Published CUSIP Number:
13083LAA4
Dated as of October 27,
2009
CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE
GROUP,
and
CERTAIN SUBSIDIARIES
as Borrowers,
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender
and
L/C Issuer,
COBANK, ACB
and
BANK OF CHINA, LOS ANGELES BRANCH,
as Co-Syndication Agents,
COMPASS BANK
and
U.S. BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Co-Documentation Agents
The Other Lenders Party
Hereto
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES
LLC,
as
Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Book Manager
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Section
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Page
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DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
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1.01
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1
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1.02
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Other Interpretive Provisions
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21
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1.03
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22
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1.04
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23
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1.05
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23
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1.06
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23
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THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS
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2.01
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23
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2.02
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Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of
Revolving Loans
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23
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2.03
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25
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2.04
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33
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2.05
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36
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2.06
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Termination or Reduction of
Commitments
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37
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2.07
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37
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2.08
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37
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2.09
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38
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2.10
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Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive
Adjustments of Applicable Rate
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39
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2.11
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39
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2.12
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Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s
Clawback
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40
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2.13
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Sharing of Payments by Lenders
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42
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2.14
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42
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2.15
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Cash Collateral and Other Credit
Support
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43
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2.16
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45
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TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND
ILLEGALITY
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3.01
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46
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3.02
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50
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Section
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Page
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3.03
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Inability to Determine Rates
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51
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3.04
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Increased Costs; Reserves on Eurodollar Rate
Loans
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51
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3.05
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53
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3.06
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Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of
Lenders
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53
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3.07
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54
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CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT
EXTENSIONS
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4.01
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Conditions of Initial Credit
Extension
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54
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4.02
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Conditions to all Credit Extensions
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55
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REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
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5.01
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Existence, Qualification and Power
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56
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5.02
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Authorization; No Contravention
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56
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5.03
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Governmental Authorization; Other
Consents
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57
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5.04
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57
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5.05
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Financial Statements; No Material Adverse
Effect
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57
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5.06
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58
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5.07
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58
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5.08
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Ownership of Property; Liens
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58
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5.09
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58
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5.10
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58
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5.11
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58
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5.12
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59
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5.13
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Subsidiaries; Equity Interests
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59
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5.14
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Margin Regulations; Investment Company
Act
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59
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5.15
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60
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5.16
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60
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5.17
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Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc
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60
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6.01
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61
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6.02
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Certificates; Other Information
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62
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6.03
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64
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ii
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Section
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Page
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6.04
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64
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6.05
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Preservation of Existence, Etc
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65
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6.06
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Maintenance of Properties
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65
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6.07
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65
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6.08
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65
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6.09
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65
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6.10
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65
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6.11
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66
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6.12
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Material Licenses, Permits and
Franchises
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66
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7.01
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66
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7.02
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69
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7.03
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70
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7.04
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72
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7.05
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72
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7.06
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73
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7.07
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74
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7.08
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Transactions with Affiliates
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74
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7.09
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74
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7.10
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75
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EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
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8.01
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75
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8.02
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Remedies Upon Event of Default
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77
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8.03
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77
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9.01
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Appointment and Authority
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79
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9.02
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79
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9.03
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79
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9.04
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Reliance by Administrative Agent
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80
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9.05
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80
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iii
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Section
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Page
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9.06
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Resignation of Administrative Agent
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80
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9.07
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Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other
Lenders
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82
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9.08
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82
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9.09
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Administrative Agent May File Proofs of
Claim
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82
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9.10
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Guaranteed Cash Management Agreements and
Guaranteed Hedge Agreements
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83
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10.01
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83
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10.02
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Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic
Communication
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84
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10.03
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No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies;
Enforcement
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86
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10.04
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Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver
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87
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10.05
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89
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10.06
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89
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10.07
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Treatment of Certain Information;
Confidentiality
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94
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10.08
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94
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10.09
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95
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10.10
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Counterparts; Integration;
Effectiveness
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95
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10.11
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Survival of Representations and
Warranties
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96
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10.12
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96
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10.13
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96
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10.14
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Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc
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97
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10.15
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98
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10.16
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No Advisory or Fiduciary
Responsibility
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98
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10.17
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Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain
Other Documents
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99
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10.18
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99
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SIGNATURES
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S-1
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iv
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Commitments and
Applicable Percentages
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Subsidiaries;
Other Equity Investments; Borrowers
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Existing
Liens
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Existing
Investments
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Existing
Indebtedness
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Permitted
Dispositions for Remediation Plans
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Existing
Burdensome Agreements
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Administrative
Agent’s Office; Certain Addresses for Notices
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Form
of
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Revolving Loan
Notice
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Swing Line Loan
Notice
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Note
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Compliance
Certificate
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Assignment and
Assumption
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Administrative
Questionnaire
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Guaranty
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Designated
Borrower Request and Assumption Agreement
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Designated
Borrower Notice
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Opinion of
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, LLP
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v
This CREDIT
AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is entered into
as of October 27, 2009, among CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP,
a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”),
certain Subsidiaries of the Company party hereto pursuant to
Section 2.14 (each a “ Designated Borrower
” and, together with the Company, the “
Borrowers ” and, each a “ Borrower
”), each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively,
the “ Lenders ” and individually, a “
Lender ”), and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as
Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer.
The Company has
requested that the Lenders provide a revolving credit facility, and
the Lenders are willing to do so on the terms and conditions set
forth herein.
In consideration
of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the
parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
1.01 Defined
Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall
have the meanings set forth below:
“
Acquired Indebtedness ” has the meaning specified in
Section 7.03(h) .
“
Administrative Agent ” means Bank of America in its
capacity as administrative agent under any of the Loan Documents,
or any successor administrative agent appointed pursuant to
Section 9.06 .
“
Administrative Agent’s Office ” means the
Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account
as set forth on Schedule 10.02 , or such other address
or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time
designate in a notice to the Company and the Lenders pursuant to
Section 10.02 .
“
Administrative Questionnaire ” means an Administrative
Questionnaire in substantially the form of Exhibit E-2
or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.
“
Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, another
Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more
intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common
Control with the Person specified.
“
Aggregate Commitments ” means the Commitments of all
the Lenders. As of the Closing Date, the Aggregate Commitments
totaled $50,000,000.
“
Agreement ” means this Credit Agreement.
“
Applicable Percentage ” means with respect to any
Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth
decimal place) of the Aggregate Commitments represented by such
Lender’s Commitment at such time. If the commitment of each
Lender to make Loans and the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make
L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to
Section 8.02 or if the Aggregate Commitments have
expired, then the Applicable Percentage of
1
each Lender
shall be determined based on the Applicable Percentage of such
Lender most recently in effect, giving effect to any subsequent
assignments. The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender is
set forth opposite the name of such Lender on
Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption
pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as
applicable.
“
Applicable Rate ” means the following percentages per
annum, based upon the Total Capitalization Ratio as set forth in
the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the
Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.02(a)
:
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Applicable Rate
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Total
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Eurodollar Rate
Loans
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Capitalization
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and
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Base Rate
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Pricing Level
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Ratio
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Letter of Credit
Fees
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Loans
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Commitment Fee
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1
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≤ 40
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%
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1.50
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%
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0.50
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%
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0.250
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%
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2
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> 40% but ≤ 50%
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1.75
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%
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0.75
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%
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0.250
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%
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3
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> 50% but ≤ 60%
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2.00
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%
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1.00
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%
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0.300
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%
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4
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> 60
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%
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2.25
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%
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1.25
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%
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0.350
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%
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Any increase or
decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the
Total Capitalization Ratio shall become effective as of the first
Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance
Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a) ;
provided , however , that if a Compliance Certificate
is not delivered when due in accordance with such Section, then,
upon the request of the Required Lenders, Pricing Level 4 shall
apply as of the first Business Day after the date on which such
Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered and
shall remain in effect until the date on which such Compliance
Certificate is delivered. Subject to the preceding sentence, from
the Closing Date to the date of the delivery of the Compliance
Certificate for the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2009,
Pricing Level 2 shall apply.
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in this definition, the
determination of the Applicable Rate for any period shall be
subject to the provisions of Section 2.10(b)
.
“
Applicant Borrower ” has the meaning specified in
Section 2.14 .
“
Approved Fund ” means any Fund that is administered or
managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or
(c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or
manages a Lender.
“
Arranger ” means Banc of America Securities LLC, in
its capacity as sole lead arranger and sole book
manager.
“
Assignee Group ” means two or more Eligible Assignees
that are Affiliates of one another or two or more Approved Funds
managed by the same investment advisor.
2
“
Assignment and Assumption ” means an assignment and
assumption entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the
consent of any party whose consent is required by Section
10.06(b) ), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in
substantially the form of Exhibit E-1 or any other form
approved by the Administrative Agent.
“
Attributable Indebtedness ” means, on any date,
(a) in respect of any Capital Lease of any Person, the
capitalized amount thereof that would appear on a balance sheet of
such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP, and
(b) in respect of any Synthetic Lease Obligation, the
capitalized amount of the remaining lease payments under the
relevant lease that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person
prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP if such lease were
accounted for as a Capital Lease.
“ Audited
Financial Statements ” means the audited consolidated
balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2008, and the related consolidated
statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and
cash flows for such fiscal year of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, including the notes thereto.
“
Availability Period ” means the period from and
including the Closing Date to the earliest of (a) the Maturity
Date, (b) the date of termination of the Aggregate Commitments
pursuant to Section 2.06 , and (c) the date of
termination of the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and of
the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions
pursuant to Section 8.02 .
“ Bank of
America ” means Bank of America, N.A. and its
successors.
“ Base
Rate ” means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum
equal to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1%,
(b) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly
announced from time to time by Bank of America as its “prime
rate,” and (c) the Eurodollar Rate (determined in
accordance with clause (b) of the definition thereof) plus
1.00%. The “prime rate” is a rate set by Bank of
America based upon various factors including Bank of
America’s costs and desired return, general economic
conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for
pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such
announced rate. Any change in such prime rate announced by Bank of
America shall take effect at the opening of business on the day
specified in the public announcement of such change.
“ Base
Rate Loan ” means a Loan that bears interest based on the
Base Rate.
“ Base
Rate Revolving Loan ” means a Revolving Loan that is a
Base Rate Loan.
“
Borrower ” and “ Borrowers ” each
has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph
hereto.
“
Borrower Materials ” has the meaning specified in
Section 6.02 .
“
Borrowing ” means a Revolving Borrowing or a Swing
Line Borrowing, as the context may require.
3
“
Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday,
Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to
close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the state where
the Administrative Agent’s Office is located and, if such day
relates to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, means any such day that is
also a London Banking Day.
“ Capital
Lease ” means any lease of property, real or personal,
which is required to be accounted for and classified as a capital
lease in accordance with GAAP.
“ Cash
Collateralize ” means to pledge and deposit with or
deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the L/C
Issuer or Swing Line Lender (as applicable) and the Lenders, as
collateral for L/C Obligations, Obligations in respect of Swing
Line Loans, or obligations of Lenders to fund participations in
respect of either thereof (as the context may require), cash or
deposit account balances pursuant to documentation in form and
substance satisfactory to (a) the Administrative Agent and
(b) the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender (as applicable).
“ Cash Collateral ” shall have a meaning
correlative to the foregoing.
