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Exhibit 10.1
364-DAY BRIDGE LOAN AGREEMENT
Dated as of December 19, 2008
Among
ALTRIA GROUP, INC.
and
THE INITIAL LENDERS NAMED HEREIN
and
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
and
GOLDMAN SACHS CREDIT PARTNERS L.P.
as Administrative Agents
and
CITICORP NORTH AMERICA, INC.
and
BARCLAYS CAPITAL
and
DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.
and
SANTANDER INVESTMENT SECURITIES INC.
and
HSBC SECURITIES (USA) INC.
and
SCOTIA CAPITAL
as Syndication Agents
and
CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.
and
BARCLAYS CAPITAL
and
DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.
and
SANTANDER INVESTMENT SECURITIES INC.
and
HSBC SECURITIES (USA) INC.
and
SCOTIA CAPITAL
as Co-Arrangers
* * * * * * * * * *
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.
and
GOLDMAN SACHS CREDIT PARTNERS L.P.
as Joint Lead
Arrangers and Bookrunners
Table of
Contents
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Page
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ARTICLE I
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DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
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1
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Section 1.01.
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Certain Defined Terms
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1
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Section 1.02.
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Computation of Time Periods
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12
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Section 1.03.
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Accounting Terms
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12
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ARTICLE II
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AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF THE ADVANCES
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12
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Section 2.01.
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The Obligation to Make Advances
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12
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Section 2.02.
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Making the Advances
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12
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Section 2.03.
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Repayment of Advances
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14
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Section 2.04.
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Interest on Advances
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14
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Section 2.05.
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Additional Interest on LIBO Rate
Advances
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14
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Section 2.06.
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Conversion of Advances
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15
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Section 2.07.
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LIBO Rate Determination
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15
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Section 2.08.
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Duration Fee
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16
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Section 2.09.
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Termination or Reduction of the
Commitments
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17
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Section 2.10.
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Prepayments
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17
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Section 2.11.
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Increased Costs
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18
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Section 2.12.
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Illegality
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19
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Section 2.13.
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Payments and Computations
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19
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Section 2.14.
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Taxes
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20
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Section 2.15.
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Sharing of Payments, Etc.
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22
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Section 2.16.
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Evidence of Debt
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22
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Section 2.17.
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Use of Proceeds
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23
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ARTICLE III
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CONDITIONS TO EFFECTIVENESS AND
LENDING
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23
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Section 3.01.
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Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness
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23
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Section 3.02.
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Conditions Precedent to Borrowing
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25
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ARTICLE IV
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REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
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26
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Section 4.01.
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Representations and Warranties of
Altria
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26
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i
Table of
Contents
(continued)
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Page
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ARTICLE V
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COVENANTS OF ALTRIA
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27
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Section 5.01.
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Affirmative Covenants
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27
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Section 5.02.
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Negative Covenants
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28
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ARTICLE VI
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EVENTS OF DEFAULT
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30
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Section 6.01.
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Events of Default
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30
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Section 6.02.
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Lenders’ Rights upon Event of
Default
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31
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ARTICLE VII
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THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENTS
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32
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Section 7.01.
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Authorization and Action
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32
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Section 7.02.
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Administrative Agents’ Reliance,
Etc.
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32
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Section 7.03.
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JPMCB, Goldman Sachs and Affiliates
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33
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Section 7.04.
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Lender Credit Decision
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33
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Section 7.05.
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Indemnification
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33
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Section 7.06.
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Successor Administrative Agents
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34
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Section 7.07.
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Syndication Agents and Co-Arrangers
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34
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ARTICLE VIII
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MISCELLANEOUS
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34
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Section 8.01.
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Amendments, Etc.
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34
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Section 8.02.
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Notices, Etc.
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35
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Section 8.03.
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No Waiver; Remedies
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36
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Section 8.04.
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Costs and Expenses
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36
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Section 8.05.
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Right of Set-Off
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37
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Section 8.06.
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Binding Effect
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37
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Section 8.07.
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Assignments and Participations
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38
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Section 8.08.
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Governing Law
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40
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Section 8.09.
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Execution in Counterparts
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40
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Section 8.10.
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Jurisdiction, Etc.
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41
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Section 8.11.
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Confidentiality
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41
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Section 8.12.
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Integration
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41
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Section 8.13.
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USA Patriot Act Notice
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42
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ii
Table of
Contents
(continued)
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Page
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Section 8.14.
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No Fiduciary Duty
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42
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SCHEDULE
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Schedule I
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-
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List of Applicable Lending Offices
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EXHIBITS
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Exhibit A
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-
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Form of Note
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Exhibit B
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-
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Form of Notice of Borrowing
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Exhibit C
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-
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Form of Assignment and Acceptance
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Exhibit D-1
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-
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Form of Opinion of Counsel for Altria
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Exhibit D-2
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-
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Form of Opinion of Counsel for Altria
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Exhibit D-3
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-
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Form of Opinion of Counsel for
Guarantor
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Exhibit E
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-
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Form of Confidentiality Agreement
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Exhibit G
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-
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Form of Guarantee Agreement
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iii
364-DAY BRIDGE LOAN
AGREEMENT
Dated as of December 19, 2008
ALTRIA GROUP, INC., a Virginia corporation (" Altria "),
the banks, financial institutions and other institutional lenders
(the " Initial Lenders ") listed on the signature pages
hereof, and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. (" JPMCB ") and
GOLDMAN SACHS CREDIT PARTNERS L.P. (" Goldman Sachs "), as
administrative agents (each, in such capacity, an "
Administrative Agent "), CITICORP NORTH AMERICA, INC.,
BARCLAYS BANK PLC, DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC., SANTANDER
INVESTMENT SECURITIES INC., HSBC SECURITIES (USA) INC. and THE BANK
OF NOVA SCOTIA, as syndication agents (each, in such capacity, a "
Syndication Agent ") and CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.,
BARCLAYS BANK PLC, DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC., SANTANDER
INVESTMENT SECURITIES INC., HSBC SECURITIES (USA) INC. and THE BANK
OF NOVA SCOTIA, as co-arrangers (each, in such capacity, a "
Co-Arranger ") for the Lenders (as hereinafter defined),
agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
Section 1.01. Certain Defined Terms . As used in
this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following
meanings (such meanings to be equally applicable to both the
singular and plural forms of the terms defined):
" Acquisition " means the acquisition by Altria of all of
the outstanding capital stock of Target pursuant to the Merger
Agreement.
" Acquisition Closing Date " means the date on which the
Acquisition is consummated.
" Advance " means an advance by a Lender to Altria as
part of a Borrowing and refers to a Base Rate Advance or a LIBO
Rate Advance (each of which shall be a " Type " of
Advance).
" Agents " means each Administrative Agent, each
Syndication Agent and each Co-Arranger.
