364-DAY REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT
Dated
as of March 29, 2007
THE INITIAL LENDERS NAMED HEREIN
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC
DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.
HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
as Arrangers and Documentation
Agents
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC., CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.,
CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC and DEUTSCHE BANK
SECURITIES INC.
as Joint Lead Arrangers and
Bookrunners
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Page
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DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
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1
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Certain Defined Terms
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1
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Computation of Time Periods
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11
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Accounting Terms
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11
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AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF THE ADVANCES
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11
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The Pro Rata Advances
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11
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Making the Pro Rata Advances
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12
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Repayment of Pro Rata Advances
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13
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Interest on Pro Rata Advances
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14
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Additional Interest on LIBO Rate Advances
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14
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Conversion of Pro Rata Advances
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14
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The Competitive Bid Advances
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15
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LIBO Rate Determination
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19
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Fees
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20
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Termination or Reduction of the
Commitments
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21
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Prepayments
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21
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Increased Costs
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21
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Illegality
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22
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Payments and Computations
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23
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Taxes
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24
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Sharing of Payments, Etc.
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26
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Evidence of Debt
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26
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Use of Proceeds
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27
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CONDITIONS TO EFFECTIVENESS AND LENDING
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27
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Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness
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27
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Initial Advance to Each Designated
Subsidiary
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29
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Conditions Precedent to Each Pro Rata
Borrowing
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29
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Conditions Precedent to Each Competitive Bid
Borrowing
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30
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i
Table of Contents
(continued)
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Page
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REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
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31
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Representations and Warranties of Altria
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31
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COVENANTS OF ALTRIA
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32
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Affirmative Covenants
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32
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Negative Covenants
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34
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EVENTS OF DEFAULT
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35
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Events of Default
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35
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Lenders’ Rights upon Event of
Default
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37
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THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENTS
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37
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Authorization and Action
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37
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Administrative Agents’ Reliance,
Etc.
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38
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JPMorgan Chase, Citibank and Affiliates
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38
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Lender Credit Decision
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38
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Indemnification
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39
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Successor Administrative Agents
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39
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Syndication Agents and Arrangers and
Documentation Agents
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40
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GUARANTY
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40
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Guaranty
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40
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Guaranty Absolute
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40
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Waivers
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41
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Continuing Guaranty
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41
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MISCELLANEOUS
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41
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Amendments, Etc.
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41
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Notices, Etc.
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42
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No Waiver; Remedies
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43
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Costs and Expenses
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43
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Right of Set-Off
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44
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ii
Table of Contents
(continued)
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Page
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Binding Effect
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45
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Assignments and Participations
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45
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Designated Subsidiaries
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48
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Governing Law
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48
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Execution in Counterparts
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48
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Jurisdiction, Etc.
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49
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Confidentiality
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49
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Integration
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50
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USA Patriot Act Notice
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50
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References to Kraft Foods Inc.
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50
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-
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List of Applicable Lending Offices
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-
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Certain Subsidiary Information
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-
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Form of Pro Rata Note
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-
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Form of Competitive Bid Note
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-
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Form of Notice of Pro Rata Borrowing
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-
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Form of Notice of Competitive Bid
Borrowing
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-
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Form of Assignment and Acceptance
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-
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Form of Designation Agreement
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-
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Form of Opinion of Counsel for Altria
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-
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Form of Opinion of Counsel for Altria
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-
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Form of Opinion of Counsel for Designated
Subsidiary
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-
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Form of Opinion of Counsel for JPMorgan Chase,
as Adminstrative Agent
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iii
364-DAY REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT
Dated as of March 29, 2007
ALTRIA
GROUP, INC., a Virginia corporation (“ Altria
”), the banks, financial institutions and other institutional
lenders (the “ Initial Lenders ”) listed on the
signature pages hereof, and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. (“
JPMorgan Chase ”) and CITIBANK, N.A. (“
Citibank ”), as administrative agents (each, in such
capacity, an “ Administrative Agent ”), CREDIT
SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC and DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.,
as syndication agents (each, in such capacity, a “
Syndication Agent ”) and ABN AMRO BANK N.V., BNP
PARIBAS, HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION and UBS LOAN FINANCE
LLC, as arrangers and documentation agents (each, in such capacity,
an “ Arranger and Documentation Agent ”) for the
Lenders (as hereinafter defined), agree as follows:
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
Section 1.01.
Certain Defined Terms . As used in this Agreement, the
following terms shall have the following meanings (such meanings to
be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the
terms defined):
“
Advance ” means a Pro Rata Advance or a Competitive
Bid Advance.
“
Agents ” means each Administrative Agent, each
Syndication Agent and each Arranger and Documentation Agent.
“
Applicable Facility Fee Rate ” means, for any period,
a percentage per annum equal to 0.0800%.
“
Applicable Interest Rate Margin ” means for any
Interest Period a percentage per annum equal to 0.3700%
provided that for any day during any Interest Period that
the aggregate amount of Advances outstanding under this Agreement
and the 5-Year Facility exceeds 50% of the aggregate amount of
Commitments under this Agreement and commitments under the 5-Year
Facility, the Applicable Interest Rate Margin shall be increased by
0.1000% per annum.
“
Applicable Lending Office ” means, with respect to
each Lender, such Lender’s Domestic Lending Office in the
case of a Pro Rata Advance and, in the case of a Competitive Bid
Advance, the office of such Lender notified by such Lender to
JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, as its Applicable Lending
Office with respect to such Competitive Bid Advance.
“
Assignment and Acceptance ” means an assignment and
acceptance entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee, and
accepted by JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, in
substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto.
“ Base
Rate ” means a fluctuating interest rate per annum in
effect from time to time, which rate per annum shall at all times
be equal to the higher of:
(i) the rate of
interest announced publicly by JPMorgan Chase in New York, New
York, from time to time, as JPMorgan Chase’s prime rate;
and
(ii) 1/2 of one
percent per annum above the Federal Funds Effective Rate.
“ Base
Rate Advance ” means a Pro Rata Advance that bears
interest as provided in Section 2.04(a)(i).
“
Board ” means the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System of the United States (or any successor).
“
Borrowers ” means, collectively, Altria and each
Designated Subsidiary that shall become a party to this Agreement
pursuant to Section 9.08.
“
Borrowing ” means a Pro Rata Borrowing or a
Competitive Bid Borrowing.
“
Business Day ” means a day of the year on which banks
are not required or authorized by law to close in New York City
and, if the applicable Business Day relates to any LIBO Rate
Advances or Floating Rate Bid Advances, on which dealings are
carried on in the London interbank market and banks are open for
business in London.
“
Commitment ” means as to any Lender (i) the
Dollar amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on the
signature pages hereof or (ii) if such Lender has entered into
an Assignment and Acceptance, the Dollar amount set forth for such
Lender in the Register maintained by JPMorgan Chase, as
Administrative Agent, pursuant to Section 9.07(d), in each
case as such amount may be reduced pursuant to
Section 2.10.
“
Competitive Bid Advance ” means an advance by a Lender
to any Borrower as part of a Competitive Bid Borrowing resulting
from the competitive bidding procedure described in
Section 2.07 and refers to a Fixed Rate Bid Advance or a
Floating Rate Bid Advance.
“
Competitive Bid Borrowing ” means a borrowing
consisting of simultaneous Competitive Bid Advances from each of
the Lenders whose offer to make one or more Competitive Bid
Advances as part of such borrowing has been accepted under the
competitive bidding procedure described in Section 2.07.
“
Competitive Bid Note ” means a promissory note of any
Borrower payable to the order of any Lender, in substantially the
form of Exhibit A-2 hereto, evidencing the indebtedness of
such Borrower to such Lender resulting from a Competitive Bid
Advance made by such Lender to such Borrower.
“
Competitive Bid Reduction ” has the meaning specified
in Section 2.01.