“ Cash
Management Agreement ” means any agreement to provide
cash management services, including treasury, depository,
overdraft, credit or debit card, electronic funds transfer and
other cash management arrangements.
“ Cash
Management Bank ” means any Person that, (a) at the
time it enters into a Cash Management Agreement, is a Lender or an
Affiliate of a Lender, or (b) at the time it (or its
Affiliate) becomes a Lender, is a party to a Cash Management
Agreement, in each case in its capacity as a party to such Cash
Management Agreement.
“ Change
in Law ” means the occurrence, after the date of this
Agreement (or, in the case of a Lender becoming a party hereto
after the date of this Agreement, after the date such Lender
becomes a party hereto), of any of the following: (a) the
adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty,
(b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in
the administration, interpretation or application thereof by any
Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any
request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of
law) by any Governmental Authority.
“ Change
of Control ” means an event or series of events by
which:
(a) any
“person” or “group” (as such terms are used
in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person or its
subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as
trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such
plan) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in
Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934), directly or indirectly, of 25% or more of the equity
securities of the Company entitled to vote for members of the board
of directors or equivalent governing body of the Company on a
fully-diluted basis (and taking into account all such securities
that such person or group has the right to acquire pursuant to any
option right); or
(b) the Company
owns less than 100% of the equity interests of Opco.
4
“ Closing
Date ” means the first date all the conditions precedent
in Section 4.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with
Section 10.01 .
“
Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of
1986.
“
Commitment ” means, as to each Lender, its obligation
to (a) make Revolving Loans to the Borrowers pursuant to
Section 2.01 , (b) purchase participations in L/C
Obligations, and (c) purchase participations in Swing Line
Loans, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding
not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s
name on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and
Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as
applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in
accordance with this Agreement.
“
Company ” has the meaning specified in the
introductory paragraph hereto.
“
Compliance Certificate ” means a certificate
substantially in the form of Exhibit D .
“
Consolidated EBITDA ” means, for any period, for the
Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, an amount
equal to Consolidated Net Income for such period plus
(a) the following to the extent deducted in calculating such
Consolidated Net Income: (i) Consolidated Interest Charges for
such period, (ii) the provision for Federal, state, local and
foreign income taxes payable by the Company and its Subsidiaries
for such period, (iii) depreciation and amortization expense
for such period, (iv) other expenses or charges of the Company
and its Subsidiaries reducing such Consolidated Net Income for such
period (including any non-cash stock-based compensation expense
recognized by the Company) which do not represent a cash item in
such period or any future period, (v) transaction fees, costs
and expenses incurred in such period in connection with
(1) the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby,
(2) the issuance of additional mortgage notes pursuant to the
Mortgage Note Documents (whether or not consummated) and
(3) any Permitted Acquisition (whether or not consummated);
provided that in no event shall all such fees, costs and
expenses added back pursuant to this clause (v) exceed
$10,000,000 in the aggregate during the term of this Agreement,
(vi) the amount of any reduction in such Consolidated Net
Income in accordance with FAS 141R as a result of an
“earn-out” or other similar purchase price adjustment
in connection with a Permitted Acquisition prior to the actual cash
payments of any such earn-out or purchase price adjustment,
minus (b) the following to the extent included in
calculating such Consolidated Net Income: (i) Federal, state,
local and foreign income tax credits of the Company and its
Subsidiaries for such period, and (ii) all non-cash gains and
non-cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income for such period,
and minus (c) the amount of any cash payments in such
period in respect of earn-outs or other similar purchase price
adjustments, without duplication of amounts already deducted in
calculating Consolidated Net Income for such period.
“
Consolidated Funded Indebtedness ” means, as of any
date of determination, for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a
consolidated basis, the sum of (a) the outstanding principal
amount of all obligations, whether current or long-term, for
borrowed money (including Obligations hereunder) and the
outstanding principal amount of all obligations evidenced by bonds,
debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments,
(b) all purchase money Indebtedness, (c) all direct
obligations arising under letters of credit (including standby
and
5
commercial),
bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and
similar instruments (but only, in the case of any obligations under
surety bonds or similar instruments, to the extent the obligations
thereunder are non-contingent matured payment obligations),
(d) all obligations in respect of the deferred purchase price
of property or services (other than (i) trade accounts payable
and other similar accrued liabilities incurred in the ordinary
course of business, (ii) deferred compensation and
(iii) earn-outs and other contingent purchase price
adjustments in respect of acquisitions except to the extent that
the liability on account of such earn-out or purchase price
adjustment becomes due and payable pursuant to the terms thereof),
(e) Attributable Indebtedness in respect of Capital Leases and
Synthetic Lease Obligations, (f) without duplication, all
Guarantees with respect to outstanding Indebtedness of the types
specified in clauses (a) through (e) above of Persons
other than the Company or any Subsidiary, and (g) all
Indebtedness of the types referred to in clauses (a) through
(f) above of any partnership or joint venture (other than a
joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability
company) in which the Company or a Subsidiary is a general partner
or joint venturer, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made
non-recourse to the Company or such Subsidiary.
“
Consolidated Interest Charges ” means, for any period,
for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the
sum of (a) all interest, premium payments, debt discount,
fees, charges and related expenses of the Company and its
Subsidiaries in connection with borrowed money (including
capitalized interest) or in connection with the deferred purchase
price of assets, in each case to the extent treated as interest in
accordance with GAAP, and (b) the portion of rent expense of
the Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to such period under
Capital Leases that is treated as interest in accordance with
GAAP.
“
Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio ” means, as of
any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated
EBITDA for the period of the four consecutive fiscal quarters
ending on such date to (b) Consolidated Interest
Charges for such period.
“
Consolidated Net Income ” means, for any period, for
the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the net
income of the Company and its Subsidiaries (excluding extraordinary
gains and extraordinary losses) for that period determined in
accordance with GAAP.
“
Consolidated Net Worth ” means, as of any date of
determination, for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a
consolidated basis, consolidated total assets (including leaseholds
and leasehold improvements and reserves against assets)
minus total liabilities, including but not limited to
accrued and undeferred income taxes as of that date determined in
accordance with GAAP.
“
Contractual Obligation ” means, as to any Person, any
provision of any security issued by such Person or of any
agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is
a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.
“
Control ” means the possession, directly or
indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the
management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to
exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “
Controlling ” and “ Controlled ”
have meanings correlative thereto.
6
“ Credit
Extension ” means each of the following: (a) a
Borrowing and (b) an L/C Credit Extension.
“
CWSUS ” means CWS Utility Services, a California
corporation.
“ Debtor
Relief Laws ” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United
States, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy,
assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement,
receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief
Laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from
time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors
generally.
“
Default ” means any event or condition that
constitutes an Event of Default or that, with the giving of any
notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of
Default.
“ Default
Rate ” means (a) when used with respect to
Obligations other than Letter of Credit Fees, an interest rate
equal to (i) the Base Rate plus (ii) the
Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to Base Rate Loans plus
(iii) 2% per annum; provided , however , that
with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the Default Rate shall be
an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any
Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus 2% per
annum, and (b) when used with respect to Letter of Credit
Fees, a rate equal to the Applicable Rate plus 2% per
annum.
“
Defaulting Lender ” means any Lender that, as
determined by the Administrative Agent, (a) has failed to
perform its obligation to fund any portion of its Loans (or
participations in respect of Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans)
within three Business Days of the date required to be funded by it
hereunder, unless such obligation is the subject of a good faith
dispute, (b) has notified any Borrower, the Administrative Agent or
any Lender in writing that it does not intend to comply with any of
its funding obligations under this Agreement or has made a public
statement that it does not intend to comply with its funding
obligations under this Agreement or generally under other
agreements in which it commits to extend credit, (c) has
failed, within three Business Days after written request by the
Administrative Agent, to confirm in a manner satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender and the L/C Issuer that
it will comply with the terms of this Agreement relating to its
obligations to fund prospective Loans (or participations in respect
of Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans), (d) otherwise has
failed to pay over to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender
any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within three
Business Days of the date when due, unless the subject of a good
faith dispute, or (e) has, or has a direct or indirect parent
company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under
any Debtor Relief Law, (ii) had a receiver, conservator,
trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or
similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its
business or a custodian appointed for it, or (iii) taken any
action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of
or acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointment;
provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender
solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any equity
interest in such Lender or any direct or indirect parent company
thereof by a Governmental Authority. A Lender that has become a
Defaulting Lender because of an event referenced in this definition
may cure such status and shall no longer constitute a Defaulting
Lender as provided in the last paragraph of
Section 2.16 .
7
“
Designated Borrower ” has the meaning specified in the
introductory paragraph hereto.
“
Designated Borrower Notice ” has the meaning specified
in Section 2.14 .
“
Designated Borrower Request and Assumption Agreement ”
has the meaning specified in Section 2.14 .
“
Disposition ” or “ Dispose ” means
the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (including
any sale and leaseback transaction) of any property by any Person,
including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or
without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights
and claims associated therewith; provided that
“Disposition” shall not include the issuance of Equity
Interests by the Company.
“
Dollar ” and “ $ ” mean lawful
money of the United States.
“
Domestic Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary that is
organized under the laws of any political subdivision of the United
States.
“
Eligible Assignee ” means any Person that meets the
requirements to be an assignee under
Section 10.06(b)(iii) and (v) (subject to such
consents, if any, as may be required under
Section 10.06(b)(iii) ).
“
Environmental Laws ” means any and all Federal, state,
local, and foreign statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules,
judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants,
franchises, licenses, agreements or governmental restrictions
relating to pollution and the protection of the environment or the
release of any materials into the environment, including those
related to hazardous substances or wastes, air emissions and
discharges to waste or public systems.
“
Environmental Liability ” means any liability,
contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs
of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of
the Company, any Designated Borrower or any of their respective
Subsidiaries directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon
(a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the
generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or
disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any
Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of
any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any
contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to
which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the
foregoing.
“ Equity
Interests ” means, with respect to any Person, all of the
shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests
in) such Person, all of the warrants, options or other rights for
the purchase or acquisition from such Person of shares of capital
stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person,
all of the securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares
of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in)
such Person or warrants, rights or options for the purchase or
acquisition from such Person of such shares (or such other
interests), and all of the other ownership or profit interests in
such Person (including partnership, member or trust interests
therein), whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not such
shares, warrants, options, rights or other interests are
outstanding on any date of determination.
8
“
ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974.
“ ERISA
Affiliate ” means any trade or business (whether or not
incorporated) under common control with the Company within the
meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code (and Sections
414(m) and (o) of the Code for purposes of provisions relating
to Section 412 of the Code).
“ ERISA
Event ” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to
a Pension Plan; (b) a withdrawal by the Company or any ERISA
Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA
during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as
defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of
operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section
4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by the
Company or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or
notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization;
(d) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate, the
treatment of a Plan amendment as a termination under
Section 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of
proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or
Multiemployer Plan; (e) an event or condition which
constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the
termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any
Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (f) the imposition of
any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums
due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon the
Company or any ERISA Affiliate.
