Exhibit 10.2
Published CUSIP Number: XXXXXXXXX
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
Dated
as of November 16, 2007
among
VULCAN MATERIALS COMPANY 1 ,
as the Borrower,
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent,
and
The
Other Lenders Party Hereto
WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Syndication Agent
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.,
REGIONS BANK
and
UBS LOAN FINANCE LLC,
as
Co-Documentation Agents
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
and
WACHOVIA CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC,
as
Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners
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| 1 |
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Successor by merger to and formerly known as VIRGINIA HOLDCO,
INC., a New Jersey corporation, with such name change occurring on
or about the date hereof. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Section |
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Page |
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ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING
TERMS
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1 |
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1.01
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Defined Terms |
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1 |
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1.02
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Other Interpretive Provisions |
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17 |
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1.03
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Accounting Terms |
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18 |
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1.04
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Rounding |
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18 |
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1.05
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Times of Day |
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18 |
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| ARTICLE II. THE COMMITMENTS AND
BORROWINGS |
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18 |
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2.01
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Committed Loans |
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18 |
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2.02
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Borrowings, Conversions and
Continuations of Committed Loans |
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19 |
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2.03
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Bid Loans |
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20 |
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2.04
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[Reserved.] |
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23 |
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2.05
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Prepayments |
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23 |
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2.06
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Termination or Reduction of
Commitments |
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24 |
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2.07
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Repayment of Loans |
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24 |
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2.08
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Interest |
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24 |
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2.09
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Fees |
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25 |
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2.10
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Computation of Interest and Fees |
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25 |
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2.11
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Evidence of Debt |
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26 |
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2.12
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Payments Generally; Administrative
Agent’s Clawback |
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26 |
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2.13
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Sharing of Payments by Lenders |
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28 |
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2.14
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Increase in Commitments |
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28 |
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2.15
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Extension of Maturity Date |
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29 |
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| ARTICLE III. TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION
AND ILLEGALITY |
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31 |
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3.01
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Taxes |
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31 |
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3.02
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Illegality |
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33 |
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3.03
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Inability to Determine Rates |
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33 |
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3.04
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Increased Costs |
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34 |
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3.05
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Compensation for Losses |
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35 |
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3.06
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Mitigation Obligations; Replacement
of Lenders |
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36 |
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3.07
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Survival |
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36 |
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| ARTICLE IV. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO
BORROWINGS |
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36 |
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4.01
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Conditions of Initial Borrowing |
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36 |
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4.02
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Conditions to all Borrowings |
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38 |
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| ARTICLE V. REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES |
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38 |
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5.01
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Existence, Qualification and
Power |
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38 |
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Section |
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Page |
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5.02
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Authorization; No Contravention;
Governmental Authorization |
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39 |
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5.03
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Binding Effect |
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39 |
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5.04
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Financial Statements; No Material
Adverse Effect |
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39 |
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5.05
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Litigation |
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40 |
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5.06
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Taxes |
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40 |
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5.07
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ERISA Compliance |
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40 |
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5.08
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Margin Regulations; Investment
Company Act |
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40 |
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5.09
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Disclosure |
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40 |
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5.10
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Compliance with Laws |
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41 |
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5.11
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Taxpayer Identification Number |
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41 |
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| ARTICLE VI. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS |
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41 |
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6.01
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Financial Statements |
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41 |
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6.02
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Certificates; Other Information |
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42 |
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6.03
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Notices |
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43 |
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6.04
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Payment of Obligations |
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43 |
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6.05
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Preservation of Existence |
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6.06
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Maintenance of Properties |
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44 |
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6.07
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Self-Insurance |
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44 |
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6.08
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Compliance with Laws |
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44 |
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6.09
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Books and Records; Inspection
Rights |
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44 |
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6.10
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Use of Proceeds |
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44 |
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| ARTICLE VII. NEGATIVE COVENANTS |
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45 |
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7.01
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Liens |
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45 |
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7.02
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Fundamental Changes |
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46 |
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7.03
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Sales of Assets |
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46 |
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7.04
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Dissolution |
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46 |
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7.05
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Use of Proceeds |
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46 |
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7.06
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Ratio of Consolidated Debt to Total
Capitalization |
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46 |
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| ARTICLE VIII. EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND
REMEDIES |
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47 |
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8.01
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Events of Default |
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47 |
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8.02
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Remedies Upon Event of Default |
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49 |
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8.03
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Application of Funds |
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50 |
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| ARTICLE IX. ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT |
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50 |
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9.01
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Appointment and Authority |
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50 |
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9.02
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Rights as a Lender |
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50 |
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9.03
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Exculpatory Provisions |
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51 |
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9.04
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Reliance by Administrative Agent |
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51 |
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9.05
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Delegation of Duties |
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52 |
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9.06
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Resignation of Administrative
Agent |
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52 |
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ii
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Section |
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Page |
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9.07
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Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent
and Other Lenders |
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53 |
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9.08
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No Other Duties, Etc. |
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53 |
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9.09
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Administrative Agent May File Proofs
of Claim |
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53 |
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| ARTICLE X. MISCELLANEOUS |
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54 |
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10.01
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Amendments, Etc. |
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54 |
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10.02
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Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic
Communication |
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55 |
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10.03
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No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies |
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56 |
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10.04
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Expenses; Indemnity; Damage
Waiver |
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57 |
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10.05
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Payments Set Aside |
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58 |
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10.06
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Successors and Assigns |
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59 |
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10.07
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Treatment of Certain Information;
Confidentiality |
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62 |
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10.08
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Right of Setoff |
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63 |
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10.09
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Interest Rate Limitation |
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63 |
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10.10
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Counterparts; Integration;
Effectiveness |
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63 |
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10.11
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Survival of Representations and
Warranties |
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63 |
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10.12
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Severability |
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64 |
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10.13
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Replacement of Lenders |
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64 |
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10.14
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Governing Law; Jurisdiction;
Etc. |
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64 |
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10.15
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Waiver of Jury Trial |
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65 |
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10.16
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No Advisory or Fiduciary
Responsibility |
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66 |
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10.17
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USA PATRIOT Act Notice |
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66 |
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| SIGNATURES |
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S-1 |
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iii
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| SCHEDULES |
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2.01
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Commitments and Applicable
Percentages |
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10.02
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Administrative Agent’s Office;
Certain Addresses for Notices |
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| EXHIBITS |
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Form of |
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A
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Committed Loan Notice |
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B-1
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Bid Request |
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B-2
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Competitive Bid |
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C
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Note |
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D
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Compliance Certificate |
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E
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Assignment and Assumption |
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F-1
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Borrower Opinion |
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F-2
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Special Counsel to the Borrower
Opinion |
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iv
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
THIS 364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
(this “ Agreement ”) is entered into as of
November 16, 2007, among VIRGINIA HOLDCO, INC. , a New
Jersey corporation (the “ Borrower ”), each
lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “
Lenders ” and individually, a “ Lender
”), and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative
Agent.
The Borrower has requested that the
Lenders provide a revolving credit facility, and the Lenders are
willing to do so on the terms and conditions set forth
herein.
In consideration of the mutual
covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto
covenant and agree as follows:
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
1.01 Defined Terms . As used
in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set
forth below:
“ Absolute Rate ”
means a fixed rate of interest expressed in multiples of 1/100th of
one basis point.
“ Absolute Rate Loan
” means a Bid Loan that bears interest at a rate determined
with reference to an Absolute Rate.
“ Acquisition ”
means the acquisition by the Borrower of all of the issued and
outstanding capital stock of the Target and its Subsidiaries as
described in the Acquisition Agreement.
“ Acquisition Agreement
” means the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of February
19, 2007, by and among the Borrower, the Target, VMC, Virginia
Merger Sub, Inc., a New Jersey corporation, and Fresno Merger Sub,
Inc., a Florida corporation, as amended by Amendment No. 1
dated as of April 9, 2007 and as further amended from time to
time.
“ Acquisition Documents
” means, collectively, the Acquisition Agreement and all
other material agreements executed in connection with the
Acquisition, as amended from time to time.
“ Administrative Agent
” means Bank of America in its capacity as administrative
agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor
administrative agent.
“ Administrative
Agent’s Office ” means the Administrative
Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on
Schedule 10.02 , or such other address or account as
the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify to the
Borrower and the Lenders.
“ Administrative
Questionnaire ” means an Administrative Questionnaire in
a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.
1
“ Affiliate ”
means, with respect to any 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.
“ Aggregate Commitments
” means the Commitments of all the Lenders.
“ Agreement ” has
the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph hereto.