" Applicable Duration Fee Rate " means for the relevant
date a percentage equal to the percentage set forth below:
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DATE
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FEE RATE
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(a) 90 days after Acquisition Closing
Date
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0.7500
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%
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(b) 90 days after payment under
(a) above
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1.0000
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%
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(c) Later of 180 days after payment under (a)
above and December 1, 2009
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3.0000
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%
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" Applicable Interest Rate Margin " means
for any Advance for the period specified below during which such
Advance remains outstanding a percentage per annum equal to the
percentage set forth below determined by reference to the lower of
(i) the rating of Altria’s long-term senior unsecured
debt from Standard & Poor’s and (ii) the rating
of Altria’s long-term senior unsecured debt from
Moody’s, in each case in effect from time to time during such
period:
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Rating
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Applicable Interest
Rate Margin – LIBO Rate Advances
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Applicable Interest
Rate Margin – Base Rate
Advances
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Number of Days After Acquisition Closing Date
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Number of Days After Acquisition Closing Date
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(1-90 days)
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(91-180
days)
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(181-270
days)
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(271-364
days)
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(1-90 days)
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(91-180
days)
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(181-270
days)
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(271-364
days)
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A-/A3 or higher
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1.7500
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%
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2.0000
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%
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2.2500
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%
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2.5000
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%
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0.7500
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%
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1.0000
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%
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1.2500
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%
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1.5000
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%
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Lower than A-/A3 and BBB/Baa2 or higher (but, if
BBB/Baa2, not on negative watch)
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2.2500
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%
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2.5000
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%
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2.7500
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%
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3.0000
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%
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1.2500
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%
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1.5000
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%
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1.7500
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%
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2.0000
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%
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BBB-/Baa3 or lower, or BBB/Baa2 and on negative
watch
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2.7500
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%
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3.0000
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%
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3.2500
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%
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3.5000
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%
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1.7500
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%
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2.0000
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%
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2.2500
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%
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2.5000
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%
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" Applicable Lending Office " means, with
respect to each Lender, such Lender’s Domestic Lending Office
or Eurodollar Lending Office.
" Asset Sale " means the sale, transfer, license, lease
or other disposition of any property by any Person, including any
sale and leaseback transaction and any sale of capital stock (other
than any issuance by such Person of its own capital stock, but
including an issuance of capital stock by a Subsidiary of such
Person), but excluding:
(a) the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition
(collectively, " Transfers ") of inventory, plants,
equipment and other property (including cash and cash equivalents)
in the ordinary course of business or specifically disclosed prior
to the Effective Date in Altria’s or any of its
Subsidiaries’ publicly-available filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, and
2
(b) any Transfer that results in Net Cash
Proceeds of less than $100,000,000 per Transfer or related or
series of Transfers and that, together with all other Transfers
during the same fiscal year excluded under this clause
(b) results in Net Cash Proceeds of not greater than
$250,000,000.
" Assignment and Acceptance " means an assignment and
acceptance entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee, and
accepted by JPMCB, as Administrative Agent, in substantially the
form of Exhibit C hereto.
" Base Rate " means a fluctuating interest rate per annum
in effect from time to time, which rate per annum shall at all
times be equal to the higher of:
(i) the rate of interest announced publicly by JPMCB in New
York, New York, from time to time, as JPMCB’s prime rate;
and
(ii) 1/2 of one percent per annum above the Federal Funds
Effective Rate.
" Base Rate Advance " means an Advance that bears
interest as provided in Section 2.04(a)(i).
" Base Rate Interest " has the meaning specified in
Section 2.04(a)(i).
" Board " means the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System of the United States (or any successor).
" Borrowing " means a borrowing consisting of
simultaneous Advances of the same Type made by each of the Lenders
pursuant to Section 2.01.
" Business Day " means a day of the year on which banks
are not required or authorized by law to close in New York City
and, if the applicable Business Day relates to any LIBO Rate
Advances, on which dealings are carried on in the London interbank
market and banks are open for business in London.
" Capital Markets Financing Transaction " means the sale
for cash or cash equivalents, in a public offering registered under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or an offering exempt from
registration pursuant to Section 4(2), Rule 144A or Regulation
S thereunder, of capital stock issued by Altria or notes,
debentures or other debt securities issued by or guaranteed by
Altria having a maturity in excess of one year, offered in the
domestic or foreign capital markets.
" Commitment " means as to any Lender (i) the Dollar
amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule I
hereto or (ii) if such Lender has entered into an Assignment
and Acceptance, the Dollar amount set forth for such Lender in the
Register maintained by JPMCB, as Administrative Agent, pursuant to
Section 8.07(d), in each case as such amount may be reduced
pursuant to Section 2.09(b).
3
" Consolidated EBITDA " means, for any
accounting period, the consolidated net earnings (or loss) of
Altria and its Subsidiaries plus, without duplication and to the
extent included as a separate item on Altria’s consolidated
statements of earnings or consolidated statements of cash flows in
the case of clauses (a) through (e) for such period, the
sum of (a) provision for income taxes, (b) interest and
other debt expense, net, (c) depreciation expense,
(d) amortization of intangibles, (e) any extraordinary,
unusual or non-recurring expenses or losses or any similar expense
or loss subtracted from "Gross profit" in the calculation of
"Operating income" and (f) the portion of loss included on
Altria’s consolidated statements of earnings of any Person
(other than a Subsidiary of Altria) in which Altria or any of its
Subsidiaries has an ownership interest and any cash that is
actually received by Altria or such Subsidiary from such Person in
the form of dividends or similar distributions, and minus ,
without duplication, the sum of (x) to the extent included as
a separate item on Altria’s consolidated statements of
earnings for such period, any extraordinary, unusual or
non-recurring income or gains or any similar income or gain added
to "Gross profit" in the calculation of "Operating income," and
(y) the portion of income included on Altria’s
consolidated statements of earnings of any Person (other than a
Subsidiary of Altria) in which Altria or any of its Subsidiaries
has an ownership interest, except to the extent that any cash is
actually received by Altria or such Subsidiary from such Person in
the form of dividends or similar distributions, all as determined
on a consolidated basis in accordance with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States for such period, except
that if there has been a material change in an accounting principle
as compared to that applied in the preparation of the financial
statements of Altria and its Subsidiaries as at and for the year
ended December 31, 2007, then such new accounting principle
shall not be used in the determination of Consolidated EBITDA. A
material change in an accounting principle is one that, in the year
of its adoption, changes Consolidated EBITDA for any quarter in
such year by more than 10%.
" Consolidated Interest Expense " means, for any
accounting period, total interest expense of Altria and its
Subsidiaries with respect to all outstanding Debt of Altria and its
Subsidiaries during such period, all as determined on a
consolidated basis for such period and in accordance with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for
such period, except that if there has been a material change in an
accounting principle as compared to that applied in the preparation
of the financial statements of Altria and its Subsidiaries as at
and for the year ended December 31, 2007, then such new
accounting principle shall not be used in the determination of
Consolidated Interest Expense. A material change in an accounting
principle is one that, in the year of its adoption, changes
Consolidated Interest Expense for any quarter in such year by more
than 10%.
" Consolidated Tangible Assets " means the total assets
appearing on a consolidated balance sheet of Altria and its
Subsidiaries, less goodwill and other intangible assets and the
minority interests of other Persons in such Subsidiaries, all as
determined in accordance with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States, except that if there has been a
material change in an accounting principle as compared to that
applied in the preparation of the financial statements of Altria
and its Subsidiaries as at and for the year ended December 31,
2007, then such new accounting principle shall not be used in the
determination of Consolidated Tangible Assets. A
4
material change in an accounting principle is one
that, in the year of its adoption, changes Consolidated Tangible
Assets at any quarter in such year by more than 10%.
" Convert ," " Conversion " and " Converted
" each refers to a conversion of Advances of one Type into Advances
of the other Type pursuant to Section 2.06, 2.07 or 2.12.
