Table of Contents
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ARTICLE I | DEFINITIONS | 1 |
| 1.1 | Definitions | 1 |
| 1.2 | Interpretation | 15 |
| 1.3 | Accounting | 16 |
ARTICLE II | THE CREDITS | 16 |
| 2.1 | Commitment | 16 |
| 2.2 | Required Payments; Termination | 17 |
| 2.3 | Ratable Loans | 17 |
| 2.4 | Types of Advances | 17 |
| 2.5 | Facility Fee; Utilization Fee; Reductions in Aggregate Commitment | 17 |
| 2.6 | Minimum Amount of Each Advance | 18 |
| 2.7 | Prepayments | 18 |
| 2.8 | Method of Selecting Types and Interest Periods for New Advances | 18 |
| 2.9 | Conversion and Continuation of Outstanding Advances | 19 |
| 2.10 | Changes in Interest Rate, etc | 19 |
| 2.11 | Rates Applicable After Default | 20 |
| 2.12 | Method of Payment | 20 |
| 2.13 | Noteless Agreement; Evidence of Indebtedness | 21 |
| 2.14 | Telephonic Notices | 21 |
| 2.15 | Interest Payment Dates; Interest and Fee Basis | 22 |
| 2.16 | Notification of Advances, Interest Rates, Prepayments and Commitment Reductions | 22
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| 2.17 | Lending Installations | 22 |
| 2.18 | Non-Receipt of Funds by the Agent | 22 |
| 2.19 | Letters of Credit | 23 |
ARTICLE III | YIELD PROTECTION; TAXES | 27 |
| 3.1 | Yield Protection | 27 |
| 3.2 | Changes in Capital Adequacy Regulations | 28 |
| 3.3 | Availability of Types of Advances | 28 |
| 3.4 | Funding Indemnification | 28 |
| 3.5 | Taxes | 29 |
| 3.6 | Mitigation of Circumstances; Lender Statements; Survival of Indemnity | 31
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| 3.7 | Replacement of Lender | 31 |
ARTICLE IV | CONDITIONS PRECEDENT | 32 |
| 4.1 | Initial Credit Extension | 32 |
| 4.2 | Each Credit Extension | 33 |
| 4.3 | Certain Credit Extensions | 33 |
ARTICLE V | REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES | 34 |
| 5.1 | Existence and Standing | 34 |
| 5.2 | Authorization and Validity | 34 |
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| 5.3 | No Conflict; Government Consent | 35 |
| 5.4 | Financial Statements | 35 |
| 5.5 | No Material Adverse Change | 35 |
| 5.6 | Taxes | 35 |
| 5.7 | Litigation and Contingent Obligations | 36 |
| 5.8 | Significant Subsidiaries | 36 |
| 5.9 | ERISA | 36 |
| 5.10 | Accuracy of Information | 36 |
| 5.11 | Regulation U | 36 |
| 5.12 | Material Agreements | 36 |
| 5.13 | Compliance With Laws | 36 |
| 5.14 | Plan Assets; Prohibited Transactions | 37 |
| 5.15 | Environmental Matters | 37 |
| 5.16 | Investment Company Act | 37 |
| 5.17 | Public Utility Holding Company Act | 37 |
| 5.18 | Insurance | 37 |
| 5.19 | No Default | 37 |
| 5.20 | Ownership of Properties | 37 |
| 5.21 | Tax Shelter Regulations | 37 |
ARTICLE VI | COVENANTS | 38 |
| 6.1 | Financial Reporting | 38 |
| 6.2 | Use of Proceeds | 40 |
| 6.3 | Notice of Default | 40 |
| 6.4 | Conduct of Business | 40 |
| 6.5 | Taxes | 40 |
| 6.6 | Insurance | 41 |
| 6.7 | Compliance with Laws | 41 |
| 6.8 | Maintenance of Properties | 41 |
| 6.9 | Inspection | 41 |
| 6.10 | Merger | 41 |
| 6.11 | Sales of Assets | 41 |
| 6.12 | Liens | 42 |
| 6.13 | Leverage Ratio | 44 |
| 6.14 | Tax Shelter Regulations | 44 |
ARTICLE VII | DEFAULTS | 45 |
| 7.1 | Representation or Warranty | 45 |
| 7.2 | Nonpayment | 45 |
| 7.3 | Certain Covenant Breaches | 45 |
| 7.4 | Other Breaches | 45 |
| 7.5 | Cross Default | 46 |
| 7.6 | Voluntary Bankruptcy, etc | 46 |
| 7.7 | Involuntary Bankruptcy, etc | 46 |
| 7.8 | Seizure of Property, etc | 46 |
| 7.9 | Judgments | 46 |
| 7.10 | ERISA | 46 |
| 7.11 | Unenforceability of Loan Documents | 47 |
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| 7.12 | Change in Control | 47 |
ARTICLE VIII | ACCELERATION, WAIVERS, AMENDMENTS AND REMEDIES | 47
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| 8.1 | Acceleration | 47 |
| 8.2 | Amendments | 48 |
| 8.3 | Preservation of Rights | 48 |
ARTICLE IX | GENERAL PROVISIONS | 49 |
| 9.1 | Survival of Representations | 49 |
| 9.2 | Governmental Regulation | 49 |
| 9.3 | Headings | 49 |
| 9.4 | Entire Agreement | 49 |
| 9.5 | Several Obligations; Benefits of this Agreement | 49 |
| 9.6 | Expenses; Indemnification | 49 |
| 9.7 | Numbers of Documents | 50 |
| 9.8 | Disclosure | 50 |
| 9.9 | Severability of Provisions | 50 |
| 9.10 | Nonliability of Lenders | 50 |
| 9.11 | Limited Disclosure | 51 |
| 9.12 | Nonreliance | 52 |
| 9.13 | Termination of Existing Credit Facility | 52 |
ARTICLE X | THE AGENT | 52 |
| 10.1 | Appointment; Nature of Relationship | 52 |
| 10.2 | Powers | 52 |
| 10.3 | General Immunity | 53 |
| 10.4 | No Responsibility for Loans Recitals etc | 53 |
| 10.5 | Action on Instructions of Lenders | 53 |
| 10.6 | Employment of Agents and Counsel | 53 |
| 10.7 | Reliance on Documents; Counsel | 53 |
| 10.8 | Agent's Reimbursement and Indemnification | 54 |
| 10.9 | Notice of Default | 54 |
| 10.10 | Rights as a Lender | 54 |
| 10.11 | Lender Credit Decision | 55 |
| 10.12 | Successor Agent | 55 |
| 10.13 | Agent's Fee | 55 |
| 10.14 | Delegation to Affiliates | 56 |
| 10.15 | Other Agents | 56 |
ARTICLE XI | SETOFF; RATABLE PAYMENTS | 56 |
| 11.1 | Setoff | 56 |
| 11.2 | Ratable Payments | 56 |
ARTICLE XII | BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT; ASSIGNMENTS; PARTICIPATIONS | 57
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| 12.1 | Successors and Assigns | 57 |
| 12.2 | Participations | 57 |
| 12.3 | Assignments | 58 |
| 12.4 | Dissemination of Information | 59 |
| 12.5 | Grant of Funding Option to SPC | 59 |
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| 12.6 | Tax Treatment | 59 |
ARTICLE XIII | NOTICES | 60 |
| 13.1 | Notices | 60 |
| 13.2 | Notices to and by Subsidiary Borrowers | 60 |
| 13.3 | Limited Use of Electronic Mail | 60 |
ARTICLE XIV | COUNTERPARTS | 60 |
ARTICLE XV | CHOICE OF LAW; CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL | 61
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| 15.1 | CHOICE OF LAW | 61 |
| 15.2 | CONSENT TO JURISDICTION | 61 |
| 15.3 | WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL | 61 |
"Contingent Obligation" of a Person means any agreement, undertaking or arrangement by which such Person assumes, guarantees, endorses, contingently agrees to purchase or provide funds for the payment of, or otherwise becomes or is contingently liable upon, the obligation or liability of any other Person, or agrees to maintain the net worth or working capital or other financial condition of any other Person, or otherwise assures any creditor of such other Person against loss, including any comfort letter, operating agreement, take or pay contract, application for a letter of credit or the obligations of any such Person as general partner of a partnership with respect to the liabilities of such partnership;provided that Contingent Obligations shall not include endorsements of instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business. The amount of any Contingent Obligation shall be deemed equal to the stated or dete rminable amount of the primary obligation of such other Person or, if such amount is not stated or is indeterminable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability of such Person in respect thereof.
