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CREDIT AGREEMENT
Dated as of
October 31, 2007
Among
HUBBELL INCORPORATED,
HUBBELL CAYMAN
LIMITED,
HUBBELL INVESTMENTS
LIMITED,
THE LENDERS PARTY
HERETO,
BANK OF AMERICA,
N.A.,
CITBANK, N.A.,
U.S. BANK NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION and
WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION
as Syndication Agents
and
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK,
N.A.,
as Administrative
Agent
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES
INC.,
as Sole Lead Arranger and
Bookrunner
CH1 3990315v.9
1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I
Definitions and
Accounting Terms
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SECTION 1.01.
SECTION 1.02.
SECTION 1.03.
SECTION 1.04.
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Definitions
Classification of Loans and Borrowings
Terms Generally
Accounting Terms; GAAP |
ARTICLE II
The Credits
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SECTION 2.01.
SECTION 2.02.
SECTION 2.03.
SECTION 2.04.
SECTION 2.05.
SECTION 2.06.
SECTION 2.07.
SECTION 2.08.
SECTION 2.09.
SECTION 2.10.
SECTION 2.11.
SECTION 2.12.
SECTION 2.13.
SECTION 2.14.
SECTION 2.15.
SECTION 2.16.
SECTION 2.17.
SECTION 2.18.
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Commitments
Loans and Borrowings
Requests for Revolving Borrowings
Competitive Bid Procedure
Funding of Borrowings
Interest Elections
Termination and Reduction of Commitments
Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt
Prepayment of Loans
Fees
Interest
Alternate Rate of Interest
Increased Costs
Break Funding Payments
Taxes
Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Setoffs
Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders
Increase in Commitments |
ARTICLE III
Conditions Precedent to
Loans
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SECTION 3.01.
SECTION 3.02.
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Effective Date
Each Borrowing |
ARTICLE IV
Representations and
Warranties
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SECTION 4.01.
SECTION 4.02.
SECTION 4.03.
SECTION 4.04.
SECTION 4.05.
SECTION 4.06.
SECTION 4.07.
SECTION 4.08.
SECTION 4.09.
SECTION 4.10.
SECTION 4.11.
SECTION 4.12.
SECTION 4.13.
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Organization and Good Standing
Due Authorization
No Conflicts
Consents
Enforceable Obligations
Financial Condition
No Default
No Material Litigation
Taxes
Compliance with Law
ERISA
Investment Company
Environmental Laws |
ARTICLE V
Affirmative Covenants
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SECTION 5.01.
SECTION 5.02.
SECTION 5.03.
SECTION 5.04.
SECTION 5.05.
SECTION 5.06.
SECTION 5.07.
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Information Covenants
Books and Records; Communication with Accountants
Compliance with Law
Payment of Taxes
Insurance
ERISA
Use of Proceeds |
ARTICLE VI
Negative Covenants
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SECTION 6.01.
SECTION 6.02.
SECTION 6.03.
SECTION 6.04.
SECTION 6.05.
SECTION 6.06.
SECTION 6.07.
SECTION 6.08.
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Net Worth
Indebtedness
Consolidation, Merger
Transfer of Assets
Transactions with Affiliates
Liens
Swap Agreements
Subsidiary Borrower |
ARTICLE VII
Events of Default
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SECTION 7.01. Events of Default |
ARTICLE VIII
The Administrative
Agent
ARTICLE IX
Guarantee
ARTICLE X
Miscellaneous
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SECTION 10.01.
SECTION 10.02.
SECTION 10.03.
SECTION 10.04.
SECTION 10.05.
SECTION 10.06.
SECTION 10.07.
SECTION 10.08.
SECTION 10.09.
SECTION 10.10.
SECTION 10.11.
SECTION 10.12.
SECTION 10.13.
SECTION 10.14.
SECTION 10.15.
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Notices
Waivers; Amendments
Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver
Successors and Assigns
Survival
Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness
Severability
Right of Setoff
Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process
WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL
Headings
Confidentiality
Interest Rate Limitation
USA Patriot Act
Judgment |
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EXHIBITS
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Exhibit A
Exhibit B-1
Exhibit B-2
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Form of Assignment and Assumption
Form of Opinion of the Borrowers’ General Counsel
Form of Opinion of the Borrowers’ Special U.S. Counsel Latham
& Watkins LLP |
Exhibit B-3 Form of
Opinion of the Borrowers’ Special Cayman Counsel Charles
Adams Ritchie & Duckworth
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| Exhibit C |
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Form of Financial
Covenant Compliance Certificate |
| Exhibit D |
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Form of Responsible Party
Certificate |
| Exhibit E-1 |
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Form of Revolving Loan
Promissory Note |
| Exhibit E-2 |
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Form of Competitive Loan
Promissory Note |
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SCHEDULES
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Schedule 2.01
Schedule 4.08
Schedule 6.02
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Commitments
Litigation
Indebtedness |
2
CREDIT
AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”) dated as of
October 31, 2007, among HUBBELL INCORPORATED, HUBBELL CAYMAN
LIMITED, HUBBELL INVESTMENTS LIMITED, the Lenders party hereto and
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent.
The
parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
Definitions and
Accounting Terms
SECTION
1.01. Definitions. As used herein, the following terms shall
have the meanings herein specified unless the context otherwise
requires:
“
ABR ”, when used in reference to any Loan or
Borrowing, refers to a Loan, or the Loans comprising such
Borrowing, bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to
the Alternate Base Rate.
“
Adjusted LIBO Rate ” means, with respect to any
Eurocurrency Borrowing for any Interest Period, an interest rate
per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/16 of 1%)
equal to (a) the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period multiplied
by (b) the Statutory Reserve Rate.
“
Administrative Agent ” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
(including its branches and affiliates), in its capacity as
administrative agent for the Lenders hereunder.
“
Administrative Questionnaire ” means an Administrative
Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.
“
Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any
other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or
under direct or indirect common control with such Person.
“
Agreed Currencies ” means (i) Dollars,
(ii) euro, (iii) Pounds Sterling, (iv) Canadian
Dollars and (v) and any other Foreign Currency agreed to by
the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders.
“
Alternate Base Rate ” means, for any day, a rate per
annum equal to the greater of the Prime Rate in effect on such day
and (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day
plus 1/2 of 1%. Any change in
the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate or the
Federal Funds Effective Rate shall be effective from and including
the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate or the Federal
Funds Effective Rate, respectively.
“
Applicable Facility Fee Rate ” means, for any day that
percent per annum set forth below opposite the Debt Ratings in
effect on such day:
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Debt Ratings
(S&P/Fitch/Moody’s)
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Applicable
Facility Fee Rate |
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Level 1
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0.040 |
% |
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AA- or higher/AA- or
higher/Aa3 or
higher
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Level 2
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0.045 |
% |
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A+/A+/A1
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Level 3
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0.050 |
% |
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A/A/A2
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Level 4
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0.060 |
% |
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A-/A-/A3
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Level 5
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0.080 |
% |
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BBB+/BBB+/Baa1
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Level 6
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0.100 |
% |
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BBB or lower/BBB or
lower/Baa2 or
lower
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“
Applicable LIBOR Interest Addition ” means, for any
day that percent per annum set forth below opposite the Debt
Ratings in effect on such day:
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Debt Ratings
(S&P/Fitch/Moody’s)
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Applicable LIBOR
Interest Addition |
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Level 1
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0.110 |
% |
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AA- or higher/AA- or
higher/Aa3 or
higher
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Level 2
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0.130 |
% |
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A+/A+/A1
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Level 3
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0.150 |
% |
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A/A/A2
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Level 4
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0.190 |
% |
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A-/A-/A3
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Level 5
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0.270 |
% |
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BBB+/BBB+/Baa1
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Level 6
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0.350 |
% |
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BBB or lower/BBB or
lower/Baa2 or
lower
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A utilization increase will
be applied to the Applicable LIBOR Interest Addition at a rate of
0.05% per annum on the outstanding principal amount of all Loans
under this Agreement at any time that the outstanding principal
amount of all such Loans exceeds 50% of the total Commitments
hereunder. The utilization increase will be calculated on the basis
of the actual number of days during which the outstanding principal
amount of all Loans under this Agreement exceeds 50% of the total
Commitments hereunder over a 360-day year. The utilization increase
will be payable in arrears at the end of each calendar quarter and
upon termination of the Commitments.