" Debt " means, without duplication,
(a) indebtedness for borrowed money or for the deferred
purchase price of property or services, whether or not evidenced by
bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments,
(b) obligations as lessee under leases that, in accordance
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States,
are recorded as capital leases, (c) obligations as an account
party or applicant under letters of credit (other than trade
letters of credit incurred in the ordinary course of business) to
the extent such letters of credit are drawn and not reimbursed
within five Business Days of such drawing, (d) the aggregate
principal (or equivalent) amount of financing raised through
outstanding securitization financings of accounts receivable, and
(e) obligations under direct or indirect guaranties in respect
of, and obligations (contingent or otherwise) to purchase or
otherwise acquire, or otherwise to assure a creditor against loss
(including by way of (i) granting a security interest or other
Lien on property or (ii) having a reimbursement obligation
under or in respect of a letter of credit or similar arrangement
(to the extent such letter of credit is not collateralized by
assets (other than Operating Assets) having a fair value equal to
the amount of such reimbursement obligation), in either case in
respect of, indebtedness or obligations of any other Person of the
kinds referred to in clause (a), (b), (c) or (d) above).
For the avoidance of doubt, the following shall not constitute
"Debt" for purposes of this Agreement: (A) any obligation that
is fully non-recourse to Altria or any of its Subsidiaries,
(B) intercompany debt of Altria or any of its Subsidiaries,
(C) any appeal bond or other arrangement to secure a stay of
execution on a judgment or order, provided that any such appeal
bond or other arrangement issued by a third party in connection
with such arrangement shall constitute Debt to the extent Altria or
any of its Subsidiaries has a reimbursement obligation to such
third party that is not collateralized by assets (other than
Operating Assets) having a fair value equal to the amount of such
reimbursement obligation, (D) unpaid judgments, or
(E) defeased indebtedness.
" Debt Facility " shall mean any debt facility with a
term exceeding 364 days entered into by Altria after the Effective
Date in the commercial bank market, other than (a) the
issuance of commercial paper or other short-term debt programs,
(b) any domestic or foreign working capital facility and
(c) any credit agreement replacing Altria’s 5-Year
Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of April 15, 2005 in an
aggregate amount not exceeding $3,500,000,000.
" Default " means any event specified in
Section 6.01 that would constitute an Event of Default but for
the requirement that notice be given or time elapse or both.
" Dollars " and the " $ " sign each means lawful
currency of the United States of America.
5
" Domestic Lending Office " means, with
respect to any Lender, the office of such Lender specified as its
"Domestic Lending Office" opposite its name on Schedule I hereto or
in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a
Lender, or such other office of such Lender as such Lender may from
time to time specify to Altria and JPMCB, as Administrative
Agent.
" Effective Date " has the meaning specified in
Section 3.01.
" Eligible Assignee " means (i) a commercial bank
organized under the laws of the United States, or any State
thereof, and having total assets in excess of $10,000,000,000;
(ii) a commercial bank organized under the laws of any other
country which is a member of the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development (or any successor) (" OECD "),
or a political subdivision of any such country, and having total
assets in excess of $10,000,000,000, provided that such bank is
acting through a branch or agency located in the country in which
it is organized or another country which is also a member of the
OECD or the Cayman Islands; (iii) the central bank of any
country which is a member of the OECD; (iv) a commercial
finance company or finance Subsidiary of a corporation organized
under the laws of the United States, or any State thereof, and
having total assets in excess of $6,000,000,000; (v) an
insurance company organized under the laws of the United States, or
any State thereof, and having total assets in excess of
$10,000,000,000; (vi) any Lender; (vii) an affiliate of
any Lender; and (viii) any other bank, commercial finance
company, insurance company or other Person approved in writing by
Altria, which approval shall be notified to JPMCB, as
Administrative Agent.
" ERISA " means the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the regulations
promulgated and rulings issued thereunder.
" ERISA Affiliate " means any Person that for purposes of
Title IV of ERISA is a member of Altria’s controlled group,
or under common control with Altria, within the meaning of
Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code.
" ERISA Event " means (a) (i) the occurrence
with respect to a Plan of a reportable event, within the meaning of
Section 4043 of ERISA, unless the 30-day notice requirement
with respect thereto has been waived by the Pension Benefit
Guaranty Corporation (or any successor) (" PBGC "), or
(ii) the requirements of subsection (1) of
Section 4043(b) of ERISA (without regard to subsection
(2) of such section) are met with respect to a contributing
sponsor, as defined in Section 4001(a)(13) of ERISA, of a
Plan, and an event described in paragraph (9), (10), (11),
(12) or (13) of Section 4043(c) of ERISA is
reasonably expected to occur with respect to such Plan within the
following 30 days; (b) the application for a minimum funding
waiver with respect to a Plan; (c) the provision by the
administrator of any Plan of a notice of intent to terminate such
Plan, pursuant to Section 4041(a)(2) of ERISA (including any
such notice with respect to a plan amendment referred to in
Section 4041(e) of ERISA); (d) the cessation of
operations at a facility of Altria or any of its ERISA Affiliates
in the circumstances described in Section 4062(e) of ERISA;
(e) the withdrawal by Altria or any of its ERISA Affiliates
from a Multiple Employer Plan during a plan year for which it was a
substantial
6
employer, as defined in Section 4001(a)(2)
of ERISA; (f) the conditions set forth in
Section 302(f)(1)(A) and (B) of ERISA to the creation of
a lien upon property or rights to property of Altria or any of its
ERISA Affiliates for failure to make a required payment to a Plan
are satisfied; (g) the adoption of an amendment to a Plan
requiring the provision of security to such Plan, pursuant to
Section 307 of ERISA; or (h) the termination of a Plan by
the PBGC pursuant to Section 4042 of ERISA, or the occurrence
of any event or condition described in Section 4042 of ERISA
that constitutes grounds for the termination of, or the appointment
of a trustee to administer, a Plan.
" Eurocurrency Liabilities " has the meaning assigned to
that term in Regulation D of the Board, as in effect from time to
time.
" Eurodollar Lending Office " means, with respect to any
Lender, the office of such Lender specified as its "Eurodollar
Lending Office" opposite its name on Schedule I hereto or in the
Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender (or,
if no such office is specified, its Domestic Lending Office), or
such other office of such Lender as such Lender may from time to
time specify to Altria and JPMCB, as Administrative Agent.
" Eurodollar Rate Reserve Percentage " for any Interest
Period, for all LIBO Rate Advances comprising part of the same
Borrowing, means the reserve percentage applicable two Business
Days before the first day of such Interest Period under regulations
issued from time to time by the Board for determining the maximum
reserve requirement (including, without limitation, any emergency,
supplemental or other marginal reserve requirement) for a member
bank of the Federal Reserve System in New York City with respect to
liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency
Liabilities (or with respect to any other category of liabilities
that includes deposits by reference to which the interest rate on
LIBO Rate Advances is determined) having a term equal to such
Interest Period.
" Event of Default " has the meaning specified in
Section 6.01.
" Federal Bankruptcy Code " means the Bankruptcy Reform
Act of 1978, as amended from time to time.
" Federal Funds Effective Rate " means, for any day, the
weighted average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100
of 1%) of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with
members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds
brokers, as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the
Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so
published for any day that is a Business Day, the average (rounded
upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the quotations
for such day for such transactions received by JPMCB, as
Administrative Agent, from three Federal funds brokers of
recognized standing selected by it.
