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Exhibit
10.16
COMPETITIVE ADVANCE AND
REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT
among
GANNETT CO., INC.,
The Several
Lenders
from Time to Time Parties
Hereto,
BANK OF AMERICA,
N.A.,
as Administrative
Agent,
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK,
N.A.,
as Syndication
Agent,
and
BARCLAYS BANK PLC,
as Documentation
Agent
Dated as of December 13,
2004
and effective as of January
5, 2005
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES
LLC
and
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES
INC.,
as Joint Lead Arrangers and
Joint Bookrunners
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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ARTICLE I Definitions
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1 |
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Section 1.1
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Defined Terms
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1 |
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Section 1.2
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Other Definitional
Provisions.
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11 |
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ARTICLE II Amount and Terms of the
Facilities
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11 |
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Section 2.1
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Revolving Credit Commitments
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11 |
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Section 2.2
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Procedure for Revolving Credit
Borrowing
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12 |
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Section 2.3
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Competitive Borrowings.
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13 |
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Section 2.4
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Termination or Reduction of
Commitments
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15 |
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Section 2.5
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Optional Prepayments
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16 |
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Section 2.6
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Conversion and Continuation
Options
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16 |
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Section 2.7
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Minimum Amounts of Eurodollar
Borrowings
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17 |
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Section 2.8
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Repayment of Loans; Evidence of
Debt
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17 |
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Section 2.9
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Interest Rates and Payment
Dates
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17 |
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Section 2.10
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Fees
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18 |
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Section 2.11
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Computation of Interest and
Fees
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19 |
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Section 2.12
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Inability to Determine Interest
Rate
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19 |
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Section 2.13
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Pro Rata Treatment and
Payments
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19 |
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Section 2.14
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Requirements of Law
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21 |
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Section 2.15
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Taxes
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22 |
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Section 2.16
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Indemnity
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23 |
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Section 2.17
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Change of Lending Office
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24 |
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Section 2.18
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Replacement of Lenders
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24 |
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ARTICLE III Representations and
Warranties
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25 |
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Section 3.1
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Organization; Powers
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25 |
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Section 3.2
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Financial Condition; No Material Adverse
Effect
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25 |
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Section 3.3
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Properties
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25 |
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Section 3.4
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Litigation
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26 |
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Section 3.5
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No Conflicts
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26 |
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Section 3.6
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Taxes
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26 |
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Section 3.7
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Authorization; Enforceability
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26 |
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Section 3.8
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Environmental Matters
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26 |
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Section 3.9
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No Change
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26 |
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Section 3.10
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Federal Regulations
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27 |
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Section 3.11
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No Default
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27 |
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Section 3.12
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Investment Company Act; Federal
Regulations
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27 |
ii
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ARTICLE IV Conditions
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27 |
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ARTICLE V Affirmative
Covenants.
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28 |
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Section 5.1
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Financial Statements and Other
Information
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28 |
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Section 5.2
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Payment of Obligations
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29 |
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Section 5.3
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Books and Records; Inspection
Rights
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29 |
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Section 5.4
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Notices of Material Events
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29 |
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Section 5.5
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Existence; Conduct of
Business
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29 |
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Section 5.6
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Maintenance of Properties;
Insurance
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29 |
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Section 5.7
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Compliance with Laws
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30 |
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Section 5.8
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Debt Ratings
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30 |
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ARTICLE VI Negative Covenants
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30 |
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Section 6.1
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Liens
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30 |
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Section 6.2
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Fundamental Changes
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31 |
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Section 6.3
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Shareholders’ Equity
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31 |
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ARTICLE VII Events of Default
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31 |
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Section 7.1
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Events of Default
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31 |
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Section 7.2
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Remedies
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32 |
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ARTICLE VIII The Administrative
Agent
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33 |
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Section 8.1
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Appointment
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33 |
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Section 8.2
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Delegation of Duties
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33 |
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Section 8.3
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Exculpatory Provisions
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33 |
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Section 8.4
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Reliance by Administrative
Agent
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33 |
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Section 8.5
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Notice of Default
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34 |
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Section 8.6
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Non–Reliance on Administrative
Agent and Other Lenders
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34 |
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Section 8.7
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Indemnification
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35 |
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Section 8.8
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Agent in Its Individual
Capacity
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35 |
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Section 8.9
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Successor Administrative
Agent
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35 |
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Section 8.10
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Syndication Agent and Documentation
Agent
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36 |
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ARTICLE IX Miscellaneous
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36 |
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Section 9.1
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Amendments and Waivers
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36 |
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Section 9.2
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Notices
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37 |
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Section 9.3
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No Waiver; Cumulative
Remedies
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38 |
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Section 9.4
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Survival of Representations and
Warranties
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38 |
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Section 9.5
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Payment of Expenses and Taxes
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38 |
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Section 9.6
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Successors and Assigns; Participations
and Assignments
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39 |
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Section 9.7
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Adjustments; Set–off
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41 |
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Section 9.8
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Counterparts
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42 |
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Section 9.9
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Severability
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42 |
iii
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Section 9.10
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Integration
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42 |
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Section 9.11
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GOVERNING LAW
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42 |
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Section 9.12
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Submission To Jurisdiction;
Waivers
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43 |
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Section 9.13
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Acknowledgements
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43 |
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Section 9.14
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Confidentiality
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43 |
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Section 9.15
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USA PATRIOT Act
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44 |
iv
SCHEDULES
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| 1.1 |
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Commitments |
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| EXHIBITS |
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| A |
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Form of
Addendum |
| B |
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Form of
Assignment and Acceptance |
| C-1 |
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Form of
Competitive Bid Request |
| C-2 |
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Form of
Invitation for Competitive Bids |
| C-3 |
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Form of
Competitive Bid |
| C-4 |
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Form of
Competitive Bid Accept/Reject Letter |
| D-1 |
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Form of
New Lender Supplement |
| D-2 |
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Form of
Incremental Facility Activation Notice |
| E |
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Form of
Exemption Certificate |
| F |
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Form of
Opinion of Nixon Peabody LLP |
| G |
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Form of
Compliance Certificate |
v
COMPETITIVE ADVANCE AND
REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of December 13, 2004 and
effective as of January 5, 2005, among GANNETT CO., INC., a
Delaware corporation (“ Gannett ”), the several
banks and other financial institutions from time to time parties to
this Agreement (the “ Lenders ”), BANK OF
AMERICA, N.A., as administrative agent for the Lenders hereunder
(in such capacity, the “ Administrative Agent
”), JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as syndication agent (the
“ Syndication Agent ”), and BARCLAYS BANK PLC,
as documentation agent (the “ Documentation Agent
”).
The parties agree as
follows:
ARTICLE I
Definitions
Section 1.1 Defined
Terms . The following words and terms shall have the following
meanings in this Agreement:
“ ABR ”:
for any day, a rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to
the next 1/16 of 1%) equal to the greater of (a) the Prime Rate in
effect on such day and (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in
effect on such day plus ½ of 1%. If for any reason the
Administrative Agent shall have determined (which determination
shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that it is unable to
ascertain the Federal Funds Effective Rate for any reason, the ABR
shall be determined without regard to clause (b) of the first
sentence of this definition until the circumstances giving rise to
such inability no longer exist. Any change in the ABR due to a
change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate shall
be effective as of the opening of business on the effective day of
such change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate,
respectively.
“ ABR Loans
”: Loans the rate of interest applicable to which is based
upon the ABR.
“ Addendum
”: an instrument, substantially in the form of Exhibit A, by
which a Lender becomes a party to this Agreement as of the
Effective Date.
“ Aggregate
Commitment Percentage ”: as to any Lender at any time,
the percentage which such Lender’s Commitment then
constitutes of the aggregate Commitments (or, at any time after the
Commitments shall have expired or terminated, the percentage which
the aggregate principal amount of such Lender’s Loans then
outstanding constitutes of the aggregate principal amount of the
Loans then outstanding).
“ Agreement
”: this Competitive Advance and Revolving Credit Agreement,
as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to
time.
2
“ Applicable
Margin ”: the appropriate rate per annum set forth in the
table below opposite the applicable Facility:
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Credit Status
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Five-Year
Facility
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Credit Status 1
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18.00 Basis Points |
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Credit Status 2
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17.00 Basis Points |
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Credit Status 3
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21.00 Basis Points |
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Credit Status 4
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37.50 Basis Points |
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Credit Status 5
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45.00 Basis Points |
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Credit Status 6
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50.00 Basis Points |
“ Assignee
”: as defined in Section 9.6(c).
“ Assignment and
Acceptance ”: an Assignment and Acceptance, substantially
in the form of Exhibit B.
“ Basis Point
”: 1/100th of one percent.
“ Board ”:
the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, or any
successor thereto.
“ Borrowing
”: a group of Loans of a single Type made by the Lenders (or,
in the case of a Competitive Borrowing, by the Lender or Lenders
whose Competitive Bids have been accepted pursuant to Section 2.3)
on a single date and as to which a single Interest Period is in
effect.
“ Borrowing Date
”: any Business Day specified by Gannett as a date on which
Gannett requests the relevant Lenders to make Loans
hereunder.
