FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

Exhibit 10.27

EXECUTION VERSION

FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED

CREDIT AGREEMENT

DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 19, 2008

AMONG

RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE, INC.,

as Borrower,

THE LENDERS LISTED HEREIN,

as Lenders,

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Administrative Agent and Sole Bookrunner,

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

as Syndication Agent

and

WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

and

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

as Co-Documentation Agents

BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC

and

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Co-Lead Arrangers

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

i

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

ii

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

iii

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

iv

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

v

EXHIBITS

 

 

-i-

SCHEDULES

 

 

-ii-

EXECUTION VERSION

RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE, INC.

FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED

CREDIT AGREEMENT

This FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT is dated as of February 19, 2008 and entered into by and among RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE, INC. , a Delaware corporation (“ Company ”), THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO (each individually referred to herein as a “ Lender ” and collectively as “ Lenders ”), WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (“ Wells Fargo ”), as administrative agent for Lenders (in such capacity, “ Administrative Agent ”) and a co-lead arranger, Banc of America Securities LLC, as a co-lead arranger (together with Wells Fargo, in such capacity, “ Co-Lead Arrangers ”), Bank of America, N.A., as syndication agent (in such capacity “ Syndication Agent ”), and Wachovia Bank, National Association and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as co-documentation agents (in such capacity, “ Co-Documentation Agents ”).

R E C I T A L S

WHEREAS , Company, certain lenders and Wells Fargo, as administrative agent, are parties to that certain Credit Agreement dated as of September 27, 2005, as amended pursuant to the First Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of May 17, 2006 and the Second Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of August 7, 2007 (the “ Original Credit Agreement ”);

WHEREAS , on the Restatement Date (this and other capitalized terms used in these recitals without definition being used as defined in subsection 1.1), Company will purchase the Acquired Business pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement;

WHEREAS , Lenders, at the request of Company, have agreed to increase the Commitments, the proceeds of which will be used (i) to fund the Acquisition Financing Requirements and (ii) together with the existing Commitments, to provide financing for working capital and other general corporate purposes of Company and its Subsidiaries (including the acquisition of one or more Ruth’s Chris restaurant franchises to the extent permitted hereunder);

WHEREAS, Company desires to continue to secure all of the Obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents by a First Priority Lien, granted to Administrative Agent, on behalf of Lenders, on all of the Capital Stock of its Domestic Subsidiaries and 66% of the Capital Stock of certain of its Foreign Subsidiaries; and

WHEREAS, all of the Domestic Subsidiaries of Company desire to continue to guarantee the Obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and to continue to secure their guaranties by a First Priority Lien, granted to Administrative Agent, on behalf of Lenders, on all of the Capital Stock of their Domestic Subsidiaries and 66% of the Capital Stock of certain of their Foreign Subsidiaries:

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the agreements, provisions and covenants herein contained, Company, Lenders, Co-Lead Arrangers, Syndication Agent, Co-Documentation Agents and Administrative Agent agree that the Original Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated to read in its entirety as follows:

 

1

EXECUTION VERSION

 

Section 1. DEFINITIONS

 

1.1

Certain Defined Terms

The following terms used in this Agreement shall have the following meanings:

“Acquired Business” means, collectively, Mitchell’s Fish Market ( “Mitchell’s Fish Market”) , operating under the names Mitchell’s Fish Market and Columbus Fish Market, and Cameron’s Steakhouse ( “Cameron’s Steakhouse” ), operating under the names Cameron’s Steakhouse and Mitchell’s Steakhouse.

“Acquisition” means the transactions contemplated by the Acquisition Agreement.

“Acquisition Agreement” means that certain Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of November 6, 2007, by and among Company, Seller, and M. Cameron Mitchell and 1245 Properties, LLC, an Ohio limited liability company, as the interveners, in the form delivered to Administrative Agent and Lenders prior to their execution of this Agreement and as such agreement may be amended from time to time thereafter.

“Acquisition EBITDA” means, for any period ending prior to March 29, 2009, the sum, without duplication, of the amounts for such period of (i) Consolidated Net Income, (ii) Consolidated Interest Expense, (iii) provisions for taxes based on income, (iv) total depreciation expense, (v) total amortization expense, (vi) pre-opening costs, (vii) administrative overhead costs not to exceed $4,500,000, (viii) management fees paid to M. Cameron Mitchell and CMR Management, Inc. in the aggregate not to exceed 4% of gross revenues of the Acquired Business for fiscal year 2007, and (ix) non-cash write-offs of restaurant assets, in the case of clauses (ii)-(ix), to the extent deducted in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income, less non-cash items added in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income, all of the foregoing as determined on a combined basis for the Acquired Business in conformity with GAAP. For purposes of determining Acquisition EBITDA, references in the definitions of “Consolidated Net Income” and “Consolidated Interest Expense” to Company and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to refer to the Acquired Business.

“Acquisition Financing Requirements” means the aggregate of all amounts necessary (i) to finance the purchase price payable in connection with the Acquisition and (ii) to pay Transaction Costs.

“Administrative Agent” has the meaning assigned to that term in the introduction to this Agreement and also means and includes any successor Administrative Agent appointed pursuant to subsection 9.5A.

“Affected Lender” has the meaning assigned to that term in subsection 2.6C.

“Affected Loans” has the meaning assigned to that term in subsection 2.6C.

 

2

EXECUTION VERSION

 

“Affiliate” , as applied to any Person, means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, that Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling”, “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as applied to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of that Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or by contract or otherwise.

“Affiliated Funds” means Funds that are administered or managed by (i) a single entity or (ii) an Affiliate of such entity.

“Agents” means Administrative Agent, Syndication Agent, Co-Documentation Agents, Co-Lead Arrangers, Supplemental Collateral Agents and Related Parties.

“Aggregate Amounts Due” has the meaning assigned to that term in subsection 10.5.

“Agreement” means this First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of February 19, 2008.

“Approved Fund” means a Fund that is administered or managed by (i) a Lender, (ii) an Affiliate of a Lender or (iii) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

“Asset Sale” means the sale by Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any Person other than Company or any of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries of (i) any of the stock of any of Company’s Subsidiaries, (ii) substantially all of the assets of any division or line of business of Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iii) any other assets (whether tangible or intangible) of Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than (a) inventory sold in the ordinary course of business, (b) sales, assignments, transfers or dispositions of accounts in the ordinary course of business for purposes of collection and (c) any such other assets to the extent that the aggregate value of such assets sold in any Fiscal Year is equal to $750,000 or less).

“Assignment Agreement” means an Assignment and Assumption in substantially the form of Exhibit VIII annexed hereto.

“Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code entitled “Bankruptcy”, as now and hereafter in effect, or any successor statute.

“Base Rate” means, at any time, the higher of (i) the Prime Rate or (ii) the rate which is  ¹ / 2 of 1% in excess of the Federal Funds Effective Rate. Any change in the Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate shall be effective on the effective date of such change.

“Base Rate Loans” means Loans bearing interest at rates determined by reference to the Base Rate as provided in subsection 2.2A.

 

3

EXECUTION VERSION

 

“Base Rate Margin” means the margin over the Base Rate used in determining the rate of interest of Revolving Loans that are Base Rate Loans pursuant to subsection 2.2A.

“Business Day” means (i) for all purposes other than as covered by clause (ii) below, any day excluding Saturday, Sunday and any day which is a legal holiday under the laws of the State of California, Florida, Louisiana or New York or is a day on which banking institutions located in such state are authorized or required by law or other governmental action to close, and (ii) with respect to all notices, determinations, fundings and payments in connection with the Eurodollar Rate or any Eurodollar Rate Loans, any day that is a Business Day described in clause (i) above and that is also a day for trading by and between banks in Dollar deposits in the London interbank market.

“Cameron’s Steakhouse” has the meaning assigned to that term in the definition of “Acquired Business.”

“Capital Lease” , as applied to any Person, means any lease of any property (whether real, personal or mixed) by that Person as lessee that, in conformity with GAAP, is accounted for as a capital lease on the balance sheet of that Person.

“Capital Stock” means the capital stock of or other equity interests in a Person.

“Cash” means money, currency or a credit balance in a demand, time, savings, passbook or similar account maintained with a Person engaged in the business of banking, including a savings bank, savings and loan association, credit union or trust company.

“Cash Equivalents” means, as at any date of determination, (i) marketable securities (a) issued or directly and unconditionally guaranteed as to interest and principal by the United States Government or (b) issued by any agency of the United States the obligations of which are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, in each case maturing within one year after such date; (ii) marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision of any such state or any public instrumentality thereof, in each case maturing within one year after such date and having, at the time of the acquisition thereof, the highest rating obtainable from either Standard & Poor’s (“ S&P ”) or Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“ Moody’s ”); (iii) commercial paper maturing no more than one year from the date of creation thereof and having, at the time of the acquisition thereof, a rating of at least A-1 from S&P or at least P-1 from Moody’s; (iv) certificates of deposit or bankers’ acceptances maturing within one year after such date and issued or accepted by any Lender or by any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia that (a) is at least “adequately capitalized” (as defined in the regulations of its primary Federal banking regulator) and (b) has Tier 1 capital (as defined in such regulations) of not less than $100,000,000; and (v) shares of any money market mutual fund that (a) has at least 95% of its assets invested continuously in the types of investments referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above, (b) has net assets of not less than $500,000,000, and (c) has the highest rating obtainable from either S&P or Moody’s.

“Change in Control” means any of the following: (i) any “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), other than Madison

 

4

EXECUTION VERSION

 

Dearborn and its Affiliates, existing stockholders as of the Closing Date and employees of Company and its Subsidiaries, becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly of 20% or more of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of Company entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote for the election of members of the Governing Body of Company, (ii) the occurrence of a change in the composition of the Governing Body of Company such that a majority of the members of any such Governing Body are not Continuing Members; and (iii) the occurrence of any “Change in Control” as defined in Company’s Articles of Incorporation. As used herein, the term “beneficially own” or “beneficial ownership” shall have the meaning set forth in the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

“Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (i) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation, treaty or order, (ii) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation or application thereof by any Government Authority, (iii) any determination of a court or other Government Authority or (iv) the making or issuance of any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Government Authority.

“Closing Date” means September 27, 2005, being the date on which the initial Loans were made under the Original Credit Agreement.

“Co-Documentation Agents” has the meaning assigned to that term in the introduction to this Agreement.

“Co-Lead Arrangers” has the meaning assigned to that term in the introduction to this Agreement.

“Collateral” means, collectively, all of the property in which Liens are purported to be granted pursuant to the Collateral Documents as security for the Obligations.

“Collateral Account” has the meaning assigned to that term in the Pledge Agreement.

“Collateral Documents” means the Pledge Agreement and all other instruments or documents delivered by any Loan Party pursuant to this Agreement, the Original Credit Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents in order to grant to Administrative Agent, on behalf of Lenders, a Lien on any property of that Loan Party as security for the Obligations.

“Commercial Letter of Credit” means any letter of credit or similar instrument issued for the purpose of providing the primary payment mechanism in connection with the purchase of any materials, goods or services by Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business of Company or such Subsidiary.

“Commitments” means the commitments of Lenders to make Loans as set forth in subsections 2.1A and 3.3.

“Communications” has the meaning assigned to that term in subsection 10.8.

 

5

EXECUTION VERSION

 

“Company” has the meaning assigned to that term in the introduction to this Agreement.

“Compliance Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit VII annexed hereto.

“Confidential Information Memorandum” means the Confidential Information Memorandum dated December 2007 prepared by Wells Fargo relating to the credit facilities evidenced by this Agreement.

“Consolidated Capital Expenditures” means, for any period and without duplication, the sum of the aggregate of all expenditures, including, to the extent not already included as an expenditure, the purchase price of any acquired Ruth’s Chris restaurant franchise, (whether paid in cash or other consideration or accrued as a liability and including that portion of Capital Leases which is capitalized on the consolidated balance sheet of Company and its Subsidiaries) by Company and its Subsidiaries during that period that, in conformity with GAAP, are included in “additions to property, plant or equipment” or comparable items reflected in the consolidated statement of cash flows of Company and its Subsidiaries. For purposes of this definition, the purchase price of any asset that is purchased with insurance proceeds shall be included in Consolidated Capital Expenditures only to the extent of the gross amount of such purchase price less the amount of such proceeds.

“Consolidated EBITDA” means, for any period, the sum, without duplication, of the amounts for such period of (i) Consolidated Net Income, (ii) Consolidated Interest Expense, (iii) provisions for taxes based on income, (iv) total depreciation expense, (v) total amortization expense, (vi) non-cash write-offs or impairment of restaurant assets (including write-offs due to impairment of goodwill) and cash write-offs of the Manhattan UN Facility, (vii) non-recurring costs and expenses in connection with severance payments, hurricane and relocation costs, and business acquisition costs, (viii) ongoing non-cash GAAP costs in connection with, but not limited to, stock options, restricted stock, bank fees and pre-opening straight-line rent, in the case of clauses (ii)-(viii), to the extent deducted in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income, less non-cash items added in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income, all of the foregoing as determined on a consolidated basis for Company and its Subsidiaries in conformity with GAAP; provided that in the event Company or any of its Subsidiaries acquires a Ruth’s Chris restaurant franchise during such period, Consolidated EBITDA for such period shall be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis; provided further that Consolidated EBITDA for the Fiscal Quarters ending prior to March 29, 2009 shall include Acquisition EBITDA for such period as reflected in the financial statements of the Acquired Business for such period delivered to Company and Administrative Agent (as if the Acquired Business were acquired on the first day of such period).

“Consolidated EBITDAR” means, for any period, the sum, without duplication, of the amounts for such period of (i) Consolidated EBITDA and (ii) Consolidated Rental Expense.

“Consolidated Fixed Charges” means, for any period, the sum (without duplication) of the amounts for such period of (i) Consolidated Interest Expense, (ii) scheduled principal payments in respect of Consolidated Total Debt, and (iii) Consolidated Rental Expense, all of the foregoing as determined on a consolidated basis for Company and its Subsidiaries in conformity with GAAP.

 

6

EXECUTION VERSION

 

“Consolidated Interest Expense” means, for any period, total interest expense (including that portion attributable to Capital Leases in accordance with GAAP and capitalized interest) of Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis with respect to all outstanding Indebtedness of Company and its Subsidiaries, including all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing, net costs under Interest Rate Agreements and amounts referred to in subsection 2.3 payable to Administrative Agent and Lenders that are considered interest expense in accordance with GAAP, but excluding, however, any such amounts referred to in subsection 2.3 payable on or before the Restatement Date.

“Consolidated Leverage Ratio” means, as at any date, the ratio of (i) Consolidated Total Debt as at such date to (ii) Consolidated EBITDA for the four consecutive Fiscal Quarter period most recently ended as at such date.

“Consolidated Maintenance Capital Expenditures” means, for any period, Consolidated Capital Expenditures minus all such Consolidated Capital Expenditures relating to (i) developing, constructing and opening new restaurants, (ii) acquiring restaurant franchises, (iii) the Acquisition of the Acquired Business and (iv) major restaurant remodeling in excess of $500,000 for any restaurant location.

“Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, the net income (or loss) of Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for such period taken as a single accounting period determined in conformity with GAAP; provided that there shall be excluded (i) the income (or loss) of any Person (other than a Subsidiary of Company) in which any other Person (other than Company or any of its Subsidiaries) has a joint interest, except to the extent of the amount of dividends or other distributions actually paid to Company or any of its Subsidiaries by such Person during such period, (ii) the income (or loss) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary of Company or is merged into or consolidated with Company or any of its Subsidiaries or that Person’s assets are acquired by Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii) the income of any Subsidiary of Company to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Subsidiary of that income is not at the time permitted by operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that Subsidiary, (iv) any after-tax gains or losses attributable to asset sales or returned surplus assets of any Pension Plan, and (v) (to the extent not included in clauses (i) through (iv) above) any net extraordinary gains or net non-cash extraordinary losses.

“Consolidated Rental Expense” means, for any period, the aggregate amount of all rents paid or payable during that period under all Real Property Operating Leases to which Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party as lessee as determined on a consolidated basis for Company and its Subsidiaries in conformity with GAAP.

 

7

EXECUTION VERSION

 

“Consolidated Total Debt” means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate stated balance sheet amount of all Indebtedness of Company and its Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

“Contingent Obligation” , as applied to any Person, means any direct or indirect liability, contingent or otherwise, of that Person (i) with respect to any Indebtedness, lease, dividend or other obligation of another if the primary purpose or intent thereof by the Person incurring the Contingent Obligation is to provide assurance to the obligee of such obligation of another that such obligation of another will be paid or discharged, or that any agreements relating thereto will be complied with, or that the holders of such obligation will be protected (in whole or in part) against loss in respect thereof, (ii) with respect to any letter of credit issued for the account of that Person or as to which that Person is otherwise liable for reimbursement of drawings, or (iii) under Hedge Agreements. Contingent Obligations shall include (a) the direct or indirect guaranty, endorsement (otherwise than for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business), co-making, discounting with recourse or sale with recourse by such Person of the obligation of another, (b) the obligation to make take-or-pay or similar payments if required regardless of non-performance by any other party or parties to an agreement, and (c) any liability of such Person for the obligation of another through any agreement (contingent or otherwise) (1) to purchase, repurchase or otherwise acquire such obligation or any security therefor, or to provide funds for the payment or discharge of such obligation (whether in the form of loans, advances, stock purchases, capital contributions or otherwise) or (2) to maintain the solvency or any balance sheet item, level of income or financial condition of another if, in the case of any agreement described under subclauses (1) or (2) of this sentence, the primary purpose or intent thereof is as described in the preceding sentence. The amount of any Contingent Obligation shall be equal to the amount of the obligation so guaranteed or otherwise supported or, if less, the amount to which such Contingent Obligation is specifically limited.

“Continuing Member” means, as of any date of determination any member of the Governing Body of Company who (i) was a member of such Governing Body on the Closing Date or (ii) was nominated for election or elected to such Governing Body with the affirmative vote of a majority of the members who were either members of such Governing Body on the Closing Date or whose nomination or election was previously so approved.

“Contractual Obligation” , as applied to any Person, means any provision of any Security issued by that Person or of any material indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, contract, undertaking, agreement or other instrument to which that Person is a party or by which it or any of its properties is bound or to which it or any of its properties is subject.

“Currency Agreement” means any foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement, futures contract, option contract, synthetic cap or other similar agreement or arrangement to which Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party.

“Dollars” and the sign “$” mean the lawful money of the United States of America.

 

8

EXECUTION VERSION

 

“Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of Company that is incorporated or organized under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or in the District of Columbia.

“Eligible Assignee” means (i) any Lender, any Affiliate of any Lender and any Approved Fund of any Lender; and (ii) (a) a commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof; (b) a savings and loan association or savings bank organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof; (c) a commercial bank organized under the laws of any other country or a political subdivision thereof; provided that (1) such bank is acting through a branch or agency located in the United States or (2) such bank is organized under the laws of a country that is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development or a political subdivision of such country; and (d) any other entity that is an “accredited investor” (as defined in Regulation D under the Securities Act) that extends credit or buys loans as one of its businesses including insurance companies, mutual funds and lease financing companies; provided that none of Company, any Affiliate of Company, or any Person acting at the direction of, or in concert with, any such Person, shall be an Eligible Assignee.

