BROWN-FORMAN CORPORATION,
as the Borrower
THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO,
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Syndication Agent
CITICORP NORTH AMERICA, INC.,
as Documentation Agent
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC,
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.,
CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.
as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners
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Page
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SECTION 1.01. Defined Terms
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1
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SECTION 1.02. Classification of Loans and
Borrowings
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1
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SECTION 1.03. Terms Generally
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1
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SECTION 1.04. Accounting Terms; GAAP
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1
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SECTION 2.01. Commitments
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1
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SECTION 2.02. Loans and Borrowings
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1
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SECTION 2.03. Requests for Borrowings
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1
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SECTION 2.04. Funding of Borrowings
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1
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SECTION 2.05. Interest Elections
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1
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SECTION 2.06. Termination and Reduction of
Commitments
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1
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SECTION 2.07. Repayment of Loans; Evidence of
Debt
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1
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SECTION 2.08. Prepayment of Loans
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1
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1
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1
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SECTION 2.11. Alternate Rate of
Interest
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1
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SECTION 2.12. Increased Costs
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1
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SECTION 2.13. Break Funding Payments
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1
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1
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Contents, p. 2
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Page
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SECTION 2.15. Payments Generally; Pro Rata
Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs
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1
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SECTION 2.16. Mitigation Obligations;
Replacement of Lenders
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1
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Representations and Warranties
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SECTION 3.01. Organization; Powers
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1
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SECTION 3.02. Authorization;
Enforceability
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1
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SECTION 3.03. Governmental Approvals; No
Conflicts
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1
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SECTION 3.04. Financial Condition; No Material
Adverse Change
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1
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SECTION 3.05. Litigation and Environmental
Matters
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1
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SECTION 3.06. Compliance with Laws and
Agreements
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1
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SECTION 3.07. Investment Company
Status
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1
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1
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1
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1
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SECTION 4.01. Effective Date
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1
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SECTION 4.02. Each Credit Event
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1
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SECTION 5.01. Financial Statements and Other
Information
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1
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SECTION 5.02. Notices of Material
Events
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1
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SECTION 5.03. Existence; Conduct of
Business
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1
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SECTION 5.04. Payment of Obligations
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1
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Contents, p. 3
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Page
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SECTION 5.05. Maintenance of Properties;
Insurance
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1
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SECTION 5.06. Books and Records; Inspection
Rights
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SECTION 5.07. Compliance with Laws
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1
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SECTION 5.08. Use of Proceeds
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1
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SECTION 5.09. Consummation of the
Acquisition
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1
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SECTION 6.01. Subsidiary Indebtedness
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1
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1
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SECTION 6.03. Sale and Leaseback
Transactions
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1
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SECTION 6.04. Fundamental Changes
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1
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SECTION 6.05. Transactions with
Affiliates
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1
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SECTION 6.06. Ratio of Consolidated Total Debt
to Consolidated Net Worth
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1
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1
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SECTION 9.02. Waivers; Amendments
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1
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SECTION 9.03. Expenses; Indemnity; Damage
Waiver
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1
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SECTION 9.04. Successors and Assigns
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1
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1
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Contents, p. 4
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Page
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SECTION 9.06. Counterparts; Integration;
Effectiveness
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1
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SECTION 9.07. Severability
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1
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SECTION 9.08. Right of Setoff
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1
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SECTION 9.09. Governing Law; Jurisdiction;
Consent to Service of Process
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1
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SECTION 9.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL
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1
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1
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SECTION 9.12. Confidentiality
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1
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SECTION 9.13. Interest Rate
Limitation
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1
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SECTION 9.14. Conversion of
Currencies
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1
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SECTION 9.15. USA Patriot Act
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1
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Schedule 2.01 —
Commitments
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Schedule 3.03 — Governmental
Approvals; No Conflicts
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Schedule 3.04 — Financial Condition;
No Material Adverse Change
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Schedule 3.05 — Disclosed
Matters
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Schedule 3.06 — Compliance with Laws
and Agreements
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Schedule 6.01 — Existing Subsidiary
Indebtedness
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Schedule 6.02 — Existing
Liens
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Schedule 6.05 — Affiliate
Transactions
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Exhibit A — Form of Assignment and
Acceptance
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Exhibit B — Form of Opinion of
Borrower’s Counsel
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BRIDGE CREDIT
AGREEMENT dated as of December 21, 2006 (the “
Agreement ”), among BROWN-FORMAN CORPORATION, a
Delaware corporation (the “ Borrower ”); the
LENDERS party hereto; JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Syndication
Agent; CITICORP NORTH AMERICA, INC., as Documentation Agent; and
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent.
The
Borrower has requested the Lenders to establish the credit facility
provided for herein under which the Borrower may obtain Loans in an
aggregate principal amount of up to $800,000,000. Such Loans will
be used (i) to finance the Acquisition (as defined below),
(ii) to pay fees and expenses incurred in connection with the
Acquisition and (iii) to provide liquidity in connection with
any commercial paper program of the Borrower. The Lenders are
willing to extend such credit to the Borrower on the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth herein. Accordingly, the
parties hereto agree as follows:
SECTION
1.01. Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the
following terms have the meanings specified below:
“
ABR ”, when used in reference to any Loan or
Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising
such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by
reference to the Alternate Base Rate.