“ Business Day
”: each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which
is not a legal holiday for banks in Dallas, Texas or the State of
New York; provided , that with respect to notices and
determinations in connection with, and payments of principal and
interest on, Eurodollar Loans, such day is also a day for trading
by and between banks in Dollar deposits in the interbank eurodollar
market.
“ Code ”:
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to
time.
“ Commitment
”: as to any Lender, the sum of its Five-Year Commitment and
commitment under the Incremental Facility, if any.
“ Commitment
Utilization Percentage ”: on any day, the percentage
equivalent of a fraction (a) the numerator of which is the sum of
the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Loans and (b) the
denominator of which is the Total Commitment (or, on any day after
termination of the Commitments under a Facility with outstanding
Loans, the Total Commitment in effect immediately preceding such
termination).
“ Competitive
Bid ”: an offer by a Lender to make a Competitive Loan
pursuant to Section 2.3.
3
“ Competitive Bid
Accept/Reject Letter ”: a notification made by Gannett
pursuant to Section 2.3(f) in the form of Exhibit C-4.
“ Competitive Bid
Rate ”: as to any Competitive Bid made by a Lender
pursuant to Section 2.3, (i) in the case of a Eurodollar
Competitive Loan, the Eurodollar Rate plus (or minus) the Margin,
and (ii) in the case of a Fixed Rate Loan, the fixed rate of
interest offered by the Lender making such Competitive
Bid.
“ Competitive Bid
Request ”: a request made pursuant to Section 2.3(b) in
the form of Exhibit C-1.
“ Competitive
Borrowing ”: a Borrowing consisting of a Competitive Loan
or concurrent Competitive Loans from the Lender or Lenders whose
Competitive Bids for such Borrowing have been accepted by Gannett
under the bidding procedure described in Section 2.3.
“ Competitive
Loan ”: a Loan (which shall be a Eurodollar Competitive
Loan or a Fixed Rate Loan) made by a Lender pursuant to the bidding
procedure described in Section 2.3.
“ Conduit Lender
”: any special purpose corporation organized and administered
by any Lender for the purpose of making Loans hereunder otherwise
required to be made by such Lender and designated by such Lender in
a written instrument, subject to the consent of the Administrative
Agent and Gannett; provided , that the designation by any
Lender of a Conduit Lender shall not relieve the designating Lender
of any of its obligations to fund a Loan under this Agreement if,
for any reason, its Conduit Lender fails to fund any such Loan, and
the designating Lender (and not the Conduit Lender) shall have the
sole right and responsibility to deliver all consents and waivers
required or requested under this Agreement with respect to its
Conduit Lender, and provided , further , that no
Conduit Lender shall (a) be entitled to receive any greater amount
pursuant to Section 2.14, 2.15, 2.16 or 9.5 than the designating
Lender would have been entitled to receive in respect of the
extensions of credit made by such Conduit Lender or (b) be deemed
to have any Commitment hereunder.
“ Contractual
Obligation ”: as to any Person, any provision of any
security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or
other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or
any of its property is bound.
“ Credit Status
”: any of Credit Status 1, Credit Status 2, Credit Status 3,
Credit Status 4, Credit Status 5 or Credit Status 6. In determining
whether Credit Status 1, Credit Status 2, Credit Status 3, Credit
Status 4, Credit Status 5 or Credit Status 6 shall apply in any
circumstance, if the applicable ratings by S&P and
Moody’s differ, the higher of the two ratings will be
determinative, unless the applicable ratings by S&P and
Moody’s are more than one level apart, in which case the
Credit Status one level below the higher rating will be
determinative. In the event that Gannett’s senior unsecured
long-term debt is rated by only one of S&P and Moody’s,
then that single rating shall be determinative.
“ Credit Status
1 ” shall exist upon the occurrence of the higher of a
rating by S&P of Gannett’s senior unsecured long-term
debt of at least A+ or a rating by Moody’s of Gannett’s
senior unsecured long-term debt of at least A1.
4
“ Credit Status
2 ” shall exist upon the occurrence of the higher of a
rating by S&P of Gannett’s senior unsecured long-term
debt of at least A but lower than A+ or a rating by Moody’s
of Gannett’s senior unsecured long-term debt of at least A2
but lower than A1.
“ Credit Status
3 ” shall exist upon the occurrence of the higher of a
rating by S&P of Gannett’s senior unsecured long-term
debt of at least A- but lower than A or a rating by Moody’s
of Gannett’s senior unsecured long-term debt of at least A3
but lower than A2.
“ Credit Status
4 ” shall exist upon the occurrence of the higher of a
rating by S&P of Gannett’s senior unsecured long-term
debt of at least BBB+ but lower than A- or a rating by
Moody’s of Gannett’s senior unsecured long-term debt of
at least Baa1 but lower than A3.
“ Credit Status
5 ” shall exist upon the occurrence of the higher of a
rating by S&P of Gannett’s senior unsecured long-term
debt of at least BBB but lower than BBB+ or a rating by
Moody’s of Gannett’s senior unsecured long-term debt of
at least Baa2 but lower than Baa1.
“ Credit Status
6 ” shall exist upon the occurrence of the higher of a
rating by S&P of Gannett’s senior unsecured long-term
debt of lower than BBB or a rating by Moody’s of
Gannett’s senior unsecured long-term debt of lower than
Baa2.
“ Default
”: any of the events specified in Section 7.1, whether or not
any requirement for the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or
both, or any other condition, has been satisfied.
“ Dollars
” and “ $ ”: dollars in lawful currency of
the United States of America.
“ Effective Date
”: the date identified by Gannett in a written notice to the
Administrative Agent, which date shall be at least one Business Day
after receipt by the Administrative Agent of such notice and shall,
in any case, occur no later than January 5, 2005.
“ Environmental
Laws ”: any and all federal, state, local and foreign
statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders,
decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses,
agreements or other governmental restrictions relating to the
environment or to emissions, discharges or releases of pollutants,
contaminants, petroleum or petroleum products, chemicals or
industrial, toxic or hazardous substances or wastes into the
environment including, without limitation, ambient air, surface
water, ground water, or land, or otherwise relating to the
manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage,
disposal, transport or handling of pollutants, contaminants,
petroleum or petroleum products, chemicals or industrial, toxic or
hazardous substances or wastes or the clean-up or other remediation
thereof.
“ Eurocurrency
Reserve Requirements ”: for any day as applied to a
Eurodollar Loan, the aggregate (without duplication) of the maximum
rates (expressed as a decimal fraction) of reserve requirements in
effect on such day (including, without limitation, basic,
supplemental, marginal and emergency reserves under any regulations
of the Board or other Governmental Authority having jurisdiction
with respect thereto) dealing with reserve requirements prescribed
for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as
“Eurocurrency liabilities” in Regulation D of the
Board) maintained by a member bank of such System.
5
“ Eurodollar Base
Rate ”: with respect to each day during each Interest
Period pertaining to a Eurodollar Loan, the rate per annum
determined on the basis of the rate for deposits in Dollars for a
period equal to such Interest Period commencing on the first day of
such Interest Period as published by Reuters as the British Bankers
Association LIBOR Rate (“ BBA LIBOR”) as of
11:00 A.M., London time, two Business Days prior to the beginning
of such Interest Period. In the event that BBA LIBOR as published
by Reuters is unavailable, the “ Eurodollar Base Rate
” shall be determined by reference to such other comparable
publicly available service for displaying eurodollar rates as may
be selected by the Administrative Agent or, in the absence of such
availability, by reference to the rate at which the Administrative
Agent is offered Dollar deposits at or about 11:00 A.M., Dallas,
Texas time, two Business Days prior to the beginning of such
Interest Period in the interbank eurodollar market where its
eurodollar and foreign currency and exchange operations are then
being conducted for delivery on the first day of such Interest
Period for the number of days comprised therein.
“ Eurodollar
Borrowing ”: a Borrowing comprised of Eurodollar
Loans.
“ Eurodollar
Competitive Loan ”: any Competitive Loan bearing interest
at a rate determined by reference to the Eurodollar
Rate.
“ Eurodollar
Loan ”: any Eurodollar Competitive Loan or Eurodollar
Revolving Credit Loan.
“ Eurodollar
Rate ”: with respect to each day during each Interest
Period pertaining to a Eurodollar Loan, a rate per annum determined
for such day in accordance with the following formula (rounded
upward to the nearest 1/100th of 1%):
Eurodollar
Base
Rate
1.00 - Eurocurrency Reserve
Requirements
“ Eurodollar
Revolving Credit Loan ”: any Five-Year Loan bearing
interest at a rate determined by reference to the Eurodollar
Rate.
“ Event of
Default ”: any of the Events of Default specified in
Section 7.1 of this Agreement.
“ Excess Utilization
Day ”: each day on which the Commitment Utilization
Percentage exceeds 50%.
“ Facility
”: each of the Five-Year Facility and the Incremental
Facility.
“ Federal Funds
Effective Rate ”: for any day, 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 on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal
Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for
any day which is a Business Day, the average of the quotations for
such day of such rates on such transactions received by the
Administrative Agent from three federal funds brokers of recognized
standing selected by it.
6
“ Five-Year
Available Commitment ”: as to any Five-Year Lender at any
time, the excess, if any, of such Five-Year Lender’s
Five-Year Commitment over such Five-Year Lender’s Five-Year
Loans.
