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BRIDGE CREDIT AGREEMENT

Bridge Loan Agreement

BRIDGE CREDIT AGREEMENT | Document Parties: BROWN FORMAN CORP | JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A | CITICORP NORTH AMERICA, INC | BANK OF AMERICA, N.A | J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC You are currently viewing:
This Bridge Loan Agreement involves

BROWN FORMAN CORP | JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A | CITICORP NORTH AMERICA, INC | BANK OF AMERICA, N.A | J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC

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Title: BRIDGE CREDIT AGREEMENT
Governing Law: New York     Date: 12/22/2006
Industry: Beverages (Alcoholic)    

BRIDGE CREDIT AGREEMENT, Parties: brown forman corp , jpmorgan chase bank  n.a , citicorp north america  inc , bank of america  n.a , j.p. morgan securities inc
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Exhibit 10.1

EXECUTION COPY

BRIDGE CREDIT AGREEMENT

dated as of

December 21, 2006

among

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

and

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent

 

BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC,
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.,

and

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.
as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners


 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page

ARTICLE I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Definitions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1.01. Defined Terms

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1.02. Classification of Loans and Borrowings

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1.03. Terms Generally

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1.04. Accounting Terms; GAAP

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE II

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Credits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2.01. Commitments

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2.02. Loans and Borrowings

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2.03. Requests for Borrowings

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2.04. Funding of Borrowings

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2.05. Interest Elections

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2.06. Termination and Reduction of Commitments

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2.07. Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2.08. Prepayment of Loans

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2.09. Fees

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2.10. Interest

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2.11. Alternate Rate of Interest

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2.12. Increased Costs

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2.13. Break Funding Payments

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2.14. Taxes

 

 

1

 


 

Contents, p. 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page

SECTION 2.15. Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2.16. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE III

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Representations and Warranties

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 3.01. Organization; Powers

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 3.02. Authorization; Enforceability

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 3.03. Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 3.04. Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 3.05. Litigation and Environmental Matters

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 3.06. Compliance with Laws and Agreements

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 3.07. Investment Company Status

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 3.08. Taxes

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 3.09. ERISA

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 3.10. Disclosure

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conditions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 4.01. Effective Date

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 4.02. Each Credit Event

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE V

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Affirmative Covenants

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 5.01. Financial Statements and Other Information

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 5.02. Notices of Material Events

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 5.03. Existence; Conduct of Business

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 5.04. Payment of Obligations

 

 

1

 


 

Contents, p. 3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page

SECTION 5.05. Maintenance of Properties; Insurance

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 5.06. Books and Records; Inspection Rights

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 5.07. Compliance with Laws

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 5.08. Use of Proceeds

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 5.09. Consummation of the Acquisition

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE VI

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Negative Covenants

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 6.01. Subsidiary Indebtedness

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 6.02. Liens

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 6.03. Sale and Leaseback Transactions

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 6.04. Fundamental Changes

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 6.05. Transactions with Affiliates

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 6.06. Ratio of Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated Net Worth

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Events of Default

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Administrative Agent

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE IX

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Miscellaneous

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 9.01. Notices

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 9.02. Waivers; Amendments

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 9.03. Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 9.04. Successors and Assigns

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 9.05. Survival

 

 

1

 


 

Contents, p. 4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page

SECTION 9.06. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 9.07. Severability

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 9.08. Right of Setoff

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 9.09. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 9.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 9.11. Headings

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 9.12. Confidentiality

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 9.13. Interest Rate Limitation

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 9.14. Conversion of Currencies

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 9.15. USA Patriot Act

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schedules :

 

 

 

 

Schedule 2.01 — Commitments

 

 

 

 

Schedule 3.03 — Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts

 

 

 

 

Schedule 3.04 — Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change

 

 

 

 

Schedule 3.05 — Disclosed Matters

 

 

 

 

Schedule 3.06 — Compliance with Laws and Agreements

 

 

 

 

Schedule 6.01 — Existing Subsidiary Indebtedness

 

 

 

 

Schedule 6.02 — Existing Liens

 

 

 

 

Schedule 6.05 — Affiliate Transactions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibits :

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit A — Form of Assignment and Acceptance

 

 

 

 

Exhibit B — Form of Opinion of Borrower’s Counsel

 

 

 

 


 

 

     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:

ARTICLE I

Definitions

          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:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratings

 

Facility Fee

 

LIBOR Margin

 

 

(S&P/Moody’s)

 

(% per annum)

 

(% per annum)

Category 1

 

³ AA-/Aa3

 

 

0.030

%

 

 

0.170

%

Category 2

 

A+/A1

 

 

0.040

%

 

 

0.185

%

Category 3

 

A/A2

 

 

0.045

%

 

 

0.205

%

Category 4

 

A-/A3

 

 

0.050

%

 

 

0.250

%

Category 5

 

BBB+/Baa1

 

 

0.060

%

 

 

0.340

%

Category 6

 

<BBB+/Baa1

 

 

0.070

%

 

 

0.430

%

          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


 

4

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


 

5

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


 

6

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),


 

7

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


 

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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.


 

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          “ 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.


 

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          “ 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


 

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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


 

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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”.


 

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          “ 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.


 

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          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.

ARTICLE II

The Credits

          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.


 

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          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


 

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     (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


 

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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

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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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