"Controlled Group" means all members of a controlled group of corporations or other business entities and all trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) under common control which, together with any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, are treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.
"Conversion/Continuation Notice" is defined inSection 2.9.
"Credit Extension" means the making of an Advance or the issuance of, or extension of the expiry date for or increase in the amount of, a Letter of Credit.
"Default" means an event described inArticle VII.
"DPL" is defined in thepreamble.
"DPL Sublimit" means, at any time, the lesser of (a) $150,000,000, as such amount is reduced from time to time pursuant toSection 2.5 and (b) the maximum amount of short-term debt that DPL is authorized to have outstanding by Applicable Governmental Authoritiesminus any other applicable short-term debt of DPL.
"Environmental Laws" means any and all federal, state, local and foreign statutes, laws, judicial decisions, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, plans, injunctions, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements and other governmental restrictions relating to (i) the protection of the environment, (ii) the effect of the environment on human health, (iii) emissions, discharges or releases of pollutants, contaminants, hazardous substances or wastes into surface water, ground water or land, or (iv) the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of pollutants, contaminants, hazardous substances or wastes or the clean-up or other remediation thereof.
"ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
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"Preferred Stock" means, with respect to any Person, equity interests issued by such Person that are entitled to a preference or priority over any other equity interests issued by such Person upon any distribution of such Person's property and assets, whether by dividend or upon liquidation.
"Pricing Schedule" meansSchedule 1 hereto.
"Prime Rate" means a rate per annum equal to the prime rate of interest announced by Bank One or by its parent, Bank One Corporation, from time to time, changing when and as such prime rate changes.
"Property" of a Person means any and all property, whether real, personal, tangible, intangible, or mixed, of such Person, or other assets owned, leased or operated by such Person.
"Pro Rata Share" means, with respect to any Lender, the percentage which such Lender's Commitment constitutes of the Aggregate Commitment (and/or, to the extent the Commitments have terminated, the percentage which such Lender's Loans and participation in LC Obligations constitutes of the aggregate principal amount of all Loans and LC Obligations). The initial Pro Rata Share of each Lender is set forth onSchedule 2.
"Public Reports" means (a) in the case of PEPCO, (i) its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002, and (ii) its quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 14, 2003; (b) in the case of DPL, (i) its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002, and (ii) its quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 14, 2003; (c) in the case of ACE, (i) its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002, and (ii) its quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 14, 2003; and (d) in the case of PHI, (i) its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002, and (ii) its quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 14, 2003.
"PUHCA" means the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935.
"Purchasers" is defined inSection 12.3.1.
"Reimbursement Obligations" means, with respect to any Borrower at any time, the aggregate amount of all obligations of such Borrower then outstanding underSection 2.19.6 to reimburse the Issuer for amounts paid by the Issuer in respect of one or more drawings under Letters of Credit.
"Reportable Event" means a reportable event, as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA, with respect to a Plan, excluding, however, such events as to which the PBGC has by regulation waived the requirement of Section 4043(a) of ERISA that it be notified within 30 days of the occurrence of such event,provided that a failure to meet the minimum funding standard of Section 412 of the Code and of Section 302 of ERISA shall be a Reportable Event regardless of the issuance of any such waiver of the notice requirement in accordance with either Section 4043(a) of ERISA or Section 412(d) of the Code. |
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"Required Lenders" means Lenders in the aggregate having more than 50% of the Aggregate Commitment or, if the Aggregate Commitment has been terminated, Lenders in the aggregate holding more than 50% of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Outstanding Credit Extensions to all Borrowers.
"Reserve Requirement" means, with respect to an Interest Period, the maximum aggregate reserve requirement (including all basic, supplemental, marginal and other reserves) which is imposed under Regulation D of the FRB on Eurocurrency liabilities.
"S&P" means Standard and Poor's Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw Hill Companies, Inc.
"SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Securitization Transaction" means any sale, assignment or other transfer by a Borrower or a Subsidiary thereof of accounts receivable or other payment obligations owing to such Borrower or such Subsidiary or any interest in any of the foregoing, together in each case with any collections and other proceeds thereof, any collection or deposit accounts related thereto, and any collateral, guaranties or other property or claims in favor of such Borrower or such Subsidiary supporting or securing payment by the obligor thereon of, or otherwise related to, any such receivables.
"Significant Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Borrower, a "significant subsidiary" (as defined in Regulation S-X of the SEC as in effect on the date of this Agreement) of such Borrower;provided that each of PEPCO, DPL and ACE shall at all times be a Significant Subsidiary of PHI.