“
Applicable Percentage ” means, with respect to any
Lender, the percentage of the total Commitments represented by such
Lender’s Commitment. If the Commitments have terminated or
expired, the Applicable Percentages shall be determined based upon
the Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any
assignments.
“
Approved Fund ” has the meaning assigned to such term
in Section 10.04.
“
Approximate Equivalent Amount ” of any currency with
respect to any amount of Dollars shall mean the Equivalent Amount
of such currency with respect to such amount of Dollars on or as of
such date, rounded up to the nearest amount of such currency as
determined by the Administrative Agent from time to time.
“
Assignment and Assumption ” means an assignment and
assumption entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the
consent of any party whose consent is required by
Section 10.04), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in
the form of Exhibit A or any other form approved by the
Administrative Agent.
“
Availability Period ” means the period from and
including the Effective Date to but excluding the earlier of the
Maturity Date and the date of termination of the Commitments.
“
Board ” means the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System of the United States of America.
“
Borrowers ” means the Company and the Subsidiary
Borrowers.
“
Borrowing ” means (a) Revolving Loans to the same
Borrower of the same Type, made, converted or continued on the same
date and, in the case of Eurocurrency Loans, as to which a single
Interest Period is in effect or (b) a Competitive Loan or
group of Competitive Loans to the same Borrower of the same Type
made on the same date and as to which a single Interest Period is
in effect.
“
Borrowing Request ” means a request by a Borrower for
a Revolving Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03.
“
Business Day ” means any day that is not a Saturday,
Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are
authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided
that, when used in connection with a Eurocurrency Loan, the term
“ Business Day ” shall also exclude
(i) with respect to any Eurocurrency Loans denominated in
Dollars, any day on which banks are not open for dealings in Dollar
deposits in the London interbank market and (ii) with respect
to any Eurocurrency Loans denominated in a Foreign Currency, any
day on which banks are not open for dealings in such Foreign
Currency in the principal financial center of the country in which
payment or purchase of such Foreign Currency can be made (and, if
the Borrowings which are the subject of a borrowing, drawing,
payment, reimbursement or rate selection are denominated in euro,
the term “Business Day” shall also exclude any day on
which the TARGET payment system is not open for the settlement of
payments in euro).
“
Canadian Dollars ” means the lawful currency of
Canada.
“
Capital Lease Obligations ” of any Person means the
obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any
lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or
personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are
required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a
balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and the amount of such
obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in
accordance with GAAP.
“
Change in Law ” means (a) the adoption of any
law, rule or regulation after the date of this Agreement,
(b) any change in any law, rule or regulation or in the
interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority
after the date of this Agreement or (c) compliance by any Lender
(or, for purposes of Section 2.13(b), by any lending office of
such Lender or by such Lender’s holding company, if any) with
any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the
force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after
the date of this Agreement.
“
Class ”, when used in reference to any Loan or
Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising
such Borrowing, are Revolving Loans or Competitive Loans.
“
CLO ” has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 10.04.
“
Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended from time to time.
“
Commitment ” means, with respect to each Lender, the
commitment of such Lender to make Revolving Loans hereunder,
expressed as an amount representing the maximum aggregate amount of
such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure hereunder, as such
commitment may be (a) reduced or terminated from time to time
pursuant to Section 2.07, (b) increased from time to time
pursuant to Section 2.18 and (c) reduced or increased from
time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant
to Section 10.04. The initial amount of each Lender’s
Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01, or in the Assignment and
Assumption pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its
Commitment, as applicable. The initial aggregate amount of the
Lenders’ Commitments is $250,000,000.
“
Company ” means Hubbell Incorporated, a Connecticut
corporation.
“
Competitive Bid ” means an offer by a Lender to make a
Competitive Loan in accordance with Section 2.04.
“
Competitive Bid Rate ” means, with respect to any
Competitive Bid, the Margin or the Fixed Rate, as applicable,
offered by the Lender making such Competitive Bid.
“
Competitive Bid Request ” means a request by any
Borrower for Competitive Bids in accordance with
Section 2.04.
“
Competitive Loan ” means a Loan made pursuant to
Section 2.04.
“
Computation Date ” is defined in
Section 2.19.
“
Consistent Basis ” means, with regard to the
application of accounting principles, accounting principles
consistent in all material respects with the accounting principles
used and applied in preparation of the audited financial statements
previously delivered to the Lenders and referred to in
Section 4.06, except as to changes required or permitted by
GAAP.
“
Continuing Directors ” means the directors of the
Company on the Effective Date, and each other director, if, in each
case, such other director’s nomination is recommended by at
least 66 ?% of the then Continuing Directors.
“
Controlled Group ” means (i) the controlled group
of corporations as defined in Section 414(b) of the Code and the
applicable regulations thereunder, or (ii) the group of trades
or businesses under common control as defined in Section 414(c) of
the Code and the applicable regulations thereunder, of which the
Company is a part or may become a part.
“
Debt Ratings ” means, as of any date of determination,
the rating as announced by Standard & Poor’s Ratings
Group, Inc. (“ S&P ”), Fitch Ratings
(“ Fitch ”) and Moody’s Investors
Services, Inc. (“ Moody’s ”) of
(a) the
Company’s senior unsecured long-term indebtedness for
borrowed money that is not Guaranteed by any other Person or
subject to any other credit enhancement; or
(b) if the
applicable rating agency does not have a rating in effect with
respect to the Company’s debt referred to in the foregoing
clause (a), the credit facility provided for herein or, if no such
rating is in effect, the rating of the Company’s other senior
unsecured debt securities;
provided that, if
the applicable Debt Ratings announced by S&P, Fitch and
Moody’s fall within different levels, the middle Debt Rating
shall govern for the purposes of determining the Applicable
Facility Fee Rate and the Applicable LIBOR Interest Addition
(provided that if two of such Debt Ratings fall within the same
level (the “majority level”), the majority level shall
govern for the purposes of determining the Applicable Facility Fee
Rate and the Applicable LIBOR Interest Addition. If any of
Moody’s, S&P or Fitch shall not have in effect a Debt
Rating (other than by reason of the circumstances described in the
next succeeding sentence), then the higher Debt Rating of the two
remaining rating agencies which have a Debt Rating in effect shall
govern for purposes of determining the Applicable Facility Fee Rate
and the Applicable LIBOR Interest Addition unless the Debt Ratings
are more than one level apart, in which case the level one level
lower than the higher Debt Rating shall govern for purposes of
determining the Applicable Facility Fee Rate and the Applicable
LIBOR Interest Addition, and if only one of Moody’s, S&P
or Fitch has in effect a Debt Rating (other than by reason of the
circumstances described in the next succeeding sentence), then the
Debt Rating of the rating agency which has a Debt Rating in effect
shall govern for purposes of determining the Applicable Facility
Fee Rate and the Applicable LIBOR Interest Addition. If the rating
system of Moody’s, S&P or Fitch shall materially change,
or if each such rating agency shall cease to be in the business of
rating corporate debt obligations or shall not have in effect a
Debt Rating, the Borrowers and the Lenders shall negotiate in good
faith to amend this definition to reflect such changed rating
system or the unavailability of ratings from such rating agencies,
and, pending the effectiveness of any such amendment, the Debt
Ratings shall be determined by reference to the ratings most
recently in effect prior to such change or cessation;
provided further that after 90 days, if no such
amendment becomes effective, the Applicable Facility Fee Rate shall
be 0.100% per annum and any Eurocurrency Loan then outstanding
shall convert to an ABR Loan at the end of the applicable Interest
Period. Any change in the Debt Rating shall be effective as of the
date on which it is first announced by the applicable rating agency
and notice of such change shall be provided by the Company to the
Administrative Agent no more than five Business Days after the date
of such announcement.
