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AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT among

Loan Agreement

AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT among | Document Parties: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. | BANK OF IRELAND | BANK OF MONTREAL | Bank of New York | Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. | BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBUSHI UFJ. LTD | BMO CAPITAL MARKETS FINANCING, INC | Chang Hwa Commercial Bank, Ltd | CITICORP NORTH AMERICA, INC | CITIZENS BANK OF PENNSYLVANIA | Comerica Bank | Commerzbank AG | COMPANY OF THE BANK | EG SYSTEMS, INC | ESun Commercial Bank, Ltd | Fifth Third Bank | FORTIS CAPITAL CORP | GreenStone Farm Credit Services | GUTWEIN & CO, INC | HUA NAN COMMERCIAL BANK, LTD | HYPONEX CORPORATION | JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NA | KBC BANK, NV | LASALLE BANK NA | Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd | National City Bank | Norinchukin Bank | NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY | PEOPLE'S BANK | Scotiabanc Inc | SCOTTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD | SCOTTS CANADA LTD | SCOTTS COMPANY (UK) LTD | SCOTTS COMPANY LLC | SCOTTS HOLDINGS LIMITED | SCOTTS MANUFACTURING COMPANY | SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY | SCOTTS TEMECULA OPERATIONS, LLC | SMG GROWING MEDIA, INC | SMITH & HAWKEN, LTD | State Bank of India | SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION | TD BANKNORTH, NA | United Overseas Bank Limited | US Bank National Association You are currently viewing:
This Loan Agreement involves

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. | BANK OF IRELAND | BANK OF MONTREAL | Bank of New York | Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. | BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBUSHI UFJ. LTD | BMO CAPITAL MARKETS FINANCING, INC | Chang Hwa Commercial Bank, Ltd | CITICORP NORTH AMERICA, INC | CITIZENS BANK OF PENNSYLVANIA | Comerica Bank | Commerzbank AG | COMPANY OF THE BANK | EG SYSTEMS, INC | ESun Commercial Bank, Ltd | Fifth Third Bank | FORTIS CAPITAL CORP | GreenStone Farm Credit Services | GUTWEIN & CO, INC | HUA NAN COMMERCIAL BANK, LTD | HYPONEX CORPORATION | JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NA | KBC BANK, NV | LASALLE BANK NA | Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd | National City Bank | Norinchukin Bank | NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY | PEOPLE'S BANK | Scotiabanc Inc | SCOTTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD | SCOTTS CANADA LTD | SCOTTS COMPANY (UK) LTD | SCOTTS COMPANY LLC | SCOTTS HOLDINGS LIMITED | SCOTTS MANUFACTURING COMPANY | SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY | SCOTTS TEMECULA OPERATIONS, LLC | SMG GROWING MEDIA, INC | SMITH & HAWKEN, LTD | State Bank of India | SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION | TD BANKNORTH, NA | United Overseas Bank Limited | US Bank National Association

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Title: AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT among
Governing Law: New York     Date: 5/10/2007
Industry: Chemical Manufacturing     Law Firm: Vorys Sater;Simpson Thacher     Sector: Basic Materials

AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT among, Parties: bank of america  n.a. , bank of ireland , bank of montreal , bank of new york , bank of tokyo-mitsubishi ufj  ltd. , bank of tokyo-mitsubushi ufj. ltd , bmo capital markets financing  inc , chang hwa commercial bank  ltd , citicorp north america  inc , citizens bank of pennsylvania , comerica bank , commerzbank ag , company of the bank , eg systems  inc , esun commercial bank  ltd , fifth third bank , fortis capital corp , greenstone farm credit services , gutwein & co  inc , hua nan commercial bank  ltd , hyponex corporation , jpmorgan chase bank  na , kbc bank  nv , lasalle bank na , mizuho corporate bank  ltd , national city bank , norinchukin bank , northern trust company , people's bank , scotiabanc inc , scotts australia pty ltd , scotts canada ltd , scotts company (uk) ltd , scotts company llc , scotts holdings limited , scotts manufacturing company , scotts miracle-gro company , scotts temecula operations  llc , smg growing media  inc , smith & hawken  ltd , state bank of india , sumitomo mitsui banking corporation , td banknorth  na , united overseas bank limited , us bank national association
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Exhibit 4(a)

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

among

THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY,
as Borrower

The Subsidiary Borrowers From Time to Time Party Hereto,

The Several Lenders From Time to Time Party Hereto,

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent,

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

and

THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBUSHI UFJ. LTD,
BNP PARIBAS,
COBANK, ACB,
BMO CAPITAL MARKETS FINANCING, INC.,
LASALLE BANK N.A.,
COOPERATIEVE CENTRALE RAIFFEISEN BOERENLEENBANK, B.A.
“RABOBANK NEDERLAND”, NEW YORK BRANCH,
CITICORP NORTH AMERICA, INC.
and
THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA,
as Documentation Agents

 

Dated as of February 7, 2007

 

 

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.
and
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC,
as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners,

and

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.,
as Co-Arranger and Joint Bookrunner

 


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS

 

 

1

 

1.1

 

Defined Terms

 

 

1

 

1.2

 

Other Definitional Provisions

 

 

26

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2. AMOUNT AND TERMS OF LOANS

 

 

27

 

2.1

 

Term Commitments

 

 

27

 

2.2

 

Procedure for Term Loan Borrowing

 

 

27

 

2.3

 

Repayment of Term Loan

 

 

27

 

2.4

 

Revolving Credit Commitment

 

 

28

 

2.5

 

Procedure for Revolving Credit Borrowing

 

 

29

 

2.6

 

Swing Line Commitments

 

 

30

 

2.7

 

Participation

 

 

32

 

2.8

 

Repayment of Revolving Credit Loans; Evidence of Debt

 

 

32

 

2.9

 

Commitment Fee, etc

 

 

33

 

2.10

 

Termination or Reduction of Commitments

 

 

33

 

2.11

 

Optional Prepayments

 

 

34

 

2.12

 

Mandatory Prepayments

 

 

35

 

2.13

 

Cash Collateralization of Letters of Credit

 

 

36

 

2.14

 

Conversion Options

 

 

36

 

2.15

 

Interest Rate and Payment Dates

 

 

36

 

2.16

 

Computation of Interest and Fees

 

 

37

 

2.17

 

Inability to Determine Interest Rate

 

 

37

 

2.18

 

Pro Rata Treatment and Payments

 

 

38

 

2.19

 

Illegality

 

 

39

 

2.20

 

Requirements of Law

 

 

40

 

2.21

 

Indemnity

 

 

41

 

2.22

 

Taxes

 

 

41

 

2.23

 

Use of Proceeds

 

 

43

 

2.24

 

Controls on Prepayment if Aggregate Revolving Extensions of Credit Exceed Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments

 

 

43

 

2.25

 

Lending Installations

 

 

44

 

2.26

 

Notices to Lenders

 

 

45

 

2.27

 

Incremental Term Facilities; Revolving Credit Commitment Increases and Changes; Incremental Term Loans

 

 

45

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 3. LETTER OF CREDIT FACILITIES

 

 

47

 

3.1

 

L/C Commitment

 

 

47

 

3.2

 

Procedure for Issuance of Letters of Credit

 

 

47

 

3.3

 

Fees, Commissions and Other Charges

 

 

48

 

3.4

 

L/C Participation

 

 

48

 

3.5

 

Reimbursement Obligation of the Borrower

 

 

49

 

3.6

 

Obligations Absolute

 

 

50

 

3.7

 

Increased Costs

 

 

50

 

3.8

 

Letter of Credit Payments

 

 

50

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

 

51

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.1

 

Financial Condition

 

 

51

 

4.2

 

Corporate Existence; Compliance with Law

 

 

51

 

4.3

 

Corporate Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations

 

 

52

 

4.4

 

No Legal Bar

 

 

52

 

4.5

 

No Material Litigation

 

 

52

 

4.6

 

No Burdensome Restrictions

 

 

52

 

4.7

 

No Default

 

 

52

 

4.8

 

Subsidiaries

 

 

52

 

4.9

 

Disclosure

 

 

53

 

4.10

 

Schedules

 

 

53

 

4.11

 

Federal Regulations

 

 

53

 

4.12

 

Investment Company Act; Other Regulations

 

 

53

 

4.13

 

Labor Matters

 

 

53

 

4.14

 

ERISA

 

 

53

 

4.15

 

Title to Real Property, Etc.

 

 

54

 

4.16

 

Taxes

 

 

54

 

4.17

 

Environmental Matters

 

 

54

 

4.18

 

Intellectual Property

 

 

55

 

4.19

 

Security Documents

 

 

55

 

4.20

 

Solvency

 

 

55

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 5. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

 

 

56

 

5.1

 

Conditions to Effectiveness of this Agreement

 

 

56

 

5.2

 

Conditions to All Extensions of Credit

 

 

58

 

5.3

 

Additional Conditions Applicable to Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers

 

 

58

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 6. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

 

 

60

 

6.1

 

Financial Statements

 

 

60

 

6.2

 

Certificates; Other Information

 

 

60

 

6.3

 

Payment of Obligations

 

 

62

 

6.4

 

Compliance with Laws

 

 

62

 

6.5

 

Conduct of Business and Maintenance of Existence

 

 

62

 

6.6

 

Maintenance of Property, Insurance

 

 

62

 

6.7

 

Inspection of Property; Books and Records; Discussions

 

 

62

 

6.8

 

Notices

 

 

62

 

6.9

 

Maintenance of Interest Coverage Ratio

 

 

63

 

6.10

 

Maintenance of Leverage Ratio

 

 

64

 

6.11

 

Additional Collateral, etc.

 

 

64

 

6.12

 

Environmental, Health and Safety Matters

 

 

66

 

6.13

 

Foreign Pledge Agreements

 

 

67

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 7. NEGATIVE COVENANTS

 

 

67

 

7.1

 

Limitation on Liens

 

 

68

 

7.2

 

Limitation on Contingent Obligations

 

 

69

 

7.3

 

Limitation on Fundamental Changes

 

 

69

 

7.4

 

Limitation on Acquisitions, Investments, Loans and Advances

 

 

70

 

7.5

 

Limitation on Indebtedness

 

 

71

 

7.6

 

Limitation on Restrictions on Subsidiary Distributions

 

 

72

 

7.7

 

Transactions with Affiliates and Officers

 

 

72

 

-ii-

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page

 

7.8

 

Limitation on Sale of Assets

 

 

72

 

7.9

 

Sale and Leaseback

 

 

73

 

7.10

 

Fiscal Year

 

 

73

 

7.11

 

Modifications of Certain Debt Instruments

 

 

73

 

7.12

 

Negative Pledge Clauses

 

 

74

 

7.13

 

Lines of Business

 

 

74

 

7.14

 

Restricted Payments

 

 

74

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 8. EVENTS OF DEFAULT

 

 

75

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 9. THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

 

 

78

 

9.1

 

Appointment

 

 

78

 

9.2

 

Delegation of Duties

 

 

78

 

9.3

 

Exculpatory Provisions

 

 

78

 

9.4

 

Reliance by Administrative Agent

 

 

79

 

9.5

 

Notice of Default

 

 

79

 

9.6

 

Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent, Other Lenders and JPMCB

 

 

79

 

9.7

 

Indemnification

 

 

80

 

9.8

 

Administrative Agent in Its Individual Capacity

 

 

80

 

9.9

 

Parallel Debt

 

 

80

 

9.10

 

Successor Administrative Agent

 

 

81

 

9.11

 

The Syndication Agent and the Documentation Agents

 

 

81

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 10. MISCELLANEOUS

 

 

82

 

10.1

 

Amendments and Waivers

 

 

82

 

10.2

 

Notices

 

 

83

 

10.3

 

No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies

 

 

85

 

10.4

 

Survival of Representations, Warranties and Indemnities

 

 

85

 

10.5

 

Payment of Expenses and Taxes

 

 

85

 

10.6

 

Successors and Assigns; Participations and Assignments

 

 

86

 

10.7

 

Adjustments; Set-off

 

 

88

 

10.8

 

Enforceability; Usury

 

 

89

 

10.9

 

Judgment

 

 

90

 

10.10

 

Counterparts

 

 

90

 

10.11

 

Governing Law; No Third Party Rights

 

 

90

 

10.12

 

Headings

 

 

91

 

10.13

 

Submission To Jurisdiction; Waivers

 

 

91

 

10.14

 

Acknowledgments

 

 

92

 

10.15

 

Confidentiality

 

 

92

 

10.16

 

WAIVERS OF JURY TRIAL

 

 

93

 

10.17

 

Severability

 

 

93

 

10.18

 

USA PATRIOT Act

 

 

93

 

  -iii-


 

 

 

 

 

 

ANNEXES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Annex A

 

Pricing Grid

 

 

Annex B

 

Sterling Borrower Provisions

 

 

Annex C

 

Australian Borrower Provisions

 

 

Annex D

 

Canadian Borrower Provisions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schedule 1

 

Lenders; Revolving Credit Commitments

 

 

Schedule 1.2

 

Non-Guarantor Domestic Subsidiaries

 

 

Schedule 4.1

 

Certain Financial Information

 

 

Schedule 4.5

 

Litigation

 

 

Schedule 4.8

 

Subsidiaries

 

 

Schedule 4.11

 

Certain Transactions

 

 

Schedule 4.17

 

Environmental Matters

 

 

Schedule 4.19(ii)

 

Certain Filings

 

 

Schedule 4.19(iii)

 

Perfection of Foreign Stock Pledges

 

 

Schedule 5.3(iii)

 

Certain Filings

 

 

Schedule 6.13

 

Foreign Pledge Agreements

 

 

Schedule 7.1(i)

 

Existing Liens and Encumbrances

 

 

Schedule 7.2(iii)

 

Existing Guarantees

 

 

Schedule 7.5(c)

 

Existing Indebtedness

 

 

Schedule 7.9

 

Sale and Leaseback

 

 

Schedule 10.2

 

Notices

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXHIBITS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit A

 

Form of Assignment and Acceptance

 

 

Exhibit B

 

Form of Amended and Restated Guarantee and Collateral Agreement

 

 

Exhibit C

 

Form of Swing Line Loan Participation Certificate

 

 

Exhibit D

 

Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

 

 

Exhibit E

 

Form of Incremental Commitment Supplement

 

 

Exhibit F

 

Form of Foreign Pledge Agreement Acknowledgment and Confirmation

 

 

Exhibit G

 

Form of Opinion of Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP

 

 

Exhibit H

 

Form of Opinion of Counsel to Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers

 

 

Exhibit I

 

Form of Borrowing Certificate

 

 

Exhibit J

 

Form of New Domestic Subsidiary Certificate

 

 

Exhibit K

 

Form of Joinder Agreement

 

 

-v-

 


 

          AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of February 7, 2007 by and among THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY, an Ohio corporation (the “ Borrower ”), the Subsidiary Borrowers (as defined herein) from time to time parties to this agreement, the several banks and other financial institutions from time to time parties to this Agreement (the “ Lenders ”), BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Syndication Agent, THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBUSHI UFJ. LTD, BNP PARIBAS, COBANK, ACB, BMO CAPITAL MARKETS FINANCING, INC., LASALLE BANK N.A., COOPERATIEVE CENTRALE RAIFFEISEN BOERENLEENBANK, B.A. “RABOBANK NEDERLAND”, NEW YORK BRANCH and THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA, as Documentation Agents, and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., (together with its banking affiliates, “ JPMCB ”), as agent for the Lenders hereunder (in such capacity, the “ Administrative Agent ”).

W I T N E S S E T H :

          WHEREAS, the Borrower desires to amend and restate the Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of July 21, 2005 (as heretofore amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “ Existing Credit Agreement ”), among the Borrower, the Subsidiary Borrowers, the several banks and other financial institutions parties thereto and JPMCB, as administrative agent, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement; and

          WHEREAS, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent consent to the proposed amendments and restatements on and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein.

          NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

          SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS

           1.1 Defined Terms . As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the following meanings:

     “ ABR ” shall mean for any day, a rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/16 of 1%) equal to the greater of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day and (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day plus 1 / 2 of 1%. For purposes hereof: “ Prime Rate ” shall mean the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by the Administrative Agent as its prime rate in effect at its principal office in New York City (the Prime Rate not being intended to be the lowest rate of interest charged by JPMCB in connection with extensions of credit to debtors); and “ Federal Funds Effective Rate ” shall mean, for any day, the weighted average of the rates on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by federal funds brokers, as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day which is a Business Day, the average of the quotations for the day of such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it. Any change in the ABR due to a change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate shall be effective as of the opening of business on the effective day of such change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate, as applicable.

     “ ABR Loans ” shall mean the Loans at such time as they are made and/or being maintained at a rate of interest based upon the ABR.


 

 

2

     “ Adjustment Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Pricing Grid.

     “ Affiliate ” shall mean any Person which, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Borrower; provided that for purposes of subsection 7.7, the term “Affiliate” shall (i) include any Person who is a director or executive officer of the Borrower, any Subsidiary of the Borrower or any Person described in the clause preceding this proviso and (ii) exclude any Subsidiary of the Borrower. For purposes of this definition, “control” of a Person means the power, direct or indirect, to vote 20% or more of the Capital Stock having voting power for the election of directors of such Person or otherwise to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether by contract or otherwise.

     “ Aggregate Australian Revolving Extensions of Credit ” shall mean an amount equal to the sum of (a) the aggregate principal amount of all Australian Dollar Loans (including, without limitation, Australian Dollar Swing Line Loans borrowed under Australian Commitments) then outstanding and (b) the aggregate amount of all Australian L/C Obligations then outstanding.

     “ Aggregate Canadian Revolving Extensions of Credit ” shall mean an amount equal to the sum of (a) the aggregate principal amount of all Canadian Dollar Loans (including, without limitation, Canadian Dollar Swing Line Loans borrowed under Canadian Commitments) then outstanding and (b) the aggregate amount of all Canadian L/C Obligations then outstanding.

     “ Aggregate Exposure ” shall mean, with respect to any Lender at any time, an amount equal to (a) until the Closing Date, the aggregate amount of such Lender’s Commitments at such time and (b) thereafter, the sum of (i) the amount of such Lender’s Term Commitment then in effect plus the then unpaid principal amount of such Lender’s portion of the Term Loan and (ii) the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment then in effect or, if the Revolving Credit Commitments have been terminated, the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Extensions of Credit then outstanding.

     “ Aggregate Exposure Percentage ” shall mean, with respect to any Lender at any time, the ratio (expressed as a percentage) of such Lender’s Aggregate Exposure at such time to the Aggregate Exposure of all Lenders at such time.

     “ Aggregate Facility A-1 Revolving Extensions of Credit ” shall mean an amount equal to the sum of (a) the aggregate principal amount of all Facility A-1 Loans (including, without limitation, Swing Line Loans borrowed under Facility A-1 Commitments) then outstanding and (b) the aggregate amount of all L/C Obligations then outstanding in respect of Letters of Credit issued under the Facility A-1 Commitments.

     “ Aggregate Facility A-2 Revolving Extensions of Credit ” shall mean an amount equal to the sum of (a) the aggregate principal amount of all Facility A-2 Loans (including, without limitation, Swing Line Loans borrowed under Facility A-2 Commitments) then outstanding and (b) the aggregate amount of all L/C Obligations then outstanding in respect of Letters of Credit issued under the Facility A-2 Commitments.

     “ Aggregate Facility B Revolving Extensions of Credit ” shall mean an amount equal to the sum of (a) the aggregate principal amount of all Facility B Loans (including, without limitation, Swing Line Loans borrowed under Facility B Commitments) then outstanding and (b) the aggregate amount of all L/C Obligations then outstanding in respect of Letters of Credit issued under the Facility B Commitments.


 

3

     “ Aggregate Facility C Revolving Extensions of Credit ” shall mean an amount equal to the sum of (a) the aggregate principal amount of all Facility C Loans (including, without limitation, Swing Line Loans borrowed under Facility C Commitments) then outstanding and (b) the aggregate amount of all L/C Obligations then outstanding in respect of Letters of Credit issued under the Facility C Commitments.

     “ Aggregate Facility D Revolving Extensions of Credit ” shall mean an amount equal to the sum of (a) the aggregate principal amount of all Facility D Loans (including, without limitation, Swing Line Loans borrowed under Facility D Commitments) then outstanding and (b) the aggregate amount of all L/C Obligations then outstanding in respect of Letters of Credit issued under the Facility D Commitments.

