of each calendar month.

 

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

 

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

 

(ii)          any Interest Period pertaining to a Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan 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

 

  

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(iii)         no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date.

 

“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 capital stock or other securities 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 equity participation or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person and any arrangement pursuant to which the investor Guarantees Indebtedness of such other 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.  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 5.19.

 

“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, Inc. (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 Lender and the Borrower (or any Subsidiary) or in favor of Lender and relating to such Letter of Credit.

 

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

 

“L/C 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 Committed Borrowing. All L/C Borrowings shall be denominated in Dollars or in an Alternative Currency, as applicable.

 

“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 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.

 

“Lender” means Bank of America in its capacity as lender and issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder.

 

“Lender Party” or “Lender Parties” has the meaning specified in Section 10.02(c).

 

“Lender’s Office” means, with respect to any currency, Lender’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 10.02 with respect to such currency, or such other address or account with respect to such currency as Lender may from time to time notify to the Borrower.

 

“Lending Office” means the office or offices of Lender as Lender may from time to time notify the Borrower.

 

“Letter of Credit” means any standby letter of credit issued hereunder.  Letters of Credit may be issued in Dollars or in an Alternative Currency.

 

“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 Lender.

 

“Letter of Credit Expiration Date” means the day that is seven days prior to the Maturity Date then in effect (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day).

 

“Letter of Credit Fee” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(h).

 

“Letter of Credit Sublimit” means an amount equal to $7,500,000.00.  The Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Commitment.

 

“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).

 

“Loan” means an extension of credit by Lender to the Borrower under Article II in the form of a Committed Loan.

 

“Loan Documents” means this Agreement, each Note, each Issuer Document, any agreement creating or perfecting rights in Cash Collateral pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.17 of this Agreement, the Collateral Documents, and the Guaranty.

  

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

 

“London Banking Day” means any day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank eurodollar market.

 

“Mandatory Cost” means, with respect to any period, the percentage rate per annum determined in accordance with Schedule 1.01.

 

“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) of the Borrower or the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the ability of the Borrower or the Borrower and the other Loan Parties, taken as a whole, to perform their obligations under the Loan Documents; or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against the Borrower or the Borrower and the other Loan Parties, taken as a whole, of the Loan Documents.

 

“Maturity Date” means June 15, 2016; provided, however, that if such date is not a Business Day, the Maturity Date shall be the next preceding Business Day.

 

“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.

 

“Multiple Employer Plan” means a Plan which has two or more contributing sponsors (including the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate) at least two of whom are not under common control, as such a plan is described in Section 4064 of ERISA.

 

“Non-Financed Capital Expenditures” means, for any period, the sum of (a) Consolidated Capital Expenditures, minus (b) the amount of Consolidated Capital Expenditures paid in cash or financed through Indebtedness incurred under the Loan Documents.

 

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

 

“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, Letter of Credit, Swap Contract or treasury obligation with Lender or an Affiliate of Lender, 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.

  

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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 (i) with respect to Committed Loans on any date, the Dollar Equivalent amount of the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Committed Loans occurring on such date; and (ii) with respect to any L/C Obligations on any date, the Dollar Equivalent amount of the aggregate outstanding 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).

 

“Participating Member State” means each state so described in any EMU Legislation.

 

“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

 

“Pension Act” means the Pension Protection Act of 2006.

 

“Pension Funding Rules” means the rules of the Code and ERISA regarding minimum required contributions (including any installment payment thereof) to Pension Plans and set forth in, with respect to plan years ending prior to the effective date of the Pension Act, Section 412 of the Code and Section 302 of ERISA, each as in effect prior to the Pension Act and, thereafter, Section 412, 430, 431, 432 and 436 of the Code and Sections 302, 303, 304 and 305 of ERISA.

 

“Pension Plan” means any employee pension benefit plan (including a Multiple Employer Plan, but not including a Multiemployer Plan) that is maintained or is contributed to by the Borrower and any ERISA Affiliate and is either covered by Title IV of ERISA or is subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Code.

  

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“Permitted Acquisition” means an Investment (under subsection (a) or (c) of the definition of Investment) that satisfies each of the following conditions: (i) prior to and after giving effect to consummating such Investment the Loan Parties shall be in compliance with all covenants set forth in the Loan Documents and if such Investment is in an amount in excess of $25,000,000, Borrower shall deliver to Lender a Compliance Certificate confirming pro forma compliance with all such covenants, (ii) the acquired entity shall be in a related line of business to the business of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, (iii) the Investment must be approved by the board of directors of the Borrower and the board of directors, or comparable governing body, of the Person subject to the investment, and (iv) after giving effect to the Investment (A) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall be less than 2.00:1.0 and (B) Borrower shall have Liquidity in an amount greater than or equal to $10,000,000.  For the purposes of the definition of Permitted Acquisition the term “Liquidity” shall mean an amount equal to the sum of (x) all cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities held by Borrower and (y) the amount by which the Commitment exceeds the sum of the Outstanding Amounts of Committed Loans and L/C Obligations.

 

“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 within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA (including a Pension Plan), maintained for employees of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or any such Plan to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is required to contribute on behalf of any of its employees.

 

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

 

“Related Parties” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees 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 applicable notice period has been waived.

 

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

 

“Responsible Officer” means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer or controller of a Loan Party and solely for purposes of the delivery of incumbency certificates pursuant to Section 4.01, the secretary or any assistant secretary of a Loan Party.  Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Loan Party and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Loan Party.

 

“Restricted Payment” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any capital stock or other Equity Interest of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such capital stock or other Equity Interest, or on account of any return of capital to the Borrower’s stockholders, partners or members (or the equivalent Person thereof).

  

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“Revaluation Date” means (a) with respect to any Loan, each of the following:  (i) each date of a Borrowing of a Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan denominated in an Alternative Currency, (ii) each date of a continuation of a Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan denominated in an Alternative Currency pursuant to Section 2.02, and (iii) such additional dates as Lender shall determine; and (b) with respect to any Letter of Credit, each of the following:  (i) each date of issuance of a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, (ii) each date of an amendment of any such Letter of Credit having the effect of increasing the amount thereof (solely with respect to the increased amount), (iii) each date of any payment by Lender under any Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, and (iv) such additional dates as Lender shall determine.

 

“Same Day Funds” means (a) with respect to disbursements and payments in Dollars, immediately available funds, and (b) with respect to disbursements and payments in an Alternative Currency, same day or other funds as may be determined by Lender to be customary in the place of disbursement or payment for the settlement of international banking transactions in the relevant Alternative Currency.

 

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

 

“Security Agreements” means those security agreements executed by Borrower and the Guarantors granting a security interest to Lender in the Collateral covered thereby and such other security agreements (including intellectual property collateral assignments) as may be required by Lender in connection with this Agreement.

 

“Special Notice Currency” means at any time an Alternative Currency, other than the currency of a country that is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development at such time located in North America or Europe.

 

“Spot Rate” for a currency means the rate determined by Lender to be the rate quoted by the Person acting in such capacity as the spot rate for the purchase by such Person of such currency with another currency through its principal foreign exchange trading office at approximately 11:00 a.m. on the date two Business Days prior to the date as of which the foreign exchange computation is made; provided that Lender may obtain such spot rate from another financial institution designated by Lender if the Person acting in such capacity does not have as of the date of determination a spot buying rate for any such currency; and provided further that Lender may use such spot rate quoted on the date as of which the foreign exchange computation is made in the case of any Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency.

 

“Sterling” and “£” means the lawful currency of the United Kingdom.

 

“Stock Pledge Agreement” means, collectively, that certain stock pledge executed by Borrower granting a security interest to Lender in 65% of the Equity Interests of each of the Direct Foreign Subsidiaries.

  

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“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.

 

“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 Lender or any Affiliate of Lender).

 

“Synthetic Lease” means (a) a so-called synthetic, off-balance sheet or tax retention lease, or (b) an agreement for the use or possession of property.

 

“Synthetic Lease Obligation” means the monetary obligation of a Person under Synthetic Lease creating obligations that do not appear on the balance sheet of such Person but which, upon the insolvency or bankruptcy of such Person, would be characterized as the indebtedness of such Person (without regard to accounting treatment).

 

“TARGET Day” means any day on which the Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross Settlement Express Transfer (TARGET) payment system (or, if such payment system ceases to be operative, such other payment system (if any) determined by Lender to be a suitable replacement) is open for the settlement of payments in Euro.

  

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

 

“Threshold Amount” means $1,000,000.

 

“Total Outstandings” means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans and all L/C Obligations.

 

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

 

“UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of Connecticut; 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 Connecticut, “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.

 

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

 

“Unreimbursed Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(c)(i).

 

“Wells Fargo Business Credit” means Wells Fargo Business Credit (as successor by merger to Wachovia Capital Finance Corporation (New England)), and its successors and assigns.

 

1.02        Other Interpretive Provisions.  With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:

 

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

  

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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.

 

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 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 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 the Borrower shall so request, Lender 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; 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 Lender financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP.

 

(c)           Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities.  All references herein to consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries or to the determination of any amount for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis or any similar reference shall, in each case, be deemed to include each variable interest entity that the Borrower is required to consolidate pursuant to FASB ASC 810 as if such variable interest entity were a Subsidiary as defined herein.

  

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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        Exchange Rates; Currency Equivalents.  (a)  Lender shall determine the Spot Rates as of each Revaluation Date to be used for calculating Dollar Equivalent amounts of Credit Extensions and Outstanding Amounts denominated in Alternative Currencies.  Such Spot Rates shall become effective as of such Revaluation Date and shall be the Spot Rates employed in converting any amounts between the applicable currencies until the next Revaluation Date to occur.  Except for purposes of financial statements delivered by Loan Parties hereunder or calculating financial covenants hereunder or except as otherwise provided herein, the applicable amount of any currency (other than Dollars) for purposes of the Loan Documents shall be such Dollar Equivalent amount as so determined by Lender.

 

(b)  Wherever in this Agreement in connection with a Committed Borrowing, conversion, continuation or prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan or the issuance, amendment or extension of a Letter of Credit, an amount, such as a required minimum or multiple amount, is expressed in Dollars, but such Committed Borrowing, Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan or Letter of Credit is denominated in an Alternative Currency, such amount shall be the relevant Alternative Currency Equivalent of such Dollar amount (rounded to the nearest unit of such Alternative Currency, with 0.5 of a unit being rounded upward), as determined by Lender.

 

1.06        Additional Alternative Currencies.  (a)  Borrower may from time to time request that Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans be made and/or Letters of Credit be issued in a currency other than those specifically listed in the definition of “Alternative Currency;” provided that such requested currency is a lawful currency (other than Dollars) that is readily available and freely transferable and convertible into Dollars.  In the case of any such request with respect to the making of Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans and the issuance of Letters of Credit, such request shall be subject to the approval of Lender.

 

(b)  Any such request shall be made to Lender not later than 11:00 a.m., ten (10) Business Days prior to the date of the desired Credit Extension (or such other time or date as may be agreed by Lender, in its sole discretion).

 

(c)  Any failure by Lender to respond to such request within the time period specified in the preceding sentence shall be deemed to be a refusal by Lender to permit Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans to be made or Letters of Credit to be issued in such requested currency.  If Lender consents to making Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans in such requested currency, Lender shall so notify Borrower and such currency shall thereupon be deemed for all purposes to be an Alternative Currency hereunder for purposes of any Committed Borrowings of Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans; and if Lender consents to the issuance of Letters of Credit in such requested currency, Lender shall so notify Borrower and such currency shall thereupon be deemed for all purposes to be an Alternative Currency hereunder for purposes of any Letter of Credit issuances.

  

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1.07        Change of Currency.  (a)  Each obligation of the Borrower to make a payment denominated in the national currency unit of any member state of the European Union that adopts the Euro as its lawful currency after the date hereof shall be redenominated into Euro at the time of such adoption (in accordance with the EMU Legislation).  If, in relation to the currency of any such member state, the basis of accrual of interest expressed in this Agreement in respect of that currency shall be inconsistent with any convention or practice in the London interbank market for the basis of accrual of interest in respect of the Euro, such expressed basis shall be replaced by such convention or practice with effect from the date on which such member state adopts the Euro as its lawful currency; provided that if any Committed Borrowing in the currency of such member state is outstanding immediately prior to such date, such replacement shall take effect, with respect to such Committed Borrowing, at the end of the then current Interest Period.

 

(b)  Each provision of this Agreement shall be subject to such reasonable changes of construction as Lender may from time to time specify to be appropriate to reflect the adoption of the Euro by any member state of the European Union and any relevant market conventions or practices relating to the Euro.