“
Acquired Company ” means (a) substantially all
the assets of Grupo Industrial Herradura, S.A. de C.V., a Mexican
corporation, (including certain trademarks thereof) and (b) certain
of its subsidiaries, in each case as set forth in the Purchase
Agreement.
“
Acquirors ” means, collectively, the Borrower and one
or more of its designated Subsidiaries that acquires all or part of
the Acquired Company in the Acquisition.
“
Acquisition ” means the acquisition pursuant to the
Purchase Agreement by the Acquirors of the Acquired Company for
approximately $876,000,000 in cash.
“
Adjusted LIBO Rate ” means, with respect to any
Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, an interest rate per
annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/16 of 1%) equal
to (a) the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by
(b) the Statutory Reserve Rate.
“
Administrative Agent ” means Bank of America, N.A., in
its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders
hereunder.
“
Administrative Questionnaire ” means an Administrative
Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative
Agent.
[Signature
page to Brown-Forman Credit Agreement]
2
“
Affiliate ” means, with respect to a specified 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.
“
Alternate Base Rate ” means, for any day, a rate per
annum equal to the greater of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such
day and (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such
day plus 1/2 of 1%. Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a
change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate shall
be effective from and including the effective date of such change
in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate,
respectively.
“
Applicable Percentage ” means, with respect to any
Lender, the percentage of the total Commitments represented by such
Lender’s Commitment. If the Commitments have terminated or
expired, the Applicable Percentages shall be determined based upon
the Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any
assignments.
“
Applicable Rate ” means, for any day, with respect to
any Eurodollar Loan, or with respect to the facility fees payable
hereunder, as the case may be, the applicable rate per annum set
forth below under the caption “LIBOR Margin” or
“Facility Fee”, as the case may be, based upon the
ratings by S&P and Moody’s, respectively, applicable on
such date to the Index Debt:
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Ratings
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Facility Fee
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LIBOR Margin
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(S&P/Moody’s)
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(% per annum)
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(% per annum)
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³
AA-/Aa3
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0.030
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%
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0.170
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%
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A+/A1
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0.040
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%
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0.185
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%
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A/A2
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0.045
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%
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0.205
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%
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A-/A3
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0.050
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%
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0.250
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%
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BBB+/Baa1
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0.060
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%
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0.340
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%
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<BBB+/Baa1
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0.070
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%
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0.430
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%
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For
purposes of the foregoing, (i) if either Moody’s or
S&P shall not have in effect a rating for the Index Debt (other
than by reason of the circumstances referred to in the last
sentence of this definition), then such rating agency shall be
deemed to have established a rating in Category 6; (ii) if the
ratings established or deemed to have been established by
Moody’s and S&P for the Index Debt shall fall within
different Categories, the Applicable Rate shall be based on the
higher of the two ratings unless one of the two ratings is two or
more Categories lower than the other, in which case the Applicable
Rate shall be determined by reference to the Category next above
that of the lower of the two ratings; and (iii) if the ratings
established or deemed to have been established by Moody’s and
S&P for the Index Debt shall be changed (other than as a result
of a change in the rating system of Moody’s or S&P), such
change shall be effective as of the date on which it is first
publicly announced by the applicable rating agency. Each change in
the Applicable Rate shall apply during the period commencing on the
effective date of such change and ending on the date immediately
preceding the effective date of the next such change. If the rating
system of Moody’s or S&P shall change, or if either such
rating agency shall cease to be in the business of rating corporate
debt obligations, the Borrower and the Lenders shall negotiate in
good faith to amend this definition to reflect such changed
rating
3
system or the
unavailability of ratings from such rating agency and, pending the
effectiveness of any such amendment, the Applicable Rate shall be
determined by reference to the rating most recently in effect prior
to such change or cessation.
“
Assignment and Acceptance ” means an assignment and
acceptance entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the
consent of any party whose consent is required by
Section 9.04), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in
the form of Exhibit A or any other form approved by the
Administrative Agent.
“
Attributable Debt ” means, with respect to any
Sale-Leaseback Transaction, the present value (discounted at the
rate set forth or implicit in the terms of the lease included in
such Sale-Leaseback Transaction) of the total obligations of the
lessee for rental payments (other than amounts required to be paid
on account of taxes, maintenance, repairs, insurance, assessments,
utilities, operating and labor costs and other items which do not
constitute payments for property rights) during the remaining term
of the lease included in such Sale-Leaseback Transaction (including
any period for which such lease has been extended). In the case of
any lease which is terminable by the lessee upon payment of a
penalty, the Attributable Debt shall be the lesser of the
Attributable Debt determined assuming termination upon the first
date such lease may be terminated (in which case the Attributable
Debt shall also include the amount of the penalty, but no rent
shall be considered as required to be paid under such lease
subsequent to the first date upon which it may be so terminated) or
the Attributable Debt determined assuming no such
termination.
“
Availability Period ” means the period from and
including the Effective Date to but excluding the earlier of the
Maturity Date and the date of termination of the
Commitments.
“
Board ” means the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System of the United States of America.
“
Borrower ” has the meaning assigned to such term in
the heading of this Agreement.
“
Borrowing ” means Loans of the same Type, made,
converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of
Eurodollar Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in
effect.
“
Borrowing Request ” means a request by a Borrower for
a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03.