     “ Aggregate Sterling Revolving Extensions of Credit ” shall mean an amount equal to the sum of (a) the aggregate principal amount of all Sterling Loans (including, without limitation, Sterling Swing Line Loans borrowed under Sterling Commitments) then outstanding and (b) the aggregate amount of all Sterling L/C Obligations then outstanding.

     “ Aggregate Revolving Extensions of Credit ” shall mean, without duplication, the Aggregate Facility A-1 Revolving Extensions of Credit, Aggregate Facility A-2 Revolving Extensions of Credit, the Aggregate Facility B Revolving Extensions of Credit, the Aggregate Facility C Revolving Extensions of Credit, the Aggregate Facility D Revolving Extensions of Credit, the Aggregate Sterling Revolving Extensions of Credit, the Aggregate Australian Dollar Revolving Extensions of Credit and the Aggregate Canadian Dollar Revolving Extensions of Credit.

     “ Agreement ” shall mean this Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

     “ Applicable Margin ” shall mean for each Type of Loan, the rate per annum set forth under the relevant column heading in the Pricing Grid.

     “ Application ” shall mean an application, in such form as the Issuing Lender may specify from time to time, requesting such Issuing Lender to open a Letter of Credit.

     “ Arrangers ” shall mean J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Banc of America Securities LLC and Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

     “ Asset Sale ” shall mean any single Disposition of property (other than Excluded Prepayment Property) or series of related Dispositions of property (other than Excluded Prepayment Property) that yields gross proceeds to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (valued at the initial principal amount thereof in the case of non-cash proceeds consisting of notes or other debt securities and valued at fair market value in the case of other non-cash proceeds) in excess of $10,000,000.

     “ Assignment and Acceptance ” shall mean an Assignment and Acceptance, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto.

     “ Australian Commitments ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Annex C hereto.

     “ Australian Dollars ” shall mean the lawful currency of the Commonwealth of Australia.


 

4

     “ Australian Dollar Lender ” shall mean each Lender that has an Australian Commitment or that holds Australian Dollar Loans; collectively, the “ Australian Dollar Lenders ”. Each Australian Dollar Lender on the date hereof and on each date on which a payment or prepayment of interest is made represents that it is an Eligible Australian Bank.

     “ Australian Dollar Loan ” shall mean any Australian Dollar Loan made pursuant to Annex C hereto; collectively, the “ Australian Dollar Loans ”.

     “ Australian Dollar Swing Line Lenders ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Annex C hereto.

     “ Australian Dollar Swing Line Loans ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Annex C hereto.

     “ Australian L/C Obligations ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Annex C hereto.

     “ Australian Subsidiary Borrower ” shall mean Scotts Australia Pty Ltd. or any other Foreign Subsidiary Borrower organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia and designated as such by the Borrower in a notice to the Administrative Agent, which shall notify each Australian Lender thereof.

     “ Available Australian Commitment ” shall mean, as to any Lender at any time, the amount equal to the excess, if any, of (a) such Lender’s Australian Commitment over (b) the sum of such Lender’s (i) ratable portion of the Aggregate Facility C Revolving Extensions of Credit and (ii) ratable portion of the Aggregate Australian Revolving Extensions of Credit. The Available Australian Commitment may be calculated as being negative at any time.

     “ Available Canadian Commitment ” shall mean, as to any Lender at any time, the amount equal to the excess, if any, of (a) such Lender’s Canadian Commitment over (b) the sum of such Lender’s (i) ratable portion of the Aggregate Facility D Revolving Extensions of Credit and (ii) ratable portion of the Aggregate Canadian Revolving Extensions of Credit. The Available Canadian Commitment may be calculated as being negative at any time.

     “ Available Facility A-1 Commitment ” shall mean, as to any Lender at any time, the amount equal to the excess, if any, of (a) such Lender’s Facility A-1 Commitment over (b) such Lender’s ratable portion of the Aggregate Facility A-1 Revolving Extensions of Credit. The Available Facility A-1 Commitment may be calculated as being negative at any time.

     “ Available Facility A-2 Commitment ” shall mean, as to any Lender at any time, the amount equal to the excess, if any, of (a) such Lender’s Facility A-2 Commitment over (b) such Lender’s ratable portion of the Aggregate Facility A-2 Revolving Extensions of Credit.

     “ Available Facility B Commitment ” shall mean, as to any Lender at any time, the amount equal to the excess, if any, of (a) such Lender’s Facility B Commitment over (b) the sum of such Lender’s (i) ratable portion of the Aggregate Facility B Revolving Extensions of Credit and (ii) ratable portion of the Aggregate Sterling Revolving Extensions of Credit. The Available Facility B Commitment may be calculated as being negative at any time.

     “ Available Facility C Commitment ” shall mean, as to any Lender at any time, the amount equal to the excess, if any, of (a) such Lender’s Facility C Commitment over (b) the sum of such


 

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Lender’s (i) ratable portion of the Aggregate Facility C Revolving Extensions of Credit and (ii) ratable portion of the Aggregate Australian Revolving Extensions of Credit. The Available Facility C Commitment may be calculated as being negative at any time.

     “ Available Facility D Commitment ” shall mean, as to any Lender at any time, the amount equal to the excess, if any, of (a) such Lender’s Facility D Commitment over (b) the sum of such Lender’s (i) ratable portion of the Aggregate Facility D Revolving Extensions of Credit and (ii) ratable portion of the Aggregate Canadian Revolving Extensions of Credit. The Available Facility D Commitment may be calculated as being negative at any time.

     “ Available Sterling Commitment ” shall mean, as to any Lender at any time, the amount equal to the excess, if any, of (a) such Lender’s Sterling Commitment over (b) the sum of such Lender’s (i) ratable portion of the Aggregate Facility B Revolving Extensions of Credit and (ii) ratable portion of the Aggregate Sterling Revolving Extensions of Credit. The Available Sterling Commitment may be calculated as being negative at any time.

     “ Average Total Indebtedness ” shall mean the average of the Total Indebtedness of the Borrower at the end of each of the four most recent consecutive fiscal quarters.

     “ Borrowing Date ” shall mean, as to any Lender, any Business Day specified in a notice transmitted pursuant to subsection 2.2, 2.5 or 2.6 as a date on which such Lender has been requested by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Borrower to make Loans hereunder.

     “ Business Day ” shall mean a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to close; provided , however , that when used to describe the date of any borrowing of, or any payment or interest rate determination in respect of a LIBOR Loan, the term “Business Day” shall also exclude any day on which (i) commercial banks are not open for dealings in deposits in the relevant currency in the London Interbank Market and in the financial center for such currency and (ii) in the case of Loans denominated in euros, the Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross Settlement Express Transfer payment system is not open for settlement of payments in euros.

     “ Canadian Commitments ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Annex D hereto.

     “ Canadian Dollars ” shall mean the lawful currency of Canada.

     “ Canadian Dollar Lender ” shall mean each Lender that has a Canadian Commitment or that holds Canadian Dollar Loans; collectively, the “ Canadian Dollar Lenders ”. Each Canadian Dollar Lender on the date hereof and on each date on which a payment or prepayment of interest is made represents that it is an Eligible Canadian Bank.

     “ Canadian Dollar Loan ” shall mean any Canadian Dollar Loan made pursuant to Annex D hereto; collectively, the “ Canadian Dollar Loans ”.

     “ Canadian Dollar Swing Line Lenders ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Annex D hereto.

     “ Canadian Dollar Swing Line Loans ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Annex D hereto.


 

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     “ Canadian L/C Obligations ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Annex D hereto.

     “ Canadian Subsidiary Borrower ” shall mean Scotts Canada Ltd. or any other Foreign Subsidiary Borrower organized under the laws of Canada and designated as such by the Borrower in a notice to the Administrative Agent, which shall notify each Canadian Lender thereof.

     “ Capital Stock ” shall mean any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of a corporation, any and all equivalent ownership interests in a Person (other than a corporation) and any and all warrants or options to purchase any of the foregoing.

     “ Capital Stock Security Period ” shall have the meaning specified in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

     “ Cash Equivalents ” shall mean (a) marketable direct obligations issued by, or unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States Government or issued by any agency thereof and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition; (b) certificates of deposit, time deposits, eurodollar time deposits or overnight bank deposits having maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition issued by any Lender or by any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof having combined capital and surplus of not less than $300,000,000; (c) commercial paper of an issuer rated at least A-1 by S&P or P-1 by Moody’s, or carrying an equivalent rating by a nationally recognized rating agency, if both of the two named rating agencies cease publishing ratings of commercial paper issuers generally, and maturing within one year from the date of acquisition; (d) repurchase obligations of any Lender or of any commercial bank satisfying the requirements of clause (b) of this definition, having a term of not more than 30 days, with respect to securities issued or fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government; (e) securities with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition issued or fully guaranteed by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States, by any political subdivision or taxing authority of any such state, commonwealth or territory or by any foreign government, the securities of which state, commonwealth, territory, political subdivision, taxing authority or foreign government (as the case may be) are rated at least A by S&P or A by Moody’s; (f) securities with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition backed by standby letters of credit issued by any Lender or any commercial bank satisfying the requirements of clause (b) of this definition; (g) auction rate securities of an issuer rated at least AA by S&P or Aa2 by Moody’s, regardless of the stated maturity, so long as such securities have a liquidity mechanism permitting the Disposition at par within one year from the issuance of such securities or from the date of the immediately preceding permitted Disposition of such securities (h) money market mutual or similar funds that invest exclusively in assets satisfying the requirements of clauses (a) through (f) of this definition; or (i) money market funds that (i) comply with the criteria set forth in SEC Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (ii) are rated AAA by S&P and Aaa by Moody’s and (iii) have portfolio assets of at least $5,000,000,000.

     “ Closing Date ” shall mean the date upon which all of the conditions precedent to the initial Extensions of Credit under this Agreement contained in subsection 5.1 are satisfied or waived by the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders.

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


 

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     “ Commitment ” shall mean as to any Lender, the sum of the Term Commitment and the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Lender.

     “ Commitment Fee Rate ” shall mean the rate per annum set forth under the relevant column heading in the Pricing Grid.

     “ Collateral ” shall mean all Specified Property, now owned or hereafter acquired, upon which a Lien is purported to be created by any Security Document for so long as required under the terms of this Agreement and the Security Documents.

     “ Commonly Controlled Entity ” shall mean an entity, whether or not incorporated, which is under common control with the Borrower within the meaning of Section 4001 of ERISA.

     “ Confidential Information Memorandum ” shall mean the confidential information memorandum distributed to the Lenders, dated December 2006.

     “ Consolidated Interest Expense ” shall mean, for any period of determination thereof, the interest expense of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period, as determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that (a) all items that are non-cash items in the period when recognized and (b) all non-recurring or extraordinary items in any fiscal period, including without limitation all costs, expenses and premiums arising out of the Refinancing, shall be excluded for the purpose of determining Consolidated Interest Expense for any period.

     “ Consolidated Net Income ” shall mean, for any period of determination thereof, net income of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period, as determined in accordance with GAAP.

     “ Consolidated Net Worth ” shall mean, in respect of any Person at a particular date, all amounts which, in conformity with GAAP, would be included under the caption “total shareholders’ equity” (or any like caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Subsidiaries at such date.

     “ Consolidated Total Assets ” shall mean, at any date, all amounts that would, in conformity with GAAP, be set forth opposite the caption “total assets” (or any like caption) on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries at such date.

     “ Contingent Obligation ” shall mean as to any Person, the outstanding amount of letters of credit (other than the Letters of Credit) with respect to which such Person is the account party that have not been drawn upon and any obligation of such Person guaranteeing or in effect guaranteeing any Indebtedness, leases, dividends or other obligations primarily to pay money (“primary obligations”) of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent, (a) to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor, (b) to advance or supply funds (i) for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation or (ii) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor, (c) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the obligee under any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation or (d) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the obligee under such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof; provided , however , that the term Contingent Obligation shall not include endorsements of instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business.


 

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     “ Contractual Obligation ” shall mean, as to any Person, any material provision of any material security issued by such Person or of any material agreement, instrument or undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.

     “ Control Group ” shall mean the Hagedorn Partnership, L.P., the general partners of the Hagedorn Partnership, L.P. and, in the case of such individuals, their respective executors, administrators and heirs and their families and trusts for their benefit.

     “ Default ” shall mean any of the events specified in Section 8, whether or not any requirement for the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both, or any other condition, has been satisfied.

     “ Disposition ” shall mean with respect to any property, any sale, lease, sale and leaseback, assignment, conveyance, transfer or other disposition thereof; provided that any such sale, lease, sale and leaseback, assignment, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of property to, in, by or between the Borrower and any Subsidiary or between any two or more Subsidiaries shall not constitute a “Disposition” unless the same is made by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor to a Foreign Subsidiary. The terms “Dispose” and “Disposed of” shall have correlative meanings.

     “ Dollar Equivalent ” shall mean, on any Business Day with respect to any amount denominated in euros or any other currency, the amount of Dollars that would be required to purchase such amount of euros or such other currency, as the case may be, based upon the spot selling rate at which JPMCB London offers to sell each for Dollars in the London foreign exchange market at approximately 11:00 a.m. London time on such Business Day for delivery two Business Days later.

     “ Dollars ” and “ $ ” shall mean dollars in lawful currency of the United States of America.

     “ Domestic Assets ” shall mean the assets of the Borrower and any Domestic Subsidiary, wherever located, and the assets of any Foreign Subsidiary located or domiciled in any jurisdiction within the United States.

     “ Domestic Subsidiary ” shall mean any Subsidiary incorporated under the laws of the United States or any political subdivision thereof.

     “ Domestic Subsidiary Borrower ” shall mean any Domestic Subsidiary which (a) is a Subsidiary Borrower hereunder on the Closing Date or (b) which is designated by the Borrower to be a Subsidiary Borrower pursuant to subsection 10.1(b).

     “ EBITDA ” shall mean without duplication, for any fiscal period, the sum of the amounts for such fiscal period of (i) Consolidated Net Income, (ii) provision for taxes based on income, (iii) depreciation expense, (iv) interest expense that was deducted in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income, (v) amortization expense, (vi) expenses incurred prior to June 30, 2007 in an aggregate amount not to exceed $25,000,000 in connection with the Transactions and (vii) other non-recurring, non-cash items reducing Consolidated Net Income (reduced by any non-recurring, non-cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income), all as determined on a consolidated basis for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in conformity with GAAP.

     “ Effective Interbank Rate ” shall have the meaning specified in subsection 2.18(d).


 

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     “ Eligible Australian Bank ” shall mean (a) a resident of Australia which does not make Australian Dollar Loans as part of carrying on business outside of Australia at or through a permanent establishment outside of Australia; or (b) a non-resident of Australia which makes Swing Line Loans or Revolving Credit Loans as part of carrying on business in Australia at or through a permanent establishment of the non-resident in Australia. In this definition, words and expressions used shall have the meaning ascribed to them for the purposes of S. 128B of the Australian Income Tax Assessment Act of 1936.

     “ Eligible Canadian Bank ” shall mean (a) those banks listed on Schedules I, II or III to the Bank Act (Canada), (b) any (i) trust company, savings bank, savings and loan association or similar financial institution, or (ii) insurance company engaged in the business of writing insurance which, in either case (A) has total assets of $10,000,000,000 or more, (B) is engaged in the business of lending money and extending credit under credit facilities substantially similar to those extended under this Agreement, (C) is operationally and procedurally able to meet the obligations of a Lender hereunder to the same degree as a commercial bank, and (c) any other financial institution (including a mutual fund or other fund) having total assets of $10,000,000,000 or more which meets the requirements set forth in subclauses (B) and (C) of clause (b) above; provided that each Eligible Canadian Bank must be organized under the laws of either Canada or a political subdivision thereof or, if not, it must (i) act hereunder through a branch, agency or funding office located in Canada and (ii) be exempt from withholding of tax on interest payments.

     “ Eligible U.K. Bank ” shall mean a Person that is both (i) a bank as defined in Section 840A of the United Kingdom Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988, and (ii) a Person within the charge to United Kingdom corporation tax (i.e., a United Kingdom resident company or a non-resident company which is carrying on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment in the United Kingdom to which the beneficial interest in interest accrued under Loans made to the Borrower or a Subsidiary Borrower is attributable and which is not entitled to exemption from tax in respect of that interest).

     “ Environmental Laws ” shall mean any and all foreign, Federal, state, local or municipal laws, rules, orders, regulations, statutes, ordinances, codes, decrees, requirements of any Governmental Authority or requirements of law (including common law) regulating, relating to or imposing liability or standards of conduct concerning protection of human health or the environment, as now or may at any time hereafter be in effect.

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

     “ euro ” and “ ” shall mean the single currency of Participating Member States.

     “ Event of Default ” shall mean any of the events specified in Section 8, provided that any requirement for the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both, or any other condition, has been satisfied.

     “ Excluded Foreign Subsidiary ” shall mean any Foreign Subsidiary a guarantee from which, a pledge of the assets of which, or the pledge of 66 2/3% or more of the Capital Stock of which under the applicable Security Document would have adverse tax consequences on the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or such Foreign Subsidiary or would reasonably be deemed an unlawful act of such Foreign Subsidiary or any of its officers or directors under the laws of the applicable foreign jurisdiction.


 

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     “ Excluded Prepayment Property ” shall mean any (i) property which is Disposed of pursuant to subsection 7.8(b) or Section 7.9 (ii) inventory or obsolete or worn-out property Disposed of in the ordinary course of business or (iii) any property Disposed by a Domestic Subsidiary to a Foreign Subsidiary.

     “ Excluded Taxes ” shall have the meaning set forth in subsection 2.22(a).

     “ Existing Credit Agreement ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

     “ Existing Senior Subordinated Note Indenture ” shall mean the Indenture entered into by the Borrower on October 8, 2003 together with all instruments and other agreements entered into by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in connection therewith, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with subsection 7.11.

     “ Existing Senior Subordinated Notes ” shall mean the Borrower’s existing $200,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 6.625% senior subordinated notes issued under the Existing Senior Subordinated Note Indenture.

     “ Extension of Credit ” shall mean (i) all Loans or advances made to the Borrower and the Subsidiary Borrowers hereunder and (ii) all Letters of Credit issued for the account of the Borrower and the Subsidiary Borrowers and any unreimbursed drawings hereunder.

     “ Facility ” shall mean the Term Facility or any Revolving Facility.

     “ Facility A-1 Commitment ” shall mean, as to each Facility A-1 Lender, the obligation of such Lender, if any, to make Facility A-1 Loans and participate in Swing Line Loans or Letters of Credit made under the Facility A-1 Commitments in an aggregate principal and/or face amount not to exceed the amount set forth under the heading “Facility A-1 Commitment” opposite such Facility A-1 Lender’s name on Schedule 1 or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Facility A-1 Lender became a party hereto, as the same may be changed from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof. The original amount of the Facility A-1 Commitments is $1,155,000,000.

     “ Facility A-1 Lenders ” shall mean each Lender that has a Facility A-1 Commitment or that holds Facility A-1 Loans; collectively, the “ Facility A-1 Lenders ”.

     “ Facility A-1 Loan ” shall mean any Loan made under the Facility A-1 Commitments pursuant to subsection 2.4; collectively, the “ Facility A-1 Loans ”.

     “ Facility A-2 Commitment ” shall mean, as to each Facility A-2 Lender, the obligation of such Lender, if any, to make Facility A-2 Loans and participate in Swing Line Loans or Letters of Credit made under the Facility A-2 Commitments in an aggregate principal and/or face amount not to exceed the amount set forth under the heading “Facility A-2 Commitment” opposite such Facility A-2 Lender’s name on Schedule 1 or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Facility A-2 Lender became a party hereto, as the same may be changed from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof. The original amount of the Facility A-2 Commitments is $75,000,000.

     “ Facility A-2 Lenders ” shall mean each Lender that has a Facility A-2 Commitment or that holds Facility A-2 Loans; collectively, the “ Facility A-2 Lenders ”.


 

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     “ Facility A-2 Loan ” shall mean any Loan made under the Facility A-2 Commitments pursuant to subsection 2.4; collectively, the “ Facility A-2 Loans ”.

     “ Facility B Commitment ” shall mean, as to each Facility B Lender, the obligation of such Lender, if any, to make Facility B Loans and participate in Swing Line Loans and Letters of Credit issued under the Facility B Commitments in an aggregate principal and/or face amount not to exceed the amount set forth under the heading “Facility B Commitment” opposite such Facility B Lender’s name on Schedule 1 or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Facility B Lender became a party hereto, as the same may be changed from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof. The original amount of the Facility B Commitments is $300,000,000.

     “ Facility B Lender ” shall mean each Lender that has a Facility B Commitment or that holds Facility B Loans; collectively, the “ Facility B Lenders ”.

