Exhibit
10.20
This instrument and
the rights and obligations evidenced hereby, the liens and security
interests securing the indebtedness and other obligations incurred
or arising under or evidenced by this instrument and the rights and
obligations evidenced hereby with respect to such liens are
subordinate in the manner and to the extent set forth in that
certain Intercreditor and Lien Subordination Agreement (as the same
may be amended or otherwise modified from time to time pursuant to
the terms thereof, the “ Subordination Agreement ”), dated as of January 18, 2008 between
LASALLE BANK NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION , as
Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent (the “
Senior Agent ”) for the Lenders (collectively, and
together with the Senior Agent and any of their successors and
assigns, including any other lender or lenders that at any time
refinance or replace the Senior Debt referred to below, the
“ Senior
Creditors ”) pursuant
to that certain Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated
as of February 20, 2007 (the “ Senior Credit Agreement ”), and PWJ
LENDING II LLC , as
Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent (the “
Subordinating Agent
”), for the Agents and the
Lenders (collectively, the Subordinating Agent together with the
Agents and Lenders party to the Subordinated Credit Agreement, the
“ Subordinating
Creditors ”) party to
that certain Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of January 18,
2008 (the “ Subordinated Credit Agreement ”), and WHITEHALL JEWELERS, INC ., a Delaware corporation (the “
Borrower ”), as such Senior Credit Agreement has been and
hereafter may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time as permitted under the Subordination
Agreement and to the liens and security interests securing
indebtedness refinancing the indebtedness under such agreements as
permitted by the Subordination Agreement; and each holder of this
instrument, by its acceptance hereof, irrevocably agrees to be
bound by the provisions of the Subordination Agreement applicable
to the Subordinating Creditors as if such holder were a
Subordinating Creditor for all purposes of the Subordination
Agreement.
TERM LOAN CREDIT
AGREEMENT
Dated as of January 18,
2008
by and among
WHITEHALL JEWELERS,
INC.,
as Borrower
THE LENDING INSTITUTIONS
FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO, as Lenders
and
PWJ LENDING II
LLC,
as Administrative Agent and Collateral
Agent,
for the Agents and the Lenders
| TABLE OF
CONTENTS |
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| 1. |
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DEFINITIONS AND RULES OF
INTERPRETATION |
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1 |
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| 2. |
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TERM LOANS
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13 |
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INTENTIONALLY
OMITTED |
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15 |
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INTENTIONALLY
OMITTED |
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15 |
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| 5. |
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CERTAIN GENERAL
PROVISIONS |
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15 |
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COLLATERAL
SECURITY |
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20 |
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REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES |
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20 |
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AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS OF
THE BORROWER |
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26 |
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CERTAIN NEGATIVE
COVENANTS OF THE BORROWER |
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34 |
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FINANCIAL COVENANTS OF
THE BORROWER |
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40 |
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| 11. |
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CLOSING
CONDITIONS |
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40 |
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INTENTIONALLY
DELETED |
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44 |
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| 13. |
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EVENTS OF DEFAULT;
ACCELERATION; ETC |
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44 |
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SETOFF
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47 |
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THE AGENTS
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EXPENSES
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55 |
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INDEMNIFICATION
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55 |
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SURVIVAL OF COVENANTS,
ETC |
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56 |
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ASSIGNMENT AND
PARTICIPATION |
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57 |
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NOTICES, ETC
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60 |
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GOVERNING LAW
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60 |
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HEADINGS
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COUNTERPARTS
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61 |
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ENTIRE AGREEMENT,
ETC |
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61 |
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WAIVER OF JURY
TRIAL |
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61 |
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INTENTIONALLY
OMITTED |
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SEVERABILITY
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INTERCREDITOR
AGREEMENT |
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62 |
- i -
TERM LOAN CREDIT
AGREEMENT
This TERM LOAN
CREDIT AGREEMENT is made as of
January 18, 2008, by and among (a) WHITEHALL JEWELERS, INC. (the
“ Borrower
”), a Delaware corporation having its
principal place of business at 125 South Wacker Drive, Suite 2600,
Chicago, Illinois 60606, (b) the lending
institutions from time to time party hereto (collectively, the
“ Lenders “), and (c) PWJ LENDING II LLC
(“ Prentice ”), a Delaware limited liability
company, as administrative agent (in such
capacity, the “ Administrative Agent ”) and the
collateral agent (in such capacity, the “ Collateral
Agent ”) for the Agents (as hereinafter defined) and the
Lenders.
WHEREAS , the
Borrower has requested that the Lenders make an initial term loan
to the Borrower in the aggregate principal amount of up to
$25,000,000 and, if Availability under the Senior Credit Agreement
is less than $5,000,000, an additional term loan to the Borrower in
the aggregate principal amount of up to $10,000,000, in each case
for, among other things, general corporate and working capital
purposes; and
WHEREAS , the
Lenders are willing to provide such loans on the terms and
conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements
contained herein and benefits to be derived herefrom, the Borrower,
the Lenders and the Agents agree as follows:
1.
DEFINITIONS AND RULES OF
INTERPRETATION .
1.1
Definitions .
The following terms shall have the meanings set forth in this
Section 1 or elsewhere in the provisions of this Credit
Agreement referred to below:
Administrative Agent . Prentice, in its capacity as administrative agent for the
benefit of Lenders and the Agents and with respect to the Security
Documents.
Administrative Agent’s Head
Office . The Administrative
Agent’s head office located at 623 Fifth Avenue, 32nd Floor,
New York, New York 10022.
Administrative Agent’s Special
Counsel . Schulte Roth & Zabel
LLP, or such other counsel as may be approved by the Administrative
Agent.
Affiliate . Any
Person (other than Prentice, its Affiliates, associates and Related
Funds) that would be considered to be an affiliate of the Borrower
under Rule 144(a) of the Rules and Regulations of the Securities
and Exchange Commission, as in effect on the date hereof, if the
Borrower were issuing securities.
Agents .
Collectively, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral
Agent.
Asset Disposition Prepayment
. See Section
5.4.3 .
Assignment and Acceptance
. See Section
19.1 .
Availability .
As defined in the Senior Credit Agreement
Balance Sheet Date . December 31, 2006.
Blocked Account Agreement
. Each Blocked Account Agreement entered into by
the Borrower, the Senior Administrative Agent and a depository
institution satisfactory to the Senior Administrative Agent, which
shall be in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative
Agent.
Borrower . As
defined in the preamble hereto.
Borrowing Base Report . A Borrowing Base Report , as defined in and as
attached to the Senior Credit Agreement as Exhibit H.
Business Day .
Any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, on which banking
institutions in Chicago, Illinois and New York, New York are open
for the transaction of banking business.
Capital Assets . Fixed and/or capital assets, both tangible (such as land,
buildings, fixtures, samples, tools and die, software, software
development, machinery and equipment) and intangible (such as
software, patents, copyrights, trademarks, franchises and
goodwill); provided
that Capital Assets shall not include any item
customarily charged directly to expense or depreciated over a
useful life of twelve (12) months or less in accordance with
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.
Capital Expenditures . Amounts paid or indebtedness incurred by the Borrower or
any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the purchase or lease by
the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of Capital Assets that
would be required to be capitalized and shown on the balance sheet
of such Person in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting
Principles.
Capitalized Leases . Leases under which the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries is the lessee or obligor, the discounted future rental
payment obligations under which are required to be capitalized on
the balance sheet of the lessee or obligor in accordance with
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.
CERCLA .
See Section 7.18
.
Closing Fee .
See Section 5.6 .
Code . The
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Collateral .
All of the property, rights and interests of the Borrower that are
or are intended to be subject to the security interests created by
the Security Documents.
Collateral Agent . Prentice, in its capacity as collateral agent for the
benefit of Lenders and the Agents under and with respect to the
Security Documents.
Collateral Agent Advance
. See Section
15.10 .
- 2 -
Commitments .
With respect to each Lender, its respective Initial Term Loan
Commitment and Second Term Loan Commitment.
Commitment Percentage . With respect to each Lender, the percentage set forth on
Schedule 1 hereto as such Lender’s percentage of the Total
Commitments.
Consolidated or consolidated
. With reference to any term defined herein,
shall mean that term as applied to the accounts of the Borrower and
its Subsidiaries, consolidated in accordance with Generally
Accepted Accounting Principles.
Consolidated EBITDA . With respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and any
particular fiscal period, the consolidated earnings (or loss) from
operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period,
after eliminating therefrom all non-cash extraordinary nonrecurring
items of income (including gains on the sale of assets and earnings
from the sale of discontinued business lines), and after all
expenses and other proper charges, but before payment or provision
for (a) any income taxes or interest expenses for such period, (b)
depreciation for such period, (c) amortization for such period, and
(d) all other non-cash charges for such period, all determined in
accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting
Principles.