“ Five-Year
Commitment ”: as to any Lender, the obligation of such
Lender, if any, to make Five-Year Loans in an aggregate principal
and/or face amount not to exceed the amount set forth under the
heading “Five-Year Commitment” opposite such
Lender’s name on Schedule 1.1 or in the Assignment and
Acceptance or New Lender Supplement pursuant to which such Lender
became a party hereto, as the same may be changed from time to time
pursuant to the terms hereof.
“ Five-Year
Commitment Percentage ”: as to any Five-Year Lender at
any time, the percentage which such Five-Year Lender’s
Five-Year Commitment then constitutes of the aggregate Five-Year
Commitments (or, at any time after the Five-Year Commitments shall
have expired or terminated, the percentage which the aggregate
principal amount of such Five-Year Lender’s Five-Year Loans
then outstanding constitutes of the aggregate principal amount of
the Five-Year Loans then outstanding).
“ Five-Year
Commitment Period ”: the period from and including the
Effective Date to the Five-Year Termination Date.
“ Five-Year
Competitive Loans ”: Competitive Loans made under the
Five-Year Facility.
“ Five-Year
Facility ”: the Five-Year Commitments and the Loans made
thereunder.
“ Five-Year
Lender ”: each Lender that has a Five-Year Commitment or
that holds Five-Year Loans.
“ Five-Year
Loans ”: as defined in Section 2.1(b).
“ Five-Year
Termination Date ”: January 5, 2010.
“ Fixed Rate
Borrowing ”: a Borrowing comprised of Fixed Rate
Loans.
“ Fixed Rate
Loan ”: any Competitive Loan bearing interest at a fixed
percentage rate per annum specified by the Lender making such Loan
in its Competitive Bid.
“ GAAP ”:
generally accepted accounting principles in the United States as in
effect from time to time and consistent with those used in the
preparation of the most recent audited financial statements
referred to in Section 3.2. In the event that any “Accounting
Change” (as defined below) shall occur and such change
results in a material change in the method of calculation of
financial covenants, standards or terms in this Agreement, then
Gannett and the Administrative Agent agree to enter into
negotiations in order to amend such provisions of this Agreement so
as to equitably reflect such Accounting Changes with the desired
result that the criteria for evaluating Gannett’s financial
condition shall be the same after such Accounting Changes as if
such Accounting Changes had not been made. Until such time as such
an
7
amendment shall have been executed and
delivered by Gannett, the Administrative Agent and the Required
Lenders, all financial covenants, standards and terms in this
Agreement shall continue to be calculated or construed as if such
Accounting Changes had not occurred. “Accounting
Changes” refers to changes in accounting principles required
by the promulgation of any rule, regulation, pronouncement or
opinion by the Financial Accounting Standards Board of the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants or, if applicable, the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
“ Governmental
Authority ”: any nation or government, any state or other
political subdivision thereof and any agency, authority,
instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other
entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing,
regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to
government.
“ Incremental
Facility Activation Notice ”: a notice substantially in
the form of Exhibit D-2.
“ Incremental
Facility ”: as defined in Section 2.1(d).
“ Incremental
Facility Closing Date ”: any Business Day designated as
such in an Incremental Facility Activation Notice.
“ Incremental
Facility Commitment ”: as to any Lender, the obligation
of such Lender, if any, to make Incremental Loans in an aggregate
principal amount not to exceed the amount set forth in the
applicable Incremental Facility Activation Notice or in the
Assignment and Acceptance or New Lender Supplement pursuant to
which such Lender became a party hereto, as the same may be changed
from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof.
“ Incremental
Facility Lenders ”: (a) on any Incremental Facility
Closing Date relating to Incremental Loans, the Lenders signatory
to the relevant Incremental Facility Activation Notice and (b)
thereafter, each Lender that is a holder of an Incremental
Loan.
“ Incremental
Facility Maturity Date ”: with respect to the Incremental
Loans, the maturity date specified in such Incremental Facility
Activation Notice, which date shall be a date at least six months
after the final maturity of the Five-Year Loans.
“ Incremental
Loans ”: as defined in Section 2.1(d).
“ Interest Payment
Date ”: (a) as to any ABR Loan, the last day of each
March, June, September and December to occur while such Loan is
outstanding and on the date such Loan is paid in full, (b) as to
any Eurodollar Loan or Fixed Rate Loan, the last day of the
Interest Period applicable thereto and (c) as to any Eurodollar
Loan or Fixed Rate Loan having an Interest Period longer than three
months or 90 days, as the case may be, each day which is three
months or 90 days, respectively, after the first day of the
Interest Period applicable thereto; provided that, in
addition to the foregoing, each of (x) the date upon which both the
Commitments have been terminated and the Loans have been paid in
full and (y) the Five-Year Termination Date shall be deemed to be
an “Interest Payment Date” with respect to any interest
which is then accrued hereunder.
8
“ Interest
Period ”: (a) with respect to any Eurodollar
Loan:
| |
(i) |
initially, the period commencing on the borrowing or conversion
date, as the case may be, with respect to such Eurodollar Loan and
ending one, two, three or six (or if available to all the Lenders
(or, in the case of Eurodollar Competitive Loans, the Lender making
such Loans) nine) months thereafter, as selected by Gannett in its
notice of borrowing or notice of conversion, as the case may be,
given with respect thereto; and |
| |
(ii) |
thereafter, each period commencing on the last day of the next
preceding Interest Period applicable to such Eurodollar Loan and
ending one, two, three or six (or if available to all the Lenders
(or, in the case of Eurodollar Competitive Loans, the Lender making
such Loans) nine) months thereafter, as selected by Gannett by
irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent not less than three
Business Days prior to the last day of the then current Interest
Period with respect thereto; and |
| |
(b) |
with respect to any Fixed Rate Loan, the period commencing on
the Borrowing Date with respect to such Fixed Rate Loan and ending
such number of days thereafter (which shall be not less than seven
days or more than 360 days after the date of such borrowing) as
selected by Gannett in its Competitive Bid Request given with
respect thereto. |
provided that all of the
foregoing provisions relating to Interest Periods are subject to
the following:
| |
(A) |
if any Interest Period would otherwise end on a day that is not
a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next
succeeding Business Day unless, in the case of an Interest Period
pertaining to a Eurodollar Loan, the result of such extension would
be to carry such Interest Period into another calendar month in
which event such Interest Period shall end on the immediately
preceding Business Day; and |
| |
(B) |
any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a
calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically
corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest
Period) shall end on the last Business Day of a calendar
month. |
“ Invitation for
Competitive Bids ”: an invitation made by Gannett
pursuant to Section 2.3(c) in the form of Exhibit C-2.
“ Lender
Affiliate ”: (a) any affiliate of any Lender, (b) any
Person that is administered or managed by any Lender and that is
engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in
commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary
course of its business and (c) with respect to any Lender which is
a fund that invests in commercial loans and similar extensions of
credit, any other fund that invests in commercial loans and similar
extensions of credit and is managed or advised by the same
investment advisor as such Lender or by an affiliate of such Lender
or investment advisor.
9
“ Lenders
”: as defined in the preamble hereto; provided , that
unless the context otherwise requires, each reference herein to the
Lenders shall be deemed to include any Conduit Lender.
“ Lien ”:
any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit
arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge or
other security interest or any preference, priority or other
security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or
nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title
retention agreement and any capital lease having substantially the
same economic effect as any of the foregoing).
“ Loan ”:
any loan made by any Lender pursuant to this Agreement.
“ Margin
”: as to any Eurodollar Competitive Loan, the margin to be
added to or subtracted from the Eurodollar Rate in order to
determine the interest rate applicable to such Loan, as specified
in the Competitive Bid relating to such Loan.
“ Material
”: when used to describe an adverse effect or an event on
Gannett or its Subsidiaries, shall mean a condition, event or act
which, with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, will
constitute a Default or an Event of Default.
“ Material Adverse
Effect ”: a Material adverse effect on (a) the business,
assets, operations or condition, financial or otherwise, of Gannett
and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or (b) the validity or
enforceability of this Agreement or the material rights or remedies
of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereunder.
“ Moody’s
”: Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and its successors;
provided , however , that if Moody’s ceases
rating securities similar to the senior unsecured long-term debt of
Gannett and its ratings and business with respect to such
securities shall not have been transferred to any successor, then
“Moody’s” shall mean any other nationally
recognized rating agency (other than S&P) selected by Gannett
and approved by the Administrative Agent (not to be unreasonably
withheld or delayed) that rates any senior unsecured long-term debt
of Gannett.
“ Net Property,
Plant and Equipmen t”: the amount under that heading on
the consolidated balance sheet of Gannett and its Subsidiaries
prepared in accordance with GAAP.
“ Non-Excluded
Taxes ”: as defined in Section 2.15(a).
“ Non-U.S.
Lender ”: as defined in Section 2.15(d).
“ Other Taxes
”: any and all present or future stamp or documentary taxes
or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies
arising from any payment made hereunder or from the execution,
delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this
Agreement.
“ Participant
”: as defined in Section 9.6(b).
10
“ Person
”: an individual, partnership, corporation, business trust,
joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint
venture, Governmental Authority or other entity of whatever
nature.
