Back to top

220,000,000 CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of January 31, 2007 among

Loan Agreement

220,000,000 CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of January 31, 2007 among | Document Parties: Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, Issuing Bank | AFFIRMATIVE INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC | CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC You are currently viewing:
This Loan Agreement involves

Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, Issuing Bank | AFFIRMATIVE INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC | CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC

. RealDealDocs™ contains millions of easily searchable legal documents and clauses from top law firms. Search for free - click here.
Title: 220,000,000 CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of January 31, 2007 among
Governing Law: New York     Date: 3/16/2007
Industry: Insurance (Prop. and Casualty)     Law Firm: McDermott Will;Latham Watkins     Sector: Financial

220,000,000 CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of January 31, 2007 among, Parties: administrative agent  collateral agent  issuing bank , affirmative insurance holdings  inc , credit suisse securities (usa) llc
50 of the Top 250 law firms use our Products every day
 

Exhibit 10.32

Execution Copy

 

$220,000,000
CREDIT AGREEMENT

dated as of January 31, 2007

among

AFFIRMATIVE INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC.,
as Borrower

THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO

and

CREDIT SUISSE, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent

 

CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC,
as Sole Bookrunner and Sole Lead Arranger

 

 


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PAGE

ARTICLE I.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Definitions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1.01. Defined Terms

 

 

1

 

SECTION 1.02. Terms Generally

 

 

32

 

SECTION 1.03. Classification of Loans and Borrowings

 

 

33

 

SECTION 1.04. Pro Forma Calculations

 

 

33

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE II.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Credits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2.01. Commitments

 

 

33

 

SECTION 2.02. Loans

 

 

34

 

SECTION 2.03. Borrowing Procedure

 

 

36

 

SECTION 2.04. Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt

 

 

36

 

SECTION 2.05. Fees

 

 

37

 

SECTION 2.06. Interest on Loans

 

 

38

 

SECTION 2.07. Default Interest

 

 

38

 

SECTION 2.08. Alternate Rate of Interest

 

 

39

 

SECTION 2.09. Termination and Reduction of Commitments

 

 

39

 

SECTION 2.10. Conversion and Continuation of Borrowings

 

 

40

 

SECTION 2.11. Repayment of Term Borrowings

 

 

41

 

SECTION 2.12. Prepayment

 

 

42

 

SECTION 2.13. Mandatory Prepayments

 

 

43

 

SECTION 2.14. Reserve Requirements; Change in Circumstances

 

 

45

 

SECTION 2.15. Change in Legality

 

 

46

 

SECTION 2.16. Indemnity

 

 

47

 

SECTION 2.17. Pro Rata Treatment

 

 

47

 

SECTION 2.18. Sharing of Setoffs

 

 

48

 

SECTION 2.19. Payments

 

 

48

 

SECTION 2.20. Taxes

 

 

49

 

SECTION 2.21. Assignment of Commitments Under Certain Circumstances; Duty to Mitigate

 

 

50

 

SECTION 2.22. Swingline Loans

 

 

52

 

SECTION 2.23. Letters of Credit

 

 

53

 

SECTION 2.24. Incremental Facilities

 

 

57

 

SECTION 2.25. Extension of Revolving Credit Maturity Date

 

 

60

 

i


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PAGE

ARTICLE III.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Representations and Warranties

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 3.01. Organization; Powers

 

 

61

 

SECTION 3.02. Authorization; No Conflicts

 

 

62

 

SECTION 3.03. Enforceability

 

 

62

 

SECTION 3.04. Governmental Approvals

 

 

62

 

SECTION 3.05. Financial Statements

 

 

62

 

SECTION 3.06. No Material Adverse Change

 

 

63

 

SECTION 3.07. Title to Properties; Possession Under Leases

 

 

63

 

SECTION 3.08. Subsidiaries

 

 

65

 

SECTION 3.09. Litigation; Compliance with Laws

 

 

65

 

SECTION 3.10. Agreements

 

 

66

 

SECTION 3.11. Federal Reserve Regulations

 

 

66

 

SECTION 3.12. Investment Company Act

 

 

66

 

SECTION 3.13. Use of Proceeds

 

 

66

 

SECTION 3.14. Tax Returns

 

 

67

 

SECTION 3.15. No Material Misstatements; Acquisition Documentation

 

 

67

 

SECTION 3.16. Employee Benefit Plans

 

 

67

 

SECTION 3.17. Environmental Matters

 

 

68

 

SECTION 3.18. Insurance

 

 

69

 

SECTION 3.19. Security Documents

 

 

69

 

SECTION 3.20. Location of Real Property

 

 

70

 

SECTION 3.21. Labor Matters

 

 

70

 

SECTION 3.22. Liens

 

 

70

 

SECTION 3.23. Intellectual Property

 

 

70

 

SECTION 3.24. Solvency

 

 

70

 

SECTION 3.25. Acquisition Documentation

 

 

71

 

SECTION 3.26. Permits

 

 

71

 

SECTION 3.27. Reinsurance Agreements

 

 

71

 

SECTION 3.28. Premium Finance Agreements

 

 

72

 

SECTION 3.29. Senior Indebtedness

 

 

72

 

SECTION 3.30. Closing Date Inactive Subsidiaries

 

 

72

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conditions of Lending

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 4.01. All Credit Events

 

 

72

 

SECTION 4.02. First Credit Event

 

 

73

 

ii


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PAGE

ARTICLE V.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Affirmative Covenants

 

 

 

 

SECTION 5.01. Existence; Businesses and Properties

 

 

78

 

SECTION 5.02. Insurance

 

 

79

 

SECTION 5.03. Obligations and Taxes

 

 

79

 

SECTION 5.04. Financial Statements, Reports, etc.

 

 

79

 

SECTION 5.05. Litigation and Other Notices

 

 

82

 

SECTION 5.06. Information Regarding Collateral

 

 

83

 

SECTION 5.07. Maintaining Records; Access to Properties and Inspections; Environmental Assessments

 

 

83

 

SECTION 5.08. Use of Proceeds

 

 

84

 

SECTION 5.09. Additional Collateral, etc

 

 

84

 

SECTION 5.10. Further Assurances

 

 

87

 

SECTION 5.11. Interest Rate Protection

 

 

88

 

SECTION 5.12. Maintain Reinsurance

 

 

88

 

SECTION 5.13. Tax Sharing Arrangements

 

 

88

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE VI.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Negative Covenants

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 6.01. Indebtedness

 

 

89

 

SECTION 6.02. Liens

 

 

90

 

SECTION 6.03. Sale and Lease-Back Transactions

 

 

92

 

SECTION 6.04. Investments, Loans and Advances

 

 

92

 

SECTION 6.05. Mergers, Consolidations, Sales of Assets and Acquisitions

 

 

93

 

SECTION 6.06. Restricted Payments; Restrictive Agreements

 

 

94

 

SECTION 6.07. Transactions with Affiliates

 

 

95

 

SECTION 6.08. Business of the Borrower and Subsidiaries; Limitation on Hedging Agreements

 

 

95

 

SECTION 6.09. Other Indebtedness and Agreements; Amendments to Acquisition Documentation

 

 

96

 

SECTION 6.10. Capital Expenditures

 

 

97

 

SECTION 6.11. Interest Coverage Ratio

 

 

97

 

SECTION 6.12. Leverage Ratio

 

 

98

 

SECTION 6.13. Minimum Risk-Based Capital Ratio

 

 

99

 

SECTION 6.14. Combined Ratio

 

 

99

 

SECTION 6.15. Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio

 

 

99

 

SECTION 6.16. Consolidated Net Worth

 

 

99

 

SECTION 6.17. Fiscal Year

 

 

99

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII. Events of Default

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Agents and the Arranger

 

 

 

 

iii


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PAGE

ARTICLE IX.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Miscellaneous

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 9.01. Notices

 

 

105

 

SECTION 9.02. Survival of Agreement

 

 

106

 

SECTION 9.03. Binding Effect

 

 

106

 

SECTION 9.04. Successors and Assigns

 

 

106

 

SECTION 9.05. Expenses; Indemnity

 

 

110

 

SECTION 9.06. Right of Setoff

 

 

111

 

SECTION 9.07. Applicable Law

 

 

111

 

SECTION 9.08. Waivers; Amendment

 

 

112

 

SECTION 9.09. Interest Rate Limitation

 

 

113

 

SECTION 9.10. Entire Agreement

 

 

113

 

SECTION 9.11. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL

 

 

113

 

SECTION 9.12. Severability

 

 

113

 

SECTION 9.13. Counterparts

 

 

114

 

SECTION 9.14. Headings

 

 

114

 

SECTION 9.15. Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process

 

 

114

 

SECTION 9.16. Confidentiality

 

 

114

 

SECTION 9.17. Delivery of Lender Addenda

 

 

115

 

Exhibits and Schedules

 

 

 

Exhibit A

 

Form of Administrative Questionnaire

Exhibit B

 

Form of Affiliate Subordination Agreement

Exhibit C

 

Form of Assignment and Acceptance

Exhibit D

 

Form of Borrowing Request

Exhibit E

 

Form of Guarantee and Collateral Agreement

Exhibit F

 

Form of Lender Addendum

Exhibit G

 

Form of Mortgage (Owned and Leased Real Property)

Exhibit H

 

Form of Perfection Certificate

Exhibit I

 

Form of Non-Bank Certificate

Exhibit J

 

Form of Opinion of McDermott Will & Emery

Exhibits K-1, K-2, K-3

 

Forms of Premium Finance Agreements

 

 

 

 

Schedule 1.01(a)

 

Mortgaged Properties

Schedule 1.01(b)

 

Subsidiary Guarantors

Schedule 3.08

 

(a)Subsidiaries

Schedule 3.08(b)

 

Additional Prohibitions and Restrictions

Schedule 3.09

 

Litigation

Schedule 3.17

 

Environmental Matters

iv


 

 

 

 

Schedule 3.18

 

Insurance

Schedule 3.19(a)

 

UCC Filing Offices

Schedule 3.19(c)

 

Mortgage Filing Offices

Schedule 3.20

 

Owned and Leased Real Property

Schedule 3.25

 

Acquisition Documentation

Schedule 3.26

 

Regulated Insurance Subsidiary Permits

Schedule 6.01

 

Existing Indebtedness

Schedule 6.02

 

Existing Liens

Schedule 6.04

 

Existing Investments

v


 

     CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of January 31, 2007 (this “ Agreement ”), among AFFIRMATIVE INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation, (the “ Borrower ”), the LENDERS from time to time party hereto, and CREDIT SUISSE, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH as administrative agent (in such capacity and together with its successors, the “ Administrative Agent ”).

     The parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I.

Definitions

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

     “ 2004 Debentures ” shall mean the $30,928,000 aggregate principal amount of Junior Subordinated Debt Securities due 2035 issued by Borrower to Affirmative Trust I, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

     “ 2005 Debentures ” shall mean the $25,774,000 aggregate principal amount of Junior Subordinated Debt Securities due 2035 issued by Borrower to Affirmative Trust II, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

     “ 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 Entity ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of Permitted Acquisition.

     “ Acquisition ” shall mean the acquisition by the Borrower pursuant to the Purchase Agreement of all the Equity Interests in USAgencies from the Sellers, with the Sellers receiving an aggregate amount of $200,000,000 in cash (the “ Acquisition Consideration ”).

     “ Acquisition Consideration ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Acquisition”.

     “ Acquisition Documentation ” shall mean, collectively, the Purchase Agreement and all schedules, exhibits, annexes and amendments thereto and all side letters and agreements affecting the terms thereof or entered into in connection therewith, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

     “ Acquisition Transactions ” shall mean, collectively, (a) the Acquisition, including the payment of the Acquisition Consideration, (b) the obtaining by the Borrower of the Facility provided for by this Agreement, (c) the repayment by the Borrower of all amounts outstanding under the Existing Credit Facilities, the termination of the Existing Credit Facilities and, in each

 


 

case, the release of all Liens and guarantees granted in respect thereof, in each case in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (d) the payment of fees and expenses incurred in connection with the foregoing.

     “ Adjusted Book Value ” shall mean, at the applicable date, the Book Value on such date adjusted to disregard the positive or negative effects, net of taxes, of (a) unrealized gains or losses accruing on the investment portfolio after June 30, 2006, (b) any losses or expenses that are the result of a natural catastrophe occurring after the effective date of the Purchase Agreement, (c) any claim settlement of the business interruption insurance claim currently being negotiated with Hartford Insurance Company recognized after the effective date of the Purchase Agreement, (d) any prior treaty year ceding commission adjustments paid or payable by GMAC RE Corporation (“ GMAC ”) and recorded after the effective date of the Purchase Agreement, (e) any current treaty year ceding commission adjustments resulting from a change in the commission rate that are paid or payable by GMAC and recorded after the effective date of the Purchase Agreement, and (f) after the tax effect of any Transaction Expenses (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) to the extent such expenses have reduced Book Value prior to the applicable date.

     “ Adjusted LIBO Rate ” shall mean, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum equal to the product of (a) the LIBO Rate in effect for such Interest Period and (b) Statutory Reserves.

     “ Administrative Agent ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble.

     “ Administrative Agent Fees ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05(b).

     “ Administrative Questionnaire ” shall mean an Administrative Questionnaire in the form of Exhibit A, or such other form as may be supplied from time to time by the Administrative Agent.

     “ Affiliate ” shall mean, when used 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; provided , however , that, for purposes of Section 6.07. , the term “ Affiliate ” shall also include any person that directly or indirectly owns 10% or more of any class of Equity Interests of the person specified or that is an officer or director of the person specified.

     “ Affiliate Subordination Agreement ” shall mean an Affiliate Subordination Agreement in the form of Exhibit B pursuant to which intercompany obligations and advances owed by any Loan Party are subordinated to the Obligations.

     “ Affirmative Intercompany Tax Agreement ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.13.

     “ Affirmative Trust I ” shall mean Affirmative Insurance Holdings Statutory Trust I, a special purpose statutory Delaware business trust established by Borrower, of which Borrower holds all the common securities, which purchased from Borrower the 2004 Debentures.

2


 

     “ Affirmative Trust II ” shall mean Affirmative Insurance Holdings Statutory Trust II, a special purpose statutory Delaware business trust established by Borrower, of which Borrower holds all the common securities, which purchased from Borrower the 2005 Debentures.

     “ Agents ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Article VIII.

     “ Aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure ” shall mean the aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Revolving Credit Exposures.

     “ Agreement ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble.

     “ Alternate Base Rate ” shall mean, 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 as of the opening of business on the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate, respectively.

     “ A.M. Best ” shall mean A.M. Best & Company, Inc.

     “ Applicable Margin ” shall mean, (y) with respect to the Loans that are Eurodollar Loans, 3.50% per annum and (z) with respect to Loans that are ABR Loans, 2.50 % per annum.

     “ Approved Premium Finance Facility ” shall means any line or lines of credit with an aggregate principal amount of not greater than $50,000,000, entered into by Premium Finance Co., the proceeds of which are used solely to fund loans to retail customers who are purchasing nonstandard automobile insurance from any Regulated Insurance Subsidiary of the Borrower and which such loans are secured by the unearned portion of the insurance premiums being so financed; provided that (a) such Approved Premium Finance Facility may be secured solely by the assets of the Premium Finance Co. (which may include, without limitation, a pledge of eligible accounts receivable of the Premium Finance Co., as well as the rights under such accounts receivable to insurance policies, proceeds thereof and refunds of unearned premiums thereunder pledged by insurance policyholders financed by the borrowers under any such Approved Premium Finance Facility); (b) such Approved Premium Finance Facility shall not be secured by any Equity Interests of Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof (including, without limitation, Premium Finance Co.); (c) such Approved Premium Finance Facility shall not be secured by the assets of Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof (other than as provided for in clause (a) above); (d) such Approved Premium Finance Facility shall not be guaranteed by any Subsidiary of Borrower (other than Premium Finance Co. and its Subsidiaries); (e) such Approved Premium Finance Facility shall not be guaranteed by any Regulated Insurance Subsidiary; (f) such Approved Premium Finance Facility shall not be exchangeable or convertible into Indebtedness or Equity Interests of Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof; (g) such Approved Premium Finance Facility shall not prohibit, restrict or impose any condition upon the ability of any Subsidiary (including any Premium Finance Co. or any of its Subsidiaries) to pay dividends or other distributions with respect to any of its Equity Interests or to make or repay loans or advances to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary (including any Premium Finance Co. or any of its Subsidiaries) or to Guarantee Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents; and (h) the documents and other agreements

3


 

executed by Premium Finance Co. in connection with such Approved Premium Finance Facility shall otherwise be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Administrative Agent.

     “ Arranger ” shall mean CS Securities acting in its capacity as sole bookrunner and sole lead arranger for the Facilities.

     “ Asset Sale ” shall mean the sale, lease, sub-lease, sale and leaseback, assignment, conveyance, transfer, issuance or other disposition (by way of merger, casualty, condemnation or otherwise) by the Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than Premium Finance Co.) to any person other than the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor of (a) any Equity Interests of any of the Subsidiaries or (b) any other assets of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries, including Equity Interests of any person that is not a Subsidiary (other than inventory, obsolete or worn out assets, scrap and Permitted Investments, in each case disposed of in the ordinary course of business); provided that any asset sale or series of related asset sales described in clause (b) above having a value not in excess of, in the aggregate, $1,000,000 annually, shall be deemed not to be an “ Asset Sale ” for purposes of this Agreement.

     “ Assignment and Acceptance ” shall mean an assignment and acceptance entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any person whose consent is required by Section 9.04. ), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit C or such other form as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent.

     “ Authorized Control Level ” shall mean “Authorized Control Level Risk-Based Capital” as defined by the NAIC as of December 31, 1994, as such definition has been amended from time to time, and as applied in the context of the Risk-Based Capital Guidelines promulgated by the NAIC.

     “ Benefit Plan ” shall mean any employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Tax Code or Section 307 of ERISA, and in respect of which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.

     “ Board ” shall mean the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America.

     “ Book Value ” shall mean at the applicable date an amount equal to all of the assets of USAgencies minus all of the liabilities of USAgencies as set forth on the consolidated balance sheet of USAgencies at such date, prepared in accordance with GAAP consistent with past practices.

     “ Borrower ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble.

     “ Borrower Subordinated Notes ” shall mean (i) the 2004 Debentures and (ii) the 2005 Debentures.

     “ Borrower Trust Preferred Note Documents ” shall mean each of the indentures under which each of the Borrower Subordinated Notes is issued and all other instruments, agreements

4


 

and other documents evidencing or governing each of the Borrower Subordinated Notes or providing any Guarantee or other right in respect thereof, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

     “ Borrowing ” shall mean (a) Loans of the same Class and 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, or (b) a Swingline Loan.

     “ Borrowing Request ” shall mean a request by the Borrower in accordance with the terms of Section 2.03. and substantially in the form of Exhibit D, or such other form as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent.

     “ Breakage Event ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.16.

     “ Business ” shall mean the businesses of the Borrowers and its subsidiaries limited to the provision of nonstandard automobile insurance and the premium finance thereof, including businesses incidental thereto.

     “ Business Day ” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to close; provided , however , that when used in connection with a Eurodollar Loan (including with respect to all notices and determinations in connection therewith and any payments of principal, interest or other amounts thereon), 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 Expenditures ” shall mean, for any period, with respect to any person, (a) the additions to property, plant and equipment and other capital expenditures of such person and its consolidated subsidiaries that are (or should be) set forth in a consolidated statement of cash flows of such person for such period prepared in accordance with GAAP and (b) Capital Lease Obligations incurred by such person and its consolidated subsidiaries during such period.

     “ Capital Lease Obligations ” of any person shall mean 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 at any time shall be the capitalized amount thereof at such time determined in accordance with GAAP.

     “ Cash Capital Expenditures ” shall mean any Capital Expenditures the source of funds for which was not or is not proceeds of any Indebtedness (whether or not subordinate to any other obligation of any person).