 

(c)  Each provision of this Agreement also shall be subject to such reasonable changes of construction as Lender may from time to time specify to be appropriate to reflect a change in currency of any other country and any relevant market conventions or practices relating to the change in currency.

 

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

 

1.09        Letter of Credit Amounts.  Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the Dollar Equivalent amount of 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 Dollar Equivalent amount of 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 COMMITMENT AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS

 

2.01        Committed Loans.  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, Lender agrees to make loans (each such loan, a “Committed Loan”) to the Borrower in Dollars or in one or more Alternative Currencies from time to time, on any Business Day during the Availability Period, in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of the Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Committed Borrowing, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Commitment, (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Committed Loans of Lender, plus the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, shall not exceed such the Commitment, and (iii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Committed Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies shall not exceed the Alternative Currency Sublimit.  Within the limits of the Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01, prepay under Section 2.06, and reborrow under this Section 2.01.  Committed Loans may be Base Rate Committed Loans or Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans, as further provided herein.

  

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2.02        Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans.

 

(a)           Each Committed Borrowing, each conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to Lender, which may be given by telephone.  Each such notice must be received by Lender 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 Committed Loans denominated in Dollars or of any conversion of Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans denominated in Dollars to Base Rate Committed Loans, (ii) four Business Days (or five Business Days in the case of a Special Notice Currency) prior to the requested date of any Borrowing or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies, and (iii) on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Committed Loans.  Each telephonic notice by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.02(a) must be confirmed promptly by delivery to Lender of a written Committed Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.  Each Committed Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Committed 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 2.04(c) each Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $250,000 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 Committed Borrowing, a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Committed 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 Committed Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Committed Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Committed Loans are to be converted, (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto, and (vi) the currency of the Committed Loan to be borrowed.  If the Borrower fails to specify a currency in a Committed Loan Notice requesting a Borrowing, then the Committed Loans so requested shall be made in Dollars.  If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Committed Loan in a Committed Loan Notice or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Committed Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base Rate Committed Loans; provided, however, that in the case of a failure to timely request a continuation of Committed Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency, such Loans shall be continued as Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans in their original currency with an Interest Period of one month.  Any such automatic conversion to Base Rate Committed Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans.  If the Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Committed 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. No Committed Loan may be converted into or continued as a Committed Loan denominated in a different currency, but instead must be prepaid in the original currency of such Committed Loan and reborrowed in the other currency.

  

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(b)           Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (and, if such Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section 4.01), Lender shall make funds in an amount equal to the Committed Loan available to the Borrower either by (i) crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of Lender 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) Lender by the Borrower; provided, however, that if, on the date the Committed Loan Notice with respect to such Borrowing denominated in Dollars is given by the Borrower, there are L/C Borrowings outstanding, then the proceeds of such Borrowing, first, shall be applied to the payment in full of any such L/C Borrowings, and second, shall be made available to the Borrower as provided above.

 

(c)           Except as otherwise provided herein, a Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan.  During the existence of a Default, no Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans (whether in Dollars or any Alternative Currency) without the consent of Lender, and Lender may demand that any or all of the then outstanding Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency be prepaid, or redenominated into Dollars in the amount of the Dollar Equivalent thereof, on the last day of the then current Interest Period with respect thereto.

 

(d)           Lender shall promptly notify the Borrower of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans upon determination of such interest rate.  At any time that Base Rate Committed Loans are outstanding, Lender shall notify the Borrower of any change in Bank of America’s prime rate used in determining the Base Rate promptly following the public announcement of such change.

 

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

 

2.03        [Intentionally Omitted]

 

  

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2.04        Letters of Credit.

 

(a)           The Letter of Credit Commitment.

 

(i)      Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein Lender agrees, (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 denominated in Dollars or in one or more Alternative Currencies for the account of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, and to amend or extend Letters of Credit previously issued by it, in accordance with subsection (b) below, and (2) to honor drawings under the Letters of Credit; 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 Commitment, (y) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Committed Loans, plus the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, not exceed the 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.

 

(ii)  Lender shall not issue any Letter of Credit, if:

 

(A)           subject to Section 2.04(b)(iii), the expiry date of the requested Letter of Credit would occur more than twelve months after the date of issuance or last extension, unless Lender has approved such expiry date; or

 

(B)            the expiry date of the requested Letter of Credit would occur after the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, unless Lender has approved such expiry date.

 

(iii)  Lender 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 Lender from issuing such Letter of Credit, or any Law applicable to Lender or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over Lender shall prohibit, or request that Lender refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon Lender with respect to such Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which Lender is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date, or shall impose upon Lender any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Closing Date and which Lender in good faith deems material to it;

 

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

 

(C)            except as otherwise agreed by Lender, such Letter of Credit is in an initial stated amount less than $250,000 in the case of a standby Letter of Credit;

 

(D)            except as otherwise agreed by Lender, such Letter of Credit is to be denominated in a currency other than Dollars or an Alternative Currency;

 

(E)             Lender does not as of the issuance date of such requested Letter of Credit issue Letters of Credit in the requested currency; or

 

(F)            the Letter of Credit contains any provisions for automatic reinstatement of the stated amount after any drawing thereunder.

 

  

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(iv)  [Intentionally Omitted].

 

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

 

(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 Lender 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 Lender not later than 11:00 a.m. at least two Business Days (or such later date and time as Lender 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 Lender: (A) the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (B) the amount and currency 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; (G) the purpose and nature of the requested Letter of Credit; and (H) such other matters as Lender 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 Lender (A) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (B) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (C) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (D) such other matters as Lender may require.  Additionally, the Borrower shall furnish to Lender such other documents and information pertaining to such requested Letter of Credit issuance or amendment, including any Issuer Documents, as Lender may require.

 

(ii)     Unless one or more applicable conditions contained in Article IV shall not then be satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, Lender 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 Lender’s usual and customary business practices.

 

(iii)    If the Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, Lender may, in its sole 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 Lender 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 Lender, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to Lender for any such extension.

  

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(iv)    If the Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, Lender may, in its sole discretion, agree to issue a Letter of Credit that permits the automatic reinstatement of all or a portion of the stated amount thereof after any drawing thereunder (each, an “Auto-Reinstatement Letter of Credit”).  Unless otherwise directed by Lender, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to Lender to permit such reinstatement.

 

(v)     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, Lender will also deliver to the Borrower a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.

 

(c)           Drawings and Reimbursements.

 

(i)      Upon receipt from the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of any notice of a drawing under such Letter of Credit, Lender shall notify the Borrower thereof.  In the case of a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, the Borrower shall reimburse Lender in such Alternative Currency, unless (A) Lender (at its option) shall have specified in such notice that it will require reimbursement in Dollars, or (B) in the absence of any such requirement for reimbursement in Dollars, the Borrower shall have notified Lender promptly following receipt of the notice of drawing that Borrower will reimburse Lender in Dollars.  In the case of any such reimbursement in Dollars of a drawing under a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, Lender shall notify Borrower of the Dollar Equivalent of the amount of the drawing promptly following the determination thereof.  Not later than 11:00 a.m. on the date of any payment by Lender under a Letter of Credit to be reimbursed in Dollars, or the Applicable Time on the date of any payment by Lender under a Letter of Credit to be reimbursed in an Alternative Currency (each such date, an “Honor Date”), the Borrower shall reimburse Lender in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing and in the applicable currency.  If the Borrower fails to so reimburse Lender by such time, the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Committed Loans to be disbursed on the Honor Date in an amount equal to the amount of the unreimbursed drawing (expressed in Dollars in the amount of the Dollar Equivalent thereof in the case of a Letter of Credit denominated in on Alternative Currency) (the “Unreimbursed Amount”), without regard to the minimum and multiples specified in Section 2.02 for the principal amount of Base Rate Committed Loans, but subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the Commitment and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than the delivery of a Committed Loan Notice).  Any notice given by Lender pursuant to this Section 2.04(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)     With respect to any Unreimbursed Amount that is not fully refinanced by a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Committed 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 Lender 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.

 

(d)           [Intentionally Omitted]

 

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

 

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

 

(ii)  the existence of any claim, counterclaim, setoff, defense or other right that the Borrower or any Subsidiary may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), Lender 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 Lender 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 Lender 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;

 

(v)  any adverse change in the relevant exchange rates or in the availability of the relevant Alternative Currency to Borrower or any Subsidiary or in the relevant currency markets generally; or

 

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

  

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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 promptly notify Lender.  The Borrower shall be conclusively deemed to have waived any such claim against Lender and its correspondents unless such notice is given as aforesaid.

 

(f)           Role of Lender. Borrower agrees that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit, Lender 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 Lender, any of its Related Parties, nor any correspondent, participant, assignee of Lender shall be liable to Borrower for (i) any action taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct; or (ii) the due execution, effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any document or instrument related to any Letter of Credit or Issuer Document delivered by any party other than Lender.  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 and this assumption shall not release Lender from liability to the Borrower for Lender’s gross negligence or willful misconduct in honoring or failing to pay under any Letter of Credit in accordance with the terms of the following sentence.  None of Lender or any of its Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of Lender shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in clauses (i) through (v) of Section 2.04(e); provided, however, that anything in such clauses to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrower may have a claim against Lender, and Lender 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 Lender’s willful misconduct or gross negligence or Lender’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, Lender 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 Lender shall not be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason.

 

(g)           Applicability of ISP. Unless otherwise expressly agreed by Lender and the Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued the rules of the ISP shall apply to each standby Letter of Credit.

  

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(h)           Letter of Credit Fees.  The Borrower shall pay to Lender a Letter of Credit fee (the “Letter of Credit Fee”) for each Letter of Credit equal to the Applicable Rate times the Dollar Equivalent of the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit.  For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.06.  Letter of Credit Fees shall be (i) due and payable on the first Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand and (ii) computed on a quarterly basis in arrears.  If there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the daily amount available to be drawn under each standby Letter of Credit shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, upon the election of Lender, while any Event of Default exists, all Letter of Credit Fees shall accrue at the Default Rate.

 

(i)           Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to Lender. The Borrower shall pay directly to Lender for its own account, in Dollars, the customary issuance, presentation, amendment and other processing fees, and other standard costs and charges, of Lender 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.

 

(j)           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.

 

(k)           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 Lender 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.

 

2.05        [Intentionally Omitted]

 

2.06        Prepayments.

 

(a)           The Borrower may, upon notice to Lender, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Committed Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be received by Lender not later than 11:00 a.m. (A) three Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans, (B) four Business Days (or five, in the case of prepayment of Loans denominated in Special Notice Currencies) prior to any date of prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies, and (C) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans; (ii) any prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans denominated in Dollars shall be in a principal amount of $100,000 or a whole multiple of $50,000 in excess thereof; (iii) any prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies shall be in a minimum principal amount of $100,000 or a whole multiple of $50,000 in excess thereof; and (iv) any prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $100,000 or a whole multiple of $50,000 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 Committed Loans to be prepaid and, if Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans are to be prepaid, the Interest Period(s) of such Loans.  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 Committed Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05.

  

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(b)           [Intentionally Omitted]

 

(c)           [Intentionally Omitted]

 

(d)           If Lender notifies Borrower at any time that the Total Outstandings at any time exceed the Commitment then in effect, the Borrower shall, within one (1) Business Day of Borrower’s receipt of such notice, prepay Loans and/or Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations in an aggregate amount equal to such excess; provided, however, that the Borrower shall not be required to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations pursuant to this Section 2.06(d) unless after the prepayment in full of the Committed Loans the Total Outstandings exceed the Commitment then in effect.

 

(e)           If Lender notifies Borrower at any time that the Outstanding Amount of all Loans and L/C Obligations denominated in Alternative Currencies at such time exceeds the Alternative Currency Sublimit then in effect, then, within one (1) Business Day of Borrower’s receipt of such notice, the Borrower shall prepay such Loans and/or Cash Collateralize such L/C Obligations in an aggregate amount sufficient to (i) reduce such Outstanding Amount as of such date of payment/Cash Collateralization to an amount not to exceed the Alternative Currency Sublimit then in effect or (ii) Cash Collateralize such excess.

 

2.07        Termination or Reduction of Commitment.  The Borrower may, upon notice to Lender, terminate the Commitment, or from time to time permanently reduce the Commitment; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by Lender 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 $5,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, (iii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Commitment if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Total Outstandings would exceed the Commitment, and (iv) if, after giving effect to any reduction of the Commitment, the Alternative Currency Sublimit or the Letter of Credit Sublimit exceeds the amount of the Commitment, such Sublimit shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such excess.  All fees accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Commitment shall be paid on the effective date of such termination.

 

2.08        Repayment of Loans.  The Borrower shall repay to Lender on the Maturity Date the aggregate principal amount of Committed Loans outstanding on such date.

 

  

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2.09        Interest.