“ Applicable Percentage
” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the
percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the
Aggregate Commitments represented by such Lender’s Commitment
at such time. If the commitment of each Lender to make Loans has
been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02 or if the
Aggregate Commitments have expired, then the Applicable Percentage
of each Lender shall be determined based on the Applicable
Percentage of such Lender most recently in effect, giving effect to
any subsequent assignments. The initial Applicable Percentage of
each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on
Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption
pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as
applicable.
“ Applicable Rate
” means, from time to time, the following percentages per
annum, based upon the Debt Rating as set forth below:
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Applicable Rate |
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| Pricing |
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Debt Ratings |
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Facility |
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Eurodollar Rate + |
| Level |
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S&P/Moody’s |
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Fee |
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LIBOR Daily Floating Rate + |
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1
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A/A2 or higher |
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0.045% |
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0.155% |
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2
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A-/A3 |
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0.050% |
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0.200% |
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3
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BBB+/Baa1 |
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0.065% |
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0.235% |
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4
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BBB/Baa2 or lower |
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0.085% |
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0.315% |
“ Debt Rating ”
means, as of any date of determination, the rating as determined by
either S&P or Moody’s (collectively, the “ Debt
Ratings ”) of the Borrower’s non-credit-enhanced,
senior unsecured long-term debt; provided that (a) if
the respective Debt Ratings issued by the foregoing rating agencies
differ by one level, then the Pricing Level for the higher of such
Debt Ratings shall apply (with the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 1
being the highest and the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 4 being the
lowest); (b) if there is a split in Debt Ratings of more than
one level, then the Pricing Level that is one level lower than the
Pricing Level of the higher Debt Rating shall apply; and
(c) if the Borrower does not have any Debt Rating, Pricing
Level 4 shall apply.
Initially, the Applicable Rate shall be determined based upon the
publicly announced Debt Rating in effect on the Closing Date.
Thereafter, each change in the Applicable Rate resulting from a
publicly announced change in the Debt Rating shall be effective
during the period commencing on the date of the public announcement
or publication thereof by S&P or Moody’s, respectively,
or, in the absence of such announcement or publication, on the
effective date of such changed Debt Rating, and ending on the date
immediately preceding the effective date of the next such
change.
2
“ Approved Fund ”
means any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a
Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or
an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a
Lender.
“ Arrangers ”
means each of Banc of America Securities LLC and Wachovia Capital
Markets, LLC, each in its capacity as a joint lead arranger and
joint bookrunner.
“ Assignee Group ”
means two or more Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates of one
another or two or more Approved Funds managed by the same
investment advisor.
“ Assignment and
Assumption ” means an assignment and assumption entered
into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party
whose consent is required by Section 10.06(b) ), and
accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of
Exhibit E or any other form approved by the Administrative
Agent.
“ Availability Period
” means the period from and including the Closing Date to the
earliest of (a) the Maturity Date, (b) the date of
termination of the Aggregate Commitments pursuant to
Section 2.06 , and (c) the date of termination of
the commitment of each Lender to make Loans pursuant to
Section 8.02 .
“ Bank of America
” means Bank of America, N.A. and its successors.
“ Base Rate ”
means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the higher
of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1% and
(b) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly
announced from time to time by Bank of America as its “prime
rate”. The “prime rate” is a rate set by Bank of
America based upon various factors including Bank of
America’s costs and desired return, general economic
conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for
pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such
announced rate. Any change in such rate announced by Bank of
America shall take effect at the opening of business on the day
specified in the public announcement of such change.
“ Base Rate Committed
Loan ” means a Committed Loan that is a Base Rate
Loan.
“ Base Rate Loan ”
means a Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate.
“ Bid Borrowing ”
means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Bid Loans of the same
Type from each of the Lenders whose offer to make one or more Bid
Loans as part of such borrowing has been accepted under the auction
bidding procedures described in Section 2.03 .
“ Bid Loan ” has
the meaning specified in Section 2.03(a) .
“ Bid Loan Lender
” means, in respect of any Bid Loan, the Lender making such
Bid Loan to the Borrower.
“ Bid Loan Sublimit
” means an amount equal to $200,000,000. The Bid Loan
Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate
Commitments.
3
“ Bid Request ”
means a written request for one or more Bid Loans substantially in
the form of Exhibit B-1 .
“ Borrower ” means
Virginia Holdco, Inc., a New Jersey corporation, to be re-named
“Vulcan Materials Company” on or about the Closing
Date.
“ Borrower Materials
” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02
.
“ Borrowing ”
means a Committed Borrowing or a Bid Borrowing, as the context may
require.
“ Business Day ”
means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which
commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are
in fact closed in, the State of North Carolina and, if such day
relates to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, means any such day on which
dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted by and between banks in
the London interbank eurodollar market.
“ Capital Stock ”
means any nonredeemable capital stock of the Borrower or any
Consolidated Subsidiary (to the extent issued to a Person other
than the Borrower), whether common or preferred.
“ Change in Law ”
means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of
the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law,
rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule,
regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation or
application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the
making or issuance of any request, guideline or directive (whether
or not having the force of law) by any Governmental
Authority.
“ Closing Date ”
means the first date all the conditions precedent in Section
4.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with
Section 10.01 .
“ Code ” means the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“ Commitment ”
means, as to each Lender, its obligation to make Committed Loans to
the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01 , in an aggregate
principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the
amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on
Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption
pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as
applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in
accordance with this Agreement. The aggregate amount of the
Commitments on the Closing Date is $500,000,000.
“ Committed Borrowing
” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Committed
Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans,
having the same Interest Period made by each of the Lenders
pursuant to Section 2.01 .
“ Committed Loan ”
has the meaning specified in Section 2.01 .
“ Committed Loan Notice
” means a notice of (a) a Committed Borrowing,
(b) a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the
other, or (c) a continuation of Eurodollar
4
Rate
Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a) , which, if in
writing, shall be substantially in the form of
Exhibit A .
“ Competitive Bid
” means a written offer by a Lender to make one or more Bid
Loans, substantially in the form of Exhibit B-2 , duly
completed and signed by a Lender.
“ Compliance Certificate
” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit
D .
“ Consolidated Debt
” means at any date all obligations for indebtedness for
borrowed money shown on a consolidated balance sheet of the
Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of such date (or
would be if a balance sheet were prepared on such date);
provided that indebtedness for borrowed money of any
Partially Owned Subsidiary which is a Consolidated Subsidiary shall
be equal to the Guaranteed Amount, if any, of such
indebtedness.
“ Consolidated
Subsidiary ” means at any date any Subsidiary or other
entity the accounts of which, in accordance with GAAP, are
consolidated with those of any Person in its consolidated financial
statements as of such date.
“ Control ” means
the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or
cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person,
whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract
or otherwise. “ Controlling ” and “
Controlled ” have meanings correlative thereto.
“ Controlled Group
” means all members of a controlled group of corporations and
all trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) under common
control which, together with the Borrower, are treated as a single
employer under Section 414 of the Code.
“ Debt Rating ”
has the meaning specified in the definition of “Applicable
Rate”.
“ Debtor Relief Laws
” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all
other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the
benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership,
insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the
United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time
in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.
“ Default ” means
any event or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or
that, with the giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both,
would be an Event of Default.
“ Default Rate ”
means an interest rate equal to (a) the Base Rate plus
(b) 2% per annum; provided , however , that with
respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the Default Rate shall be an
interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable
Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus 2% per
annum.
“ Defaulting Lender
” means any Lender that (a) has failed to fund any
portion of the Committed Loans required to be funded by it
hereunder within one Business Day of the date required to be funded
by it hereunder unless such failure has been cured, (b) has
otherwise failed to pay over to the Administrative Agent or any
other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder
within one Business Day of the date when due, unless the subject of
a good
5
faith
dispute or unless such failure has been cured, or (c) has been
deemed insolvent or become the subject of a bankruptcy or
insolvency proceeding.
“ Dollar ” and
“ $ ” mean lawful money of the United
States.
“ Domestic Subsidiary
” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of
any political subdivision of the United States.
“ Eligible Assignee
” means any Person that meets the requirements to be an
assignee under Section 10.06(b)(iii) , (v) and
(vi) (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required
under Section 10.06(b)(iii) ).
“ Environmental Laws
” means any and all Federal, state, local, and foreign
statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders,
decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses or
governmental restrictions relating to pollution and the protection
of the environment or the release of any materials into the
environment, including those related to hazardous substances or
wastes, air emissions and discharges to waste or public
systems.