"Single Employer Plan" means, with respect to a Borrower, a Plan maintained by such Borrower or any member of the Controlled Group for employees of such Borrower or any member of the Controlled Group.
"SPC" is defined inSection 12.5.
"SPV" is defined in the definition of Permitted PHI Liens.
"Special Purpose Subsidiary" means a direct or indirect wholly owned corporate Subsidiary of ACE, substantially all of the assets of which are Intangible Transition Property and proceeds thereof, formed solely for the purpose of holding such assets and issuing Transition Bonds and, which complies with the requirements customarily imposed on bankruptcy-remote corporations in receivables securitizations.
"Sublimit" means each of the PHI Sublimit, the PEPCO Sublimit, the DPL Sublimit and the ACE Sublimit. |
Credit. All such amounts paid by the Issuer and remaining unpaid by the applicable Borrower shall bear interest, payable on demand, for each day until paid at a rate per annum equal to (x) on or prior to the date on which the Issuer notifies such Borrower of the amount paid under any Letter of Credit, the rate applicable to Floating Rate Advances, and (y) thereafter, the sum of 2% plus the rate applicable to Floating Rate Advances. The Issuer will pay to each Lender ratably in accordance with its Pro Rata Share all amounts received by it from a Borrower for application in payment, in whole or in part, of the Reimbursement Obligation in respect of any Letter of Credit issued by the Issuer and any interest thereon, but only to the extent (and, in the case of interest, for the period of time) such Lender has made payment to the Issuer in respect of such Letter of Credit pursuant toSection 2.19.5.
2.19.7 Obligations Absolute. Each Borrower's obligations under thisSection 2.19 with respect to each Letter of Credit issued for the account of such Borrower shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances and irrespective of any setoff, counterclaim or defense to payment which such Borrower may have or have had against the Issuer, any Lender or any beneficiary of any such Letter of Credit. Each Borrower agrees with the Issuer and the Lenders that neither the Issuer nor any Lender shall be responsible for, and the applicable Borrower's Reimbursement Obligation in respect of any Letter of Credit issued for the account of such Borrower shall not be affected by, among other things, the validity or genuineness of documents or of any endorsements thereon, even if such documents should in fact prove to be in any or all respects invalid, fraudulent or forged, or any dispute between or among such Borrower, any of its Affiliates, the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit or any financing institution or other party to whom any Letter of Credit may be transferred or any claims or defenses whatsoever of such Borrower or of any of its Affiliates against the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit or any such transferee. The Issuer shall not be liable for any error, omission, interruption or delay in transmission, dispatch or delivery of any message or advice, however transmitted, in connection with any Letter of Credit. Each Borrower agrees that any action taken or omitted by the Issuer or any Lender under or in connection with any Letter of Credit and the related drafts and documents, if done without gross negligence or willful misconduct, shall be binding upon such Borrower and shall not put the Issuer or any Lender under any liability to such Borrower. Nothing in thisSection 2.19.7 is intended to limit the right of the applicable Borrower to make a claim against the Issuer for damages as contemplated by the proviso to the first sentence ofSection 2.19.6.
2.19.8 Actions of Issuer. The Issuer shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any Letter of Credit, draft, writing, resolution, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, cablegram, telegram, facsimile, telex or teletype message, statement, order or other document believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person or Persons, and upon advice and statements of legal counsel, independent accountants and other experts selected by the Issuer. The Issuer shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under this Agreement unless it shall first have received such advice or concurrence of the Required Lenders as it reasonably deems appropriate or it shall first be indemnified to its reasonable satisfaction by the Lenders against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred b y it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. Notwithstanding any other provision of thisSection 2.19, the Issuer shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement in accordance with a request of the Required Lenders, and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon the Lenders and any future holder of a participation in any Letter of Credit.
2.19.9 Indemnification. Each Borrower hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Lender, the Issuer and the Agent, and their respective directors, officers, agents and employees, from and against any and all claims and damages, losses, liabilities, costs or expenses which such Lender, the Issuer or the Agent may incur (or which may be claimed against such Lender, the Issuer or the Agent by any Person whatsoever) by reason of or in connection with the issuance, execution and delivery or transfer of or payment or failure to pay under any Letter of Credit issued for the account of such Borrower or any actual or proposed use of any such Letter of Credit, including any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs or expenses which the Issuer may incur by reason of or in connection with (i) the failure of any other Lender to fulfill or comply with its obligations to the Issuer hereun der (but nothing herein contained shall affect any right a Borrower may have against any defaulting Lender) or (ii) by reason of or on account of the Issuer issuing any Letter of Credit which specifies that the term "Beneficiary" included therein includes any successor by operation of law of the named Beneficiary, but which Letter of Credit does not require that any drawing by any such successor Beneficiary be accompanied by a copy of a legal document, satisfactory to the Issuer, evidencing the appointment of such successor Beneficiary;provided that no Borrower shall be required to indemnify any Lender, the Issuer or the Agent for any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs or expenses to the extent, but only to the extent, caused by (x) the willful misconduct or gross negligence of the Issuer in determining whether a request presented under any Letter of Credit issued by the Issuer for the account of such Borrower complied with the terms of such Letter of Credit or (y) the Issuer's failure to pa y under any Letter of Credit issued for the account of such Borrower after the presentation to it of a request strictly complying with the terms and conditions of such Letter of Credit. Nothing in thisSection 2.19.9 is intended to limit the obligations of any Borrower under any other provision of this Agreement.
2.19.10 Lenders' Indemnification. Each Lender shall, ratably in accordance with its Pro Rata Share, indemnify the Issuer, its affiliates and its directors, officers, agents and employees (to the extent not reimbursed by the applicable Borrower) against any cost, expense (including reasonable counsel fees and disbursements), claim, demand, action, loss or liability (except such as result from such indemnitees' gross negligence or willful misconduct or the Issuer's failure to pay under any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it of a request strictly complying with the terms and conditions of such Letter of Credit) that such indemnitees may suffer or incur in connection with thisSection 2.19 or any action taken or omitted by such indemnitees hereunder.
2.19.11 Rights as a Lender. In its capacity as a Lender, the Issuer shall have the same rights and obligations as any other Lender.
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| (i) | In the case of PHI, after June 30, 2005, unless PHI shall have delivered to the Agent a certificate to the effect that (and attaching copies of) all corporate and governmental approvals (including approvals of the SEC and any applicable state or federal public utilities commission) necessary for such Borrower to have Outstanding Credit Extensions in the applicable amount have been obtained.