“
Default ” means any event or condition which
constitutes an Event of Default or which upon notice, lapse of time
or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of
Default.
“
Dollar Amount ” of any currency at any date shall mean
(i) the amount of such currency if such currency is Dollars or
(ii) the equivalent in such currency of Dollars if such
currency is a Foreign Currency, calculated on the basis of the
Exchange Rate for such currency, on or as of the most recent
Computation Date provided for in Section 2.19.
“
Dollars ” and the symbol “$” means dollars
constituting legal tender for the payment of public and private
debts in the United States of America.
“
Effective Date ” means the date on which the
conditions specified in Section 3.01 are satisfied (or waived
in accordance with Section 10.02).
“
Environmental Laws ” means any applicable federal,
state or local statute, law, ordinance, code, rule, regulation,
order, decree, permit or license regulating, relating to, or
imposing liability or standards of conduct concerning, any
environmental matters.
“
Equivalent Amount ” of any currency with respect to
any amount of Dollars at any date shall mean the equivalent in such
currency of such amount of Dollars, calculated on the basis of the
arithmetical mean of the buy and sell spot rates of exchange of the
Person serving as the Administrative Agent for such other currency
at 11:00 a.m., London time, on the date on or as of which such
amount is to be determined.
“
ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the regulations
promulgated and the rulings issued thereunder.
“
ERISA Affiliate ” means each person (as defined in
Section 3(9) of ERISA) which, together with the Company or any
Subsidiary, would be deemed to be a member of the same Controlled
Group.
“
EU ” means the European Union.
“
euro ” and/or “ EUR ” means the
single currency of the participating member states of the EU.
“
Eurocurrency ”, when used in reference to a currency
means an Agreed Currency and when used in reference to any Loan or
Borrowing, means that such Loan, or the Loans comprising such
Borrowing, bears interest at a rate determined by reference to the
Adjusted LIBO Rate (or, in the case of a Competitive Loan, the LIBO
Rate).
“
Eurocurrency Payment Office ” of the Administrative
Agent shall mean, for each Foreign Currency, until otherwise
specified by the Administrative Agent to the Company and each
Lender, the Administrative Agent’s London branch.
“
Event of Default ” has the meaning specified in
Article VII.
“
Exchange Rate ” means, on any day, with respect to any
Foreign Currency, the rate at which such Foreign Currency may be
exchanged into Dollars, as set forth at approximately 11:00 a.m.,
Local Time, on such date on the Reuters World Currency Page for
such Foreign Currency. In the event that such rate does not appear
on any Reuters World Currency Page, the Exchange Rate with respect
to such Foreign Currency shall be determined by reference to such
other publicly available service for displaying exchange rates as
may be reasonably selected by the Administrative Agent or, in the
event no such service is selected, such Exchange Rate shall instead
be calculated on the basis of the arithmetical mean of the buy and
sell spot rates of exchange of the Person serving as the
Administrative Agent for such Foreign Currency on the London market
at 11:00 a.m., Local Time, on such date for the purchase of
Dollars with such Foreign Currency, for delivery two
(2) Business Days later; provided , that if at the time
of any such determination, for any reason, no such spot rate is
being quoted, the Administrative Agent, after consultation with the
Borrower, may use any reasonable method it deems appropriate to
determine such rate, and such determination shall be conclusive
absent manifest error.
“
Existing Credit Agreement ” means that certain credit
agreement, dated as of October 20, 2004 and as amended and restated
as of December 12, 2005, by and among Hubbell Incorporated,
and Hubbell Cayman Limited, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan
Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent thereunder, as the same
may have been amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified
prior to the date hereof.
“
Excluded Taxes ” means, with respect to the
Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other recipient of any
payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any
Borrower hereunder, (a) income or franchise taxes imposed on
(or measured by) its net income by the United States of America, or
by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such recipient is
organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the
case of any Lender, in which its applicable lending office is
located, (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United
States of America or any similar tax imposed by any other
jurisdiction in which any Borrower is located and (c) in the
case of a Foreign Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a
request by any Borrower under Section 2.17(b)), any
withholding tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign
Lender at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party to this
Agreement (or designates a new lending office) or is attributable
to such Foreign Lender’s failure to comply with
Section 2.15(e), except to the extent that such Foreign Lender
(or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation
of a new lending office (or assignment), to receive additional
amounts from the Borrowers with respect to such withholding tax
pursuant to Section 2.15(a).
“
Federal Funds Effective Rate ” means, for any day, the
weighted average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100
of 1%) of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with
members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds
brokers, as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the
Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so
published for any day that is a Business Day, the average (rounded
upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the quotations
for such day for such transactions received by the Administrative
Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing
selected by it.
“
Fixed Rate ” means, with respect to any Competitive
Loan (other than a Eurocurrency Competitive Loan), the fixed rate
of interest per annum specified by the Lender making such
Competitive Loan in its related Competitive Bid.
“
Fixed Rate Loan ” means a Competitive Loan bearing
interest at a Fixed Rate.
“
Foreign Currencies ” means Agreed Currencies other
than Dollars.
“
Foreign Lender ” means, with respect to any Borrower,
any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other
than that in which such Borrower is located. For purposes of this
definition, the United States of America, each State thereof and
the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single
jurisdiction.
“
GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles
in the United States of America.
“
Governmental Authority ” means the government of the
United States of America, any other nation or any political
subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency,
authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or
other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing,
regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining
to government.
“
Guarantee ” of or by any Person (the “
guarantor ”) means any obligation, contingent or
otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic
effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any
other Person (the “ primary obligor ”) in any
manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any
obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to
purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or
payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation or to purchase
(or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security
for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease property,
securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of
such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof,
(c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other
financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor
so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or
other obligation or (d) as an account party in respect of any
letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such
Indebtedness or obligation; provided that the term Guarantee
shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the
ordinary course of business.