“ ERISA ” means
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
“ ERISA Affiliate
” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated)
under common control with the Borrower within the meaning of
Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code (and Sections 414(m) and
(o) of the Code for purposes of provisions relating to
Section 412 of the Code).
“ ERISA Event ”
means (a) any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of
ERISA, other than events for which the 30 day notice period
has been waived, with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) a withdrawal
by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject
to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a
substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of
ERISA) or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a
withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or
partial withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a
Multiemployer Plan or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in
reorganization; (d) the filing of a notice of intent to
terminate, the treatment of a Plan amendment as a termination under
Section 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of
proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or
Multiemployer Plan; (e) an event or condition which
constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the
termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any
Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (f) the imposition of
any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums
due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA or
contributions to a Pension Plan in the ordinary course, upon the
Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate.
“ Eurodollar Bid Margin
” means the margin above or below the Eurodollar Rate to be
added to or subtracted from the Eurodollar Rate, which margin shall
be expressed in multiples of 1/100th of one basis point.
“ Eurodollar Margin Bid
Loan ” means a Bid Loan that bears interest at a rate
based upon the Eurodollar Rate.
6
“ Eurodollar Rate
” means for any Interest Period with respect to a Eurodollar
Rate Loan, a rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent
pursuant to the following formula:
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Eurodollar Rate |
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= |
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Eurodollar Base Rate |
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1.00 – Eurodollar Reserve
Percentage |
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Where,
“ Eurodollar Base Rate
” means, for such Interest Period, the rate per annum equal
to the British Bankers Association LIBOR Rate (“ BBA
LIBOR ”), as published by Reuters (or other commercially
available source providing quotations of BBA LIBOR as designated by
the Administrative Agent from time to time) at approximately
11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the
commencement of such Interest Period, for Dollar deposits (for
delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term
equivalent to such Interest Period. If such rate is not available
at such time for any reason, then the “Eurodollar Base
Rate” for such Interest Period shall be the rate per annum
determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate at which
deposits in Dollars for delivery on the first day of such Interest
Period in immediately available funds in the approximate amount of
the Eurodollar Rate Loan being made, continued or converted by Bank
of America and with a term equivalent to such Interest Period would
be offered by Bank of America’s London Branch to major banks
in the London interbank Eurodollar market at their request at
approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior
to the commencement of such Interest Period.
“ Eurodollar Rate Committed
Loan ” means a Committed Loan that bears interest at a
rate based on the Eurodollar Rate.
“ Eurodollar Rate Loan
” means a Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan or a Eurodollar
Margin Bid Loan.
“ Eurodollar Reserve
Percentage ” means, for any day during any Interest
Period, the reserve percentage (expressed as a decimal, carried out
to five decimal places) in effect on such day, whether or not
applicable to any Lender, under regulations issued from time to
time by the FRB for determining the maximum reserve requirement
(including any emergency, supplemental or other marginal reserve
requirement) with respect to Eurocurrency funding (currently
referred to as “Eurocurrency liabilities”). The
Eurodollar Rate for each outstanding Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be
adjusted automatically as of the effective date of any change in
the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage. The LIBOR Daily Floating Rate
for each outstanding LIBOR Floating Rate Loan shall be adjusted
automatically as of the effective date of any change in the
Eurodollar Reserve Percentage.
“ Event of Default
” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01
.
“ Excluded Taxes ”
means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any
other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any
obligation of the Borrower hereunder, (a) taxes imposed on or
measured by its overall net income (however denominated), and
franchise taxes imposed on it (in lieu of net income taxes), by the
jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the laws
of which such recipient is organized or in which its
7
principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which
its applicable Lending Office is located, (b) any branch
profits taxes imposed by the United States or any similar tax
imposed by any other jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located
and (c) in the case of a Foreign Lender (other than an
assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under
Section 10.13 ), any withholding tax that is imposed on
amounts payable to such Foreign Lender at the time such Foreign
Lender becomes a party hereto (or designates a new Lending Office)
or is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s failure or
inability (other than as a result of a Change in Law) to comply
with Section 3.01(e) , except to the extent that such
Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time
of designation of a new Lending Office (or assignment), to receive
additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to such
withholding tax pursuant to Section 3.01(a) .
“ Existing Credit
Facilities ” means the Existing Vulcan Credit Facilities
and the Existing Target Credit Facility.
“ Existing Target Credit
Facility ” means that certain Credit Agreement dated as
of May 27, 2004 among the Target, material domestic subsidiaries
from time to time parties thereto, lenders parties thereto, and
Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, as
amended.
“ Existing Vulcan Credit
Facilities ” means the credit facility provided under the
Existing Vulcan 364-Day Credit Agreement and the Existing Vulcan
Five-Year Credit Agreement, respectively.
“ Existing Vulcan Five-Year
Credit Agreement ” means that certain Credit Agreement
dated as of June 28, 2006 by and among VMC, the lenders party
thereto from time to time, and Bank of America, N.A., as
Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender, as amended
by Amendment No. 1 to Credit Agreement dated as of
September 15, 2006 and Amendment No. 2 to Credit
Agreement dated as of February 27, 2007.
“ Existing Vulcan 364-Day
Credit Agreement ” means that certain Credit Agreement
dated as of September 15, 2006 among VMC, the lenders party
thereto from time to time, and Bank of America, N.A. as
Administrative Agent, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Credit
Agreement dated as of February 27, 2007.
“ Federal Funds Rate
” means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the
weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds
transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by
Federal funds brokers on such day, as published by the Federal
Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such
day; provided that (a) if such day is not a Business
Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such
transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on
the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such rate is
so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal
Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate (rounded upward,
if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%) charged to Bank
of America on such day on such transactions as determined by the
Administrative Agent.
8
“ Fee Letter ”
means, collectively, (a) the letter agreement, dated
May 29, 2007, among the Borrower and the Arrangers and
(b) the letter agreement, dated May 29, 2007, between the
Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
“ Five-Year Working Capital
Credit Agreement ” means that certain Five-Year Credit
Agreement, dated as of November 16, 2007, by and among the
Borrower, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, and the
lenders party thereto.
“ Foreign Lender ”
means any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction
other than that in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes.
For purposes of this definition, the United States, each State
thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute
a single jurisdiction.
“ FRB ” means the
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United
States.
“ Fund ” means any
Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged
in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial
loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of
its activities.
“ GAAP ” means
generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set
forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting
Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial
Accounting Standards Board or such other principles as may be
approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in
the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of
the date of determination, consistently applied.
“ Governmental Authority
” means the government of the United States or any other
nation, or of 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 (including any
supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European
Central Bank).
“ Guarantee ” by
any Person means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such
Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Indebtedness or
other obligation of any other Person and, without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, any obligation, direct or indirect,
contingent or otherwise, of such Person (a) to secure,
purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or
payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation (whether arising
by virtue of partnership arrangements, by agreement to keep-well,
to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to provide
collateral security, to take-or-pay, or to maintain financial
statement conditions or otherwise) or (b) entered into for the
purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such
Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof or to
protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or
in part); provided that the term Guarantee shall not include
endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of
business. The term “Guarantee” used as a verb has a
corresponding meaning.
9
“ Guaranteed Amount
” means, with respect to the Indebtedness of another Person,
the aggregate amount for which the Borrower is liable (whether by
Guarantee or as a general partner or otherwise, but excluding any
amounts with respect to which the Borrower is expressly
exculpated).
“ Indebtedness ”
of any Person means at any date, without duplication, (a) all
obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all
obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or
other similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person
to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services, except
trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business,
(d) the capitalized amount of all obligations of such Person
as lessee under capital leases (excluding all Synthetic Lease
Obligations) that are required to be accounted for as capital
leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, (e) all
obligations of such Person to reimburse any bank or other Person in
respect of amounts payable under a banker’s acceptance,
(f) all obligations (contingent or otherwise) of such Person
to reimburse any bank or other Person in respect of amounts paid or
to be paid under a drawn letter of credit or similar instrument,
(g) all Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any asset
of such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such
Person, and (h) all Indebtedness of others Guaranteed by such
Person.
“ Indemnified Taxes
” means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.
“ Indemnitees ”
has the meaning specified in Section 10.04(b) .
“ Information ”
has the meaning specified in Section 10.07 .
“ Interest Payment Date
” means, (a) as to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, the last
day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the
Maturity Date; provided , however , that if any
Interest Period for a Eurodollar Rate Loan exceeds three months,
the respective dates that fall every three months after the
beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment
Dates; (b) as to any Base Rate Loan, the last Business Day of
each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date, and
(c) as to any LIBOR Floating Rate Loan, the first Business Day
of each month and the Maturity Date.