2
“
Consolidated EBITDA ” means, for any accounting
period, the consolidated net earnings (or loss) of Altria and its
Subsidiaries plus, without duplication and to the extent included
as a separate item on Altria’s consolidated statements of
earnings or consolidated statements of cash flows in the case of
clauses (a) through (e) for such period, the sum of
(a) provision for income taxes, (b) interest and other
debt expense, net, (c) depreciation expense,
(d) amortization of intangibles, (e) any extraordinary,
unusual or non-recurring expenses or losses or any similar expense
or loss subtracted from “Gross profit” in the
calculation of “Operating income” and (f) the
portion of loss included on Altria’s consolidated statements
of earnings of any Person (other than a Subsidiary of Altria) in
which Altria or any of its Subsidiaries has an ownership interest
and any cash that is actually received by Altria or such Subsidiary
from such Person in the form of dividends or similar distributions,
and minus , without duplication, the sum of (x) to the
extent included as a separate item on Altria’s consolidated
statements of earnings for such period, any extraordinary, unusual
or non-recurring income or gains or any similar income or gain
added to “Gross profit” in the calculation of
“Operating income,” and (y) the portion of income
included on Altria’s consolidated statements of earnings of
any Person (other than a Subsidiary of Altria) in which Altria or
any of its Subsidiaries has an ownership interest, except to the
extent that any cash is actually received by Altria or such
Subsidiary from such Person in the form of dividends or similar
distributions, all as determined on a consolidated basis in
accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States for such period, except that if there has been a
material change in an accounting principle as compared to that
applied in the preparation of the financial statements of Altria
and its Subsidiaries as at and for the year ended December 31,
2006, then such new accounting principle shall not be used in the
determination of Consolidated EBITDA. A material change in an
accounting principle is one that, in the year of its adoption,
changes Consolidated EBITDA for any quarter in such year by more
than 10%.
“
Consolidated Interest Expense ” means, for any
accounting period, total interest expense of Altria and its
Subsidiaries with respect to all outstanding Debt of Altria and its
Subsidiaries during such period, all as determined on a
consolidated basis for such period and in accordance with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for
such period, except that if there has been a material change in an
accounting principle as compared to that applied in the preparation
of the financial statements of Altria and its Subsidiaries as at
and for the year ended December 31, 2006, then such new
accounting principle shall not be used in the determination of
Consolidated Interest Expense. A material change in an accounting
principle is one that, in the year of its adoption, changes
Consolidated Interest Expense for any quarter in such year by more
than 10%.
“
Consolidated Tangible Assets ” means the total assets
appearing on a consolidated balance sheet of Altria and its
Subsidiaries (as reduced by the total assets appearing on the
consolidated balance sheet of Kraft Foods Inc. and its
Subsidiaries), less goodwill and other intangible assets and the
minority interests of other Persons in such Subsidiaries (as
reduced by the goodwill and other intangible assets of Kraft Foods
Inc. and its Subsidiaries and the minority interests of other
Persons in such Subsidiaries), all as determined in accordance with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States,
except that if there has been a material change in an accounting
principle as
3
compared to that applied in the preparation of
the financial statements of Altria and its Subsidiaries as at and
for the year ended December 31, 2006, then such new accounting
principle shall not be used in the determination of Consolidated
Tangible Assets. A material change in an accounting principle is
one that, in the year of its adoption, changes Consolidated
Tangible Assets at any quarter in such year by more than 10%.
“
Convert ,” “ Conversion ” and
“ Converted ” each refers to a conversion of Pro
Rata Advances of one Type into Pro Rata Advances of the other Type
pursuant to Section 2.06, 2.08 or 2.13.
“
Debt ” means, without duplication,
(a) indebtedness for borrowed money or for the deferred
purchase price of property or services, whether or not evidenced by
bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments,
(b) obligations as lessee under leases that, in accordance
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States,
are recorded as capital leases, (c) obligations as an account
party or applicant under letters of credit (other than trade
letters of credit incurred in the ordinary course of business) to
the extent such letters of credit are drawn and not reimbursed
within five Business Days of such drawing, (d) the aggregate
principal (or equivalent) amount of financing raised through
outstanding securitization financings of accounts receivable, and
(e) obligations under direct or indirect guaranties in respect
of, and obligations (contingent or otherwise) to purchase or
otherwise acquire, or otherwise to assure a creditor against loss
(including by way of (i) granting a security interest or other
Lien on property or (ii) having a reimbursement obligation
under or in respect of a letter of credit or similar arrangement
(to the extent such letter of credit is not collateralized by
assets (other than Operating Assets) having a fair value equal to
the amount of such reimbursement obligation), in either case in
respect of, indebtedness or obligations of any other Person of the
kinds referred to in clause (a), (b), (c) or (d) above).
For the avoidance of doubt, the following shall not constitute
“Debt” for purposes of this Agreement: (A) any
obligation that is fully non-recourse to Altria or any of its
Subsidiaries, (B) intercompany debt of Altria or any of its
Subsidiaries, (C) any appeal bond or other arrangement to
secure a stay of execution on a judgment or order, provided that
any such appeal bond or other arrangement issued by a third party
in connection with such arrangement shall constitute Debt to the
extent Altria or any of its Subsidiaries has a reimbursement
obligation to such third party that is not collateralized by assets
(other than Operating Assets) having a fair value equal to the
amount of such reimbursement obligation, (D) unpaid judgments,
or (E) defeased indebtedness.
“
Default ” means any event specified in
Section 6.01 that would constitute an Event of Default but for
the requirement that notice be given or time elapse or both.
“
Designated Subsidiary ” means any wholly-owned
Subsidiary of Altria designated for borrowing privileges under this
Agreement pursuant to Section 9.08.
“
Designation Agreement ” means, with respect to any
Designated Subsidiary, an agreement in the form of Exhibit D
hereto signed by such Designated Subsidiary and Altria.
4
“
Dollars ” and the “ $ ” sign each
means lawful currency of the United States of America.
“
Domestic Lending Office ” means, with respect to any
Lender, the office of such Lender specified as its “Domestic
Lending Office” opposite its name on Schedule I hereto
or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a
Lender, or such other office of such Lender as such Lender may from
time to time specify to Altria and JPMorgan Chase, as
Administrative Agent.
“
Earnings Before Income Taxes ” means, for any
accounting period, income or loss from continuing operations for
such period, as determined in accordance with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States, plus total federal, state
and foreign income taxes which have been included in the
determination of earnings or losses from continuing operations for
such period in accordance with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States and amounts which, in the
determination of earnings or losses from continuing operations for
such period, have been deducted for the items referred to in the
definition of the term “Fixed Charges,” except that if
there has been a material change in an accounting principle as
compared to that applied in the preparation of the financial
statements of Altria and its Subsidiaries as at and for the year
ended December 31, 2006, then such new accounting principle
shall not be used in the determination of Earnings Before Income
Taxes. A material change in an accounting principle is one that, in
the year of its adoption, changes Earnings Before Income Taxes or
Fixed Charges for any quarter in such year by more than 10%.
“
Effective Date ” has the meaning specified in
Section 3.01.
“
Eligible Assignee ” means (i) a commercial bank
organized under the laws of the United States, or any State
thereof, and having total assets in excess of $5,000,000,000;
(ii) a commercial bank organized under the laws of any other
country which is a member of the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development (or any successor) (“ OECD
”), or a political subdivision of any such country, and
having total assets in excess of $5,000,000,000, 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 or the Cayman Islands; (iii) the central bank of any
country which is a member of the OECD; (iv) a commercial
finance company or finance Subsidiary of a corporation organized
under the laws of the United States, or any State thereof, and
having total assets in excess of $3,000,000,000; (v) an
insurance company organized under the laws of the United States, or
any State thereof, and having total assets in excess of
$5,000,000,000; (vi) any Lender; (vii) an affiliate of
any Lender; and (viii) any other bank, commercial finance
company, insurance company or other Person approved in writing by
Altria, which approval shall be notified to JPMorgan Chase, as
Administrative Agent.
“
ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the regulations
promulgated and rulings issued thereunder.
5
“ ERISA
Affiliate ” means any Person that for purposes of Title
IV of ERISA is a member of any Borrower’s controlled group,
or under common control with any Borrower, within the meaning of
Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code.
“ ERISA
Event ” means (a) (i) the occurrence with respect to
a Plan of a reportable event, within the meaning of
Section 4043 of ERISA, unless the 30-day notice requirement
with respect thereto has been waived by the Pension Benefit
Guaranty Corporation (or any successor) (“ PBGC
”), or (ii) the requirements of subsection (1) of
Section 4043(b) of ERISA (without regard to subsection (2) of
such section) are met with respect to a contributing sponsor, as
defined in Section 4001(a)(13) of ERISA, of a Plan, and an
event described in paragraph (9), (10), (11), (12) or
(13) of Section 4043(c) of ERISA is reasonably expected to
occur with respect to such Plan within the following 30 days;
(b) the application for a minimum funding waiver with respect
to a Plan; (c) the provision by the administrator of any Plan
of a notice of intent to terminate such Plan, pursuant to Section
4041(a)(2) of ERISA (including any such notice with respect to a
plan amendment referred to in Section 4041(e) of ERISA);
(d) the cessation of operations at a facility of any Borrower
or Altria or any of their ERISA Affiliates in the circumstances
described in Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (e) the withdrawal by
any Borrower or Altria or any of their ERISA Affiliates from a
Multiple Employer Plan during a plan year for which it was a
substantial employer, as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of
ERISA; (f) the conditions set forth in
Section 302(f)(1)(A) and (B) of ERISA to the creation of
a lien upon property or rights to property of any Borrower or
Altria or any of their ERISA Affiliates for failure to make a
required payment to a Plan are satisfied; (g) the adoption of
an amendment to a Plan requiring the provision of security to such
Plan, pursuant to Section 307 of ERISA; or (h) the
termination of a Plan by the PBGC pursuant to Section 4042 of
ERISA, or the occurrence of any event or condition described in
Section 4042 of ERISA that constitutes grounds for the
termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, a
Plan.
“
Eurocurrency Liabilities ” has the meaning assigned to
that term in Regulation D of the Board, as in effect from time to
time.
“
Eurocurrency Lending Office ” means, with respect to
any Lender, the office of such Lender specified as its
“Eurocurrency Lending Office” opposite its name on
Schedule I hereto or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant
to which it became a Lender (or, if no such office is specified,
its Domestic Lending Office), or such other office of such Lender
as such Lender may from time to time specify to Altria and JPMorgan
Chase, as Administrative Agent.
“
Eurocurrency Rate Reserve Percentage ” for any
Interest Period, for all LIBO Rate Advances or Floating Rate Bid
Advances comprising part of the same Borrowing, means the reserve
percentage applicable two Business Days before the first day of
such Interest Period under regulations issued from time to time by
the Board for determining the maximum reserve requirement
(including, without limitation, any emergency, supplemental or
other marginal reserve requirement) for a member bank of the
Federal Reserve System in New York City with respect to liabilities
or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency Liabilities (or
with respect to any other category of liabilities that
6
includes deposits by reference to which the
interest rate on LIBO Rate Advances or Floating Rate Bid Advances
is determined) having a term equal to such Interest Period.
“ Event
of Default ” has the meaning specified in
Section 6.01.
“
Existing Loan Agreement ” means Altria’s
existing U.S.$1,000,000,000 364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement
dated as of March 31, 2006.
“
Federal Bankruptcy Code ” means the Bankruptcy Reform
Act of 1978, as amended from time to time.
“
Federal Funds Effective Rate ” means, for any period,
a fluctuating interest rate per annum 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) on Telerate Page 120 (or any successor page), or, if
such rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day,
the average of the quotations for such day on such transactions
received by JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, from three
Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.
“
5-Year Facility ” means the U.S.$4,000,000,000 5-Year
Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of April 15, 2005 among
Altria and the agents and lenders parties thereto.
“ Fixed
Charges ” means, for any accounting period, the sum of
(a) interest, whether expensed or capitalized, in respect of
any Debt outstanding during such period, plus
(b) amortization of debt expense and discount or premium
relating to any Debt outstanding during such period, whether
expensed or capitalized, plus (c) such portion of
rental expense as can be demonstrated to be representative of the
interest factor in the particular case, all as to be applicable to
continuing operations and determined in accordance with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States, except that if
there has been a material change in an accounting principle as
compared to that applied in the preparation of the financial
statements of Altria as at and for the year ended December 31,
2006, then such new accounting principle shall not be used in the
determination of Fixed Charges. A material change in an accounting
principle is one that, in the year of its adoption, changes
Earnings Before Income Taxes or Fixed Charges for any quarter in
such year by more than 10%.
“ Fixed
Rate Bid Advance ” means a Competitive Bid Advance
bearing interest based on a fixed rate per annum as specified in
the relevant Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing.
“
Floating Rate Bid Advance ” means a Competitive Bid
Advance bearing interest at a rate of interest quoted as a margin
over the LIBO Rate as specified in the relevant Notice of
Competitive Bid Borrowing.
7
“ Home
Jurisdiction Withholding Taxes ” means (a) in the
case of Altria, withholding for United States income taxes, United
States back-up withholding taxes and United States withholding
taxes and (b) in the case of a Designated Subsidiary,
withholding taxes imposed by the jurisdiction under the laws of
which such Designated Subsidiary is organized or any political
subdivision thereof.
“
Interest Period ” means, for each LIBO Rate Advance
comprising part of the same Pro Rata Borrowing and each Floating
Rate Bid Advance comprising part of the same Competitive Bid
Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such LIBO Rate
Advance or Floating Rate Bid Advance or the date of Conversion of
any Base Rate Advance into such LIBO Rate Advance and ending on the
last day of the period selected by the Borrower requesting such
Borrowing pursuant to the provisions below. The duration of each
such Interest Period shall be one, two, three or six months, or, if
available to all Lenders, nine months, as such Borrower may select
upon notice received by JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent,
not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the third
Business Day prior to the first day of such Interest Period;
provided , however , that:
(a) such
Borrower may not select any Interest Period that ends after the
Termination Date;
(b) whenever the
last day of any Interest Period would otherwise occur on a day
other than a Business Day, the last day of such Interest Period
shall be extended to occur on the next succeeding Business Day,
provided that if such extension would cause the last day of
such Interest Period to occur in the next following calendar month,
the last day of such Interest Period shall occur on the immediately
preceding Business Day; and
(c) whenever the
first day of any Interest Period occurs on a day of an initial
calendar month for which there is no numerically corresponding day
in the calendar month that succeeds such initial calendar month by
the number of months equal to the number of months in such Interest
Period, such Interest Period shall end on the last Business Day of
such succeeding calendar month.
“
Internal Revenue Code ” means the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the regulations
promulgated and the rulings issued thereunder.
“
JPMorgan Chase’s Administrative Agent Account ”
means (a) the account of JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative
Agent, maintained by JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, at
its office at 1111 Fannin Street, 10 th Floor, Houston, Texas
77002-6925, Account No. 323151124, Attention: Claudia Correa,
or (b) such other account of JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative
Agent, as is designated in writing from time to time by JPMorgan
Chase, as Administrative Agent, to Altria and the Lenders for such
purpose.
“
Lenders ” means the Initial Lenders and their
respective successors and permitted assignees.
8
“ LIBO
Rate ” means an interest rate per annum equal to
either:
(a) the offered
rate per annum at which deposits in Dollars appear on Telerate Page
3750 (or any successor page) as of 11:00 A.M. (London time)
two Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period,
or
(b) if the LIBO
Rate does not appear on Telerate Page 3750 (or any successor page),
then the LIBO Rate will be determined by taking the average
(rounded upward to the nearest whole multiple of 1/16 of 1% per
annum, if such average is not such a multiple) of the rates per
annum at which deposits in Dollars are offered by the principal
office of each of the Reference Banks in London, England to prime
banks in the London interbank market at 11:00 A.M. (London time)
two Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period for
an amount substantially equal to the amount that would be the
Reference Banks’ respective ratable shares of such Borrowing
outstanding during such Interest Period and for a period equal to
such Interest Period, as determined by JPMorgan Chase, as
Administrative Agent, subject , however , to the
provisions of Section 2.08.
“ LIBO
Rate Advance ” means a Pro Rata Advance that bears
interest as provided in Section 2.04(a)(ii).
“
Lien ” has the meaning specified in
Section 5.02(a).
“ Major
Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary (except Kraft Foods
Inc. and any of its Subsidiaries) (a) more than 50% of the
voting securities of which is owned directly or indirectly by
Altria, (b) which is organized and existing under, or has its
principal place of business in, the United States or any political
subdivision thereof, Canada or any political subdivision thereof,
any country which is a member of the European Union on the date
hereof (other than Greece, Portugal or Spain) or any political
subdivision thereof, or Switzerland, Norway or Australia or any of
their respective political subdivisions, and (c) which has at any
time total assets (after intercompany eliminations) exceeding
$1,000,000,000.
“
Margin Stock ” means margin stock, as such term is
defined in Regulation U.
“
Multiemployer Plan ” means a multiemployer plan, as
defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which any Borrower or
any ERISA Affiliate is making or accruing an obligation to make
contributions, or has within any of the preceding five plan years
made or accrued an obligation to make contributions, such plan
being maintained pursuant to one or more collective bargaining
agreements.
“
Multiple Employer Plan ” means a single employer plan,
as defined in Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA, that (a) is
maintained for employees of any Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate and
at least one Person other than such Borrower and the ERISA
Affiliates or (b) was so maintained and in respect of which such
Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate could have liability under
Section 4064 or 4069 of ERISA in the event such plan has been
or were to be terminated.
“
Note ” means a Pro Rata Note or a Competitive Bid
Note.
9
“
Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing ” has the meaning
specified in Section 2.07(b).
“
Notice of Pro Rata Borrowing ” has the meaning
specified in Section 2.02(a).
“
Obligations ” has the meaning specified in
Section 8.01.