     “ Cash Flow ” shall mean, for any relevant 12 month fiscal period, the sum, without duplication, of (i) for the Borrower, USAgencies and their respective subsidiaries (other than the Regulated Insurance Subsidiaries and other than Premium Finance Co. and its Subsidiaries) Consolidated EBITDA for the relevant period, (ii) all state and federal income tax expenses incurred by the Regulated Insurance Subsidiaries for the relevant period, and (iii) the lesser of (a) combined statutory earnings for all Regulated Insurance Subsidiaries for the December 31 st

5


 

calendar period most recently ended prior to the relevant period, and (b) the sum of 10% of surplus of all Regulated Insurance Subsidiaries as of the last day of the December 31 st calendar period most recently ended prior to the relevant period, provided that for purposes of calculating Cash Flow for any period (A) the Cash Flow of USAgencies and of any other Acquired Entity acquired by the Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than Premium Finance Co.) pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition during such period shall be included on a pro forma basis for such period (assuming the consummation of such acquisition and the incurrence or assumption of any Indebtedness in connection therewith occurred as of the first day of such period) and (B) the Cash Flow of any person or line of business sold or otherwise disposed of by the Borrower or any Subsidiary during such period for shall be excluded for such period (assuming the consummation of such sale or other disposition and the repayment of any Indebtedness in connection therewith occurred as of the first day of such period). The preceding formula shall be adjusted on a proportionate basis for any relevant period that is not a fiscal twelve month period.

     A “ Change in Control ” shall be deemed to have occurred if (a) the Permitted Holders shall fail to own directly or indirectly, beneficially and of record, Equity Interests representing at least the Required Minimum Percentage of the aggregate ordinary voting power and aggregate equity value represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests in the Borrower, (b) any “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Rule 13d5 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as in effect on the date hereof) other than the Permitted Holders shall own directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, Equity Interests representing a greater percentage of either the aggregate ordinary voting power or the aggregate equity value represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests in the Borrower then held, directly or indirectly, beneficially and of record, by the Permitted Holders; (c) a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of directors of the Borrower shall at any time be occupied by persons who are not Continuing Directors; (d) Borrower shall at any time fail to own directly or indirectly, beneficially and of record, 100% of each class of issued and outstanding Equity Interests in each of its direct whollyowned Subsidiaries free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens created by the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement); or (e) any change of control (or similar event, however denominated) with respect to the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall occur under and as defined in the Subordinated Debt Documents, any Qualified Additional Subordinated Debt Documents, or any Approved Premium Financing to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is a party, provided , that a Change in Control shall not be deemed to have occurred as a result of the Acquisition and other Acquisition Transactions.

     “ Change in Law ” shall mean (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 the Issuing Bank (or, for purposes of Section 2.14. , by any lending office of such Lender or by such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’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.

     “ Charges ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.09.

     “ Class ”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Revolving Loans, Term Loans or Swingline Loans

6


 

and, when used in reference to any Commitment, refers to whether such Commitment is a Revolving Credit Commitment, Term Loan Commitment or Swingline Commitment.

     “ Closing Date ” shall mean January 31, 2007.

     “ Closing Date Material Adverse Effect ” shall mean (i) a material adverse condition or material adverse change in or materially affecting (a) the business, assets, liabilities, operations, condition (financial or otherwise), operating results, Projections or prospects of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole (excluding USAgencies and its Subsidiaries), or (b) the validity or enforceability of any of the Loan Documents or the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or the Secured Parties thereunder; provided , however , that the following shall be excluded from a determination of whether such a material adverse change has occurred: any change or effect relating to (A) the effects or conditions or events that are generally applicable to (1) the industries in which the Borrower or its subsidiaries operate, which do not have a materially disproportionate effect (relative to other industry participants) on the Borrower and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (excluding USAgencies and its subsidiaries), or (2) the capital, financial, banking or currency markets; (B) changes in applicable accounting regulations and principles resulting from changes in GAAP or SAP, which do not have a materially disproportionate effect (relative to other industry participants) on the Borrower and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (excluding USAgencies and its subsidiaries); (C) any change resulting from the announcement of the transactions described in the Commitment Letter or the Transactions; (D) national or international political or social conditions, including the engagement by the United States in hostilities, whether or not pursuant to the declaration of a nation emergency or war, or the occurrence of any military or terrorist attack upon the United States, or any of its territories, possessions, or diplomatic or consular offices or upon any military installation, equipment or personnel of the United States, which do not have a materially disproportionate effect (relative to other industry participants) on the Borrower and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (excluding USAgencies and its subsidiaries); or (E) any event that has or is reasonably expected to have a negative impact of less than 15% on the earnings of the Borrower and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (excluding USAgencies and its subsidiaries) or (ii) any effect, change, development, state of facts, or circumstance that individually or taken as a whole with all other such effects, changes, developments, states of fact, or circumstances has or is reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect on (a) the business, assets, liabilities, financial condition or results of operations of USAgencies and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or (b) the ability of the Borrower to operate USAgencies and its Subsidiaries or conduct the Business immediately after the closing of the Acquisition in substantially the same manner as such operations were being conducted by USAgencies and its Subsidiaries prior to the closing of the Acquisition (disregarding for purposes of this clause (a) any specific effect, change, development, state of facts, or circumstance existing or occurring prior to the Closing Date that is solely attributable to or solely impacts the Borrower or its affiliates and is not connected in any way to the operation of USAgencies and its Subsidiaries or the conduct of the Business prior to the Closing Date), which shall include, without limitation, any effect, change, development, state of facts, or circumstance that has resulted in the Adjusted Book Value falling below the MAE Book Value as of the applicable date for such MAE Book Value or is reasonably expected to result in a 10% reduction in the projected consolidated revenues of USAgencies and its subsidiaries for fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 of $104,700,000; provided that any such effect, change, development, state of facts or circumstances described above attributable to or

7


 

resulting from any action or omission of USAgencies or any of its subsidiaries taken with the express prior written consent of the Borrower shall not be considered for purposes of determining whether a Closing Date Material Adverse Effect exists.

     “ Collateral ” shall mean all property and assets of the Loan Parties, now owned or hereafter acquired, upon which a Lien is purported to be created by any Security Document, and shall include the Mortgaged Properties.

     “ Collateral Agent ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble.

     “ Combined Ratio ” means the (a) Loss Ratio plus the (b) Expense Ratio.

     “ Combined Risk-Based Capital Ratio ” shall mean the ratio (expressed as a percentage), at any time, of (i) the sum, without duplication, of the Total Adjusted Capital of each Regulated Insurance Subsidiary to (ii) the sum, without duplication, of the Authorized Control Level of each Regulated Insurance Subsidiary.

     “ Commitment ” shall mean, with respect to any Lender, such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment, Term Loan Commitment and Swingline Commitment.

     “ Commitment Fee ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05. (a) .

     “ Commitment Fee Rate ” shall mean a rate per annum equal to 1 / 2 of 1%.

     “ Commitment Letter ” shall mean the Commitment Letter dated as of October 5, 2006, among the Borrower, CS and CS Securities.

     “ Confidential Information Memorandum ” shall mean the Confidential Information Memorandum of the Borrower dated November, 2006.

     “ Consolidated EBITDA ” shall mean, for any period, Consolidated Net Income for such period plus (a) without duplication and to the extent deducted in determining such Consolidated Net Income, the sum of (i) Consolidated Interest Expense for such period, (ii) consolidated income tax expense for such period, (iii) all amounts attributable to depreciation and amortization for such period, (iv) any non-cash charges, (other than the write-down of current assets, provided that, the Borrower may include as a non-cash charge a write-down of uncollected accounts receivable in an amount up to $7,200,000 that occurs during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2006 or any quarter of fiscal year 2007) (v) fees, costs and expenses related to the consummation of the Acquisition of up to $2,000,000 in the aggregate incurred on or prior to June 30, 2007 and (vi) unusual or non-recurring charges in an amount not to exceed $9,000,000 for periods ending in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 and $5,000,000 for periods ending in any fiscal year thereafter ( provided that to the extent that all or any portion of the income of any person is excluded from Consolidated Net Income pursuant to the definition thereof for all or any portion of such period any amounts set forth in the preceding clauses (i) through (iv) that are attributable to such person shall not be included for purposes of this definition for such period or portion thereof), and minus (b) without duplication (i) all cash payments made during such period on account of reserves, restructuring charges and other non-cash charges added to Consolidated Net Income pursuant to clause (a)(iv) above in a previous period and (ii) to the

8


 

extent included in determining such Consolidated Net Income, any extraordinary gains and all non-cash items of income for such period, all determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that for purposes of calculating Consolidated EBITDA for any period (A) the Consolidated EBITDA of USAgencies and of any other Acquired Entity acquired by the Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than Premium Finance Co.) pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition during such period shall be included on a pro forma basis for such period (assuming the consummation of such acquisition and the incurrence or assumption of any Indebtedness in connection therewith occurred as of the first day of such period) and (B) the Consolidated EBITDA of any person or line of business sold or otherwise disposed of by the Borrower or any Subsidiary during such period for shall be excluded for such period (assuming the consummation of such sale or other disposition and the repayment of any Indebtedness in connection therewith occurred as of the first day of such period).

     “ Consolidated Interest Expense ” shall mean, for any period, the sum of (a) the interest expense (including imputed interest expense in respect of Capital Lease Obligations and Synthetic Lease Obligations) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (other than Premium Finance Co. and its Subsidiaries) for such period (including all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries (other than Premium Finance Co. and its Subsidiaries) with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing), net of interest income, in each case determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, plus (b) any interest accrued during such period in respect of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than Premium Finance Co. and its Subsidiaries) that is required to be capitalized rather than included in consolidated interest expense for such period in accordance with GAAP, provided that for purposes of calculating Consolidated Interest Expense for any period (A) the Consolidated Interest Expense of USAgencies and of any other Acquired Entity acquired by the Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than Premium Finance Co.) during such period shall be included on a pro forma basis for such period (assuming the consummation of such acquisition and the incurrence or assumption of any Indebtedness in connection therewith occurred as of the first day of such period) and (B) the Consolidated Interest Expense of any person or line of business sold or otherwise disposed of by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of this Agreement during such period shall be excluded for such period (assuming the consummation of such sale or other disposition and the repayment of any Indebtedness in connection therewith occurred as of the first day of such period). For purposes of the foregoing, interest expense shall be determined after giving effect to any net payments made or received by the Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than Premium Finance Co. and its Subsidiaries) with respect to interest rate Hedging Agreements.

     “ Consolidated Net Income ” shall mean, for any period, the net income or loss of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that there shall be excluded (a) the income of any Subsidiary to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by the Subsidiary of that income is not at the time permitted by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to such Subsidiary, (b) the income or loss of any person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary or is merged into or consolidated with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or the date that such person’s assets are acquired by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, (c) the income of any person (other than a Subsidiary) in which any other person (other than the Borrower or a wholly owned

9


 

Subsidiary or any director holding qualifying shares in accordance with applicable law) has an interest, except to the extent of the amount of dividends or other distributions actually paid to the Borrower or a wholly owned Subsidiary by such person during such period, and (d) any gains attributable to sales of assets out of the ordinary course of business; provided , that there shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income for any period the net income or loss of Premium Finance Co. and its Subsidiaries for such period to the extent otherwise included in Consolidated Net Income, except to the extent actually received in cash by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (other than Premium Finance Co. or any Subsidiary thereof) during such period through dividends or other distributions other than intercompany loans.

     “ Consolidated Net Worth ” shall mean the net worth of Borrower and its Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP after appropriate deduction for any minority interests in Subsidiaries.

     “ Continuing Directors ” shall mean, at any time, any member of the board of directors of Borrower who (a) was a member of such board of directors on the Closing Date, after giving effect to the Acquisition, or (b) was nominated for election or elected to such board of directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such board of directors at the time of such nomination or election.

     “ Control ” shall mean 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 ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and the terms “ Controlling ” and “ Controlled ” shall have meanings correlative thereto.

     “ Credit Event ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.01.

     “ CS ” shall mean Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch.

     “ CS Securities ” shall mean Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC.

     “ Default ” shall mean any event or condition which constitutes an Event of Default or which upon notice, lapse of time or both would constitute an Event of Default.

     “ dollars ” or “ $ ” shall mean lawful money of the United States of America.

     “ Domestic Subsidiaries ” shall mean all Subsidiaries incorporated, formed or organized under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia.

     “ Environmental Laws ” shall mean all former, current and future Federal, state, local and foreign laws (including common law), treaties, regulations, rules, ordinances, codes, decrees, judgments, directives, orders (including consent orders), and agreements in each case, relating to protection of the environment, natural resources, human health and safety or the presence, Release of, threatened Release, or exposure to, Hazardous Materials, or the generation, manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, transport, recycling or handling of, or the arrangement for such activities with respect to, Hazardous Materials.

10


 

     “ Environmental Liability ” shall mean all liabilities, obligations, damages, losses, claims, actions, suits, judgments, orders, fines, penalties, fees, expenses and costs (including administrative oversight costs, natural resource damages and remediation costs), whether contingent or otherwise, arising out of or relating to (a) compliance or noncompliance with 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 or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

     “ Environmental Permit ” shall mean any Permit issued pursuant to any Environmental Law.

     “ Equity Interests ” shall mean shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity interests in any person, or any obligations convertible into or exchangeable for, or giving any person a right, option or warrant to acquire, such equity interests or such convertible or exchangeable obligations.

     “ Equity Issuance ” shall mean any issuance or sale by the Borrower of any Equity Interests of the Borrower, or the receipt by the Borrower of any capital contribution, as applicable, except in each case for (a) any issuance of directors’ qualifying shares and (b) sales or issuances of common stock of Borrower to management or employees of the Borrower or any Subsidiary under any employee stock option or stock purchase plan or employee benefit plan in existence from time to time in the ordinary course of business.

     “ ERISA ” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time.

     “ ERISA Affiliate ” shall mean 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 Tax Code, or solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Tax Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Tax Code.

     “ ERISA Event ” shall mean (a) any “reportable event”, as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder, with respect to a Benefit Plan (other than an event for which the 30-day notice period is waived); (b) the existence with respect to any Benefit Plan of an “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined in Section 412 of the Tax Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(d) of the Tax Code or Section 303(d) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Benefit 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 Benefit Plan or the withdrawal or partial withdrawal of the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates from any Benefit Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (e) the receipt by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to the intention to terminate any Benefit Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Benefit Plan; (f) the adoption of any amendment to a Benefit Plan that would require the provision of

11


 

security pursuant to Section 401(a)(29) of the Tax Code or Section 307 of ERISA; (g) the receipt by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates 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; (h) the occurrence of a “prohibited transaction” with respect to which the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries is a “disqualified person” (within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Tax Code) or with respect to which the Borrower or any such Subsidiary could otherwise be liable; or (i) any other event or condition with respect to a Benefit Plan or Multiemployer Plan that could result in liability of the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

     “ 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 ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Article VII.

     “ Excess Cash Flow ” shall mean, for any relevant twelve (12) month fiscal period, without duplication, Cash Flow, less (i) the consolidated aggregate amount of all Capital Expenditures for such period, including capital payments for business expenditures and investments, such as capital lease payments, (ii) consolidated state and federal income taxes for such period, (iii) Consolidated Interest Expense, (iv) consolidated minimum required principal amortization repayments actually paid in accordance with Section 2.11(a) hereof, (v) ordinary corporate dividends made in accordance with the terms hereof during such period, and (vi) cash consideration utilized for Permitted Acquisitions during the relevant twelve (12) month fiscal period. The preceding formula shall be adjusted on a pro rata basis for any relevant period that is not a fiscal twelve (12) month period.

     “ Excluded Foreign Subsidiaries ” shall mean, at any time, any Foreign Subsidiary that is (or is treated as) for United States federal income tax purposes either (a) a corporation or (b) a pass-through entity owned directly or indirectly by another Foreign Subsidiary that is (or is treated as) a corporation, or any subsidiary that is prohibited by applicable law from guaranteeing the Obligations.

     “ Excluded Taxes ” shall mean, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the Issuing Bank or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder, (a) income or franchise taxes imposed on (or measured by) its net income as a result of a present or former connection between such recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such tax (or any political subdivision thereof), other than any such connection arising solely from such recipient having executed, delivered or performed its obligations or received a payment under, or enforced, this Agreement or any other Loan Document and (b) in the case of a Foreign Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 2.21. (a) , any United States withholding tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender 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 2.20. (d) , 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

12


 

additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to Section 2.20. (a) (it being understood and agreed, for the avoidance of doubt, that any withholding tax imposed on a Foreign Lender as a result of a Change in Law or regulation or interpretation thereof occurring after the time such Foreign Lender became a party to this Agreement shall not be an Excluded Tax).

     “ Existing Credit Facilities ” shall mean, collectively, the Frost Credit Facility and the Hibernia Credit Facility.

     “ Existing TruPS Business Trusts ” shall mean Affirmative Trust I and Affirmative Trust II.

     “ Expense Ratio ” means the sum of operating expenses and depreciation and amortization expenses less commission income and fees, divided by earned premiums.

     “ Extraordinary Receipts ” means any Net Cash Proceeds received by any Loan Party or any of their respective Subsidiaries (other than Premium Finance Co.) not in the ordinary course of business (and not consisting of proceeds described in Section 2.3(b) , (c) , (d) , (e) or (f) hereof), including, without limitation, (i) foreign, federal, state or local tax refunds, (ii) pension plan reversions, (iii) proceeds of insurance to the extent not constituting a Recovery Event, (iv) judgments, proceeds of settlements or other consideration of any kind in connection with any cause of action or litigation, (v) condemnation awards (and payments in lieu thereof) to the extent not constituting a Recovery Event, (vi) indemnity payments in respect of the Acquisition Documentation or any other purchase and sale agreement and related documentation in respect of any Permitted Acquisition and (vii) any purchase price adjustment (or similar payments) received in connection with the Acquisition Documentation any other purchase and sale agreement and related documentation in respect of any Permitted Acquisition.

     “ Facility ” shall mean each of (a) the Term Loan Commitments and the Term Loans made thereunder (the “ Term Loan Facility ”) and (b) the Revolving Credit Commitments and the extensions of credit made thereunder (the “ Revolving Credit Facility ”).

     “ Federal Funds Effective Rate ” shall mean, for any day, the weighted average 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 of the quotations for the day for such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

     “ Fee Letter ” shall mean the Fee Letter dated as of October 5, 2006, among the Borrower, CS and CS Securities.

     “ Fees ” shall mean the Commitment Fees, the Administrative Agent Fees, the L/C Participation Fees and the Issuing Bank Fees.

     “ Financial Officer ” of any person shall mean the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or controller of such person.

13


 

     “ Financial Reinsurance Agreement ” shall mean a reinsurance agreement covering any transaction in which any Regulated Insurance Subsidiary cedes business that does not meet the conditions for reinsurance accounting as provided by the Financial Accounting Standards Board in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 113, as the same may be revised, replaced, or supplemented from time to time.

     “ Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio ” shall mean the ratio (rounded to two decimal places) determined as at the last day of the most recent fiscal year of Borrower of (a) Consolidated EBITDA for the four fiscal quarter period ended on the last day of such fiscal year, to (b) Fixed Charges determined as at the last day of such fiscal year.

     “ Fixed Charges ” means the sum of (a) Consolidated Interest Expense for the four fiscal quarter period ended on the date of determination, plus (b) scheduled principal payments of Indebtedness which would be classified as a current liability on a consolidated balance sheet of Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries payable during the four fiscal quarter period beginning on the day following the date of determination, plus (c) Cash Capital Expenditures (other than Permitted IT Capital Expenditures) actually paid by Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries during the four fiscal quarter period ended on the date of determination, plus (d) the aggregate amount of Taxes actually paid by Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries during the four fiscal quarter period ended on the date of determination, plus (e) cash Restricted Payments actually paid by Borrower during the four fiscal quarter period ended on the date of determination.

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

     “ Foreign Subsidiary ” shall mean any Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

     “ Frost Credit Facility ” shall mean the credit facility of the Borrower under the credit agreement dated as of July 30, 2004, as amended, among the Borrower, Frost National Bank, as a lender and as agent for all lenders, and the other lenders party thereto.

     “ GAAP ” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.

     “ Governmental Authority ” shall mean the government of the United States of America or any other nation, any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.

     “ Granting Lender ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04. (i).

     “ Guarantee ” of or by any person (the “ guarantor ”) shall mean any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of (a) the guarantor or (b) another person (including any bank under a letter of credit) to induce the creation of which the guarantor has issued a reimbursement, counterindemnity or similar obligation, in either case guaranteeing or having the economic effect

14


 

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, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (i) 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 purchase of) any security for the payment of such Indebtedness or other obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment of such Indebtedness or other obligation, (iii) 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, (iv) to act as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness or obligation or (v) to otherwise assure or hold harmless the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation against loss in respect thereof; provided , however , that the term “Guarantee” shall not include (x) endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business or (y) obligations of Regulated Insurance Subsidiaries under Insurance Contracts, Reinsurance Agreements or Retrocession Agreements.

