Exhibit 10.1
REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT
dated as of May 7, 2007
among
ERP OPERATING LIMITED
PARTNERSHIP,
THE BANKS LISTED HEREIN,
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent,
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Syndication Agent,
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC,
as Joint Lead Arranger and Joint
Book Runner,
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.,
as Joint Lead Arranger and Joint
Book Runner,
DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES,
as Joint Lead Arranger and Joint
Book Runner,
and
DEUTSCHE BANK AG, NEW YORK BRANCH,
as Documentation Agent
REVOLVING CREDIT
AGREEMENT
THIS REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT,
dated as of May 7, 2007, is among ERP OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
(the “ Borrower ”), the BANKS party hereto, BANK
OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK,
N.A., as Syndication Agent, and DEUTSCHE BANK AG, NEW YORK BRANCH,
as Documentation Agent.
W I T N E S
S E T H
WHEREAS, for good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
1.1
Definitions
. The following terms, as used
herein, have the following meanings:
“ Acquisition Propert
y” means a property acquired by the Borrower or its
Consolidated Subsidiaries or Investment Affiliates (whether by
purchase, merger or other corporate transaction and including
acquisitions from taxable REIT subsidiaries owned by
Borrower).
“ Acquisition Property
Value ” means the greater of (a) the EBITDA generated by
an Acquisition Property divided by the FMV Cap Rate (or
Borrower’s Share thereof with respect to any Acquisition
Property owned by a Consolidated Subsidiary or an Investment
Affiliate), or (b) the undepreciated book value (cost basis plus
improvements) of an Acquisition Property (or Borrower’s Share
thereof with respect to any Acquisition Property owned by a
Consolidated Subsidiary or an Investment Affiliate). An
Acquisition Property will be valued as a Stabilized Property
following the sixth full fiscal quarter after the fiscal quarter in
which such Acquisition Property was first acquired.
“ Administrative Agent
” shall mean Bank of America, N.A., in its capacity as
Administrative Agent hereunder, and its permitted successors in
such capacity in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement.
“ Administrative
Questionnaire ” means, with respect to each Bank, an
administrative questionnaire in the form prepared by the
Administrative Agent and submitted to the Administrative Agent
(with a copy to the Borrower) duly completed by such
Bank.
“ Agreement ”
shall mean this Revolving Credit Agreement as the same may from
time to time hereafter be modified, supplemented or
amended.
“ Applicable Interest
Rate ” means (i) with respect to any Fixed Rate
Indebtedness, the fixed interest rate applicable to such Fixed Rate
Indebtedness at the time in question, and (ii) with respect to any
Floating Rate Indebtedness, either (x) the rate at which the
interest rate applicable to such Floating Rate Indebtedness is
actually capped (or fixed pursuant to an interest rate hedging
device), at the time of calculation, if Borrower has entered into
an interest rate cap agreement or other interest rate hedging
device with respect thereto or (y) if Borrower has not entered into
an interest rate cap agreement or other interest rate hedging
device with respect to such Floating Rate Indebtedness, the greater
of (A) the rate at which the interest rate applicable to such
Floating Rate Indebtedness could be fixed for the remaining term of
such Floating Rate Indebtedness, at the time of calculation, by
Borrower’s entering into any unsecured interest rate hedging
device either not requiring an upfront payment or if requiring an
upfront payment, such upfront payment shall be amortized over the
term of such device and included in the calculation of the interest
rate (or, if such rate is incapable of being fixed by entering into
an unsecured interest rate hedging device at the time of
calculation, a fixed rate equivalent reasonably determined by
Administrative Agent) or (B) the floating rate applicable to such
Floating Rate Indebtedness at the time in question.
“ Applicable Lending
Office ” means, with respect to any Bank, (i) in the case
of its Base Rate Loans, its Domestic Lending Office, and (ii) in
the case of its Euro-Dollar Loans, its Euro-Dollar Lending
Office.
“ Applicable Margin
” means, with respect to each Loan, the respective
percentages per annum determined, at any time, based on the range
into which Borrower’s Credit Rating then falls, in accordance
with the table set forth below. Any change in
Borrower’s Credit Rating causing it to move to a different
range on the table shall effect an immediate change in the
Applicable Margin. In the event that the Borrower receives
Credit Ratings that are not equivalent, the Applicable Margin shall
be based upon the higher of the Credit Ratings from S&P or
Moody’s. In the event that only one (1) Rating Agency
has set the Borrower’s Credit Rating, then the Applicable
Margin shall be based on such single Credit Rating.
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Range of
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Applicable
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Borrower’s
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Margin for
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Applicable
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Credit Rating
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Base Rate
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Margin for Euro
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(S&P/Moody’s
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Loans
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Dollar Loans
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Ratings)
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(% per annum)
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(% per annum)
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Non-Investment Grade
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0.250
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1.000
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BBB-/Baa3
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0.0
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0.750
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BBB/Baa2
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0.0
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0.475
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BBB+/Baa1
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0.0
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0.375
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A-/A3
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0.0
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0.325
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A/A2 or better
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0.0
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0.300
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“ Approved Bank ”
shall mean banks which have (i)(a) a minimum net worth of
$500,000,000 and/or (b) total assets of $10,000,000,000, and (ii) a
minimum long term debt rating of (a) BBB+ or higher by S&P, and
(b) Baa1 or higher by Moody’s.
“ Assignee ” has
the meaning set forth in Section 9.6(c).
“ Bank ” means
each bank listed on the signature pages hereof, each Assignee which
becomes a Bank pursuant to Section 9.6(c), and their respective
successors.
“ Bankruptcy Code
” shall mean Title 11 of the United States Code, entitled
“Bankruptcy”, as amended from time to time, and any
successor statute or statutes.
“ Base Rate ”
means, for any day, a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the
higher of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus ½ of 1% and (b) the
rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from
time to time by the Bank serving as the Administrative Agent as its
“prime rate.” The “prime rate” is a
rate set by Bank of America, N.A. based upon various factors
including Bank of America, N.A.’s costs and desired return,
general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a
reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at,
above, or below such announced rate. Any change in such rate
announced by the Bank serving as the Administrative Agent shall
take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the
public announcement of such change.
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“ Base Rate Loan
” means a Loan made or to be made by a Bank as a Base Rate
Loan in accordance with the applicable Notice of Borrowing or
Notice of Interest Rate Election or pursuant to Article
VIII.
“ Benefit Arrangement
” means at any time an employee benefit plan within the
meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA which is not a Plan or a
Multiemployer Plan and which is maintained or otherwise contributed
to by any member of the ERISA Group.
“ Borrower ”
means ERP Operating Limited Partnership, an Illinois limited
partnership.
“ Borrower’s
Share ” means Borrower’s or EQR’s share of
the liabilities or assets, as the case may be, of an Investment
Affiliate or Consolidated Subsidiary as reasonably determined by
Borrower based upon Borrower’s or EQR’s economic
interest in such Investment Affiliate or Consolidated Subsidiary,
as the case may be, as of the date of such
determination.
“ Borrowing ” has
the meaning set forth in Section 1.3.
“ Business Day ”
means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which
commercial banks are authorized or required by law to close (i) in
Dallas, Texas and/or New York City, and (ii) in the case of
Euro-Dollar Loans, in London, England and/or Dallas,
Texas.
“ Capital Leases
” as applied to any Person, means any lease of any property
(whether real, personal or mixed) by that Person as lessee which,
in conformity with GAAP, is or should be accounted for as a capital
lease on the balance sheet of that Person
“ Capital Reserve
” shall mean $200 per year.
“ Cash and Cash
Equivalents ” shall mean unrestricted (notwithstanding
the foregoing, however, cash held in escrow in connection with the
completion of Code Section 1031 “like-kind” exchanges
shall be deemed to be “unrestricted” for purposes
hereof) (i) cash, (ii) direct obligations of the United States
Government, including without limitation, treasury bills, notes and
bonds, (iii) interest bearing or discounted obligations of Federal
agencies and government sponsored entities or pools of such
instruments offered by Approved Banks and dealers, including
without limitation, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation
participation sale certificates, Government National Mortgage
Association modified pass through certificates, Federal National
Mortgage Association bonds and notes, and Federal Farm Credit
System securities, (iv) time
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deposits, foreign deposits, domestic
and foreign certificates of deposit, bankers acceptances (foreign
and domestic), commercial paper in Dollars rated at least A-1 by
S&P and P-1 by Moody’s and/or guaranteed by a Person with
an Aa rating by Moody’s, an AA rating by S&P or better
rated credit, floating rate notes, other money market instruments
and letters of credit each issued by Approved Banks (provided that
the same shall cease to be a “Cash or Cash Equivalent”
if at any time any such bank shall cease to be an Approved Bank),
(v) obligations of domestic corporations, including, without
limitation, commercial paper, bonds, debentures and loan
participations, each of which is rated at least AA by S&P
and/or Aa2 by Moody’s and/or guaranteed by a Person with an
Aa rating by Moody’s, an AA rating by S&P or better rated
credit, (vi) obligations issued by states and local governments or
their agencies, rated at least MIG-1 by Moody’s and/or SP-1
by S&P and/or guaranteed by an irrevocable letter of credit of
an Approved Bank (provided that the same shall cease to be a
“Cash or Cash Equivalent” if at any time any such bank
shall cease to be an Approved Bank), (vii) repurchase agreements
with major banks and primary government security dealers fully
secured by the U.S. Government or agency collateral equal to or
exceeding the principal amount on a daily basis and held in
safekeeping, and (viii) real estate loan pool participations,
guaranteed by a Person with an AA rating given by S&P or Aa2
rating given by Moody’s or better rated credit.
“ Closing Date ”
means the date on or after the Effective Date on which the
conditions set forth in Section 3.1 shall have been satisfied to
the satisfaction of the Administrative Agent.
“ Code ” shall
mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and as it may
be further amended from time to time, any successor statutes
thereto, and applicable U.S. Department of Treasury regulations
issued pursuant thereto in temporary or final form.