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| (ii) | In the case of PEPCO, after June 30, 2005, unless PEPCO shall have delivered to the Agent a certificate to the effect that (and attaching copies of) all corporate and governmental approvals (including approvals of the SEC and any applicable state or federal public utilities commission) necessary for such Borrower to have Outstanding Credit Extensions in the applicable amount have been obtained.
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| (iii) | In the case of DPL, after March 31, 2004, unless DPL shall have delivered to the Agent a certificate to the effect that (and attaching copies of) all corporate and governmental approvals (including approvals of the SEC and any applicable state or federal public utilities commission) necessary for such Borrower to have Outstanding Credit Extensions in the applicable amount have been obtained.
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| (iv) | In the case of ACE, after January 1, 2004, unless ACE shall have delivered to the Agent a certificate to the effect that (and attaching copies of) all corporate and governmental approvals (including approvals of the SEC and any applicable state or federal public utilities commission) necessary for such Borrower to have Outstanding Credit Extensions in the applicable amount have been obtained.
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ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
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Each Borrower represents and warrants to the Lenders that:
5.1 Existence and Standing. Such Borrower is a corporation, and each of its Subsidiaries is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company, duly and properly incorporated or organized, as the case may be, validly existing and (to the extent such concept applies to such entity) in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction (or, if applicable, jurisdictions) of incorporation or organization and has all requisite authority to conduct its business in each jurisdiction in which its business is conducted, except where failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to such Borrower.
5.2 Authorization and Validity. Such Borrower has the power and authority and legal right to execute and deliver the Loan Documents to which it is a party and to perform its obligations thereunder. The execution and delivery by such Borrower of the Loan Documents to which it is a party and the performance of its obligations thereunder have been duly authorized by proper corporate proceedings, and the Loan Documents to which such Borrower is a party constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of such Borrower enforceable against such Borrower in accordance with their terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally.
5.3 No Conflict; Government Consent. Neither the execution and delivery by such Borrower of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, nor the consummation of the transactions therein contemplated, nor compliance with the provisions thereof, will violate (i) any law, rule, regulation, order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree or award binding on such Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) such Borrower's or any of its Subsidiary's articles or certificate of incorporation, partnership agreement, certificate of partnership, articles or certificate of organization, bylaws, or operating or other management agreement, as the case may be, or (iii) the provisions of any indenture, instrument or agreement to which such Borrower or any of its Significant Subsidiaries is a party or is subject, or by which it, or its Property, is bound, or conflict with or const itute a default thereunder, or result in, or require, the creation or imposition of any Lien in, of or on any Property of such Borrower or any of its Significant Subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of any such indenture, instrument or agreement. Except for an appropriate order or orders of (a) in the case of PHI, PEPCO and DPL, of the SEC under PUHCA, (b) in the case of DPL, of the Virginia State Corporation Commission and (c) in the case of ACE, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, each of which has been issued and is in full force and effect (and copies of which have been delivered to the Agent), no order, consent, adjudication, approval, license, authorization, or validation of, or filing, recording or registration with, or exemption by, or other action in respect of any governmental or public body or authority (including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission), or any subdivision thereof, is required to be obtained by such Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the execution and de livery by such Borrower of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, the borrowings and obtaining of Letters of Credit by such Borrower under this Agreement, the payment and performance by such Borrower of its Obligations or the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against such Borrower of any Loan Document to which such Borrower is a party;provided that each Borrower must obtain the applicable approvals described inSection 4.3 prior to obtaining Credit Extensions after the applicable date specified in suchSection 4.3 with respect to such Borrower.
5.4 Financial Statements. The financial statements included in such Borrower's Public Reports were prepared in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles and fairly present the consolidated financial condition and operations of such Borrower and its Subsidiaries at the dates thereof and the consolidated results of their operations for the periods then ended.
5.5 No Material Adverse Change. Since December 31, 2002, there has been no change from that reflected in the Public Reports in the business, Property, financial condition or results of operations of such Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to such Borrower.
5.6 Taxes. Such Borrower and its Subsidiaries have filed all United States federal tax returns and all other material tax returns which are required to be filed and have paid all taxes due pursuant to said returns or pursuant to any assessment received by such Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, except (a) such taxes, if any, as are being contested in good faith and as to which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles and (b) taxes and governmental charges (in addition to those referred to inclause (a)) in an aggregate amount not exceeding $1,000,000. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of such Borrower and its Subsidiaries in respect of any taxes or other governmental charges are adequate.
5.7 Litigation and Contingent Obligations. Except as disclosed in the Public Reports, there is no litigation, arbitration, governmental investigation, proceeding or inquiry pending or, to the knowledge of such Borrower, threatened against or affecting such Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to such Borrower or which seeks to prevent, enjoin or delay the making of any Loans. Other than any liability incident to any litigation, arbitration or proceeding which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to such Borrower, such Borrower has no material contingent obligations not provided for or disclosed in the Public Reports.
5.8 Significant Subsidiaries.Schedule 4 contains an accurate list of all Significant Subsidiaries of such Borrower setting forth their respective jurisdictions of organization and the percentage of their respective capital stock or other ownership interests owned by such Borrower or other Subsidiaries of such Borrower. All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock or other ownership interests of such Significant Subsidiaries have been (to the extent such concepts are relevant with respect to such ownership interests) duly authorized and issued and are fully paid and nonassessable.
5.9 ERISA. Each Plan complies in all material respects with all applicable requirements of law and regulations, no Reportable Event has occurred with respect to any Plan, neither such Borrower nor any other member of the Controlled Group has withdrawn from any Plan or initiated steps to do so, and no steps have been taken to reorganize or terminate any Plan.
5.10 Accuracy of Information. No written information, exhibit or report furnished by such Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to the Agent or to any Lender in connection with the negotiation of, or compliance with, the Loan Documents to which such Borrower is a party contained any material misstatement of fact or omitted to state a material fact or any fact necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading.
5.11 Regulation U. Margin stock (as defined in Regulation U of the FRB) constitutes less than 25% of the value of those assets of such Borrower and its Subsidiaries which are subject to any limitation on sale, pledge, or other restriction hereunder.
5.12 Material Agreements. Neither such Borrower nor any Subsidiary thereof is in default in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any of the obligations, covenants or conditions contained in any agreement to which it is a party, which default could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to such Borrower.
5.13 Compliance With Laws. Such Borrower and its Subsidiaries have complied with all applicable statutes, rules, regulations, orders and restrictions of any domestic or foreign government or any instrumentality or agency thereof having jurisdiction over the conduct of their respective businesses or the ownership of their respective Property except for any failure to comply with any of the foregoing which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to such Borrower.