“Employee Benefit Plan” means any “employee benefit plan” as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA which is or was maintained or contributed to by Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates.

“Environmental Claim” means any investigation, notice, notice of violation, claim, action, suit, proceeding, demand, abatement order or other order or directive (conditional or otherwise), by any Government Authority or any other Person, arising (i) pursuant to or in connection with any actual or alleged violation of any Environmental Law, or (ii) in connection with any Hazardous Materials or any actual or alleged Hazardous Materials Activity.

“Environmental Laws” means any and all current or future statutes, ordinances, orders, rules, regulations, guidance documents, judgments, Governmental Authorizations, or any other requirements of any Government Authority relating to (i) environmental matters, including those relating to any Hazardous Materials Activity, (ii) the generation, use, storage, transportation or disposal of Hazardous Materials, or (iii) occupational safety and health, industrial hygiene, land use or the protection of human, plant or animal health or welfare, in any manner applicable to Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any Facility.

“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and any successor thereto.

“ERISA Affiliate” , as applied to any Person, means (i) any corporation that is a member of a controlled group of corporations within the meaning of Section 414(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of which that Person is a member; (ii) any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that is a member of a group of trades or businesses under common control within the meaning of Section 414(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of which that Person is a member; and (iii) any member of an affiliated service group within the meaning of Section 414(m) or (o) of the Internal Revenue Code of which that Person, any corporation described in clause (i) above or any trade or business described in clause (ii) above is a member. Any former ERISA Affiliate of a Person or any of its Subsidiaries shall continue to be considered an ERISA

 

9

EXECUTION VERSION

 

Affiliate of such Person or such Subsidiary within the meaning of this definition with respect to the period such entity was an ERISA Affiliate of such Person or such Subsidiary and with respect to liabilities arising after such period for which such Person or such Subsidiary could be liable under the Internal Revenue Code or ERISA.

“ERISA Event” means (i) a “reportable event” within the meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA and the regulations issued thereunder with respect to any Pension Plan (excluding those for which the provision for 30-day notice to the PBGC has been waived by regulation); (ii) the failure to meet the minimum funding standard of Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code with respect to any Pension Plan (whether or not waived in accordance with Section 412(d) of the Internal Revenue Code) or the failure to make by its due date a required installment under Section 412(m) of the Internal Revenue Code with respect to any Pension Plan or the failure to make any required contribution to a Multiemployer Plan; (iii) the provision by the administrator of any Pension Plan pursuant to Section 4041(a)(2) of ERISA of a notice of intent to terminate such plan in a distress termination described in Section 4041(c) of ERISA; (iv) the withdrawal by Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates from any Pension Plan with two or more contributing sponsors or the termination of any such Pension Plan resulting in liability pursuant to Section 4063 or 4064 of ERISA; (v) the institution by the PBGC of proceedings to terminate any Pension Plan, or the occurrence of any event or condition which might constitute grounds under ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan; (vi) the imposition of liability on Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates pursuant to Section 4062(e) or 4069 of ERISA or by reason of the application of Section 4212(c) of ERISA; (vii) the withdrawal of Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates in a complete or partial withdrawal (within the meaning of Sections 4203 and 4205 of ERISA) from any Multiemployer Plan if there is any potential liability therefor, or the receipt by Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates of notice from any Multiemployer Plan that it is in reorganization or insolvency pursuant to Section 4241 or 4245 of ERISA, or that it intends to terminate or has terminated under Section 4041A or 4042 of ERISA; (viii) the assertion of a material claim (other than routine claims for benefits) against any Employee Benefit Plan other than a Multiemployer Plan or the assets thereof, or against Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates in connection with any Employee Benefit Plan; (ix) receipt from the Internal Revenue Service of notice of the failure of any Pension Plan (or any other Employee Benefit Plan intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code) to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the failure of any trust forming part of any Pension Plan to qualify for exemption from taxation under Section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code; or (x) the imposition of a Lien pursuant to Section 401(a)(29) or 412(n) of the Internal Revenue Code or pursuant to ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan.

“Eurodollar Rate” means, for any Interest Rate Determination Date with respect to an Interest Period for a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the rate per annum obtained by dividing (i) (a) the rate per annum (rounded upward to the nearest  ¹ / 16 of one percent) that appears on the Moneyline Telerate page 3750 (or such other comparable page as may, in the opinion of Administrative Agent, replace such page for the purpose of displaying such rate) as the London interbank offered rate for Dollar deposits with maturities comparable to such Interest Period as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Interest Rate Determination Date or (b) if such

 

10

EXECUTION VERSION

 

rate is not available at such time for any reason, the arithmetic average (rounded upward to the nearest  ¹ / 16 of one percent) of the offered quotations, if any, to first class banks in the London interbank Eurodollar market by Wells Fargo for Dollar deposits of amounts in same day funds comparable to the principal amount of the Eurodollar Rate Loan of Wells Fargo for which the Eurodollar Rate is then being determined with maturities comparable to such Interest Period as of approximately 11:00 A.M. (New York time) on such Interest Rate Determination Date by (ii) a percentage equal to 100% minus the stated maximum rate of all reserve requirements (including any marginal, emergency, supplemental, special or other reserves) applicable on such Interest Rate Determination Date to any member bank of the Federal Reserve System in respect of “Eurocurrency liabilities” as defined in Regulation D (or any successor category of liabilities under Regulation D).

“Eurodollar Rate Loans” means Loans bearing interest at rates determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate as provided in subsection 2.2A.

“Eurodollar Rate Margin” means the margin over the Eurodollar Rate used in determining the rate of interest of Revolving Loans that are Eurodollar Rate Loans pursuant to subsection 2.2A.

“Event of Default” means each of the events set forth in Section 8.

“Excess Net Asset Sale Proceeds” has the meaning assigned to that term in subsection 2.4A(iii)(a).

“Excess Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds” has the meaning assigned to that term in subsection 6.4C(ii).

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

“Excluded Taxes” means, with respect to Administrative Agent, any Lender, or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of Company hereunder (i) taxes that are imposed on the overall net income (however denominated) and franchise taxes imposed in lieu thereof (a) by the United States, (b) by any other Government Authority under the laws of which such Lender is organized or has its principal office or maintains its applicable lending office, or (c) by any Government Authority solely as a result of a present or former connection between such recipient and the jurisdiction of such Government Authority (other than any such connection arising solely from such recipient having executed, delivered or performed its obligations or received a payment under, or enforced, any of the Loan Documents), (ii) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which Company is located, and (iii) in the case of a Foreign Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request of Company under subsection 2.9), any withholding tax that (x) is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender at the time it becomes a party hereto (or designates a new lending office), (y) is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s failure or inability (other than as a result of a Change in Law) to comply with its obligations under subsection 2.7B(iv), 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),

 

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EXECUTION VERSION

 

to receive additional amounts from Company with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to subsection 2.7B, or (z) is required to be deducted under applicable law from any payment hereunder on the basis of the information provided by such Foreign Lender pursuant to clause (d) of subsection 2.7B(iv).

“Existing Letters of Credit” means the letters of credit listed on Schedule 1.1 annexed hereto.

“Facilities” means any and all real property (including all buildings, fixtures or other improvements located thereon) now, hereafter or heretofore owned, leased, operated or used by Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective predecessors or Affiliates.

“Federal Funds Effective Rate” means, for any period, a fluctuating interest rate equal for each day during such period to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published for such day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, for the next preceding Business Day) by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day which is a Business Day, the average of the quotations for such day on such transactions received by Administrative Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by Administrative Agent.

“First Priority” means, with respect to any Lien purported to be created in any Collateral pursuant to any Collateral Document, that (i) such Lien is perfected and has priority over any other Lien on such Collateral (other than Liens permitted pursuant to clauses (ii)-(iv) of subsection 7.2A) and (ii) such Lien is the only Lien (other than Liens permitted pursuant to subsection 7.2A) to which such Collateral is subject.

“Fiscal Quarter” means a quarterly fiscal period of Company and its Subsidiaries ending on the last Sunday in March, June, September and December of each calendar year.

“Fiscal Year” means the fiscal year of Company and its Subsidiaries ending on the last Sunday in December of each calendar year.

“Foreign Lender” means any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which Company is resident for tax purposes. For purposes of this definition, the United States, each state thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.

“Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of Company that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

“Franchise EBITDA” means, for any period, with respect to each Ruth’s Chris restaurant franchise acquired by Company or any of its Subsidiaries during such period, the sum, without duplication, of the amounts for such period of (i) Consolidated Net Income, (ii) Consolidated Interest Expense, (iii) provisions for taxes based on income, (iv) total depreciation expense, and (v) total amortization expense, in the case of clauses (ii)-(v), to the extent deducted in the calculation of Consolidated Net Income, determined for such franchise in

 

12

EXECUTION VERSION

 

conformity with GAAP. For purposes of determining Franchise EBITDA, references in the definitions of “Consolidated Net Income” and “Consolidated Interest Expense” to Company and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to refer to such franchise.

“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 business.

“Funding and Payment Office” means (i) the office of Administrative Agent and Swing Line Lender located at 5938 Priestly Drive, Suite 200, Carlsbad, California 92008 or (ii) such other office of Administrative Agent and Swing Line Lender as may from time to time hereafter be designated as such in a written notice delivered by Administrative Agent and Swing Line Lender to Company and each Lender.

“Funding Date” means the date of funding of a Loan.

“GAAP” means, subject to the limitations on the application thereof set forth in subsection 1.2, generally accepted accounting principles set forth in opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, in each case as the same are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination.

“Governing Body” means the board of directors or other body having the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person that is a corporation, partnership, trust or limited liability company.

“Government Authority” means the government of the United States or any other nation, or any state, regional or local political subdivision or department thereof, and any other governmental or regulatory agency, authority, body, commission, central bank, board, bureau, organ, court, instrumentality or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government, in each case whether federal, state, local or foreign (including supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

“Governmental Authorization” means any permit, license, registration, authorization, plan, directive, accreditation, consent, order or consent decree of or from, or notice to, any Government Authority.

“Hazardous Materials” means (i) any chemical, material or substance at any time defined as or included in the definition of “hazardous substances”, “hazardous wastes”, “hazardous materials”, “extremely hazardous waste”, “acutely hazardous waste”, “radioactive waste”, “biohazardous waste”, “pollutant”, “toxic pollutant”, “contaminant”, “restricted hazardous waste”, “infectious waste”, “toxic substances”, or any other term or expression intended to define, list or classify substances by reason of properties harmful to health, safety or the indoor or outdoor environment (including harmful properties such as ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, carcinogenicity, toxicity, reproductive toxicity, “TCLP toxicity” or “EP toxicity” or

 

13

EXECUTION VERSION

 

words of similar import under any applicable Environmental Laws); (ii) any oil, petroleum, petroleum fraction or petroleum derived substance; (iii) any drilling fluids, produced waters and other wastes associated with the exploration, development or production of crude oil, natural gas or geothermal resources; (iv) any flammable substances or explosives; (v) any radioactive materials; (vi) any asbestos-containing materials; (vii) urea formaldehyde foam insulation; (viii) electrical equipment which contains any oil or dielectric fluid containing polychlorinated biphenyls; (ix) pesticides; and (x) any other chemical, material or substance, exposure to which is prohibited, limited or regulated by any Government Authority or which may or could pose a hazard to the health and safety of the owners, occupants or any Persons in the vicinity of any Facility or to the indoor or outdoor environment.

“Hazardous Materials Activity” means any past, current, proposed or threatened activity, event or occurrence involving any Hazardous Materials, including the use, manufacture, possession, storage, holding, presence, existence, location, Release, threatened Release, discharge, placement, generation, transportation, processing, construction, treatment, abatement, removal, remediation, disposal, disposition or handling of any Hazardous Materials, and any corrective action or response action with respect to any of the foregoing.

“Hedge Agreement” means an Interest Rate Agreement or a Currency Agreement designed to hedge against fluctuations in interest rates or currency values, respectively.

“Increase Effective Date” has the meaning assigned to that term in subsection 2.10.

“Indebtedness” , as applied to any Person, means (i) all indebtedness for borrowed money, (ii) that portion of obligations with respect to Capital Leases that is properly classified as a liability on a balance sheet in conformity with GAAP, (iii) notes payable and drafts accepted representing extensions of credit whether or not representing obligations for borrowed money, (iv) any obligation owed for all or any part of the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding any such obligations incurred under ERISA), which purchase price is (a) due more than six months from the date of incurrence of the obligation in respect thereof or (b) evidenced by a note or similar written instrument, (v) Synthetic Lease Obligations, and (vi) all indebtedness secured by any Lien on any property or asset owned or held by that Person regardless of whether the indebtedness secured thereby shall have been assumed by that Person or is nonrecourse to the credit of that Person. Obligations under Interest Rate Agreements and Currency Agreements constitute (1) in the case of Hedge Agreements, Contingent Obligations, and (2) in all other cases, Investments, and in neither case constitute Indebtedness.

“Indemnified Liabilities” has the meaning assigned to that term in subsection 10.3.

“ Indemnified Taxes ” means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.

“Indemnitee” has the meaning assigned to that term in subsection 10.3.

 

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EXECUTION VERSION

 

“Intellectual Property” means all patents, trademarks, tradenames, copyrights, technology, software, know-how and processes used in or necessary for the conduct of the business of Company and its Subsidiaries.

“Interest Payment Date” means (i) with respect to any Base Rate Loan, each March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each calendar year, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Restatement Date, and (ii) with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan; provided that in the case of each Interest Period of six months “Interest Payment Date” shall also include the date that is three months after the commencement of such Interest Period.

“Interest Period” has the meaning assigned to that term in subsection 2.2B.

“Interest Rate Agreement” means any interest rate swap agreement, interest rate cap agreement, interest rate collar agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement to which Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party.

“Interest Rate Determination Date” , with respect to any Interest Period, means the second Business Day prior to the first day of such Interest Period.

“Internal Revenue Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended to the date hereof and from time to time hereafter, and any successor statute.

“Investment” means (i) any direct or indirect purchase or other acquisition by Company or any of its Subsidiaries of, or of a beneficial interest in, any Securities of any other Person (including any Subsidiary of Company,), (ii) any direct or indirect redemption, retirement, purchase or other acquisition for value, by any Subsidiary of Company from any Person other than Company or any of its Subsidiaries, of any equity Securities of such Subsidiary, (iii) any direct or indirect loan, advance (other than advances to employees for moving, entertainment and travel expenses, drawing accounts and similar expenditures in the ordinary course of business) or capital contribution by Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any other Person, including all indebtedness and accounts receivable from that other Person that are not current assets or did not arise from sales to that other Person in the ordinary course of business, or (iv) Interest Rate Agreements or Currency Agreements not constituting Hedge Agreements. The amount of any Investment shall be the original cost of such Investment plus the cost of all additions thereto, without any adjustments for increases or decreases in value, or write-ups, write-downs or write-offs with respect to such Investment (other than adjustments for the repayment of, or the refund of capital with respect to, the original principal amount of any such Investment).

“Issuing Lender” means Wells Fargo, in its capacity as Issuing Lender.

“Joint Venture” means a joint venture, partnership or other similar arrangement, whether in corporate, partnership or other legal form.

“Lender” and “Lenders” means the Persons identified as “Lenders” and listed on the signature pages of this Agreement, together with their successors and permitted assigns pursuant to subsection 10.1, and the term “Lenders” shall include Swing Line Lender unless the context otherwise requires.

 

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EXECUTION VERSION

 

“Letter of Credit” or “Letters of Credit” means Commercial Letters of Credit and Standby Letters of Credit issued or to be issued by Issuing Lender for the account of Company pursuant to subsection 3.1 and shall include the Existing Letters of Credit.

“Letter of Credit Usage” means, as at any date of determination, the sum of (i) the maximum aggregate amount which is or at any time thereafter may become available for drawing under all Letters of Credit then outstanding plus (ii) the aggregate amount of all drawings under Letters of Credit honored by Issuing Lender and not theretofore reimbursed out of the proceeds of Revolving Loans pursuant to subsection 3.3B or otherwise reimbursed by Company.

“Lien” means any lien, mortgage, pledge, assignment, security interest, charge or encumbrance of any kind (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, and any agreement to give any security interest) and any option, trust or other preferential arrangement having the practical effect of any of the foregoing.

“Liquor License” has the meaning assigned to that term in the Acquisition Agreement.

“Loan” or “Loans” means one or more of the Loans made by Lenders to Company pursuant to subsection 2.1A.

“Loan Documents” means this Agreement, the Notes, the Letters of Credit (and any applications for, or reimbursement agreements or other documents or certificates executed by Company in favor of Issuing Lender relating to, the Letters of Credit), the Subsidiary Guaranty and the Collateral Documents.

“Loan Party” means each of Company and any of Company’s Subsidiaries from time to time executing a Loan Document, and “Loan Parties” means all such Persons, collectively.

“Madison Dearborn” means Madison Dearborn Capital Partners III, L.P.

“Manhattan UN Facility” means the property located at 885 Second Avenue, New York, New York.

“Margin Stock” has the meaning assigned to that term in Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as in effect from time to time.

“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect upon (i) the business, operations, properties, assets, liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or (ii) the ability of any Loan Party to perform, or of Administrative Agent or Lenders to enforce, the Obligations.

 

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EXECUTION VERSION

 

“Metairie Offices” means Company’s offices located at 3321 Hessmer Avenue, Metairie, Louisiana.

“Mitchell’s Fish Market” has the meaning assigned to that term in the definition of “Acquired Business.”

“Multiemployer Plan” means any Employee Benefit Plan that is a “multiemployer plan” as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA.

“Net Asset Sale Proceeds” , with respect to any Asset Sale, means Cash payments (including any Cash received by way of deferred payment pursuant to, or by monetization of, a note receivable or otherwise, but only as and when so received) received from such Asset Sale, net of any bona fide direct costs incurred in connection with such Asset Sale, including (i) income taxes reasonably estimated to be actually payable within two years of the date of such Asset Sale as a result of any gain recognized in connection with such Asset Sale and (ii) payment of the outstanding principal amount of, premium or penalty, if any, and interest on any Indebtedness (other than the Loans) that is (a) secured by a Lien on the stock or assets in question and that is required to be repaid under the terms thereof as a result of such Asset Sale and (b) actually paid at the time of receipt of such cash payment to a Person that is not an Affiliate of any Loan Party or of any Affiliate of a Loan Party.

“Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds” means any Cash payments or proceeds received by Company or any of its Subsidiaries (i) under any business interruption or casualty insurance policy in respect of a covered loss thereunder or (ii) as a result of the taking of any assets of Company or any of its Subsidiaries by any Person pursuant to the power of eminent domain, condemnation or otherwise, or pursuant to a sale of any such assets to a purchaser with such power under threat of such a taking, in each case net of any actual and reasonable documented costs incurred by Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the adjustment or settlement of any claims of Company or such Subsidiary in respect thereof.

“Net Securities Proceeds” means the cash proceeds (net of underwriting discounts and commissions and other reasonable costs and expenses associated therewith, including reasonable legal fees and expenses) from the incurrence of Indebtedness by Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

“Non-Consenting Lender” has the meaning assigned to that term in subsection 2.9.

“Notes” means one or more of the Revolving Notes or Swing Line Note or any combination thereof.

“Notice of Borrowing” means a notice substantially in the form of Exhibit I annexed hereto.

“Notice of Conversion/Continuation” means a notice substantially in the form of Exhibit II annexed hereto.