“ Interest Period
” means (a) as to each Eurodollar Rate Loan, the period
commencing on the date such Eurodollar Rate Loan is disbursed or
(in the case of any Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan) converted to or
continued as a Eurodollar Rate Loan and ending on the date one,
two, three or six months thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in
its Committed Loan Notice or Bid Request, as the case may be; and
(b) as to each Absolute Rate Loan, a period of not less than
seven days and not more than 360 days as selected by the
Borrower in its Bid Request; provided that:
(a) any Interest Period that would
otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended
to the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day falls
in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall
end on the next preceding Business Day;
(b) any Interest Period that begins
on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which
there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar
10
month at the
end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of
the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and
(c) no Interest Period shall extend
beyond the Maturity Date.
“ Interest Rate Change
Date ” means, with respect to the LIBOR Daily Floating
Rate, the first day of each month; provided , however
, that if such date is not a Business Day, then the “Interest
Rate Change Date” shall be the next succeeding Business
Day.
“ Laws ” means,
collectively, all international, foreign, Federal, state and local
statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances,
codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities,
including the interpretation or administration thereof by any
Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation
or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative
orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and
permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in
each case whether or not having the force of law.
“ Lender ” has the
meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.
“ Lending Office ”
means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender
described as such in such Lender’s Administrative
Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from
time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative
Agent.
“ LIBOR Daily Floating
Rate ” means a rate per annum determined by the
Administrative Agent pursuant to the following formula:
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LIBOR Daily Floating
Rate |
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LIBOR Daily Floating Base Rate |
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1.00 – Eurodollar Reserve
Percentage |
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Where,
“ LIBOR Daily Floating Base
Rate ” means, for all Loans, on any day any such Loan is
outstanding, the fluctuating rate of interest (rounded upwards, as
necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) equal to the British Bankers
Association LIBOR Rate (“ BBA LIBOR ”), as
published by Reuters (or other commercially available source
providing quotations of BBA LIBOR as designated by the
Administrative Agent from time to time) at approximately
11:00 a.m., London time, two (2) Business Days prior to
the most recent Interest Rate Change Date, for Dollar deposits (for
delivery on such Interest Rate Change Date) with a term of one
month, as adjusted from time to time in the Administrative
Agent’s sole discretion for changes in deposit insurance
requirements and other regulatory costs. If such rate is not
available at such time for any reason, then the “LIBOR Daily
Floating Base Rate” shall be the rate per annum determined by
the Administrative Agent to be the rate at which deposits in
Dollars for delivery in same day funds in the approximate amount of
the Dollar denominated Loans outstanding with a term equivalent to
one month would be offered by Bank of America’s London Branch
to major banks in the London interbank eurodollar market at their
request at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time), on each day
any such Loan is outstanding.
11
“ LIBOR Floating Rate
Loan ” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based
on the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate.
“ Lien ” means any
mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, encumbrance, lien
(statutory or other), charge, or other security interest or
encumbrance (including any conditional sale or other title
retention agreement, any easement, right of way or other
encumbrance on title to real property, and any capital lease having
substantially the same economic effect as any of the
foregoing).
“ Loan ” means an
extension of credit by a Lender to the Borrower under Article
II in the form of a Committed Loan or a Bid Loan.
“ Loan Documents ”
means this Agreement, each Note and the Fee Letter.
“ Material Adverse
Effect ” means (a) a material adverse effect upon,
the operations, business, properties or financial condition of the
Borrower, VMC, the Target and their respective Subsidiaries taken
as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the ability of the
Borrower to perform its obligations under any Loan Document; or
(c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity,
binding effect or enforceability against the Borrower of any Loan
Document.
“ Maturity Date ”
means the later of (a) the date that is 364 days after
the Closing Date (the “ Original Maturity Date
”) and (b) if maturity is extended pursuant to
Section 2.15 , the date that is 364 days after the
Original Maturity Date; provided , however , that, if
such date is not a Business Day, the Maturity Date shall be the
next preceding Business Day.
“ Moody’s ”
means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor
thereto.
“ Multiemployer Plan
” means any employee benefit plan of the type described in
Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Borrower or any ERISA
Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during
the preceding five plan years, has made or been obligated to make
contributions.
“ Note ” means a
promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of a Lender
evidencing Loans made by such Lender, substantially in the form of
Exhibit C .
“ Obligations ”
means all advances to, and debts, liabilities and other monetary
obligations of, the Borrower arising under any Loan Document or
otherwise with respect to any Loan, whether direct or indirect
(including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent,
due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and
including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by
or against the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof of any proceeding
under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in
such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are
allowed claims in such proceeding.
“ Organization Documents
” means, (a) with respect to any corporation, the
certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or
equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any
non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited
liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or
organization and operating agreement; and (c) with respect to
any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business
entity, the partnership, joint
12
venture
or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any
agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed
in connection with its formation or organization with the
applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its
formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or
articles of formation or organization of such entity.
“ Other Taxes ”
means all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other
excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from
any payment made hereunder or under any other Loan Document or from
the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with
respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document. “Other
Taxes” shall not include any Taxes imposed on (or measured by
reference to) gross income, net income, or gain.
“ Outstanding Amount
” means, with respect to Committed Loans and Bid Loans on any
date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after
giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of
Committed Loans and Bid Loans, as the case may be, occurring on
such date.
“ Partially Owned
Subsidiary ” means a Subsidiary that is not a Wholly
Owned Subsidiary.
“ Participant ”
has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(d) .
“ PBGC ” means the
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any entity succeeding to
any or all of its functions under ERISA.
“ Pension Plan ”
means any “employee pension benefit plan” (as such term
is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), other than a
Multiemployer Plan, that is subject to Title IV of ERISA and is
sponsored or maintained by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or
to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate contributes or has an
obligation to contribute, or in the case of a multiple employer or
other plan described in Section 4064(a) of ERISA, has made
contributions at any time during the immediately preceding five
plan years.
“ Permitted Encumbrances
” means:
(a) Liens imposed by law or any
Governmental Authority for taxes, assessments or charges that are
not yet due or are being contested;
(b) carriers’,
warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s,
repairmen’s and other like Liens imposed by law, arising in
the ordinary course of business and securing obligations that are
not overdue by more than 30 days or where the validity or
amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings;
(c) pledges and deposits made in
compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance
and other social security laws or regulations;
(d) deposits to secure the
performance of bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory
obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other
obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course
of business;
13
(e) judgment liens in respect of
judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default; and
(f) easements, zoning restrictions,
minor title imperfections, restrictions on use, rights of way and
similar encumbrances on real property imposed by law or arising in
the ordinary course of business that do not secure any monetary
obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the
affected property or interfere with the ordinary conduct of
business of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries;
provided that the term “Permitted Encumbrances”
shall not include any Lien securing Indebtedness.
“ Person ” means
any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust,
joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental
Authority or other entity.
“ Plan ” means at
any time an employee pension benefit plan which is covered by Title
IV of ERISA or subject to the minimum funding standards under
Section 412 of the Code and is either (a) maintained by a
member of the Controlled Group for employees of any member of the
Controlled Group or (b) maintained pursuant to a collective
bargaining agreement or any other arrangement under which more than
one employer makes contributions and to which a member of the
Controlled Group is then making or accruing an obligation to make
contributions.
“ Platform ” has
the meaning specified in Section 6.02 .
“ Properties ”
means all real property owned, leased or otherwise used or occupied
by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, wherever located.
“ Receivables ”
means all rights of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries to payment,
whether constituting an account, chattel paper, instrument, general
intangible or otherwise, arising from the sale of goods or services
(including rights under bill and hold arrangements) by the Borrower
or its Subsidiaries (and including the right to payment of any
interest or finance charges and other obligations with respect
thereto).
“ Receivables
Securitization ” means any transaction or series of
transactions that may be entered into by the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries pursuant to which the Borrower and/or its Subsidiaries
may sell, convey or otherwise transfer to the Receivables
Subsidiary and, in the case of a transfer by the Receivables
Subsidiary, any other Person, or may grant a security interest in,
any Receivables (whether now existing or arising in the future);
provided that:
(a) no portion of the indebtedness or
any other obligations (contingent or otherwise) of a Receivables
Subsidiary (i) is guaranteed by the Borrower or its
Subsidiaries (other than the Receivables Subsidiary and excluding
guarantees of obligations pursuant to customary securitization
undertakings), (ii) is recourse to or obligates the Borrower
or its Subsidiaries (other than the Receivables Subsidiary) for
payment other than pursuant to customary securitization
undertakings or (iii) subjects any property or asset of the
Borrower or its Subsidiaries (other than the Receivables
Subsidiary), directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, to
the satisfaction of
14
obligations
incurred in such transactions, other than pursuant to customary
securitization undertakings;
(b) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
(other than the Receivables Subsidiary) do not have any obligation
to maintain or preserve the financial condition of the Receivables
Subsidiary or cause such entity to achieve certain levels of
operating results; and
(c) fair value has been
received.