5.14 Plan Assets; Prohibited Transactions. Such Borrower is not an entity deemed to hold "plan assets" within the meaning of 29 C.F.R. Sections 2510.3-101 of an employee benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) which is subject to Title I of ERISA or any plan (within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code), and neither the execution of this Agreement nor the making of Loans to such Borrower hereunder gives rise to a prohibited transaction within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.
5.15 Environmental Matters. In the ordinary course of its business, the officers of such Borrower consider the effect of Environmental Laws on the business of such Borrower and its Subsidiaries, in the course of which they identify and evaluate potential risks and liabilities accruing to such Borrower and its Subsidiaries due to Environmental Laws. On the basis of this consideration, such Borrower has concluded that Environmental Laws are not reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to such Borrower. Neither such Borrower nor any Subsidiary thereof has received any notice to the effect that its operations are not in material compliance with any of the requirements of applicable Environmental Laws or are the subject of any federal or state investigation evaluating whether any remedial action is needed to respond to a release of any to xic or hazardous waste or substance into the environment, which noncompliance or remedial action could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to such Borrower.
5.16 Investment Company Act. Neither such Borrower nor any Subsidiary thereof is an "investment company" or a company "controlled" by an "investment company", within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940.
5.17 Public Utility Holding Company Act. PHI is a "holding company" within the meaning of PUHCA.
5.18 Insurance. Such Borrower and its Significant Subsidiaries maintain insurance with financially sound and reputable insurance companies on all their Property of a character usually insured by entities in the same or similar businesses similarly situated against loss or damage of the kinds and in the amounts, customarily insured against by such entities, and maintain such other insurance as is usually carried by such entities.
5.19 No Default. No Default or Unmatured Default exists.
5.20 Ownership of Properties. As of the Closing Date, such Borrower and its Subsidiaries have valid title, free of all Liens other than those permitted bySection 6.12, to all the Property reflected as owned by such Borrower and its Subsidiaries in the March 31, 2003 financial statements of such Borrower referred to inSection 5.4, other than Property used, sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of since such date (a) in the ordinary course of business, (b) which are not material to the business of such Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or (c) as otherwise permitted by the terms of the Existing Credit Facility.
5.21 Tax Shelter Regulations. Such Borrower does not intend to treat any Credit Extension or related transaction hereunder as being a "reportable transaction" (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4).
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ARTICLE VI
COVENANTS
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During the term of this Agreement, unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise consent in writing:
6.1 Financial Reporting. Each Borrower will maintain, for itself and each of its Subsidiaries, a system of accounting established and administered in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles, and furnish to the Agent (in such number of copies as the Agent may reasonably request):
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| (i) | Within 100 days after the close of each of its fiscal years, an audit report, which shall be without a "going concern" or similar qualification or exception and without any qualification as to the scope of the audit, certified by independent certified public accountants acceptable to the Required Lenders, prepared in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles on a consolidated and consolidating basis (consolidating statements need not be certified by such accountants) for itself and its Subsidiaries, including balance sheets as of the end of such period, related profit and loss and reconciliation of surplus statements, and a statement of cash flows, accompanied by (a) any management letter prepared by said accountants, and (b) a certificate of said accountants that, in the course of their examination necessary for their certification of the foregoing, they have obtained no knowledge of any Default or Unmatured Default with respect to such Borrower, or if, in the opinion of such accountants, any such Default or Unmatured Default shall exist, stating the nature and status thereof;provided that if such Borrower is then a "registrant" within the meaning of Rule 1-01 of Regulation S-X of the SEC and required to file a report on Form 10-K with the SEC, a copy of such Borrower's annual report on Form 10-K (excluding the exhibits thereto, unless such exhibits are requested underclause (viii) of this Section) or any successor form and a manually executed copy of the accompanying report of such Borrower's independent public accountant, as filed with the SEC, shall satisfy the requirements of thisclause (i);
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| (ii) | Within 60 days after the close of the first three quarterly periods of each of its fiscal years, for itself and its Subsidiaries, either (i) consolidated and consolidating unaudited balance sheets as at the close of each such period and consolidated and consolidating profit and loss and reconciliation of surplus statements and a statement of cash flows for the period from the beginning of such fiscal year to the end of such quarter, all certified by its chief financial officer or (ii) if such Borrower is then a "registrant" within the meaning of Rule 1-01 of Regulation S-X of the SEC and required to file a report on Form 10-Q with the SEC, a copy of such Borrower's report on Form 10-Q for such quarterly period, excluding the exhibits thereto, unless such exhibits are requested underclause (viii) of this Section.
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| (iii) | Together with the financial statements required underSections 6.1(i) and(ii), a compliance certificate in substantially the form ofExhibit A signed by an Authorized Officer of such Borrower showing the calculations necessary to determine such Borrower's compliance withSection 6.13 of this Agreement and stating that, to the knowledge of such officer, no Default or Unmatured Default with respect to such Borrower exists, or if any such Default or Unmatured Default exists, stating the nature and status thereof.
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| (iv) | As soon as possible and in any event within 30 days after receipt by such Borrower, a copy of (a) any notice or claim to the effect that such Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is or may be liable to any Person as a result of the release by such Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, or any other Person of any toxic or hazardous waste or substance into the environment, and (b) any notice alleging any violation of any federal, state or local environmental, health or safety law or regulation by such Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, which, in either case, could be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to such Borrower.
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| (v) | In the case of PHI, promptly upon the furnishing thereof to its shareholders, copies of all financial statements, reports and proxy statements so furnished.
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| (vi) | Promptly upon the filing thereof, copies of all registration statements and annual, quarterly, monthly or other regular reports which such Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries files with the SEC.
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| (vii) | In the case of PHI, as soon as PHI obtains knowledge of an actual Change in Control or publicly disclosed prospective Change in Control, written notice of same, including the anticipated or actual date of and all other publicly disclosed material terms and conditions surrounding such proposed or actual Change in Control.
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| (viii) | Such other information (including nonfinancial information) as the Agent or any Lender may from time to time reasonably request.
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Documents required to be delivered pursuant toclause (i),(ii),(v) or (vi) above may be delivered electronically and, if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the applicable Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto, on a website on the internet at a website address previously specified to the Agent and the Lenders; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the applicable Borrower's behalf on IntraLinks or another relevant website, if any, to which each of the Agent and each Lender has access;provided that (i) upon request of the Agent or any Lender, the applicable Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Agent or such Lender (until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Agent or such Lender) and (ii) the applicable Borrower shall notify (which may be by facsimile or electronic mail) the Agent and each Lender of the posting of any documents. The Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery of, or to maintain copies of, the documents referred to above or to monitor compliance by any Borrower with any such request for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such documents.