Credit Agreement . This Credit Agreement, including the Schedules and
Exhibits hereto, as may be amended, modified or restated from time
to time.
Default .
See Section 13.1
.
Delinquent Lender . Means any Lender that fails (i) to make available to the
Administrative Agent its pro rata share of any Loan in accordance
with its Commitments or (ii) to comply with the provisions
of Section 15 with respect to making dispositions and arrangements with
the other Lenders, where such Lender’s share of any payment
received, whether by setoff or otherwise, is in excess of its pro
rata share of such payments due and payable to all of the Lenders,
in each case as, when and to the full extent required by the
provisions of this Credit Agreement. A “Delinquent
Lender” shall be deemed a Delinquent Lender until such time
as such delinquency is satisfied.
Distribution .
The declaration or payment of any dividend on or in respect of any
shares of any class of capital stock of the Borrower, other than
dividends payable solely in shares of common stock of the Borrower;
the purchase, redemption, or other retirement of any shares of any
class of capital stock of the Borrower, directly or indirectly
through a Subsidiary of the Borrower or otherwise; the return of
capital by the Borrower to its shareholders as such; or any other
distribution on or in respect of any shares of any class of capital
stock of the Borrower.
Dollars or $ . Dollars in lawful currency of the United States of
America.
Eligible Assignee . Any of (i) a commercial bank or finance company organized
under the laws of the United States, or any State thereof or the
District of Columbia, and having total assets in excess of
$1,000,000,000; (ii) any Affiliate or Related Fund of an Agent or
Lender; (iii) a savings and loan association or savings bank
organized under the laws of the United States, or any State thereof
or the District of Columbia, and having a net worth of at least
$100,000,000, calculated in accordance with Generally Accepted
Accounting Principles; (iv) a
- 3 -
commercial bank organized
under the laws of any other country which is a member of the
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (the
“OECD”), or a political subdivision of any such
country, and having total assets in excess of
$1,000,000,000, provided
that such bank is acting through a branch or
agency located in the country in which it is organized or another
country which is also a member of the OECD; (v) the central bank of
any country which is a member of the OECD; and (vi) any other bank,
insurance company, commercial finance company or other financial
institution or other Person approved by the Administrative Agent,
such approval not to be unreasonably withheld.
Employee Benefit Plan . Any employee benefit plan within the meaning of Section
3(3) of ERISA maintained of contributed to by the Borrower or any
ERISA Affiliate, other than a Multiemployer Plan.
Environmental Laws . See Section
7.18(a) .
ERISA . The
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
ERISA Affiliate . Any Person which is treated as a single employer with the
Borrower under Section 414 of the Code.
ERISA Reportable Event . A reportable event with respect to a Guaranteed Pension
Plan within the meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA and the
regulations promulgated thereunder as to which the requirement of
notice has not been waived.
Event of Default . See Section 13.1
.
Foreign Subsidiary . See Section 8.19
.
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles or
GAAP . (i) When used in
Section 10 ,
whether directly or indirectly through reference to a capitalized
term used therein, means (A) principles that are consistent with
the principles promulgated or adopted by the Financial Accounting
Standards Board and its predecessors, in effect for the fiscal year
ended on the Balance Sheet Date, and (B) to the extent consistent
with such principles, the accounting practice of the Borrower
reflected in its financial statements for the year ended on the
Balance Sheet Date; provided ,
however , that
if any change in such principles promulgated by the Financial
Accounting Standards Board and its predecessors following the
Balance Sheet Date would affect (or would result in a change in the
method of calculation of) any of the covenants set forth in
Section 10 or
any definition related thereto, then the Borrower, the Agents and
the Lenders will negotiate in good faith to amend all such
covenants and definitions as would be affected by such changes in
such principles to the extent necessary to maintain the economic
terms of such covenants as in effect under this Credit Agreement
immediately prior to giving effect to such changes in such
principles; provided
further that
until the amendment of such covenants and definitions shall have
been agreed upon by the Borrower, the Agents and the Required
Lenders, the covenants and definitions in effect immediately prior
to such amendment shall remain in effect and any determination of
compliance with any covenant set forth in Section 10 shall be construed
in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles as in
effect immediately prior to such amendment and consistently
applied, and (ii) when used in general, other than as provided
above, means principles that are (A) consistent with the principles
promulgated or
- 4 -
adopted by the Financial
Accounting Standards Board and its predecessors, as in effect from
time to time, and (B) consistently applied with past financial
statements of the Borrower adopting the same principles, provided
that in each case referred to in this definition of
“Generally Accepted Accounting Principles” a certified
public accountant would, insofar as the use of such accounting
principles is pertinent, be in a position to deliver an unqualified
opinion (other than a qualification regarding changes in Generally
Accepted Accounting Principles) as to financial statements in which
such principles have been properly applied.
Guaranteed Pension Plan
. Any employee pension benefit plan within the
meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA maintained or contributed to by
the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate the benefits of which are
guaranteed on termination in full or in part by the PBGC pursuant
to Title IV of ERISA, other than a Multiemployer Plan.
Guarantor .
Whitehall Jewelers Holdings, Inc., a Delaware
corporation.
Guaranty . The
Guaranty Agreement executed by the Guarantor in favor of the
Collateral Agent, substantially in the form of
Exhibit B , as
the same may be amended, modified or restated from time to
time.
Hazardous Substances . See Section
7.18(b) .
Headquarters Landlord Consent
. The Landlord Consent and Waiver, to be given
by the lessor with respect to the Borrower’s leased real
property located in Chicago, Illinois at which the Borrower
maintains its headquarters and central warehouse, such Headquarters
Landlord Consent being in form and substance satisfactory to the
Lenders and the Agents.
Indebtedness .
As to any Person and whether recourse is secured by or is otherwise
available against all or only a portion of the assets of such
Person and whether or not contingent, but without
duplication:
(i) every obligation of such Person for
money borrowed,
(ii) every obligation
of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other
similar instruments, including obligations incurred in connection
with the acquisition of property, assets or businesses,
(iii) every reimbursement obligation of
such Person with respect to letters of credit, bankers’
acceptances or similar facilities issued for the account of such
Person,
(iv) every obligation of such Person issued
or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services
(including securities repurchase agreements but excluding trade
accounts payable or accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary
course of business which are not overdue or which are being
contested in good faith),
(v) every obligation of such Person under
any Capitalized Lease,
(vi) every obligation
of such Person under any lease (generally referred to as being a
“synthetic lease”) treated as an operating lease under
Generally Accepted Accounting
- 5 -
Principles and as a loan or
financing for United States income tax purposes and pursuant to
which the lessee retains economic risk with respect to the value of
the residual interest in the leased property,
(vii) all sales by such Person of (A)
accounts or general intangibles for money due or to become due, (B)
chattel paper, instruments or documents creating or evidencing a
right to payment of money or (C) other receivables (collectively
“receivables”), whether pursuant to a purchase facility
or otherwise, other than in connection with the disposition of the
business operations of such Person relating thereto or a
disposition of defaulted receivables for collection and not as a
financing arrangement, and together with any obligation of such
Person to pay any discount, interest, fees, indemnities, penalties,
recourse, expenses or other amounts in connection
therewith,
(viii) every obligation of such Person (an
“equity related purchase obligation”) to purchase,
redeem, retire or otherwise acquire for value any shares of capital
stock of any class issued by such Person, any warrants, options or
other rights to acquire any such shares, or any rights measured by
the value of such shares, warrants, options or other
rights,
(ix) every obligation of such Person under
any forward contract, futures contract, swap, option or other
financing agreement or arrangement (including, without limitation,
caps, floors, collars and similar agreements), the value of which
is dependent upon interest rates, currency exchange rates,
commodities or other indices,
(x) every obligation in respect of
Indebtedness of any other entity (including any partnership in
which such Person is a general partner) to the extent that such
Person is liable therefor as a result of such Person’s
ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity,
except to the extent that the terms of such Indebtedness provide
that such Person is not liable therefor and such terms are
enforceable under applicable law, and
(xi) every obligation, contingent or
otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing, or having the economic
effect of guarantying or otherwise acting as surety for, any
obligation of a type described in any of clauses (i) through (x)
(the “primary obligation”) of another Person (the
“primary obligor”), in any manner, whether directly or
indirectly, and including, without limitation, any obligation of
such Person (A) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for
the purchase of) any security for the payment of such primary
obligation, (B) to purchase property, securities or services for
the purpose of assuring the payment of such primary obligation, or
(C) to maintain working capital, equity capital or other financial
statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to
enable the primary obligor to pay such primary
obligation.
