364-DAY REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

Exhibit 10.1

 

U.S.$1,000,000,000

 

364-DAY REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

Dated as of April 15, 2005

 

Among

 

ALTRIA GROUP, INC.

 

and

 

THE INITIAL LENDERS NAMED HEREIN

 

and

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.

 

and

 

CITIBANK, N.A.

 

as Administrative Agents

 

and

 

CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH

 

and

 

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.

 

as Syndication Agents

 

and

 

ABN AMRO BANK N.V.

 

and

 

BNP PARIBAS

 

and

 

HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

and

 

UBS SECURITIES LLC

 

as Arrangers and Documentation Agents

 

* * * * * * * * * *

 

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC., CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.,

CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH and DEUTSCHE

BANK SECURITIES INC.

 

as Joint Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners

Table of Contents

 

 

i

Table of Contents

(continued)

 

 

ii

Table of Contents

(continued)

 

 

SCHEDULE

 

 

iii

364-DAY REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

Dated as of April 15, 2005

 

ALTRIA GROUP, INC., a Virginia corporation (“ Altria ”), the banks, financial institutions and other institutional lenders (the “ Initial Lenders ”) listed on the signature pages hereof, and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. (“ JPMorgan Chase ”) and CITIBANK, N.A. (“ Citibank ”), as administrative agents (each, in such capacity, an “ Administrative Agent ”), CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH and DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC., as syndication agents (each, in such capacity, a “ Syndication Agent ”) and ABN AMRO BANK N.V., BNP PARIBAS, HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AND UBS SECURITIES LLC, as arrangers and documentation agents (each, in such capacity, an “ Arranger and Documentation Agent ”) for the Lenders (as hereinafter defined), agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

 

Section 1.01. Certain Defined Terms . As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings (such meanings to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):

 

“ Advance ” means a Pro Rata Advance or a Competitive Bid Advance.

 

“ Agents ” means each Administrative Agent, each Syndication Agent and each Arranger and Documentation Agent.

 

“ Applicable Facility Fee Rate ” means, for any period, a percentage per annum equal to 0.1000%.

 

“ Applicable Interest Rate Margin ” means for any Interest Period a percentage per annum equal to 0.4000% provided that for any day during any Interest Period that the aggregate amount of Advances outstanding under this Agreement and the 5-Year Facility exceeds 50% of the aggregate amount of Commitments under this Agreement and commitments under the 5-Year Facility, the Applicable Interest Rate Margin shall be increased by 0.1000% per annum.

 

“ Applicable Lending Office ” means, with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s Domestic Lending Office in the case of a Pro Rata Advance and, in the case of a Competitive Bid Advance, the office of such Lender notified by such Lender to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, as its Applicable Lending Office with respect to such Competitive Bid Advance.

 

“ Assignment and Acceptance ” means an assignment and acceptance entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee, and accepted by JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto.

“ Base Rate ” means a fluctuating interest rate per annum in effect from time to time, which rate per annum shall at all times be equal to the higher of:

 

(i) the rate of interest announced publicly by JPMorgan Chase in New York, New York, from time to time, as JPMorgan Chase’s prime rate; and

 

(ii) 1/2 of one percent per annum above the Federal Funds Effective Rate.

 

“ Base Rate Advance ” means a Pro Rata Advance that bears interest as provided in Section 2.04(a)(i).

 

“ Board ” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States (or any successor).

 

“ Borrowers ” means, collectively, Altria and each Designated Subsidiary that shall become a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.08.

 

“ Borrowing ” means a Pro Rata Borrowing or a Competitive Bid Borrowing.

 

“ Business Day ” means a day of the year on which banks are not required or authorized by law to close in New York City and, if the applicable Business Day relates to any LIBO Rate Advances or Floating Rate Bid Advances, on which dealings are carried on in the London interbank market and banks are open for business in London.

 

“ Commitment ” means as to any Lender (i) the Dollar amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on the signature pages hereof or (ii) if such Lender has entered into an Assignment and Acceptance, the Dollar amount set forth for such Lender in the Register maintained by JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, pursuant to Section 9.07(d), in each case as such amount may be reduced pursuant to Section 2.10.

 

“ Competitive Bid Advance ” means an advance by a Lender to any Borrower as part of a Competitive Bid Borrowing resulting from the competitive bidding procedure described in Section 2.07 and refers to a Fixed Rate Bid Advance or a Floating Rate Bid Advance.

 

“ Competitive Bid Borrowing ” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Competitive Bid Advances from each of the Lenders whose offer to make one or more Competitive Bid Advances as part of such borrowing has been accepted under the competitive bidding procedure described in Section 2.07.

 

“ Competitive Bid Note ” means a promissory note of any Borrower payable to the order of any Lender, in substantially the form of Exhibit A-2 hereto, evidencing the indebtedness of such Borrower to such Lender resulting from a Competitive Bid Advance made by such Lender to such Borrower.

 

“ Competitive Bid Reduction ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.

 

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“ Consolidated Tangible Assets ” means the total assets appearing on a consolidated balance sheet of Altria and its Subsidiaries (as reduced by the total assets appearing on the consolidated balance sheet of Kraft Foods Inc. and its Subsidiaries), less goodwill and other intangible assets and the minority interests of other Persons in such Subsidiaries (as reduced by the goodwill and other intangible assets of Kraft Foods Inc. and its Subsidiaries and the minority interests of other Persons in such Subsidiaries), all as determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, except that if there has been a material change in an accounting principle as compared to that applied in the preparation of the financial statements of Altria and its Subsidiaries as at and for the year ended December 31, 2004, then such new accounting principle shall not be used in the determination of Consolidated Tangible Assets. A material change in an accounting principle is one that, in the year of its adoption, changes Consolidated Tangible Assets at any quarter in such year by more than 10%.

 

“ Convert ,” “ Conversion ” and “ Converted ” each refers to a conversion of Pro Rata Advances of one Type into Pro Rata Advances of the other Type pursuant to Section 2.06, 2.08 or 2.13.

 

“ Debt ” means, without duplication, (a) indebtedness for borrowed money or for the deferred purchase price of property or services, whether or not evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (b) obligations as lessee under leases that, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, are recorded as capital leases, (c) obligations as an account party or applicant under letters of credit (other than trade letters of credit incurred in the ordinary course of business) to the extent such letters of credit are drawn and not reimbursed within five Business Days of such drawing, (d) the aggregate principal (or equivalent) amount of financing raised through outstanding securitization financings of accounts receivable, and (e) obligations under direct or indirect guaranties in respect of, and obligations (contingent or otherwise) to purchase or otherwise acquire, or otherwise to assure a creditor against loss (including by way of (i) granting a security interest or other Lien on property or (ii) having a reimbursement obligation under or in respect of a letter of credit or similar arrangement (to the extent such letter of credit is not collateralized by assets (other than Operating Assets) having a fair value equal to the amount of such reimbursement obligation), in either case in respect of, indebtedness or obligations of any other Person of the kinds referred to in clause (a), (b), (c) or (d) above). For the avoidance of doubt, the following shall not constitute “Debt” for purposes of this Agreement: (A) any obligation that is fully non-recourse to Altria or any of its Subsidiaries, (B) intercompany debt of Altria or any of its Subsidiaries, (C) any appeal bond or other arrangement to secure a stay of execution on a judgment or order, provided that any such appeal bond or other arrangement issued by a third party in connection with such arrangement shall constitute Debt to the extent Altria or any of its Subsidiaries has a reimbursement obligation to such third party that is not collateralized by assets (other than Operating Assets) having a fair value equal to the amount of such reimbursement obligation, (D) unpaid judgments, or (E) defeased indebtedness.