 

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EXECUTION VERSION

 

“Notice of Prepayment” means a notice substantially in the form of Exhibit IV annexed hereto.

“Obligations” means all obligations of every nature of each Loan Party from time to time owed to Administrative Agent, Lenders or any of them under the Loan Documents, whether for principal, interest, reimbursement of amounts drawn under Letters of Credit, fees, expenses, indemnification or otherwise.

“OFAC” shall mean the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.

“Officer” means the president, chief executive officer, a vice president, chief financial officer, treasurer, general partner (if an individual), managing member (if an individual) or other individual appointed by the Governing Body or the Organizational Documents of a corporation, partnership, trust or limited liability company to serve in a similar capacity as the foregoing.

“Officer’s Certificate” , as applied to any Person that is a corporation, partnership, trust or limited liability company, means a certificate executed on behalf of such Person by one or more Officers of such Person or one or more Officers of a general partner or a managing member if such general partner or managing member is a corporation, partnership, trust or limited liability company.

“Operating Lease” , as applied to any Person, means any lease (including leases that may be terminated by the lessee at any time) of any property (whether real, personal or mixed) that is not a Capital Lease other than any such lease under which that Person is the lessor.

“Organizational Documents” means the documents (including bylaws, if applicable) pursuant to which a Person that is a corporation, partnership, trust or limited liability company is organized.

“Original Credit Agreement” has the meaning assigned to that term in the recitals to this Agreement.

“Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges, fees, expenses 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.

“Participant” means a purchaser of a participation in the rights and obligations under this Agreement pursuant to subsection 10.1C.

“Patriot Act” means the Uniting And Strengthening America By Providing Appropriate Tools Required To Intercept And Obstruct Terrorism (USA Patriot Act) Act of 2001, Title III of Pub. L. 107-56, signed into law on October 26, 2001.

“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any successor thereto.

 

18

EXECUTION VERSION

 

“Pension Plan” means any Employee Benefit Plan, other than a Multiemployer Plan, that is subject to Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code or Section 302 of ERISA.

“Permit” has the meaning assigned to that term in the Acquisition Agreement.

“Permitted Encumbrances” means the following types of Liens (excluding any such Lien imposed pursuant to Section 401(a)(29) or 412(n) of the Internal Revenue Code or by ERISA, any such Lien relating to or imposed in connection with any Environmental Claim, and any such Lien expressly prohibited by any applicable terms of any of the Collateral Documents):

(i) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or claims the payment of which is not, at the time, required by subsection 6.3;

(ii) statutory Liens of landlords, Liens of collecting banks under the UCC on items in the course of collection, statutory Liens and rights of set-off of banks as to deposit accounts, provided that, in each case, (a) such deposit account is not a dedicated cash collateral account and is not subject to restrictions against access by Company or any of its Subsidiaries owning the affected deposit account in excess of those set forth by regulations promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board or any foreign regulatory agency performing an equivalent function, and (b) such deposit account is not intended by Company or any of its Subsidiaries to provide collateral (other than such as is ancillary to the establishment of such deposit account) to the bank, statutory Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, repairmen, workmen and materialmen, and other Liens imposed by law, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business (1) for amounts not yet overdue or (2) for amounts that are overdue and that (in the case of any such amounts overdue for a period in excess of 5 days) are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, so long as (x) such reserves or other appropriate provisions, if any, as shall be required by GAAP shall have been made for any such contested amounts, and (y) in the case of a Lien with respect to any portion of the Collateral, such contest proceedings conclusively operate to stay the sale of any portion of the Collateral on account of such Lien;

(iii) deposits made in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security, or to secure the performance of statutory obligations, bids, leases, government contracts, trade contracts, and other similar obligations (exclusive of obligations for the payment of borrowed money);

(iv) any attachment or judgment Lien not constituting an Event of Default under subsection 8.8 or 8.9;

(v) licenses (with respect to Intellectual Property and other property), leases or subleases granted to third parties and not interfering in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of the business of Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

(vi) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, encroachments, and other minor defects or irregularities in title, in each case which do not and will not interfere in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of the business of Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

 

19

EXECUTION VERSION

 

(vii) any (a) interest or title of a lessor or sublessor under any lease not prohibited by this Agreement, (b) Lien or restriction that the interest or title of such lessor or sublessor may be subject to, or (c) subordination of the interest of the lessee or sublessee under such lease to any Lien or restriction referred to in the preceding clause (b), so long as the holder of such Lien or restriction agrees to recognize the rights of such lessee or sublessee under such lease;

(viii) Liens arising from filing UCC financing statements relating solely to leases not prohibited by this Agreement;

(ix) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods;

(x) any zoning or similar law or right reserved to or vested in any Government Authority to control or regulate the use of any real property;

(xi) Liens granted pursuant to the Collateral Documents; and

(xii) Liens securing obligations (other than obligations representing Indebtedness for borrowed money) under operating leases, reciprocal easements or similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business of Company and its Subsidiaries.

“Person” means and includes natural persons, corporations, limited partnerships, general partnerships, limited liability companies, limited liability partnerships, joint stock companies, Joint Ventures, associations, companies, trusts, banks, trust companies, land trusts, business trusts or other organizations, whether or not legal entities, and Government Authorities.

“Platform” means an electronic delivery system (which may be provided by Administrative Agent, an Affiliate of Administrative Agent or any Person that is not an Affiliate of Administrative Agent), such as IntraLinks or a substantially similar electronic system.

“Pledge Agreement” means the First Amended and Restated Pledge and Security Agreement executed and delivered on the Restatement Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit X annexed hereto.

“Pledged Collateral” means, collectively, the “Pledged Collateral” as defined in the Pledge Agreement.

“Potential Event of Default” means a condition or event that, after notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

“Prime Rate” means the rate that Wells Fargo publicly announces from time to time as its prime lending rate, as in effect from time to time. The Prime Rate is a reference rate

 

20

EXECUTION VERSION

 

and does not necessarily represent the lowest or best rate actually charged to any customer. Wells Fargo or any other Lender may make commercial loans or other loans at rates of interest at, above or below the Prime Rate.

“Proceedings” means any action, suit, proceeding (whether administrative, judicial or otherwise), governmental investigation or arbitration.

“Pro Forma Basis” means, with respect to any determination of Consolidated EBITDA for any period, adjusting the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA to include, for each Ruth’s Chris restaurant franchise acquired by Company or any of its Subsidiaries during such period and not subsequently sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of prior to the end of such period, Franchise EBITDA for such period as reflected in the financial statements of such franchise for such period delivered to Company and Administrative Agent (as if such franchise were acquired on the first day of such period).

“Pro Rata Share” means the percentage obtained by dividing (i) the Revolving Loan Exposure of that Lender by (ii) the aggregate Revolving Loan Exposure of all Lenders, as the applicable percentage may be adjusted by assignments permitted pursuant to subsection 10.1. The initial Pro Rata Share of each Lender for purposes of the preceding sentence is set forth opposite the name of that Lender in Schedule 2.1 annexed hereto.

“Real Property Operating Lease” , as applied to any Person, means any lease (including leases that may be terminated by the lessee at any time) of any real property that is not a Capital Lease other than any such lease under which that Person is the lessor.

“Refunded Swing Line Loans” has the meaning assigned to that term in subsection 2.1A(ii).

“Register” has the meaning assigned to that term in subsection 2.1D.

“Regulation D” means Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as in effect from time to time.

“Reimbursement Date” has the meaning assigned to that term in subsection 3.3B.

“Related Parties” has the meaning assigned to that term in subsection 9.1A.

“Release” means any release, spill, emission, leaking, pumping, pouring, injection, escaping, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, dumping, leaching or migration of Hazardous Materials into the indoor or outdoor environment (including the abandonment or disposal of any barrels, containers or other closed receptacles containing any Hazardous Materials), including the movement of any Hazardous Materials through the air, soil, surface water or groundwater.

“Request for Issuance” means a request substantially in the form of Exhibit III annexed hereto.

 

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EXECUTION VERSION

 

“Requisite Lenders” means at least two Lenders collectively having or holding more than 50% of the aggregate Revolving Loan Exposure of all Lenders.

“Restatement Date” means the date on which all conditions set forth in subsections 4.1 and 4.2 are satisfied.

“Restricted Junior Payment” means (i) any dividend or other distribution, direct or indirect, on account of any shares of any class of stock of Company now or hereafter outstanding, except a dividend payable solely in shares of that class of stock to the holders of that class, (ii) any redemption, retirement, sinking fund or similar payment, purchase or other acquisition for value, direct or indirect, of any shares of any class of stock of Company now or hereafter outstanding, (iii) any payment made to retire, or to obtain the surrender of, any outstanding warrants, options or other rights to acquire shares of any class of stock of Company now or hereafter outstanding, and (iv) any payment or prepayment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, or redemption, purchase, retirement, defeasance (including in-substance or legal defeasance), sinking fund or similar payment with respect to, any Subordinated Indebtedness.

“Revolving Lender” means a Lender that has a Revolving Loan Commitment and/or that has an outstanding Revolving Loan.

“Revolving Loan Commitment” means the commitment of a Revolving Lender to make Revolving Loans to Company pursuant to subsection 2.1A(i), and “Revolving Loan Commitments” means such commitments of all Revolving Lenders in the aggregate.

“Revolving Loan Commitment Amount” means, at any date, the aggregate amount of the Revolving Loan Commitments of all Revolving Lenders.

“Revolving Loan Commitment Termination Date” means February 19, 2013.

“Revolving Loan Exposure” , with respect to any Revolving Lender, means, as of any date of determination (i) prior to the termination of the Revolving Loan Commitments, the amount of that Lender’s Revolving Loan Commitment, and (ii) after the termination of the Revolving Loan Commitments, the sum of (a) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Loans of that Lender plus (b) in the event that Lender is an Issuing Lender, the aggregate Letter of Credit Usage in respect of all Letters of Credit issued by that Lender (in each case net of any participations purchased by other Lenders in such Letters of Credit or in any unreimbursed drawings thereunder) plus (c) the aggregate amount of all participations purchased by that Lender in any outstanding Letters of Credit or any unreimbursed drawings under any Letters of Credit plus (d) in the case of Swing Line Lender, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Swing Line Loans (net of any assignments thereof deemed purchased by other Revolving Lenders) plus (e) the aggregate amount of all assignments deemed purchased by that Lender in any outstanding Swing Line Loans.

“Revolving Loans” means the Loans made by Revolving Lenders to Company pursuant to subsection 2.1A(i).

 

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EXECUTION VERSION

 

“Revolving Notes” means any promissory notes of Company issued pursuant to subsection 2.1E to evidence the Revolving Loans of any Revolving Lenders, substantially in the form of Exhibit V annexed hereto.

“Sanctioned Country” shall mean a country subject to a sanctions program identified on the list maintained by OFAC and available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/ programs/index.shtml, or as otherwise published from time to time.

“Sanctioned Person” shall mean (i) a Person named on the list of “Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons” maintained by OFAC available at http://www.treas.gov/offices/ enforcement/ofac/sdn/index.shtml, or as otherwise published from time to time, or (ii) (a) an agency of the government of a Sanctioned Country, (b) an organization controlled by a Sanctioned Country, or (c) a Person resident in a Sanctioned Country, to the extent subject to a sanctions program administered by OFAC.

“Securities” means any stock, shares, partnership interests, voting trust certificates, certificates of interest or participation in any profit-sharing agreement or arrangement, options, warrants, bonds, debentures, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness, secured or unsecured, convertible, subordinated, certificated or uncertificated, or otherwise, or in general any instruments commonly known as “securities” or any certificates of interest, shares or participations in temporary or interim certificates for the purchase or acquisition of, or any right to subscribe to, purchase or acquire, any of the foregoing.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

“Seller” means Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, LLC, an Ohio limited liability company.

“ Solvent ”, with respect to any Person, means that as of the date of determination both (i)(a) the then fair valuation and fair saleable value of the property of such Person is (1) greater than the total amount of debts and liabilities (including unliquidated liabilities, unmatured liabilities, contingent liabilities and liabilities that would not be required to be reported under GAAP) of such Person and (2) not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liabilities on such Person’s then existing debts and liabilities (including unliquidated liabilities, unmatured liabilities, contingent liabilities and liabilities that would not be required to be reported under GAAP) as they become absolute and due considering all financing alternatives and potential asset sales reasonably available to such Person; (b) such Person’s capital is not unreasonably small in relation to its business or any contemplated or undertaken transaction; and (c) such Person does not intend to incur, or believe (nor should it reasonably believe) that it will incur, debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they become due; and (ii) such Person is “solvent” within the meaning given that term and similar terms under applicable laws relating to fraudulent transfers and conveyances. For purposes of this definition, the amount of any contingent liability at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in light of all of the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual liability.

 

23

“Standby Letter of Credit” means any letter of credit or similar instrument other than a Commercial Letter of Credit.

“Subject Lender” has the meaning assigned to that term in subsection 2.9.

“Subordinated Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of Company incurred from time to time and subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations.

“Subsidiary” , with respect to any Person, means any corporation, partnership, trust, limited liability company, association, Joint Venture or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of stock or other ownership interests entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of the members of the Governing Body is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof.

“Subsidiary Guarantor” means any Domestic Subsidiary of Company that executes and delivers a counterpart of the Subsidiary Guaranty on the Closing Date or from time to time thereafter pursuant to subsection 6.8.

“Subsidiary Guaranty” means the First Amended and Restated Subsidiary Guaranty executed and delivered by existing Domestic Subsidiaries of Company on the Restatement Date and to be executed and delivered by additional Domestic Subsidiaries of Company from time to time thereafter in accordance with subsection 6.8, substantially in the form of Exhibit IX annexed hereto.

“Supplemental Collateral Agent” has the meaning assigned to that term in subsection 9.1B.

“Swap Counterparty” means any Person that was a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender at the time it entered into a Hedge Agreement with Company or one of its Subsidiaries, the obligations under which are secured pursuant to the Collateral Documents and guarantied pursuant to the Subsidiary Guaranty.

“Swing Line Lender” means Wells Fargo, or any Person serving as a successor Administrative Agent hereunder, in its capacity as Swing Line Lender hereunder.

“Swing Line Loan Commitment” means the commitment of Swing Line Lender to make Swing Line Loans to Company pursuant to subsection 2.1A(ii).

“Swing Line Loans” means the Loans made by Swing Line Lender to Company pursuant to subsection 2.1A(ii).

“Swing Line Note” means any promissory note of Company issued pursuant to subsection 2.1E to evidence the Swing Line Loans of Swing Line Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit VI annexed hereto.

“Syndication Agent” has the meaning assigned to that term in the introduction to this Agreement.

 

24

EXECUTION VERSION

 

“Synthetic Lease Obligation” means the monetary obligation of a Person under (i) a so-called synthetic, off-balance sheet or tax retention lease, or (ii) 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).

“Tax” or “Taxes” means any present or future tax, levy, impost, duty, fee, assessment, deduction, withholding or other charge of any nature and whatever called, by whomsoever, on whomsoever and wherever imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed, including interest, penalties, additions to tax and any similar liabilities with respect thereto.

“Total Utilization of Revolving Loan Commitments” means, as at any date of determination, the sum of (i) the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Revolving Loans plus (ii) the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Swing Line Loans plus (iii) the Letter of Credit Usage.

“Transaction Costs” means the fees, costs and expenses payable by Company on or before the Restatement Date in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents and the Acquisition Agreement.

“UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in any applicable jurisdiction.

“UFOC” means Company’s Uniform Franchise Offering Circular.

“Unasserted Obligations” means, at any time, Obligations for taxes, costs, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities (except for (i) the principal of and interest on, and fees relating to, any Indebtedness and (ii) contingent reimbursement obligations in respect of amounts that may be drawn under Letters of Credit) in respect of which no claim or demand for payment has been made (or, in the case of Obligations for indemnification, no notice for indemnification has been issued by the Indemnitee) at such time.

“Wells Fargo” has the meaning assigned to that term in the introduction to this Agreement.

 

1.2

Accounting Terms; Utilization of GAAP for Purposes of Calculations Under Agreement

Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in conformity with GAAP. Financial statements and other information required to be delivered by Company to Lenders pursuant to clauses (ii), (iii) and (xii) of subsection 6.1 shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP as in effect at the time of such preparation. Calculations in connection with the definitions, covenants and other provisions of this Agreement shall utilize GAAP as in effect on the date of determination, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the financial statements referred to in subsection 5.3. 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 Company or Requisite Lenders shall so request, Administrative Agent, Lenders and Company shall

 

25

EXECUTION VERSION

 

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 Requisite Lenders), provided that, until so amended, such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and Company shall provide to Administrative Agent and Lenders reconciliation statements provided for in subsection 6.1(v).

 

1.3

Other Definitional Provisions and Rules of Construction

A. Any of the terms defined herein may, unless the context otherwise requires, be used in the singular or the plural, depending on the reference.

B. References to “Sections” and “subsections” in a Loan Document shall be to Sections and subsections, respectively, of such Loan Document unless otherwise specifically provided. Section and subsection headings in this Agreement and other Loan Documents are included herein and therein for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this Agreement or such Loan Document for any other purpose or be given any substantive effect.

C. The use in any of the Loan Documents of the word “include” or “including”, when following any general statement, term or matter, shall not be construed to limit such statement, term or matter to the specific items or matters set forth immediately following such word or to similar items or matters, whether or not nonlimiting language (such as “without limitation” or “but not limited to” or words of similar import) is used with reference thereto, but rather shall be deemed to refer to all other items or matters that fall within the broadest possible scope of such general statement, term or matter.

D. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, references to Organizational Documents, agreements (including the Loan Documents) and other contractual instruments shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications thereto, but only to the extent that such amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications are not prohibited by any Loan Document.

 

1.4

Amendment and Restatement

On the Restatement Date, the Original Credit Agreement shall be amended and restated as contemplated hereunder. The parties acknowledge and agree that this Agreement and the other Loan Documents do not constitute a novation, payment and reborrowing or termination of the obligations under the Original Credit Agreement and that all such obligations are in all respects continued and outstanding as obligations under this Agreement and the Notes except to the extent such obligations are modified from and after the Restatement Date as provided in this Agreement, the Notes and the other Loan Documents.

Section 2. AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF COMMITMENTS AND LOANS

 

2.1

Commitments; Making of Loans; the Register; Optional Notes

A. Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and in reliance upon the representations and warranties of Company herein set forth, each Lender hereby severally agrees to make the Loans as described in subsection 2.1A(i) and Swing Line Lender hereby agrees to make the Swing Line Loans as described in subsection 2.1A(ii).

 

26

EXECUTION VERSION

 

(i) Revolving Loans . Each Revolving Lender severally agrees, subject to the limitations set forth below with respect to the maximum amount of Revolving Loans permitted to be outstanding from time to time, to lend to Company from time to time during the period from the Restatement Date to but excluding the Revolving Loan Commitment Termination Date an aggregate amount not exceeding its Pro Rata Share of the aggregate amount of the Revolving Loan Commitments to be used for the purposes identified in subsection 2.5A. The amount of each Revolving Lender’s Revolving Loan Commitment, as of the Restatement Date, is set forth opposite its name on Schedule 2.1 annexed hereto, and the Revolving Loan Commitment Amount, as of the Restatement Date, is $250,000,000; provided that the amount of the Revolving Loan Commitment of each Revolving Lender shall be adjusted to give effect to any assignment of such Revolving Loan Commitment pursuant to subsection 10.1B and shall be reduced from time to time by the amount of any reductions thereto made pursuant to subsection 2.4. Each Revolving Lender’s Revolving Loan Commitment shall expire on the Revolving Loan Commitment Termination Date and all Revolving Loans and all other amounts owed hereunder with respect to the Revolving Loans and the Revolving Loan Commitments shall be paid in full no later than that date. Amounts borrowed under this subsection 2.1A(i) may be repaid and reborrowed to but excluding the Revolving Loan Commitment Termination Date.

Anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, the Revolving Loans and the Revolving Loan Commitments shall be subject to the limitation that in no event shall the Total Utilization of Revolving Loan Commitments at any time exceed the Revolving Loan Commitment Amount then in effect.

(ii) Swing Line Loans .

(a) General Provisions . Swing Line Lender hereby agrees, subject to the limitations set forth in the last paragraph of subsection 2.1A(i) and set forth below with respect to the maximum amount of Swing Line Loans permitted to be outstanding from time to time, to make a portion of the Revolving Loan Commitments available to Company from time to time during the period from the Restatement Date to but excluding the Revolving Loan Commitment Termination Date by making Swing Line Loans to Company in an aggregate amount not exceeding the amount of the Swing Line Loan Commitment to be used for the purposes identified in subsection 2.5A, notwithstanding the fact that such Swing Line Loans, when aggregated with Swing Line Lender’s outstanding Revolving Loans and Swing Line Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Letter of Credit Usage then in effect, may exceed Swing Line Lender’s Revolving Loan Commitment. The original amount of the Swing Line Loan Commitment is $5,000,000; provided that any reduction of the Revolving Loan Commitment Amount made pursuant to subsection 2.4 that reduces the Revolving Loan Commitment Amount to an amount less than the then current amount of the Swing Line Loan Commitment shall result in an automatic corresponding

 

27

EXECUTION VERSION

 

reduction of the amount of the Swing Line Loan Commitment to the amount of the Revolving Loan Commitment Amount, as so reduced, without any further action on the part of Company, Administrative Agent or Swing Line Lender. The Swing Line Loan Commitment shall expire on the Revolving Loan Commitment Termination Date and all Swing Line Loans and all other amounts owed hereunder with respect to the Swing Line Loans shall be paid in full no later than that date. Amounts borrowed under this subsection 2.1A(ii) may be repaid and reborrowed to but excluding the Revolving Loan Commitment Termination Date.

(b) Swing Line Loan Prepayment with Proceeds of Revolving Loans . With respect to any Swing Line Loans that have not been voluntarily prepaid by Company pursuant to subsection 2.4A(i), Swing Line Lender may, at any time in its sole and absolute discretion, deliver to Administrative Agent (with a copy to Company), no later than 10:00 A.M. (San Francisco time) on the first Business Day in advance of the proposed Funding Date, a notice requesting Revolving Lenders to make Revolving Loans that are Base Rate Loans on such Funding Date in an amount equal to the amount of such Swing Line Loans (the “Refunded Swing Line Loans” ) outstanding on the date such notice is given. Company hereby authorizes the giving of any such notice and the making of any such Revolving Loans. Anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, (1) the proceeds of such Revolving Loans made by Revolving Lenders other than Swing Line Lender shall be immediately delivered by Administrative Agent to Swing Line Lender (and not to Company) and applied to repay a corresponding portion of the Refunded Swing Line Loans and (2) on the day such Revolving Loans are made, Swing Line Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Refunded Swing Line Loans shall be deemed to be paid with the proceeds of a Revolving Loan made by Swing Line Lender, and such portion of the Swing Line Loans deemed to be so paid shall no longer be outstanding as Swing Line Loans and shall no longer be due under the Swing Line Note, if any, of Swing Line Lender but shall instead constitute part of Swing Line Lender’s outstanding Revolving Loans and shall be due under the Revolving Note, if any, of Swing Line Lender. Company hereby authorizes Administrative Agent and Swing Line Lender to charge Company’s accounts with Administrative Agent and Swing Line Lender (up to the amount available in each such account) in order to immediately pay Swing Line Lender the amount of the Refunded Swing Line Loans to the extent the proceeds of such Revolving Loans made by Revolving Lenders, including the Revolving Loan deemed to be made by Swing Line Lender, are not sufficient to repay in full the Refunded Swing Line Loans. If any portion of any such amount paid (or deemed to be paid) to Swing Line Lender should be recovered by or on behalf of Company from Swing Line Lender in any bankruptcy proceeding, in any assignment for the benefit of creditors or otherwise, the loss of the amount so recovered shall be ratably shared among all Revolving Lenders in the manner contemplated by subsection 10.5.

 

28

EXECUTION VERSION

 

(c) Swing Line Loan Assignments . On the Funding Date of each Swing Line Loan, each Revolving Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby agrees to, purchase an assignment of such Swing Line Loan in an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share. If for any reason (1) Revolving Loans are not made upon the request of Swing Line Lender as provided in the immediately preceding paragraph in an amount sufficient to repay any amounts owed to Swing Line Lender in respect of such Swing Line Loan or (2) the Revolving Loan Commitments are terminated at a time when such Swing Line Loan is outstanding, upon notice from Swing Line Lender as provided below, each Revolving Lender shall fund the purchase of such assignment in an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share (calculated, in the case of the foregoing clause (2), immediately prior to such termination of the Revolving Loan Commitments) of the unpaid amount of such Swing Line Loan together with accrued interest thereon. Upon one Business Day’s notice from Swing Line Lender, each Revolving Lender shall deliver to Swing Line Lender such amount in same day funds at the Funding and Payment Office. In order to further evidence such assignment (and without prejudice to the effectiveness of the assignment provisions set forth above), each Revolving Lender agrees to enter into an Assignment Agreement at the request of Swing Line Lender in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Swing Line Lender. In the event any Revolving Lender fails to make available to Swing Line Lender any amount as provided in this paragraph, Swing Line Lender shall be entitled to recover such amount on demand from such Revolving Lender together with interest thereon at the rate customarily used by Swing Line Lender for the correction of errors among banks for three Business Days and thereafter at the Base Rate. In the event Swing Line Lender receives a payment of any amount with respect to which other Revolving Lenders have funded the purchase of assignments as provided in this paragraph, Swing Line Lender shall promptly distribute to each such other Revolving Lender its Pro Rata Share of such payment.

(d) Revolving Lenders’ Obligations . Anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, each Revolving Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Loans for the purpose of repaying any Refunded Swing Line Loans pursuant to subsection 2.1A(ii)(b) and each Revolving Lender’s obligation to purchase an assignment of any unpaid Swing Line Loans pursuant to the immediately preceding paragraph shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (1) any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Revolving Lender may have against Swing Line Lender, Company or any other Person for any reason whatsoever; (2) the occurrence or continuation of an Event of Default or a Potential Event of Default; (3) any adverse change in the business, operations, properties, assets, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (4) any breach of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by any party thereto; or (5) any other circumstance, happening or event whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided that such obligations of each Revolving Lender are subject to the condition that (x) Swing Line Lender believed in good faith that all conditions under Section 4

 

29

EXECUTION VERSION

 

to the making of the applicable Refunded Swing Line Loans or other unpaid Swing Line Loans, as the case may be, were satisfied at the time such Refunded Swing Line Loans or unpaid Swing Line Loans were made or (y) the satisfaction of any such condition not satisfied had been waived in accordance with subsection 10.6 prior to or at the time such Refunded Swing Line Loans or other unpaid Swing Line Loans were made.

B. Borrowing Mechanics. Loans made on any Funding Date (other than Swing Line Loans, Revolving Loans made pursuant to a request by Swing Line Lender pursuant to subsection 2.1A(ii) or Revolving Loans made pursuant to subsection 3.3B) shall be in an aggregate minimum amount of $500,000 and multiples of $100,000 in excess of that amount. Swing Line Loans made on any Funding Date shall be in an aggregate minimum amount of $500,000 and multiples of $100,000 in excess of that amount. Whenever Company desires that Lenders make Revolving Loans it shall deliver to Administrative Agent a duly executed Notice of Borrowing no later than 10:00 A.M. (San Francisco time) at least three Business Days in advance of the proposed Funding Date (in the case of a Eurodollar Rate Loan) or at least one Business Day in advance of the proposed Funding Date (in the case of a Base Rate Loan). Whenever Company desires that Swing Line Lender make a Swing Line Loan, it shall deliver to Administrative Agent a duly executed Notice of Borrowing no later than 10:00 A.M. (San Francisco time) on the proposed Funding Date. Revolving Loans may be continued as or converted into Base Rate Loans and Eurodollar Rate Loans in the manner provided in subsection 2.2D. In lieu of delivering a Notice of Borrowing, Company may give Administrative Agent telephonic notice by the required time of any proposed borrowing under this subsection 2.1B; provided that such notice shall be promptly confirmed in writing by delivery of a duly executed Notice of Borrowing to Administrative Agent on or before the applicable Funding Date.

Neither Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall incur any liability to Company in acting upon any telephonic notice referred to above that Administrative Agent believes in good faith to have been given by an Officer or other Person authorized to borrow on behalf of Company or for otherwise acting in good faith under this subsection 2.1B or under subsection 2.2D, and upon funding of Loans by Lenders, and upon conversion or continuation of the applicable basis for determining the interest rate with respect to any Loans pursuant to subsection 2.2D, in each case in accordance with this Agreement, pursuant to any such telephonic notice Company shall have effected Loans or a conversion or continuation, as the case may be, hereunder.

Company shall notify Administrative Agent prior to the funding of any Loans in the event that any of the matters to which Company is required to certify in the applicable Notice of Borrowing is no longer true and correct as of the applicable Funding Date, and the acceptance by Company of the proceeds of any Loans shall constitute a re-certification by Company, as of the applicable Funding Date, as to the matters to which Company is required to certify in the applicable Notice of Borrowing.

Except as otherwise provided in subsections 2.6B, 2.6C and 2.6G, a Notice of Borrowing for, or a Notice of Conversion/Continuation for conversion to, or continuation of, a Eurodollar Rate Loan (or telephonic notice in lieu thereof) shall be irrevocable on and after the related Interest Rate Determination Date, and Company shall be bound to make a borrowing or to effect a conversion or continuation in accordance therewith.

 

30

EXECUTION VERSION

 

C. Disbursement of Funds. All Revolving Loans shall be made by Lenders simultaneously and proportionately to their respective Pro Rata Shares, it being understood that neither Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall be responsible for any default by any other Lender in that other Lender’s obligation to make a Loan requested hereunder nor shall the amount of the Commitment of any Lender to make the particular type of Loan requested be increased or decreased as a result of a default by any other Lender in that other Lender’s obligation to make a Loan requested hereunder. Promptly after receipt by Administrative Agent of a Notice of Borrowing pursuant to subsection 2.1B (or telephonic notice in lieu thereof), Administrative Agent shall notify each Revolving Lender or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, of the proposed borrowing. Each such Lender (other than Swing Line Lender) shall make the amount of its Loan available to Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 A.M. (San Francisco time) on the applicable Funding Date, and Swing Line Lender shall make the amount of its Swing Line Loan available to Administrative Agent not later than 2:00 P.M. (San Francisco time) on the applicable Funding Date, in each case in same day funds in Dollars, at the Funding and Payment Office. Except as provided in subsection 2.1A(ii) and subsection 3.3B with respect to Revolving Loans used to repay Refunded Swing Line Loans or to reimburse Issuing Lender for the amount of a drawing under a Letter of Credit issued by it, upon satisfaction or waiver of the conditions precedent specified in subsections 4.1 (in the case of Loans made on the Restatement Date) and 4.2 (in the case of all Loans), Administrative Agent shall make the proceeds of such Loans available to Company on the applicable Funding Date by causing an amount of same day funds in Dollars equal to the proceeds of all such Loans received by Administrative Agent from Lenders to be credited to the account of Company at the Funding and Payment Office.

Unless Administrative Agent shall have been notified by any Lender prior to a Funding Date that such Lender does not intend to make available to Administrative Agent the amount of such Lender’s Loan requested on such Funding Date, Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such amount available to Administrative Agent on such Funding Date and Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, but shall not be obligated to, make available to Company a corresponding amount on such Funding Date. If such corresponding amount is not in fact made available to Administrative Agent by such Lender, Administrative Agent shall be entitled to recover such corresponding amount on demand from such Lender together with interest thereon, for each day from such Funding Date until the date such amount is paid to Administrative Agent, at the customary rate set by Administrative Agent for the correction of errors among banks for three Business Days and thereafter at the Base Rate. If such Lender does not pay such corresponding amount forthwith upon Administrative Agent’s demand therefor, Administrative Agent shall promptly notify Company and Company shall immediately pay such corresponding amount to Administrative Agent together with interest thereon, for each day from such Funding Date until the date such amount is paid to Administrative Agent, at the rate payable under this Agreement for Base Rate Loans. Nothing in this subsection 2.1C shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fulfill its Commitments hereunder or to prejudice any rights that Company may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder.

 

31

EXECUTION VERSION

 

D. The Register. Administrative Agent, acting for these purposes solely as an agent of Company (it being acknowledged that Administrative Agent, in such capacity, and its officers, directors, employees, agent and affiliates shall constitute Indemnitees under subsection 10.3), shall maintain (and make available for inspection by Company upon reasonable prior notice at reasonable times) at its address referred to in subsection 10.8 a register for the recordation of, and shall record, the names and addresses of Lenders and the respective amounts of the Revolving Loan Commitment, Swing Line Loan Commitment, Revolving Loans and Swing Line Loans of each Lender from time to time (the “Register” ). Company, Administrative Agent and Lenders shall deem and treat the Persons listed as Lenders in the Register as the holders and owners of the corresponding Commitments and Loans listed therein for all purposes hereof; all amounts owed with respect to any Commitment or Loan shall be owed to the Lender listed in the Register as the owner thereof; and any request, authority or consent of any Person who, at the time of making such request or giving such authority or consent, is listed in the Register as a Lender shall be conclusive and binding on any subsequent holder, assignee or transferee of the corresponding Commitments or Loans. Each Lender shall record on its internal records the amount of its Loans and Commitments and each payment in respect hereof, and any such recordation shall be conclusive and binding on Company, absent manifest error, subject to the entries in the Register, which shall, absent manifest error, govern in the event of any inconsistency with any Lender’s records. Failure to make any recordation in the Register or in any Lender’s records, or any error in such recordation, shall not affect any Loans or Commitments or any Obligations in respect of any Loans.

E. Optional Notes . If so requested by any Lender by written notice to Company (with a copy to Administrative Agent) at least two Business Days prior to the Restatement Date or at any time thereafter, Company shall execute and deliver to such Lender (and/or, if applicable and if so specified in such notice, to any Person who is an assignee of such Lender pursuant to subsection 10.1) on the Restatement Date (or, if such notice is delivered after the Restatement Date, promptly after Company’s receipt of such notice) a promissory note or promissory notes to evidence such Lender’s Revolving Loans or Swing Line Loans, substantially in the form of Exhibit V or Exhibit VI annexed hereto, respectively, with appropriate insertions.

 

2.2

Interest on the Loans

A. Rate of Interest. Subject to the provisions of subsections 2.6 and 2.7, each Revolving Loan shall bear interest on the unpaid principal amount thereof from the date made through maturity (whether by acceleration or otherwise) at a rate determined by reference to the Base Rate or the Eurodollar Rate. Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.7, each Swing Line Loan shall bear interest on the unpaid principal amount thereof from the date made through maturity (whether by acceleration or otherwise) at a rate determined by reference to the Base Rate. The applicable basis for determining the rate of interest with respect to any Revolving Loan shall be selected by Company initially at the time a Notice of Borrowing is given with respect to such Loan pursuant to subsection 2.1B, and the basis for determining the interest rate with respect to any Revolving Loan may be changed from time to time pursuant to subsection 2.2D. If on any day a Revolving Loan is outstanding with respect to which notice has not been delivered to Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms of this Agreement specifying the applicable basis for determining the rate of interest, then for that day that Loan shall bear interest determined by reference to the Base Rate.

 

32

EXECUTION VERSION

 

(i) Subject to the provisions of subsections 2.2E, 2.2G and 2.7, the Revolving Loans shall bear interest through maturity as follows:

(a) if a Base Rate Loan, then at the sum of the Base Rate plus the Base Rate Margin set forth in the table below opposite the applicable Consolidated Leverage Ratio for the four consecutive Fiscal Quarter period for which the applicable Compliance Certificate has been delivered pursuant to subsection 4.1K or 6.1(iv); or

(b) if a Eurodollar Rate Loan, then at the sum of the Eurodollar Rate plus the Eurodollar Rate Margin set forth in the table below opposite the applicable Consolidated Leverage Ratio for the four consecutive Fiscal Quarter period for which the applicable Compliance Certificate has been delivered pursuant to subsection 4.1K or 6.1(iv):

 

provided that, until the delivery of the Compliance Certificate for the first full Fiscal Quarter ending after the Restatement Date, the applicable margin for Revolving Loans that are Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be 1.75% per annum and for Revolving Loans that are Base Rate Loans shall be 0.50% per annum.

(ii) Upon delivery of the Compliance Certificate by Company to Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection 6.1(iv), the Base Rate Margin and the Eurodollar Rate Margin shall be adjusted, such adjustment to become effective on the

 

33

EXECUTION VERSION

 

third succeeding Business Day following the receipt by Administrative Agent of such Compliance Certificate (subject to the provisions of the foregoing clause (i)); provided that, if at any time a Compliance Certificate is not delivered at the time required pursuant to subsection 6.1(iv), from the time such Compliance Certificate was required to be delivered until the third Business Day succeeding delivery of such Compliance Certificate, the applicable margins shall be the maximum percentage amount for the relevant Loan set forth above.

(iii) Subject to the provisions of subsections 2.2E, 2.2G and 2.7, the Swing Line Loans shall bear interest through maturity at the sum of the Base Rate plus the applicable Base Rate Margin for Revolving Loans minus a rate equal to the commitment fee percentage then in effect as determined pursuant to subsection 2.3A.

B. Interest Periods. In connection with each Eurodollar Rate Loan, Company may, pursuant to the applicable Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion/Continuation, as the case may be, select an interest period (each an “Interest Period” ) to be applicable to such Loan, which Interest Period shall be, at Company’s option, either a one, two, three or six month period; provided that:

(i) the initial Interest Period for any Eurodollar Rate Loan shall commence on the Funding Date in respect of such Loan, in the case of a Loan initially made as a Eurodollar Rate Loan, or on the date specified in the applicable Notice of Conversion/Continuation, in the case of a Loan converted to a Eurodollar Rate Loan;

(ii) in the case of immediately successive Interest Periods applicable to a Eurodollar Rate Loan continued as such pursuant to a Notice of Conversion/Continuation, each successive Interest Period shall commence on the day on which the next preceding Interest Period expires;

(iii) if an Interest Period would otherwise expire on a day that is not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall expire on the next succeeding Business Day; provided that, if any Interest Period would otherwise expire on a day that is not a Business Day but is a day of the month after which no further Business Day occurs in such month, such Interest Period shall expire on the next preceding Business Day;

(iv) 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, subject to clause (v) of this subsection 2.2B, end on the last Business Day of a calendar month;

(v) no Interest Period with respect to any portion of the Revolving Loans shall extend beyond the Revolving Loan Commitment Termination Date;

(vi) there shall be no more than eight Interest Periods outstanding at any time; and

 

34

EXECUTION VERSION

 

(vii) in the event Company fails to specify an Interest Period for any Eurodollar Rate Loan in the applicable Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion/Continuation, Company shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month.