The “amount” or “principal
amount” of any Indebtedness at any time of determination
represented by (w) any Indebtedness, issued at a price that is less
than the principal amount at maturity thereof, shall be the amount
of the liability in respect thereof determined in accordance with
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, (x) any Capitalized Lease
shall be the principal component of the aggregate of the rentals
obligation under such Capitalized Lease payable over the term
thereof that is not subject to termination by the lessee, (y) any
sale of receivables shall be the amount of unrecovered capital or
principal investment of the purchaser (other than the
- 6 -
Borrower or any of its
wholly-owned Subsidiaries) thereof, excluding amounts
representative of yield or interest earned on such investment, and
(z) any equity related purchase obligation shall be the maximum
fixed redemption or purchase price thereof inclusive of any accrued
and unpaid dividends to be comprised in such redemption or purchase
price.
Initial Closing Date . The first date on which the conditions set forth
in Sections 11.1
through 11.25 have been satisfied or
waived and the Initial Term Loan is made.
Initial Term Loan . See Section
2.1(a) .
Initial Term Loan Commitment
. With respect to each Lender, the amount set
forth on Schedule 1
hereto as the amount of such Lender’s
commitment to make the Initial Term Loan to the Borrower pursuant
to the terms of the Credit Agreement.
Initial Term Loan Notes
. See Section
2.1(a) .
Intercreditor Agreement
. That certain Intercreditor and Lien
Subordination Agreement entered into by and between the Collateral
Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, and the Senior Collateral Agent,
on behalf of the Senior Lenders, dated as of January 18, 2008, as
the same may be amended, modified or restated from time to
time.
Interest Payment Date . See Section 2.3
.
Interest Rate .
See Section 2.3 .
Investments .
All expenditures made and all liabilities incurred (contingently or
otherwise) for the acquisition of stock or Indebtedness of, or for
loans, advances, capital contributions or transfers of property to,
or in respect of any guaranties (or other commitments as described
under Indebtedness), or obligations of, any Person. In determining
the aggregate amount of Investments outstanding at any particular
time: (i) the amount of any Investment represented by a guaranty
shall be taken at not less than the principal amount of the
obligations guaranteed and still outstanding; (ii) there shall be
included as an Investment all interest accrued with respect to
Indebtedness constituting an Investment unless and until such
interest is paid; (iii) there shall be deducted in respect of each
such Investment any amount received as a return of capital (but
only by repurchase, redemption, retirement, repayment, liquidating
dividend or liquidating distribution); (iv) there shall not be
deducted in respect of any Investment any amounts received as
earnings on such Investment, whether as dividends, interest or
otherwise, except that accrued interest included as provided in the
foregoing clause (ii) may be deducted when paid; and (v) there
shall not be deducted from the aggregate amount of Investments any
decrease in the value thereof.
Landlord Waiver . Collectively, each waiver from the lessor or sublessor of
property leased by the Borrower as lessee, substantially in the
form of a Collateral Access Agreement (as defined in the Senior
Credit Agreement).
Lenders . Each
of the lending institutions party hereto and any other Person who
becomes an assignee of any rights and obligations of a Lender
pursuant to Section 19.
- 7 -
Loan Account .
See Section 5.2.1.
Loan Documents . This Credit Agreement, the Notes, the Security Documents,
and all other agreements, instruments, and other documents executed
and delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or otherwise evidencing,
guaranteeing or securing the Loans or any other
Obligations.
Loans . The
Term Loans and any other loans made by one or more of the Lenders
to the Borrower pursuant to the terms of the Credit
Agreement.
Majority Lenders . As of any date, the Lenders (other than Delinquent
Lenders) whose aggregate Commitments together constitute fifty-one
percent (51%) of the Total Commitment.
Mandatory Prepayments . Each of the Senior Facility Termination Prepayment, Asset
Disposition Prepayment, and New Issuance Prepayment, in each case
pursuant to Section 5.4.
Maturity Date .
The earliest to occur of (i) one day after the “Maturity
Date” under (and as defined in) the Senior Credit Agreement,
(ii) the date on which the maturity of the Loans is accelerated in
accordance with Section 13.1, and (iii) the date of the occurrence
of an Event of Default pursuant to Sections 13.1(g) and
(h).
Monthly Inventory Report
. A Monthly Inventory Report signed by the
Controller, Senior Vice President of Finance or principal financial
or accounting officer of the Borrower in substantially the form
of Exhibit C hereto.
Multiemployer Plan . Any multiemployer plan within the meaning of Section
3(37) of ERISA maintained or contributed to by the Borrower or any
ERISA Affiliate.
Net Proceeds .
With respect to any sale or other disposition of any asset by any
Person or any issuance of Indebtedness or equity securities of such
Person, the excess of (i) the gross cash proceeds received by such
Person from such sale or disposition or, as the case may be, such
issuance, plus , as and when received, all cash payments received
subsequent to such sale or disposition or such issuance
representing (A) any deferred purchase price therefor or (B) any
cash proceeds from the sale or other disposition of any cash
equivalents (or any deferred purchase price obligations) received
therefor over (ii) the sum of (A) a reasonable reserve for any
liabilities payable incident to such sale or disposition or such
issuance, (B) reasonable direct costs and expenses incurred by such
Person in connection with such sale or disposition or such issuance
(including, without limitation, reasonable brokerage, legal,
investment banking, accounting, consulting, survey, title and
recording fees and commissions), (C) all payments actually made on
any Indebtedness (other than the Obligations) or other obligations
which are secured by any assets subject to such sale or disposition
which are required to be repaid out of the proceeds from such
transaction and (D) actual tax payments made or to be made in
connection therewith.
New Issuance Prepayment
. See Section
5.4.4 .
Notes . Each of
the Initial Term Loan Notes and the Second Term Loan
Notes.
- 8 -
Obligations .
All indebtedness, obligations and liabilities of any of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries to any of the Lenders and the Agents,
individually or collectively, existing on the date of this Credit
Agreement or arising thereafter, direct or indirect, joint or
several, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, liquidated
or unliquidated, secured or unsecured, arising by contract,
operation of law or otherwise, arising or incurred under this
Credit Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or in respect
of the Loans or any of the Notes or other instruments or documents
at any time evidencing any thereof.
Outstanding .
With respect to any Loan, the aggregate unpaid principal thereof as
of any date of determination.
PBGC . The
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation created by Section 4002 of
ERISA and any successor entity or entities having similar
responsibilities.
Payment Office . The Agents’ office located at the address set forth
in Section 20(b)
, or at such other office or offices of the
Agents as may be designated in writing from time to time by the
Agents to the Borrower.
Permitted Inventory Locations
. The retail stores and distribution centers of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries located in the United States of
America and listed on Schedule
2 hereto, as such
Schedule 2 may
be supplemented from time to time in accordance with the provisions
of Section 8.4(j)
.
Permitted Liens . Liens, security interests and other encumbrances
permitted by Section 9.2
.
Person . Any
individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company,
trust, unincorporated association, business, or other legal entity,
and any government or any governmental agency or political
subdivision thereof.
Prentice . See
preamble hereto.
Prentice Lenders . Prentice, in its capacity as a Lender, and all other
Lenders that are successors to or assignees of Prentice.
Real Estate .
All real property at any time owned or leased (as lessee or
sublessee) by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.
Record . The
grid attached to a Note, or the continuation of such grid, or any
other similar record, including computer records, maintained by any
Lender with respect to any Loan referred to in such
Note.
Register .
See Section 19.3
.
Registered Loan . See Section 19.3
.
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Related Fund .
With respect to any Lender or Agent which is a fund that invests in
loans, any other such fund managed by the same investment advisor
as such Lender or Agent or by an Affiliate of such Lender or Agent
or such advisor.
Required Lenders . As of any date, the Lenders (other than Delinquent
Lenders) whose aggregate Commitments together constitute at least
sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2 / 3 %) of
the Total Commitment.
Second Closing Date . The first date on which the conditions set forth
in Section 11.26
have been satisfied or waived and the Second
Term Loan is made to the Borrower.
Second Term Loan . See Section
2.1(b) .
Second Term Loan Commitment
. With respect to each Lender, the amount set
forth on Schedule 1
hereto as the amount of such Lender’s
commitment to make the Second Term Loan to the Borrower pursuant to
the terms of the Credit Agreement.
Second Term Loan Notes . See Section
2.1(b) .
Security Agreement . The Security Agreement, dated as of the date hereof,
between the Borrower and the Collateral Agent, as may be amended,
modified or restated from time to time.
Security Documents . The Security Agreement, the Headquarters Landlord
Consent, the Landlord Waivers, the Security Interest Grant in
Patents, the Security Interest Grant in Trademarks, all Blocked
Account Agreements, the Guaranty and all other agreements,
instruments and other documents guaranteeing or securing the Loans
or any other Obligations, as each may be amended, modified or
restated from time to time.