 

“ Default ” means any event specified in Section 6.01 that would constitute an Event of Default but for the requirement that notice be given or time elapse or both.

 

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“ Designated Subsidiary ” means any wholly-owned Subsidiary of Altria designated for borrowing privileges under this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.08.

 

“ Designation Agreement ” means, with respect to any Designated Subsidiary, an agreement in the form of Exhibit D hereto signed by such Designated Subsidiary and Altria.

 

“ Dollars ” and the “ $ ” sign each means lawful currency of the United States of America.

 

“ Domestic Lending Office ” means, with respect to any Lender, the office of such Lender specified as its “Domestic Lending Office” opposite its name on Schedule I hereto or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender, or such other office of such Lender as such Lender may from time to time specify to Altria and JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent.

 

“ Earnings Before Income Taxes ” means, for any accounting period, income or loss from continuing operations for such period, as determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, plus total federal, state and foreign income taxes which have been included in the determination of earnings or losses from continuing operations for such period in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and amounts which, in the determination of earnings or losses from continuing operations for such period, have been deducted for the items referred to in the definition of the term “Fixed Charges,” except that if there has been a material change in an accounting principle as compared to that applied in the preparation of the financial statements of Altria and its Subsidiaries as at and for the year ended December 31, 2004, then such new accounting principle shall not be used in the determination of Earnings Before Income Taxes. A material change in an accounting principle is one that, in the year of its adoption, changes Earnings Before Income Taxes or Fixed Charges for any quarter in such year by more than 10%.

 

“ Effective Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01.

 

“ Eligible Assignee ” means (i) a commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States, or any State thereof, and having total assets in excess of $5,000,000,000; (ii) a commercial bank organized under the laws of any other country which is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (or any successor) (“ OECD ”), or a political subdivision of any such country, and having total assets in excess of $5,000,000,000, provided that such bank is acting through a branch or agency located in the country in which it is organized or another country which is also a member of the OECD or the Cayman Islands; (iii) the central bank of any country which is a member of the OECD; (iv) a commercial finance company or finance Subsidiary of a corporation organized under the laws of the United States, or any State thereof, and having total assets in excess of $3,000,000,000; (v) an insurance company organized under the laws of the United States, or any State thereof, and having total assets in excess of $5,000,000,000; (vi) any Lender; (vii) an affiliate of any Lender; and (viii) any other bank, commercial finance company, insurance company or other Person approved in

 

4

writing by Altria, which approval shall be notified to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent.

 

“ ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder.

 

“ ERISA Affiliate ” means any Person that for purposes of Title IV of ERISA is a member of any Borrower’s controlled group, or under common control with any Borrower, within the meaning of Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

“ ERISA Event ” means (a) (i) the occurrence with respect to a Plan of a reportable event, within the meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA, unless the 30-day notice requirement with respect thereto has been waived by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (or any successor) (“ PBGC ”), or (ii) the requirements of subsection (1) of Section 4043(b) of ERISA (without regard to subsection (2) of such section) are met with respect to a contributing sponsor, as defined in Section 4001(a)(13) of ERISA, of a Plan, and an event described in paragraph (9), (10), (11), (12) or (13) of Section 4043(c) of ERISA is reasonably expected to occur with respect to such Plan within the following 30 days; (b) the application for a minimum funding waiver with respect to a Plan; (c) the provision by the administrator of any Plan of a notice of intent to terminate such Plan, pursuant to Section 4041(a)(2) of ERISA (including any such notice with respect to a plan amendment referred to in Section 4041(e) of ERISA); (d) the cessation of operations at a facility of any Borrower or Altria or any of their ERISA Affiliates in the circumstances described in Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (e) the withdrawal by any Borrower or Altria or any of their ERISA Affiliates from a Multiple Employer Plan during a plan year for which it was a substantial employer, as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA; (f) the conditions set forth in Section 302(f)(1)(A) and (B) of ERISA to the creation of a lien upon property or rights to property of any Borrower or Altria or any of their ERISA Affiliates for failure to make a required payment to a Plan are satisfied; (g) the adoption of an amendment to a Plan requiring the provision of security to such Plan, pursuant to Section 307 of ERISA; or (h) the termination of a Plan by the PBGC pursuant to Section 4042 of ERISA, or the occurrence of any event or condition described in Section 4042 of ERISA that constitutes grounds for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, a Plan.

 

“ Eurocurrency Liabilities ” has the meaning assigned to that term in Regulation D of the Board, as in effect from time to time.

 

“ Eurocurrency Lending Office ” means, with respect to any Lender, the office of such Lender specified as its “Eurocurrency Lending Office” opposite its name on Schedule I hereto or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender (or, if no such office is specified, its Domestic Lending Office), or such other office of such Lender as such Lender may from time to time specify to Altria and JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent.

 

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“ Eurocurrency Rate Reserve Percentage ” for any Interest Period, for all LIBO Rate Advances or Floating Rate Bid Advances comprising part of the same Borrowing, means the reserve percentage applicable two Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period under regulations issued from time to time by the Board for determining the maximum reserve requirement (including, without limitation, any emergency, supplemental or other marginal reserve requirement) for a member bank of the Federal Reserve System in New York City with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency Liabilities (or with respect to any other category of liabilities that includes deposits by reference to which the interest rate on LIBO Rate Advances or Floating Rate Bid Advances is determined) having a term equal to such Interest Period.

 

“ Event of Default ” has the meaning specified in Section 6.01.

 

“ Existing Loan Agreement ” means Altria’s existing U.S.$5,000,000,000 5-Year Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of July 24, 2001.

 

“ Federal Bankruptcy Code ” means the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978, as amended from time to time.

 

“ Federal Funds Effective Rate ” means, for any period, a fluctuating interest rate per annum equal, for each day during such period, to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published for such day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, for the next preceding Business Day) on Telerate Page 120 (or any successor page), or, if such rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the average of the quotations for such day on such transactions received by JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

 

“ 5-Year Facility ” means the U.S.$4,000,000,000 5-Year Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of April 15, 2005 among Altria and the agents and lenders parties thereto.

 

“ Fixed Charges ” means, for any accounting period, the sum of (a) interest, whether expensed or capitalized, in respect of any Debt outstanding during such period, plus (b) amortization of debt expense and discount or premium relating to any Debt outstanding during such period, whether expensed or capitalized, plus (c) such portion of rental expense as can be demonstrated to be representative of the interest factor in the particular case, all as to be applicable to continuing operations and determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, except that if there has been a material change in an accounting principle as compared to that applied in the preparation of the financial statements of Altria as at and for the year ended December 31, 2004, then such new accounting principle shall not be used in the determination of Fixed Charges. A material change in an accounting principle is one that, in the year of its adoption, changes Earnings Before Income Taxes or Fixed Charges for any quarter in such year by more than 10%.

 

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“ Fixed Rate Bid Advance ” means a Competitive Bid Advance bearing interest based on a fixed rate per annum as specified in the relevant Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing.