6.2 Use of Proceeds. Each Borrower will use the proceeds of the Advances to it for general corporate purposes. No Borrower will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, use any of the proceeds of the Advances to it to purchase or carry any "margin stock" (as defined in Regulation U of the FRB).
6.3 Notice of Default. Each Borrower will give prompt notice in writing to the Lenders of the occurrence of any Default or Unmatured Default with respect to such Borrower and of any other development, financial or otherwise, which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to such Borrower (it being understood and agreed that no Borrower shall be required to make separate disclosure under thisSection 6.3 of occurrences or developments which have previously been disclosed to the Lenders in any financial statement or other information delivered to the Lenders pursuant toSection 6.1).
6.4 Conduct of Business. Each Borrower will, and will cause each of its Significant Subsidiaries (or, in the case ofclause (ii) below, each of its Subsidiaries) to, (i) carry on and conduct its business in substantially the same manner and in substantially the same fields of enterprise as it is presently conducted and (ii) do all things necessary to remain duly incorporated or organized, validly existing and (to the extent such concept applies to such entity) in good standing as a domestic corporation, partnership or limited liability company in its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization, as the case may be, and maintain all requisite authority to conduct its business in each jurisdiction in which its business is conducted, except to the extent, in the case of all matters covered by thisclause (ii) other than the existence of such Borrowe r, that failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to such Borrower.
6.5 Taxes. Each Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, timely file complete and correct United States federal and applicable foreign, state and local tax returns required by law and pay when due all taxes, assessments and governmental charges and levies upon it or its income, profits or Property, except (a) those that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which adequate reserves have been set aside in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles and (b) taxes, governmental charges and levies (in addition to those referred to inclause (a)) in an aggregate amount not exceeding $1,000,000.
6.6 Insurance. Each Borrower will, and will cause each of its Significant Subsidiaries to, maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies insurance on all of its Property in such amounts and covering such risks as is consistent with sound business practice, and each Borrower will furnish to any Lender such information as such Lender may reasonably request as to the insurance carried by such Borrower and its Significant Subsidiaries.
6.7 Compliance with Laws. Each Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, comply with all laws, rules, regulations, orders, writs, judgments, injunctions, decrees or awards to which it may be subject, including all Environmental Laws, where failure to do so could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to such Borrower.
6.8 Maintenance of Properties. Each Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, do all things necessary to (a) maintain, preserve, protect and keep its Property in good repair, working order and condition, and make all necessary and proper repairs, renewals and replacements so that its business carried on in connection therewith may be properly conducted at all times, where failure to do so could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to such Borrower; and (b) keep proper books and records in which full and correct entries shall be made of all material financial transactions of such Borrower and its Subsidiaries.
6.9 Inspection. Each Borrower will, and will cause each of its Significant Subsidiaries to, permit the Agent and the Lenders upon reasonable notice and at such reasonable times and intervals as the Agent or any Lender may designate by their respective representatives and agents, to inspect any of the Property, books and financial records of such Borrower and each such Significant Subsidiary, to examine and make copies of the books of accounts and other financial records of such Borrower and each such Significant Subsidiary, and to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of such Borrower and each such Significant Subsidiary with, and to be advised as to the same by, their respective officers.
6.10 Merger. No Borrower will, nor will it permit any of its Significant Subsidiaries to, merge or consolidate with or into any other Person, except that, so long as both immediately prior to and after giving effect to such merger or consolidation, no Default or Unmatured Default with respect to such Borrower shall have occurred and be continuing, (i) any Significant Subsidiary of a Borrower may merge with such Borrower or a wholly-owned Subsidiary of such Borrower and (ii) a Borrower may merge or consolidate with any other Person so long as such Borrower is the surviving entity.
6.11 Sales of Assets. No Borrower will, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, lease, sell or otherwise dispose of any of its assets (other than in the ordinary course of business), or sell or assign with or without recourse any accounts receivable, except:
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| (i) | Any Subsidiary of a Borrower may sell, transfer or assign any of its assets to such Borrower or another Subsidiary of such Borrower.
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| (ii) | The sale, assignment or other transfer of accounts receivable or other rights to payment pursuant to any Securitization Transaction.
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| (iii) | In the case of PHI, any Permitted PHI Asset Sale so long as, at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto, no Default or Unmatured Default with respect to PHI exists.
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| (iv) | In the case of ACE, any Permitted ACE Asset Sale so long as, at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto, no Default or Unmatured Default with respect to ACE exists.
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| (v) | In the case of DPL, any Permitted DPL Asset Sale so long as, at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto, no Default or Unmatured Default with respect of DPL exists.
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| (vi) | So long as no Default or Unmatured Default exists or would result therefrom, the sale of Intangible Transition Property to a Special Purpose Subsidiary in connection with such Special Purpose Subsidiary's issuance of Nonrecourse Transition Bond Debt.
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| (vii) | Any Borrower and its Subsidiaries may sell or otherwise dispose of assets so long as the aggregate book value of all assets sold or otherwise disposed of in any fiscal year of such Borrower (other than assets sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business or pursuant toclauses (i) through(vi) above) does not exceed a Substantial Portion of the Property of such Borrower.
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6.12 Liens. No Borrower will, nor will it permit any of its Significant Subsidiaries to, create, incur, or suffer to exist any Lien in, of or on the Property of such Borrower or any such Significant Subsidiary, except:
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| (i) | Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or levies on its Property if the same shall not at the time be delinquent or thereafter can be paid without penalty, or are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles shall have been set aside on its books.
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| (ii) | Liens imposed by law, such as carriers', warehousemen's and mechanics' liens and other similar liens arising in the ordinary course of business which secure payment of obligations not more than 90 days past due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves shall have been set aside on its books.
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| (iii) | Liens arising out of pledges or deposits under worker's compensation laws, unemployment insurance, old age pensions, or other social security or retirement benefits, or similar legislation.
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| (iv) | Utility easements, building restrictions, zoning laws or ordinances and such other encumbrances or charges against real property as are of a nature generally existing with respect to properties of a similar character and which do not in any material way affect the marketability of the same or interfere with the use thereof in the business of such Borrower and its Significant Subsidiaries.
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| (v) | Liens existing on the date hereof and described inSchedule 5 (including Liens on after-acquired property arising under agreements described inSchedule 5 as such agreements are in effect on the date hereof).
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| (vi) | Judgment Liens which secure payment of legal obligations that would not constitute a Default with respect to such Borrower underArticle 7.