     “ Facility B Loan ” shall mean any Loan made under the Facility B Commitments pursuant to subsection 2.4; collectively, the “ Facility B Loans ”.

     “ Facility C Commitment ” shall mean, as to each Facility C Lender, the obligation of such Lender, if any, to make Facility C Loans and participate in Swing Line Loans and Letters of Credit issued under the Facility C Commitments in an aggregate principal and/or face amount not to exceed the amount set forth under the heading “Facility C Commitment” opposite such Facility C Lender’s name on Schedule 1 or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Lender became a party hereto, as the same may be changed from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof. The original amount of the Facility C Commitments is $25,000,000.

     “ Facility C Lender ” shall mean each Lender that has a Facility C Commitment or that holds Facility C Loans; collectively, the “ Facility C Lenders ”.

     “ Facility C Loan ” shall mean any Loan made under the Facility C Commitments pursuant to subsection 2.4; collectively, the “ Facility C Loans ”.

     “ Facility D Commitment ” shall mean, as to each Facility D Lender, the obligation of such Lender, if any, to make Facility D Loans and participate in Swing Line Loans and Letters of Credit issued under the Facility D Commitments in an aggregate principal and/or face amount not to exceed the amount set forth under the heading “Facility D Commitment” opposite such Facility D Lender’s name on Schedule 1 or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Lender became a party hereto, as the same may be changed from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof. The original amount of the Facility D Commitments is $35,000,000.

     “ Facility D Lender ” shall mean each Lender that has a Facility D Commitment or that holds Facility D Loans; collectively, the “ Facility D Lenders ”.

     “ Facility D Loan ” shall mean any Loan made under the Facility D Commitments pursuant to subsection 2.4; collectively, the “ Facility D Loans ”.

     “ Foreign Pledge Agreement Acknowledgment and Confirmation ” shall mean the Foreign Pledge Agreement Acknowledgment and Confirmation and Supplement, substantially in the form of Exhibit F hereto, among the Borrower and certain of its Subsidiaries which are parties to Foreign Pledge Agreements which are in effect as of the Closing Date and the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.


 

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     “ Foreign Pledge Agreements ” shall mean each pledge agreement, charge or collateral security instrument creating a security interest in the Capital Stock of the Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers (other than Scotts Treasury EEIG) and certain other Foreign Subsidiaries of the Borrower, in each case, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, as such agreements may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

     “ Foreign Subsidiary ” shall mean any Subsidiary of the Borrower which is organized under the laws of any jurisdiction outside of the United States of America.

     “ Foreign Subsidiary Borrower ” shall mean any Sterling Subsidiary Borrower, Australian Subsidiary Borrower or Canadian Subsidiary Borrower (a) which is a Subsidiary Borrower hereunder on the Closing Date or (b) which is designated by the Borrower pursuant to subsection 10.1(b).

     “ Full Security Period ” shall have the meaning specified in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

     “ Funded Debt ” shall mean, as to any Person, all Indebtedness of such Person that matures more than one year from the date of its creation or matures within one year from such date but is renewable or extendible, at the option of such Person, to a date more than one year from such date or arises under a revolving credit or similar agreement that obligates the lender or lenders to extend credit during a period of more than one year from such date, including all current maturities and current sinking fund payments in respect of such Indebtedness whether or not required to be paid within one year from the date of its creation and, in the case of the Borrower and the Subsidiary Borrowers, Indebtedness in respect of the Loans.

     “ GAAP ” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as in effect from time to time; provided , however , that if any modifications in GAAP after the Closing Date change any calculation of any financial covenants under this Agreement, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agree to amend this Agreement to the effect that each such financial covenant is no more restrictive than such covenant was prior to such modification in GAAP (and until such agreement, such covenants shall be calculated in accordance with GAAP before such modification).

     “ Governmental Authority ” shall mean any nation or government, any state or other political subdivision thereof and any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government (including the National Association of Insurance Commissioners).

     “ Guarantee and Collateral Agreement ” shall mean the Amended and Restated Guarantee and Collateral Agreement among the Borrower, the Domestic Subsidiary Borrowers, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, substantially in the form of Exhibit B, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

     “ Hedging Agreements ” shall mean (a) any interest rate protection agreement, interest rate future, interest rate option, interest rate swap, interest rate cap, interest rate exchange (from fixed to floating rates, from one floating rate to another floating rate or otherwise) or other interest rate hedge or arrangement under which the Borrower is a party or a beneficiary and (b) any agreement or arrangement designed to limit or eliminate the risk and/or exposure of the Borrower to fluctuations in currency exchange rates or in commodity prices.


 

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     “ Hedging Lender ” shall mean any Lender or affiliate thereof which from time to time enters into a Hedging Agreement with the Borrower.

     “ Hostile Take-Over Bid ” shall mean an offer to purchase a controlling interest in any Person by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or in which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is involved, in respect of which the board of directors (or equivalent governing body for such entity) of the target entity has recommended against acceptance of such offer to the target entity’s shareholders or equity holders or which is similarly opposed or contested.

     “ Incremental Commitment Supplement ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in subsection 2.27(a).

     “ Incremental Term Loans ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in subsection 2.27(a).

     “ Indebtedness ” shall mean, as to any Person, at a particular time, (a) indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money or for the deferred purchase price of property or services (including, without limitation, any such indebtedness which is non-recourse to the credit of such Person but is secured by assets of such Person, but excluding current amounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (b) obligations of such Person under leases which shall have been or should be, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as capitalized leases, (c) indebtedness of such Person arising under acceptance facilities, (d) indebtedness of such Person arising under unpaid reimbursement obligations in respect of all drafts drawn under letters of credit issued for the account of such Person, (e) the incurrence of withdrawal liability under Title IV of ERISA by such Person or a Commonly Controlled Entity to a Multi-employer Plan, (f) liabilities arising under Hedging Agreements of such Person and (g) indebtedness of such Person under any synthetic lease.

     “ Insolvency ” shall mean, with respect to any Multi-employer Plan, the condition that such Plan is insolvent within the meaning of such term as used in Section 4245 of ERISA.

     “ Interest Coverage Ratio ” shall mean, as at the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower, the ratio of (a) the sum of EBITDA as of the end of such fiscal quarter for the preceding twelve months to (b) Consolidated Interest Expense as of the end of such fiscal quarter for the preceding twelve months.

     “ Interest Payment Date ” shall mean (a) as to any ABR Loan, the last day of each March, June, September and December, commencing on the first of such days to occur after such ABR Loan is made or any LIBOR Loan is converted to such ABR Loan, (b) as to any LIBOR Loan in respect of which the Borrower or applicable Subsidiary Borrower has selected an Interest Period of one month, two months or three months, the last day of such Interest Period and (c) as to any LIBOR Loan in respect of which the Borrower or applicable Subsidiary Borrower has selected a longer Interest Period than the periods described in preceding clause (b), the day three months after the commencement of such Interest Period and the last day of such Interest Period.

     “ Interest Period ” shall mean with respect to any LIBOR Loan, (i) initially, the period commencing on, as the case may be, the borrowing or conversion date with respect to a LIBOR Loan, and ending one, two, three or six months thereafter, as selected by the Borrower or applicable Subsidiary Borrower, as the case may be, in its irrevocable written notice of borrowing or irrevocable written notice of conversion, as applicable, and (ii) thereafter, each period commencing on the last day of the next preceding Interest Period applicable to such LIBOR Loan


 

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and ending one, two, three or six months thereafter, as selected by the Borrower or applicable Subsidiary Borrower by irrevocable written notice to the Administrative Agent not less than three Business Days prior to the last day of the then current Interest Period with respect to such Loan; provided that all of the foregoing provisions relating to Interest Periods are subject to the following:

     (A) if any Interest Period pertaining to a LIBOR Loan would otherwise end on a day which is not a Business Day, that Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless the result of such extension would be to carry such Interest Period into another calendar month in which event such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;

     (B) (1) if the Borrower or applicable Subsidiary Borrower shall fail to give notice as provided in clauses (i) and (ii) in this definition with respect to a LIBOR Loan denominated in Dollars, the Borrower or applicable Subsidiary Borrower shall be deemed to have requested conversion of the affected LIBOR Loan to an ABR Loan on the last day of the then current Interest Period with respect thereto; and (2) if the Borrower or applicable Subsidiary Borrower shall fail to give notice as provided in clauses(i) and (ii) in this definition with respect to a Loan denominated in a currency other than Dollars, the Borrower or applicable Subsidiary Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a continuation of the affected Loan for a period commencing on the last day of the next preceding Interest Period applicable to such Loan and ending one month thereafter;

     (C) any Interest Period that would otherwise extend beyond the applicable Termination Date shall end on the applicable Termination Date; and

     (D) any Interest Period pertaining to a LIBOR Loan that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of a calendar month.

     “ International Standby Practices ” shall mean the International Standby Practices, International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. ISP98, as the same may be effectively replaced in whole or in part or amended from time to time.

     “ Issuing Lender ” shall mean, in respect of any Letter of Credit, JPMCB or, at the option of JPMCB, any affiliate of JPMCB, or with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, any other Lender, in each case in its capacity as the issuer of such Letter of Credit.

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

     “ L/C Commitment ” shall mean the amount of $65,000,000.

     “ L/C Obligations ” shall mean, at any time, an amount equal to the sum of (a) the aggregate then undrawn and unexpired amount of the then outstanding Letters of Credit and (b) the aggregate amount of drawings under Letters of Credit which have not then been reimbursed pursuant to Section 3.

     “ L/C Participants ” shall mean, with respect to any Revolving Facility under which a Letter of Credit is issued, the collective reference to all the Revolving Credit Lenders under such Revolving Facility other than the Issuing Lender.


 

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     “ Lending Installation ” shall mean, with respect to a Lender, the office, branch, subsidiary or affiliate of such Lender listed on the signature pages hereof or on a Schedule or otherwise selected by such Lender pursuant to subsection 2.25.

     “ Letter of Credit ” shall mean any Standby L/C or Trade L/C.

     “ Lender Cash Management Agreements ” shall mean all agreements providing for treasury, depositary or cash management services, including in connection with any automated clearing house transfers of funds or any similar transactions between the Borrower or any Subsidiary Borrower and any Lender (or any Affiliate of any Lender), which has been designated by such Lender and the Borrower, by notice to the Administrative Agent, as a “Lender Cash Management Agreement.”

     “ Lender Hedging Agreements ” shall mean all Hedging Agreements entered into by the Borrower with a Hedging Lender.

     “ Lenders ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto. As the context shall require, a Lender shall include any of its affiliates that is a Sterling Lender, an Australian Dollar Lender or a Canadian Dollar Lender.

     “ Leverage Ratio ” shall mean, as at the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower, the ratio of (i) Average Total Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on such day to (ii) EBITDA for the four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on such day; provided Total Indebtedness as at the last day of the fiscal quarters ending March 31, 2007, June 30, 2007 and September 30, 2007 shall be increased by amounts equal to 75%, 50% and 25% of the Repurchase Amount, respectively; provided further that any calculation of the above ratio following any acquisition made during the twelve-month period covered by such calculation, by purchase or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business or assets of, any Person or of any line of business of any Person shall be determined on a pro forma basis without duplication, including (y) in Average Total Indebtedness and in the amount of preferred stock accruals, an annualization of the actual indebtedness or preferred stock accruals relating to such acquisition for the portion of such twelve-month period prior to the date of such acquisition (or, if such acquisition occurred on the last day of a fiscal quarter, an annualization estimate of the daily indebtedness or preferred stock accruals relating to such acquisition based on the indebtedness incurred and based on the current Interest Rates for such indebtedness or preferred stock issued on such date) and (z) in EBITDA the EBITDA of the acquired Person for any portion of such twelve-month period prior to such acquisition. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining the Applicable Margin, the Leverage Ratio shall (a) until the earlier to occur of (i) the consummation of the Repurchase and (ii) the date which is 30 days after the Closing Date, be deemed to be less than 3.00 to 1.00 and greater than 2.25 to 1.00 and (b) thereafter, until the first Adjustment Date, be recomputed as at the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower as if the Transactions (it being understood that the amount of the Repurchase shall be the Repurchase Amount) had occurred on the first day of the four consecutive fiscal quarter period ending on such day.

     “ LIBOR Base Rate ” shall mean, with respect to any LIBOR Loan in Dollars, euros or any Optional Currency for any Interest Period therefor:

     (a) the rate per annum (rounded to the nearest 1/16 of 1%) appearing on the Screen for such currency as the London Interbank Offered Rate for deposits in such currency at approximately 11:00 a.m. London time (or as soon thereafter as practicable) on (in the case of any LIBOR Loan in Sterling), or two Business Days prior to (in the


 

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case of any LIBOR Loan in Dollars, euros or any other Optional Currency), the first day of such Interest Period as the London Interbank Offered Rate for such currency having a term comparable to such Interest Period; or

     (b) if such rate does not appear on the Screen (or, if the Screen shall cease to be publicly available or if the information contained on the Screen, in the Administrative Agent’s reasonable judgment, shall cease accurately to reflect such LIBOR Base Rate, as reported by any publicly available source of similar market data selected by the Administrative Agent that, in the Administrative Agent’s reasonable judgment, accurately reflects such LIBOR Base Rate), the LIBOR Base Rate shall mean, with respect to any LIBOR Loan for any Interest Period, the arithmetic mean, as determined by the Administrative Agent, of the rate per annum (rounded to the nearest 1/16 of 1%) quoted by each relevant Reference Lender at approximately 11:00 a.m. London time (or as soon thereafter as practicable) on (in the case of any LIBOR Loan in Sterling), or two Business Days prior to (in the case of any LIBOR Loan in Dollars, euros or any other Optional Currency), the first day of the Interest Period for such Loan for the offering by such Reference Lender to leading banks in the London interbank market of deposits in such currency having a term comparable to such Interest Period and in an amount comparable to the principal amount of the LIBOR Loan to be made by such Reference Lender (or its relevant applicable Lending Installation, as the case may be) for such Interest Period.

     “ LIBOR Loans ” shall mean the Loans hereunder at such time as they are made and/or being maintained at a rate of interest based upon the applicable LIBOR Rate.

     “ LIBOR Rate ” shall mean (a) with respect to a LIBOR Loan denominated in Dollars, euros or any Optional Currency for each day during each Interest Period pertaining thereto, the rate per annum equal to the LIBOR Base Rate or, to the extent such reserve requirements are generally applicable with respect to loans to the relevant Borrower or Subsidiary Borrower, the quotient (rounded upward to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) of (A) the LIBOR Base Rate, divided by (B) a number equal to 1.00 minus the aggregate of the rates (expressed as a decimal fraction) of reserve requirements current on such day (including, without limitation, basic, supplemental, marginal and emergency reserves under any regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or other Governmental Authority having jurisdiction with respect thereto), as now and from time to time hereafter in effect, dealing with reserve requirements prescribed for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency liabilities” in Regulation D of such Board) maintained by a member of such System or (b) to the extent applicable with respect to a LIBOR Loan denominated in Sterling for each day during each Interest Period pertaining thereto, the sum of the LIBOR Base Rate plus , to the extent generally applicable to loans to the relevant Borrower or Subsidiary Borrower, the Financial Services Authority charges for such day.

     “ Lien ” shall mean any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, charge, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), or preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including, without limitation, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing, and the authorized filing by or against a Person of any financing statement as debtor under the Uniform Commercial Code or comparable law of any jurisdiction).

     “ Loan ” shall mean any Term Loan, Revolving Credit Loan or Swing Line Loan, as the context shall require; collectively, the “ Loans ”.


 

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     “ Loan Documents ” shall mean, collectively, this Agreement, any Notes, the Applications, the Letters of Credit and the Security Documents.

     “ Loan Parties ” shall mean the Borrower, each Subsidiary Borrower and each other Subsidiary of the Borrower which is a party to any Loan Document.

     “ Material Adverse Effect ” shall mean a material adverse effect on (a) the business, operations, property or financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or (b) the validity or enforceability of any material term of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or the rights or remedies of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders hereunder or thereunder.

     “ Material Environmental Amount ” shall mean (a) an amount payable by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries for investigative and remedial costs, compliance costs, compensatory damages, natural resource damages, punitive damages, fines, and penalties, in the aggregate, that exceeds $20,000,000 (net of insurance), or (b) any other impact on the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries arising out of any of the Environmental Laws which, in the aggregate, could reasonably be anticipated to exceed $20,000,000 (net of insurance).

     “ Material Subsidiary ” shall mean at any time (a) any Subsidiary Borrower, (b) any Subsidiary of the Borrower created or acquired after the Closing Date which has a Total Capitalization of more than $30,000,000, (c) any Subsidiary of the Borrower with assets greater than or equal to 5% of all assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, computed and consolidated in accordance with GAAP (“ Consolidated Assets ”), (d) any Subsidiary with revenues greater than or equal to 5% of the revenues of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, computed and consolidated in accordance with GAAP (“ Net Revenues ”) or (e) any Subsidiary designated in writing by the Borrower as a Material Subsidiary, which designation shall be irrevocable; provided that if at any time (i) the aggregate Total Capitalization of all Subsidiaries that are not Material Subsidiaries shall exceed 10% of the Total Capitalization of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, computed and consolidated in accordance with GAAP, (ii) the aggregate assets of all Subsidiaries that are not Material Subsidiaries shall exceed 10% of Consolidated Assets or (iii) the aggregate revenues of all Subsidiaries that are not Material Subsidiaries shall exceed 10% of Net Revenues, then, in any such case, the term Material Subsidiary shall be deemed to include such Subsidiaries (as determined pursuant to the next following sentence) of the Borrower as may be required so that none of preceding clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) shall continue to be true. For purposes of the proviso to the next preceding sentence, the Subsidiaries which shall be deemed to be Material Subsidiaries shall be determined based on the percentage that the assets of each such Subsidiary are of Consolidated Assets, with the Subsidiary with the highest such percentage being selected first, and each other Subsidiary required to satisfy the requirements set forth in such proviso being selected in descending order of such respective percentages.

     “ Materials of Environmental Concern ” shall mean any gasoline or petroleum (including crude oil or any fraction thereof) or petroleum products or any hazardous or toxic substances, materials or wastes, defined or regulated as such in or under any Environmental Law, including, without limitation, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, and urea-formaldehyde insulation; and any other substance that could give rise to liability under any Environmental Law.

     “ Maturity Date ” shall mean the date which is the five-year anniversary of the date hereof.

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


 

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     “ Multi-employer Plan ” shall mean a Plan which is a multi-employer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

     “ Net Cash Proceeds ” shall mean (a) in connection with any Asset Sale or any Recovery Event, the proceeds thereof in the form of cash and Cash Equivalents (including any such proceeds received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or purchase price adjustment receivable or otherwise, but only as and when received) of such Asset Sale or Recovery Event, net of attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, investment banking fees, amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness secured by a Lien expressly permitted hereunder on any asset that is the subject of such Asset Sale or Recovery Event (other than any Lien pursuant to a Security Document) and other customary fees and expenses actually incurred in connection therewith and net of taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements) and (b) in connection with any issuance or sale of debt securities or instruments or the incurrence of loans, the cash proceeds received from such issuance or incurrence, net of attorneys’ fees, investment banking fees, accountants’ fees, underwriting discounts and commissions and other customary fees and expenses actually incurred in connection therewith.

     “ New Lender ” shall have the meaning set forth in subsection 2.27(a).

     “ Non-Dollar Currency Equivalent ” shall mean, on any Business Day with respect to any amount in Dollars, the amount of euros or the relevant Optional Currency that could be purchased with such amount of Dollars using the foreign exchange rate for such Business Day specified in the definition of “Dollar Equivalent”.

     “ Non-Excluded Taxes ” shall have the meaning set forth in subsection 2.22.

     “ Note ” shall have the meaning set forth in subsection 10.6(e).

     “ Obligations ” shall mean the unpaid principal of and interest on (including, without limitation, interest accruing after the maturity of the Loans and interest thereon accruing after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy, or the commencement of any insolvency, reorganization or like proceeding, relating to the Borrower or any Subsidiary Borrower, whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding) and all other obligations and liabilities of the Borrower or any Subsidiary Borrower to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders (or, in the case of Lender Hedging Agreements or Lender Cash Management Agreements, any Affiliate of a Lender), whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter incurred, which may arise under, out of, or in connection with, this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, any Lender Hedging Agreement or Lender Cash Management Agreement thereof or any other document made, delivered or given in connection herewith or therewith, whether on account of principal, interest, reimbursement obligations, fees, indemnities, costs, expenses (including, without limitation, all fees and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent or any Lender) or otherwise.