“
Eurodollar Rate ” means
(a) for any
Interest Period with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the rate
per annum equal to (i) the British Bankers Association LIBOR
Rate (“ BBA LIBOR ”), as published by Reuters
(or such other commercially available source providing quotations
of BBA LIBOR as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from
time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two
London Banking Days prior to the commencement of such Interest
Period, for Dollar deposits (for delivery on the first day of such
Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period, or
(ii) if such rate is not available at such time for any reason, the
rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the
rate at which deposits in Dollars for delivery on the first day of
such Interest Period in same day funds in the approximate amount of
the Eurodollar Rate Loan being made, continued or converted and
with a term equivalent to such Interest Period would be offered by
Bank of America’s London Branch to major banks in the London
interbank eurodollar market at their request at approximately
11:00 a.m. (London time) two London Banking Days prior to the
commencement of such Interest Period; and
(b) for any
interest calculation with respect to a Base Rate Loan on any date,
the rate per annum equal to (i) BBA LIBOR, at approximately
11:00 a.m., London time determined two London Banking Days
prior to such date for Dollar deposits being delivered in the
London interbank market for a term of one month commencing that day
or (ii) if such published rate is not available at such time
for any reason, the rate per annum determined by the Administrative
Agent to be the rate at which deposits in Dollars for delivery on
the date of determination in same day funds in the approximate
amount of the Base Rate Loan being made or maintained with a term
equal to one month would be offered by Bank of America’s
London Branch to major banks in the London interbank Eurodollar
market at their request at the date and time of
determination.
9
“
Eurodollar Rate Loan ” means a Revolving Loan that
bears interest at a rate based on clause (a) of the
definition of “Eurodollar Rate.”
“ Event
of Default ” has the meaning specified in
Section 8.01 .
“
Excluded Taxes ” means, with respect to the
Administrative Agent, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any other
recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any
obligation of any Borrower hereunder, (a) taxes imposed on or
measured by its overall net income (however denominated), and
franchise taxes imposed on it (in lieu of net income taxes), by the
jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the Laws
of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal
office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its
applicable Lending Office is located, (b) any branch profits
taxes imposed by the United States or any similar tax imposed by
any other jurisdiction in which such Borrower is located,
(c) any backup withholding tax that is required by the Code to
be withheld from amounts payable to a Lender that has failed to
comply with clause (A) of Section 3.01(e)(ii) ,
and (d) in the case of a Foreign Lender (other than an
assignee pursuant to a request by the Company under
Section 10.13 ), any United States withholding tax that
(i) is required to be imposed on amounts payable to such
Foreign Lender pursuant to the Laws in force at the time such
Foreign Lender becomes a party hereto (or designates a new Lending
Office) or (ii) is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s
failure or inability (other than as a result of a Change in Law) to
comply with clause (B) of Section 3.01(e)(ii) ,
except to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if
any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new Lending
Office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from such
Borrower with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to
Section 3.01(a)(ii) or (iii) .
“
Existing Loan Agreement ” means that certain Loan
Agreement dated as of May 30, 2007, among Bank of America, the
Borrower, CWSUS, New Mexico Water, Washington Water and Hawaii
Water.
“ FASB
ASC ” means the Accounting Standards Codification of the
Financial Accounting Standards Board.
“ Federal
Funds Rate ” means, for any day, the rate per annum equal
to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds
transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by
Federal funds brokers on such day, as published by the Federal
Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such
day; provided that (a) if such day is not a Business
Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such
transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on
the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such rate is
so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal
Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate (rounded upward,
if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%) charged to Bank
of America on such day on such transactions as determined by the
Administrative Agent.
“ Fee
Letter ” means the letter agreement, dated
August 31, 2009, among the Company, Opco, the Administrative
Agent and the Arranger.
“ Foreign
Lender ” means, with respect to any Borrower, any Lender
that is organized under the Laws of a jurisdiction other than that
in which such Borrower is resident for tax
10
purposes
(including such a Lender when acting in the capacity of the L/C
Issuer). For purposes of this definition, the United States, each
State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to
constitute a single jurisdiction.
“ FRB
” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
of the United States.
“
Fronting Exposure ” means, at any time there is a
Defaulting Lender, (a) with respect to the L/C Issuer, such
Defaulting Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the outstanding
L/C Obligations other than L/C Obligations as to which
(i) such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation
has been reallocated pursuant to Section 2.16(d) , or
(ii) Cash Collateral or other credit support acceptable to the
L/C Issuer shall have been provided in accordance with
Section 2.03 , and (b) with respect to the Swing
Line Lender, such Defaulting Lender’s Applicable Percentage
of Swing Line Loans other than Swing Line Loans as to which
(i) such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation
has been reallocated pursuant to Section 2.16(d) , or
(ii) Cash Collateral or other credit support acceptable to the
Swing Line Lender shall have been provided in accordance with
Section 2.04 .
“
Fund ” means any Person (other than a natural person)
that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or
otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of
credit in the ordinary course of its activities.
“
GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles
in the United States set forth 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 such other principles
as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting
profession in the United States, that are applicable to the
circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently
applied.
“
Governmental Authority ” means the government of the
United States or any other nation, or of any political subdivision
thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority,
instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other
entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing,
regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining
to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the
European Union or the European Central Bank).
“
Guarantee ” means, as to any Person, any (a) any
obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or
having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or
other obligation payable or performable by another Person (the
“primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or
indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or
indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds
for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other
obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or
services for the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such
Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance of
such Indebtedness or other obligation, (iii) to maintain
working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement
condition or liquidity or level of income or cash flow of the
primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such
Indebtedness or other obligation, or (iv) entered into for the
purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee
11
in respect of
such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance
thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof
(in whole or in part), or (b) any Lien on any assets of such
Person securing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other
Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other obligation is
assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of
any holder of such Indebtedness to obtain any such Lien). The
amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to
the stated or determinable amount of the related primary
obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee
is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably
anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the
guaranteeing Person in good faith. The term “Guarantee”
as a verb has a corresponding meaning.
“
Guaranteed Cash Management Agreement ” means any Cash
Management Agreement that is entered into by and between any
Borrower and any Cash Management Bank.
“
Guaranteed Hedge Agreement ” means any Swap Contract
permitted under Article VII that is entered into by and
between any Borrower and any Hedge Bank.
“
Guaranteed Parties ” means, collectively, the
Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the L/C Issuer, the Hedge Banks,
the Cash Management Banks, and each co-agent or sub-agent appointed
by the Administrative Agent from time to time pursuant to
Section 9.05 .
“
Guaranty ” means the Guaranty made by the Company in
favor of the Administrative Agent and the Guaranteed Parties in
connection with the addition of one or more Designated Borrowers
pursuant to Section 2.14(a) , substantially in the form
of Exhibit F .
“ Hawaii
Water ” means Hawaii Water Service Company, Inc., a
Hawaii corporation.
“
Hazardous Materials ” means all explosive or
radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic
substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or
petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials,
polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes
and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant
to any Environmental Law.
“ Hedge
Bank ” means any Person that, (a) at the time it
enters into a Swap Contract permitted under Article VI
or VII , is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, or (b) at
the time it (or its Affiliate) becomes a Lender, is a party to a
Swap Contract, in each case in its capacity as a party to such Swap
Contract.
“
HWSUS ” means HWS Utility Services LLC, a Hawaii
limited liability company.
“
Indebtedness ” means, as to any Person at a particular
time, without duplication, all of the following, whether or not
included as indebtedness or liabilities in accordance with
GAAP:
(a) the principal
amount of all obligations of such Person for borrowed money and the
principal amount of all obligations of such Person evidenced by
bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar
instruments;
12
(b) all direct or
contingent obligations of such Person arising under letters of
credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’
acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar
instruments;
(c) net
obligations of such Person under any Swap Contract;
(d) all
obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of
property or services (other than trade accounts payable and other
similar accrued liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of
business and deferred compensation);
(e) indebtedness
(excluding prepaid interest thereon) secured by a Lien on property
owned or being purchased by such Person (including indebtedness
arising under conditional sales or other title retention
agreements), whether or not such indebtedness shall have been
assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse;
(f) Capital Leases
and Synthetic Lease Obligations;
(g) all
non-contingent mandatory payment obligations of such Person to
purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise make any payment in
respect of any Equity Interest in such Person, valued, in the case
of a redeemable preferred interest, at the greater of its voluntary
or involuntary liquidation preference plus accrued and
unpaid dividends; and
(h) all Guarantees
of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing.
For all purposes
hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall include the
Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture (other than a
joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability
company) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint
venturer, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse
to such Person. The amount of any net obligation under any Swap
Contract on any date shall be deemed to be the Swap Termination
Value thereof as of such date. The amount of any Capital Lease or
Synthetic Lease Obligation as of any date shall be deemed to be the
amount of Attributable Indebtedness in respect thereof as of such
date.
“
Indemnified Taxes ” means Taxes other than Excluded
Taxes.
“
Indemnitees ” has the meaning specified in
Section 10.04(b) .
“
Information ” has the meaning specified in
Section 10.07 .
“
Interest Payment Date ” means, (a) as to any Loan
other than a Base Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period
applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date; provided ,
however , that if any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Rate
Loan exceeds three months, the respective dates that fall every
three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also
be Interest Payment Dates; and (b) as to any Base Rate Loan
(including a Swing Line Loan), the first Business Day after the end
of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity
Date.
13
“
Interest Period ” means, as to each Eurodollar Rate
Loan, the period commencing on the date such Eurodollar Rate Loan
is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Rate Loan
and ending on the date one, two, three or six months thereafter, or
such other period that is twelve months or less requested by the
Company and consented to by all the Lenders, as selected by the
Company in its Revolving Loan Notice; provided
that:
(i) any Interest
Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day
shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such
Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such
Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business
Day;
(ii) any Interest
Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or
on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the
calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the
last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest
Period; and
(iii) no Interest
Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date.
“
Investment ” means, as to any Person, any direct or
indirect acquisition or investment by such Person, whether by means
of (a) the purchase or other acquisition of capital stock or
other securities of another Person, (b) a loan, advance or
capital contribution to, Guarantee or assumption of debt of, or
purchase or other acquisition of any other debt or equity
participation or interest in, another Person, including any
partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person and any
arrangement pursuant to which the investor Guarantees Indebtedness
of such other Person, or (c) the purchase or other acquisition
(in one transaction or a series of transactions) of assets of
another Person that constitute a business unit. For purposes of
covenant compliance, the amount of any Investment shall be the
amount actually invested, without adjustment for subsequent
increases or decreases in the value of such Investment.
“ IP
Rights ” has the meaning specified in
Section 5.17 .
“ IRS
” means the United States Internal Revenue
Service.
“ ISP
” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the
“International Standby Practices 1998” published by the
Institute of International Banking Law & Practice, Inc. (or
such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of
issuance).
“ Issuer
Documents ” means with respect to any Letter of Credit,
the Letter of Credit Application, and any other document, agreement
and instrument entered into by the L/C Issuer and the Company (or
any Subsidiary) or in favor of the L/C Issuer and relating to such
Letter of Credit.
“
Laws ” means, collectively, all international,
foreign, Federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules,
guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or
judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or
administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with
the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all
applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests,
licenses, authorizations and
14
permits of, and
agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case whether
or not having the force of law.
“ L/C
Advance ” means, with respect to each Lender, such
Lender’s funding of its participation in any L/C Borrowing in
accordance with its Applicable Percentage.