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| (vii) | Liens on Property acquired by such Borrower or a Significant Subsidiary thereof after the date hereof, existing on such Property at the time of acquisition thereof (and not created in anticipation thereof),provided that in any such case no such Lien shall extend to or cover any other Property of such Borrower or such Significant Subsidiary, as the case may be.
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| (viii) | Deposits and/or similar arrangements to secure the performance of bids, fuel procurement contracts or other trade contracts (other than for borrowed money), leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business by such Borrower or any of its Significant Subsidiaries.
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| (ix) | Liens on assets of such Borrower and its Significant Subsidiaries arising out of obligations or duties to any municipality or public authority with respect to any franchise, grant, license, permit or certificate.
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| (x) | Rights reserved to or vested in any municipality or public authority to control or regulate any property or asset of such Borrower or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or to use such property or asset in a manner which does not materially impair the use of such property or asset for the purposes for which it is held by such Borrower or such Significant Subsidiary.
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| (xi) | Irregularities in or deficiencies of title to any Property which do not materially affect the use of such property by such Borrower or any of its Significant Subsidiaries in the normal course of its business.
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| (xii) | Liens securing Indebtedness of such Borrower and its Subsidiaries incurred to finance the acquisition of fixed or capital assets,provided that (i) such Liens shall be created substantially simultaneously with the acquisition of such fixed or capital assets, (ii) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed by such Indebtedness, (iii) the principal amount of Indebtedness secured thereby is not increased and (iv) the principal amount of Indebtedness secured by any such Lien shall at no time exceed 100% of the original purchase price of such property at the time it was acquired.
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| (xiii) | Any Lien on any property or asset of any corporation or other entity existing at the time such corporation or entity is acquired, merged or consolidated or amalgamated with or into such Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary thereof and not created in contemplation of such event.
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| (xiv) | Liens arising out of the refinancing, extension, renewal or refunding of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien permitted bySection 6.12 (v),(vii),(xii) or(xiii),provided that such Indebtedness is not increased and is not secured by any additional assets.
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| (xv) | Rights of lessees arising under leases entered into by such Borrower or any of its Significant Subsidiaries as lessor, in the ordinary course of business.
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| (xvi) | In the case of PHI and PEPCO, Permitted PEPCO Liens.
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| (xvii) | In the case of PHI and DPL, Permitted DPL Liens.
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| (xviii) | In the case of PHI and ACE, Permitted ACE Liens.
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| (xix) | In the case of PHI, Permitted PHI Liens.
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| (xx) | Purchase money mortgages or other purchase money liens or conditional sale, lease-purchase or other title retention agreements upon or in respect of property acquired or leased for use in the ordinary course of its business by such Borrower or any of its Significant Subsidiaries.
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| (xxi) | Liens granted by a Special Purpose Subsidiary to secure Nonrecourse Transition Bond Debt of such Special Purpose Subsidiary.
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| (xxii) | Liens, in addition to those permitted byclauses (i) through(xxi), granted by PHI and its Subsidiaries (other than the Subsidiary Borrowers and their Subsidiaries) to secure Nonrecourse Indebtedness incurred after the date hereof,provided that the aggregate amount of all Indebtedness secured by such Liens shall not at any time exceed $200,000,000.
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| (xxiii) | Other Liens, in addition to those permitted byclauses (i) through(xxii), securing Indebtedness or arising in connection with Securitization Transactions,providedthat the sum (without duplication) of all such Indebtedness, plus the aggregate investment or claim held at any time by all purchasers, assignees or other transferees of (or of interests in) receivables and other rights to payment in all Securitization Transactions (excluding any Nonrecourse Transition Bond Debt), shall not at any time exceed (a) $700,000,000 for PHI and its Significant Subsidiaries, (b) $300,000,000 for PEPCO and its Significant Subsidiaries, (c) $300,000,000 for DPL and its Significant Subsidiaries and (d) $300,000,000 for ACE and its Significant Subsidiaries.
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6.13 Leverage Ratio. No Borrower will permit the ratio, determined as of the end of each of its fiscal quarters, of (i) the Total Indebtedness of such Borrower to (ii) the Total Capitalization of such Borrower to be greater than 0.65 to 1.0.
6.14 Tax Shelter Regulations. If any Borrower determines to take any action inconsistent withSection 5.21, such Borrower will promptly notify the Agent thereof and will promptly deliver to the Agent a duly completed copy of IRS Form 8886 (or any successor form). Each Borrower acknowledges that, upon any such notification, any Lender may treat its Credit Extensions hereunder as part of a transaction that is subject to Treasury Regulation Section 301.6112-1, and such Lender will maintain the lists and other records required by such Treasury Regulation.
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ARTICLE VII
DEFAULTS
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The occurrence of any one or more of the following events shall constitute a Default with respect to the Borrower(s) affected thereby (it being understood that (a) any Default with respect to a Subsidiary Borrower shall also be a Default with respect to PHI; and (b) any Default underSection 7.10 or7.12 shall be a Default for all Borrowers):
7.1 Representation or Warranty. Any representation or warranty made, or deemed made pursuant toSection 4.2 by or on behalf of such Borrower to the Issuer, the Lenders or the Agent under or in connection with this Agreement or any certificate or information delivered in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document to which such Borrower is a party shall be materially false on the date as of which made.
7.2 Nonpayment. Nonpayment of the principal of any Loan to such Borrower when due; nonpayment of any Reimbursement Obligation of such Borrower within one Business Day after the same becomes due; or nonpayment by such Borrower of any interest on any Loan to such Borrower, or of any facility fee, utilization fee, letter of credit fee or other obligation payable by such Borrower under any of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, within five days after the same becomes due.
7.3 Certain Covenant Breaches. The breach by such Borrower of any of the terms or provisions ofSection 6.2,6.4 (as to the existence of such Borrower),6.10,6.11,6.12 or6.13.
7.4 Other Breaches. The breach by such Borrower (other than a breach which constitutes a Default with respect to such Borrower under another Section of thisArticle VII) of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement which is not remedied within 15 days (or, in the case ofSection 6.9, five Business Days) after the chief executive officer, the chief financial officer, the President, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of such Borrower obtains actual knowledge of such breach.
7.5 Cross Default. Failure of such Borrower or any of its Significant Subsidiaries to pay when due any Indebtedness aggregating in excess of $50,000,000 ("Material Indebtedness"); or the default by such Borrower or any of its Significant Subsidiaries in the performance (beyond the applicable grace period with respect thereto, if any) of any term, provision or condition contained in any agreement under which any such Material Indebtedness was created or is governed, or any other event shall occur or condition exist, the effect of which default or event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Material Indebtedness to cause, such Material Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity; or any Material Indebtedness of such Borrower or any of its Significant Subsidiaries shall be declared to be due and payable or required to be prepai d or repurchased (other than by a regularly scheduled payment) prior to the stated maturity thereof; or such Borrower or any of its Significant Subsidiaries shall not pay, or admit in writing its inability to pay, its debts generally as they become due.