     “ Guarantee and Collateral Agreement ” shall mean the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement in the form of Exhibit E, to be executed and delivered by the Borrower and each Subsidiary Guarantor.

     “ Hazardous Materials ” shall mean any petroleum (including crude oil or fraction thereof) or petroleum products or byproducts, or any pollutant, contaminant, chemical, compound, constituent, or hazardous, toxic or other substances, materials or wastes defined, or regulated as such by, or pursuant to, any Environmental Law, or requires removal, remediation or reporting under any Environmental Law, including asbestos, or asbestos containing material, radon or other radioactive material, polychlorinated biphenyls and urea formaldehyde insulation.

     “ Hedging Agreement ” shall mean any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, fuel or other commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions; provided , however , that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments and on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall be a Hedging Agreement.

      “Hibernia Credit Facility ” shall mean the credit facility of under the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of July 28, 2005, as amended as of the Closing Date, among LIFCO, L.L.C., a Louisiana limited liability company, USAgencies, Hibernia National Bank, as a lender and as agent for all lenders, and the other parties thereto.

     “ Increased Amount Date ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.24.

     “ Increase Loan Notice ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.24.

     “ Indebtedness ” of any person shall mean, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such person for borrowed money or with respect to deposits or advances of any kind, (b) all

15


 

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 or assets acquired by such person, (d) all obligations of such person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than current trade accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business, which for the avoidance of doubt, shall mean trade payables that are no more than ninety (90) days outstanding after the earlier of (i) the typical payment date or (ii) the required payment date), (e) all obligations of such person, contingent or otherwise, to purchase, redeem, retire or otherwise acquire for value any Equity Interests in such person, (f) 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; provided that if such Indebtedness has expressly not been assumed, the amount of such Indebtedness for purposes of this Agreement shall be the lesser of (1) the amount of such Indebtedness and (2) the fair market value of the collateral subject to such Lien, (g) all obligations of such person under Financial Reinsurance Agreements, (h) all Guarantees by such person of Indebtedness of others, (i) all Capital Lease Obligations or Synthetic Lease Obligations of such person, (j) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such person as an account party in respect of letters of credit and letters of guaranty and (k) 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 person (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 other person, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such person is not liable therefor. For the avoidance of doubt, Indebtedness shall not include obligations to employees undertaken in the ordinary course and consistent with past practice under health or disability employee benefit programs not constituting obligations for borrowed money.

     “ Indemnified Taxes ” shall mean Taxes other than Excluded Taxes and Other Taxes.

     “ Indemnitee ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.05. (b) .

     “ Information ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.16.

     “ Installment Agreement ” shall mean an agreement or arrangement (however evidenced) pursuant to which a policyholder agrees to pay a Regulated Insurance Subsidiary the premium cost on an insurance policy at a future date in one or more installments, together with a service charge.

     “ Insurance Business ” shall mean one or more aspects of the business of (a) selling, issuing or underwriting nonstandard personal auto insurance and (b) selling or issuing reinsurance substantially related to the foregoing.

     “ Insurance Contract ” shall mean any insurance contract or policy issued by a Regulated Insurance Subsidiary (but shall not include any Reinsurance Agreement or Retrocession Agreement).

16


 

     “ Insurance Regulators ” shall mean, with respect to any Regulated Insurance Subsidiary, the Governmental Authority, insurance department or similar administrative authority or agency located in (a) each state in which such Regulated Insurance Subsidiary is domiciled or (b) to the extent asserting regulatory jurisdiction over such Regulated Insurance Subsidiary, the Governmental Authority, insurance department, authority or agency in each state in which such Regulated Insurance Subsidiary is licensed, shall include any federal insurance regulatory department, authority or agency that may be created and that asserts regulatory jurisdiction over such Regulated Insurance Subsidiary.

     “ Intellectual Property Collateral ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

     “ Intellectual Property Security Agreement ” shall mean all Intellectual Property Security Agreements to be executed and delivered by the Loan Parties, each substantially in the applicable form required by the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

     “ Interest Coverage Ratio ” shall mean, on any date, the ratio of (a) Cash Flow for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (other than Premium Finance Co. and its Subsidiaries) for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters most recently ended on or prior to such date, taken as one accounting period, to (b) Consolidated Interest Expense for the Borrower its Subsidiaries (other than Premium Finance Co. and its Subsidiaries) for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ended on or prior to such date, taken as one accounting period.

     “ Interest Payment Date ” shall mean (a) with respect to any ABR Loan, the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December commencing March 30, 2007, (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 that would have been an Interest Payment Date had successive Interest Periods of three months’ duration been applicable to such Borrowing.

     “ Interest Period ” shall mean, 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 1, 2, 3 or 6 months thereafter, as the Borrower may elect; provided , however , that (a) 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 (b) 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. Interest shall accrue from and including the first day of an Interest Period to but excluding the last day 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.

     “ Investments ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.04.

17


 

     “ Issuing Bank ” shall mean, as the context may require, (a) CS, in its capacity as the issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, and (b) any other Lender that may become an Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.23. (i) or Section 2.23. (k) , with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Lender. The Issuing Bank may, in its discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates of the Issuing Bank, in which case the term “Issuing Bank” shall include any such Affiliate with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate.

     “ Issuing Bank Fees ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05. (c).

     “ Joinder Agreement ” means the joinder agreement, if any, by and among Borrower, each New Revolving Loan Lender and Administrative Agent, executed in accordance with Section 2.24, which shall set forth the terms and conditions for the making of the New Revolving Loans by the New Revolving Loan Lenders.

     “ L/C Commitment ” shall mean the commitment of the Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit pursuant to Section 2.23..

     “ L/C Disbursement ” shall mean a payment or disbursement made by the Issuing Bank pursuant to a Letter of Credit.

     “ L/C Exposure ” shall mean, at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn amount of all Letters of Credit at such time and (b) the aggregate amount of all L/C Disbursements that have not been reimbursed at such time. The L/C Exposure of any Revolving Credit Lender at any time shall equal its Pro Rata Percentage of the aggregate L/C Exposure at such time.

     “ L/C Fee Payment Date ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05. (c).

     “ L/C Participation Fee ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05. (c).

     “ Lender Addendum ” shall mean, with respect to any initial Lender, a Lender Addendum in the form of Exhibit F, or such other form as may be supplied by the Administrative Agent, to be executed and delivered by such Lender on the Closing Date.

     “ Lenders ” shall mean (a) the persons that deliver a Lender Addendum (other than any such person that has ceased to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance) and (b) any person that has become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance. Unless the context otherwise requires, the term “Lenders” shall include the Swingline Lender.

     “ Letter of Credit ” shall mean any letter of credit issued pursuant to Section 2.23.

     “ Leverage Ratio ” shall mean, on any date, the ratio of (a) Total Debt on such date to (b) Cash Flow for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters most recently ended on or prior to such date, taken as one accounting period.

     “ LIBO Rate ” shall mean, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m.,

18


 

London time, on the date that is two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period by reference to the British Bankers’ Association Interest Settlement Rates for deposits in dollars (as set forth by the Bloomberg Information Service or any successor thereto or any other service selected by the Administrative Agent which has been nominated by the British Bankers’ Association as an authorized information vendor for the purpose of displaying such rates) for a period equal to such Interest Period; provided that, to the extent that an interest rate is not ascertainable pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this definition, the “LIBO Rate” shall be the interest rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the average of the rates per annum at which deposits in dollars are offered for such relevant Interest Period to major banks in the London interbank market in London, England by the Administrative Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the date that is two Business Days prior to the beginning of such Interest Period.

     “ Lien ” shall mean, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien (statutory or otherwise), pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, collateral assignment, 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 of a third party with respect to such securities.

     “ LIFCO ” shall mean LIFCO, L.L.C., a Louisiana limited liability company.

     “ Loan Documents ” shall mean this Agreement and the Security Documents.

     “ Loan Parties ” shall mean the Borrower and each Subsidiary that is or becomes a party to a Loan Document.

     “ Loans ” shall mean the Revolving Loans, the Term Loans and the Swingline Loans.

     “ Loss Ratio ” means the ratio of loss and loss adjustment expense to earned premiums.

     “ MAE Book Value ” shall mean (a) $88,800,000 as of October 31, 2006, (b) $90,100,000 as of November 30, 2006, (c) $91,500,000 as of December 31, 2006, (d) $92,900,000 as of January 31, 2007, and (e) $94,300,000 as of February 28, 2007.

     “ Majority Facility Lenders ” shall mean, with respect to any Facility, the holders of a majority of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Term Loans or the Aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure, as the case may be, outstanding under such Facility (or, in the case of the Revolving Credit Facility, prior to the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments, the holders of a majority of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment).

     “ Margin Stock ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Regulation U.

     “ Material Adverse Effect ” shall mean shall mean a material adverse condition or material adverse change in or materially affecting (a) the business, assets, liabilities, operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (b) the validity or enforceability of any of the Loan Documents or the rights and remedies of the

19


 

Arranger, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or the Secured Parties thereunder; provided that solely for purposes of the representations and warranties given on and as of the Closing Date, “Material Adverse Effect” shall mean a Closing Date Material Adverse Effect.

     “ Material Real Property ” shall mean (i) all Real Property owned in fee by any Loan Party that, together with any improvements thereon, individually has a fair market value of at least $5,000,000, and (ii) all leased Real Property of any Loan Party which lease individually has a fair market value of at least $5,000,000.

     “ Material Indebtedness ” shall mean Indebtedness (other than the Loans and Letters of Credit), or obligations in respect of one or more Hedging Agreements, of any one or more of the Borrower or the Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $2,500,000. 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.

     “ Maximum Rate ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.09.

     “ Moody’s ” shall mean Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

     “ Mortgaged Properties ” shall mean, initially, each parcel of real property and the improvements thereto owned or leased by a Loan Party and specified on Schedule 1.01(a), and shall include each other parcel of real property and improvements thereto with respect to which a Mortgage is granted pursuant to Section 5.09 or 5.10.

     “ Mortgages ” shall mean the fee or leasehold mortgages or deeds of trust, assignments of leases and rents and other security documents granting a Lien on any Mortgaged Property to secure the Obligations, in the form of Exhibit G, with such changes as shall be advisable under the law of the jurisdiction in which such Mortgage is to be recorded and as are reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, as the same may be amended, supplemented, replaced or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

     “ Multiemployer Plan ” shall mean a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

     “ NAIC ” shall mean the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any successor organization thereto.

     “ Net Cash Proceeds ” shall mean (a) with respect to any Asset Sale, Recovery Event or Extraordinary Receipts, the proceeds thereof in the form of cash and Permitted Investments (including any such proceeds subsequently received (as and when received) in respect of noncash consideration initially received), net of (i) in respect of Asset Sales or Recovery Events, selling expenses (including reasonable and customary broker’s fees or commissions, legal fees, transfer and similar taxes incurred by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries in connection therewith and the Borrower’s good faith estimate of income taxes paid or payable in connection with such sale, after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements), (ii) in respect of Asset Sales, amounts provided as a reserve, in accordance with

20


 

GAAP, against any liabilities under any indemnification obligations or purchase price adjustment associated with such Asset Sale ( provided that, to the extent and at the time any such amounts are released from such reserve, such amounts shall constitute Net Cash Proceeds) and (iii) in respect of Asset Sales or Recovery Events, the principal amount, premium or penalty, if any, interest and other amounts on any Indebtedness for borrowed money which is secured by the asset sold in such Asset Sale and which is required to be repaid with such proceeds (other than any such Indebtedness assumed by the purchaser of such asset); provided , however , that, in respect of Asset Sales and Recovery Events, if (x) the Borrower shall deliver a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower to the Administrative Agent at the time of receipt thereof setting forth the Borrower’s intent to reinvest such proceeds in productive assets of a kind then used or usable in the business of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries within 180 days of receipt of such proceeds and (y) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and shall be continuing at the time of such certificate or at the proposed time of the application of such proceeds, such proceeds shall not constitute Net Cash Proceeds except to the extent not so used at the end of such 180day period, at which time such proceeds shall be deemed to be Net Cash Proceeds; and (b) with respect to any issuance or disposition of Indebtedness or any Equity Issuance, the cash proceeds thereof, net of all taxes and reasonable and customary fees, commissions, costs and other expenses incurred by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries in connection therewith.

     “ New Revolving Loan Commitment ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.24.

     “ New Revolving Loan Lender ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.24.

     “ New Revolving Loan ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.24.

     “ Obligations ” shall mean all obligations defined as “Obligations” in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and the other Security Documents.

     “ Other Taxes ” shall mean any and all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies (including interest, fines, penalties and additions to tax) arising from any payment made under any Loan Document or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document.

     “ Paying Agent ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Article VIII.

     “ PBGC ” shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA and any successor entity performing similar functions.

     “ Perfection Certificate ” shall mean the Pre-Closing UCC Diligence Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H or any other form approved by the Collateral Agent.

     “ Permits ” shall mean any and all franchises, licenses, leases, permits, approvals, notifications, certifications, registrations, authorizations, exemptions, qualifications, easements, rights of way, Liens and other rights, privileges and approvals required under any Requirement of Law.

21


 

     “ Permitted Acquisition ” shall mean (i) the acquisition by Borrower of USAgencies and its Subsidiaries pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, and (ii) the acquisition by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of all or substantially all the assets of a person or line of business of such person, or all of the Equity Interests of a person (referred to herein as the “ Acquired Entity ”); provided that (w) the Acquired Entity shall be a going concern and shall be in a similar line of business as that of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries as conducted during the current and most recently concluded calendar year; (x) at the time of such transaction (A) both before and after giving effect thereto, no Event of Default or Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and (B) the Borrower would be in compliance with the covenants set forth in Sections 6.11 through 6.16, in each case as of the most recently completed period ending prior to such transaction for which the financial statements and certificates required by Section 5.04(a) or 5.04(b) were required to be delivered or for which comparable financial statements have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, after giving pro forma effect to such transaction and to any other event occurring after such period as to which pro forma recalculation is appropriate (including any other transaction described in this definition occurring after such period) as if such transaction (and the occurrence or assumption of any Indebtedness in connection therewith) had occurred as of the first day of such period; and (C) after giving effect to such acquisition, there must be at least $3,000,000 of unused and available Revolving Credit Commitments; (y) the Borrower and the Subsidiaries shall not incur or assume any Indebtedness in connection with such acquisition, except as permitted by Section 6.01; and (iv) the Borrower shall comply, and shall cause the Acquired Entity to comply, with the applicable provisions of Sections 5.09 and 5.10 and the Security Documents.

     “ Permitted Holders ” shall mean JC Flowers I L.P., JC Flowers II L.P., JC Flowers II-A L.P., JC Flowers II-B L.P., JC Flowers & Co., LLC and any other affiliated investment funds which are managed or controlled thereby or an Affiliate thereof in the ordinary course of business and pursuant to written agreements (including, without limitation, pursuant to the organizational documents of such persons).

     “ Permitted Investments ” shall mean:

     (a) direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States of America (or by any agency thereof to the extent such obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America), in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof;

     (b) investments in commercial paper maturing within 270 days from the date of acquisition thereof and having, at such date of acquisition, the highest credit rating obtainable from S&P or from Moody’s;

     (c) investments in certificates of deposit, banker’s acceptances and time deposits maturing within 180 days from the date of acquisition thereof issued or guaranteed by or placed with, and money market deposit accounts issued or offered by, the Administrative Agent or any domestic office of any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or any State thereof that has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000;

22


 

     (d) fully collateralized repurchase agreements with a term of not more than 30 days for securities described in clause (a) above and entered into with a financial institution satisfying the criteria of clause (c) above;

     (e) investments in “money market funds” within the meaning of Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, substantially all of whose assets are invested in investments of the type described in clauses (a) through (d) above; and

     (f) other shortterm investments utilized by Foreign Subsidiaries in accordance with normal investment practices for cash management in investments of a type analogous to the foregoing.

     “ Permitted IT Capital Expenditures ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.10.

     “ Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness ” shall mean Indebtedness issued or incurred (including by means of the extension or renewal of existing Indebtedness) to refinance, refund, extend, renew or replace existing Indebtedness (“ Refinanced Indebtedness ”); provided that (a) the principal amount of such refinancing, refunding, extending, renewing or replacing Indebtedness is not greater than the principal amount of such Refinanced Indebtedness plus the amount of any premiums or penalties and accrued and unpaid interest paid thereon and reasonable fees and expenses, in each case associated with such refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement, (b) such refinancing, refunding, extending, renewing or replacing Indebtedness has a final maturity that is no sooner than, and a weighted average life to maturity that is no shorter than, such Refinanced Indebtedness, (c) if such Refinanced Indebtedness or any Guarantees thereof are subordinated to the Obligations, such refinancing, refunding, extending, renewing or replacing Indebtedness and any Guarantees thereof remain so subordinated on terms no less favorable to the Lenders, (d) the obligors in respect of such Refinanced Indebtedness immediately prior to such refinancing, refunding, extending, renewing or replacing are the only obligors on such refinancing, refunding extending, renewing or replacing Indebtedness and (e) such refinancing, refunding, extending, renewing or replacing Indebtedness contains covenants and events of default and is benefited by Guarantees, if any, which, taken as a whole, are determined in good faith by a Financial Officer of the Borrower to be no less favorable to the Borrower or the applicable Subsidiary and the Lenders in any material respect than the covenants and events of default or Guarantees, if any, in respect of such Refinanced Indebtedness.

     “ person ” shall mean any natural person, corporation, trust, business trust, joint venture, joint stock company, association, company, limited liability company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.

     “ Pledged Collateral ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

     “ Premium Finance Agreement ” shall mean an agreement (however evidenced) by which a policyholder agrees to pay LIFCO or a Premium Finance Co. the premium cost on an insurance policy at a future date in one or more installments, together with a finance charge and any related

23


 

fees, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

     “ Premium Finance Co. ” shall mean a wholly owned bankruptcy remote single purpose subsidiary of the Borrower organized to provide premium financing to customers of the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and other third parties engaged in the Insurance Business (excluding USAgencies and its Subsidiaries, or any person that USAgencies or any of its Subsidiaries are or may be merged with or into) to which such persons have provided non-standard automobile insurance policies, which was formed pursuant to organizational documents acceptable in form and content to the Administrative Agent, which has entered into an Approved Premium Finance Facility, and which does not compete in the state of Louisiana with USAgencies or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to the provision of premium financing to customers of USAgencies, its Subsidiaries or any other Subsidiary of the Borrower operating under the brand or trade name “USAgencies” or any other brand or trade name used by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries.

     “ Primary New Revolving Loan Commitment ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.24.

     “ Prime Rate ” shall mean the rate of interest per annum announced from time to time by CS as its prime rate in effect at its principal office in New York City; each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective as of the opening of business on the date such change is announced as being effective. The Prime Rate is a reference rate and does not necessarily represent the lowest or best rate actually available.

     “ Pro Forma Cash Flow ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.02. (j) .

     “ Pro Rata Percentage ” of any Revolving Credit Lender, at any time, shall mean the percentage of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment represented by such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment. In the event the Revolving Credit Commitments shall have expired or been terminated, the Pro Rata Percentages of any Revolving Credit Lender shall be determined on the basis of the Revolving Credit Commitments most recently in effect prior thereto.

     “ Projections ” shall have the meaning assigned such term in Section 4.02(k).

     “ Purchase Agreement ” shall mean the purchase and sale agreement dated as of October 3, 2006, among the Sellers and the Borrower, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

     “ Qualified Additional Subordinated Debt ” shall mean any Indebtedness of the Borrower incurred pursuant to the issuance of any TruPS and any related TruPS instrument, which (i) shall not be secured by any Equity Interests or assets of the Borrower, any Subsidiary thereof or any other person; (ii) shall not be guaranteed by any person other than the Borrower; (iii) shall not mature, and shall not be subject to any mandatory repurchase, redemption or amortization, in each case, prior to the date that is six months after the latest of the Revolving Credit Maturity Date and the Term Loan Maturity Date, as either of the foregoing may be extended in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; (iv) may be optionally or voluntarily redeemable, at the Borrower’s option, subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 6.09(b) hereof; (v) shall

24


 

not contain any financial maintenance covenants; (vi) shall not contain any other covenants, events of default (including cross defaults) or remedies, more restrictive or less advantageous to the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and the Lenders than those set forth in the Subordinated Debt; (vii) shall not be exchangeable or convertible into Indebtedness of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (other than additional Qualified Additional Subordinated Debt) or any preferred stock or other Equity Interests; (viii) after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness, (A) Borrower and its Subsidiaries must be in pro forma compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Sections 6.12 and 6.16 and (B) no Default or Event of Default shall exist or would result from such incurrence; (ix) shall be contractually subordinated in right of payment and otherwise to the Obligations pursuant to provisions substantially similar to those set forth in the Subordinated Debt, such terms of subordination to be subject to the consent of the Administrative Agent, which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned withheld or delayed (it being understood that provisions substantially similar to those set forth in the Subordinated Debt shall be deemed to be so satisfactory); and (x) shall otherwise contain provisions substantially similar to those set forth in the Subordinated Debt.

