Exhibit 4.1
5-YEAR REVOLVING CREDIT
AGREEMENT
5-YEAR REVOLVING
CREDIT AGREEMENT
dated as of December 22, 2004 by and between BEST BUY CO., INC. (the
“Company”), a Minnesota corporation, the lenders from
time to time party hereto (such lenders being hereinafter sometimes
referred to collectively as the “Lenders” and
individually as a “Lender”), and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION , one
of the Lenders, as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such
capacity, the “Agent”) and as Lead Arranger for the
Lenders, WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION , one of the Lenders, as Co-Syndication
Agent for the Lenders and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. , one of
the Lenders, as Co-Syndication Agent for the Lenders.
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1
Certain Defined Terms . As used herein and, unless
otherwise defined therein, or in any Exhibit or Schedule hereto,
the following terms shall have the following respective meanings
(such meanings to be equally applicable to both the singular and
plural form of the terms defined, as the context may require):
“
Absolute Rate ”: has the meaning specified in Section
2.6(b)(iv)(D).
“
Absolute Rate Auction ”: means a solicitation of
Competitive Bids setting forth Absolute Rates pursuant to
Section 2.6.
“
Absolute Rate Bid Loan ”: means a Bid Loan that bears
interest at a rate determined with reference to the Absolute
Rate.
“
Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate ”: with respect to
each Interest Period applicable to a Eurocurrency Rate Advance, the
rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to the next higher one
hundredth of one percent) determined by dividing the Eurocurrency
Rate for such Interest Period by 1.00 minus the Eurocurrency
Reserve Percentage.
“
Advance ”: a Prime Rate Advance or a
Eurocurrency Rate Advance or a Bid Loan.
“
Affiliate ”: when used with respect to a
specified Person, another Person that directly or indirectly
through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by or
is under common control with the Person specified. For
purposes hereof, “control” shall have the meaning given
such term in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
and “controlled” shall have a correlative
meaning.
“
Agent ” as defined in the preamble.
“
Aggregate Commitment Amount ”: as of any date of
determination, the sum of the Commitment Amounts of all of the
Lenders.
“
Agreement ”: this 5-Year Revolving Credit
Agreement, as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified
and as in effect from time to time.
“
Alternate Currencies ”: shall mean the lawful currency
of each of Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan and the member states
of the European Union and any other currency (i) that is freely
traded, (ii) in which deposits are customarily offered to banks in
the London interbank market, (iii) which is convertible into U.S.
Dollars in the international interbank market, (iv) as to which a
U.S. Dollar Amount may be readily calculated and (v) which is
consented to in advance in writing by the Agent and all of the
Lenders.
“
Applicable Margin ”: for each Prime Rate Advance, for
each Eurocurrency Rate Advance (for the Interest Period applicable
to such Eurocurrency Rate Advance) and for each Facility Fee, a
percentage per annum equal to the percentage set forth below
determined by reference to (x) the rating of the Company’s
long-term, senior unsecured debt from S&P or (y) the rating of
the Company’s long-term, senior unsecured debt from
Moody’s, in each case, for Eurocurrency Rate Advances, as in
effect on the first day of the applicable Interest Period, and for
Prime Rate Advances and for Facility Fees, as in effect from time
to time:
|
Company’s
Long-Term Senior
Unsecured Debt
Rating
S&P or Moody’s
(“Level”)
|
|
Eurocurrency Rate
Advances
|
|
Prime
Rate
Advances
|
|
Facility
Fees
|
|
|
Level
1
BBB+ or higher, or
Baa1 or higher
|
|
0.400
|
%
|
0.000
|
%
|
0.100
|
%
|
|
Level
2
BBB or Baa2
|
|
0.525
|
%
|
0.000
|
%
|
0.125
|
%
|
|
Level
3
BBB- or Baa3
|
|
0.600
|
%
|
0.000
|
%
|
0.150
|
%
|
|
Level
4
Lower than BBB- or
lower than Baa3
|
|
0.800
|
%
|
0.000
|
%
|
0.200
|
%
|
provided that if, at any date of
determination, no rating is available from S&P, Moody’s
or any other nationally recognized statistical rating organization
designated by the Company and approved in writing by the Majority
Lenders, the Applicable Margin will be based upon Level 4 and
provided further that (i) upon the occurrence of
a ratings differential between S&P and Moody’s that
corresponds to a differential of one Level, the Applicable Margin
shall be based upon the Level corresponding to the higher rating
and (ii) upon the occurrence of a ratings differential between
S&P and Moody’s that corresponds to a differential of two
or more Levels, the Applicable Margin shall be based upon the Level
that is one Level above the Level corresponding to the lower rating
and provided further that, for purposes of this
definition, any change in the Applicable Margin due to any change
in the rating of the Company’s long-term
2
unsecured debt
shall be effective 10 Business Days after the earliest of (a) the
date on which the Company gives notice of such change to the Agent
pursuant to Section 5.9(h) or (b) the date on which the Agent gives
notice of such change to the Company.
“
Auto-Renewal Letter of Credit ”: has the meaning
specified in Section 2.12(b).
“ Bid
Loan ”: a Loan by a Lender to the Company under
Section 2.6, which may be a Eurocurrency Bid Loan or an
Absolute Rate Bid Loan.
“ Bid
Loan Lender ”: in respect of any Bid Loan, the Lender
making such Bid Loan to the Company.
“ Bid
Loan Note ”: has the meaning specified in
Section 2.3(b).
“
Board ”: the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System of the United States.
“
Borrowing Date ”: each Business Day or
Eurocurrency Business Day on which the Lenders are to make Loans to
the Company pursuant to Section 2.1 or Section 2.6.
“
Business Day ”: any day (other than a Saturday,
Sunday or legal holiday) on which banks are permitted to be open
for business in all of the cities where any Lender has its
principal office in the United States of America.
“
Canadian Indebtedness ”: as defined in Section
5.13(g).
“ Cash Flow Leverage Ratio
”: as of the last day of any Measurement Period, the
ratio of (a) the Interest-bearing Indebtedness of the Company plus
eight times Rental and Lease Expense for the Measurement Period
ended on such date, to (b) the sum for the Measurement Period
ending on such date of (i) Earnings Before Interest, Income Taxes,
Depreciation and Amortization and (ii) Rental and Lease Expense, in
all cases determined on a Consolidated basis in accordance with
GAAP and as set forth in the Company’s financial statements
delivered hereunder.
“ Change
of Contro l”: either (a) the occurrence, after the
Effective Date, of any of any Person or two or more Persons acting
in concert acquiring beneficial ownership (within the meaning of
Rule 13d-3 of the Securities and Exchange Commission under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934), directly or indirectly, of common
stock of the Company representing 33.33% or more of the combined
voting power of all common stock of the Company entitled to vote in
the election of directors or (b) during any period of up to twelve
consecutive months, whether commencing before or after the
Effective Date, individuals who at the beginning of such
twelve-month period were directors of the Company, ceasing for any
reason (other than by reason of death, disability or scheduled
retirement) to constitute a majority of the Board of Directors of
the Company, unless such directors were replaced by new directors
whose election to the Board of Directors of the Company, or whose
nomination for election by the stockholders of the Company, was
approved by a majority of the directors then still in office who
either were directors at the beginning of such period or whose
election or nomination for election was previously so
approved.
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“
Code ”: the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended or any successor thereto.
“
Committed Loans ”: as defined in Section
2.1(b).
“ Committed Loan Notes
”: as defined in Section 2.3.
“
Commitment ”: as to any Lender, the obligation
of such Lender to make Loans pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.14 and,
as to the Agent, its obligation to issue Letters of Credit pursuant
to Section 2.10.
“
Commitment Amount ”: as to any Lender, the
amount set opposite such Lender’s name as its
“Commitment Amount” in Schedule 1.1(a), as the
same may be reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to
Sections 2.16 or 2.32.
“
Commitment Percentage ” as to any Lender, the
percentage set forth opposite such Lender’s name as its
“Commitment Percentage” in Schedule 1.1(a).
“
Company : as defined in the Preamble.
“
Competitive Bid ”: an offer by a Lender to make a Bid
Loan in accordance with Section 2.6.
“
Competitive Bid Request ”: has the meaning specified
in Section 2.6(b)(i).
“
Compliance Certificate ”: a certificate in the
form of Exhibit A.
“
Consolidated ”: means, the consolidation of accounts
in accordance with GAAP.
“ Documentary Letter of
Credit ”: a letter of credit which requires
that the drafts thereunder be accompanied by a document of title
covering or securing title to the goods acquired with the proceeds
of such drafts.
“
ERISA ”: the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974, as amended.
“ ERISA
Affiliate ”: any trade or business (whether or not
incorporated) that is a member of a group of which the Company is a
member and which is treated as a single employer under Section 414
of the Code.
