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CREDIT AGREEMENT

Loan Agreement

CREDIT AGREEMENT | Document Parties: AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORP | WELLS FARGO BANK N.A., You are currently viewing:
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AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORP | WELLS FARGO BANK N.A.,

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Title: CREDIT AGREEMENT
Governing Law: Illinois     Date: 11/15/2005
Industry: Construction - Raw Materials     Sector: Capital Goods

CREDIT AGREEMENT, Parties: amcol international corp , wells fargo bank n.a.
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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1

 

================================================================================

 

                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

                          DATED AS OF NOVEMBER 10, 2005

 

                                      AMONG

 

                         AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION

                                       AND

                         CERTAIN BORROWING SUBSIDIARIES,

 

                THE GUARANTORS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTIES HERETO,

 

                  THE LENDERS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTIES HERETO,

 

                                       AND

 

                                   HARRIS N.A.

                             as Administrative Agent

 

================================================================================

 

                             WELLS FARGO BANK N.A.,

                              as Syndication Agent

 

                                       AND

 

                             BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

                             as Documentation Agent

 

<PAGE>

 

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

<TABLE>

<CAPTION>

SECTION                                             HEADING                                                 PAGE

-------                                             -------                                                 ----

<S>                     <C>                                                                                    <C>

SECTION 1.              THE CREDIT FACILITIES..................................................................1

 

       Section 1.1.     Revolving Credit Commitments...........................................................1

       Section 1.2.     Letters of Credit......................................................................2

       Section 1.3.     Applicable Interest Rates..............................................................4

       Section 1.4.     Minimum Borrowing Amounts; Maximum Eurocurrency Loans..................................6

       Section 1.5.     Manner of Borrowing Loans and Designating Applicable Interest Rates....................6

       Section 1.6.     Interest Periods.......................................................................9

       Section 1.7.      Maturity of Loans......................................................................9

       Section 1.8.     Prepayments............................................................................9

       Section 1.9.     Default Rate..........................................................................10

       Section 1.10.    The Notes.............................................................................11

       Section 1.11.    Funding Indemnity.....................................................................11

       Section 1.12.    Revolving Credit Commitment Terminations..............................................12

       Section 1.13.    Substitution of Lenders...............................................................12

        Section 1.14.    Swing Loans...........................................................................13

       Section 1.15.    Increase in Revolving Credit Commitments..............................................14

 

SECTION 2.              FEES..................................................................................15

 

       Section 2.1.     Fees .................................................................................15

 

SECTION 3.              PLACE AND APPLICATION OF PAYMENTS.....................................................16

 

       Section 3.1.     Place and Application of Payments.....................................................16

       Section 3.2.     Account Debit.........................................................................17

 

SECTION 4.              GUARANTIES............................................................................17

 

       Section 4.1.     Guaranties............................................................................17

       Section 4.2.     Further Assurances....................................................................17

 

SECTION 5.              DEFINITIONS; INTERPRETATION...........................................................18

 

       Section 5.1.     Definitions...........................................................................18

       Section 5.2.     Interpretation........................................................................32

       Section 5.3.     Change in Accounting Principles.......................................................32

 

SECTION 6.              REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES........................................................33

 

       Section 6.1.     Organization and Qualification........................................................33

       Section 6.2.     Subsidiaries..........................................................................33

       Section 6.3.     Authority and Validity of Obligations.................................................33

</TABLE>

 

<PAGE>

 

<TABLE>

<S>                     <C>                                                                                    <C>

       Section 6.4.     Use of Proceeds; Margin Stock.........................................................34

       Section 6.5.     Financial Reports.....................................................................34

       Section 6.6.     No Material Adverse Change............................................................34

       Section 6.7.     Full Disclosure.......................................................................34

       Section 6.8.     Trademarks, Franchises, and Licenses..................................................35

       Section 6.9.     Governmental Authority and Licensing..................................................35

       Section 6.10.    Good Title............................................................................35

       Section 6.11.    Litigation and Other Controversies....................................................35

       Section 6.12.    Taxes.................................................................................35

       Section 6.13.    Approvals.............................................................................36

       Section 6.14.    Affiliate Transactions................................................................36

       Section 6.15.    Investment Company; Public Utility Holding Company....................................36

       Section 6.16.    ERISA.................................................................................36

       Section 6.17.    Compliance with Laws..................................................................36

       Section 6.18.    Other Agreements......................................................................37

       Section 6.19.    Solvency..............................................................................37

       Section 6.20.    No Default............................................................................37

 

SECTION 7.              CONDITIONS PRECEDENT..................................................................37

 

       Section 7.1.     All Credit Events.....................................................................37

       Section 7.2.     Initial Credit Event..................................................................38

 

SECTION 8.              COVENANTS.............................................................................39

 

       Section 8.1.     Maintenance of Business...............................................................39

       Section 8.2.     Maintenance of Properties.............................................................39

       Section 8.3.     Taxes and Assessments.................................................................40

       Section 8.4.     Insurance.............................................................................40

       Section 8.5.     Financial Reports.....................................................................40

       Section 8.6.     Inspection............................................................................42

       Section 8.7.     Limitations on Indebtedness...........................................................42

       Section 8.8.     Limitation on Liens...................................................................42

       Section 8.9.     Investments, Acquisitions, Loans and Advances.........................................43

       Section 8.10.    Mergers, Consolidations and Sales.....................................................44

       Section 8.11.    Dividends and Certain Other Restricted Payments.......................................46

       Section 8.12.    ERISA.................................................................................46

       Section 8.13.    Compliance with Laws..................................................................46

       Section 8.14.    Burdensome Contracts With Affiliates..................................................47

       Section 8.15.    No Changes in Fiscal Year.............................................................47

       Section 8.16.    Formation of Subsidiaries.............................................................47

       Section 8.17.    Change in the Nature of Business......................................................47

       Section 8.18.    Use of Loan Proceeds..................................................................48

       Section 8.19.    No Restrictions.......................................................................48

       Section 8.20.    Subordinated Debt.....................................................................48

       Section 8.21.    Financial Covenants...................................................................48

       Section 8.22.    Contingent Obligations................................................................48

</TABLE>

 

                                      -ii-

<PAGE>

 

<TABLE>

<S>                     <C>                                                                                    <C>

SECTION 9.              EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES........................................................49

 

       Section 9.1.     Events of Default.....................................................................49

       Section 9.2.     Non-Bankruptcy Defaults...............................................................50

       Section 9.3.     Bankruptcy Defaults...................................................................51

       Section 9.4.     Collateral for Undrawn Letters of Credit..............................................51

       Section 9.5.     Notice of Default.....................................................................52

       Section 9.6.     Expenses..............................................................................52

 

SECTION 10.             CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES...............................................................52

 

       Section 10.1.    Change of Law.........................................................................52

       Section 10.2.    Unavailability of Deposits or Inability to Ascertain, or Inadequacy of, LIBOR.........52

       Section 10.3.    Increased Cost and Reduced Return.....................................................53

       Section 10.4.    Lending Offices.......................................................................54

       Section 10.5.    Discretion of Lender as to Manner of Funding..........................................54

 

SECTION 11.             THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT..............................................................54

 

       Section 11.1.    Appointment and Authorization of Administrative Agent.................................54

       Section 11.2.    Administrative Agent and its Affiliates...............................................54

        Section 11.3.    Action by Administrative Agent........................................................55

       Section 11.4.    Consultation with Experts.............................................................55

       Section 11.5.    Liability of Administrative Agent; Credit Decision....................................55

       Section 11.6.    Indemnity.............................................................................56

       Section 11.7.    Resignation and Removal of Administrative Agent and Successor Administrative Agent....56

       Section 11.8.    L/C Issuer............................................................................57

       Section 11.9.    Hedging Liability and Funds Transfer and Deposit Account Liability Arrangements.......57

       Section 11.10.   Designation of Additional Agents......................................................57

 

SECTION 12.             THE GUARANTEES........................................................................58

 

       Section 12.1.    The Guarantees........................................................................58

       Section 12.2.    Guarantee Unconditional...............................................................58

       Section 12.3.    Discharge Only upon Payment in Full; Reinstatement in Certain Circumstances...........59

       Section 12.4.    Subrogation...........................................................................59

       Section 12.5.    Waivers...............................................................................60

       Section 12.6.    Limit on Recovery.....................................................................60

       Section 12.7.    Stay of Acceleration..................................................................60

       Section 12.8.    Benefit to Guarantors.................................................................60

       Section 12.9.    Guarantor Covenants...................................................................60

 

SECTION 13.             MISCELLANEOUS.........................................................................60

 

       Section 13.1.    Withholding Taxes.....................................................................60

</TABLE>

 

                                      -iii-

<PAGE>

 

<TABLE>

<S>                     <C>                                                                                   <C>

       Section 13.2.    No Waiver, Cumulative Remedies........................................................62

       Section 13.3.    Non-Business Days.....................................................................62

       Section 13.4.    Documentary Taxes.....................................................................62

       Section 13.5.    Survival of Representations...........................................................62

       Section 13.6.    Survival of Indemnities...............................................................62

       Section 13.7.    Sharing of Set-Off....................................................................62

       Section 13.8.    Notices...............................................................................63

       Section 13.9.    Counterparts..........................................................................63

       Section 13.10.   Successors and Assigns................................................................63

       Section 13.11.   Participants..........................................................................63

       Section 13.12.   Assignments...........................................................................64

       Section 13.13.   Amendments............................................................................65

       Section 13.14.   Headings..............................................................................65

       Section 13.15.   Costs and Expenses; Indemnification...................................................65

       Section 13.16.   Set-off...............................................................................66

       Section 13.17.   Entire Agreement......................................................................66

       Section 13.18.   Governing Law.........................................................................66

       Section 13.19.   Severability of Provisions............................................................66

       Section 13.20.   Excess Interest.......................................................................67

       Section 13.21.   Construction..........................................................................67

       Section 13.22.   Lender's Obligations Several..........................................................67

       Section 13.23.   Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial......................................67

       Section 13.24.   Currency..............................................................................68

       Section 13.25.   USA Patriot Act.......................................................................68

       Section 13.26.   Appointment and Authorization of Company..............................................69

 

Signature Page..............................................................................................S-1

 

EXHIBIT A        --      Notice of Payment Request

EXHIBIT B        --      Notice of Borrowing

EXHIBIT C        --      Notice of Continuation/Conversion

EXHIBIT D-1      --      Revolving Note

EXHIBIT D-2      --      Swing Note

EXHIBIT E        --      Form of Commitment Amount Increase Request

EXHIBIT F        --      Compliance Certificate

EXHIBIT G        --      Additional Guarantor Supplement

EXHIBIT H        --      Assignment and Acceptance

SCHEDULE 1       --      Commitments

SCHEDULE 1.2     --      Existing Letters of Credit

SCHEDULE 6.2     --      Subsidiaries

</TABLE>

 

                                      -iv-

<PAGE>

 

                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

         This Credit Agreement is entered into as of November 10, 2005, by and

among AMCOL International Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),

CETCO (Europe) Limited, a United Kingdom corporation ("CETCO Europe"), Colin

Stewart Minchem Limited, a United Kingdom corporation ("Colin Stewart" and

together with CETCO Europe, collectively referred to herein as the "UK

Borrowers" and each individually as a "UK Borrower"), CETCO Poland Sp. .zo. o, a

Polish corporation (the "Polish Borrower"), and together with the Company, the

UK Borrowers, and the Polish Borrower collectively referred to herein as the

"Borrowers" and each individually as a "Borrower") the direct and indirect

Subsidiaries of the Borrowers from time to time party to this Agreement, as

Guarantors, the several financial institutions from time to time party to this

Agreement, as Lenders, and Harris N.A., as Administrative Agent as provided

herein. All capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the same

meanings herein as such terms are defined in Section 5.1 hereof.