     “ Qualified Additional Subordinated Debt Documents ” shall mean the TruPS, TruPS Instruments, indentures and all other instruments, agreements and other documents evidencing or governing the Qualified Additional Subordinated Debt or providing any Guarantee or other right in respect thereof, executed by the Borrower and/or any TruPS Business Trust established in connection with the issuance of such Qualified Additional Subordinated Debt for the benefit of the lenders, noteholders or other securities holders thereunder, as the same may be amended, supplemented, replaced or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

     “ Qualified Insurance Holding Company ” means each Subsidiary of the Borrower that (x) is an entity which has as its only assets (a) the direct ownership of the Equity Interests of one or more Regulated Insurance Subsidiaries, (b) any de minimis assets related to such Regulated Insurance Subsidiaries and (c) any cash or other distributions from any such Regulated Insurance Subsidiary prior to prompt further distribution of such cash or distribution, subject to the Requirements of Law, if any, to the Qualified Insurance Holding Company’s parent, and (y) is subject to a Requirement of Law which, in the reasonable judgment of the Borrower and upon advice of counsel, prohibits, restricts or otherwise places limitations upon the ability of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, being granted a perfected first priority security interest in the Equity Interests in such Subsidiary as if such Subsidiary were a Regulated Insurance Subsidiary, in each case, if, only to the extent and only for so long as such Requirement of Law remains in effect; provided that the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, shall have been granted a perfected first priority security interest in the Equity Interests in a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Borrower (i) that at all times owns and controls 100% of the Equity Interests in each such Qualified Insurance Holding Company, (ii) is not itself a Qualified Insurance Holding Company, (iii) is and remains a Guarantor hereunder and (iv) has otherwise complied with its obligations under Section 5.09.

     “ Real Property ” shall mean all Mortgaged Property and all other real property owned or leased from time to time by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries.

25


 

     “ Recovery Event ” shall mean any settlement of or payment in respect of any property or casualty insurance claim or any taking under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding of or relating to any property or asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary.

     “ Register ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section Section 9.04. (d)         .

     “ Regulated Insurance Subsidiaries ” shall mean collectively, Affirmative Insurance Company, an Illinois corporation, Affirmative Insurance Company of Michigan, a Michigan corporation, Insura Property and Casualty Insurance Company, an Illinois corporation, USDirect and USCasualty and any Subsidiary of the Borrower, formed or acquired after the Closing Date, which is authorized or admitted to carry on or transact Insurance Business in any jurisdiction, is regulated by an Insurance Regulator, and is required by any Insurance Regulator to file an annual statement in the form prescribed by NAIC for an insurance company.

     “ Regulation T ” shall mean Regulation T of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

     “ Regulation U ” shall mean Regulation U of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

     “ Regulation X ” shall mean Regulation X of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

     “ Reinsurance Agreement ” shall mean any agreement, contract, treaty or other arrangement whereby one or more insurers, as reinsurers, assume liabilities under insurance policies or agreements issued by another insurance or reinsurance company or companies.

     “ Related Fund ” shall mean, with respect to any Lender that is a fund that invests in bank loans, any other fund that invests in bank loans and is advised or managed by the same investment advisor as such Lender or by an Affiliate of such investment advisor.

     “ Related Parties ” shall mean, with respect to any specified person, such person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, trustees, employees, agents and advisors of such person and such person’s Affiliates.

     “ Release ” shall mean any release, spill, seepage, emission, leaking, pumping, injection, pouring, emptying, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, dumping, escaping, leaching, or migration into, onto or through the environment or within or upon any building, structure or facility.

     “ Repayment Date ” shall have the meaning given such term in Section 2.11. (d) .

     “ Required Lenders ” shall mean, at any time, Lenders having Loans (excluding Swingline Loans), L/C Exposure, Swingline Exposure and unused Revolving Credit Commitments and Term Loan Commitments representing at least a majority of the sum of all Loans outstanding (excluding Swingline Loans), L/C Exposure, Swingline Exposure and unused Revolving Credit Commitments and Term Loan Commitments at such time.

26


 

     “ Required Minimum Percentage ” shall mean 30%; provided that the Required Minimum Percentage shall decrease to a revised Required Minimum Percentage of no lower than 15% if, and for so long (and only for so long as) the Permitted Holders continue to appoint and control the greater of three (3) or a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of directors of the Borrower; provided further that such decrease shall be limited to the percentage of the Permitted Holders’ ownership dilution caused solely by the issuance of Equity Interests of the Borrower and not, for the avoidance of doubt, by the sale, transfer or other assignment of any Equity Interests of the Borrower by Permitted Holders to persons that are not Permitted Holders.

     “ Required Prepayment Percentage ” shall mean (a) in the case of any Asset Sale or Recovery Event, 100%; (b) in the case of any Equity Issuance, 50%; (c) in the case of any issuance or other incurrence of Indebtedness, 100%; (d) in the case of any Excess Cash Flow, 75%, or, if on the date of the applicable prepayment, the Leverage Ratio is less than 3.00 to 1.00 but greater than 2.50 to 1.00, 50% or if on the date of the applicable prepayment, the Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 2.50 to 1.00, 25%; and (e) in the case of Extraordinary Receipts, 100%.

     “ Required Revolving Credit Lenders ” shall mean, at any time, Revolving Credit Lenders having Revolving Loans (excluding Swingline Loans), L/C Exposure, Swingline Exposure and unused Revolving Credit Commitments representing at least a majority of the sum of all Revolving Loans outstanding (excluding Swingline Loans), L/C Exposure, Swingline Exposure and unused Revolving Credit Commitments at such time.

     “ Requirement of Law ” shall mean as to any person, the governing documents of such person, and any law, treaty, rule or regulation or determination of an arbitrator or a court or other Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such person or any of its Real Property or personal property or to which such person or any of its property of any nature is subject.

     “ Responsible Officer ” of any person shall mean any executive officer or Financial Officer of such person and any other officer or similar official thereof responsible for the administration of the obligations of such person in respect of this Agreement.

     “ Restricted Indebtedness ” shall mean Indebtedness of any Loan Party, the payment, prepayment, repurchase or defeasance of which is restricted under Section 6.09. (b) .

     “ Restricted Payment ” shall mean any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity Interests in the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, defeasance, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any Equity Interests in Borrower or any Subsidiary or any option, warrant or other right to acquire any such Equity Interests in Borrower or any Subsidiary.

     “ Retrocession Agreement ” shall mean any agreement, contract, treaty or other arrangement whereby one or more insurers or reinsurers, as retrocessionaires, assume liabilities

27


 

of reinsurers under a Reinsurance Agreement or other retrocessionaires under another Retrocession Agreement.

     “ Revolving Credit Borrowing ” shall mean a Borrowing comprised of Revolving Loans.

     “ Revolving Credit Commitment ” shall mean, with respect to each Lender, the commitment, if any, of such Lender to make Revolving Loans (and to acquire participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans) hereunder as set forth on the Lender Addendum delivered by such Lender, or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Lender assumed its Revolving Credit Commitment, as applicable, as the same may be (a) increased from time to time pursuant to Section 2.24, (b) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.09. or Section 2.25 and (c) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 9.04.         .

     “ Revolving Credit Exposure ” shall mean, with respect to any Lenders, at any time, the aggregate principal amount at such time of all outstanding Revolving Loans of such Lender, plus the aggregate amount at such time of such Lender’s L/C Exposure, plus the aggregate amount at such time of such Lender’s Swingline Exposure.

     “ Revolving Credit Lender ” shall mean a Lender with a Revolving Credit Commitment or an outstanding Revolving Loan.

     “ Revolving Credit Maturity Date ” shall mean the third anniversary of the Closing Date.

     “ Revolving Loan Facility ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Facility”.

     “ Revolving Loans ” shall mean the revolving loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to clause (b) of Section 2.01.

     “ Risk-Based Capital Ratio ” shall mean, for any Regulated Insurance Subsidiary, the ratio (expressed as a percentage), at any time, of the Total Adjusted Capital of such Regulated Insurance Subsidiary to the Authorized Control Level of such Regulated Insurance Subsidiary.

     “ S&P ” shall mean Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group, Inc.

     “ SAP ” shall mean the statutory accounting and reporting practices prescribed or permitted by the insurance laws or Insurance Regulator (or other similar Governmental Authority) with respect to each Regulated Insurance Subsidiary.

     “ Secondary New Revolving Loan Commitment ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.24.

     “ Secured Parties ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

     “ Security Documents ” shall mean the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, the Mortgages, the Intellectual Property Security Agreements and each of the other security

28


 

agreements, pledges, mortgages, consents and other instruments and documents executed and delivered pursuant to any of the foregoing or pursuant to Section 5.09 or 5.10.

     “ Sellers ” shall mean persons identified on Exhibit A of the Purchase Agreement that are signatories thereto.

     “ SPC ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(i).

     “ Statutory Reserves ” shall mean 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 and any other banking authority, domestic or foreign, to which the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including any branch, Affiliate or other fronting office making or holding a Loan) is subject for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency Liabilities” in Regulation D of the Board). 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. Statutory Reserves shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.

     “ Subordinated Debt ” shall mean all Indebtedness outstanding under the Subordinated Debt Documents.

     “ Subordinated Debt Documents ” shall mean the USAgencies Trust Preferred Note Documents and the Borrower Trust Preferred Note Documents.

     “ subsidiary ” shall mean, with respect to any person (herein referred to as the “ parent ”), any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, 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 more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, at the time any determination is being made, owned, controlled or held, or (b) that is, at the time any determination is made, 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 ” shall mean any subsidiary of any Loan Party.

     “ Subsidiary Guarantor ” shall mean, initially, each Subsidiary specified on Schedule 1.01(b) and, at any time thereafter, shall include each other Subsidiary that is not an Excluded Foreign Subsidiary, a Regulated Insurance Subsidiary or a Premium Finance Co.

     “ Survey ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.02(q).

     “ Swingline Commitment ” shall mean the commitment of the Swingline Lender to make loans pursuant to Section 2.22, as the same may be reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.09.

29


 

     “ Swingline Exposure ” shall mean, at any time, the aggregate principal amount at such time of all outstanding Swingline Loans. The Swingline Exposure of any Revolving Credit Lender at any time shall equal its Pro Rata Percentage of the aggregate Swingline Exposure at such time.

     “ Swingline Lender ” shall mean Credit Suisse acting in its capacity as lender of Swingline Loans hereunder.

     “ Swingline Loan ” shall mean any loan made by the Swingline Lender pursuant to Section 2.22.

     “ Synthetic Lease Obligations ” shall mean all monetary obligations of a person under (a) a so-called synthetic, off-balance sheet or tax retention lease or (b) an agreement for the use or possession of any property (whether real, personal or mixed) creating obligations which do not appear on the balance sheet of such person, but which, upon the insolvency or bankruptcy of such person, would be characterized as Indebtedness of such person (without regard to accounting treatment).

     “ Synthetic Purchase Agreement ” shall mean any swap, derivative or other agreement or combination of agreements pursuant to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is or may become obligated to make (a) any payment in connection with a purchase by any third party from a person other than the Borrower or any Subsidiary of any Equity Interest or Restricted Indebtedness or (b) any payment (other than on account of a permitted purchase by it of any Equity Interest or Restricted Indebtedness) the amount of which is determined by reference to the price or value at any time of any Equity Interest or Restricted Indebtedness; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only to current or former directors, officers or employees of the Borrower or the Subsidiaries (or to their heirs or estates) shall be deemed to be a Synthetic Purchase Agreement.

     “ Tax Code ” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

     “ Taxes ” shall mean any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, charges, liabilities or withholdings imposed by any Governmental Authority.

     “ Term Borrowing ” shall mean a Borrowing comprised of Term Loans.

     “ Term Lender ” shall mean a Lender with a Term Loan Commitment or an outstanding Term Loan.

     “ Term Loan Commitment ” shall mean, with respect to each Lender, the commitment, if any, of such Lender to make Term Loans hereunder as set forth on the Lender Addendum delivered by such Lender, or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Lender assumed its Term Loan Commitment, as applicable, as the same may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.09 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 9.04. The initial aggregate amount of the Term Loan Commitments is $200,000,000.

30


 

     “ Term Loan Facility ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Facility.”

     “ Term Loan Maturity Date ” shall mean the seventh anniversary of the Closing Date.

     “ Term Loans ” shall mean the term loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01.

     “ Title Insurance Company ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.02(o).

     “ Total Adjusted Capital ” shall mean “Total Adjusted Capital” as defined by the NAIC as of December 31, 1994, as such definition has been amended from time to time, and as applied in the context of the Risk-Based Capital Guidelines promulgated by the NAIC.

     “ Total Debt ” shall mean, at any time, the aggregate amount of Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries (other than Premium Finance Co. and its Subsidiaries) outstanding at such time, in the amount that would be reflected on a balance sheet prepared at such time on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

     “ Total Revolving Credit Commitment ” shall mean, at any time, the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments, as in effect at such time. The initial Total Revolving Credit Commitment is $0.00.

     “ Transactions ” shall mean, collectively, (a) the execution, delivery and performance by the Loan Parties of the Loan Documents to which they are a party, (b) the borrowings hereunder, the issuance of Letters of Credit and the use of proceeds of each of the foregoing, (c) the granting of Liens pursuant to the Security Documents, (d) the Acquisition and the other Acquisition Transactions and (e) any other transactions related to or entered into in connection with any of the foregoing.

     “ TruPS ” shall mean trust preferred securities issued to investors by a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Borrower formed as a business trust (each a “ TruPS Business Trust ”) pursuant to organizational and charter documents substantially similar to those of the Existing TruPS Business Trusts, in exchange for an investment of funds by such investors, which funds in turn are loaned by such TruPS Business Trust to the Borrower in exchange for the issuance by the Borrower of Indebtedness in the form of a debenture or similar instrument to such TruPS Business Trust (each a “ TruPS Instrument ”) and which otherwise contains provisions substantially similar to those set forth in the Subordinated Debt outstanding.

     “ TruPS Business Trust ” has the meaning given such term in the definition of TruPS.

     “ TruPS Instrument ” has the meaning given such term in the definition of TruPS.

     “ Type ”, when used in respect of any Loan or Borrowing, shall refer to the Rate by reference to which interest on such Loan or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing is determined. For purposes hereof, the term “ Rate ” shall include the Adjusted LIBO Rate and the Alternate Base Rate.

31


 

     “ UCC ” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code.

     “ Uniform Customs ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.07.

     “ USAgencies ” shall mean USAgencies L.L.C., a Louisiana limited liability company and its Subsidiaries.

     “ USAgencies Indenture ” shall mean the Indenture, dated as of March 29, 2005, by and among USAgencies and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, as trustee, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

     “ USAgencies Intercompany Tax Agreement ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.13.

     “ USAgencies Subordinated Notes ” shall mean USAgencies’s Floating Rate Subordinate Notes due 2035 in the aggregate amount of $20,000,000 issued pursuant to the USAgencies Indenture.

     “ USAgencies Trust Preferred Note Documents ” shall mean the USAgencies Indenture and all other instruments, agreements and other documents evidencing or governing the USAgencies Subordinated Notes or providing any Guarantee or other right in respect thereof, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

     “ USCasualty ” shall mean USAgencies Casualty Insurance Company, Inc., a Louisiana corporation.

     “ USDirect ” shall mean USAgencies Direct Insurance Company, Inc., a New York corporation.

     “ wholly owned subsidiary ” of any person shall mean a subsidiary of such person of which securities (except for directors’ qualifying shares) or other ownership interests representing 100% of the Equity Interests are, at the time any determination is being made, owned, controlled or held by such person or one or more wholly owned subsidiaries of such person or by such person and one or more wholly owned subsidiaries of such person; a “ wholly owned Subsidiary ” shall mean any wholly owned subsidiary of the Borrower.

     “ Withdrawal Liability ” shall mean 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.

     SECTION 1.02. Terms Generally . The definitions in Section 1.01 shall apply equally to both 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”, and words of similar import, shall not be limiting and 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”. The words “asset” and

32


 

“property” shall be construed as having the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all rights and interests in tangible and intangible assets and properties of any kind whatsoever, whether real, personal or mixed, including cash, securities, Equity Interests, accounts and contract rights. 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 of this Agreement unless the context shall otherwise require. All references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be deemed references to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement unless the context shall otherwise require. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, (a) any definition of, or reference to, any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document in this Agreement shall mean such Loan Document or other agreement, instrument or document as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, restatements, supplements or modifications set forth herein) and (b) all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided , however , that if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower wishes to amend any covenant in Article VI or any related definition to eliminate the effect of any change in GAAP occurring after the date of this Agreement on the operation of such covenant (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders wish to amend Article VI or any related definition for such purpose), then the Borrower’s compliance with such covenant shall be determined on the basis of GAAP in effect immediately before the relevant change in GAAP became effective, until either such notice is withdrawn or such covenant is amended in a manner satisfactory to the Borrower and the Required Lenders.

     SECTION 1.03. Classification of Loans and Borrowings . For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Class ( e.g. , a “Revolving Loan”) or by Type ( e.g. , a “Eurodollar Loan”) or by Class and Type ( e.g. , a “Eurodollar Revolving Loan”). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Class ( e.g. , a “Revolving Borrowing”) or by Type ( e.g. , a “Eurodollar Borrowing”) or by Class and Type ( e.g. , a “Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing”).

     SECTION 1.04. Pro Forma Calculations . All pro forma calculations permitted or required to be made by the Borrower or any Subsidiary pursuant to this Agreement shall include only those adjustments that would be permitted or required by Regulation S-X under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, together with those adjustments that (a) have been certified by a Financial Officer of the Borrower as having been prepared in good faith based upon reasonable assumptions and (b) are based on reasonably detailed written assumptions reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

ARTICLE II.

The Credits

     SECTION 2.01. Commitments . Subject to the terms and conditions hereof and relying upon the representations and warranties set forth herein, (a) each Term Lender agrees, severally and not jointly, to make a Term Loan to the Borrower on the Closing Date in a principal amount not to exceed its Term Loan Commitment and (b) each Revolving Credit Lender agrees, severally and not jointly, to make Revolving Loans to the Borrower, at any time

33


 

and from time to time on or after the date that is sixty (60) days following Closing Date (or such earlier date as the Borrower and the Revolving Credit Lenders as of such date may agree) and until the earlier of the Revolving Credit Maturity Date and the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Revolving Credit Lender in accordance with the terms hereof, in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding that will not result in such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment. Within the limits set forth in clause (b) of the preceding sentence and subject to the terms, conditions and limitations set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, pay or prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans. Amounts paid or prepaid in respect of Term Loans may not be reborrowed.

     SECTION 2.02. Loans . (a) Each Loan (other than Swingline Loans) shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Loans of the same Class and Type made by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Commitments of the applicable Class; provided , however , that the failure of any Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it shall not in itself relieve any other Lender of its obligation to lend hereunder (it being understood, however, that no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make any Loan required to be made by such other Lender). Except for Loans deemed made pursuant to Section 2.02(f) and subject to Section 2.22 relating to Swingline Loans, the Loans comprising any Borrowing shall be in an aggregate principal amount that is (i) an integral multiple of $500,000 and not less than $1,000,000 or (ii) equal to the remaining available balance of the applicable Commitments.

     (b) Subject to Sections 2.08 and 2.15, each Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Eurodollar Loans as the Borrower may request pursuant to Section 2.03; provided that no Borrowings may be converted into or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing having an Interest Period in excess of one month prior to the date which is 60 days after the Closing Date. Each Lender may at its option 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. Borrowings of more than one Type may be outstanding at the same time; provided , however , that the Borrower shall not be entitled to request any Borrowing that, if made, would result in more than ten Eurodollar Borrowings outstanding hereunder at any time. For purposes of the foregoing, Borrowings having different Interest Periods, regardless of whether they commence on the same date, shall be considered separate Borrowings.