“
Business Day ” means any day that is not a Saturday,
Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are
authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided
that, when used in connection with a Eurodollar Loan, the term
“ Business Day ” shall also exclude any day on
which banks are not open for dealings in dollar deposits in the
London interbank market.
“
Capital Lease Obligations ” of any Person means the
obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any
lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or
personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are
required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a
balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and
the amount of
such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined
in accordance with GAAP.
“
Capital Markets Transaction ” means (a) the
issuance or sale by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of any of their
Equity Interests, or the receipt by the Borrower or any Subsidiary
of any capital contribution, other than (i) any such issuance
of Equity Interests to, or receipt of any such capital contribution
from, the Borrower or a Subsidiary or (ii) pursuant to and in
accordance with stock option plans or other benefit plans for
management or employees of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and
(b) the issuance or sale by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of
any of their Debt Securities.
“
Change in Control ” means (a) the acquisition of
ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by
any Person or group (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission
thereunder as in effect on the date hereof), of shares representing
more than 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by
the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Borrower, other
than descendants of George Garvin Brown and their respective family
members and descendants, or entities controlled by, or trusts for
the benefit of, any of them, including family and charitable
trusts; (b) occupation of a majority of the seats (other than
vacant seats) on the board of directors of the Borrower by Persons
who were neither (i) nominated by the board of directors of
the Borrower nor (ii) appointed by directors so nominated; or
(c) the acquisition of direct or indirect Control of the
Borrower by any Person or group, other than descendants of George
Garvin Brown and their respective family members and descendants,
or entities controlled by, or trusts for the benefit of, any of
them, including family and charitable trusts.
“
Change in Law ” means (a) the adoption of any
law, rule or regulation after the date of this Agreement,
(b) any change in any law, rule or regulation or in the
interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority
after the date of this Agreement or (c) compliance by any Lender
(or, for purposes of Section 2.12(b), by any lending office of
such Lender or by such Lender’s holding company, if any) with
any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the
force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after
the date of this Agreement.
“
Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended from time to time.
“
Commitment ” means, with respect to each Lender, the
commitment of such Lender to make Loans hereunder, as such
commitment may be reduced or increased from time to time pursuant
to Section 2.06 or pursuant to assignments by or to such
Lender pursuant to Section 9.04. The initial amount of each
Lender’s Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01, or in
the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Lender shall
have assumed its Commitment, as applicable. The initial aggregate
amount of the Lenders’ Commitments is
$800,000,000.
“
Consolidated Assets ” means at any time, the aggregate
amount of assets (less applicable accumulated depreciation,
depletion and amortization and other reserves and other properly
deductible items) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, all as set
forth in the most recent
consolidated
balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, determined on a
consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
“
Consolidated Net Worth ” means on any date the net
worth of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on such date, determined
on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
“
Consolidated Total Debt ” means on any date all
Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on such date
(other than obligations referred to in clause (i) of the
definition of “Indebtedness”), determined on a
consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
“
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.
“
Debt Securities ” means any bonds, debentures, notes,
hybrid or equity-linked securities or other similar
instruments.
“
Default ” means any event or condition which
constitutes an Event of Default or which upon notice, lapse of time
or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of
Default.
“
Disclosed Matters ” means the actions, suits and
proceedings and the environmental matters disclosed in
Schedule 3.05.
“
dollars ” or “ $ ” refers to lawful
money of the United States of America.
“
Effective Date ” means the date on which the
conditions specified in Section 4.01 are satisfied (or waived
in accordance with Section 9.02).
“
Environmental Laws ” means all material laws, rules,
regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, decrees, judgments,
injunctions, notices or binding agreements issued, promulgated or
entered into by any Governmental Authority, relating in any way to
the environment, preservation or reclamation of natural resources,
the management, release or threatened release of any Hazardous
Material or to health and safety matters.
“
Environmental Liability ” means any liability,
contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs
of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of
the Borrower or any Subsidiary 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 shares of capital stock,
partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability
company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity
ownership
interests in a Person, and any warrants, options or other rights
entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire any such equity
interest.
“
ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974, as amended from time to time.
“
ERISA Affiliate ” means any trade or business (whether
or not incorporated) that, together with the Borrower, is treated
as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code
or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and
Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under
Section 414 of the Code.
“
ERISA Event ” means (a) any “reportable
event”, as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the
regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than an
event for which the 30-day notice period is waived); (b) the
existence with respect to any Plan of an “accumulated funding
deficiency” (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or
Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (c) the
filing pursuant to Section 412(d) of the Code or Section 303(d) of
ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding
standard with respect to any Plan; (d) the incurrence by the
Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability under
Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan;
(e) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from
the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an
intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to
administer any Plan; (f) the incurrence by the Borrower or any
of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the
withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer
Plan; or (g) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA
Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan
from the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning
the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a
Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in
reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.
“
Eurodollar ”, when used in reference to any Loan or
Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising
such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by
reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate.
“
Event of Default ” has the meaning assigned to such
term in Article VII.