“ Commitment ”
means with respect to each Bank, the amount set forth under the
name of such Bank on the signature pages hereof as its commitment
(and, for each Bank which is an Assignee, the amount set forth in
the Transfer Supplement entered into pursuant to Section 9.6(c) as
the Assignee’s Commitment), as such amount may be reduced
from time to time pursuant to Section 2.11(e) or in connection
with an assignment to an Assignee, and as such amount may be
increased in connection with an assignment from an Assignor.
The initial aggregate amount of the Banks’ Commitments is
$500,000,000.
“ Condo Property
” means a Property owned by the Borrower or its Consolidated
Subsidiaries or Investment Affiliates, where such property is being
positioned or held for sale as condominium units.
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“ Condo Property Value
” means the undepreciated book value (cost basis plus
improvements) of the Condo Property.
“ Consolidated EBITDA
” means, for any twelve (12) month period, net earnings
(loss), inclusive of the net incremental gains (losses) on sales of
condominium units, Raw Land and other non-depreciated Properties,
and exclusive of net derivative gains (losses) and gains (losses)
on the dispositions of depreciable Properties, as reflected in
reports filed by Borrower pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, before deduction (including amounts reported
in discontinued operations), for (i) depreciation and amortization
expense and other non-cash items as determined in good faith by
Borrower for such period, (ii) Interest Expense for such period,
(iii) Taxes for such period, (iv) the gains (and plus the
losses) from extraordinary items, and (v) the gains (and plus the
losses) from non-recurring items, as determined in good faith by
Borrower, for such period, all of the foregoing without
duplication. In each case, amounts shall be reasonably determined
by Borrower in accordance with GAAP, except to the extent that GAAP
by its terms shall not apply with respect to the determination of
non-cash and non-recurring items and except that such net earnings
(loss) shall only include Borrower’s Share of such net
earnings (loss) attributable to Consolidated Subsidiaries and shall
include, without duplication, Borrower’s Share of the net
earnings (loss), inclusive of the net incremental gains (losses) on
sales of condominium units, Raw Land and other non-depreciated
Properties, and exclusive of net derivative gains (losses) and
gains (losses) on the dispositions of depreciable Properties, of
any Investment Affiliate before deduction (including amounts
reported in discontinued operations) for (i) depreciation and
amortization expense and other non-cash items of such Investment
Affiliate as determined in good faith by Borrower for such period,
(ii) Interest Expense of such Investment Affiliate for such period,
(iii) Taxes of such Investment Affiliate for such period, (iv) the
gains (and plus the losses) from extraordinary items of such
Investment Affiliate, and (v) the gains (and plus the losses) from
non-recurring items of such Investment Affiliate as determined in
good faith by Borrower for such period.
“ Consolidated
Subsidiary ” means at any date any Person which is
consolidated with Borrower or EQR in accordance with
GAAP.
“ Construction Property
” means a property owned by the Borrower or its Consolidated
Subsidiaries or Investment Affiliates on which construction of
improvements has commenced or been completed (as such completion
shall be evidenced by a temporary or permanent certificate of
occupancy permitting use of such property by the general
public).
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“ Construction Property
Value ” means the greater of (a) the EBITDA generated by
a Construction Property divided by the FMV Cap Rate (or
Borrower’s Share thereof with respect to any Construction
Property owned by a Consolidated Subsidiary or an Investment
Affiliate), or (b) the undepreciated book value (cost basis plus
improvements) of a Construction Property (or Borrower’s Share
thereof with respect to any Construction Property owned by a
Consolidated Subsidiary or an Investment Affiliate). A Construction
Property will be valued as a Stabilized Property following the
sixth full fiscal quarter after the fiscal quarter in which such
Construction Property was first completed.
“ Contingent Obligation
” as to any Person means, without duplication, (i) any
contingent obligation of such Person required to be shown on such
Person’s balance sheet in accordance with GAAP, and (ii) any
obligation required to be disclosed in the footnotes to such
Person’s financial statements, guaranteeing partially or in
whole any Non-Recourse Indebtedness, lease, dividend or other
obligation, exclusive of contractual indemnities (including,
without limitation, any indemnity or price-adjustment provision
relating to the purchase or sale of securities or other assets) and
guarantees of non-monetary obligations (other than guarantees of
completion) which have not yet been called on or quantified, of
such Person or of any other Person. The amount of any
Contingent Obligation described in clause (ii) shall be deemed to
be (a) with respect to a guaranty of interest or interest and
principal, or operating income guaranty, the Net Present Value of
the sum of all payments required to be made thereunder (which in
the case of an operating income guaranty shall be deemed to be
equal to the debt service for the note secured thereby), calculated
at the Applicable Interest Rate, through (I) in the case of an
interest or interest and principal guaranty, the stated date of
maturity of the obligation (and commencing on the date interest
could first be payable thereunder), or (II) in the case of an
operating income guaranty, the date through which such guaranty
will remain in effect, and (b) with respect to all guarantees not
covered by the preceding clause (a), an amount equal to the stated
or determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of
which such guaranty is made or, if not stated or determinable, the
maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof
(assuming such Person is required to perform thereunder) as
recorded on the balance sheet and on the footnotes to the most
recent financial statements of Borrower required to be delivered
pursuant to Section 4.4 hereof. Notwithstanding anything
contained herein to the contrary, guarantees of completion shall
not be deemed to be Contingent Obligations unless and until a claim
for payment or performance has been made thereunder, at which time
any such guaranty of completion shall be deemed to be a Contingent
Obligation in an amount equal to any such claim. Subject to
the preceding sentence, (i) in the case of a joint and several
guaranty given by such Person and another Person (but only to the
extent such guaranty is recourse, directly or indirectly to
Borrower), the amount of the guaranty shall be deemed to be 100%
thereof unless and only to the extent that such other Person
has
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delivered Cash or Cash Equivalents
to secure all or any part of such Person’s guaranteed
obligations and (ii) in the case of a guaranty (whether or not
joint and several) of an obligation otherwise constituting
Indebtedness of such Person, the amount of such guaranty shall be
deemed to be only that amount in excess of the amount of the
obligation constituting Indebtedness of such Person.
Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, (xx)
“Contingent Obligations” shall be deemed not to include
guarantees of Unused Commitments or of construction loans to the
extent the same have not been drawn, and (yy) the aggregate amount
of all Contingent Obligations of any Consolidated Subsidiary or
Investment Affiliate (except to the extent that any such Contingent
Obligation is recourse to the Borrower or EQR) which would
otherwise exceed the total capital contributions of the Borrower
and EQR to such entity, together with the amount of any unfunded
obligations of the Borrower or EQR to make such additional equity
contributions to such entity that could be legally enforced by a
creditor of such entity shall be deemed to be equal to the amount
of such capital contributions and equity or loan commitments.
All matters constituting “Contingent Obligations” shall
be calculated without duplication.
“ Credit Rating ”
means the rating assigned by the Rating Agencies to
Borrower’s senior unsecured long term
indebtedness.
“ Customary Non-Recourse
Carve-Outs ” means fraud, misrepresentation,
misapplication of cash, waste, environmental claims and liabilities
and other circumstances customarily excluded by institutional
lenders from exculpation provisions and/or included in separate
indemnification agreements.
“ Debt Restructuring
” means a restatement of, or material change in, the
amortization or other financial terms of any Indebtedness of EQR,
the Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary or Investment
Affiliate.
“ Debt Service ”
means, for any period, Interest Expense for such period plus
scheduled principal amortization (excluding any individual
scheduled principal payment which exceeds 25% of the original
principal amount of an issuance of Indebtedness) for such period on
all Indebtedness of Borrower or EQR (excluding Indebtedness of any
Consolidated Subsidiary or Investment Affiliate), on a consolidated
basis, plus Borrower’s Share of scheduled principal
amortization for such period on all Indebtedness of all
Consolidated Subsidiaries and Investment Affiliates for which there
is no recourse to EQR or Borrower (or any Property thereof),
plus , without duplication, EQR’s and Borrower’s
actual or potential liability for principal amortization (excluding
any individual scheduled principal payment which exceeds 25% of the
original principal amount of an issuance of Indebtedness) for such
period on all Indebtedness of all
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Consolidated Subsidiaries and
Investment Affiliates that is recourse to EQR or Borrower (or any
Property thereof).
“ Default ” means
any condition or event which with the giving of notice or lapse of
time or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of
Default.
“ Default Rate ”
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.6(d).
“ Development Activity
” means (a) the development or redevelopment and construction
of one or more apartment buildings by the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries, (b) the financing by the Borrower, EQR or any
Subsidiaries or Investment Affiliates of either or both of any such
development or construction or (c) the incurrence by the Borrower,
EQR or any Subsidiaries or Investment Affiliates of either or both
of any Contingent Obligations in connection with such development
or construction (other than purchase contracts for Real Property
Assets which are not payable until completion of development or
construction), valued at the cost of such projects under
development and construction in the case of assets owned by the
Borrower or EQR, or the Borrower’s Share of the cost of such
projects under development and construction in the case of assets
owned by Consolidated Subsidiaries or Investment
Affiliates.
“ Documentation Agents
” means DEUTSCHE BANK AG, NEW YORK BRANCH, in its capacity as
Documentation Agent hereunder, and its permitted successors in such
capacity in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
“ Dollars ” and
“ $ ” mean the lawful money of the United
States.