     (c) Except with respect to Loans made pursuant to Section 2.02(f) and subject to Section 2.22 relating to Swingline Loans, each Lender shall make each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds to such account in New York City as the Administrative Agent may designate not later than 1:30 p.m., New York City time, and the Administrative Agent shall promptly credit the amounts so received to an account in the name of the Borrower, and designated by the Borrower in the applicable Borrowing Request or, if a Borrowing shall not occur on such date because any condition precedent herein specified shall not have been met, return the amounts so received to the respective Lenders.

34


 

     (d) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s portion of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such portion available to the Administrative Agent on the date of such Borrowing in accordance with paragraph (c) of this Section and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower on such date a corresponding amount. If the Administrative Agent shall have so made funds available then, to the extent that such Lender shall not have made such portion available to the Administrative Agent, such Lender and the Borrower severally agree to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at (i) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable at the time to the Loans comprising such Borrowing or (ii) in the case of such Lender, a rate determined by the Administrative Agent to represent its cost of overnight or shortterm funds (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error). If such Lender shall repay to the Administrative Agent such corresponding amount, such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan as part of such Borrowing for purposes of this Agreement.

     (e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Borrower shall not be entitled to request any Revolving Credit Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect thereto would end after the Revolving Credit Maturity Date.

     (f) If the Issuing Bank shall not have received from the Borrower the payment required to be made by Section 2.23(e) with respect to a Letter of Credit within the time specified in such Section, the Issuing Bank will promptly notify the Administrative Agent of the L/C Disbursement and the Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Revolving Credit Lender of such L/C Disbursement and its Pro Rata Percentage thereof. Each Revolving Credit Lender shall pay by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Administrative Agent not later than 2:00 p.m. Noon, New York City time, on such date (or, if such Revolving Credit Lender shall have received such notice later than 12:00 (noon), New York City time, on any day, not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the immediately following Business Day), an amount equal to such Lender’s Pro Rata Percentage of such L/C Disbursement (it being understood that such amount shall be deemed to constitute an ABR Revolving Loan of such Lender and such payment shall be deemed to have reduced the L/C Exposure), and the Administrative Agent will promptly pay to the Issuing Bank amounts so received by it from the Revolving Credit Lenders. The Administrative Agent will promptly pay to the Issuing Bank any amounts received by it from the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.23(e) prior to the time that any Revolving Credit Lender makes any payment pursuant to this paragraph; any such amounts received by the Administrative Agent thereafter will be promptly remitted by the Administrative Agent to the Revolving Credit Lenders that shall have made such payments and to the Issuing Bank, as their interests may appear. If any Revolving Credit Lender shall not have made its Pro Rata Percentage of such L/C Disbursement available to the Administrative Agent as provided above, such Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay interest on such amount, for each day from and including the date such amount is required to be paid in accordance with this paragraph to but excluding the date such amount is paid, to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Bank at (i) in the case of the Borrower, a rate per annum equal to the interest rate applicable to Revolving Loans pursuant to Section 2.06(a), and (ii) in the case of

35


 

such Lender, for the first such day, the Federal Funds Effective Rate, and for each day thereafter, the Alternate Base Rate.

     SECTION 2.03. Borrowing Procedure . In order to request a Borrowing (other than a Swingline Loan or a deemed Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.02(f), as to which this Section 2.03 shall not apply), the Borrower shall hand deliver or fax (or request telephonically with prompt hand delivery or fax made thereafter) to the Administrative Agent a duly completed Borrowing Request (a) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 12:00 Noon, New York City time, three Business Days before a proposed Borrowing and (b) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 12:00 Noon, New York City time, one Business Day before a proposed Borrowing. Each Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable, shall be signed by or on behalf of the Borrower and shall specify the following information: (i) whether the Borrowing then being requested is to be a Term Borrowing or a Revolving Credit Borrowing, and whether such Borrowing is to be a Eurodollar Borrowing or an ABR Borrowing; (ii) the date of such Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day); (iii) the number and location of the account to which funds are to be disbursed (which shall be an account that complies with the requirements of Section 2.02(c)); (iv) the amount of such Borrowing; and (v) if such Borrowing is to be a Eurodollar Borrowing, the initial Interest Period with respect thereto; provided , however , that, notwithstanding any contrary specification in any Borrowing Request, each requested Borrowing shall comply with the requirements set forth in Section 2.02. If no election as to the Type of Borrowing is specified in any such notice, then the requested Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing is specified in any such notice, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration. The Administrative Agent shall promptly advise the applicable Lenders of any notice given in accordance with this Section 2.03 (and the contents thereof), and of each Lender’s portion of the requested Borrowing.

     SECTION 2.04. Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt . (a) The Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender (i) the principal amount of each Term Loan of such Lender made to the Borrower as provided in Section 2.11 and (ii) the then unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Loan (including any Swingline Loan) of such Lender made to the Borrower on the Revolving Credit Maturity Date. The Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the Swingline Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Swingline Loan made to the Borrower on the earlier of the Revolving Credit Maturity Date and the first date after such Swingline Loan is made that is the 15th day or the last day of a calendar month and is at least three Business Days after such Swingline Loan is made.

     (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 to the Borrower from time to time, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time under this Agreement.

     (c) The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it will 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 the sum received by

36


 

the Administrative Agent hereunder from the Borrower or any Guarantor and each Lender’s share thereof.

     (d) The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraphs (b) and (c) of this Section shall be conclusive evidence (absent manifest error) of the existence and amounts of the obligations therein recorded; provided , however , 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 obligations of the Borrower to repay the Loans made to the Borrower in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

     (e) Any Lender may request that Loans made by it hereunder be evidenced by a promissory note. In such event, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to such Lender and its registered assigns and in a form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in the event any Lender shall request and receive such a promissory note, the interests represented by such note shall at all times (including after any assignment of all or part of such interests pursuant to Section 9.04) be represented by one or more promissory notes payable to the payee named therein or its registered assigns.

     SECTION 2.05. Fees . (a) The Borrower agrees to pay to each Lender, through the Administrative Agent, on the last Business Day of March, June, September and December (commencing March 30, 2007) in each year and on each date on which any Commitment of such Lender shall expire or be terminated as provided herein, a commitment fee (a “ Commitment Fee ”) equal to the Commitment Fee Rate on the average daily unused amount of the Commitments of such Lender (other than the Swingline Commitment) during the preceding quarter (or other period commencing with the date hereof or ending with the Revolving Credit Maturity Date or the date on which the Commitments of such Lender shall expire or be terminated). All Commitment Fees shall be computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in a year of 360 days. The Commitment Fee due to each Lender shall commence to accrue on the date hereof and shall cease to accrue on the date on which the Commitment of such Lender shall expire or be terminated as provided herein. For purposes of calculating Commitment Fees with respect to Revolving Credit Commitments only, no portion of the Revolving Credit Commitments shall be deemed utilized under Section 2.22 as a result of outstanding Swingline Loans.

     (b) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own account, the fees in the amounts and at the times from time to time agreed to in writing by the Borrower (or any Affiliate) and the Administrative Agent, including pursuant to the Fee Letter (the “ Administrative Agent Fees ”).

     (c) The Borrower agrees to pay (i) to each Revolving Credit Lender, through the Administrative Agent, on the last Business Day of March, June, September and December (commencing March 30, 2007) of each year and on the date on which the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Lender shall be terminated as provided herein (each, an “ L/C Fee Payment Date ”) a fee (an “ L/C Participation Fee ”) calculated on such Lender’s Pro Rata Percentage of the daily aggregate L/C Exposure (excluding the portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed L/C Disbursements which are earning interim interest pursuant to Section 2.23(h)) during the

37


 

preceding quarter (or shorter period commencing with the date hereof or ending with the Revolving Credit Maturity Date or the date on which all Letters of Credit have been canceled or have expired and the Revolving Credit Commitments of all Lenders shall have been terminated) at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Margin used to determine the interest rate on Revolving Credit Borrowings comprised of Eurodollar Loans pursuant to Section 2.06, and (ii) to the Issuing Bank with respect to each outstanding Letter of Credit issued for the account of (or at the request of) the Borrower a fronting fee, which shall accrue at the rate of 1 / 4 of 1% per annum or such other rate as shall be separately agreed upon between the Borrower and the Issuing Bank, on the drawable amount of such Letter of Credit, payable quarterly in arrears on each L/C Fee Payment Date after the issuance date of such Letter of Credit, as well as the Issuing Bank’s standard fees with respect to the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit issued for the account of (or at the request of) the Borrower or processing of drawings thereunder (the fees in this clause (ii), collectively, the “ Issuing Bank Fees ”). All L/C Participation Fees and Issuing Bank Fees shall be computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in a year of 360 days.

     (d) All Fees shall be paid on the dates due, in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent for distribution, if and as appropriate, among the Lenders, except that the Issuing Bank Fees shall be paid directly to the Issuing Bank. Once paid, none of the Fees shall be refundable under any circumstances, other than in connection with the over-payment of any such Fees as a result of any erroneous calculation by the Agent or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be.

     SECTION 2.06. Interest on Loans . (a) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.07, the Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing, including each Swingline Loan, shall bear interest (computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, when the Alternate Base Rate is determined by reference to the Prime Rate and over a year of 360 days at all other times) at a rate per annum equal to the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin in effect from time to time. !

     (b) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.07, the Loans comprising each Eurodollar Borrowing shall bear interest (computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over a year of 360 days) at a rate per annum equal to the Adjusted LIBO Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Margin in effect from time to time.

     (c) Interest on each Loan shall be payable on the Interest Payment Dates applicable to such Loan except as otherwise provided in this Agreement. The applicable Alternate Base Rate or Adjusted LIBO Rate for each Interest Period or day within an Interest Period, as the case may be, shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

     SECTION 2.07. Default Interest . If the Borrower shall default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any Loan or any other amount becoming due hereunder or under any other Loan Document, by acceleration or otherwise, the Borrower shall on demand from time to time pay interest, to the extent permitted by law, on such defaulted amount to but excluding the date of actual payment (after as well as before judgment) (a) in the case of overdue principal, at the rate otherwise applicable to such Loan pursuant to Section 2.06 plus 2.00% per

38


 

annum and (b) in all other cases, at a rate per annum (computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, when determined by reference to the Prime Rate and over a year of 360 days at all other times) equal to the rate that would be applicable to an ABR Revolving Loan plus 2.00%.

     SECTION 2.08. Alternate Rate of Interest . In the event, and on each occasion, that prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing (a) the Administrative Agent shall have determined that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the Adjusted LIBO Rate for such Interest Period or (b) the Administrative Agent is advised by the Majority Facility Lenders in respect of the relevant Facility that the Adjusted LIBO Rate for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining their Loans included in such Borrowing for such Interest Period, the Administrative Agent shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, give written or fax notice of such determination to the Borrower and the Lenders. In the event of any such determination, until the Administrative Agent shall have advised the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (i) any request by the Borrower for a Eurodollar Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.03 or 2.10 shall be deemed to be a request for an ABR Borrowing and (ii) any Interest Period election that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Eurodollar Borrowing shall be ineffective. Each determination by the Administrative Agent under this Section 2.08 shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

     SECTION 2.09. Termination and Reduction of Commitments . (a) Unless previously terminated in accordance with the terms hereof, (i) the Term Loan Commitments shall automatically terminate at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Closing Date and (ii) the Revolving Credit Commitments, the Swingline Commitment and the L/C Commitment shall automatically terminate on the Revolving Credit Maturity Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all the Commitments shall automatically terminate at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on January 31, 2007, if the initial Credit Event shall not have occurred by such time.

     (b) Upon at least three Business Days’ prior irrevocable written or fax notice to the Administrative Agent, the Borrower may at any time in whole permanently terminate, or from time to time in part permanently reduce, the Term Loan Commitments, the Revolving Credit Commitments or the Swingline Commitment; provided , however , that (i) each partial reduction of the Term Loan Commitments, the Revolving Credit Commitments or the Swingline Commitment shall be in an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and in a minimum amount of $1,000,000 and (ii) the Total Revolving Credit Commitment shall not be reduced to an amount that is less than the Aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure then in effect.

     (c) Each reduction in the Term Loan Commitments, Revolving Credit Commitments or Swingline Commitment hereunder shall be made ratably among the applicable Lenders in accordance with their Pro Rata Percentages. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Lenders, on the date of each termination or reduction, the Commitment Fees on the amount of the Commitments so terminated or reduced accrued to but excluding the date of such termination or reduction.

39


 

     SECTION 2.10. Conversion and Continuation of Borrowings . (a) The Borrower shall have the right at any time upon prior irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent (x) not later than 12:00 (noon), New York City time, one Business Day prior to conversion, to convert any Eurodollar Borrowing of the Borrower into an ABR Borrowing, (y) not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, three Business Days prior to conversion or continuation, to convert any ABR Borrowing of the Borrower into a Eurodollar Borrowing or to continue any Eurodollar Borrowing of the Borrower as a Eurodollar Borrowing for an additional Interest Period and (z) not later than 12:00 (noon) New York City time, three Business Days prior to conversion, to convert the Interest Period with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing of the Borrower to another permissible Interest Period, subject in each case to the following:

     (i) each conversion or continuation shall be made pro rata among the Lenders in accordance with the respective principal amounts of the Loans comprising the converted or continued Borrowing;

     (ii) if less than all the outstanding principal amount of any Borrowing shall be converted or continued, then each resulting Borrowing shall satisfy the limitations specified in Sections 2.02(a) and 2.02(b) regarding the principal amount and maximum number of Borrowings of the relevant Type;

     (iii) each conversion shall be effected by each Lender and the Administrative Agent by recording for the account of such Lender the new Loan of such Lender resulting from such conversion and reducing the Loan (or portion thereof) of such Lender being converted by an equivalent principal amount; accrued interest on any Eurodollar Loan (or portion thereof) being converted shall be paid by the Borrower at the time of conversion;

     (iv) if any Eurodollar Borrowing is converted at a time other than the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, the Borrower shall pay, upon demand, any amounts due to the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.16;

     (v) any portion of a Borrowing maturing or required to be repaid in less than one month may not be converted into or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing;

     (vi) any portion of a Eurodollar Borrowing that cannot be converted into or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing by reason of the immediately preceding clause shall be automatically converted at the end of the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing into an ABR Borrowing;

     (vii) no Interest Period may be selected for any Eurodollar Term Borrowing that would end later than a Repayment Date occurring on or after the first day of such Interest Period if, after giving effect to such selection, the aggregate outstanding amount of (A) the Eurodollar Term Borrowings with Interest Periods ending on or prior to such Repayment Date and (B) the ABR Term Borrowings would not be at least equal to the principal amount of Term Borrowings to be paid on such Repayment Date; and

     (viii) after the occurrence and during the continuance of a Default or Event of Default, no outstanding Loan may be converted into, or continued as, a Eurodollar Loan.

40


 

     (b) Each notice pursuant to this Section 2.10 shall be irrevocable and shall refer to this Agreement and specify (i) the identity and amount of the Borrowing that the Borrower requests be converted or continued, (ii) whether such Borrowing is to be converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing or an ABR Borrowing, (iii) if such notice requests a conversion, the date of such conversion (which shall be a Business Day) and (iv) if such Borrowing is to be converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing, the Interest Period with respect thereto. If no Interest Period is specified in any such notice with respect to any conversion to or continuation as a Eurodollar Borrowing, the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration. The Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of any notice given pursuant to this Section 2.10 and of each Lender’s portion of any converted or continued Borrowing. If the Borrower shall not have given notice in accordance with this Section 2.10 to continue any Borrowing into a subsequent Interest Period (and shall not otherwise have given notice in accordance with this Section 2.10 to convert such Borrowing), such Borrowing shall, at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto (unless repaid pursuant to the terms hereof), automatically be converted or continued into an ABR Borrowing.

     SECTION 2.11. Repayment of Term Borrowings . (a) On the dates set forth below, or if any such date is not a Business Day, on the next preceding Business Day (each such date being called a “ Repayment Date ”), the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Term Lenders, a principal amount of the Term Loans (as adjusted from time to time pursuant to Sections 2.11(b), 2.12 and 2.13(f)) equal to the amount set forth below for such date, together in each case with accrued and unpaid interest and Fees on the amount to be paid to but excluding the date of such payment:

 

 

 

 

 

Repayment Date

 

Amount

March 31, 2007

 

$

500,000

 

June 30, 2007

 

$

500,000

 

September 30, 2007

 

$

500,000

 

December 31, 2007

 

$

500,000

 

March 31, 2008

 

$

500,000

 

June 30, 2008

 

$

500,000

 

September 30, 2008

 

$

500,000

 

December 31, 2008

 

$

500,000

 

March 31, 2009

 

$

500,000

 

June 30, 2009

 

$

500,000

 

September 30, 2009

 

$

500,000

 

December 31, 2009

 

$

500,000

 

March 31, 2010

 

$

500,000

 

June 30, 2010

 

$

500,000

 

September 30, 2010

 

$

500,000

 

December 31, 2010

 

$

500,000

 

March 31, 2011

 

$

500,000

 

June 30, 2011

 

$

500,000

 

September 30, 2011

 

$

500,000

 

December 31, 2011

 

$

500,000

 

March 31, 2012

 

$

500,000

 

June 30, 2012

 

$

500,000

 

41


 

 

 

 

 

 

Repayment Date

 

Amount

September 30, 2012

 

$

500,000

 

December 31, 2012

 

$

500,000

 

March 31, 2013

 

$

500,000

 

June 30, 2013

 

$

500,000

 

September 30, 2013

 

$

500,000

 

December 31, 2013

 

$

500,000

 

March 31, 2014

 

$

500,000

 

June 30, 2014

 

$

500,000

 

September 30, 2014

 

$

500,000

 

Term Loan Maturity Date

 

$

184,500,000

 

     (b) In the event and on each occasion that any Term Loan Commitments shall be reduced or shall expire or terminate other than as a result of the making of a Term Loan, the installments payable on each Repayment Date shall be reduced pro rata by an aggregate amount equal to the amount of such reduction, expiration or termination.

     (c) To the extent not previously paid, all Term Loans shall be due and payable on the Term Loan Maturity Date, together with accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount to be paid to but excluding the date of payment.

     (d) All repayments pursuant to this Section 2.11 shall be subject to Section 2.16, but shall otherwise be without premium or penalty.

     SECTION 2.12. Prepayment . (a) The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing, in whole or in part, upon at least three Business Days’ prior written (including electronic mail) or fax notice (or telephone notice promptly confirmed by written or fax notice) in the case of Eurodollar Loans, or written or fax notice (or telephone notice promptly confirmed by written or fax notice) at least one Business Day prior to the date of prepayment in the case of ABR Loans, to the Administrative Agent before 12:00 (noon), New York City time; provided , however , that each partial prepayment shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $500,000 and not less than $1,000,000.

     (b) Optional prepayments of Term Loans shall be applied pro rata against the remaining scheduled installments of principal due in respect of the Term Loans.

     (c) Each notice of prepayment shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing (or portion thereof) to be prepaid, shall be irrevocable and shall commit the Borrower to prepay such Borrowing by the amount stated therein on the date stated therein. All prepayments under this Section 2.12 shall be subject to Section 2.16, but otherwise without premium or penalty, except as provided in Section 2.12(d) below. All prepayments under this Section 2.12 shall be accompanied by accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount to be prepaid to but excluding the date of payment (other than any accrued and unpaid interest on any ABR Loan, which shall be payable on the earlier of next Interest Payment Date or the Term Loan Maturity Date or the Revolving Credit Maturity Date).

42


 

     (d) In the event that the Term Loans are prepaid or repaid in whole or in part pursuant to Section 2.12 prior to the first anniversary of the Closing Date, the Borrower shall pay to Lenders having Term Loans a prepayment premium on the amount so prepaid or repaid in an amount equal to 1.0% of the amount so prepaid or repaid.

     SECTION 2.13. Mandatory Prepayments . (a) In the event of any termination of all the Revolving Credit Commitments, the Borrower shall, on the date of such termination, repay or prepay all its outstanding Revolving Credit Borrowings and all its outstanding Swingline Loans and replace all its outstanding Letters of Credit and/or deposit an amount equal to the L/C Exposure in cash in a cash collateral account established with the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties. If as a result of any partial reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitments the Aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure would exceed the Total Revolving Credit Commitment after giving effect thereto, then the Borrower shall, on the date of such reduction, repay or prepay Revolving Credit Borrowings or Swingline Loans (or a combination thereof) and/or cash collateralize Letters of Credit in an amount sufficient to eliminate such excess.