“
Excluded Taxes ” means, with respect to the
Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other recipient of any
payment to be made by or on account of any Obligation hereunder,
(a) income or franchise taxes imposed on (or measured by) its
net income by the United States of America, or by the jurisdiction
under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its
principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which
its applicable lending office is located, (b) any branch
profit taxes imposed by the United States of America or any similar
tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which such recipient is
located and (c) in the case of a Foreign Lender (other than an
assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under
Section 2.16(b)), any withholding tax that is imposed by the
United States of America (or any political subdivision thereof) on
payments by the Borrower from an office within such jurisdiction to
the extent such tax is in effect and applicable to such payments on
the date hereof or at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party
to this Agreement (or designates a new lending office) or is
attributable to such Foreign Lender’s failure to comply with
Section 2.14(e),
except to the
extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if any) was
entitled, at the time of designation of a new lending office (or
assignment), to receive additional amounts with respect to such
withholding tax pursuant to Section 2.14(a).
“
Excluded Transaction ” means:
(a) any loan or
credit arrangement entered into by the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries in connection with ordinary course business operations
(including borrowings under the Permanent Facility); and
(b) (i) any
loan or credit arrangement entered into by the Borrower or any of
its Subsidiaries outside of the ordinary course after the Effective
Date and (ii) any Capital Markets Transaction, other than the
issuance or sale of Notes or commercial paper, provided that
the aggregate amount of the commitments under or Net Proceeds of
such debt facilities under clause (b)(i), together with the
aggregate Net Proceeds of such Capital Markets Transactions under
clause (b)(ii), does not exceed $250,000,000.
“
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 the Administrative
Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing
selected by it.
“
Financial Officer ” means the chief executive officer,
chief financial officer, principal corporate finance officer,
principal accounting officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer or
controller of the Borrower.
“
Foreign Lender ” means any Lender that is organized
under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States of
America, a State thereof or the District of Columbia.
“
GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles
in the United States of America.
“
Governmental Authority ” means the government of the
United States of America, any other nation or any political
subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency,
authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or
other similar governmental entity exercising executive,
legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers
or functions of or pertaining to government.
“
Guarantee ” of or by any Person (the “
guarantor ”) means any obligation, contingent or
otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic
effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any
other Person (the “ primary obligor ”) in any
manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any
obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to
purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or
payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation or to purchase
(or to advance or supply funds for the
8
purchase of)
any security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease
property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the
owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment
thereof, (c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or
any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary
obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such
Indebtedness or other obligation or (d) as an account party in
respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to
support such Indebtedness or obligation; provided that the
term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or
deposit in the ordinary course of business.
“
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.
“
Hedging Agreement ” means any interest rate protection
agreement, foreign currency exchange agreement, commodity price
protection agreement or other interest or currency exchange rate or
commodity price hedging arrangement.
“
Indebtedness ” of any Person means, without
duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed
money, (b) all debt obligations of such Person evidenced by
bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all
obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title
retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person,
(d) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred
purchase price of property or services (excluding accounts payable
incurred in the ordinary course of business and not overdue by more
than 60 days), (e) all Indebtedness of others secured by
(or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing
right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on
property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the
Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed, (f) all
Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others, (g) all
Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (h) all obligations,
contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in
respect of letters of credit and letters of guaranty, other than
letters of credit arising in the ordinary course of such
Person’s business supporting accounts payable and
(i) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person
in respect of bankers’ acceptances. The Indebtedness of any
Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other entity
(including any partnership in which such Person is a general
partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result
of such Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship
with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such
Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable
therefor.
“
Indemnified Taxes ” means Taxes other than Excluded
Taxes.
“
Index Debt ” means senior, unsecured, long-term
indebtedness for borrowed money of the Borrower that is not
guaranteed by any other Person or subject to any other credit
enhancement.
“
Interest Election Request ” means a request by the
Borrower to convert or continue a Borrowing in accordance with
Section 2.05.
9
“
Interest Payment Date ” means (a) with respect to
any ABR Loan, the last day of each March, June, September and
December and (b) with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, the last
day of the Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which
such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing with
an Interest Period of more than three months’ duration, each
day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at
intervals of three months’ duration after the first day of
such Interest Period.
“
Interest Period ” means with respect to any Eurodollar
Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and
ending on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month
that is one, two, three or six months thereafter, as the Borrower
may elect; provided that (i) if any Interest Period
would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period
shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such
next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month,
in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding
Business Day and (ii) any Interest Period that commences on
the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which
there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar
month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day
of the last calendar month of such Interest Period. For purposes
hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on
which such Borrowing is made and thereafter shall be the effective
date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such
Borrowing.
“
Lender Affiliate ” means, (a) with respect to any
Lender, (i) an Affiliate of such Lender or (ii) any
entity (whether a corporation, partnership, trust or otherwise)
that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise
investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the
ordinary course of its business and is administered or managed by a
Lender or an Affiliate of such Lender and (b) with respect to
any Lender that is a fund which invests in bank loans and similar
extensions of credit, any other fund that invests in bank loans and
similar extensions of credit and is managed by the same investment
advisor as such Lender or by an Affiliate of such investment
advisor.
“
Lenders ” means the Persons listed on
Schedule 2.01 and any other Person that shall have become a
party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance, other than
any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an
Assignment and Acceptance.