“ Domestic Lending
Office ” means, as to each Bank, its office located at
its address in the United States set forth in its Administrative
Questionnaire (or identified in its Administrative Questionnaire as
its Domestic Lending Office) or such other office as such Bank may
hereafter designate as its Domestic Lending Office by notice to the
Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
“ Down REIT ”
means a limited liability company, corporation or limited
partnership in which the only interest in such limited liability
company, corporation or partnership not owned (directly or
indirectly) by Borrower shall be preference interests or preference
units, respectively, and which limited liability company,
corporation or limited partnership, as the case may be
(collectively, a “ Down REIT Guarantor ”), has
executed and delivered to the Administrative Agent, on behalf of
the Banks, (i) a Guaranty of Payment in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit G (a “ Down REIT Guaranty ”),
(ii) all documents reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent
relating to the existence of such Down REIT Guarantor, and the
authority for and validity of such Down REIT
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Guaranty, including, without
limitation, the organizational documents of such Down REIT
Guarantor, modified or supplemented prior to the date of such Down
REIT Guaranty, each certified to be true, correct and complete by
such Down REIT Guarantor, not more than ten (10) days prior to the
date of such Down REIT Guaranty, together with a good standing
certificate from the Secretary of State (or the equivalent thereof)
of the State of formation of such Down REIT Guarantor, to be dated
not more than ten (10) days prior to the date of such Down REIT
Guaranty, as well as authorizing resolutions in respect of such
Down REIT Guaranty, and (iii) an opinion of counsel with respect to
such Down REIT Guarantor and Down REIT Guaranty, in form and
substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, with
respect to due organization, existence, good standing and
authority, and validity and enforceability of such Down REIT
Guaranty. In addition, for purposes of this definition, a
Down REIT Guaranty shall not be deemed to constitute Unsecured Debt
of the applicable Down REIT Guarantor.
“ Down REIT Guarantor
” shall have the meaning set forth in the definition of Down
REIT.
“ Down REIT Guaranty
” shall have the meaning set forth in the definition of Down
REIT.
“ Down REIT Guaranty
Proceeds ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section
9.18(a) hereof.
“ EBITDA ” means,
for any twelve (12) month period, net earnings (loss), exclusive of
net derivative gains (losses) and gains (losses) on the
dispositions of Properties, before deduction (including amounts
reported in discontinued operations) for (i) depreciation and
amortization expense and other non-cash items as determined in good
faith by Borrower for such period, (ii) Interest Expense for such
period, (iii) Taxes for such period, (iv) the gains (and
plus the losses) from extraordinary items, and (v) the gains
(and plus the losses) from non-recurring items, as determined in
good faith by Borrower, all of the foregoing without duplication.
In each case, amounts shall be reasonably determined by Borrower in
accordance with GAAP, except to the extent that GAAP by its terms
shall not apply with respect to the determination of non-cash and
non-recurring items. EBITDA shall not be deemed to include
corporate level general and administrative expenses and other
corporate expenses, such as land holding costs, employee and
trustee stock and stock option expenses and pursuit costs
write-offs, all as determined in good faith by Borrower.
“ Effective Date
” means the date this Agreement becomes effective in
accordance with Section 9.9.
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“ Environmental
Affiliate ” means any partnership, joint venture, trust
or corporation in which an equity interest is owned by the Borrower
and/or EQR, either directly or indirectly, and, as a result of the
ownership of such equity interest, the Borrower and/or EQR may have
recourse liability for Environmental Claims against such
partnership, joint venture or corporation (or the property
thereof).
“ Environmental
Approvals ” means any permit, license, approval, ruling,
variance, exemption or other authorization required under
applicable Environmental Laws.
“ Environmental Claim
” means, with respect to any Person, any notice, claim,
demand or similar communication (written or oral) by any other
Person alleging potential liability of such Person for
investigatory costs, cleanup costs, governmental response costs,
natural resources damage, property damages, personal injuries,
fines or penalties arising out of, based on or resulting from (i)
the presence, or release into the environment, of any Materials of
Environmental Concern at any location, whether or not owned by such
Person or (ii) circumstances forming the basis of any violation, or
alleged violation, of any Environmental Law, in each case (with
respect to both (i) and (ii) above) as to which there is a
reasonable possibility of an adverse determination with respect
thereto and which, if adversely determined, would have a Material
Adverse Effect.
“ Environmental Laws
” means any and all federal, state, and local statutes, laws,
judicial decisions, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments,
orders, decrees, plans, injunctions, permits, concessions, grants,
licenses, agreements and other governmental restrictions relating
to the environment, the effect of the environment on human health
or emissions, discharges or releases of Materials of Environmental
Concern 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 Materials of Environmental
Concern or the clean up or other remediation thereof.
“ EQR ” means
Equity Residential, a Maryland real estate investment trust, the
sole general partner of the Borrower.
“ EQR Guaranty ”
means the Guaranty of Payment, dated as of the date hereof,
executed by EQR in favor of Administrative Agent and the
Banks.
“ EQR 2006 Form 10-K
” means EQR’s annual report on Form 10-K for 2006, as
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
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“ ERISA ” means
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or
any successor statute.
“ ERISA Group ”
means the Borrower, any Subsidiary and all members of a controlled
group of corporations and all trades or businesses (whether or not
incorporated) under common control which, together with the
Borrower or any Subsidiary, are treated as a single employer under
Section 414 of the Code.
“ Euro-Dollar Borrowing
” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.3.
“ Euro-Dollar Business
Day ” means any Business Day on which commercial banks
are open for international business (including dealings in Dollar
deposits) in London.
“ Euro-Dollar Lending
Office ” means, as to each Bank, its office, branch or
affiliate located at its address set forth in its Administrative
Questionnaire (or identified in its Administrative Questionnaire as
its Euro-Dollar Lending Office) or such other office, branch or
affiliate of such Bank as it may hereafter designate as its
Euro-Dollar Lending Office by notice to the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent.
“ Euro-Dollar Loan
” means a Loan made or to be made by a Bank as a Euro-Dollar
Loan in accordance with the applicable Notice of Borrowing or
Notice of Interest Rate Election.
“ Euro-Dollar Rate
” means, for any applicable Interest Period for any
Euro-Dollar Loan, the rate per annum equal to the British Bankers
Association LIBOR Rate (“BBA LIBOR”), as published by
Reuters (or other commercially available source providing
quotations of BBA LIBOR as designated by the Administrative Agent
from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two
Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period,
for Dollar deposits (for delivery on the first day of such Interest
Period) with a term equivalent such Interest Period. If such
rate is not available at such time for any reason, the
“Euro-Dollar Rate” for such Interest Period shall be
the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the
rate at which deposits in Dollars for delivery on the first day of
such Interest Period in same day funds in the approximate amount of
the Euro-Dollar Loan being made, continued or converted by Bank of
America and with a term equivalent to such Interest Period would be
offered by Bank of America’s London Branch to major banks in
the London interbank eurodollar market at their request at
approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to
the commencement of such Interest Period.
12
“ Euro-Dollar Reserve
Percentage ” means, with respect to any applicable
Interest Period, for any day that percentage (expressed as a
decimal) which is in effect on such day as prescribed by the Board
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor) for
determining the maximum reserve requirement (including basic,
supplemental, emergency, special and marginal reserves) generally
applicable to financial institutions regulated by the Federal
Reserve Board comparable in size and type to the Person serving as
the Administrative Agent under Regulation D of the Federal Reserve
Board, in respect of “Eurocurrency liabilities”, or
under any similar or successor regulation with respect to
Eurocurrency liabilities or Eurocurrency funding (or in respect of
any other category of liabilities which include deposits by
reference to which the interest rate on Euro-Dollar Loans is
determined), whether or not the Person serving as the
Administrative Agent has any Euro-Currency liabilities or such
requirement otherwise in fact applies to the Person serving as the
Administrative Agent. The Euro-Dollar Rate shall be adjusted
automatically as of the effective date of each change in the
Euro-Dollar Reserve Percentage.
“ Event of Default
” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1.
“ Facility Fee ”
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(c).
“ Federal Funds Rate
” means, for any day, the rate per annum (rounded upward, if
necessary, to the nearest 1/100th of 1%) equal to the weighted
average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with
members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds
brokers on such day, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of
New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day,
provided that (i) if such day is not a Business Day, the
Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such
transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on
the next succeeding Business Day, and (ii) if no such rate is so
published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds
Rate for such day shall be the average rate quoted to the
Administrative Agent on such day on such transactions as determined
by the Administrative Agent.
“ Federal Reserve Board
” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
as constituted from time to time.
“ Financing Partnership
” means any Subsidiary which is wholly-owned, directly or
indirectly, by Borrower or by Borrower and EQR.
“ FIN46(R)” has
the meaning set forth in the definition of
“GAAP”.
“ Fiscal Quarter
” means a fiscal quarter of a Fiscal Year.
13
“ Fiscal Year ”
means the fiscal year of Borrower and EQR which shall be the twelve
(12) month period ending on the last day of December in each
year.
“ Fixed Charges ”
for any twelve (12) month period means (without duplication) the
sum of (i) Debt Service for such period, (ii) the product of the
average number of apartment units owned (directly or beneficially)
by Borrower, EQR, or any wholly-owned Subsidiary of either or both
during such period and the Capital Reserve for such period, (iii)
Borrower’s Share of the aggregate sum of the product of the
average number of apartment units owned (directly or beneficially)
by each Consolidated Subsidiary (other than wholly-owned
Subsidiaries of Borrower and/or EQR) and Investment Affiliate
during such period and the Capital Reserve for such period, (iv)
dividends on preferred units payable by Borrower during such
period, and (v) distributions made by the Borrower during such
period to EQR for the purpose of paying dividends on preferred
shares in EQR.
“ Fixed Rate Borrowing
” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.3.
“ Fixed Rate
Indebtedness ” means all Indebtedness which accrues
interest at a fixed rate.
“ Floating Rate
Indebtedness ” means all Indebtedness which is not Fixed
Rate Indebtedness and which is not a Contingent Obligation or an
Unused Commitment.
“ FMV Cap Rate ”
means 6.75%.
“ Former Revolving Credit
Agreement ” means the Revolving Credit Agreement, dated
as of April 1, 2005, among the Borrower, EQR, Bank of America N.A.,
as administrative agent, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as syndication
agent, and the financial institutions party thereto.