 

                              PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

 

         The Borrowers have requested, and the Lenders have agreed to extend,

certain credit facilities on the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements contained

herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency

of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

SECTION 1.      THE CREDIT FACILITIES.

 

         Section 1.1. Revolving Credit Commitments. Subject to the terms and

conditions hereof, each Lender, by its acceptance hereof, severally agrees to

make a loan or loans (individually a "Revolving Loan" and collectively the

"Revolving Loans") in U.S. Dollars, Euros and Pound Sterling to the Company, in

Euros to Colin Stewart, in Pound Sterling or Euro to CETCO Europe, in Euro to

the Polish Borrower, from time to time on a revolving basis in an aggregate

outstanding Original Dollar Amount up to the amount of such Lender's Revolving

Credit Commitment, subject to any reductions thereof pursuant to the terms

hereof, before the Revolving Credit Termination Date; provided that (i) the sum

of the aggregate Original Dollar Amount of Revolving Loans, Swing Loans, and L/C

Obligations at any time outstanding shall not exceed the Revolving Credit

Commitments in effect at such time, (ii) the sum of the aggregate Original

Dollar Amount of all Loans outstanding to the Company denominated in Euros and

Pound Sterling shall not exceed $25,000,000, (iii) the sum of the aggregate

principal amount of all Loans outstanding to Colin Stewart shall not exceed

(euro)5,000,000, (iv) the sum of the aggregate principal amount of all Loans

denominated in Euro outstanding to CETCO Europe shall not exceed (euro)4,000,000

and the sum of the aggregate principal amount of all Loan denominated in Pound

Sterling to CETCO Europe shall not exceed (pound)10,000,000, and (v) the sum of

the aggregate principal amount of all Loans outstanding to the Polish Borrower

shall not exceed (euro)9,000,000. Each Borrowing of Revolving Loans shall be

made ratably by the Lenders in proportion to their respective Percentages. As

provided in Section 1.5(a) hereof, the Company may elect that each Borrowing of

Revolving Loans denominated in U.S. Dollars be either Base Rate Loans or

Eurocurrency Loans. All Revolving Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency

shall be Eurocurrency Loans. Revolving Loans may be repaid and the principal

amount thereof reborrowed before the Revolving Credit Termination Date, subject

to the terms and conditions hereof.

 

<PAGE>

 

         Section 1.2. Letters of Credit. (a) General Terms. Subject to the terms

and conditions hereof, as part of the Revolving Credit, the L/C Issuer shall

issue standby letters of credit (each a "Letter of Credit") for the account of

the Company in an aggregate undrawn face amount up to the L/C Sublimit.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, those certain letters of credit

issued for the account of the Company by Harris N.A. and listed on Schedule 1.2

hereof (the "Existing Letters of Credit") shall each constitute a "Letter of

Credit" herein for all purposes of this Agreement with the Company as the

applicant therefor, to the same extent, and with the same force and effect as if

the Existing Letters of Credit had been issued under this Agreement at the

request of the Company. Each Letter of Credit shall be issued by the L/C Issuer,

but each Lender shall be obligated to reimburse the L/C Issuer for such Lender's

Percentage of the amount of each drawing thereunder and, accordingly, each

Letter of Credit shall constitute usage of the Revolving Credit Commitment of

each Lender pro rata in an amount equal to its Percentage of the L/C Obligations

then outstanding.

 

         (b)     Applications. At any time before the Revolving Credit

Termination Date, the L/C Issuer shall, at the request of the Company, issue one

or more Letters of Credit in U.S. Dollars, in a form satisfactory to the L/C

Issuer, with expiration dates no later than the earlier of 12 months from the

date of issuance (or which are cancelable not later than 12 months from the date

of issuance and each renewal) or five (5) days prior to the Revolving Credit

Termination Date, in an aggregate face amount as set forth above, upon the

receipt of an application duly executed by the Company for the relevant Letter

of Credit in the form then customarily prescribed by the L/C Issuer for the

Letter of Credit requested (each an "Application"). Notwithstanding anything

contained in any Application to the contrary: (i) the Company shall pay fees in

connection with each Letter of Credit as set forth in Section 2.1 hereof, (ii)

except as otherwise provided in Section 1.9 hereof, before the occurrence of an

Event of Default, the L/C Issuer will not call for the funding by the Company of

any amount under a Letter of Credit before being presented with a drawing

thereunder, and (iii) if the L/C Issuer is not timely reimbursed for the amount

of any drawing under a Letter of Credit on the date such drawing is paid, the

Company's obligation to reimburse the L/C Issuer for the amount of such drawing

shall bear interest (which the Company hereby promises to pay) from and after

the date such drawing is paid at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the

Applicable Margin plus the Base Rate from time to time in effect (computed on

the basis of a year of 360 days, and the actual number of days elapsed). If the

L/C Issuer issues any Letter of Credit with an expiration date that is

automatically extended unless the L/C Issuer gives notice that the expiration

date will not so extend beyond its then scheduled expiration date, unless the

Required Lenders instruct the L/C Issuer otherwise, the L/C Issuer will give

such notice of non-renewal before the time necessary to prevent such automatic

extension if before such required notice date: (i) the expiration date of such

Letter of Credit if so extended would be after the Revolving Credit Termination

Date, (ii) the Revolving Credit Commitments have been terminated, or (iii) a

Default or an Event of Default exists and the Administrative Agent, at the

request or with the consent of the Required Lenders, has given the L/C Issuer

instructions not to so permit the extension of the expiration date of such

Letter of Credit. The L/C Issuer agrees to issue amendments to the Letter(s) of

Credit increasing the amount, or extending the expiration date, thereof at the

request of the Company subject to the conditions of Section 7 hereof and the

other terms of this Section 1.2.

 

                                       -2-

<PAGE>

 

         (c)     The Reimbursement Obligations. Subject to Section 1.2(b) hereof,

the obligation of the Company to reimburse the L/C Issuer for all drawings under

a Letter of Credit (a "Reimbursement Obligation") shall be governed by the

Application related to such Letter of Credit, except that reimbursement shall be

made by no later than 12:00 Noon (Chicago time) on the date when each drawing is

to be paid in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent's

principal office in Chicago, Illinois or such other office as the Administrative

Agent may designate in writing to the Company (who shall thereafter cause to be

distributed to the L/C Issuer such amount(s) in like funds). If the Company does

not make any such reimbursement payment on the date due and the Participating

Lenders fund their participations therein in the manner set forth in Section

1.2(d) below, then all payments thereafter received by the Administrative Agent

in discharge of any of the relevant Reimbursement Obligations shall be

distributed in accordance with Section 1.2(d) below.

 

         (d)     The Participating Interests. Each Lender (other than the Lender

acting as L/C Issuer in issuing the relevant Letter of Credit), by its

acceptance hereof, severally agrees to purchase from the L/C Issuer, and the L/C

Issuer hereby agrees to sell to each such Lender (a "Participating Lender"), an

undivided percentage participating interest (a "Participating Interest"), to the

extent of its Percentage, in each Letter of Credit issued by, and each

Reimbursement Obligation owed to, the L/C Issuer. Upon any failure by the

Company to pay any Reimbursement Obligation at the time required on the date the

related drawing is to be paid, as set forth in Section 1.2(c) above, or if the

L/C Issuer is required at any time to return to the Company or to a trustee,

receiver, liquidator, custodian or other Person any portion of any payment of

any Reimbursement Obligation, each Participating Lender shall, not later than

the Business Day it receives a certificate in the form of Exhibit A hereto from

the L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) to such effect, if such

certificate is received before 1:00 p.m. (Chicago time), or not later than 1:00

p.m. (Chicago time) the following Business Day, if such certificate is received

after such time, pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C

Issuer an amount equal to such Participating Lender's Percentage of such unpaid

or recaptured Reimbursement Obligation together with interest on such amount

accrued from the date the related payment was made by the L/C Issuer to the date

of such payment by such Participating Lender at a rate per annum equal to: (i)

from the date the related payment was made by the L/C Issuer to the date two (2)

Business Days after payment by such Participating Lender is due hereunder, the

Federal Funds Rate for each such day and (ii) from the date two (2) Business

Days after the date such payment is due from such Participating Lender to the

date such payment is made by such Participating Lender, the Base Rate in effect

for each such day. Each such Participating Lender shall thereafter be entitled

to receive its Percentage of each payment received in respect of the relevant

Reimbursement Obligation and of interest paid thereon, with the L/C Issuer

retaining its Percentage thereof as a Lender hereunder. The several obligations

of the Participating Lenders to the L/C Issuer under this Section 1.3 shall be

absolute, irrevocable, and unconditional under any and all circumstances

whatsoever and shall not be subject to any set-off, counterclaim or defense to

payment which any Participating Lender may have or have had against any

Borrower, the L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other

Person whatsoever. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, such

obligations shall not be affected by any Default or Event of Default or by any

reduction or termination of any Revolving Credit Commitment of any Lender, and

each payment by a Participating Lender under this Section 1.2 shall be made

without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever.

 

                                       -3-

<PAGE>

 

         (e)     Indemnification. The Participating Lenders shall, to the extent

of their respective Percentages, indemnify the L/C Issuer (to the extent not

reimbursed by the Company) against any cost, expense (including reasonable

counsel fees and disbursements), claim, demand, action, loss or liability

(except such as result from the L/C Issuer's gross negligence or willful

misconduct) that the L/C Issuer may suffer or incur in connection with any

Letter of Credit issued by it. The obligations of the Participating Lenders

under this Section 1.2(e) and all other parts of this Section 1.2 shall survive

termination of this Agreement and of all Applications, Letters of Credit, and

all drafts and other documents presented in connection with drawings thereunder.