“
LIBO Rate ” means, with respect to any Eurodollar
Borrowing for any Interest Period, the rate equal to the British
Bankers Association LIBOR Rate, as published by Reuters (or any
successor to or substitute for such Service, providing rate
quotations comparable to those currently provided by such Service,
as determined by the Administrative Agent from time to time for
purposes of providing quotations of interest rates applicable to
dollar deposits in the London interbank market) at approximately
11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the
commencement of such Interest Period, as the rate for dollar
deposits with a maturity comparable to such Interest Period. In the
event that such rate is not available at such time for any reason,
then the “ LIBO Rate ” with respect to such
Eurodollar Borrowing for such Interest Period shall be the rate at
which dollar deposits of $5,000,000 and for a maturity comparable
to such Interest Period are offered by the London branch office of
the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds in the
London interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m., London
time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest
Period.
10
“
Lien ” means, with respect to any asset, (a) any
mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance,
charge or security interest in, on or of such asset, (b) the
interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale
agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any
financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as
any of the foregoing) relating to such asset and (c) in the
case of securities, any purchase option, call or similar right
(other than rights of first refusal or first offer, which shall not
be a Lien) of a third party with respect to such
securities.
“
Loans ” means the loans made by the Lenders to the
Borrower pursuant to this Agreement.
“
Material Adverse Effect ” means a material adverse
effect on (a) the financial condition or results of operation
of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole or
(b) the rights of or remedies available to the Lenders under
this Agreement.
“
Material Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness (other than
the Loans), or obligations in respect of one or more Hedging
Agreements, of any one or more of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $25,000,000. For
purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the “principal
amount” of the obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary
in respect of any Hedging Agreement at any time shall be the
maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements)
that the Borrower or such Subsidiary would be required to pay if
such Hedging Agreement were terminated at such time.
“
Maturity Date ” means the earlier of (a) the date
that is 364 days after the Effective Date and (b) if a
Maturity Date Triggering Transaction shall occur after the date of
this Agreement but prior to the Permanent Facility Refinancing
Date, the Permanent Facility Refinancing Date.
“
Maturity Date Triggering Transaction ” means the
consummation by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of any Capital
Markets Transaction (including the issuance or sale of Notes),
other than (a) any transaction constituting an Excluded
Transaction and (b) the issuance or sale of commercial
paper.
“
Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Service,
Inc.
“
Multiemployer Plan ” means a multiemployer plan as
defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.
“
Net Proceeds ” means, with respect to any event,
(a) the cash proceeds received in respect of such event,
including any cash subsequently received in respect of any non-cash
proceeds, but only as and when received, net of (b) the sum of
(i) all reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses paid by the
Borrower and the Subsidiaries to third parties (other than
Affiliates) in connection with such event and (ii) the amount
of all taxes paid (or reasonably estimated to be payable) by the
Borrower and the Subsidiaries during the year that such event
occurred or the next succeeding year and that are directly
attributable to such event (as determined reasonably and in good
faith by the chief financial officer of the Borrower). In addition
to the foregoing, when used with respect to any loan transaction or
other credit arrangement, “Net Proceeds” shall include
the availability to the Borrower or any Subsidiary of any effective
commitments of
11
lenders to lend
under such loan transaction or credit arrangement, irrespective of
whether the Borrower or any such Subsidiary shall have drawn on
such commitments.
“
Notes ” means Debt Securities of the Borrower or any
of its Subsidiaries (other than commercial paper) issued or sold by
the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.
“
Obligations ” means, with respect to the Borrower, the
due and punctual payment of (i) the principal of and premium, if
any, and interest (including interest accruing during the pendency
of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar
proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such
proceeding) on the Loans made to the Borrower, when and as due,
whether at maturity, by acceleration, upon one or more dates set
for prepayment or otherwise and (ii) all other monetary
obligations, including fees, costs, expenses and indemnities,
whether primary, secondary, direct, contingent, fixed or otherwise
(including monetary obligations incurred during the pendency of any
bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding,
regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), of
the Borrower under this Agreement.
“
Other Taxes ” means any and 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 from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise
with respect to, this Agreement.
“
PBGC ” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
referred to and defined in ERISA and any successor entity
performing similar functions.
“
Permanent Facility ” means the Amendment and
Restatement Agreement, dated as of April 10, 2006, in respect of
the Five-Year Credit Agreement, dated as of July 30, 2004,
among the Borrower, Brown-Forman Beverages, Europe, Ltd, the
Lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as
Administrative Agent.
“
Permanent Facility Refinancing Date ” means the first
date following the date of this Agreement on which the Permanent
Facility is refinanced, replaced, amended or extended (in whole or
in part, and irrespective of whether any funds are borrowed by the
Borrower or any Subsidiary upon such refinancing, replacement,
amendment or extension); provided , however , that
any amendment to the Permanent Facility that does not have the
direct or indirect effect of altering (a) the principal amount
of loans or other extensions of credit available to the Borrower or
its Subsidiaries thereunder, (b) the maturity date of the
loans or other extensions of credit made thereunder, (c) the
repayment or prepayment provisions thereof, or (d) the rates
of interest accruing on the loans or other extensions of credit
thereunder or the fees payable thereunder, shall be deemed not to
give rise to a Permanent Facility Refinancing Date.
“
Person ” means any natural person, corporation,
limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association,
company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other
entity.