“ Prime Rate
”: the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from
time to time by Bank of America, N.A. as its prime rate in effect
at its principal office in Dallas, Texas (the Prime Rate not being
intended to be the lowest rate of interest charged by Bank of
America, N.A. in connection with extensions of credit to
debtors).
“ Register
”: as defined in Section 9.6(d).
“ Required
Lenders ”: at any time, the holders of more than 50% of
the Total Commitments then in effect or, if the Commitments have
been terminated, the Total Extensions of Credit then
outstanding.
“ Requirement of
Law ”: as to any Person, any law, treaty, rule or
regulation or determination of an arbitrator or a court or other
Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon
such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any
of its property is subject.
“ S&P
”: Standard & Poor’s Corporation and its
successors; provided , however , that if S&P
ceases rating securities similar to the senior unsecured long-term
debt of Gannett and its ratings and business with respect to such
securities shall not have been transferred to any successor, then
“S&P” shall mean any other nationally recognized
rating agency (other than Moody’s) selected by Gannett and
approved by the Administrative Agent (not to be unreasonably
withheld or delayed) that rates any senior unsecured long-term debt
of Gannett.
“ Subsidiary
”: any corporation the majority of the shares of voting stock
of which at any time outstanding is owned directly or indirectly by
Gannett or by one or more of its other subsidiaries or by Gannett
in conjunction with one or more of its other
subsidiaries.
“ Total
Commitments ”: at any time, the aggregate amount of the
Commitments then in effect.
“ Total Extensions
of Credit ”: at any time, the aggregate amount of all
Loans of the Lenders outstanding at such time.
“ Total
Shareholders’ Equity ”: the amount appearing under
that heading on the consolidated balance sheet of Gannett and its
Subsidiaries, prepared in accordance with GAAP.
“ Transferee
”: any Assignee or Participant.
“ Type ”:
as to any Five-Year Loan, its nature as an ABR Loan or a Eurodollar
Loan, and as to any Competitive Loan, its nature as a Eurodollar
Competitive Loan or a Fixed Rate Loan.
11
Section 1.2 Other
Definitional Provisions.
(a) Unless otherwise
specified therein, all terms defined in this Agreement shall have
the defined meanings when used in any certificate or other document
made or delivered pursuant hereto.
(b) As used herein, and any
certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto,
accounting terms relating to Gannett and its Subsidiaries not
defined in Section 1.1 and accounting terms partly defined in
Section 1.1, to the extent not defined, shall have the respective
meanings given to them under GAAP.
(c) 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, and Section,
subsection, Schedule and Exhibit references are to this Agreement
unless otherwise specified.
(d) The meanings given to
terms defined herein shall be equally applicable to both the
singular and plural forms of such terms.
ARTICLE II
Amount and Terms of the
Facilities
Section 2.1 Revolving
Credit Commitments . (a) [reserved]
(b) Subject to the terms and
conditions hereof, each Five-Year Lender severally agrees to make
revolving credit loans (“ Five-Year Loans ”) to
Gannett from time to time during the Five-Year Commitment Period in
an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding which
does not exceed the amount of such Lender’s Five-Year
Commitment. During the Five-Year Commitment Period, Gannett may use
the Five-Year Commitments by borrowing, prepaying the Five-Year
Loans in whole or in part, and reborrowing, all in accordance with
the terms and conditions hereof. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained in this Agreement, in no event (after giving
effect to the use of proceeds of any Borrowing) shall (i) the
amount of any Lender’s Five-Year Commitment Percentage
multiplied by the amount of a Borrowing of Five-Year Loans exceed
such Lender’s Five-Year Available Commitment at the time of
such Borrowing or (ii) the aggregate amount of Five-Year Loans and
Five-Year Competitive Loans at any one time outstanding exceed the
aggregate Five-Year Commitments then in effect of all
Lenders.
(c) The Five-Year Loans may
from time to time be (i) Eurodollar Loans, (ii) ABR Loans or (iii)
a combination thereof, as determined by Gannett and notified to the
Administrative Agent in accordance with Sections 2.2 and 2.6;
provided that no Five-Year Loan shall be made as a
Eurodollar Loan after the day that is one month prior to the
Five-Year Termination Date.
(d) Gannett (upon receipt of
requisite authorization from its Board of Directors) and any one or
more Lenders (including New Lenders) may from time to time agree
that such Lenders shall (x) make available to Gannett an additional
credit facility (the
12
“ Incremental Facility
” and any loans thereunder, the “ Incremental
Loans ”), which credit facility shall take the form of a
revolving credit facility which matures at least six months after
the Five-Year Termination Date and/or (y) increase the amount of
their Five-Year Commitment, or (in the case of a New Lender) make
available a Five-Year Commitment, in any such case by executing and
delivering to the Administrative Agent an Incremental Facility
Activation Notice specifying (i) the aggregate principal amount of
such increase and the Facility or Facilities involved, (ii) the
applicable Incremental Facility Closing Date and (iii) in the case
of the Incremental Facility, the Incremental Facility Maturity
Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the sum of aggregate
principal amount of the Incremental Facility Commitments and any
increase in the Five-Year Commitments shall not exceed
$1,000,000,000, (ii) no increase pursuant to this paragraph may be
obtained after the occurrence and during the continuation of a
Default or Event of Default and (iii) any increase effected
pursuant to this paragraph shall be in a minimum amount of at least
$10,000,000. Any Incremental Facility shall be governed by this
Agreement. No Lender shall have any obligation to participate in
any increase described in this paragraph unless it agrees to do so
in its sole discretion.
(e) Any additional bank,
financial institution or other entity which, with the consent of
Gannett and the Administrative Agent (which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld), elects to become a “Lender”
under this Agreement in connection with any transaction described
in Section 2.1(d) shall execute a New Lender Supplement (each, a
“ New Lender Supplement ”), substantially in the
form of Exhibit D-1, whereupon such bank, financial institution or
other entity (a “ New Lender ”) shall become a
Lender for all purposes and to the same extent as if originally a
party hereto and shall be bound by and entitled to the benefits of
this Agreement.
Section 2.2 Procedure for
Revolving Credit Borrowing . Gannett may borrow Five-Year Loans
under the Commitments on any Business Day; provided that Gannett
shall give the Administrative Agent irrevocable notice (which
notice must be received by the Administrative Agent prior to 11:00
A.M., Dallas, Texas time, (a) three Business Days prior to the
requested Borrowing Date, if all or any part of the requested
Five-Year Loans are to be Eurodollar Loans, or (b) on the requested
Borrowing Date, otherwise), specifying (i) the Facility under which
the Borrowing is to be made, (ii) the amount to be borrowed, (iii)
the requested Borrowing Date, (iv) whether the Borrowing is to be
of Eurodollar Loans, ABR Loans or a combination thereof and (v) if
the Borrowing is to be entirely or partly of Eurodollar Loans, the
respective amounts of each such Type of Loan and the respective
lengths of the initial Interest Periods therefor. Any Loans made on
the Effective Date shall be ABR Loans. Each Borrowing under the
Commitments shall be in an amount equal to $10,000,000 or a
multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. Upon receipt of any such
notice from Gannett, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify
each relevant Lender thereof. Each relevant Lender will make the
amount of its pro rata share of each Borrowing available to the
Administrative Agent for the account of Gannett at the office of
the Administrative Agent specified in Section 9.2 prior to 1:00
P.M., Dallas, Texas time, on the Borrowing Date requested by
Gannett in funds immediately available to the Administrative Agent.
Such Borrowing will then immediately be made available to Gannett
by the Administrative Agent crediting the account of Gannett on the
books of such office with the aggregate of the amounts made
available to the Administrative Agent by the Lenders and in like
funds as received by the Administrative Agent.
13
Section 2.3 Competitive
Borrowings .
(a) The Competitive Bid
Option . In addition to the Five-Year Loans that may be made
available pursuant to Section 2.1, Gannett may, as set forth in
this Section 2.3, request the Lenders to make offers to make
Competitive Loans to Gannett. The Lenders may, but shall have no
obligation to, make such offers, and Gannett may, but shall have no
obligation to, accept any such offers in the manner set forth in
this Section 2.3.
(b) Competitive Bid
Request . When Gannett wishes to request offers to make
Competitive Loans under this Section 2.3, it shall transmit to the
Administrative Agent a Competitive Bid Request to be received no
later than 12:00 Noon (Dallas, Texas time) on (x) the fourth
Business Day prior to the Borrowing Date proposed therein, in the
case of a Borrowing of Eurodollar Competitive Loans or (y) the
Business Day immediately preceding the Borrowing Date proposed
therein, in the case of a Fixed Rate Borrowing,
specifying:
(i) the Facility under which
the Borrowing is to be made,
(ii) the proposed Borrowing
Date,
(iii) the aggregate principal
amount of such Borrowing, which shall be $10,000,000 or a multiple
of $1,000,000 in excess thereof,
(iv) the duration of the
Interest Period applicable thereto, subject to the provisions of
the definition of Interest Period contained in Section 1.1,
and
(v) whether the Borrowing
then being requested is to be of Eurodollar Competitive Loans or
Fixed Rate Loans.
A Competitive Bid Request
that does not conform substantially to the format of Exhibit C-1
may be rejected by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion,
and the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify Gannett of such
rejection. Gannett may request offers to make Competitive Loans for
more than one Interest Period in a single Competitive Bid Request.