(a)           Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) below, (i) each Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate plus (in the case of a Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan which is lent from a Lending Office in the United Kingdom or a Participating Member State) the Mandatory Cost; and (ii) each Base Rate Committed Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.

 

(b)           (i)      If any amount of principal of any Loan is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per 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 Lender, 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 Lender, while any Event of Default exists (other than as set forth in clause (b)(i) and (ii) above), 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.

 

2.10        Fees.  In addition to certain fees described in subsections (h) and (i) of Section 2.04:

 

(a)           Lender’s Upfront Fee.  On the Closing Date, Borrower shall pay to Lender, an upfront fee in an aggregate amount of one half of one percent (0.5%) of the Commitment as of the Closing Date.  Such upfront fee is for the credit facility committed by Lender under this Agreement and is fully earned on the date paid.  The upfront fee paid to Lender is solely for its own account and is nonrefundable for any reason whatsoever.

 

(b)           Unused Commitment Fee. The Borrower shall pay to Lender, an unused commitment fee equal to the Applicable Rate times the actual daily amount by which the Commitment exceed the sum of (i) the Outstanding Amount of Committed Loans and (ii) the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations.  The unused 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 unused 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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2.11        Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate.

 

(a)           All computations of fees and interest (including Base Rate Committed Loans determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate) shall be made on the basis of a year of 360 days, 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), or, in the case of interest in respect of Committed Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies as to which market practice differs from the foregoing, in accordance with such market practice.  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 2.13(a), bear interest for one day.  Each determination by Lender of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

 

(b)           If, as a result of any restatement of or other adjustment to the financial statements of the Borrower or for any other reason, the Borrower or Lender determines that (i) the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as calculated by the Borrower as of any applicable date was inaccurate and (ii) a proper calculation of the Consolidated Leverage Ratio would have resulted in higher pricing for such period, the Borrower shall immediately and retroactively be obligated to pay to Lender, promptly on demand by Lender (or, after 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, automatically and without further action by Lender, an amount equal to the excess of the amount of interest and fees that should have been paid for such period over the amount of interest and fees actually paid for such period.  This paragraph shall not limit the rights of Lender under Section 2.04(c)(ii), 2.04(h) or 2.09(b) or under Article VIII.  The Borrower’s obligations under this paragraph shall survive the termination of the Commitment and the repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.

 

2.12        Evidence of Debt.  The Credit Extensions made by Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by Lender in the ordinary course of business.  The accounts or records maintained by Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Credit Extensions made by Lender 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.  Upon the request of Lender, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to Lender a Note, which shall evidence Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records.  Lender may attach schedules to its Note and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount, currency and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.

 

  

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2.13         Payments Generally.

 

(a)           (i)  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 and except with respect to principal of and interest on Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency, all payments by the Borrower hereunder shall be made to Lender at Lender’s Office in Dollars and in Same Day Funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date specified herein.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower with respect to principal and interest on Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency shall be made to Lender, at the applicable Lender’s Office in such Alternative Currency and in Same Day Funds not later than the Applicable Time specified by Lender on the dates specified herein.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Lender may require that any payments due under this Agreement be made in the United States.  If, for any reason, Borrower is prohibited by any Law from making any required payment hereunder in an Alternative Currency, Borrower shall make such payment in Dollars in the Dollar Equivalent of the Alternative Currency payment amount.  All payments received by Lender (i) after 2:00 p.m., in the case of payments in Dollars, or (ii) after the Applicable Time specified by Lender in the case of payments in an Alternative Currency, shall in each case be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue.  If any payment to be made by the Borrower shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be.

 

(b)           From and after the date on which Borrower’s and Guarantors’ primary operating and depository bank accounts are established with Lender in accordance with Section 6.15 hereof, on each date when the payment of any principal, interest or fees are due hereunder or under any Loan Document, the Borrower agrees to maintain on deposit in an ordinary checking account maintained by the Borrower with Lender (as such account shall be designated by the Borrower in a written notice to Agent from time to time, the “Borrower Account”) an amount sufficient to pay such principal, interest or fees in full on such date.  The Borrower hereby authorizes Lender (A) to deduct automatically all principal, interest or fees when due hereunder or under any Note from the Borrower Account, and (B) if and to the extent any payment of principal, interest or fees under this Agreement or any Loan Document is not made when due to deduct any such amount from any or all of the accounts of the Borrower maintained at Lender.  Lender agrees to provide written notice to the Borrower of any automatic deduction made pursuant to this Section showing in reasonable detail the amounts of such deduction.  Lender agrees to reimburse the Borrower based for any amounts deducted from such accounts in excess of amount due hereunder and under any other Loan Documents.

 

2.14        [Intentionally Omitted]

 

2.15        [Intentionally Omitted] 

 

  

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2.16        Increase in Commitment.

 

(a)           Request for Increase.  Provided there exists no Default, upon notice to Lender, the Borrower may on a one-time basis, request an increase in the Commitment (which increase may take the form of new revolving or term loan tranches) by an amount not exceeding $10,000,000; provided that that any such request for an increase shall be in a minimum amount of $5,000,000.  At the time of sending such notice, the Borrower shall specify the time period within which Lender is requested to respond (which shall in no event be less than ten (10) Business Days from the date of delivery of such notice to Lender).  Lender shall notify the Borrower of Lender’s response to each request made hereunder.  If the Commitment is increased in accordance with this Section Lender and the Borrower shall determine the effective date and, if applicable, the final allocation of such increase.

 

(b)           Conditions to Effectiveness of Increase.  As a condition precedent to such increase, (i) the Borrower shall deliver to Lender a certificate of each Loan Party dated as of the Increase 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 increase, and (y) in the case of the Borrower, certifying that, before and after giving effect to such increase, (A) the representations and warranties contained in Article V and the other Loan Documents are true and correct on and as of the Increase Effective Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 2.16, the representations and warranties contained in subsections (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 exists and (ii) to the extent that the increase of the Commitment shall take the form of a term loan tranche, this Agreement shall be amended, in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, to include such terms as are customary for a term loan commitment.

 

(c)           Conflicting Provisions. This Section shall supersede any provisions in Section 10.01 to the contrary.

 

2.17        Cash Collateral.

 

(a)           Certain Credit Support Events.  Upon the request of Lender (i) if Lender has honored any full or partial drawing request under any Letter of Credit and such drawing has resulted in an L/C Borrowing which cannot be repaid by the extension of a Base Rate Committed Loan as provided in Section 2.04(c) hereof, then the Borrower shall immediately repay such L/C Borrowing and (ii) if, as of the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, any L/C Obligation for any reason remains outstanding, the Borrower shall immediately Cash Collateralize the then Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations for so long as such L/C Obligations shall remain outstanding.

 

(b)           Grant of Security Interest.  All Cash Collateral (other than credit support not constituting funds subject to deposit) shall be maintained in blocked, non-interest bearing deposit accounts at Bank of America.  The Borrower hereby grants to Lender, and agrees to maintain, a first priority security interest in all such cash, deposit accounts and all balances therein, and all other property so provided as collateral pursuant hereto, and in all proceeds of the foregoing, all as security for the obligations to which such Cash Collateral may be applied pursuant to Section 2.17(c).  If at any time Lender determines that Cash Collateral is subject to any right or claim of any Person other than Lender as herein provided, or that the total amount of such Cash Collateral is less than the applicable obligations secured thereby, the Borrower will, promptly upon demand Lender, pay or provide to Lender additional Cash Collateral in an amount sufficient to eliminate such deficiency.

 

  

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(c)           Application. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Cash Collateral provided under any of this Section 2.17 or Sections 2.04, 2.06, or 8.02 in respect of Letters of Credit shall be held and applied to the satisfaction of the specific L/C Obligations and other obligations for which the Cash Collateral was so provided, prior to any other application of such property as may be provided for herein.

 

(d)           Release.  Cash Collateral (or the appropriate portion thereof) shall be released promptly following (i) the elimination of the applicable obligations giving rise thereto or (ii) Lender’s good faith determination that there exists excess Cash Collateral; provided, however, (x) that Cash Collateral furnished by or on behalf of a Loan Party shall not be released during the continuance of a Default or Event of Default (and following application as provided in this Section 2.17 may be otherwise applied in accordance with Section 8.03), and (y) the Person providing Cash Collateral and Lender, as applicable, may agree that Cash Collateral shall not be released but instead held to support future anticipated obligations.

 

2.18        [Intentionally Omitted]

 

ARTICLE III.          TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

 

3.01        Taxes.   

 

(a)           Payments Free of Taxes; Obligation to Withhold; Payments on Account of Taxes.  (i) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall to the extent permitted by applicable Laws be made free and clear of and without reduction or withholding for any Taxes.  If, however, applicable Laws require the Borrower or Lender to withhold or deduct any Tax, such Tax shall be withheld or deducted in accordance with such Laws as determined by the Borrower or Lender, as the case may be, upon the basis of the information and documentation to be delivered pursuant to subsection (e) below.

 

(ii)      If the Borrower or Lender shall be required by the Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes, including both United States Federal backup withholding and withholding taxes, from any payment, then (A) Borrower or Lender, as required by the Code, shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by it to be required based upon the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection (e) below, (B)Borrower or Lender, to the extent required by the Code, shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with the Code, and (C) to the extent that the withholding or deduction is made on account of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes, the sum payable by the Borrower shall be increased as necessary so that after any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) Lender receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such withholding or deduction been made.

 

  

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(iii)          If Borrower or Lender shall be required by any applicable Laws other than the Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes from any payment, then (A) Borrower or Lender, as required by such Laws, shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by it to be required based upon the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection (e) below, (B) Borrower or Lender, to the extent required by such Laws, shall timely pay the full amount so withheld or deducted by it to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with such Laws, and (C) to the extent that the withholding or deduction is made on account of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes, the sum payable by Borrower shall be increased as necessary so that after any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section), Lender receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such withholding or deduction been made

 

(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 Laws.

 

(c)           Tax Indemnifications.  (i) Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) or (b) above, the Borrower shall, and does hereby, indemnify Lender, and shall make payment in respect thereof 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) withheld or deducted by the Borrower or Lender or paid by Lender 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.  The Borrower shall also, and does hereby, indemnify Lender, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, for any amount which Lender for any reason fails to pay indefeasibly to Lender as required by clause (ii) of this subsection.  A certificate as to the amount of any such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

(ii)      Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) or (b) above, Lender shall, and does hereby, indemnify the Borrower, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, against any and all Taxes and any and all related losses, claims, liabilities, penalties, interest and expenses (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Borrower) incurred by or asserted against the Borrower or Lender by any Governmental Authority as a result of the failure by Lender to deliver, or as a result of the inaccuracy, inadequacy or deficiency of, any documentation required to be delivered by Lender to the Borrower pursuant to subsection (e).  The agreements in this clause (ii) shall survive any assignment of rights by Lender, the termination of the Commitment and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all other Obligations.

 

  

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(d)           Evidence of Payments.  Upon request by the Borrower or Lender, as the case may be, after any payment of Taxes by the Borrower or by Lender to a Governmental Authority as provided in this Section 3.01, the Borrower shall deliver to Lender or Lender shall deliver to the Borrower, as the case may be, the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of any return required by Laws to report such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower or Lender, as the case may be.

 

(e)           [Intentionally Omitted]

 

(f)            Treatment of Certain Refunds.  Unless required by applicable Laws, at no time shall Lender have any obligation to file or otherwise pursue on behalf of a Participant or an assignee of Lender or have any obligation to pay to any Participant or assignee of Lender, any refund of Taxes withheld or deducted from funds paid to the account of such Participant or assignee of Lender. If Lender determines, in its sole discretion (absent manifest error), 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 and net of any loss or gain realized in the conversion of such funds from or to another currency incurred by Lender 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 Lender, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to Lender in the event Lender is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority.  This subsection shall not be construed to require Lender 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 Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate (whether denominated in Dollars or an Alternative Currency), or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate, or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of Lender to purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, Dollars or any Alternative Currency in the London interbank market, then, on notice thereof by Lender to the Borrower, (i) any obligation of Lender to make or continue Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans or to convert Base Rate Committed Loans to Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans shall be suspended, and (ii) if such notice asserts the illegality of Lender making or maintaining Base Rate Committed Loans the interest rate on which is determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate component of the Base Rate, the interest rate on which Base Rate Committed Loans of Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by Lender without reference to the Eurodollar Rate component of the Base Rate, in each case until Lender notifies 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 Lender, prepay or, if applicable, convert all Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans of Lender to Base Rate Committed Loans (the interest rate on which Base Rate Committed Loans of Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by Lender without reference to the Eurodollar Rate component of the Base Rate), either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans to such day, or immediately, if Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans and (y) if such notice asserts the illegality of Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate, Lender shall during the period of such suspension compute the Base Rate without reference to the Eurodollar Rate component thereof until Lender determines that it is no longer illegal for Lender to determine or charge interest rates based upon 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 Lender determines that for any reason in connection with any request for a Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof that (a) deposits (whether in Dollars or an Alternative Currency) are not being offered to banks in the London interbank eurodollar market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Eurodollar Rate Committed 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 Committed Loan (whether denominated in Dollars or an Alternative Currency), or (c) the Eurodollar Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to Lender of funding such Eurodollar Rate Loan, Lender will promptly so notify the Borrower.  Thereafter, (x) the obligation of Lender to make or maintain Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans shall be suspended, and (y) in the event of a determination described in the preceding sentence with respect to the Eurodollar Rate component of the Base Rate, the utilization of the Eurodollar Rate component in determining the Base Rate shall be suspended, in each case until Lender 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 Committed Loans in the affected currency or currencies or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Committed Loans in the amount specified therein.