C. Interest Payments. Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.2E, interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on and to each Interest Payment Date applicable to that Loan, upon any prepayment of that Loan (to the extent accrued on the amount being prepaid) and at maturity (including final maturity); provided that, in the event any Swing Line Loans or any Revolving Loans that are Base Rate Loans are prepaid pursuant to subsection 2.4A(i), interest accrued on such Loans through the date of such prepayment shall be payable on the next succeeding Interest Payment Date applicable to Base Rate Loans (or, if earlier, at final maturity).

D. Conversion or Continuation. Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.6, Company shall have the option (i) to convert at any time all or any part of its outstanding Revolving Loans equal to $500,000 and multiples of $100,000 in excess of that amount from Loans bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to one basis to Loans bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to an alternative basis or (ii) upon the expiration of any Interest Period applicable to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, to continue all or any portion of such Loan equal to $500,000 and multiples of $100,000 in excess of that amount as a Eurodollar Rate Loan; provided , however , that a Eurodollar Rate Loan may only be converted into a Base Rate Loan on the expiration date of an Interest Period applicable thereto.

Company shall deliver a duly executed Notice of Conversion/Continuation to Administrative Agent no later than 10:00 A.M. (San Francisco time) at least one Business Day in advance of the proposed conversion date (in the case of a conversion to a Base Rate Loan) and at least three Business Days in advance of the proposed conversion/continuation date (in the case of a conversion to, or a continuation of, a Eurodollar Rate Loan). In lieu of delivering a Notice of Conversion/Continuation, Company may give Administrative Agent telephonic notice by the required time of any proposed conversion/continuation under this subsection 2.2D; provided that such notice shall be promptly confirmed in writing by delivery of a duly executed Notice of Conversion/Continuation to Administrative Agent on or before the proposed conversion/continuation date. Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of any Loan subject to a Notice of Conversion/Continuation.

E. Default Rate. From and after the occurrence and during the continuation of any Event of Default if so elected by Requisite Lenders, the outstanding principal amount of all Loans and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any interest payments thereon not paid when due and any fees and other amounts then due and payable hereunder, shall, from and after such occurrence, bear interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code or other applicable bankruptcy laws) payable upon demand by Administrative Agent at a rate that is 2% per annum in excess of the interest rate otherwise payable under this Agreement with respect to the applicable Loans (or, in the case of any such fees and other amounts, at a rate which is 2% per annum in excess of the interest rate otherwise payable under this Agreement for Base Rate Loans); provided that, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, upon the expiration of the Interest Period in effect at the time any such increase in interest rate is effective such Eurodollar Rate Loans shall thereupon become Base Rate Loans and shall thereafter bear interest payable upon demand at a rate which is 2% per annum in excess of the

 

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EXECUTION VERSION

 

interest rate otherwise payable under this Agreement for Base Rate Loans. Payment or acceptance of the increased rates of interest provided for in this subsection 2.2E is not a permitted alternative to timely payment and shall not constitute a waiver of any Event of Default or otherwise prejudice or limit any rights or remedies of Administrative Agent or any Lender.

F. Computation of Interest. Interest on the Loans shall be computed (i) in the case of Base Rate Loans, on the basis of a 365-day or 366-day year, as the case may be, and (ii) in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, on the basis of a 360-day year, in each case for the actual number of days elapsed in the period during which it accrues. In computing interest on any Loan, the date of the making of such Loan or the first day of an Interest Period applicable to such Loan or, with respect to a Base Rate Loan being converted from a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the date of conversion of such Eurodollar Rate Loan to such Base Rate Loan, as the case may be, shall be included, and the date of payment of such Loan or the expiration date of an Interest Period applicable to such Loan or, with respect to a Base Rate Loan being converted to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the date of conversion of such Base Rate Loan to such Eurodollar Rate Loan, as the case may be, shall be excluded; provided that if a Loan is repaid on the same day on which it is made, one day’s interest shall be paid on that Loan.

G. Maximum Rate. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this subsection 2.2, in no event shall the rate of interest payable by Company with respect to any Loan exceed the maximum rate of interest permitted to be charged under applicable law.

 

2.3

Fees

A. Commitment Fees. Company agrees to pay to Administrative Agent, for distribution to each Revolving Lender in proportion to that Lender’s Pro Rata Share, commitment fees for the period from and including the Restatement Date to and excluding the Revolving Loan Commitment Termination Date equal to the average of the daily excess of the Revolving Loan Commitment Amount over the sum of (i) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Revolving Loans (but not any outstanding Swing Line Loans) plus (ii) the Letter of Credit Usage multiplied by a rate per annum equal to the percentage set forth in the table below opposite the Consolidated Leverage Ratio for the four consecutive Fiscal Quarter period for which the applicable Compliance Certificate has been delivered pursuant to subsection 4.1K or 6.1(iv):

 

 

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EXECUTION VERSION

 

such commitment fees to be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed and to be payable quarterly in arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each calendar year, commencing on March 31, 2008, and on the Revolving Loan Commitment Termination Date; provided that until the delivery of the Compliance Certificate for the first full Fiscal Quarter ending after the Restatement Date, the applicable commitment fee percentage shall be 0.250% per annum. Upon delivery of the Compliance Certificate by Company to Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection 6.1(iv), the applicable commitment fee percentage shall be adjusted, such adjustment to become effective on the third succeeding Business Day following the receipt by Administrative Agent of such Compliance Certificate; provided that, if at any time a Compliance Certificate is not delivered at the time required pursuant to subsection 6.1(iv), from the time such Compliance Certificate was required to be delivered until delivery of such Compliance Certificate, the applicable commitment fee percentage shall be the maximum percentage amount set forth above.

B. Other Fees. Company agrees to pay to Administrative Agent such fees in the amounts and at the times separately agreed upon between Company and Administrative Agent.

 

2.4

Repayments, Prepayments and Reductions of Revolving Loan Commitment Amount; General Provisions Regarding Payments; Application of Proceeds of Collateral and Payments Under Subsidiary Guaranty

A. Prepayments and Reductions in Revolving Loan Commitment Amount.

(i) Voluntary Prepayments . Company may, upon written or telephonic notice to Administrative Agent on or prior to 12:00 Noon (San Francisco time) (in the case of Swing Line loans) or 10:00 A.M. (San Francisco time) (in the case of Base Rate Loans) on the date of prepayment, which notice, if telephonic, shall be promptly confirmed in writing, at any time and from time to time prepay any Swing Line Loan or Base Rate Loan on any Business Day in whole or in part in an aggregate minimum amount of $500,000 and multiples of $100,000 in excess of that amount. Company may, upon not less than three Business Days’ prior written or telephonic notice given to Administrative Agent by 12:00 Noon (San Francisco time) on the date required and, if given by telephone, promptly confirmed in writing to Administrative Agent, who will promptly notify each Lender whose Loans are to be prepaid of such prepayment, at any time and from time to time prepay any Eurodollar Rate Loans on any Business Day in whole or in part in an aggregate minimum amount of $500,000 and multiples of $100,000 in excess

 

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EXECUTION VERSION

 

of that amount. All written notices delivered pursuant to this subsection 2.4A(i) shall be in the form of a Notice of Prepayment and all notices whether written or telephonic delivered pursuant to this subsection 2.4A(i) shall be irrevocable, and once given as aforesaid, the principal amount of the Loans specified in such notice shall become due and payable on the prepayment date specified therein. Any such voluntary prepayment shall be applied as specified in subsection 2.4A(iv).

(ii) Voluntary Reductions of Revolving Loan Commitments . Company may, upon not less than two Business Days’ prior written or telephonic notice confirmed in writing to Administrative Agent, or upon such lesser number of days’ prior written or telephonic notice, as determined by Administrative Agent in its sole discretion, at any time and from time to time, terminate in whole or permanently reduce in part, without premium or penalty, the Revolving Loan Commitment Amount in an amount up to the amount by which the Revolving Loan Commitment Amount exceeds the Total Utilization of Revolving Loan Commitments at the time of such proposed termination or reduction; provided that any such partial reduction of the Revolving Loan Commitment Amount shall be in an aggregate minimum amount of $1,000,000 and multiples of $100,000 in excess of that amount. Company’s notice to Administrative Agent (who will promptly notify each Revolving Lender of such notice) shall be in the form of a Notice of Prepayment and shall designate the date (which shall be a Business Day) of such termination or reduction and the amount of any partial reduction, and such termination or reduction of the Revolving Loan Commitment Amount shall be effective on the date specified in Company’s notice and shall be in proportion to each Revolving Lender’s Pro Rata Share.

(iii) Mandatory Prepayments and Mandatory Reductions of Revolving Loan Commitments . The Loans shall be prepaid and/or the Revolving Loan Commitment Amount shall be permanently reduced in the amounts and under the circumstances set forth below, all such prepayments and/or reductions to be applied as set forth below or as more specifically provided in subsection 2.4A(iv) and subsection 2.4C, and Company shall deliver to Administrative Agent a Notice of Prepayment in connection therewith:

(a) Prepayments and Reductions From Net Asset Sale Proceeds . No later than the first Business Day following the date of receipt by Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor of any amount in excess of $7,500,000 in the aggregate of Net Asset Sale Proceeds in respect of Asset Sales consummated after the Restatement Date and permitted by subsection 7.7 or otherwise approved by Administrative Agent and Requisite Lenders (but excluding any amounts of Net Asset Sale Proceeds from (1) sale and lease-back transactions relating to assets not owned by Company or any of its Subsidiaries on or prior to the Restatement Date applied in accordance with subsection 7.9(d) or (2) sales or other transfers of the Metairie Offices in accordance with subsection 7.7(vi)) (such excess amount being referred to herein as “Excess Net Asset Sale Proceeds” ), Company shall either (x) prepay the Loans and/or the Revolving Loan Commitment Amount shall be permanently reduced in an aggregate amount equal to such Excess Net Asset Sale Proceeds or (y) so long as no Potential Event of Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be

 

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EXECUTION VERSION

 

continuing and to the extent that aggregate Excess Net Asset Sale Proceeds from the Restatement Date through the date of determination do not exceed $7,500,000, deliver to Administrative Agent an Officer’s Certificate setting forth (A) that portion of such Excess Net Asset Sale Proceeds that Company or such Subsidiary intends to reinvest in equipment or other productive assets of the general type used in the business of Company and its Subsidiaries within 360 days of such date of receipt and (B) the proposed use of such portion of such Excess Net Asset Sale Proceeds and such other information with respect to such reinvestment as Administrative Agent may reasonably request, and Company shall, or shall cause one or more of its Subsidiaries to, promptly and diligently apply such portion to such reinvestment purposes; provided , however , that, pending such reinvestment, such portion of such Excess Net Asset Sale Proceeds shall be applied to prepay outstanding Revolving Loans (without a reduction in the Revolving Loan Commitment Amount) to the full extent thereof; provided further , that if (i) Company, within 180 days of receipt of such Excess Net Asset Sale Proceeds, has not reinvested all or any portion of such Excess Net Asset Sale Proceeds as provided above and has not delivered to Administrative Agent evidence reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent that Company has entered into one or more binding contractual commitments to so reinvest such Excess Net Asset Sale Proceeds, (ii) Company, within 360 days after the date of receipt of such Excess Net Asset Sale Proceeds, has not reinvested all or any portion of such Excess Net Asset Sale Proceeds as provided above or (iii) a Potential Event of Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, Company shall prepay the Loans (and/or the Revolving Loan Commitments shall be reduced) in the full amount of all such Excess Net Asset Sale Proceeds.

(b) Prepayments from Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds . No later than the first Business Day following the date of receipt by Administrative Agent or by Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor of any Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds that are required to be applied to prepay the Revolving Loans pursuant to the provisions of subsection 6.4C, Company shall prepay the Loans (and/or the Revolving Loan Commitments shall be reduced to the extent required pursuant to subsection 6.4) in the full amount of all such Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds.

(c) Prepayments Due to Issuance of Indebtedness . On the date of receipt of the Net Securities Proceeds from the issuance of any Indebtedness of Company or any of its Subsidiaries after the Restatement Date, other than Indebtedness permitted pursuant to subsection 7.1, Company shall prepay the Loans (and/or the Revolving Loan Commitments shall be reduced) in the full amount of all such Net Securities Proceeds.

(d) Calculations of Net Proceeds Amounts; Additional Prepayments and Reductions Based on Subsequent Calculations . Concurrently with any prepayment of the Loans and/or reduction of the Revolving Loan Commitment Amount pursuant to subsections 2.4A(iii)(a)-(c), Company shall deliver to

 

39

EXECUTION VERSION

 

Administrative Agent an Officer’s Certificate demonstrating the calculation of the amount of the applicable Net Asset Sale Proceeds, Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds, or Net Securities Proceeds, as the case may be, that gave rise to such prepayment and/or reduction. In the event that Company shall subsequently determine that the actual amount was greater than the amount set forth in such Officer’s Certificate, Company shall promptly make an additional prepayment of the Loans (and/or, if applicable, the Revolving Loan Commitment Amount shall be permanently reduced) in an amount equal to the amount of such excess, and Company shall concurrently therewith deliver to Administrative Agent an Officer’s Certificate demonstrating the derivation of the additional amount resulting in such excess.

(iv) Application of Prepayments .

(a) Application of Voluntary Prepayments by Type of Loans and Order of Maturity . Any voluntary prepayments pursuant to subsection 2.4A(i) shall be applied as specified by Company in the applicable Notice of Prepayment; provided that in the event Company fails to specify the Loans to which any such prepayment shall be applied, such prepayment shall be applied first to repay outstanding Swing Line Loans to the full extent thereof, and second to repay outstanding Revolving Loans to the full extent thereof.

(b) Application of Mandatory Prepayments by Type of Loans . Except as provided in subsection 2.4C, any amount required to be applied as a mandatory prepayment of the Loans and/or a reduction of the Revolving Loan Commitment Amount pursuant to subsection 2.4A(iii) shall be applied first to prepay the Swing Line Loans to the full extent thereof and to permanently reduce the Revolving Loan Commitment Amount by the amount of such prepayment, and second , to the extent of any remaining portion of such amount, to prepay the Revolving Loans to the full extent thereof and to further permanently reduce the Revolving Loan Commitment Amount by the amount of such prepayment, and third , to the extent of any remaining portion of such amount, to further permanently reduce the Revolving Loan Commitment Amount to the full extent thereof, provided that to the extent any such reduction of the Revolving Loan Commitment Amount would result in the Total Utilization of Revolving Loan Commitments exceeding the Revolving Loan Commitment Amount, Company immediately shall Cash collateralize outstanding Letters of Credit by depositing the requisite amount in the Collateral Account. Any mandatory reduction of the Revolving Loan Commitment Amount pursuant to this subsection 2.4A shall be in proportion to each Revolving Lender’s Pro Rata Share.

(c) Application of Prepayments to Base Rate Loans and Eurodollar Rate Loans . Any prepayment of Revolving Loans shall be applied first to Base Rate Loans to the full extent thereof before application to Eurodollar Rate Loans, in each case in a manner that minimizes the amount of any payments required to be made by Company pursuant to subsection 2.6D.

 

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EXECUTION VERSION

 

B. General Provisions Regarding Payments.

(i) Manner and Time of Payment . All payments by Company of principal, interest, fees and other Obligations shall be made in Dollars in same day funds, without defense, setoff or counterclaim, free of any restriction or condition, and delivered to Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 Noon (San Francisco time) on the date due at the Funding and Payment Office for the account of Lenders; funds received by Administrative Agent after that time on such due date shall be deemed to have been paid by Company on the next succeeding Business Day.

(ii) Application of Payments to Principal and Interest . Except as provided in subsection 2.2C, all payments in respect of the principal amount of any Loan shall include payment of accrued interest on the principal amount being repaid or prepaid, and all such payments shall be applied to the payment of interest before application to principal.

(iii) Apportionment of Payments . Aggregate payments of principal and interest shall be apportioned among all outstanding Loans to which such payments relate, in each case proportionately to Lenders’ respective Pro Rata Shares. Administrative Agent shall promptly distribute to each Lender, at the account specified in the payment instructions delivered to Administrative Agent by such Lender, its Pro Rata Share of all such payments received by Administrative Agent and the commitment fees and letter of credit fees of such Lender, if any, when received by Administrative Agent pursuant to subsections 2.3 and 3.2. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this subsection 2.4B(iii), if, pursuant to the provisions of subsection 2.6C, any Notice of Conversion/Continuation is withdrawn as to any Affected Lender or if any Affected Lender makes Base Rate Loans in lieu of its Pro Rata Share of any Eurodollar Rate Loans, Administrative Agent shall give effect thereto in apportioning interest payments received thereafter.

(iv) Payments on Business Days . Whenever any payment to be made hereunder shall be stated to be due on a day that is not a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day and such extension of time shall be included in the computation of the payment of interest hereunder or of the commitment fees hereunder, as the case may be.

(v) Notation of Payment . Each Lender agrees that before disposing of any Note held by it, or any part thereof (other than by granting participations therein), that Lender will make a notation thereon of all Loans evidenced by that Note and all principal payments previously made thereon and of the date to which interest thereon has been paid; provided that the failure to make (or any error in the making of) a notation of any Loan made under such Note shall not limit or otherwise affect the obligations of Company hereunder or under such Note with respect to any Loan or any payments of principal or interest on such Note.

C. Application of Proceeds of Collateral and Payments after Event of Default. Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, if requested

 

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EXECUTION VERSION

 

by Requisite Lenders, or upon acceleration of the Obligations pursuant to Section 8, (a) all payments received by Administrative Agent, whether from Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or otherwise, and (b) all proceeds received by Administrative Agent in respect of any sale of, collection from, or other realization upon all or any part of the Collateral under any Collateral Document may, in the discretion of Administrative Agent, be held by Administrative Agent as Collateral for, and/or (then or at any time thereafter) applied in full or in part by Administrative Agent, in each case in the following order of priority:

(i) to the payment of all costs and expenses of such sale, collection or other realization, all other expenses, liabilities and advances made or incurred by Administrative Agent in connection therewith, and all amounts for which Administrative Agent is entitled to compensation (including the fees described in subsection 2.3), reimbursement and indemnification under any Loan Document and all advances made by Administrative Agent thereunder for the account of the applicable Loan Party, and to the payment of all costs and expenses paid or incurred by Administrative Agent in connection with the Loan Documents, all in accordance with subsections 9.4, 10.2 and 10.3 and the other terms of this Agreement and the Loan Documents;

(ii) thereafter, to the payment of all other Obligations and obligations of Loan Parties under any Hedge Agreement between a Loan Party and a Swap Counterparty for the ratable benefit of the holders thereof (subject to the provisions of subsection 2.4B(ii) hereof); and

(iii) thereafter, to the payment to or upon the order of such Loan Party or to whosoever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

 

2.5

Use of Proceeds

A. Revolving Loans; Swing Line Loans. The proceeds of up to $96,000,000 of the Revolving Loans made on the Restatement Date shall be applied by Company to fund the Acquisition Financing Requirements. The proceeds of any other Revolving Loans and any Swing Line Loans shall be applied by Company for working capital and other general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, (i) the acquisition of Ruth’s Chris restaurant franchises, (ii) the making of intercompany loans to any of Company’s wholly-owned Subsidiaries, in accordance with subsection 7.1(iv), for their own general corporate purposes, and (iii) the repurchase of Company’s common stock in accordance with subsection 7.5(ii).