“ GAAP ” means
generally accepted accounting principles recognized as such in the
opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and
the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the
Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by
such other entity as may be approved by a significant segment of
the accounting profession, which are applicable to the
circumstances as of the date of determination; provided, however,
that with respect to the financial covenants, including the related
definitions, (i) GAAP shall be deemed modified to eliminate the
effect of FASB Interpretations No. 46(R), Consolidation of Variable
Interest Entities, an Interpretation of Accounting Research
Bulletin (ARB) No. 51 (“ FIN 46(R) ”), issued by
the Financial Accounting Standards Board, on the operation of
such
14
covenants, and (ii) only
Borrower’s Share of any income, expense, assets and
liabilities of any Consolidated Subsidiary or Investment Affiliate
shall be taken into account.
“ Gross Asset Value
” means, (i) the Stabilized Property Value, plus (ii) the
Non-Stabilized Property Value, plus (iii) the value of any Cash or
Cash Equivalents (including Cash or Cash Equivalents held in
restricted Section 1031 accounts under the control of the Borrower
or EQR) owned by Borrower, EQR or any wholly-owned Subsidiary of
either, plus (iv) the undepreciated book value, determined in
accordance with GAAP, of readily marketable Securities and
Investment Mortgages owned by the Borrower, EQR or their
wholly-owned Consolidated Subsidiaries, plus (v) Borrower’s
Share of the value of any Cash or Cash Equivalents (including Cash
or Cash Equivalents held in restricted Section 1031 accounts under
the control of a non-wholly owned Consolidated Subsidiary or by an
Investment Affiliate) owned by any such Consolidated Subsidiary or
Investment Affiliate, plus (vi) Borrower’s Share of the
undepreciated book value, determined in accordance with GAAP, of
readily marketable Securities and Investment Mortgages owned by any
non-wholly owned Consolidated Subsidiary or Investment
Affiliate.
“ Group of Loans
” means, at any time, a group of Loans consisting of (i) all
Loans which are Base Rate Loans at such time, or (ii) all
Euro-Dollar Loans having the same Interest Period at such time;
provided that, if a Loan of any particular Bank is converted
to or made as a Base Rate Loan pursuant to Section 8.2 or 8.5, such
Loan shall be included in the same Group or Groups of Loans from
time to time as it would have been in if it had not been so
converted or made.
“ Indebtedness ”,
as applied to any Person (and without duplication), means (a) all
indebtedness, obligations or other liabilities of such Person for
borrowed money, (b) all indebtedness, obligations or other
liabilities of such Person evidenced by Securities or other similar
instruments, (c) all reimbursement obligations, contingent or
otherwise, of such Person with respect to letters of credit
actually issued for such Person’s account or upon such
Person’s application, (d) all obligations of such Person to
pay the deferred and unpaid purchase price of Property except (i)
any such deferred and unpaid purchase price that constitutes an
accrued expense or trade payable, and (ii) any deferred and unpaid
purchase price under a contract which, in accordance with GAAP
would not be included as a liability on the liability side of the
balance sheet of such Person, (e) all obligations in respect of
Capital Leases (including ground leases) of such Person, (f) all
indebtedness, obligations or other liabilities of such Person or
others secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person, whether or
not such indebtedness, obligations or liabilities are assumed by,
or are a personal liability of such Person, in the case of items of
Indebtedness incurred under clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) to the
extent that any such items (other than letters of credit), in
accordance with GAAP, would be included as liabilities on the
liability side of
15
the balance sheet of such Person,
exclusive, however, of all accounts payable, accrued interest and
expenses, prepaid rents, security deposits, tax liabilities and
dividends and distributions declared but not yet paid. Indebtedness
also includes, to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation
of Borrower or EQR, as well as Borrower’s Share of any
obligation of any Consolidated Subsidiary or Investment Affiliate,
to be liable for, or to pay as obligor, guarantor or otherwise
(other than for purposes of collection in the ordinary course of
business), Indebtedness of another Person (other than Borrower,
EQR, a Consolidated Subsidiary or an Investment Affiliate).
Indebtedness shall not include any Intracompany Indebtedness.
“Intracompany Indebtedness” means indebtedness whose
obligor is Borrower, EQR, any Consolidated Subsidiary or any
Investment Affiliate and whose obligee is Borrower, EQR or any
wholly-owned Consolidated Subsidiary.
“ Indemnitee ”
has the meaning set forth in Section 9.3(b).
“ Interest Expense
” means, for any period and without duplication, total
interest expense, whether paid, accrued or capitalized (excluding
the interest component of Capital Leases, as well as interest
expense covered by an interest reserve established under a loan
facility, as well as any interest expense under any construction
loan or construction activity that under GAAP is required to be
capitalized) of Borrower or EQR (excluding nonrecurring prepayment
premiums or penalties and any such interest expense accrued or
capitalized on Indebtedness of any Consolidated Subsidiary or
Investment Affiliate), including without limitation all
commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect
to drawn letters of credit, amortized costs of Interest Rate
Contracts incurred on or after the Closing Date and the Facility
Fees payable to the Banks in accordance with Section 2.8,
plus Borrower’s Share of accrued or paid interest with
respect to any Indebtedness of Consolidated Subsidiaries or
Investment Affiliates for which there is no recourse to EQR or
Borrower, plus , without duplication, EQR’s and
Borrower’s actual or potential liability for accrued, paid or
capitalized interest (excluding nonrecurring prepayment premiums or
penalties and the interest component of Capital Leases, as well as
excluding interest expense covered by an interest reserve
established under a loan facility, as well as any interest expense
under any construction loan or construction activity that under
GAAP is required to be capitalized) with respect to Indebtedness of
Consolidated Subsidiaries or Investment Affiliates that is recourse
to EQR or Borrower, calculated for all Fixed Rate Indebtedness at
the actual interest rate in effect with respect to all Indebtedness
outstanding as of the last day of such period and, in the case of
all Floating Rate Indebtedness, the actual rate of interest in
effect with respect to such Floating Rate Indebtedness outstanding
for the period during which no Interest Rate Contract is in effect,
and, during the period that an Interest Rate Contract is in effect
with respect to such Floating Rate Indebtedness, the strike rate
payable under such Interest Rate Contract if lower than the actual
rate of interest.
16
“ Interest Period
” means with respect to each Euro-Dollar Borrowing, the
period commencing on the date of such Borrowing specified in the
Notice of Borrowing or on the date specified in the applicable
Notice of Interest Rate Election and ending 1, 2, 3 or 6 months
thereafter (or such shorter period, but in no event less than 7
days, as Borrower may request, subject to the approval of the
Administrative Agent), as the Borrower may elect in the applicable
Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Interest Rate Election;
provided that:
(a) any such Interest Period
which would otherwise end on a day which is not a Euro-Dollar
Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Euro-Dollar
Business Day unless such Euro-Dollar Business Day falls in another
calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the
next preceding Euro-Dollar Business Day;
(b) any such Interest Period
which begins on the last Euro-Dollar Business Day of a calendar
month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding
day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period)
shall, subject to clause (c) below, end on the last Euro-Dollar
Business Day of a calendar month; and
(c) any such Interest Period
which would otherwise end after the Maturity Date shall end on the
Maturity Date.
“ Interest Rate
Contracts ” means, collectively, interest rate swap,
collar, cap or similar agreements providing interest rate
protection.
“ Investment Affiliate
” means any Person in whom EQR or Borrower holds an equity
interest, directly or indirectly, other than Consolidated
Subsidiaries, excluding the effects of consolidation required by
FIN46(R), Military Housing Affiliates and Securities and other
passive interests.
“ Investment Grade
Rating ” means a rating for a Person’s senior
long-term unsecured debt, or if no such rating has been issued, a
“shadow” rating, of BBB- or better from S&P or
Fitch, or a rating or “shadow” rating of Baa3 or better
from Moody’s. Any such “shadow” rating
shall be evidenced by a letter from the applicable Rating Agency or
by such other evidence as may be reasonably acceptable to the
Administrative Agent (as to any such other evidence, the
Administrative Agent shall present the same to, and discuss the
same with, the Banks).
“ Investment Mortgages
” means mortgages securing indebtedness directly or
indirectly owed to Borrower, EQR or Subsidiaries of either or both,
including certificates of interest in real estate mortgage
investment conduits.
17
“ Joint Lead Arrangers
” means Banc of America Securities LLC, J.P. Morgan
Securities Inc., and Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch.
“ Joint Venture Parent
” means Borrower , EQR or one or more Financing Partnerships
of Borrower which directly owns any interest in a Joint Venture
Subsidiary.
“ Joint Venture
Subsidiary ” means any entity (other than a Financing
Partnership) in which (i) a Joint Venture Parent owns at least 20%
of the economic interests and (ii) the sale or financing of any
Property owned by such Joint Venture Subsidiary is substantially
controlled by a Joint Venture Parent, subject to customary
provisions set forth in the organizational documents of such Joint
Venture Subsidiary with respect to refinancings or rights of first
refusal granted to other members of such Joint Venture
Subsidiary. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the sale
or financing of a Property owned by a Joint Venture Subsidiary
shall be deemed to be substantially controlled by a Joint Venture
Parent if such Joint Venture Parent has the ability to exercise a
buy-sell right in the event of a disagreement regarding the sale or
financing of such Property. In addition, the relationship of a
Joint Venture Parent as a tenant in common in any asset with other
tenants in common in the same asset shall be treated as if such
relationship were a general partnership for purposes of this
definition. For purposes of the definition of Unencumbered Asset
Value, a Joint Venture Subsidiary shall be deemed to include any
entity (other than a Financing Partnership) in which a Qualified
Joint Venture Partner owns the balance of the interests.
“ Lien ” means,
with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge,
security interest or encumbrance of any kind, or any other type of
preferential arrangement, in each case that has the effect of
creating a security interest in respect of such asset. For
the purposes of this Agreement, the Borrower, EQR or any Subsidiary
of either or both shall be deemed to own subject to a Lien any
asset which it has acquired or holds subject to the interest of a
vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital
lease or other title retention agreement relating to such
asset.
“ Loan ” means a
Base Rate Loan or a Euro-Dollar Loan and “ Loans
” means Base Rate Loans or Euro-Dollar Loans or any
combination of the foregoing.
“ Loan Documents
” means this Agreement, the Notes, the EQR Guaranty and any
Down REIT Guaranty.