 

3.04        Increased Costs; Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Committed 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, Lender (except (A) any reserve requirement contemplated by Section 3.04(e) and (B) the requirements of the Bank of England and the Financial Services Authority or the European Central Bank reflected in the Mandatory Cost, other than as set forth below) or Lender;

 

  

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(ii)      subject Lender to any tax of any kind whatsoever with respect to this Agreement, any Letter of Credit or any Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan made by it, or change the basis of taxation of payments to Lender 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 Lender);

 

(iii)     result in the failure of the Mandatory Cost, as calculated hereunder, to represent the cost to Lender of complying with the requirements of the Bank of England and/or the Financial Services Authority or the European Central Bank in relation to its making, funding or maintaining Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans; or

 

(iv)     impose on Lender or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans made by Lender or any Letter of Credit;

 

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

 

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

 

(c)           Certificates for Reimbursement.  A certificate of Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate Lender 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 Lender 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 Lender to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section shall not constitute a waiver of Lender’s right to demand such compensation, provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than six months prior to the date that Lender notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of Lender’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 six-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).

 

  

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(e)           Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans.  The Borrower shall pay to Lender, (i) as long as Lender shall be required to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency funds or deposits (currently known as “Eurocurrency liabilities”), additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan equal to the actual costs of such reserves allocated to such Loan by Lender (as determined by Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive) and (ii) as long as Lender shall be required to comply with any reserve ratio requirement or analogous requirement of any other central banking or financial regulatory authority imposed in respect of the maintenance of the Commitment or the funding of the Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans, such additional costs (expressed as a percentage per annum and rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest five decimal places) equal to the actual costs allocated to such Commitment or Loan by Lender (as determined by Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive), which in each case shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan, provided the Borrower shall have received at least 10 days’ prior notice of such additional interest or costs from Lender.  If Lender fails to give notice 10 days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date, such additional interest or costs shall be due and payable 10 days from receipt of such notice.

 

3.05        Compensation for Losses.  Upon demand of Lender from time to time, the Borrower shall promptly compensate Lender for and hold 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 Committed 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 Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Loan other than a Base Rate Committed Loan on the date or in the amount notified by the Borrower; or

 

(c)           any failure by Borrower to make payment of any Loan or drawing under any Letter of Credit (or interest due thereon) denominated in an Alternative Currency on its scheduled due date or any payment thereof in a different currency;

 

including any loss of anticipated profits and any loss, any foreign exchange losses 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 or from the performance of any foreign exchange contract.  The Borrower shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by Lender in connection with the foregoing.

 

  

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For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to Lender under this Section 3.05, Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Eurodollar Rate Committed 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 such currency for a comparable period, whether or not such Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan was in fact so funded.

 

3.06        Mitigation Obligations.

 

(a)           If Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, or if Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02, then Lender shall, as applicable, 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 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 Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to Lender.

 

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

 

ARTICLE IV.          CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS

 

4.01        Conditions of Initial Credit Extension.  The obligation of Lender to make its initial Credit Extension hereunder is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)           Lender’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or electronically transmitted (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 Lender:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

  

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(1) articles of incorporation or other charter documents as applicable certified to be true and correct and in force and effect by a Responsible Officer (“Officer Certification”),

 

(2) copies of resolutions of the board of directors or comparable managing body approving and adopting the Loan Documents, the transactions and authorizing execution and delivery thereof (with Officer Certification),

 

(3) a copy of the bylaws or comparable operating agreement of each Loan Party (with Officer Certification),

 

(4) certificates of good standing, existence or its equivalent certified as of a recent date by the appropriate Governmental Authorities of the state of incorporation or organization and each other state in which the failure to so qualify and be in good standing would reasonably be expected to have an Material Adverse Effect, and

 

(5) an incumbency certificate (with Officer Certification);

 

(v)      a favorable opinion of counsel to the Loan Parties addressed to Lender and which may be relied upon by its successors and assigns, in form and substance satisfactory to the Lender;

 

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

 

(vii)    a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying (A) that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied, and (B) that there has been no event or circumstance since the date of the Audited Financial Statements that has had or could be reasonably expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(viii)   a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of Borrower and the Guarantors dated as of the Closing Date as to the solvency of the Borrower and the Guarantors following the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and in form and substance satisfactory to Lender;

 

  

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(ix)     evidence that all insurance required to be maintained pursuant to the Loan Documents has been obtained and is in effect;

 

(x)      evidence that the Existing Credit Agreement has been or concurrently with the Closing Date is being terminated and all Liens securing obligations under the Existing Credit Agreement, other than Liens granted in favor of Wells Fargo Business Credit relating to deposits cash collateralizing the Existing Letters of Credit, have been or concurrently with the Closing Date are being released;

 

(xi)     in connection with the delivery of the Security Agreements and Stock Pledge:

 

(1) certificates representing the Equity Interests referred to therein accompanied by undated stock powers executed in blank or registered in the name of such nominee or nominees as Lender shall specify, as applicable,

 

(2) proper financing statements in form appropriate for filing under the Uniform Commercial Code of all jurisdictions that Lender may deem necessary or desirable in order to perfect the Liens created under the Security Agreements, covering the Collateral described in the Security Agreements,

 

(3) completed requests for information, dated on or before the date of the initial Credit Extension, listing the financing statements referred to in clause (2) above and all other effective financing statements filed in the jurisdictions referred to in clause (2) above that name any Loan Party as debtor, together with copies of such other financing statements, and

 

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

 

(xii)     such other assurances, certificates, documents, consents or opinions as Lender may reasonably require.

 

(b)           Responsible Officers.  Set forth on Schedule 4.1(b) are Responsible Officers that are permitted to sign Loan Documents on behalf of the Loan Parties, holding the offices indicated next to their respective names, as of the Closing Date.  Such Authorized Officers are the duly elected and qualified officers of such Loan Party and are duly authorized to execute and deliver, on behalf of the respective Loan Party, the Credit Agreement, the Notes and the other Loan Documents.

 

(c)           Any fees required to be paid on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid.

 

(d)           Unless waived by Lender, the Borrower shall have paid all reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to Lender (directly to such counsel if requested by Lender) 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 Lender).

 

  

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

 

(a)           The representations and warranties of the Borrower and each other Loan Party contained in Article V or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Credit Extension (except that to the extent that any representation and warranty is already qualified by materiality, in which case, such representation and warranty shall be true and correct as written as of such date), 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 (except that to the extent that any representation and warranty is already qualified by materiality, in which case, such representation and warranty shall be true and correct as written as of such date), and except that for purposes of this Section 4.02, the representations and warranties contained in subsections (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.

 

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

 

(c)          Lender shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.

 

(d)          In the case of a Credit Extension to be denominated in an Alternative Currency, there shall not have occurred any change in national or international financial, political or economic conditions or currency exchange rates or exchange controls which in the reasonable opinion of Lender would make it impracticable for such Credit Extension to be denominated in the relevant Alternative Currency.

 

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

 

  

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ARTICLE V.          REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

The Borrower represents and warrants to Lender that:

 

5.01        Existence, Qualification and Power.  Each Loan Party (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 (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 would 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 party, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and do not and will not (a) contravene the terms of such Person’s Organizational 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 Party or affecting such Person or the properties of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries where such conflict, breach or contravention would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect 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.

 

5.03        Governmental Authorization, Other Consents.  Except (a) for the approvals of the Boards of Directors of the Loan Parties which have been obtained (as is applicable with respect to clauses (w) and (x) below),  (b) for the filing of all financing statements in the proper form and in the proper jurisdictions as is applicable with respect to clause (y) below, and (c) as may be required by the laws of the jurisdictions of organization of the Foreign Subsidiaries with respect to clauses (x) and (y) below, 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 (w) the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (x) the grant by any Loan Party of the Liens granted by it pursuant to the Collateral Documents, (y) the perfection or maintenance of the Liens created under the Collateral Documents (including the priority nature thereof as provided in Section 5.21 hereof) or (z) the exercise by Lender of its rights under the Loan Documents or the remedies in respect of the Collateral pursuant to the Collateral Documents.

 

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, except as enforcement may be limited by principles of equity, bankruptcy, insolvency, or other laws affecting a creditor’s rights generally.

 

  

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5.05        Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.

 

(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 consolidated 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 which are required to be shown in accordance with GAAP, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness.

 

(b)           The unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries dated March 31, 2011, 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, (ii) fairly present the consolidated 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 and (iii) show all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof which are required to be shown in accordance with GAAP, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness.

 

(c)           Since the date of the Audited Financial Statements (and, in addition, after delivery of the annual audited financial statements in accordance with Section 6.01, from the date of the most recently delivered annual audited financial statements), there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.06        Litigation.  There are 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, 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 or any other Loan Document, or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, or (b) either individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely, would 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 any Contractual Obligation that would, 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.  Each of the Borrower and each Subsidiary 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 would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  The property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is subject to no Liens, other than Liens permitted by Section 7.01.

 

  

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5.09        Environmental Compliance.  The Borrower has reasonably concluded that it is not in violation of Environmental Laws and there are no claims against it alleging violations of Environmental Law which in either case would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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.  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.

 

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 Pension Plan that is intended to be a qualified plan under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service to the effect that the form of such Plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code and the trust related thereto has been determined by the Internal Revenue Service to be exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(a) of the Code, or an application for such a letter is currently being processed by the Internal Revenue Service.  To the best knowledge of the Borrower, nothing has occurred that would prevent or cause the loss of such tax-qualified status.

 

(b)           Other than as disclosed on Schedule 5.12(c) hereto, 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 would 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 would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  

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(c)           Other than as disclosed on Schedule 5.12(c) hereto, since June 1, 2005, (i) no ERISA Event has occurred, and neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate is aware of any fact, event or circumstance that would reasonably be expected to constitute or result in an ERISA Event with respect to any Pension Plan which would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) the Borrower and each ERISA Affiliate has met all applicable requirements under the Pension Funding Rules in respect of each Pension Plan, and no waiver of the minimum funding standards under the Pension Funding Rules has been applied for or obtained; (iii) as of the most recent valuation date for any Pension Plan, the funding target attainment percentage (as defined in Section 430(d)(2) of the Code) is 60% or higher and neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate knows of any facts or circumstances that would reasonably be expected to cause the funding target attainment percentage for any such plan to drop below 60% as of the most recent valuation date; (iv) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any liability to the PBGC which would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect other than for the payment of premiums, and there are no premium payments which have become due that are unpaid; (v) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that would reasonably be expected to be subject to Section 4069 or Section 4212(c) of ERISA; and (vi) no Pension Plan has been terminated by the plan administrator thereof nor by the PBGC, and no event or circumstance has occurred or exists that would reasonably be expected to cause the PBGC to institute proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate any Pension Plan.

 

(d)           Neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate maintains or contributes to, or has any unsatisfied obligation to contribute to, or liability under, any active or terminated Pension Plan other than (A) on the Closing Date, those listed on Schedule 5.12(d) hereto and (B) thereafter, Pension Plans not otherwise prohibited by this Agreement. 

 

5.13        Subsidiaries; Equity Interests.  No Loan Party has any Subsidiaries other than those specifically disclosed in Part (a) of Schedule 5.13, and 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 Schedule 5.13 free and clear of all Liens except those created under the Collateral Documents.  No Loan Party has any equity investments in any corporation or entity other than those specifically disclosed in Part (a) or Part (b) of Schedule 5.13.  Set forth on Part (c) of Schedule 5.13 is a complete and accurate list of all Loan Parties, showing as of the Closing Date (as to each Loan Party) the jurisdiction of its incorporation.  The copy of the charter of each Loan Party and each amendment thereto provided pursuant to Lender 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.