“
Earnings Before Interest, Income Taxes, Depreciation and
Amortization ”: for any period of determination,
the Consolidated net income of the Company before deductions for
income taxes, Net Interest Expense/Income, depreciation and
amortization, all as determined in accordance with GAAP, excluding
therefrom (a) non-operating gains (including, without
limitation, extraordinary or unusual gains, gains from
discontinuance of operations, gains arising from the sale of assets
and other nonrecurring gains) of the Company and its Subsidiaries
during the applicable Measurement Period and (b) similar
non-operating losses (including, without limitation, losses arising
from the sale of assets and other nonrecurring losses) of the
Company and its Subsidiaries during such period.
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“
Effective Date ”: the date on or after the
execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company, the
Lenders and the Agent on which all of the conditions precedent set
forth in Section 3.1 shall have been satisfied or waived in writing
by the Lenders.
“
Eurocurrency Applicable Reference Page ”: any
generally-published reference on interest rates applicable to U.S.
Dollars and Alternate Currencies from time to time selected by the
Agent, in its sole discretion, which may include (a) the Reuters
Screen LIBO Page, (b) Page 1700 and following pages on the
Knight-Ridder MoneyCenter Service, or (c) Telerate Page 3750,
or other applicable pages setting forth rates of interest on the
Dow Jones Telerate Service (or in any case, such other pages as may
replace the pages on such services for the purpose of displaying
London interbank offered rates of major banks for U.S. Dollar, or
if applicable, Alternate Currency, deposits). “
Telerate page 3750 ” means the display designated as
such on the Telerate reporting system operated by Telerate System
Incorporated (or such other page as may replace page 3750 for the
purpose of displaying London interbank offered rates of major banks
for United States dollar deposits or Alternate Currencies, as
applicable).
“
Eurocurrency Auction ”: means a solicitation of
Competitive Bids setting forth a Eurocurrency Bid Margin pursuant
to Section 2.6.
“
Eurocurrency Bid Loan ”: any Bid Loan that bears
interest at a rate based upon the Adjusted Eurocurrency
Rate.
“
Eurocurrency Bid Margin ”: has the meaning specified
in Section 2.6(b)(iv)(C).
“
Eurocurrency Business Day ”: a Business Day
which is also a day for trading by and between banks in United
States dollar deposits in the interbank eurocurrency market and a
day on which banks are open for business in New York City and
Minneapolis, Minnesota, and as to determinations made with respect
to Advances denominated in Alternate Currencies, in London,
England.
“
Eurocurrency Rate ”: with respect to each
Interest Period applicable to a Eurocurrency Rate Advance or a
Eurocurrency Bid Loan, the average offered rate for deposits in
U.S. Dollars or in the applicable Alternate Currency (rounded
upward, if necessary, to the nearest 1/16 of 1%) for delivery of
such deposits on the first day of such Interest Period, for the
number of days in such Interest Period, which appears on the
Eurocurrency Applicable Reference Page as of 11:00 A.M., London
time (or such other time as of which such rate appears) two
Eurocurrency Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest
Period.
“
Eurocurrency Rate Advance ”: an Advance with
respect to which the interest rate is determined by reference to
the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate.
“
Eurocurrency Reserve Percentage ”: as of any
day, that percentage (expressed as a decimal) which is in effect on
such day, as prescribed by the Board for determining the maximum
reserve requirement (including any basic, supplemental or emergency
reserves) for a member bank of the Federal Reserve System, with
deposits comparable in amount to those held by the Agent, in
respect of “Eurocurrency Liabilities” as such term is
defined in Regulation D of the Board or in respect of any other
category of liabilities that includes deposits by reference to
which the interest rate on Eurocurrency Rate Advances is determined
or any category of
5
extensions of
credit or other assets that include loans by non-United States
offices of any Lender to United States residents to which the
interest rate on Eurocurrency Rate Advances is determined. The rate
of interest applicable to any outstanding Eurocurrency Rate
Advances shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective
date of any change in the Eurocurrency Reserve
Percentage.
“ Event of Default
”: any event described in Section 6.1.
“
Existing Credit Agreement ”: the Amended and
Restated Credit Agreement dated as of March 21, 2002 by and among
the Company, the banks party thereto and U.S. Bank, as agent for
such banks, as the same has been amended, supplemented or otherwise
modified and is in effect immediately prior to the Effective
Date.
“
Facility Fees ”: as defined in Section
2.18.
“ Federal
Funds Rate ”: 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) by
the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, 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 the Agent
from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by
it.
“
GAAP ”: generally accepted accounting principles
set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Financial
Accounting Standards Board which are in effect and applicable to
the accounting period in respect of which reference to GAAP is
being made.
“ Governmental Authority
”: any federal, state, local or foreign court
or governmental agency, authority, department, board,
instrumentality or regulatory body.
“ Guarantee ”:
with respect to any Person at the time of any determination,
without duplication, any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of
such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of
guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other Person (the
“primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or
otherwise: (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply
funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or to
purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any
direct or indirect security therefor, (b) to purchase
property, securities, or services for the purpose of assuring the
owner of such Indebtedness of the payment of such Indebtedness,
(c) to maintain working capital, equity capital, or other
financial statement condition of the primary obligor so as to
enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or otherwise to
protect the owner thereof against loss in respect thereof, or
(d) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any manner the
owner of such Indebtedness of the payment of such Indebtedness or
to protect the owner against loss in respect thereof;
provided , that the term “Guarantee” shall not
include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary
course of business.
“ Guaranty ”:
an amended and restated guaranty (or, with respect to any
Restricted Subsidiary for which a Guaranty is required to be
executed and delivered to the Agent pursuant
6
to Section
5.11(b), a guaranty), substantially in the form of Exhibit B, of
the Obligations, executed and delivered to the Agent in connection
with this Agreement.
“
Guarantors ”: Best Buy Stores, L.P., BBC
Investment Co., BBC Property Co., each other Restricted Subsidiary
set forth on Schedule 4.14(b) as of the Effective Date and each
Restricted Subsidiary for which a Guaranty has been executed and
delivered to the Agent pursuant to Section 5.11(b).
“ Holding Account
”: an interest-bearing account established by
the Agent, which shall be under the Agent’s sole dominion and
control, for the benefit of the Agent, as the issuer of the Letters
of Credit, and the Lenders, into which the Company shall, as
required hereunder, deposit funds, and from which the Agent may
disburse funds, to pay the obligations of the Company to reimburse
the Agent for any amount drawn on any Letter of Credit, and to pay
any other obligation of the Company to the Lenders arising in
connection with any Letter of Credit. So long as no Event of
Default is continuing, the Agent will, at the request of the
Company, credit to the account of the Company the interest earned
on the Holding Account in accordance with the Agent’s
customary practices.
“ Immediately Available
Funds ”: funds with good value on
the day and in the city in which payment is received.
“ Indebtedness
”: with respect to any Person at the time of
any determination, without duplication, all obligations, contingent
or otherwise, of such Person which in conformity with GAAP should
be classified upon the balance sheet of such Person as liabilities,
but in any event shall include: (a) all obligations of
such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such
Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar
instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person upon which
interest charges are customarily paid or accrued, (d) all
obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title
retention agreements relating to property purchased by such Person,
(e) all obligations of such Person issued or assumed as the
deferred purchase price of property or services, (f) all
obligations of others secured by any Lien on property owned or
acquired by such Person, whether or not the obligations secured
thereby have been assumed, (g) all capitalized and synthetic
lease obligations of such Person, (h) all obligations of such
Person in respect of interest rate protection agreements,
(i) all obligations of such Person, actual or contingent, as
an account party in respect of letters of credit or bankers’
acceptances, (j) all obligations of any partnership or joint
venture as to which such Person is or may become personally liable,
and (k) all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of
others.
“ Interest-bearing
Indebtedness ”: as of the last date of any
Measurement Period, all Indebtedness of the Company and its
Subsidiaries for borrowed money or that bears interest and that, in
accordance with GAAP, would be classified as long term or short
term debt on the Consolidated balance sheet of the Company.
“ Interest Coverage Ratio
”: for any Measurement Period, the ratio of (a) the
sum of (i) Earnings Before Interest, Income Taxes, Depreciation and
Amortization plus (ii) Rental and Lease Expense to
(b) the sum of (y) Net Interest Expense/Income plus (z)
Rental and Lease Expense.