“ L/C
Borrowing ” means an extension of credit resulting from a
drawing under any Letter of Credit which has not been reimbursed on
the date when made or refinanced as a Revolving
Borrowing.
“ L/C
Credit Extension ” means, with respect to any Letter of
Credit, the issuance thereof or extension of the expiry date
thereof, or the increase of the amount thereof.
“ L/C
Issuer ” means Bank of America in its capacity as issuer
of Letters of Credit hereunder, or any successor issuer of Letters
of Credit hereunder.
“ L/C
Obligations ” means, as at any date of determination, the
aggregate amount available to be drawn under all outstanding
Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all Unreimbursed
Amounts, including all L/C Borrowings. For purposes of computing
the amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the
amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance
with Section 1.06 . For all purposes of this Agreement,
if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by
its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of
the operation of Rule 3.14 of the ISP, such Letter of Credit
shall be deemed to be “outstanding” in the amount so
remaining available to be drawn.
“
Lender ” has the meaning specified in the introductory
paragraph hereto and, as the context requires, includes the Swing
Line Lender.
“ Lending
Office ” means, as to any Lender, the office or offices
of such Lender described as such in such Lender’s
Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a
Lender may from time to time notify the Company and the
Administrative Agent.
“ Letter
of Credit ” means any standby letter of credit issued
hereunder.
“ Letter
of Credit Application ” means an application and
agreement for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit in
the form from time to time in use by the L/C Issuer.
“ Letter
of Credit Expiration Date ” means the day that is seven
days prior to the Maturity Date then in effect (or, if such day is
not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day).
“ Letter
of Credit Fee ” has the meaning specified in
Section 2.03(h) .
“ Letter
of Credit Sublimit ” means an amount equal to the lesser
of (a) $10,000,000 and (b) the Aggregate Commitments. The
Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the
Aggregate Commitments.
“
Lien ” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation,
assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or
other), charge, or preference, priority or other security interest
or
15
preferential
arrangement in the nature of a security interest of any kind or
nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title
retention agreement, any easement, right of way or other
encumbrance on title to real property, and any financing lease
having substantially the same economic effect as any of the
foregoing).
“
Loan ” means an extension of credit by a Lender to a
Borrower under Article II in the form of a Revolving
Loan or a Swing Line Loan.
“ Loan
Documents ” means this Agreement, each Designated
Borrower Request and Assumption Agreement, each Note, each Issuer
Document, any agreement creating or perfecting rights in Cash
Collateral or other credit support pursuant to the provisions of
Section 2.15 , the Fee Letter and the
Guaranty.
“ London
Banking Day ” means any day on which dealings in Dollar
deposits are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank
eurodollar market.
“ Margin
Stock ” means “margin stock” as such term is
defined in Regulation T, U or X of the FRB.
“
Material Adverse Effect ” means (a) a material
adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the
operations, business, properties, liabilities (actual or
contingent) or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company or
the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (b) a
material impairment of the ability of any Borrower that has any
outstanding Loans or Letters of Credit, or will have any
outstanding Loans or Letters of Credit after giving effect to any
request for extensions of credit on such date, to perform its
obligations under any Loan Document to which it is a party; or
(c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity,
binding effect or enforceability against any Borrower that has any
outstanding Loans or Letters of Credit, or will have any
outstanding Loans or Letters of Credit after giving effect to any
request for extensions of credit on such date, of any Loan Document
to which it is a party.
“
Material Subsidiary ” means (a) each Designated
Borrower and (b) each other Subsidiary that (i) has total
assets equal to or greater than five percent (5%) of total assets
of the Company and its Subsidiaries (calculated on a consolidated
basis as of the most recent fiscal period for which financial
statements are available), or (ii) has revenues equal to or
greater than five percent (5%) of the total revenues of the Company
and its Subsidiaries (calculated on a consolidated basis for the
most recent period for which financial statements are
available).
“
Maturity Date ” means the earlier of
(a) October 27, 2012 and (b) the date on which the
aggregate Opco Credit Commitments are terminated pursuant to the
terms of the Opco Credit Agreement.
“
Mortgage Note Documents ” means (a) the Indenture
dated as of April 1, 1928 between Opco and Los Angeles-First
National Trust & Savings Bank, as original Trustee (and
currently U.S. Bank National Association, as the successor Trustee
thereunder), (b) any and all notes issued pursuant thereto,
and (c) any purchase or exchange agreements executed in
connection with either of the foregoing.
“
Mortgaged Property ” has the meaning specified in
Section 7.01(q) .
16
“
Multiemployer Plan ” means any employee benefit plan
of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the
Company or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make
contributions, or during the preceding five plan years, has made or
been obligated to make contributions.
“ New
Mexico Water ” means New Mexico Water Service Company, a
New Mexico corporation.
“
Note ” means a promissory note made by a Borrower in
favor of a Lender evidencing Loans made by such Lender to such
Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit C
.
“
Obligations ” means all advances to, and debts,
liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Borrower
arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any
Loan, Letter of Credit, Guaranteed Cash Management Agreement or
Guaranteed Hedge Agreement, in each case whether direct or indirect
(including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent,
due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and
including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by
or against any Borrower or any Affiliate thereof of any proceeding
under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in
such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are
allowed claims in such proceeding.
“
Opco ” means California Water Service Company, a
California corporation.
“ Opco
Credit Agreement ” means that certain Credit Agreement
dated as of the date hereof, among Opco, Bank of America, as
Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer and the
lenders from time to time party thereto.
“ Opco
Credit Commitment ” means, as to each Lender, its
obligation to make loans and extend credit under the Opco Credit
Agreement.
“
Organization Documents ” means, (a) with respect
to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation
and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents
with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect
to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of
formation or organization and operating agreement; and
(c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or
other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or
other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any
agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed
in connection with its formation or organization with the
applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its
formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or
articles of formation or organization of such entity.
“ Other
Taxes ” means all present or future stamp or documentary
taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar
levies arising from any payment made hereunder or under any other
Loan Document or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or
otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan
Document.
“
Outstanding Amount ” means (i) with respect to
Revolving Loans and Swing Line Loans on any date, the aggregate
outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to
any
17
borrowings and
prepayments or repayments of such Revolving Loans and Swing Line
Loans, as the case may be, occurring on such date; and
(ii) with respect to any L/C Obligations on any date, the
amount of such L/C Obligations on such date after giving effect to
any L/C Credit Extension occurring on such date and any other
changes in the aggregate amount of the L/C Obligations as of such
date, including as a result of any reimbursements by the Company of
Unreimbursed Amounts.
“
Participant ” has the meaning specified in
Section 10.06(d) .
“
PBGC ” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation.
“ Pension
Plan ” means any “employee pension benefit
plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of
ERISA), other than a Multiemployer Plan, that is subject to Title
IV of ERISA and is sponsored or maintained by the Company or any
ERISA Affiliate or to which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate
contributes or has an obligation to contribute, or in the case of a
multiple employer or other plan described in Section 4064(a) of
ERISA, has made contributions at any time during the immediately
preceding five plan years.
“
Permitted Acquisition ” means any purchase or
acquisition of Equity Interests or property permitted by
Section 7.02(g) .
“
Permitted Lien ” means any Lien permitted by
Section 7.01 .
“
Person ” means any natural person, corporation,
limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association,
company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other
entity.
“
Plan ” means any “employee benefit plan”
(as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) established
by the Company or, with respect to any such plan that is subject to
Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, any ERISA
Affiliate.
“
Platform ” has the meaning specified in
Section 6.02 .
“ Public
Lender ” has the meaning specified in
Section 6.02 .
“
Register ” has the meaning specified in
Section 10.06(c) .
“ Related
Parties ” means, with respect to any Person, such
Person’s Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers,
employees, agents, trustees and advisors of such Person and of such
Person’s Affiliates.
“
Reportable Event ” means any of the events set forth
in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than events for which the
30 day notice period has been waived.
“ Request
for Credit Extension ” means (a) with respect to a
Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Revolving Loans, a
Revolving Loan Notice, (b) with respect to an L/C Credit
Extension, a Letter of Credit Application, and (c) with
respect to a Swing Line Loan, a Swing Line Loan Notice.
18
“
Required Lenders ” means, as of any date of
determination, Lenders having more than 50% of the Aggregate
Commitments or, if the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and
the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have
been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02 , Lenders
holding in the aggregate more than 50% of the Total Outstandings
(with the aggregate amount of each Lender’s risk
participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations and Swing
Line Loans being deemed “held” by such Lender for
purposes of this definition); provided that the Commitment
of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings held or deemed held
by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making
a determination of Required Lenders.
“
Responsible Officer ” means the chief executive
officer, president, chief financial officer, treasurer, assistant
treasurer, controller or assistant to the chief financial officer
of a Borrower. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a
Responsible Officer of a Borrower shall be conclusively presumed to
have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or
other action on the part of such Borrower and such Responsible
Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of
such Borrower.
“
Restricted Payment ” means any dividend or other
distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with
respect to any capital stock or other Equity Interest of the
Company or any Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash,
securities or other property), including any sinking fund or
similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption,
retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such
capital stock or other Equity Interest, or on account of any return
of capital to the Company’s stockholders, partners or members
(or the equivalent Person thereof).
“
Revolving Borrowing ” means a borrowing consisting of
simultaneous Revolving Loans of the same Type, and, in the case of
Eurodollar Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each
of the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01 .
“
Revolving Loan ” has the meaning specified in
Section 2.01 .
“
Revolving Loan Notice ” means a notice of (a) a
Revolving Borrowing, (b) a conversion of Revolving Loans from
one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of Eurodollar
Rate Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a) , which, if in
writing, shall be substantially in the form of
Exhibit A .
“ SEC
” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any
Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal
functions.
“
Subsidiary ” of a Person means a corporation,
partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other
business entity of which a majority of the shares of securities or
other interests having ordinary voting power for the election of
directors or other governing body (other than securities or
interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a
contingency) are at the time beneficially owned, or the management
of which is otherwise controlled, directly, or indirectly through
one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless
otherwise specified, all references herein to a
“Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall
refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Company.
19
“ Swap
Contract ” means (a) any and all rate swap
transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward
rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward
commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond
or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or
forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest
rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap
transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency
swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency
options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any
combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter
into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is
governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any
and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations,
which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by,
any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps
and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign
Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such
master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “
Master Agreement ”), including any such obligations or
liabilities under any Master Agreement.
“ Swap
Termination Value ” means, in respect of any one or more
Swap Contracts, after taking into account the effect of any legally
enforceable netting agreement relating to such Swap Contracts,
(a) for any date on or after the date such Swap Contracts have
been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance
therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date
prior to the date referenced in clause (a) , the amount(s)
determined as the mark-to-market value(s) for such Swap Contracts,
as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily
available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Swap
Contracts (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a
Lender).
“ Swing
Line Borrowing ” means a borrowing of a Swing Line Loan
pursuant to Section 2.04 .
“ Swing
Line Lender ” means Bank of America in its capacity as
provider of Swing Line Loans, or any successor swing line lender
hereunder.
“ Swing
Line Loan ” has the meaning specified in
Section 2.04(a) .
“ Swing
Line Loan Notice ” means a notice of a Swing Line
Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.04(b) , which, if in
writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit B
.