“
Plan ” means any employee pension benefit plan (other
than a Multiemployer Plan) subject to the provisions of Title IV of
ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA,
and in respect of which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is (or,
if such plan were
12
terminated,
would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an
“employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of
ERISA.
“
Prepayment Event ” means:
(a) the
consummation by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of any Capital
Markets Transaction (including the issuance of Notes), other than
(i) any Excluded Transaction and (ii) any issuance or
sale of commercial paper; or
(b) the
receipt by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of any proceeds in
connection with, or of any commitments of lenders under, any senior
syndicated credit facility or loan transaction of the Borrower or
any of its Subsidiaries, other than (i) in connection with any
refinancing, replacement, amendment or extension of the Permanent
Facility and (ii) in any Excluded Transaction.
“
Prime Rate ” means the rate of interest per annum
publicly announced from time to time by Bank of America, N.A. as
its prime rate in effect at its principal office in New York City;
each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including
the date such change is publicly announced as being
effective.
“
Principal Property ” means all property located in the
United States of America directly engaged in the manufacturing
activities of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, the inventory and
accounts receivable of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries wherever
located and the capital stock or other equity interests owned by
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.
“
Purchase Agreement ” means the Asset Purchase
Agreement dated as of August 25, 2006, among Jose Guillermo
Romo de la Peña, Luis Pedro Pablo Romo de la Peña, Grupo
Industrial Herradura, S.A. de C.V., certain subsidiaries and
affiliates of Grupo Industrial Herradura, S.A. de C.V., the
Borrower and Brown-Forman Tequila Mexico, S. de R.L. de
C.V.
“
Register ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 9.04.
“
Related Parties ” means, with respect to any specified
Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective
directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person
and such Person’s Affiliates.
“
Required Lenders ” means, at any time, Lenders having
Loans and unused Commitments representing more than 50% of the sum
of the total Loans and unused Commitments at such time.
“
Sale-Leaseback Transactions ” means any arrangement
whereby the Borrower or a Subsidiary shall sell or transfer any
property, real or personal, used or useful in its business, whether
now owned or hereinafter acquired, and thereafter rent or lease
property that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose
or purposes as the property sold or transferred; provided
that any such arrangement entered into within 180 days after
the acquisition, construction or substantial improvement of the
subject property shall not be deemed to be a “Sale-Leaseback
Transaction”.
13
“
S&P ” means Standard &
Poor’s.
“
Significant Subsidiary ” means each Subsidiary which
is a “significant subsidiary” as defined in
Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X of the Securities and
Exchange Commission as such rule may be amended or modified and in
effect from time to time.
“
Statutory Reserve Rate ” means a fraction (expressed
as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the
denominator of which is the number one minus the aggregate of the
maximum reserve percentages (including any marginal, special,
emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed as a decimal
established by the Board to which the Administrative Agent is
subject for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as
“Eurocurrency Liabilities” in Regulation D of the
Board). Such reserve percentages shall include those imposed
pursuant to such Regulation D. Eurodollar Loans shall be
deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to be subject to such
reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration,
exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to
any Lender under such Regulation D or any comparable
regulation. The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted
automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any
reserve percentage.
“
subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person (the
“ parent ”) at any date, any corporation,
limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity
the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the
parent in the parent’s consolidated financial statements if
such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as
of such date, as well as any other corporation, limited liability
company, partnership, association or other entity (a) of which
securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50%
of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or, in
the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership
interests are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held, or
(b) that is, as of such date, otherwise Controlled, by the
parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent
and one or more subsidiaries of the parent.
“
Subsidiary ” means any subsidiary of the
Borrower.
“
Taxes ” means any and all present or future taxes,
levies, imposts, duties, deductions, charges or withholdings
imposed by any Governmental Authority.
“
Transactions ” means (a) the Acquisition and
(b) the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of
this Agreement, the borrowing of Loans and the use of proceeds
thereof.
“
Type ”, when used in reference to any Loan or
Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or
on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference
to the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the Alternate Base Rate.
“
USA Patriot Act ” means the Uniting and Strengthening
America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and
Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001.
“
Withdrawal Liability ” means liability to a
Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal
from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in
Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.
14
SECTION
1.02. Classification of Loans and Borrowings. For purposes
of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Type
( e.g. , a “Eurodollar Loan”). Borrowings also
may be classified and referred to by Type ( e.g. , a
“Eurodollar Borrowing”).
SECTION
1.03. Terms Generally. 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 (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement,
instrument or other document herein 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), (b) any reference herein to any Person shall be
construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns,
(c) the words “herein”, “hereof” and
“hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be
construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any
particular provision hereof, (d) all references herein to
Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to
refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to,
this Agreement and (e) 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.
SECTION
1.04. Accounting Terms; GAAP. Except as otherwise expressly
provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature
shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time
to time; provided that, if the Borrower notifies the
Administrative Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment to any
provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring
after the date hereof in GAAP or in the application thereof on the
operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent
notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders request an
amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of
whether any such notice is given before or after such change in
GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be
interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied
immediately before such change shall have become effective until
such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in
accordance herewith.
SECTION
2.01. Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions set
forth herein, each Lender agrees to make Loans to the Borrower from
time to time during the Availability Period in an aggregate
principal amount that will not result in (a) such
Lender’s Loans exceeding such Lender’s Commitment or
(b) the sum of the total Loans exceeding the total
Commitments. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms
and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, prepay
and reborrow Loans.