     “ Optional Currency ” shall mean euros and any other freely tradable currency readily available in the London interbank market and approved by the Administrative Agent.

     “ Participants ” shall mean one or more banks or other entities to which one or more Lenders have sold, in the ordinary course of business and in accordance with applicable law,


 

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participating interests in any Loan, Note, Revolving Credit Commitment or Term Loan Commitment or any other interest hereunder owing to such Lender.

     “ Participating Member State ” shall mean a member state of the European Communities that adopts or has adopted the euro as its lawful currency in accordance with legislation of the European Community relating to Economic and Monetary Union.

     “ PBGC ” shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation established pursuant to Subtitle A of Title IV of ERISA.

     “ Permitted Acquisition ” shall mean any acquisition of all or substantially all the assets of, or shares or other equity interests in, a Person or division or line of business of a Person or other significant assets of a Person (other than inventory, leases, materials and equipment and other assets in the ordinary course of business) if immediately after giving effect thereto: (i) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, (ii) such acquired subsidiary or newly formed subsidiary owning the acquired assets shall be a Subsidiary of the Borrower or a wholly-owned Subsidiary and all actions required to be taken, if any, with respect to such acquired or newly formed subsidiary under subsection 6.11 shall have been taken or shall be planned to be taken in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (iii) no Material Adverse Effect would be likely to result therefrom and (iv)(I) the Borrower shall be in compliance, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such acquisition or formation, with the covenants contained in subsections 6.9 and 6.10 recomputed as at the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower as if such acquisition had occurred on the first day of each relevant period for testing such compliance and any savings associated with such acquisition had been achieved on the first day of such relevant period, and, in the case of an acquisition involving consideration in excess of $20,000,000, the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent an officers’ certificate to such effect, together with all relevant financial information for such subsidiary or assets (to the extent reasonably available), and (II) after giving effect to such transaction, any acquired or newly formed subsidiary shall not be liable for any Indebtedness (except for Indebtedness permitted by subsection 7.5).

     “ Permitted Foreign Debt ” shall have the meaning specified in subsection 7.5(j).

     “ Person ” shall mean an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a limited liability company, a business trust, a joint stock company, a trust, an unincorporated association, a joint venture, a Governmental Authority or any other entity of whatever nature.

     “ Plan ” shall mean, at any particular time, any employee benefit plan which is covered by ERISA and in respect of which the Borrower or a Commonly Controlled Entity is (or if such plan were terminated at such time, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.

     “ Pricing Grid ” shall mean the pricing grid attached hereto as Annex A.

     “ Receivable ” shall mean any account and any other right to payment for goods sold or leased or for services rendered, whether or not such right is evidenced by an instrument or chattel paper and whether or not it has been earned by performance. The terms “account”, “instrument” and “chattel paper” as used herein shall have the meaning assigned to such terms in the Uniform Commercial Code in effect from time to time in the State of New York.


 

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     “ Receivables Subsidiary ” shall mean a Subsidiary of the Borrower created to purchase and finance Sold Receivables.

     “ Receivables Purchase Facility ” shall mean any receivables purchase facility with terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and pursuant to which ownership interests in, or notes, commercial paper, certificates or other debt instruments in respect of which, are secured by Sold Receivables.

     “ Recovery Event ” shall mean any settlement of or payment in respect of any property or casualty insurance claim or any condemnation proceeding relating to any asset of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (other than Excluded Prepayment Property) (valued at the initial principal amount thereof in the case of non-cash proceeds consisting of notes or other debt securities and valued at fair market value in the case of other non-cash proceeds) in excess of $10,000,000.

     “ Reference Lenders ” shall mean JPMCB, Citicorp North America, Inc. and Bank of America, N.A.

     “ Refinancing ” shall mean the refinancing of the amounts outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement and the redemption of all or any portion of the Existing Senior Subordinated Notes with the proceeds of Loans.

     “ Refunded Swing Line Loans ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in subsection 2.6(b).

     “ Register ” shall have the meaning specified in subsection 10.6(b)(iv).

     “ Regular Subsidiary Borrower ” shall mean Scotts Treasury EEIG, any Domestic Subsidiary Borrower, any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower which is designated by the Borrower as a “Regular Subsidiary Borrower” in a notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall notify each Revolving Credit Lender of such designation), and any Foreign Subsidiary designated by the Borrower as a Regular Subsidiary Borrower after the Closing Date pursuant to subsection 10.1(b); provided that so long as any such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower is so designated, it is not required under the laws or regulations of any Governmental Authority to deduct or withhold any Non-Excluded Taxes from any payment made by it under Section 2 or otherwise pursuant to this Agreement. The Borrower may rescind any such designation at any time by notice to the Administrative Agent, which shall notify each Revolving Credit Lender of such rescission.

     “ Reimbursement Obligation ” shall mean the Borrower’s obligation to reimburse the Administrative Agent or any other Issuing Lender on account of the Letters of Credit as provided in Section 3.

     “ Reinvestment Deferred Amount ” shall mean with respect to any Reinvestment Event, the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds received by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in connection therewith that are not applied to prepay the Term Loan pursuant to subsection 2.12(c) as a result of the delivery of a Reinvestment Notice.

     “ Reinvestment Event ” shall mean any Asset Sale (other than the sale, transfer or discount of Sold Receivables pursuant to any Receivables Purchase Facility) or Recovery Event in respect of which the Borrower has delivered a Reinvestment Notice.


 

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     “ Reinvestment Notice ” shall mean a written notice executed by a Responsible Officer stating that no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and that the Borrower (directly or indirectly through a Subsidiary) intends and expects to use all or a specified portion of the Net Cash Proceeds of an Asset Sale (other than the sale, transfer or discount of Sold Receivables pursuant to any Receivables Purchase Facility) or Recovery Event to acquire assets useful in its business.

     “ Reinvestment Prepayment Amount ” shall mean with respect to any Reinvestment Event, the (x) Reinvestment Deferred Amount relating thereto less (y) any amount thereof expended prior to the relevant Reinvestment Prepayment Date (i) to acquire assets useful in the Borrower’s business or (ii) to pay the Borrower’s reasonable expenses relating to any proposed acquisition of assets useful in such business.

     “ Reinvestment Prepayment Date ” shall mean with respect to any Reinvestment Event, the earlier of (i) the date occurring 12 months after such Reinvestment Event and (ii) the date on which the Borrower shall have notified the Administrative Agent that it has determined not to, or shall have otherwise ceased to, acquire assets useful in the Borrower’s business with all or any portion of the relevant Reinvestment Deferred Amount.

     “ Reorganization ” shall mean, with respect to any Multi-employer Plan, the condition that such Plan is in reorganization within the meaning of such term as used in Section 4241 of ERISA.

     “ Reportable Event ” shall mean any of the events set forth in Section 4043(b) of ERISA or the regulations thereunder (with respect to which the PBGC has not, by regulation, waived the 30-day notice requirement).

     “ Repurchase ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in subsection 7.14(c).

     “ Repurchase Amount ” shall mean $750,000,000 or such lesser amount as may be certified at any time to the Administrative Agent by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower as the amount determined by the Board of Directors of the Borrower to be the final amount of the Repurchase.

     “ Required Lenders ” shall mean at any time, the holders of more than 50% of the sum of (i)(A) the Term Commitments then in effect and (B) the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Term Loan then outstanding and (ii) the Total Revolving Credit Commitments then in effect or, if the Revolving Credit Commitments have been terminated, the Aggregate Revolving Extensions of Credit then outstanding.

     “ Requirement of Law ” shall mean, as to any Person, the Certificate of Incorporation or Articles of Incorporation, as the case may be, and Code of Regulations and/or By-Laws or other organizational or governing documents of such Person, and any law, treaty, rule or regulation, or determination of an arbitrator or a court or other Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.

     “ Responsible Officer ” shall mean, as to any Person, the Chairman, President or an Executive, Senior or other Vice President (or, in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary, any analogous title) of such Person and, with respect to financial matters, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer or the Controller (or, in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary, any analogous title) of such Person.


 

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     “ Revolving Credit Commitments ” shall mean, as to any Lender, such Lender’s Facility A-1 Commitments, Facility A-2 Commitments, Facility B Commitments, Facility C Commitments, Facility D Commitments, for all purposes other than Section 2 (other than subsections 2.4 and 2.27) and Section 3, Sterling Commitments, Australian Commitments and Canadian Commitments, if any, and such other Commitments under any new Revolving Facility established in accordance with subsection 2.27(b). The original amount of the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments is $1,590,000,000.

     “ Revolving Credit Commitment Increase ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in subsection 2.27(a).

     “ Revolving Credit Commitment Period ” shall mean the period from and including the Closing Date to, but not including, the Revolving Credit Termination Date or such earlier date as the Revolving Credit Commitments may terminate as provided herein.

     “ Revolving Credit Lender ” shall mean each of the Facility A-1 Lenders, the Facility A-2 Lenders, the Facility B Lenders, the Facility C Lenders, the Facility D Lenders and, for all purposes other than Section 2 (other than subsections 2.4 and 2.27) and Section 3, the Australian Dollar Lenders, the Canadian Dollar Lenders and the Sterling Lenders.

     “ Revolving Credit Loan ” shall mean each Facility A-1 Loan, Facility A-2 Loan, Facility B Loan, Facility C Loan, Facility D Loan and, for all purposes other than Section 2 (other than subsections 2.4 and 2.27) and Section 3, each Sterling Loan, Australian Dollar Loan and Canadian Dollar Loan; collectively, the “ Revolving Credit Loans ”.

     “ Revolving Credit Termination Date ” shall mean the date which is the five-year anniversary of the date hereof or such earlier date on which the Revolving Credit Commitments shall be terminated in accordance with this Agreement.

     “ Revolving Extensions of Credit ” shall mean, as to any Revolving Credit Lender at any time, an amount equal to the sum of (a) the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Credit Loans held by such Lender then outstanding, (b) such Lender’s Revolving Percentage of the L/C Obligations then outstanding and (c) such Lender’s Revolving Percentage of the aggregate principal amount of Swing Line Loans then outstanding.

     “ Revolving Facilities ” shall mean, without duplication, the Facility A-1 Commitments together with the Aggregate Facility A-1 Revolving Extensions of Credit (“ Facility A-1 ”); the Facility A-2 Commitments together with the Aggregate Facility A-2 Revolving Extensions of Credit (“ Facility A-2 ”); the Facility B Commitments together with the Aggregate Facility B Revolving Extensions of Credit (“ Facility B ”); the Facility C Commitments together with the Aggregate Facility C Revolving Extensions of Credit (“ Facility C ”); the Facility D Commitments together with the Aggregate Facility D Revolving Extensions of Credit (“ Facility D ”); and, for all purposes other than Section 2 (other than subsections 2.4 and 2.27) and Section 3, the Sterling Commitments together with the Aggregate Sterling Revolving Extensions of Credit (the “ Sterling Facility ”); the Australian Commitments together with the Aggregate Australian Revolving Extensions of Credit (the “ Australian Facility ”); the Canadian Commitments together with the Aggregate Canadian Revolving Extensions of Credit (the “ Canadian Facility ”), or any other Revolving Facility established pursuant to subsection 2.27(b).

     “ Revolving Percentage ” shall mean, as to any Revolving Credit Lender in respect of any Revolving Facility at any time, the percentage which such Lender’s Revolving Credit


 

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Commitment under such Revolving Facility then constitutes of the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments in respect of such Revolving Facility (or, at any time after the Revolving Credit Commitments shall have expired or terminated, the percentage which the aggregate principal amount of such Lender’s Revolving Extension of Credit under any Revolving Facility then outstanding constitutes of the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Extension of Credit in respect of such Revolving Facility then outstanding).

     “ S&P ” shall mean Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services.

     “ Screen ” shall mean, with respect to any currency, the relevant Telerate Page on which appears the LIBOR Base Rate for deposits in such currency; provided that, if there is no such Telerate Page, the relevant Bloomberg Financial Markets Service page will be substituted.

     “ Security Document ” shall mean each of (a) the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, (b) the Foreign Pledge Agreements and (c) the Foreign Pledge Agreement Acknowledgment and Confirmation.

     “ Single Employer Plan ” shall mean any Plan which is covered by Title IV of ERISA but which is not a Multi-employer Plan.

     “ Sold Receivables ” shall mean Receivables originated by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries (including any related assets) sold to a Receivables Subsidiary or any other Person pursuant to and securing obligations under any Receivables Purchase Facility.

     “ Solvent ” when used with respect to any Person, shall mean that, as of any date of determination, (a) the amount of the “present fair saleable value” of the assets of such Person will, as of such date, exceed the amount of all “liabilities of such Person, contingent or otherwise”, as of such date, as such quoted terms are determined in accordance with applicable federal and state laws governing determinations of the insolvency of debtors, (b) the present fair saleable value of the assets of such Person will, as of such date, be greater than the amount that will be required to pay the liability of such Person on its debts as such debts become absolute and matured, (c) such Person will not have, as of such date, an unreasonably small amount of capital with which to conduct its business, and (d) such Person will be able to pay its debts as they mature. For purposes of this definition, (i) “debt” means liability on a “claim”, and (ii) “claim” means any (x) right to payment, whether or not such a right is reduced to judgment, liquidated, unliquidated, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, disputed, undisputed, legal, equitable, secured or unsecured or (y) right to an equitable remedy for breach of performance if such breach gives rise to a right to payment, whether or not such right to an equitable remedy is reduced to judgment, fixed, contingent, matured or unmatured, disputed, undisputed, secured or unsecured.

     “ Specified Property ” shall mean all Capital Stock of any Subsidiary (subject to subsection 6.11), Equipment, Inventory and Receivables (other than Sold Receivables) owned by the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors. The terms “Equipment” and “Inventory” as used herein shall have the meaning assigned to such terms in the Uniform Commercial Code in effect from time to time in the State of New York.

     “ Specified Ratings ” shall mean a “corporate credit rating”, in the case of S&P, or a “corporate family rating”, in the case of Moody’s, of the Borrower (or, in each case, such other terms as S&P or Moody’s may from time to time use to describe the Borrower’s senior unsecured non-credit enhanced long term indebtedness) of (i) at least BB+ by S&P and at least Ba1 by


 

24

Moody’s or (ii) at least BBB- by S&P or at least Baa3 by Moody’s, in each case with stable outlook.

     “ Standby L/C ” and “ Standby L/Cs ” shall each have the meaning specified in subsection 3.1(a).

     “ Sterling ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Annex B hereto.

     “ Sterling Commitments ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Annex B hereto.

     “ Sterling L/C Obligations ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Annex B hereto.

     “ Sterling Lender ” shall mean each Lender that has a Sterling Commitment or that holds Sterling Loans; collectively, the “ Sterling Lenders ”. Each Sterling Lender on the date hereof represents that it is an Eligible U.K. Bank.

     “ Sterling Loan ” shall mean any Sterling Loan made pursuant to Annex B hereto; collectively, the “ Sterling Loans ”.

     “ Sterling Subsidiary Borrower ” shall mean, Scotts Holdings Limited, Scotts Treasury EEIG and The Scotts Company (UK) Ltd. or any other Foreign Subsidiary Borrower organized under the laws of the United Kingdom and designated as such by the Borrower in a notice to the Administrative Agent, which shall notify each Sterling Lender thereof.

     “ Sterling Swing Line Lenders ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Annex B hereto.

     “ Sterling Swing Line Loans ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Annex B hereto.

     “ Subordinated Debt ” shall mean the Indebtedness of the Borrower under the Existing Senior Subordinated Notes and the subordinated Indebtedness permitted under subsection 7.5(e).

     “ Subsidiary ” shall mean, as to any Person, a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, business trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture or the European equivalent thereof of which shares of Capital Stock having ordinary voting power (other than Capital Stock having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) to elect a majority of the board of directors or equivalent are at the time owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly, or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise qualified, all references to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” in this Agreement shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower.

     “ Subsidiary Borrowers ” shall mean EG Systems, Inc., Gutwein & Co., Inc., Hyponex Corporation, Scotts Australia Pty. Ltd., Scotts Canada Ltd., The Scotts Company LLC, The Scotts Company (UK) Ltd., Scotts Holdings Limited, Scotts Manufacturing Company, Scotts Temecula Operations, LLC, Scotts Treasury EEIG, SMG Growing Media, Inc., Smith & Hawken, Ltd. and all existing or future, Domestic or Foreign, Subsidiaries then designated by the Borrower pursuant to subsection 10.1(b).


 

25

     “ Subsidiary Guarantors ” shall mean (a) each Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower executing the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement on the Closing Date (which shall expressly exclude each Domestic Subsidiary set forth on Schedule 1.2) and (b) each Domestic Subsidiary acquired or organized subsequent to the Closing Date, except as otherwise provided in subsection 6.11(c).

     “ Supported Foreign Indebtedness ” shall have the meaning specified in subsection 7.5(l).

     “ Swing Line Commitment ” shall mean the obligation of the Swing Line Lenders, at any date, to make a Swing Line Loan pursuant to subsection 2.6(a) in the amount referred to therein.

     “ Swing Line Loan Participation Certificate ” shall mean a certificate, substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto.

     “ Swing Line Lenders ” shall mean JPMCB or such other Revolving Credit Lenders as may be requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to make Swing Line Loans from time to time.

     “ Swing Line Loan ” shall mean any Swing Line Loan made under the Facility A-1 Commitments, Facility A-2 Commitments, the Facility B Commitments, the Facility C Commitments and the Facility D Commitments pursuant to subsection 2.6; collectively, the “ Swing Line Loans ”.

     “ Telerate Page ” shall mean the “ British Bankers Assoc. Interest Settlement Rates Page ” display designated at Page 3750 (or such other page on which euros or any Optional Currency then appears) on the Moneyline Telerate (or such other page as may replace such page on such service for the purpose of displaying the rates at which Dollar deposits or deposits in euros or any Optional Currency are offered by leading banks in the London interbank deposit market).

     “ Term Commitment ” shall mean, as to any Term Lender, the obligation of such Lender to make a Term Loan to the Borrower hereunder in a principal amount not to exceed the amount set forth under the heading “Term Commitment” opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 1. The original amount of the Term Commitments is $560,000,000.

     “ Term Commitment Period ” shall mean the period from and including the Closing Date to, but not including, the date which is 21 days after the Closing Date or such earlier date as the Term Commitments may terminate as provided herein.

     “ Term Facility ” shall mean the Term Commitments and the Term Loan made thereunder.

     “ Term Lender ” shall mean each Lender that has a Term Commitment or that holds a Term Loan.

     “ Term Loan ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in subsection 2.1.

     “ Term Percentage ” shall mean as to any Lender at any time, the percentage which such Lender’s Term Commitment then constitutes of the aggregate Term Commitments (or, at any time after the end of the Term Commitment Period, the percentage which the aggregate principal amount of such Lender’s portion of the Term Loan then outstanding constitutes of the aggregate principal amount of the Term Loan then outstanding).


 

26

     “ Total Capitalization ” shall mean, in respect of any Person at a particular date, the sum at such date of the Total Indebtedness of such Person and the Consolidated Net Worth of such Person.

     “ Total Indebtedness ” shall mean, in respect of any Person at a particular date, the sum at such date of (a) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Indebtedness for borrowed money of such Person, (b) all other items which would properly be included as indebtedness, determined in accordance with GAAP, on a consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Subsidiaries and (c) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the obligations secured by Sold Receivables; provided that, for the purpose of calculating the Leverage Ratio for any period, Total Indebtedness shall be reduced by cash and Cash Equivalents set forth on the balance sheet of such Person as at such date.

     “ Total Revolving Credit Commitments ” shall mean, at any time, the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments then in effect (without duplication for the Sterling Commitments, the Australian Commitments and the Canadian Commitments).

     “ Trade L/C ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in subsection 3.1(a).

     “ Transactions ” shall mean, collectively, the Refinancing and the Repurchase.

     “ Type ” shall mean as to any Loan, its nature as an ABR Loan or a LIBOR Loan.

     “ Uniform Customs ” shall mean the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits (1993 Revision), International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 500, as the same may be effectively replaced in whole or in part or amended from time to time.

     “ wholly owned Subsidiary ” or “ wholly-owned Subsidiary ” shall mean any subsidiary of any Person all of the Capital Stock of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares required by law) is owned by such Person directly and/or through other wholly owned Subsidiaries.

      1.2 Other Definitional Provisions .

          (a)   All terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined meanings when used in any of the other Loan Documents or in any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto or thereto unless otherwise defined therein.