 

“ Floating Rate Bid Advance ” means a Competitive Bid Advance bearing interest at a rate of interest quoted as a margin over the LIBO Rate as specified in the relevant Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing.

 

“ Home Jurisdiction Withholding Taxes ” means (a) in the case of Altria, withholding for United States income taxes, United States back-up withholding taxes and United States withholding taxes and (b) in the case of a Designated Subsidiary, withholding taxes imposed by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such Designated Subsidiary is organized or any political subdivision thereof.

 

“ Interest Period ” means, for each LIBO Rate Advance comprising part of the same Pro Rata Borrowing and each Floating Rate Bid Advance comprising part of the same Competitive Bid Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such LIBO Rate Advance or Floating Rate Bid Advance or the date of Conversion of any Base Rate Advance into such LIBO Rate Advance and ending on the last day of the period selected by the Borrower requesting such Borrowing pursuant to the provisions below. The duration of each such Interest Period shall be one, two, three or six months, or, if available to all Lenders, nine months, as such Borrower may select upon notice received by JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the first day of such Interest Period; provided , however , that:

 

(a) such Borrower may not select any Interest Period that ends after the Termination Date;

 

(b) whenever the last day of any Interest Period would otherwise occur on a day other than a Business Day, the last day of such Interest Period shall be extended to occur on the next succeeding Business Day, provided that if such extension would cause the last day of such Interest Period to occur in the next following calendar month, the last day of such Interest Period shall occur on the immediately preceding Business Day; and

 

(c) whenever the first day of any Interest Period occurs on a day of an initial calendar month for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that succeeds such initial calendar month by the number of months equal to the number of months in such Interest Period, such Interest Period shall end on the last Business Day of such succeeding calendar month.

 

“ Internal Revenue Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated and the rulings issued thereunder.

 

“ JPMorgan Chase’s Administrative Agent Account ” means (a) the account of JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, maintained by JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, at its office at 1111 Fannin, Houston, Texas 77002, Account No.

 

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323243088, Attention: Leah Hughes, or (b) such other account of JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, as is designated in writing from time to time by JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, to Altria and the Lenders for such purpose.

 

“ Lenders ” means the Initial Lenders and their respective successors and permitted assignees.

 

“ LIBO Rate ” means an interest rate per annum equal to either:

 

(a) the offered rate per annum at which deposits in Dollars appear on Telerate Page 3750 (or any successor page) as of 11:00 A.M. (London time) two Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period, or

 

(b) if the LIBO Rate does not appear on Telerate Page 3750 (or any successor page), then the LIBO Rate will be determined by taking the average (rounded upward to the nearest whole multiple of 1/16 of 1% per annum, if such average is not such a multiple) of the rates per annum at which deposits in Dollars are offered by the principal office of each of the Reference Banks in London, England to prime banks in the London interbank market at 11:00 A.M. (London time) two Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period for an amount substantially equal to the amount that would be the Reference Banks’ respective ratable shares of such Borrowing outstanding during such Interest Period and for a period equal to such Interest Period, as determined by JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, subject , however , to the provisions of Section 2.08.

 

“ LIBO Rate Advance ” means a Pro Rata Advance that bears interest as provided in Section 2.04(a)(ii).

 

“ Lien ” has the meaning specified in Section 5.02(a).

 

“ Major Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary (except Kraft Foods Inc. and any of its Subsidiaries) (a) more than 50% of the voting securities of which is owned directly or indirectly by Altria, (b) which is organized and existing under, or has its principal place of business in, the United States or any political subdivision thereof, Canada or any political subdivision thereof, any country which is a member of the European Union on the date hereof (other than Greece, Portugal or Spain) or any political subdivision thereof, or Switzerland, Norway or Australia or any of their respective political subdivisions, and (c) which has at any time total assets (after intercompany eliminations) exceeding $1,000,000,000.

 

“ Margin Stock ” means margin stock, as such term is defined in Regulation U.

 

“ Multiemployer Plan ” means a multiemployer plan, as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which any Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is making or accruing an obligation to make contributions, or has within any of the preceding five plan years made or accrued an obligation to make contributions, such plan being maintained pursuant to one or more collective bargaining agreements.

 

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“ Multiple Employer Plan ” means a single employer plan, as defined in Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA, that (a) is maintained for employees of any Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate and at least one Person other than such Borrower and the ERISA Affiliates or (b) was so maintained and in respect of which such Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate could have liability under Section 4064 or 4069 of ERISA in the event such plan has been or were to be terminated.

 

“ Note ” means a Pro Rata Note or a Competitive Bid Note.

 

“ Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.07(b).

 

“ Notice of Pro Rata Borrowing ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.02(a).

 

“ Obligations ” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01.

 

“ Operating Assets ” means, for any accounting period, any assets included in the consolidated balance sheet of Altria and its Subsidiaries as “Inventories,” or “Property, plant and equipment” or “Receivables” for such period.

 

“ Other Taxes ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.15(b).

 

“ Person ” means an individual, partnership, corporation (including a business trust), joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity, or a government or any political subdivision or agency thereof.

 

“ Plan ” means a Single Employer Plan or a Multiple Employer Plan.

 

“ Pro Rata Advance ” means an advance by a Lender to any Borrower as part of a Pro Rata Borrowing and refers to a Base Rate Advance or a LIBO Rate Advance (each of which shall be a “ Type ” of Pro Rata Advance).

 

“ Pro Rata Borrowing ” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Pro Rata Advances of the same Type made by each of the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01.

 

“ Pro Rata Note ” means a promissory note of any Borrower payable to the order of any Lender, delivered pursuant to a request made under Section 2.17 in substantially the form of Exhibit A-1 hereto, evidencing the aggregate indebtedness of such Borrower to such Lender resulting from the Pro Rata Advances made by such Lender to such Borrower.

 

“ Reference Banks ” means JPMorgan Chase, Citibank, Credit Suisse First Boston, Cayman Islands Branch and Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch.

 

“ Register ” has the meaning specified in Section 9.07(d).

 

“ Regulation A ” means Regulation A of the Board, as in effect from time to time.

 

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“ Regulation U ” means Regulation U of the Board, as in effect from time to time.

 

“ Required Lenders ” means at any time Lenders owed at least 50.1% of the then aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Pro Rata Advances owing to Lenders, or, if no such principal amount is then outstanding, Lenders having at least 50.1% of the Commitments.

 

“ Single Employer Plan ” means a single employer plan, as defined in Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA, that (a) is maintained for employees of any Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate and no Person other than such Borrower and the ERISA Affiliates or (b) was so maintained and in respect of which such Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate could have liability under Section 4069 of ERISA in the event such plan has been or were to be terminated.

 

“ Spin-off Transaction ” means the spin-off or other not for value disposition of Philip Morris International Inc. (“PMI”) such that Altria owns no more than a de minimus equity interest in PMI.

 

“ Subsidiary ” of any Person means any corporation of which (or in which) more than 50% of the outstanding capital stock having voting power to elect a majority of the Board of Directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether at the time capital stock of any other class or classes of such corporation shall or might have voting power upon the occurrence of any contingency) is at the time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such Person, by such Person and one or more of its other Subsidiaries or by one or more of such Person’s other Subsidiaries.

 

“ Taxes ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.15(a).

 

“ Termination Date ” means the earlier of (a) the date that is the Business Day preceding the first anniversary of the Effective Date, (b) the date that a Spin-off Transaction is effective and (c) the date of termination in whole of the Commitments pursuant to Section 2.10 or 6.02.