     (b) Not later than the fifth Business Day following the completion of any Asset Sale or the occurrence of any Recovery Event, in each case by the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof (other than any Premium Finance Co. and its Subsidiaries), the Borrower shall apply the Required Prepayment Percentage of the Net Cash Proceeds received with respect thereto to prepay outstanding Term Loans in accordance with Section 2.13(g).

     (c) In the event and on each occasion that an Equity Issuance occurs, the Borrower shall, substantially simultaneously with (and in any event not later than the fifth Business Day next following) the occurrence of such Equity Issuance, apply the Required Prepayment Percentage of the Net Cash Proceeds therefrom to prepay outstanding Term Loans in accordance with Section 2.13(g).

     (d) In the event that any Loan Party or any subsidiary of a Loan Party shall receive Net Cash Proceeds from the issuance or other incurrence of Indebtedness of any Loan Party or any subsidiary of a Loan Party (other than Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 6.01) (other than pursuant to Section 6.01(g)), the Borrower shall, substantially simultaneously with (and in any event not later than the third Business Day next following) the receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds by such Loan Party or such subsidiary, apply an amount equal to the Required Prepayment Percentage of such Net Cash Proceeds to prepay outstanding Term Loans in accordance with Section 2.13(g). For the avoidance of doubt, this paragraph (d) in no event or circumstances shall be interpreted to permit the Borrower to incur any Indebtedness that is not permitted under Section 6.01.

     (e) No later than the earlier of (i) 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, commencing with the fiscal year ending on December 31, 2007, and (ii) the date on which the financial statements with respect to such period are delivered pursuant to Section 5.04(a), the Borrower shall prepay outstanding Term Loans in accordance with Section 2.13(g), in an aggregate principal amount equal to the Required Prepayment Percentage of Excess Cash Flow for the fiscal year then ended.

43


 

     (f) Immediately upon receipt by the Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than Premium Finance Co. or its Subsidiaries) of any Extraordinary Receipts (other than Extraordinary Receipts received by any Regulated Insurance Subsidiary, in each case, of less than $500,000), the Borrower shall apply the Required Prepayment Percentage of the Net Cash Proceeds received with respect thereto to prepay outstanding Term Loans in accordance with Section 2.13(g), provided that , with respect to the receipt of any Extraordinary Receipt in excess of $500,000 by any Regulated Insurance Subsidiary, any prepayment pursuant to this Section 2.13(f) shall be subject to Requirements of Law and the receipt of any required Governmental Authority approval, if any, which the Borrower shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain so long as there is a reasonable expectation of obtaining such approval.

     (g) Mandatory prepayments of outstanding Loans pursuant to clauses (b) through (f) above shall be applied, first pro rata against the remaining scheduled installments due in respect of the Term Loans under Section 2.11, second , to prepay outstanding Swingline Loans to the full extent thereof, third , to prepay Revolving Loans to the full extent thereof and fourth , to prepay outstanding reimbursement obligations with respect to Letters of Credit. Any Lender may elect, by notice to the Administrative Agent by facsimile at least two Business Days of receiving notice of such prepayment, as set forth in Section 2.13(h), to decline its portion of any prepayment of its Loans pursuant to clauses (b) through (f) above, in which case the aggregate amount of the prepayment that would have been applied to prepay such Loans but was so declined shall be re-offered to those Lenders under this Agreement who have initially accepted such prepayment (such re-offer to be made to each such Lender based on the percentage which such Lender’s Loans represents of the aggregate Loans of all such Lenders who have initially accepted such prepayment). In the event of such a re-offer, each of the relevant Lenders may elect, by notice to the Administrative Agent by telephone by facsimile within two Business Days of receiving notification of such re-offer, to decline its portion of the amount of such prepayment that is re-offered to them and, to the extent so declined by such Lenders, with any remaining amounts being retained by the Borrower to be used for any other purpose not prohibited by this Agreement.

     (h) The Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent, at the time of each prepayment required under this Section 2.13, (i) a certificate signed by a Financial Officer of the Borrower setting forth in reasonable detail the calculation of the amount of such prepayment and (ii) to the extent practicable, at least three days prior written notice of such prepayment. Each notice of prepayment shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount to be prepaid. If all Lenders accept the prepayment offer, the prepayment amount will be applied first to ABR Loans outstanding then Eurodollar Loans (in inverse order of maturity). If any Lender refuses the prepayment offer, the prepayment amount will be applied to the then outstanding Loans on a pro rata basis, regardless of Type. All prepayments of Borrowings pursuant to this Section 2.13 shall be subject to Section 2.16, but shall otherwise be without premium or penalty.

     (i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained above in this Section 2.13, to the extent that (i) funds for any prepayment otherwise required to be made pursuant to the terms of Section 2.13(b) are only available to the Borrower through dividend payments to the Borrower from one or more Regulated Insurance Subsidiaries, (ii) such dividend payments cannot be made at such time within the ordinary dividend-paying capacity of such Regulated Insurance Subsidiary or Subsidiaries and, accordingly, require specific affirmative regulatory approval for

44


 

the payment of extraordinary dividends and (iii) after due written application or request, such approval for the payment of extraordinary dividends is not obtained by such Regulated Insurance Subsidiary, upon certification by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent to such effect (together with, in the case of an application or request for regulatory approval, copies of all documents submitted, and all written responses received, in connection therewith), the Borrower shall not, to such extent, be required to make such prepayment for so long as (but only for so long as) such dividend payments may not, for such reasons, be made, provided that , promptly upon any such restrictions no longer being applicable, any such accrued prepayments that would be delinquent but for the foregoing provisions shall be made with the proceeds of any dividends or other distributions no longer subject to such restrictions.

SECTION 2.14. Reserve Requirements; Change in Circumstances . (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if any Change in Law shall:

     (i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Lender, the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank (except any such reserve requirement which is reflected in the Adjusted LIBO Rate) or

     (ii) impose on any Lender, the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank or the London interbank market any other condition affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein,

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender or the Issuing Bank of making or maintaining any Eurodollar Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan) or to increase the cost to any Lender, the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank of issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit or purchasing or maintaining a participation therein or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or the Issuing Bank hereunder (whether of principal, interest or otherwise but excluding Excluded Taxes) by an amount deemed in good faith by such Lender, the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank to be material, then the Borrower will pay to such Lender, the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, upon demand such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

     (b) If any Lender, the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank shall have determined that any Change in Law regarding capital adequacy has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s, the Administrative Agent’s or the Issuing Bank’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s, the Administrative Agent’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit purchased by, such Lender or the Letters of Credit issued by the Issuing Bank to a level below that which such Lender, the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank or such Lender’s, the Administrative Agent’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s, the Administrative Agent’s or the Issuing Bank’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s, the Administrative Agent’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy) by an amount deemed in good faith by such Lender, the Administrative Agent

45


 

or the Issuing Bank to be material, then from time to time the Borrower shall pay to such Lender, the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender, the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank or such Lender’s, the Administrative Agent’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

     (c) A certificate in reasonable detail of a Lender, the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender, the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank or its holding company, as applicable, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender, the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount or amounts shown as due on any such certificate delivered by it within 10 days after its receipt of the same.

     (d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender, the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s, the Administrative Agent’s or the Issuing Bank’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be under any obligation to compensate any Lender, the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank under paragraph (a) or (b) above for increased costs or reductions with respect to any period prior to the date that is 180 days prior to such request if such Lender, the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank knew or could reasonably have been expected to know of the circumstances giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of the fact that such circumstances would result in a claim for increased compensation by reason of such increased costs or reductions; provided further that the foregoing limitation shall not apply to any increased costs or reductions arising out of the retroactive application of any Change in Law within such 180-day period. The protection of this Section shall be available to each Lender, the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank regardless of any possible contention of the invalidity or inapplicability of the Change in Law that shall have occurred or been imposed.

     SECTION 2.15. Change in Legality . (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if any Change in Law shall make it unlawful for any Lender to make or maintain any Eurodollar Loan or to give effect to its obligations as contemplated hereby with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, then, by written notice to the Borrower and to the Administrative Agent:

     (i) such Lender may declare that Eurodollar Loans will not thereafter (for the duration of such unlawfulness) be made by such Lender hereunder (or be continued for additional Interest Periods and ABR Loans will not thereafter (for such duration) be converted into Eurodollar Loans), whereupon any request for a Eurodollar Borrowing (or to convert an ABR Borrowing to a Eurodollar Borrowing or to continue a Eurodollar Borrowing for an additional Interest Period) shall, as to such Lender only, be deemed a request for an ABR Loan (or a request to continue an ABR Loan as such for an additional Interest Period or to convert a Eurodollar Loan into an ABR Loan, as the case may be), unless such declaration shall be subsequently withdrawn; and

     (ii) such Lender may require that all outstanding Eurodollar Loans made by it be converted to ABR Loans, in which event all such Eurodollar Loans shall be

46


 

automatically converted to ABR Loans as of the effective date of such notice as provided in paragraph (b) below.

In the event any Lender shall exercise its rights under (i) or (ii) above, all payments and prepayments of principal that would otherwise have been applied to repay the Eurodollar Loans that would have been made by such Lender or the converted Eurodollar Loans of such Lender shall instead be applied to repay the ABR Loans made by such Lender in lieu of, or resulting from the conversion of, such Eurodollar Loans. Any such conversion of a Eurodollar Loan under (i) above shall be subject to Section 2.16.

     (b) For purposes of this Section 2.15, a notice to the Borrower by any Lender shall be effective as to each Eurodollar Loan made by such Lender, if lawful, on the last day of the Interest Period then applicable to such Eurodollar Loan; in all other cases such notice shall be effective on the date of receipt by the Borrower.

     SECTION 2.16. Indemnity . The Borrower shall indemnify each Lender against any loss or expense that such Lender may sustain or incur as a consequence of (a) any event, other than a default by such Lender in the performance of its obligations hereunder, which results in (i) such Lender receiving or being deemed to receive any amount on account of the principal of any Eurodollar Loan prior to the end of the Interest Period in effect therefor, (ii) except as set forth in Section 2.15 the conversion of any Eurodollar Loan to an ABR Loan, or the conversion of the Interest Period with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, in each case other than on the last day of the Interest Period in effect therefor or (iii) any Eurodollar Loan to be made by such Lender (including any Eurodollar Loan to be made pursuant to a conversion or continuation under Section 2.10) not being made after notice of such Loan shall have been given by the Borrower hereunder (any of the events referred to in this clause (a) being called a “ Breakage Event ”) or (b) any default in the making of any payment or prepayment required to be made hereunder. In the case of any Breakage Event, such loss shall include an amount equal to the excess, as reasonably determined by such Lender, of (i) its cost of obtaining funds for the Eurodollar Loan that is the subject of such Breakage Event for the period from the date of such Breakage Event to the last day of the Interest Period in effect (or that would have been in effect) for such Loan over (ii) the amount of interest likely to be realized by such Lender in redeploying the funds released or not utilized by reason of such Breakage Event for such period. A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts which such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 2.16 shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

     SECTION 2.17. Pro Rata Treatment . Except as provided below in this Section 2.17 with respect to Swingline Loans and as required under Sections 2.13 and 2.15, each Borrowing, each payment or prepayment of principal of any Borrowing, each payment of interest on the Loans, each payment of the Commitment Fees, each reduction of the Term Loan Commitments or the Revolving Credit Commitments and each conversion of any Borrowing to or continuation of any Borrowing as a Borrowing of any Type shall be allocated pro rata among the Lenders in accordance with their respective applicable Commitments (or, if such Commitments shall have expired or been terminated, in accordance with the respective principal amounts of their outstanding Loans). For purposes of determining the available Revolving Credit Commitments of the Lenders at any time, each outstanding Swingline Loan shall be deemed to have utilized the Revolving Credit Commitments of the Lenders (including those Lenders which shall not have

47


 

made Swingline Loans) pro rata in accordance with such respective Revolving Credit Commitments. Each Lender agrees that in computing such Lender’s portion of any Borrowing to be made hereunder, the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion, round each Lender’s percentage of such Borrowing to the next higher or lower whole dollar amount.

     SECTION 2.18. Sharing of Setoffs . Each Lender agrees that if it shall, through the exercise of a right of banker’s lien, setoff or counterclaim against the Borrower or any other Loan Party, or pursuant to a secured claim under Section 506 of Title 11 of the United States Code or other security or interest arising from, or in lieu of, such secured claim, received by such Lender under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law or otherwise, or by any other means, obtain payment (voluntary or involuntary) in respect of any Loan or Loans or L/C Disbursement as a result of which the unpaid principal portion of its Loans and participations in L/C Disbursements shall be proportionately less than the unpaid principal portion of the Loans and participations in L/C Disbursements of any other Lender, it shall be deemed simultaneously to have purchased from such other Lender at face value, and shall promptly pay to such other Lender the purchase price for, a participation in the Loans and L/C Exposure of such other Lender, so that the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Loans and L/C Exposure and participations in Loans and L/C Exposure held by each Lender shall be in the same proportion to the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Loans and L/C Exposure then outstanding as the principal amount of its Loans and L/C Exposure prior to such exercise of banker’s lien, setoff or counterclaim or other event was to the principal amount of all Loans and L/C Exposure outstanding prior to such exercise of banker’s lien, setoff or counterclaim or other event; provided , however , that if any such purchase or purchases or adjustments shall be made pursuant to this Section 2.18 and the payment giving rise thereto shall thereafter be recovered, such purchase or purchases or adjustments shall be rescinded to the extent of such recovery and the purchase price or prices or adjustment restored without interest. The Borrower expressly consents to the foregoing arrangements and agrees that any Lender holding a participation in a Loan or L/C Disbursement deemed to have been so purchased may exercise any and all rights of banker’s lien, setoff or counterclaim with respect to any and all moneys owing by the Borrower to such Lender by reason thereof as fully as if such Lender had made a Loan directly to the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

SECTION 2.19. Payments . (a) The Borrower shall make each payment (including principal of or interest on any Borrowing or any L/C Disbursement or any Fees or other amounts) hereunder and under any other Loan Document not later than 12:00 (noon), New York City time, on the date when due in immediately available dollars, without setoff, defense or counterclaim. Each such payment (other than (i) Issuing Bank Fees, which shall be paid directly to the Issuing Bank, and (ii) principal of and interest on Swingline Loans, which shall be paid directly to the Swingline Lender except as otherwise provided in Section 2.21(e)) shall be made to an account designated by the Administrative Agent. All payments hereunder and under each other Loan Document shall be made in dollars.

     (b) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, whenever any payment (including principal of or interest on any Borrowing or any Fees or other amounts) hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall become due, or otherwise would occur, on a day that is not a Business Day, such payment may be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and such

48


 

extension of time shall in such case be included in the computation of interest or Fees, if applicable.

     SECTION 2.20. Taxes . (a) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower or any other Loan Party hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes; provided that if any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes are required to be withheld or deducted from such payments, then (i) the sum payable by the Borrower shall be increased as necessary so that after all required deductions or withholding (including deductions or withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the Administrative Agent or such Lender (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower or such other Loan Party shall make (or cause to be made) such deductions and (iii) the Borrower or such other Loan Party shall pay (or cause to be paid) the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law. In addition, the Borrower or any other Loan Party hereunder shall pay (or cause to be paid) any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

     (b) The Borrower shall jointly and severally indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender, within 10 days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes paid by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, or any of their respective Affiliates, on or with respect to any payment by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower or any Loan Party hereunder or under any other Loan Document (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) and any penalties, interest and expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate in reasonable detail as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender, or by the Administrative Agent on its behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

     (c) As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes pursuant to Section 2.20(a), and in any event within 30 days of any such payment being due, the Borrower shall deliver (or cause to be delivered) to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

     (d) Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments under this Agreement shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the reasonable written request of the Borrower, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate; provided that such Lender is legally entitled to complete, execute and deliver such documentation and in such Lender’s judgment such completion, execution or delivery would not materially prejudice the legal position of such Lender. In addition, each Foreign Lender shall (i) furnish on or before

49


 

it becomes a party to the Agreement either (a) two accurate and complete originally executed U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN (or successor form) or (b) an accurate and complete U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI (or successor form), certifying, in either case, to such Foreign Lender’s legal entitlement to an exemption or reduction from U.S. federal withholding tax with respect to all interest payments hereunder, and (ii) provide a new Form W-8BEN (or successor form) or Form W-8ECI (or successor form) upon the expiration or obsolescence of any previously delivered form to reconfirm any complete exemption from, or any entitlement to a reduction in, U.S. federal withholding tax with respect to any interest payment hereunder; provided that any Foreign Lender that is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code and is relying on the so-called “portfolio interest exemption” shall also furnish a “Non-Bank Certificate” in the form of Exhibit I together with a Form W-8BEN. Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph, a Foreign Lender shall not be required to deliver any form pursuant to this paragraph that such Foreign Lender is not legally able to deliver.

     (e) Any Lender that is a United States person, as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code, and is not an exempt recipient within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.6049-4(c) shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) two accurate and complete original signed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-9, or any successor form that such person is entitled to provide at such time in order to comply with United States back-up withholding requirements.

     (f) Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreement of the Borrower hereunder, the agreements and obligations of the Borrower contained in this Section 2.20 shall survive the payment in full of all amounts due hereunder.

SECTION 2.21. Assignment of Commitments Under Certain Circumstances; Duty to Mitigate . (a) In the event (i) any Lender or the Issuing Bank delivers a certificate requesting compensation pursuant to Section 2.14, (ii) any Lender or the Issuing Bank delivers a notice described in Section 2.15, (iii) the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or the Issuing Bank or any Governmental Authority on account of any Lender or the Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.20, (iv) any Lender is in default of its obligations under this Agreement, (v) any Lender does not consent to a proposed amendment, modification or waiver of this Agreement requested by the Borrower which requires the consent of all of the Lenders or all of the Lenders under any Facility to become effective (and which is approved by at least the Required Lenders), (vi) any Revolving Credit Lender does not consent to a proposed extension of the Revolving Credit Facility requested by the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.25 (and which is approved by Revolving Credit Lenders holding at least the minimum aggregate principal amount set forth in Section 2.25(a) (iv)) or (vii) any Revolving Credit Lender does not consent to a proposed amendment, modification or waiver of Section 6.15 or 6.16 of this Agreement requested by the Borrower which requires the consent of the Required Revolving Credit Lenders to become effective (and which is approved by all other Required Revolving Credit Lenders other than such non-consenting Revolving Credit Lender), the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort (including with respect to the processing and recordation fee referred to in Section 9.04(b)), upon notice to such Lender or the Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender or the Issuing Bank to transfer and assign, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 9.04), all of its interests,

50


 

rights and obligations under this Agreement to an assignee that shall assume such assigned obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (x) such assignment shall not conflict with any law, rule or regulation or order of any court or other Governmental Authority having jurisdiction, (y) solely with respect to replacements of Lenders pursuant to clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) of this Section, the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (and, if a Revolving Credit Commitment is being assigned, of the Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender), which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, and (z) the Borrower or such assignee shall have paid to the affected Lender or the Issuing Bank in immediately available funds an amount equal to the sum of the principal of and interest accrued to the date of such payment on the outstanding Loans or L/C Disbursements of such Lender or the Issuing Bank, respectively, plus all Fees and other amounts accrued for the account of such Lender or the Issuing Bank hereunder (including any amounts under Section 2.14 and with respect to a replacement pursuant to clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (v) of Section 2.16); provided further that, if prior to any such transfer and assignment the circumstances or event that resulted in such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s claim for compensation under Section 2.14 or notice under Section 2.15 or the amounts paid pursuant to Section 2.20, as the case may be, cease to cause such Lender or the Issuing Bank to suffer increased costs or reductions in amounts received or receivable or reduction in return on capital, or cease to have the consequences specified in Section 2.15, or cease to result in amounts being payable under Section 2.20, as the case may be (including as a result of any action taken by such Lender or the Issuing Bank pursuant to paragraph (b) below), or if such Lender or the Issuing Bank shall waive its right to claim further compensation under Section 2.14 in respect of such circumstances or event or shall withdraw its notice under Section 2.15 or shall waive its right to further payments under Section 2.20 in respect of such circumstances or event, as the case may be, then such Lender or the Issuing Bank shall not thereafter be required to make any such transfer and assignment hereunder. In connection with any such replacement, if the replaced Lender does not execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a duly completed Assignment and Acceptance reflecting such replacement within five Business Days of the date on which the replacement Lender executes and delivers such Assignment and Acceptance to the replaced Lender, then such replaced Lender shall be deemed to have executed and delivered such Assignment and Acceptance; provided , that in connection with any such replacement of a Revolving Credit Lender following its determination not to consent to a proposed extension of the Revolving Credit Facility requested by the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.25, such duly completed Assignment and Acceptance Agreement shall have been delivered to the non-consenting Revolving Credit Lender at least five Business Days prior to the then scheduled Revolving Credit Maturity Date (as in effect prior to the applicable proposed extension) (and if such Assignment and Acceptance is not so delivered, the provisions of Section 2.25 shall apply as if no such assignment had been made).