B. Margin Regulations. No portion of the proceeds of any borrowing under this Agreement shall be used by Company or any of its Subsidiaries in any manner that might cause the borrowing or the application of such proceeds to violate Regulation U, Regulation T or Regulation X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or any other regulation of such Board or to violate the Exchange Act, in each case as in effect on the date or dates of such borrowing and such use of proceeds.

 

42

EXECUTION VERSION

 

2.6

Special Provisions Governing Eurodollar Rate Loans

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the following provisions shall govern with respect to Eurodollar Rate Loans as to the matters covered:

A. Determination of Applicable Interest Rate. On each Interest Rate Determination Date, Administrative Agent shall determine in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (which determination shall, absent manifest error, be conclusive and binding upon all parties) the interest rate that shall apply to the Eurodollar Rate Loans for which an interest rate is then being determined for the applicable Interest Period and shall promptly give notice thereof (in writing or by telephone confirmed in writing) to Company and each applicable Lender.

B. Inability to Determine Applicable Interest Rate. In the event that Administrative Agent shall have determined (which determination shall be conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto), on any Interest Rate Determination Date that by reason of circumstances affecting the interbank Eurodollar market adequate and fair means do not exist for ascertaining the interest rate applicable to such Loans on the basis provided for in the definition of “Eurodollar Rate,” Administrative Agent shall on such date give notice (by telefacsimile or by telephone confirmed in writing) to Company and each Lender of such determination, whereupon (i) no Loans may be made as, or converted to, Eurodollar Rate Loans until such time as Administrative Agent notifies Company and Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist and (ii) any Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion/Continuation given by Company with respect to the Loans in respect of which such determination was made shall be deemed to be for a Base Rate Loan.

C. Illegality or Impracticability of Eurodollar Rate Loans. In the event that on any date any Lender shall have determined (which determination shall be conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto but shall be made only after consultation with Company and Administrative Agent) that the making, maintaining or continuation of its Eurodollar Rate Loans (i) has become unlawful as a result of compliance by such Lender in good faith with any law, treaty, governmental rule, regulation, guideline or order (or would conflict with any such treaty, governmental rule, regulation, guideline or order not having the force of law even though the failure to comply therewith would not be unlawful) or (ii) has become impracticable, or would cause such Lender material hardship, as a result of contingencies occurring after the date of this Agreement which materially and adversely affect the interbank Eurodollar market or the position of such Lender in that market, then, and in any such event, such Lender shall be an “Affected Lender” and it shall on that day give notice (by telefacsimile or by telephone confirmed in writing) to Company and Administrative Agent of such determination. Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each other Lender of the receipt of such notice. Thereafter (a) the obligation of the Affected Lender to make Loans as, or to convert Loans to, Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended until such notice shall be withdrawn by the Affected Lender, (b) to the extent such determination by the Affected Lender relates to a Eurodollar Rate Loan then being requested by Company pursuant to a Notice of Borrowing or a Notice of Conversion/Continuation, the Affected Lender shall make such Loan as (or convert such Loan to, as the case may be) a Base Rate Loan, (c) the Affected Lender’s obligation to maintain its outstanding Eurodollar Rate Loans (the “Affected Loans” ) shall be terminated at the earlier to

 

43

EXECUTION VERSION

 

occur of the expiration of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the Affected Loans or when required by law, and (d) the Affected Loans shall automatically convert into Base Rate Loans on the date of such termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent a determination by an Affected Lender as described above relates to a Eurodollar Rate Loan then being requested by Company pursuant to a Notice of Borrowing or a Notice of Conversion/Continuation, Company shall have the option, subject to the provisions of subsection 2.6D, to rescind such Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion/Continuation as to all Lenders by giving notice (by telefacsimile or by telephone confirmed in writing) to Administrative Agent of such rescission on the date on which the Affected Lender gives notice of its determination as described above. Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each other Lender of the receipt of such notice. Except as provided in the immediately preceding sentence, nothing in this subsection 2.6C shall affect the obligation of any Lender other than an Affected Lender to make or maintain Loans as, or to convert Loans to, Eurodollar Rate Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

D. Compensation For Breakage or Non-Commencement of Interest Periods. Company shall compensate each Lender, upon written request by that Lender pursuant to subsection 2.8, for all reasonable losses, expenses and liabilities (including any interest paid by that Lender to lenders of funds borrowed by it to make or carry its Eurodollar Rate Loans and any loss, expense or liability sustained by that Lender in connection with the liquidation or re-employment of such funds) which that Lender may sustain: (i) if for any reason (other than a default by that Lender) a borrowing of any Eurodollar Rate Loan does not occur on a date specified therefor in a Notice of Borrowing or a telephonic request therefor, or a conversion to or continuation of any Eurodollar Rate Loan does not occur on a date specified therefor in a Notice of Conversion/Continuation or a telephonic request therefor, (ii) if any prepayment or other principal payment or any conversion of any of its Eurodollar Rate Loans (including any prepayment or conversion occasioned by the circumstances described in subsection 2.6C) occurs on a date prior to the last day of an Interest Period applicable to that Loan, (iii) if any prepayment of any of its Eurodollar Rate Loans is not made on any date specified in a Notice of Prepayment given by Company, or (iv) as a consequence of any other default by Company in the repayment of its Eurodollar Rate Loans when required by the terms of this Agreement.

E. Booking of Eurodollar Rate Loans. Any Lender may make, carry or transfer Eurodollar Rate Loans at, to, or for the account of any of its branch offices or the office of an Affiliate of that Lender.

F. Assumptions Concerning Funding of Eurodollar Rate Loans. Calculation of all amounts payable to a Lender under this subsection 2.6 and under subsection 2.7A shall be made as though that Lender had funded each of its Eurodollar Rate Loans through the purchase of a Eurodollar deposit bearing interest at the rate obtained pursuant to clause (i) of the definition of “Eurodollar Rate” in an amount equal to the amount of such Eurodollar Rate Loan and having a maturity comparable to the relevant Interest Period, whether or not its Eurodollar Rate Loans had been funded in such manner.

G. Eurodollar Rate Loans After Default. After the occurrence of and during the continuation of a Potential Event of Default or an Event of Default, (i) Company may not elect to have a Loan be made or maintained as, or converted to, a Eurodollar Rate Loan after

 

44

EXECUTION VERSION

 

the expiration of any Interest Period then in effect for that Loan and (ii) subject to the provisions of subsection 2.6D, any Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion/Continuation given by Company with respect to a requested borrowing or conversion/continuation that has not yet occurred shall be deemed to be for a Base Rate Loan or, if the conditions to making a Loan set forth in subsection 4.2 cannot then be satisfied, to be rescinded by Company.

 

2.7

Increased Costs; Taxes; Capital Adequacy

A. Compensation for Increased Costs. Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.7B (which shall be controlling with respect to the matters covered thereby), in the event that any Lender (including Issuing Lender) shall determine (which determination shall, absent manifest error, be final and conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto) that any Change in Law:

(i) subjects such Lender to any additional tax of any kind whatsoever with respect to this Agreement or any of its obligations hereunder (including with respect to issuing or maintaining any Letters of Credit or purchasing or maintaining any participations therein or maintaining any Commitment hereunder) or any payments to such Lender of principal, interest, fees or any other amount payable hereunder (except for the imposition of, or any change in the rate of, any Excluded Tax payable by such Lender);

(ii) imposes, modifies or holds applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets held by, or deposits or other liabilities in or for the account of, or advances or loans by, or other credit extended by, or any other acquisition of funds by, any office of such Lender (other than any such reserve or other requirements with respect to Eurodollar Rate Loans that are reflected in the definition of “Eurodollar Rate”); or

(iii) imposes any other condition (other than with respect to Taxes) on or affecting such Lender or its obligations hereunder or the interbank Eurodollar market;

and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Lender of agreeing to make, making or maintaining its Loans or Commitments or agreeing to issue, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit or agreeing to purchase, purchasing or maintaining any participation therein or to reduce any amount received or receivable by such Lender with respect thereto; then, in any such case, Company shall promptly pay to such Lender, upon receipt of the statement referred to in subsection 2.8A, such additional amount or amounts (in the form of an increased rate of, or a different method of calculating, interest or otherwise as such Lender in its sole discretion shall determine) as may be necessary to compensate such Lender on an after-tax basis for any such increased cost or reduction in amounts received or receivable hereunder. Company shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to this subsection 2.7A for any increased cost or reduction in respect of a period occurring more than 270 days prior to the date on which such Lender notifies Company of such Change in Law and such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor, except, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased cost or reduction is retroactive, no such time limitation shall apply so long as such Lender requests compensation within 270 days from the date on which the applicable Government Authority informed such Lender of such Change in Law.

 

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EXECUTION VERSION

 

B. Taxes.

(i) Payments to Be Free and Clear . Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of Company under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be made free and clear of, and without any deduction or withholding on account of, any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes.

(ii) Grossing-up of Payments . If Company or any other Person is required by law to make any deduction or withholding on account of any Tax from any sum paid or payable by Company to Administrative Agent or any Lender under any of the Loan Documents:

(a) Company shall notify Administrative Agent of any such requirement or any change in any such requirement as soon as Company becomes aware of it;

(b) Company shall timely pay any such Tax to the relevant Government Authority when such Tax is due, in accordance with applicable law;

(c) unless such Tax is an Excluded Tax, the sum payable by Company shall be increased to the extent necessary to ensure that, after making the required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this subsection 2.7B(ii)), Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, receives on the due date a net sum equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction been required or made; and

(d) within 30 days after paying any sum from which it is required by law to make any such deduction, and within 30 days after the due date of payment of any Tax which it is required by clause (b) above to pay, Company shall deliver to Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of an official receipt or other document satisfactory to the other affected parties to evidence the payment and its remittance to the relevant Government Authority.

(iii) Indemnification by Company . Company shall indemnify Administrative Agent and each Lender, within 10 days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes (including for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this subsection 2.7B(iii)) paid by Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Government Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to Company by a Lender (with a copy to Administrative Agent), or by Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

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(iv) Tax Status of Lenders . Unless not legally entitled to do so:

(a) any Lender, if requested by Company or Administrative Agent, shall deliver such forms or other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by Company or Administrative Agent as will enable Company or Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements;

(b) any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of any Tax with respect to payments hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall deliver to Company and Administrative Agent, on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter, as may be necessary in the determination of Company or Administrative Agent, each in the reasonable exercise of its discretion), such properly completed and duly executed forms or other documentation prescribed by applicable law as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding;

(c) without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that Company is resident for tax purposes in the United States, any Foreign Lender shall deliver to Company and Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter, as may be necessary in the determination of Company or Administrative Agent, each in the reasonable exercise of its discretion), whichever of the following is applicable:

(1) properly completed and duly executed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN claiming eligibility for benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party,

(2) properly completed and duly executed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI,

(3) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption “portfolio interest” under Section 881(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, (A) a duly executed certificate to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not (i) a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, (ii) a ten-percent shareholder (within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code) of Company or (iii) a controlled foreign corporation described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code and (B) properly completed and duly executed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN, or

 

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(4) properly completed and duly executed copies of any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in any Tax,

in each case together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit Company and Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made, if any;

(d) without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that Company is resident for tax purposes in the United States, any Foreign Lender that does not act or ceases to act for its own account with respect to any portion of any sums paid or payable to such Lender under any of the Loan Documents (for example, in the case of a typical participation by such Lender) shall deliver to Administrative Agent and Company (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient), on or prior to the date such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender, or on such later date when such Foreign Lender ceases to act for its own account with respect to any portion of any such sums paid or payable, and from time to time thereafter, as may be necessary in the determination of Company or Administrative Agent (each in the reasonable exercise of its discretion):

(1) duly executed and properly completed copies of the forms and statements required to be provided by such Foreign Lender under clause (c) of subsection 2.7B(iv), to establish the portion of any such sums paid or payable with respect to which such Lender acts for its own account and may be entitled to an exemption from or a reduction of the applicable Tax, and

(2) duly executed and properly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY (or any successor forms) properly completed and duly executed by such Foreign Lender, together with any information, if any, such Foreign Lender chooses to transmit with such form, and any other certificate or statement of exemption required under the Internal Revenue Code or the regulations thereunder, to establish that such Foreign Lender is not acting for its own account with respect to a portion of any such sums payable to such Foreign Lender;

(e) without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that Company is resident for tax purposes in the United States, any Lender that is not a Foreign Lender and has not otherwise established to the reasonable satisfaction of Company and Administrative Agent that it is an exempt recipient (as defined in section 6049(b)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and the United States Treasury Regulations thereunder) shall deliver to Company and Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter as prescribed by applicable law or upon the request of Company or Administrative Agent), duly executed and properly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-9; and

 

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(f) without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Lender hereby agrees, from time to time after the initial delivery by such Lender of such forms, whenever a lapse in time or change in circumstances renders such forms, certificates or other evidence so delivered obsolete or inaccurate in any material respect, that such Lender shall promptly (1) deliver to Administrative Agent and Company two original copies of renewals, amendments or additional or successor forms, properly completed and duly executed by such Lender, together with any other certificate or statement of exemption required in order to confirm or establish that such Lender is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of any Tax with respect to payments to such Lender under the Loan Documents and, if applicable, that such Lender does not act for its own account with respect to any portion of such payment, or (2) notify Administrative Agent and Company of its inability to deliver any such forms, certificates or other evidence.

C. Capital Adequacy Adjustment. If any Lender shall have determined that any Change in Law regarding capital adequacy has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on the capital of such Lender or any corporation controlling such Lender as a consequence of, or with reference to, such Lender’s Loans or Commitments or Letters of Credit or participations therein or other obligations hereunder with respect to the Loans or the Letters of Credit to a level below that which such Lender or such controlling corporation could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration the policies of such Lender or such controlling corporation with regard to capital adequacy), then from time to time, within five Business Days after receipt by Company from such Lender of the statement referred to in subsection 2.8A, Company shall pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such controlling corporation on an after-tax basis for such reduction. Company shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to this subsection 2.7C for any reduction in respect of a period occurring more than 270 days prior to the date on which such Lender notifies Company of such Change in Law and such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor, except, if the Change in Law giving rise to such reduction is retroactive, no such time limitation shall apply so long as such Lender requests compensation within 270 days from the date on which the applicable Government Authority informed such Lender of such Change in Law.

 

2.8

Statement of Lenders; Obligation of Lenders and Issuing Lender to Mitigate

A. Statements. Each Lender claiming compensation or reimbursement pursuant to subsection 2.6D, 2.7 or 2.8B shall deliver to Company (with a copy to Administrative Agent) a written statement, setting forth in reasonable detail the basis of the calculation of such compensation or reimbursement, which statement shall be conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto absent manifest error.

B. Mitigation. Each Lender and Issuing Lender agrees that, as promptly as practicable after the officer of such Lender or Issuing Lender responsible for administering the Loans or Letters of Credit of such Lender or Issuing Lender, as the case may be, becomes aware of the occurrence of an event or the existence of a condition that would cause such Lender to become an Affected Lender or that would entitle such Lender or Issuing Lender to receive payments under subsection 2.7, it will use reasonable efforts to make, issue, fund or maintain the

 

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Commitments of such Lender or the Loans or Letters of Credit of such Lender or Issuing Lender through another lending or letter of credit office of such Lender or Issuing Lender, if (i) as a result thereof the circumstances which would cause such Lender to be an Affected Lender would cease to exist or the additional amounts which would otherwise be required to be paid to such Lender or Issuing Lender pursuant to subsection 2.7 would be materially reduced and (ii) as determined by such Lender or Issuing Lender in its sole discretion, such action would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender or Issuing Lender; provided that such Lender or Issuing Lender will not be obligated to utilize such other lending or letter of credit office pursuant to this subsection 2.8B unless Company agrees to pay all incremental expenses incurred by such Lender or Issuing Lender as a result of utilizing such other lending or letter of credit office as described above.

 

2.9

Replacement of a Lender

If Company receives a statement of amounts due pursuant to subsection 2.8A from a Lender, a Revolving Lender defaults in its obligations to fund a Revolving Loan pursuant to this Agreement, a Lender (a “ Non-Consenting Lender ”) refuses to consent to an amendment, modification or waiver of this Agreement that, pursuant to subsection 10.6, requires consent of 100% of the Lenders or 100% of the Lenders with Obligations directly affected or a Lender becomes an Affected Lender (any such Lender, a “ Subject Lender ”), so long as (i) no Potential Event of Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and Company has obtained a commitment from another Lender or an Eligible Assignee to purchase at par the Subject Lender’s Loans and assume the Subject Lender’s Commitments and all other obligations of the Subject Lender hereunder, (ii) such Lender is not an Issuing Lender with respect to any Letters of Credit outstanding (unless all such Letters of Credit are terminated or arrangements acceptable to such Issuing Lender (such as a “back-to-back” letter of credit) are made) and (iii), if applicable, the Subject Lender is unwilling to withdraw the notice delivered to Company pursuant to subsection 2.8 and/or is unwilling to remedy its default upon ten days prior written notice to the Subject Lender and Administrative Agent, Company may require the Subject Lender to assign all of its Loans and Commitments to such other Lender, Lenders, Eligible Assignee or Eligible Assignees pursuant to the provisions of subsection 10.1B; provided that, prior to or concurrently with such replacement, (a) the Subject Lender shall have received payment in full of all principal, interest, fees and other amounts (including all amounts under subsections 2.6D, 2.7 and/or 2.8B (if applicable)) through such date of replacement and a release from its obligations under the Loan Documents, (b) the processing fee required to be paid by subsection 10.1B(i) shall have been paid to Administrative Agent ( provided , however , that the Non-Consenting Lender or the Subject Lender shall not be required to pay such processing fee), (c) all of the requirements for such assignment contained in subsection 10.1B, including the consent of Administrative Agent (if required) and the receipt by Administrative Agent of an executed Assignment Agreement executed by the assignee (Administrative Agent being hereby authorized to execute any Assignment Agreement on behalf of a Subject Lender relating to the assignment of Loans and/or Commitments of such subject Lender) and other supporting documents, have been fulfilled, and (d) in the event such Subject Lender is a Non-Consenting Lender, each assignee shall consent, at the time of such assignment, to each matter in respect of which such Subject Lender was a Non-Consenting Lender and Company also requires each other Subject Lender that is a Non-Consenting Lender to assign its Loans and Commitments.

 

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2.10

Increase in Commitments

A. Request for Increase. Upon notice to Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify Lenders), Company may from time to time, but on not more than two separate occasions, by written notice to Administrative Agent request an increase in the Revolving Loan Commitments by an amount (for both such requests in the aggregate) not exceeding $50,000,000; provided that (i) any such request for an increase shall be in a minimum amount of $10,000,000 or such lesser amount that is equal to the maximum remaining amount of increase permitted pursuant to this subsection 2.10A, (ii) no Event of Default or Potential Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or result from such increase in the Revolving Loan Commitments, and (iii) Company and its Subsidiaries shall be in compliance, on a pro forma basis (as though any Loans to be made on the applicable Increase Effective Date have been made), with each of the financial covenants specified in subsection 7.6, before and after giving effect to such increase, as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter in the case of the financial covenant specified in subsection 7.6A and as of the applicable Increase Effective Date in the case of the financial covenant specified in subsection 7.6B.