 

Section 1.02. Computation of Time Periods . In this Agreement in the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including” and the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding.”

 

Section 1.03. Accounting Terms . All accounting terms not specifically defined herein shall be construed in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, except that if there has been a material change in an accounting principle affecting the definition of an accounting term as compared to that applied in the preparation of the financial statements of Altria as of and for the year ended December 31, 2004, then such new accounting principle shall not be used in the determination of the amount associated with that accounting term. A material change in an accounting principle is one that, in the year of its adoption, changes the amount associated with the relevant accounting term for any quarter in such year by more than 10%.

 

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ARTICLE II

 

AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF THE ADVANCES

 

Section 2.01. The Pro Rata Advances . (a) Obligation to Make Pro Rata Advances . Each Lender severally agrees, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, to make Pro Rata Advances to any Borrower from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Effective Date until the Termination Date in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding such Lender’s Commitment; provided , however , that the aggregate amount of the Commitments of the Lenders shall be deemed used from time to time to the extent of the aggregate amount of the Competitive Bid Advances then outstanding and such deemed use of the aggregate amount of the Commitments shall be allocated among the Lenders ratably according to their respective Commitments (such deemed use of the aggregate amount of the Commitments being a “ Competitive Bid Reduction ”).

 

(b) Amount of Pro Rata Borrowings . Each Pro Rata Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount of no less than $50,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof.

 

(c) Type of Pro Rata Advances . Each Pro Rata Borrowing shall consist of Pro Rata Advances of the same Type made on the same day by the Lenders ratably according to their respective Commitments. Within the limits of each Lender’s Commitment and subject to this Section 2.01, any Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01, prepay pursuant to Section 2.11 or repay pursuant to Section 2.03 and reborrow under this Section 2.01.

 

Section 2.02. Making the Pro Rata Advances . (a) Notice of Pro Rata Borrowing . Each Pro Rata Borrowing shall be made on notice, given not later than (x) 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the date of the proposed Pro Rata Borrowing in the case of a Pro Rata Borrowing consisting of LIBO Rate Advances, or (y) 9:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the date of the proposed Pro Rata Borrowing in the case of a Pro Rata Borrowing consisting of Base Rate Advances, by the Borrower to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, which shall give to each Lender prompt notice thereof by telecopier. Each such notice of a Pro Rata Borrowing (a “ Notice of Pro Rata Borrowing ”) shall be by telephone, confirmed immediately in writing, by registered mail or telecopier in substantially the form of Exhibit B-1 hereto, specifying therein the requested:

 

(i) date of such Pro Rata Borrowing,

 

(ii) Type of Advances comprising such Pro Rata Borrowing,

 

(iii) aggregate amount of such Pro Rata Borrowing, and

 

(iv) in the case of a Pro Rata Borrowing consisting of LIBO Rate Advances, the initial Interest Period for each such Pro Rata Advance. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no Borrower may select LIBO Rate Advances for any Pro Rata Borrowing if the obligation of the Lenders to make LIBO Rate Advances shall then be suspended pursuant to Section 2.08(c) or 2.13.

 

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(b) Funding Pro Rata Advances . Each Lender shall, before 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the date of such Pro Rata Borrowing, make available for the account of its Applicable Lending Office to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, at JPMorgan Chase’s Administrative Agent Account, in same day funds, such Lender’s ratable portion of such Pro Rata Borrowing. After receipt of such funds by JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, and upon fulfillment of the applicable conditions set forth in Article III, JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, will make such funds available to the relevant Borrower at the address of JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, referred to in Section 9.02.

 

(c) Irrevocable Notice . Each Notice of Pro Rata Borrowing of any Borrower shall be irrevocable and binding on such Borrower. In the case of any Pro Rata Borrowing that the related Notice of Pro Rata Borrowing specifies is to be comprised of LIBO Rate Advances, the Borrower requesting such Pro Rata Borrowing shall indemnify each Lender against any loss, cost or expense incurred by such Lender as a result of any failure to fulfill on or before the date specified in such Notice of Pro Rata Borrowing for such Pro Rata Borrowing the applicable conditions set forth in Article III, including, without limitation, any loss (excluding loss of anticipated profits), cost or expense incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired by such Lender to fund the Pro Rata Advance to be made by such Lender as part of such Pro Rata Borrowing when such Pro Rata Advance, as a result of such failure, is not made on such date.

 

(d) Lender’s Ratable Portion . Unless JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, shall have received notice from a Lender prior to 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the day of any Pro Rata Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, such Lender’s ratable portion of such Pro Rata Borrowing, JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, may assume that such Lender has made such portion available to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, on the date of such Pro Rata Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.02(b) and JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower proposing such Pro Rata Borrowing on such date a corresponding amount. If and to the extent that such Lender shall not have so made such ratable portion available to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, such Lender and such Borrower severally agree to repay to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, forthwith on demand such corresponding amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is made available to such Borrower until the date such amount is repaid to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, at:

 

(i) in the case of such Borrower, the higher of (A) the interest rate applicable at the time to Pro Rata Advances comprising such Pro Rata Borrowing and (B) the cost of funds incurred by JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, in respect of such amount, and

 

(ii) in the case of such Lender, the Federal Funds Effective Rate.

 

If such Lender shall repay to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, such corresponding amount, such amount so repaid shall constitute such Lender’s Pro Rata Advance as part of such Pro Rata Borrowing for purposes of this Agreement.

 

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(e) Independent Lender Obligations . The failure of any Lender to make the Pro Rata Advance to be made by it as part of any Pro Rata Borrowing shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation, if any, hereunder to make its Pro Rata Advance on the date of such Pro Rata Borrowing, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make the Pro Rata Advance to be made by such other Lender on the date of any Pro Rata Borrowing.

 

Section 2.03. Repayment of Pro Rata Advances . Each Borrower shall repay to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, for the ratable account of the Lenders on the Termination Date the unpaid principal amount of the Pro Rata Advances then outstanding.

 

Section 2.04. Interest on Pro Rata Advances . (a) Scheduled Interest . Each Borrower shall pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Pro Rata Advance owing by such Borrower to each Lender from the date of such Pro Rata Advance until such principal amount shall be paid in full, at the following rates per annum:

 

(i) Base Rate Advances . During such periods as such Pro Rata Advance is a Base Rate Advance, a rate per annum equal at all times to the Base Rate in effect from time to time, payable in arrears monthly on the 20th day of each month and on the date such Base Rate Advance shall be Converted or paid in full.

 

(ii) LIBO Rate Advances . During such periods as such Pro Rata Advance is a LIBO Rate Advance, a rate per annum equal at all times during each Interest Period for such Pro Rata Advance to the sum of (x) the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period for such Pro Rata Advance plus (y) the Applicable Interest Rate Margin in effect from time to time, payable in arrears on the last day of such Interest Period and, if such Interest Period has a duration of more than three months, on each day that occurs during such Interest Period every three months from the first day of such Interest Period, and on the date such LIBO Rate Advance shall be Converted or paid in full.

 

(b) Default Interest . Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, each Borrower shall pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Pro Rata Advance owing to each Lender, payable in arrears on the dates referred to in Section 2.04(a)(i) or Section 2.04(a)(ii), at a rate per annum equal at all times to 1% per annum above the rate per annum required to be paid on such Pro Rata Advance.