18
“ Margin Stock ”
shall have the meaning provided such term in
Regulation U.
“ Material Adverse
Effect ” means an effect resulting from any circumstance
or event or series of circumstances or events, of whatever nature
(but excluding general economic conditions), which does or could
reasonably be expected to, materially and adversely, (i) impair the
ability of the Borrower and/or EQR and their Consolidated
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to perform their respective
obligations under the Loan Documents or (ii) impair the ability of
Administrative Agent or the Banks to enforce the Loan
Documents.
“ Material Plan ”
means at any time a Plan or Plans having aggregate Unfunded
Liabilities in excess of $5,000,000.
“ Materials of
Environmental Concern ” means and includes pollutants,
contaminants, hazardous wastes, toxic and hazardous substances,
asbestos, lead, petroleum and petroleum by-products.
“ Maturity Date ”
shall mean the date when all of the Obligations hereunder shall be
due and payable which shall be May 5, 2008, unless accelerated
pursuant to the terms hereof or extended pursuant to Section 2.9(b)
hereof.
“ Military Housing
” shall mean projects, the primary purpose of which is the
acquisition, development, construction, maintenance and operation
of military family housing and military unaccompanied housing on or
near military installations of the United States of America in
collaboration with the United States of America.
“ Military Housing
Affiliates ” shall mean any Consolidated Subsidiary or
Investment Affiliate of the Borrower or EQR which only has an
investment in Military Housing.
“ Moody’s ”
means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or any successor
thereto.
“ Multiemployer Plan
” means at any time an employee pension benefit plan within
the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which any member of
the ERISA Group is then making or accruing an obligation to make
contributions or has within the preceding five plan years made
contributions, including for these purposes any Person which ceased
to be a member of the ERISA Group during such five year
period.
“ Multifamily Residential
Property Mortgages ” means Investment Mortgages issued by
any Person engaged primarily in the business of developing, owning,
and managing multifamily residential property.
19
“ Multifamily Residential
Property Partnership Interests ” means partnership or
joint venture interests, or common or preferred stock, or
membership, trust or other equity interests issued by any Person
engaged primarily in the business of developing, owning, and
managing multifamily residential property, but excluding
Securities.
“ Negative Pledg
e” means, with respect to any Property, any covenant,
condition, or other restriction entered into by the owner of such
Property or directly binding on such Property which prohibits or
limits the creation or assumption of any Lien upon such Property to
secure any or all of the Obligations; provided, however, that such
term shall not include (a) any covenant, condition or restriction
contained in any ground lease from a Governmental Authority, or (b)
any financial covenant (such as a limitation on secured
indebtedness) given for the benefit of any Person that may be
violated by the granting of any Lien on any Property to secure any
or all of the Obligations.
“ Net Income ”
means, for any period, the net earnings (or loss) after Taxes of
the Borrower, on a consolidated basis, for such period calculated
in conformity with GAAP.
“ Net Present Value
” shall mean, as to a specified or ascertainable dollar
amount, the present value, as of the date of calculation of any
such amount, using a discount rate equal to the Base Rate in effect
as of the date of such calculation.
“ Non-Multifamily
Residential Property ” means Property which is not (i)
used for lease, operation or use as a multifamily residential
property, (ii) Unimproved Assets or Raw Land, (iii) Securities,
(iv) Multifamily Residential Property Mortgages, or (v) Multifamily
Residential Property Partnership Interests.
“ Non-Recourse
Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness with respect to which
recourse for payment is limited to (i) specific assets related to a
particular Property or group of Properties encumbered by a Lien
securing such Indebtedness or (ii) any Subsidiary or Investment
Affiliate (provided that if a Subsidiary or Investment Affiliate is
a partnership, there is no recourse to Borrower or EQR as a general
partner of such partnership); provided, however, that personal
recourse of Borrower or EQR for any such Indebtedness for Customary
Non-Recourse Carve-Outs in non-recourse financing of real estate
shall not, by itself, prevent such Indebtedness from being
characterized as Non-Recourse Indebtedness.
“ Non-Stabilized
Property ” means any Property owned or leased by
Borrower, EQR, a Consolidated Subsidiary or an Investment Affiliate
that is not a Stabilized Property.
20
“ Non-Stabilized Property
Value ” means, the sum of (i) the aggregate Acquisition
Property Value, (ii) the aggregate Construction
Property Value, (iii) the aggregate Redevelopment Property Value,
(iv) the aggregate Condo Property Value, (v) the aggregate value of
any Acquisition Property that was classified as a
“Non-Stabilized Property” as of September 30, 2006
pursuant to the Former Revolving Credit Agreement, valued for a
period of six fiscal quarters at the greater of (1) the Property
EBITDA divided by FMV Cap Rate (or Borrower’s Share thereof
with respect to any such Non-Stabilized Property owned by a
Consolidated Subsidiary or an Investment Affiliate), and (2)
undepreciated book value (cost basis plus improvements) (or
Borrower’s Share thereof with respect to any such
Non-Stabilized Property owned by a Consolidated Subsidiary or an
Investment Affiliate) and thereafter shall be valued as a
Stabilized Property, and (vi) with respect to Raw Land or any other
Non-Stabilized Property (other than the Non-Stabilized Properties
described under clauses (i) through (v)), the aggregate
undepreciated book value (cost basis plus improvements), determined
in accordance with GAAP of such Non-Stabilized Property (or
Borrower’s Share thereof with respect to any Non-Stabilized
Property owned by a Consolidated Subsidiary or an Investment
Affiliate). All such Acquisition Properties described under clause
(v) shall be valued as a Stabilized Property following the sixth
full fiscal quarter after the date of the Revolving Credit
Agreement, dated as of February 28, 2007, among the Borrower,
the Administrative Agent and the banks party thereto, as amended by
Amendment to Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of March 30,
2007.
“ Notes ” means
promissory notes of the Borrower, substantially in the form of
Exhibit A hereto, evidencing the obligation of the Borrower
to repay the Loans, and “ Note ” means any one
of such promissory notes issued hereunder.
“ Notice of Borrowing
” means a notice substantially in the form of Exhibit
C attached hereto and made a part hereof.
“ Notice of Interest Rate
Election ” has the meaning set forth in Section
2.6.
“ Obligations ”
means all obligations, liabilities, indemnity obligations and
Indebtedness of every nature of the Borrower, from time to time
owing to Administrative Agent or any Bank under or in connection
with this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
“ Parent ” means,
with respect to any Bank, any Person controlling such
Bank.
“ Participant ”
has the meaning set forth in Section 9.6(b).
21
“ PBGC ” means
the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any entity succeeding
to any or all of its functions under ERISA.
“ Period Fraction
” means, with respect to any period of time, a fraction, the
numerator of which is the actual number of days in such period, and
the denominator of which is three hundred and sixty
(360).
“ Permitted Holdings
” means Development Activity, Raw Land, Securities,
Non-Multifamily Residential Property, Investment Mortgages, and
Investment Affiliates.
“ Permitted Liens
” means:
a.
Liens for Taxes, assessments or other governmental charges not yet
due and payable or which are being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently
conducted in accordance with the terms hereof;
b.
statutory liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen
and other similar liens imposed by law, which are incurred in the
ordinary course of business for sums not more than sixty (60) days
delinquent or which are being contested in good faith in accordance
with the terms hereof;
c.
deposits made in the ordinary course of business in connection with
worker’s compensation, unemployment insurance and other
social security legislation or to secure liabilities to insurance
carriers;
d.
utility deposits and other deposits to secure the performance of
bids, trade contracts (other than for
borrowed money), leases, purchase contracts, construction
contracts, governmental contracts, statutory obligations, surety
bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature
incurred in the ordinary course of business;
e.
Liens for purchase money obligations for equipment (or Liens to
secure Indebtedness incurred within 90 days after the purchase of
any equipment to pay all or a portion of the purchase price thereof
or to secure Indebtedness incurred solely for the purpose of
financing the acquisition of any such equipment, or extensions,
renewals, or replacements of any of the foregoing for the same or
lesser amount); provided that (i) the Indebtedness secured
by any such Lien does not exceed the purchase price of such
equipment, (ii) any such Lien encumbers only the asset so purchased
and the proceeds upon sale, disposition, loss or
22
destruction thereof, and (iii) such
Lien, after giving effect to the Indebtedness secured thereby, does
not give rise to an Event of Default;
f.
easements, rights-of-way, zoning restrictions, other similar
charges or encumbrances and all other items listed on Schedule B to
the owner’s title insurance policies, except in connection
with any Indebtedness, for any of the Real Property Assets, so long
as the foregoing do not interfere in any material respect with the
use or ordinary conduct of the business of the owner and do not
diminish in any material respect the value of the Property to which
it is attached or for which it is listed;
g.
Liens and judgments (i) which have been or will be bonded (and the
Lien thereby removed other than on any cash or securities serving
as security for such bond) or released of record within thirty (30)
days after the date such Lien or judgment is entered or filed
against EQR, Borrower, or any Subsidiary, or (ii) which are being
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings for review and
in respect of which there shall have been secured a subsisting stay
of execution pending such appeal or proceedings;
h.
Liens on Property of the Borrower, EQR or the Subsidiaries of
either or both (other than Qualifying Unencumbered Property)
securing Indebtedness which may be incurred or remain outstanding
without resulting in an Event of Default hereunder; and
i.
Liens in favor of the Borrower, EQR or a Consolidated Subsidiary
against any asset of Borrower, any Consolidated Subsidiary or any
Investment Affiliate.
“ Person ” means
an individual, a corporation, a partnership, an association, a
trust, a limited liability company or any other entity or
organization, including a government or political subdivision or an
agency or instrumentality thereof.
“ Plan ” means at
any time an employee pension benefit plan (other than a
Multiemployer Plan) which is covered by Title IV of ERISA or
subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the
Code and either (i) is maintained, or contributed to, by any member
of the ERISA Group for employees of any member of the ERISA Group
or (ii) has at any time within the preceding five years been
maintained, or contributed to, by any Person which was at such time
a member of the ERISA Group for employees of any Person which was
at such time a member of the ERISA Group.
