AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT
AGREEMENT
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,
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,
CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.,
as Co-Arranger and Joint Bookrunner
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Page
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SECTION 1.
DEFINITIONS
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1
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Defined
Terms
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1
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Other
Definitional Provisions
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26
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SECTION 2.
AMOUNT AND TERMS OF LOANS
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27
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Term
Commitments
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27
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Procedure for
Term Loan Borrowing
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27
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Repayment of
Term Loan
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27
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Revolving
Credit Commitment
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28
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Procedure for
Revolving Credit Borrowing
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29
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Swing Line
Commitments
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30
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Participation
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32
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Repayment of
Revolving Credit Loans; Evidence of Debt
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32
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Commitment Fee,
etc
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33
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Termination or
Reduction of Commitments
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33
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Optional
Prepayments
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34
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Mandatory
Prepayments
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35
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Cash
Collateralization of Letters of Credit
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36
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Conversion
Options
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36
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Interest Rate
and Payment Dates
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36
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Computation of
Interest and Fees
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37
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Inability to
Determine Interest Rate
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37
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Pro Rata
Treatment and Payments
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38
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Illegality
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39
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Requirements of
Law
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40
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Indemnity
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41
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Taxes
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41
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Use of
Proceeds
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43
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Controls on
Prepayment if Aggregate Revolving Extensions of Credit Exceed
Aggregate Revolving Credit Commitments
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43
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Lending
Installations
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44
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Notices to
Lenders
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45
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Incremental
Term Facilities; Revolving Credit Commitment Increases and Changes;
Incremental Term Loans
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45
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SECTION 3.
LETTER OF CREDIT FACILITIES
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47
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L/C
Commitment
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47
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Procedure for
Issuance of Letters of Credit
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47
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Fees,
Commissions and Other Charges
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48
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L/C
Participation
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48
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Reimbursement
Obligation of the Borrower
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49
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Obligations
Absolute
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50
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Increased
Costs
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50
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Letter of
Credit Payments
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50
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SECTION 4.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
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51
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Page
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Financial
Condition
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51
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Corporate
Existence; Compliance with Law
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51
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Corporate
Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations
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52
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No Legal
Bar
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52
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No Material
Litigation
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52
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No Burdensome
Restrictions
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52
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No
Default
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52
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Subsidiaries
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52
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Disclosure
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53
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Schedules
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53
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Federal
Regulations
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53
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Investment
Company Act; Other Regulations
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53
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Labor
Matters
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53
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ERISA
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53
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Title to Real
Property, Etc.
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54
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Taxes
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54
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Environmental
Matters
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54
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Intellectual
Property
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55
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Security
Documents
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55
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Solvency
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55
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SECTION 5.
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
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56
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Conditions to
Effectiveness of this Agreement
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56
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Conditions to
All Extensions of Credit
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58
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Additional
Conditions Applicable to Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers
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58
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SECTION 6.
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
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60
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Financial
Statements
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60
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Certificates;
Other Information
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60
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Payment of
Obligations
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62
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Compliance with
Laws
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62
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Conduct of
Business and Maintenance of Existence
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62
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Maintenance of
Property, Insurance
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62
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Inspection of
Property; Books and Records; Discussions
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62
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Notices
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62
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Maintenance of
Interest Coverage Ratio
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63
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Maintenance of
Leverage Ratio
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64
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Additional
Collateral, etc.
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64
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Environmental,
Health and Safety Matters
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66
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Foreign Pledge
Agreements
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67
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SECTION 7.
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
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67
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Limitation on
Liens
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68
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Limitation on
Contingent Obligations
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69
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Limitation on
Fundamental Changes
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69
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Limitation on
Acquisitions, Investments, Loans and Advances
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70
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Limitation on
Indebtedness
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71
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Limitation on
Restrictions on Subsidiary Distributions
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72
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Transactions
with Affiliates and Officers
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72
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Page
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Limitation on
Sale of Assets
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72
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Sale and
Leaseback
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73
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Fiscal
Year
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73
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Modifications
of Certain Debt Instruments
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73
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Negative Pledge
Clauses
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74
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Lines of
Business
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74
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Restricted
Payments
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74
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SECTION 8.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
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75
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SECTION 9. THE
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
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78
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Appointment
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78
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Delegation of
Duties
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78
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Exculpatory
Provisions
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78
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Reliance by
Administrative Agent
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79
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Notice of
Default
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79
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Non-Reliance on
Administrative Agent, Other Lenders and JPMCB
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79
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Indemnification
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80
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Administrative
Agent in Its Individual Capacity
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80
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Parallel
Debt
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80
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Successor
Administrative Agent
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81
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The Syndication
Agent and the Documentation Agents
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81
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SECTION 10.
MISCELLANEOUS
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82
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Amendments and
Waivers
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82
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Notices
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83
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No Waiver;
Cumulative Remedies
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85
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Survival of
Representations, Warranties and Indemnities
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85
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Payment of
Expenses and Taxes
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85
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Successors and
Assigns; Participations and Assignments
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86
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Adjustments;
Set-off
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88
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Enforceability;
Usury
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89
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Judgment
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90
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Counterparts
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90
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Governing Law;
No Third Party Rights
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90
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Headings
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91
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Submission To
Jurisdiction; Waivers
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91
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Acknowledgments
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92
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Confidentiality
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92
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WAIVERS OF
JURY TRIAL
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93
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Severability
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93
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USA PATRIOT
Act
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93
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-iii-
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Pricing
Grid
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Sterling
Borrower Provisions
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Australian
Borrower Provisions
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Canadian
Borrower Provisions
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Lenders;
Revolving Credit Commitments
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Non-Guarantor
Domestic Subsidiaries
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Certain
Financial Information
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Litigation
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Subsidiaries
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Certain
Transactions
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Environmental
Matters
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Certain
Filings
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Perfection of
Foreign Stock Pledges
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Certain
Filings
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Foreign Pledge
Agreements
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Existing Liens
and Encumbrances
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Existing
Guarantees
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Existing
Indebtedness
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Sale and
Leaseback
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Notices
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Form of
Assignment and Acceptance
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Form of Amended
and Restated Guarantee and Collateral Agreement
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Form of Swing
Line Loan Participation Certificate
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Form of U.S.
Tax Compliance Certificate
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Form of
Incremental Commitment Supplement
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Form of Foreign
Pledge Agreement Acknowledgment and Confirmation
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Form of Opinion
of Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP
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Form of Opinion
of Counsel to Foreign Subsidiary Borrowers
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Form of
Borrowing Certificate
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Form of New
Domestic Subsidiary Certificate
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Form of Joinder
Agreement
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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 ”).
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:
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.
“
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
5
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.
6
“
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.
7
“
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.
8
“
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).
9
“
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.
10
“
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
”.
11
“
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.
12
“ 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.
13
“ 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
14
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.
15
“ 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
16
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 ”.
17
“ 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.
18
“
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,
19
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.
20
“
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.
21
“
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.
22
“
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
23
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
|
|
|
|
$
|
1,400,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
1,400,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
2,800,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
7,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
7,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
7,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
7,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
35,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
35,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
35,000,000
|
|
28
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Installment
|
|
Principal Amount
|
|
|
|
$
|
35,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
42,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
42,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
42,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
42,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
54,600,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
54,600,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
54,600,000
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
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
29
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 .
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(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
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.
(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
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
35
$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 .
37
(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
38
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.
39
(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
40
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.
41
(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.
(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
42
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,
43
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
.
44
(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
45
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,
46
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
47
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
(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
48
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.
(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.
49
(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.
50
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)
51
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
52
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
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