          (b)   As used herein, in any of the other Loan Documents, or in any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto or thereto, accounting terms, to the extent not otherwise defined in subsection 1.1, shall have the respective meanings given to them under GAAP.

          (c)   The words “hereof”, “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement, and section, subsection, schedule and exhibit references are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified.

          (d)   An “affiliate” of a Lender includes, in the case of a Lender which is an investment fund, the investment adviser thereof and any other investment fund having the same investment adviser.


 

27

          SECTION 2. AMOUNT AND TERMS OF LOANS

           2.1  Term Commitments . Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each Term Lender severally (but not jointly) agrees to make a term loan in up to two borrowings (the aggregate of such term loans made to the Borrower, the “ Term Loan ”) denominated in Dollars to the Borrower in an amount not to exceed the Term Commitment of such Lender. The Term Loan may be comprised of LIBOR Loans or ABR Loans, as determined by the Borrower and notified to the Administrative Agent in accordance with subsections 2.2 and 2.14.

           2.2 Procedure for Term Loan Borrowing . (a) The Borrower may borrow under the Term Commitments on up to two occasions at any time during the Term Commitment Period; provided that the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent irrevocable notice ((1) which notice must be received by the Administrative Agent prior to 11:00 A.M., New York City time on the Closing Date, in the case of ABR Loans and (2) which notice must be received by the Administrative Agent prior to 11:00 A.M., New York City time three Business Days prior to the Closing Date, in the case of LIBOR Loans), specifying (i) the requested Borrowing Date, (ii) whether the borrowing is to be an ABR Loan or a LIBOR Loan or a combination thereof, (iii) if the borrowing is to be entirely or partly a LIBOR Loan, the amount to be a LIBOR Loan and (iv) the length of the Interest Period for such LIBOR Loan. Each ABR borrowing by the Borrower pursuant to the Term Commitments shall be in an aggregate principal amount equal to $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $250,000 in excess thereof. Each LIBOR borrowing by the Borrower pursuant to the Term Commitments shall be in an aggregate principal amount equal to $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof.

          (b)   Upon receipt of any notice from the Borrower pursuant to this subsection 2.2, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender thereof. Each Lender will make the amount of its ratable share of each borrowing available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Borrower at the office of the Administrative Agent specified in subsection 10.2 prior to 2:00 P.M., New York City time, on the Borrowing Date requested by the Borrower in funds immediately available to the Administrative Agent. Such borrowing will then be made available to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of such office with the aggregate of the amounts made available to the Administrative Agent by the Lenders and in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent.

           2.3 Repayment of Term Loan . The Term Loan shall mature in 19 consecutive quarterly installments, commencing on September 30, 2007, each of which shall be in an amount equal to each Term Lender’s Term Percentage multiplied by the amount set forth below opposite such installment.

 

 

 

 

 

Installment

 

Principal Amount

September 30, 2007

 

$

1,400,000

 

December 31, 2007

 

$

1,400,000

 

March 31, 2008

 

$

2,800,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 30, 2008

 

$

7,000,000

 

September 30, 2008

 

$

7,000,000

 

December 31, 2008

 

$

7,000,000

 

March 31, 2009

 

$

7,000,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 30, 2009

 

$

35,000,000

 

September 30, 2009

 

$

35,000,000

 

December 31, 2009

 

$

35,000,000

 


 

28

 

 

 

 

 

Installment

 

Principal Amount

March 31, 2010

 

$

35,000,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 30, 2010

 

$

42,000,000

 

September 30, 2010

 

$

42,000,000

 

December 31, 2010

 

$

42,000,000

 

March 31, 2011

 

$

42,000,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 30, 2011

 

$

54,600,000

 

September 30, 2011

 

$

54,600,000

 

December 31, 2011

 

$

54,600,000

 

Maturity Date

 

$

54,600,000

 

           2.4 Revolving Credit Commitment .

          (a)   Subject to and upon the terms and conditions of this Agreement:

     (i) each Facility A-1 Lender severally (but not jointly) agrees to make Facility A-1 Loans in Dollars, euros and any Optional Currency to the Borrower and/or the Regular Subsidiary Borrowers from time to time during the Revolving Credit Commitment Period in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed at any one time the Available Facility A-1 Commitment of such Facility A-1 Lender; provided that, after giving effect to the making of such Facility A-1 Loans, the Aggregate Facility A-1 Revolving Extensions of Credit will not exceed the Facility A-1 Commitments;

     (ii) each Facility A-2 Lender severally (but not jointly) agrees to make Facility A-2 Loans in Dollars to the Borrower and/or the Regular Subsidiary Borrowers from time to time during the Revolving Credit Commitment Period in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed at any one time the Available Facility A-2 Commitment of such Facility A-2 Lender; provided that, after giving effect to the making of such Facility A-2 Loans, the Aggregate Facility A-2 Revolving Extensions of Credit will not exceed the Facility A-2 Commitments;

     (iii) each Facility B Lender severally (but not jointly) agrees to make Facility B Loans in Dollars, euros, and any Optional Currency to the Borrower and/or the Regular Subsidiary Borrowers from time to time during the Revolving Credit Commitment Period in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the Available Facility B Commitment of such Facility B Lender (which for this purpose shall be computed as though the amount in subclause (b)(i) in the definition thereof is $0); provided that, after giving effect to the making of such Facility B Loans, the Aggregate Facility B Revolving Extensions of Credit will not exceed the Facility B Commitments;

     (iv) each Facility C Lender severally (but not jointly) agrees to make Facility C Loans in Dollars, euros, and any Optional Currency to the Borrower and/or the Regular Subsidiary Borrowers from time to time during the Revolving Credit Commitment Period in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the Available Facility C Commitment of such Facility C Lender; provided that, after giving effect to the making of such Facility C Loans, the Aggregate Facility C Revolving Extensions of Credit will not exceed the Facility C Commitments (which for this purpose shall be computed as though the amount in subclause (b)(i) in the definition thereof is $0);

     (v) each Facility D Lender severally (but not jointly) agrees to make Facility D Loans in Dollars, euros, and any Optional Currency to the Borrower and/or the Regular Subsidiary


 

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Borrowers from time to time during the Revolving Credit Commitment Period in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the Available Facility D Commitment of such Facility D Lender (which for this purpose shall be computed as though the amount in subclause (b)(i) in the definition thereof is $0); provided that, after giving effect to the making of such Facility D Loans, the Aggregate Facility D Revolving Extensions of Credit will not exceed the Facility D Commitments;

     (vi) each Sterling Lender, which shall also be a Facility B Lender or an affiliate thereof, severally (but not jointly) agrees to make Sterling Loans in Sterling or euros to each Sterling Subsidiary Borrower from time to time during the Revolving Credit Commitment Period in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the Available Sterling Commitment of such Sterling Lender in accordance with the terms of Annex B hereto (which for this purpose shall be computed as though the amount in subclause (b)(i) in the definition thereof is $0); provided that, after giving effect to the making of such Sterling Loans, the Aggregate Sterling Revolving Extensions of Credit will not exceed the Sterling Commitments;

     (vii) each Australian Dollar Lender, which shall be a Facility C Lender or an affiliate thereof, severally (but not jointly) agrees to make Australian Dollar Loans in Australian Dollars to each Australian Subsidiary Borrower from time to time during the Revolving Credit Commitment Period in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the Available Australian Commitment of such Australian Dollar Lender in accordance with the terms of Annex C hereto (which for this purpose shall be computed as though the amount in subclause (b)(i) in the definition thereof is $0); provided that, after giving effect to the making of such Australian Dollar Loans, the Aggregate Australian Revolving Extensions of Credit will not exceed the Australian Commitments; and

     (viii) each Canadian Dollar Lender, which shall be a Facility D Lender or an affiliate thereof, severally (but not jointly) agrees to make, Canadian Dollar Loans in Canadian Dollars to each Canadian Subsidiary Borrower from time to time during the Revolving Credit Commitment Period in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the Available Canadian Commitment of such Canadian Dollar Lender in accordance with the terms of Annex D hereto (which for this purpose shall be computed as though the amount in subclause (b)(i) in the definition thereof is $0); provided that, after giving effect to the making of such Canadian Dollar Loans, the Aggregate Canadian Revolving Extensions of Credit will not exceed the Canadian Commitment.

          (b)   During the Revolving Credit Commitment Period the Borrower and the Subsidiary Borrowers may use the Revolving Credit Commitments by borrowing, repaying the Revolving Credit Loans in whole or in part, and reborrowing, all in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof. Except as provided in Annex B, Annex C or Annex D, each Revolving Credit Lender shall only be required to make Revolving Credit Loans (x) in Dollars, (y) in euros and (z) in Optional Currencies. The Borrower and Regular Subsidiary Borrowers may make ABR Loan and LIBOR Loan borrowings in Dollars and may make LIBOR Loan borrowings in euros and any Optional Currency under any Revolving Facility. Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers may make borrowings under the Revolving Facilities as provided for in Annex B, Annex C or Annex D. Each Facility B Lender, in respect of Sterling Loans, Facility C Lender, in respect of Australian Dollar Loans, and Facility D Lender in respect of Canadian Dollar Loans, agrees that each of its Lending Installations making or holding Sterling Loans, Australian Dollar Loans or Canadian Dollar Loans hereunder shall be on the date hereof, on the date any such Loans are made hereunder and, after giving effect to an assignment pursuant to subsection 10.6 hereof, an Eligible U.K. Bank, an Eligible Australian Bank or an Eligible Canadian Bank, as the case may be.

           2.5 Procedure for Revolving Credit Borrowing .


 

30

          (a)   The Borrower and the Regular Subsidiary Borrowers may borrow under any Revolving Facility during the Revolving Credit Commitment Period on any Business Day; provided that the Borrower or the relevant Regular Subsidiary Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent irrevocable notice (which notice may be made by telephone and confirmed in writing promptly thereafter) (1) on the requested Borrowing Date, in the case of ABR Loans (which notice must be received by the Administrative Agent prior to 11:00 A.M., New York City time), (2) three Business Days prior to the requested Borrowing Date, in the case of LIBOR Loans in Dollars (which notice must be received by the Administrative Agent prior to 11:00 A.M., New York City time) and (3) three Business Days prior to the requested Borrowing Date, in the case of LIBOR Loans in euros or an Optional Currency (which notice must be received by 11:00 A.M. London time), specifying (i) the identity of the Borrower or Regular Subsidiary Borrower borrowing and the amount and currency to be borrowed, (ii) the requested Borrowing Date, (iii) the Revolving Facility under which the borrowing is to be made, (iv) whether the borrowing is to be an ABR Loan (in the case of Revolving Credit Loans in Dollars) or a LIBOR Loan or a combination thereof, and (v) if the borrowing is to be entirely or partly a LIBOR Loan, the amount to be a LIBOR Loan and the length of the Interest Period for such LIBOR Loan. Each ABR borrowing by the Borrower or any Regular Subsidiary Borrower pursuant to the Revolving Credit Commitments shall be in an aggregate principal amount equal to $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $250,000 in excess thereof. Each LIBOR borrowing in Dollars by the Borrower or any Regular Subsidiary Borrower pursuant to the Revolving Credit Commitments shall be in an aggregate principal amount equal to $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. Each LIBOR borrowing in euros or an Optional Currency by the Borrower or any Regular Subsidiary Borrower pursuant to the Revolving Credit Commitments shall be in an aggregate principal amount equal to $2,500,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof in the Non-Dollar Currency Equivalent thereof.

          (b)   Upon receipt of any notice from the Borrower or a Regular Subsidiary Borrower pursuant to this subsection 2.5, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Revolving Credit Lender under the relevant Revolving Facility thereof. Each such Revolving Credit Lender will make the amount of its ratable share (subject to subsection 2.4) of each borrowing available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Borrower or such Regular Subsidiary Borrower at the office of the Administrative Agent specified in subsection 10.2 prior to 2:00 P.M., New York City time (or in the case of any borrowing in an Optional Currency, at the place and time specified by the Administrative Agent from time to time), on the Borrowing Date requested by the Borrower or such Regular Subsidiary Borrower in funds immediately available to the Administrative Agent. Such borrowing will then be made available to the Borrower or such Regular Subsidiary Borrower by the Administrative Agent crediting the account of the Borrower or such Regular Subsidiary Borrower on the books of such office with the aggregate of the amounts made available to the Administrative Agent by such Revolving Credit Lenders and in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent.

           2.6 Swing Line Commitments .

          (a)   Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, from time to time prior to the Revolving Credit Termination Date each Swing Line Lender severally (but not jointly) agrees to make Swing Line Loans in Dollars or euros to the Borrower or any Regular Subsidiary Borrower in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $75,000,000 at any one time outstanding (each of the foregoing individually, a “Swing Line Loan”; collectively the “Swing Line Loans”), which Swing Line Loans may be borrowed under any of the Facility A-1 Commitments, Facility A-2 Commitments, the Facility B Commitments, the Facility C Commitments or the Facility D Commitments; provided that, after giving effect to the making of such Swing Line Loans, the aggregate principal amount of Swing Line Loans (including any Sterling Swing Line Loans, Australian Dollar Swing Line Loans and Canadian Dollar Swing Line Loans) made under any Revolving Facility (including the Sterling Facility, Australian Facility and Canadian Facility) at any one time outstanding shall not exceed $100,000,000 or the Non-Dollar Currency Equivalent thereof


 

31

and the Aggregate Facility A-1 Revolving Extensions of Credit shall not exceed the Facility A-1 Commitments, the Aggregate Facility A-2 Revolving Extensions of Credit shall not exceed the Facility A-2 Commitments, the Aggregate Facility B Revolving Extensions of Credit shall not exceed the Facility B Commitments, the Aggregate Facility C Revolving Extensions of Credit shall not exceed the Facility C Commitments and the Aggregate Facility D Revolving Extensions of Credit shall not exceed the Facility D Commitments. All Swing Line Loans shall be made on terms agreed upon by the relevant Swing Line Lender and the Borrower or applicable Regular Subsidiary Borrower. The Borrower or applicable Regular Subsidiary Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent irrevocable notice (which notice may be made by telephone (and confirmed in writing promptly thereafter) and must be received by the Administrative Agent at or prior to 1:00 P.M., New York City time, on the requested Borrowing Date), specifying the amount of each requested Swing Line Loan, which shall be greater than or equal to a minimum amount to be agreed upon by the Borrower or applicable Regular Subsidiary Borrower and the relevant Swing Line Lender, and the Revolving Facility under which it is to be borrowed. In giving irrevocable notice, the Borrower or the applicable Regular Subsidiary Borrower shall designate, at its option, one or two Swing Line Lenders to make one or more Swing Line Loans in the relevant currency. Upon such notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each applicable Swing Line Lender thereof. Each Swing Line Lender which has been designated by the Borrower or the applicable Regular Subsidiary Borrower in its irrevocable notice shall make the amount of its ratable share of each borrowing in the currency requested available to the Borrower or applicable Regular Subsidiary Borrower in the manner directed by the Administrative Agent on the requested Borrowing Date.

          (b)   The Swing Line Lenders or any of them at any time and in their or its sole and absolute discretion, may, on behalf of the Borrower or applicable Regular Subsidiary Borrower (which hereby irrevocably directs the Swing Line Lenders to act on its behalf), request each Revolving Credit Lender under the applicable Revolving Facility, including each Swing Line Lender, with respect to all other Swing Line Loans, to make a Revolving Credit Loan under such Revolving Facility, in the currency of the Swing Line Loan(s) made by such Swing Line Lender(s) in an amount equal to such Lender’s Revolving Percentage under such Revolving Facility of the amount of the Swing Line Loans (the “ Refunded Swing Line Loans ”) outstanding on the date such notice is given. Unless any of the events described in paragraph (f) of Section 8 shall have occurred (in which event the procedures of paragraph (c) of this subsection 2.6 shall apply), each Revolving Credit Lender shall make the proceeds of its Revolving Credit Loan available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lenders, at the office of the Administrative Agent prior to 12:00 Noon (New York City time) in funds immediately available on the Business Day next succeeding the date such notice is given. The proceeds of such Revolving Credit Loans shall be immediately applied to repay the Refunded Swing Line Loans.

          (c)   If, prior to the making of a Revolving Credit Loan pursuant to paragraph (b) of subsection 2.6, one of the events described in paragraph (f) of Section 8 shall have occurred, each Revolving Credit Lender under the applicable Revolving Facility hereby agrees to and will, on the date such Revolving Credit Loan was to have been made, purchase an undivided participating interest in each Refunded Swing Line Loan in an amount equal to its Revolving Percentage under such Revolving Facility of such Refunded Swing Line Loan. Such Revolving Credit Lender will immediately transfer to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lenders, in immediately available funds denominated in Dollars, the Dollar Equivalent (if applicable) of the amount of its participations and, upon its receipt of its ratable share thereof, each Swing Line Lender will deliver to such Revolving Credit Lender a Swing Line Loan Participation Certificate dated the date of receipt of such funds and in such amount. On such date, any Swing Line Loans not denominated in Dollars shall, without any further action or notice being required, be converted to and become denominated in Dollars in an amount equal to the Dollar Equivalent of the amount thereof on such date.


 

32

          (d)   Whenever, at any time after any Swing Line Lender has received from any Revolving Credit Lender such Revolving Credit Lender’s participating interest in a Refunded Swing Line Loan and such Swing Line Lender receives any payment on account thereof, such Swing Line Lender will distribute to such Revolving Credit Lender through the Administrative Agent its participating interest in such Dollar Equivalent amount (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Revolving Credit Lender’s participating interest was outstanding and funded) in funds denominated in Dollars; provided , however , that in the event that such payment received by such Swing Line Lender is required to be returned, such Revolving Credit Lender will return to such Swing Line Lender through the Administrative Agent any portion thereof previously distributed by such Swing Line Lender to it in like funds as such payment is required to be returned by such Swing Line Lender.

           2.7 Participation . Each Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to purchase participating interests pursuant to paragraph (c) of subsection 2.6 shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstances, including, without limitation, (a) any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Revolving Credit Lender may have against the Swing Line Lender, the Borrower, any Regular Subsidiary Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever; (b) the occurrence or continuance of an Event of Default; (c) any adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary; (d) any breach of this Agreement by the Borrower, any Regular Subsidiary Borrower or any other Revolving Credit Lender; or (e) any other circumstance, happening or event whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Revolving Credit Lender shall have any obligation to purchase participating interests pursuant to paragraph (c) of subsection 2.6 or to make any Refunded Swing Line Loans in respect of any Swing Line Loan which was made at any time following receipt by the Administrative Agent of a notice from any Revolving Credit Lender specifying that (x) a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (y) explicitly stating that such Revolving Credit Lender will not purchase such participating interests or make Refunded Swing Line Loans with respect to Swing Line Loans made after the date of receipt of such notice.

           2.8 Repayment of Revolving Credit Loans; Evidence of Debt .

          (a)   The Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender (i) the then unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Credit Loan of such Lender on the Revolving Credit Termination Date (or such earlier date on which the Loans become due and payable pursuant to Section 8) and (ii) the then unpaid principal amount of the Swing Line Loans of the Swing Line Lender on the Revolving Credit Termination Date (or such earlier date on which the Swing Line Loans become due and payable pursuant to Section 8). Each of the Regular Subsidiary Borrowers hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender (i) the then unpaid principal amount of each Loan to such Subsidiary Borrower on the Revolving Credit Termination Date (or such earlier date on which the Revolving Credit Loans become due and payable pursuant to Section 8) and (ii) the then unpaid principal amount of the Swing Line Loans to such Subsidiary Borrower of the Swing Line Lender on the Revolving Credit Termination Date (or such earlier date on which the Swing Line Loans became due and payable pursuant to Section 8). Each of the Borrower and the relevant Subsidiary Borrowers hereby further agrees to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of the Loans from time to time outstanding to the Borrower or such Subsidiary Borrower, as applicable, from the date hereof until payment in full thereof at the rates per annum, and on the dates, set forth in subsection 2.15.

          (b)   Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing indebtedness of the Borrower and the Subsidiary Borrowers to such Lender resulting from each Loan of such Lender from time to time, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time under this Agreement.


 

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          (c)   The Administrative Agent shall maintain the Register pursuant to subsection 10.6(b)(iv), and a subaccount therein for each Lender, in which shall be recorded (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Type thereof and each Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower or a Regular Subsidiary Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (iii) both the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder from the Borrower or such Regular Subsidiary Borrower and each Lender’s share thereof.