 

(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 is or is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

  

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5.15        Disclosure.  The financial statements of the Borrower filed with the SEC disclose all material liabilities of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries under their Contractual Obligations, including all material contingent liabilities as set forth in the footnotes thereto, all as required by GAAP.  No report, financial statement, certificate or other information furnished (whether in writing or orally) by or on behalf of any Loan Party to 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), when taken as a whole, 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, it being understood by Lender that such financial information is not viewed as fact and that actual results during the period or periods covered by the projected financial information may differ from such projected financial information and some such differences may be material.

 

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, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.17        Taxpayer Identification Number.  The Borrower’s true and correct U.S. taxpayer identification number is set forth on Schedule 10.02.

 

5.18        Collateral Documents. The provisions of the Collateral Documents are effective to create in favor of Lender 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.

 

5.19        Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.  The Borrower and 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 the Borrower or any Subsidiary infringes upon any rights held by any other Person.  Except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 5.19, 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, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  

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5.20        Solvency.  Each Loan Party is, individually and together with its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, Solvent.  “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 would reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability

 

5.21        Rights in Collateral; Priority of Liens.  Borrower and each other Loan Party own the property granted by it as Collateral under the Collateral Documents, free and clear of any and all Liens in favor of third parties other than Liens permitted by Section 7.01.  Upon the proper filing of UCC financing statements and the taking of the other actions required by Lender or the law, the Liens granted pursuant to the Collateral Documents will constitute valid and enforceable, (subject to Liens arising by operation of law, incurred in the ordinary course of business) first, prior and perfected Liens on the Collateral in favor of Lender.

 

ARTICLE VI.          AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

 

So long as Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, the Borrower 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 Lender, in form and detail satisfactory to Lender:

 

(a)           as soon as available, but in any event within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower (or, if earlier, 15 days after the date required to be filed with the SEC (without giving effect to any extension permitted by the SEC)), 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, changes in 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, audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of an independent certified public accountant of nationally recognized standing reasonably acceptable to Lender, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards 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;

 

  

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(b)           as soon as available, but in any event within 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower (or, if earlier, 5 days after the date required to be filed with the SEC (without giving effect to any extension permitted by the SEC)), a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter, the related consolidated statements of income or operations for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the Borrower’s fiscal year then ended, and the related consolidated statements of changes in shareholders’ equity (if applicable), and cash flows for the portion of the Borrower’s fiscal year then ended, in each case setting forth in comparative form, as applicable, 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, 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 (if applicable) 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

 

(c)           as soon as available, but in any event at least 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, budgets prepared by management of the Borrower, in form satisfactory to Lender, of consolidated balance sheets and statements of income or operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a monthly basis for the immediately following fiscal year (including the fiscal year in which the Maturity Date occurs).

 

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 clause (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 clauses (a) and (b) above, which has not otherwise been previously disclosed in the material furnished pursuant to Section 6.02(d), at the times specified therein.

 

6.02        Certificates; Other Information.  Deliver to Lender, in form and detail satisfactory to Lender:

 

(a)            [Intentionally Omitted]

 

(b)           concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(a) and (b) a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower (which delivery may, unless Lender requests executed originals, be by electronic communication including fax or email and shall be deemed to be an original authentic counterpart thereof for all purposes);

 

(c)           promptly after any request by Lender, 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 the Borrower by independent accountants in connection with the accounts or books of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any audit of any of them;

 

  

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(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, and not otherwise required to be delivered to Lender 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 any Subsidiary thereof pursuant to the terms of any indenture, loan or credit or similar agreement and not otherwise required to be furnished to Lender pursuant to Section 6.01 or any other clause of this Section 6.02; and

 

(f)           promptly, and in any event within ten (10) 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 comparable agency in any applicable non-U.S. jurisdiction) concerning any investigation or possible investigation or other material inquiry by such agency regarding financial or other operational results of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof, which if adversely determined would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

(g)           promptly, such additional information regarding the business, financial or corporate affairs of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, as Lender may from time to time reasonably request.

 

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) or Section 6.02(d) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 10.02; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which Lender has access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by Lender); provided that the Borrower shall notify Lender (by telecopier or electronic mail) of the posting of any such documents and provide to Lender by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents.

 

6.03        Notices.  Promptly notify Lender:

 

(a)           of the occurrence of any Default;

 

(b)           of any matter that has resulted or would 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 the Borrower or any Subsidiary; (ii) any dispute, litigation, investigation, proceeding or suspension between the Borrower or any Subsidiary and any Governmental Authority; or (iii) the commencement of, or any material development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting the Borrower or any Subsidiary, including pursuant to any applicable Environmental Laws;

 

  

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(c)           of the occurrence of any ERISA Event; and

 

(d)           of any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, including any determination by the Borrower referred to in Section 2.11(b).

 

Each notice pursuant to this Section 6.03 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.

 

6.05        Preservation of Existence, Etc.  (a) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence and good standing (where such concept is applicable) under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section 7.04 or 7.05; (b) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges, permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) preserve or renew all of its registered patents, trademarks, trade names and service marks, the non-preservation of which would reasonably be expected to have 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 Lender of termination, lapse or cancellation of such insurance.

 

  

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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.  (a)  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; and (b) maintain such books of record and account in material conformity with all applicable requirements of any Governmental Authority having regulatory jurisdiction over the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be.

 

6.10        Inspection Rights.  Permit representatives and independent contractors of 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 but limited to one such visit per year per site unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; provided, however, that when an Event of Default exists Lender (or any of its 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 for general corporate purposes, capital expenditures, Permitted Acquisitions and refinancing of the Indebtedness evidenced by the Existing Credit Agreement, in each case, not in contravention of any Law or of any Loan Document.

 

6.12        Additional Guarantors.  Notify Lender at the time that any Person becomes a Domestic Subsidiary directly owned or controlled by Borrower, and promptly after the request of Lender (and in any event within 30 days), cause such Person to (a) become a Guarantor by executing and delivering to Lender a counterpart of the Guaranty or such other document as Lender shall deem appropriate for such purpose, and (b) deliver to Lender documents of the types referred to in clauses (i), (iii) and (iv) of Section 4.01(a) and favorable opinions of counsel to such Person (which shall cover, among other things, the legality, validity, binding effect and enforceability of the documentation referred to in clause (a)), all in form, content and scope reasonably satisfactory to Lender.

 

6.13        Collateral Records.  To execute and deliver promptly, and to cause each other Loan Party to execute and deliver promptly, to Lender, from time to time, solely for Lender’s convenience in maintaining a record of the Collateral, such written statements and schedules as Lender may reasonably require designating, identifying or describing the Collateral.  The failure by Borrower or any other Loan Party, however, to promptly give Agent such statements or schedules shall not affect, diminish, modify or otherwise limit the Liens on the Collateral granted pursuant to the Collateral Documents.

 

  

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6.14        Further Assurances.

 

(a)           Promptly upon request by Lender, (i) correct any material defect or error that may be discovered in any Loan Document or in the execution, acknowledgment, filing or recordation thereof, and (ii) 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 Lender may reasonably require from time to time in order to (A) carry out more effectively the purposes of the Loan Documents, (B) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, subject any Loan Party’s properties, assets, rights or interests to the Liens now or hereafter intended to be covered by any of the Collateral Documents, (C) 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 (D) assure, convey, grant, assign, transfer, preserve, protect and confirm more effectively unto Lender the rights granted or now or hereafter intended to be granted to Lender under any Loan Document or under any other instrument executed in connection with any Loan Document to which any Loan Party is or is to be a party.

 

(b)           To, and to cause each other Loan Party to, (i) defend the Collateral against all claims and demands of all Persons at any time claiming the same or any interest therein, (ii) comply with the requirements of all state and federal laws in order to grant to Lender valid and perfected first priority security interests in the Collateral (subject to Liens permitted under Section 7.01), with perfection, in the case of any investment property, deposit account or letter of credit, being effected by giving Lender control of such investment property or deposit account or letter of credit, rather than by the filing of a UCC financing statement with respect to such investment property, and (iii) do whatever Lender may reasonably request, from time to time, to effect the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including filing notices of liens, UCC financing statements, fixture filings and amendments, renewals and continuations thereof; cooperating with Lender’s representatives; keeping stock records; using reasonable best efforts to obtain waivers from landlords and mortgagees and from warehousemen and their landlords and mortgagees; and, paying claims which might, if unpaid, become a Lien on the Collateral.  Lender is hereby authorized by Borrower to file any UCC financing statements covering the Collateral whether or not Borrower’s signatures appear thereon.  In furtherance of the foregoing, each Loan Party hereby agrees to use reasonable best efforts to obtain waivers from each of the Loan Party’s landlords and warehousemen identified on Schedule 6.14(b).

 

6.15        Operating Accounts.  The Borrower and the Guarantors will, and will cause each of their Domestic Subsidiaries to (i) establish its primary operating and depository bank accounts at Bank of America not later than the one hundred eightieth (180) day following the Closing Date and (ii) maintain its primary operating and depository bank accounts at Bank of America at all times thereafter.

 

  

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ARTICLE VII.          NEGATIVE COVENANTS

 

So long as Lender has any 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, other than the following:

 

(a)           Liens pursuant to any Loan Document;

 

(b)           Liens existing on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 7.01 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 7.03(b), (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 7.03(b);

 

(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;

 

(d)           carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business which are not overdue for a period of more than 30 days 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;

 

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

 

(h)           Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(e); provided that (i) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed by such Indebtedness and (ii) 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;

 

(i)           Easements, rights-of-way, zoning and similar restrictions, encumbrances or title defects (but specifically excluding mortgages and any other Liens securing Indebtedness) which, in the aggregate, do not materially detract from the value of the properties of, and do not materially and adversely interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the applicable Person;

 

  

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(j)           The security interests and liens on assets of any Foreign Subsidiary to secure Indebtedness of such Foreign Subsidiary permitted under Section 7.03 hereof; and

 

(k)           Pledges and deposits of cash by any Borrower or Guarantor held by Wells Fargo Business Credit as cash collateral for the Existing Letters of Credit permitted under Section 7.03.

 

7.02       Investments.  Make any Investments, except:

 

(a)           Investments held by the Borrower or such Subsidiary in the form of cash equivalents;

 

(b)           advances to officers, directors and employees of the Borrower and Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount not to exceed $50,000 at any time outstanding, for travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary business purposes;

 

(c)           Investments of the Borrower in any (directly or indirectly) wholly-owned Subsidiary and Investments of any (directly or indirectly) wholly-owned Subsidiary in the Borrower or in another (directly or indirectly) wholly-owned Subsidiary;

 

(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 7.03; and

 

(f)           any Permitted Acquisition.

 

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

 

(a)          Indebtedness under the Loan Documents;

 

(b)          Indebtedness outstanding on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 7.03 and any refinancings, refundings, renewals or extensions thereof; provided that (i) 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 (ii) the terms relating to principal amount, amortization, maturity, collateral (if any) and subordination (if any), and other material terms taken as a whole, of any such refinancing, refunding, renewing or extending Indebtedness, and of any agreement entered into and of any instrument issued in connection therewith, are no less favorable in any material respect to the Loan Parties or Lender than the terms of any agreement or instrument governing the Indebtedness being refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended and the interest rate applicable to any such refinancing, refunding, renewing or extending Indebtedness does not exceed the then applicable market interest rate;

  

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(c)           Guarantees of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder of the Borrower or such Subsidiary;

 

(d)           obligations (contingent or otherwise) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary 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 liabilities, commitments, investments, assets, or property held or reasonably anticipated by such Person, or changes in the value of securities issued by such Person, and not for purposes of speculation or taking a “market view;” 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;

 

(e)           Indebtedness in respect of Capital Leases, Synthetic Lease Obligations and purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets within the limitations set forth in Section 7.01(h); provided, however, that the aggregate amount of all such Indebtedness at any one time outstanding shall not exceed $10,000,000; and

 

(f)           unsecured Indebtedness, not otherwise permitted under clauses (a) through (e) above, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $5,000,000 at any time outstanding.

 

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 Default exists or would result therefrom:

 

(a)          any Subsidiary may merge with (i) the Borrower, provided that the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving Person, or (ii) any one or more other Subsidiaries, provided that when any Guarantor is merging with another Subsidiary, the Guarantor shall be the continuing or surviving Person; and

 

(b)          any Subsidiary may Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to the Borrower or to another Subsidiary; provided that if the transferor in such a transaction is a Guarantor then the transferee must either be the Borrower or a Guarantor.