15
SECTION
2.02. Loans and Borrowings. (a) Each Loan shall be made
as part of a Borrowing consisting of Loans made by the Lenders
ratably in accordance with their respective Commitments. The
failure of any Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it
shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder;
provided that the Commitments of the Lenders are several and
no Lender shall be responsible for any other Lender’s failure
to make Loans as required.
(b) Subject
to Section 2.11, each Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of
ABR Loans or Eurodollar Loans as the Borrower may request in
accordance herewith. Each Lender at its option may make any
Eurodollar Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or
Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan; provided that
any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the
Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement.
(c) At
the commencement of each Interest Period for any Eurodollar
Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is
an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000. At
the time that each ABR Borrowing is made, such Borrowing shall be
in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000
and not less than $5,000,000; provided that an ABR Borrowing
may be in an aggregate amount that is equal to the entire unused
balance of the total Commitments. Borrowings of more than one Type
may be outstanding at the same time; provided that there
shall not at any time be more than a total of 10 Eurodollar
Borrowings outstanding.
(d) Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement, the Borrower shall not be
entitled to request, or to elect to convert or continue, any
Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect thereto
would end after the Maturity Date.
SECTION
2.03. Requests for Borrowings. To request a Borrowing, the
Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by
telephone (a) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later
than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, three Business Days
before the date of the proposed Borrowing or (b) in the case
of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City
time, on the date of the proposed Borrowing. Each such telephonic
Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed
promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent
of a written Borrowing Request in a form approved by the
Administrative Agent and signed by the Borrower. Each such
telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall specify the
following information in compliance with
Section 2.02:
(i) the aggregate
amount of the requested Borrowing;
(ii) the date of
such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;
(iii) whether such
Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar
Borrowing;
(iv) in the case
of a Eurodollar Borrowing, the initial Interest Period to be
applicable thereto, which shall be a period contemplated by the
definition of the term “Interest Period”;
and
16
(v) the location
and number of the Borrower’s account to which funds are to be
disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of
Section 2.04.
If no election
as to the Type of Borrowing is specified, then the requested
Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period is
specified with respect to any requested Eurodollar Borrowing, then
the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of
one month’s duration. Promptly following receipt of a
Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section, the
Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details
thereof and of the amount of such Lender’s Loan to be made as
part of the requested Borrowing.
SECTION
2.04. Funding of Borrowings. (a) Each Lender shall make
each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof
by wire transfer of immediately available funds by 12:00 noon, New
York City time, to the account of the Administrative Agent most
recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the
Lenders. The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to
the Borrower by promptly crediting the amounts so received, in like
funds, to an account of the Borrower maintained with the
Administrative Agent in New York City and designated by the
Borrower in the applicable Borrowing Request.
(b) Unless
the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender
prior to the proposed Borrowing that such Lender will not make
available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of
such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such
Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance
with paragraph (a) of this Section and may, in reliance upon
such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding
amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share
of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent,
then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay
to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding
amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the
date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding
the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the
case of such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Effective
Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in
accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation or
(ii) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable
to the relevant Loan. If such Lender pays such amount to the
Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such
Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing.
SECTION
2.05. Interest Elections. (a) Each Borrowing initially
shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request
and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, shall have an initial
Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request. Thereafter,
the Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different
Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a Eurodollar
Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in
this Section. The Borrower may elect different options with respect
to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each
such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding
the Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each
such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing.
(b) To
make an election pursuant to this Section, the Borrower shall
notify the Administrative Agent of such election by telephone by
the time that a Borrowing Request would be required under
Section 2.03 if the Borrower were requesting a Borrowing of
the Type
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resulting from
such election to be made on the effective date of such election.
Each such telephonic Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable
and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the
Administrative Agent of a written Interest Election Request in a
form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the
Borrower.
(c) Each
telephonic and written Interest Election Request shall specify the
following information in compliance with
Section 2.02:
(i) the Borrowing
to which such Interest Election Request applies and, if different
options are being elected with respect to different portions
thereof, the portions thereof to be allocated to each resulting
Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant
to clauses (iii) and (iv) below shall be specified for
each resulting Borrowing);
(ii) the effective
date of the election made pursuant to such Interest Election
Request, which shall be a Business Day;
(iii) whether the
resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar
Borrowing; and
(iv) if the
resulting Borrowing is a Eurodollar Borrowing, the Interest Period
to be applicable thereto after giving effect to such election,
which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term
“Interest Period”.
If any such
Interest Election Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing but does
not specify an Interest Period, then the Borrower shall be deemed
to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s
duration.
(d) Promptly
following receipt of an Interest Election Request, the
Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details
thereof and of such Lender’s portion of each resulting
Borrowing.
(e) If
the Borrower fails to deliver a timely Interest Election Request
with respect to a Eurodollar Borrowing prior to the end of the
Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is
repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period such
Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing. Notwithstanding
any contrary provision hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing and the Administrative Agent, at the request of
the Required Lenders, so notifies the Borrower, then, so long as an
Event of Default is continuing (i)no outstanding Borrowing may be
converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing and
(ii) unless repaid, each Eurodollar Borrowing shall be
converted to an ABR Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period
applicable thereto.