No Competitive Bid Request shall be given within three Business
Days of any other Competitive Bid Request pursuant to which Gannett
has made a Competitive Borrowing.
(c) Invitation for
Competitive Bids . Promptly after its receipt of a Competitive
Bid Request (but, in any event, no later than 3:00 P.M., Dallas,
Texas time, on the date of such receipt) conforming to the
requirements of paragraph (b) above, the Administrative Agent shall
send to each of the relevant Lenders an Invitation for Competitive
Bids which shall constitute an invitation by Gannett to each such
Lender to bid, on the terms and conditions of this Agreement, to
make Competitive Loans pursuant to the Competitive Bid
Request.
(d) Submission and
Contents of Competitive Bids . (i) Each Lender to which an
Invitation for Competitive Bids is sent may submit a Competitive
Bid containing an offer or offers to make Competitive Loans in
response to such Invitation for Competitive Bids. Each Competitive
Bid must comply with the requirements of this paragraph (d) and
must be submitted to the Administrative Agent at its offices
specified in Section 9.2 not later than (x) 9:30 A.M. (Dallas,
Texas time) on the third Business Day prior to the proposed
Borrowing Date, in the case
14
of a Borrowing of Eurodollar Competitive
Loans or (y) 9:30 A.M. (Dallas, Texas time) on the date of the
proposed Borrowing, in the case of a Fixed Rate Borrowing;
provided that any Competitive Bids submitted by the
Administrative Agent in the capacity of a Lender may only be
submitted if the Administrative Agent notifies Gannett of the terms
of the offer or offers contained therein not later than fifteen
minutes prior to the deadline for the other Lenders. A Competitive
Bid submitted by a Lender pursuant to this paragraph (d) shall be
irrevocable.
(ii) Each Competitive Bid
shall be in substantially the form of Exhibit C-3 and shall
specify:
(A) the date of the proposed
Borrowing and the Facility under which it is to be made,
(B) the principal amount of
the Competitive Loan for which each such offer is being made, which
principal amount (w) may be greater than, equal to or less than the
Commitment of the quoting Lender, (x) must be in a minimum
principal amount of $5,000,000 or a multiple of $1,000,000 in
excess thereof, (y) may not exceed the principal amount of
Competitive Loans for which offers were requested and (z) may be
subject to a limitation as to the maximum aggregate principal
amount of Competitive Loans for which offers being made by such
quoting Lender may be accepted,
(C) in the case of a
Borrowing of Eurodollar Competitive Loans, the Margin offered for
each such Competitive Loan, expressed as a percentage (specified in
increments of 1/10,000th of 1%) to be added to or subtracted from
such base rate,
(D) in the case of a Fixed
Rate Borrowing, the rate of interest per annum (specified in
increments of 1/10,000th of 1%) offered for each such Competitive
Loan, and
(E) the identity of the
quoting Lender.
A Competitive Bid may set forth up to
five separate offers by the quoting Lender with respect to each
Interest Period specified in the related Invitation for Competitive
Bids. Any Competitive Bid shall be disregarded by the
Administrative Agent if the Administrative Agent determines that
it: (A) is not substantially in the form of Exhibit C-3 or does not
specify all of the information required by Section 2.3(d)(ii); (B)
contains qualifying, conditional or similar language (except for a
limitation on the maximum principal amount which may be accepted);
(C) proposes terms other than or in addition to those set forth in
the applicable Invitation for Competitive Bids or (D) arrives after
the time set forth in Section 2.3(d)(i).
(e) Notice to Gannett
. The Administrative Agent shall promptly (and, in any event, by
10:00 A.M., Dallas, Texas time) notify Gannett, by telecopy, of all
the Competitive Bids made (including all disregarded bids), the
Competitive Bid Rate and the principal amount of each Competitive
Loan in respect of which a Competitive Bid was made and the
identity of the Lender that made each bid. The Administrative Agent
shall send a copy of all Competitive Bids (including all
disregarded bids) to Gannett for its records as soon as practicable
after completion of the bidding process set forth in this Section
2.3.
15
(f) Acceptance and Notice
by Gannett . Gannett may in its sole discretion, subject only
to the provisions of this paragraph (f), accept or reject any
Competitive Bid (other than any disregarded bid) referred to in
paragraph (e) above. Gannett shall notify the Administrative Agent
by telephone, confirmed immediately thereafter by telecopy in the
form of a Competitive Bid Accept/Reject Letter, whether and to what
extent it wishes to accept any or all of the bids referred to in
paragraph (e) above not later than (x) 11:00 A.M. (Dallas, Texas
time) on the third Business Day prior to the proposed Borrowing
Date, in the case of a Competitive Eurodollar Borrowing or (y)
11:00 A.M. (Dallas, Texas time) on the proposed Borrowing Date, in
the case of a Fixed Rate Borrowing; provided
that:
(i) the failure by Gannett to
give such notice shall be deemed to be a rejection of all the bids
referred to in paragraph (e) above,
(ii) the aggregate principal
amount of the Competitive Bids accepted by Gannett may not exceed
the lesser of (A) the principal amount set forth in the related
Competitive Bid Request and (B) the excess, if any, of the
aggregate Five-Year Commitments of all Five-Year Lenders or the
aggregate Incremental Facility Commitments of all Incremental
Facility Lenders, as applicable, then in effect over the aggregate
principal amount of all Five-Year Loans or Incremental Loans, as
applicable, outstanding immediately prior to the making of such
Competitive Loans,
(iii) the principal amount of
each Competitive Borrowing must be $5,000,000 or a multiple of
$1,000,000 in excess thereof, and
(iv) Gannett may not accept
any Competitive Bid that is disregarded by the Administrative Agent
pursuant to Section 2.3(d)(ii) or that otherwise fails to comply
with the requirements of this Agreement.
A notice given by Gannett
pursuant to this paragraph (f) shall be irrevocable.
(g) Allocation by
Administrative Agent . If offers are made by two or more
Lenders with the same Competitive Bid Rates 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 Competitive Loans in respect of which such offers are accepted
shall be allocated by the Administrative Agent among such Lenders
as nearly as possible (in integral multiples of $1,000,000, as the
Administrative Agent may deem appropriate) in proportion to the
aggregate principal amounts of such offers.
(h) Notification of
Acceptance . The Administrative Agent shall promptly (and, in
any event, by 11:30 A.M., Dallas, Texas time) notify each bidding
Lender whether or not its Competitive Bid has been accepted (and if
so, in what amount and at what Competitive Bid Rate), and each
successful bidder will thereupon become bound, subject to the other
applicable conditions hereof, to make the Competitive Loan in
respect of which its bid has been accepted.
Section 2.4 Termination or
Reduction of Commitments . Gannett shall have the right, upon
not less than two Business Days’ notice to the Administrative
Agent, to terminate the Five-Year Commitments when no Five-Year
Loans are then outstanding or, from time to
16
time, to reduce the unutilized portion
of the Five-Year Commitments. Any such reduction pursuant to this
Section 2.4 shall be in an amount equal to $10,000,000 or a
multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and shall reduce
permanently the Five-Year Commitments then in effect, and the fees
payable pursuant to Section 2.10 shall then reflect the reduced
Five-Year Commitments.
Section 2.5 Optional
Prepayments . Gannett may at any time and from time to time
prepay the Loans, in whole or in part, without premium or penalty,
upon irrevocable notice delivered to the Administrative Agent at
least three Business Days prior thereto in the case of Eurodollar
Loans and at least one Business Day prior thereto in the case of
ABR Loans, which notice shall specify the date and amount of
prepayment and whether the prepayment is of Eurodollar Loans or ABR
Loans; provided, that if a Eurodollar Loan is prepaid on any day
other than the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto,
Gannett shall also pay any amounts owing pursuant to Section 2.16.
Upon receipt of any such notice the Administrative Agent shall
promptly notify each relevant Lender thereof. If any such notice is
given, the amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable
on the date specified therein, together with accrued interest and
fees to such date on the amount prepaid. Partial prepayments shall
be in an aggregate principal amount of $10,000,000 or a multiple of
$1,000,000 in excess thereof. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained herein, Gannett shall not prepay the Competitive
Loans except pursuant to Article 7, with the consent of the Lender
which has made such Competitive Loan or as provided in the related
Competitive Bid Request.
Section 2.6 Conversion and
Continuation Options . (a) Gannett may elect from time to time
to convert Eurodollar Revolving Credit Loans to ABR Loans by giving
the Administrative Agent at least one Business Day’s prior
irrevocable notice of such election; provided that any such
conversion of Eurodollar Revolving Credit Loans may only be made on
the last day of an Interest Period with respect thereto. Gannett
may elect from time to time to convert ABR Loans to Eurodollar
Revolving Credit Loans by giving the Administrative Agent at least
three Business Days’ prior irrevocable notice of such
election. Any such notice of conversion to Eurodollar Revolving
Credit Loans shall specify the length of the initial Interest
Period or Interest Periods therefor. Upon receipt of any such
notice the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each relevant
Lender thereof. All or any part of outstanding Eurodollar Revolving
Credit Loans and ABR Loans may be converted as provided herein;
provided that (i) no Loan may be converted into a Eurodollar
Revolving Credit Loan when any Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing and (ii) no Five-Year Loan may be converted into a
Eurodollar Revolving Credit Loan after the date that is one month
prior to the Five-Year Termination Date.