“ Receivables Subsidiary
” means a special purpose corporation that is a wholly owned
subsidiary of the Borrower, whose primary business shall be the
acquisition of Receivables pursuant to the Receivables
Securitization and those activities incidental to the Receivables
Securitization.
“ Register ” has
the meaning specified in Section 10.06(c) .
“ Registered Public
Accounting Firm ” has the meaning specified in the
Securities Laws and shall be independent of the Borrower as
prescribed in the Securities Laws.
“ Related Parties
” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s
Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents
and advisors of such Person and of such Person’s
Affiliates.
“ Request for Borrowing
” means (a) with respect to a Committed Borrowing,
conversion or continuation of Committed Loans, a Committed Loan
Notice, and (b) with respect to a Bid Loan, a Bid
Request.
“ Required Lenders
” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having more
than 50% of the Aggregate Commitments or, if the commitment of each
Lender to make Loans has been terminated pursuant to
Section 8.02 , Lenders holding in the aggregate more
than 50% of the Total Outstandings; provided that the
Commitment of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings held or
deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for
purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.
“ Responsible Officer
” means the chief executive officer, president, chief
financial officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer or controller of
the Borrower and, solely for purposes of notices given pursuant to
Article II , any other officer or employee of the
Borrower so designated by any of the foregoing officers in a notice
to the Administrative Agent. Any document delivered hereunder that
is signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower shall be
conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary
corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of the
Borrower and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively
presumed to have acted on behalf of the Borrower.
“ S&P ” means
Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The
McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and any successor thereto.
15
“ SEC ” means the
Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority
succeeding to any of its principal functions.
“ Securities Laws
” means the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, and the applicable accounting and auditing principles,
rules, standards and practices promulgated, approved or
incorporated by the SEC, all as amended.
“ Shareholders’
Equity ” means, at any time, the shareholders’
equity of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, as set
forth or reflected on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of
the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries prepared in
accordance with GAAP.
“ Significant Subsidiary
” means any Subsidiary within the meaning of Rule 1-02
under Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC.
“ Subsidiary ” of
a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited
liability company or other business entity of which a majority of
the shares of securities or other interests having ordinary voting
power for the election of directors or other governing body (other
than securities or interests having such power only by reason of
the happening of a contingency) are at the time beneficially owned,
or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly, or
indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such
Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a
“Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall
refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower.
“ SWAP Obligations
” means all obligations of such Person with respect to
interest rate protection agreements, foreign currency exchange
agreements or other hedging arrangements (valued for any SWAP
Obligation at any date, as the net payments that such Person would
have to make in the event of an early termination of the applicable
agreement on such date).
“ Synthetic Lease
” means any operating lease under GAAP for which the lessee
retains federal tax ownership of the property leased.
“ Synthetic Lease
Obligations ” means any and all liabilities,
indebtedness, rent, and all other obligations of the Borrower or
any Subsidiary owed under any Synthetic Lease.
“ Target ” means
Florida Rock Industries, Inc., a Florida corporation.
“ Target Merger ”
means the merger of Fresno Merger Sub, Inc., a Florida corporation,
with and into the Target, with the Target as the surviving
corporation of such merger.
“ Taxes ” means
all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions,
withholdings or like charges imposed by any Governmental Authority,
including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable
thereto.
“ Total Capitalization
” means the sum of (a) Shareholders’ Equity
plus (b) Consolidated Debt.
“ Total Outstandings
” means on any date the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all
Loans.
16
“ Transactions ”
means (a) the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents and
the borrowings hereunder and (b) the consummation of the
Acquisition, the Target Merger, the Vulcan Merger and the other
transactions to occur pursuant to the Acquisition Documents.
“ Type ” means
(a) with respect to a Committed Loan, its character as a Base
Rate Loan, a Eurodollar Rate Loan or a LIBOR Floating Rate Loan,
and (b) with respect to a Bid Loan, its character as an
Absolute Rate Loan or a Eurodollar Margin Bid Loan.
“ United States ”
and “ U.S. ” mean the United States of
America.
“ VMC ” means
Vulcan Materials Company, a New Jersey corporation and the
surviving entity of the VMC Merger, to be renamed “VMC
Corp.” on or about the Closing Date.
“ Vulcan Merger ”
means the merger of Virginia Merger Sub, Inc., a New Jersey
corporation, with and into Vulcan Materials Company, a New Jersey
corporation, with Vulcan Materials Company as the surviving
corporation of such merger.
“ Wholly Owned
Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary all of the shares of
capital stock or other ownership interests of which (except
directors’ qualifying shares) are at the time directly or
indirectly owned by the Borrower.
“ Working Capital Credit
Facilities ” mean, collectively, (a) the 364-Day
Bridge Credit Agreement dated as of November 16, 2007, by and
among the Borrower, Wachovia Bank, National Association, as
administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto, (b) the
Five-Year Working Capital Credit Agreement, and (c) any
revolving credit or comparable credit agreement dated on or after
the Closing Date by and among the Target and any financial
institutions thereto.
1.02 Other Interpretive
Provisions . With reference to this Agreement and each other
Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other
Loan Document:
(a) The definitions of terms
herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the
terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall
include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The
words “ include ”, “ includes
” and “ including ” shall be deemed to be
followed by the phrase “without limitation”. The word
“ will ” shall be construed to have the same
meaning and effect as the word “ shall ”. Unless
the context requires otherwise, (i) any definition of or
reference to any agreement, instrument or other document (including
any Organization Document) shall be construed as referring to such
agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time
amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any
restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set
forth herein or in any other Loan Document), (ii) any
reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such
Person’s successors and assigns, (iii) the words “
herein ”, “ hereof ” and “
hereunder ”, and words of similar import when used in
any Loan Document, shall be construed to refer to such Loan
Document in its entirety and not to any particular provision
thereof, (iv) all references in a Loan Document to Articles,
Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to
Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, the Loan
Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to
any law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions
consolidating, amending, replacing or interpreting such law and any
reference to any law or regulation shall, unless otherwise
specified,
17
refer to
such law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from
time to time, and (vi) the words “ asset ”
and “ property ” shall be construed to have the
same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and
intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities,
accounts and contract rights.
(b) In the computation of
periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date,
the word “ from ” means “ from and
including ”; the words “ to ” and
“ until ” each mean “ to but
excluding ”; and the word “ through ”
means “ to and including ”.
(c) Section headings herein and
in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of
reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this
Agreement or any other Loan Document.
1.03 Accounting Terms . (a)
Generally . All accounting terms not specifically or
completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with,
and all financial data (including financial ratios and other
financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this
Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP applied on a
consistent basis throughout the applicable period, as in effect
from time to time, except as otherwise specifically
prescribed herein.
(b) Changes in GAAP . If
at any time any change in GAAP would affect the computation of any
financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and
either the Borrower or the Required Lenders shall so request, the
Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate
in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the
original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to
the approval of the Required Lenders); provided that, until
so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be
computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and
(ii) the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent
and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required
under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting
forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or
requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in
GAAP.
1.04 Rounding . Any financial
ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower pursuant to this
Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component
by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than
the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and
rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a
rounding-up if there is no nearest number).
1.05 Times of Day . Unless
otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be
references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as
applicable).
ARTICLE II.
THE COMMITMENTS AND BORROWINGS
2.01 Committed Loans .
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender
severally agrees to make loans (each such loan, a “
Committed Loan ”) to the Borrower
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from
time to time, on any Business Day during the Availability Period,
in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the
amount of such Lender’s Commitment; provided ,
however , that after giving effect to any Committed
Borrowing, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the
Aggregate Commitments, and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding
Amount of the Committed Loans of any Lender shall not exceed such
Lender’s Commitment. Within the limits of each Lender’s
Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof,
the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01 ,
prepay under Section 2.05 , and reborrow under this
Section 2.01 . Committed Loans may be Base Rate Loans,
Eurodollar Rate Loans or LIBOR Floating Rate Loans, as further
provided herein.
2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and
Continuations of Committed Loans .