SECTION
2.06. Termination and Reduction of Commitments.
(a) Unless previously terminated, the Commitments shall
terminate on the Maturity Date.
(b) The
Borrower may at any time terminate, or from time to time reduce,
the Commitments; provided that (i) each reduction of
the Commitments shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple
of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000 and (ii) the
Borrower shall not
18
terminate or
reduce the Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent
prepayment of the Loans in accordance with Section 2.08, the
sum of the Loans would exceed the total Commitments.
(c) In
the event and on each occasion that any Net Proceeds are received
by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of any
Prepayment Event, (i) the Borrower shall, within three
Business Days after such Net Proceeds are received, deliver to the
Administrative Agent a certificate of a Financial Officer of the
Borrower setting forth the amount of the Net Proceeds received from
such event and (ii) the Commitments of the Lenders shall be
permanently reduced in an aggregate amount equal to such Net
Proceeds.
(d) In
the event that the Permanent Facility Refinancing Date shall occur
prior to a Maturity Date Triggering Transaction, (i) the
Borrower shall, within three Business Days after such date, deliver
to the Administrative Agent a certificate of a Financial Officer of
the Borrower describing such event and setting forth the amount by
which the loans made or commitments available under the amended or
extended Permanent Facility (or the facility that refinanced or
replaced the Permanent Facility) exceed $400,000,000 and
(ii) the Commitments of the Lenders shall be permanently
reduced in an aggregate amount equal to the amount by which the
loans made or commitments available under the amended or extended
Permanent Facility (or the facility that refinanced or replaced the
Permanent Facility) exceed $400,000,000.
(e) In
the event that the Acquisition shall not be consummated (i) on
or prior to February 28, 2007, (ii) in all material
respects in accordance with the Purchase Agreement and all
applicable material laws and regulatory approvals and
(iii) with final terms and conditions, including tax aspects
thereof, that are substantially as described in this Agreement and
otherwise substantially consistent with the description thereof
delivered in writing to the Lenders prior to the date of this
Agreement, the Commitments shall immediately terminate.
(f) The
Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of any election to
terminate or reduce the Commitments under paragraph (b) of
this Section at least three Business Days prior to the effective
date of such termination or reduction, specifying such election and
the effective date thereof. Promptly following receipt of any
notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the
contents thereof. Each notice delivered by the Borrower pursuant to
this Section shall be irrevocable; provided that a notice of
termination of the Commitments delivered by the Borrower may state
that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other
credit facilities, in which case such notice may be revoked by the
Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the
specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Any
termination or reduction of the Commitments shall be permanent.
Each reduction of the Commitments shall be made ratably among the
Lenders in accordance with their respective Commitments.
SECTION
2.07. Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt. (a) The
Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the
Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender the then unpaid
principal amount of each Loan made to the Borrower on the Maturity
Date.
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(b) Each
Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an
account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to
such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such Lender, including
the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such
Lender from time to time hereunder.
(c) The
Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it shall
record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Type
thereof and the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the
amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become
due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder and
(iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative
Agent hereunder for the account of the Lenders and each
Lender’s share thereof.
(d) The
entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraph
(b) or (c) of this Section shall be prima facie
evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded
therein absent manifest error; provided that the failure of
any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or
any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of
the Borrower to repay the Loans in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement.
(e) Any
Lender may request that Loans made by it be evidenced by a
promissory note. In such event, the Borrower shall prepare, execute
and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to the order
of such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and
its registered assigns) and in a form approved by the
Administrative Agent. Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such
promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including
after assignment pursuant to Section 9.04) be represented by
one or more promissory notes in such form payable to the order of
the payee named therein (or, if such promissory note is a
registered note, to such payee and its registered
assigns).
SECTION
2.08. Prepayment of Loans. (a) The Borrower shall have
the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing
in whole or in part, subject to prior notice in accordance with
paragraph (d) of this Section.
(b) On
the date of any reduction or termination of the Commitments
pursuant to Section 2.06(c), 2.06(d) or 2.06(e), the Borrower shall
prepay Borrowings to the extent necessary so that the aggregate
outstanding principal amount of all Borrowings will not exceed the
aggregate Commitments after giving effect to such reduction or
termination.
(c) In
the event and on each occasion that any Net Proceeds are received
by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of the
issuance or sale by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of commercial
paper (other than any Net Proceeds that are promptly applied by the
Borrower (i) to finance the Acquisition or to pay fees and
expenses incurred in connection with the Acquisition or
(ii) repay outstanding commercial paper on the maturity date
thereof), the Borrower shall, within three Business Days after such
Net Proceeds are received, apply such Net Proceeds to the
prepayment of any outstanding Borrowings.
(d) The
Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent by telephone
(confirmed by telecopy) of any prepayment hereunder (i) in the
case of prepayment of a Eurodollar
20
20
Borrowing, not
later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, three Business Days
before the date of prepayment or (ii) in the case of
prepayment of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New
York City time, on the date of prepayment. Each such notice shall
be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the
principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be
prepaid; provided that, if a notice of prepayment is given
in connection with a conditional notice of termination of the
Commitments as contemplated by Section 2.06, then such notice
of prepayment may be revoked if such notice of termination is
revoked in accordance with Section 2.06. Promptly following
receipt of any such notice relating to a Borrowing, the
Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents
thereof. Each partial prepayment of any
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