“ Swing
Line Sublimit ” means an amount equal to the lesser of
(a) $10,000,000 and (b) the Aggregate Commitments. The Swing Line
Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate
Commitments.
“
Synthetic Lease Obligation ” means the monetary
obligation of a Person under (a) a so-called synthetic,
off-balance sheet or tax retention lease, or (b) an agreement
for the use or possession of property creating obligations that do
not appear on the balance sheet of such Person but which, upon the
insolvency or bankruptcy of such Person, would be characterized as
the indebtedness of such Person (without regard to accounting
treatment).
20
“
Taxes ” means all present or future taxes, levies,
imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup
withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any
Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or
penalties applicable thereto.
“
Threshold Amount ” means $10,000,000.
“ Total
Capitalization Ratio ” means, as of any date of
determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Funded Indebtedness as
of such date to (b) the sum of (i) Consolidated
Net Worth plus (ii) Consolidated Funded Indebtedness as
of such date.
“ Total
Outstandings ” means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of
all Loans and all L/C Obligations.
“
Type ” means, with respect to a Revolving Loan, its
character as a Base Rate Loan or a Eurodollar Rate Loan.
“
Unfunded Pension Liability ” means the excess of a
Pension Plan’s benefit liabilities under
Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA, over the current value of that
Pension Plan’s assets, determined in accordance with the
assumptions used for funding the Pension Plan pursuant to Section
412 of the Code for the applicable plan year.
“ United
States ” and “ U.S. ” mean the United
States of America.
“
Unreimbursed Amount ” has the meaning specified in
Section 2.03(c)(i) .
“
Washington Water ” means Washington Water Service
Company, a Washington corporation.
1.02 Other
Interpretive Provisions. With reference to this Agreement and
each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in
such other Loan Document:
(a) The
definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and
plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may
require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine,
feminine and neuter forms. The words “ include
,” “ includes ” and “
including ” shall be deemed to be followed by the
phrase “without limitation.” The word “
will ” shall be construed to have the same meaning and
effect as the word “ shall .” Unless the context
requires otherwise, (i) any definition of or reference to any
agreement, instrument or other document (including any Organization
Document) shall be construed as referring to such agreement,
instrument or other document as from time to time amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on
such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein or
in any other Loan Document), (ii) any reference herein to any
Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors
and assigns, (iii) the words “ herein ,”
“ hereof ” and “ hereunder ,”
and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document, shall
be construed to refer to such Loan Document in its entirety and not
to any particular provision thereof, (iv) all references in a
Loan Document to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall
be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and
Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear,
(v) any reference to any law shall include all
21
statutory and
regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing or
interpreting such law and any reference to any law or regulation
shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law or regulation
as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and (vi)
the words “ asset ” and “ property
” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and
to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and
properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract
rights.
(b) In the
computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later
specified date, the word “ from ” means “
from and including ;” the words “ to
” and “ until ” each mean “ to
but excluding ;” and the word “ through
” means “ to and including .”
(c) Section
headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for
convenience of reference only and shall not affect the
interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan
Document.
1.03
Accounting Terms. (a) Generally . All accounting terms
not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in
conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios
and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant
to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP
applied on a consistent basis, as in effect from time to time,
applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the
Audited Financial Statements, except as otherwise
specifically prescribed herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for
purposes of determining compliance with any covenant (including the
computation of any financial covenant) contained herein,
Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to
be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, and
the effects of FASB ASC 825 and FASB ASC 470-20 on financial
liabilities shall be disregarded.
(b)
Changes in GAAP . If at any time any change in GAAP would
affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set
forth in any Loan Document, and either the Company or the Required
Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and
the Company shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or
requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of
such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required
Lenders); provided that , until so amended,
(i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in
accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the
Company shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
financial statements and other documents required under this
Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a
reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement
made before and after giving effect to such change in
GAAP.
(c)
Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities . All references
herein to consolidated financial statements of the Company and its
Subsidiaries or to the determination of any amount for the Company
and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis or any similar
reference shall, in each case, be deemed to include each variable
interest entity that the Company is required to consolidate
pursuant to FASB ASC 810 as if such variable interest entity were a
Subsidiary as defined herein ( provided that such entity
shall not be deemed to be a Subsidiary hereunder for any other
purpose).
22
1.04
Rounding. Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the
Company pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing
the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the
result to one place more than the number of places by which such
ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the
nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest
number).
1.05 Times of
Day. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times
of day shall be references to Pacific time (daylight or standard,
as applicable).
1.06 Letter of
Credit Amounts. Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount
of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the amount
available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit at such time;
provided , however , that with respect to any Letter
of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any Issuer Document
related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in
the stated amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit
shall be deemed to be the maximum stated amount of such Letter of
Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not
such maximum stated amount is in effect at such time.
ARTICLE II.
THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS
2.01 Revolving
Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein,
each Lender severally agrees to make loans (each such loan, a
“ Revolving Loan ”) to the Borrowers from time
to time, on any Business Day during the Availability Period, in an
aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount
of such Lender’s Commitment; provided , however
, that after giving effect to any Revolving Borrowing, (i) the
Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and
(ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Loans
of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Applicable
Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations,
plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the
Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such
Lender’s Commitment. Within the limits of each Lender’s
Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof,
the Borrowers may borrow under this Section 2.01 ,
prepay under Section 2.05 , and reborrow under this
Section 2.01 . Revolving Loans may be Base Rate Loans
or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein.
2.02
Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Revolving Loans
.
(a) Each
Revolving Borrowing, each conversion of Revolving Loans from one
Type to the other, and each continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans
shall be made upon the Company’s irrevocable notice to the
Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone. Each such
notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than
10:00 a.m. (i) three Business Days prior to the requested
date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of
Eurodollar Rate Loans or of any conversion of Eurodollar Rate Loans
to Base Rate Revolving Loans, and (ii) on the requested date
of any Borrowing of Base Rate Revolving Loans. Each telephonic
notice by the Company pursuant to this Section 2.02(a)
must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent
of a written Revolving Loan Notice, appropriately completed and
signed by a Responsible Officer of the Company. Each Borrowing of,
conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in
a principal amount of $2,500,000 or a
23
whole multiple
of $500,000 in excess thereof. Except as provided in
Sections 2.03(c) and 2.04(c) , each Revolving
Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Revolving Loans shall be in
a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in
excess thereof. Each Revolving Loan Notice (whether telephonic or
written) shall specify (i) whether the Company or a Designated
Borrower, as the case may be, is requesting a Revolving Borrowing,
a conversion of Revolving Loans from one Type to the other, or a
continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, (ii) the requested date
of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be
(which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of
Revolving Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued,
(iv) the Type of Revolving Loans to be borrowed or to which
existing Revolving Loans are to be converted, (v) if
applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect
thereto, and (vi) if applicable, the Designated Borrower. If
the Company fails to specify a Type of Revolving Loan in a
Revolving Loan Notice or if the Company fails to give a timely
notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable
Revolving Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base Rate Loans.
Any such automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be effective
as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with
respect to the applicable Eurodollar Rate Loans. If the Company
requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of
Eurodollar Rate Loans in any such Revolving Loan Notice, but fails
to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified
an Interest Period of one month.
(b) Following
receipt of a Revolving Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall
promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its Applicable
Percentage of the applicable Revolving Loans, and if no timely
notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Company,
the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of
any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans as described in the
preceding subsection. In the case of a Revolving Borrowing, each
Lender shall make the amount of its Revolving Loan available to the
Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the
Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 12:00 noon on
the Business Day specified in the applicable Revolving Loan Notice.
Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in
Section 4.02 (and, if such Borrowing is the initial
Credit Extension, Section 4.01 ), the Administrative
Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Company in
like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i)
crediting the account of the Company on the books of Bank of
America with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of
such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided
to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the
Company (it being understood with respect to any Borrowing on
behalf of a Designated Borrower, the Company shall promptly
distribute the proceeds of such Loan to such Designated Borrower);
provided , however , that if, on the date the
Revolving Loan Notice with respect to such Borrowing is given by
the Company, there are L/C Borrowings outstanding, then the
proceeds of such Borrowing, first , shall be applied to the
payment in full of any such L/C Borrowings, and, second ,
shall be made available to the applicable Borrower as provided
above.
(c) Except as
otherwise provided herein, a Eurodollar Rate Loan may be continued
or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such
Eurodollar Rate Loan. During the existence of a Default, no Loans
may be requested as, converted to or continued as Eurodollar Rate
Loans without the consent of the Required Lenders.
(d) The
Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Company and the
Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for
Eurodollar Rate Loans upon determination
24
of such
interest rate. At any time that Base Rate Loans are outstanding,
the Administrative Agent shall notify the Company and the Lenders
of any change in Bank of America’s prime rate used in
determining the Base Rate promptly following the public
announcement of such change.
(e) After
giving effect to all Revolving Borrowings, all conversions of
Revolving Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations
of Revolving Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than
ten Interest Periods in effect with respect to Revolving
Loans.
(a) The
Letter of Credit Commitment .
(i) Subject to the
terms and conditions set forth herein, (A) the L/C Issuer
agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the Lenders set forth in
this Section 2.03 , (1) from time to time on any
Business Day during the period from the Closing Date until the
Letter of Credit Expiration Date, to issue Letters of Credit for
the account of the Company or its Subsidiaries, and to amend or
extend Letters of Credit previously issued by it, in accordance
with subsection (b) below, and (2) to honor drawings
under the Letters of Credit; and (B) the Lenders severally
agree to participate in Letters of Credit issued for the account of
the Company or its Subsidiaries and any drawings thereunder;
provided that after giving effect to any L/C Credit
Extension with respect to any Letter of Credit, (x) the Total
Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments,
(y) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Loans of
any Lender, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage
of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such
Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of
all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s
Commitment, and (z) the Outstanding Amount of the L/C
Obligations shall not exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit. Each
request by the Company for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of
Credit shall be deemed to be a representation by the Company that
the L/C Credit Extension so requested complies with the conditions
set forth in the proviso to the preceding sentence. Within the
foregoing limits, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof,
the Company’s ability to obtain Letters of Credit shall be
fully revolving, and accordingly the Company may, during the
foregoing period, obtain Letters of Credit to replace Letters of
Credit that have expired or that have been drawn upon and
reimbursed.
(ii) The
L/C Issuer shall not issue any Letter of Credit, if:
(A) subject to
Section 2.03(b)(iii) , the expiry date of such
requested Letter of Credit would occur more than twelve months
after the date of issuance or last extension, unless the Required
Lenders have approved such expiry date; or
(B) the expiry
date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur after the
Letter of Credit Expiration Date, unless all the Lenders have
approved such expiry date.