" Guarantee " means the guarantee agreement dated as of
the Effective Date issued by the Guarantor in favor of the Lenders,
substantially in the form of Exhibit G hereto.
7
" Guarantor " means Philip Morris USA
Inc., a Virginia corporation.
" Home Jurisdiction Withholding Taxes " means withholding
for United States income taxes, United States back-up withholding
taxes and United States withholding taxes.
" Interest Period " means, for each LIBO Rate Advance
comprising part of the same Borrowing, the period commencing on the
date of such LIBO Rate Advance or the date of Conversion of any
Base Rate Advance into such LIBO Rate Advance or the last day of
the preceding Interest Period applicable to such Advance and ending
on the last day of the period selected by Altria pursuant to the
provisions below. The duration of each such Interest Period shall
be one, two, three or six months, as Altria may select upon notice
received by JPMCB, as Administrative Agent, not later than 11:00
A.M. (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the
first day of such Interest Period; provided , however
, that:
(a) Altria may not select any Interest Period that ends after
the Termination Date;
(b) whenever the last day of any Interest Period would otherwise
occur on a day other than a Business Day, the last day of such
Interest Period shall be extended to occur on the next succeeding
Business Day, provided that if such extension would cause
the last day of such Interest Period to occur in the next following
calendar month, the last day of such Interest Period shall occur on
the immediately preceding Business Day; and
(c) whenever the first day of any Interest Period occurs on a
day of an initial calendar month for which there is no numerically
corresponding day in the calendar month that succeeds such initial
calendar month by the number of months equal to the number of
months in such Interest Period, such Interest Period shall end on
the last Business Day of such succeeding calendar month.
" Internal Revenue Code " means the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the regulations
promulgated and the rulings issued thereunder.
" JPMCB’s Administrative Agent Account " means
(a) the account of JPMCB, as Administrative Agent, maintained
by JPMCB, as Administrative Agent, at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.,
Loan and Agency, 1111 Fannin Street, Account
No. 9008113381H0301, Reference: Altria, Attention: Maria
Escobar, or (b) such other account of JPMCB, as Administrative
Agent, as is designated in writing from time to time by JPMCB, as
Administrative Agent, to Altria and the Lenders for such
purpose.
" Lenders " means the Initial Lenders and their
respective successors and permitted assignees.
" LIBO Rate " means an interest rate per annum equal to
either:
8
(a) the offered rate per annum at which deposits
in Dollars appear on Reuters Page LIBOR01 (or any successor page)
as of 11:00 A.M. (London time) two Business Days before the first
day of such Interest Period, or
(b) if the LIBO Rate does not appear on Reuters Page LIBOR01 (or
any successor page), then the LIBO Rate will be determined by
taking the average (rounded upward to the nearest whole multiple of
1/16 of 1% per annum, if such average is not such a multiple)
of the rates per annum at which deposits in Dollars are offered by
the principal office of each of the Reference Banks in London,
England to prime banks in the London interbank market at 11:00 A.M.
(London time) two Business Days before the first day of such
Interest Period for an amount substantially equal to the amount
that would be the Reference Banks’ respective ratable shares
of such Borrowing outstanding during such Interest Period and for a
period equal to such Interest Period, as determined by JPMCB, as
Administrative Agent, subject , however , to the
provisions of Section 2.07.
" LIBO Rate Advance " means an Advance that bears
interest as provided in Section 2.04(a)(ii).
" LIBO Rate Interest " has the meaning specified in
Section 2.04(a)(ii).
" Lien " has the meaning specified in
Section 5.02(a).
" Major Subsidiary " means any Subsidiary (a) more
than 50% of the voting securities of which is owned directly or
indirectly by Altria, (b) which is organized and existing
under, or has its principal place of business in, the United States
or any political subdivision thereof, Canada or any political
subdivision thereof, any country which is a member of the European
Union on the date hereof (other than Greece, Portugal or Spain) or
any political subdivision thereof, or Switzerland, Norway or
Australia or any of their respective political subdivisions, and
(c) which has at any time total assets (after intercompany
eliminations) exceeding $1,000,000,000.
" Margin Stock " means margin stock, as such term is
defined in Regulation U.
" Merger Agreement " means the Agreement and Plan of
Merger among Altria, Armchair Merger Sub, Inc. and Target dated as
of September 7, 2008, as amended by Amendment No. 1 dated
as of October 2, 2008.
" Moody’s " means Moody’s Investors Service,
Inc., and any successor to its rating agency business.
" Multiemployer Plan " means a multiemployer plan, as
defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which Altria or any
ERISA Affiliate is making or accruing an obligation to make
contributions, or has within any of the preceding five plan years
made or accrued an obligation to make contributions, such plan
being maintained pursuant to one or more collective bargaining
agreements.
" Multiple Employer Plan " means a single employer plan,
as defined in Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA, that (a) is
maintained for employees of Altria or any ERISA
9
Affiliate and at least one Person other than
Altria and the ERISA Affiliates or (b) was so maintained and
in respect of which Altria or any ERISA Affiliate could have
liability under Section 4064 or 4069 of ERISA in the event
such plan has been or were to be terminated.
" Net Cash Proceeds " means:
(a) with respect to any Asset Sale (i) all cash proceeds
actually paid to or actually received by Altria or one or more of
its wholly-owned Subsidiaries (or other Subsidiaries to the extent
that Altria has the ability to compel the distribution or transfer
of such cash proceeds from such Subsidiary to Altria or one of
Altria’s wholly-owned Subsidiaries), in each case, from a
Person other than Altria or one of its Subsidiaries in respect of
such Asset Sale (including any cash proceeds received as income or
other proceeds from any non-cash proceeds of any Asset Sale as and
when received),
less , without duplication and only to the extent not
already deducted in arriving at the amount referred to in clause
(i) above, (ii) the sum of (A) the amount, if any,
of all taxes (other than income taxes) and all income taxes (as
estimated in good faith by a senior financial or senior accounting
officer of Altria giving effect to the overall tax position of
Altria and its Subsidiaries), and customary fees, brokerage fees,
commissions, costs and other expenses, that are incurred in
connection with such Asset Sale and are payable by Altria or one or
more of its Subsidiaries,
(B) appropriate amounts that must be set aside as a reserve in
accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States of America against any liabilities reasonably
estimated to be payable and associated with such Asset Sale,
and
(C) any payments to be made by Altria or one or more of its
Subsidiaries as agreed between Altria or such Subsidiaries, as
applicable, and the purchaser of any assets subject to an Asset
Sale in connection therewith, and
(b) with respect to any Capital Markets Financing Transaction,
all cash proceeds received by Altria or one or more of its
wholly-owned Subsidiaries (or other Subsidiaries to the extent that
Altria has the ability to compel the distribution or transfer of
such cash proceeds from such Subsidiary to Altria or one of
Altria’s wholly-owned Subsidiaries) from a Person other than
Altria or one of its Subsidiaries in respect of such Capital
Markets Financing Transaction (including cash proceeds as and when
subsequently received at any time in respect of such Capital
Markets Financing Transaction from non-cash consideration initially
received or otherwise),
less underwriting discounts and commissions or placement
fees, investment banking fees, legal fees, consulting fees,
accounting fees and other customary fees and expenses directly
incurred by Altria or one or more of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries,
as applicable, in connection therewith.