 

Section 2.05. Additional Interest on LIBO Rate Advances . Each Borrower shall pay to each Lender, so long as such Lender shall be required under regulations of the Board to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency Liabilities, additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of each LIBO Rate Advance of such Lender to such Borrower, from the date of such Advance until such principal amount is paid in full, at an interest rate per annum equal at all times to the remainder obtained by subtracting (i) the LIBO Rate for the Interest Period for such Advance from (ii) the rate obtained by dividing such LIBO Rate by a percentage equal to 100% minus the Eurocurrency Rate Reserve Percentage of such Lender for such Interest Period, payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Advance. Such additional interest shall be determined by such Lender and notified to Altria through JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent.

 

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Section 2.06. Conversion of Pro Rata Advances . (a) Conversion Upon Absence of Interest Period . If any Borrower shall fail to select the duration of any Interest Period for any LIBO Rate Advances in accordance with the provisions contained in the definition of the term “Interest Period,” JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, will forthwith so notify such Borrower and the Lenders, and such Advances will automatically, on the last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, Convert into Base Rate Advances.

 

(b) Conversion Upon Event of Default . Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default under Section 6.01(a), JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, or the Required Lenders may elect that (i) each LIBO Rate Advance be, on the last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, Converted into Base Rate Advances and (ii) the obligation of the Lenders to make, or to Convert Advances into, LIBO Rate Advances be suspended.

 

(c) Voluntary Conversion . Subject to the provisions of Sections 2.08(c) and 2.13, any Borrower may convert all such Borrower’s Pro Rata Advances of one Type constituting the same Pro Rata Borrowing into Advances of the other Type on any Business Day, upon notice given to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the date of the proposed Conversion; provided , however , that the Conversion of a LIBO Rate Advance into a Base Rate Advance may be made on, and only on, the last day of an Interest Period for such LIBO Rate Advance. Each such notice of a Conversion shall, within the restrictions specified above, specify

 

(i) the date of such Conversion;

 

(ii) the Pro Rata Advances to be Converted; and

 

(iii) if such Conversion is into LIBO Rate Advances, the duration of the Interest Period for each such Pro Rata Advance.

 

Section 2.07. The Competitive Bid Advances . (a) Competitive Bid Advances’ Impact on Commitments . Each Lender severally agrees that any Borrower may make Competitive Bid Borrowings under this Section 2.07 from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Effective Date until the Termination Date in the manner set forth below; provided that, following the making of each Competitive Bid Borrowing, the aggregate amount of the Advances then outstanding shall not exceed the aggregate amount of the Commitments of the Lenders. As provided in Section 2.01, the aggregate amount of the Commitments of the Lenders shall be deemed used from time to time to the extent of the aggregate amount of the Competitive Bid Advances then outstanding, and such deemed use of the aggregate amount of the Commitments shall be applied to the Lenders ratably according to their respective Commitments; provided , however , that any Lender’s Competitive Bid Advances shall not otherwise reduce that Lender’s obligation to lend its pro rata share of the remaining available Commitments.

 

(b) Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing . Any Borrower may request a Competitive Bid Borrowing under this Section 2.07 by delivering to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative

 

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Agent, by telecopier, a notice of a Competitive Bid Borrowing (a “ Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing ”), in substantially the form of Exhibit B-2 hereto, specifying therein the following:

 

(i) date of such proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing;

 

(ii) aggregate amount of such proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing;

 

(iii) interest rate basis and day count convention to be offered by the Lenders;

 

(iv) in the case of a Competitive Bid Borrowing consisting of Floating Rate Bid Advances, Interest Period, or in the case of a Competitive Bid Borrowing consisting of Fixed Rate Bid Advances, maturity date for repayment of each Fixed Rate Bid Advance to be made as part of such Competitive Bid Borrowing (which maturity date may not be earlier than the date occurring seven days after the date of such Competitive Bid Borrowing or later than the earlier of (A) 360 days after the date of such Competitive Bid Borrowing and (B) the Termination Date);

 

(v) interest payment date or dates relating thereto;

 

(vi) location of such Borrower’s account to which funds are to be advanced; and

 

(vii) other terms (if any) to be applicable to such Competitive Bid Borrowing.

 

A Borrower requesting a Competitive Bid Borrowing shall deliver a Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, not later than 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) (x) at least two Business Days prior to the date of the proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing, if such Borrower shall specify in the Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing that the Competitive Bid Borrowing shall be Fixed Rate Bid Advances, or (y) at least four Business Days prior to the date of the proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing, if such Borrower shall specify in the Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing that the Competitive Bid Borrowing shall be Floating Rate Bid Advances. Each Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing shall be irrevocable and binding on such Borrower. JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, shall in turn promptly notify each Lender of each request for a Competitive Bid Borrowing received by it from such Borrower by sending such Lender a copy of the related Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing.

 

(c) Discretion as to Competitive Bid Advances . Each Lender may, in its sole discretion, elect to irrevocably offer to make one or more Competitive Bid Advances to the applicable Borrower as part of such proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing at a rate or rates of interest specified by such Lender in its sole discretion, by notifying JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent (which shall give prompt notice thereof to such Borrower), before 9:30 A.M. (New York City time) (A) on the Business Day prior to the date of such proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing, in the case of a Competitive Bid Borrowing consisting of Fixed Rate Bid Advances, and (B) on the third Business Day prior to the date of such proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing, in the case of a Competitive Bid Borrowing consisting of Floating Rate Bid Advances; provided that, if JPMorgan Chase in its capacity as a Lender shall, in its sole

 

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discretion, elect to make any such offer, it shall notify such Borrower of such offer at least 30 minutes before the time and on the date on which notice of such election is to be given by any other Lender to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent. In such notice, the Lender shall specify the following:

 

(i) the minimum amount and maximum amount of each Competitive Bid Advance which such Lender would be willing to make as part of such proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing (which amounts may, subject to the proviso to the first sentence of Section 2.07(a), exceed such Lender’s Commitment);

 

(ii) the rate or rates of interest therefor; and

 

(iii) such Lender’s Applicable Lending Office with respect to such Competitive Bid Advance.

 

If any Lender shall elect not to make such an offer, such Lender shall so notify JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, before 9:30 A.M. (New York City time) on the date on which notice of such election is to be given to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, by the other Lenders, and such Lender shall not be obligated to, and shall not, make any Competitive Bid Advance as part of such Competitive Bid Borrowing; provided further that the failure by any Lender to give such notice shall not cause such Lender to be obligated to make any Competitive Bid Advance as part of such proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing.

 

(d) Borrower Selection of Lender Bids . The Borrower proposing the Competitive Bid Borrowing shall, in turn, (A) before 12:00 noon (New York City time) on the Business Day prior to the date of such proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing, in the case of a Competitive Bid Borrowing consisting of Fixed Rate Bid Advances and (B) before 12:00 noon (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the date of such proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing, in the case of a Competitive Bid Borrowing consisting of Floating Rate Bid Advances, either:

 

(i) cancel such Competitive Bid Borrowing by giving JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, notice to that effect, or

 

(ii) accept, in its sole discretion, one or more of the offers made by any Lender or Lenders pursuant to Section 2.07(c), by giving notice to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, of the amount of each Competitive Bid Advance (which amount shall be equal to or greater than the minimum amount, and equal to or less than the maximum amount, notified to such Borrower by JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent on behalf of such Lender, for such Competitive Bid Advance pursuant to Section 2.07(c) to be made by each Lender as part of such Competitive Bid Borrowing) and reject any remaining offers made by Lenders pursuant to Section 2.07(c) by giving JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, notice to that effect. Such Borrower shall accept the offers made by any Lender or Lenders to make Competitive Bid Advances in order of the lowest to the highest rates of interest offered by such Lenders. If two or more Lenders have offered the same interest rate, the amount to be borrowed at such interest rate will be allocated among such Lenders in proportion to the maximum amount that each such Lender offered at such interest rate.