“
Indebtedness ” of any Person means, without
duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed
money or with respect to deposits or advances of any kind,
(b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds,
debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations
of such Person upon which interest charges are customarily paid,
(d) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or
other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by
such Person, (e) all obligations of such Person in respect of
the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding
current accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of
business), (f) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for
which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right,
contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property
owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness
secured thereby has been assumed, (g) all Guarantees by such
Person of Indebtedness of others, (h) all Capital Lease
Obligations of such Person, (i) all obligations, contingent or
otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters
of credit and letters of guaranty, (j) all obligations,
contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of
bankers’ acceptances, (k) all obligations of such Person
in respect of Swap Agreements and (l) all obligations of such
Person to make lease payments or other payments under any
“synthetic lease”. The Indebtedness of any Person shall
include the Indebtedness of any other entity (including any
partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the
extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such
Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with
such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness
provide that such Person is not liable therefor.
“
Indemnified Taxes ” means Taxes other than Excluded
Taxes.
“
Intellectual Property ” means all intellectual and
similar property, including inventions, designs, patents, patent
registrations and applications, trademarks, trademark registrations
and applications, trade dress, service marks, copyrights, copyright
registrations and applications, know-how and trade secrets.
“
Interest Election Request ” means a request by any
Borrower to convert or continue a Revolving Borrowing in accordance
with Section 2.06.
“
Interest Payment Date ” means (a) with respect to
any ABR Loan, the last day of each March, June, September and
December and the Maturity Date, (b) with respect to any
Eurocurrency Loan, the last day of the Interest Period applicable
to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a
Eurocurrency Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three
months’ duration, each day prior to the last day of such
Interest Period that occurs at intervals of three months’
duration after the first day of such Interest Period and the
Maturity Date and (c) with respect to any Fixed Rate Loan, the
last day of the Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of
which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Fixed Rate
Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than 90 days’
duration (unless otherwise specified in the applicable Competitive
Bid Request), each day prior to the last day of such Interest
Period that occurs at intervals of 90 days’ duration
after the first day of such Interest Period, and any other dates
that are specified in the applicable Competitive Bid Request as
Interest Payment Dates with respect to such Borrowing.
“
Interest Period ” means (a) with respect to any
Eurocurrency Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such
Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the
calendar month that is one, two, three or six months (or, with the
consent of each Lender, nine or twelve months) thereafter, as the
applicable Borrower may elect and (b) with respect to any
Fixed Rate Borrowing, the period (which shall not be less than
seven days or more than 360 days) commencing on the date of
such Borrowing and ending on the date specified in the applicable
Competitive Bid Request; provided that (i) if any
Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such
Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business
Day unless, in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing only, such next
succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in
which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding
Business Day and (ii) any Interest Period pertaining to a
Eurocurrency Borrowing that commences on the last Business Day of a
calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically
corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest
Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar
month of such Interest Period. For purposes hereof, the date of a
Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is
made and, in the case of a Revolving Borrowing, thereafter shall be
the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of
such Borrowing.
“
Lenders ” means the Persons listed on
Schedule 2.01 and any other Person that shall have become a
party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption, other than
any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an
Assignment and Assumption.
“
LIBO Rate ” means, with respect to any Eurocurrency
Borrowing for any Interest Period, the rate appearing on, in the
case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in Dollars, Reuters
BBA Libor Rates Page 3750 and, in the case of any Eurocurrency
Borrowing denominated in a Foreign Currency, the appropriate page
of such service which displays British Bankers Association Interest
Settlement Rates for deposits in such Foreign Currency (or, in each
case, on any successor or substitute page of such service, or any
successor to or substitute for such service, providing rate
quotations comparable to those currently provided on such page of
such service, as determined by the Administrative Agent from time
to time for purposes of providing quotations of interest rates
applicable to deposits in the relevant Agreed Currency in the
London interbank market) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London
time, two (2) Business Days prior to (or, in the case of Loans
denominated in Pounds Sterling, on the day of) the commencement of
such Interest Period, as the rate for deposits in the relevant
Agreed Currency with a maturity comparable to such Interest Period.
In the event that such rate is not available at such time for any
reason, then the “ LIBO Rate ” with respect to
such Eurocurrency Borrowing for such Interest Period shall be the
rate at which deposits in the relevant Agreed Currency in an
Equivalent Amount of $5,000,000 and for a maturity comparable to
such Interest Period are offered by the principal London office of
the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds in the
London interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m., London
time, two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such
Interest Period.
“
Lien ” means any interest in property securing any
obligation owed to, or a claim by, a Person other than the owner of
the property, and including but not limited to the lien or security
interest arising from a mortgage, encumbrance, pledge or security
agreement. For the purposes of this Agreement, the Company and any
Subsidiary shall be deemed to be the owner of any property which it
has acquired or holds subject to a conditional sale agreement,
financing lease, or other arrangement pursuant to which title to
the property has been retained by or vested in some other Person
for security purposes.
“
Loan ” means a loan made by a Lender to a Borrower
pursuant to this Agreement.
“
Local Time ” means (i) New York City time in the
case of a Loan or Borrowing denominated in Dollars to the relevant
Borrower and (ii) local time at the place of the relevant Loan
or Borrowing (or such earlier local time as is necessary for the
relevant funds to be received and transferred to the Administrative
Agent for same day value on the date the relevant reimbursement
obligation is due) in the case of a Loan or Borrowing which is
denominated in a Foreign Currency.
“
Margin ” means, with respect to any Competitive Loan
bearing interest at a rate based on the LIBO Rate, the marginal
rate of interest, if any, to be added to or subtracted from the
LIBO Rate to determine the rate of interest applicable to such
Loan, as specified by the Lender making such Loan in its related
Competitive Bid.
“
Material Adverse Effect ” means a material adverse
effect on (i) the business, assets, operations or condition
(financial or otherwise) of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken
as a whole, (ii) the ability of a Borrower to perform its
payment obligations under this Agreement or (iii) the validity
or enforceability of this Agreement, or the rights and remedies of
the Lenders hereunder.
“
Maturity Date ” means October 31, 2012.
“
Multiemployer Plan ” means an employee pension benefit
plan within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA to
which any member of the Controlled Group is then making or accruing
an obligation to make contributions or has within the preceding
three plan years made contributions, including for these purposes
any Person which ceased to be a member of the Controlled Group
during such three year period.
“
Net Worth ” means, at any date, stockholders’
equity of the Company at such time determined in accordance with
GAAP applied on a Consistent Basis.
“
Other Taxes ” means any and all present or future
stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes,
charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder
or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise
with respect to, this Agreement.
“
Overnight Foreign Currency Rate ” means, for any
amount payable in a Foreign Currency, the rate of interest per
annum as determined by the Administrative Agent at which overnight
or weekend deposits in the relevant currency (or if such amount due
remains unpaid for more than three Business Days, then for such
other period of time as the Administrative Agent may elect) for
delivery in immediately available and freely transferable funds
would be offered by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent
to major banks in the interbank market upon request of such major
banks for the relevant currency as determined above and in an
amount comparable to the unpaid principal amount of the related
Borrowing, plus any taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions,
charges or withholdings imposed upon, or charged to, the
Administrative Agent by any relevant correspondent bank in respect
of such amount in such relevant currency.
“
Participant ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 10.04.
“
PBGC ” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
established under ERISA, and any successor thereto.