" Note " means a promissory note of Altria payable to the
order of any Lender, delivered pursuant to a request made under
Section 2.16(a) in substantially the form of
10
Exhibit A hereto, evidencing the aggregate
indebtedness of Altria to such Lender resulting from the Advances
made by Lender to Altria.
" Notice of Borrowing " has the meaning specified in
Section 2.02(a).
" Operating Assets " means, for any accounting period,
any assets included in the consolidated balance sheet of Altria and
its Subsidiaries as "Inventories," or "Property, plant and
equipment" or "Receivables" for such period.
" Other Taxes " has the meaning specified in
Section 2.14(b).
" Patriot Act " has the meaning specified in
Section 8.13.
" Person " means an individual, partnership, corporation
(including a business trust), joint stock company, trust,
unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability
company or other entity, or a government or any political
subdivision or agency thereof.
" Plan " means a Single Employer Plan or a Multiple
Employer Plan.
" Reference Banks " means JPMCB, Goldman Sachs, Citicorp
North America, Inc., Barclays Bank PLC, Deutsche Bank Securities
Inc., HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. and Scotia Capital.
" Register " has the meaning specified in
Section 8.07(d).
" Regulation A " means Regulation A of the Board, as in
effect from time to time.
" Regulation U " means Regulation U of the Board, as in
effect from time to time.
" Required Lenders " means at any time Lenders owed at
least 50.1% of the then aggregate unpaid principal amount of the
Advances owing to Lenders, or, if no such principal amount is then
outstanding, Lenders having at least 50.1% of the Commitments.
" Single Employer Plan " means a single employer plan, as
defined in Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA, that (a) is
maintained for employees of Altria or any ERISA Affiliate and no
Person other than Altria and the ERISA Affiliates or (b) was
so maintained and in respect of which Altria or any ERISA Affiliate
could have liability under Section 4069 of ERISA in the event
such plan has been or were to be terminated.
" Standard & Poor’s " means
Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of
The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and any successor to its rating
agency business.
" Subsidiary " of any Person means any corporation of
which (or in which) more than 50% of the outstanding capital stock
having voting power to elect a majority of the Board of Directors
of such corporation (irrespective of whether at the time capital
stock of any other class or classes of such corporation shall or
might have voting power upon the occurrence of any contingency) is
at the time directly or indirectly owned or
11
controlled by such Person, by such Person and one
or more of its other Subsidiaries or by one or more of such
Person’s other Subsidiaries.
" Target " means UST Inc., a Delaware corporation.
" Taxes " has the meaning specified in
Section 2.14(a).
" Termination Date " means the earlier of (a) 364
days from the Acquisition Closing Date and (b) the date of
termination in whole of the Commitments pursuant to
Section 2.09(b) or 6.02.
Section 1.02. Computation of Time Periods . In this
Agreement in the computation of periods of time from a specified
date to a later specified date, the word "from" means "from and
including" and the words "to" and "until" each mean "to but
excluding."
Section 1.03. Accounting Terms . All accounting
terms not specifically defined herein shall be construed in
accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States of America, except that if there has been a material
change in an accounting principle affecting the definition of an
accounting term as compared to that applied in the preparation of
the financial statements of Altria as of and for the year ended
December 31, 2007, then such new accounting principle shall
not be used in the determination of the amount associated with that
accounting term. A material change in an accounting principle is
one that, in the year of its adoption, changes the amount
associated with the relevant accounting term for any quarter in
such year by more than 10%.
ARTICLE II
AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF THE ADVANCES
Section 2.01. The Obligation to Make Advances . Each
Lender severally agrees, on the terms and conditions hereinafter
set forth, to make Advances in U.S. dollars to Altria on the
Acquisition Closing Date in an aggregate amount not to exceed such
Lender’s Commitment.
Section 2.02. Making the Advances . (a) Notice of
Borrowing . To request a Borrowing, Altria shall give notice
not later than (x) 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the
third Business Day prior to the date of the proposed Borrowing in
the case of a Borrowing consisting of LIBO Rate Advances, or
(y) 9:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the date of the proposed
Borrowing in the case of a Borrowing consisting of Base Rate
Advances, to JPMCB, as Administrative Agent, which shall give to
each Lender prompt notice thereof. Each such notice of a Borrowing
(a " Notice of Borrowing ") shall be by telephone, confirmed
immediately in writing, by registered mail or telecopier in
substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto, specifying therein the
requested:
(i) date of such Borrowing,
(ii) Type of Advances comprising such Borrowing,
(iii) aggregate amount of such Borrowing, and
12
(iv) in the case of a Borrowing consisting of
LIBO Rate Advances, the initial Interest Period for each such
Advance. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Altria
may not select LIBO Rate Advances for any Borrowing if the
obligation of the Lenders to make LIBO Rate Advances shall then be
suspended pursuant to Section 2.06(b) or 2.12.
(b) Funding Advances . Each Lender shall, before 11:00
A.M. (New York City time) on the date of such Borrowing, make
available for the account of its Applicable Lending Office to
JPMCB, as Administrative Agent, at JPMCB’s Administrative
Agent Account, in same day funds, such Lender’s ratable
portion of such Borrowing. After receipt of such funds by JPMCB, as
Administrative Agent, and upon fulfillment of the applicable
conditions set forth in Article III, JPMCB, as Administrative
Agent, will make such funds available to Altria no later than 12:00
P.M. (New York City time) on the date of such Borrowing at the
address of JPMCB, as Administrative Agent, referred to in
Section 8.02 or at such other location as agreed by Altria and
JPMCB, as Administrative Agent.
(c) Irrevocable Notice . Each Notice of Borrowing shall
be irrevocable and binding on Altria. In the case of any Borrowing
that the related Notice of Borrowing specifies is to be comprised
of LIBO Rate Advances, Altria shall indemnify each Lender against
any loss, cost or expense incurred by such Lender as a result of
any failure to fulfill on or before the date specified in such
Notice of Borrowing for such Borrowing the applicable conditions
set forth in Article III, including, without limitation, any loss
(excluding loss of anticipated profits), cost or expense incurred
by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other
funds acquired by such Lender to fund the Advance to be made by
such Lender as part of such Borrowing when such Advance, as a
result of such failure, is not made on such date.
(d) Lender’s Ratable Portion . Unless JPMCB, as
Administrative Agent, shall have received notice from a Lender
prior to 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the day of any
Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to JPMCB, as
Administrative Agent, such Lender’s ratable portion of such
Borrowing, JPMCB, as Administrative Agent, may assume that such
Lender has made such portion available to JPMCB, as Administrative
Agent, on the date of such Borrowing in accordance with
Section 2.02(b) and JPMCB, as Administrative Agent, may, in
reliance upon such assumption, make available to Altria on such
date a corresponding amount. If and to the extent that such Lender
shall not have so made such ratable portion available to JPMCB, as
Administrative Agent, such Lender and Altria severally agree to
repay to JPMCB, as Administrative Agent, forthwith on demand such
corresponding amount together with interest thereon, for each day
from the date such amount is made available to Altria until the
date such amount is repaid to JPMCB, as Administrative Agent,
at:
(i) in the case of Altria, the higher of (A) the interest
rate applicable at the time to Advances comprising such Borrowing
and (B) the cost of funds incurred by JPMCB, as Administrative
Agent, in respect of such amount, and
(ii) in the case of such Lender, the Federal Funds Effective
Rate.
13
If such Lender shall repay to JPMCB, as
Administrative Agent, such corresponding amount, such amount so
repaid shall constitute such Lender’s Advance as part of such
Borrowing for purposes of this Agreement.