“ Pro Rata Share
” means, with respect to any Bank, a fraction (expressed as a
percentage), the numerator of which shall be such Bank’s
Commitment and the
23
denominator of which shall be the
aggregate amount of all of the Banks’ Commitments, in each
case as adjusted from time to time in accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement.
“ Property ”
means, with respect to any Person, any real or personal property,
building, facility, structure, equipment or unit, or other asset
owned or leased by such Person.
“ Public Debt ”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.18(a)
hereof.
“ Qualified Institution
” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.6(c)
hereof.
“ Qualified Joint Venture
Partner ” means (a) pension funds, insurance companies,
banks, investment banks or similar institutional entities, each
with significant experience in making investments in commercial
real estate, and (b) commercial real estate companies of similar
quality and experience.
“ Qualifying Unencumbered
Property ” means any Property (including Raw Land and
Property with Development Activity) from time to time which is
owned directly or indirectly in fee (or ground leasehold) by
Borrower, EQR, a Financing Partnership or a Joint Venture
Subsidiary, which (i) is Raw Land, Construction Property,
Redevelopment Property, Condo Property or an operating multifamily
residential property, (ii) is not subject (nor are any equity
interests in such Property that are owned directly or indirectly by
Borrower or EQR subject) to a Lien which secures Indebtedness of
any Person other than Permitted Liens, (iii) is not subject (nor
are any equity interests in such Property that are owned directly
or indirectly by Borrower or EQR subject) to any Negative Pledge,
and (iv) in the case of any Property that is owned by a Subsidiary
of the Borrower or EQR, is owned by a Subsidiary that does not have
any outstanding Unsecured Debt (other than those items of
Indebtedness set forth in clauses (d) or (e) of the definition of
Indebtedness, or any Contingent Obligation except for guarantees
for borrowed money). In addition, in the case of any Property that
is owned by a Subsidiary of Borrower and/or EQR, if such Subsidiary
shall commence any proceeding under any bankruptcy, insolvency or
similar law, or any such involuntary case shall be commenced
against it and shall remain undismissed and unstayed for a period
of 90 days, then, simultaneously with the occurrence of such
conditions, such Property shall no longer constitute a Qualifying
Unencumbered Property. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the
purposes of this definition, a Property shall be deemed to be
wholly-owned by Borrower if such Property shall be owned by a Down
REIT or a wholly-owned Subsidiary of such Down REIT.
24
“ Rating Agencies
” means, collectively, S&P, Moody’s and Fitch
Ratings Inc.
“ Raw Land ”
means Real Property Assets upon which no material improvements have
been commenced.
“ Real Property Assets
” means, as of any time, the real property assets (including
interests in participating mortgages in which the Borrower’s
interest therein is characterized as equity according to GAAP)
owned directly or indirectly by the Borrower, EQR and the
Consolidated Subsidiaries of either or both at such
time.
“ Recourse Debt ”
shall mean Indebtedness that is not Non-Recourse
Indebtedness.
“ Redevelopment Propert
y” means a property (other than a Condo Property) owned by
the Borrower or its Consolidated Subsidiaries or Investment
Affiliates where the existing building or other improvements or a
portion thereof are undergoing renovation and redevelopment that
will either (a) disrupt the occupancy of at least thirty percent
(30%) of the square footage of such property or (b) temporarily
reduce the Consolidated EBITDA attributable to such property by
more than thirty percent (30%) as compared to the immediately
preceding comparable prior period.
“ Redevelopment Property
Value ” means the greater of (a) the EBITDA
generated by a Redevelopment Property for the quarter immediately
prior to the commencement of the redevelopment divided by the FMV
Cap Rate (or Borrower’s Share thereof with respect to any
Redevelopment Property owned by a Consolidated Subsidiary or an
Investment Affiliate), and (b) the undepreciated book value (cost
basis plus improvements) of such Redevelopment Property (or
Borrower’s Share thereof with respect to any Redevelopment
Property owned by a Consolidated Subsidiary or an Investment
Affiliate). A Redevelopment Property shall be valued as a
Stabilized Property following the sixth full fiscal quarter after
the fiscal quarter in which substantial completion of the
redevelopment occurred.
“ Regulation U ”
means Regulation U of the Federal Reserve Board, as in effect from
time to time.
“ Required Banks
” means at any time Banks having at least 51% of the
aggregate amount of the Commitments or, if the Commitments shall
have been terminated, holding Notes evidencing at least 51% of the
aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Loans.
25
“ S&P ” means
Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The
McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., or any successor thereto.
“ Secured Debt ”
means Indebtedness of EQR and Borrower (excluding Indebtedness of
Consolidated Subsidiaries or Investment Affiliates), and
Borrower’s Share of any Indebtedness of any Consolidated
Subsidiary or Investment Affiliate, (i) the payment of which is
secured by a Lien on any Property owned or leased by EQR, Borrower,
or any Consolidated Subsidiary or Investment Affiliate of either or
both, or (ii) which is unsecured Indebtedness of any Consolidated
Subsidiary or Investment Affiliate of Borrower or EQR, which
Consolidated Subsidiary or Investment Affiliate is not a guarantor
of the Obligations and which Indebtedness is not recourse to the
Borrower or EQR (other than for Customary Non-Recourse Carve-Outs),
or (iii) which is Unsecured Tax Exempt Indebtedness.
“ Securities ”
means any stock, partnership interests, shares, shares of
beneficial interest, voting trust certificates, bonds, debentures,
notes or other evidences of indebtedness, secured or unsecured,
convertible, subordinated or otherwise, or in general any
instruments commonly known as “securities,” or any
certificates of interest, shares, or participations in temporary or
interim certificates for the purchase or acquisition of, or any
right to subscribe to, purchase or acquire any of the foregoing,
all of which shall be passive investments.
“ Solvent ”
means, with respect to any Person, that the fair saleable value of
such Person’s assets exceeds the Indebtedness of such
Person.
“ Stabilized Property
” means all Properties except (i) any Acquisition Property,
Construction Property or Redevelopment Property until such Property
has become a Stabilized Property in accordance with the definitions
of Acquisition Property Value, Construction Property Value and
Redevelopment Property Value, (ii) any Property described in clause
(v) of the definition of Non-Stabilized Property Value until such
Property has become a Stabilized Property in accordance with such
definition, and (iii) any Condo Property.
“ Stabilized Property
Value ” means the EBITDA generated by a Stabilized
Property divided by the FMV Cap Rate (or Borrower’s Share
thereof with respect to any Stabilized Property owned by a
Consolidated Subsidiary or an Investment Affiliate). Any
Stabilized Property which generates negative EBITDA will have a
Stabilized Property Value of zero.
“ Subsidiary ”
means any corporation or other entity of which securities or other
ownership interests having ordinary voting power to elect a
majority of the board of
26
directors or other persons
performing similar functions are at the time directly or indirectly
owned by the Borrower and/or EQR.
“ Syndication Agent
” shall mean JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as
Syndication Agent hereunder, and its permitted successors in such
capacity in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
“ Taxes ” means
all federal, state, local and foreign income and gross receipts
taxes.
“ Term ” has the
meaning set forth in Section 2.9.
“ Termination Event
” shall mean (i) a “reportable event”, as such
term is described in Section 4043 of ERISA (other than a
“reportable event” not subject to the provision for
30-day notice to the PBGC), or an event described in Section
4062(e) of ERISA, (ii) the withdrawal by any member of the ERISA
Group from a Multiemployer Plan during a plan year in which it is a
“substantial employer” (as defined in Section
4001(a)(2) of ERISA), or the incurrence of liability by any member
of the ERISA Group under Section 4064 of ERISA upon the termination
of a Multiemployer Plan, (iii) the filing of a notice of intent to
terminate any Plan under Section 4041 of ERISA, other than in a
standard termination within the meaning of Section 4041 of ERISA,
or the treatment of a Plan amendment as a distress termination
under Section 4041 of ERISA, (iv) the institution by the PBGC of
proceedings to terminate, impose liability (other than for premiums
under Section 4007 of ERISA) in respect of, or cause a trustee to
be appointed to administer, any Plan or (v) any other event or
condition that might reasonably constitute grounds for the
termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any
Plan or the imposition of any liability or encumbrance or Lien on
the Real Property Assets or any member of the ERISA Group under
ERISA.
“ Unencumbered Asset
Value ” means the sum of (i) Stabilized Property Value of
all Qualifying Unencumbered Properties which are Stabilized
Properties, (ii) Non-Stabilized Property Value of all Qualifying
Unencumbered Properties which are Non-Stabilized Properties, (iii)
the value of any Cash or Cash Equivalent (including Cash or Cash
Equivalents held in restricted Section 1031 accounts under the
control of the Borrower) owned by Borrower, EQR or any wholly-owned
Subsidiary of either, and (iv) the undepreciated book value,
determined in accordance with GAAP, of readily marketable
Securities and Investment Mortgages owned by the Borrower, EQR or
their wholly-owned Subsidiaries not subject to any Lien, plus (v)
Borrower’s Share of the value of any Cash or Cash Equivalents
(including Cash or Cash Equivalents held in restricted Section 1031
accounts under the control of a non-wholly owned Consolidated
Subsidiary or by an Investment Affiliate) owned by any such
Consolidated Subsidiary or Investment
27
Affiliate, plus (vi)
Borrower’s Share of the undepreciated book value, determined
in accordance with GAAP, of readily marketable Securities and
Investment Mortgages owned by any non-wholly owned Consolidated
Subsidiary or Investment Affiliate, provided, however, that the
aggregate value of those items set forth in clauses (iv) and (vi)
shall not exceed thirty percent (30%) of Unencumbered Asset
Value.
“ Unimproved Assets
” means Real Property Assets, other than Raw Land, upon which
no material improvements have been completed which completion is
evidenced by a certificate of occupancy or its equivalent and is
less than 90% leased in the aggregate (based upon number of
units).