 

         (f)     Manner of Requesting a Letter of Credit. The Company shall

provide at least five (5) Business Days' advance written notice to the

Administrative Agent of each request for the issuance of a Letter of Credit,

such notice in each case to be accompanied by an Application for such Letter of

Credit properly completed and executed by the Company and, in the case of an

extension or an increase in the amount of a Letter of Credit, a written request

therefor, in a form acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer,

in each case, together with the fees called for by this Agreement. The

Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the L/C Issuer of the Administrative

Agent's receipt of each such notice and the L/C Issuer shall promptly notify the

Administrative Agent and the Lenders of the issuance of the Letter of Credit so

requested.

 

         Section 1.3. Applicable Interest Rates. (a) Base Rate Loans. Each Base

Rate Loan made or maintained by a Lender shall bear interest during each

Interest Period it is outstanding (computed on the basis of a year of 360 days

and the actual days elapsed) on the unpaid principal amount thereof from the

date such Loan is advanced or continued, or created by conversion from a

Eurocurrency Loan, until maturity (whether by acceleration or otherwise) at a

rate per annum equal to the sum of the Applicable Margin plus the Base Rate from

time to time in effect, payable on the last day of its Interest Period and at

maturity (whether by acceleration or otherwise).

 

         "Base Rate" means for any day the greater of: (i) the rate of interest

announced or otherwise established by the Administrative Agent from time to time

as its prime commercial rate as in effect on such day, with any change in the

Base Rate resulting from a change in said prime commercial rate to be effective

as of the date of the relevant change in said prime commercial rate (it being

acknowledged and agreed that such rate may not be the Administrative Agent's

best or lowest rate) and (ii) the sum of (x) the rate determined by the

Administrative Agent to be the average (rounded upward, if necessary, to the

next higher 1/100 of 1%) of the rates per annum quoted to the Administrative

Agent at approximately 10:00 a.m. (Chicago time) (or as soon thereafter as is

practicable) on such day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, on the

immediately preceding Business Day) by two or more Federal funds brokers

selected by the Administrative Agent for sale to the Administrative Agent at

face value of Federal funds in the secondary market in an amount equal or

comparable to the principal amount owed to the Administrative Agent for which

such rate is being determined, plus (y) 1/2 of 1%.

 

                                       -4-

<PAGE>

 

         (b)     Eurocurrency Loans. Each Eurocurrency Loan made or maintained by

a Lender shall bear interest during each Interest Period it is outstanding

(computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and actual days elapsed) on the

unpaid principal amount thereof from the date such Loan is advanced or

continued, or created by conversion from a Base Rate Loan, until maturity

(whether by acceleration or otherwise) at a rate per annum equal to the sum of

the Applicable Margin plus the Adjusted LIBOR applicable for such Interest

Period, payable on the last day of the Interest Period and at maturity (whether

by acceleration or otherwise), and, if the applicable Interest Period is longer

than three months, on each day occurring every three months after the

commencement of such Interest Period.

 

         "Adjusted LIBOR" means, for any Borrowing of Eurocurrency Loans, a rate

per annum determined in accordance with the following formula:

 

                                                    LIBOR

              Adjusted LIBOR     =    -----------------------------------

                                    1 - Eurocurrency Reserve Percentage

 

         "Eurocurrency Reserve Percentage" means, for any Borrowing of

Eurocurrency Loans, the daily average for the applicable Interest Period of the

maximum rate, expressed as a decimal, at which reserves (including, without

limitation, any supplemental, marginal, and emergency reserves) are imposed

during such Interest Period by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve

System (or any successor) on "eurocurrency liabilities", as defined in such

Board's Regulation D (or in respect of any other category of liabilities that

includes deposits by reference to which the interest rate on Eurocurrency Loans

is determined or any category of extensions of credit or other assets that

include loans by non-United States offices of any Lender to United States

residents), subject to any amendments of such reserve requirement by such Board

or its successor, taking into account any transitional adjustments thereto. For

purposes of this definition, the Eurocurrency Loans shall be deemed to be

"eurocurrency liabilities" as defined in Regulation D without benefit or credit

for any prorations, exemptions or offsets under Regulation D.

 

         "LIBOR" means, for an Interest Period for a Borrowing of Eurocurrency

Loans, (a) the LIBOR Index Rate for such Interest Period, if such rate is

available, and (b) if the LIBOR Index Rate cannot be determined, the arithmetic

average of the rates of interest per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to

the nearest 1/100 of 1%) at which deposits in U.S. Dollars or the relevant

Alternative Currency, as appropriate, in immediately available funds are offered

to the Administrative Agent at 11:00 a.m. (London, England time) two (2)

Business Days before the beginning of such Interest Period by three (3) or more

major banks in the interbank eurodollar market selected by the Administrative

Agent for delivery on the first day of and for a period equal to such Interest

Period and in an amount equal or comparable to the principal amount of the

Eurocurrency Loan scheduled to be made by the Administrative Agent as part of

such Borrowing.

 

                                        -5-

<PAGE>

 

         "LIBOR Index Rate" means, for any Interest Period, the rate per annum

(rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next higher one hundred-thousandth of a

percentage point) for deposits in U.S. Dollars for a period equal to such

Interest Period, which appears on the appropriate Telerate Page for such

currency as of 11:00 a.m. (London, England time) on the day two (2) Business

Days before the commencement of such Interest Period.

 

         "Telerate Page" means the display designated on the Telerate Service

(or such other service as may be nominated by the British Bankers' Association

as the information vendor for the purpose of displaying British Bankers'

Association Interest Settlement Rates for the applicable currency).

 

         (c)      Rate Determinations. The Administrative Agent shall determine

each interest rate applicable to the Revolving Loans, Swing Loans and the

Reimbursement Obligations hereunder, and its determination thereof shall be

conclusive and binding except in the case of manifest error. The Original Dollar

Amount of each Eurocurrency Loan denominated in an Alternative Currency shall be

determined or redetermined, as applicable, effective as of the first day of each

Interest Period applicable to such Loan.

 

         Section 1.4. Minimum Borrowing Amounts; Maximum Eurocurrency Loans.

Each Borrowing of Base Rate Loans shall be in an amount not less than $500,000

and in integral multiples of $100,000. Each Borrowing of Eurocurrency Loans

advanced, continued or converted shall be in an amount not less than an Original

Dollar Amount of $1,000,000 and in integral multiples of 100,000 units of the

relevant currency as would have the Original Dollar Amount most closely

approximately $100,000 or an integral multiple thereof. Without the

Administrative Agent's consent, there shall not be more than eight (8)

Borrowings of Eurocurrency Loans outstanding at any one time.

 

         Section 1.5. Manner of Borrowing Loans and Designating Applicable

Interest Rates. (a) Notice to the Administrative Agent. The Company, on behalf

of the applicable Borrower, shall give notice to the Administrative Agent by no

later than 10:00 a.m. (Chicago time): (i) at least four (4) Business Days before

the date the Company, on behalf of the applicable Borrower, requests the Lenders

to advance a Borrowing of Eurocurrency Loans denominated in an Alternative

Currency, (ii) at least three (3) Business Days before the date on which the

Company, on behalf of the applicable Borrower, requests the Lenders to advance a

Borrowing of Eurocurrency Loans and (iii) on the date the Company, on behalf of

the applicable Borrower, requests the Lenders to advance a Borrowing of Base

Rate Loans. The Loans included in each Borrowing shall bear interest initially

at the type of rate specified in such notice of a new Borrowing. Thereafter,

subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Company, on behalf of the

applicable Borrower, may from time to time elect to change or continue the type

of interest rate borne by each Borrowing or, subject to the minimum amount

requirement for each outstanding Borrowing contained in Section 1.4, a portion

thereof, as follows: (i) if such Borrowing is of Eurocurrency Loans, on the last

day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, the Company, on behalf of the

applicable Borrower, may continue part or all of such Borrowing as Eurocurrency

Loans or, if such Eurocurrency Loan is denominated in U.S. Dollars, convert part

or all of such Borrowing into Base Rate Loans or (ii) if such Borrowing is of

Base Rate Loans, on any Business Day, the Company, on behalf of the applicable

Borrower, may convert all or part of such Borrowing into Eurocurrency Loans

denominated in U.S. Dollars for an Interest Period or Interest Periods specified

by the Company, on behalf of the applicable Borrower.

 

                                       -6-

<PAGE>

 

The Company, on behalf of the applicable   Borrower,   shall give all such notices

requesting   the   advance,   continuation   or   conversion   of a   Borrowing   to the

Administrative Agent by telephone or telecopy (which notice shall be irrevocable

once given and,   if by   telephone,   shall be   promptly   confirmed   in   writing),

substantially   in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (Notice of Borrowing) or

Exhibit C (Notice of   Continuation/Conversion),   as applicable, or in such other

form acceptable to the   Administrative   Agent.   Notice of the   continuation of a

Borrowing of Eurocurrency   Loans   denominated in U.S.   Dollars for an additional

Interest   Period or of the conversion of part or all of a Borrowing of Base Rate

Loans into   Eurocurrency   Loans   denominated in U.S. Dollars must be given by no

later than 10:00 a.m. (Chicago time) at least three (3) Business Days before the

date of the requested continuation or conversion. Notices of the continuation of

a Borrowing of Eurocurrency Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency must be

given no later than 10:00 a.m.   (Chicago   time) at least four (4)   Business   Day

before the   requested   continuation.   All such notices   concerning   the advance,

continuation   or   conversion   of a   Borrowing   shall   specify   the   date   of the

requested   advance,   continuation or conversion of a Borrowing (which shall be a

Business Day), the amount of the requested   Borrowing to be advanced,   continued

or   converted,   the type of Loans to comprise   such new,   continued or converted

Borrowing and, if such Borrowing is to be comprised of Eurocurrency   Loans,   the

currency and Interest Period   applicable   thereto.   The Borrowers agree that the

Administrative Agent may rely on any such telephonic or telecopy notice given by

any person the   Administrative   Agent in good faith   believes   is an   Authorized

Representative   without the necessity of independent   investigation,   and in the

event any such notice by telephone conflicts with any written   confirmation such

telephonic notice shall govern if the Administrative Agent has acted in reliance

thereon.

 

         (b)     Notice to the Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall give

prompt telephonic or telecopy notice to each Lender of any notice from the

Company received pursuant to Section 1.5(a) above and, if such notice requests

the Lenders to make Eurocurrency Loans, the Administrative Agent shall give

notice to the applicable Borrower and each Lender by like means of the interest

rate applicable thereto and if such Borrowing is denominated in an Alternative

Currency, of the Original Dollar Amount thereof, promptly after the

Administrative Agent has made such determination.