B. Increase in Commitments; Additional Lenders. Concurrently with any request by Company for an increase in Revolving Loan Commitments pursuant to this subsection 2.10, Company shall notify Administrative Agent of each Lender that has agreed to increase its Revolving Loan Commitment and the amount of each such agreed increase. Company and such Lender shall execute and deliver to Administrative Agent an assumption agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent and its counsel to evidence the increase in such Lender’s Revolving Loan Commitment. To achieve the full amount of a requested increase in Revolving Loan Commitments Company may also invite additional Eligible Assignees to become Lenders pursuant to a joinder agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent and its counsel, provided that Administrative Agent shall have consented to any such Eligible Assignee becoming a Lender. Company shall have no right to increase Revolving Loan Commitments pursuant to this subsection 2.10 except to the extent Company obtains the agreement of one or more Lenders and/or Eligible Assignees (and, in the case of any such Eligible Assignee, any requisite consent) to accept such increase in Revolving Loan Commitments. Nothing contained in this paragraph or otherwise in this Agreement is intended to commit any Lender or Administrative Agent to provide any portion of any increase in Revolving Loan Commitments.

C. Effective Date and Allocations. If the Revolving Loan Commitments are increased in accordance with this subsection 2.10, Administrative Agent and Company shall determine the effective date (each, an “Increase Effective Date” ) and the final allocation of such increase in Revolving Loan Commitments. Administrative Agent shall promptly notify Company and Lenders (and any designated Eligible Assignees) of the final allocation of such increase and the applicable Increase Effective Date.

D. Conditions to Effectiveness of Increase. As conditions precedent to each such increase in Revolving Loan Commitments, (i) Company shall pay to Administrative Agent, for distribution to each Lender providing such increase in Revolving Loan Commitments in proportion to that Lender’s Pro Rata Share of such increase in Revolving Loan Commitments, a fee, if any, to be agreed upon at the time such increase in Revolving Loan Commitments is provided and (ii) Company shall deliver to Administrative Agent an Officer’s Certificate of Company dated as of the applicable Increase Effective Date:

(1) certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by Company approving or consenting to such increase in Revolving Loan Commitments;

 

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(2) certifying that, before and after giving effect to such increase in Revolving Loan Commitments:

(A) the representations and warranties contained herein and in the other Loan Documents are true, correct and complete in all material respects on and as of the applicable Increase Effective Date to the same extent as though made on and as of that date, except to the extent such representations and warranties specifically relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties are true, correct and complete in all material respects on and as of such earlier date; provided that where a representation and warranty is already qualified as to materiality, such representation and warranty shall be true, correct and complete as so qualified;

(B) no event has occurred and is continuing or would result from the consummation of the requested increase in Revolving Loan Commitments that would constitute an Event of Default or a Potential Event of Default;

(C) each Loan Party has performed in all material respects all agreements and satisfied all conditions which this Agreement provides shall be performed or satisfied by it on or before the applicable Increase Effective Date; and

(3) demonstrating that Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance, on a pro forma basis (as though any Loans to be made on the applicable Increase Effective Date have been made), with each of the financial covenants specified in subsection 7.6, before and after giving effect to such increase, as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter in the case of the financial covenant specified in subsection 7.6A and as of the applicable Increase Effective Date in the case of the financial covenant specified in subsection 7.6B.

E. Company shall either (1) prepay any Revolving Loans outstanding on the applicable Increase Effective Date or (2) submit a Notice of Borrowing requesting Revolving Loans as of the applicable Increase Effective Date (which Revolving Loans shall be funded solely by the Revolving Lenders that have increased their respective Revolving Loan Commitments as of such Increase Effective Date), in each case solely to the extent necessary to keep the outstanding Revolving Loans ratable with any revised Pro Rata Shares of Revolving

 

52

EXECUTION VERSION

 

Loans arising from any nonratable increase in the Revolving Loan Commitments under this subsection 2.10. Company shall execute and deliver any additional Revolving Notes as any Lender may reasonably request and any other documents, instruments and amendments or modifications to this Agreement or any other Loan Document as Administrative Agent may reasonably request. In connection with any increase in Revolving Loan Commitments provided for in this subsection 2.10, conforming amendments shall be made to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to reflect such increase in Revolving Loan Commitments, including, if applicable, to include Lenders of such increased Revolving Loan Commitments in any determination of Lenders, Requisite Lenders and Pro Rata Share. Any such amendment shall become effective when executed by Administrative Agent and each Lender that has increased its Revolving Loan Commitment. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement expressed or implied to the contrary (including in subsection 10.6), nothing herein shall be construed to require consent from Lenders that are not lenders of such increased Revolving Loan Commitments to the incurrence of the increase in Revolving Loan Commitments in compliance with this subsection 2.10, and this subsection 2.10 shall supersede any provisions in subsection 10.6 to the contrary.

Section 3. LETTERS OF CREDIT

 

3.1

Issuance of Letters of Credit and Lenders’ Purchase of Participations Therein

A. Letters of Credit. Company may request, in accordance with the provisions of this subsection 3.1, from time to time during the period from the Restatement Date to but excluding the 30 ^th day prior to the Revolving Loan Commitment Termination Date, that Issuing Lender issue Letters of Credit for the account of Company for the general corporate purposes of Company or a Subsidiary of Company. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and in reliance upon the representations and warranties of Company herein set forth, Issuing Lender shall issue such Letters of Credit in accordance with the provisions of this subsection 3.1; provided that Company shall not request that Issuing Lender issue:

(i) any Letter of Credit if, after giving effect to such issuance, the Total Utilization of Revolving Loan Commitments would exceed the Revolving Loan Commitment Amount then in effect;

(ii) any Letter of Credit if, after giving effect to such issuance, the Letter of Credit Usage would exceed $5,000,000;

(iii) any Standby Letter of Credit having an expiration date later than the earlier of (a) 30 days prior to the Revolving Loan Commitment Termination Date and (b) the date which is one year from the date of issuance of such Standby Letter of Credit; provided that the immediately preceding clause (b) shall not prevent Issuing Lender from agreeing that a Standby Letter of Credit will automatically be extended for one or more successive periods not to exceed one year each unless Issuing Lender elects not to extend for any such additional period; and provided , further that Issuing Lender shall elect not to extend such Standby Letter of Credit if it has knowledge that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing (and has not been waived in accordance with subsection 10.6) at the time Issuing Lender must elect whether or not to allow such extension;

 

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(iv) any Standby Letter of Credit issued for the purpose of supporting (a) trade payables or (b) any Indebtedness constituting “antecedent debt” (as that term is used in Section 547 of the Bankruptcy Code);

(v) any Commercial Letter of Credit having an expiration date (a) later than the earlier of (1) the date which is 30 days prior to the Revolving Loan Commitment Termination Date and (2) the date which is 180 days from the date of issuance of such Commercial Letter of Credit or (b) that is otherwise unacceptable to Issuing Lender in its reasonable discretion; or

(vi) any Letter of Credit denominated in a currency other than Dollars.

All Existing Letters of Credit shall be deemed to have been issued pursuant hereto, and from and after the Restatement Date shall be subject to and governed by the terms and conditions hereof.

B. Mechanics of Issuance.

(i) Request for Issuance . Whenever Company desires the issuance of a Letter of Credit, it shall deliver to Administrative Agent a Request for Issuance no later than 9:00 A.M. (San Francisco time) at least three Business Days, or such shorter period as may be agreed to by Issuing Lender in any particular instance, in advance of the proposed date of issuance. Issuing Lender, in its reasonable discretion, may require changes in the text of the proposed Letter of Credit or any documents described in or attached to the Request for Issuance. In furtherance of the provisions of subsection 10.8, and not in limitation thereof, Company may submit Requests for Issuance by telefacsimile and Administrative Agent and Issuing Lender may rely and act upon any such Request for Issuance without receiving an original signed copy thereof. No Letter of Credit shall require payment against a conforming demand for payment to be made thereunder on the same business day (under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the office of Issuing Lender to which such demand for payment is required to be presented is located) on which such demand for payment is presented if such presentation is made after 10:00 A.M. (in the time zone of such office of Issuing Lender) on such business day.

(ii) Issuance of Letter of Credit . Upon satisfaction or waiver (in accordance with subsection 10.6) of the conditions set forth in subsection 4.3, Issuing Lender shall issue the requested Letter of Credit in accordance with Issuing Lender’s standard operating procedures.

(iii) Notification to Revolving Lenders . Upon the issuance of or amendment to any Letter of Credit, Issuing Lender shall promptly notify Administrative Agent and Company of such issuance or amendment in writing and such notice shall be accompanied by a copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment. Upon receipt of such notice (or, if Administrative Agent is Issuing Lender, together with such notice), Administrative Agent shall notify each Revolving Lender in writing of such issuance or

 

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EXECUTION VERSION

 

amendment and the amount of such Revolving Lender’s respective participation in such Letter of Credit or amendment, and, if so requested by a Revolving Lender, Administrative Agent shall provide such Lender with a copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.

C. Revolving Lenders’ Purchase of Participations in Letters of Credit. Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit, each Revolving Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby agrees to, have irrevocably purchased from the Issuing Lender a participation in such Letter of Credit and any drawings honored thereunder in an amount equal to such Revolving Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the maximum amount that is or at any time may become available to be drawn thereunder.

 

3.2

Letter of Credit Fees

Company agrees to pay the following amounts with respect to Letters of Credit issued hereunder:

(i) with respect to each Letter of Credit, (a) a fronting fee, payable directly to Issuing Lender for its own account, equal to 0.25% per annum of the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit and (b) a letter of credit fee, payable to Administrative Agent for the account of Revolving Lenders, equal to the applicable Eurodollar Rate Margin for Revolving Loans plus , upon the application of increased rates of interest pursuant to subsection 2.2E, 2% per annum, multiplied by the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit, each such fronting fee or letter of credit fee to be payable in arrears on and to (but excluding) March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each calendar year, commencing on March 31, 2008, and on the Revolving Loan Commitment Termination Date, in each case computed on the basis of a 360-day year for the actual number of days elapsed;

(ii) with respect to the issuance, amendment or transfer of each Letter of Credit and each payment of a drawing made thereunder (without duplication of the fees payable under clause (i) above), documentary and processing charges payable directly to Issuing Lender for its own account in accordance with Issuing Lender’s standard schedule for such charges in effect at the time of such issuance, amendment, transfer or payment, as the case may be.

For purposes of calculating any fees payable under clause (i) of this subsection 3.2, the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit shall be determined as of the close of business on any date of determination.

 

3.3

Drawings and Reimbursement of Amounts Paid Under Letters of Credit

A. Responsibility of Issuing Lender With Respect to Drawings. In determining whether to honor any drawing under any Letter of Credit by the beneficiary thereof, Issuing Lender shall be responsible only to examine the documents delivered under such Letter of Credit with reasonable care so as to ascertain whether they appear on their face to be in accordance with the terms and conditions of such Letter of Credit.

 

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EXECUTION VERSION

 

B. Reimbursement by Company of Amounts Paid Under Letters of Credit. In the event Issuing Lender has determined to honor a drawing under a Letter of Credit issued by it, Issuing Lender shall immediately notify Company and Administrative Agent, and Company shall reimburse Issuing Lender on or before the Business Day immediately following the date on which such drawing is honored (the “ Reimbursement Date ”) in an amount in Dollars and in same day funds equal to the amount of such payment; provided that, anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, (i) unless Company shall have notified Administrative Agent and Issuing Lender prior to 10:00 A.M. (San Francisco time) on the date such drawing is honored that Company intends to reimburse Issuing Lender for the amount of such payment with funds other than the proceeds of Revolving Loans, Company shall be deemed to have given a timely Notice of Borrowing to Administrative Agent requesting Revolving Lenders to make Revolving Loans that are Base Rate Loans on the Reimbursement Date in an amount in Dollars equal to the amount of such payment and (ii) subject to satisfaction or waiver of the conditions specified in subsection 4.2B, Revolving Lenders shall, on the Reimbursement Date, make Revolving Loans that are Base Rate Loans in the amount of such payment, the proceeds of which shall be applied directly by Administrative Agent to reimburse Issuing Lender for the amount of such payment; and provided , further that if for any reason proceeds of Revolving Loans are not received by Issuing Lender on the Reimbursement Date in an amount equal to the amount of such payment, Company shall reimburse Issuing Lender, on demand, in an amount in same day funds equal to the excess of the amount of such payment over the aggregate amount of such Revolving Loans, if any, which are so received. Nothing in this subsection 3.3B shall be deemed to relieve any Revolving Lender from its obligation to make Revolving Loans on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and Company shall retain any and all rights it may have against any Revolving Lender resulting from the failure of such Revolving Lender to make such Revolving Loans under this subsection 3.3B.

C. Payment by Lenders of Unreimbursed Amounts Paid Under Letters of Credit.

(i) Payment by Revolving Lenders . In the event that Company shall fail for any reason to reimburse Issuing Lender as provided in subsection 3.3B in an amount equal to the amount of any payment by Issuing Lender, Issuing Lender shall promptly notify Administrative Agent, who shall promptly notify each Revolving Lender of the unreimbursed amount of such honored drawing and of such Revolving Lender’s respective participation therein based on such Revolving Lender’s Pro Rata Share. Each Revolving Lender (other than Issuing Lender) shall make available to Administrative Agent an amount equal to its respective participation, in Dollars, in same day funds, at the Funding and Payment Office, not later than 12:00 Noon (San Francisco time) on the first Business Day after the date notified by Administrative Agent, and Administrative Agent shall make available to Issuing Lender in Dollars, in same day funds, at the office of Issuing Lender on such Business Day the aggregate amount of the payments so received by Administrative Agent. In the event that any Revolving Lender fails to make available to Administrative Agent on such Business Day the amount of such Revolving Lender’s participation in such Letter of Credit as provided in this subsection 3.3C, Issuing Lender shall be entitled to recover such amount on demand from such Revolving Lender together with interest thereon at the rate customarily used by Issuing Lender for the correction of errors among banks for three Business Days and thereafter at the Base

 

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Rate. Nothing in this subsection 3.3C shall be deemed to prejudice the right of Administrative Agent to recover, for the benefit of Revolving Lenders, from Issuing Lender any amounts made available to Issuing Lender pursuant to this subsection 3.3C in the event that it is determined by the final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction that the payment with respect to a Letter of Credit by Issuing Lender in respect of which payments were made by Revolving Lenders constituted gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of Issuing Lender.

(ii) Distribution to Lenders of Reimbursements Received From Company . In the event Issuing Lender shall have been reimbursed by other Revolving Lenders pursuant to subsection 3.3C(i) for all or any portion of any payment by Issuing Lender under a Letter of Credit issued by it, and Administrative Agent or Issuing Lender thereafter receives any payments from Company in reimbursement of such payment under the Letter of Credit, to the extent any such payment is received by Issuing Lender, it shall distribute such payment to Administrative Agent, and Administrative Agent shall distribute to each other Revolving Lender that has paid all amounts payable by it under subsection 3.3C(i) with respect to such payment such Revolving Lender’s Pro Rata Share of all payments subsequently received by Administrative Agent or by Issuing Lender from Company. Any such distribution shall be made to a Revolving Lender at the account specified in subsection 2.4B(iii).

D. Interest on Amounts Paid Under Letters of Credit.

(i) Payment of Interest by Company . Company agrees to pay to Administrative Agent, with respect to payments under any Letters of Credit issued by Issuing Lender, interest on the amount paid by Issuing Lender in respect of each such payment from the date a drawing is honored to but excluding the date such amount is reimbursed by Company (including any such reimbursement out of the proceeds of Revolving Loans pursuant to subsection 3.3B) at a rate equal to (a) for the period from the date such drawing is honored to but excluding the Reimbursement Date, the rate then in effect under this Agreement with respect to Revolving Loans that are Base Rate Loans and (b) thereafter, a rate which is 2% per annum in excess of the rate of interest otherwise payable under this Agreement with respect to Revolving Loans that are Base Rate Loans. Interest payable pursuant to this subsection 3.3D(i) shall be computed on the basis of a 365-day or 366-day year, as the case may be, for the actual number of days elapsed in the period during which it accrues and shall be payable on demand or, if no demand is made, on the date on which the related drawing under a Letter of Credit is reimbursed in full.

(ii) Distribution of Interest Payments by Administrative Agent . Promptly upon receipt by Administrative Agent of any payment of interest pursuant to subsection 3.3D(i) with respect to a payment under a Letter of Credit, (a) Administrative Agent shall distribute to (x) each Revolving Lender (including Issuing Lender) out of the interest received by Administrative Agent in respect of the period from the date such drawing is honored to but excluding the date on which Issuing Lender is reimbursed for the amount of such payment (including any such reimbursement out of the proceeds of Revolving Loans pursuant to subsection 3.3B), the amount that such Revolving Lender would have been entitled to receive in respect of the letter of credit fee that would have been payable

 

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in respect of such Letter of Credit for such period pursuant to subsection 3.2 if no drawing had been honored under such Letter of Credit, and (y) Issuing Lender the amount, if any, remaining after payment of the amounts applied pursuant to clause (x), and (b) in the event Issuing Lender shall have been reimbursed by other Revolving Lenders pursuant to subsection 3.3C(i) for all or any portion of such payment, Administrative Agent shall distribute to each Revolving Lender (including Issuing Lender) that has paid all amounts payable by it under subsection 3.3C(i) with respect to such payment such Revolving Lender’s Pro Rata Share of any interest received by Administrative Agent in respect of that portion of such payment so made by Revolving Lenders for the period from the date on which Issuing Lender was so reimbursed to but excluding the date on which such portion of such payment is reimbursed by Company. Any such distribution shall be made to a Revolving Lender at the account specified in subsection 2.4B(iii).

 

3.4

Obligations Absolute

The obligation of Company to reimburse Issuing Lender for payments under the Letters of Credit issued by it and to repay any Revolving Loans made by Revolving Lenders pursuant to subsection 3.3B and the obligations of Revolving Lenders under subsection 3.3C(i) shall be unconditional and irrevocable and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all circumstances including any of the following circumstances:

(i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit;

(ii) the existence of any claim, set-off, defense or other right which Company or any Lender may have at any time against a beneficiary or any transferee of any Letter of Credit (or any Persons for whom any such transferee may be acting), Issuing Lender or other Revolving Lender or any other Person or, in the case of a Revolving Lender, against Company, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated herein or any unrelated transaction (including any underlying transaction between Company or one of its Subsidiaries and the beneficiary for which any Letter of Credit was procured);

(iii) any draft or other document presented under any 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;

(iv) payment by Issuing Lender under any Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document which does not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit;

(v) any adverse change in the business, operations, properties, assets, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

(vi) any breach of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by any party thereto;

 

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(vii) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; or

(viii) the fact that an Event of Default or a Potential Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

provided , in each case, that payment by the Issuing Lender under the applicable Letter of Credit shall not have constituted gross negligence or willful misconduct of Issuing Lender under the circumstances in question (as determined by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction).