          (d)   The entries made in the Register and the accounts of each Lender maintained pursuant to subsection 2.8(b) shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations of the Borrower and each Regular Subsidiary Borrower therein recorded; provided , however , that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain the Register or any such account, or any error therein, shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower or such Regular Subsidiary Borrower to repay (with applicable interest) the Loans made to such Borrower or such Regular Subsidiary Borrower by such Lender in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

          (e)   No Loan to Scotts Treasury EEIG may remain outstanding for more than 11.5 months and, after any such Loan is repaid, there shall be a period of at least two weeks during which Scotts Treasury EEIG has no Loan or other amount outstanding under any Facility; provided that the Borrower may deliver a notice to the Administrative Agent at any time directing that the restriction in this subsection 2.8(e) shall cease to apply with respect to such Loan or such period as are mentioned in any such notice.

           2.9 Commitment Fee, etc .

          (a)   The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of each Revolving Credit Lender, a commitment fee in Dollars for the period from and including the Closing Date to the date that the Revolving Credit Commitments are terminated (or if later, the date that the Loans and L/C Obligations shall be repaid in full), calculated as an amount equal to the product of (a) the Commitment Fee Rate and (b) the average daily unused portion of the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Lender (it being understood that such Lender’s Revolving Percentage of the outstanding L/C Obligations at such time shall constitute usage of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment) during the period for which such commitment fee is calculated, payable quarterly in arrears on the last day of each March, June, September and December and on the Revolving Credit Termination Date (or if later, the date that the Loans and L/C Obligations shall be repaid in full).

          (b)   The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of each Term Lender, a commitment fee in Dollars for the Term Commitment Period, calculated as an amount equal to the product of (a) the Commitment Fee Rate and (b) the average daily unused portion of the Term Commitment of such Lender during the Term Commitment Period, payable on the last day of March 2007.

          (c)   The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent the fees in the amounts and on the dates as set forth in any fee agreements with the Administrative Agent and to perform any other obligations contained therein.

           2.10 Termination or Reduction of Commitments .

          (a)   Optional . The Borrower shall have the right, upon not less than five Business Days’ written notice to the Administrative Agent, to terminate the Revolving Credit Commitments or, from time


 

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to time, reduce the amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments, provided that (i) any such reduction shall be applied ratably across Facility A-1, Facility A-2 Facility B, Facility C and Facility D (with corresponding reductions across the Sterling Facility, the Australian Facility and the Canadian Facility), (ii) any such reduction shall be accompanied by prepayment of the Revolving Credit Loans under the applicable Revolving Facility by the Borrower and/or any Regular Subsidiary Borrower, as applicable, together with accrued interest on the amount so prepaid to the date of such prepayment, to the extent, if any, the Available Facility A-1 Commitments, the Available Facility B Commitments, Available Facility C Commitments or the Available Facility D Commitments would be negative, (ii) any such termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments shall be accompanied by (A) prepayment in full of the Revolving Credit Loans then outstanding hereunder, (B) cash collateralization of all L/C Obligations then outstanding in accordance with the provisions of subsection 2.13, and (C) payment of accrued interest thereon to the date of such prepayment and the payment of any unpaid fees then accrued hereunder (including, without limitation, in respect of any Letters of Credit) and (iii) any termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments while LIBOR Loans are outstanding under the Revolving Credit Commitments and any reduction of the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments that reduces the amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments under any Revolving Facility below the principal amount of the LIBOR Loans then outstanding thereunder may be made only on the last day of the respective Interest Periods for such LIBOR Loans. Upon receipt of such notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender thereof. Any such reduction shall be in an amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof (or in the case of a LIBOR borrowing in euros, an Optional Currency, the Dollar Equivalent thereof) and shall reduce permanently the amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments then in effect.

     (b)   Mandatory . (i) The Revolving Credit Commitments shall automatically terminate on the Revolving Credit Termination Date and all Revolving Credit Loans shall be repaid and to the extent any Letter of Credit remains outstanding after the Revolving Credit Termination Date, the Borrower shall cash collateralize such L/C Obligations (and the fees thereon) in accordance with the provisions of subsection 2.13.

     (ii) The Term Commitments shall automatically terminate on the earlier to occur of (i) the borrowing of the Term Loan and (ii) the expiration of the Term Commitment Period.

           2.11 Optional Prepayments . The Borrower or any Regular Subsidiary Borrower may, at any time and from time to time prepay Loans under any Facility made to it hereunder, in whole or in part, without premium or penalty, upon irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent (which notice may be made by telephone and confirmed in writing promptly thereafter): (1) on the date of such prepayment, in the case of ABR Loans (which notice must be received by the Administrative Agent prior to 12:00 Noon, New York City time), (2) three Business Days prior to the date of such prepayment, in the case of LIBOR Loans in Dollars (which notice must be received by the Administrative Agent prior to 12:00 Noon, New York City time) and (3) three Business Days prior to the date of such prepayment, in the case of LIBOR Loans in euros or an Optional Currency (which notice must be received by 12:00 Noon, London time), specifying the date and amount of prepayment, the relevant Facility and whether the prepayment is of LIBOR Loans, ABR Loans or a combination thereof, and, if a combination thereof, the amount of prepayment allocable to each. If such notice is given, the Borrower or the relevant Regular Subsidiary Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein, together with accrued interest to such date on the amount prepaid. Partial prepayments shall be in an aggregate principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $250,000 in excess thereof (or in the case of a LIBOR borrowing in euros or an Optional Currency, the Dollar Equivalent thereof), provided that unless a LIBOR Loan is prepaid in full, no prepayment shall be made if, after giving effect to such prepayment, the aggregate principal amount of LIBOR Loans in Dollars outstanding with respect to which a common Interest Period has been selected shall be less than


 

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$1,000,000 or, in the case of LIBOR Loans in euros or an Optional Currency, after giving effect to such prepayment, the aggregate principal amount of LIBOR Loans in euros or an Optional Currency outstanding with respect to which a common Interest Period has been selected shall be less than $2,500,000 or the Non-Dollar Currency Equivalent thereof.

           2.12 Mandatory Prepayments .

          (a)   The Borrower, without notice or demand, shall immediately prepay the Revolving Credit Loans under any Revolving Facility, or cause such Loans to be prepaid by the Regular Subsidiary Borrowers, to the extent, if any, that the Available Facility A-1 Commitments, the Available Facility A-2 Commitments, the Available Facility B Commitments, the Available Facility C Commitments or the Available Facility D Commitments, as the case may be, are negative, together with accrued interest to the date of such prepayment on the amount so prepaid; provided that if such prepayment is required solely as a result of a change in the aggregate Dollar Equivalent of the Revolving Credit Loans in euros or an Optional Currency, no prepayment shall be made unless such prepayment is required pursuant to subsection 2.24 under the applicable Revolving Facility.

          (b)   Unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise agree, until the Term Loan has been repaid in full, if any Indebtedness shall be incurred by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (excluding any Indebtedness incurred in accordance with subsection 7.5), the Borrower shall apply an amount equal to 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds thereof on the date of such incurrence toward the prepayment of the Term Loan.

          (c)   Unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise agree, if on any date the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall receive Net Cash Proceeds from any Asset Sale or Recovery Event then, unless a Reinvestment Notice shall be delivered in respect thereof, an amount equal to such Net Cash Proceeds shall be applied by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries toward the prepayment of the Term Loan; provided , that, notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) Net Cash Proceeds of any Asset Sale specified in any Reinvestment Notice must be reinvested within one year from the date such Net Cash Proceeds are received by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and (ii) on each Reinvestment Prepayment Date, an amount equal to the Reinvestment Prepayment Amount with respect to the relevant Reinvestment Event shall be applied toward the prepayment of the Term Loan; provided further , that no prepayment under this subsection 2.12(c) shall be required if the Specified Ratings are in effect on the date Net Cash Proceeds from any Asset Sale or Recovery Event are received by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or would otherwise be required to be applied toward the prepayment of the Term Loan pursuant to this subsection 2.12(c).

          (d) Upon the request of the Required Lenders by written notice from the Administrative Agent to the Borrower, if the application of funds to consummate the Repurchase shall not have been completed by the date which is 90 days after the Closing Date, the Borrower shall make a prepayment of the Term Loan in an amount equal to the difference, if positive, between the original principal amount of the Term Loan (after giving effect to each permitted drawing hereunder) less the aggregate amount paid by the Borrower as of such date to consummate the Repurchase, including costs and expenses related thereto, and any prepayments previously made pursuant to subsection 2.12(e).

          (e)   Upon the request of the Required Lenders by written notice from the Administrative Agent to the Borrower, if Existing Senior Subordinated Notes remain outstanding on the date which is 21 days after the Closing Date, the Borrower shall make a prepayment of the Term Loan in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Existing Senior Subordinated Notes in excess of $20,000,000 then outstanding, if any.


 

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          (f)   No further prepayments of Term Loans shall be required under clauses (b), (c), (d) or (e) of this subsection 2.12 if the outstanding principal amount of Term Loans has been reduced to zero.

           2.13 Cash Collateralization of Letters of Credit . To the extent that at any time and from time to time, the L/C Obligations exceed the amount of the L/C Commitments or the L/C Obligations under any Revolving Facility exceed the Revolving Credit Commitments under such Revolving Facility (whether pursuant to subsections 2.10, 2.11, 2.12 or otherwise), the Borrower shall cash collateralize (in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) such portion of the L/C Obligations (and the fees thereon through the stated expiration date of the Letters of Credit giving rise to such L/C Obligations) which is in excess of the L/C Commitments or such Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable.

           2.14 Conversion Options .   The Borrower or any Regular Subsidiary Borrower may elect from time to time to convert LIBOR Loans in Dollars under any Facility to ABR Loans under such Facility, and may elect from time to time to convert ABR Loans in Dollars under any Facility to LIBOR Loans under such Facility, by giving the Administrative Agent at least three Business Days’ prior irrevocable written notice of such election to convert (which date shall be a Business Day and in the case of any conversion of any LIBOR Loans to ABR Loans, the last day of an Interest Period therefor), the amount and type of conversion and, in the case of any conversion of ABR Loans to LIBOR Loans, the Interest Period selected with respect thereto; provided , however , that (i) ABR Loans may not be converted to LIBOR Loans when any Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing without the consent of the Administrative Agent and (ii) Swing Line Loans may not, at any time, be converted to LIBOR Loans. All or any part of outstanding LIBOR Loans or ABR Loans may be converted as provided herein, provided that partial conversions of LIBOR Loans to ABR Loans shall be in an aggregate principal amount of $2,500,000 or a whole multiple thereof and partial conversions of ABR Loans to LIBOR Loans with respect to which a common Interest Period has been selected shall be in an aggregate principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $2,500,000 in excess thereof, and provided, further, that in the case of a partial conversion of LIBOR Loans to ABR Loans, after giving effect to such conversion, the aggregate principal amount of the LIBOR Loans outstanding with respect to which a common Interest Period has been selected shall be not less than $5,000,000.

          (b)   Any LIBOR Loans may be continued as such upon the expiration of an Interest Period by compliance by the Borrower or the Regular Subsidiary Borrowers with the notice provisions contained in the definition of Interest Period, provided that no LIBOR Loan in Dollars may be continued as such when any Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, but shall be automatically converted to an ABR Loan on the last day of the last Interest Period for which a LIBOR Rate was determined by the Administrative Agent on or prior to the Administrative Agent’s obtaining knowledge of such Default or Event of Default.

          (c)   No conversion or continuation of any Revolving Credit Loans under any Revolving Facility shall be made pursuant to this subsection 2.14 if, after giving effect to such conversion or continuation the amount of the Available Facility A-1 Commitments, the Available Facility A-2 Commitments, the Available Facility B Commitments, the Available Facility C Commitments or the Available Facility D Commitments, as the case may be, would be negative.

          (d)   Conversions of Revolving Credit Loans in any currency to another currency shall be made by repaying such Revolving Credit Loans and reborrowing in such other currency in compliance with the provisions hereof.

           2.15 Interest Rate and Payment Dates .


 

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          (a)   Each LIBOR Loan shall bear interest for each day during each Interest Period with respect thereto at a rate per annum equal to the LIBOR Rate determined for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Margin.

          (b)   Each ABR Loan shall bear interest for the period from and including the date thereof until maturity at a rate per annum equal to the ABR plus the Applicable Margin.

          (c)   If all or a portion of (i) the principal amount of any Loan or any reimbursement obligation, (ii) any interest payable thereon or (iii) any commitment fee, commission or other amount payable hereunder shall not be paid when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), such overdue amount shall bear interest at a rate per annum which is (A) the rate pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection plus 2% or (B) in the case of amounts in Dollars, if higher, the rate described in paragraph (b) of this subsection 2.15 plus 2%, in each case from the date of such non-payment until such amount is paid in full (as well after as before judgment). The Administrative Agent may choose any Interest Period from time to time (including one Interest Period of shorter than one month) with respect to any overdue amount bearing interest based upon paragraph (a) of this subsection.

          (d)   Interest shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date, except that interest payable pursuant to subsection 2.15 (c) shall be payable upon demand.

           2.16 Computation of Interest and Fees .

          (a)   Each determination of an interest rate by the Administrative Agent pursuant to any provision of this Agreement shall be conclusive and binding on the Borrower and the Regular Subsidiary Borrowers absent manifest error.

          (b)   Interest (other than interest based on the Prime Rate) shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year for the actual days elapsed (subject, in the case of any LIBOR Loan in an Optional Currency, to any market convention for a different basis as determined by the Administrative Agent); and commitment fees and interest based on the Prime Rate shall be calculated on the basis of a 365- (366-, as the case may be) day year for the actual days elapsed. The Administrative Agent shall as soon as practicable notify the Borrower and the affected Lenders of each determination of the LIBOR Rate. Any change in the interest rate on a Loan resulting from a change in the ABR or any LIBOR reserve requirements shall become effective as of the opening of business on the day on which such change becomes effective. The Administrative Agent shall as soon as practicable notify the Borrower and the affected Lenders of the Closing Date and the amount of such change in interest rate.

          (c)   The Administrative Agent shall, at the request of the Borrower or a Regular Subsidiary Borrower or any Lender, deliver to the Borrower or a Regular Subsidiary Borrower or such Lender a statement showing in reasonable detail the calculations used by the Administrative Agent in determining any interest rate pursuant to subsection 2.15, excluding any LIBOR Base Rate which is based upon the British Bankers Assoc. Interest Settlement Rates Page.

           2.17 Inability to Determine Interest Rate . In the event that the Reference Lenders shall have reasonably determined (which determination shall be conclusive and binding upon the Borrower and the Regular Subsidiary Borrowers absent manifest error) that by reason of circumstances affecting the interbank eurocurrency market, adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the LIBOR Rate applicable pursuant to subsection 2.15(a) for any Interest Period with respect to (a) a proposed Loan that has been requested be made as a LIBOR Loan, (b) a LIBOR Loan that will result from the requested conversion of an ABR Loan into a LIBOR Loan or (c) the continuation of LIBOR Loans beyond the expiration of the then current Interest Period with respect thereto, the Administrative Agent shall

 


 

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forthwith give telecopy or telephonic notice of such determination, confirmed in writing, to the Borrower and the Lenders at least one Business Day prior to, as the case may be, the requested Borrowing Date for such LIBOR Loan, the conversion date of such ABR Loan or the last day of such Interest Period. If such notice is given (i) any requested LIBOR Loan in Dollars shall be made as an ABR Loan, (ii) any ABR Loan that was to have been converted to a LIBOR Loan shall be continued as an ABR Loan, (iii) any outstanding LIBOR Loan in Dollars shall be converted, on the last day of the then current Interest Period with respect thereto, to an ABR Loan and (iv) the LIBOR Rate for such Interest Period for any affected LIBOR Loans in euros or any Optional Currency shall bear interest for such Interest Period at a rate reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent as representing the cost to Lenders generally holding such LIBOR Loans of funding such LIBOR Loans for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Margin. Until such notice has been withdrawn by the Administrative Agent, no further LIBOR Loans shall be made nor shall the Borrower have the right to convert an ABR Loan to a LIBOR Loan. Such notice shall be withdrawn by the Administrative Agent when the Administrative Agent shall reasonably determine that adequate and reasonable means exist for ascertaining the LIBOR Rate.

      2.18 Pro Rata Treatment and Payments .

     (a) Each borrowing from the Revolving Credit Lenders hereunder shall be made under the Revolving Facility specified by the Borrower in accordance with subsections 2.4 and 2.5. The borrowing of the Term Loan hereunder shall be made ratably from the Term Lenders according to their respective Term Percentages. Any reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitments under any Revolving Facility of the Lenders shall be made ratably.

     (b) Each payment (including each prepayment) on account of principal of and interest on the Revolving Credit Loans in any currency shall be made ratably according to the respective outstanding principal amounts of such Loans then held by the Revolving Credit Lenders, subject in the case of prepayments of principal to any designation of the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection 2.3. The Borrower or a Regular Subsidiary Borrower may select the currency or currencies of any optional or mandatory prepayment of the Revolving Credit Loans.

     (c) Each payment (including each prepayment) by the Borrower on account of principal of and interest on the Term Loan shall be made ratably according to the outstanding principal amount of the Term Loan. The amount of each principal prepayment of the Term Loan shall be applied ratably to reduce the then remaining installments thereof. Amounts prepaid on account of the Term Loan may not be reborrowed.

     (d) All payments (including prepayments) to be made by the Borrower or any Regular Subsidiary Borrower hereunder, whether on account of principal, interest, fees or otherwise, shall be made without set off or counterclaim and shall be made prior to 12:00 Noon, New York City time, on the due date thereof to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the relevant Lenders, at the Administrative Agent’s office specified in subsection 10.2, in Dollars or euros, as applicable, and in immediately available funds (or in the case of any payment in an Optional Currency, in the relevant Optional Currency and at the place and time specified by the Administrative Agent from time to time). The Administrative Agent shall distribute such payments to the relevant Lenders promptly upon receipt in like funds as received. If any payment hereunder (other than payments on LIBOR Loans) becomes due and payable on a day other than a Business Day, such payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day and such extension of time shall in such case be included in the computation of the amount payable hereunder. If any payment on a LIBOR Loan becomes due and payable on a day other than a Business Day, the maturity thereof shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless the result of such extension would be to extend such payment into another calendar month, in which event such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day.


 

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     (e) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have been notified in writing by any Lender prior to a Borrowing Date that such Lender will not make the amount that would constitute its share of the borrowing on such date available to the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such amount available to the Administrative Agent on such Borrowing Date, and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower or the relevant Regular Subsidiary Borrower a corresponding amount. If such amount is made available to the Administrative Agent on a date after such Borrowing Date, such Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent on demand an amount equal to the product of (i) the daily average Federal funds rate (or, in the case of any borrowing in euros or an Optional Currency, the customary rate as selected by the Administrative Agent for the settlement of obligations between banks) during such period as quoted by the Administrative Agent, times (ii) the amount of such Lender’s share of such borrowing, times (iii) a fraction the numerator of which is the number of days that elapse from and including such Borrowing Date to the date on which such Lender’s Revolving Percentage or Term Percentage of such borrowing shall have become immediately available to the Administrative Agent and the denominator of which is 360 (the “ Effective Interbank Rate ”). A certificate of the Administrative Agent submitted to any Lender with respect to any amounts owing under this subsection shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. If such amount is so made available, such payment to the Administrative Agent shall constitute such Lender’s Loan on such Borrowing Date for all purposes of this Agreement. If such amount is not so made available to the Administrative Agent, then the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower or the relevant Regular Subsidiary Borrower of such failure and on the fourth Business Day following such Borrowing Date, the Borrower or such Regular Subsidiary Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent such ratable portion, together with interest thereon for each day that the Borrower or such Regular Subsidiary Borrower had the use of such ratable portion, at the Effective Interbank Rate. Nothing contained in this subsection 2.18(e) shall relieve any Lender which has failed to make available its ratable portion of any borrowing hereunder from its obligation to do so in accordance with the terms hereof.

     (f) The failure of any Lender to make the Loan to be made by it on any Borrowing Date shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation, if any, hereunder to make its Loan on such Borrowing Date, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make the Loan to be made by such other Lender on such Borrowing Date.