“ United States ”
means the United States of America, including the fifty states and
the District of Columbia.
“ Unsecured Debt
” means Indebtedness of EQR, on a consolidated basis, which
is not Secured Debt.
“ Unused Commitments
” shall mean an amount equal to all unadvanced funds (other
than unadvanced funds in connection with any construction loan)
which any third party is obligated to advance to Borrower or
another Person or otherwise pursuant to any loan document, written
instrument or otherwise.
“ Unused Fee ”
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(a).
28
1.2
Accounting Terms and Determinations . Unless otherwise
specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be
interpreted, all accounting determinations hereunder shall be made,
and all financial statements required to be delivered hereunder
shall be prepared, in accordance with GAAP applied on a basis
consistent (except for changes concurred in by the Borrower’s
independent public accountants and, with respect to financial
covenants including the related definitions, except for eliminating
the effects of FIN 46(R)) with the most recent audited consolidated
financial statements of the Borrower and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries delivered to the Administrative Agent; provided
that for purposes of references to the financial results and
information of “EQR, on a consolidated basis,” EQR
shall be deemed to own one hundred percent (100%) of the
partnership interests in Borrower; and provided further
that, if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the
Borrower wishes to amend any covenant in Article V to eliminate the
effect of any change in GAAP on the operation of such covenant (or
if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required
Banks wish to amend Article V for such purpose), then the
Borrower’s compliance with such covenant shall be determined
on the basis of GAAP in effect immediately before the relevant
change in GAAP became effective, until either such notice is
withdrawn or such covenant is amended in a manner reasonably
satisfactory to the Borrower and the Required Banks.
1.3
Types of Borrowings . The term “
Borrowing ” denotes the aggregation of Loans of one or
more Banks to be made to the Borrower pursuant to Article II on the
same date, all of which Loans are of the same type (subject to
Article VIII) and, except in the case of Base Rate Loans, have the
same initial Interest Period. Borrowings are classified for
purposes of this Agreement either by reference to the pricing of
Loans comprising such Borrowing ( e.g. , a “ Fixed
Rate Borrowing ” is a Euro-Dollar Borrowing, and a
“ Euro-Dollar Borrowing ” is a Borrowing
comprised of Euro-Dollar Loans).
29
ARTICLE II
THE CREDITS
2.1
Commitments to Lend
. Each Bank severally
agrees, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, to
make Loans to the Borrower pursuant to this Article from time to
time during the term hereof in amounts such that the aggregate
principal amount of such Loans shall not exceed its Commitment.
Each Borrowing outstanding under this Section 2.1 shall be in an
aggregate principal amount of $3,000,000, or an integral multiple
of $100,000 in excess thereof (except that any such Borrowing may
be in the aggregate amount available in accordance with Section
3.2(b)) and shall be made from the several Banks ratably in
proportion to their respective Commitments. In no event shall
the aggregate Loans outstanding at any time exceed $500,000,000
(the “ Facility Amount ”). Any amounts repaid
may be reborrowed.
2.2
Notice of Borrowing
. The
Borrower shall give Administrative Agent notice not later than
10:00 a.m. (Dallas time) (x) one Business Day before each Base Rate
Borrowing, or (y) three Euro-Dollar Business Days before each
Euro-Dollar Borrowing, specifying:
(i)
the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day in the
case of a Base Rate Borrowing or a Euro-Dollar Business Day in the
case of a Euro-Dollar Borrowing,
(ii)
the aggregate amount of such Borrowing,
(iii)
whether the Loans comprising such Borrowing are to be Base Rate
Loans or Euro-Dollar Loans, and
(iv)
in the case of a Euro-Dollar Borrowing, the duration of the
Interest Period applicable thereto, subject to the provisions of
the definition of Interest Period.
2.3
Intentionally Omitted .
2.4
Notice to Banks; Funding of Loans .
(a)
Upon receipt of a Notice of Borrowing from Borrower in accordance
with Section 2.2 hereof, the Administrative Agent shall, on the
date such Notice of Borrowing is received by the Administrative
Agent, promptly notify each Bank of the contents thereof and of
such Bank’s share of such Borrowing, of the interest rate
determined pursuant thereto and the Interest Period(s) (if
different from those requested by the Borrower) and such Notice of
Borrowing shall not thereafter be revocable by the Borrower, unless
Borrower shall pay any applicable expenses pursuant to Section
2.13.
30
(b)
Not later than 1:00 p.m. (Dallas time) on the date of each
Borrowing as indicated in the Notice of Borrowing, each Bank shall
(except as provided in subsection (c) of this Section) make
available its share of such Borrowing in Federal funds immediately
available in Dallas, to the Administrative Agent at its address
referred to in Section 9.1.
(c)
Intentionally Omitted.
(d)
Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a
Bank prior to the date of any Borrowing that such Bank will not
make available to the Administrative Agent such Bank’s share
of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such
Bank has made such share available to the Administrative Agent on
the date of such Borrowing in accordance with subsection (b) of
this Section 2.4 and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon
such assumption, but shall not be obligated to, make available to
the Borrower on such date a corresponding amount on behalf of such
Bank. If and to the extent that such Bank shall not have so
made such share available to the Administrative Agent, such Bank
and the Borrower severally agree to repay to the Administrative
Agent forthwith on demand, and in the case of the Borrower one (1)
Business Day after demand, such corresponding amount together with
interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is made
available to the Borrower until the date such amount is repaid to
the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of the Borrower, a
rate per annum equal to the interest rate applicable thereto
pursuant to Section 2.7 and (ii) in the case of such Bank, the
Federal Funds Rate. If such Bank shall repay to the
Administrative Agent such corresponding amount, such amount so
repaid shall constitute such Bank’s Loan included in such
Borrowing as of the date of such Borrowing for purposes of this
Agreement.
(e)
Subject to the provisions hereof, the Administrative Agent shall
make available each Borrowing to Borrower in Federal funds
immediately available in accordance with, and on the date set forth
in, the applicable Notice of Borrowing.
2.5
Notes .
(a)
The Loans of each Bank shall be evidenced by a single Note made by
the Borrower payable to the order of such Bank for the account of
its Applicable Lending Office.
(b)
Each Bank may, by notice to the Borrower and the Administrative
Agent, request that its Loans of a particular type be evidenced by
a separate Note in an amount equal to the aggregate unpaid
principal amount of such Loans. Any additional costs incurred by
the Administrative Agent, the Borrower or the Banks in connection
with
31
preparing such a Note shall be at
the sole cost and expense of the Bank requesting such Note. In the
event any Loans evidenced by such a Note are paid in full prior to
the Maturity Date, any such Bank shall return such Note to
Borrower. Each such Note shall be in substantially the form
of Exhibit A hereto with appropriate modifications to
reflect the fact that it evidences solely Loans of the relevant
type. Upon the execution and delivery of any such Note, any
existing Note payable to such Bank shall be replaced or modified
accordingly. Each reference in this Agreement to the “
Note ” of such Bank shall be deemed to refer to and
include any or all of such Notes, as the context may
require.
(c)
Upon receipt of each Bank’s Note pursuant to Section 3.1(a),
the Administrative Agent shall forward such Note to such
Bank. Each Bank shall record the date, amount, type and
maturity of each Loan made by it and the date and amount of each
payment of principal made by the Borrower with respect thereto, and
may, if such Bank so elects in connection with any transfer or
enforcement of its Note, endorse on the appropriate schedule
appropriate notations to evidence the foregoing information with
respect to each such Loan then outstanding; provided that
the failure of any Bank to make any such recordation or endorsement
shall not affect the obligations of the Borrower hereunder or under
the Notes. Each Bank is hereby irrevocably authorized by the
Borrower so to endorse its Note and to attach to and make a part of
its Note a continuation of any such schedule as and when
required.
(d)
The Loans shall mature, and the principal amount thereof shall be
due and payable, on the Maturity Date.
(e)
Intentionally Omitted.
(f)
There shall be no more than ten (10) Euro-Dollar Groups of Loans
outstanding at any one time.
2.6
Method of Electing Interest Rates .
(a)
The Loans included in each Borrowing shall bear interest initially
at the type of rate specified by the Borrower in the applicable
Notice of Borrowing. Thereafter, the Borrower may from time
to time elect to change or continue the type of interest rate borne
by each Group of Loans (subject in each case to the provisions of
Article VIII), as follows:
(i)
if such Loans are Base Rate Loans, the Borrower may elect to
convert all or any portion of such Loans to Euro-Dollar Loans as of
any Euro-Dollar Business Day;
32
(ii)
if such Loans are Euro-Dollar Loans,
the Borrower may elect to convert all or any portion of such Loans
to Base Rate Loans and/or elect to continue all or any portion of
such Loans as Euro-Dollar Loans for an additional Interest Period
or additional Interest Periods, effective on the last day of the
then current Interest Period applicable to such Loans, or on such
other date designated by Borrower in the Notice of Interest Rate
Election provided Borrower shall pay any losses pursuant to Section
2.13.
Each such election shall be made by
delivering a notice (a “ Notice of Interest Rate
Election ”) to the Administrative Agent at least three
(3) Euro-Dollar Business Days before the conversion or continuation
selected in such notice is to be effective. A Notice of
Interest Rate Election may, if it so specifies, apply to only a
portion of the aggregate principal amount of the relevant Group of
Loans; provided that (i) such portion is allocated ratably
among the Loans comprising such Group of Loans, (ii) the portion to
which such Notice of Interest Rate Election applies, and the
remaining portion to which it does not apply, are each in an amount
equal to $500,000 or any larger multiple of $100,000, (iii) there
shall be no more than ten (10) Euro-Dollar Groups of Loans
outstanding at any one time, (iv) no Loan may be continued as, or
converted into, a Euro-Dollar Loan when any Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing, and (v) no Interest Period shall extend
beyond the Maturity Date.