(b) Any Eurodollar Revolving
Credit Loans may be continued as such upon the expiration of the
then current Interest Period with respect thereto by Gannett giving
notice to the Administrative Agent, in accordance with the
applicable provisions of the term “Interest Period” set
forth in Section 1.1, of the length of the next Interest Period to
be applicable to such Loans; provided that no Eurodollar
Revolving Credit Loan may be continued as such (i) when any Event
of Default has occurred and is continuing or (ii) after the date
that is one month prior to the Five-Year Termination Date; and
provided , further , that if Gannett shall fail to
give any required notice as described above in this paragraph or if
such continuation is not permitted pursuant to the preceding
proviso such Eurodollar Revolving Credit Loans shall be
automatically converted to ABR Loans on the last day of such then
expiring Interest Period.
17
Section 2.7 Minimum
Amounts of Eurodollar Borrowings . All borrowings, conversions
and continuations of Five-Year Loans hereunder and all selections
of Interest Periods hereunder shall be in such amounts and be made
pursuant to such elections so that, after giving effect thereto,
the aggregate principal amount of the Five-Year Loans comprising
each Eurodollar Borrowing shall be equal to $10,000,000 or a
multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and so that there shall
not be more than 20 Eurodollar Borrowings outstanding at any one
time.
Section 2.8 Repayment of
Loans; Evidence of Debt . (a) Gannett hereby unconditionally
promises to pay (i) to each Five-Year Lender on the Five-Year
Termination Date (or such earlier date as the Five-Year Loans
become due and payable pursuant to Article 7 or Section 2.5), the
unpaid principal amount of each Five-Year Loan made by such
Five-Year Lender and (ii) to each applicable Lender on the last day
of the applicable Interest Period, the unpaid principal amount of
each Competitive Loan made by any such Lender. Gannett hereby
further agrees to pay interest in immediately available funds at
the office of the Administrative Agent on the unpaid principal
amount of the Loans from time to time from the date hereof until
payment in full thereof at the rates per annum, and on the dates,
set forth in Section 2.9.
(b) Each Lender shall
maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or
accounts evidencing the indebtedness of Gannett to the appropriate
lending office of such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such
lending office of such Lender from time to time, including the
amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such lending
office of such Lender from time to time under this
Agreement.
(c) The Administrative Agent
shall maintain the Register pursuant to Section 9.6(d), and a
subaccount for each Lender, in which Register and subaccounts
(taken together) shall be recorded (i) the amount of each Loan made
hereunder, the Type of each Loan made and the Interest Period
applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest
due and payable or to become due and payable from Gannett to each
Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the
Administrative Agent hereunder from Gannett and each Lender’s
share thereof.
(d) The entries made in the
Register and accounts maintained pursuant to paragraphs (b) and (c)
of this Section 2.8 shall, to the extent permitted by applicable
law, be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the
obligations of Gannett therein recorded; provided ,
however , that the failure of any Lender or the
Administrative Agent to maintain such account, such Register or
such subaccount, as applicable, or any error therein, shall not in
any manner affect the obligation of Gannett to repay (with
applicable interest) the Loans made to Gannett by such Lender in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
Section 2.9 Interest Rates
and Payment Dates . (a) Each ABR Loan shall bear interest at a
rate per annum equal to the ABR plus the Applicable
Margin.
(b) The Loans comprising each
Eurodollar Borrowing shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal
to (i) in the case of each Eurodollar Revolving Credit Loan, the
Eurodollar Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such
Borrowing plus the Applicable Margin and (ii) in the case of each
Eurodollar Competitive Loan, the Eurodollar Rate for the Interest
Period in effect for such Borrowing plus (or minus, as the case may
be) the Margin offered by the Lender making such Loan and accepted
by Gannett pursuant to Section 2.3.
18
(c) Each Fixed Rate Loan
shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the fixed rate of
interest offered by the Lender making such Loan and accepted by
Gannett pursuant to Section 2.3.
(d) Interest shall be payable
in arrears on each Interest Payment Date; provided that
interest accruing pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section 2.9
shall be payable from time to time on demand.
(e) (i) If all or a portion
of the principal amount of any Loan shall not be paid when due
(whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise),
such overdue amount shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal
to the rate that would otherwise be applicable thereto pursuant to
the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.9 plus 1% and
(ii) to the extent permitted under applicable law, if all or a
portion of any interest payable on any Loan or any fee or other
amount payable hereunder shall not be paid when due (whether at the
stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), such overdue amount
shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the rate then
applicable to ABR Loans plus 1%, in each case, with respect
to clauses (i) and (ii) above, from the date of such non-payment
until such amount is paid in full (as well after as before
judgment).
Section 2.10 Fees .
(a) [reserved]
(b) Gannett shall pay to the
Administrative Agent, for the ratable account of the Five-Year
Lenders, a facility fee (the “ Five-Year Facility Fee
”) at the rate per annum equal to (i) for each day that
Gannett has Credit Status 1, .0700% of the aggregate Five-Year
Commitments on such day, (ii) for each day that Gannett has Credit
Status 2, .0800% of the aggregate Five-Year Commitments on such
day, (iii) for each day that Gannett has Credit Status 3, .1000% of
the aggregate Five-Year Commitments on such day, (iv) for each day
that Gannett has Credit Status 4, .12500% of the aggregate
Five-Year Commitments on such day, (v) for each day that Gannett
has Credit Status 5, .1750% of the aggregate Five-Year Commitments
on such day and (vi) for each day that Gannett has Credit Status 6,
.2500% of the aggregate Five-Year Commitments on such day. On the
first Business Day following the last day of each fiscal quarter of
Gannett and on the Five-Year Termination Date (or, if earlier, on
the date upon which both the Five-Year Commitments are terminated
and the Five-Year Loans are paid in full), Gannett shall pay to the
Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Lenders, the
portion of the Five-Year Facility Fee which accrued during the
fiscal quarter most recently ended (or, in the case of the payment
due on the Five-Year Termination Date, the portion thereof ending
on such date). Such facility fee shall be based upon the aggregate
Five-Year Commitments of the Five-Year Lenders from time to time,
regardless of the utilization by Gannett from time to time
thereunder.
(c) Gannett shall pay to the
Administrative Agent, for the ratable account of the Lenders, a
utilization fee (the “ Utilization Fee ”) at a
rate per annum equal to 0.0750% for each day on which the
Commitment Utilization Percentage exceeds 50%, which Utilization
Fee shall accrue on the average daily amount of the Total
Extensions of Credit for each Excess
19
Utilization Day during the term of this
Agreement. All Utilization Fees shall be computed on the basis of
the actual number of days elapsed in a year of 360 days and shall
be payable quarterly in arrears.
Section 2.11 Computation
of Interest and Fees . (a) Interest payable pursuant hereto
shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year for the actual
days elapsed, except that, with respect to ABR Loans and
Competitive Loans the rate of interest on which is calculated on
the basis of the Prime Rate, the interest thereon shall be
calculated on the basis of a 365- (or 366-, as the case may be) day
year for the actual days elapsed. Fees (other than the Utilization
Fees, which shall be calculated as provided in Section 2.10(c))
payable pursuant hereto shall be calculated on the basis of a 365-
(or 366-, as the case may be) day year for the actual days elapsed.
The Administrative Agent shall as soon as practicable notify
Gannett and the relevant Lenders of each determination of a
Eurodollar Rate. Any change in the interest rate on a Loan
resulting from a change in the ABR or the Eurocurrency Reserve
Requirements shall become effective as of the opening of business
on the day on which such change becomes effective. The
Administrative Agent shall as soon as practicable notify Gannett
and the relevant Lenders of the effective date and the amount of
each such change in interest rate.
(b) Each determination of an
interest rate by the Administrative Agent pursuant to any provision
of this Agreement shall be conclusive and binding on Gannett and
the Lenders in the absence of manifest error. The Administrative
Agent shall, at the request of Gannett, deliver to Gannett a
statement showing the quotations used by the Administrative Agent
in determining any interest rate pursuant to Section
2.11(a).
Section 2.12 Inability to
Determine Interest Rate . If prior to the first day of any
Interest Period the Administrative Agent shall have determined
(which determination shall be conclusive and binding upon Gannett)
that, by reason of circumstances affecting the relevant market,
adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the
Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period, the Administrative Agent
shall give telecopy or telephonic notice thereof to Gannett and the
relevant Lenders as soon as practicable thereafter. If such notice
is given (x) any Eurodollar Loans under the relevant Facility
requested to be made on the first day of such Interest Period shall
be made as ABR Loans, (y) any Loans under the relevant Facility
that were to have been converted on the first day of such Interest
Period to Eurodollar Loans shall be continued as ABR Loans and (z)
any outstanding Eurodollar Loans under the relevant Facility shall
be converted, on the last day of the then-current Interest Period,
to ABR Loans. Until such notice has been withdrawn by the
Administrative Agent, no further Eurodollar Loans under the
relevant Facility shall be made or continued as such, nor shall
Gannett have the right to convert Loans under the relevant Facility
to Eurodollar Loans.