      2.19 Illegality . Notwithstanding any other provisions herein, if any introduction of or change in any law, regulation, treaty or directive or in the interpretation or application thereof occurring after the date hereof shall make it unlawful for any Lender to make or maintain LIBOR Loans as contemplated by this Agreement, (a) such Lender shall forthwith give telecopy or telephonic notice of such circumstances, confirmed in writing, to the Borrower or the relevant Regular Subsidiary Borrower (which notice shall be withdrawn by such Lender when such Lender shall reasonably determine that it shall no longer be illegal for such Lender to make or maintain LIBOR Loans or to convert ABR Loans to LIBOR Loans), (b) the commitment of such Lender hereunder to make LIBOR Loans or to convert ABR Loans to LIBOR Loans shall forthwith be canceled and (c) such Lender’s Loans then outstanding as LIBOR Loans, if any, shall be, in the case of Loans in Dollars, converted automatically to ABR Loans based upon the ABR on the last day of the then current Interest Period with respect to such Loans or within such earlier period as may be required by law and in the case of Loans in euros or any Optional Currency, shall be prepaid on the last day of the then current Interest Period with respect to such Loans or within such earlier period as may be required by law. The Borrower and each Regular Subsidiary Borrower hereby agrees promptly to pay the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender, upon demand by the Administrative Agent, any additional amounts necessary to compensate the Lenders for any costs incurred by the Lenders in making any conversion in accordance with this subsection 2.19, including, but not limited to, any interest or fees payable by the Lenders to lenders of funds obtained by them in order to make or maintain their LIBOR Loans hereunder (the Administrative Agent’s notice of

 


 

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such costs, as certified to the Borrower or such Regular Subsidiary Borrower, to be conclusive, absent manifest error).

      2.20 Requirements of Law .

     (a) In the event that any introduction of or change in any law, regulation, treaty or directive or in the proper interpretation or application thereof occurring after the date hereof or compliance by any Lender with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any central bank or other governmental authority, agency or instrumentality (including the National Association of Insurance Commissioners):

     (i) shall subject such Lender to any tax of any kind, whatsoever with respect to this Agreement, any Letter of Credit, any Application, any Loan or any LIBOR Loans made by it or its obligation to make LIBOR Loans or change the basis of taxation of payments to such Lender of principal, commitment fee, interest or any other amount payable hereunder (other than Non-Excluded Taxes or changes in the rate of tax on the overall net income of such Lender)

     (ii) shall impose, modify or hold applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan or similar requirement against assets held by, or deposits or other liabilities in or for the account of, advances or loans by, or other credit extended by, or any other acquisition of funds by, any office of such Lender which are not otherwise included in the determination of the LIBOR Rate hereunder, or

     (iii) shall impose on such Lender or the eurocurrency market any other condition;

and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Lender (which increase in cost shall be the result of such Lender’s reasonable allocation of the aggregate of such cost increases resulting from such events), of making, renewing or maintaining LIBOR Loans or issuing or participating in Letters of Credit or to reduce any amount receivable thereunder then, in any such case, the Borrower or the relevant Regular Subsidiary Borrower shall, upon notice to it from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) certifying that (x) one of the events described in this subsection 2.20(a) has occurred and the nature of such event, (y) the increased cost or reduced amount resulting from such event and (z) the additional amounts demanded by such Lender and a reasonably detailed explanation of the calculation thereof, promptly pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Lender, upon demand by the Administrative Agent, without duplication, any additional amounts necessary to compensate such Lender for such increased cost or reduced amount receivable which such Lender deems to be material as determined in good faith by such Lender with respect to this Agreement or the Loans made hereunder, provided that, in any such case, the Borrower or the relevant Regular Subsidiary Borrower (if otherwise not prohibited hereunder) may elect to convert the LIBOR Loans in Dollars made hereunder to ABR Loans by giving such Lender and the Administrative Agent at least one Business Day’s prior irrevocable notice of such election in which case the Borrower or relevant Regular Subsidiary Borrower shall promptly pay the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Lender, upon demand by the Administrative Agent, without duplication, any loss or expense incurred by such Lender in liquidating or re-employing the deposits from which the funds were obtained by such Lender for the purpose of making and/or maintaining such LIBOR Loans, together with any amount due under this subsection 2.20(a) in respect of the period prior to such conversion. If such Lender becomes entitled to claim any additional amounts pursuant to this subsection, it shall promptly notify the Borrower or the relevant Regular Subsidiary Borrower of the event by reason of which it has become so entitled.

 


 

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     (b) In the event that any Lender shall have determined that any change in any Requirement of Law regarding capital adequacy or in the interpretation or application thereof or compliance by such Lender or any corporation controlling such Lender with any request or directive regarding capital adequacy (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority made subsequent to the date hereof does or shall have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or such corporation’s capital as a consequence of its obligations hereunder or under any Letters of Credit to a level below that which such Lender or such corporation could have achieved but for such change or compliance (taking into consideration such Lender’s or such corporation’s policies with respect to capital adequacy) by an amount deemed by such Lender to be material, then from time to time, within 15 days after submission by such Lender to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of a written request therefor certifying that (x) one of the events described in this subsection 2.20(b) has occurred and the nature of such event, (y) the increased cost or reduced amount resulting from such event and (z) the additional amounts demanded by such Lender and a reasonably detailed explanation of the calculation thereof, the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for such reduction.

     (c) A certificate as to any additional amounts payable pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (b) above submitted by any Lender to the Borrower or a Regular Subsidiary Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

      2.21 Indemnity . The Borrower and each Regular Subsidiary Borrower agrees to indemnify each Lender and to hold each Lender harmless from any loss or expense which such Lender may sustain or incur as a consequence of (a) default by the Borrower or such Regular Subsidiary Borrower in payment of the principal amount of or interest on any LIBOR Loans including, but not limited to, any such loss or expense arising from interest or fees payable by such Lender to lenders of funds obtained by them in order to maintain their LIBOR Loans, (b) default by the Borrower or such Regular Subsidiary Borrower in making LIBOR Loans or conversion after the Borrower or such Regular Subsidiary Borrower has given a notice in accordance with subsection 2.5 or 2.14, (c) default by the Borrower or such Regular Subsidiary Borrower in making any prepayment of a LIBOR Loan after the Borrower or such Regular Subsidiary Borrower has given a notice in accordance with subsection 2.11(a), and (d) the making of any payment or conversion of LIBOR Loans on a day which is not the last day of the applicable Interest Period with respect thereto, including, but not limited to, any such loss or expense arising from interest or fees payable by the Lenders to lenders of funds obtained by them in order to maintain their LIBOR Loans hereunder. This covenant shall survive termination of this Agreement and payment of the outstanding Notes. The obligations of indemnity of each of the respective Regular Subsidiary Borrowers hereunder are limited only to the loss and expense described herein arising from or as a result of any act or omission by such Regular Subsidiary Borrower, and are not, and shall not be deemed to be, the joint and several obligations of each such Regular Subsidiary Borrower as to any loss or expense arising from or as a result of any act or omission by the Borrower or the other Regular Subsidiary Borrower.

      2.22 Taxes .

     (a) Except as provided below in this subsection or in any Annex hereto, all payments made by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Borrower under this Agreement shall be made free and clear of, and without deduction or withholding for or on account of, any present or future income, stamp or other taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees, deductions or withholdings, now or hereafter imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by any Governmental Authority, excluding the following taxes (“ Excluded Taxes ”) (x) taxes measured by or imposed upon the overall net income of any Lender or its applicable lending office, or any branch or affiliate thereof, and (y) all franchise taxes or branch taxes imposed upon any Lender or its applicable lending office, or any branch or affiliate thereof, in each case imposed: (i) by

 


 

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the jurisdiction under the laws of which such Lender, applicable lending office, branch or affiliate is organized or is located, or in which its principal executive office is located, or any nation within which such jurisdiction is located or any political subdivision thereof; or (ii) by reason of any connection between the jurisdiction imposing such tax and such Lender, applicable lending office, branch or affiliate other than a connection arising solely from such Lender having executed, delivered or performed its obligations under, or received payment under or enforced, this Agreement. If any such non-excluded taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees, deductions or withholdings (“ Non-Excluded Taxes ”) are required to be withheld from any amounts payable to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder, the amounts so payable to the Administrative Agent or such Lender shall be increased to the extent necessary to yield to the Administrative Agent or such Lender (after payment of all Non-Excluded Taxes) interest or any such other amounts payable hereunder at the rates or in the amounts specified in this Agreement, provided, however, that the Borrower and/or such Subsidiary Borrower shall be entitled to deduct and withhold any Non-Excluded Taxes and shall not be required to increase any such amounts payable to any Lender that are attributable to (i) such Lender’s failure to comply with the requirements of paragraph (b) of this subsection or (ii) the Lender’s failure at all times during which it is a party to this Agreement to comply with the requirements of subsection 2.1, 2.4 or 2.6 unless such failure is due to a change in treaty, law or regulation or any application or interpretation thereof. Whenever any Non-Excluded Taxes are payable by the Borrower or any Subsidiary Borrower, as promptly as possible thereafter the applicable Borrower or Subsidiary Borrower shall send to the Administrative Agent for its own account or for the account of such Lender, as the case may be, a certified copy of an original official receipt received by such Borrower or such Subsidiary Borrower showing payment thereof. If the Borrower or any Subsidiary Borrower fails to pay any Non-Excluded Taxes when due to the appropriate taxing authority or fails to remit to the Administrative Agent the required receipts or other required documentary evidence, such Borrower or Subsidiary Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent and the Lenders for any incremental taxes, interest or penalties that may become payable by the Administrative Agent or any Lender as a result of any such failure. The agreements in this subsection shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

     (b) (1) Each Lender that is not incorporated under the laws of the United States of America or a state thereof shall:

     (X) (i) on or before the date of any payment by the Borrower or any Regular Subsidiary Borrower under this Agreement or any Notes to such Lender, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent two duly completed copies of United States Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8ECI, as applicable, or such successor applicable form, statement or certificate, as the case may be, certifying that it is entitled to an exemption from United States backup withholding tax or is entitled receive payments under this Agreement and any Notes without deduction or withholding (or, upon the prior written consent of the Borrower, at a reduced rate of withholding) of any United States federal income taxes;

            (ii) deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent two further copies of any such form or certification on or before the date that any such form or certification expires or becomes obsolete and after the occurrence of any event requiring a change in the most recent form previously delivered by it to the Borrower or such Domestic Subsidiary Borrower; and

            (iii) obtain such extensions of time for filing and complete such forms or certifications as may reasonably be requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent;

     (Y) in the case of any such Lender that is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (i) represent to the Borrower (for the benefit of each of the Borrower,

 


 

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the relevant Subsidiary Borrowers and the Administrative Agent) that it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (ii) agree to furnish to the Borrower on or before the date of any payment by the Borrower or any Domestic Subsidiary Borrower, with a copy to the Administrative Agent, (A) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit D (any such certificate a “ U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate ”) and (B) two accurate and complete original signed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 BEN or W-8 ECI, as applicable, or successor applicable form certifying to such Lender’s legal entitlement at the date of such certificate to an exemption from U.S. withholding tax under the provisions of Sections 871(h), 881(c) and 1441(c)(9) of the Code with respect to payments to be made under this Agreement and any Notes (and to deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent two further copies of such form on or before the date it expires or becomes obsolete and after the occurrence of any event requiring a change in the most recently provided form and, if necessary, obtain any extensions of time reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent for filing and completing such forms), and (iii) agree, to the extent legally entitled to do so, upon reasonable request by the Borrower, to provide to the Borrower (for the benefit of each of the Borrower, the Regular Subsidiary Borrowers and the Administrative Agent) such other forms as may be reasonably required in order to establish the legal entitlement of such lender to an exemption from withholding with respect to payments under this Agreement and any Notes, provided that in determining the reasonableness of a request under this clause (iii) such Lender shall be entitled to consider the cost (to the extent unreimbursed by the Borrower) which would be imposed on such Lender of complying with such request;

unless in any such case any change in treaty, law or regulation has occurred after the date such Person becomes a Lender hereunder which renders all such forms inapplicable or which would prevent such Lender from duly completing and delivering any such form with respect to it and such Lender so advises the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

          (2) Each Lender that is not incorporated or organized under the laws of the jurisdiction under which a Foreign Subsidiary Borrower is incorporated or organized or is not a resident for taxation purposes of such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower’s country of tax residence, shall upon written request by such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower, deliver to such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower or the applicable Governmental Authority or taxing authority, as the case may be, any form or certificate required in order that any payment by such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower under this Agreement or any Notes to such Lender may be made free and clear of, and without deduction or withholding for or on account of any tax (or upon the prior written consent of the Borrower, to allow any such deduction or withholding to be at a reduced rate) imposed on such payment under the laws of the jurisdiction under which such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower is incorporated or organized or is otherwise a resident for taxation purposes, provided that such Lender is legally entitled to complete, execute and deliver such form or certificate and such completion, execution or submission would not materially prejudice the legal position of such Lender.

           2.23 Use of Proceeds . The proceeds of the Loans shall be used (i) to finance all or a portion of the Transactions and to pay related fees and expenses and (ii) for working capital and other general corporate purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (which shall include any use not expressly prohibited by the terms of this Agreement); provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, none of the proceeds of the Loans may be used to finance any Hostile Take-Over Bid.

           2.24 Controls on Prepayment if Aggregate Revolving Extensions of Credit Exceed Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments .

 


 

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     (a) The Borrower will implement and maintain internal controls to monitor the borrowings and repayments of Revolving Credit Loans by both the Borrower and the relevant Regular Subsidiary Borrowers and the issuance of and drawings under Letters of Credit, with the object of preventing any request for an Extension of Credit that would result in the Available Facility A-1 Commitments, the Available Facility B Commitments the Available Facility C Commitments or the Available Facility D Commitments becoming negative by more than 5% of the Revolving Credit Commitments under the relevant Revolving Facility, and, if such Commitments are negative by more than 5%, the Borrower will promptly notify the Administrative Agent.

     (b) The Administrative Agent will calculate the Available Facility A-1 Commitments, the Available Facility A-2 Commitments, the Available Facility B Commitments the Available Facility C Commitments or the Available Facility D Commitments from time to time, and in any event not less frequently than once during each calendar quarter. In making such calculations, the Administrative Agent will rely on the information most recently received by it from the Swing Line Lenders in respect of outstanding Swing Line Loans and from the Issuing Lenders in respect of outstanding L/C Obligations.

     (c) In the event that on any date the Administrative Agent calculates that the Available Facility A-1 Commitments, the Available Facility B Commitments the Available Facility C Commitments or the Available Facility D Commitments have become negative solely as a result of a change in the aggregate Dollar Equivalent of the Revolving Credit Loans under such Revolving Facility in euros or in Optional Currencies, by more than 5%, the Administrative Agent will give notice to such effect to the Borrower or any such Regular Subsidiary Borrower and the Lenders. Within five Business Days of receipt of any such notice, the Borrower or any such Regular Subsidiary Borrower will, as soon as practicable but in any event within five Business Days of receipt of such notice, first , make such repayments or prepayments of Revolving Credit Loans under the relevant Revolving Facility (together with interest accrued to the date of such repayment or prepayment), second , pay any Reimbursement Obligations under such Revolving Facility then outstanding and, third , cash collateralize any outstanding L/C Obligations under such Revolving Facility on terms reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent as shall be necessary to cause the Available Facility A-1 Commitments, the Available Facility B Commitments the Available Facility C Commitments or the Available Facility D Commitments, as applicable, not to be negative. If any such repayment or prepayment of a LIBOR Loan pursuant to this subsection occurs on a day which is not the last day of the then current Interest Period with respect thereto, the Borrower shall pay to the Lenders such amounts, if any, as may be required pursuant to subsection 2.21.

      2.25 Lending Installations .

     (a) Subject to subsection 2.1, 2.4 and 2.6 each Lender may book its Loans at any Lending Installation selected by such Lender and may change its Lending Installation from time to time, provided that (i) in the case of a Facility C Lender, that Lending Installation is an Eligible Australian Bank and (ii) in the case of a Facility D Lender, that Lending Installation is an Eligible Canadian Bank. All terms of this Agreement shall apply to any such Lending Installation and the Loans made hereunder shall be deemed held by each Lender for the benefit of such Lending Installation. Each Lender may, by written notice to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in accordance with subsection 10.2 and subject always to subsection 2.1, 2.4 and 2.6 designate replacement or additional Lending Installations through which Loans will be made by it and for whose account Loan payments are to be made.

     (b) Each Lender agrees that, upon the occurrence of any event giving rise to the operation of subsection 2.20 or 2.22(a) with respect to such Lender, it will, if requested by the Borrower, use reasonable efforts (subject to overall policy considerations of such Lender) to designate another Lending Installation for any Loans affected by such event with the object of avoiding the consequences of

 


 

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such event; provided , that such designation is made on terms that, in the sole judgment of such Lender, cause such Lender and any of its Lending Installations to suffer no economic, legal or regulatory disadvantage, and provided , further , that nothing in this subsection 2.25(b) shall affect or postpone any of the obligations of the Borrower or any Regular Subsidiary Borrower or the rights of any Lender pursuant to subsection 2.20 or 2.22(a).

      2.26 Notices to Lenders . All notices under this Section 2 to Lenders by the Borrower, any Regular Subsidiary Borrower or the Administrative Agent, and all payments by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders, shall be made to the respective Lending Installations of the Lenders maintaining the relevant Loans or Commitments.

      2.27 Incremental Term Facilities; Revolving Credit Commitment Increases and Changes; Incremental Term Loans .

     (a) The Borrower may at any time and from time to time after the Closing Date, by notice to the Administrative Agent (whereupon the Administrative Agent shall promptly deliver a copy to each of the Lenders), request (a) one or more additional tranches of term loans (the “ Incremental Term Loans ”) or (b) one or more increases in the amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments (each such increase, a “ Revolving Credit Commitment Increase ”), provided that (i) both at the time of any such request and upon the effectiveness of any Incremental Commitment Supplement referred to below, no Default or Event of Default shall exist and at the time that any such Incremental Term Loan is made (and after giving effect thereto) no Default or Event of Default shall exist and (ii) the Borrower shall be in compliance with each of the covenants set forth in subsections 6.9 and 6.10 determined on a pro forma basis as of the date of such Incremental Term Loan or Revolving Credit Commitment Increase and the last day of the most recent fiscal period of the Borrower for which financial statements have been provided, in each case, as if such Incremental Term Loans or Revolving Credit Commitment Increases, as applicable, had been outstanding on the last day of such fiscal quarter of the Borrower for testing compliance therewith and after giving effect to the use of the proceeds thereof. Each tranche of Incremental Term Loans and each Revolving Credit Commitment Increase shall be in an aggregate principal amount that is not less than $25,000,000 ( provided that such amount may be less than $25,000,000 if such amount represents all remaining availability under the limit set forth in paragraph (e) below). The Incremental Term Loans (a) shall rank pari passu in right of payment and of security with the Revolving Credit Loans and the Term Loan, (b) shall mature concurrently with the Term Loan, (c) shall have a weighted average life to maturity consistent with the weighted average life to maturity of the Term Loan as of the date such Incremental Term Loan is made and (d) except as set forth below, shall be treated substantially the same as the Term Loan (including with respect to mandatory and optional prepayments and scheduled amortization), provided that the interest rates applicable to the Incremental Term Loans shall be determined by the Borrower and the lenders thereof. Each notice from the Borrower pursuant to this subsection shall set forth the requested amount and proposed terms of the relevant Incremental Term Loans or Revolving Credit Commitment Increases. Incremental Term Loans may be made, and Revolving Credit Commitment Increases may be provided, by any existing Lender or by any other bank or other financial institution (any such other bank or other financial institution being called a “ New Lender ”); provided that the Administrative Agent shall have consented (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) to such Lender or New Lender making such Incremental Term Loans or providing such Revolving Credit Commitment Increases if such consent would be required under subsection 10.6 for an assignment of Loans or Revolving Credit Commitments, as applicable, to such Lender or New Lender. Commitments in respect of Incremental Term Loans and Revolving Credit Commitment Increases shall become Commitments (or in the case of a Revolving Credit Commitment Increase to be provided by an existing Revolving Credit Lender, an increase in such Lender’s applicable Revolving Credit Commitment) under this Agreement pursuant to an amendment (an “ Incremental Commitment Supplement ”) substantially in the Form of Exhibit E to this Agreement and, as appropriate,

 


 

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the other Loan Documents, executed by the Borrower, the Regular Subsidiary Borrowers (if applicable), each Lender agreeing to provide such Commitment, if any, each New Lender, if any, and the Administrative Agent. An Incremental Commitment Supplement may, without the consent of any other Lenders, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to effect the provisions of this subsection. .