Security Interest Grant in Patents
. The Security Interest Grant Patents, dated as
of the date hereof, executed by the Borrower in favor of the
Agents.
Security Interest Grant in
Trademarks . The Security Interest
Grant Trademarks, dated as of the date hereof, executed by the
Borrower in favor of the Agents.
Senior Administrative Agent
. LaSalle Bank National Association, in its
capacity as Administrative Agent for the Senior Lenders under the
Senior Credit Agreement.
Senior Agents .
LaSalle Bank National Association (or any successor) in its
capacity as administrative agent and collateral agent under the
Senior Credit Agreement, ABN Amro Bank N.V. in its capacity as
syndication agent under the Senior Credit Agreement and JPMorgan
Chase Bank in its capacity as documentation agent under the Senior
Credit Agreement.
Senior Collateral Agent
. LaSalle Bank National Association, in its
capacity as Collateral Agent for the Senior Lenders under the
Senior Credit Agreement.
Senior Credit Agreement
. The Third Amended and Restated Credit
Agreement, dated as of February 20, 2007, among the Borrower,
LaSalle Bank National Association, as administrative agent for the
banks from time to time party thereto, LaSalle Bank
National
- 10 -
Association, as Collateral
Agent for the Senior Lenders and the other agents and parties from
time to time party thereto, as the same may be amended, amended and
restated, supplemented, refinanced or otherwise modified and in
effect from time to time.
Senior Lenders . The financial institutions from time to time party to the
Senior Credit Agreement.
Senior Loan Documents . In each case as the following terms are defined under the
Senior Credit Agreement: the Credit Agreement, the Notes, the
Letter of Credit Applications, the Letters of Credit, the Fee
Letter and the Security Documents.
Specified Lease . A lease by the Borrower as lessee of Real Estate at which
Inventory is held and as to which at any time either (a) the
Borrower and the Agents have not received a Landlord Waiver or (b)
the Administrative Agent has not received evidence, in form and
substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, that, based
upon then existing law (as determined by the Administrative Agent
in the exercise of its reasonable discretion and on the advice of
counsel), the landlord of such property would not have a lien on
inventory superior to the security interest granted under the
Security Agreement, securing rent obligations more than thirty (30)
days past due or securing future rent obligations accruing after
the Initial Closing Date.
Store Accounts . Depository accounts in depository institutions for, or on
behalf of, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and listed
on Schedule 7.20
hereto (as such may be amended from time to time
in accordance with the terms hereof).
Subordinated Indebtedness
. Any Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries the terms of which are satisfactory to the Agents and
the Majority Lenders and which has been expressly subordinated in
right of payment to all Obligations of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries under the Loan Documents (and which has a maturity
date after the Maturity Date) by the execution and delivery of a
subordination agreement, in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Agents and the Majority Lenders, or otherwise
on terms and conditions (including, without limitation,
subordination provisions, payment terms, interest rates, covenants,
remedies, defaults and other material terms) reasonably
satisfactory to the Agents and the Majority Lenders.
Subsidiary .
Any corporation, association, trust, or other business entity of
which the designated parent shall at any time own directly or
indirectly through a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries at least a majority
(by number of votes) of the outstanding Voting Stock.
Supplier or Suppliers . Individually and collectively, one or more suppliers of
inventory to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.
Term Loan . The
Initial Term Loan or the Second Term Loan, as
applicable.
Term Loans .
The Initial Term Loan and the Second Term Loan.
Term Loan Note Record . Each Record with respect to a Note.
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Total Commitment . The sum of the Commitments of the Lenders, such amount
being equal to $35,000,000 as of the
Initial Closing Date.
Trade Vendor Extension Agreement
. Collectively, that certain Amended Trade
Vendor Extension Agreement entered into by and between the
Borrower, Prentice Capital Management LP, and certain Suppliers, as
contemplated by the Trade Vendor Term Sheet, the Trade Vendor Term
Sheet and any notes or other documents and agreements entered into
in connection therewith, as such notes or other documents and
agreements may have been amended prior to the date
hereof.
Trade Vendor Term Sheet
. That certain binding term sheet entitled Terms
for Treatment of Trade Indebtedness of Whitehall Jewelers, Inc.,
entered into by and among the Borrower, Prentice Capital Management
LP and certain Suppliers in September 2005.
Unanimous Lenders . As of any date, the Lenders (other than Delinquent
Lenders) whose aggregate Commitments together constitute One
hundred percent (100%) of the Total Commitment.
Voting Stock .
Stock or similar interests, of any class or classes (however
designated), the holders of which are at the time entitled, as such
holders, to vote for the election of a majority of the directors
(or persons performing similar functions) of the corporation,
association, trust or other business entity involved, whether or
not the right so to vote exists by reason of the happening of a
contingency.
1.2
Rules of Interpretation
.
(a) A reference to
any document or agreement shall include such document or agreement
as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in
accordance with its terms and the terms of this Credit
Agreement.
(b) The singular
includes the plural and the plural includes the
singular.
(c) A reference to
any law includes any amendment or modification to such
law.
(d) A reference to
any Person includes its permitted successors and permitted
assigns.
(e) Accounting
terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to
them by Generally Accepted Accounting Principles applied on a
consistent basis by the accounting entity to which they
refer.
(f) The words
“include”, “includes” and
“including” are not limiting.
(g) All terms not
specifically defined herein or by Generally Accepted Accounting
Principles, which terms are defined in the Uniform Commercial Code
as in effect in the State of New York, as in effect from time to
time, have the meanings assigned to them therein.
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(h) Reference to a
particular “Section” refers to that section of this
Credit Agreement unless otherwise indicated.
(i) The words
“herein”, “hereof”, “hereunder”
and words of like import shall refer to this Credit Agreement as a
whole and not to any particular section or subdivision of this
Credit Agreement.
2.
TERM LOANS .
2.1
Term Loans .
(a) Each Lender
severally and not jointly with any other Lender, agrees, upon the
terms and subject to the conditions herein set forth, on the
Initial Closing Date to make a term loan to the Borrower in a
single drawing in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the
amount of such Lender’s Initial Term Loan Commitment (the
“ Initial Term Loan
”); provided that the aggregate
principal amount of the Initial Term Loan shall equal
$25,000,000 .
(b) Each Lender
severally and not jointly with any other Lender, agrees, upon the
terms and subject to the conditions herein set forth, on the Second
Closing Date to make a second term loan to the Borrower in a single
drawing in an aggregate principal amount of such Lender’s
Second Term Loan Commitment (the “ Second Term Loan ”); provided
that the aggregate principal amount of the
Second Term Loan shall equal $10,000,000 .
(c) The Initial
Term Loan shall be made by the Lenders simultaneously on the
Initial Closing Date and in accordance with their respective
Initial Term Loan Commitment. The Second Term Loan shall be made by
the Lenders simultaneously on the Second Closing Date and in
accordance with their respective Second Term Loan Commitment. The
failure of any Lender to make its portion of either Term Loan shall
neither relieve any other Lender of its obligation to fund its
portion of such Term Loan in accordance with the provisions of this
Credit Agreement nor increase the obligation of any such other
Lender.
(d) Any portion of
a Term Loan that is repaid may not be reborrowed.
(e) The
Administrative Agent, without the request of the Borrower, may
advance any interest, fee, service charge, or other payment to
which any Agent or their Affiliates or any Lender is entitled from
the Borrower pursuant hereto or any other Loan Document and may
charge the same to the Loan Account. The Lenders and the Borrower
confirm that any charges which the Administrative Agent may so make
to the Loan Account of the Borrower as herein provided will be made
as an accommodation to the Borrower and solely at the
Administrative Agent’s discretion, provided that the
Administrative Agent shall from time to time upon the request of
the Collateral Agent, charge the Loan Account of the Borrower with
any amount due and payable under any Loan Document, including,
without limitation, any Collateral Agent Advance. The
Administrative Agent shall advise the Borrower of any such advance
or charge promptly after the making thereof. Any amount which is
added to the principal balance of the Loan Account as provided in
this Section 2.1(d)
shall bear interest at the Interest Rate and
shall be payable on the Maturity Date.
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2.2
Notes; Repayment of Term Loans
.