 

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If the Borrower proposing the Competitive Bid Borrowing notifies JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, that such Competitive Bid Borrowing is canceled pursuant to Section 2.07(d)(i), or if such Borrower fails to give timely notice in accordance with Section 2.07(d), JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, shall give prompt notice thereof to the Lenders and such Competitive Bid Borrowing shall not be made.

 

(e) Competitive Bid Borrowing . If the Borrower proposing the Competitive Bid Borrowing accepts one or more of the offers made by any Lender or Lenders pursuant to Section 2.07(d)(ii), JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, shall in turn promptly notify:

 

(i) each Lender that has made an offer as described in Section 2.07(c), whether or not any offer or offers made by such Lender pursuant to Section 2.07(c) have been accepted by such Borrower;

 

(ii) each Lender that is to make a Competitive Bid Advance as part of such Competitive Bid Borrowing, of the date and amount of each Competitive Bid Advance to be made by such Lender as part of such Competitive Bid Borrowing; and

 

(iii) each Lender that is to make a Competitive Bid Advance as part of such Competitive Bid Borrowing, upon receipt, that JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, has received forms of documents appearing to fulfill the applicable conditions set forth in Article III.

 

When each Lender that is to make a Competitive Bid Advance as part of such Competitive Bid Borrowing has received notice pursuant to Section 2.07(e)(iii), such Lender shall, before 11:00 A.M. (New York City time), on the date of such Competitive Bid Borrowing specified in the notice received from JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, pursuant to Section 2.07(e)(i), make available for the account of its Applicable Lending Office to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, at its address referred to in Section 9.02, in same day funds, such Lender’s portion of such Competitive Bid Borrowing. Upon fulfillment of the applicable conditions set forth in Article III and after receipt by JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, of such funds, JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, will make such funds available to such Borrower at the location specified by such Borrower in its Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing. Promptly after each Competitive Bid Borrowing, JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, will notify each Lender of the amount of the Competitive Bid Borrowing, the consequent Competitive Bid Reduction and the dates upon which such Competitive Bid Reduction commenced and will terminate.

 

(f) Irrevocable Notice . If the Borrower proposing the Competitive Bid Borrowing notifies JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, that it accepts one or more of the offers made by any Lender or Lenders pursuant to Section 2.07(c), such notice of acceptance shall be irrevocable and binding on such Borrower. Such Borrower shall indemnify each Lender against any loss, cost or expense incurred by such Lender as a result of any failure to fulfill on or before the date specified in the related Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing for such Competitive Bid Borrowing the applicable conditions set forth in Article III, including, without limitation, any loss (excluding loss of anticipated profits), cost or expense incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired by such Lender to fund the Competitive Bid

 

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Advance to be made by such Lender as part of such Competitive Bid Borrowing when such Competitive Bid Advance, as a result of such failure, is not made on such date.

 

(g) Amount of Competitive Bid Borrowings; Competitive Bid Notes . Each Competitive Bid Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount of $50,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and, following the making of each Competitive Bid Borrowing, the aggregate amount of Advances then outstanding shall not exceed the aggregate amount of the Commitments of the Lenders. Within the limits and on the conditions set forth in this Section 2.07, any Borrower may from time to time borrow under this Section 2.07, prepay pursuant to Section 2.11 or repay pursuant to Section 2.07(h), and reborrow under this Section 2.07; provided that a Competitive Bid Borrowing shall not be made within two Business Days of the date of any other Competitive Bid Borrowing. The indebtedness of any Borrower resulting from each Competitive Bid Advance made to such Borrower as part of a Competitive Bid Borrowing shall be evidenced by a separate Competitive Bid Note of such Borrower payable to the order of the Lender making such Competitive Bid Advance.

 

(h) Repayment of Competitive Bid Advances . On the maturity date of each Competitive Bid Advance provided in the Competitive Bid Note evidencing such Competitive Bid Advance, the Borrower shall repay to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, for the account of each Lender that has made a Competitive Bid Advance the then unpaid principal amount of such Competitive Bid Advance. Except as required by Section 2.11(b), no Borrower shall have any right to prepay any principal amount of any Competitive Bid Advance unless, and then only on the terms set forth in the Competitive Bid Note evidencing such Competitive Bid Advance.

 

(i) Interest on Competitive Bid Advances . Each Borrower that has borrowed through a Competitive Bid Borrowing shall pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Competitive Bid Advance from the date of such Competitive Bid Advance to the date the principal amount of such Competitive Bid Advance is repaid in full, at the rate of interest for such Competitive Bid Advance and on the interest payment date or dates set forth in the Competitive Bid Note evidencing such Competitive Bid Advance. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, such Borrower shall pay interest on the amount of unpaid principal of each Competitive Bid Advance owing to a Lender, payable in arrears on the date or dates interest is payable thereon, at a rate per annum equal at all times to 1% per annum above the rate per annum required to be paid on such Competitive Bid Advance under the terms of the Competitive Bid Note evidencing such Competitive Bid Advance unless otherwise agreed in such Competitive Bid Note.

 

Section 2.08. LIBO Rate Determination . (a) Methods to Determine LIBO Rate . JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, shall determine the LIBO Rate by using the methods described in the definition of the term “LIBO Rate,” and shall give prompt notice to the Borrower and Lenders of each such LIBO Rate.

 

(b) Role of Reference Banks . In the event that the LIBO Rate cannot be determined by the method described in clause (a) of the definition of “LIBO Rate,” each Reference Bank agrees to furnish to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, timely information for the purpose of determining the LIBO Rate in accordance with the method described in clause (b) of

 

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the definition thereof. If any one or more of the Reference Banks shall not furnish such timely information to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, for the purpose of determining a LIBO Rate, JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, shall determine such interest rate on the basis of timely information furnished by the remaining Reference Banks. If fewer than two Reference Banks furnish timely information to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, for determining the LIBO Rate for any LIBO Rate Advances or Floating Rate Bid Advances, as the case may be, then:

 

(i) JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, shall forthwith notify Altria and the Lenders that the interest rate cannot be determined for such LIBO Rate Advance or Floating Rate Bid Advances, as the case may be;

 

(ii) with respect to each LIBO Rate Advance, such Advance will, on the last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, be prepaid by the Borrower or be automatically Converted into a Base Rate Advance; and

 

(iii) the obligation of the Lenders to make LIBO Rate Advances or Floating Rate Bid Advances or to Convert Base Rate Advances into LIBO Rate Advances shall be suspended until JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, shall notify Altria and the Lenders that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist.

 

JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, shall give prompt notice to Altria and the Lenders of the applicable interest rate determined by JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, for purposes of Section 2.04(a)(i) or (ii), and the rate, if any, furnished by each Reference Bank for the purpose of determining the interest rate under Section 2.04(a)(ii) or the applicable LIBO Rate.