Section 2.13 Pro Rata
Treatment and Payments . (a) Each borrowing of Five-Year Loans
from the Lenders hereunder, each payment by Gannett on account of
any fee hereunder and, subject to the last sentence of Section 2.4,
any reduction of the Commitments of the Lenders shall be made pro
rata according to the Five-Year Commitments of the Lenders. Subject
to the last sentence of Section 2.4, each payment (including each
prepayment) by Gannett on account of principal of and interest on
the Five-Year Loans shall be made pro rata according to the
respective outstanding principal amounts of the Five-Year Loans
then held by the Lenders. Each payment by Gannett on account of
principal of and interest on any Borrowing
20
of Competitive Loans shall be made pro
rata among the Lenders participating in such Borrowing according to
the respective principal amounts of their outstanding Competitive
Loans comprising such Borrowing.
(b) All payments (including
prepayments) to be made by Gannett hereunder, whether on account of
principal, interest, fees or otherwise, shall be made without
set-off or counterclaim and shall be made prior to 12:00 Noon,
Dallas, Texas time, on the due date thereof to the Administrative
Agent, for the account of the relevant Lenders, at the
Agent’s office specified in Section 9.2, in Dollars and in
immediately available funds. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
failure by Gannett to make a payment (or prepayment) prior to 12:00
Noon on the due date thereof shall not constitute a Default or
Event of Default if such payment is made on such due date;
provided , however , that any payment (or prepayment)
made after such time on such due date shall be deemed made on the
next Business Day for the purposes of interest and reimbursement
calculations. The Administrative Agent shall distribute such
payments to the relevant Lenders promptly upon receipt in like
funds as received. If any payment hereunder (other than payments on
the Eurodollar Loans) becomes due and payable on a day other than a
Business Day, such payment shall be extended to the next succeeding
Business Day. If any payment on a Eurodollar Loan becomes due and
payable on a day other than a Business Day, the maturity thereof
shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless the
result of such extension would be to extend such payment into
another calendar month, in which event such payment shall be made
on the immediately preceding Business Day. In the case of any
extension of any payment of principal pursuant to the preceding two
sentences, interest thereon shall be payable at the then applicable
rate during such extension.
(c) Unless the Administrative
Agent shall have been notified in writing by any Lender prior to a
borrowing that such Lender will not make the amount that would
constitute its share of such borrowing available to the
Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent may assume that such
Lender is making such amount available to the Administrative Agent,
and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption,
make available to Gannett a corresponding amount. If such amount is
not made available to the Administrative Agent by the required time
on the Borrowing Date therefor, such Lender shall pay to the
Administrative Agent, on demand, such amount with interest thereon
at a rate equal to the daily average Federal Funds Effective Rate
for the period until such Lender makes such amount immediately
available to the Administrative Agent. A certificate of the
Administrative Agent submitted to any Lender with respect to any
amounts owing under this paragraph shall be conclusive in the
absence of manifest error. If such Lender’s share of such
borrowing is not made available to the Administrative Agent by such
Lender within three Business Days of such Borrowing Date, the
Administrative Agent shall also be entitled to recover such amount
with interest thereon at the rate per annum applicable to ABR Loans
under the relevant Facility, on demand, from Gannett. Nothing
herein shall be deemed to limit the rights of Gannett against any
Lender who fails to make its share of such borrowing
available.
(d) Unless the Administrative
Agent shall have been notified in writing by Gannett prior to the
date of any payment being made hereunder that Gannett will not make
such payment to the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent
may assume that Gannett is making such payment, and the
Administrative Agent may, but shall not be required to, in reliance
upon such assumption, make available to the Lenders their
respective pro rata shares of
21
a corresponding amount. If such payment
is not made to the Administrative Agent by Gannett within three
Business Days of such required date, the Administrative Agent shall
be entitled to recover, on demand, from each Lender to which any
amount which was made available pursuant to the preceding sentence,
such amount with interest thereon at the rate per annum equal to
the daily average Federal Funds Effective Rate. Nothing herein
shall be deemed to limit the rights of the Administrative Agent or
any Lender against Gannett.
Section 2.14 Requirements
of Law . (a) If the adoption of or any change in any
Requirement of Law or in the interpretation or application thereof
or compliance by any Lender with any request or directive (whether
or not having the force of law) from any central bank or other
Governmental Authority made subsequent to the date
hereof:
(i) shall subject any Lender
to any tax of any kind whatsoever with respect to this Agreement or
any Eurodollar Loan made by it, or change the basis of taxation of
payments to such Lender in respect thereof (except for Non-Excluded
Taxes covered by Section 2.15 and changes in the rate of tax on the
overall net income of such Lender);
(ii) shall impose, modify or
hold applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan or
similar requirement against assets held by, deposits or other
liabilities in or for the account of, advances, loans or other
extensions of credit by, or any other acquisition of funds by, any
office of such Lender that is not otherwise included in the
determination of the Eurodollar Rate hereunder; or
(iii) shall impose on such
Lender any other condition affecting Eurodollar Loans;
and the result of any of the foregoing
is to increase the cost to such Lender, by an amount that such
Lender deems to be material, of making, converting into, continuing
or maintaining Eurodollar Loans, or to reduce any amount receivable
hereunder in respect thereof, then, in any such case, Gannett shall
promptly pay such Lender, upon its demand, any additional amounts
necessary to compensate such Lender for such increased cost or
reduced amount receivable. If any Lender becomes entitled to claim
any additional amounts pursuant to this paragraph, it shall
promptly notify Gannett (with a copy to the Administrative Agent)
of the event by reason of which it has become so entitled. Gannett
shall not be liable in respect of any such increased costs to, or
reduced amount of any sum received or receivable by, any Lender
pursuant to this Section 2.14(a) with respect to any interest, fees
or other amounts accrued by such Lender more than 15 days prior to
the date notice thereof is given to Gannett pursuant to this
Section 2.14(a).
(b) If any Lender shall have
determined that the adoption of or any change in any Requirement of
Law regarding capital adequacy or in the interpretation or
application thereof or compliance by such Lender or any corporation
controlling such Lender with any request or directive regarding
capital adequacy (whether or not having the force of law) from any
Governmental Authority made subsequent to the date hereof shall
have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such
Lender’s or such
22
corporation’s capital as a
consequence of its obligations hereunder to a level below that
which such Lender or such corporation could have achieved but for
such adoption, change or compliance (taking into consideration such
Lender’s or such corporation’s policies with respect to
capital adequacy) by an amount deemed by such Lender to be
material, then from time to time, within 15 days after submission
by such Lender to Gannett (with a copy to the Administrative Agent)
of a written request therefor, Gannett shall pay to such Lender
such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender
for such reduction; provided that Gannett shall not be
required to compensate a Lender pursuant to this paragraph for any
amounts incurred more than 30 days prior to the date that such
Lender notifies Gannett of such Lender’s intention to claim
compensation therefor; and provided further that, if
the circumstances giving rise to such claim have a retroactive
effect, then such 30 day period shall be extended to include the
period of such retroactive effect.
(c) A certificate, setting
forth a reasonably detailed explanation as to the reason for any
additional amounts payable pursuant to this Section 2.14, submitted
by any Lender to Gannett (with a copy to the Administrative Agent)
shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. The
obligations of Gannett pursuant to this Section shall survive the
termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all
other amounts payable hereunder.
Section 2.15 Taxes .
(a) All payments made by Gannett under this Agreement shall be made
free and clear of, and without deduction or withholding for or on
account of, any present or future income, stamp or other taxes,
levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees, deductions or withholdings,
now or hereafter imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed
by any Governmental Authority, excluding net income taxes and
franchise taxes (imposed in lieu of net income taxes) imposed on
the Administrative Agent or any Lender as a result of a present or
former connection between the Administrative Agent or such Lender
and the jurisdiction of the Governmental Authority imposing such
tax or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or
therein (other than any such connection arising solely from the
Administrative Agent or such Lender having executed, delivered or
performed its obligations or received a payment under, or enforced,
this Agreement). If any such non-excluded taxes, levies, imposts,
duties, charges, fees, deductions or withholdings (“
Non-Excluded Taxes ”) or Other Taxes are required to
be withheld from any amounts payable to the Administrative Agent or
any Lender hereunder, the amounts so payable to the Administrative
Agent or such Lender shall be increased to the extent necessary to
yield to the Administrative Agent or such Lender (after payment of
all Non-Excluded Taxes and Other Taxes) interest or any such other
amounts payable hereunder at the rates or in the amounts specified
in this Agreement, provided , however , that Gannett
shall not be required to increase any such amounts payable to any
Lender with respect to any Non-Excluded Taxes (i) that are
attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the
requirements of paragraph (d) or (e) of this Section or (ii) that
are United States withholding taxes imposed on amounts payable to
such Lender at the time the Lender becomes a party to this
Agreement (or designates a new lending office), except to the
extent that such Lender’s assignor (if any) was entitled, at
the time of assignment, to receive additional amounts from Gannett
with respect to such Non-Excluded Taxes pursuant to this
paragraph.
(b) In addition, Gannett
shall pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in
accordance with applicable law.