(a) The Initial
Term Loan shall be evidenced by this Credit Agreement and/or one or
more promissory notes duly executed on behalf of the Borrower,
dated the Initial Closing Date, in substantially the form attached
hereto as Exhibit A-1
(each, an “ Initial Term Loan Note ” and, collectively, the “
Initial Term Loan Notes
”), payable to the order of a Lender in
the aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the
portion of the Initial Term Loan advanced by such Lender plus the
amount of any interest capitalized thereon in accordance with the
terms of this Credit Agreement. The Second Term Loan shall be
evidenced by this Credit Agreement and/or one or more promissory
notes duly executed on behalf of the Borrower, dated the Second
Closing Date, in substantially the form attached hereto as
Exhibit A-2 (each, a “ Second Term
Loan Note ” and, collectively,
the “ Second Term Loan
Notes ”), payable to the order
of a Lender in the aggregate principal amount equal to the
principal amount of the portion of the Second Term Loan advanced by
such Lender plus the amount of any interest capitalized thereon in
accordance with the terms of this Credit Agreement. The outstanding
principal balance of all Obligations shall be payable on the
Maturity Date (subject to earlier repayment as provided below). The
Term Loans (including, without limitation, any interest capitalized
thereon and added to the outstanding principal balance of such
Loans in accordance with the terms hereof) shall bear interest from
the date hereof on the outstanding principal balance thereof as set
forth in this Section 2
or Section
5 , as the case may be. Each Lender
is hereby authorized by the Borrower to endorse on a schedule
attached to each Note delivered to such Lender (or on a
continuation of such schedule attached to such Note and made a part
thereof), or otherwise to record in such Lender’s internal
records, an appropriate notation evidencing the date and amount of
each Term Loan from such Lender, each payment and prepayment of
principal of such Term Loan, each payment of interest on such Term
Loan and the other information provided for on such
schedule; provided
, however , that the failure of
any Lender to make such a notation or any error therein shall not
affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay any Term Loan made
by such Lender in accordance with the terms of this Credit
Agreement and the applicable Notes.
(b) Upon receipt of
indemnification reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower, and an
affidavit of a Lender as to the loss, theft, destruction or
mutilation of such Lender’s Note and upon cancellation of
such Note, the Borrower will issue, in lieu thereof, a replacement
Note in favor of such Lender, in the same principal amount thereof
and otherwise of like tenor.
2.3
Interest on Term Loans .
(a) Each Term Loan
shall bear interest (computed on the basis of the actual number of
days elapsed over a year of 360 days) on the principal amount
thereof from time to time outstanding, from the date of the making
of such Term Loan until such principal amount is repaid in full, at
a rate per annum equal to 15% (the “ Interest Rate ”).
(b) Interest
accrued on the Term Loans shall be payable monthly in arrears in
cash, on the first Business Day of each month (each, an
“ Interest Payment
Date ”), commencing on February
1, 2008, on the Maturity Date (whether by acceleration or
otherwise), and, after the Maturity Date, on demand.
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(c) The Borrower
shall repay the entire unpaid principal balance of the Term Loans
(including, without limitation, any capitalized interest thereon)
and all accrued and unpaid interest thereon on the Maturity
Date.
2.4
Termination of Commitments
.
Each Initial Term Loan Commitment shall
terminate at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Initial Closing
Date, and each Second Term Loan Commitment shall terminate at 5:00
p.m. (New York City time) on the Second Closing Date;
provided , however
, that each Second Term Loan Commitment shall
terminate automatically if the Second Closing Date does not occur
on or before April 30, 2008.
2.5
Maturity . The
Borrower promises to pay on the Maturity Date, and there shall
become absolutely due and payable on the Maturity Date, to the
Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders, (a) all of the
Term Loans outstanding on such date (including, without limitation,
any capitalized interest thereon), together with any and all
accrued and unpaid interest thereon and (b) all other Obligations
then outstanding hereunder and under the other Loan
Documents.
2.6
Optional Repayments of Term Loans
. The Borrower shall have the right, at its
election, to repay the outstanding Term Loans in accordance with
the provisions of Section
5.3 hereof.
3.
INTENTIONALLY OMITTED .
4.
INTENTIONALLY OMITTED .
5.
CERTAIN GENERAL PROVISIONS
.
5.1
Default Interest . Effective upon the occurrence of any Event of Default and
at all times thereafter while such Event of Default is continuing,
at the option of the Administrative Agent or upon the direction of
the Required Lenders, interest shall accrue on all outstanding
Obligations (after as well as before judgment, as and to the extent
permitted by law) at a rate per annum equal to the rate in effect
from time to time plus 3% per annum, and
such interest shall be payable on demand.
5.2
Maintenance of Loan Account; Statement of
Account .
5.2.1 The
Administrative Agent shall maintain an account on its books in the
name of the Borrower (the “ Loan
Account ”) which will reflect
the Loans and any and all other Obligations that have become
payable.
5.2.2 The Loan
Account will be credited with all amounts received by the
Administrative Agent from the Borrower or otherwise for the
Borrower’s account, and the amounts so credited shall be
applied as set forth in Section
2.2(a) . After the end of each month,
the Administrative Agent shall send to the Borrower a statement
accounting for the charges, loans, advances and other transactions
occurring among and between the Administrative Agent,
- 15 -
the Lenders and the Borrower
during that month. The monthly statements shall, absent manifest
error, be final, conclusive and binding on the Borrower.
5.3
Optional Prepayment of Loans
. The Borrower may
upon at least five (5) Business Days’ prior written notice to
the Administrative Agent, prepay, without penalty or premium, all
or any portion of the principal balance of any Loan. Each
prepayment made pursuant to this Section 5.3 shall be
accompanied by the payment of accrued interest to the date of such
payment on the amount prepaid.
5.4
Mandatory Prepayments of Loans
.
5.4.1
Termination of Senior Loan
Agreement . The Borrower shall
immediately prepay all Obligations (a “ Senior Facility Termination Prepayment
”) in the event that the Senior Credit
Agreement is terminated for any reason and either (i) the Senior
Credit Agreement is not replaced with another credit agreement and
related transaction documentation, the terms and conditions of
which are no less favorable to the Borrower, the Agents and the
Lenders than the Senior Credit Agreement, including with respect to
any intercreditor arrangements (as determined by the Agents in
their discretion) or (ii) the lenders and agents party to such new
credit agreement are not reasonably acceptable to the Agents and
the Required Lenders.
5.4.2
Intentionally Omitted.
5.4.3
Asset Disposition Prepayment
. Subject to the terms of the Intercreditor
Agreement, the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for
the accounts of the Lenders (each, an “ Asset Disposition Prepayment ”), immediately upon the receipt by the Borrower of
the proceeds of any asset dispositions, an amount equal to one
hundred percent (100%) of the Net Proceeds received by the Borrower
in connection with such asset disposition.
5.4.4
New Issuance Prepayment
. Subject to the terms of the Intercreditor
Agreement, the Borrower shall pay to the Agent (unless the Majority
Lenders elect not to require such Mandatory Prepayment), for the
accounts of the Lenders (each, a “ New Issuance Prepayment ”), immediately after the completion by the Borrower
of any issuance of (i) Indebtedness or (ii) equity securities of
the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, including, without
limitation, any issuance of warrants, options or subscription
rights (other than issuances of common stock to employees of the
Borrower), an amount equal to one hundred percent 100% of the Net
Proceeds received by the Borrower in connection with any such
issuance.
5.4.5
Applications of Mandatory
Prepayments . Each Mandatory
Prepayment received by the Administrative Agent shall be applied to
the Obligations as follows:
(A)
first , to pay
all fees and expenses then due and payable under this Credit
Agreement;
(B)
second , to pay
all accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans (to the extent not
previously capitalized hereunder), which shall be applied on a pro
rata basis among the Loans, until paid in full;
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(C)
third , to
prepay the Loans, which shall be applied on a pro rata basis among
the Loans, until paid in full; and
(D)
fourth , to
repay all other Obligations due and owing to the Agents and the
Lenders.
5.5
Repayments of Loans and Distribution of
Collateral Proceeds After Event of Default . Subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and
any subordination or other agreement among the Agents and the
Lenders, in the event that following the occurrence and during the
continuance of an Event of Default, the Collateral Agent, any other
Agent or any Lender, as the case may be, receives any monies,
whether pursuant to Section
8.14 (as applicable) or
Section 13.3 or
otherwise with respect to the realization upon any of the
Collateral, such monies shall be distributed for application as
follows:
(a)
first , to the
payment of, or (as the case may be) the reimbursement of the Agents
for or in respect of all reasonable costs, expenses, disbursements
and losses which shall have been incurred or sustained by the
Agents in connection with the collection of such monies by the
Agents, for the exercise, protection or enforcement by the
Collateral Agent of all or any of the rights, remedies, powers and
privileges of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Agents
and the Lenders, under this Credit Agreement or any of the other
Loan Documents or in respect of the Collateral (including, without
limitation, Collateral Agent Advances), including, without
limitation, the fees and expenses of counsel to the Agents or in
support of any provision of adequate indemnity to the Agents
against any taxes or liens which by law shall have, or may have,
priority over the rights of the Agents to such monies;
(b)
second , to pay
all accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans (to the extent not
previously capitalized hereunder), which shall be applied on a pro
rata basis among the Loans, until paid in full;
(c)
third , to
repay the Loans (to the extent not previously capitalized
hereunder), which shall be applied on a pro rata basis among the
Loans, until paid in full;
(d)
fourth , to
repay all other Obligations due and owing to the Agents and the
Lenders under the Loan Documents, until paid in full;
and
(e)
fifth , the
excess, if any, shall be returned to the Borrower or to such other
Persons as are entitled thereto.