 

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;

  

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(c)           Dispositions of equipment or real property 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 Subsidiary to the Borrower or to a wholly-owned Subsidiary; provided that if the transferor of such property is a Guarantor, the transferee thereof must either be the Borrower or a Guarantor;

 

(e)           Dispositions permitted by Section 7.04; and

 

(f)           Dispositions of non-strategic assets or businesses, so long as the proceeds of such Dispositions are used to paydown the outstanding Committed Loans;

 

provided, however, that any Disposition pursuant to clauses (a) through (c) and clause (f) 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, except that, so long as no Default or 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 the Borrower, the Guarantors and any other Person that owns an Equity Interest in such Subsidiary, ratably according to their respective holdings of the type of Equity Interest in respect of which such Restricted Payment is being made;

 

(b)           the Borrower and each Subsidiary may declare and make dividend payments or other distributions;

 

(c)           the Borrower and each Subsidiary may purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire Equity Interests issued by it with the proceeds received from the substantially concurrent issue of new shares of its common stock or other common Equity Interests;

 

(d)           the Borrower may issue and sell its common Equity Interests, so long as the Net Cash Proceeds thereof are applied to the prepayment of the Loans pursuant to Section 2.06(a); and

 

(e)           the Borrower may repurchase its outstanding common Equity Interests.

 

7.07       Change in Nature of Business.  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.

 

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 substantially as favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary as 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 that the foregoing restriction shall not apply to transactions between or among the Borrower and any Guarantor or between and among any Guarantors.

  

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7.09       Burdensome Agreements.  Enter into any Contractual Obligation (other than this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the agreement disclosed on Schedule 7.09) 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 the Borrower or any Guarantor, (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 negative pledge incurred or provided in favor of any holder of Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(e) 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       Bank Accounts.  Other than accounts which are established and maintained with Lender, neither the Borrower nor the Guarantors will permit any of their Domestic Subsidiaries to, (a) establish any bank accounts other than those accounts listed on Schedule 7.11, without Lender’s prior written consent or (b) deposit into any of the payroll accounts listed on Schedule 7.11 any amounts in excess of amounts necessary to pay current payroll obligations from such accounts.

 

7.12       Inconsistent Agreements; Charter Amendments.  None of the Borrower, the Guarantors nor any Subsidiary of any of them shall (a) enter into any agreement or arrangement which would restrict in any material respect the ability of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries to fulfill its Obligations under the Loan Documents, or (b) supplement, amend or otherwise modify the terms of their Organizational Documents if the effect thereof is to cause a Default or an Event of Default.

 

7.13       Accounting Changes. (a) Make any material change in its accounting policies or reporting practices, except as required by GAAP and with prior notification as required by Section 6.03(d) hereof, or (b) change its fiscal year.

 

7.14       Amendment, Etc. of Indebtedness. Amend, modify or change in any manner any term or condition of any Indebtedness set forth in Schedule 7.03, except for any amendment refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension thereof permitted by Section 7.03(b).

  

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7.15        Financial Covenants.

 

(a)           Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.  Permit the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio as of the end of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower to be less than 1.00:1.0.  The Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio will be calculated at the end of each reporting period for which this Agreement requires Borrower to deliver financial statements, using the results of the twelve-month period ending with that reporting period and annually using the results of the Borrower’s fiscal year-end based on the Borrower’s audited financial statements.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, calculations for the fiscal periods ending June 30, 2011 and September 30, 2011 will begin on January 1, 2011 and shall be made on an annualized basis.

 

(b)          Consolidated Leverage Ratio.  Permit the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as of the end of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower to be greater than 2.50:1.0.  Calculations for the fiscal periods ending June 30, 2011 and September 30, 2011 will begin on January 1, 2011 and shall be made on an annualized basis.

 

(c)           Consolidated EBITDA.  Permit the Consolidated EBITDA as of the end of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower to be less than the amount set forth below opposite such period:

	
Fiscal Quarter Ending

	 	
Minimum Consolidated EBITDA

	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	
Closing Date through September 30, 2014

	 	$	15,000,000	 
	  	 	 	 	 
	
December 31, 2014 and each fiscal quarter thereafter

	 	$	25,000,000	 

Consolidated EBITDA will be calculated at the end of each reporting period for which this Agreement requires Borrower to deliver financial statements, using the results of the twelve-month period ending with that reporting period and annually using the results of the Borrower’s fiscal year-end based on the Borrower’s audited financial statements.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, calculations for the fiscal periods ending June 30, 2011 and September 30, 2011 will begin on January 1, 2011 and shall be made on an annualized basis.

 

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 pay (i) within one (1) Business Day after the same becomes due, and in the currency required hereunder, any amount of principal of any Loan or any L/C Obligation, or (ii) within three (3) Business Days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan or on any L/C Obligation, or any fee due hereunder, or (iii) within five (5) Business Days after the same becomes due, any other amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document; or

  

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(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, 6.10, 6.11 or 6.12 or Article VII, or any Guarantor fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained the Guaranty; or

 

(c)           Other Defaults.  Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in subsection (a) or (b) above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for 30 days after any executive, legal or financial officer of the Borrower becomes aware of, or the Borrower is notified by the Lender of, such Default, or the occurrence of any other Event of Default under any other Loan Document (after giving effect to any applicable grace period); 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 delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be materially incorrect or materially misleading when made or deemed made; or

 

(e)           Cross-Default.  (i) Any Loan Party (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 and such failure continues beyond any applicable grace period, or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or material condition relating to any such Indebtedness or Guarantee having an aggregate principal amount of more than the Threshold Amount or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto which continue beyond any applicable grace period, 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 the Borrower or any Subsidiary 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 the Borrower or any Subsidiary is an Affected Party (as so defined) and, in either event, the Swap Termination Value owed by the Borrower or such Subsidiary as a result thereof is greater than the Threshold Amount; or

  

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(f)           Insolvency Proceedings, Etc.  Any Loan Party 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 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 60 days after its issue or levy; or

 

(h)          Judgments.  There is entered against any Loan Party (i) one or more final judgments or orders for the payment of money in an aggregate amount (as to all such judgments or orders) exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer 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

 

(i)           ERISA.  (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or would 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 that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and in either case, so long as ERISA provides that such ERISA Event or failure to pay may be cured, such ERISA Event or failure to pay continues for a period of five (5) business days; 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 Loan Document, or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any provision of any Loan Document;

 

(k)           Material Adverse Effect.  There occurs any event or circumstances that has a Material Adverse Effect;

  

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(l)           Collateral Documents.  Any Collateral Document after delivery thereof pursuant the terms of this Agreement 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)         Change of Control.  There occurs any Change of Control.

 

If a Default shall have occurred under the Loan Documents, then such Default will continue to exist until it either is cured (to the extent specifically permitted) in accordance with the Loan Documents or is otherwise expressly waived by Lender, in its sole and absolute discretion; and once an Event of Default occurs under the Loan Documents, then such Event of Default will continue to exist until it is expressly waived by Lender.

 

8.02       Remedies Upon Event of Default.  If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, Lender may take any or all of the following actions:

 

(a)           declare the commitment of Lender to make Loans and any obligation of Lender 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 all rights and remedies available to it 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 Lender to make Loans and any obligation of Lender 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 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 the provisions of Sections 2.17, be applied by Lender in the following order:

 

First, 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 Lender (including reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to Lender (including fees and time charges for attorneys who may be employees of Lender) and amounts payable under Article III);

  

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Second, 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;

 

Third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans and L/C Borrowings;

 

Fourth, to Lender, to Cash Collateralize that portion of L/C Obligations comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit to the extent not otherwise Cash Collateralized by the Borrower pursuant to Sections 2.04 and 2.17; 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 Sections 2.04(c) and 2.17, amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to clause Fourth above shall be applied to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they occur.  If any amount remains on deposit as Cash Collateral after all Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount shall be applied to the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above.

 

ARTICLE IX.    [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]

 

ARTICLE X. MISCELLANEOUS

 

10.01      Amendments, Etc.  No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Borrower or any other Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by Lender and the Borrower or the applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given.

 

10.02      Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.

 

(a)           Notices Generally.  Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone, all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be (i) delivered by personal delivery or nationally recognized overnight courier service, (ii) mailed by certified or registered mail or (iii) sent by facsimile transmission (with confirmation of successful transmission) or by electronic mail (provided, however, that if a notice is given by facsimile or electronic mail, a copy of such notice shall also be delivered by one of the methods set forth in clauses (i) or (ii) above) as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:

 

(i)      if to the Borrower, to the address, electronic facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.02; and

  

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(ii)      if to Lender, to the address, electronic facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in Schedule 10.2).

 

Notices and other communications delivered by personal delivery or nationally recognized overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices and other communications sent by electronic facsimile shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not received during normal business hours of the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for such recipient after such receipt).

 

(b)          [Intentionally Omitted.]

 

(c)          Change of Address, Etc.  Each of the Borrower and Lender may change its address, facsimile or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.

 

(d)          Reliance by Lender. Lender shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Committed Loan Notices) which are believed in good faith by Lender to have been 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 Lender and its Related Parties 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 Lender may be recorded by Lender, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

 

10.03     No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement.  No failure by Lender to exercise, and no delay by Lender in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege.  The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.

 

10.04     Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

 

(a)          Costs and Expenses.  The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Lender and its Affiliates (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for Lender), in connection with 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 Lender in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Lender (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for Lender), and shall pay all reasonable fees and time charges for attorneys who may be employees of Lender, in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or (B) in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit.

  

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(b)          Indemnification by the Borrower.  The Borrower shall indemnify Lender, and each Related Party of Lender (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 reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), and shall indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee from reasonable 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, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including in respect of any matters addressed in Section 3.01), (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by Lender 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, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or (y) result from a claim brought by the Borrower or 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 other Loan Party has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

(c)          [Intentionally Omitted]

  

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(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 termination of the Commitment 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 Lender, or 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 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 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.

 

10.06     Successors and Assigns.

 

(a)           Successors and Assigns Generally.  The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of Lender, and Lender may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this Section, or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (f) of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void).  Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in subsection (d) of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of Lender) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

(b)          Assignments by Lender.  Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

  

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(i)      Minimum Amounts.

 

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

 

(B)           in any case not described in subsection (b)(i)(A) of this Section, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $5,000,000  unless, 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;

 

(ii)  Proportionate Amounts.  Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans or the Commitment assigned;

 

(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, the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) 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 an Affiliate of Lender or an Approved Fund; provided that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to Lender within five (5) Business Days after having received notice thereof;

 

(iv)  Assignment and Assumption.  The parties to each assignment shall execute an Assignment and Assumption;

 

(v) No Assignment to Certain Persons.  No such assignment shall be made to the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries or to a natural person; and

 

(vi) Change in Law; Change in Policy.  At any time at which the Commitment is less than or equal to $35,000,000, (1) Lender determines, in its sole discretion absent manifest error, that any Change in Law affecting Lender requires such assignment, or (2) a change in Lender’s policies applied consistently to similarly situated borrowers requires such assignment.

  

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Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by Lender 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 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, 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.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that Lender makes any assignment pursuant to this Section 10.06(b), Borrower and Lender shall enter into an amendment to the Credit Agreement and, as necessary, the other Loan Documents, in each case, incorporating customary provisions for a syndicated loan transaction with Bank of America acting as agent and letter of credit issuer.  Upon request, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender.  Any assignment or transfer by 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 Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with subsection (d) of this Section.

 

(c)         Register.  Lender, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower (and such agency being solely for tax purposes), shall maintain at Lender’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the assignees, and the Commitment of, and principal amounts of the Loans and L/C Obligations owing to, Lender and such assignees pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”).  The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrower and Lender 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 assignee of Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

(d)         Participations.  Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person or the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans owing to it); provided that (i)  Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower shall continue to deal solely and directly with Lender in connection with Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.

 

Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which Lender sells such a participation shall provide that 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 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 hereunder and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section.  To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.08 as though it were a lender hereunder.

  

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(e)         Limitations upon Participant Rights.  A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 3.01 or 3.04 than 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 an assignee of 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 hereunder.

 

(f)          Certain Pledges.  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 Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for Lender as a party hereto.

 

10.07    Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality.  Lender agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates’ respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, advisors and representatives (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Borrower and its obligations, (g) with the consent of the Borrower or (h) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (y) becomes available to Lender or any of its Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower.  For purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary relating to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential.  Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

  

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Lender 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 United States Federal and state securities Laws.

 

10.08    Right of Setoff.  If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, Lender and each of its 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 Lender or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower or any other Loan Party against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower or such Loan Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to Lender, irrespective of whether or not Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrower or such Loan Party may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of Lender different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness.  The rights of Lender and its Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that Lender or its Affiliates may have.  Lender agrees to notify the Borrower 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”).  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 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  Lender and when Lender 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 or other electronic imaging means 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 Lender, regardless of any investigation made by Lender or on its behalf and notwithstanding that 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    [Intentionally Omitted]

 

10.14    Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

 

(a)         GOVERNING LAW.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT.