7
“ Interest Period
”: (a) with respect to each Eurocurrency Rate
Advance, the period commencing on the date of such Advance and
ending one, two, three or six months thereafter, as the Company may
elect in the applicable Notice of Borrowing, Continuation or
Conversion and (b) as to any Eurocurrency Bid Loan, the period
commencing on the Business Day such Loan is disbursed and ending on
the date one, two, three or six months thereafter as selected by
the Company in the applicable Competitive Bid Request and agreed to
by the applicable Bid Loan Lender(s); and (c) as to any
Absolute Rate Bid Loan, a period of not less than 7 days and not
more than 180 days as selected by the Company in the applicable
Competitive Bid Request and agreed to by the applicable Bid Loan
Lender(s); provided , that:
(i)
Any Interest Period which would otherwise end on a day which is not
a Eurocurrency Business Day shall be extended to the next
succeeding Eurocurrency Business Day unless such Interest Period is
one month or longer and such Eurocurrency Business Day falls in
another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall
end on the next preceding Eurocurrency Business Day;
(ii)
Any Interest Period of one month or longer which begins on the last
Eurocurrency Business Day of a calendar month (or a day for which
there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at
the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Eurocurrency
Business Day of a calendar month;
(iii)
No Interest Period may end after the date set forth in
clause (a) of the definition of “Termination Date”
set forth in this Section 1.1; and
(iv)
For purposes of determining an Interest Period, a month means a
period starting on one day in a calendar month and ending on the
numerically corresponding day in the next calendar month; provided,
however, that if there is no numerically corresponding day in the
month in which such an Interest Period is to end or if such an
Interest Period begins on the last Eurocurrency Business Day of a
calendar month, then such Interest Period shall end on the last
Eurocurrency Business Day of the calendar month in which such
Interest Period is to end.
“
Invitation for Competitive Bids ”: a request for
Competitive Bids, substantially in the form of Exhibit
C.
“
Lender ”: as defined in the Preamble.
“ Letter of Credit
”: an irrevocable letter of credit issued by
the Agent for the account of the Company pursuant to Section 2.10
.
“ Letter of Credit Fee
”: as defined in Section 2.19.
“ Letter of Credit Loan
”: a Loan made by a Lender to or for the
account of the Company pursuant to Section 2.14.
8
“ Letter of Credit Usage
”: as of any date, the amount equal to the sum
of (a) the amount of all Unpaid Draws plus (b) the
amount available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of
Credit.
“
Lien ”: with respect to any Person, any security
interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, charge, encumbrance, title
retention agreement or analogous instrument or device (including
but not limited to the interest of each lessor under any
capitalized lease), in, of or on any assets or properties of such
Person, now owned or hereafter acquired, whether arising by
agreement or operation of law.
“
Loan ”: a Committed Loan, a Letter of Credit
Loan, a Bid Rate Loan or a Swingline Loan.
“ Loan Documents
”: this Agreement, the Notes, the Letters of
Credit, the Guaranties and all other agreements, documents,
certificates and instruments delivered pursuant hereto or in
connection herewith, in each case as amended, supplemented,
restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time.
“
Majority Lenders ”: As of any date of
determination, so long as the Commitments remain outstanding,
Lenders whose Commitment Percentages total at least 51% or, if the
Commitments have been terminated, Lenders holding at least 51% of
the aggregate principal amount of the Loans.
“ Material Adverse Effect
”: with respect to any Person, (a) a
materially adverse effect on the business, assets, operations, or
financial condition of such Person and its Subsidiaries taken as a
whole, (b) material impairment of the ability of such Person
to perform any material obligation under any Loan Document to which
such Person is or becomes a party or (c) material impairment
of any of the material rights of, or benefits available to, the
Agent or the Lenders under any Loan Document.
“
Material Subsidiary ”: (a) the
Guarantors and (b) with respect to any fiscal year of the Company,
any Subsidiary which accounted for an amount equal to or greater
than five (5%) percent of the Consolidated aggregate revenues
of the Company for such fiscal year.
“ Measurement Period
”: each period of four fiscal quarters ending
on the last day of the most recent fiscal quarter of the
Company.
“
Moody’s ”: Moody’s Investors Service,
Inc.
“ Multiemployer Plan
”: as such term is defined in Section
4001(a)(3) of ERISA, which is maintained (on the Effective Date,
within the five years preceding the Effective Date, or at any time
after the Effective Date) for employees of Company or any ERISA
Affiliate.
“ Net Interest
Expense/Income ”: for any period of
determination, interest expense minus interest income, in
each case calculated on a Consolidated basis for the Company and
its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP.
“ New
Lender ”: has the meaning specified in Section
2.32.
9
“
Notes ”: the Committed Loan Notes, the Swingline
Note and the Bid Loan Notes.
“ Notice of Borrowing, Continuation or
Conversion ”: the written notice in
the form reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, delivered in
accordance with, and within the period specified in, Section 2.2 or
2.5, as applicable.
“ Obligations
”: (a) the Company’s obligations in
respect of the due and punctual payment of principal and interest
on the Loans when and as due, whether at maturity, by acceleration,
or otherwise, (b) the Company’s obligations to reimburse
the Agent in the amount of each draw under a Letter of Credit on
the date of such draw, and to deposit into the Holding Account the
face amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to Sections 2.8, 2.16 or
6.2 and (c) all fees, expenses, indemnities, reimbursements
and other obligations owed to the Agent and the Lenders under this
Agreement or any other Loan Document.
“
Offshore Rate Loans ”: any Eurocurrency Rate
Advances and Eurocurrency Bid Loans.
“ PBGC ”:
the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation created by Section
4002(a) of ERISA or any Governmental Authority succeeding to the
functions thereof.
“ Person ”:
any natural person, corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, joint venture, firm, association, trust,
unincorporated organization, government or governmental agency or
political subdivision or any other entity, whether acting in an
individual, fiduciary or other capacity.
“ Plan ”: each
employee benefit plan (whether in existence on the Effective Date
or thereafter instituted), as such term is defined in Section 3 of
ERISA, maintained for the benefit of employees, officers or
directors of Company or of any ERISA Affiliate.
“ Prime Rate
”: the rate of interest from time to time
publicly announced by U.S. Bank as its “prime
rate”. U.S. Bank may lend to its customers at rates
that are at, above or below the Prime Rate. For purposes of
determining any interest rate hereunder or under the Notes which is
based on the Prime Rate, such interest rate shall change as and
when the Prime Rate shall change.
“ Prime Rate Advance
”: a portion of the Loans with respect to which
the interest rate is determined by reference to the Prime Rate.
“ Prohibited Transaction
”: as such term is defined in Section 4975 of
the Code or Section 406 of ERISA.
“ Pro Rata Share
”: with respect to each Lender, in each case
expressed as a percentage:
(a)
as such term pertains to such Lender’s obligation to make
Loans, right to receive Facility Fees and Letter of Credit Fees,
and obligation to reimburse the Agent pursuant to Section 7.9, such
Lender’s Commitment Percentage, and
10
(b)
as such term pertains to such Lender’s right to receive
payment of interest on and principal of its outstanding Loans and
for all other purposes, the fraction which the amount of the unpaid
principal balance of its outstanding Loans is to the aggregate
unpaid principal balance of all outstanding Loans.
“ Regulatory Change
”: with respect to any Lender, any change after
the Effective Date in federal, state or foreign laws or regulations
or the adoption or making after such date of any interpretations,
directives or requests, in either case applying to a class of banks
including such Lender under any federal, state or foreign laws or
regulations (whether or not having the force of law) by any court
or Governmental Authority charged with the interpretation or
administration thereof.
“
Reference Banks ”: U.S. Bank, JPMorgan Chase
Bank and Wachovia Bank, National Association, and their successors
and assigns.
“ Rental and Lease Expense
”: for any Measurement Period, all items that,
in accordance with GAAP, would be classified as Rental and Lease
Expense that are included in selling, general and administrative
expenses on the Consolidated income statement of the Company, in
each case determined in accordance with GAAP, provided that Rental
and Lease Expense shall not include any Rental and Lease Expense
incurred during the Measurement Period in connection with
discontinued operations for which the Company is no longer
obligated.
“ Reportable Event
”: as such term is defined in Section 4043 of
ERISA and the regulations issued under such Section, with respect
to a Plan, excluding, however, such events as to which the PBGC by
regulation has waived the requirement of Section 4043(a) of ERISA
that it be notified within 30 days of the occurrence of such event,
provided , that a failure to meet the minimum funding
standard of Section 412 of the Code and of Section 302 of ERISA
shall be a Reportable Event regardless of the issuance of any such
waivers in accordance with Section 412(d) of the Code.
“ Restricted Payments
”: with respect to any Person, collectively,
all dividends or other distributions of any nature (cash,
securities (other than common stock of such Person), assets or
otherwise) declared or paid, and all payments made (including the
purchase price of any equity securities repurchased by such
Person), by such Person on any class of equity securities
(including, without limitation, warrants, options or rights
therefor) issued by such Person or any of its Subsidiaries, whether
such securities are authorized or outstanding on the Effective Date
or at any time thereafter.
“
Restricted Subsidiary ”: With respect to
any fiscal year of the Company, any Subsidiary which accounted for
an amount equal to or greater than twenty (20%) percent of the
Consolidated aggregate revenues of the Company for such fiscal
year, provided that, if, in any fiscal year of the Company,
the Subsidiaries (other than Best Buy Stores, L.P.), on a
collective basis, accounted for more than fifty (50%) of the
Consolidated aggregate revenues of the Company for such fiscal
year, then the percentage amount stated in the clause preceding the
proviso clause of this definition shall be automatically and
permanently reduced to five (5%).