(e) Independent Lender Obligations . The failure of any
Lender to make the Advance to be made by it as part of any
Borrowing shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation, if
any, hereunder to make its Advance on the date of such Borrowing,
but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other
Lender to make the Advance to be made by such other Lender on the
date of any Borrowing.
Section 2.03. Repayment of Advances . Altria shall
repay to JPMCB, as Administrative Agent, for the ratable account of
the Lenders on the Termination Date the unpaid principal amount of
the Advances then outstanding.
Section 2.04. Interest on Advances . (a)
Scheduled Interest . Altria shall pay interest on the unpaid
principal amount of each Advance to each Lender from the date of
such Advance until such principal amount shall be paid in full, at
the following rates per annum:
(i) Base Rate Advances . During such periods as such
Advance is a Base Rate Advance, a rate per annum equal at all times
to the sum of (x) the Base Rate in effect from time to time
plus (y) the Applicable Interest Rate Margin (the sum
of (x) and (y), the " Base Rate Interest "), payable in
arrears monthly on the 20 th
day of each month and on the date such Base Rate
Advance shall be Converted or paid in full; provided that on
any day that Base Rate Advances are outstanding, the Base Rate
Interest payable on such Advances shall be no less than the LIBO
Rate Interest that would be payable on such day for a LIBO Rate
Advance with a one month interest period that would commence on
such day; provided , further , that for the purposes
of this Section 2.04(a)(i) references to "two Business Days
before" appearing in the definition of LIBO Rate shall be replaced
with "the same day as".
(ii) LIBO Rate Advances . During such periods as such
Advance is a LIBO Rate Advance, a rate per annum equal at all times
during each Interest Period for such Advance to the sum of
(x) the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period for such Advance
plus (y) the Applicable Interest Rate Margin (the sum
of (x) and (y), the " LIBO Rate Interest "), payable in
arrears on the last day of such Interest Period and, if such
Interest Period has a duration of more than three months, on each
day that occurs during such Interest Period every three months from
the first day of such Interest Period, and on the date such LIBO
Rate Advance shall be Converted or paid in full.
(b) Default Interest . Upon the occurrence and during the
continuance of an Event of Default, Altria shall pay interest on
the unpaid principal amount of each Advance owing to each Lender,
payable in arrears on the dates referred to in
Section 2.04(a)(i) or Section 2.04(a)(ii), at a rate per
annum equal at all times to 1% per annum above the rate per
annum required to be paid on such Advance.
Section 2.05. Additional Interest on LIBO Rate
Advances . Altria shall pay to each Lender, so long as such
Lender shall be required under regulations of the Board to
maintain
14
reserves with respect to liabilities or assets
consisting of or including Eurocurrency Liabilities, additional
interest on the unpaid principal amount of each LIBO Rate Advance
of such Lender to Altria, from the date of such Advance until such
principal amount is paid in full, at an interest rate per annum
equal at all times to the remainder obtained by subtracting
(i) the LIBO Rate for the Interest Period for such Advance
from (ii) the rate obtained by dividing such LIBO Rate by a
percentage equal to 100% minus the Eurodollar Rate Reserve
Percentage of such Lender for such Interest Period, payable on each
date on which interest is payable on such Advance. Such additional
interest shall be determined by such Lender and notified to Altria
through JPMCB, as Administrative Agent.
Section 2.06. Conversion of Advances . (a)
Conversion Upon Absence of Interest Period . If Altria shall
fail to select the duration of any Interest Period for any LIBO
Rate Advances in accordance with the provisions contained in the
definition of the term "Interest Period," JPMCB, as Administrative
Agent, will forthwith so notify Altria and the Lenders, and such
Advances will automatically, on the last day of the then existing
Interest Period therefor, Convert into Base Rate Advances.
(b) Conversion Upon Event of Default . Upon the
occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default under
Section 6.01(a), JPMCB, as Administrative Agent, or the
Required Lenders may elect that (i) each LIBO Rate Advance be,
on the last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor,
Converted into Base Rate Advances and (ii) the obligation of
the Lenders to make, or to Convert Advances into, LIBO Rate
Advances be suspended.
(c) Voluntary Conversion . Subject to the provisions of
Sections 2.07(c) and 2.12, Altria may convert all Advances of one
Type constituting the same Borrowing into Advances of the other
Type on any Business Day, upon notice given to JPMCB, as
Administrative Agent, not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City
time) on the third Business Day prior to the date of the proposed
Conversion; provided , however , that the Conversion
of a LIBO Rate Advance into a Base Rate Advance may be made on, and
only on, the last day of an Interest Period for such LIBO Rate
Advance. Each such notice of a Conversion shall, within the
restrictions specified above, specify
(i) the date of such Conversion;
(ii) the Advances to be Converted; and
(iii) if such Conversion is into LIBO Rate Advances, the
duration of the Interest Period for each such Advance.
Section 2.07. LIBO Rate Determination . (a)
Methods to Determine LIBO Rate . JPMCB, as Administrative
Agent, shall determine the LIBO Rate by using the methods described
in the definition of the term "LIBO Rate," and shall give prompt
notice to Altria and Lenders of each such LIBO Rate.
(b) Role of Reference Banks . In the event that the LIBO
Rate cannot be determined by the method described in clause
(a) of the definition of "LIBO Rate," each Reference Bank
agrees to furnish to JPMCB, as Administrative Agent, timely
information for the purpose of
15
determining the LIBO Rate in accordance with the
method described in clause (b) of the definition thereof. If
any one or more of the Reference Banks shall not furnish such
timely information to JPMCB, as Administrative Agent, for the
purpose of determining a LIBO Rate, JPMCB, as Administrative Agent,
shall determine such interest rate on the basis of timely
information furnished by the remaining Reference Banks. If fewer
than two Reference Banks furnish timely information to JPMCB, as
Administrative Agent, for determining the LIBO Rate for any LIBO
Rate Advances then:
(i) JPMCB, as Administrative Agent, shall forthwith notify
Altria and the Lenders that the interest rate cannot be determined
for such LIBO Rate Advance;
(ii) with respect to each LIBO Rate Advance, such Advance will,
on the last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, be
prepaid by Altria or be automatically Converted into a Base Rate
Advance; and
(iii) the obligation of the Lenders to make LIBO Rate Advances
or to Convert Base Rate Advances into LIBO Rate Advances shall be
suspended until JPMCB, as Administrative Agent, shall notify Altria
and the Lenders that the circumstances causing such suspension no
longer exist.
JPMCB, as Administrative Agent, shall give prompt notice to
Altria and the Lenders of the applicable interest rate determined
by JPMCB, as Administrative Agent, for purposes of
Section 2.04(a)(i) or 2.04(a)(ii), and the rate, if any,
furnished by each Reference Bank for the purpose of determining
LIBO Rate Interest under Section 2.04(a)(ii) or the applicable
LIBO Rate.