 

(b)         SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION.  EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SITTING IN THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT, 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 CONNECTICUT 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 LENDER 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.

  

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(c)         WAIVER OF VENUE.  EACH PARTY HERETO 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.

 

(d)         SERVICES OF PROCESS.  EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 10.02(a)(i) and (ii).  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.

  

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10.16    No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.  In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), the Borrower and each other Loan Party acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that: (i) (A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by Lender are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Borrower, each other Loan Party and their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and Lender, on the other hand, (B) 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, and (C) the Borrower and each other Loan Party is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii) (A) Lender is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) Lender has no obligation to the Borrower, any 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; and (iii) Lender and its 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 Lender has no obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Affiliates.  To the fullest extent permitted by law, each of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against Lender with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

 

10.17    Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents.  The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption or in any amendment or other modification hereof (including waivers and consents) 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.

 

10.18    USA PATRIOT Act.  Lender hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Act”), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow Lender, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Act.  The Borrower shall, promptly following a request by Lender, provide all documentation and other information that Lender requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Act.

 

10.19    Judgment Currency.  If, for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court, it is necessary to convert a sum due hereunder or any other Loan Document in one currency into another currency, the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures Lender could purchase the first currency with such other currency on the Business Day preceding that on which final judgment is given.  The obligation of Borrower in respect of any such sum due from it to Lender hereunder or under the other Loan Documents shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency (the “Judgment Currency”) other than that in which such sum is denominated in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Agreement (the “Agreement Currency”), be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by Lender of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment Currency, Lender, may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase the Agreement Currency with the Judgment Currency.  If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to Lender from Borrower in the Agreement Currency, Borrower agrees, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify Lender against such loss.  If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is greater than the sum originally due to Lender in such currency, Lender agrees to return the amount of any excess to Borrower (or to any other Person who may be entitled thereto under applicable law).

  

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10.20    PREJUDGMENT REMEDY WAIVER.  THE BORROWER HEREBY REPRESENTS, WARRANTS AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE FINANCING EVIDENCED HEREBY IS A COMMERCIAL TRANSACTION WITHIN THE MEANING OF CHAPTER 903a OF THE CONNECTICUT GENERAL STATUTES, AS AMENDED.  THE BORROWER HEREBY WAIVES ITS RIGHT TO NOTICE AND PRIOR COURT HEARING OR COURT ORDER UNDER CONNECTICUT GENERAL STATUTES SECTIONS 52-278A ET. SEQ. AS AMENDED OR UNDER ANY OTHER STATE OR FEDERAL LAW WITH RESPECT TO ANY AND ALL PREJUDGMENT REMEDIES THE LENDER MAY EMPLOY TO ENFORCE ITS RIGHTS AND REMEDIES HEREUNDER AND UNDER THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS.  MORE SPECIFICALLY, THE BORROWER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT UPON THE OCCURRENCE AND DURING THE CONTINUANCE OF AN EVENT OF DEFAULT THE LENDER’S ATTORNEY MAY, PURSUANT TO, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH, CONN. GEN. STATE. §52-278F, ISSUE A WRIT FOR A PREJUDGMENT REMEDY WITHOUT SECURING A COURT ORDER PROVIDED THE COMPLAINT SHALL SET FORTH A COPY OF THIS WAIVER.  THE BORROWER ACKNOWLEDGES AND RESERVES ITS RIGHT TO NOTICE AND A HEARING SUBSEQUENT TO THE ISSUANCE OF A WRIT FOR A PREJUDGMENT REMEDY AS AFORESAID AND THE LENDER ACKNOWLEDGES THE BORROWER'S RIGHT TO SAID HEARING SUBSEQUENT TO THE ISSUANCE OF SAID WRIT.  THE BORROWER FURTHER WAIVES ITS RIGHTS TO REQUEST THAT THE LENDER POST A BOND, WITH OR WITHOUT SURETY, TO PROTECT THE BORROWER AGAINST DAMAGES THAT MAY BE CAUSED BY ANY PREJUDGMENT REMEDY SOUGHT OR OBTAINED BY THE LENDER.

  

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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.

 

	
LYDALL, INC.

	 
	  	  	 
	
By:

	
/s/ Dale G. Barnhart

	 
	
Name:

	
Dale G. Barnhart

	 
	
Title:

	
President & CEO

	 

 

  

S - 1

  

 

	
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Lender

	 
	  	  	 
	
By:

	
/s/ Christopher T. Phelan

	 
	
Name:

	
Christopher T. Phelan

	 
	
Title:

	
Senior Vice President

	 

  

S - 2Exhibit 10.2

 

GUARANTY

 

THIS GUARANTY, dated as of June 16, 2011, by LYDALL THERMAL/ACOUSTICAL, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Lydall Thermal”), LYDALL FILTRATION/SEPARATION, INC., a Connecticut corporation (“Lydall Filtration”), LYDALL INTERNATIONAL, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Lydall International” and each of Lydall Thermal, Lydall Filtration and Lydall International is sometimes individually referred to herein as a “Guarantor”, and all three such entities are herein collectively referred to as, the “Guarantors”), is made in favor of BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., a national banking association (the “Lender”).

 

WHEREAS, LYDALL, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), has entered into that certain Credit Agreement dated as of even date herewith (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), by and between the Company and the Lender, pursuant to which the Lender, subject to the terms and conditions contained therein, is to make loans or otherwise to extend credit or provide financial accommodations to the Company;

 

WHEREAS, each Guarantor is a subsidiary of the Company;

 

WHEREAS, each Guarantor expects to receive substantial direct and indirect benefits from the extensions of credit to the Company by the Lender pursuant to the Credit Agreement (which benefits are hereby acknowledged);

 

WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the Lender’s making any loans or otherwise extending credit to the Company under the Credit Agreement that each Guarantor shall have executed and delivered this Guaranty to the Lender; and

 

WHEREAS, each Guarantor wishes to guaranty the Company’s obligations to the Lender under or in respect of the Credit Agreement as provided herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, each Guarantor hereby agrees with the Lender as follows:

 

1.  Definitions.     The term “Obligations” and all other capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the respective meanings provided therefor in the Credit Agreement.

 

  

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2.  Guaranty of Payment and Performance.     Each Guarantor hereby jointly and severally guarantees to the Lender the full and punctual payment when due (whether at stated maturity, by required pre-payment, by acceleration or otherwise), as well as the performance, of all of the Obligations including all such which would become due but for the operation of the automatic stay pursuant to §362(a) of the Federal Bankruptcy Code and the operation of §§502(b) and 506(b) of the Federal Bankruptcy Code.  This Guaranty is an absolute, unconditional and continuing guaranty of the full and punctual payment and performance of all of the Obligations and not of their collectibility only and is in no way conditioned upon any requirement that the Lender first attempt to collect any of the Obligations from the Company or resort to any collateral security or other means of obtaining payment.  Should the Company default in the payment or performance of any of the Obligations which default remains continuing beyond any applicable grace period, the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder with respect to such Obligations in default shall become immediately due and payable to the Lender, without demand or notice of any nature, all of which are expressly waived by each Guarantor.  Payments by the Guarantors hereunder may be required by the Lender on any number of occasions.

 

3.  Guarantors’ Agreement to Pay Enforcement Costs, etc.     Each Guarantor further jointly and severally agrees, as the principal obligor and not as a guarantor only, to pay to the Lender, on demand, all costs and expenses (including court costs and reasonable legal expenses) incurred or expended by the Lender in connection with the Obligations, this Guaranty and the enforcement thereof, together with interest on amounts recoverable under this §3 from the time when such amounts become due until payment, whether before or after judgment, at the applicable rate of interest for overdue principal set forth in the Credit Agreement, provided that if such interest exceeds the maximum amount permitted to be paid under applicable law, then such interest shall be reduced to such maximum permitted amount.

 

4.  Waivers by Guarantors; Lender’s Freedom to Act.     Each Guarantor agrees that the Obligations will be paid and performed strictly in accordance with their respective terms, regardless of any law, regulation or order now or hereafter in effect in any jurisdiction affecting any of such terms or the rights of the Lender with respect thereto. Each Guarantor waives promptness, diligence, presentment, demand, protest, notice of acceptance, notice of any Obligations incurred and all other notices of any kind, all defenses which may be available by virtue of any valuation, stay, moratorium law or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, any right to require the marshalling of assets of the Company or any other entity or other person primarily or secondarily liable with respect to any of the Obligations, and all suretyship defenses generally.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Guarantor agrees to the provisions of any instrument evidencing, securing or otherwise executed in connection with any Obligation and agrees that the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be released or discharged, in whole or in part, or otherwise affected by (i) the failure of the Lender to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any right or remedy against the Company or any other entity or other person primarily or secondarily liable with respect to any of the Obligations; (ii) any extensions, compromise, refinancing, consolidation or renewals of any Obligation; (iii) any change in the time, place or manner of payment of any of the Obligations or any rescissions, waivers, compromise, refinancing, consolidation, amendments or modifications of any of the terms or provisions of the Credit Agreement, the Note, the other Loan Documents or any other agreement evidencing, securing or otherwise executed in connection with any of the Obligations; (iv) the addition, substitution or release of any entity or other person primarily or secondarily liable for any Obligation, (v) the adequacy of any rights which the Lender may have against any collateral security or other means of obtaining repayment of any of the Obligations; (vi) the impairment of any collateral securing any of the Obligations, including without limitation the failure to perfect or preserve any rights which the Lender might have in such collateral security or the substitution, exchange, surrender, release, loss or destruction of any such collateral security; or (vii) any other act or omission other than an express waiver, release or discharge which might in any manner, or to any extent, vary the risk of any Guarantor or otherwise operate as a release or discharge of any Guarantor, all of which may be done without notice to any Guarantor.  To the fullest extent permitted by law, each Guarantor hereby expressly waives any and all rights or defenses arising by reason of (A) any “one action” or “anti-deficiency” law which would otherwise prevent the Lender from bringing any action, including any claim for a deficiency, or exercising any other right or remedy (including any right of set-off), against any Guarantor before or after the Lender’s commencement or completion of any foreclosure action, whether judicially, by exercise of power of sale or otherwise, or (B) any other law which in any other way would otherwise require any election of remedies by the Lender.

  

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5.  Unenforceability of Obligations Against Company.     If for any reason the Company has no legal existence or is under no legal obligation to discharge any of the Obligations, or if any of the Obligations have become irrecoverable from the Company by reason of the Company’s insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization or by other operation of law or for any other reason, this Guaranty shall nevertheless be binding on each Guarantor, jointly and severally, to the same extent as if such Guarantor at all times had been the principal obligor on all such Obligations.  In the event that acceleration of the time for payment of any of the Obligations is stayed upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company, or for any other reason, all such amounts otherwise subject to acceleration under the terms of the Credit Agreement, the Note, the other Loan Documents or any other agreement evidencing, securing or otherwise executed in connection with any Obligation shall be immediately due and payable by the Guarantors.

 

6.  Subrogation; Subordination.  

 

6.1.  Waiver of Rights Against Company.     Until the final payment and performance in full of all of the Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations for which no claim has been asserted), none of the Guarantors shall exercise any rights against the Company arising as a result of payment by any Guarantor hereunder, by way of subrogation, reimbursement, restitution, contribution or otherwise, or prove any claim in competition with the Lender in respect of any payment hereunder in any bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization case or proceedings of any nature; none of the Guarantors will claim any setoff, recoupment or counterclaim against the Company in respect of any liability of such Guarantor to the Company; and each Guarantor waives any benefit of and any right to participate in any collateral security which may be held by the Lender or any such affiliate.

 

  

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6.2.  Subordination.     The payment of any amounts due with respect to any indebtedness of the Company now or hereafter owed to any Guarantor is hereby subordinated to the prior payment in full of all of the Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations for which no claim has been asserted); provided, however, that each Guarantor shall be permitted to receive payments of any of the Borrower’s obligations and indebtedness to such Guarantor so long as no Event of Default exists at such time.  Each Guarantor agrees that, during the continuance of any Event of Default in the payment or performance of any of the Obligations, such Guarantor will not demand, sue for or otherwise attempt to collect any such indebtedness of the Company to such Guarantor.  If, notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, during the continuance of any Event of Default, any Guarantor shall collect, enforce or receive any amounts in respect of such indebtedness, such amounts shall be collected, enforced and received by such Guarantor as trustee for the Lender and be paid over to the Lender on account of the Obligations without affecting in any manner the liability of such Guarantor under the other provisions of this Guaranty.