“
Operating Assets ” means, for any accounting period,
any assets included in the consolidated balance sheet of Altria and
its Subsidiaries as “Inventories,” or “Property,
plant and equipment” or “Receivables” for such
period.
“ Other
Taxes ” has the meaning specified in
Section 2.15(b).
“
Patriot Act ” has the meaning specified in
Section 9.14.
“
Person ” means an individual, partnership, corporation
(including a business trust), joint stock company, trust,
unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability
company or other entity, or a government or any political
subdivision or agency thereof.
“
Plan ” means a Single Employer Plan or a Multiple
Employer Plan.
“ Pro
Rata Advance ” means an advance by a Lender to any
Borrower as part of a Pro Rata Borrowing and refers to a Base Rate
Advance or a LIBO Rate Advance (each of which shall be a “
Type ” of Pro Rata Advance).
“ Pro
Rata Borrowing ” means a borrowing consisting of
simultaneous Pro Rata Advances of the same Type made by each of the
Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01.
“ Pro
Rata Note ” means a promissory note of any Borrower
payable to the order of any Lender, delivered pursuant to a request
made under Section 2.17 in substantially the form of
Exhibit A-1 hereto, evidencing the aggregate indebtedness of
such Borrower to such Lender resulting from the Pro Rata Advances
made by such Lender to such Borrower.
“
Reference Banks ” means JPMorgan Chase, Citibank,
Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch and Deutsche Bank AG New York
Branch.
“
Register ” has the meaning specified in
Section 9.07(d).
“
Regulation A ” means Regulation A of the
Board, as in effect from time to time.
“
Regulation U ” means Regulation U of the
Board, as in effect from time to time.
“
Required Lenders ” means at any time Lenders owed at
least 50.1% of the then aggregate unpaid principal amount of the
Pro Rata Advances owing to Lenders, or, if no such principal amount
is then outstanding, Lenders having at least 50.1% of the
Commitments.
10
“
Single Employer Plan ” means a single employer plan,
as defined in Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA, that (a) is
maintained for employees of any Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate and
no Person other than such Borrower and the ERISA Affiliates or
(b) was so maintained and in respect of which such Borrower or
any ERISA Affiliate could have liability under Section 4069 of
ERISA in the event such plan has been or were to be terminated.
“
Spin-off Transaction ” means a spin-off or other not
for value disposition of Philip Morris International Inc.
(“PMI”) such that Altria owns no more than a de
minimis equity interest in PMI.
“
Subsidiary ” of any Person means any corporation of
which (or in which) more than 50% of the outstanding capital stock
having voting power to elect a majority of the Board of Directors
of such corporation (irrespective of whether at the time capital
stock of any other class or classes of such corporation shall or
might have voting power upon the occurrence of any contingency) is
at the time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such
Person, by such Person and one or more of its other Subsidiaries or
by one or more of such Person’s other Subsidiaries.
“
Taxes ” has the meaning specified in
Section 2.15(a).
“
Termination Date ” means the earlier of
(a) March 27, 2008 and (b) the date of termination
in whole of the Commitments pursuant to Section 2.10 or
6.02.
Section 1.02.
Computation of Time Periods . In this Agreement in the
computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later
specified date, the word “from” means “from and
including” and the words “to” and
“until” each mean “to but excluding.”
Section 1.03.
Accounting Terms . All accounting terms not specifically
defined herein shall be construed in accordance with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America,
except that if there has been a material change in an accounting
principle affecting the definition of an accounting term as
compared to that applied in the preparation of the financial
statements of Altria as of and for the year ended December 31,
2006, then such new accounting principle shall not be used in the
determination of the amount associated with that accounting term. A
material change in an accounting principle is one that, in the year
of its adoption, changes the amount associated with the relevant
accounting term for any quarter in such year by more than 10%.
AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF THE ADVANCES
Section 2.01.
The Pro Rata Advances . (a) Obligation to Make Pro Rata
Advances . Each Lender severally agrees, on the terms and
conditions hereinafter set forth, to make Pro Rata Advances to any
Borrower from time to time on any Business Day during the period
from the Effective Date until the Termination Date in an aggregate
amount not to exceed at any time outstanding such Lender’s
Commitment; provided , however , that the
aggregate
11
amount of the Commitments of the Lenders shall
be deemed used from time to time to the extent of the aggregate
amount of the Competitive Bid Advances then outstanding and such
deemed use of the aggregate amount of the Commitments shall be
allocated among the Lenders ratably according to their respective
Commitments (such deemed use of the aggregate amount of the
Commitments being a “ Competitive Bid Reduction
”).
(b)
Amount of Pro Rata Borrowings . Each Pro Rata Borrowing
shall be in an aggregate amount of no less than $50,000,000 or an
integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof.
(c)
Type of Pro Rata Advances . Each Pro Rata Borrowing shall
consist of Pro Rata Advances of the same Type made on the same day
by the Lenders ratably according to their respective Commitments.
Within the limits of each Lender’s Commitment and subject to
this Section 2.01, any Borrower may borrow under this
Section 2.01, prepay pursuant to Section 2.11 or repay
pursuant to Section 2.03 and reborrow under this
Section 2.01.
Section 2.02.
Making the Pro Rata Advances . (a) Notice of Pro Rata
Borrowing . Each Pro Rata Borrowing shall be made on notice,
given not later than (x) 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on
the third Business Day prior to the date of the proposed Pro Rata
Borrowing in the case of a Pro Rata Borrowing consisting of LIBO
Rate Advances, or (y) 9:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the
date of the proposed Pro Rata Borrowing in the case of a Pro Rata
Borrowing consisting of Base Rate Advances, by the Borrower to
JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, which shall give to each
Lender prompt notice thereof by telecopier. Each such notice of a
Pro Rata Borrowing (a “ Notice of Pro Rata Borrowing
”) shall be by telephone, confirmed immediately in writing,
by registered mail or telecopier in substantially the form of
Exhibit B-1 hereto, specifying therein the requested:
(i)
date of such Pro Rata Borrowing,
(ii)
Type of Advances comprising such Pro Rata Borrowing,
(iii)
aggregate amount of such Pro Rata Borrowing, and
(iv) in
the case of a Pro Rata Borrowing consisting of LIBO Rate Advances,
the initial Interest Period for each such Pro Rata Advance.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no Borrower may
select LIBO Rate Advances for any Pro Rata Borrowing if the
obligation of the Lenders to make LIBO Rate Advances shall then be
suspended pursuant to Section 2.08(c) or 2.13.
(b)
Funding Pro Rata Advances . Each Lender shall, before
11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the date of such Pro Rata
Borrowing, make available for the account of its Applicable Lending
Office to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, at JPMorgan
Chase’s Administrative Agent Account, in same day funds, such
Lender’s ratable portion of such Pro Rata Borrowing. After
receipt of such funds by JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent,
and upon fulfillment of the applicable conditions set forth in
Article III, JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, will
make such funds available to the relevant Borrower at the address
of JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, referred to in
Section 9.02.
12
(c)
Irrevocable Notice . Each Notice of Pro Rata Borrowing of
any Borrower shall be irrevocable and binding on such Borrower. In
the case of any Pro Rata Borrowing that the related Notice of Pro
Rata Borrowing specifies is to be comprised of LIBO Rate Advances,
the Borrower requesting such Pro Rata Borrowing shall indemnify
each Lender against any loss, cost or expense incurred by such
Lender as a result of any failure to fulfill on or before the date
specified in such Notice of Pro Rata Borrowing for such Pro Rata
Borrowing the applicable conditions set forth in Article III,
including, without limitation, any loss (excluding loss of
anticipated profits), cost or expense incurred by reason of the
liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired by
such Lender to fund the Pro Rata Advance to be made by such Lender
as part of such Pro Rata Borrowing when such Pro Rata Advance, as a
result of such failure, is not made on such date.
(d)
Lender’s Ratable Portion . Unless JPMorgan Chase, as
Administrative Agent, shall have received notice from a Lender
prior to 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the day of any Pro
Rata Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to JPMorgan
Chase, as Administrative Agent, such Lender’s ratable portion
of such Pro Rata Borrowing, JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative
Agent, may assume that such Lender has made such portion available
to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, on the date of such Pro
Rata Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.02(b) and JPMorgan
Chase, as Administrative Agent, may, in reliance upon such
assumption, make available to the Borrower proposing such Pro Rata
Borrowing on such date a corresponding amount. If and to the extent
that such Lender shall not have so made such ratable portion
available to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, such Lender
and such Borrower severally agree to repay to JPMorgan Chase, as
Administrative Agent, forthwith on demand such corresponding amount
together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such
amount is made available to such Borrower until the date such
amount is repaid to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent,
at:
(i) in
the case of such Borrower, the higher of (A) the interest rate
applicable at the time to Pro Rata Advances comprising such Pro
Rata Borrowing and (B) the cost of funds incurred by JPMorgan
Chase, as Administrative Agent, in respect of such amount, and
(ii) in
the case of such Lender, the Federal Funds Effective Rate.
If such Lender shall repay to JPMorgan Chase,
as Administrative Agent, such corresponding amount, such amount so
repaid shall constitute such Lender’s Pro Rata Advance as
part of such Pro Rata Borrowing for purposes of this Agreement.
(e)
Independent Lender Obligations . The failure of any Lender
to make the Pro Rata Advance to be made by it as part of any Pro
Rata Borrowing shall not relieve any other Lender of its
obligation, if any, hereunder to make its Pro Rata Advance on the
date of such Pro Rata Borrowing, but no Lender shall be responsible
for the failure of any other Lender to make the Pro Rata Advance to
be made by such other Lender on the date of any Pro Rata
Borrowing.
Section 2.03.
Repayment of Pro Rata Advances . Each Borrower shall repay
to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, for the ratable account
of the Lenders on the Termination Date the unpaid principal amount
of the Pro Rata Advances then outstanding.
13
Section 2.04.
Interest on Pro Rata Advances . (a) Scheduled
Interest . Each Borrower shall pay interest on the unpaid
principal amount of each Pro Rata Advance owing by such Borrower to
each Lender from the date of such Pro Rata Advance until such
principal amount shall be paid in full, at the following rates per
annum:
(i)
Base Rate Advances . During such periods as such Pro Rata
Advance is a Base Rate Advance, a rate per annum equal at all times
to the Base Rate in effect from time to time, payable in arrears
monthly on the 20th day of each month and on the date such Base
Rate Advance shall be Converted or paid in full.
(ii)
LIBO Rate Advances . During such periods as such Pro Rata
Advance is a LIBO Rate Advance, a rate per annum equal at all times
during each Interest Period for such Pro Rata Advance to the sum of
(x) the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period for such Pro Rata
Advance plus (y) the Applicable Interest Rate Margin in
effect from time to time, payable in arrears on the last day of
such Interest Period and, if such Interest Period has a duration of
more than three months, on each day that occurs during such
Interest Period every three months from the first day of such
Interest Period, and on the date such LIBO Rate Advance shall be
Converted or paid in full.
(b)
Default Interest . Upon the occurrence and during the
continuance of an Event of Default, each Borrower shall pay
interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Pro Rata Advance
owing to each Lender, payable in arrears on the dates referred to
in Section 2.04(a)(i) or Section 2.04(a)(ii), at a rate per
annum equal at all times to 1% per annum above the rate per annum
required to be paid on such Pro Rata Advance.
Section 2.05.
Additional Interest on LIBO Rate Advances . Each Borrower
shall pay to each Lender, so long as such Lender shall be required
under regulations of the Board to maintain reserves with respect to
liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency
Liabilities, additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of
each LIBO Rate Advance of such Lender to such Borrower, from the
date of such Advance until such principal amount is paid in full,
at an interest rate per annum equal at all times to the remainder
obtained by subtracting (i) the LIBO Rate for the Interest
Period for such Advance from (ii) the rate obtained by
dividing such LIBO Rate by a percentage equal to 100% minus the
Eurocurrency Rate Reserve Percentage of such Lender for such
Interest Period, payable on each date on which interest is payable
on such Advance. Such additional interest shall be determined by
such Lender and notified to Altria through JPMorgan Chase, as
Administrative Agent.
Section 2.06.
Conversion of Pro Rata Advances . (a) Conversion Upon
Absence of Interest Period . If any Borrower shall fail to
select the duration of any Interest Period for any LIBO Rate
Advances in accordance with the provisions contained in the
definition of the term “Interest Period,” JPMorgan
Chase, as Administrative Agent, will forthwith so notify such
Borrower and the Lenders, and such Advances will automatically, on
the last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, Convert
into Base Rate Advances.
(b)
Conversion Upon Event of Default . Upon the occurrence and
during the continuance of any Event of Default under
Section 6.01(a), JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, or
the Required Lenders may elect that (i) each LIBO Rate Advance
be, on the last day of
14
the then existing Interest Period therefor,
Converted into Base Rate Advances and (ii) the obligation of
the Lenders to make, or to Convert Advances into, LIBO Rate
Advances be suspended.
(c)
Voluntary Conversion . Subject to the provisions of
Sections 2.08(c) and 2.13, any Borrower may convert all such
Borrower’s Pro Rata Advances of one Type constituting the
same Pro Rata Borrowing into Advances of the other Type on any
Business Day, upon notice given to JPMorgan Chase, as
Administrative Agent, not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City
time) on the third Business Day prior to the date of the proposed
Conversion; provided , however , that the Conversion
of a LIBO Rate Advance into a Base Rate Advance may be made on, and
only on, the last day of an Interest Period for such LIBO Rate
Advance. Each such notice of a Conversion shall, within the
restrictions specified above, specify
(i) the
date of such Conversion;
(ii)
the Pro Rata Advances to be Converted; and
(iii)
if such Conversion is into LIBO Rate Advances, the duration of the
Interest Period for each such Pro Rata Advance.
Section 2.07.
The Competitive Bid Advances . (a) Competitive Bid
Advances’ Impact on Commitments . Each Lender severally
agrees that any Borrower may make Competitive Bid Borrowings under
this Section 2.07 from time to time on any Business Day during
the period from the Effective Date until the Termination Date in
the manner set forth below; provided that, following the
making of each Competitive Bid Borrowing, the aggregate amount of
the Advances then outstanding shall not exceed the aggregate amount
of the Commitments of the Lenders. As provided in
Section 2.01, the aggregate amount of the Commitments of the
Lenders shall be deemed used from time to time to the extent of the
aggregate amount of the Competitive Bid Advances then outstanding,
and such deemed use of the aggregate amount of the Commitments
shall be applied to the Lenders ratably according to their
respective Commitments; provided , however , that any
Lender’s Competitive Bid Advances shall not otherwise reduce
that Lender’s obligation to lend its pro rata share of the
remaining available Commitments.
(b)
Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing . Any Borrower may
request a Competitive Bid Borrowing under this Section 2.07 by
delivering to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, by
telecopier, a notice of a Competitive Bid Borrowing (a “
Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing ”), in
substantially the form of Exhibit B-2 hereto, specifying
therein the following:
(i)
date of such proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing;
(ii)
aggregate amount of such proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing;
(iii)
interest rate basis and day count convention to be offered by the
Lenders;
(iv) in
the case of a Competitive Bid Borrowing consisting of Floating Rate
Bid Advances, Interest Period, or in the case of a Competitive Bid
Borrowing
15
consisting of Fixed Rate Bid Advances,
maturity date for repayment of each Fixed Rate Bid Advance to be
made as part of such Competitive Bid Borrowing (which maturity date
may not be earlier than the date occurring seven days after the
date of such Competitive Bid Borrowing or later than the earlier of
(A) 360 days after the date of such Competitive Bid
Borrowing and (B) the Termination Date);
(v)
interest payment date or dates relating thereto;
(vi)
location of such Borrower’s account to which funds are to be
advanced; and
(vii)
other terms (if any) to be applicable to such Competitive Bid
Borrowing.
A Borrower requesting a Competitive Bid
Borrowing shall deliver a Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing to
JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, not later than
10:00 A.M. (New York City time) (x) at least two Business
Days prior to the date of the proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing,
if such Borrower shall specify in the Notice of Competitive Bid
Borrowing that the Competitive Bid Borrowing shall be Fixed Rate
Bid Advances, or (y) at least four Business Days prior to the
date of the proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing, if such Borrower
shall specify in the Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing that the
Competitive Bid Borrowing shall be Floating Rate Bid Advances. Each
Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing shall be irrevocable and
binding on such Borrower. JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent,
shall in turn promptly notify each Lender of each request for a
Competitive Bid Borrowing received by it from such Borrower by
sending such Lender a copy of the related Notice of Competitive Bid
Borrowing.
(c)
Discretion as to Competitive Bid Advances . Each Lender may,
in its sole discretion, elect to irrevocably offer to make one or
more Competitive Bid Advances to the applicable Borrower as part of
such proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing at a rate or rates of
interest specified by such Lender in its sole discretion, by
notifying JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent (which shall give
prompt notice thereof to such Borrower), before 9:30 A.M. (New York
City time) (A) on the Business Day prior to the date of such
proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing, in the case of a Competitive
Bid Borrowing consisting of Fixed Rate Bid Advances, and
(B) on the third Business Day prior to the date of such
proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing, in the case of a Competitive
Bid Borrowing consisting of Floating Rate Bid Advances;
provided that, if JPMorgan Chase in its capacity as a Lender
shall, in its sole discretion, elect to make any such offer, it
shall notify such Borrower of such offer at least 30 minutes before
the time and on the date on which notice of such election is to be
given by any other Lender to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative
Agent. In such notice, the Lender shall specify the following:
(i) the
minimum amount and maximum amount of each Competitive Bid Advance
which such Lender would be willing to make as part of such proposed
Competitive Bid Borrowing (which amounts may, subject to the
proviso to the first sentence of Section 2.07(a), exceed such
Lender’s Commitment);
(ii)
the rate or rates of interest therefor; and
16
(iii)
such Lender’s Applicable Lending Office with respect to such
Competitive Bid Advance.
If any Lender shall elect not to make such an
offer, such Lender shall so notify JPMorgan Chase, as
Administrative Agent, before 9:30 A.M. (New York City time) on the
date on which notice of such election is to be given to JPMorgan
Chase, as Administrative Agent, by the other Lenders, and such
Lender shall not be obligated to, and shall not, make any
Competitive Bid Advance as part of such Competitive Bid Borrowing;
provided further that the failure by any Lender to
give such notice shall not cause such Lender to be obligated to
make any Competitive Bid Advance as part of such proposed
Competitive Bid Borrowing.
(d)
Borrower Selection of Lender Bids . The Borrower proposing
the Competitive Bid Borrowing shall, in turn, (A) before 12:00
noon (New York City time) on the Business Day prior to the date of
such proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing, in the case of a
Competitive Bid Borrowing consisting of Fixed Rate Bid Advances and
(B) before 12:00 noon (New York City time) on the third
Business Day prior to the date of such proposed Competitive Bid
Borrowing, in the case of a Competitive Bid Borrowing consisting of
Floating Rate Bid Advances, either:
(i)
cancel such Competitive Bid Borrowing by giving JPMorgan Chase, as
Administrative Agent, notice to that effect, or
(ii)
accept, in its sole discretion, one or more of the offers made by
any Lender or Lenders pursuant to Section 2.07(c), by giving
notice to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, of the amount of
each Competitive Bid Advance (which amount shall be equal to or
greater than the minimum amount, and equal to or less than the
maximum amount, notified to such Borrower by JPMorgan Chase, as
Administrative Agent on behalf of such Lender, for such Competitive
Bid Advance pursuant to Section 2.07(c) to be made by each
Lender as part of such Competitive Bid Borrowing) and reject any
remaining offers made by Lenders pursuant to Section 2.07(c)
by giving JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, notice to that
effect. Such Borrower shall accept the offers made by any Lender or
Lenders to make Competitive Bid Advances in order of the lowest to
the highest rates of interest offered by such Lenders. If two or
more Lenders have offered the same interest rate, the amount to be
borrowed at such interest rate will be allocated among such Lenders
in proportion to the maximum amount that each such Lender offered
at such interest rate.
If the Borrower proposing the Competitive Bid
Borrowing notifies JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, that
such Competitive Bid Borrowing is canceled pursuant to
Section 2.07(d)(i), or if such Borrower fails to give timely
notice in accordance with Section 2.07(d), JPMorgan Chase, as
Administrative Agent, shall give prompt notice thereof to the
Lenders and such Competitive Bid Borrowing shall not be made.
(e)
Competitive Bid Borrowing . If the Borrower proposing the
Competitive Bid Borrowing accepts one or more of the offers made by
any Lender or Lenders pursuant to Section 2.07(d)(ii), JPMorgan
Chase, as Administrative Agent, shall in turn promptly notify:
17
(i)
each Lender that has made an offer as described in
Section 2.07(c), whether or not any offer or offers made by
such Lender pursuant to Section 2.07(c) have been accepted by
such Borrower;
(ii)
each Lender that is to make a Competitive Bid Advance as part of
such Competitive Bid Borrowing, of the date and amount of each
Competitive Bid Advance to be made by such Lender as part of such
Competitive Bid Borrowing; and
(iii)
each Lender that is to make a Competitive Bid Advance as part of
such Competitive Bid Borrowing, upon receipt, that JPMorgan Chase,
as Administrative Agent, has received forms of documents appearing
to fulfill the applicable conditions set forth in
Article III.
When each Lender that is to make a Competitive
Bid Advance as part of such Competitive Bid Borrowing has received
notice pursuant to Section 2.07(e)(iii), such Lender shall,
before 11:00 A.M. (New York City time), on the date of such
Competitive Bid Borrowing specified in the notice received from
JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, pursuant to
Section 2.07(e)(i), make available for the account of its
Applicable Lending Office to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative
Agent, at its address referred to in Section 9.02, in same day
funds, such Lender’s portion of such Competitive Bid
Borrowing. Upon fulfillment of the applicable conditions set forth
in Article III and after receipt by JPMorgan Chase, as
Administrative Agent, of such funds, JPMorgan Chase, as
Administrative Agent, will make such funds available to such
Borrower at the location specified by such Borrower in its Notice
of Competitive Bid Borrowing. Promptly after each Competitive Bid
Borrowing, JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, will notify
each Lender of the amount of the Competitive Bid Borrowing, the
consequent Competitive Bid Reduction and the dates upon which such
Competitive Bid Reduction commenced and will terminate.
(f)
Irrevocable Notice . If the Borrower proposing the
Competitive Bid Borrowing notifies JPMorgan Chase, as
Administrative Agent, that it accepts one or more of the offers
made by any Lender or Lenders pursuant to Section 2.07(c),
such notice of acceptance shall be irrevocable and binding on such
Borrower. Such Borrower shall indemnify each Lender against any
loss, cost or expense incurred by such Lender as a result of any
failure to fulfill on or before the date specified in the related
Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing for such Competitive Bid
Borrowing the applicable conditions set forth in Article III,
including, without limitation, any loss (excluding loss of
anticipated profits), cost or expense incurred by reason of the
liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired by
such Lender to fund the Competitive Bid Advance to be made by such
Lender as part of such Competitive Bid Borrowing when such
Competitive Bid Advance, as a result of such failure, is not made
on such date.
(g)
Amount of Competitive Bid Borrowings; Competitive Bid Notes
. Each Competitive Bid Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount of
$50,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof
and, following the making of each Competitive Bid Borrowing, the
aggregate amount of Advances then outstanding shall not exceed the
aggregate amount of the Commitments of the Lenders. Within the
limits and on the conditions set forth in this Section 2.07,
any Borrower may from time to time borrow under this
Section 2.07, prepay pursuant to Section 2.11 or repay
pursuant to Section 2.07(h), and reborrow under this
Section
18
2.07; provided that a Competitive Bid
Borrowing shall not be made within two Business Days of the date of
any other Competitive Bid Borrowing. The indebtedness of any
Borrower resulting from each Competitive Bid Advance made to such
Borrower as part of a Competitive Bid Borrowing shall be evidenced
by a separate Competitive Bid Note of such Borrower payable to the
order of the Lender making such Competitive Bid Advance.
(h)
Repayment of Competitive Bid Advances . On the maturity date
of each Competitive Bid Advance provided in the Competitive Bid
Note evidencing such Competitive Bid Advance, the Borrower shall
repay to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, for the account
of each Lender that has made a Competitive Bid Advance the then
unpaid principal amount of such Competitive Bid Advance. Except as
required by Section 2.11(b), no Borrower shall have any right
to prepay any principal amount of any Competitive Bid Advance
unless, and then only on the terms set forth in the Competitive Bid
Note evidencing such Competitive Bid Advance.
(i)
Interest on Competitive Bid Advances . Each Borrower that
has borrowed through a Competitive Bid Borrowing shall pay interest
on the unpaid principal amount of each Competitive Bid Advance from
the date of such Competitive Bid Advance to the date the principal
amount of such Competitive Bid Advance is repaid in full, at the
rate of interest for such Competitive Bid Advance and on the
interest payment date or dates set forth in the Competitive Bid
Note evidencing such Competitive Bid Advance. Upon the occurrence
and during the continuance of an Event of Default, such Borrower
shall pay interest on the amount of unpaid principal of each
Competitive Bid Advance owing to a Lender, payable in arrears on
the date or dates interest is payable thereon, at a rate per annum
equal at all times to 1% per annum above the rate per annum
required to be paid on such Competitive Bid Advance under the terms
of the Competitive Bid Note evidencing such Competitive Bid Advance
unless otherwise agreed in such Competitive Bid Note.
Section 2.08.
LIBO Rate Determination . (a) Methods to Determine LIBO
Rate . JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, shall determine
the LIBO Rate by using the methods described in the definition of
the term “LIBO Rate,” and shall give prompt notice to
the Borrower and Lenders of each such LIBO Rate.
(b)
Role of Reference Banks . In the event that the LIBO Rate
cannot be determined by the method described in clause (a) of
the definition of “LIBO Rate,” each Reference Bank
agrees to furnish to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent,
timely information for the purpose of determining the LIBO Rate in
accordance with the method described in clause (b) of the
definition thereof. If any one or more of the Reference Banks shall
not furnish such timely information to JPMorgan Chase, as
Administrative Agent, for the purpose of determining a LIBO Rate,
JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, shall determine such
interest rate on the basis of timely information furnished by the
remaining Reference Banks. If fewer than two Reference Banks
furnish timely information to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative
Agent, for determining the LIBO Rate for any LIBO Rate Advances or
Floating Rate Bid Advances, as the case may be, then:
19
(i)
JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, shall forthwith notify
Altria and the Lenders that the interest rate cannot be determined
for such LIBO Rate Advance or Floating Rate Bid Advances, as the
case may be;
(ii)
with respect to each LIBO Rate Advance, such Advance will, on the
last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, be prepaid
by the Borrower or be automatically Converted into a Base Rate
Advance; and
(iii)
the obligation of the Lenders to make LIBO Rate Advances or
Floating Rate Bid Advances or to Convert Base Rate Advances into
LIBO Rate Advances shall be suspended until JPMorgan Chase, as
Administrative Agent, shall notify Altria and the Lenders that the
circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist.
JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, shall
give prompt notice to Altria and the Lenders of the applicable
interest rate determined by JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative
Agent, for purposes of Section 2.04(a)(i) or (ii), and the
rate, if any, furnished by each Reference Bank for the purpose of
determining the interest rate under Section 2.04(a)(ii) or the
applicable LIBO Rate.
(c)
Inadequate LIBO Rate . If, with respect to any LIBO Rate
Advances, the Required Lenders notify JPMorgan Chase, as
Administrative Agent, that (i) they are unable to obtain
matching deposits in the London interbank market at or about
11:00 A.M. (London time) on the second Business Day before the
making of a Borrowing in sufficient amounts to fund their
respective LIBO Rate Advances as a part of such Borrowing during
the Interest Period therefor or (ii) the LIBO Rate for any
Interest Period for such Advances will not adequately reflect the
cost to such Required Lenders of making, funding or maintaining
their respective LIBO Rate Advances for such Interest Period,
JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, shall forthwith so notify
Altria and the Lenders, whereupon (A) the Borrower of such
LIBO Rate Advances will, on the last day of the then existing
Interest Period therefor, either (x) prepay such Advances or
(y) Convert such Advances into Base Rate Advances and
(B) the obligation of the Lenders to make, or to Convert Base
Rate Advances into, LIBO Rate Advances shall be suspended until
JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, shall notify Altria and
the Lenders that the circumstances causing such suspension no
longer exist. In the case of clause (ii) above, each Lender
shall certify its cost of funds for each Interest Period to
JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, and Altria as soon as
practicable (but in any event not later than 10 Business Days after
the last day of such Interest Period).
Section 2.09.
Fees . (a) Facility Fee . Altria agrees to pay to
JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, for the account of each
Lender a facility fee on the aggregate amount of such
Lender’s Commitment (whether or not used and without giving
effect to any Competitive Bid Reduction) from the date hereof in
the case of each Initial Lender and from the effective date
specified in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it
became a Lender in the case of each other Lender until the
Termination Date at the Applicable Facility Fee Rate, in each case
payable on the last day of each March, June, September and December
until the Termination Date and on the Termination Date.
20
(b)
Agent’s Fees . Altria shall pay to JPMorgan Chase, as
Administrative Agent, for its own account such fees as may from
time to time be agreed between Altria and such Agent.
Section 2.10.
Termination or Reduction of the Commitments . Altria shall
have the right, upon at least three Business Days’ notice to
JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, to terminate in whole or
reduce ratably in part the unused portions of the respective
Commitments of the Lenders; provided that each partial
reduction shall be in the aggregate amount of no less than
$50,000,000 or the remaining balance if less than $50,000,000; and
provided further that the aggregate amount of the
Commitments of the Lenders shall not be reduced to an amount that
is less than the aggregate principal amount of the Competitive Bid
Advances then outstanding.
Section 2.11.
Prepayments . (a) Optional Prepayment of Pro Rata
Advances . Each Borrower may, in the case of any LIBO Rate
Advance, upon at least three Business Days’ notice to
JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, or, in the case of any
Base Rate Advance, upon notice given to JPMorgan Chase, as
Administrative Agent, not later than 9:00 A.M. (New York City time)
on the date of the proposed prepayment, in each case stating the
proposed date and aggregate principal amount of the prepayment, and
if such notice is given such Borrower shall, prepay the outstanding
principal amount of the Pro Rata Advances comprising part of the
same Pro Rata Borrowing in whole or ratably in part, together with
accrued interest to the date of such prepayment on the principal
amount prepaid; provided , however , that
(x) each partial prepayment shall be in an aggregate principal
amount of no less than $50,000,000 or the remaining balance if less
than $50,000,000 and (y) in the event of any such prepayment
of a LIBO Rate Advance, such Borrower shall be obligated to
reimburse the Lenders in respect thereof pursuant to
Section 9.04(b).
(b)
Mandatory Prepayment . The Borrower shall, on each Business
Day, prepay an aggregate principal amount of the Advances equal to
the amount by which (A) the aggregate principal amount of the
Advances then outstanding exceeds (B) the aggregate of the
Commitments (after giving effect to any Competitive Bid Reduction)
on such Business Day. Prepayments under this Section 2.11(b) shall
be allocated first to Base Rate Advances, ratably; any excess
amount shall then be allocated to LIBO Rate Advances, in such
manner as the Borrower shall determine; and any remaining amount
shall be allocated to Competitive Bid Advances, in such manner as
the Borrower shall determine.
Each
prepayment made pursuant to this Section 2.11(b) shall be made
together with any interest accrued to the date of such prepayment
on the principal amounts prepaid and, in the case of any prepayment
of a LIBO Rate Advance or a Floating Rate Bid Advance on a date
other than the last day of an Interest Period or at its maturity,
any additional amounts which such Borrower shall be obligated to
reimburse to the Lenders in respect thereof pursuant to
Section 9.04(b). JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent,
shall give prompt notice of any prepayment required under this
Section 2.11(b) to the Borrowers and the Lenders.
Section 2.12.
Increased Costs . (a) Costs from Change in Law or
Authorities . If, due to either (i) the introduction of or
any change (other than any change by way of imposition or increase
of reserve requirements to the extent such change is included in
the Eurocurrency Rate Reserve Percentage) in or in the
interpretation of any law or regulation or (ii) the
compliance
21
with any guideline or request from any central
bank or other governmental authority (whether or not having the
force of law), there shall be any increase in the cost to any
Lender of agreeing to make or making, funding or maintaining LIBO
Rate Advances or Floating Rate Bid Advances (excluding for purposes
of this Section 2.12 any such increased costs resulting from
(i) Taxes or Other Taxes (as to which Section 2.15 shall
govern) and (ii) changes in the basis of taxation of overall
net income or overall gross income by the United States or by the
foreign jurisdiction or state under the laws of which such Lender
is organized or has its Applicable Lending Office or any political
subdivision thereof), then the Borrower of the affected Advances
shall from time to time, upon demand by such Lender (with a copy of
such demand to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent), pay to
JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, for the account of such
Lender additional amounts sufficient to compensate such Lender for
such increased cost; provided , however , that before
making any such demand, each Lender agrees to use reasonable
efforts (consistent with its internal policy and legal and
regulatory restrictions) to designate a different Applicable
Lending Office if the making of such a designation would avoid the
need for, or reduce the amount of, such increased cost and would
not, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, be otherwise
disadvantageous to such Lender. A certificate as to the amount of
such increased cost, submitted to Altria, such Borrower and
JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, by such Lender, shall be
conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
(b)
Reduction in Lender’s Rate of Return . In the event
that, after the date hereof, the implementation of or any change in
any law or regulation, or any guideline or directive (whether or
not having the force of law) or the interpretation or
administration thereof by any central bank or other authority
charged with the administration thereof, imposes, modifies or deems
applicable any capital adequacy or similar requirement (including,
without limitation, a request or requirement which affects the
manner in which any Lender allocates capital resources to its
commitments, including its obligations hereunder) and as a result
thereof, in the sole opinion of such Lender, the rate of return on
such Lender’s capital as a consequence of its obligations
hereunder is reduced to a level below that which such Lender could
have achieved but for such circumstances, but reduced to the extent
that Borrowings are outstanding from time to time, then in each
such case, upon demand from time to time Altria shall pay to such
Lender such additional amount or amounts as shall compensate such
Lender for such reduction in rate of return; provided that,
in the case of each Lender, such additional amount or amounts shall
not exceed 0.15 of 1% per annum of such Lender’s Commitment.
A certificate of such Lender as to any such additional amount or
amounts shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent
manifest error. Except as provided below, in determining any such
amount or amounts each Lender may use any reasonable averaging and
attribution methods. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Lender
shall take all reasonable actions to avoid the imposition of, or
reduce the amounts of, such increased costs, provided that such
actions, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, will not be
otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender, and, to the extent
possible, each Lender will calculate such increased costs based
upon the capital requirements for its Commitment hereunder and not
upon the average or general capital requirements imposed upon such
Lender.
Section 2.13.
Illegality . Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement, if any Lender shall notify JPMorgan Chase, as
Administrative Agent, that the introduction of or any change in, or
in the interpretation of, any law or regulation makes it unlawful,
or any central bank or other governmental authority asserts that it
is unlawful, for any Lender or its
22
Eurocurrency Lending Office to perform its
obligations hereunder to make LIBO Rate Advances or Floating Rate
Bid Advances or to fund or maintain LIBO Rate Advances or Floating
Rate Bid Advances, (a) each LIBO Rate Advance or Floating Rate
Bid Advances, as the case may be, will automatically, upon such
demand, be Converted into a Base Rate Advance or an Advance that
bears interest at the rate set forth in Section 2.04(a)(i), as
the case may be, and (b) the obligation of the Lenders to make
LIBO Rate Advances or Floating Rate Bid Advances or to Convert Base
Rate Advances into LIBO Rate Advances shall be suspended, in each
case, until JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, shall notify
Altria and the Lenders that the circumstances causing such
suspension no longer exist; provided , however , that
before making any such demand, each Lender agrees to use reasonable
efforts (consistent with its internal policy and legal and
regulatory restrictions) to designate a different Eurocurrency
Lending Office if the making of such a designation would allow such
Lender or its Eurocurrency Lending Office to continue to perform
its obligations to make LIBO Rate Advances or Floating Rate Bid
Advances or to continue to fund or maintain LIBO Rate Advances or
Floating Rate Bid Advances, as the case may be, and would not, in
the judgment of such Lender, be otherwise disadvantageous to such
Lender.
Section 2.14.
Payments and Computations . (a) Time and Distribution of
Payments . Altria and each Borrower shall make each payment
hereunder, without set-off or counterclaim, not later than
11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the day when due to
JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, at JPMorgan Chase’s
Administrative Agent Account in same day funds. JPMorgan Chase, as
Administrative Agent, will promptly thereafter cause to be
distributed like funds relating to the payment of principal or
interest or facility fees ratably (other than amounts payable
pursuant to Section 2.07, 2.12, 2.15 or 9.04(b)) to the
Lenders for the account of their respective Applicable Lending
Offices, and like funds relating to the payment of any other amount
payable to any Lender to such Lender for the account of its
Applicable Lending Office, in each case to be applied in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement. From and after the effective date
of an Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to Section 9.07,
JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, shall make all payments
hereunder in respect of the interest assigned thereby to the Lender
assignee thereunder, and the parties to such Assignment and
Acceptance shall make all appropriate adjustments in such payments
for periods prior to such effective date directly between
themselves.
(b)
Computation of Interest and Fees . All computations of
interest based on JPMorgan Chase’s prime rate shall be made
by JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, on the basis of a year
of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be. All computations of
interest based on the LIBO Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate
and of facility fees shall be made by JPMorgan Chase, as
Administrative Agent and all computations of interest pursuant to
Section 2.05 shall be made by a Lender, on the basis of a year
of 360 days, and all computations of interest in respect of
Competitive Bid Advances shall be made by JPMorgan Chase, as
Administrative Agent, as specified in the applicable Notice of
Competitive Bid Notice, in each case for the actual number of days
(including the first day but excluding the last day) occurring in
the period for which such interest or facility fees are payable.
Each determination by JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent (or,
in the case of Section 2.05 by a Lender), of an interest rate
hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent
manifest error.
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(c)
Payment Due Dates . Whenever any payment hereunder shall be
stated to be due on a day other than a Business Day, such payment
shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and such
extension of time shall in such case be included in the computation
of payment of interest or facility fee, as the case may be;
provided , however , that if such extension would
cause payment of interest on or principal of LIBO Rate Advances or
Floating Rate Bid Advances to be made in the next following
calendar month, such payment shall be made on the immediately
preceding Business Day.
(d)
Presumption of Borrower Payment . Unless JPMorgan Chase, as
Administrative Agent, receives notice from any Borrower prior to
the date on which any payment is due to the Lenders hereunder that
such Borrower will not make such payment in full, JPMorgan Chase,
as Administrative Agent, may assume that such Borrower has made
such payment in full to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, on
such date and JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, may, in
reliance upon such assumption, cause to be distributed to each
Lender on such due date an amount equal to the amount then due such
Lender. If and to the extent such Borrower has not made such
payment in full to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, each
Lender shall repay to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent,
forthwith on demand such amount distributed to such Lender together
with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is
distributed to such Lender until the date such Lender repays such
amount to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, at the Federal
Funds Effective Rate.
Section 2.15.
Taxes . (a) Any and all payments by each Borrower and
Altria hereunder shall be made, in accordance with
Section 2.14, free and clear of and without deduction for any
and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, deductions,
charges or withholdings, and all liabilities with respect thereto,
excluding , (i) in the case of each Lender and JPMorgan
Chase, as Administrative Agent, taxes imposed on its net income,
and franchise taxes imposed on it, by the jurisdiction under the
laws of which such Lender or JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative
Agent (as the case may be), is organized or any political
subdivision thereof, (ii) in the case of each Lender, taxes
imposed on its net income, and franchise taxes imposed on it, by
the jurisdiction of such Lender’s Applicable Lending Office
or any political subdivision thereof, (iii) in the case of
each Lender and JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, taxes
imposed on its net income, franchise taxes imposed on it, and any
tax imposed by means of withholding to the extent such tax is
imposed solely as a result of a present or former connection (other
than the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or a
Note) between the Lender or JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative
Agent, as the case may be, and the taxing jurisdiction, and
(iv) in the case of each Lender and JPMorgan Chase, as
Administrative Agent, taxes imposed by the United States by means
of withholding tax if and to the extent that such taxes shall be in
effect and shall be applicable on the date hereof to payments to be
made to such Lender’s Applicable Lending Office or to
JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent (all such non-excluded
taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges, withholdings and
liabilities in respect of payments hereunder being hereinafter
referred to as “ Taxes ”). If any Borrower or
Altria shall be required by law to deduct any Taxes from or in
respect of any sum payable hereunder to any Lender or JPMorgan
Chase, as Administrative Agent, (i) the sum payable shall be
increased as may be necessary so that after making all required
deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums
payable under this Section 2.15) such Lender or JPMorgan
Chase, as Administrative Agent (as the case may be), receives an
amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such
deductions been made, (ii) such Borrower or Altria shall make
such
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deductions and (iii) such Borrower or
Altria shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant taxation
authority or other authority in accordance with applicable law.
(b) In
addition, each Borrower or Altria shall pay any present or future
stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes,
charges or similar levies that arise from any payment made
hereunder or from the execution, delivery or registration of,
performing under, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement
(hereinafter referred to as “ Other Taxes
”).
(c) Each
Borrower and Altria shall indemnify each Lender and JPMorgan Chase,
as Administrative Agent, for and hold it harmless against the full
amount of Taxes or Other Taxes (including, without limitation,
Taxes and Other Taxes imposed by any jurisdiction on amounts
payable under this Section 2.15) paid by such Lender or JPMorgan
Chase, as Administrative Agent (as the case may be), and any
liability (including penalties, interest and expenses) arising
therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes or
Other Taxes were correctly or legally asserted. This
indemnification shall be made within 30 days from the date
such Lender or JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent (as the case
may be), makes written demand therefor.
(d) Within
30 days after the date of any payment of Taxes, each Borrower
and Altria shall furnish to JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative
Agent, at its address referred to in Section 9.02, the
original or a certified copy of a receipt evidencing such payment.
If any Borrower or Altria determines that no Taxes are payable in
respect thereof, such Borrower or Altria shall, at the request of
JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, furnish or cause the payor
to furnish, JPMorgan Chase, as Administrative Agent, and each
Lender an opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to JPMorgan
Chase, as Administrative Agent, stating that such payment is exempt
from Taxes.
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