 

         (c)     Borrowers' Failure to Notify; Automatic Continuations and

Conversions. Any outstanding Borrowing of Base Rate Loans shall automatically be

continued for an additional Interest Period on the last day of its then current

Interest Period unless the Company has notified the Administrative Agent within

the period required by Section 1.5(a) that the applicable Borrower intends to

convert such Borrowing, subject to Section 7.1 hereof, into a Borrowing of

Eurocurrency Loans or such Borrowing is prepaid in accordance with Section

1.8(a). If the Company fails to give notice pursuant to Section 1.5(a) above of

the continuation or conversion of any outstanding principal amount of a

Borrowing of Eurocurrency Loans denominated in U.S. Dollars before the last day

of its then current Interest Period within the period required by Section 1.5(a)

or, whether or not such notice has been given, one or more of the conditions set

forth in Section 7.1 for the continuation or conversion of a Borrowing of

Eurocurrency Loans would not be satisfied, and such Borrowing is not prepaid in

accordance with Section 1.8(a), such Borrowing shall automatically be converted

into a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans. If the Company fails to give notice

pursuant to Section 1.5(a) above of the continuation of any outstanding

principal amount of a Borrowing of Eurocurrency Loans denominated in an

Alternative Currency before the last day of its then current Interest Period

within the period required by Section 1.5(a) and has not notified the

Administrative Agent within the period required by Section 1.8(a) that it

intends to prepay such Borrowing, such Borrowing shall automatically be

continued as a Borrowing of Eurocurrency Loans in the same Alternative Currency

with an Interest Period of one month, subject to Section 6.2 hereof, including

the application of Section 1.3 and of the restrictions contained in the

definition of Interest Period.

 

                                       -7-

<PAGE>

 

         (d)     Disbursement of Loans. Not later than 1:00 p.m. (Chicago time)

on the date of any requested advance of a new Borrowing, subject to Section 7

hereof, each Lender shall make available its Loan comprising part of such

Borrowing in funds immediately available (or, in the case of a Borrowing

denominated in an Alternative Currency, in such funds as are then customary for

the settlement of international transactions in such currency) at the principal

office of the Administrative Agent in Chicago, Illinois. The Administrative

Agent shall make the proceeds of each new Borrowing available to the applicable

Borrower at the Administrative Agent's principal office in Chicago, Illinois, by

depositing such proceeds to the credit of the applicable Borrower's operating

account maintained with the Administrative Agent or as such Borrower and the

Administrative Agent may otherwise agree.

 

         (e)     Administrative Agent Reliance on Lender Funding. Unless the

Administrative Agent shall have been notified by a Lender prior to (or, in the

case of a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, by 1:00 p.m. (Chicago time) on) the date

on which such Lender is scheduled to make payment to the Administrative Agent of

the proceeds of a Revolving Loan (which notice shall be effective upon receipt)

that such Lender does not intend to make such payment, the Administrative Agent

may assume that such Lender has made such payment when due and the

Administrative Agent may in reliance upon such assumption (but shall not be

required to) make available to the applicable Borrower the proceeds of the Loan

to be made by such Lender and, if any Lender has not in fact made such payment

to the Administrative Agent, such Lender shall, on demand, pay to the

Administrative Agent the amount made available to the applicable Borrower

attributable to such Lender together with interest thereon in respect of each

day during the period commencing on the date such amount was made available to

the applicable Borrower and ending on (but excluding) the date such Lender pays

such amount to the Administrative Agent at a rate per annum equal to: (i) from

the date the related advance was made by the Administrative Agent to the date

two (2) Business Days after payment by such Lender is due hereunder, the Federal

Funds Rate for each such day and (ii) from the date two (2) Business Days after

the date such payment is due from such Lender to the date such payment is made

by such Lender, the Base Rate in effect for each such day. If such amount is not

received from such Lender by the Administrative Agent immediately upon demand,

the applicable Borrower will, on demand, repay to the Administrative Agent the

proceeds of the Loan attributable to such Lender with interest thereon at a rate

per annum equal to the interest rate applicable to the relevant Loan, but

without such payment being considered a payment or prepayment of a Loan under

Section 1.12 hereof so that such Borrower will have no liability under such

Section with respect to such payment.

 

                                       -8-

<PAGE>

 

         Section 1.6. Interest Periods. As provided in Section 1.5(a) and 1.14

hereof, at the time of each request to advance, continue or create by conversion

a Borrowing of Eurocurrency Loans or Swing Loans, the Company, on behalf of the

applicable Borrower, shall select an Interest Period applicable to such Loans

from among the available options. The term "Interest Period" means the period

commencing on the date a Borrowing of Loans is advanced, continued or created by

conversion and ending: (a) in the case of Base Rate Loans, on the last day of

the calendar quarter (i.e., the last day of March, June, September or December,

as applicable) in which such Borrowing is advanced, continued or created by

conversion (or on the last day of the following calendar quarter if such Loan is

advanced, continued or created by conversion on the last day of a calendar

quarter), (b) in the case of a Eurocurrency Loan, 1, 2, 3 or 6 months

thereafter, and (c) in the case of a Swing Loan, on the date 1 to 5 days

thereafter as mutually agreed to by the Company and the Administrative Agent;

provided, however, that:

 

         (i)     any Interest Period for a Borrowing of Revolving Loans or Swing

Loans consisting of Base Rate Loans that otherwise would end after the Revolving

Credit Termination Date shall end on the Revolving Credit Termination Date;

 

         (ii)    no Interest Period with respect to any portion of the Loans

shall extend beyond the Revolving Credit Termination Date;

 

         (iii)   whenever the last day of any Interest Period would otherwise be

a day that is not a Business Day, the last day of such Interest Period shall be

extended to the next succeeding Business Day, provided that, if such extension

would cause the last day of an Interest Period for a Borrowing of Eurocurrency

Loans to occur in the following calendar month, the last day of such Interest

Period shall be the immediately preceding Business Day; and

 

         (iv)    for purposes of determining an Interest Period for a Borrowing

of Eurocurrency Loans, a month means a period starting on one day in a calendar

month and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the next calendar

month; provided, however, that if there is no numerically corresponding day in

the month in which such an Interest Period is to end or if such an Interest

Period begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month, then such Interest

Period shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month in which such

Interest Period is to end.

 

         Section 1.7. Maturity of Loans. Each Revolving Loan and Swing Loan,

both for principal and interest not sooner paid, shall mature and become due and

payable by the applicable Borrower on the Revolving Credit Termination Date.

 

         Section 1.8. Prepayments. (a) Optional. Each Borrower may prepay in

whole or in part (but, if in part, then: (i) if such Borrowing is of Base Rate

Loans, in an amount not less than $500,000, (ii) if such Borrowing is of

Eurocurrency Loans denominated in U.S. Dollars, in an amount not less than

$500,000, (iii) if such is of Eurocurrency Loans denominated in an Alternative

Currency, an amount for which the U.S. Dollar Equivalent is not less than

$500,000, and (iv) in each case, in an amount such that the minimum amount

required for a Borrowing pursuant to Section 1.4 and 1.14 hereof remains

outstanding) any Borrowing of Eurocurrency Loans at any time upon (i) if such

Loan is denominated in U.S. Dollars, three (3) Business Days prior notice by the

Company to the Administrative Agent, (ii) if such Loan is denominated in an

Alternative Currency, four (4) Business Days prior notice by the Company to the

Administrative Agent, or (iii) in the case of a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans,

notice delivered by the Company to the Administrative Agent no later than 10:00

a.m. (Chicago time) on the date of prepayment (or, in any case, such shorter

period of time then agreed to by the Administrative Agent), such prepayment to

be made by the payment of the principal amount to be prepaid and, in the case of

any Eurocurrency Loans or Swing Loans, accrued interest thereon to the date

fixed for prepayment plus any amounts due the Lenders under Section 1.11 hereof.

 

                                       -9-

<PAGE>

 

         (b)     Mandatory. The Borrowers shall, on each date the Revolving

Credit Commitments are reduced pursuant to Section 1.12 hereof, prepay the

Revolving Loans, Swing Loans, and, if necessary, prefund the L/C Obligations by

the amount, if any, necessary to reduce the sum of the Original Dollar Amount of

Revolving Loans, Swing Loans, and L/C Obligations then outstanding to the amount

to which the Revolving Credit Commitments have been so reduced.

 

         (c)     Application. Unless the Company otherwise directs, prepayments

of Loans under this Section 1.8(b) shall be applied first to Borrowings of Base

Rate Loans until payment in full thereof with any balance applied to Borrowings

of Eurocurrency Loans in the order in which their Interest Periods expire. Each

prepayment of Loans under this Section 1.8(b) shall be made by the payment of

the principal amount to be prepaid and, in the case of any Eurocurrency Loans or

Swing Loans, accrued interest thereon to the date of prepayment together with

any amounts due the Lenders under Section 1.11 hereof. Each prefunding of L/C

Obligations shall be made in accordance with Section 9.4 hereof.

 

          Section 1.9. Default Rate. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary

contained herein, while any Event of Default exists or after acceleration, the

Borrowers shall pay interest (after as well as before entry of judgment thereon

to the extent permitted by law) on the principal amount of all Loans and

Reimbursement Obligations, and letter of credit fees at a rate per annum equal

to:

 

         (a)     for any Base Rate Loan or any Swing Loan bearing interest based

on the Base Rate, the sum of 2.0% plus the Applicable Margin plus the Base Rate

from time to time in effect;

 

         (b)     for any Eurocurrency Loan denominated in U.S. Dollars or any

Swing Loan bearing interest at the Administrative Agent's Quoted Rate, the sum

of 2.0% plus the rate of interest in effect thereon at the time of such default

until the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto and, thereafter, at a

rate per annum equal to the sum of 2.0% plus the Applicable Margin for Base Rate

Loans plus the Base Rate from time to time in effect;

 

         (c)     for any Eurocurrency Loan denominated in an Alternative

Currency, the sum of two percent (2%) plus the rate of interest in effect

thereon at the time of such default until the end of the Interest Period

applicable thereto and, thereafter, at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the

Applicable Margin for Eurocurrency Loans plus two percent (2%) plus the rate of

interest per annum as determined by the Administrative Agent (rounded upwards,

if necessary, to the next higher one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point)

at which overnight or weekend deposits (or, if such amount due remains unpaid

more than three (3) Business Days, then for such other period of time not longer

than one (1) month as the Administrative Agent may elect in its absolute

discretion) of the relevant Alternative Currency for delivery in immediately

available and freely transferable funds would be offered by the Administrative

Agent to major banks in the interbank market upon request of such major banks

for the applicable period as determined above and in an amount comparable to the

unpaid principal amount of any such Eurocurrency Loan (or, if the Administrative

Agent is not placing deposits in such currency in the interbank market, then the

Administrative Agent's cost of funds in such currency for such period); and

 

                                      -10-

<PAGE>

 

         (d)     for any Reimbursement Obligation, the sum of 2.0% plus the

amounts due under Section 1.2 with respect to such Reimbursement Obligation; and

 

          (e)     for any Letter of Credit, the sum of 2.0% plus the letter of

credit fee due under Section 2.1 with respect to such Letter of Credit;

 

provided, however, that in the absence of acceleration, any adjustments pursuant

to this Section shall be made at the election of the Administrative Agent,

acting at the request or with the consent of the Required Lenders, with written

notice to the Company. While any Event of Default exists or after acceleration,

interest shall be paid on demand of the Administrative Agent at the request or

with the consent of the Required Lenders.