25
(iii) The L/C
Issuer shall not be under any obligation to issue any Letter of
Credit if:
(A) any order,
judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator
shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain the L/C Issuer
from issuing such Letter of Credit, or any Law applicable to the
L/C Issuer or any request or directive (whether or not having the
force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction
over the L/C Issuer shall prohibit, or request that the L/C Issuer
refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such
Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon the L/C Issuer
with respect to such Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or
capital requirement (for which the L/C Issuer is not otherwise
compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date, or shall
impose upon the L/C Issuer any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense
which was not applicable on the Closing Date and which the L/C
Issuer in good faith deems material to it;
(B) the issuance
of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of the
L/C Issuer applicable to letters of credit generally;
(C) except as
otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer,
such Letter of Credit is in an initial stated amount less than
$250,000;
(D) such Letter of
Credit is to be denominated in a currency other than Dollars;
or
(E) any Lender is
at such time a Defaulting Lender, unless the L/C Issuer has entered
into arrangements satisfactory to the L/C Issuer (in its sole
discretion) with the Company or such Lender to eliminate the L/C
Issuer’s actual or potential Fronting Exposure with respect
to such Lender as to either the Letter of Credit then proposed to
be issued or such Letter of Credit and all other L/C Obligations as
to which the L/C Issuer has such actual or potential risk, as it
may elect in its sole discretion.
(iv) The L/C
Issuer shall not amend any Letter of Credit if the L/C Issuer would
not be permitted at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its
amended form under the terms hereof.
(v) The L/C Issuer
shall be under no obligation to amend any Letter of Credit if (A)
the L/C Issuer would have no obligation at such time to issue such
Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof, or
(B) the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit does not accept
the proposed amendment to such Letter of Credit.
(vi) The L/C
Issuer shall act on behalf of the Lenders with respect to any
Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated
therewith, and the L/C Issuer shall have all of the benefits and
immunities (A) provided to the Administrative Agent in
Article IX with respect to any acts taken or omissions
suffered by the L/C Issuer in connection with Letters of Credit
issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and Issuer Documents
pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the term
“Administrative
26
Agent” as
used in Article IX included the L/C Issuer with respect
to such acts or omissions, and (B) as additionally provided
herein with respect to the L/C Issuer.
(b)
Procedures for Issuance and Amendment of Letters of Credit;
Auto-Extension Letters of Credit .
(i) Each Letter of
Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be, upon the
request of the Company delivered to the L/C Issuer (with a copy to
the Administrative Agent) in the form of a Letter of Credit
Application, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible
Officer of the Company. Such Letter of Credit Application must be
received by the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent not later
than 10:00 a.m. at least two Business Days (or such later date
and time as the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer may agree
in a particular instance in their sole discretion) prior to the
proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be. In
the case of a request for an initial issuance of a Letter of
Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and
detail satisfactory to the L/C Issuer: (A) the proposed
issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a
Business Day); (B) the amount thereof; (C) the expiry
date thereof; (D) the name and address of the beneficiary
thereof; (E) the documents to be presented by such beneficiary
in case of any drawing thereunder; (F) the full text of any
certificate to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any
drawing thereunder; (G) the purpose and nature of the
requested Letter of Credit; and (H) such other matters as the
L/C Issuer may require. In the case of a request for an amendment
of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit
Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the
L/C Issuer (A) the Letter of Credit to be amended;
(B) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a
Business Day); (C) the nature of the proposed amendment; and
(D) such other matters as the L/C Issuer may require.
Additionally, the Company shall furnish to the L/C Issuer and the
Administrative Agent such other documents and information
pertaining to such requested Letter of Credit issuance or
amendment, including any Issuer Documents, as the L/C Issuer or the
Administrative Agent may require.
(ii) Promptly
after receipt of any Letter of Credit Application, the L/C Issuer
will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in
writing) that the Administrative Agent has received a copy of such
Letter of Credit Application from the Company and, if not, the L/C
Issuer will provide the Administrative Agent with a copy thereof.
Unless the L/C Issuer has received written notice from any Lender,
the Administrative Agent or any Borrower, at least one Business Day
prior to the requested date of issuance or amendment of the
applicable Letter of Credit, that one or more applicable conditions
contained in Article IV shall not then be satisfied,
then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the L/C Issuer
shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the
account of the Company (or the applicable Subsidiary) or enter into
the applicable amendment, as the case may be, in each case in
accordance with the L/C Issuer’s usual and customary business
practices. Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit,
each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and
unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the L/C Issuer a risk
participation in such Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the
product of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage times
the amount of such Letter of Credit.
27
(iii) If the
Company so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application,
the L/C Issuer may, in its sole and absolute discretion, agree to
issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic extension provisions
(each, an “ Auto-Extension Letter of Credit
”); provided that any such Auto-Extension Letter of
Credit must permit the L/C Issuer to prevent any such extension at
least once in each twelve-month period (commencing with the date of
issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the
beneficiary thereof not later than a day (the “
Non-Extension Notice Date ”) in each such twelve-month
period to be agreed upon at the time such Letter of Credit is
issued. Unless otherwise directed by the L/C Issuer, the Company
shall not be required to make a specific request to the L/C Issuer
for any such extension. Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has
been issued, the Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but
may not require) the L/C Issuer to permit the extension of such
Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the
Letter of Credit Expiration Date; provided , however
, that the L/C Issuer shall not permit any such extension if
(A) the L/C Issuer has determined that it would not be
permitted, or would have no obligation, at such time to issue such
Letter of Credit in its revised form (as extended) under the terms
hereof (by reason of the provisions of clause (ii) or
(iii) of Section 2.03(a) or otherwise), or
(B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone or in
writing) on or before the day that is seven Business Days before
the Non-Extension Notice Date (1) from the Administrative
Agent that the Required Lenders have elected not to permit such
extension or (2) from the Administrative Agent, any Lender or
the Company that one or more of the applicable conditions specified
in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied, and in each such
case directing the L/C Issuer not to permit such
extension.
(iv) Promptly
after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a
Letter of Credit to an advising bank with respect thereto or to the
beneficiary thereof, the L/C Issuer will also deliver to the
Company and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of
such Letter of Credit or amendment.
(c)
Drawings and Reimbursements; Funding of Participations
.
(i) Upon receipt
from the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of any notice of a
drawing under such Letter of Credit, the L/C Issuer shall notify
the Company and the Administrative Agent thereof. Not later than
10:00 a.m. on the date of any payment by the L/C Issuer under
a Letter of Credit (or 10:00 a.m. on the following Business
Day in the event the L/C Issuer fails to notify the Company of any
such payment by 9:00 a.m. on the date of any such payment) (each
such date, an “ Honor Date ”), the Company shall
reimburse the L/C Issuer through the Administrative Agent in an
amount equal to the amount of such drawing. If the Company fails to
so reimburse the L/C Issuer by such time, the Administrative Agent
shall promptly notify each Lender of the Honor Date, the amount of
the unreimbursed drawing (the “ Unreimbursed Amount
”), and the amount of such Lender’s Applicable
Percentage thereof. In such event, the Company shall be deemed to
have requested a Revolving Borrowing of Base Rate Loans to be
disbursed on the Honor Date in an amount equal to the Unreimbursed
Amount, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified in
Section 2.02 for the principal amount of Base Rate
Loans, but subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the
Aggregate Commitments and the conditions set forth in
Section 4.02 (other than the delivery of a Revolving
Loan
28
Notice). Any
notice given by the L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent pursuant
to this Section 2.03(c)(i) may be given by telephone if
immediately confirmed in writing; provided that the lack of
such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness
or binding effect of such notice.
(ii) Each Lender
shall upon any notice pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i)
make funds available (including for this purpose the application of
available Cash Collateral and other credit support provided
pursuant to Section 2.03(a)(iii)(E) ) to the
Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer at the
Administrative Agent’s Office in an amount equal to its
Applicable Percentage of the Unreimbursed Amount not later than
12:00 noon on the Business Day specified in such notice by the
Administrative Agent, whereupon, subject to the provisions of
Section 2.03(c)(iii) , each Lender that so makes funds
available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Revolving Loan
to the Company in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit
the funds so received to the L/C Issuer.
(iii) With respect
to any Unreimbursed Amount that is not fully refinanced by a
Revolving Borrowing of Base Rate Loans because the conditions set
forth in Section 4.02 cannot be satisfied or for any other
reason, the Company shall be deemed to have incurred from the L/C
Issuer an L/C Borrowing in the amount of the Unreimbursed Amount
that is not so refinanced, which L/C Borrowing shall be due and
payable on demand (together with interest) and shall bear interest
at the Default Rate. In such event, each Lender’s payment to
the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer pursuant
to Section 2.03(c)(ii) shall be deemed payment in respect of
its participation in such L/C Borrowing and shall constitute an L/C
Advance from such Lender in satisfaction of its participation
obligation under this Section 2.03 .
(iv) Until each
Lender funds its Revolving Loan or L/C Advance pursuant to this
Section 2.03(c) to reimburse the L/C Issuer for any
amount drawn under any Letter of Credit, interest in respect of
such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such amount shall be
solely for the account of the L/C Issuer.
(v) Each
Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Loans or L/C Advances
to reimburse the L/C Issuer for amounts drawn under Letters of
Credit, as contemplated by this Section 2.03(c) , shall be
absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any
circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim,
recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have
against the L/C Issuer, the Company, any Subsidiary or any other
Person for any reason whatsoever; (B) the occurrence or
continuance of a Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event
or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing;
provided , however , that each Lender’s
obligation to make Revolving Loans pursuant to this
Section 2.03(c) is subject to the conditions set forth
in Section 4.02 (other than delivery by the Company of
a Revolving Loan Notice). No such making of an L/C Advance shall
relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Company to
reimburse the L/C Issuer for the amount of any payment made by the
L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit, together with interest as
provided herein.
29
(vi) If any Lender
fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account
of the L/C Issuer any amount required to be paid by such Lender
pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this
Section 2.03(c) by the time specified in Section
2.03(c)(ii) , then without limiting the other provisions of
this Agreement, the L/C Issuer shall be entitled to recover from
such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand,
such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such
payment is required to the date on which such payment is
immediately available to the L/C Issuer at a rate per annum equal
to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by
the L/C Issuer in accordance with banking industry rules on
interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or
similar fees customarily charged by the L/C Issuer in connection
with the foregoing. If such Lender pays such amount (with interest
and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall constitute such
Lender’s Revolving Loan included in the relevant Revolving
Borrowing or L/C Advance in respect of the relevant L/C Borrowing,
as the case may be. A certificate of the L/C Issuer submitted to
any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any
amounts owing under this clause (vi) shall be conclusive
absent manifest error.
(d)
Repayment of Participations .
(i) At any time
after the L/C Issuer has made a payment under any Letter of Credit
and has received from any Lender such Lender’s L/C Advance in
respect of such payment in accordance with
Section 2.03(c) , if the Administrative Agent receives
for the account of the L/C Issuer any payment in respect of the
related Unreimbursed Amount or interest thereon (whether directly
from the Company or otherwise, including proceeds of Cash
Collateral applied thereto by the Administrative Agent), the
Administrative Agent will distribute to such Lender its Applicable
Percentage thereof in the same funds as those received by the
Administrative Agent.
(ii) If any
payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of the
L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) is required
to be returned under any of the circumstances described in
Section 10.05 (including pursuant to any settlement
entered into by the L/C Issuer in its discretion), each Lender
shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C
Issuer its Applicable Percentage thereof on demand of the
Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such
demand to the date such amount is returned by such Lender, at a
rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in
effect. The obligations of the Lenders under this clause shall
survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination
of this Agreement.