“
Permitted Encumbrances ” means:
(a) Liens
imposed by law for taxes that are not yet due or are being
contested in compliance with Section 5.04;
(b) carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’,
materialmen’s, repairmen’s and other like Liens imposed
by law, arising in the ordinary course of business;
(c) pledges
and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in compliance
with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance or other
social security laws or regulations (other than ERISA);
(d) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade
contracts, leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds,
performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each
case in the ordinary course of business; and
(e) easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way and similar
encumbrances on real property imposed by law or arising in the
ordinary course of business that do not secure any monetary
obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the
affected property or interfere with the ordinary conduct of
business of the Company or any Subsidiary.
“
Person ” means any individual, partnership, joint
venture, limited liability company, firm, corporation, association,
trust or other enterprise (whether or not incorporated), or any
Governmental Authority.
“
Plan ” means any multiemployer or single-employer plan
as defined in Section 4001 of ERISA, which is maintained, or
at any time during the three calendar years preceding the date of
this Agreement was maintained, for employees of the Company, any
Subsidiary or an ERISA Affiliate.
“
Pounds Sterling ” means the lawful currency of the
United Kingdom.
“
Prime Rate ” means the rate of interest per annum
publicly announced from time to time by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
as its prime rate in effect at its principal office in New York
City; each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and
including the date such change is publicly announced as being
effective.
“
Principal Property ” means, in respect of any Lien:
(a) any manufacturing facility of, or other real property
owned by, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries located in the
United States of America, (b) any accounts receivable,
inventory or Intellectual Property of the Company or any of its
domestic Subsidiaries or (c) any shares of capital stock,
other equity ownership interests or intercompany indebtedness of
any Subsidiary that owns any of the foregoing.
“
Register ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 10.04.
“
Regulation D ” means Regulation D of the
Board as from time to time in effect and any successor to all or a
portion thereof establishing reserve requirements.
“
Regulation T, U or X ” means Regulation T, U
or X, as applicable, of the Board as from time to time in effect
and any successor to all or a portion thereof establishing margin
requirements.
“
Related Parties ” means, with respect to any specified
Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective
directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person
and such Person’s Affiliates.
“
Required Lenders ” means, at any time, Lenders having
Revolving Credit Exposures and unused Commitments representing more
than 50% of the sum of the total Revolving Credit Exposures and
unused Commitments at such time; provided that, for purposes
of declaring the Loans to be due and payable pursuant to
Article VII, and for all purposes after the Commitments expire
or terminate, the outstanding Competitive Loans of the Lenders
shall be included in their respective Revolving Credit Exposures in
determining the Required Lenders.
“
Responsible Party ” means the chief executive officer,
president or chief financial officer of the Company.
“
Revolving Credit Exposure ” means, with respect to any
Lender at any time, the outstanding principal amount of such
Lender’s Revolving Loans at such time.
“
Revolving Loan ” means a Loan made pursuant to
Section 2.03.
“
Significant Subsidiary ” means, at any time, any
Subsidiary that would be a “significant subsidiary”
within the meaning of Regulation S-X of the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
“
Statutory Reserve Rate ” means, with respect to any
currency, a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of
which is the number one and the denominator of which is the number
one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve, liquid asset, fees
or similar requirements (including any marginal, special, emergency
or supplemental reserves or other requirements) established by any
central bank, monetary authority, the Board, the Financial Services
Authority, the Bank of England, the European Central Bank or other
Governmental Authority for any category of deposits or liabilities
customarily used to fund loans in such currency, expressed in the
case of each such requirement as a decimal. Such reserve, liquid
asset, fees or similar requirements shall, in the case of Dollar
denominated Loans, include those imposed pursuant to
Regulation D of the Board. Eurocurrency Loans shall be deemed
to be subject to such reserve, liquid asset, fee or similar
requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions
or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender
under any applicable law, rule or regulation, including
Regulation D of the Board. The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be
adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any
change in any reserve, liquid asset, fee or similar
requirement.
“
Subsidiary ” means with respect to a Person, at any
date, (i) any corporation more than 50% of whose stock of any
class or classes having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power
to elect a majority of the directors of such corporation
(irrespective of whether or not at the time, any class or classes
of such corporation shall have or might have voting power by reason
of the happening of any contingency) is at the time owned by such
Person directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries, and
(ii) any partnership, association, joint venture or other
entity in which such Person directly or indirectly through
Subsidiaries has more than a 50% equity interest at any time.
Except as otherwise expressly provided, all references herein to
“Subsidiary” shall mean a Subsidiary of the
Company.
“
Subsidiary Borrower ” means each of Hubbell Cayman
Limited, a Cayman Islands corporation and a wholly owned Subsidiary
and Hubbell Investments Limited, a Cayman Islands corporation and a
wholly owned Subsidiary.
“
Subsidiary Obligations ” means (a) the obligation
of each Subsidiary Borrower to pay the principal of and premium, if
any, and interest (including interest accruing during the pendency
of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar
proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such
proceeding) on the Loans made to it, when and as due, whether at
maturity, by acceleration, upon one or more dates set for
prepayment or otherwise, and (b) all other monetary
obligations, including fees, costs, expenses and indemnities,
whether primary, secondary, direct, contingent, fixed or otherwise
(including monetary obligations incurred during the pendency of any
bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding,
regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), of
the Subsidiary Borrowers under this Agreement.
“
Swap Agreement ” means any agreement with respect to
any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or
similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or
more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or
securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures
of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar
transaction or any combination of these transactions;
provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for
payments only on account of services provided by current or former
directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Company or the
Subsidiaries shall be a Swap Agreement.
“
Syndication Agent ” means each of Bank of America,
N.A., Citibank, N.A., U.S. Bank National Association and Wachovia
Bank, National Association, each in its capacity as syndication
agent for the credit facility evidenced by this Agreement.
“
Tangible Net Worth ” means, at any date, the excess of
total assets over total liabilities of the Company and its
Subsidiaries as of such date determined on a consolidated basis in
accordance with GAAP applied on Consistent Basis, excluding,
however, from the determination of total assets (i) goodwill,
capitalized research and development expenses, Intellectual
Property, licenses and rights if any in respect thereof, and other
similar intangibles and (ii) any items not included in clause
(i) above which are treated as intangibles in conformity with
GAAP.
“
TARGET ” means the Trans-European Automated Real-time
Gross Settlement Express Transfer (TARGET) payment system (or,
if such payment system ceases to be operative, such other payment
system (if any) reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent
to be a suitable replacement) for the settlement of payments in
euro.
“
Taxes ” means any and all present or future taxes,
levies, imposts, duties, deductions, charges or withholdings
imposed by any Governmental Authority.
“
Total Capitalization ” means, at any date, the sum of
(a) total Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries on
a consolidated basis as of such date and (b) Net Worth as of
such date.
“
Type ”, when used in reference to any Loan or
Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or
on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference
to the Adjusted LIBO Rate, the Alternate Base Rate or, in the case
of a Competitive Loan or Borrowing, the LIBO Rate or a Fixed
Rate.
SECTION
1.02. Classification of Loans and Borrowings. For purposes
of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Class
( e.g. , a “Revolving Loan”) or by Type (
e.g. , a “Eurocurrency Loan”) or by Class and
Type ( e.g. , a “Eurocurrency Revolving Loan”).
Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Class (
e.g. , a “Revolving Borrowing”) or by Type (
e.g. , a “Eurocurrency Borrowing”) or by Class
and Type ( e.g. , a “Eurocurrency Revolving
Borrowing”).