(c) Whenever any Non-Excluded
Taxes or Other Taxes are payable by Gannett, as promptly as
possible thereafter Gannett shall send to the Administrative Agent
for its
23
own account or for the account of the
relevant Lender, as the case may be, a certified copy of an
original official receipt received by Gannett showing payment
thereof. If Gannett fails to pay any Non-Excluded Taxes or Other
Taxes when due to the appropriate taxing authority or fails to
remit to the Administrative Agent the required receipts or other
required documentary evidence, Gannett shall indemnify the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders for any incremental taxes,
interest or penalties that may become payable by the Administrative
Agent or any Lender as a result of any such failure.
(d) Each Lender (or
Transferee) that is not a “U.S. Person” as defined in
Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code (a “ Non-U.S. Lender
”) shall deliver to Gannett and the Administrative Agent (or,
in the case of a Participant, to the Lender from which the related
participation shall have been purchased) two copies of either U.S.
Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or Form W-8ECI, or, in the
case of a Non-U.S. Lender claiming exemption from U.S. federal
withholding tax under Section 871(h) or 881(c) of the Code with
respect to payments of “portfolio interest”, a
statement substantially in the form of Exhibit E and a Form W-8BEN,
or any subsequent versions thereof or successors thereto, properly
completed and duly executed by such Non-U.S. Lender claiming
complete exemption from, or a reduced rate of, U.S. federal
withholding tax on all payments by Gannett under this Agreement.
Such forms shall be delivered by each Non-U.S. Lender on or before
the date it becomes a party to this Agreement or designates a new
lending office (or, in the case of any Participant, on or before
the date such Participant purchases the related participation). In
addition, each Non-U.S. Lender shall deliver such forms promptly
upon the obsolescence or invalidity of any form previously
delivered by such Non-U.S. Lender. Each Non-U.S. Lender shall
promptly notify Gannett at any time it determines that it is no
longer in a position to provide any previously delivered
certificate to Gannett (or any other form of certification adopted
by the U.S. taxing authorities for such purpose). Notwithstanding
any other provision of this paragraph, a Non-U.S. Lender shall not
be required to deliver any form pursuant to this paragraph that
such Non-U.S. Lender is not legally able to deliver.
(e) If the Administrative
Agent or any Lender receives a refund in respect of any amounts
paid by Gannett pursuant to this Section 2.15, which refund in the
reasonable judgment of such Administrative Agent or such Lender is
allocable to such payment, it shall pay the amount of such refund
to Gannett, net of all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of the
Administrative Agent or such Lender, provided however, that
Gannett, upon the request of such Lender or the Administrative
Agent, agrees to repay the amount paid over to Gannett to the
Administrative Agent or such Lender in the event such
Administrative Agent or the Lender is required to repay such
refund. Nothing contained herein shall interfere with the right of
the Administrative Agent or any Lender to arrange its tax affairs
in whatever manner it deems fit nor oblige the Administrative Agent
or any Lender to apply for any refund or to disclose any
information relating to its affairs or any computations in respect
thereof.
(f) The agreements in this
Section 2.15 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and
the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable
hereunder.
Section 2.16 Indemnity
. Gannett agrees to indemnify each Lender and to hold each Lender
harmless from any loss or expense that such Lender sustains or
incurs as a consequence of (a) default by Gannett in making a
borrowing of, conversion into or continuation
24
of Eurodollar Loans after Gannett has
given a notice requesting the same in accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement, (b) default by Gannett in making any
prepayment of or conversion from Eurodollar Loans after Gannett has
given a notice thereof in accordance with the provisions of this
Agreement or (c) the making of a prepayment of Eurodollar Loans on
a day that is not the last day of an Interest Period with respect
thereto. Such indemnification may include an amount equal to the
excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest that would have
accrued on the amount so prepaid, or not so borrowed, converted or
continued, for the period from the date of such prepayment or of
such failure to borrow, convert or continue to the last day of such
Interest Period (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or
continue, the Interest Period that would have commenced on the date
of such failure) in each case at the applicable rate of interest
for such Loans provided for herein (excluding, however, the
Applicable Margin included therein, if any) over (ii) the
amount of interest (as reasonably determined by such Lender) that
would have accrued to such Lender on such amount by placing such
amount on deposit for a comparable period with leading banks in the
interbank eurodollar market. A certificate as to any amounts
payable pursuant to this Section submitted to Gannett by any Lender
shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. This covenant
shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of
the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.
Section 2.17 Change of
Lending Office . Each Lender agrees that, upon the occurrence
of any event giving rise to the operation of Section 2.14 or
2.15(a) with respect to such Lender, it will, if requested by
Gannett, use reasonable efforts (subject to overall policy
considerations of such Lender) to designate another lending office
for any Loans affected by such event with the object of avoiding
the consequences of such event; provided, that such designation is
made on terms that, in the sole judgment of such Lender, cause such
Lender and its lending office(s) to suffer no economic, legal or
regulatory disadvantage, and provided, further, that nothing in
this Section shall affect or postpone any of the obligations of
Gannett or the rights of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.14 or
2.15(a).
Section 2.18 Replacement
of Lenders . Gannett shall be permitted to replace any Lender
that (a) requests reimbursement for amounts owing pursuant to
Section 2.14 or 2.15(a) or (b) defaults in its obligation to make
Loans hereunder, with a replacement financial institution; provided
that (i) such replacement does not conflict with any Requirement of
Law, (ii) prior to any such replacement, such Lender shall have
taken no action under Section 2.17 so as to eliminate the continued
need for payment of amounts owing pursuant to Section 2.14 or
2.15(a), (iii) the replacement financial institution shall
purchase, at par, all Loans and other amounts owing to such
replaced Lender on or prior to the date of replacement, (iv)
Gannett shall be liable to such replaced Lender under Section 2.16
if any Eurodollar Loan owing to such replaced Lender shall be
purchased other than on the last day of the Interest Period
relating thereto, (v) the replacement financial institution, if not
already a Lender, shall be reasonably satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent, (vi) the replaced Lender shall be obligated
to make such replacement in accordance with the provisions of
Section 9.6 (provided that Gannett shall be obligated to pay the
registration and processing fee referred to therein), (vii) until
such time as such replacement shall be consummated, Gannett shall
pay all additional amounts (if any) required pursuant to Section
2.14 or 2.15(a), as the case may be, and (viii) any such
replacement shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any rights that
Gannett, the Administrative Agent or any other Lender shall have
against the replaced Lender.
25
ARTICLE III
Representations and
Warranties
To induce the Administrative
Agent and the Lenders to enter into this Agreement and to make the
Loans, Gannett hereby represents and warrants to the Administrative
Agent and each Lender that:
Section 3.1 Organization;
Powers . Gannett and each of its Subsidiaries is a corporation
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation. Except where the failure
to do so, individually or in the aggregate, would result in a
Material Adverse Effect, Gannett and each of its Subsidiaries is
duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in
good standing in all states in which it owns substantial properties
or in which it conducts a substantial business and its activities
make such qualifications necessary.
Section 3.2 Financial
Condition; No Material Adverse Effect . On or as of the
Effective Date, Gannett has furnished to each of the Lenders copies
of either its Annual Report for 2003 or a report on Form 8-K,
containing in either case, copies of its consolidated balance sheet
as of December 28, 2003 and the related statements of consolidated
income and changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for
2003, all reported on by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent
public accountants. The financial statements contained in such
Annual Report or report on Form 8-K (including the related notes)
fairly present Gannett’s consolidated financial condition as
of their respective dates and the consolidated results of the
operations of Gannett and its Subsidiaries for the periods then
ended, and have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. Gannett and
its Subsidiaries have no Material liabilities as of December 28,
2003 not reflected in the consolidated balance sheet as of December
28, 2003 or the related notes as of said date, and from that date
to the Effective Date there has been no Material change in the
business or financial condition of Gannett and its Subsidiaries
taken as a whole which has not been publicly disclosed.
Section 3.3 Properties
. As of the Effective Date, Gannett and its Subsidiaries owned
absolutely, free and clear of all Liens, all of the real or
personal property reflected in the consolidated balance sheet dated
as of December 28, 2003 referred to in Section 3.2 and all other
property acquired by them, respectively after December 28, 2003
except such property as has been disposed of in the ordinary course
of business, and except for (i) easements, restrictions,
exceptions, reservations or defects which, in the aggregate, do not
materially interfere with the continued use of such property or
materially affect the value thereof to Gannett or its Subsidiaries,
(ii) Liens, if any, for current taxes not delinquent, and (iii)
Liens reflected on such consolidated balance sheet or not otherwise
prohibited by Section 6.1. As of the Effective Date, Gannett and
its Subsidiaries enjoy peaceful and undisturbed possession of their
properties which are held under lease and all such leases are in
good standing and valid and binding obligations of the lessors in
full force and effect, except for exceptions, reservations or
defects which in the aggregate do not materially interfere with the
continued use of such property or materially affect the value
thereof to Gannett or its Subsidiaries.
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Section 3.4 Litigation
. There are no actions, suits, or proceedings pending or, to
Gannett’s knowledge, threatened against or affecting it or
any Subsidiary in or before any court or foreign or domestic
governmental instrumentality, and neither Gannett nor any
Subsidiary is in default in respect of any order of any such court
or instrumentality which, in Gannett’s opinion, are
Material.
Section 3.5 No
Conflicts . Neither the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, the consummation of the transactions herein
contemplated, nor compliance with the terms and provisions hereof
will conflict with or result in a breach of any of the provisions
of Ganne
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