(e)
Obligations Absolute . The obligation of the Company to
reimburse the L/C Issuer for each drawing under each Letter of
Credit and to repay each L/C Borrowing shall be absolute,
unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all
circumstances, including the following:
(i) any lack of
validity or enforceability of such Letter of Credit, this
Agreement, or any other Loan Document;
30
(ii) the existence
of any claim, counterclaim, setoff, defense or other right that the
Company or any Subsidiary may have at any time against any
beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit (or any
Person for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be
acting), the L/C Issuer or any other Person, whether in connection
with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by
such Letter of Credit or any agreement or instrument relating
thereto, or any unrelated transaction;
(iii) any draft,
demand, certificate or other document presented under such Letter
of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient
in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate
in any respect; or any loss or delay in the transmission or
otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under
such Letter of Credit;
(iv) any payment
by the L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit against presentation
of a draft or certificate that does not strictly comply with the
terms of such Letter of Credit; or any payment made by the L/C
Issuer under such Letter of Credit to any Person purporting to be a
trustee in bankruptcy, debtor-in-possession, assignee for the
benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver or other representative
of or successor to any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter
of Credit, including any arising in connection with any proceeding
under any Debtor Relief Law; or
(v) any other
circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any
of the foregoing, including any other circumstance that might
otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, the
Company or any Subsidiary.
The Company shall
promptly examine a copy of each Letter of Credit and each amendment
thereto that is delivered to it and, in the event of any claim of
noncompliance with the Company’s instructions or other
irregularity, the Company will immediately notify the L/C Issuer.
The Company shall be conclusively deemed to have waived any such
claim against the L/C Issuer and its correspondents unless such
notice is given as aforesaid.
(f) Role
of L/C Issuer . Each Lender and the Company agree that, in
paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit, the L/C Issuer shall
not have any responsibility to obtain any document (other than any
sight draft, certificates and documents expressly required by the
Letter of Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or
accuracy of any such document or the authority of the Person
executing or delivering any such document. None of the L/C Issuer,
the Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties
nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of the L/C Issuer
shall be liable to any Lender for (i) any action taken or
omitted in connection herewith at the request or with the approval
of the Lenders or the Required Lenders, as applicable;
(ii) any action taken or omitted in the absence of gross
negligence or willful misconduct; or (iii) the due execution,
effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any document or
instrument related to any Letter of Credit or Issuer Document. The
Company hereby assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of any
beneficiary or transferee with respect to its use of any Letter of
Credit; provided , however , that this assumption is
not intended to, and shall not, preclude the Company’s
pursuing such rights and remedies as it may have against the
beneficiary or transferee at law or under any other agreement. None
of the L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent, any of their
respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or
assignee of
31
the L/C Issuer
shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in
clauses (i) through (v) of
Section 2.03(e) ; provided , however ,
that Section 2.03(e) to the contrary notwithstanding,
the Company may have a claim against the L/C Issuer, and the L/C
Issuer may be liable to the Company, to the extent, but only to the
extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or exemplary,
damages suffered by the Company which the Company proves were
caused by the L/C Issuer’s willful misconduct or gross
negligence or the L/C Issuer’s willful failure to pay under
any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the
beneficiary of a sight draft and certificate(s) strictly complying
with the terms and conditions of a Letter of Credit. In furtherance
and not in limitation of the foregoing, the L/C Issuer may accept
documents that appear on their face to be in order, without
responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice
or information to the contrary, and the L/C Issuer shall not be
responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument
transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign a
Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds
thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or
ineffective for any reason.
(g)
Applicability of ISP . Unless otherwise expressly agreed by
the L/C Issuer and the Company when a Letter of Credit is issued,
the rules of the ISP shall apply to each Letter of
Credit.
(h)
Letter of Credit Fees . The Company shall pay to the
Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance
with its Applicable Percentage a Letter of Credit fee (the “
Letter of Credit Fee ”) for each Letter of Credit
equal to the Applicable Rate times the daily amount
available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit; provided
, however, any Letter of Credit Fees otherwise payable for the
account of a Defaulting Lender with respect to any Letter of Credit
as to which such Defaulting Lender has not provided Cash Collateral
or other credit support arrangements satisfactory to the L/C Issuer
pursuant to this Section 2.03 shall be payable, to the
maximum extent permitted by applicable law, to the other Lenders in
accordance with the upward adjustments in their respective
Applicable Percentages allocable to such Letter of Credit pursuant
to Section 2.16(d) , with the balance of such fee, if
any, payable to the L/C Issuer for its own account. For purposes of
computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter
of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined
in accordance with Section 1.06 . Letter of Credit Fees
shall be (i) due and payable on the first Business Day after
the end of each March, June, September and December, commencing
with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter
of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter
on demand and (ii) computed on a quarterly basis in arrears.
If there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter,
the daily amount available to be drawn under each Letter of Credit
shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately
for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was
in effect. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
herein, upon the request of the Required Lenders, while any Event
of Default exists, all Letter of Credit Fees shall accrue at the
Default Rate.
(i)
Fronting Fee and Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to
L/C Issuer . The Company shall pay directly to the L/C Issuer
for its own account a fronting fee with respect to each Letter of
Credit, at the rate per annum specified in the Fee Letter, computed
on the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of
Credit on a quarterly basis in arrears. Such fronting fee shall be
due and payable on the first Business Day after the end of each
March, June, September and December in respect of the most
recently-ended quarterly period (or portion
32
thereof, in the
case of the first payment), commencing with the first such date to
occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of
Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. For purposes of
computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter
of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined
in accordance with Section 1.06 . In addition, the Company
shall pay directly to the L/C Issuer for its own account the
customary issuance, presentation, amendment and other processing
fees, and other standard costs and charges, of the L/C Issuer
relating to letters of credit as from time to time in effect. Such
customary fees and standard costs and charges are due and payable
on demand and are nonrefundable.
(j)
Conflict with Issuer Documents . In the event of any
conflict between the terms hereof and the terms of any Issuer
Document, the terms hereof shall control.
(k)
Letters of Credit Issued for Subsidiaries . Notwithstanding
that a Letter of Credit issued or outstanding hereunder is in
support of any obligations of, or is for the account of, a
Subsidiary, the Company shall be obligated to reimburse the L/C
Issuer hereunder for any and all drawings under such Letter of
Credit. The Company hereby acknowledges that the issuance of
Letters of Credit for the account of Subsidiaries inures to the
benefit of the Company, and that the Company’s business
derives substantial benefits from the businesses of such
Subsidiaries.
(a) The
Swing Line . Subject to the terms and conditions set forth
herein, the Swing Line Lender, in reliance upon the agreements of
the other Lenders set forth in this Section 2.04 , may in
its sole discretion make loans (each such loan, a “ Swing
Line Loan ”) to the Company from time to time on any
Business Day during the Availability Period in an aggregate amount
not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of the Swing Line
Sublimit, notwithstanding the fact that such Swing Line Loans, when
aggregated with the Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount
of Revolving Loans and L/C Obligations of the Lender acting as
Swing Line Lender, may exceed the amount of such Lender’s
Commitment; provided , however , that after giving
effect to any Swing Line Loan, (i) the Total Outstandings
shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (ii) the
aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Loans of any Lender,
plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the
Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such
Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of
all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s
Commitment, and provided , further , that the Company
shall not use the proceeds of any Swing Line Loan to refinance any
outstanding Swing Line Loan. Within the foregoing limits, and
subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Company may
borrow under this Section 2.04 , prepay under
Section 2.05 , and reborrow under this
Section 2.04 . Each Swing Line Loan shall be a Base
Rate Loan. Immediately upon the making of a Swing Line Loan, each
Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and
unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the Swing Line Lender a
risk participation in such Swing Line Loan in an amount equal to
the product of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage
times the amount of such Swing Line Loan.
(b)
Borrowing Procedures . Each Swing Line Borrowing shall be
made upon the Company’s irrevocable notice to the Swing Line
Lender and the Administrative Agent, which may be given by
telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Swing Line
Lender and the
33
Administrative
Agent not later than 12:00 noon on the requested borrowing date,
and shall specify (i) the amount to be borrowed, which shall
be a minimum of $100,000, and (ii) the requested borrowing
date, which shall be a Business Day. Each such telephonic notice
must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Swing Line Lender and
the Administrative Agent of a written Swing Line Loan Notice,
appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the
Company. Promptly after receipt by the Swing Line Lender of any
telephonic Swing Line Loan Notice, the Swing Line Lender will
confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing)
that the Administrative Agent has also received such Swing Line
Loan Notice and, if not, the Swing Line Lender will notify the
Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) of the contents
thereof. Unless the Swing Line Lender has received notice (by
telephone or in writing) from the Administrative Agent (including
at the request of any Lender) prior to 1:00 p.m. on the date of the
proposed Swing Line Borrowing (A) directing the Swing Line
Lender not to make such Swing Line Loan as a result of the
limitations set forth in the first proviso to the first sentence of
Section 2.04(a) , or (B) that one or more of the
applicable conditions specified in Article IV is not
then satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof,
the Swing Line Lender will, not later than 2:00 p.m. on the
borrowing date specified in such Swing Line Loan Notice, make the
amount of its Swing Line Loan available to the Company at its
office by crediting the account of the Company on the books of the
Swing Line Lender in immediately available funds.
(c)
Refinancing of Swing Line Loans .
(i) The Swing Line
Lender at any time in its sole and absolute discretion may request,
on behalf of the Company (which hereby irrevocably authorizes the
Swing Line Lender to so request on its behalf), that each Lender
make a Base Rate Revolving Loan in an amount equal to such
Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the amount of Swing Line
Loans then outstanding. Such request shall be made in writing
(which written request shall be deemed to be a Revolving Loan
Notice for purposes hereof) and in accordance with the requirements
of Section 2.02 , without regard to the minimum and
multiples specified therein for the principal amount of Base Rate
Loans, but subject to the unutilized portion of the Aggregate
Commitments and the conditions set forth in
Section 4.02 . The Swing Line Lender shall furnish the
Company with a copy of the applicable Revolving Loan Notice
promptly after delivering such notice to the Administrative Agent.
Each Lender shall make an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage
of the amount specified in such Revolving Loan Notice available
(including for this purpose Cash Collateral and other credit
support made available with respect to the applicable Swing Line
Loan) to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds
for the account of the Swing Line Lender at the Administrative
Agent’s Office not later than 12:00 noon on the day specified
in such Revolving Loan Notice, whereupon, subject to
Section 2.04(c)(ii) , each Lender that so makes funds
available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Revolving Loan
to the Company in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit
the funds so received to the Swing Line Lender.
(ii) If for any
reason any Swing Line Loan cannot be refinanced by such a Revolving
Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.04(c)(i) , the
request for Base Rate Revolving Loans submitted by the Swing Line
Lender as set forth herein shall be deemed to be a request by the
Swing Line Lender that each of the Lenders fund its risk
34
participation
in the relevant Swing Line Loan and each Lender’s payment to
the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender
pursuant to Section 2.04(c)(i) shall be deemed payment in
respect of such participation.
(iii) If any
Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the
account of the Swing Line Lender any amount required to be paid by
such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this
Section 2.04(c) by the time specified in Section
2.04(c)(i) , the Swing Line Lender shall be entitled to recover
from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on
demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the
date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is
immediately available to the Swing Line Lender at a rate per annum
equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate
determined by the Swing Line Lender in accordance with banking
industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative
processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Swing Line
Lender in connection with the foregoing. If such Lender pays such
amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid
shall constitute such Lender’s Revolving Loan included in the
relevant Revolving Borrowing or funded participation in the
relevant Swing Line Loan, as the case may be. A certificate of the
Swing Line Lender submitted to any Lender (through the
Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this
clause (iii) shall be conclusive absent manifest
error.