Subject to the terms of any subordination or
other agreement among the Agents and the Lenders, all distributions
in respect of the Obligations owing to the Lenders with respect to
each type of Obligation under each of the categories specified
above such as interest, principal, fees and expenses, shall be made
among the Lenders entitled thereto pro rata, in accordance with
their respective Commitment Percentages; and provided ,
further , that the Agents may in their discretion make
proper allowance to take into account any Obligations not then due
and payable.
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5.6
Closing Fee .
The Borrower shall pay to Prentice Capital Management, LP, pursuant
to an arrangement between PWJ Lending II LLC and Prentice Capital
Management, LP, a fee in the amount of $1,050,000 (the
“ Closing Fee
”), $750,000 of which shall be paid on the
Initial Closing Date (the “ Initial Closing Fee ”)
and the remaining $300,000 of which shall be paid on the Second
Closing Date (the “ Second
Closing Fee ”), which Closing
Fee shall be non-refundable and fully-earned and payable on the
Initial Closing Date and the Second Closing Date,
respectively.
5.7
Funds for Payments .
5.7.1
Payments to Administrative Agent
. All payments of principal, interest, closing
fees and any other amounts due hereunder or under any of the other
Loan Documents shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the
respective accounts of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, at
the Administrative Agent’s Head Office or at such other
location that the Administrative Agent may from time to time
designate, in each case in immediately available funds in
Dollars.
5.7.2
No Offset, etc. All payments by the Borrower hereunder and under any of the
other Loan Documents shall be made without setoff or counterclaim
and free and clear of and without deduction for any taxes, levies,
imposts, duties, charges, fees, deductions, withholdings,
compulsory loans, restrictions or conditions of any nature now or
hereafter imposed or levied by any jurisdiction or any political
subdivision thereof or taxing or other authority therein unless the
Borrower is compelled by law to make such deduction or withholding.
If any such obligation is imposed upon the Borrower with respect to
any amount payable by it hereunder or under any of the other Loan
Documents, the Borrower will pay to the Administrative Agent, for
the account of the Lenders or (as the case may be) the Agents, on
the date on which such amount is due and payable hereunder or under
such other Loan Document, such additional amount in Dollars as
shall be necessary to enable the Lenders or the Agents to receive
the same net amount which the Lenders or the Agents would have
received on such due date had no such obligation been imposed upon
the Borrower. The Borrower will deliver promptly to the Agents
certificates or other valid vouchers for all taxes or other charges
deducted from or paid with respect to payments made by the Borrower
hereunder or under such other Loan Document.
5.8
Computations .
All computations of interest on the Loans and of commitment fees or
other fees shall, unless otherwise expressly provided herein, be
based on 360-day year and paid for the actual number of days
elapsed. Whenever a payment hereunder or under any of the other
Loan Documents becomes due on a day that is not a Business Day, the
due date for such payment shall be extended to the next succeeding
Business Day, and interest shall accrue during such extension. The
outstanding amount of the Loans as reflected on the Records
maintained by the Agents and each Lender from time to time shall be
considered correct and binding on the Borrower unless within five
(5) Business Days after receipt of any notice by any of the Agents
or the Lenders of such outstanding amount, such Agent or such
Lender shall notify the Borrower to the contrary.
5.9
Additional Costs, etc. If any present or future applicable law, which expression,
as used herein, includes statutes, rules and regulations thereunder
and interpretations thereof by
- 18 -
any competent court or by any
governmental or other regulatory body or official charged with the
administration or the interpretation thereof and requests,
directives, instructions and notices at any time or from time to
time hereafter made upon or otherwise issued to any Lender or Agent
by any central bank or other fiscal, monetary or other authority
(whether or not having the force of law), shall:
(a) subject any
Lender or Agent to any tax, levy, impost, duty, charge, fee,
deduction or withholding of any nature with respect to this Credit
Agreement, the other Loan Documents, such Lender’s
Commitments or the Loans (other than taxes based upon or measured
by the income or profits of such Lender or Agent), or
(b) materially
change the basis of taxation (except for changes in taxes on income
or profits) of payments to any Lender of the principal of or the
interest on any Loans or any other amounts payable to any Lender or
Agent under this Credit Agreement or any of the other Loan
Documents, or
(c) impose or
increase or render applicable (other than to the extent
specifically provided for elsewhere in this Credit Agreement) any
special deposit, reserve, assessment, liquidity, capital adequacy
or other similar requirements (whether or not having the force of
law) against assets held by, or deposits in or for the account of,
or loans by, or commitments of an office of any Lender,
or
(d) impose on any
Lender or Agent any other conditions or requirements with respect
to this Credit Agreement, the other Loan Documents, such
Lender’s Commitments, or any class of loans, or commitments
of which any of the Loans or such Lender’s Commitments forms
a part, and the result of any of the foregoing is
(i) to increase the cost to any Lender of
making, funding, issuing, renewing, extending or maintaining any of
the Loans, or such Lender’s Commitments, or
(ii) to reduce the amount of principal,
interest, or other amount payable to such Lender or Agent hereunder
on account of such Lender’s Commitments, or any of the Loans,
or
(iii) to require such Lender or Agent to
make any payment or to forego any interest or other sum payable
hereunder, the amount of which payment or foregone interest or
other sum is calculated by reference to the gross amount of any sum
receivable or deemed received by such Lender or Agent from the
Borrower hereunder,
then, and in each such case,
the Borrower will, upon demand made by such Lender or (as the case
may be) such Agent at any time and from time to time and as often
as the occasion therefor may arise, pay to such Lender or such
Agent such additional amounts as will be sufficient to compensate
such Lender or such Agent for such additional cost, reduction,
payment or foregone interest or other sum.
5.10
Capital Adequacy . If after the date hereof any Lender or the Administrative
Agent determines that (a) the adoption of or change in any law,
governmental rule, regulation, policy, guideline or directive
(whether or not having the force of law) regarding
capital
- 19 -
requirements for banks or
bank holding companies or any change in the interpretation or
application thereof by a court or governmental authority with
appropriate jurisdiction, or (b) compliance by such Lender or such
Agent or any corporation controlling such Lender or such Agent with
any law, governmental rule, regulation, policy, guideline or
directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any such
entity regarding capital adequacy, has the effect of reducing the
return on such Lender’s or such Agent’s commitment with
respect to any Loans to a level below that which such Lender or
such Agent could have achieved but for such adoption, change or
compliance (taking into consideration such Lender’s or such
Agent’s then existing policies with respect to capital
adequacy and assuming full utilization of such entity’s
capital) by any amount deemed by such Lender or (as the case may
be) such Agent to be material, then such Lender or such Agent may
notify the Borrower of such fact. To the extent that the amount of
such reduction in the return on capital is not reflected in the
Interest Rate, as applicable, the Borrower agrees to pay such
Lender or (as the case may be) such Agent for the amount of such
reduction in the return on capital as and when such reduction is
determined upon presentation by such Lender or (as the case may be)
such Agent of a certificate in accordance with
Section 5.11 hereof. Each Lender shall allocate such cost increases
among its customers in good faith and on an equitable
basis.
5.11
Certificate . A
certificate setting forth any additional amounts payable pursuant
to Sections 5.9 or 5.10 and a brief explanation of such amounts which are due,
submitted by any Lender or Agent to the Borrower, shall be
conclusive, absent manifest error, that such amounts are due and
owing.
5.12
Indemnity . The
Borrower agrees to indemnify each Lender and to hold each Lender
harmless from and against any loss, cost or expense (including loss
of anticipated profits) that such Lender may sustain or incur as a
consequence of default by the Borrower in payment of the principal
amount of or any interest on Loans as and when due and
payable.
6.
COLLATERAL SECURITY .
The Obligations shall be secured by a perfected
security interest (subject only to liens in favor of the Senior
Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Senior Lenders and the
Senior Agents and Permitted Liens entitled to priority under
applicable law) in all of the assets of the Borrower and the
Guarantor, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, pursuant to the
terms of the Security Documents to which such Person is a
party.
7.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
.
The Borrower represents and warrants to the
Lenders and the Agents as follows:
7.1
Corporate Authority .