(b)
Each Notice of Interest Rate
Election shall specify:
(i)
the Group of Loans (or portion
thereof) to which such notice applies;
(ii)
the date on which the conversion or
continuation selected in such notice is to be effective, which
shall comply with the applicable clause of subsection (a)
above;
(iii)
if the Loans comprising such Group
of Loans are to be converted, the new type of Loans and, if such
new Loans are Euro-Dollar Loans, the duration of the initial
Interest Period applicable thereto; and
(iv)
if such Loans are to be continued as
Euro-Dollar Loans for an additional Interest Period, the duration
of such additional Interest Period.
Each Interest Period specified in a
Notice of Interest Rate Election shall comply with the provisions
of the definition of Interest Period.
(c)
Upon receipt of a Notice of Interest
Rate Election from the Borrower pursuant to subsection (a) above,
the Administrative Agent shall notify each
33
Bank the same day as it receives
such Notice of Interest Rate Election of the contents thereof, the
interest rates determined pursuant thereto and the Interest Periods
(if different from those requested by the Borrower) and such notice
shall not thereafter be revocable by the Borrower. If the
Borrower fails to deliver a timely Notice of Interest Rate Election
to the Administrative Agent for any Group of Loans which are
Euro-Dollar Loans, such Loans shall be converted into Base Rate
Loans on the last day of the then current Interest Period
applicable thereto.
2.7
Interest Rates
.
(a)
Each Base Rate Loan shall bear
interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof, for each day
from the date such Loan is made until the date it is repaid or
converted into a Euro-Dollar Loan pursuant to Section 2.6 or at the
Maturity Date, at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the
Applicable Margin for Base Rate Loans for such day. Such
interest shall be payable on the first Business Day of each
month.
(b)
Subject to Section 8.1, each
Euro-Dollar Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal
amount thereof, for each day during the Interest Period applicable
thereto, at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the Applicable
Margin for Euro-Dollar Loans for such day plus the Euro-Dollar Rate
applicable to such Interest Period. Such interest shall be
payable on the first Business Day of each month, as well as on the
date of any prepayment of any such Euro-Dollar Loan.
(c)
Intentionally Omitted.
(d)
In the event that, and for so long
as, any Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the
outstanding principal amount of the Loans, and, to the extent
permitted by applicable law, overdue interest in respect of all
Loans, shall bear interest at the annual rate equal to the sum of
the Base Rate and two percent (2%) (the “ Default Rate
”).
(e)
The Administrative Agent shall
determine each interest rate applicable to the Loans
hereunder. The Administrative Agent shall give prompt notice
to the Borrower and the Banks of each rate of interest so
determined, and its determination thereof shall be conclusive in
the absence of demonstrable error.
2.8
Fees .
(a)
Unused Fee
. If at any time from and
after May 10, 2007 and on or prior to December 14, 2007, Borrower
shall fail to maintain an average outstanding daily
34
balance of Loans of not less than
$100,000,000, then the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative
Agent for the account of the Banks ratably in proportion to their
respective Commitments an unused fee (the “ Unused Fee
”) equal to 0.325% per annum (prorated) of the amount by
which the average outstanding daily balance of Loans during such
period are less than $100,000,000. The Unused Fee shall be payable,
in arrears, on June 30, 2007, September 30, 2007, December 31, 2007
or on the Maturity Date, if sooner.
(b)
Upfront Fee
. If the Commitments shall not
have been cancelled and the Loans repaid in full on or before
December 14, 2007, then on December 15, 2007 the Borrower shall pay
to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Banks ratably in
proportion to their respective Commitments a fee equal to 0.10% per
annum on the aggregate Commitments.
(c)
Facility Fee
. Commencing as of December
15, 2007, the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for
the account of the Banks ratably in proportion to their respective
Commitments a facility fee (the “ Facility Fee
”) equal to 0.10% per annum on the aggregate
Commitments. The Facility Fee shall be payable in arrears on
March 15, 2007 and on the Maturity Date, and in each case shall be
prorated for the number of days for the quarter preceding thereto
during which the Commitments were outstanding.
(d)
Fees Non-Refundable
. All fees set forth in this
Section 2.8 shall be deemed to have been earned on the date payment
is due in accordance with the provisions hereof and shall be
non-refundable. The obligation of the Borrower to pay such
fees in accordance with the provisions hereof shall be binding upon
the Borrower and shall inure to the benefit of the Administrative
Agent and the Banks regardless of whether any Loans are actually
made.
2.9
Maturity Date
. The term (the “
Term ”) of the Commitments (and each Bank’s
obligations to make Loans) shall terminate and expire on the
Maturity Date. Upon the date of the termination of the Term,
any Loans then outstanding (together with accrued interest thereon
and all other Obligations) shall be due and payable on such
date.
35
2.10
Mandatory Prepayment
. If at any time the Revolving
Credit Agreement, dated as of February 28, 2007, among the
Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the banks party thereto, as
amended by the Amendment to Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of
March 30, 2007, shall be amended or amended and restated or
replaced, whether pursuant to the Increase Option (as defined
therein) or otherwise, so as to increase the aggregate commitments
thereunder, Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the
account of the Banks, on or before the earlier to occur of (x)
thirty (30) days after the date of such amendment or replacement or
the closing of the Increase Option, and (y) the end of any Interest
Period occurring after such amendment or replacement (but only to
the extent of the Loans maturing at the end of any such Interest
Period), an amount equal to the increase in the aggregate
commitments thereunder (but in no event more than the outstanding
balance of the Loans). Borrower shall make such prepayment
together with interest accrued to the date of the prepayment on the
principal amount prepaid. In connection with the prepayment
of a Euro-Dollar Loan prior to the maturity thereof, the Borrower
shall also pay any applicable expenses pursuant to Section
2.13. Each such prepayment shall be applied to prepay ratably
the Loans of the Banks. Amounts prepaid pursuant to this
Section 2.10 may not be reborrowed and the Commitments shall be
deemed to have been reduced accordingly.
2.11
Optional Prepayments and Optional
Decreases and Termination .
(a)
The Borrower may, upon at least one
(1) Business Day’s notice to the Administrative Agent (which
shall promptly notify each of the Banks), prepay any Group of Loans
which are Base Rate Loans, in whole at any time, or from time to
time in part in amounts aggregating One Million Dollars
($1,000,000) or any larger multiple of One Hundred Thousand Dollars
($100,000), by paying the principal amount to be prepaid.
Each such optional prepayment shall be applied to prepay ratably
the Loans of the several Banks included in such Group of Loans or
Borrowing included in such Group of Loans or Borrowing.
(b)
The Borrower may, upon at least one
(1) Euro-Dollar Business Day’s notice to the Administrative
Agent (which shall promptly notify each of the Banks), prepay any
Euro-Dollar Loan as of the last day of the Interest Period
applicable thereto. Except as provided in Article VIII and
except with respect to any Euro-Dollar Loan which has been
converted to a Base Rate Loan pursuant to Section 8.2, 8.3 or 8.4
hereof, the Borrower may not prepay all or any portion of the
principal amount of any Euro-Dollar Loan prior to the end of the
Interest Period applicable thereto unless the Borrower shall also
pay any applicable expenses pursuant to Section 2.13. Any
such prepayment shall be upon at least three (3) Euro-Dollar
Business Days’ notice to the Administrative Agent. Each
such optional prepayment shall be in the amounts set forth in
Section 2.11(a) above and shall be applied to prepay ratably the
Loans of the Banks included in any Group of
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Loans which are Euro-Dollar Loans,
except that any Euro-Dollar Loan which has been converted to a Base
Rate Loan pursuant to Section 8.2, 8.3 or 8.4 hereof may be prepaid
without ratable payment of the other Loans in such Group of Loans
which have not been so converted.
(c)
Intentionally Omitted.
(d)
Intentionally Omitted.
(e)
The Borrower may at any time and
from time to time cancel all or any part of the Commitments. If
there are Loans then outstanding or, if there are no Loans
outstanding at such time as to which the Commitments with respect
thereto are being cancelled, upon at least one (1) Business
Day’s notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall
promptly notify each of the Banks), whereupon, in either event, all
or such portion of the Commitments, as applicable, shall terminate
as to the Banks, pro rata on the date set forth in such notice of
cancellation, and, if there are any Loans then outstanding,
Borrower shall prepay, as applicable, all or such portion of Loans
outstanding on such date in accordance with the requirements of
Section 2.11(a) and (b). Borrower shall be permitted to designate
in its notice of cancellation which Loans, if any, are to be
prepaid.
(f)
Any amounts so prepaid pursuant to
Section 2.11 (a) or (b) may be reborrowed. In the event Borrower
elects to cancel all or any portion of the Commitments pursuant to
Section 2.11(e) hereof, such amounts may not be
reborrowed.
2.12
General Provisions as to
Payments .
(a)
The Borrower shall make each payment
of interest on the Loans and of fees hereunder, not later than
12:00 Noon (Dallas time) on the date when due, in Federal or other
funds immediately available in Dallas, to the Administrative Agent
at its address referred to in Section 9.1. The Administrative
Agent will promptly (and if received prior to 12:00 noon, on the
same Business Day, if received after 12:00 noon on the immediately
following Business Day) distribute to each Bank its ratable share
of each such payment received by the Administrative Agent for the
account of the Banks. If and to the extent that the
Administrative Agent shall receive any such payment for the account
of the Banks on or before 12:00 Noon (Dallas time) on any Business
Day, and Administrative Agent shall not have distributed to any
Bank its applicable share of such payment on such Business Day,
Administrative Agent shall distribute such amount to such Bank
together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such
amount should have been distributed to such Bank until the date
Administrative Agent distributes such amount to such Bank, at the
Federal Funds Rate. Whenever any payment of principal of, or
interest on the Base Rate Loans or of fees shall be due on a day
which is not a Business
37
Day, the date for payment thereof
shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day.
Whenever any payment of principal of, or interest on, the
Euro-Dollar Loans shall be due on a day which is not a Euro-Dollar
Business Day, the date for payment thereof shall be extended to the
next succeeding Euro-Dollar Business Day unless such Euro-Dollar
Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case the
date for payment thereof shall be the next preceding Euro-Dollar
Business Day. If the date for any p