 

(c) Inadequate LIBO Rate . If, with respect to any LIBO Rate Advances, the Required Lenders notify JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, that (i) they are unable to obtain matching deposits in the London interbank market at or about 11:00 A.M. (London time) on the second Business Day before the making of a Borrowing in sufficient amounts to fund their respective LIBO Rate Advances as a part of such Borrowing during the Interest Period therefor or (ii) the LIBO Rate for any Interest Period for such Advances will not adequately reflect the cost to such Required Lenders of making, funding or maintaining their respective LIBO Rate Advances for such Interest Period, JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, shall forthwith so notify Altria and the Lenders, whereupon (A) the Borrower of such LIBO Rate Advances will, on the last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, either (x) prepay such Advances or (y) Convert such Advances into Base Rate Advances and (B) the obligation of the Lenders to make, or to Convert Base Rate Advances into, LIBO Rate Advances shall be suspended until JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, shall notify Altria and the Lenders that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist. In the case of clause (ii) above, each Lender shall certify its cost of funds for each Interest Period to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, and Altria as soon as practicable (but in any event not later than 10 Business Days after the last day of such Interest Period).

 

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Section 2.09. Fees . (a) Facility Fee . Altria agrees to pay to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, for the account of each Lender a facility fee on the aggregate amount of such Lender’s Commitment (whether or not used and without giving effect to any Competitive Bid Reduction) from the date hereof in the case of each Initial Lender and from the effective date specified in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender in the case of each other Lender until the Termination Date at the Applicable Facility Fee Rate, in each case payable on the last day of each March, June, September and December until the Termination Date and on the Termination Date.

 

(b) Agent’s Fees . Altria shall pay to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, for its own account such fees as may from time to time be agreed between Altria and such Agent.

 

Section 2.10. Termination or Reduction of the Commitments . Altria shall have the right, upon at least three Business Days’ notice to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, to terminate in whole or reduce ratably in part the unused portions of the respective Commitments of the Lenders; provided that each partial reduction shall be in the aggregate amount of no less than $50,000,000 or the remaining balance if less than $50,000,000; and provided further that the aggregate amount of the Commitments of the Lenders shall not be reduced to an amount that is less than the aggregate principal amount of the Competitive Bid Advances then outstanding.

 

Section 2.11. Prepayments . (a) Optional Prepayment of Pro Rata Advances . Each Borrower may, in the case of any LIBO Rate Advance, upon at least three Business Days’ notice to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, or, in the case of any Base Rate Advance, upon notice given to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, not later than 9:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the date of the proposed prepayment, in each case stating the proposed date and aggregate principal amount of the prepayment, and if such notice is given such Borrower shall, prepay the outstanding principal amount of the Pro Rata Advances comprising part of the same Pro Rata Borrowing in whole or ratably in part, together with accrued interest to the date of such prepayment on the principal amount prepaid; provided , however , that (x) each partial prepayment shall be in an aggregate principal amount of no less than $50,000,000 or the remaining balance if less than $50,000,000 and (y) in the event of any such prepayment of a LIBO Rate Advance, such Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the Lenders in respect thereof pursuant to Section 9.04(b).

 

(b) Mandatory Prepayment . The Borrower shall, on each Business Day, prepay an aggregate principal amount of the Advances equal to the amount by which (A) the aggregate principal amount of the Advances then outstanding exceeds (B) the aggregate of the Commitments (after giving effect to any Competitive Bid Reduction) on such Business Day. Prepayments under this Section 2.11(b) shall be allocated first to Base Rate Advances, ratably; any excess amount shall then be allocated to LIBO Rate Advances, in such manner as the Borrower shall determine; and any remaining amount shall be allocated to Competitive Bid Advances, in such manner as the Borrower shall determine.

 

Each prepayment made pursuant to this Section 2.11(b) shall be made together with any interest accrued to the date of such prepayment on the principal amounts prepaid and, in the case of any prepayment of a LIBO Rate Advance or a Floating Rate Bid Advance on a date

 

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other than the last day of an Interest Period or at its maturity, any additional amounts which such Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse to the Lenders in respect thereof pursuant to Section 9.04(b). JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, shall give prompt notice of any prepayment required under this Section 2.11(b) to the Borrowers and the Lenders.

 

Section 2.12. Increased Costs . (a) Costs from Change in Law or Authorities . If, due to either (i) the introduction of or any change (other than any change by way of imposition or increase of reserve requirements to the extent such change is included in the Eurocurrency Rate Reserve Percentage) in or in the interpretation of any law or regulation or (ii) the compliance with any guideline or request from any central bank or other governmental authority (whether or not having the force of law), there shall be any increase in the cost to any Lender of agreeing to make or making, funding or maintaining LIBO Rate Advances or Floating Rate Bid Advances (excluding for purposes of this Section 2.12 any such increased costs resulting from (i) Taxes or Other Taxes (as to which Section 2.15 shall govern) and (ii) changes in the basis of taxation of overall net income or overall gross income by the United States or by the foreign jurisdiction or state under the laws of which such Lender is organized or has its Applicable Lending Office or any political subdivision thereof), then the Borrower of the affected Advances shall from time to time, upon demand by such Lender (with a copy of such demand to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent), pay to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, for the account of such Lender additional amounts sufficient to compensate such Lender for such increased cost; provided , however , that before making any such demand, each Lender agrees to use reasonable efforts (consistent with its internal policy and legal and regulatory restrictions) to designate a different Applicable Lending Office if the making of such a designation would avoid the need for, or reduce the amount of, such increased cost and would not, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, be otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender. A certificate as to the amount of such increased cost, submitted to Altria, such Borrower and JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, by such Lender, shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

 

(b) Reduction in Lender’s Rate of Return . In the event that, after the date hereof, the implementation of or any change in any law or regulation, or any guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) or the interpretation or administration thereof by any central bank or other authority charged with the administration thereof, imposes, modifies or deems applicable any capital adequacy or similar requirement (including, without limitation, a request or requirement which affects the manner in which any Lender allocates capital resources to its commitments, including its obligations hereunder) and as a result thereof, in the sole opinion of such Lender, the rate of return on such Lender’s capital as a consequence of its obligations hereunder is reduced to a level below that which such Lender could have achieved but for such circumstances, but reduced to the extent that Borrowings are outstanding from time to time, then in each such case, upon demand from time to time Altria shall pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as shall compensate such Lender for such reduction in rate of return; provided that, in the case of each Lender, such additional amount or amounts shall not exceed 0.15 of 1% per annum of such Lender’s Commitment. A certificate of such Lender as to any such additional amount or amounts shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error. Except as provided below, in determining any such amount or amounts each Lender may use any reasonable averaging and attribution methods. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Lender shall take all reasonable actions to avoid the imposition of, or reduce the amounts of, such increased costs, provided that such actions, in the reasonable judgment of such

 

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Lender, will not be otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender, and, to the extent possible, each Lender will calculate such increased costs based upon the capital requirements for its Commitment hereunder and not upon the average or general capital requirements imposed upon such Lender.

 

Section 2.13. Illegality . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if any Lender shall notify JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, that the introduction of or any change in, or in the interpretation of, any law or regulation makes it unlawful, or any central bank or other governmental authority asserts that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its Eurocurrency Lending Office to perform its obligations hereunder to make LIBO Rate Advances or Floating Rate Bid Advances or to fund or maintain LIBO Rate Advances or Floating Rate Bid Advances, (a) each LIBO Rate Advance or Floating Rate Bid Advances, as the case may be, will automatically, upon such demand, be Converted into a Base Rate Advance or an Advance that bears interest at the rate set forth in Section 2.04(a)(i), as the case may be, and (b) the obligation of the Lenders to make LIBO Rate Advances or Floating Rate Bid Advances or to Convert Base Rate Advances into LIBO Rate Advances shall be suspended, in each case, until JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, shall notify Altria and the Lenders that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist; provided , however , that before making any such demand, each Lender agrees to use reasonable efforts (consistent with its internal policy and legal and regulatory restrictions) to designate a different Eurocurrency Lending Office if the making of such a designation would allow such Lender or its Eurocurrency Lending Office to continue to perform its obligations to make LIBO Rate Advances or Floating Rate Bid Advances or to continue to fund or maintain LIBO Rate Advances or Floating Rate Bid Advances, as the case may be, and would not, in the judgment of such Lender, be otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender.

 

Section 2.14. Payments and Computations . (a) Time and Distribution of Payments . Altria and each Borrower shall make each payment hereunder, without set-off or counterclaim, not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the day when due to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, at JPMorgan Chase’s Administrative Agent Account in same day funds. JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, will promptly thereafter cause to be distributed like funds relating to the payment of principal or interest or facility fees ratably (other than amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.07, 2.12, 2.15 or 9.04(b)) to the Lenders for the account of their respective Applicable Lending Offices, and like funds relating to the payment of any other amount payable to any Lender to such Lender for the account of its Applicable Lending Office, in each case to be applied in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. From and after the effective date of an Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to Section 9.07, JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, shall make all payments hereunder in respect of the interest assigned thereby to the Lender assignee thereunder, and the parties to such Assignment and Acceptance shall make all appropriate adjustments in such payments for periods prior to such effective date directly between themselves.

 

(b) Computation of Interest and Fees . All computations of interest based on JPMorgan Chase’s prime rate shall be made by JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be. All computations of interest based on the LIBO Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate and of facility fees shall be made by JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent and all computations of interest pursuant to Section

 

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2.05 shall be made by a Lender, on the basis of a year of 360 days, and all computations of interest in respect of Competitive Bid Advances shall be made by JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, as specified in the applicable Notice of Competitive Bid Notice, in each case for the actual number of days (including the first day but excluding the last day) occurring in the period for which such interest or facility fees are payable. Each determination by JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent (or, in the case of Section 2.05 by a Lender), of an interest rate hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

 

(c) Payment Due Dates . Whenever any payment hereunder shall be stated to be due on a day other than a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and such extension of time shall in such case be included in the computation of payment of interest or facility fee, as the case may be; provided , however , that if such extension would cause payment of interest on or principal of LIBO Rate Advances or Floating Rate Bid Advances to be made in the next following calendar month, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day.

 

(d) Presumption of Borrower Payment . Unless JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, receives notice from any Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Lenders hereunder that such Borrower will not make such payment in full, JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, may assume that such Borrower has made such payment in full to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, on such date and JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, may, in reliance upon such assumption, cause to be distributed to each Lender on such due date an amount equal to the amount then due such Lender. If and to the extent such Borrower has not made such payment in full to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, each Lender shall repay to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, forthwith on demand such amount distributed to such Lender together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is distributed to such Lender until the date such Lender repays such amount to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Effective Rate.

 

Section 2.15. Taxes . (a) Any and all payments by each Borrower and Altria hereunder shall be made, in accordance with Section 2.14, free and clear of and without deduction for any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings, and all liabilities with respect thereto, excluding , (i) in the case of each Lender and JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, taxes imposed on its net income, and franchise taxes imposed on it, by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such Lender or JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent (as the case may be), is organized or any political subdivision thereof, (ii) in the case of each Lender, taxes imposed on its net income, and franchise taxes imposed on it, by the jurisdiction of such Lender’s Applicable Lending Office or any political subdivision thereof, (iii) in the case of each Lender and JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, taxes imposed on its net income, franchise taxes imposed on it, and any tax imposed by means of withholding to the extent such tax is imposed solely as a result of a present or former connection (other than the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or a Note) between the Lender or JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, as the case may be, and the taxing jurisdiction, and (iv) in the case of each Lender and JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, taxes imposed by the United States by means of withholding tax if and to the extent that such taxes shall be in effect and shall be applicable on the date hereof to payments to be made to such Lender’s Applicable Lending Office or to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent (all such

 

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non-excluded taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges, withholdings and liabilities in respect of payments hereunder being hereinafter referred to as “ Taxes ”). If any Borrower or Altria shall be required by law to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable hereunder to any Lender or JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, (i) the sum payable shall be increased as may be necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2.15) such Lender or JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent (as the case may be), receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) such Borrower or Altria shall make such deductions and (iii) such Borrower or Altria shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant taxation authority or other authority in accordance with applicable law.

 

(b) In addition, each Borrower or Altria shall pay any present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies that arise from any payment made hereunder or from the execution, delivery or registration of, performing under, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement (hereinafter referred to as “ Other Taxes ”).

 

(c) Each Borrower and Altria shall indemnify each Lender and JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, for and hold it harmless against the full amount of Taxes or Other Taxes (including, without limitation, Taxes and Other Taxes imposed by any jurisdiction on amounts payable under this Section 2.15) paid by such Lender or JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent (as the case may be), and any liability (including penalties, interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally asserted. This indemnification shall be made within 30 days from the date such Lender or JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent (as the case may be), makes written demand therefor.

 

(d) Within 30 days after the date of any payment of Taxes, each Borrower and Altria shall furnish to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, at its address referred to in Section 9.02, the original or a certified copy of a receipt evidencing such payment. If any Borrower or Altria determines that no Taxes are payable in respect thereof, such Borrower or Altria shall, at the request of JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, furnish or cause the payor to furnish, JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, and each Lender an opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, stating that such payment is exempt from Taxes.

 

(e) Each Lender, on or prior to the date of its execution and delivery of this Agreement in the case of each Initial Lender and on the date of the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it becomes a Lender in the case of each other Lender, shall provide each of JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, Altria and such Borrower with any form or certificate that is required by any taxing authority (including, if applicable, two original Internal Revenue Service Forms W-9, W-8BEN or W-8ECI, as appropriate, or any successor or other form prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service), certifying that such Lender is exempt from or entitled to a reduced rate of Home Jurisdiction Withholding Taxes on payments pursuant to this Agreement. Thereafter, each such Lender shall provide additional forms or certificates (i) to the extent a form or certificate previously provided has become inaccurate or invalid or has otherwise ceased to be effective or (ii) as requested in writing by any Borrower, Altria or JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent. Unless the Borrowers, Altria and JPMorgan Chase,

 

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as Administrative Agent, have received forms or other documents satisfactory to them indicating that payments hereunder are not subject to Home Jurisdiction Withholding Taxes or are subject to Home Jurisdiction Withholding Taxes at a rate reduced by an applicable tax treaty, such Borrower, Altria or JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, shall withhold taxes from such payments at the applicable statutor