7.1.1
Incorporation; Good Standing
. Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (i)
is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of its state of incorporation, (ii) has all
requisite corporate power to own its property and conduct its
business as now conducted and as presently contemplated, and (iii)
is in good standing as a foreign corporation and is duly authorized
to do business in each jurisdiction where such
- 20 -
qualification is necessary
except where a failure to be so qualified would not have a
materially adverse effect on the business, assets or financial
condition of the Borrower or such Subsidiary.
7.1.2
Authorization .
The execution, delivery and performance of this Credit Agreement
and the other Loan Documents to which the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries is or is to become a party and the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby (i) are within the corporate
authority of such Person, (ii) have been duly authorized by all
necessary corporate proceedings, (iii) do not conflict with or
result in any breach or contravention of any provision of law,
statute, rule or regulation to which the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries is subject or any judgment, order, writ, injunction,
license or permit applicable to the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries and (iv) do not conflict with any provision of the
corporate charter or bylaws of, or any agreement or other
instrument binding upon, the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries.
7.1.3
Enforceability . The execution and delivery of this Credit Agreement and
the other Loan Documents to which the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries is or is to become a party will result in valid and
legally binding obligations of such Person enforceable against it
in accordance with the respective terms and provisions hereof and
thereof, except as enforceability is limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws relating to or
affecting generally the enforcement of creditors’ rights and
except to the extent that availability of the remedy of specific
performance or injunctive relief is subject to the discretion of
the court before which any proceeding therefor may be
brought.
7.2
Governmental Approvals . The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower
and any of its Subsidiaries of this Credit Agreement and the other
Loan Documents to which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is
or is to become a party and the transactions contemplated hereby
and thereby do not require the approval or consent of, or filing
with, any governmental agency or authority other than those already
obtained.
7.3
Title to Properties; Leases
. Except as indicated on Schedule 7.3 hereto, the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries own all of the assets reflected in
the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
as at the Balance Sheet Date or acquired since that date (except
property and assets sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary
course of business since that date), subject to no rights of
others, including any mortgages, leases, conditional sales
agreements, title retention agreements, liens or other encumbrances
except Permitted Liens.
7.4
Intentionally Omitted .
7.5
Solvency .
After giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Credit
Agreement, the other Loan Documents and the Senior Credit
Agreement, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated
basis are Solvent. As used herein, “Solvent” shall mean
that the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (i) have assets having a
fair value in excess of their liabilities, (ii) have assets having
a fair value in excess of the amount required to pay their
liabilities on existing debts as such debts become absolute and
matured, and (iii) have, and expect to continue to have, access to
adequate capital for the conduct of their business and the ability
to pay their debts from time to time incurred in connection with
the operation of their business as such debts mature.
- 21 -
7.6
Franchises, Patents, Copyrights,
etc . Each of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries possesses all franchises, patents, copyrights,
trademarks, trade names, licenses and permits, and rights in
respect of the foregoing, adequate for the conduct of its business
substantially as now conducted without known conflict with any
rights of others.
7.7
Litigation .
Except as set forth in Schedule
7.7 hereto, there are no actions,
suits, proceedings or investigations of any kind pending or
threatened against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries before
any court, tribunal or administrative agency or board that, if
adversely determined, might, either in any case or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect
the properties, assets, financial condition or business of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries or materially impair the right of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries, considered as a whole, to carry on
business substantially as now conducted by them, or result in any
substantial liability not adequately covered by insurance, or for
which adequate reserves are not maintained on the consolidated
balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, or which
question the validity of this Credit Agreement or any of the other
Loan Documents, or might impair or prevent any action taken or to
be taken pursuant hereto or thereto.
7.8
No Materially Adverse Contracts,
etc . Neither the Borrower nor any of
its Subsidiaries is subject to any charter, corporate or other
legal restriction, or any judgment, decree, order, rule or
regulation that has or is expected in the future to have a
materially adverse effect on the business, assets or financial
condition of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries. Neither the
Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any contract or
agreement that has or is expected, in the judgment of the
Borrower’s officers, to have any materially adverse effect on
the business of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.
7.9
Compliance with Other Instruments, Laws,
etc . Neither the Borrower nor any of
its Subsidiaries is in violation of any provision of its charter
documents, bylaws, or any agreement or instrument to which it may
be subject or by which it or any of its properties may be bound or
any decree, order, judgment, statute, license, rule or regulation,
in any of the foregoing cases in a manner that could reasonably be
expected to result in the imposition of substantial penalties or
materially and adversely affect the financial condition, properties
or business of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.
7.10 Tax Status . The Borrower and
its Subsidiaries (a) have made or filed all federal and state
income and sales and all other material tax returns, reports and
declarations required by any jurisdiction to which any of them is
subject, (b) have paid all taxes and other governmental assessments
and charges shown or determined to be due on such returns, reports
and declarations, except those being contested in good faith and by
appropriate proceedings and (c) have set aside on their books
provisions reasonably adequate for the payment of all taxes for
periods subsequent to the periods to which such returns, reports or
declarations apply. There are no unpaid taxes in any material
amount claimed to be due by the taxing authority of any
jurisdiction, and the officers of the Borrower know of no basis for
any such claim.
7.11 No Event of Default . No
Default or Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing.
- 22 -
7.12 Holding Company and Investment Company Acts
. Neither the Borrower nor any of its
Subsidiaries is a “holding company”, or a
“subsidiary company” of a “holding
company”, or an “affiliate of a holding company”,
as such terms are defined in the Public Utility Holding Company Act
of 1935; nor is it an “investment company”, or an
“affiliated company” or a “principal
underwriter” of an “investment company”, as such
terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.
7.13 Absence of Financing Statements, etc.
Except with respect to Permitted Liens, there is
no financing statement, security agreement, chattel mortgage, real
estate mortgage or other document filed or recorded with any filing
records, registry or other public office, that purports to cover,
affect or give notice of any present or possible future lien on, or
security interest in, any assets or property of the Borrower or any
of its Subsidiaries or any rights relating thereto.
7.14 Perfection of Security Interest . All filings, assignments, pledges and deposits of
documents or instruments have been made and all other actions have
been taken that are necessary or advisable, under applicable law,
to establish and perfect the Collateral Agent’s security
interest in the Collateral. The Collateral and the Collateral
Agent’s rights with respect to the Collateral are not subject
to any setoff, claims, withholdings or other defenses. The Borrower
is the owner of the Collateral free from any lien, security
interest, encumbrance and any other claim or demand, except for
Permitted Liens.
7.15 Certain Transactions . Except
as set forth on Schedule
7.15 hereto and except for
arm’s length transactions pursuant to which the Borrower or
any of its Subsidiaries makes payments in the ordinary course of
business upon terms no less favorable than the Borrower or such
Subsidiary could obtain from third parties, none of the officers,
directors, or employees of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
is presently a party to any transaction with the Borrower or any of
its Subsidiaries (other than for services as employees, officers
and directors), including any contract, agreement or other
arrangement providing for the furnishing of services to or by,
providing for rental of real or personal property to or from, or
otherwise requiring payments to or from any officer, director or
such employee or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, any
corporation, partnership, trust or other entity in which any
officer, director, or any such employee has a substantial interest
or is an officer, director, trustee or partner.
7.16 Employee Benefit Plans .
7.16.1
In General .
Each Employee Benefit Plan has been maintained and operated in
compliance in all material respects with the provisions of ERISA
and, to the extent applicable, the Code, including but not limited
to the provisions thereunder respecting prohibited transactions.
The Borrower has heretofore delivered to the Agents the most
recently completed annual report, Form 5500, with all required
attachments, and actuarial statement required to be submitted under
Section 103(d) of ERISA, with respect to each Guaranteed Pension
Plan.
7.16.2
Terminability of Welfare Plans
. Under each Employee Benefit Plan which is an
employee welfare benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(1) or
Section 3(2)(B) of ERISA, no benefits are payable to employees (or
their dependents) after termination of employment (except as
required by Title I, Part 6 of ERISA). The Borrower or an
ERISA
- 23 -
Affiliate, as appropriate,
may terminate each such Plan at any time (or at any time subsequent
to the expiration of any applicable bargaining agreement) in the
discretion of the Borrower or such ERISA Affiliate without
liability to any Person.
7.16.3
Guaranteed Pension Plans
. Each contribution required to be made to a
Guaranteed Pension Plan, whether required to be made to avoid the
incurrence of an accumulated funding deficiency, the notice or lien
provisions of Section 302(f) of ERISA, or otherwise, has been
timely made. No waiver of an accumulated funding deficiency or
extension of amortization periods has been received with respect to
any Guaranteed Pension Plan. No liability to the PBGC (other than
required insurance premiums, all of which have been paid) has been
incurred by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate with respect to any
Guaranteed Pension Plan and there has not been any ERISA Reportable
Event, or any other event or condition which presents a material
risk of termination of any Guaranteed Pension Plan by the PBGC.