11
“
S&P ”: means Standard & Poor’s, a
division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
“ Subsidiary
”: with respect to any Person, any corporation,
partnership, trust or other Person of which more than 50% of the
outstanding capital stock (or similar interests) having
ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors
of such corporation (or similar governing body) (irrespective of
whether or not, at the time, capital stock of or other similar
interests shall or might have voting power upon the occurrence of
any contingency) is at the time directly or indirectly owned by
such Person, by such Person and one or more other Subsidiaries of
such Person.
“Swingline Facility ”:
The discretionary revolving credit facility provided by U.S. Bank
to the Company described in Section 2.1(b).
“
Swingline Facility Amount ”:
$20,000,000.
“Swingline Loan ”: A
loan made by U.S. Bank to the Company pursuant to the Swingline
Facility.
“Swingline Note ”: As
defined in Section 2.3.
“
Termination Date ”: the earliest to occur of (a)
December 22, 2009 ,
(b) the date on which the Commitments are terminated pursuant
to Section 2.16 or (c) the date on which the Commitments are
terminated pursuant to Section 6.2.
“ Total
Outstandings ”: as of any date of determination,
the U.S. Dollar Amount of (a) the aggregate unpaid principal
balance of Loans outstanding on such date, plus (b) the
Letter of Credit Usage.
“
Unfunded Liabilities ”: (a) in the case of
Plans subject to Title IV of ERISA (other than Multiemployer
Plans), the amount (if any) by which the present value of all
vested nonforfeitable benefits under such Plan exceeds the fair
market value of all Plan assets allocable to such benefits, all
determined as of the then most recent valuation report prepared by
the actuary for such Plan, and (b) in the case of
Multiemployer Plans, the withdrawal liability of the Company and
the ERISA Affiliates.
“
Unmatured Event of Default ”: any event which,
with the giving of notice (whether such notice is required under
Section 6.1, or under some other provision of this Agreement, or
otherwise) or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of
Default.
“ Unpaid
Draw ”: the obligation of the Company to reimburse
the Agent for a draw under a Letter of Credit, to the extent not
reimbursed by the Company in accordance with Section
2.13.
“ U.S.
Bank ”: U.S. Bank National Association, a national
banking association, in its individual capacity.
12
“ U.S.
Dollar Amount ”: (i) the amount of any
Obligation, if such Obligation is denominated in U.S. Dollars and,
(ii) the U.S. Dollar Equivalent of any Obligation on the day
such amount is being computed, if such Obligation is denominated in
an Alternate Currency.
“ U.S.
Dollars ” and “ $” : The lawful
currency of the United States of America.
“ U.S.
Dollar Equivalent ”: The amount of U.S. Dollars which
would be realized by converting an Alternate Currency into U.S.
Dollars in the spot market at the exchange rate quoted by the
Agent, at approximately 11:00 am (London time) two Eurocurrency
Business Days prior to the date on which a computation thereof is
required to be made, to Reference Banks in the interbank foreign
exchange market for the purchase of U.S. Dollars for such Alternate
Currency.
Section 1.2
Accounting Terms and Calculations . Except as may be
expressly provided to the contrary herein, all accounting terms
used herein shall be interpreted and all accounting determinations
hereunder shall be made in conformity with GAAP, as the same may
change from time to time.
Section 1.3
Computation of Time Periods . In this Agreement, in
the computation of a period of time from a specified date to a
later specified date, unless otherwise stated the word
“from” means “from and including” and the
word “to” or “until” each means “to
but excluding”.
Section 1.4
Principles of Construction . In this Agreement, the
singular includes the plural and the plural the singular; words
imparting any gender include the other gender; references to
“Section”, “Exhibit”,
“Schedule” and like references shall be to sections of,
and exhibits and schedules to, this Agreement unless otherwise
specifically provided; the words “hereof”,
“herein” and “hereunder” and words of
similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this
Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this
Agreement; references to “writing” include printing,
typing, lithography and other means of reproducing words in a
visible form; references to agreements and other contractual
instruments shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments
thereto or changes therein entered into in accordance with their
respective terms; and references to Persons include their permitted
successors and assigns. Unless the context in which used
herein otherwise clearly requires, “or” has the
inclusive meaning represented by the phrase
“and/or.”
ARTICLE II
TERMS OF THE CREDIT FACILITY
Part A —
Terms of Lending
Section 2.1
Lending Facilities .
(a)
Committed Loans . On the terms and subject to the
conditions hereof, each Lender severally agrees to make Loans to
the Company on a revolving basis in U.S. Dollars and in Alternate
Currencies (each a “Committed Loan” and collectively,
the “Committed Loans”) at any time and from time to
time from the Effective Date to the
13
Termination Date, during which period the
Company may borrow, repay and reborrow in accordance with the
provisions hereof, provided , that no Loan (including any
Swingline Loan and any Bid Rate Loan) will be made in any amount
which after giving effect thereto, would cause the Total
Outstandings to exceed the Aggregate Commitment Amount,
provided , further , that no Lender shall be required
to make any Loan if, after giving effect thereto, the sum of the
U.S. Dollar Amount of the outstanding principal balance of such
Lender’s Committed Loans and Swingline Loans plus the
U.S. Dollar Amount of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the sum
of the Letter of Credit Usage would exceed such Lender’s
Commitment Amount. Committed Loans hereunder shall be made by
the Lenders ratably based on their respective Pro Rata
Shares. Committed Loans may be obtained and maintained, at
the election of the Company but subject to the limitations hereof,
as Prime Rate Advances or as Eurocurrency Rate Advances, provided
that Committed Loans made in Alternate Currencies shall be made and
maintained as Eurocurrency Rate Advances.
(b)
Discretionary Swingline Loans . On the terms and
subject to the conditions hereof, during the period from the
Effective Date to the Termination Date, U.S. Bank, in its sole
discretion, may make loans to the Company at such times and in such
amounts as the Company shall request, up to an aggregate principal
amount at any time outstanding equal to the Swingline Facility
Amount, during which period the Company may borrow, repay and
reborrow in accordance with the provisions hereof. All
Swingline Loans shall be denominated in U.S. Dollars and shall be
made and maintained as Prime Rate Advances.
Section 2.2
Procedure for Committed Loans and Swingline Loans .
(a)
Requests for Advances . Any request by the Company for
Committed Loans or Swingline Loans shall be made to the Agent by
telephone, promptly confirmed by giving the Agent a Notice of
Borrowing, Continuation or Conversion, and (i) must be received by
the Agent not later than 12:00 noon (Minneapolis time) three
Eurocurrency Business Days prior to the requested Borrowing Date if
the Loans are requested as Eurocurrency Rate Advances or as
Advances denominated in Alternate Currencies, (ii) not later than
12:00 noon (Minneapolis time) on the requested Borrowing Date if
the Loans are requested as Prime Rate Advances and (iii) not later
than 2:00 p.m. (Minneapolis time) on the requested Borrowing Date
if the Loans are requested as Swingline Loans. Each request
to borrow hereunder shall be irrevocable and shall be deemed a
representation by the Company that on the requested Borrowing Date
and after giving effect to the requested Loans the applicable
conditions specified in Section 2.1 and Article III have been and
will be satisfied. Each request to borrow hereunder shall
specify (a) the requested Borrowing Date, (b) the
aggregate amount of Loans to be made on such date, which shall be
in a minimum amount of (i) $5,000,000 or an integral multiple of
$500,000 in excess thereof, to the extent such Loans are to be
funded as Eurocurrency Rate Advances or in an Alternate Currency,
(ii) $2,000,000 or an integral multiple of $500,000 in excess
thereof to the extent such Loans are to be funded as Prime Rate
Advances or (iii) $1,000,000 or an integral multiple of $250,000 in
excess thereof to the extent such Loans are to be funded as
Swingline Loans, (c) whether such Loans are to be made as
Prime Rate Advances, as Eurocurrency Rate Advances, as Swingline
Loans
14
or
in Alternate Currencies (and, if such Loans are to be denominated
in more than one currency choice, specifying the amount per
currency), and (d) in the case of Eurocurrency Rate Advances,
the duration of the initial Interest Period applicable thereto.
Without in any way limiting the Company’s obligation to
confirm in writing any telephone request to borrow hereunder, the
Agent may rely on any such request which it believes in good faith
to be genuine; and the Company hereby waives any claim against the
Agent or the Lenders based on a dispute with the Agent’s
record of the terms of such request.
(b)
Funding By Lenders . Except in the case of Swingline
Loans, the Agent shall promptly notify each other Lender of the
receipt of such request, the matters specified therein, and of such
Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the requested Loans. On the
requested Borrowing Date, each Lender shall provide its share of
any requested Loans at the principal office of the Agent in
Minneapolis, Minnesota (or, in the case of Swingline Loans, U.S.