SECTION
1.03. Terms Generally. The definitions of terms herein shall
apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms
defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall
include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The
words “include”, “includes” and
“including” shall be deemed to be followed by the
phrase “without limitation”. The word
“will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and
effect as the word “shall”. Unless the context requires
otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement,
instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring
to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to
time amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject
to any restrictions on such amendments, restatements, supplements
or modifications set forth herein), (b) any reference herein to any
Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors
and assigns, (c) the words “herein”,
“hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of
similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in
its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof,
(d) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and
Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of,
and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement and (e) the
words “asset” and “property” shall be
construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any
and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including
cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.
SECTION
1.04. Accounting Terms; GAAP. Except as otherwise expressly
provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature
shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time
to time; provided that, if the Company notifies the
Administrative Agent that the Company requests an amendment to any
provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring
after the date hereof in GAAP or in the application thereof on the
operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent
notifies the Company that the Required Lenders request an amendment
to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether
any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in
the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted
on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before
such change shall have become effective until such notice shall
have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance
herewith.
ARTICLE II
The Credits
SECTION
2.01. Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions set
forth herein, each Lender agrees to make Revolving Loans to the
Company or the Subsidiary Borrowers in Agreed Currencies from time
to time during the Availability Period in an aggregate principal
amount that will not result in (a) the Dollar Amount of such
Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding such
Lender’s Commitment, (b) subject to Section 2.19,
the sum of the Dollar Amount of total Revolving Credit Exposures
plus the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Competitive
Loans exceeding the total Commitments or (c) subject to
Section 2.19, the sum of the Dollar Amount of total Revolving
Credit Exposures with respect to Revolving Loans to the Subsidiary
Borrowers plus the aggregate principal amount of outstanding
Competitive Loans to the Subsidiary Borrowers exceeding
$25,000,000. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms
and conditions set forth herein, each Borrower may borrow, prepay
and reborrow Revolving Loans.
SECTION
2.02. Loans and Borrowings. (a) Each Revolving Loan
shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Revolving Loans
made by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective
Commitments. Each Competitive Loan shall be made in accordance with
the procedures set forth in Section 2.04. The failure of any
Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it shall not relieve
any other Lender of its obligations hereunder; provided that
the Commitments and Competitive Bids of the Lenders are several and
no Lender shall be responsible for any other Lender’s failure
to make Loans as required.
(b) Subject to Section 2.12, (i) each Revolving
Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Eurocurrency
Loans as the applicable Borrower may request in accordance
herewith; provided that each ABR Loan shall only be made in
Dollars, and (ii) each Competitive Borrowing shall be
comprised entirely of Eurocurrency Loans or Fixed Rate Loans, in
each case in Dollars, as the applicable Borrower may request in
accordance herewith. Each Lender at its option may make any Loan by
causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender
to make such Loan; provided that any exercise of such option
shall not affect the obligation of the applicable Borrower to repay
such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
(c) At the commencement of each Interest Period for any
Eurocurrency Revolving Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an
aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not
less than $5,000,000 (or the Approximate Equivalent Amount of each
such amount if such Borrowing is denominated in a Foreign
Currency). At the time that each ABR Revolving Borrowing is made,
such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral
multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000;
provided that an ABR Revolving Borrowing may be in an
aggregate amount that is equal to the entire unused balance of the
total Commitments. Each Competitive Borrowing shall be in an
aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not
less than $5,000,000. Borrowings of more than one Type and Class
may be outstanding at the same time; provided that there
shall not at any time be more than a total of 15 Eurocurrency
Revolving Borrowings outstanding.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, a
Borrower shall not be entitled to request, or to elect to convert
or continue, any Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with
respect thereto would end after the Maturity Date.
SECTION
2.03. Requests for Revolving Borrowings. To request a
Revolving Borrowing, the applicable Borrower shall notify the
Administrative Agent of such request by telephone (a) in the
case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m.,
Local Time, three (3) Business Days (in the case of a
Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in Dollars) or four
(4) Business Days (in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing
denominated in a Foreign Currency), in each case before the date of
the proposed Borrowing or (b) in the case of an ABR Borrowing,
not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, one
(1) Business Day before the date of the proposed Borrowing.
Each such telephonic Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and
shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the
Administrative Agent of a written Borrowing Request in a form
approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the applicable
Borrower. Each such telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall
specify the following information in compliance with
Section 2.02:
(i) the
Borrower in respect of the requested Borrowing;
(ii) the
aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing;
(iii) the
date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;
(iv) whether such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a
Eurocurrency Borrowing;
(v) in the
case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing, the Agreed Currency and the
initial Interest Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a
period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest
Period”; and
(vi) the
location and number of the applicable Borrower’s account to
which funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the
requirements of Section 2.05.
If no election as to the
Type of Revolving Borrowing is specified, then, in the case of a
Borrowing denominated in Dollars, the requested Revolving Borrowing
shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period is specified with
respect to any requested Eurocurrency Revolving Borrowing, then the
applicable Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest
Period of one month’s duration. If no election as to the
identity of the Borrower is specified, the requested Borrowing
shall be made to the Company. Promptly following receipt of a
Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section, the
Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details
thereof and of the amount of such Lender’s Loan to be made as
part of the requested Borrowing.
SECTION
2.04. Competitive Bid Procedure. (a) Subject to the
terms and conditions set forth herein, from time to time during the
Availability Period any Borrower may request Competitive Bids and
may (but shall not have any obligation to) accept Competitive Bids
and borrow Competitive Loans in Dollars; provided that
(i) the sum of the Dollar Amount of the total Revolving Credit
Exposures plus the aggregate principal amount of outstanding
Competitive Loans at any time shall not exceed the total
Commitments and (ii) the sum of the Dollar Amount of the total
Revolving Credit Exposures with respect to Revolving Loans made to
the Subsidiary Borrowers plus the aggregate principal amount of
outstanding Competitive Loans made to the Subsidiary Borrowers at
any time shall not exceed $25,000,000. To request Competitive Bids,
the applicable Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of
such request by telephone, in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing,
not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, four Business
Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing and, in the case of
a Fixed Rate Borrowing, not later than 10:00 a.m., New York
City time, one Business Day before the date of the proposed
Borrowing; provided that the Borrowers may submit up to (but
not more than) two Competitive Bid Requests on the same day, but a
Competitive Bid Request shall not be made within five Business Days
after the date of any previous Competitive Bid Request, unless any
and all such previous Competitive Bid Requests shall have been
withdrawn or all Competitive Bids received in response thereto
rejected. Each such telephonic Competitive Bid Request shall be
confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the
Administrative Agent of a written Competitive Bid Request in a form
approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the applicable
Borrower. Each such telephonic and written Competitive Bid Request
shall specify the following information in compliance with
Section 2.02:
(i) the
aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing;
(ii) the
date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;
(iii) whether such Borrowing is to be a Eurocurrency Borrowing
or a Fixed Rate Borrowing;
(iv) the
Interest Period to be applicable to such Borrowing, which shall be
a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest
Period”;
(v) the
location and number of the applicable Borrower’s account to
which funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the
requirements of Section 2.05; and
(vi) the
identity of the Borrower in respect of such Borrowing.
Promptly following receipt
of a Competitive Bid Request in accordance with this Section, the
Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of the details
thereof by telecopy, inviting the Lenders to submit Competitive
Bids.