 

6.3.  Provisions Supplemental.     The provisions of this §6 shall be supplemental to, and not in derogation of, any rights and remedies of the Lender under any separate subordination agreement which the Lender may at any time and from time to time enter into with any Guarantor.

 

7.  Security; Setoff.     Each Guarantor hereby grants to the Lender, a lien, security interest and a right of setoff as security for all liabilities and obligations to the Lender under this Guaranty or any other Loan Document, whether now existing or hereafter arising, upon and against all deposits, credits, collateral and property, now or hereafter in the possession, custody, safekeeping or control of the Lender or any entity under the control of the Lender, or in transit to any of them.  At any time during the continuance of an Event of Default, without demand or notice, the Lender may set off the same or any part thereof and apply the same to any liability or obligation of such Guarantor under this Guaranty or any other Loan Document even though unmatured and regardless of the adequacy of any other collateral securing the Obligations.  ANY AND ALL RIGHTS TO REQUIRE THE LENDER TO EXERCISE ITS RIGHTS OR REMEDIES WITH RESPECT TO ANY OTHER COLLATERAL WHICH SECURES THE OBLIGATIONS, PRIOR TO EXERCISING ITS RIGHT OF SETOFF WITH RESPECT TO SUCH DEPOSITS, CREDITS OR OTHER PROPERTY OF ANY GUARANTOR, ARE HEREBY KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVED.  The Lender shall not be required to marshal any present or future security for, or guarantees of, the Obligations or to resort to any such security or guarantee in any particular order and each Guarantor waives, to the fullest extent that it lawfully can, (a) any right it might have to require the Lender to pursue any particular remedy before proceeding against it and (b) any right to the benefit of, or to direct the application of the proceeds of any collateral until the Obligations are paid in full.

 

  

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8.  Further Assurances.     Each Guarantor agrees that it will from time to time, at the request of the Lender, provide to the Lender such Guarantor’s most recent audited and unaudited balance sheets and related statements of income and changes in financial condition (prepared on a consolidated basis with such Guarantor’s subsidiaries, if any) to the extent not otherwise provided to Lender, and such other information relating to the business and affairs of such Guarantor as the Lender may reasonably request. Each Guarantor agrees to do all such things and execute all such documents as the Lender may reasonably consider necessary or desirable to give full effect to this Guaranty and to perfect and preserve the rights and powers of the Lender hereunder.  Each Guarantor acknowledges and confirms that such Guarantor has established such Guarantor’s own adequate means of obtaining from the Company on a continuing basis all information desired by such Guarantor concerning the financial condition of the Company and that such Guarantor will look to the Company and not to the Lender in order for such Guarantor to keep adequately informed of changes in the Company’s financial condition.

 

9.  Termination; Reinstatement.     This Guaranty shall remain in full force and effect until the Lender is given written notice from each Guarantor of such Guarantor’s intention to discontinue this Guaranty, notwithstanding any intermediate or temporary payment or settlement of the whole or any part of the Obligations.  No such notice shall be effective unless received and acknowledged by an officer of the Lender at the address of the Lender for notices set forth in §10.02 of the Credit Agreement.  No such notice shall affect any rights of the Lender or of  any affiliate of the Lender hereunder, including without limitation the rights set forth in §§4 and 6 hereof, with respect to any Obligations incurred or accrued prior to the receipt of such notice or any Obligations incurred or accrued pursuant to any contract or commitment in existence prior to such receipt, and all checks, drafts, notes, instruments (negotiable or otherwise) and writings made by or for the account of the Company and drawn on the Lender or any of its agents purporting to be dated on or before the date of receipt of such notice, although presented to and paid or accepted by the Lender after that date, shall form part of the Obligations.  This Guaranty shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, notwithstanding any such notice, if at any time any payment made or value received with respect to any Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be returned by the Lender upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company, or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made or value received.

 

10.  Successors and Assigns.     This Guaranty shall be binding upon each Guarantor and each Guarantor’s successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the Lender and its successors and transferees and assigns permitted pursuant to the Credit Agreement.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, the Lender may assign or otherwise transfer the Credit Agreement, the Note, the other Loan Documents or any other agreement or note held by it evidencing, securing, or otherwise executed in connection with, the Obligations, or sell participations in any interest therein, to any other entity or other person all in accordance with the provisions of the Credit Agreement, and such other entity or other person shall thereupon become vested, to the extent set forth in the agreement evidencing such assignment, transfer or participation, with all the rights in respect thereof granted to the Lender herein.

 

  

5

  

 

11.  Amendments and Waivers.     No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Guaranty nor consent to any departure by any Guarantor therefrom shall be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Lender; provided, that no amendment hereto shall be effective without the writing and signature of the Guarantors and the Lender. No failure on the part of the Lender to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right.

 

12.  Notices.     Any notice required or permitted by this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given: (a) by personal delivery, (b) by certified mail, return receipt requested, or (c) by nationally recognized overnight courier (e.g., Federal Express), or (d) by electronic facsimile transmission (with confirmation of successful transmission) or by electronic mail (provided, however, that if a notice is given by facsimile or electronic mail, a copy of such notice shall also be delivered by one of the other delivery methods set forth in clauses (a), (b) and (c) above), in each case addressed to such party at its address indicated below:

	  	 (a)	
 

	
if to any Guarantor,

	  	 	  	  
	  	 	  	
Lydall Thermal/Acoustical, Inc.

	  	 	  	
Lydall Filtration/Separation, Inc.

	  	 	  	
and Lydall International, Inc.

	  	 	  	
c/o Lydall, Inc.

	  	 	  	
One Colonial Road

	  	 	  	
Manchester, CT 06042

	  	 	  	
Attention:  General Counsel

	  	 	  	
Telephone: (860) 327-0202

	  	 	  	
Telecopier: (860) 646-8847

	  	 	  	
Email: pigoe@lydall.com

	 	 	 	 
	  	 	  	
with a copy to:

	  	 	  	  
	  	 	  	
Murtha Cullina LLP

	  	 	  	
CityPlace I

	  	 	  	
185 Asylum Street

	  	 	  	
Hartford, CT 06103

	  	 	  	
Attn: Frank J. Saccomandi, III Esq.

	  	 	  	
Telephone:  (860) 240-6043

	  	 	  	
Telecopier:  (860) 240-6150

	  	 	  	
Email: FSaccomandi@murthalaw.com

  

6

  

	  	 (b)	
 

	
if to the Lender,

	 	 	 	 
	  	 	  	
Bank of America, N.A.

	  	 	  	
CityPlace I

	  	 	  	
185 Asylum Street

	  	 	  	
Hartford, CT  06103

	  	 	  	
Attn:  Christopher T. Phelan, Senior Vice President

	  	 	  	
Telephone:  (860) 952-7492

	  	 	  	
Telecopier:  (860) 952-7515

	  	 	  	
Email: christopher.phelan@baml.com

	  	 	  	  
	  	 	  	
with a copy to:

	  	 	  	  
	  	 	  	
Shipman & Goodwin LLP

	  	 	  	
One Constitution Plaza

	  	 	  	
Hartford, CT  06103-1919

	  	 	  	
Attn: James C. Schulwolf, Esq.

	  	 	  	
Telephone:  (860) 251-5949

	  	 	  	
Telecopier:  (860) 251-5211

	  	 	  	
Email: jschulwolf@goodwin.com

or to any other address as the parties hereto may designate by ten (10) days advance written notice to the other parties.  Notices and other communications delivered by personal delivery or nationally recognized overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices and other communications sent by electronic facsimile or electronic mail shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not received during normal business hours of the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for such recipient after such receipt).

  

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13.  Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction. 

  

THIS GUARANTY IS INTENDED TO TAKE EFFECT AND SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT.  Each Guarantor agrees that any suit for the enforcement of this Guaranty may be brought in the courts of the State of Connecticut or any federal court sitting therein and consents to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of such court and to the service of process in any such suit being made upon such Guarantor by certified or registered mail at the address specified by reference in §12 hereof.  Each Guarantor hereby waives any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the venue of any such suit or any such court or that such suit was brought in an inconvenient forum.

  

14.  Waiver of Jury Trial.     EACH GUARANTOR AND THE LENDER MUTUALLY HEREBY KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVE THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY CLAIM BASED HEREON, ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS GUARANTY OR ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS CONTEMPLATED TO BE EXECUTED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR ANY COURSE OF CONDUCT, COURSE OF DEALING, STATEMENTS (WHETHER VERBAL OR WRITTEN) OR ACTIONS OF ANY PARTY.  Except as prohibited by law, each Guarantor hereby waives any right which it may have to claim or recover in any litigation referred to in the preceding sentence any special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages or any damages other than, or in addition to, actual damages.  Each Guarantor (i) certifies that neither the Lender nor any representative, agent or attorney of the Lender has represented, expressly or otherwise, that the Lender would not, in the event of litigation, seek to enforce the foregoing waivers and (ii) acknowledges that, in entering into the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which the Lender is a party, the Lender is relying upon, among other things, the waivers and certifications contained in this §14.

  

15.  Prejudgment Remedy Waiver; Other Waivers.     EACH GUARANTOR HEREBY REPRESENTS, WARRANTS AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE FINANCING EVIDENCED HEREBY IS A COMMERCIAL TRANSACTION WITHIN THE MEANING OF CHAPTER 903a OF THE CONNECTICUT GENERAL STATUTES, AS AMENDED.  EACH GUARANTOR HEREBY WAIVES ITS RIGHT TO NOTICE AND PRIOR COURT HEARING OR COURT ORDER UNDER CONNECTICUT GENERAL STATUTES SECTIONS 52-278A ET. SEQ. AS AMENDED OR UNDER ANY OTHER STATE OR FEDERAL LAW WITH RESPECT TO ANY AND ALL PREJUDGMENT REMEDIES THE LENDER MAY EMPLOY TO ENFORCE ITS RIGHTS AND REMEDIES HEREUNDER AND UNDER THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS.  MORE SPECIFICALLY, EACH GUARANTOR ACKNOWLEDGES THAT UPON THE OCCURRENCE AND DURING THE CONTINUANCE OF AN EVENT OF DEFAULT THE LENDER’S ATTORNEY MAY, PURSUANT TO, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH, CONN. GEN. STATE. §52-278F, ISSUE A WRIT FOR A PREJUDGMENT REMEDY WITHOUT SECURING A COURT ORDER PROVIDED THE COMPLAINT SHALL SET FORTH A COPY OF THIS WAIVER.  EACH GUARANTOR ACKNOWLEDGES AND RESERVES ITS RIGHT TO NOTICE AND A HEARING SUBSEQUENT TO THE ISSUANCE OF A WRIT FOR PREJUDGMENT REMEDY AS AFORESAID AND THE LENDER ACKNOWLEDGES EACH GUARANTOR’S RIGHT TO SAID HEARING SUBSEQUENT TO THE ISSUANCE OF SAID WRIT.  EACH GUARANTOR FURTHER WAIVES ITS RIGHTS TO REQUEST THAT THE LENDER POST A BOND, WITH OR WITHOUT SURETY, TO PROTECT SUCH GUARANTOR AGAINST DAMAGES THAT MAY BE CAUSED BY ANY PREJUDGMENT REMEDY SOUGHT OR OBTAINED BY THE LENDER.

  

8

  

 

16.  Miscellaneous.     This Guaranty constitutes the entire agreement of the Guarantors with respect to the matters set forth herein.  The rights and remedies herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law or any other agreement, and this Guaranty shall be in addition to any other guaranty of or collateral security for any of the Obligations.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any one or more sections of this Guaranty shall not affect the validity or enforceability of its remaining provisions.  Captions are for the ease of reference only and shall not affect the meaning of the relevant provisions.  The meanings of all defined terms used in this Guaranty shall be equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined.

  

  

  

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Guarantor has caused this Guaranty to be executed and delivered as of the date first above written.

 

	  	LYDALL THERMAL/ACOUSTICAL, INC.	  
	 	 	 	 
	
 

	By:	
/s/ Dale G. Barnhart

	 
	  	 	
Name:  Dale G. Barnhart

	  
	  	 	
Title:   President

	  

 

	  	LYDALL FILTRATION/SEPARATION, INC.	  
	 	 	 	 
	 	By:	
/s/ Dale G. Barnhart

	  
	  	 	
Name:  Dale G. Barnhart

	  
	  	 	
Title:   President

	  

 

	  	LYDALL INTERNATIONAL, INC.	  
	 	 	 	 
	 	By:	
/s/ Dale G. Barnhart

	  
	  	 	
Name:  Dale G. Barnhart

	  
	  	 	
Title:   President

	  

 

[Signature Page to Guaranty]

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