     (b) At the request of the Borrower and with the consent of the Administrative Agent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), a Revolving Credit Lender may from time to time either (i) increase (including from zero) its Facility A-1 Commitment, Facility A-2 Commitment, Facility B Commitment, Facility C Commitment or Facility D Commitment (with a concomitant increase as appropriate in its Sterling Commitment, Canadian Commitment or Australian Commitment) or (ii) establish a new Revolving Facility (such as a “Facility E” or “Facility F”) and a related local facility with a commitment thereunder and, in either case, equivalently reduce its commitment under Facility A-1, Facility A-2, Facility B, Facility C or Facility D (with a concomitant reduction as appropriate in its Sterling Commitment, Canadian Commitment or Australian Commitment). Any such increase or establishment and equivalent reduction shall be evidenced by the execution and delivery by the Borrower, the Subsidiary Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and such Revolving Credit Lenders of documentation satisfactory to such parties providing for such increase, transfer or establishment and equivalent reduction and any amendments to this Section 2 and to the relevant annexes hereto (including the inclusion of a new annex) as are necessary or appropriate to afford such parties with the benefits of this Agreement and the rights and remedies hereunder for such increase or such new Revolving Facility and any related local facility as are comparable to the benefits hereof and the rights and remedies hereunder for the existing Revolving Facilities.

     (c) If, on the date upon which the Revolving Credit Commitment of any Revolving Credit Lender under any Revolving Facility is increased pursuant to subsection 2.27(a) or there is an increase in or establishment of a Revolving Facility and an equivalent reduction in any other Revolving Facility pursuant to subsection 2.27(b), there is an unpaid principal amount of Revolving Credit Loans under any Revolving Facility affected thereby the Borrower or any Regular Subsidiary Borrower in which such Revolving Credit Lender has agreed to participate, the principal outstanding amount of all such Revolving Credit Loans shall (A) in the case of such Revolving Credit Loans which are ABR Loans, be immediately prepaid by the Borrower or Subsidiary Borrower (but all such Revolving Credit Loans may, on the terms and conditions hereof, be reborrowed on such date on a ratable basis, based on the revised Revolving Credit Commitments as then in effect under the relevant Revolving Facilities) and (B) in the case of such Revolving Credit Loans which are LIBOR Loans, continue to remain outstanding (notwithstanding any other requirement in this Agreement that such Revolving Credit Loans be held ratably based on the revised Commitments under the relevant Revolving Facilities as then in effect) until the end of the then current Interest Period therefor, at which time such LIBOR Loans shall be paid by the Borrower or Subsidiary Borrower (but all such Revolving Credit Loans may, on the terms and conditions hereof, be reborrowed on such date on a ratable basis, based on the Revolving Facilities as then in effect).

     (d) The effectiveness of any Incremental Term Loans or increase or new Revolving Facilities permitted by this subsection 2.27 shall be subject to the satisfaction of each of the conditions set forth in subsection 5.2 and such other conditions as the Borrower and the other parties thereto shall agree.

     (e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this subsection 2.27, (i) in no event shall the sum of the Incremental Term Loans and Revolving Credit Commitment Increases exceed $200,000,000 in the aggregate (net of any Revolving Credit Commitment Increases or other increases that are consummated in connection with an accompanying optional reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitments in accordance with subsection 2.10(a), which increases shall be separate and disregarded in

 


 

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the calculation of such $200,000,000 maximum permitted amount) and (ii) no Lender shall have any obligation to make an Incremental Term Loan, increase its Revolving Credit Commitment under any Revolving Facility or provide a commitment under any new Revolving Facility unless it agrees to do so in its sole discretion. Each Incremental Commitment Supplement shall be deemed to be a supplement to this Agreement.

     SECTION 3. LETTER OF CREDIT FACILITIES

      3.1 L/C Commitment .

     (a) Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Issuing Lender, in reliance on the agreements of the other Lenders set forth in subsection 3.4(a), agrees to issue letters of credit (“ Letters of Credit ”) under any Revolving Facility for the account of the Borrower or any Regular Subsidiary Borrower on any Business Day during the Revolving Credit Commitment Period in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Issuing Lender; provided that the Issuing Lender shall not have any obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if, after giving effect to such issuance, (i) the L/C Obligations would exceed the L/C Commitment or (ii) the Available Facility A-1 Commitments, the Available Facility A-2 Commitments, the Available Facility B Commitments the Available Facility C Commitments or the Available Facility D Commitments would be negative. Each Letter of Credit shall (i) be denominated in Dollars, euros or in any Optional Currency, (ii) be either (x) a standby letter of credit (a “ Standby L/C ”) issued to support obligations of the Borrower or any Regular Subsidiary Borrower, contingent or otherwise, with an expiry date occurring not later than one year after such standby L/C was issued (which expiry date may be subject to one or more automatic extensions of one year or less unless 60-day notice, or such other notice as is satisfactory to the Borrower and the Issuing Lender, is given that any such extension shall not be effective) or (y) a documentary letter of credit in respect of the purchase of goods or services by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business with an expiry date occurring not later than one year after such documentary letter of credit was issued and, in the case of any such documentary letter of credit which is to be accepted by the Issuing Lender pending payment at a date after presentation of sight drafts, with a payment date no more than one year after such drafts were presented for acceptance (a “ Trade L/C ”) and (iii) expire no later than five days before the Revolving Credit Termination Date.

     (b) Each Standby L/C shall be subject to the International Standby Practices and each Trade L/C shall be subject to the Uniform Customs and, in each case, to the extent not inconsistent therewith, the laws of the State of New York.

     (c) The Issuing Lender shall at no time be obligated to issue any Letter of Credit hereunder if such issuance would conflict with, or cause the Issuing Lender or any L/C Participant to exceed any limits imposed by, any applicable Requirement of Law.

     (d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, each Letter of Credit outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement on the Closing Date shall be deemed to be issued and outstanding under this Agreement as of the Closing Date.

      3.2 Procedure for Issuance of Letters of Credit . The Borrower or any Regular Subsidiary Borrower may from time to time request that the Issuing Lender issue a Letter of Credit under any Revolving Facility by delivering to the Issuing Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) at its address for notices specified herein an Application therefor, completed to the satisfaction of the Issuing Lender, and such other certificates, documents and other papers and information as the Issuing Lender may reasonably request. Upon receipt of any Application, the Issuing Lender will process such

 


 

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Application and the certificates, documents and other papers and information delivered to it in connection therewith in accordance with its customary procedures and shall promptly issue the Letter of Credit requested thereby (but in no event shall the Issuing Lender be required to issue any Letter of Credit earlier than four Business Days after its receipt of the Application therefor and all such other certificates, documents and other papers and information relating thereto) by issuing the original of such Letter of Credit to the beneficiary thereof or as otherwise may be agreed by the Issuing Lender and the Borrower or any relevant Regular Subsidiary Borrower. The Issuing Lender shall furnish a copy of such Letter of Credit to the Borrower, to the Administrative Agent and to any relevant Regular Subsidiary Borrower promptly following the issuance thereof.

      3.3 Fees, Commissions and Other Charges .

     (a) The Borrower or the relevant Regular Subsidiary Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable account of the Issuing Lender and the L/C Participants under the relevant Revolving Facility, a letter of credit commission in Dollars with respect to each Letter of Credit issued by the Issuing Lender (i) in an amount equal to the Dollar Equivalent of such issuance and payment fees as have been agreed upon by the Borrower and the Issuing Lender and (ii) in an amount equal to the product of, on the date on which such commission is calculated, (A) the rate per annum equal to the Applicable Margin in respect of LIBOR Loans that are Revolving Credit Loans and (B) the Dollar Equivalent of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under each Letter of Credit (plus an additional 1/8 of 1% per annum which shall be payable for the account of the Issuing Lender). Such letter of credit commissions shall be payable in arrears on the last day of each March, June, September and December and shall be nonrefundable.

     (b) In addition to the foregoing fees and commissions, the Borrower or the relevant Regular Subsidiary Borrower shall pay or reimburse the Issuing Lender for such normal and customary costs and expenses as are incurred or charged by the Issuing Lender in issuing, effecting payment under, amending or otherwise administering any Letter of Credit issued by it.

     (c) The Administrative Agent shall, promptly following its receipt thereof, distribute to the Issuing Lender and the L/C Participants under the relevant Revolving Facility all fees and commissions received by the Administrative Agent for their respective accounts pursuant to this subsection 3.3.

      3.4 L/C Participation .

     (a) The Issuing Lender irrevocably agrees to grant and hereby grants to each L/C Participant under the relevant Revolving Facility, and, to induce the Issuing Lender to issue Letters of Credit hereunder, each such L/C Participant irrevocably agrees to accept and purchase and hereby accepts and purchases from the Issuing Lender, on the terms and conditions hereinafter stated, for such L/C Participant’s own account and risk an undivided interest equal to such L/C Participant’s ratable share of the Revolving Facility under which such Letter of Credit is to be issued in the Issuing Lender’s obligations and rights under each Letter of Credit issued hereunder under such Revolving Facility and the amount of each draft paid by the Issuing Lender thereunder. Each such L/C Participant unconditionally and irrevocably agrees with the Issuing Lender that, if a draft is paid under any such Letter of Credit for which the Issuing Lender is not reimbursed in full by the Borrower or the relevant Regular Subsidiary Borrower in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such L/C Participant shall pay to the Issuing Lender upon demand at the Issuing Lender’s address for notices specified herein an amount equal to such L/C Participant’s ratable share of the Revolving Facility under which such Letter of Credit was issued of the amount of such draft, or any part thereof, which is not so reimbursed.

 


 

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     (b) If any amount required to be paid by any L/C Participant under any Revolving Facility to the Issuing Lender pursuant to subsection 3.4(a) in respect of any unreimbursed portion of any payment made by the Issuing Lender under any Letter of Credit issued under such Revolving Facility is not paid to the Issuing Lender within three Business Days after the date such payment is due, such L/C Participant shall pay to the Issuing Lender on demand an amount equal to the product of (i) such amount, times (ii) the daily average Federal funds rate, as quoted by the Issuing Lender, during the period from and including the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the Issuing Lender, times (iii) a fraction the numerator of which is the number of days that elapse during such period and the denominator of which is 360. If any such amount required to be paid by any such L/C Participant pursuant to subsection 3.4(a) is not in fact made available to the Issuing Lender by such L/C Participant within three Business Days after the date such payment is due, the Issuing Lender shall be entitled to recover from such L/C Participant, on demand, such amount with interest thereon calculated from such due date at the rate per annum applicable to ABR Loans that are Revolving Credit Loans hereunder. A certificate of the Issuing Lender submitted to any L/C Participant with respect to any amounts owing under this subsection shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.

     (c) Whenever, at any time after the Issuing Lender has made payment under any Letter of Credit issued under any Revolving Facility and has received from any L/C Participant its ratable share of such payment in accordance with subsection 3.4(a), the Issuing Lender receives any payment related to such Letter of Credit (whether directly from the Borrower, the relevant Regular Subsidiary Borrower or otherwise), or any payment of interest on account thereof, the Issuing Lender will distribute to such L/C Participant its ratable share thereof; provided , however , that in the event that any such payment received by the Issuing Lender shall be required to be returned by the Issuing Lender, such L/C Participant shall return to the Issuing Lender the portion thereof previously distributed by the Issuing Lender to it.

      3.5 Reimbursement Obligation of the Borrower . The Borrower or the relevant Regular Subsidiary Borrower agrees to reimburse the Issuing Lender on each date on which the Issuing Lender notifies the Borrower or the relevant Regular Subsidiary Borrower of the date and amount of a draft presented under any Letter of Credit and paid by the Issuing Lender for the amount of (a) such draft so paid and (b) any taxes (other than Excluded Taxes), fees, charges or other costs or expenses incurred by the Issuing Lender in connection with such payment; provided that upon the acceleration of such reimbursement obligations in accordance with Section 8, the Borrower or the relevant Regular Subsidiary Borrower agrees to reimburse the Issuing Lender for the amount equal to the then maximum liability (whether direct or contingent) of the Issuing Lender and the L/C Participants under such Letter of Credit. Each such payment shall be made to the Issuing Lender, at its address for notices specified herein in the currency in which such Letter of Credit is denominated (except that, in the case of any Letter of Credit denominated in euros or any Optional Currency, in the event that such payment is not made to the Issuing Lender within three Business Days of the date of receipt by the Borrower or any relevant Regular Subsidiary Borrower of such notice, upon notice by the Issuing Lender to the Borrower or the relevant Regular Subsidiary Borrower, such payment shall be made in Dollars, in an amount equal to the Dollar Equivalent of the amount of such payment converted on the date of such notice into Dollars at the spot rate of exchange on such date) and in immediately available funds, on the date on which the Borrower or any relevant Regular Subsidiary Borrower (on behalf of itself or such Regular Subsidiary Borrower, as the case may be) receives such notice, if received prior to 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on a Business Day and otherwise on the next succeeding Business Day. Any conversion by the Issuing Lender of any payment to be made by the Borrower or any Regular Subsidiary Borrower in respect of any Letter of Credit denominated in euros or any Optional Currency into Dollars in accordance with this subsection 3.5 shall be conclusive and binding upon such Borrower or such relevant Regular Subsidiary Borrower and the Lenders in the absence of manifest error; provided that upon the request of any Lender, the Issuing Lender shall provide to such Lender a certificate including reasonably detailed information as to the calculation of such conversion.

 


 

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      3.6 Obligations Absolute . The Borrower’s and any relevant Regular Subsidiary Borrower’s obligations under this Section 3 shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances and irrespective of any set-off, counterclaim or defense to payment which the Borrower or any relevant Regular Subsidiary Borrower may have or have had against the Issuing Lender or any beneficiary of a Letter of Credit. The Borrower also agrees with the Issuing Lender that the Issuing Lender shall not be responsible for, and the Borrower’s or such relevant Regular Subsidiary Borrower’s Reimbursement Obligations under subsection 3.5 shall not be affected by, among other things, the validity or genuineness of documents or of any endorsements thereon, even though such documents shall in fact prove to be invalid, fraudulent or forged, or any dispute between or among the Borrower, any relevant Regular Subsidiary Borrower and any beneficiary of any Letter of Credit or any other party to which such Letter of Credit may be transferred or any claims whatsoever of the Borrower or relevant Regular Subsidiary Borrower against any beneficiary of such Letter of Credit or any such transferee. The Issuing Lender shall not be liable for any error, omission, interruption or delay in transmission, dispatch or delivery of any message or advice, however transmitted, in connection with any Letter of Credit issued by it, except for errors or omissions caused by the Issuing Lender’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Borrower and any relevant Regular Subsidiary Borrower agrees that any action taken or omitted by the Issuing Lender under or in connection with any Letter of Credit issued by it or the related drafts or documents, if done in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct and in accordance with the standards of care specified in the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of New York, shall be binding on the Borrower or any relevant Regular Subsidiary Borrower and shall not result in any liability of the Issuing Lender to the Borrower or any relevant Regular Subsidiary Borrower.

      3.7 Increased Costs . If the adoption of or any change in any law or regulation or in the interpretation thereof after the date hereof by any court or administrative or Governmental Authority charged with the administration thereof shall either (i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit or similar requirement against Letters of Credit issued by the Issuing Lender or participated in by the Lenders or (ii) impose on any Lender any other condition regarding any Letter of Credit, and the result of any event referred to in clauses (i) or (ii) above shall be to increase the cost to the Issuing Lender or any Lender of issuing or maintaining such Letter of Credit (or its participation therein, as the case may be) (which increase in cost shall be the result of the Issuing Lender’s or such Lender’s reasonable allocation of the aggregate of such cost increases resulting from such events), then, upon notice to it from the Issuing Lender or such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) certifying that (x) one of the events herein above described has occurred and the nature of such event, (y) the increased cost or reduced amount resulting from such event and (z) the additional amounts demanded by the Issuing Lender or such Lender, as the case may be, and a reasonably detailed explanation of the calculation thereof, the Borrower shall immediately pay to such Issuing Lender or such Lender, as the case may be, from time to time as specified by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, additional amounts which shall be sufficient to compensate such Issuing Lender or such Lender for such increased cost, together with interest on each such amount from the date demanded until payment in full thereof at the rate provided in subsection 3.3. A certificate as to the fact and amount of such increased cost incurred by the Issuing Lender or such Lender as a result of any event mentioned in clauses (i) or (ii) above, submitted by the Issuing Lender or such Lender to the Borrower, shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

      3.8 Letter of Credit Payments . If any draft in Dollars, euros or in any Optional Currency shall be presented for payment under any Letter of Credit, the Issuing Lender shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of the date and amount of the Dollars, euros or the Optional Currency thereof. The responsibility of the Issuing Lender to the Borrower in connection with any draft presented for payment under any Letter of Credit shall, in addition to any payment obligation expressly provided for in such Letter of Credit, be limited to determining that the documents (including each draft)

 


 

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delivered under such Letter of Credit in connection with such presentment are in conformity with such Letter of Credit.

     (a) Application . To the extent that any provision of any Application related to any Letter of Credit is inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall apply.

     (b) Purpose of the Letters of Credit . The Letters of Credit shall be used for any lawful purposes requested by the Borrower or any Regular Subsidiary Borrower.

          SECTION 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

          In order to induce the Lenders and the Administrative Agent to enter into this Agreement and to make the Loans and issue or participate in the Letters of Credit herein provided for, the Borrower hereby represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and to each Lender that:

           4.1 Financial Condition .

          (a) The unaudited pro forma consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at September 30, 2006 (including the notes thereto) (the “ Pro Forma Balance Sheet ”), copies of which have heretofore been furnished to each Lender, has been prepared giving effect (as if such events had occurred on such date) to (i) the consummation of the Refinancing and (ii) the payment of fees and expenses in connection with the Refinancing. The Pro Forma Balance Sheet has been prepared based on the best information available to the Borrower as of the date of delivery thereof, and presents fairly on a pro forma basis the estimated financial position of Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at September 30, 2006, assuming that the events specified in the preceding sentence had actually occurred at such date.

          (b) The audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at September 30, 2006 and the related consolidated statements of income and of cash flows for the fiscal year ended on such date, reported on by Deloitte & Touche LLP, copies of which have heretofore been delivered to each of the Lenders, are complete and correct and present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial condition of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at such respective dates, and the consolidated results of their operations and their consolidated cash flows for the fiscal year or fiscal period then ended. Such financial statements, including the related schedules and notes thereto, have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied consistently throughout the periods involved (except as approved by such accountants and as disclosed therein). Neither the Borrower nor any of its consolidated Subsidiaries had, at the date of the balance sheet referred to above, any material obligation, contingent liability or liability for taxes, or any long-term lease or unusual forward or long-term commitment, including without limitation, any interest rate or foreign currency swap or exchange transaction, which is not reflected in the foregoing statements or in Schedule 4.1. Since September 30, 2006 there has been no development or event which has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

           4.2 Corporate Existence; Compliance with Law . Each of the Borrower and its Material Subsidiaries (a) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, (b) has the corporate or other power and authority and the legal right to own and operate its property, to lease the property it leases and to conduct the business in which it is currently engaged, (c) is duly qualified as a foreign corporation or other applicable entity and in good standing under the laws of any jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of property or the conduct or

 


 

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proposed conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to so qualify would not, in any instance or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (d) is in compliance with all material Requirements of Law applicable to it or its business, provided that the provisions of this clause (d) do not restrict or limit the applicability of any knowledge or other qualification which is given in this Agreement in any other matter which constitutes a “Requirement of Law”.

      4.3 Corporate Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations . Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has the corporate or other power and authority and the legal right to make, deliver and perform this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party and to borrow hereunder (in the case of the Borrower and any Subsidiary Borrower) and has taken all corporate or other action necessary to be taken by it to authorize such actions. No consent, waiver or authorization of, filing with, or other act by or in respect of, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is required to be made or obtained by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries in connection with the borrowings hereunder or the execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party. This Agreement constitutes, and the other Loan Documents to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is a party when executed and delivered hereunder will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower and such Subsidiary, enforceable against the Borrower and such Subsidiary in accordance with their respective terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles (whether enforcement is sought by proceedings in equity or at law).

      4.4 No Legal Bar . The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the borrowings hereunder and the use of the proceeds thereof or of any Subordinated Debt do not violate any usury law applicable to the Borrower or any Subsidiary Borrower or any other Requirement of Law or Contractual Obligation of the Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries and do not result in, or require, the creation or imposition of any Lien on any of its or their respective properties or revenues pursuant to any such Requirement of Law or Contractual Obligation which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect except for Liens which may be required by the Existing Senior Subordinated Note Indenture.

      4.5 No Material Litigation . Except as set forth on Schedule 4.5, no litigation, investigation or proceeding of or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, threatened by or against the Borrower or