 

3.5

Nature of Issuing Lender’s Duties

As between Company and Issuing Lender, Company assumes all risks of the acts and omissions of, or misuse of the Letters of Credit issued by Issuing Lender by, the respective beneficiaries of such Letters of Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, Issuing Lender shall not be responsible for: (i) the form, validity, sufficiency, accuracy, genuineness or legal effect of any document submitted by any party in connection with the application for and issuance of any such Letter of Credit, even if it should in fact prove to be in any or all respects invalid, insufficient, inaccurate, fraudulent or forged; (ii) the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign any such 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; (iii) failure of the beneficiary of any such Letter of Credit to comply fully with any conditions required in order to draw upon such Letter of Credit; (iv) errors, omissions, interruptions or delays in transmission or delivery of any messages, by mail, cable, telegraph, telex or otherwise, whether or not they be in cipher; (v) errors in interpretation of technical terms; (vi) any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under any such Letter of Credit or of the proceeds thereof; (vii) the misapplication by the beneficiary of any such Letter of Credit of the proceeds of any drawing under such Letter of Credit; or (viii) any consequences arising from causes beyond the control of Issuing Lender, including any act or omission by a Government Authority, and none of the above shall affect or impair, or prevent the vesting of, any of Issuing Lender’s rights or powers hereunder.

In furtherance and extension and not in limitation of the specific provisions set forth in the first paragraph of this subsection 3.5, any action taken or omitted by Issuing Lender under or in connection with the Letters of Credit issued by it or any documents and certificates delivered thereunder, if taken or omitted in good faith, shall not put Issuing Lender under any resulting liability to Company.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this subsection 3.5, Company shall retain any and all rights it may have against Issuing Lender for any liability arising solely out of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of Issuing Lender, as determined by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

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Section 4. CONDITIONS TO LOANS AND LETTERS OF CREDIT

The obligations of Lenders to amend and restate the Original Credit Agreement and to make Loans and to issue Letters of Credit hereunder are subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions.

 

4.1

Conditions to Initial Revolving Loans and Swing Line Loans

The effectiveness of this Agreement and the obligations of Lenders to make any Revolving Loans and Swing Line Loans to be made on the Restatement Date are, in addition to the conditions precedent specified in subsection 4.2, subject to prior or concurrent satisfaction of the following conditions:

A. Loan Party Documents. On or before the Restatement Date, Company shall, and shall cause each other Loan Party to, deliver to Lenders (or to Administrative Agent with sufficient originally executed copies, where appropriate, for each Lender) the following with respect to Company or such Loan Party, as the case may be, each, unless otherwise noted, dated the Restatement Date:

(i) Copies of all amendments to the Organizational Documents of such Person executed on or after September 27, 2005 and copies of the Organizational Documents of such Person if such Person was organized on or after September 27, 2005, in each case, certified by the Secretary of State of its jurisdiction of organization or, if such document is of a type that may not be so certified, certified by the secretary or similar officer of the applicable Loan Party, together with a good standing certificate from the Secretary of State of its jurisdiction of organization and, to the extent generally available, a certificate or other evidence of good standing as to payment of any applicable franchise or similar taxes from the appropriate taxing authority of such jurisdiction, each dated a recent date prior to the Restatement Date;

(ii) Resolutions of the Governing Body of such Person approving and authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, certified as of the Restatement Date by the secretary or similar officer of such Person as being in full force and effect without modification or amendment;

(iii) Signature and incumbency certificates of the officers of such Person executing the Loan Documents to which it is a party;

(iv) Executed originals of the Loan Documents to which such Person is a party (except for any executed original Loan Documents that have been delivered to Administrative Agent prior to the Restatement Date); and

(v) Such other documents as Administrative Agent may reasonably request.

 

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B. Interest and Fees.

(i) Company shall have paid in full all accrued interest on the loans under the Original Credit Agreement and all accrued fees, costs and expenses thereunder, in each case through the Restatement Date.

(ii) Company shall have paid to Administrative Agent, for distribution (as appropriate) to Administrative Agent and Lenders, the fees payable on the Restatement Date referred to in subsection 2.3B.

C. Representations and Warranties; Performance of Agreements. Company shall have delivered to Administrative Agent an Officer’s Certificate, in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent, to the effect that the representations and warranties in Section 5 are true, correct and complete in all material respects on and as of the Restatement Date to the same extent as though made on and as of that date (or, to the extent such representations and warranties specifically relate to an earlier date, that such representations and warranties were true, correct and complete in all material respects on and as of such earlier date) and that Company shall have performed in all material respects all agreements and satisfied all conditions which this Agreement provides shall be performed or satisfied by it on or before the Restatement Date except as otherwise disclosed to and agreed to in writing by Administrative Agent; provided that, if a representation and warranty, covenant or condition is qualified as to materiality, the applicable materiality qualifier set forth above shall be disregarded with respect to such representation and warranty, covenant or condition for purposes of this condition.

D. Financial Statements; Pro Forma Balance Sheet. On or before the Restatement Date, Lenders shall have received from Company (i) audited consolidated financial statements of Company and its Subsidiaries for Fiscal Years 2004, 2005 and 2006, consisting of balance sheets and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for such Fiscal Years, audited by independent public accountants of recognized national standing and prepared in conformity with GAAP, together with such accountants’ report thereon, (ii) audited financial statements of Mitchell’s Fish Market for fiscal years 2005 and 2006 and of Cameron’s Steakhouse (but excluding the Cameron’s Steakhouse located in Glendale (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) and the Mitchell’s Steakhouse located at Crosswoods (Columbus, Ohio; relocated to Polaris, Columbus, Ohio)) for fiscal year 2006, consisting of balance sheets and the related statements of income and cash flows for such fiscal years, audited by independent public accountants of recognized national standing and prepared in conformity with GAAP, together with such accountants’ report thereon, (iii) unaudited financial statements of Cameron’s Steakhouse (but excluding the Cameron’s Steakhouse located in Glendale (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)) for fiscal year 2005, consisting of balance sheets and the related statements of income and cash flows for such fiscal year, (iv) unaudited consolidated balance sheets as at the end of the Fiscal Quarters ended March 25, 2007, June 24, 2007, September 30, 2007 and December 30, 2007, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of Company and its Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Quarters and for the period from the beginning of Fiscal Year 2007 to the end of each such Fiscal Quarter, all in reasonable detail and certified by the chief financial officer of Company that they fairly present the financial condition of Company and its Subsidiaries as at the date indicated and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the period indicated, subject to changes resulting from audit and normal year-end adjustments, (v) unaudited balance sheets as at the end of the six-month period ended June 30, 2007 and at the end of the fiscal quarters ended September 30, 2007 and December 30,

 

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2007, and the related statements of income and cash flows of the Acquired Business (but excluding the Cameron’s Steakhouse located in Glendale (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)) for such six-month period, such fiscal quarters and for the period from January 1, 2007 to the end of each such period, all in reasonable detail, subject to changes resulting from audit and normal year-end adjustments, (vi) a pro forma consolidated balance sheet of Company and its Subsidiaries as at the Restatement Date, prepared in accordance with GAAP and reflecting the consummation of the Acquisition, the related financings and the other transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents and the Acquisition Agreement, which pro forma balance sheet shall be in form and substance satisfactory to Administrative Agent, and (vii) projected financial statements consisting of consolidated balance sheets, statements of income and cash flow statements of Company and its Subsidiaries for Fiscal Years 2008 through and including 2013.

E. Opinions of Counsel to Loan Parties. Lenders shall have received originally executed copies of one or more favorable written opinions of Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrère & Denègre, L.L.P., counsel for Loan Parties, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent and its counsel, dated as of the Restatement Date setting forth the matters as Administrative Agent acting on behalf of Lenders may reasonably request (this Agreement constituting a written request by Company to such counsel to deliver such opinions to Lenders).

F. Opinion of Counsel Delivered Under Acquisition Agreement. Company shall make commercially reasonable efforts to obtain a letter from Seller’s counsel authorizing Lenders to rely upon the opinion of such counsel delivered to Company under the Acquisition Agreement to the same extent as though it were addressed to Lenders, together with a copy of such opinion.

G. Evidence of Insurance. Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate from Company’s insurance broker or other evidence satisfactory to it that all insurance required to be maintained pursuant to subsection 6.4 is in full force and effect and that Administrative Agent on behalf of Lenders has been named as additional insured to the extent required under subsection 6.4.

H. Necessary Governmental Authorizations and Consents; Expiration of Waiting Periods, Etc. Company shall have obtained all Governmental Authorizations (other than Liquor Licenses and Permits) and all consents of other Persons, in each case that are necessary or reasonably advisable in connection with the Acquisition, the other transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents and the Acquisition Agreement and the continued operation of the Acquired Business in substantially the same manner as conducted prior to the Restatement Date and to the extent any Liquor License or Permit has not been obtained, Company shall have taken all actions necessary or reasonably advisable in order to continue to operate the Acquired Business in substantially the same manner as conducted prior to the Restatement Date. Each such Governmental Authorization and consent shall be in full force and effect, except in a case where the failure to obtain or maintain a Governmental Authorization or consent, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. All applicable waiting periods shall have expired without any action being taken or threatened by any competent authority that would restrain, prevent or otherwise impose adverse conditions on the Acquisition, the other transactions contemplated by the Loan

 

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Documents or the financing thereof. No action, request for stay, petition for review or rehearing, reconsideration, or appeal with respect to any of the foregoing shall be pending, and the time for any applicable Government Authority to take action to set aside its consent on its own motion shall have expired.

I. Security Interests in Collateral. Administrative Agent shall have received evidence satisfactory to it that Company and Subsidiary Guarantors shall have taken or caused to be taken all such actions, executed and delivered or caused to be executed and delivered all such agreements, documents and instruments, and made or caused to be made all such filings and recordings (other than the filing or recording of items described in clauses (ii) and (iii) below) that may be necessary or, in the opinion of Administrative Agent, desirable in order to create in favor of Administrative Agent, for the benefit of Lenders, a valid and (upon such filing and recording) perfected First Priority security interest in the Collateral. Such actions shall include the following:

(i) Stock Certificates and Instruments . Delivery to Administrative Agent of (a) certificates (which certificates shall be accompanied by irrevocable undated stock powers, duly endorsed in blank and otherwise satisfactory in form and substance to Administrative Agent) representing all Capital Stock pledged pursuant to the Pledge Agreement and (b) all promissory notes or other instruments (duly endorsed, where appropriate, in a manner satisfactory to Administrative Agent) evidencing any Collateral;

(ii) Lien Searches and UCC Termination Statements . Delivery to Administrative Agent of (a) the results of a recent search, by a Person satisfactory to Administrative Agent, of all effective UCC financing statements and fixture filings and all judgment and tax lien filings which may have been made with respect to any personal or mixed property of any Loan Party, together with copies of all such filings disclosed by such search, and (b) duly completed UCC termination statements, and authorization of the filing thereof from the applicable secured party, as may be necessary to terminate any effective UCC financing statements or fixture filings disclosed in such search (other than any such financing statements or fixture filings in respect of Liens permitted to remain outstanding pursuant to the terms of this Agreement); and

(iii) UCC Financing Statements . Delivery to Administrative Agent of duly completed UCC financing statements with respect to all Collateral of such Loan Party, for filing in all jurisdictions as may be necessary or, in the opinion of Administrative Agent, desirable to perfect the security interests created in such Collateral pursuant to the Collateral Documents.

J. Financial Calculations. Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate signed by Company’s chief financial officer demonstrating in reasonable detail Consolidated EBITDA for the four consecutive Fiscal Quarter period ended December 30, 2007 of not less than $59,000,000.

K. Compliance Certificate. Administrative Agent shall have received a Compliance Certificate demonstrating in reasonable detail, after giving pro forma effect to the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents, compliance as of the Restatement Date with the restrictions contained in subsection 7.6B.

 

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L. Completion of Proceedings. All corporate and other proceedings taken or to be taken in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and all documents incidental thereto not previously found acceptable by Administrative Agent, acting on behalf of Lenders, and its counsel shall be satisfactory in form and substance to Administrative Agent and such counsel, and Administrative Agent and such counsel shall have received all such counterpart originals or certified copies of such documents as Administrative Agent may reasonably request.

M. Acquisition Agreement. Any material change in the structure used to consummate the Acquisition (other than with respect to any Liquor License or Permit) contemplated in the Acquisition Agreement shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Co-Lead Arrangers. Administrative Agent shall have received a fully executed or conformed copy of the Acquisition Agreement and any documents executed in connection therewith, and the Acquisition Agreement shall be in full force and effect and in compliance in all material respects with applicable laws and regulations and no provision of the Acquisition Agreement shall have been amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified in any material respect without the prior written consent of Co-Lead Arrangers.

N. Consummation of Acquisition.

(i) All conditions to the Acquisition set forth in Article VIII of the Acquisition Agreement shall have been satisfied or the fulfillment of any such conditions shall have been waived and, in the case of a waiver of any such conditions in any material respect, Co-Lead Arrangers shall have consented to such waiver;

(ii) concurrently with the making of the Loans on the Restatement Date, the Acquisition shall have become effective in accordance with the terms of the Acquisition Agreement;

(iii) the aggregate cash consideration paid to Seller in connection with the Acquisition shall not exceed $96,000,000;

(iv) Transaction Costs shall not exceed $3,000,000, and Administrative Agent shall have received evidence to its satisfaction to such effect; and

(v) Administrative Agent shall have received an Officer’s Certificate of Company to the effect set forth in clauses (i)-(iv) above and stating that Company will proceed to consummate the Acquisition immediately upon the making of the Loans on the Restatement Date.

O. Solvency Assurances. On the Restatement Date, Administrative Agent and Lenders shall have received an Officer’s Certificate of Company, signed by Company’s chief financial officer, dated the Restatement Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit XI annexed hereto and with appropriate attachments, demonstrating that, after giving effect to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents, Company and each Subsidiary Guarantor on a consolidated basis will be Solvent.

 

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P. Patriot Act Certificate. Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate satisfactory to it, for benefit of itself and Lenders, provided by Company that sets forth information required by the Patriot Act including the identity of Company, the name and address of Company and other information that will allow Administrative Agent or any Lender, as applicable, to identify Company in accordance with the Patriot Act.

 

4.2

Conditions to All Loans

The obligation of each Lender to make its Loans on each Funding Date are subject to the following further conditions precedent:

A. Administrative Agent shall have received before that Funding Date, in accordance with the provisions of subsection 2.1B, a duly executed Notice of Borrowing, in each case signed by a duly authorized Officer of Company.

B. As of that Funding Date:

(i) The representations and warranties contained herein and in the other Loan Documents shall be true, correct and complete in all material respects on and as of that Funding Date to the same extent as though made on and as of that date, except to the extent such representations and warranties specifically relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall have been true, correct and complete in all material respects on and as of such earlier date; provided , that, if a representation and warranty is qualified as to materiality, the materiality qualifier set forth above shall be disregarded with respect to such representation and warranty for purposes of this condition;

(ii) No event shall have occurred and be continuing or would result from the consummation of the borrowing contemplated by such Notice of Borrowing that would constitute an Event of Default or a Potential Event of Default;

(iii) Each Loan Party shall have performed in all material respects all agreements and satisfied all conditions which this Agreement provides shall be performed or satisfied by it on or before that Funding Date; and

(iv) No order, judgment or decree of any arbitrator or Government Authority shall purport to enjoin or restrain such Lender from making the Loans to be made by it on that Funding Date.

 

4.3

Conditions to Letters of Credit

The issuance of any Letter of Credit hereunder (whether or not Issuing Lender is obligated to issue such Letter of Credit) is subject to the following conditions precedent:

A. On or before the date of issuance of the initial Letter of Credit pursuant to this Agreement, the initial Loans shall have been made.

 

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B. On or before the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit, Administrative Agent shall have received, in accordance with the provisions of subsection 3.1B(i), an originally executed Request for Issuance (or a facsimile copy thereof) in each case signed by a duly authorized Officer of Company, together with all other information specified in subsection 3.1B(i) and such other documents or information as Issuing Lender may reasonably require in connection with the issuance of such Letter of Credit.

C. On the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit, all conditions precedent described in subsection 4.2B shall be satisfied to the same extent as if the issuance of such Letter of Credit were the making of a Loan and the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit were a Funding Date.

Section 5. COMPANY’S REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

In order to induce Lenders to enter into this Agreement and to make the Loans, to induce Issuing Lender to issue Letters of Credit and to induce Revolving Lenders to purchase participations therein, Company represents and warrants to each Lender:

 

5.1

Organization, Powers, Qualification, Good Standing, Business and Subsidiaries

A. Organization and Powers. Company is a corporation, partnership, trust or limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization as specified in Schedule 5.1 annexed hereto. Company has all requisite power and authority to own and operate its properties, to carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted, to enter into the Acquisition Agreement and the Loan Documents to which it is a party and to carry out the transactions contemplated thereby.

B. Qualification and Good Standing. Company is qualified to do business and in good standing in every jurisdiction where its assets are located and wherever necessary to carry out its business and operations, except in jurisdictions where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing has not had and could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

C. Conduct of Business. Company and its Subsidiaries are engaged only in the businesses permitted to be engaged in pursuant to subsection 7.10.

D. Subsidiaries. All of the Subsidiaries of Company as of the Restatement Date and their jurisdictions of organization are identified in Schedule 5.1 annexed hereto. The Capital Stock of each of the Subsidiaries of Company identified in Schedule 5.1 annexed hereto is duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and none of such Capital Stock constitutes Margin Stock. Each of the Subsidiaries of Company identified in Schedule 5.1 annexed hereto is a corporation, partnership, trust or limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its respective jurisdiction of organization set forth therein, has all requisite power and authority to own and operate its properties and to

 

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carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted, and is qualified to do business and in good standing in every jurisdiction where its assets are located and wherever necessary to carry out its business and operations, in each case except where failure to be so qualified or in good standing or a lack of such power and authority has not had and could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Schedule 5.1 annexed hereto correctly sets forth the ownership interest of Company and each of its Subsidiaries in each of the Subsidiaries of Company identified therein.

 

5.2

Authorization of Borrowing, etc.

A. Authorization of Borrowing. The execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents and the Acquisition Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of each Loan Party that is a party thereto.

B. No Conflict. The execution, delivery and performance by Loan Parties of the Loan Documents and the Acquisition Agreement to which they are parties and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents and the Acquisition Agreement do not and will not (i) violate any provision of any law or any governmental rule or regulation applicable to Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the Organizational Documents of Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any order, judgment or decree of any court or other Government Authority binding on Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute (with due notice or lapse of time or both) a default under any Contractual Obligation of Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii) result in or require the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than any Liens created under any of the Loan Documents in favor of Administrative Agent on behalf of Lenders), or (iv) require any approval of stockholders or any approval or consent of any Person under any Contractual Obligation of Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except for Liquor Licenses and Permits and such other approvals or consents which will be obtained on or before the Restatement Date and disclosed in writing to Lenders.

C. Governmental Consents. The execution, delivery and performance by Loan Parties of the Loan Documents and the Acquisition Agreement to which they are parties and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents and the Acquisition Agreement do not and will not require any Governmental Authorization, except for Liquor Licenses, Permits and any other Governmental Authorizations that have been obtained.

D. Binding Obligation. Each of the Loan Documents and the Acquisition Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party that is a party thereto and is the legally valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against such Loan Party in accordance with its respective terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforce