$220,000,000
CREDIT AGREEMENT
dated as of January 31,
2007
AFFIRMATIVE INSURANCE HOLDINGS,
INC.,
as Borrower
CREDIT SUISSE, CAYMAN ISLANDS
BRANCH
as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent
CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES
(USA) LLC,
as Sole Bookrunner and Sole Lead Arranger
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PAGE
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SECTION 1.01. Defined Terms
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1
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SECTION 1.02. Terms Generally
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32
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SECTION 1.03. Classification of Loans and
Borrowings
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33
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SECTION 1.04. Pro Forma Calculations
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33
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SECTION 2.01. Commitments
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33
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34
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SECTION 2.03. Borrowing Procedure
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36
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SECTION 2.04. Repayment of Loans; Evidence of
Debt
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36
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37
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SECTION 2.06. Interest on Loans
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38
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SECTION 2.07. Default Interest
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38
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SECTION 2.08. Alternate Rate of
Interest
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39
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SECTION 2.09. Termination and Reduction of
Commitments
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39
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SECTION 2.10. Conversion and Continuation of
Borrowings
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40
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SECTION 2.11. Repayment of Term
Borrowings
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41
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42
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SECTION 2.13. Mandatory Prepayments
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43
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SECTION 2.14. Reserve Requirements; Change in
Circumstances
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45
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SECTION 2.15. Change in Legality
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46
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47
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SECTION 2.17. Pro Rata Treatment
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47
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SECTION 2.18. Sharing of Setoffs
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48
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48
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49
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SECTION 2.21. Assignment of Commitments Under
Certain Circumstances; Duty to Mitigate
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50
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SECTION 2.22. Swingline Loans
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52
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SECTION 2.23. Letters of Credit
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53
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SECTION 2.24. Incremental Facilities
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57
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SECTION 2.25. Extension of Revolving Credit
Maturity Date
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60
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i
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PAGE
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Representations and Warranties
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SECTION 3.01. Organization; Powers
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61
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SECTION 3.02. Authorization; No
Conflicts
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62
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SECTION 3.03. Enforceability
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62
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SECTION 3.04. Governmental Approvals
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62
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SECTION 3.05. Financial Statements
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62
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SECTION 3.06. No Material Adverse
Change
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63
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SECTION 3.07. Title to Properties; Possession
Under Leases
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63
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SECTION 3.08. Subsidiaries
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65
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SECTION 3.09. Litigation; Compliance with
Laws
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65
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66
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SECTION 3.11. Federal Reserve
Regulations
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66
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SECTION 3.12. Investment Company Act
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66
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SECTION 3.13. Use of Proceeds
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66
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SECTION 3.14. Tax Returns
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67
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SECTION 3.15. No Material Misstatements;
Acquisition Documentation
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67
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SECTION 3.16. Employee Benefit Plans
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67
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SECTION 3.17. Environmental Matters
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68
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69
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SECTION 3.19. Security Documents
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69
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SECTION 3.20. Location of Real
Property
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70
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SECTION 3.21. Labor Matters
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70
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70
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SECTION 3.23. Intellectual Property
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70
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70
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SECTION 3.25. Acquisition
Documentation
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71
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71
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SECTION 3.27. Reinsurance Agreements
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71
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SECTION 3.28. Premium Finance
Agreements
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72
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SECTION 3.29. Senior Indebtedness
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72
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SECTION 3.30. Closing Date Inactive
Subsidiaries
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72
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SECTION 4.01. All Credit Events
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72
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SECTION 4.02. First Credit Event
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73
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ii
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PAGE
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SECTION 5.01. Existence; Businesses and
Properties
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78
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79
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SECTION 5.03. Obligations and Taxes
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79
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SECTION 5.04. Financial Statements, Reports,
etc.
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79
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SECTION 5.05. Litigation and Other
Notices
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82
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SECTION 5.06. Information Regarding
Collateral
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83
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SECTION 5.07. Maintaining Records; Access to
Properties and Inspections; Environmental Assessments
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83
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SECTION 5.08. Use of Proceeds
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84
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SECTION 5.09. Additional Collateral,
etc
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84
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SECTION 5.10. Further Assurances
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87
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SECTION 5.11. Interest Rate
Protection
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88
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SECTION 5.12. Maintain Reinsurance
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88
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SECTION 5.13. Tax Sharing
Arrangements
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88
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SECTION 6.01. Indebtedness
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89
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90
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SECTION 6.03. Sale and Lease-Back
Transactions
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92
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SECTION 6.04. Investments, Loans and
Advances
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92
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SECTION 6.05. Mergers, Consolidations, Sales of
Assets and Acquisitions
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93
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SECTION 6.06. Restricted Payments; Restrictive
Agreements
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94
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SECTION 6.07. Transactions with
Affiliates
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95
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SECTION 6.08. Business of the Borrower and
Subsidiaries; Limitation on Hedging Agreements
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95
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SECTION 6.09. Other Indebtedness and Agreements;
Amendments to Acquisition Documentation
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96
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SECTION 6.10. Capital Expenditures
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97
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SECTION 6.11. Interest Coverage Ratio
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97
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SECTION 6.12. Leverage Ratio
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98
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SECTION 6.13. Minimum Risk-Based Capital
Ratio
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99
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SECTION 6.14. Combined Ratio
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99
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SECTION 6.15. Fixed Charge Coverage
Ratio
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99
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SECTION 6.16. Consolidated Net Worth
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99
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SECTION 6.17. Fiscal Year
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99
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ARTICLE VII. Events of Default
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The Agents and the Arranger
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iii
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PAGE
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105
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SECTION 9.02. Survival of Agreement
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106
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SECTION 9.03. Binding Effect
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106
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SECTION 9.04. Successors and Assigns
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106
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SECTION 9.05. Expenses; Indemnity
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110
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SECTION 9.06. Right of Setoff
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111
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SECTION 9.07. Applicable Law
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111
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SECTION 9.08. Waivers; Amendment
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112
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SECTION 9.09. Interest Rate
Limitation
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113
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SECTION 9.10. Entire Agreement
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113
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SECTION 9.11. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL
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113
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SECTION 9.12. Severability
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113
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SECTION 9.13. Counterparts
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114
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114
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SECTION 9.15. Jurisdiction; Consent to Service
of Process
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114
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SECTION 9.16. Confidentiality
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114
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SECTION 9.17. Delivery of Lender
Addenda
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115
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Form of
Administrative Questionnaire
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Form of
Affiliate Subordination Agreement
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Form of
Assignment and Acceptance
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Form of
Borrowing Request
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Form of
Guarantee and Collateral Agreement
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Form of Lender
Addendum
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Form of
Mortgage (Owned and Leased Real Property)
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Form of
Perfection Certificate
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Form of
Non-Bank Certificate
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Form of Opinion
of McDermott Will & Emery
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Forms of
Premium Finance Agreements
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Mortgaged
Properties
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Subsidiary
Guarantors
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(a)Subsidiaries
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Additional
Prohibitions and Restrictions
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Litigation
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Environmental
Matters
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iv
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Insurance
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UCC Filing
Offices
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Mortgage Filing
Offices
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Owned and
Leased Real Property
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Acquisition
Documentation
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Regulated
Insurance Subsidiary Permits
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Existing
Indebtedness
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Existing
Liens
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Existing
Investments
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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:
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.
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
|
|
|
|
$
|
500,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
500,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
500,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
500,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
500,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
500,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
500,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
500,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
500,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
500,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
500,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
500,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
500,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
500,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
500,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
500,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
500,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
500,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
500,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
500,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
500,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
500,000
|
|
41
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Repayment
Date
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
|
$
|
500,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
500,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
500,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
500,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
500,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
500,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
500,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
500,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
500,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
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
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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).
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 |