(c) Inadequate LIBO Rate . If, with respect to any LIBO
Rate Advances, the Required Lenders notify JPMCB, as Administrative
Agent, that (i) they are unable to obtain matching deposits in
the London interbank market at or about 11:00 A.M. (London time) on
the second Business Day before the making of a Borrowing in
sufficient amounts to fund their respective LIBO Rate Advances as a
part of such Borrowing during the Interest Period therefor or
(ii) the LIBO Rate for any Interest Period for such Advances
will not adequately reflect the cost to such Required Lenders of
making, funding or maintaining their respective LIBO Rate Advances
for such Interest Period, JPMCB, as Administrative Agent, shall
forthwith so notify Altria and the Lenders, whereupon
(A) Altria will, on the last day of the then existing Interest
Period therefor, either (x) prepay such Advances or
(y) Convert such Advances into Base Rate Advances and
(B) the obligation of the Lenders to make, or to Convert Base
Rate Advances into, LIBO Rate Advances shall be suspended until
JPMCB, as Administrative Agent, shall notify Altria and the Lenders
that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist. In
the case of clause (ii) above, each Lender shall certify its
cost of funds for each Interest Period to JPMCB, as Administrative
Agent, and Altria as soon as practicable (but in any event not
later than 10 Business Days after the last day of such Interest
Period).
Section 2.08. Duration Fee . Altria agrees to pay to
JPMCB, as Administrative Agent, for the ratable account of each
Lender a duration fee at the Applicable Duration Fee Rate on the
amount of such Lender’s outstanding Advances on the date that
is (i) 90 days after the Acquisition Closing Date,
(ii) 90 days after payment under (i) above, and
(iii) the later of 180
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days after payment under (i) above and
December 1, 2009, which fee shall be payable, in each case, on
such date.
Section 2.09. Termination or Reduction of the
Commitments . (a) Optional Termination or Reduction of the
Commitments . Altria shall have the right, upon at least one
Business Day’s notice to JPMCB, as Administrative Agent, to
terminate in whole or reduce ratably in part the unused portions of
the respective Commitments of the Lenders; provided that
each partial reduction shall be in the aggregate amount of no less
than $50,000,000.
(b) Mandatory Reduction of the Commitments . (i) In the
event that there shall be a Capital Markets Financing Transaction,
Asset Sale or borrowing under a Debt Facility, Commitments shall be
reduced in an aggregate amount equal to 100% of the Net Cash
Proceeds, rounded to the nearest million (with $500,000 being
rounded upward), of such Capital Markets Financing Transaction or
Asset Sale or the aggregate amount of such Debt Facility borrowing,
on the next succeeding Business Day following receipt by Altria or
one of its Subsidiaries of such Net Cash Proceeds or Debt Facility
borrowings.
(ii) The aggregate Commitments shall be automatically and
permanently reduced to zero immediately following the funding of
the Borrowing on the Acquisition Closing Date.
Section 2.10. Prepayments . (a) Optional
Prepayment of Advances . Altria may, in the case of any LIBO
Rate Advance, upon at least three Business Days’ notice to
JPMCB, as Administrative Agent, or, in the case of any Base Rate
Advance, upon notice given to JPMCB, as Administrative Agent, not
later than 9:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the date of the
proposed prepayment, in each case stating the proposed date and
aggregate principal amount of the prepayment, and if such notice is
given Altria shall, prepay the outstanding principal amount of the
Advances comprising part of the same Borrowing in whole or ratably
in part, together with accrued interest to the date of such
prepayment on the principal amount prepaid; provided ,
however , that (x) each partial prepayment shall be in
an aggregate principal amount of no less than $50,000,000 or the
remaining balance if less than $50,000,000 and (y) in the
event of any such prepayment of a LIBO Rate Advance, Altria shall
be obligated to reimburse the Lenders in respect thereof pursuant
to Section 8.04(b).
(b) Mandatory Prepayment . (i) In the event that there
shall be a Capital Markets Financing Transaction, Asset Sale or
borrowing under a Debt Facility, Altria shall repay outstanding
Advances in an aggregate amount equal to 100% of the Net Cash
Proceeds, rounded to the nearest million (with $500,000 being
rounded upward), of such Capital Markets Financing Transaction or
Asset Sale or the aggregate amount of such Debt Facility borrowing
received by Altria or one of its Subsidiaries, (x) in the case
of LIBO Rate Advances, on the last day of the current Interest
Period for such Advances (but in any event, no more than 60 days
after the receipt by Altria or one of its Subsidiaries of such Net
Cash Proceeds or Debt Facility borrowing) and (y) in the case
of Base Rate Advances, on the third Business Day following receipt
by Altria or one of its Subsidiaries of such Net Cash Proceeds or
Debt Facility borrowing.
(ii) Each prepayment made pursuant to this Section 2.10(b)
shall be made together with any interest accrued to the date of
such prepayment on the principal
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amounts prepaid and, in the case of any
prepayment of a LIBO Rate Advance on a date other than the last day
of an Interest Period or at its maturity, any additional amounts
which Altria shall be obligated to reimburse to the Lenders in
respect thereof pursuant to Section 8.04(b). Altria shall give
prompt notice to JPMCB, as Administrative Agent, of any prepayment
required under this Section 2.10(b) and JPMCB, as
Administrative Agent, shall give prompt notice of such prepayment
to the Lenders. Prepayments under this Section 2.10(b) shall
be allocated first to Base Rate Advances, ratably; any excess
amount shall then be allocated to LIBO Rate Advances, in such
manner as Altria shall determine.
Section 2.11. Increased Costs . (a) Costs from
Change in Law or Authorities . If, due to either (i) the
introduction of or any change (other than any change by way of
imposition or increase of reserve requirements to the extent such
change is included in the Eurodollar Rate Reserve Percentage) in or
in the interpretation of any law or regulation or (ii) the
compliance with any guideline or request from any central bank or
other governmental authority (whether or not having the force of
law), there shall be any increase in the cost to any Lender of
agreeing to make or making, funding or maintaining LIBO Rate
Advances (excluding for purposes of this Section 2.11 any such
increased costs resulting from (i) Taxes or Other Taxes (as to
which Section 2.14 shall govern) and (ii) changes in the
basis of taxation of overall net income or overall gross income by
the United States or by the foreign jurisdiction or state under the
laws of which such Lender is organized or has its Applicable
Lending Office or any political subdivision thereof), then Altria
shall from time to time, upon demand by such Lender (with a copy of
such demand to JPMCB, as Administrative Agent), pay to JPMCB, as
Administrative Agent, for the account of such Lender additional
amounts sufficient to compensate such Lender for such increased
cost; provided , however , that before making any
such demand, each Lender agrees to use reasonable efforts
(consistent with its internal policy and legal and regulatory
restrictions) to designate a different Applicable Lending Office if
the making of such a designation would avoid the need for, or
reduce the amount of, such increased cost and would not, in the
reasonable judgment of such Lender, be otherwise disadvantageous to
such Lender. A certificate as to the amount of such increased cost,
submitted to Altria and JPMCB, as Administrative Agent, by such
Lender, shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent
manifest error.
(b) Reduction in Lender’s Rate of Return . In the
event that, after the date hereof, the implementation of or any
change in any law or regulation, or any guideline or directive
(whether or not having the force of law) or the interpretation or
administration thereof by any central bank or other authority
charged with the administration thereof, imposes, modifies or deems
applicable any capital adequacy or similar requirement (including,
without limitation, a request or requirement which affects the
manner in which any Lender allocates capital resources to its
commitments, including its obligations hereunder) and as a result
thereof, in the sole opinion of such Lender, the rate of return on
such Lender’s capital as a consequence of its obligations
hereunder is reduced to a level below that which such Lender could
have achieved but for such circumstances, but reduced to the extent
that Borrowings are outstanding from time to time, then in each
such case, upon demand from time to time Altria shall pay to such
Lender such additional amount or amounts as shall compensate such
Lender for such reduction in rate of return; provided that,
in the case of each Lender, such additional amount or amounts shall
not exceed 0.15 of 1% per annum of such Lender’s
Commitment. A certificate of such Lender as to any such additional
amount or amounts shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes,
absent
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manifest error. Except as provided below, in
determining any such amount or amounts each Lender may use any
reasonable averaging and attribution methods. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, each Lender shall take all reasonable actions to avoid
the imposition of, or reduce the amounts of, such increased costs,
provided that such actions, in the reasonable judgment of
such Lender, will not be otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender,
and, to the extent possible, each Lender will calculate such
increased costs based upon the capital requirements for its
Commitment hereunder and not upon the average or general capital
requirements imposed upon such Lender.
Section 2.12. Illegality . Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement, if any Lender shall notify JPMCB, as
Administrative Agent, that the introduction of or any change in, or
in the interpretation of, any law or regulation makes it unlawful,
or any central bank or other governmental authority asserts that it
is unlawful, for any Lender or its Eurodollar Lending Office to
perform its obligations hereunder to make LIBO Rate Advances or to
fund or maintain LIBO Rate Advances, (a) each LIBO Rate
Advance will automatically, upon such demand, be Converted into a
Base Rate Advance, and (b) the obligation of the Lenders to
make LIBO Rate Advances or to Convert Base Rate Advances into LIBO
Rate Advances shall be suspended, until JPMCB, as Administrative
Agent, shall notify Altria and the Lenders that the circumstances
causing such suspension no longer exist; provided ,
however , that before making any such demand, each Lender
agrees to use reasonable efforts (consistent with its internal
policy and legal and regulatory restrictions) to designate a
different Eurodollar Lending Office if the making of such a
designation would allow such Lender or its Eurodollar Lending
Office to continue to perform its obligations to make LIBO Rate
Advances or to continue to fund or maintain LIBO Rate Advances and
would not, in the judgment of such Lender, be otherwise
disadvantageous to such Lender.
Section 2.13. Payments and Computations . (a)
Time and Distribution of Payments . Altria shall make each
payment hereunder, without set-off or counterclaim, not later than
11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the day when due to JPMCB, as
Administrative Agent, at JPMCB’s Administrative Agent Account
in same day funds. JPMCB, as Administrative Agent, will promptly
thereafter cause to be distributed like funds relating to the
payment of principal or interest or fees ratably (other than
amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.11, 2.14 or 8.04(b)) to
the Lenders for the account of their respective Applicable Lending
Offices, and like funds relating to the payment of any other amount
payable to any Lender to such Lender for the account of its
Applicable Lending Office, in each case to be applied in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement. From and after the effective date
of an Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to Section 8.07,
JPMCB, as Administrative Agent, shall make all payments hereunder
in respect of the interest assigned thereby to the Lender assignee
thereunder, and the parties to such Assignment and Acceptance shall
make all appropriate adjustments in such payments for periods prior
to such effective date directly between themselves.
(b) Computation of Interest and Fees . All computations
of interest based on JPMCB’s prime rate shall be made by
JPMCB, as Administrative Agent, on the basis of a year of 365 or
366 days, as the case may be. All computations of interest based on
the LIBO Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate and of fees shall
be made by JPMCB, as Administrative Agent and all computations of
interest pursuant to Section 2.04 shall be made by a Lender,
on the basis of a
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year of 360 days, in each case for the actual
number of days (including the first day but excluding the last day)
occurring in the period for which such interest or fees are
payable. Each determination by JPMCB, as Administrative Agent (or,
in the case of Section 2.04 by a Lender), of an interest rate
hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent
manifest error.
(c) Payment Due Dates . Whenever any payment hereunder
shall be stated to be due on a day other than a Business Day, such
payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and such
extension of time shall in such case be included in the computation
of payment of interest or fees, as the case may be; provided
, however , that if such extension would cause payment of
interest on or principal of LIBO Rate Advances to be made in the
next following calendar month, such payment shall be made on the
immediately preceding Business Day.
(d) Presumption of Payment by Altria . Unless JPMCB, as
Administrative Agent, receives notice from Altria prior to the date
on which any payment is due to the Lenders hereunder that Altria
will not make such payment in full, JPMCB, as Administrative Agent,
may assume that Altria has made such payment in full to JPMCB, as
Administrative Agent, on such date and JPMCB, as Administrative
Agent, may, in reliance upon such assumption, cause to be
distributed to each Lender on such due date an amount equal to the
amount then due such Lender. If and to the extent Altria has not
made such payment in full to JPMCB, as Administrative Agent, each
Lender shall repay to JPMCB, as Administrative Agent, forthwith on
demand such amount distributed to such Lender together with
interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is
distributed to such Lender until the date such Lender repays such
amount to JPMCB, as Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds
Effective Rate.
Section 2.14. Taxes . (a) Any and all payments by
Altria hereunder shall be made, in accordance with
Section 2.13, free and clear of and without deduction for any
and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, deductions,
charges or withholdings, and all liabilities with respect thereto,
excluding , (i) in the case of each Lender and JPMCB,
as Administrative Agent, taxes imposed on its net income, and
franchise taxes imposed on it, by the jurisdiction under the laws
of which such Lender or JPMCB, as Administrative Agent (as the case
may be), is organized or any political subdivision thereof,
(ii) in the case of each Lender, taxes imposed on its net
income, and franchise taxes imposed on it, by the jurisdiction of
such Lender’s Applicable Lending Office or any political
subdivision thereof, (iii) in the case of each Lender and
JPMCB, as Administrative Agent, taxes imposed on its net income,
franchise taxes imposed on it, and any tax imposed by means of
withholding to the extent such tax is imposed solely as a result of
a present or former connection (other than the execution, delivery
and performance of this Agreement or a Note) between the Lender or
JPMCB, as Administrative Agent, as the case may be, and the taxing
jurisdiction, and (iv) in the case of each Lender and JPMCB,
as Administrative Agent, taxes imposed by the United States by
means of withholding tax if and to the extent that such taxes shall
be in effect and shall be applicable on the date hereof to payments
to be made to such Lender’s Applicable Lending Office or to
JPMCB, as Administrative Agent (all such non-excluded taxes,
levies, imposts, deductions, charges, withholdings and liabilities
in respect of payments hereunder being hereinafter referred to as "
Taxes "). If Altria shall be required by law to deduct any
Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable hereunder to any Lender
or JPMCB, as Administrative Agent, (i) the sum payable shall
be increased as may be necessary so that after
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making all required deductions (including
deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this
Section 2.14) such Lender or JPMCB, as Administrative Agent
(as the case may be), receives an amount equal to the sum it would
have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) Altria
shall make such deductions and (iii) Altria shall pay the full
amount deducted to the relevant taxation authority or other
authority in accordance with applicable law.
(b) In addition, Altria shall pay any present or future stamp or
documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or
similar levies that arise from any payment made hereunder or from
the execution, delivery or registration of, performing under, or
otherwise with respect to, this Agreement (hereinafter referred to
as " Other Taxes ").
(c) Altria shall indemnify each Lender and JPMCB, as
Administrative Agent, for and hold it harmless against the full
amount of Taxes or Other Taxes (including, without limitation,
Taxes and Other Taxes imposed by any jurisdiction on amounts
payable under this Section 2.14
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