(a) Each Committed Borrowing,
each conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, and
each continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be made upon the
Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent,
which may be given by telephone. Each such notice must be received
by the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon
(i) three Business Days prior to the requested date of any
Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate
Loans or of any conversion of Eurodollar Rate Loans to Base Rate
Committed Loans or LIBOR Floating Rate Loans, and (ii) on the
requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Committed Loans or
LIBOR Floating Rate Loans. Each telephonic notice by the Borrower
pursuant to this Section 2.02(a) must be confirmed
promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written
Committed Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a
Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Each Borrowing of, conversion
to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal
amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess
thereof. Each Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Committed
Loans or LIBOR Floating Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount
of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. Each
Committed Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify
(i) whether the Borrower is requesting a Committed Borrowing,
a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or a
continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, (ii) the requested date
of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be
(which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of
Committed Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued,
(iv) the Type of Committed Loans to be borrowed or to which
existing Committed Loans are to be converted, and (v) if
applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect
thereto. If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Committed Loan
in a Committed Loan Notice or if the Borrower fails to give a
timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the
applicable Committed Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base
Rate Loans. Any such automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans shall
be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in
effect with respect to the applicable Eurodollar Rate Loans. If the
Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of
Eurodollar Rate Loans in any such Committed Loan Notice, but fails
to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified
an Interest Period of one month.
(b) Following receipt of a
Committed Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly
notify each Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of
the applicable Committed Loans, and if no timely notice of a
conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the
Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any
automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans described in the preceding
subsection. In the case of a
19
Committed Borrowing, each Lender shall make the amount of its
Committed Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately
available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not
later than 2:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in the
applicable Committed Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction of the
applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (and,
if such Borrowing is the initial Borrowing,
Section 4.01 ), the Administrative Agent shall make all
funds so received available to the Borrower in like funds as
received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the
account of the Borrower on the books of Bank of America with the
amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in
each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and
reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the
Borrower.
(c) Except as otherwise provided
herein, a Eurodollar Rate Loan may be continued or converted only
on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurodollar Rate
Loan. During the existence of a Default, no Loans may be requested
as, converted to or continued as Eurodollar Rate Loans without the
consent of the Required Lenders.
(d) The Administrative Agent
shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the interest
rate applicable to any Interest Period for Eurodollar Rate Loans
upon determination of such interest rate. At any time that Base
Rate Loans are outstanding, the Administrative Agent shall notify
the Borrower and the Lenders of any change in Bank of
America’s prime rate used in determining the Base Rate
promptly following the public announcement of such change.
(e) After giving effect to all
Committed Borrowings, all conversions of Committed Loans from one
Type to the other, and all continuations of Committed Loans as the
same Type, there shall not be more than ten Interest Periods in
effect with respect to Committed Loans.
2.03 Bid Loans.
(a) General . Subject to
the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender agrees that
the Borrower may from time to time request the Lenders to submit
offers to make loans (each such loan, a “ Bid Loan
”) to the Borrower prior to the Maturity Date pursuant to
this Section 2.03 ; provided , however ,
that after giving effect to any Bid Borrowing, (i) the Total
Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and
(ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Bid Loans shall
not exceed the Bid Loan Sublimit. There shall not be more than ten
different Interest Periods in effect with respect to Bid Loans at
any time.
(b) Requesting Competitive
Bids . The Borrower may request the submission of Competitive
Bids by delivering a Bid Request to the Administrative Agent not
later than 12:00 noon (i) one Business Day prior to the
requested date of any Bid Borrowing that is to consist of Absolute
Rate Loans, or (ii) four Business Days prior to the requested
date of any Bid Borrowing that is to consist of Eurodollar Margin
Bid Loans. Each Bid Request shall specify (i) the requested
date of the Bid Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day),
(ii) the aggregate principal amount of Bid Loans requested
(which must be $10,000,000 or a whole multiple of $5,000,000 in
excess thereof), (iii) the Type of Bid Loans requested, and
(iv) the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto,
and shall be signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. No
Bid Request shall contain a request for (i) more than one Type
of Bid Loan or (ii) Bid Loans having more than three different
Interest Periods. Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise
20
agrees
in its sole and absolute discretion, the Borrower may not submit a
Bid Request if it has submitted another Bid Request within the
prior five Business Days.
(c) Submitting Competitive
Bids .
(i) The Administrative Agent shall
promptly notify each Lender of each Bid Request received by it from
the Borrower and the contents of such Bid Request.
(ii) Each Lender may (but shall have
no obligation to) submit a Competitive Bid containing an offer to
make one or more Bid Loans in response to such Bid Request. Such
Competitive Bid must be delivered to the Administrative Agent not
later than 10:30 a.m. (A) on the requested date of any Bid
Borrowing that is to consist of Absolute Rate Loans, and
(B) three Business Days prior to the requested date of any Bid
Borrowing that is to consist of Eurodollar Margin Bid Loans;
provided , however , that any Competitive Bid
submitted by Bank of America in its capacity as a Lender in
response to any Bid Request must be submitted to the Administrative
Agent not later than 10:15 a.m. on the date on which
Competitive Bids are required to be delivered by the other Lenders
in response to such Bid Request. Each Competitive Bid shall specify
(A) the proposed date of the Bid Borrowing; (B) the
principal amount of each Bid Loan for which such Competitive Bid is
being made, which principal amount (x) may be equal to,
greater than or less than the Commitment of the bidding Lender,
(y) must be $10,000,000 or a whole multiple of $5,000,000 in
excess thereof, and (z) may not exceed the principal amount of
Bid Loans for which Competitive Bids were requested; (C) if
the proposed Bid Borrowing is to consist of Absolute Rate Loans,
the Absolute Rate offered for each such Bid Loan and the Interest
Period applicable thereto; (D) if the proposed Bid Borrowing
is to consist of Eurodollar Margin Bid Loans, the Eurodollar Bid
Margin with respect to each such Eurodollar Margin Bid Loan and the
Interest Period applicable thereto; and (E) the identity of
the bidding Lender.
(iii) Any Competitive Bid shall be
disregarded if it (A) is received after the applicable time
specified in clause (ii) above, (B) is not
substantially in the form of a Competitive Bid as specified herein,
(C) contains qualifying, conditional or similar language,
(D) proposes terms other than or in addition to those set
forth in the applicable Bid Request, or (E) is otherwise not
responsive to such Bid Request. Any Lender may correct a
Competitive Bid containing a manifest error by submitting a
corrected Competitive Bid (identified as such) not later than the
applicable time required for submission of Competitive Bids. Any
such submission of a corrected Competitive Bid shall constitute a
revocation of the Competitive Bid that contained the manifest
error. The Administrative Agent may, but shall not be required to,
notify any Lender of any manifest error it detects in such
Lender’s Competitive Bid.
(iv) Subject only to the provisions
of Sections 3.02 , 3.03 and 4.02 and
clause (iii) above, each Competitive Bid shall be
irrevocable.
(d) Notice to Borrower of
Competitive Bids . Not later than 11:00 a.m. (i) on
the requested date of any Bid Borrowing that is to consist of
Absolute Rate Loans, or (ii) three Business Days prior to the
requested date of any Bid Borrowing that is to consist of
Eurodollar
21
Margin
Bid Loans, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower of
the identity of each Lender that has submitted a Competitive Bid
that complies with Section 2.03(c) and of the terms of the
offers contained in each such Competitive Bid.
(e) Acceptance of
Competitive Bids . Not later than 11:30 a.m. (i) on
the requested date of any Bid Borrowing that is to consist of
Absolute Rate Loans, and (ii) three Business Days prior to the
requested date of any Bid Borrowing that is to consist of
Eurodollar Margin Bid Loans, the Borrower shall notify the
Administrative Agent of its acceptance or rejection of the offers
notified to it pursuant to Section 2.03(d) . The
Borrower shall be under no obligation to accept any Competitive Bid
and may choose to reject all Competitive Bids. In the case of
acceptance, such notice shall specify the aggregate principal
amount of Competitive Bids for each Interest Period that is
accepted. The Borrower may accept any Competitive Bid in whole or
in part; provided that:
(i) the aggregate principal amount of
each Bid Borrowing may not exceed the applicable amount set forth
in the related Bid Request;
(ii) the principal amount of each Bid
Loan must be $10,000,000 or a whole multiple of $5,000,000 in
excess thereof;
(iii) the acceptance of offers may be
made only on the basis of ascending Absolute Rates or Eurodollar
Bid Margins within each Interest Period; and
(iv) the Borrower may not accept any
offer that is described in Section 2.03(c)(iii) or that
otherwise fails to comply with the requirements hereof.