Bank shall, to the extent it determines to do) not later than 2:30
P.M. (Minneapolis time), except that if the requested Loan is
denominated in an Alternate Currency, each Lender shall make
available its portion of such Loan at the principal office of the
Agent in Minneapolis, Minnesota in the specified Alternate Currency
no later than such time as is necessary for such funds to be
received and transfers to the Company. Unless the Agent
determines that any applicable condition specified in Article III
has not been satisfied, the Agent will make available to the
Company’s account the amount of the requested Loans at the
Agent’s principal office in Minneapolis, Minnesota in
Immediately Available Funds not later than 4:00 P.M. (Minneapolis
time) on the requested Borrowing Date. If the Agent has made
a Loan on behalf of a Lender but has not received the amount of
such Loan (or a Federal Reserve Bank reference number for the wire
transfer of the amount of such Loan) from such Lender by 4:00 P.M.
(Minneapolis time) on the requested Borrowing Date, such Lender
shall pay interest to the Agent on the amount so advanced at the
Federal Funds Rate (or, in the case of a Committed Loan denominated
in an Alternate Currency, the cost to the Agent of funding the
amount it advanced to fund such Loan, as determined by the Agent)
from the date of such Loan to the date funds are received by the
Agent from such Lender, such interest to be payable with such
remittance from such Lender of the principal amount of such Loan
(provided, however, that the Agent shall not make any Loans on
behalf of a Lender if the Agent has received prior notice from such
Lender that it will not make such Loan). If the Agent does
not receive payment from such Lender by the next Business Day after
the date of any Loan, the Agent shall be entitled to recover such
Loan, including any unpaid interest thereon at the rate then
applicable to such Loan, on demand, from the Company, without
prejudice to the Agent’s and the Company’s rights
against such Lender. If such Lender pays the Agent the amount
herein required with interest at the Federal Funds Rate (or, in the
case of a Committed Loan denominated in an Alternate Currency, the
cost to the Agent of funding the amount it advanced to fund such
Loan, as determined by the Agent) before the Agent has recovered
from the Company, such Lender shall be entitled to the interest
payable by the Company with respect to the Loan in question
accruing from the date the Agent made such Loan.
(c)
Limitation on Number of Certain Loans . Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary, the Company will not at any time permit the
number of
15
Offshore Rate Loans then outstanding plus the
number of Bid Loans then outstanding to exceed ten in the aggregate
unless otherwise agreed by the Agent.
Section 2.3
Noteless Transaction .
(a)
Lender’s Records . The Loans made by each Lender
shall be evidenced by one or more loan accounts or records
maintained by such Lender in the ordinary course of business.
The loan accounts or records maintained by the Agent and each
Lender shall be conclusive evidence (in the absence of manifest
error) of the amount of the Loans made by the Lenders to the
Company and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to
record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or
otherwise affect the obligation of the Company hereunder to pay any
amount owing with respect to the Loans.
(b)
Lender’s Right to Request Notes . If requested
by any Lender, the Company shall execute and deliver to such Lender
a promissory note evidencing such Lender’s Committed Loans
(each a “Committed Loan Note”) and a promissory note
evidencing such Lender’s Bid Loans (each a “Bid Loan
Note”, and collectively, the “Notes”) (each such
Committed Loan Note to be substantially in the form of Exhibit D-1,
and each such Bid Loan Note to be substantially in the form of
Exhibit D-2). If requested by U.S. Bank, the Company shall
execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note evidencing
U.S. Bank’s Swingline Loans in the form of Exhibit D-3 (the
“Swingline Note”). Each Lender shall endorse on the
schedule annexed to its Note the date, amount and maturity of each
Loan made by it and the amount of each payment of principal made by
the Company with respect thereto. Each such Lender is
irrevocably authorized by the Company to endorse its relevant Note
and each Lender’s record shall be prima facie evidence of the
amount of each such Loan; provided , however , that
the failure of a Lender to make, or an error in making, a notation
thereon with respect to any Loan shall not limit or otherwise
affect the obligations of the Company hereunder or under any such
Note to such Lender.
Section 2.4
Refinancing of Swingline Loans .
(a)
Permissive Refinancings of Swingline Loans . U.S.
Bank, at any time in its sole and absolute discretion, may notify
the Agent, not later than 12:00 noon (Minneapolis time) on any
Business Day, that it desires to have any portion of the
outstanding Swingline Loans refunded with Committed Loans made by
the Lenders under Section 2.1(a), whereupon the Agent shall
promptly request that each Lender (including U.S. Bank) make a Loan
in an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of the Committed Loans to
be made to repay to U.S. Bank the portion of the aggregate unpaid
principal amount of the Swingline Loans specified in such
notice.
(b)
Mandatory Refinancings of Swingline Loans . On the
tenth day after the making of any Swingline Loan (or if such
day is not a Business Day, on the first Business Day immediately
preceding such day), the Agent shall notify each Lender of the
aggregate amount of Swingline Loans outstanding as of the end of
the previous day and the amount of Committed Loans required to be
made by each Lender to refinance such
16
outstanding Swingline Loans (which shall be in
the amount of each Lender’s Pro Rata Share of such
outstanding Swingline Loans).
(c)
Lenders’ Obligation to Fund Refinancings of Swingline
Loans . Upon its receipt of a request from the Agent
under Section 2.4(a) or 2.4(b), each Lender (including U.S.
Bank) shall make a Committed Loan (which shall not be made as a
Swingline Loan) in an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of the
aggregate principal amount of Swingline Loans to be refinanced, and
make the proceeds of such Committed Loans available to U.S. Bank,
in Immediately Available Funds, at the main office of the Agent in
Minneapolis not later than 2:30 P.M. (Minneapolis time) on the date
such notice was received; provided , however , that a
Lender shall not be obligated to make any such Committed Loan
unless (A) U.S. Bank believed in good faith that all conditions to
making the subject Committed Loan were satisfied at the time the
related Swingline Loan was made, or (B) such Lender had actual
knowledge, by receipt of the statements furnished to it pursuant to
Section 5.1 or otherwise, that any such condition had not been
satisfied and failed to notify U.S. Bank in writing received by
U.S. Bank prior to the time it made such Swingline Loan that U.S.
Bank was not authorized to make a Swingline Loan until such
condition has been satisfied. The proceeds of Committed Loans
made pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be delivered to U.S.
Bank (and not to the Company) and applied to the outstanding
Swingline Loans, and the Company will pay U.S. Bank upon demand the
amount of such Swingline Loans to the extent amounts received from
the other Lenders are not sufficient to repay in full the
outstanding Swingline Loans requested or required to be
refinanced. If for any reason any Lender is unable to make a
Committed Loan to the Company to refinance a Swingline Loan
hereunder, then such Lender shall immediately purchase from U.S.
Bank a participation interest in such Swingline Loan, at par, in an
amount equal to such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of such
Swingline Loan, which participation interest shall, for all
purposes hereunder except Section 2.1 and 2.2, be deemed a
Committed Loan made by such Lender hereunder. Each
Lender’s obligation to make Committed Loans referred to in
this Section 2.4(c) shall, subject to the proviso to the first
sentence of this Section 2.4(c), be absolute and unconditional
and shall not be affected by any circumstance, provided ,
that in no event shall a Lender be obligated to make a Committed
Loan under this Section 2.4(c) if, after giving effect
thereto, such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the sum of the Total
Outstandings (after giving effect to the repayment of the Swingline
Note to be funded with such Loan and Loans made the same day by the
other Lenders) would exceed such Lender’s Commitment
Amount.
(d)
Funding of Loans . Each Committed Loan made to refund
Swingline Loans pursuant to Section 2.4(c) shall be funded as
a Prime Rate Advance, but the Company may elect to convert such
Prime Rate Advances to Eurocurrency Rate Advances pursuant to
Section 2.5.
Section 2.5
Conversions and Continuations . On the terms and
subject to the limitations hereof, the Company shall have the
option at any time and from time to time to convert all or any
portion of the Committed Loans into Prime Rate Advances or
Eurocurrency Rate Advances, or to continue a Eurocurrency Rate
Advance as such (in a minimum amount of $5,000,000 or an integral
multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof, with respect to any
conversion
17
into or
continuation as Eurocurrency Rate Advances, or $2,000,000 or an
integral multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof, with respect to
any conversion into Prime Rate Advances); provided ,
however that (i) a Eurocurrency Rate Advance may be
converted or continued only on the last day of the Interest Period
applicable thereto, and (ii) at the option of the Majority
Lenders, no Advance may be converted into or continued as a
Eurocurrency Rate Advance if an Unmatured Event of Default or Event
of Default has occurred and is continuing on the proposed date of
continuation or conversion. The Company shall give the Agent a
Notice of Borrowing, Continuation or Conversion with respect to the
continuation or conversion of any Advance so as to be received by
the Agent not later than 12:00 noon (Minneapolis time) three
Eurocurrency Business Days prior to requested date of conversion or
continuation in the case of the continuation of, or conversion to,
Eurocurrency Rate Advances and not later than 12:00 noon
(Minneapolis time) on the date of any requested conversion to Prime
Rate Advances. Each such notice shall specify (a) the
amount to be continued or converted, (b) the date for the
continuation or conversion (which must be (i) the last day of
the preceding Interest Period and a Eurocurrency Business Day in
the case of conversions to or continuations of Eurocurrency Rate
Advances, and (ii) a Business Day in the case of conversions
to Prime Rate Advances), and (c) in the case of conversions to
or continuations of Eurocurrency Rate Advances, the Interest Period
applicable thereto. Any notice given by the Company under
this Section 2.5 shall be irrevocable. If the Company shall
fail to notify the Agent of the continuation of any Eurocurrency
Rate Advances or of the conversion of Eurocurrency Rate Advances
within the time required by this Section 2.5, such Advances shall,
on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, at the
option of the Agent (a) be automatically be converted into Prime
Rate Advances of the same principal amount or (b) be automatically
converted into Eurocurrency Rate Advances having an Interest Period
of one month. All conversions to and continuations of
Advances shall be made uniformly and ratably among the
Lenders. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, all
Committed Loans denominated in Alternate Currencies shall be made
and maintained as Eurocurrency Rate Advances.
Section 2.6
Bid Loans; Procedure for Bid Loans .
(a)
Bid Loans . In addition to requesting Committed Loans,
each Lender severally agrees that the Company may, as set forth in
this Section 2.6, from time to time request the Lenders prior
to the Termination Date, to submit offers to make Bid Loans to the
Company; provided , however , that the Lenders may,
but shall have no obligation to, submit such offers and the Company
may, but shall have no obligation to, accept any such offers; and
provided , further , that at no time shall the Total
Outstandings exceed the Aggregate Commitments.
(b)
Procedure for Bid Loans . The Company may, as set
forth in this Section, request the Agent to solicit offers from all
the Lenders to make Bid Loans:
(i)
When the Company wishes to request the Lenders to submit offers to
make Bid Loans hereunder, it shall transmit to the Agent by
telephone call followed promptly by facsimile transmission of a
notice in substantially the form of Exhibit E (a
“Competitive Bid Request”) so as to be received no
later than 10:00 a.m. (Minneapolis time) (x) four Business
Days prior to the date of a proposed Bid Loan in the case of a
Eurocurrency Auction, or
18
(y) two Business Days prior to the date of
a proposed Bid Loan in the case of an Absolute Rate Auction,
specifying:
(A)
the date of such proposed Bid Loan, which shall be a Eurocurrency
Business Day;
(B)
the aggregate amount of such Bid Loan, which shall be a minimum
amount of $10,000,000 or in multiples of $1,000,000 in excess
thereof;
(C)
whether the Competitive Bids requested are to be for Eurocurrency
Bid Loans or Absolute Rate Bid Loans or both; and
(D)
the duration of the Interest Period applicable thereto, subject to
the provisions of the definition of “Interest Period”
herein.
Subject to Section 2.6(b), the Company may
not request Competitive Bids for more than three Interest Periods
in a single Competitive Bid Request and may not request Competitive
Bids more than once in any period of five Business Days. All
Bid Loans shall be made and maintained in U.S. Dollars.
(ii)
Upon receipt of a Competitive Bid Request, the Agent will promptly
send to the Lenders by facsimile transmission an Invitation for
Competitive Bids, which shall constitute an invitation by the
Company to each Lender to submit Competitive Bids offering to make
the Bid Loans to which such Competitive Bid Request relates in
accordance with this Section 2.6.
(iii)
Each Lender may at its discretion submit a Competitive Bid
containing an offer or offers to make Bid Loans in response to any
Invitation for Competitive Bids. Each Competitive Bid must
comply with the requirements of this subsection 2.6(b) and
must be submitted to the Agent by facsimile transmission at its
offices specified on the signature pages hereto not later than
(1) 10:00 a.m. (Minneapolis time) three Business Days prior to
the proposed Bid Loans, in the case of a Eurocurrency Auction or
(2) 10:00 a.m. (Minneapolis time) one Business Day prior to
the proposed date of Bid Loans, in the case of an Absolute Rate
Auction.
(iv)
Each Competitive Bid shall be in substantially the form of
Exhibit F, specifying therein:
(A)
the proposed date of Bid Loan;
(B)
the principal amount of each Bid Loan for which such Competitive
Bid is being made, which principal amount (x) may be equal to,
greater than or less than the Commitment Amount of the quoting
Lender, (y) must be $10,000,000 or in
19
multiples of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, and
(z) may not exceed the principal amount of the Bid Loans for
which Competitive Bids were requested;
(C)
in case the Company elects a Eurocurrency Auction, the margin above
or below the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate (exclusive of the
Applicable Margin) (the “Eurocurrency Bid Margin”)
offered for each such Bid Loan, expressed in multiples of 1/100th
of one basis point to be added to or subtracted from the applicable
Eurocurrency Rate (exclusive of the Applicable Margin) and the
Interest Period applicable thereto;
(D)
in case the Company elects an Absolute Rate Auction, the rate of
interest per annum expressed in multiples of 1/1000th of one basis
point (the “Absolute Rate”) offered for each such Bid
Loan and the Interest Period applicable thereto; and
(E)
the identity of the quoting Lender.
(v)
Any Competitive Bid shall be disregarded if it:
(A)
is not substantially in conformity with Exhibit F or does not
specify all of the information required by
subsection (b)(iv) of this Section;
(B)
contains qualifying, conditional or similar language;
(C)
proposes terms other than or in addition to those set forth in the
applicable Invitation for Competitive Bids; or
(D)
is transmitted after the time set forth in
subsection (b)(iii).
(vi)
Promptly on receipt and not later than 12:00 p.m. (Minneapolis
time) three Business Days prior to the proposed date of the Bid
Loan, in the case of a Eurocurrency Auction, or 12:00 p.m.
(Minneapolis time) one Business Day prior to the proposed date of
the Bid Loan, in the case of an Absolute Rate Auction, the Agent
will notify the Company of the terms of any Competitive Bid
submitted by a Lender that is in accordance with
subsection 2.6(b)(iv). Notwithstanding the foregoing,
any such subsequent Competitive Bid shall be disregarded by the
Agent unless such subsequent Competitive Bid is submitted solely to
correct a manifest error in such former Competitive Bid and only if
received within the times set forth in
subsection 2.6(b)(iii). The Agent’s notice to the
Company shall specify (1) the aggregate principal amount of
Bid Loans for which offers have been received for each Interest
Period specified in the related Competitive Bid Request;
(2) the respective principal amounts and Eurocurrency Bid
Margins or Absolute Rates, as the case may be, so offered; and
(3) any other information regarding such
20
Competitive Bid reasonably requested by the
Company. Subject only to the provisions of Section 3.2
and the provisions of this Section 2.6, any Competitive Bid
shall be irrevocable except with the written consent of the Agent
given on the written instructions of the Company.
(vii)
Not later than 2:00 p.m. (Minneapolis time) three Business Days
prior to the proposed Bid Loan, in the case of a Eurocurrency
Auction, or 2:00 p.m. (Minneapolis time) one Business Day prior to
the proposed Bid Loan, in the case of an Absolute Rate Auction, the
Company shall notify the Agent, in writing by signing the relevant
Competitive Bid forms in the space indicated at the bottom of such
form, of its acceptance or non-acceptance of the offers received by
it pursuant to subsection 2.6(b)(iv). The Company shall
be under no obligation to accept any offer and may choose to accept
or reject some or all offers. In the case of acceptance, such
notice shall specify the aggregate principal amount of offers for
each Interest Period that is accepted. The Company may accept
any Competitive Bid in whole or in part; provided that:
(A)
the aggregate principal amount of each Bid Loan may not exceed the
applicable amount set forth in the related Competitive Bid
Request;
(B)
the principal amount of each Bid Loan must be $10,000,000 or in any
multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof;
(C)
acceptance of offers may only be made on the basis of ascending
Eurocurrency Bid Margins or Absolute Rates within each Interest
Period, as the case may be; and
(D)
the Company may not accept any offer that is described in
Section 2.6(b)(v) or that otherwise fails to comply with
the requirements of this Agreement.
(viii)
If offers are made by two or more Lenders with the same
Eurocurrency Bid Margins or Absolute Rates, as the case may be, for
a greater aggregate principal amount than the amount in respect of
which such offers are accepted for the related Interest Period, the
principal amount of Bid Loans in respect of which such offers are
accepted shall be allocated by the Agent among such Lenders (in
such multiples, not less than $1,000,000, as the Agent may deem
appropriate) as nearly as practicable in proportion to the
aggregate principal amounts of such offers. Determination by the
Agent of the amounts of Bid Loans shall be conclusive in the
absence of manifest error.
(ix)
the Agent will promptly notify each Lender having submitted a
Competitive Bid if its offer has been accepted and, if its offer
has been accepted, of the amount of the Bid Loan or Bid Loans to be
made by it on the date of the Bid Loan.
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(x)
Each Lender, which has received notice pursuant to
Section 2.6(b)(ix) that its Competitive Bid has been
accepted, shall make the amounts of such Bid Loans available to the
Agent for the account of the Company, by 11:00 a.m.
(Minneapolis time) in the case of Absolute Rate Bid Loans, and by
11:00 a.m. (Minneapolis time) in the case of Eurocurrency Bid
Loans, on such date of Bid Loan, in funds immediately available to
the Agent for the account of the Company at the principal office of
the Agent in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
(xi)
Promptly following each Bid Loan, the Agent shall notify each
Lender of the ranges of bids submitted and the highest and lowest
bids accepted for each Interest Period requested by the Company and
the aggregate amount borrowed pursuant to such Bid Loan. If,
on or prior to the date of the proposed Bid Loan, the Commitments
have not been terminated and if, on date of such proposed Bid Loan
all applicable conditions to funding referenced in
Sections 3.2 hereof are satisfied, the Lender or Lenders whose
offers the Company has accepted will fund each Bid Loan so
accepted. Nothing in this Section 2.6 shall be construed
as a right of first offer in favor of the Lenders or to otherwise
limit the ability of the Company to request and accept credit
facilities from any Person (including any of the Lenders), provided
that such credit facilities are not prohibited by this
Agreement.
Section 2.7
Interest Rates, Interest Payments and Default Interest
. Interest shall accrue and be payable as follows:
(a)
Subject to paragraph (d) below, each Committed Loan that is a
Eurocurrency Rate Advance shall bear interest on the unpaid
principal amount thereof during the Interest Period applicable
thereto at a rate per annum equal to the sum of (i) the
Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate for such Interest Period plus
(ii) the Applicable Margin.
(b)
Subject to paragraph (d) below, each Committed Loan that is a Prime
Rate Advance shall bear interest on the unpaid principal amount
thereof at a rate per annum equal to the sum of (i) the Prime
Rate plus (ii) the Applicable Margin.
(c)
Each Bid Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal
amount thereof from the date of the making of such Bid Loan at a
per annum rate equal to the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate plus (or
minus) the Eurocurrency Bid Margin, or at the Absolute Rate, as the
case may be.
(d)
Upon and during the continuation of any Event of Default, each
Advance shall, at the option of the Majority Lenders (or, in the
case of any Event of Default under Sections 6.1(a), (e), (f) or
(g), automatically upon and during the continuation of any such
Event of Default), thereafter bear interest until paid in full (or
until the corresponding Event of Default is waived in writing by
the Majority Lenders), whether at the date scheduled therefor or
earlier upon acceleration, at a rate per annum equal to the sum of
the rate otherwise applicable to such Advance plus
2.00%.
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(e)
Interest accrued to the day of payment shall be payable (i) with
respect to each Offshore Rate Loan having an Interest Period of
three months or less, on the last day of the Interest Period
applicable thereto; (ii) with respect to any Offshore Rate Advance
having an Interest Period greater than three months, on the last
day of the Interest Period applicable thereto and on each day that
would have been the last day of the Interest Period for such
Advance had successive Interest Periods of three months duration
been applicable to such Advance; (iii) with respect to any Prime
Rate Advance and any Absolute Rate Bid Loans, on the first day of
each month; and (iv) with respect to all Loans, on the Termination
Date; provided that interest under Section 2.5(c) shall be payable
on demand.
Section 2.8
Repayment; Mandatory Prepayments .
(a)
Principal of all Loans, together with all accrued, unpaid interest
thereon, shall be due and payable by the Company on the Termination
Date. Upon issuance of any Letters of Credit having an
expiration date after the Termination Date, the Company shall
deposit in the Holding Account in the appropriate currency an
amount equal to the aggregate undrawn face amount of all
outstanding Letters of Credit (and the Lenders shall, effective on
and after the Termination Date, be automatically released from
their obligations under Section 2.14 with respect to any such
Letters of Credit). At any time after such deposit is made
and all outstanding Obligations, other than Obligations with
respect to outstanding Letters of Credit, have been paid in full,
if an outstanding Letter of Credit expires or is reduced without
the full amount thereof having been drawn, the Agent shall withdraw
from the Holding Account and deliver to the Company an amount in
the appropriate currency equal to the amount by which the amount of
such deposit exceeds the aggregate undrawn face amount of
outstanding Letters of Credit (after giving effect to such
expiration or reduction).
(b)
If at any time the Total Outstandings exceed the Aggregate
Commitment Amount, the Company shall prepay the Loans in the amount
of such excess.
(c)
If at any time, solely as a result of fluctuations in currency
exchange rates the Total Outstandings exceed one hundred five
percent (105%) of the Aggregate Commitment Amount, the Company for
the ratable benefit of the Lenders shall prepay the Loans on the
next Business Day after demand therefor by the Agent in an
aggregate amount such that after giving effect thereto the Total
Outstandings are less than or equal to the Aggregate Commitment
Amount.
Section 2.9
Optional Prepayments . The Company may, upon (i) at
least three Eurocurrency Business Days’ prior written notice
to the Agent, in the case of Offshore Rate Loans and Absolute Rate
Bid Loans, and (ii) written notice to the the Agent given prior to
1:00 P.M. on any Business Day, in the case of Prime Rate Advances
and Swingline Loans, in each case stating the proposed date and the
aggregate principal amount of the prepayment, and if such notice is
given the Company shall, prepay the Advances, in whole or in part,
together with (A) accrued interest to the date of such prepayment
on the principal amount prepaid and (B) in the case of Offshore
Rate Loans, any amount payable to the Lenders pursuant to Section
2.8; provided, however, that each partial prepayment shall be in an
aggregate principal amount of not
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less than (i)
$5,000,000 or an integral multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof,
as to prepayments of Eurocurrency Rate Advances or in an Alternate
Currency, (ii) $5,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in
excess thereof, as to prepayments of Bid Loans , (ii) $2,000,000 or
an integral multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof, as to
prepayments of Prime Rate Advances or (iii) $1,000,000 or an
integral multiple of $250,000 in excess thereof as to prepayments
of Swingline Loans. Amounts paid (unless following an
acceleration or upon termination of the Commitments in whole) or
prepaid under this Section 2.9 may be re-borrowed upon the terms
and subject to the conditions and limitations of this
Agreement. All principal paid or prepaid under Section 2.8,
this Section 2.9 or Section 2.16 shall be applied to the
outstanding principal balance of each Lender’s Committed
Loans (in accordance with such Lender’s Pro Rata
Share).
Part B —
Terms of the Letter of Credit Facility
Section 2.10
Letters of Credit . The letters of credit issued by
the Agent for the account of the Company pursuant to the Existing
Credit Agreement shall be “Letters of Credit” hereunder
from and after the Effective Date, and the rights and obligations
of the Agent, the Lenders and the Company with respect to such
letters of credit shall be those set forth therein and, to the
extent not inconsistent therewith, those set forth herein with
respect to Letters of Credit. Upon the terms and subject to
the conditions of this Agreement, the Agent agrees to issue Letters
of Credit for the account of the Company from time to time between
the Effective Date and the Termination Date in such amounts and in
U.S. Dollars or in Alternate Currencies, as the Company shall
request; provided that no Letter of Credit will be issued,
extended or renewed in any amount which, after giving effect to
such issuance, extension or renewal would cause the Total
Outstandings to exceed the Aggregate Commitment Amount.
Section 2.11
Procedures for Letters of Credit . Each request for
the issuance of a Letter of Credit shall be made by the Company in
writing and received by the Agent by 1:00 p.m. (Minneapolis time)
(a) not later than one Business Day preceding the requested date of
issuance (which shall also be a Business Day) in the case of the
issuance of Letters of Credit or in the case of Letters of Credit
denominated in U.S. Dollars and (b) not later than three Business
Days preceding the requested date of issuance in the case of
Letters of Credit denominated in Alternate Currencies. Each
request for the issuance of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed a
representation by the Company that on the date of issuance of such
Letter of Credit and after giving effect thereto the conditions
specified in Article III have been and will be satisfied. The
Agent may require that such request be made on such letter of
credit application and reimbursement agreement form as the Agent
may from time to time specify. The Agent shall notify the
other Lenders by 1:00 P.M. (Minneapolis time) on the date the Agent
issues any Letter of Credit, of the issuance of each Letter of
Credit, and each Lender’s Pro Rata Share thereof, and the
Agent will promptly provide to the other Lenders a copy of each
Letter of Credit issued hereunder.
Section 2.12
Terms of Letters of Credit; Auto-Renewal Letters of
Credit.
(a)
Letters of Credit shall be issued in support of obligations of the
Company incurred in the ordinary course of its business. Each
Letter of Credit shall list the Company as the account party
thereon. No Letter of Credit may have an expiration date more
than one year after the date of its issuance.
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(b)
If the Company so requests, the Agent shall, issue a Letter of
Credit that has automatic renewal provisions (each, an
“Auto-Renewal Letter of Credit”); provided that
any such Auto-Renewal Letter of Credit must permit the Agent to
prevent any such renewal at least once in each twelve-month period
(commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by
giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof of the Agent’s
option not to extend the Letter of Credit beyond the expiration
date (the “Non-renewal Notice”). The Agent shall
have the option to issue a Non-renewal Notice during a specified
period in each such twelve-month period to be agreed upon at the
time such Letter of Credit is issued (the date of such notice shall
be referred to herein as the “Non-renewal Notice
Date”). Once an Auto-Renewal Letter of Credit has been
issued, each Lender shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not
require) the Agent to permit the renewal of such Letter of Credit
at any time to an expiry date not later than one year after its
date of issuance or renewal; provided , however ,
that the Agent shall not permit any such renewal if (A) the
Agent has determined that it would have no obligation at such time
to issue such Letter of Credit in its renewed form under the terms
hereof (by reason of the provisions of Section 2.10 or
otherwise), or (B) it has received notice (which may be by
telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is two Business
Days before the Non-renewal Notice Date (1) from the Majority
Lenders stating that the Majority Lenders have elected not to
permit such renewal or (2) from any Lender or the Company that
one or more of the applicable conditions specified in
Section 3.2 is not then satisfied.
Section 2.13
Agreement to Repay Letter of Credit Draws . If the
Agent has decided that it will a pay a draw made on any Letter of
Credit, it will notify the Company of that fact. The Company
shall reimburse the Agent in an amount equal to the amount of such
draw by 11:00 A.M. (Minneapolis time) on the day on which such draw
is to be paid in Immediately Available Funds in the appropriate
currency. To the extent that funds in the appropriate
currency are contained in the Holding Account, the Agent may, in
its discretion (but subject to the next sentence), withdraw the
amount of such draw from the Holding Account and apply such amount
to the Company’s reimbursement obligations in respect of such
draw. To the extent the amount of funds contained in the
Holding Account in the appropriate currency available equals or
exceeds the Letter of Credit Usage as of the date of such draw, the
Agent shall withdraw the amount of such draw from the Holding
Account and apply such amount to the Company’s reimbursement
obligations in respect of such draw.
Section 2.14
Loans to Cover Unpaid Draws . Whenever any Unpaid Draw
exists for which there are not then funds contained in the Holding
Account sufficient to cover the same, the Agent shall give the
Lenders notice to that effect, specifying the amount thereof, in
which event each Lender is authorized (and the Company does here so
authorize each Lender) to, and shall, make a Committed Loan (which
Loan (a) shall be made as a Prime Rate Advance, in the case of an
Unpaid Draw on a Letter of Credit denominated in U.S. Dollars and
(b) shall be made as a Eurocurrency Rate Advance having an initial
Interest Period of one day (and not of one, two, three or six
months), in the case of an Unpaid Draw on a Letter of Credit
denominated in an Alternate Currency) to the Company in an amount
equal to such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the amount of the
Unpaid Draw. The Agent shall notify each Lender by 11:00 AM
(Minneapolis time) on the date such Unpaid Draw occurs of the
amount of the Committed Loan to be made by such Lender.
Notices received after such time shall be deemed to have been
received on the next
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Business
Day. Each Lender shall then make such Committed Loan
(regardless of noncompliance with the applicable conditions
precedent specified in Article III hereof and regardless of whether
an Event of Default then exists or the Commitments have been
terminated) and each Lender shall provide the Agent with the
proceeds of such Committed Loan in Immediately Available Funds in
the appropriate currency at the office of the Agent, not later than
2:00 PM (Minneapolis time) on the day on which such Lender received
such notice , or, in the case of notices received after 11:00 AM,
Minneapolis time, is deemed to have received such notice. The
Agent shall apply the proceeds of such Committed Loans directly to
reimburse itself for such Unpaid Draw. If any portion of any
such amount paid to the Agent should be recovered by or on behalf
of the Company from the Agent in bankruptcy, by assignment for the
benefit of creditors or otherwise, the loss of the amount so
recovered shall be ratably shared between and among the Lenders in
the manner contemplated by Section 7.10 and 7.11 hereof. If
at the time the Lenders make funds available to the Agent pursuant
to the provisions of this Section, the applicable conditions
precedent specified in Article III shall not have been satisfied,
the Company shall pay to the Agent for the account of the Lenders
interest on the funds so advanced at a floating rate per annum
equal to the sum of the Prime Rate (or, in the case of a Letter of
Credit denominated in an Alternate Currency, such rate reasonably
determined by the Agent in conjunction with the Reference Banks)
plus two percent (2.00%). If for any reason any Lender is
unable to make a Committed Loan to the Company to reimburse the
Agent for an Unpaid Draw, then such Lender shall immediately
purchase from the Agent a risk participation in such Unpaid Draw,
at par, in an amount equal to such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of
the Unpaid Draw, which risk participation shall, for all purposes
hereunder except Sections 2.1 and 2.2 be deemed a Loan made by such
Lender hereunder.
Section 2.15
Obligations Absolute . The obligations of the Company
to repay the Agent for the amount of any draw on a Letter of Credit
pursuant to Section 2.13 and to repay any Letter of Credit Loan
shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, shall continue
for so long as any Letter of Credit, Unpaid Draw or Letter of
Credit Loan is outstanding notwithstanding any termination of this
Agreement, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms
of this Agreement, under all circumstances whatsoever, including
without limitation the following circumstances:
(a)
any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of
Credit;
(b)
the existence of any claim, setoff, defense or other right which
the Company may have or claim at any time against any beneficiary,
transferee or holder of any Letter of Credit (or any Person for
whom any such beneficiary, transferee or holder may be acting), the
Agent or any Lender or any other Person, whether in connection with
a Letter of Credit, this Agreement, the transactions contemplated
hereby, or any unrelated transaction; or
(c)
any statement or any other document presented under any Letter of
Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in
any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in
any respect whatsoever.
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Neither the Agent
nor any Lender nor the officers, directors, agents or employees of
any thereof shall be liable or responsible for, and the obligations
of the Company to the Agent and the Lenders shall not be impaired
by:
(i)
the use which may be made of any Letter of Credit or for any acts
or omissions of any beneficiary, transferee or holder thereof in
connection therewith;
(ii)
the validity, sufficiency or genuineness of documents, or of any
endorsements thereon, even if such documents or endorsements
should, in fact, prove to be in any or all respects invalid,
insufficient, fraudulent or forged;
(iii)
the acceptance by the Agent of documents that appear on their face
to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation,
regardless of any notice or information to the contrary; or
(iv)
any other circumstances whatsoever in making or failing to make
payment under any Letter of Credit.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Company shall have a claim against the Agent,
and the Agent shall be liable to the Company, to the extent, but
only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential,
damages suffered by the Company which the Company proves were
caused by the Agent’s willful misconduct or gross negligence
in determining whether documents presented under any Letter of
Credit comply with the terms thereof.
Part C —
General
Section 2.16
Optional Reduction or Termination of Commitments
(a)
The Company may, at any time, upon not less than five Business
Days’ prior written notice to the Agent, reduce the
Commitments, ratably, with any such reduction in a minimum
aggregate amount for all the Lenders of $5,000,000, or an integral
multiple thereof, or terminate the Commitments in their entirety;
provided , however , that the Company may not at any
time reduce the Aggregate Commitment Amount below the Letter of
Credit Usage as of the date of such reduction unless the Company
reduces the Aggregate Commitment Amount to zero and deposits into
the Holding Account an amount equal to the Letter of Credit Usage
as of such date. Upon any reduction in the Commitments
pursuant to this Section 2.16, the Company shall pay to the Agent
for the account of the Lenders the amount, if any, by which the
Total Outstandings exceed the Aggregate Commitment Amount after
giving effect to such reduction.
(b)
Upon termination of the Commitments pursuant to this Section, the
Company shall pay to the Agent for the account of the Lenders the
full amount of all outstanding Loans, all accrued and unpaid
interest thereon, all unpaid Facility Fees accrued to the date of
such termination, any indemnities payable pursuant to Section 2.27
and all other unpaid Obligations of the Company to the Lenders and
the Agent hereunder,
27
and
shall deposit into the Holding Account an amount equal to the
Letter of Credit Usage as of such date.
Section 2.17
Agent’s Fees . The Company shall pay to the
Agent fees in accordance with the terms of a letter agreement
between the Company and the Agent concerning such fees.
Section 2.18
Facility Fees . The Company shall pay to the Agent,
for the account of each Lender, a facility fee (the “Facility
Fee”) in an amount equal to the Applicable Margin calculated
on the average daily Commitment Amount (whether used or unused) of
such Lender during each calendar quarter during the period from the
Closing Date to the Termination Date. Such Facility
Fees are payable calendar quarterly in arrears on the first day of
the following calendar quarter and on the Termination Date.
Section 2.19
Letter of Credit Fees . For each Letter of Credit
issued, the Company shall pay to the Agent (i) for the ratable
account of the Lenders, a fee (a “Letter of Credit
Fee”) in an amount per annum equal to the Applicable Margin
for Eurocurrency Rate Advances (or, in the case of Documentary
Letters of Credit, 50% of the Applicable Margin for Eurocurrency
Rate Advances) of the original face amount of each outstanding
Letter of Credit for the period from the date of issuance of such
Letter of Credit to the
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