 

         Section 1.10. The Notes. (a) The Revolving Loans made to a Borrower by

a Lender shall be evidenced by a single promissory note of such Borrower issued

to such Lender in the form of Exhibit D-1 hereto. Each such promissory note is

hereinafter referred to as a "Revolving Note" and collectively such promissory

notes are referred to as the "Revolving Notes."

 

         (b)     The Swing Loans made to the Company by the Administrative Agent

shall be evidenced by a single promissory note of the Company issued to the

Administrative Agent in the form of Exhibit D-2 hereto. Such promissory note is

hereinafter referred to as the "Swing Note."

 

         (c)     Each Lender shall record on its books and records or on a

schedule to its appropriate Note the amount of each Loan advanced, continued or

converted by it, all payments of principal and interest and the principal

balance from time to time outstanding thereon, the type of such Loan, and, for

any Eurocurrency Loan or Swing Loan, the Interest Period, currency and the

interest rate applicable thereto. The record thereof, whether shown on such

books and records of a Lender or on a schedule to the relevant Note, shall be

prima facie evidence as to all such matters; provided, however, that the failure

of any Lender to record any of the foregoing or any error in any such record

shall not limit or otherwise affect the obligation of a Borrower to repay all

Loans made to it hereunder together with accrued interest thereon. At the

request of any Lender and upon such Lender tendering to a Borrower the

appropriate Note to be replaced, such Borrower shall furnish a new Note to such

Lender to replace any outstanding Note.

 

         Section 1.11. Funding Indemnity. If any Lender shall incur any loss,

cost or expense (including, without limitation, any loss of profit, and any

loss, cost or expense incurred by reason of the liquidation or re-employment of

deposits or other funds acquired by such Lender to fund or maintain any

Eurocurrency Loan or Swing Loan or the relending or reinvesting of such deposits

or amounts paid or prepaid to such Lender) as a result of:

 

         (a)     any payment, prepayment or conversion of a Eurocurrency Loan or

Swing Loan on a date other than the last day of its Interest Period,

 

         (b)     any failure (because of a failure to meet the conditions of

Section 7 or otherwise) by a Borrower to borrow or continue a Eurocurrency Loan

or Swing Loan, or to convert a Base Rate Loan into a Eurocurrency Loan or Swing

Loan, on the date specified in a notice given pursuant to Section 1.5(a) or 1.14

hereof,

 

         (c)     any failure by a Borrower to make any payment of principal on

any Eurocurrency Loan or Swing Loan when due (whether by acceleration or

otherwise), or

 

                                      -11-

<PAGE>

 

         (d)     any acceleration of the maturity of a Eurocurrency Loan or Swing

Loan as a result of the occurrence of any Event of Default hereunder,

 

then, upon the demand of such Lender, the applicable Borrower shall pay to such

Lender such amount as will reimburse such Lender for such loss, cost or expense.

If any Lender makes such a claim for compensation, it shall provide to the

Company, with a copy to the Administrative Agent, a certificate setting forth

the amount of such loss, cost or expense in reasonable detail (including an

explanation of the basis for and the computation of such loss, cost or expense)

and the amounts shown on such certificate shall be deemed prime facie correct.

 

         Section 1.12. Revolving Credit Commitment Terminations. (a) The Company

shall have the right at any time and from time to time, upon three (3) Business

Days prior written notice to the Administrative Agent (or such shorter period of

time agreed to by the Administrative Agent), to terminate the Revolving Credit

Commitments without premium or penalty and in whole or in part, any partial

termination to be (i) in an amount not less than $5,000,000 and in integral

multiples of $1,000,000 and (ii) allocated ratably among the Lenders in

proportion to their respective Percentages, provided that the Revolving Credit

Commitments may not be reduced to an amount less than the sum of the Original

Dollar Amount of Revolving Loans, Swing Loans, and L/C Obligations then

outstanding. Any termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments below the L/C

Sublimit, Swing Line Sublimit or other sublimit applicable to a particular

Borrower as provided in Section 1.1 hereof then in effect shall reduce the L/C

Sublimit, Swing Line Sublimit or such other sublimit, as applicable, by a like

amount. The Administrative Agent shall give prompt notice to each Lender of any

such termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments.

 

         (b)     Any termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments pursuant to

this Section 1.12 may not be reinstated.

 

         Section 1.13. Substitution of Lenders. In the event (a) the Company

receives a claim from any Lender for compensation under Section 10.3 or 13.1

hereof, (b) the Company receives notice from any Lender of any illegality

pursuant to Section 10.1 hereof, (c) any Lender is in default in any material

respect with respect to its obligations under the Loan Documents, or (d) a

Lender fails to consent to an amendment or waiver requested under Section 13.13

hereof at a time when the Required Lenders have approved such amendment or

waiver (any such Lender referred to in clause (a), (b), (c), or (d) above being

hereinafter referred to as an "Affected Lender"), the Company may, in addition

to any other rights the Company may have hereunder or under applicable law,

require, at its expense, any such Affected Lender to assign, at par plus accrued

interest and fees, without recourse, all of its interest, rights, and

obligations hereunder (including its Revolving Credit Commitment and the Loans

and participation interests in Letters of Credit and other amounts at any time

owing to it hereunder and the other Loan Documents) to a commercial bank or

other financial institution specified by the Company, provided that (i) such

assignment shall not conflict with or violate any law, rule or regulation or

order of any court or other governmental authority, (ii) the Company shall have

received the written consent of the Administrative Agent, which consent shall

not be unreasonably withheld, to such assignment, (iii) the Borrowers shall have

paid to the Affected Lender all monies (together with amounts due such Affected

Lender under Section 1.11 hereof as if the Loans owing to it were prepaid rather

than assigned) other than such principal owing to it hereunder, and (iv) the

assignment is entered into in accordance with the other requirements of Section

13.12 hereof (provided any assignment fees and reimbursable expenses due

thereunder shall be paid by the Company).

 

                                      -12-

<PAGE>

 

         Section 1.14. Swing Loans. (a) Generally. Subject to the terms and

conditions hereof, as part of the Revolving Credit, the Administrative Agent

agrees to make loans to the Company under the Swing Line (individually a "Swing

Loan" and collectively the "Swing Loans") which shall not in the aggregate at

any time outstanding exceed the Swing Line Sublimit. The Swing Loans may be

availed of the Company from time to time and borrowings thereunder may be repaid

and used again during the period ending on the Revolving Credit Termination

Date; provided that each Swing Loan must be repaid on the last day of the

Interest Period applicable thereto. Each Swing Loan shall be in a minimum amount

of $500,000 or such greater amount which is an integral multiple of $100,000.

 

         (b)     Interest on Swing Loans. Each Swing Loan shall bear interest

until maturity (whether by acceleration or otherwise) at a rate per annum equal

to (i) the sum of the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin for Base Rate Loans

under the Revolving Credit as from time to time in effect (computed on the basis

of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, for the actual number of days

elapsed) or (ii) the Administrative Agent's Quoted Rate (computed on the basis

of a year of 360 days for the actual number of days elapsed). Interest on each

Swing Loan shall be due and payable on the last day of its Interest Period and

at maturity (whether by acceleration or otherwise).

 

          (c)     Requests for Swing Loans. The Company shall give the

Administrative Agent prior notice (which may be written or oral) no later than

12:00 Noon (Chicago time) on the date upon which the Company requests that any

Swing Loan be made, of the amount and date of such Swing Loan, and the Interest

Period requested therefor. Within 30 minutes after receiving such notice, the

Administrative Agent shall in its discretion quote an interest rate to the

Company at which the Administrative Agent would be willing to make such Swing

Loan available to the Company for the Interest Period so requested (the rate so

quoted for a given Interest Period being herein referred to as "Administrative

Agent's Quoted Rate"). The Company acknowledges and agrees that the interest

rate quote is given for immediate and irrevocable acceptance. If the Company

does not so immediately accept the Administrative Agent's Quoted Rate for the

full amount requested by the Company for such Swing Loan, the Administrative

Agent's Quoted Rate shall be deemed immediately withdrawn and such Swing Loan

shall bear interest at the rate per annum determined by adding the Applicable

Margin for Base Rate Loans under the Revolving Credit to the Base Rate as from

time to time in effect. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the proceeds

of such Swing Loan shall be made available to the Company on the date so

requested at the offices of the Administrative Agent in Chicago, Illinois, by

depositing such proceeds to the credit of the Company's operating account

maintained with the Administrative Agent or as the Company and the

Administrative Agent may otherwise agree. Anything contained in the foregoing to

the contrary notwithstanding, (i) the obligation of the Administrative Agent to

make Swing Loans shall be subject to all of the terms and conditions of this

Agreement and (ii) the Administrative Agent shall not be obligated to make more

than one Swing Loan during any one day.

 

                                      -13-

<PAGE>

 

         (d)     Refunding Loans. In its sole and absolute discretion, the

Administrative Agent may at any time, on behalf of the Company (which hereby

irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent to act on its behalf for such

purpose) and with notice to the Company, request each Lender to make a Revolving

Loan in the form of a Base Rate Loan in an amount equal to such Lender's

Percentage of the amount of the Swing Loans outstanding on the date such notice

is given. Unless an Event of Default described in Section 9.1(j) or 9.1(k)

exists with respect to the Company, regardless of the existence of any other

Event of Default, each Lender shall make the proceeds of its requested Revolving

Loan available to the Administrative Agent, in immediately available funds, at

the Administrative Agent's principal office in Chicago, Illinois, before 12:00

Noon (Chicago time) on the Business Day following the day such notice is given.

The proceeds of such Borrowing of Revolving Loans shall be immediately applied

to repay the outstanding Swing Loans.