(b) Each Lender may (but shall not have any obligation to)
make one or more Competitive Bids to the applicable Borrower in
response to a Competitive Bid Request. Each Competitive Bid by a
Lender must be in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and
must be received by the Administrative Agent by telecopy, in the
case of a Eurocurrency Competitive Borrowing, not later than 9:30
a.m., New York City time, three Business Days before the proposed
date of such Competitive Borrowing, and in the case of a Fixed Rate
Borrowing, not later than 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on the
proposed date of such Competitive Borrowing. Competitive Bids that
do not conform substantially to the form approved by the
Administrative Agent may be rejected by the Administrative Agent,
and the Administrative Agent shall notify the applicable Lender as
promptly as practicable. Each Competitive Bid shall specify
(i) the principal amount (which shall be a minimum of
$5,000,000 and an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and which may
equal the entire principal amount of the Competitive Borrowing
requested by the applicable Borrower) of the Competitive Loan or
Loans that the Lender is willing to make, (ii) the Competitive
Bid Rate or Rates at which the Lender is prepared to make such Loan
or Loans (expressed as a percentage rate per annum in the form of a
decimal to no more than four decimal places) and (iii) the
Interest Period applicable to each such Loan and the last day
thereof.
(c) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the
applicable Borrower by telecopy of the Competitive Bid Rate and the
principal amount specified in each Competitive Bid and the identity
of the Lender that shall have made such Competitive Bid.
(d) Subject only to the provisions of this paragraph, the
applicable Borrower may accept or reject any Competitive Bid. Such
Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent by telephone,
confirmed by telecopy in a form approved by the Administrative
Agent, whether and to what extent it has decided to accept or
reject each Competitive Bid, in the case of a Eurocurrency
Competitive Borrowing, not later than 10:30 a.m., New York
City time, three Business Days before the date of the proposed
Competitive Borrowing, and in the case of a Fixed Rate Borrowing,
not later than 10:30 a.m., New York City time, on the proposed date
of the Competitive Borrowing; provided that (i) the
failure of such Borrower to give such notice shall be deemed to be
a rejection of each Competitive Bid, (ii) such Borrower shall
not accept a Competitive Bid made at a particular Competitive Bid
Rate if such Borrower rejects a Competitive Bid made at a lower
Competitive Bid Rate, (iii) the aggregate amount of the
Competitive Bids accepted by such Borrower shall not exceed the
aggregate amount of the requested Competitive Borrowing specified
in the related Competitive Bid Request, (iv) to the extent
necessary to comply with clause (iii) above, such Borrower may
accept Competitive Bids at the same Competitive Bid Rate in part,
which acceptance, in the case of multiple Competitive Bids at such
Competitive Bid Rate, shall be made pro rata in accordance with the
amount of each such Competitive Bid, and (v) except pursuant
to clause (iv) above, no Competitive Bid shall be accepted for
a Competitive Loan unless such Competitive Loan is in a minimum
principal amount of $5,000,000 and an integral multiple of
$1,000,000; provided further that if a Competitive
Loan must be in an amount less than $5,000,000 because of the
provisions of clause (iv) above, such Competitive Loan may be
for a minimum of $1,000,000 or any integral multiple thereof, and
in calculating the pro rata allocation of acceptances of portions
of multiple Competitive Bids at a particular Competitive Bid Rate
pursuant to clause (iv) the amounts shall be rounded to
integral multiples of $1,000,000 in a manner determined by such
Borrower. A notice given by such Borrower pursuant to this
paragraph shall be irrevocable.
(e) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each
bidding Lender by telecopy whether or not its Competitive Bid has
been accepted (and, if so, the amount and Competitive Bid Rate so
accepted), and each successful bidder will thereupon become bound,
subject to the terms and conditions hereof, to make the Competitive
Loan in respect of which its Competitive Bid has been accepted.
(f) If the Administrative Agent shall elect to submit a
Competitive Bid in its capacity as a Lender, it shall submit such
Competitive Bid directly to the applicable Borrower at least one
quarter of an hour earlier than the time by which the other Lenders
are required to submit their Competitive Bids to the Administrative
Agent pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section.
SECTION
2.05. Funding of Borrowings. (a) Each Lender shall make
each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof
by wire transfer of immediately available funds (i) in the
case of Loans denominated in Dollars, by 12:00 noon, New York City
time, to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently
designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders and
(ii) in the case of each Loan denominated in a Foreign
Currency, by 12:00 noon, Local Time, in the city of the
Administrative Agent’s Eurocurrency Payment Office for such
currency and at such Eurocurrency Payment Office for such currency.
The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the
applicable Borrower by promptly crediting the amounts so received,
in like funds, to (x) an account of such Borrower maintained
with the Administrative Agent in New York City and designated by
such Borrower in the applicable Borrowing Request or Competitive
Bid Request, in the case of Loans denominated in Dollars and
(y) an account of such Borrower maintained with the
Administrative Agent in the relevant jurisdiction and designated by
such Borrower in the applicable Borrowing Request, in the case of
Loans denominated in a Foreign Currency.
(b) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice
from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing that such
Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such
Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent
may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such
date in accordance with paragraph (a) of this Section and may,
in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the applicable
Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not
in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the
Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the applicable
Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent
forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest
thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is
made available to such Borrower to but excluding the date of
payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of
such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a
rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with
banking industry rules on interbank compensation (including without
limitation the Overnight Foreign Currency Rate in the case of Loans
denominated in a Foreign Currency) or (ii) in the case of such
Borrower, the interest rate applicable to ABR Loans. If such Lender
pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount
shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such
Borrowing.
SECTION
2.06. Interest Elections. (a) Each Revolving Borrowing
initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable
Borrowing Request and, in the case of a Eurocurrency Revolving
Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in
such Borrowing Request. Thereafter, the applicable Borrower may
elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to continue
such Borrowing and, in the case of a Eurocurrency Revolving
Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in
this Section. The applicable Borrower may elect different options
with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in
which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the
Lenders holding the Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans
comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate
Borrowing. This Section shall not apply to Competitive Borrowings
which may not be converted or continued.
(b) To make an election pursuant to this Section, the
applicable Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such
election by telephone by the time that a Borrowing Request would be
required under Section 2.03 if such Borrower were requesting a
Revolving Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election to be
made on the effective date of such election. Each such telephonic
Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable and shall be
confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the
Administrative Agent of a written Interest Election Request in a
form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the
applicable Borrower. Notwithstanding any contrary provision herein,
this Section shall not be construed to permit any Borrower to elect
an Interest Period for Eurocurrency Loans that does not comply with
Section 2.02(d).
(c) Each telephonic and written Interest Election Request
shall specify the following information in compliance with
Section 2.02:
(i) the
Borrowing to which such Interest Election Request applies and, if
different options are being elected with respect to different
portions thereof, the portions thereof to be allocated to each
resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified
pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv) below shall be
specified for each resulting Borrowing);
(ii) the
effective date of the election made pursuant to such Interest
Election Request, which shall be a Business Day;
(iii) whether the resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR
Borrowing or a Eurocurrency Borrowing; and
(iv) if the
resulting Borrowing is a Eurocurrency Borrowing, the Interest
Period and Agreed Currency to be applicable thereto after giving
effect to such election, which Interest Period shall be a period
contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest
Period”.
If any such Interest
Election Request requests a Eurocurrency Borrowing but does not
specify an Interest Period, then the applicable Borrower shall be
deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s
duration.
(d) Promptly following receipt of an Interest Election
Request, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the
details thereof and of such Lender’s portion of each
resulting Borrowing.
(e) If the applicable Borrower fails to deliver a timely
Interest Election Request with respect to a Eurocurrency Revolving
Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable
thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein,
at the end of such Interest Period (i) in the case of a
Borrowing denominated in Dollars borrowed by the Company, such
Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing and (ii) in
the case of a Borrowing denominated in a Foreign Currency (or in
Dollars by a Subsidiary Borrower), such Borrowing shall
automatically continue as a Eurocurrency Borrowing in the same
Agreed Currency with an Interest Period of one month unless such
Eurocurrency Borrowing is or was repaid in accordance with
Section 2.09. Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof,
if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the
Administrative Agent, at the request of the Required Lenders, so
notifies the Company, then, so long as an Event of Default is
continuing (i) no outstanding Revolving Borrowing borrowed by
the Company may be converted to or continued as a Eurocurrency
Borrowing, (ii) unless repaid, each Eurocurrency Revolving
Borrowing borrowed by the Company shall be converted to an ABR
Borrowing (and any such Eurocurrency Revolving Borrowing in a
Foreign Currency shall be redenominated in Dollars at the time of
such conversion) at the end of the Interest Period applicable
thereto and (iii) unless repaid, each Eurocurrency Revolving
Borrowing by a Subsidiary Borrower shall automatically be continued
as a Eurocurrency Borrowing with an Interest Period of one
month.
SECTION
2.07. Termination and Reduction of Commitments.
(a) Unless previously terminated, the Commitments shall
terminate on the Maturity Date.
(b) The Company may at any time terminate, or from time to
time reduce, the Commitments; provided that (i) each
reduction of the Commitments shall be in an amount that is not less
than $1,000,000 or an integral multiple thereof and (ii) the
Company shall not terminate or reduce the Commitments if, after
giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the Loans in
accordance with Section 2.09, the Dollar Amount of the sum of
the Revolving Credit Exposures plus the aggregate principal amount
of outstanding Competitive Loans would exceed the total
Commitments.
(c) The Company shall notify the Administrative Agent of any
election to terminate or reduce the Commitments under paragraph
(b) of this Section at least three (3) Business Days
prior to the effective date of such termination or reduction,
specifying such election and the effective date thereof. Promptly
following receipt of any notice, the Administrative Agent shall
advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each notice delivered
by the Company pursuant to this Section shall be irrevocable;
provided that a notice of termination of the Commitments
delivered by the Company may state that such notice is conditioned
upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities, in which case
such notice may be revoked by the Company (by notice to the
Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date)
if such condition is not satisfied. Any termination or reduction of
the Commitments shall be permanent. Each reduction of the
Commitments shall be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance
with their respective Commitments.
SECTION
2.08. Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt. (a) Each
Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay (i) to the
Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender the then unpaid
principal amount of each Revolving Loan owed by such Borrower on
the Maturity Date in the currency of such Loan and (ii) to the
Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender the then unpaid
principal amount of each Competitive Loan owed by such Borrower on
the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan.
(b) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual
practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of each
Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such
Lender, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and
paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder.
(c) The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which
it shall record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder,
the Borrower thereof, the Class, Agreed Currency and Type thereof
and the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of
any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and
payable from each Borrower to each Lender hereunder and
(iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative
Agent hereunder for the account of the Lenders and each
Lender’s share thereof.
(d) The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to
paragraph (b) or (c) of this Section shall be
prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of
the obligations recorded therein; provided that the failure
of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts
or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation
of any Borrower to repay the Loans in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement.
(e) Any Lender may request that Loans made by it be evidenced
by (i) a Revolving Loan promissory note substantially in the
form of Exhibit E-1 (or such other form approved by the
applicable Borrower and the Administrative Agent, such approval not
to be unreasonably withheld) or (ii) a Competitive Loan
promissory note substantially in the form of Exhibit E-2 (or
such other form approved by the applicable Borrower and the
Administrative Agent, such approval not to be unreasonably
withheld). In such event, the applicable Borrower shall prepare,
execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to the
order of such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such
Lender and its registered assigns) and in a form approved by the
Administrative Agent. Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such
promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including
after assignment pursuant to Section 10.04) be represented by
one or more promissory notes in such form payable to the order of
the payee named therein (or, if such promissory note is a
registered note, to such payee and its registered assigns).
SECTION
2.09. Prepayment of Loans. (a) Each Borrower shall have
the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing
in whole or in part, subject to prior notice in accordance with
paragraph (b) of this Section; provided that the
Borrowers shall not have the right to prepay any Competitive Loan
without the prior consent of the Lender thereof.
(b) The applicable Borrower shall notify the Administrative
Agent by telephone (confirmed by telecopy) of any prepayment
hereunder (i) in the case of prepayment of a Eurocurrency
Revolving Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., Local Time,
three (3) Business Days before the date of prepayment and
(ii) in the case of prepayment of an ABR Revolving Borrowing,
not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, one
(1) Business Day before the date of prepayment. Each such
notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date
and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be
prepaid; provided that, if a notice of prepayment is given
in connection with a conditional notice of termination of the
Commitments as contemplated by Section 2.07, then such notice
of prepayment may be revoked if such notice of termination is
revoked in accordance with Section 2.07. Promptly following
receipt of any such notice relating to a Revolving Borrowing, the
Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents
thereof. Each partial prepayment of any Revolving Borrowing shall
be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of an advance
of a Revolving Borrowing of the same Type as provided in
Section 2.02. Each prepayment of a Revolving Borrowing shall
be applied ratably to the Loans included in such prepaid Borrowing.
Prepayments shall be accompanied by (i) accrued interest to
the extent required by Section 2.11 and (ii) break
funding payments pursuant to Section 2.14.
(c) If (i) at any time, other than as a result of
fluctuations in currency exchange rates, the sum of the aggregate
principal Dollar Amount of all of the Revolving Credit Exposures
(calculated, with respect to those Borrowings denominated in
Foreign Currencies, as of the most recent Computation Date with
respect to each such Borrowing) plus the aggregate principal amount
of all Competitive Loans exceeds the total Commitments and
(ii) on any Computation Date, solely as a result of
fluctuations in currency exchange rates, the amount by which the
sum of the aggregate principal Dollar Amount of all of the
outstanding Revolving Loans, as of the most recent Computation Date
with respect to each such Borrowing plus the aggregate principal
amount of all Competitive Loans, exceeds the total Commitments is
an amount greater than 5% of the total Commitments, the Company
shall, or shall cause the other Borrowers to, within five
(5) Business Days after notice thereof from the Administrative
Agent, repay Borrowings in an aggregate principal amount sufficient
to cause the aggregate Dollar Amount of all Revolving Credit
Exposures (so calculated) plus the aggregate principal amount of
all Competitive Loans to be less than or equal to the total
Commitments.
SECTION
2.10. Fees. (a) The Company agrees to pay to the
Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a facility fee,
which shall accrue at the Applicable Facility Fee Rate on the daily
amount of the Commitment of such Lender (whether used or unused)
during the period from and including the Effective Date to but
excluding the date on which such Commitment terminates;
provided that, if such Lender continues to have any
Revolving Credit Exposure after its Commitment terminates, then
such facility fee shall continue to accrue on the daily amount of
such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure from and including
the date on which its Commitment termi
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