(iv) Each
Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Loans or to purchase
and fund risk participations in Swing Line Loans pursuant to this
Section 2.04(c) shall be absolute and unconditional and
shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any
setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such
Lender may have against the Swing Line Lender, the Company or any
other Person for any reason whatsoever, (B) the occurrence or
continuance of a Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event
or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing;
provided , however , that each Lender’s
obligation to make Revolving Loans pursuant to this
Section 2.04(c) is subject to the conditions set forth
in Section 4.02 . No such funding of risk
participations shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of
the Company to repay Swing Line Loans, together with interest as
provided herein.
(v) In the event
that the Swing Line Lender, in the exercise of its discretion,
requires that, as a condition to the making of any Swing Line Loan,
a Defaulting Lender, or the Borrowers, enter into arrangements
satisfactory to the Swing Line Lender for the provision of
sufficient Cash Collateral or other credit support acceptable to
the Swing Line Lender, to eliminate the Swing Line Lender’s
actual or potential Fronting Exposure with respect to any such
Lender, then the provisions of Section 2.15 shall
apply.
(d)
Repayment of Participations .
(i) At any time
after any Lender has purchased and funded a risk participation in a
Swing Line Loan, if the Swing Line Lender receives any payment on
account of such Swing Line Loan, the Swing Line Lender will
distribute to such Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof in the
same funds as those received by the Swing Line Lender.
35
(ii) If any
payment received by the Swing Line Lender in respect of principal
or interest on any Swing Line Loan is required to be returned by
the Swing Line Lender under any of the circumstances described in
Section 10.05 (including pursuant to any settlement
entered into by the Swing Line Lender in its discretion), each
Lender shall pay to the Swing Line Lender its Applicable Percentage
thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest
thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is
returned, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate. The
Administrative Agent will make such demand upon the request of the
Swing Line Lender. The obligations of the Lenders under this clause
shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the
termination of this Agreement.
(e)
Interest for Account of Swing Line Lender . The Swing Line
Lender shall be responsible for invoicing the Company for interest
on the Swing Line Loans. Until each Lender funds its Base Rate
Revolving Loan or risk participation pursuant to this
Section 2.04 to refinance such Lender’s
Applicable Percentage of any Swing Line Loan, interest in respect
of such Applicable Percentage shall be solely for the account of
the Swing Line Lender.
(f)
Payments Directly to Swing Line Lender . The Company shall
make all payments of principal and interest in respect of the Swing
Line Loans directly to the Swing Line Lender.
2.05
Prepayments. (a) Each Borrower may, upon notice from the
Company to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to
time voluntarily prepay Revolving Loans in whole or in part without
premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must
be received by the Administrative Agent not later than
10:00 a.m. (A) three Business Days prior to any date of
prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans, and (B) on the date of
prepayment of Base Rate Revolving Loans; (ii) any prepayment
of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of
$2,500,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof; and
(iii) any prepayment of Base Rate Revolving Loans shall be in
a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in
excess thereof or, in each case, if less, the entire principal
amount thereof then outstanding. Each such notice shall specify the
date and amount of such prepayment and the Type(s) of Revolving
Loans to be prepaid and, if Eurodollar Rate Loans are to be
prepaid, the Interest Period(s) of such Loans. The Administrative
Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of each such
notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s Applicable
Percentage of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the
Company, the applicable Borrower shall make such prepayment and the
payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on
the date specified therein. Any prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate
Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount
prepaid, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to
Section 3.05 . Subject to Section 2.16 , each
such prepayment shall be applied to the Revolving Loans of the
Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable
Percentages.
(b) The
Company may, upon notice to the Swing Line Lender (with a copy to
the Administrative Agent), at any time or from time to time,
voluntarily prepay Swing Line Loans in whole or in part without
premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must
be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent
not later than 12:00 noon on the date of the prepayment, and
(ii) any such prepayment shall be in a minimum principal
amount of $100,000. Each such notice shall specify the date and
amount of such prepayment. If such notice is given
36
by the Company,
the Company shall make such prepayment and the payment amount
specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date
specified therein.
(c) If for
any reason the Total Outstandings at any time exceed the Aggregate
Commitments then in effect, then, the Company shall immediately
prepay Loans and/or the Company shall Cash Collateralize the L/C
Obligations in an aggregate amount equal to such excess;
provided , however , that the Company shall not be
required to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations pursuant to this
Section 2.05(c) unless after the prepayment in full of
the Loans the Total Outstandings exceed the Aggregate Commitments
then in effect.
2.06
Termination or Reduction of Commitments. The Company may, upon
notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate the Aggregate
Commitments, or from time to time permanently reduce the Aggregate
Commitments; provided that (i) any such notice shall be
received by the Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m.
five Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction,
(ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate
amount of $10,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess
thereof, (iii) the Company shall not terminate or reduce the
Aggregate Commitments if, after giving effect thereto and to any
concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Total Outstandings would
exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (iv) if, after giving
effect to any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments, the Letter of
Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit exceeds the amount of
the Aggregate Commitments, such sublimit shall be automatically
reduced by the amount of such excess. The Administrative Agent will
promptly notify the Lenders of any such notice of termination or
reduction of the Aggregate Commitments. Any reduction of the
Aggregate Commitments shall be applied to the Commitment of each
Lender according to its Applicable Percentage. All fees accrued
until the effective date of any termination of the Aggregate
Commitments shall be paid on the effective date of such
termination.
2.07 Repayment
of Loans. (a) Each Borrower shall repay to the Lenders on
the Maturity Date the aggregate principal amount of Revolving Loans
made to such Borrower outstanding on such date.
(b) The
Company shall repay each Swing Line Loan on the earlier to occur of
(i) the date ten Business Days after such Loan is made and
(ii) the Maturity Date.
2.08
Interest. (a) Subject to the provisions of subsection
(b) below, (i) each Eurodollar Rate Loan shall bear
interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each
Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the Eurodollar Rate
for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate;
(ii) each Base Rate Revolving Loan shall bear interest on the
outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing
date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the
Applicable Rate; and (iii) each Swing Line Loan shall bear
interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the
applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base
Rate plus the Applicable Rate.
(b) (i) If
any amount of principal of any Loan is not paid when due (without
regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated
maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, such amount shall
thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate
per
37
annum at all
times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable Laws.
(ii) If any amount
(other than principal of any Loan) payable by any Borrower under
any Loan Document is not paid when due (without regard to any
applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by
acceleration or otherwise, then upon and following the request of
the Required Lenders to the Administrative Agent and the Company
(provided that no such request of, or notice to, the Company shall
be required in connection with the occurrence of an Event of
Default under Section 8.01(f) or 8.01(g) ), such
amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest
rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the
fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.
(iii) Upon and
following the request of the Required Lenders to the Administrative
Agent and the Company (provided that no such request of, or notice
to, the Company shall be required in connection with the occurrence
of an Event of Default under Section 8.01(f) or
8.01(g) ), to the extent any Event of Default then exists,
the Borrowers shall pay interest on the principal amount of all
outstanding Obligations hereunder at a fluctuating interest rate
per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable Laws.
(iv) Accrued and
unpaid interest on past due amounts (including interest on past due
interest) shall be due and payable upon demand.
(c) Interest
on each Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest
Payment Date applicable thereto and at such other times as may be
specified herein. Interest hereunder shall be due and payable in
accordance with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and
before and after the commencement of any proceeding under any
Debtor Relief Law.
2.09 Fees.
In addition to certain fees described in
Sections 2.03(h) and (i) :
(a)
Commitment Fee . The Company shall pay to the Administrative
Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance with its
Applicable Percentage, a commitment fee equal to the Applicable
Rate times the actual daily amount by which the Aggregate
Commitments exceed the sum of (i) the Outstanding Amount of
Revolving Loans and (ii) the Outstanding Amount of L/C
Obligations, subject to adjustment as provided in
Section 2.16 . The commitment fee shall accrue at all
times during the Availability Period, including at any time during
which one or more of the conditions in Article IV is
not met, and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the
first Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and
December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the
Closing Date, and on the last day of the Availability Period. The
commitment fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears, and if
there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the
actual daily amount shall be computed and multiplied by the
Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that
such Applicable Rate was in effect.
(b) Other
Fees . (i) The Company shall pay to the Arranger and the
Administrative Agent for their own respective accounts fees in the
amounts and at the times specified in the Fee
38
Letter. Such
fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable
for any reason whatsoever.
(ii) The
Company shall pay to the Lenders, in Dollars, such fees as shall
have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at
the times so specified. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid
and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.
2.10
Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of
Applicable Rate. (a) All computations of interest for Base
Rate Loans (including Base Rate Loans determined by reference to
the Eurodollar Rate) shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or
366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed. All
other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis
of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more
fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the
basis of a 365-day year). Interest shall accrue on each Loan for
the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan,
or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such
portion is paid, provided that any Loan that is repaid on
the same day on which it is made shall, subject to
Section 2.12(a) , bear interest for one day. Each
determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or
fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes,
absent manifest error.
(b) If, as a
result of any restatement of or other adjustment to the financial
statements of the Company or for any other reason, the Company or
the Lenders determine that (i) the Total Capitalization Ratio
as calculated by the Company as of any applicable date was
inaccurate and (ii) a proper calculation of the Total
Capitalization Ratio would have resulted in higher pricing for such
period, each Borrower shall immediately and retroactively be
obligated to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the
applicable Lenders or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, promptly
on demand by the Administrative Agent (or, after the occurrence of
an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to
any Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States,
automatically and without further action by the Administrative
Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer), an amount equal to the excess
of the amount of interest and fees that should have been paid for
such period over the amount of interest and fees actually paid for
such period. This paragraph shall not limit the rights of the
Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may
be, under Section 2.03(c)(iii) , 2.03(h) or
2.08(b) or under Article VIII . The
Borrower’s obligations under this paragraph shall survive for
a period of six months following the termination of the Aggregate
Commitments and the indefeasible repayment of all other Obligations
(other than contingent indemnity obligations) hereunder.
2.11 Evidence
of Debt. (a) The Credit Extensions made by each Lender
shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by
such Lender and by the Administrative Agent in the ordinary course
of business. The accounts or records maintained by the
Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be conclusive absent
manifest error of the amount of the Credit Extensions made by the
Lenders to the Borrowers and the interest and payments thereon. Any
failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however,
limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrowers hereunder
to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations. In the
event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained
by any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative
Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the
Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest
error. Upon the request of any Lender to a Borrower made through
the Administrative Agent,
39
such Borrower
shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the
Administrative Agent) a Note, which shall evidence such
Lender’s Loans to such Borrower in addition to such accounts
or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to a Note and endorse
thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount and maturity of its
Loans and payments with respect thereto.
(b) In
addition to the accounts and records referred to in subsection
(a) , each Lender and the Administrative Agent shall maintain
in accordance with its usual practice accounts or records
evidencing the purchases and sales by such Lender of participations
in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans. In the event of any
conflict between the accounts and records maintained by the
Administrative Agent and the acco
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