(f) Procedure for Identical
Bids . If two or more Lenders have submitted Competitive Bids
at the same Absolute Rate or Eurodollar Bid Margin, as the case may
be, for the same Interest Period, and the result of accepting all
of such Competitive Bids in whole (together with any other
Competitive Bids at lower Absolute Rates or Eurodollar Bid Margins,
as the case may be, accepted for such Interest Period in conformity
with the requirements of Section 2.03(e)(iii) ) would
be to cause the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the
applicable Bid Borrowing to exceed the amount specified therefor in
the related Bid Request, then, unless otherwise agreed by the
Borrower, the Administrative Agent and such Lenders, such
Competitive Bids shall be accepted as nearly as possible in
proportion to the amount offered by each such Lender in respect of
such Interest Period, with such accepted amounts being rounded to
the nearest whole multiple of $1,000,000.
(g) Notice to Lenders of
Acceptance or Rejection of Bids . The Administrative Agent
shall promptly notify each Lender having submitted a Competitive
Bid whether or not its offer has been accepted and, if its offer
has been accepted, of the amount of the Bid Loan or Bid Loans to be
made by it on the date of the applicable Bid Borrowing. Any
Competitive Bid or portion thereof that is not accepted by the
Borrower by the applicable time specified in
Section 2.03(e) shall be deemed rejected.
(h) Notice of Eurodollar
Rate . If any Bid Borrowing is to consist of Eurodollar Margin
Loans, the Administrative Agent shall determine the Eurodollar Rate
for the relevant
22
Interest
Period, and promptly after making such determination, shall notify
the Borrower and the Lenders that will be participating in such Bid
Borrowing of such Eurodollar Rate.
(i) Funding of Bid Loans
. Each Lender that has received notice pursuant to
Section 2.03(g) that all or a portion of its
Competitive Bid has been accepted by the Borrower shall make the
amount of its Bid Loan(s) available to the Administrative Agent in
immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s
Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the date of the requested Bid
Borrowing. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth
in Section 4.02 , the Administrative Agent shall make
all funds so received available to the Borrower in like funds as
received by the Administrative Agent.
(j) Notice of Range of
Bids . After each Competitive Bid auction pursuant to this
Section 2.03 , the Administrative Agent shall notify
each Lender that submitted a Competitive Bid in such auction of the
ranges of bids submitted (without the bidder’s name) and
accepted for each Bid Loan and the aggregate amount of each Bid
Borrowing.
2.04 [Reserved.]
2.05 Prepayments .
(a) The Borrower may, upon
notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to
time voluntarily prepay Committed Loans in whole or in part without
premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice
(which may be conditional) must be received by the Administrative
Agent not later than 12:00 noon (A) three Business Days prior
to any date of prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans and (B) on
the date of prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans or LIBOR
Floating Rate Loans; (ii) any prepayment of Eurodollar Rate
Loans shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole
multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof; and (iii) any
prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans or LIBOR Floating Rate
Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole
multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof or, in each case, if less,
the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding. Each such
notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and
the
Type(s) of Committed Loans to be prepaid and, if Eurodollar Rate
Loans are to be repaid, the Interest Period(s) of such Loans. The
Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its
receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such
Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such prepayment. If such
notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such
prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be
due and payable on the date specified therein. Any prepayment of a
Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest
on the amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts
required pursuant to Section 3.05 . Each such
prepayment shall be applied to the Committed Loans of the Lenders
in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages.
(b) If for any reason the Total
Outstandings at any time exceed the Aggregate Commitments then in
effect, the Borrower shall, on the next Business Day following the
date on which the Borrower receives notice from the Administrative
Agent, prepay Loans in an aggregate amount equal to such
excess.
23
(c) No Bid Loan may be prepaid
without the prior consent of the applicable Bid Loan Lender.
2.06 Termination or Reduction of
Commitments . The Borrower may, upon notice to the
Administrative Agent, terminate the Aggregate Commitments, or from
time to time permanently reduce the Aggregate Commitments;
provided that (a) any such notice shall be received by
the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon three Business
Days prior to the date of termination or reduction, (b) any
such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of
$5,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof,
(c) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Aggregate
Commitments if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent
prepayments hereunder, the Total Outstandings would exceed the
Aggregate Commitments, and (d) if, after giving effect to any
reduction of the Aggregate Commitments, the Bid Loan Sublimit
exceeds the amount of the Aggregate Commitments, the Bid Loan
Sublimit shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such
excess. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders
of any such notice of termination or reduction of the Aggregate
Commitments. Any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments shall be
applied to the Commitment of each Lender according to its
Applicable Percentage. All fees accrued until the effective date of
any termination of the Aggregate Commitments shall be paid on the
effective date of such termination
2.07 Repayment of Loans . The
Borrower shall repay to the Lenders on the Maturity Date the
aggregate principal amount of Committed Loans outstanding on such
date.
2.08 Interest .
(a) At the Borrower’s
option, subject to the provisions of subsection (b) below,
(i) each Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan shall bear interest on the
outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a
rate per annum equal to the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest
Period plus the Applicable Rate; (ii) each Base Rate
Committed Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal
amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per
annum equal to the Base Rate; (iii) each Bid Loan shall bear
interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for the
Interest Period therefor at a rate per annum equal to the
Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period plus (or
minus ) the Eurodollar Bid Margin, or at the Absolute Rate
for such Interest Period, as the case may be; and (iv) each
LIBOR Floating Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding
principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a
rate per annum equal to the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate plus
the Applicable Rate.
(b) (i) If
any amount of principal of any Loan is not paid when due (without
regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated
maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, such amount shall
thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum
at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable Laws.
(ii) If any amount (other than
principal of any Loan) payable by the Borrower under any Loan
Document is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable
grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or
otherwise, then upon the request of the Required Lenders, such
amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating
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interest rate
per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable Laws.
(iii) Accrued and unpaid interest on
past due amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall be
due and payable upon demand.
(c) Interest on each Loan shall
be due and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date
applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified
herein. Interest hereunder shall be due and payable in accordance
with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and
after the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief
Law.
2.09 Fees .
(a) Facility Fee . The
Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of
each Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage, a
facility fee equal to the Applicable Rate times the actual
daily amount of the Aggregate Commitments (or, if the Aggregate
Commitments have terminated, on the Total Outstandings), regardless
of usage. The facility fee shall accrue at all times during the
Availability Period (and thereafter so long as any Committed Loans
remain outstanding), including at any time during which one or more
of the conditions in Article IV is not met, and shall
be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of
each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first
such date to occur after the Closing Date, and on the last day of
the Availability Period (and, if applicable, thereafter on demand).
The facility fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears, and if
there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the
actual daily amount shall be computed and multiplied by the
Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that
such Applicable Rate was in effect.
(b) Other Fees . The
Borrower shall pay to each of Banc of America Securities LLC,
Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC and the Administrative Agent for
their own respective accounts fees in the amounts and at the times
specified in the Fee Letter. Such fees shall be fully earned when
paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.
2.10 Computation of Interest and
Fees . All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans when
the Base Rate is determined by Bank of America’s “prime
rate” shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or
366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed. All
other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis
of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more
fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the
basis of a 365-day year). Interest shall accrue on each Loan for
the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan,
or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such
portion is paid, provided that any Loan that is repaid on
the same day on which it is made shall, subject to
Section 2.12(a) , bear interest for one day. Each
determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or
fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes,
absent manifest error.
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2.11 Evidence of Debt . The
Borrowings made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more
accounts or records maintained by such Lender and by the
Administrative Agent in the ordinary course of business. The
accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each
Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of
the Borrowings made by the Lenders to the Borrower and the interest
and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in
doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the
obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with
respect to the Obligations. In the event of any conflict between
the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts
and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters,
the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control
in the absence of manifest error. Upon the request of any Lender
made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall execute
and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a
Note, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition to
such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to its
Note and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount and
maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.
2.12 Payments Generally;
Administrative Agent’s Clawback .
(a) General . All
payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made without condition
or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff.
Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the
Borrower hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for
the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is
owed, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in Dollars and in
immediately available funds not later than 3:00 p.m. on the date
specified herein. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute
to each Lender its Applicable Percentage (or other applicable share
as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by
wire transfer to such Lender’s Lending Office. All payments
received by the Administrative Agent after 3:00 p.m. shall be
deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any
applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue. If any payment
to be made by the Borrower shall come due on a day other than a
Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business
Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing
interest or fees, as the case may be.
(b) (i)
Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative Agent .
Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a
Lender prior to the proposed date of any Committed Borrowing of
Eurodollar Rate Loans (or, in the case of any Committed Borrowing
of Base Rate Loans or LIBOR Floating Rate Loans, prior to 1:00 p.m.
on the date of such Committed Borrowing) that such Lender will not
make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s
share of such Committed Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may
assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date
in accordance with Section 2.02 (or, in the case of a
Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans or LIBOR Floating Rate
Loans, that such Lender has made such share available in accordance
with and at the time required by Section 2.02 ) and
may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the
Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not
in fact made its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing
available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender
and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent
forthwith on demand such corresponding amount in immediately
available funds with interest thereon, for each day
26
from and
including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to
but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at
(A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the
greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the
Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on
interbank compensation, plus any administrative processing
or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in
connection with the foregoing, and (B) in the case of a
payment to be made by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to
Base Rate Loans. If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such
interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping
period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the
Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such
period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Committed
Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid
shall constitute such Lender’s Committed Loan included in
such Committed Borrowing. Any payment by the Borrower shall be
without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a
Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the
Administrative Agent.
(ii) Payments by Borrower;
Presumptions by Administrative Agent . Unless the
Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower
prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative
Agent for the account of the Lenders hereunder that the Borrower
will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume
that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance
herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to
the Lenders the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not
in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders severally
agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the
amount so distributed to such Lender, in immediately available
funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the
date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of
payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal
Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in
accordance with banking industry rules on interbank
compensation.
A notice of the Administrative Agent
to any Lender or the Borrower with respect to any amount owing
under this subsection (b) shall be conclusive, absent
manifest error.
(c) Failure to Satisfy
Conditions Precedent . If any Lender makes available to the
Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender
as provided in the foregoing provisions of this
Article II , and such funds are not made available to
the Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to
the applicable Borrowing set forth in Article IV are not
satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the
Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as
received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.
(d) Obligations of Lenders
Several . The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make
Committed Loans and to make payments pursuant to
Section 10.04(c) are several and not joint. The failure
of any Lender to make any Committed Loan, to fund any such
participation or to make any payment under
Section 10.04(c) on any date required hereunder shall
not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do
so on such date, and no Lender shall be
27
responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its
Committed Loan, to purchase its participation or to make its
payment under Section 10.04(c) .
(e) Funding Source .
Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the
funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to
constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or
will obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or
manner.
2.13 Sharing of Payments by
Lenders . If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of
setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of
any principal of or interest on any of the Committed Loans made by
it resulting in such Lender’s receiving payment of a
proportion of the aggregate amount of such Committed Loans or
participations and accrued interest thereon greater than its
pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the
Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the
Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash
at face value) participations in the Committed Loans of the other
Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so
that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the
Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of
principal of and accrued interest on their respective Committed
Loans and other amounts owing them, provided that:
(i) if any such participations or
subparticipations are purchased and all or any portion of the
payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations or
subparticipations shall be rescinded and the purchase price
restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest;
and
(ii) the provisions of this Section
shall not be construed to apply to (x) any payment made by the
Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of
this Agreement or (y) any payment obtained by a Lender as
consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in
any of its Committed Loans or to any assignee or participant, other
than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which the
provisions of this Section shall apply).
The Borrower consents to the
foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under
applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant
to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrower
rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such
participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of
the Borrower in the amount of such participation.
2.14 Increase in Commitments
.
(a) Request for Increase .
Provided there exists no Default and no Default would result
therefrom, upon notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall
promptly notify the Lenders), the Borrower may from time to time
request an increase in the Aggregate Commitments (an “
Increase ”) by an amount (for all such requests) not
exceeding $500,000,000; provided that (i) any such
request for an Increase shall be in a minimum amount of
$25,000,000, and (ii) the Borrower may make a maximum of five
such requests; provided , however , the amount of
Increases hereunder plus the amount of Increases under the
Five-Year Working
28
Capital
Credit Agreement (as such term is defined therein) shall not
exceed, in the aggregate, $500,000,000. At the time of sending such
notice, the Borrower (in consultation with the Administrative
Agent) shall specify the time period within which each Lender is
requested to respond (which shall in no event be less than ten
Business Days from the date of delivery of such notice to the
Lenders).
(b) Lender Elections to
Increase . Each Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent
within such time period whether or not it agrees to increase its
Commitment and, if so, whether by an amount equal to, greater than,
or less than its Applicable Percentage of such requested Increase.
Any Lender not responding within such time period shall be deemed
to have declined to increase its Commitment.
(c) Notification by
Administrative Agent; Additional Lenders . The Administrative
Agent shall notify the Borrower and each Lender of the
Lenders’ responses to each request made hereunder. To achieve
the full amount of a requested Increase and subject to the approval
of the Administrative Agent (which approval shall not be
unreasonably withheld), the Borrower may also invite Eligible
Assignees to become additional Lenders (“ Additional
Lenders ”) pursuant to a joinder agreement in form and
substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel;
provided however , that the Borrower may only invite
such Additional Lenders after each existing Lender has notified the
Administrative Agent of its decision in accordance with clause
(b) above, and any such invitation to such Additional Lenders
shall only be with respect to amounts declined or deemed to be
declined by existing Lenders.
(d) Effective Date and
Allocations . If the Aggregate Commitments are increased in
accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent and the
Borrower shall determine the effective date (the “
Increase Effective Date ”) and the final allocation of
such Increase. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the
Borrower and the Lenders of the final allocation of such Increase
and the Increase Effective Date.
(e) Conditions to
Effectiveness of Increase . As a condition precedent to each
Increase, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a
certificate of the Borrower as of the Increase Effective Date (in
sufficient copies for each Lender) signed by a Responsible Officer
of the Borrower (i) certifying and attaching the resolutions
adopted by the Borrower approving or consenting to such increase,
and (ii) certifying that, before and after giving effect to
such Increase, no Default exists or would result from such
Increase. The Borrower shall prepay Committed Loans outstanding to
all or certain of the Lenders on the Increase Effective Date (and
pay any additional amounts required pursuant to
Section 3.05 ) and/or borrow Committed Loans from all
or certain of the Lenders on the Increase Effective Date to the
extent necessary to keep the outstanding Committed Loans ratable
with any revised Applicable Percentages arising from any nonratable
increase in the Commitments under this Section.
(f) Conflicting
Provisions . This Section shall supersede any provisions in
Section 2.13 or 10.01 to the contrary.
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2.15 Extension of Maturity
Date .
(a) Requests for
Extension . The Borrower may, by notice to the Administrative
Agent (who shall promptly notify the Lenders) not more than
90 days but not less than 60 days prior to the date that
is 364 days after the Closing Date then in effect hereunder,
request that each Lender extend the Maturity Date (the “
Original Maturity Date ”) for one additional 364-day
period.
(b) Lender Elections to
Extend . Each Lender, acting in its sole and individual
discretion, shall, by notice to the Administrative Agent given not
earlier than 30 days prior to the Original Maturity Date and
not later than the date (the “ Notice Date ”)
that is 20 days prior to the Original Maturity Date, advise
the Administrative Agent whether or not such Lender agrees to such
extension (and each Lender that determines not to so extend their
Maturity Date (a “ Non-Extending Lender ”) shall
notify the Administrative Agent of such fact promptly after such
determination (but in any event no later than the Notice Date) and
any Lender that does not so advise the Administrative Agent on or
before the Notice Date shall be deemed to be a Non-Extending
Lender. The election of any Lender to agree to such extension shall
not obligate any other Lender to so agree.
(c) Notification by
Administrative Agent . The Administrative Agent shall notify
the Borrower of each Lender’s determination under this
Section no later than the date 15 days prior to the Original
Maturity Date (or, if such date is not a Business Day, on the next
preceding Business Day).
(d) Additional Commitment
Lenders . The Borrower shall have the right to replace each
Non-Extending Lender with, and add as “Lenders” under
this Agreement in place thereof, one or more Eligible Assignees
(each, an “ Additional Commitment Lender ”) as
provided in Section 10.13 , provided that each of
such Additional Commitment Lenders shall enter into an Assignment
and Assumption pursuant to which such Additional Commitment Lender
shall, effective as of the Original Maturity Date, undertake a
Commitment (and, if any such Additional Commitment Lender is
already a Lender, its Commitment shall be in addition to such
Lender’s Commitment hereunder on such date).
(e) Minimum Extension
Requirement . If (and only if) the total of the Commitments of
the Lenders that have agreed so to extend their Maturity Date
(each, an “ Extending Lender ”) shall be more
than 50% of the aggregate amount of the Commitments in effect
immediately prior to the Original Maturity Date, then, effective as
of the Original Maturity Date, the Maturity Date of each Extending
Lender and of each Additio
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