     (b) If (i) any Lender or the Issuing Bank shall request compensation under Section 2.14, (ii) any Lender or the Issuing Bank delivers a notice described in Section 2.15 or (iii) the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or the Issuing Bank or any Governmental Authority on account of any Lender or the Issuing Bank, pursuant to Section 2.20, then such Lender or the Issuing Bank shall use reasonable efforts (which shall not require such Lender or the Issuing Bank to incur an unreimbursed loss or unreimbursed cost or expense or otherwise take any action inconsistent with its internal policies or legal or regulatory restrictions or suffer any disadvantage or burden deemed by it to be significant) (x) to file any

51


 

certificate or document reasonably requested in writing by the Borrower or (y) to assign its rights and delegate and transfer its obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if such filing or assignment would reduce its claims for compensation under Section 2.14 or enable it to withdraw its notice pursuant to Section 2.15 or would reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.20, as the case may be, in the future. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender or the Issuing Bank in connection with any such filing or assignment, delegation and transfer.

     SECTION 2.22. Swingline Loans . (a) Swingline Commitment . Subject to the terms and conditions hereof and relying upon the representations and warranties, set forth herein, the Swingline Lender agrees to make loans to the Borrower, at any time and from time to time after the Closing Date, and until the earlier of the Revolving Credit Maturity Date and the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments in accordance with the terms hereof, in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding that will not result in (i) the aggregate principal amount of all Swingline Loans exceeding $2,000,000 in the aggregate or (ii) the Aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure, after giving effect to any Swingline Loan, exceeding the Total Revolving Credit Commitment. Each Swingline Loan shall be in a principal amount that is an integral multiple of $100,000. The Swingline Commitment may be terminated or reduced from time to time as provided herein. Within the foregoing limits, the Borrower may borrow, pay or prepay and reborrow Swingline Loans hereunder, subject to the terms, conditions and limitations set forth herein.

     (b)  Swingline Loans . The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent by fax, or by telephone (confirmed by fax), not later than 12:00 (noon), New York City time, on the day of a proposed Swingline Loan to be made to it. Such notice shall be delivered on a Business Day, shall be irrevocable and shall refer to this Agreement and shall specify the requested date (which shall be a Business Day) and amount of such Swingline Loan. The Administrative Agent will promptly advise the Swingline Lender of any notice received from the Borrower pursuant to this paragraph (b). The Swingline Lender shall make each Swingline Loan available to the Borrower by means of a credit to the general deposit account of the Borrower as specified in the Borrowing Request by 3:00 p.m. on the date such Swingline Loan is so requested.

     (c)  Prepayment . The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Swingline Loan, in whole or in part, upon giving written or fax notice (or telephone notice promptly confirmed by written or fax notice) to the Swingline Lender and to the Administrative Agent before 12:00 (noon), New York City time, on the date of prepayment at the Swingline Lender’s address for notices specified in the Lender Addendum delivered by the Swingline Lender. All principal payments of Swingline Loans shall be accompanied by accrued interest on the principal amount being repaid to the date of payment.

     (d)  Interest . Each Swingline Loan shall be an ABR Loan and, subject to the provisions of Section 2.07, shall bear interest as provided in Section 2.06(a).

     (e)  Participations . The Swingline Lender may by written notice given to the Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on any Business Day require the Revolving Credit Lenders to acquire participations on such Business Day in all or a portion of the Swingline Loans outstanding. Such notice shall specify the aggregate amount of

52


 

Swingline Loans in which Revolving Credit Lenders will participate. The Administrative Agent will, promptly upon receipt of such notice, give notice to each Revolving Credit Lender, specifying in such notice such Lender’s Pro Rata Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans. In furtherance of the foregoing, each Revolving Credit Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees, upon receipt of notice as provided above, to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Swingline Lender, such Revolving Credit Lender’s Pro Rata Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans. Each Revolving Credit Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations in Swingline Loans pursuant to this paragraph is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including the occurrence and continuance of a Default or an Event of Default, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever. Each Revolving Credit Lender shall comply with its obligation under this paragraph by wire transfer of immediately available funds, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.02(c) with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.02(c) shall apply, mutatis mutandis , to the payment obligations of the Lenders under this Section) and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the Swingline Lender the amounts so received by it from the Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower of any participations in any Swingline Loan acquired pursuant to this paragraph and thereafter payments in respect of such Swingline Loan shall be made to the Administrative Agent and not to the Swingline Lender. Any amounts received by the Swingline Lender from the Borrower (or other party on behalf of the Borrower) in respect of a Swingline Loan after receipt by the Swingline Lender of the proceeds of a sale of participations therein shall be promptly remitted to the Administrative Agent; any such amounts received by the Administrative Agent shall be promptly remitted by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders that shall have made their payments pursuant to this paragraph and to the Swingline Lender, as their interests may appear. The purchase of participations in a Swingline Loan pursuant to this paragraph shall not relieve the Borrower (or other party liable for obligations of the Borrower) of any default in the payment thereof.

     SECTION 2.23. Letters of Credit . (a) General . Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may request the issuance of a Letter of Credit at any time and from time to time while the Revolving Credit Commitments remain in effect for its own account or for the account of any of the Subsidiary Guarantors (in which case the Borrower and such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be co-applicants with respect to such Letter of Credit), but not later than thirty (30) days prior to the Revolving Loan Maturity Date in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank. This Section shall not be construed to impose an obligation upon the Issuing Bank to issue any Letter of Credit that is inconsistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

     (b)  Notice of Issuance, Amendment, Renewal, Extension; Certain Conditions . In order to request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or to amend, renew or extend an existing Letter of Credit), the Borrower shall hand deliver or fax to the Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent (no less than three Business Days (or such shorter period of time acceptable to the Issuing Bank) in advance of the requested date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension) a notice requesting the issuance of a Letter of Credit, or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended, renewed or extended, the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension, the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall comply with paragraph (c) below), the amount of such Letter of Credit, the name and address of the

53


 

beneficiary thereof and such other information as shall be necessary to prepare such Letter of Credit. A Letter of Credit shall be issued, amended, renewed or extended only if, and upon issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of each Letter of Credit the Borrower shall be deemed to represent and warrant that, after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (i) the L/C Exposure shall not exceed $2,000,000 and (ii) the Aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure shall not exceed the Total Revolving Credit Commitment.

     (c)  Expiration Date . Each Letter of Credit shall expire at the close of business on the earlier of (i) the date one year after the date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit and (ii) the date that is five Business Days prior to the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, unless such Letter of Credit expires by its terms on an earlier date; provided , however , that a Letter of Credit may, upon the request of the Borrower, include a provision whereby such Letter of Credit shall be renewed automatically for additional consecutive periods of 12 months or less (but not beyond the date that is five Business Days prior to the Revolving Credit Maturity Date) unless the Issuing Bank notifies the beneficiary thereof at least 45 days prior to the then-applicable expiration date that such Letter of Credit will not be renewed.

     (d)  Participations . By the issuance of a Letter of Credit and without any further action on the part of the Issuing Bank or the Lenders, the Issuing Bank hereby grants to each Revolving Credit Lender, and each such Lender hereby acquires from the Issuing Bank, a participation in such Letter of Credit equal to such Lender’s Pro Rata Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit, effective upon the issuance of such Letter of Credit. In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each Revolving Credit Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Issuing Bank, such Lender’s Pro Rata Percentage of each L/C Disbursement made by the Issuing Bank and not reimbursed by the Borrower (or, if applicable, another party pursuant to its obligations under any other Loan Document) forthwith on the date due as provided in Section 2.02(f). Each Revolving Credit Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations pursuant to this paragraph in respect of Letters of Credit is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including the occurrence and continuance of a Default or an Event of Default, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever.

     (e)  Reimbursement . If the Issuing Bank shall make any L/C Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent an amount equal to such L/C Disbursement not later than two hours after the Borrower shall have received notice from the Issuing Bank that payment of such draft will be made if such notice is received on or before 10:00 am New York time, or, if the Borrower shall have received such notice later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on any Business Day, not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the immediately following Business Day. To the extent that the Borrower does not reimburse the Issuing Bank on the same business day, the Lenders under the Revolving Facility shall be irrevocably obligated to reimburse the Issuing Bank pro rata based upon their respective Revolving Credit Commitment.

     (f)  Obligations Absolute . The Borrower’s obligations to reimburse L/C Disbursements as provided in paragraph (e) above shall be absolute, unconditional and

54


 

irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, under any and all circumstances whatsoever, and irrespective of:

     (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit or any Loan Document, or any term or provision therein;

     (ii) any amendment or waiver of, or any consent to departure from, all or any of the provisions of any Letter of Credit or any Loan Document;

     (iii) the existence of any claim, setoff, defense or other right that the Borrower, any other party guaranteeing, or otherwise obligated with, the Borrower, any subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof or any other person may at any time have against the beneficiary under any Letter of Credit, the Issuing Bank, the Administrative Agent or any Lender or any other person, whether in connection with this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other related or unrelated agreement or transaction;

     (iv) any draft or other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect;

     (v) payment by the Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; and

     (vi) any other act or omission to act or delay of any kind of the Issuing Bank, any Lender, the Administrative Agent or any other person or any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of the Borrower’s obligations hereunder.

     Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is expressly understood and agreed that the absolute and unconditional obligation of the Borrower hereunder to reimburse L/C Disbursements will not be excused by the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of the Issuing Bank. However, the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse the Issuing Bank from liability to the Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to consequential damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable law) suffered by the Borrower that are caused by the Issuing Bank’s gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct in determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof; it is understood that the Issuing Bank may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary and, in making any payment under any Letter of Credit (i) the Issuing Bank’s exclusive reliance on the documents presented to it under such Letter of Credit as to any and all matters set forth therein, including reliance on the amount of any draft presented under such Letter of Credit, whether or not the amount due to the beneficiary thereunder equals the amount of such draft and whether or not any document presented pursuant to such Letter of Credit proves to be insufficient in any respect, if such document on its face appears to be in order, and whether or not any other statement or any

55


 

other document presented pursuant to such Letter of Credit proves to be forged or invalid or any statement therein proves to be inaccurate or untrue in any respect whatsoever and (ii) any noncompliance in any immaterial respect of the documents presented under such Letter of Credit with the terms thereof shall, in each case, be deemed not to constitute willful misconduct or gross negligence of the Issuing Bank.

     (g)  Disbursement Procedures . The Issuing Bank shall, promptly following its receipt thereof, examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit. The Issuing Bank shall as promptly as possible give telephonic notification, confirmed by fax, to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower of such demand for payment and whether the Issuing Bank has made or will make an L/C Disbursement thereunder; provided that any failure to give or delay in giving such notice shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation to reimburse the Issuing Bank and the applicable Lenders with respect to any such L/C Disbursement. The Administrative Agent shall promptly give each Revolving Credit Lender notice thereof.

     (h)  Interim Interest . If the Issuing Bank shall make any L/C Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, then, unless the Borrower shall reimburse such L/C Disbursement in full on such date, the unpaid amount thereof shall bear interest for the account of the Issuing Bank, for each day from and including the date of such L/C Disbursement to but excluding the earlier of the date of payment by the Borrower or the date on which interest shall commence to accrue thereon as provided in Section 2.02(f), at the rate per annum that would apply to such amount if such amount were an ABR Revolving Loan.

     (i)  Resignation or Removal of the Issuing Bank . The Issuing Bank may resign at any time by giving 30 days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower. Subject to the next succeeding paragraph, upon the acceptance of any appointment as the Issuing Bank hereunder by a Lender that shall agree to serve as successor Issuing Bank, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all the interests, rights and obligations of the retiring Issuing Bank and the retiring Issuing Bank shall be discharged from its obligations to issue additional Letters of Credit hereunder. At the time such removal or resignation shall become effective, the Borrower shall pay all accrued and unpaid fees pursuant to Section 2.05(c)(ii). The acceptance of any appointment as the Issuing Bank hereunder by a successor Lender shall be evidenced by an agreement entered into by such successor, in a form satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and, from and after the effective date of such agreement, (i) such successor Lender shall have all the rights and obligations of the previous Issuing Bank under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and (ii) references herein and in the other Loan Documents to the term “Issuing Bank” shall be deemed to refer to such successor or to any previous Issuing Bank, or to such successor and all previous Issuing Banks, as the context shall require. After the resignation or removal of the Issuing Bank hereunder, the retiring Issuing Bank shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it prior to such resignation or removal, but shall not be required to issue additional Letters of Credit.

     (j)  Cash Collateralization . If any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the Borrower shall, on the Business Day it receives notice from the Administrative Agent or the

56


 

Required Lenders (or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated, Revolving Credit Lenders representing greater than 50% of the total L/C Exposure) thereof and of the amount to be deposited, deposit in an account with the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Revolving Credit Lenders, an amount in cash equal to the L/C Exposure as of such date. Such deposit shall be held by the Collateral Agent as collateral for the payment and performance of the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement. The Collateral Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over such account. Other than any interest earned on the investment of such deposits in Permitted Investments, which investments shall be made at the option and sole discretion of the Collateral Agent, such deposits shall not bear interest. Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in such account. Moneys in such account shall (i) automatically be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse the Issuing Bank for L/C Disbursements for which it has not been reimbursed, (ii) be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Borrower for the L/C Exposure at such time and (iii) if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated (but subject to the consent of Revolving Credit Lenders representing greater than 50% of the total L/C Exposure), be applied to satisfy the Obligations. If the Borrower is required to provide an amount of cash collateral hereunder as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default, such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Borrower within three Business Days after all Events of Default have been cured or waived.

     (k)  Additional Issuing Banks . The Borrower may, at any time and from time to time with the consent of the Administrative Agent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) and such Lender, designate one or more additional Lenders to act as an issuing bank under the terms of the Agreement. Any Lender designated as an issuing bank pursuant to this paragraph shall be deemed to be an “Issuing Bank” (in addition to being a Lender) in respect of Letters of Credit issued or to be issued by such Lender, and, with respect to such Letters of Credit, such term shall thereafter apply to the other Issuing Bank and such Lender.

     SECTION 2.24. Incremental Facilities .

     (a) (i) Borrower may by written notice to the Administrative Agent (the “ Increase Loan Notice ”) elect to request prior to the first anniversary of the Closing Date, an increase to the existing Revolving Credit Commitment (any such increase, the “ Primary New Revolving Loan Commitments ”) on any one or more occasions by an amount not in excess of $20,000,000 in the aggregate. Any Primary New Revolving Loan Commitment shall be in the minimum amount of $5,000,000 and integral multiples of $500,000 in excess thereof (or, in the aggregate, if less, the entire remaining amount of an amount equal to $20,000,000 less the amount of Revolving Loan Commitments outstanding as of the applicable Increased Amount Date (as defined below)), and shall be subject to the voluntary participation of Lenders in such Primary New Revolving Loan Commitment as otherwise provided herein. Such notice shall specify (A) the date (the “ Increased Amount Date ”) on which Borrower proposes that the Primary New Revolving Loan Commitments shall be effective, which need not be the same date for all Primary New Revolving Loan Commitments and shall be a date not less than 5 Business Days after the date on which such notice is delivered to the Administrative Agent (or such shorter period as may be approved by the Administrative Agent) and (B) the identity of each Lender or other Person that is an Eligible Assignee (each, a “ New

57


 

Revolving Loan Lender ”) to whom Borrower proposes any portion of such Primary New Revolving Loan Commitments be allocated and the amounts of such proposed allocations.

          (ii) Borrower may by written Increase Loan Notice elect to request, prior to the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, an increase to the existing Revolving Credit Commitment (any such increase, the “ Secondary New Revolving Loan Commitments ” and, together with the Primary New Revolving Loan Commitments, the “ New Revolving Loan Commitments ”) on any one occasion by an amount not in excess of $20,000,000 in the aggregate; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, no Secondary New Revolving Loan Commitments may be requested until the date the Borrower shall have fully activated all permitted Primary New Revolving Loan Commitments in accordance with Section 2.24(a)(i) and (y) the Business Day immediately following the first anniversary of the Closing Date. Any Secondary New Revolving Loan Commitment shall be in the minimum amount of $5,000,000 and integral multiples of $500,000 in excess thereof, and shall be subject to the voluntary participation of Lenders or Eligible Assignees in such Secondary New Revolving Loan Commitment as otherwise provided herein. Such notice shall specify (A) the Increased Amount Date, which shall be the same date for all Secondary New Revolving Loan Commitments and shall be a date not less than 10 Business Days after the date on which such notice is delivered to the Administrative Agent (or such shorter period as may be approved by the Administrative Agent) and (B) the identity of each New Revolving Loan Lender to whom Borrower proposes any portion of such New Revolving Loan Commitments be allocated and the amounts of such proposed allocations.

     (b) The entering into of New Revolving Loan Commitments shall be subject to the satisfaction of each of the following conditions precedent, as determined by Administrative Agent in its good faith judgment:

          (i) any existing Lender may elect or decline, in its sole discretion, to provide a New Revolving Loan Commitment; provided , however , that the election by any such Lender to provide or not provide New Revolving Loan Commitments shall, in no way affect its then existing obligations under the Loan Documents;

          (ii) no Default or Event of Default shall exist on the date the Increased Loan Notice is delivered and no Default or Event of Default shall exist on the Increased Amount Date, both before and after giving effect to such New Revolving Loan Commitments;

          (iii) in connection with the making of any Secondary New Revolving Loan Commitments only, both before and after giving effect to the making of any New Revolving Loan Commitments, Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be in compliance, on a pro forma basis (after giving effect to such New Revolving Loan Commitments and such other customary adjustments reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent), with each of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.11, 6.12, 6.13, 6.14, 6.15 and 6.16 as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter after giving effect to such New Revolving Loan Commitments;

58


 

          (iv) the New Revolving Loan Commitments shall be effected pursuant to one or more Joinder Agreements executed and delivered by Borrower and Administrative Agent, and each of which shall be recorded in the Register and shall be subject to the requirements set forth in Section 2.20(d);

          (v) Borrower shall make any payments required pursuant to Section 2.16(c) in connection with the New Revolving Loan Commitments;

          (vi) in connection with the making of any Secondary New Revolving Loan Commitments only, Borrower shall deliver or cause to be delivered any legal opinions or other documents reasonably requested by Administrative Agent in connection with the New Revolving Loan Commitments;

          (vii) in connection with the making of any Secondary New Revolving Loan Commitments only, and as requested by Administrative Agent, the Loan Parties shall have acknowledged and ratified that their obligations under the applicable Loan Documents remain in full force and effect, and continue to guaranty the Obligations under the Loan Documents, as modified by the implementation of the New Revolving Loan Commitments; and

          (viii) in connection with the making of any New Revolving Loan Commitments, Borrower shall have paid all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with the implementation of the New Revolving Loan Commitments.

     (c) Each New Revolving Loan Commitment shall be deemed, for all purposes (and shall have identical terms, including without limitation, pricing, as), the existing Revolving Loan Commitments (including, without limitation, for purposes of calculating Revolving Facility Exposure) and each Loan made thereunder (a “ New Revolving Loan ”) shall be deemed, for all purposes (and shall have identical terms as), the existing Revolving Loans. In the event an Eligible Assignee participates in the New Revolving Loan Commitments (in such capacity, a “ New Revolving Loan Lender ”), such New Revolving Loan Lender shall be deemed, for all purposes, a Lender and a Revolving Credit Lender hereunder.

     (d) On any Increased Amount Date on which New Revolving Loan Commitments are effected, subject to the satisfaction of the foregoing terms and conditions, each of the Revolving Credit Lenders shall assign to each of the New Revolving Loan Lenders, and each of the New Revolving Loan Lenders shall purchase from each of the Revolving Credit Lenders, at the principal amount thereof (together with accrued interest), such interests in the Revolving Loans outstanding on such Increased Amount Date as shall be necessary in order that, after giving effect to all such assignments and purchases, such Revolving Loans will be held by existing Revolving Loan Lenders and New Revolving Loan Lenders ratably in accordance with their Revolving Loan Commitments after giving effect to the addition of such New Revolving Loan Commitments to the Revolving Loan Commitments.