Based on the latest valuation of each Guaranteed Pension Plan
(which in each case occurred within twelve months of the date of
this representation), and on the actuarial methods and assumptions
employed for that valuation, the aggregate benefit liabilities of
all such Guaranteed Pension Plans within the meaning of Section
4001 of ERISA did not exceed the aggregate value of the assets of
all such Guaranteed Pension Plans, disregarding for this purpose
the benefit liabilities and assets of any Guaranteed Pension Plan
with assets in excess of benefit liabilities, by more than
$500,000.00.
7.16.4
Multiemployer Plans . Neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred
any material liability (including secondary liability) to any
Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal
from such Multiemployer Plan under Section 4201 of ERISA or as a
result of a sale of assets described in Section 4204 of ERISA.
Neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has been notified that
any Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization or insolvent under and
within the meaning of Section 4241 or Section 4245 of ERISA or is
at risk of entering reorganization or becoming insolvent, or that
any Multiemployer Plan intends to terminate or has been terminated
under Section 4041A of ERISA.
7.17 Regulations U and X . The
proceeds of the Loans shall be used for working capital and general
corporate purposes. No portion of any Loan is to be used for the
purpose of purchasing or carrying any “margin security”
or “margin stock” as such terms are used in Regulations
U and X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 12
C.F.R. Parts 221 and 224.
7.18 Environmental Compliance .
The Borrower has taken all necessary steps to investigate the past
and present condition and usage of the Real Estate and the
operations conducted thereon and, based upon such diligent
investigation, has determined that:
(a) none of the
Borrower, its Subsidiaries or any operator of the Real Estate or
any operations thereon is in violation, or alleged violation, of
any judgment, decree, order, law, license, rule or regulation
pertaining to environmental matters, including without limitation,
those arising under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
(“ RCRA ”), the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 as amended (“
CERCLA ”), the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act
of 1986 (“ SARA
”), the Federal Clean Water Act, the
Federal Clean Air Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, or any
state or local
- 24 -
statute, regulation,
ordinance, order or decree relating to health, safety or the
environment (hereinafter “ Environmental Laws ”),
which violation would reasonably be expected to have a material
adverse effect on the environment or the business, assets or
financial condition of the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries;
(b) neither the
Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries has received notice from any
third party including, without limitation, any federal, state or
local governmental authority, (i) that any one of them has been
identified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency
(“ EPA ”) as a potentially responsible party under CERCLA
with respect to a site listed on the National Priorities List, 40
C.F.R. Part 300 Appendix B; (ii) that any hazardous waste, as
defined by 42 U.S.C. Section 6903(5), any hazardous substances as
defined by 42 U.S.C. Section 9601(14), any pollutant or contaminant
as defined by 42 U.S.C. Section 9601(33) and any toxic substances,
oil or hazardous materials or other chemicals or substances
regulated by any Environmental Laws (“ Hazardous Substances ”)
which any one of them has generated, transported or disposed of has
been found at any site at which a federal, state or local agency or
other third party has conducted or has ordered that any Borrower or
any of its Subsidiaries conduct a remedial investigation, removal
or other response action pursuant to any Environmental Law; or
(iii) that it is or shall be a named party to any claim, action,
cause of action, complaint, or legal or administrative proceeding
(in each case, contingent or otherwise) arising out of any third
party’s incurrence of costs, expenses, losses or damages of
any kind whatsoever in connection with the release of Hazardous
Substances;
(c) except as set
forth on Schedule 7.18
attached hereto: (i) no portion of the Real
Estate has been used for the handling, processing, storage or
disposal of Hazardous Substances except in accordance with
applicable Environmental Laws; and no underground tank or other
underground storage receptacle for Hazardous Substances is located
on any portion of the Real Estate; (ii) in the course of any
activities conducted by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries or operators
of its properties, no Hazardous Substances have been generated or
are being used on the Real Estate except in accordance with
applicable Environmental Laws; (iii) there have been no releases
(i.e. any past or present releasing, spilling, leaking, pumping,
pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping,
disposing or dumping) or threatened releases of Hazardous
Substances on, upon, into or from the properties of the Borrower or
its Subsidiaries, which releases would have a material adverse
effect on the value of any of the Real Estate or adjacent
properties or the environment; (iv) to the best of the
Borrower’s knowledge, there have been no releases on, upon,
from or into any real property in the vicinity of any of the Real
Estate which, through soil or groundwater contamination, may have
come to be located on, and which would have a material adverse
effect on the value of, the Real Estate; and (v) in addition, any
Hazardous Substances that have been generated on any of the Real
Estate have been transported offsite only by carriers having an
identification number issued by the EPA, treated or disposed of
only by treatment or disposal facilities maintaining valid permits
as required under applicable Environmental Laws, which transporters
and facilities have been and are, to the best of the
Borrower’s knowledge, operating in compliance with such
permits and applicable Environmental Laws; and
(d) None of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries or any of the Real Estate is subject
to any applicable environmental law requiring the performance of
Hazardous Substances site assessments, or the removal or
remediation of Hazardous Substances, or the giving of
notice
- 25 -
to any governmental agency or
the recording or delivery to other Persons of an environmental
disclosure document or statement by virtue of the transactions set
forth herein and contemplated hereby, or as a condition to the
effectiveness of any other transactions contemplated
hereby.
7.19 Subsidiaries, etc . Except as
set forth on Schedule 7.19
hereto, the Borrower has no Subsidiaries. Except
as set forth on Schedule
7.19 hereto, neither the Borrower nor
any Subsidiary of the Borrower is engaged in any joint venture or
partnership with any other Person.
7.20 Bank Accounts .
Schedule 7.20 (as such may be amended from time to time in accordance
with Section 9.9
hereof) sets forth the account numbers and
location of all bank accounts of the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries.
8.
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS OF THE
BORROWER .
The Borrower covenants and agrees that, so long
as any Loan is outstanding or any Lender has any obligation to make
any Loans.
8.1
Punctual Payment . The Borrower will duly and punctually pay or cause to be
paid the principal and interest on the Loans, and all other amounts
provided for in this Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents
to which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, all in
accordance with the terms of this Credit Agreement and such other
Loan Documents.
8.2
Maintenance of Office . The Borrower will maintain its chief executive office in
Chicago, Illinois, or at such other place in the United States of
America as the Borrower shall designate upon written notice to the
Agents, where notices, presentations and demands to or upon the
Borrower in respect of the Loan Documents to which the Borrower is
a party may be given or made.
8.3
Records and Accounts . The Borrower will (a) keep, and cause each of its
Subsidiaries to keep, true and accurate records and books of
account in which full, true and correct entries will be made in
accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and (b)
maintain adequate accounts and reserves for all taxes (including
income taxes), depreciation, depletion, obsolescence and
amortization of its properties and the properties of its
Subsidiaries, contingencies, and other reserves in accordance with
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.
8.4
Financial Statements, Certificates and
Information . The Borrower will
deliver to each of the Lenders:
(a) as soon as
practicable, but in any event not later than ninety (90) days after
the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, the consolidated
balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and the
consolidating balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries,
each as at the end of such year, and the related consolidated
statement of income and consolidated statement of cash flow and
consolidating statement of income and consolidating statement of
cash flow for such year, each setting forth in comparative form the
figures for the previous fiscal year and all such consolidated and
consolidating statements to be in reasonable detail, prepared in
accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, and
certified without qualification by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or by
another “big four” certified public accounting firm or
by other independent certified public accountants satisfactory to
the
- 26 -
Administrative Agent,
together with a written statement from such accountants to the
effect that they have read a copy of this Credit Agreement, and
that, in making the examination necessary to said certification,
they have obtained no knowledge of any Default or Event of Default,
or, if such accountants shall have obtained knowledge of any then
existing Default or Event of Default they shall disclose in such
statement any such Default or Event of Default;
provided that
such accountants shall not be liable to the Lenders for failure to
obtain knowledge of any Default or Event of Default;
(b) as soon as
practicable, but in any event not later than forty-five (45) days
after the end of each of the fiscal quarters of the Borrower,
copies of the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries and the unaudited consolidating balance sheet
of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, each as at the end of such
quarter, and the related consolidated statement of income and
consolidated statement of cash flow and consolidating statement of
income and consolidating statement of cash flow for the portion of
the Borrower’s fiscal year then elapsed, all in reasonable
detail and prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted
Accounting Principles, together with a certification by the
principal financial or accountin
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