 

         (e)     Participations. If any Lender refuses or otherwise fails to make

a Revolving Loan when requested by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section

1.14(d) above (because an Event of Default described in Section 9.1(j) or 9.1(k)

exists with respect to any Borrower or otherwise), such Lender will, by the time

and in the manner such Revolving Loan was to have been funded to the

Administrative Agent, purchase from the Administrative Agent an undivided

participating interest in the outstanding Swing Loans in an amount equal to its

Percentage of the aggregate principal amount of Swing Loans that were to have

been repaid with such Revolving Loans. Each Lender that so purchases a

participation in a Swing Loan shall thereafter be entitled to receive its

Percentage of each payment of principal received on the Swing Loan and of

interest received thereon accruing from the date such Lender funded to the

Administrative Agent its participation in such Loan. The several obligations of

the Lenders under this Section shall be absolute, irrevocable and unconditional

under any and all circumstances whatsoever and shall not be subject to any

set-off, counterclaim or defense to payment which any Lender may have or have

had against any Borrower, any other Lender or any other Person whatever. Without

limiting the generality of the foregoing, such obligations shall not be affected

by any Default or Event of Default or by any reduction or termination of the

Revolving Credit Commitment of any Lender, and each payment made by a Lender

under this Section shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or

reduction whatsoever.

 

         Section 1.15. Increase in Revolving Credit Commitments. The Company

may, on any Business Day prior to the Revolving Credit Termination Date, with

the written consent of the Administrative Agent (which consent shall not be

unreasonably withheld or delayed), increase the aggregate amount of the

Revolving Credit Commitments by delivering a Commitment Amount Increase Request

at least five (5) Business Days prior to the desired effective date of such

increase (the "Commitment Amount Increase") identifying an additional Lender (or

additional Revolving Credit Commitments for existing Lender(s)) and the amount

of its Revolving Credit Commitment (or additional amount of its Revolving Credit

Commitment(s)); provided, however, that (i) any increase of the aggregate amount

of the Revolving Credit Commitments to an amount in excess of $175,000,000 will

require the approval of all the Lenders, and (ii) any increase of the aggregate

amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments shall be in an amount not less than

$5,000,000. The effective date of the Commitment Amount Increase shall be agreed

upon by the Company and the Administrative Agent. Upon the effectiveness

thereof, the new Lender(s) (or, if applicable, existing Lender(s)) shall advance

Loans in an amount sufficient such that after giving effect to its Loans each

Lender shall have outstanding its pro rata share of Loans. It shall be a

condition to such effectiveness that (i) no Eurocurrency Loans be outstanding on

the date of such effectiveness and (ii) the Company shall not have terminated

any portion of the Revolving Credit Commitments pursuant to Section 1.12 hereof.

The Borrowers agree to pay any reasonable expenses of the Administrative Agent

relating to any Commitment Amount Increase. Notwithstanding anything herein to

the contrary, no Lender shall have any obligation to increase its Revolving

Credit Commitment and no Lender's Revolving Credit Commitment shall be increased

without its consent thereto, and each Lender may at its option, unconditionally

and without cause, decline to increase its Revolving Credit Commitment.

 

                                      -14-

<PAGE>

 

SECTION 2.      FEES.

 

          Section 2.1. Fees. (a) Revolving Credit Commitment Fee. The Borrowers

shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the Lenders in

accordance with their Percentages a commitment fee at the rate per annum equal

to the Applicable Margin (computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and the

actual number of days elapsed) on the average daily Unused Revolving Credit

Commitments. Such commitment fee shall be payable quarterly in arrears on the

last day of each March, June, September, and December in each year (commencing

on the first such date occurring after the date hereof) and on the Revolving

Credit Termination Date, unless the Revolving Credit Commitments are terminated

in whole on an earlier date, in which event the commitment fee for the period to

the date of such termination in whole shall be paid on the date of such

termination.

 

         (b)     Letter of Credit Fees. On the date of issuance or extension, or

increase in the amount, of any Letter of Credit pursuant to Section 1.3 hereof,

the Company shall pay to the L/C Issuer for its own account a fronting fee equal

to 0.125% of the face amount of (or of the increase in the face amount of) such

Letter of Credit. Quarterly in arrears, on the last day of each March, June,

September, and December, commencing on the first such date occurring after the

date hereof, the Company shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable

benefit of the Lenders in accordance with their Percentages, a letter of credit

fee at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Margin (computed on the basis of

a year of 360 days and the actual number of days elapsed) in effect during each

day of such quarter applied to the daily average face amount of Letters of

Credit outstanding during such quarter. In addition, the Company shall pay to

the L/C Issuer for its own account the L/C Issuer's standard issuance, drawing,

negotiation, amendment, and other administrative fees for each Letter of Credit

as established by the L/C Issuer from time to time.

 

         (c)      Administrative Agent Fees. The Borrowers shall pay to the

Administrative Agent, for its own use and benefit, the fees agreed to between

the Administrative Agent and the Company in a fee letter dated September 16,

2005, or as otherwise agreed to in writing between them.

 

                                      -15-

<PAGE>

 

SECTION 3.      PLACE AND APPLICATION OF PAYMENTS.

 

         Section 3.1. Place and Application of Payments. All payments of

principal of and interest on the Loans and the Reimbursement Obligations, and of

all other Obligations payable by the Borrowers under this Agreement and the

other Loan Documents, shall be made by the Borrowers to the Administrative Agent

by no later than 12:00 Noon (Chicago time) on the due date thereof at the office

of the Administrative Agent in Chicago, Illinois (or such other location as the

Administrative Agent may designate to the Company) for the benefit of the Lender

or Lenders entitled thereto. Any payments received after such time shall be

deemed to have been received by the Administrative Agent on the next Business

Day. All such payments shall be made (i) in U.S. Dollars, in immediately

available funds at the place of payment or (ii) in the case amounts payable

hereunder in an Alternative Currency, in such Alternative Currency in such funds

then customary for the settlement of international transactions in such

currency, in each case without set-off or counterclaim. The Administrative Agent

will promptly thereafter cause to be distributed like funds relating to the

payment of principal or interest on Loans and on Reimbursement Obligations in

which the Lenders have purchased Participating Interests ratably to the Lenders

and like funds relating to the payment of any other amount payable to any Lender

to such Lender, in each case to be applied in accordance with the terms of this

Agreement. If the Administrative Agent causes amounts to be distributed to the

Lenders in reliance upon the assumption that the Borrowers will make a scheduled

payment and such scheduled payment is not so made, each Lender shall, on demand,

repay to the Administrative Agent the amount distributed to such Lender together

with interest thereon in respect of each day during the period commencing on the

date such amount was distributed to such Lender and ending on (but excluding)

the date such Lender repays such amount to the Administrative Agent, at a rate

per annum equal to: (i) from the date the distribution was made to the date two

(2) Business Days after payment by such Lender is due hereunder, the Federal

Funds Rate for each such day and (ii) from the date two (2) Business Days after

the date such payment is due from such Lender to the date such payment is made

by such Lender, the Base Rate in effect for each such day.

 

         Anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding (including,

without limitation, Section 1.9(b) hereof), all payments and collections

received in respect of the Obligations, by the Administrative Agent or any of

the Lenders after acceleration or the final maturity of the Obligations or

termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments as a result of an Event of

Default shall be remitted to the Administrative Agent and distributed as

follows:

 

         (a)     first, to the payment of any outstanding costs and expenses

incurred by the Administrative Agent in protecting, preserving or enforcing

rights under the Loan Documents, and in any event including all costs and

expenses of a character which the Borrowers have agreed to pay the

Administrative Agent under Section 13.15 hereof (such funds to be retained by

the Administrative Agent for its own account unless it has previously been

reimbursed for such costs and expenses by the Lenders, in which event such

amounts shall be remitted to the Lenders to reimburse them for payments

theretofore made to the Administrative Agent);

 

         (b)     second, to the payment of principal and interest on the Swing

Note until paid in full;

 

         (c)     third, to the payment of any outstanding interest and fees due

under the Loan Documents to be allocated pro rata in accordance with the

aggregate unpaid amounts owing to each holder thereof;

 

                                      -16-

<PAGE>

 

         (d)     fourth, to the payment of principal on the Notes, unpaid

Reimbursement Obligations, together with amounts to be held by the

Administrative Agent as collateral security for any outstanding L/C Obligations

pursuant to Section 9.4 hereof (until the Administrative Agent is holding an

amount of cash equal to the then outstanding amount of all such L/C

Obligations), and Hedging Liability, the aggregate amount paid to, or held as

collateral security for, the Lenders and, in the case of Hedging Liability,

their Affiliates to be allocated pro rata in accordance with the aggregate

unpaid amounts owing to each holder thereof;

 

         (e)     fifth, to the payment of all other unpaid Obligations to be

allocated pro rata in accordance with the aggregate unpaid amounts owing to each

holder thereof; and

 

         (f)     finally, to the Company or whoever else may be lawfully entitled

thereto.

 

         Section 3.2. Account Debit. Each Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes

the Administrative Agent to charge such Borrower's deposit account or accounts

maintained with the Administrative Agent for the amounts from time to time

necessary to pay any then due Obligations; provided that each Borrower

acknowledges and agrees that the Administrative Agent shall not be under an

obligation to do so and the Administrative Agent shall not incur any liability

to any Borrower or any other Person for the Administrative Agent's failure to do

so.

 

SECTION 4.      GUARANTIES.

 

         Section 4.1. Guaranties. The payment and performance of the

Obligations, Hedging Liability, and Funds Transfer and Deposit Account Liability

shall at all times be guaranteed by the Company and each direct and indirect

Material Subsidiary of the Company (individually a "Guarantor" and collectively

the "Guarantors") pursuant to Section 12 hereof or pursuant to one or more

guaranty agreements in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative

Agent, as the same may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time

(individually a "Guaranty" and collectively the "Guaranties"); provided,

however, that unless otherwise required by the Administrative Agent or the

Required Lenders during the existence of any Event of Default, a Foreign

Subsidiary shall not be required to be a Guarantor hereunder if providing such

Guaranty would cause a material adverse effect on the Company's federal income

tax liability.

 

         Section 4.2. Further Assurances. The Company agrees that it shall, and

shall cause each other Guarantor to, from time to time at the request of the

Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, execute and deliver such documents

and do such acts and things as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders

may reasonably request in order to provide for a Guaranty as required by Section

4.1. In the event the Company or any other Guarantor forms or acquires any other

Material Subsidiary after the date hereof, except as otherwise provided in

Section 4.1 above, the Company shall promptly upon such formation or acquisition

cause such newly formed or acquired Material Subsidiary to execute a Guaranty as

the Administrative Agent may then require, and the Company shall also deliver to

the Administrative Agent, or cause such Material Subsidiary to deliver to the

Administrative Agent, at the Borrowers' cost and expense, such other

instruments, documents, certificates, and opinions reasonably required by the

Administrative Agent in connection therewith.

 

                                      -17-

<PAGE>

 

SECTION 5.      DEFINITIONS; INTERPRETATION.

 

         Section 5.1. Definitions. The following terms when used herein shall

have the following meanings:

 

         "Acquired Business" means the entity or assets acquired by the Company

or a Subsidiary in an Acquisition, whether before or after the date hereof.

 

         "Acquisition" means any transaction or series of related transactions

for the purpose of or resulting, directly or indirectly, in (a) the acquisition

of all or substantially all of the assets of a Person, or of any business or

division of a Person, (b) the acquisition of in excess of 50% of the capital

stock, partnership interests, membership interests or equity of any Person

(other than a Person that is a Subsidiary), or otherwise causing any Person to

become a Subsidiary, or (c) a merger or consolidation or any other combination

with another Person (other than a Person that is a Subsidiary), provided that

the Company or the Subsidiary is the surviving entity.

 

         "Adjusted LIBOR" is defined in Section 1.3(b) hereof.

 

         "Administrative Agent" means Harris N.A. and any successor pursuant to

Section 11.7 hereof.

 

          "Administrative Agent's Quoted Rate" is defined in Section 1.14(c)

hereof.

 

         Administrative Questionnaire" means an administrative questionnaire in

a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.

 

         "Affiliate" means any Person directly or indirectly controlling or

controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with, another Person.

A Person shall be deemed to control another Person for the purposes of this

definition if such Person possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to

direct, or cause the direction of, the management and policies of the other

Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, common directors,

trustees or officers, by contract or otherwise; provided that, in any event for

purposes of this definition, any Person that owns, directly or indirectly, 5% or

more of the securities having the ordinary voting power for the election of

directors or governing body of a corporation or 5% or more of the partnership or

other ownership interest of any other Person (other than as a limited partner of

such other Person) will be deemed to control such corporation or other Person.

 

         "Agreement" means this Credit Agreement, as the same may be amended,

modified, restated or supplemented from time to time pursuant to the terms

hereof.

 

         "Alternative Currency" means any of Euros, Pound Sterling, and any

other currency approved by all the Lenders, in each case for so long as such

currency is readily available to all the Lenders and is freely transferable and

freely convertible to U.S. Dollars and the Dow Jones Telerate Service or Reuters

Monitor Money Rates Service (or any successor to either) reports a LIBOR for

such currency for interest periods of one, two, three and six calendar months;

provided that if any Lender provides written notice to the Company (with a copy

to the Administrative Agent) that any currency control or other exchange

regulations are imposed in the country in which any such Alternative Currency is

issued and that in the reasonable opinion of such Lender funding a Loan in such

currency is impractical, then such currency shall cease to be an Alternative

Currency hereunder until such time as all the Lenders reinstate such country's

currency as an Alternative Currency.

 

                                       -18-

<PAGE>

 

         "Applicable Margin" means, with respect to Loans, Reimbursement

Obligations, and the commitment fees and letter of credit fees payable under

Section 2.1 hereof, until the first Pricing Date, the rates per annum shown

opposite Level I below, and thereafter from one Pricing Date to the next the

Applicable Margin means the rates per annum determined in accordance with the

following schedule:

 

<TABLE>

<CAPTION>

                                       APPLICABLE MARGIN FOR      APPLICABLE MARGIN

               TOTAL SENIOR FUNDED       BASE RATE LOANS AND     FOR EUROCURRENCY LOANS     APPLICABLE MARGIN

                DEBT/EBITDA RATIO           REIMBURSEMENT         AND LETTER OF CREDIT      FOR COMMITMENT FEE

   LEVEL       FOR SUCH PRICING DATE     OBLIGATIONS SHALL BE:        FEE SHALL BE:              SHALL BE:

   -----     -------------------------   ---------------------    ----------------------     ------------------

    <S>      <C>                                   <C>                     <C>                     <C>

     V       Greater   than or equal to

            2.50 to 1.0                           0%                     1.125%                   0.20%

 

    IV       Less   than   2.50   to 1.0,

            but    greater    than    or

             equal to 2.00 to 1.0                  0%                     0.875%                  0.175%

 

    III      Less   than   2.0   to   1.0,

            but    greater    than    or

            equal to 1.5 to 1.0                   0%                      0.75%                    0.15%

 

    II       Less   than   1.5   to   1.0,

            but    greater    than    or

            equal to 1.0 to 1.0                   0%                     0.625%                  0.125%

 

     I       Less than 1.0 to 1.0                  0%                       0.50%                   0.10%

</TABLE>

 

For purposes hereof, the term "Pricing Date" means, for any fiscal quarter of

the Company ending on or after September 30, 2005, the date on which the

Administrative Agent is in receipt of the Company's most recent financial

statements (and, in the case of the year-end financial statements, audit report)

for the fiscal quarter then ended, pursuant to Section 8.5 hereof. The

Applicable Margin shall be established based on the Total Senior Debt/EBITDA

Ratio for the most recently completed fiscal quarter and the Applicable Margin

established on a Pricing Date shall remain in effect until the next Pricing

Date. If the Company has not delivered its financial statements by the date such

financial statements (and, in the case of the year-end financial statements,

audit report) are required to be delivered under Section 8.5 hereof, until such

financial statements and audit report are delivered, the Applicable Margin shall

be the highest Applicable Margin (i.e., Level V shall apply). If the Company

subsequently delivers such financial statements before the next Pricing Date,

the Applicable Margin established by such late delivered financial statements

shall take effect from the date of delivery until the next Pricing Date. In all

other circumstances, the Applicable Margin established by such financial

statements shall be in effect from the Pricing Date that occurs immediately

after the end of the fiscal quarter covered by such financial statements until

the next Pricing Date. Each determination of the Applicable Margin made by the

Administrative Agent in accordance with the foregoing shall be conclusive and

binding on the Borrowers and the Lenders if reasonably determined.

 

                                      -19-

<PAGE>

 

         "Application" is defined in Section 1.2(b) hereof.

 

         "Authorized Representative" means those persons shown on the list of

officers provided by the Company pursuant to Section 7.2 hereof or on any update

of any such list provided by the Company to the Administrative Agent, or any

further or different officers of the Company so named by any Authorized

Representative of the Company in a written notice to the Administrative Agent.

 

         "Base Rate" is defined in Section 1.3(a) hereof.

 

         "Base Rate Loan" means a Loan bearing interest at a rate specified in

Section 1.3(a) hereof.

 

         "Borrower" and "Borrowers" are each defined in the introductory

paragraph of this Agreement.

 

         "Borrowing" means the total of Loans of a single type advanced,

continued for an additional Interest Period, or converted from a different type

into such type by the Lenders under a Credit on a single date and, in the case

of Eurocurrency Loans, for a single Interest Period. Borrowings of Loans are

made and maintained ratably from each of the Lenders under a Credit according to

their Percentages of such Credit. A Borrowing is "advanced" on the day Lenders

advance funds comprising such Borrowing to the applicable Borrower, is

"continued" on the date a new Interest Period for the same type of Loans

commences for such Borrowing, and is "converted" when such Borrowing is changed

from one type of Loans to the other, all as determined pursuant to Section 1.5

hereof. Borrowings of Swing Loans are made by the Administrative Agent in

accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 1.14 hereof.

 

         "Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday or Sunday on which

Banks are not authorized or required to close in Chicago, Illinois and, if the

applicable Business Day relates to the borrowing or payment of a Eurocurrency

Loan, on which banks are dealing in U.S. Dollar deposits or the relevant

Alternative Currency in the interbank market in London, England and, if the

applicable Business Day relates to the borrowing or payment of a Eurocurrency

Loan denominated in an Alternative Currency, on which banks and foreign exchange

markets are open for business in the city where disbursements of or payments on

such Loan are to be made and, if such Alternative Currency is the Euro or any

national currency of a nation that is a member of the European Economic and

Monetary Union, which is a TARGET Settlement Day.

 

         "Capital Lease" means any lease of Property which in accordance with

GAAP is required to be capitalized on the balance sheet of the lessee.

 

                                      -20-

<PAGE>

 

         "Capitalized Lease Obligation" means, for any Person, the amount of the

liability shown on the balance sheet of such Person in respect of a Capital

Lease determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

         "Capitalized Rentals" shall mean as of the date of any determination

the amount at which the aggregate Rentals due and to become due under all

Capitalized Leases under which any Borrower or any Subsidiary is a lessee would

be reflected as a liability on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and

its Subsidiaries.

 

         "CERCLA" means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation

and Liability Act of 1980, as amended by the Superfund Amendments and

Reauthorization Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. Sections 9601 et seq., and any future

amendments.

 

         "CETCO Europe" is defined in the introductory paragraph of this

Agreement.

 

         "Change of Control" means any of (a) the acquisition by any "person" or

"group" (as such terms are used in sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities

Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) at any time of beneficial ownership of 20% or

more of the outstanding capital stock or other equity interests of the Company

on a fully-diluted basis, (b) the failure of individuals who are members of the

board of directors (or similar governing body) of the Company on the Closing

Date (together with any new or replacement directors whose initial nomination

for election was approved by a majority of the directors who were either

directors on the Closing Date or previously so approved) to constitute a

majority of the board of directors (or similar governing body) of the Company,

or (c) any "Change of Control" (or words of like import), as defined in any

agreement or indenture relating to any issue of Indebtedness shall occur.

 

         "Closing Date" means the date of this Agreement or such later Business

Day upon which each condition described in Section 7.2 shall be satisfied or

waived in a manner acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its discretion.

 

         "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any

successor statute thereto.

 

         "Collateral Account" is defined in Section 9.4 hereof.

 

         "Colin Stewart" is defined in the introductory paragraph of this

Agreement.

 

         "Commitment Amount Increase" is defined in Section 1.15 hereof.

 

         "Commitment Amount Increase Request" means a Commitment Amount Increase

Request in the form of Exhibit E hereto.

 

         "Company" is defined in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

 

                                      -21-

<PAGE>

 

         "Consolidated Current Liabilities" as of the date of any determination

thereof shall mean such liabilities of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a

consolidated basis as shall be determined in accordance with GAAP to constitute

current liabilities.

 

         "Consolidated Net Tangible Assets" shall mean as of the date of any

determination thereof the total amount of all Tangible Assets of the Company and

its Subsidiaries after deducting all items which in accordance with GAAP would

be included on the liability side of a consolidated balance sheet, except

deferred income taxes, deferred investment tax credits, capital stock of any

class, surplus, and Funded Debt.

 

         "Consolidated Tangible Net Worth" shall mean, as of the date of any

determination thereof, Consolidated Net Tangible Assets less all outstanding

Funded Debt, deferred income taxes, deferred investment tax credits and Minority

Interests, all determined in accordance with GAAP consolidating the Company and

its Subsidiaries.

 

         "Consolidated Total Capitalization" shall mean, as of the date of any

determination thereof, the total amount of all assets of the Company and its

Subsidiaries after deducting all items which in accordance with GAAP would be

included on the liability side of a consolidated balance sheet, except capital

stock of any class, surplus (net of treasury stock and loans to officers), and

Funded Debt.

 

         "Contingent Obligations" of any Person shall mean all obligations

(other than endorsements in the ordinary course of business of negotiable

instruments for deposit or collection) of such Person guaranteeing or in effect,

guaranteeing any Indebtedness, dividend or other obligation, of any other Person

(the "primary obligor") in any manner, whether directly or indirectly,

including, without limitation, all obligations incurred through an agreement,

contingent or otherwise, by such Person: (i) to purchase such Indebtedness or

obligation or any property or assets constituting security therefor, (ii) to

advance or supply funds (x) for the purchase or payment of such Indebtedness or

obligation, (y) to maintain working capital or other balance sheet condition or

otherwise to advance or make available funds for the purchase or payment of such

Indebtedness or obligation, or (iii) to lease property or to purchase Securities

or other property or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of

such Indebtedness or obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make

payment of the Indebtedness or obligation, or (iv) otherwise to assure the owner

of the Indebtedness or obligation of the primary obligor against loss in respect

thereof. For the purposes of all computations made under this Agreement, a

guaranty in respect of any Indebtedness shall be deemed to be Indebtedness equal

to the principal amount of such Indebtedness which has been guaranteed, and a

guaranty in respect of any other obligation or liability or any dividend shall

be deemed to be Indebtedness equal to the maximum aggregate amount of such

obligation, liability or dividend.

 

         "Controlled Group" means all members of a controlled group of

corporations and all trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) under

common control which, together with any Borrower, are treated as a single

employer under Section 414 of the Code.

 

         "Credit" means either of the Revolving Credit or the Swing Line.

 

                                      -22-

<PAGE>

 

         "Credit Event" means the advancing of any Loan, the continuation of or

conversion into a Eurocurrency Loan, or the issuance of, or extension of the

expiration date or increase in the amount of, any Letter of Credit.

 

         "Current Debt" as of the date of any determination thereof shall mean

(i) all Indebtedness other than Funded Debt, (ii) letter of credit obligations

and (iii) Contingent Obligations with respect to Current Debt of others.

 

          "Default" means any event or condition the occurrence of which would,

with the passage of time or the giving of notice, or both, constitute an Event

of Default.

 

         "EBITDA" means, with reference to any period, Net Income for such

period plus the sum of all amounts deducted in arriving at such Net Income

amount in respect of (a) Interest Expense for such period, (b) federal, state,

and local income taxes for such period, and (c) depreciation of fixed assets and

amortization of intangible assets for such period.

 

         "Eligible Line of Business" means any business engaged in as of the

date of this Agreement by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

         "Environmental Claim" means any investigation, notice, violation,

demand, allegation, action, suit, injunction, judgment, order, consent decree,

penalty, fine, lien, proceeding or claim (whether administrative, judicial or

private in nature) arising (a) pursuant to, or in connection with an actual or

alleged violation of, any Environmental Law, (b) in connection with any

Hazardous Material, (c) from any abatement, removal, remedial, corrective or

response action in connection with a Hazardous Material, Environmental Law or

order of a governmental authority or (d) from any actual or alleged damage,

injury, threat or harm to health, safety, natural resources or the environment.

 

         "Environmental Law" means any current or future Legal Requirement

pertaining to (a) the protection of health, safety and the indoor or outdoor

environment, (b) the conservation, management or use of natural resources and

wildlife, (c) the protection or use of surface water or groundwater, (d) the

management, manufacture, possession, presence, use, generation, transportation,

treatment, storage, disposal, Release, threatened Release, abatement, removal,

remediation or handling of, or exposure to, any Hazardous Material or (e)

pollution (including any Release to air, land, surface water or groundwater),

and any amendment, rule, regulation, order or directive issued thereunder.

 

         "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as

amended, or any successor statute thereto.

 

         "Euro" and "(euro)" means the lawful currency of the member states of

the European Union that adopt a single currency in accordance with the Treaty on

European Union signed February 7, 1992.

 

         "Eurocurrency Loan" means a Loan bearing interest at the rate specified

in Section 1.3(b) hereof.

 

                                      -23-

<PAGE>

 

         "Eurocurrency Reserve Percentage" is defined in Section 1.3(b) hereof.

 

         "Event of Default" means any event or condition identified as such in

Section 9.1 hereof.

 

         "Existing Letters of Credit" is defined in Section 1.2(a) hereof.

 

         "Federal Funds Rate" means the fluctuating interest rate per annum

described in part (x) of clause (ii) of the definition of Base Rate appearing in

Section 1.3(a) hereof.

 

         "Foreign Subsidiary" means each Subsidiary which (a) is organized under

the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States of America or any state

thereof, (b) conducts substantially all of its business outside of the United

States of America, and (c) has substantially all of its assets outside of the

United States of America.

 

         "Funded Debt" of any Person shall mean (i) all Indebtedness having a

final maturity of one or more than one year from the date of origin thereof (or

which is renewable or extendible at the option of the obligor for a period or

periods more than one year from the date of origin), including all payments in

respect thereof that are required to be made within one year from the date of

any determination of Funded Debt, whether or not included in Consolidated

Current Liabilities, (ii) all Capitalized Rentals, and (iii) all Contingent

Obligations with respect to Funded Debt of others (unless such Funded Debt is

included in subclauses (i) or (ii) above). "Consolidated" when used as a prefix

to any Funded Debt shall mean the aggregate amount of all such Funded Debt of

the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis eliminating

intercompany items.

 

         "Funds Transfer and Deposit Account Liability" means the liability of

any Borrower or any Subsidiary owing to any of the Lenders, or any Affiliates of

such Lenders, arising out of (a) the execution or processing of electronic

transfers of funds by automatic clearing house transfer, wire transfer or

otherwise to or from deposit accounts of any Borrower and/or any Subsidiary now

or hereafter maintained with any of the Lenders or their Affiliates, (b) the

acceptance for deposit or the honoring for payment of any check, draft or other

item with respect to any such deposit accounts, and (c) any other deposit,

disbursement, and cash management services afforded to any Borrower or any

Subsidiary by any of such Lenders or their Affiliates.

 

         "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles set forth from

time to time in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles

Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements

and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (or agencies with

similar functions of comparable stature and authority within the U.S. accounting

profession), which are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of

determination.

 

         "Guarantor" and "Guarantors" are each defined in Section 4.1 hereof.

 

         "Guaranty" and "Guaranties" are each defined in Section 4.1 hereof.

 

                                      -24-

<PAGE>

 

         "Hazardous Material" means any substance, chemical, compound, product,

solid, gas, liquid, waste, byproduct, pollutant, contaminant or material which

is hazardous or toxic, and includes, without limitation, (a) asbestos,

polychlorinated biphenyls and petroleum (including crude oil or any fraction

thereof) and (b) any material classified or regulated as "hazardous" or "toxic"

or words of like import pursuant to an Environmental Law.

 

         "Hazardous Material Activity" means any activity, event or occurrence

involving a Hazardous Material, including, without limitation, the manufacture,

possession, presence, use, generation, transportation, treatment, storage,

disposal, Release, threatened Release, abatement, removal, remediation, handling

of or corrective or response action to any Hazardous Material.

 

         "Hedging Liability" means the liability of any Borrower or any

Subsidiary to any of the Lenders, or any Affiliates of such Lenders, in respect

of any interest rate, foreign currency, and/or commodity swap, exchange, cap,

collar, floor, forward, future or option agreement, or any other similar

interest rate, currency or commodity hedging arrangement, as such Borrower or

such Subsidiary, as the case may be, may from time to time enter into with any

one or more of the Lenders party to this Agreement or their Affiliates.

 

         "Hostile Acquisition" means the acquisition of the capital stock or

other equity interests of a Person through a tender offer or similar

solicitation of the owners of such capital stock or other equity interests which

has not been approved (prior to such acquisition) by resolutions of the Board of

Directors of such Person or by similar action if such Person is not a

corporation, and as to which such approval has not been withdrawn.

 

         "Indebtedness" means for any Person (without duplication) (a) all

indebtedness created, assumed or incurred in any manner by such Person

representing money borrowed (including by the issuance of debt securities), (b)

all indebtedness for the deferred purchase price of property or services (other

than trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business which are

not more than thirty (30) days past due), (c) all indebtedness secured by any

Lien upon Property of such Person, whether or not such Person has assumed or

become liable for the payment of such indebtedness, (d) all Capitalized Lease

Obligations of such Person, (e) all obligations of such Person on or with

respect to letters of credit, bankers' acceptances and other extensions of

credit whether or not representing obligations for borrowed money, (f)

liabilities of such Person in respect of any so-called "synthetic" leases or

other transactions which is the functional equivalent of or takes the place of

borrowing but which does not constitute a liability on such Person's balance

sheet and (g) net obligations under any Swap Contract in an amount equal to the

Swap Termination Value thereof.

 

         "Interest Expense" means, with reference to any period, the sum of all

interest charges (including imputed interest charges with respect to Capitalized

Lease Obligations and all amortization of debt discount and expense) of the

Company and its Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis

in accordance with GAAP.

 

         "Interest Period" is defined in Section 1.6 hereof.

 

                                      -25-

<PAGE>

 

         "L/C Issuer" means the Administrative Agent, or any other Lender

requested by the Company and approved by the Administrative Agent in its sole

discretion with respect to any Letter of Credit.

 

         "L/C Obligations" means the aggregate undrawn face amounts of all

outstanding Letters of Credit and all unpaid Reimbursement Obligations.

 

         "L/C Sublimit" means $25,000,000, as reduced pursuant to the terms

hereof.

 

         "Legal Requirement" means any treaty, convention, statute, law,

regulation, ordinance, license, permit, governmental approval, injunction,

judgment, order, consent decree or other requirement of any governmental

authority, whether federal, state, or local.

 

         "Lenders" means and includes the financial institutions from time to

time party to this Agreement, including each assignee Lender pursuant to Section

13.12 hereof.

 

         "Lending Office" is defined in Section 10.4 hereof.

 

         "Letter of Credit" is defined in Section 1.2(a) hereof.

 

         "LIBOR" is defined in Section 1.3(b) hereof.

 

         "Lien" means any mortgage, lien, security interest, pledge, charge or

encumbrance of any kind in respect of any Property, including the interests of a

vendor or lessor under any conditional sale, Capital Lease or


 
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