     (e) Administrative Agent shall notify Lenders promptly upon receipt of Borrower’s notice of each Increased Amount Date and in respect thereof (y) the New Revolving Loan

59


 

Commitments and the New Revolving Loan Lenders and (z) in the case of each notice to any Revolving Loan Lender, the respective interests in such Revolving Loan Lender’s Revolving Loans, in each case subject to the assignments contemplated by this Section.

     (f) Each Joinder Agreement may, without the consent of any other Lenders, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent to give effect to the provisions of this Section 2.24.

     SECTION 2.25. Extension of Revolving Credit Maturity Date . (a) Borrower shall have the right to extend the Revolving Credit Maturity Date for three (3) additional distinct consecutive periods, each of one year in duration (each an “ Extension Period ”). To request an extension of the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, Borrower shall deliver to Administrative Agent at least thirty (30) days’ prior written notice (an “ Extension Notice ”; such 30 th day after delivery of the Extension Notice being hereinafter referred to as the “ Extension Effectiveness Date ”) containing Borrower’s election to extend the term of the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, which Extension Notice shall be delivered not less than one (1) month nor more than three (3) months prior to the then scheduled Revolving Credit Maturity Date. As further provided below, on the applicable Extension Effectiveness Date, the Revolving Credit Maturity Date shall be extended one year from the then scheduled Revolving Credit Maturity Date, respectively, subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

          (ix) no Event of Default exists on the date such Extension Notice is delivered and no Default or Event of Default exists on the Extension Effectiveness Date;

          (x) Borrower shall have paid any reasonable out of pocket costs and expenses incurred by Administrative Agent, in connection with the requested extension (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs);

          (xi) both before and after giving effect to such extension, Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be in compliance, on a pro forma basis (after giving effect to such extension and such other customary adjustments reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent), with each of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.11, 6.12, 6.13, 6.14, 6.15 and 6.16 as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter after giving effect to such extension; and

          (xii) Revolving Credit Lenders holding Revolving Credit Commitments, in aggregate, of at least $2,000,000, shall have consented in writing to such extension at least five (5) Business Days before the scheduled Extension Effectiveness Date.

For the avoidance of doubt, and notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) any Revolving Credit Lender may elect or decline, in its sole discretion, to consent to a request for any extension of the Revolving Credit Maturity Date and (y) the consent to any such extension of the Revolving Credit Maturity Date by any Term Lender shall not be required.

     (b) Upon the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in clauses (i) through (iv) of Section 2.25(a), the Revolving Credit Maturity Date shall be deemed extended on the Extension Effectiveness Date. If the Revolving Credit Maturity Date is extended, all the terms and

60


 

conditions of the Credit Documents shall continue to apply, except that (i) Borrower shall have no further option to extend the Revolving Credit Maturity Date beyond the expiration of the third occurring Extension Period, (ii) as of each Extension Effectiveness Date, the Revolving Credit Commitments shall be deemed permanently reduced by an amount equal to the Revolving Credit Commitments of those Revolving Credit Lenders that did not consent in writing to such extension at least five (5) Business Days before the scheduled Extension Effectiveness Date and whose Revolving Credit Commitments were not otherwise assigned to one or more replacement Revolving Credit Lenders in accordance with Section 2.21(a), (iii) such reduction in the Revolving Credit Commitments shall be made ratably among solely the applicable Revolving Credit Lenders that did not so consent in accordance with their Pro Rata Percentages and whose Revolving Credit Commitments were not otherwise assigned to one or more replacement Revolving Credit Lenders in accordance with Section 2.21(a) (and not, for the avoidance of doubt, all Revolving Credit Lenders) and (iv) notwithstanding anything in Section 2.13 or otherwise contained herein to the contrary, Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Revolving Credit Lenders that did not so consent and whose Revolving Credit Commitments were not otherwise assigned to one or more replacement Revolving Credit Lenders in accordance with Section 2.21(a), on the Extension Effectiveness Date, (A) the amount of Revolving Loans outstanding as of such date attributable to such Revolving Credit Lenders in accordance with their Pro Rata Percentages and (B) the Commitment Fees on the amount of the Commitments so terminated or reduced accrued to but excluding the date of such termination or reduction (it being understood and agreed that Borrower shall be permitted to make additional borrowings of Revolving Loans from continuing Revolving Credit Lenders to fund such payments, in accordance with and subject to the limitations of this Section 2 and Section 4).

ARTICLE III.

Representations and Warranties

     The Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Issuing Bank and each of the Lenders that:

     SECTION 3.01. Organization; Powers . The Borrower and each Subsidiary (a) is duly organized or formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization or formation, (b) has all requisite corporate or limited liability company power and authority, and the legal right, to own and operate its property and assets, to lease the property it operates as lessee and to carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted, (c) is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing in, every jurisdiction where such qualification is required (except where failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect) and (d) has the corporate or limited liability company power and authority, and the legal right, to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement, each of the other Loan Documents, the Acquisition Documentation and each other agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby to which it is or will be a party, including, in the case of the Borrower, to borrow hereunder, in the case of each Loan Party, to grant the Liens contemplated to be granted by it under the Security Documents and, in the case

61


 

of each Subsidiary Guarantor, to Guarantee the Obligations as contemplated by the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

     SECTION 3.02. Authorization; No Conflicts . The Transactions (a) have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate, partnership or limited liability company and, if required, stockholder, partner or member action and (b) will not (i) violate (A) any provision of law, statute, rule or regulation, or of the certificate or articles of incorporation or other constitutive documents or by-laws of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, (B) any order of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator or (C) any provision of any indenture, agreement or other instrument to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is a party or by which any of them or any of their property is or may be bound (except where such violation could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect), (ii) be in conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute (alone or with notice or lapse of time or both) a default under, or give rise to any right to accelerate or to require the prepayment, repurchase or redemption of any obligation under any such indenture, agreement or other instrument or (iii) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon or with respect to any property or assets now owned or hereafter acquired by the Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than Liens created under the Security Documents or as permitted by this Agreement).

     SECTION 3.03. Enforceability . This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Borrower and constitutes, and each other Loan Document when executed and delivered by each Loan Party party thereto will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party enforceable against such Loan Party in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

     SECTION 3.04. Governmental Approvals . No action, consent or approval of, registration or filing with, Permit from, notice to, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority is or will be required in connection with the Transactions, except for (a) the filing of UCC financing statements and filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, (b) recordation of the Mortgages, (c) such as have been made or obtained and are in full force and effect, other than, in the case of each of the foregoing, the failure of which to obtain or make could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or which are not material to the consummation of the Transactions.

     SECTION 3.05. Financial Statements . (a) The Borrower has heretofore furnished to the Lenders the consolidated balance sheets and related statements of income, stockholder’s equity and cash flows of each of the Borrower and USAgencies as of and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2005, December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003 in each case audited by and accompanied by the opinion of (i) in the case of the Borrower, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, and (ii) in the case of USAgencies, Postlethwaite & Netterville, in both cases independent public accountants. Such financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations and cash flows of USAgencies, the Borrower and each of their consolidated Subsidiaries as of such dates and for such periods. Such balance sheets and the notes thereto disclose all material liabilities, direct or contingent, of USAgencies, the Borrower and each of their consolidated Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof. Such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis.

62


 

     (b) The Borrower has heretofore delivered to the Lenders its unaudited pro forma consolidated balance sheet and related statements of income, stockholder’s equity and cash flows as of September 30, 2006, prepared giving effect to the Transactions as if they had occurred, with respect to such balance sheet, on such date and, with respect to such other financial statements, on the first day of the 12-month period ending on such date. Such pro forma financial statements (i) have been prepared in good faith by the Borrower, based on the assumptions used to prepare the pro forma financial information contained in the Confidential Information Memorandum (which assumptions are believed by the Borrower on the date hereof and on the Closing Date to be reasonable), (ii) are based on the best information available to the Borrower after due inquiry as of the date of delivery thereof, (iii) accurately reflect all material adjustments required to be made to give effect to the Transactions and (iv) present fairly in all material respects on a pro forma basis the estimated consolidated financial position of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of such date and for such period, assuming that the Transactions had actually occurred at such date or at the beginning of such period, as the case may be.

     SECTION 3.06. No Material Adverse Change . No event, change or condition has occurred since December 31, 2005 that has caused, or could reasonably be expected to cause, a Material Adverse Effect.

     SECTION 3.07. Title to Properties; Possession Under Leases . (a) Each of the Borrower and each Subsidiary has good and valid title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all its material properties and assets (including, good and marketable title to, or valid leasehold interests in all its material Real Property), except for minor defects in title that, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount and do not materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto and do not interfere in any material respect with its ability to conduct its business as currently conducted or to utilize such properties and assets for their intended purposes. Each parcel of Real Property is free from material structural defects and all building systems contained therein are in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, suitable for the purposes for which they are currently being used. No portion of the Real Property has suffered any material damage by fire or other casualty loss that has not heretofore been completely repaired and restored to its original condition. Each parcel of Real Property and the current use thereof complies with all applicable laws (including building and zoning ordinances and codes) and with all insurance requirements; the Borrower is not a non-conforming user of any Real Property.

     (b) Each of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, each other party thereto, has complied with all obligations under all material leases to which it is a party and all such leases are legal, valid, binding and in full force and effect and are enforceable in accordance with their terms. Each of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries enjoys peaceful and undisturbed possession under all such material leases. No landlord Lien has been filed, and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, no claim is being asserted, with respect to any lease payment under any material lease. None of the Real Property is subject to any lease, sublease, license or other agreement granting to any person (other than the Borrower and their Affiliates) any right to the use, occupancy, possession or enjoyment of the Real Property or any portion thereof. The Borrower has delivered to the Administrative Agent true, complete and correct copies of all leases (whether as landlord or tenant) of Real Property.

63


 

     (c) None of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries has received any notice of, nor has any knowledge of, any pending or contemplated condemnation proceeding affecting the Real Properties or any sale or disposition thereof in lieu of condemnation.

     (d) None of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries is obligated under any right of first refusal, option or other contractual right to sell, assign or otherwise dispose of any Real Property or any interest therein.

     (e) There are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, proposed special or other assessments for public improvements or otherwise affecting any material portion of the owned Real Property, nor are there any contemplated improvements to such owned Real Property that may result in such special or other assessments. The Borrower has not suffered, permitted or initiated the joint assessment of any owned Real Property with any other real property constituting a separate tax lot. Each owned parcel of Real Property is comprised of one or more parcels, each of which constitutes a separate tax lot and none of which constitutes a portion of any other tax lot.

     (f) The Borrower has obtained all permits, licenses, variances and certificates required by applicable law to be obtained and necessary to the use and operation of each parcel of Real Property, except where the failure to have such permit, license, certificate or variance would not prohibit the use of such parcel of Real Property as it is currently being used. The use being made of each parcel of Real Property conforms with the certificate of occupancy and/or such other permits, licenses, variances and certificates for such Real Property and any other restrictions, covenants or conditions affecting such Real Property, except for any such nonconformity that could not reasonably be expected to be enjoined or to result in material fines.

     (g) (i) each parcel of Real Property has adequate rights of access to public ways to permit the Real Property to be used for its intended purpose, and is served by installed, operating and adequate water, electric, gas, telephone, sewer, sanitary sewer and storm drain facilities; (ii) all public utilities necessary to the continued use and enjoyment of each parcel of Real Property as used and enjoyed on the Closing Date are located in the public right-of-way abutting the premises, and all such utilities are connected so as to serve such Real Property without passing over other Property except for land of the utility company providing such utility service or, in the case of leased Real Property, contiguous land owned by the lessor of such leased Real Property; (iii) each parcel of Real Property, including each leased parcel, has adequate available parking to meet legal and operating requirements; (iv) all roads necessary for the full utilization of each parcel of Real Property for its current purpose have been completed and dedicated to public use and accepted by all governmental authorities or are the subject of access easements for the benefit of such Real Property; (v) no building or structure constituting Real Property or any appurtenance thereto or equipment thereon, or the use, operation or maintenance thereof, violates any restrictive covenant or encroaches on any easement or on any property owned by others, which violation or encroachment interferes with the use or could materially adversely affect the value of such building, structure or appurtenance or which encroachment is necessary for the operation of the business at any Real Property; and (vi) all buildings, structures, appurtenances and equipment necessary for the use of each parcel of Real Property for the purpose for which it is currently being used are located on the real property encumbered by such Mortgage.

64


 

     SECTION 3.08. Subsidiaries . (a) Schedule 3.08(a) sets forth as of the Closing Date a list of all Subsidiaries, after giving effect to the Acquisition, including each Subsidiary’s exact legal name (as reflected in such Subsidiary’s certificate or articles of incorporation or other constitutive documents) and jurisdiction of incorporation or formation and the percentage ownership interest of the Borrower (direct or indirect) therein, and identifies each Subsidiary that is Loan Party. The shares of capital stock or other Equity Interests so indicated on Schedule 3.08(a) are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by the Borrower, directly or indirectly, free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens created under the Security Documents).

     (b) As of the Closing Date, there are no restrictions on any Regulated Insurance Subsidiary which prohibit or otherwise restrict the ability of any Regulated Insurance Subsidiary to (i) pay dividends or make other distributions or pay any Indebtedness owed to the Borrower or any Subsidiary, (ii) make loans or advances to the Borrower or any Subsidiary, (iii) transfer any of its properties or assets to the Borrower or any Subsidiary, (iv) guarantee the Obligations, other than prohibitions or restrictions existing under or by reason of (A) customary nonassignment provisions entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices and (B) purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business, so long as such obligations are permitted under this Agreement, (v) dividend or distribute to the Borrower or any Subsidiary amounts equal to all state and federal income tax expenses incurred by the Regulated Insurance Subsidiaries, or (vi) conduct business in the ordinary course in the jurisdictions in which such Regulated Insurance Subsidiary conducts its Insurance Business, including, without limitation, as set forth on Schedule 3.26, other than, in the case of each of clause (i) through clause (vi), prohibitions or restrictions existing under or by reason of (A) this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, (B) Requirements of Law or (C) as set forth on Schedule 3.08(b).

     SECTION 3.09. Litigation; Compliance with Laws . (a) There are no actions, investigations, suits or proceedings at law or in equity or by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority now pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against or affecting the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any business, property or rights of any such person (i) that involve any Loan Document or the Transactions or (ii) except as set forth on Schedule 3.09, as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination and that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

     (b) None of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries or any of their respective material properties or assets is in violation of, nor will the continued operation of their material properties and assets as currently conducted violate, any law, rule or regulation (including any zoning, building, Environmental Law, ordinance, code or approval or any building permits) or any restrictions of record or agreements affecting the Mortgaged Property, or is in default with respect to any judgment, writ, injunction, decree or order of any Governmental Authority, where such violation or default, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

     (c) Certificates of occupancy, if any, and permits are in effect for each Mortgaged Property as currently constructed, and true and complete copies of such certificates of

65


 

occupancy, if any, have been delivered to the Collateral Agent as mortgagee with respect to each Mortgaged Property.

     SECTION 3.10. Agreements . (a) None of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries is a party to any agreement or instrument, or subject to any corporate restriction, that, individually or in the aggregate, has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

     (b) None of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries is in default in any manner under any provision of any indenture or other agreement or instrument evidencing Indebtedness, or any other material agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties or assets are or may be bound where such default, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No Default has occurred and is continuing.

     SECTION 3.11. Federal Reserve Regulations . (a) None of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries is engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of buying or carrying Margin Stock.

     (b) No part of the proceeds of any Loan or any Letter of Credit will be used, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, for purchasing or carrying Margin Stock or for the purpose of purchasing, carrying or trading in any securities under such circumstances as to involve the Borrower in a violation of Regulation X or to involve any broker or dealer in a violation of Regulation T. No Indebtedness being reduced or retired out of the proceeds of any Loans or Letters of Credit was or will be incurred for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any Margin Stock. Following the application of the proceeds of the Loans and the Letters of Credit, Margin Stock will not constitute more than 25% of the value of the assets of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries. None of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will violate or result in the violation of any of the provisions of the Regulations of the Board, including Regulation T, U or X. If requested by any Lender or the Administrative Agent, the Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender a statement to the foregoing effect in conformity with the requirements of FR Form G-3 or FR Form U-1 referred to in Regulation U.

     SECTION 3.12. Investment Company Act . None of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries is an “investment company” as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

     SECTION 3.13. Use of Proceeds . The Borrower will use the proceeds of the Term Loans solely to pay the Acquisition Consideration. The Borrower will use the proceeds of the Revolving Loans and the Swingline Loans to pay fees and expenses related to the Transactions and, from time to time, for general corporate purposes, including, without limitation payments in accordance with Section 6.06(a)(iii). The Borrower will request the issuance of Letters of Credit solely to support payment obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

66


 

     SECTION 3.14. Tax Returns . Each of the Borrower and each of the Subsidiaries has timely filed or timely caused to be filed all federal, material state, material local and material foreign tax returns or materials required to have been filed by it and all such tax returns are correct and complete in all material respects. (a) Each of the Borrower and each of the Subsidiaries has timely paid or timely caused to be paid all Taxes due and payable by it and all assessments received by it, except Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which the Borrower or such Subsidiary as applicable, shall have set aside on its books adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP, (b) each of the Borrower and each of the Subsidiaries has made adequate provision in accordance with GAAP for all Taxes not yet due and payable and (c) no Tax Lien has been filed, and to the knowledge of the Borrower and each of the Subsidiaries, no claim is being asserted, with respect to any Tax except, in the case clauses (a), (b) and (c) with respect to such taxes and Liens that do not exceed $2,500,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding. None of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries (a) intends to treat the Loans or any of the transactions contemplated by any Loan Document or the Acquisition as being a “reportable transaction” (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4) or (b) is aware of any facts or events that would result in such treatment.

     SECTION 3.15. No Material Misstatements; Acquisition Documentation . (a) The Borrower has disclosed to the Arranger, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries is subject, and all other matters known to any of them, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. None of (i) the Confidential Information Memorandum or (ii) any other information, report, financial statement, exhibit or schedule furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to the Arranger, the Administrative Agent or any Lender for use in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents or in connection with the negotiation of any Loan Document or included therein or delivered pursuant thereto, when taken as a whole, contained, contains or will contain any material misstatement of fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were, are or will be made, not misleading; provided that to the extent any such information, report, financial statement, exhibit or schedule was based upon or constitutes a forecast or projection, the Borrower represents only that it acted in good faith and utilized assumptions believed by it to be reasonable at the time (it being understood that projections are subject to significant uncertainty and contingencies many of which are beyond the control of the Borrower and that no assurances can be given that such projections will be realized).

     (b) As of the Closing Date, the representations and warranties of the applicable Loan Parties and their Affiliates set forth in the Acquisition Documentation are true and correct in all material respects.

     SECTION 3.16. Employee Benefit Plans . Each of the Borrower and each of its ERISA Affiliates is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA and the Tax Code and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder. No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events, could reasonably be expected to result in material liability of the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates. The present value of all benefit liabilities under each Benefit Plan (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Accounting

67


 

Standards No. 87) did not, as of the last annual valuation date applicable thereto, exceed by more than $1,000,000 the fair market value of the assets of such Benefit Plan, and the present value of all benefit liabilities of all underfunded Benefit Plans (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87) did not, as of the last annual valuation dates applicable thereto, exceed by more than $1,000,000 the fair market value of the assets of all such underfunded Benefit Plans.

     SECTION 3.17. Environmental Matters . (a) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.17 and except with respect to any other matters that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, none of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries:

     (i) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law or to take, in a timely manner, all actions necessary to obtain, maintain, renew and comply with any Environmental Permit, and all such Environmental Permits are in full force and effect and not subject to any administrative or judicial appeal;

     (ii) has become a party to any governmental, administrative or judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to any Environmental Law or possesses knowledge of any such proceeding that has been threatened under Environmental Law;

     (iii) has received notice of, become subject to, or is aware of any facts or circumstances that could form the basis for, any Environmental Liability other than those which have been fully and finally resolved and for which no obligations remain outstanding;

     (iv) possesses knowledge that any Mortgaged Property (A) is subject to any Lien, restriction on ownership, occupancy, use or transferability imposed pursuant to Environmental Law or (B) contains or previously contained Hazardous Materials of a form or type or in a quantity or location that could reasonably be expected to result in any Environmental Liability;

     (v) possesses knowledge that there has been a Release or threat of Release of Hazardous Materials at or from the Mortgaged Properties (or from any fac