7.6 Voluntary Bankruptcy, etc. Such Borrower or any of its Significant Subsidiaries shall (i) have an order for relief entered with respect to it under the federal bankruptcy laws as now or hereafter in effect, (ii) make an assignment for the benefit of creditors, (iii) apply for, seek, consent to, or acquiesce in, the appointment of a receiver, custodian, trustee, examiner, liquidator or similar official for it or a Substantial Portion of its Property, (iv) institute any proceeding seeking an order for relief under the federal bankruptcy laws as now or hereafter in effect or seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking dissolution, winding up, liquidation, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of it or its debts under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors or fail to file an answer or other pleading denying the material allegations of any such proceeding filed against it, (v) take any corporate, partnership or limited liability company action to authorize or effect any of the foregoing actions set forth in thisSection 7.6 or (vi) fail to contest in good faith any appointment or proceeding described inSection 7.7.
7.7 Involuntary Bankruptcy, etc. Without the application, approval or consent of such Borrower or any of its Significant Subsidiaries, a receiver, trustee, examiner, liquidator or similar official shall be appointed for such Borrower or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or a Substantial Portion of its Property, or a proceeding described inSection 7.6(iv) shall be instituted against such Borrower or any of its Significant Subsidiaries and such appointment continues undischarged or such proceeding continues undismissed or unstayed for a period of 30 consecutive days.
7.8 Seizure of Property, etc. Any court, government or governmental agency shall condemn, seize or otherwise appropriate, or take custody or control of, all or any portion of the Property of such Borrower and its Significant Subsidiaries which, when taken together with all other Property of such Borrower and its Significant Subsidiaries so condemned, seized, appropriated, or taken custody or control of, constitutes a Substantial Portion of its Property.
7.9 Judgments. Such Borrower or any of its Significant Subsidiaries shall fail within 60 days to pay, bond or otherwise discharge one or more (i) judgments or orders for the payment of money in excess of $50,000,000 (or the equivalent thereof in currencies other than U.S. Dollars) in the aggregate or (ii) nonmonetary judgments or orders which, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to such Borrower, and, in any such case, there is a period of five consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment(s) or order(s) is not in effect (by reason of pending appeal or otherwise).
7.10 ERISA. (i) Any Person shall engage in any "prohibited transaction" (as defined in Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) involving any Plan, (ii) any "accumulated funding deficiency" (as defined in
Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived, shall exist with respect to any Plan or any Lien in favor of the PBGC or a Plan shall arise on the assets of any Borrower or any other member of the Controlled Group, (iii) a Reportable Event shall occur with respect to, or proceedings shall commence to have a trustee appointed, or a trustee shall be appointed, to administer or to terminate, any Single Employer Plan, which Reportable Event or commencement of proceedings or appointment of a trustee is, in the reasonable opinion of the Required Lenders, likely to result in the termination of such Plan for purposes of Title IV of ERISA, (iv) any other member of the Plan shall terminate for purposes of Title IV of ERISA, (v) any Borrower or any other member of the Controlled Group shall, or in the reasonable opinion of the Required Lenders is likely to, incur any liability in connection with a withdrawal from, or the insolvency or reorganization of, a Multiemployer Plan or (vi) any other event or condition shall occur or exist with respect to a Plan;and in each case referred to inclauses (i) through(vi) above, such event or condition, together with all other such events or conditions, if any, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to any Borrower.
7.11 Unenforceability of Loan Documents. Any Loan Document shall cease to be in full force and effect (other than, in the case of a Note, as contemplated hereby), any action shall be taken by or on behalf of a Borrower to discontinue or to assert the invalidity or unenforceability of any of its obligations under any Loan Document, or any Borrower or any Person acting on behalf of a Borrower shall deny that such Borrower has any further liability under any Loan Document or shall give notice to such effect.
7.12 Change in Control. Any Change in Control shall occur; or PHI shall fail to own, directly or indirectly, 100% of the Voting Stock of each Subsidiary Borrower.
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ARTICLE VIII
ACCELERATION, WAIVERS, AMENDMENTS AND REMEDIES
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8.1 Acceleration. If any Default described inSection 7.6 or7.7 occurs with respect to a Borrower, the obligations of the Lenders (including the Issuer) to make Credit Extensions to such Borrower hereunder shall automatically terminate and the Obligations of such Borrower shall immediately become due and payable without any election or action on the part of the Agent or any Lender. If any other Default occurs with respect to a Borrower, the Required Lenders (or the Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders) may terminate or suspend the obligations of the Lenders (including the Issuer) to make Credit Extensions to such Borrower hereunder, or declare the Obligations of such Borrower to be due and payable, or both, whereupon such obligations of the Lenders (including the Issuer) shall terminate and/or the Obligations of such Borrower shall become immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which each Borrower hereby expressly waives.
If, within 30 days after termination of the obligations of the Lenders to make Credit Extensions to any Borrower hereunder or acceleration of the maturity of the Obligations of any Borrower as a result of any Default (other than any Default as described inSection 7.6 or7.7) with respect to such Borrower and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the Obligations due shall have been obtained or entered, the Required Lenders (in their sole discretion) shall so direct, the Agent shall, by notice to such Borrower, rescind and annul such termination and/or acceleration.
8.2 Amendments. Subject to the provisions of thisArticle VIII, the Required Lenders (or the Agent with the consent in writing of the Required Lenders) and the Borrowers may enter into agreements supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding or modifying any provisions to this Agreement changing in any manner the rights of the Lenders or any Borrower hereunder or waiving any Default or Unmatured Default hereunder;provided that no such supplemental agreement shall, without the consent of all of the Lenders:
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| (i) | Extend the final maturity of any Loan or Reimbursement Obligation or forgive all or any portion of the principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon or on any facility fees, utilization fees or letter of credit fees.
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| (ii) | Reduce the percentage specified in the definition of Required Lenders.
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| (iii) | Extend the Facility Termination Date for any Borrower, increase the amount of the Commitment of any Lender hereunder, increase any Sublimit or permit any Borrower to assign its rights under this Agreement.
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| (iv) | Amend thisSection 8.2.
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No amendment of any provision of this Agreement relating to the Agent shall be effective without the written consent of the Agent. No amendment of this Agreement relating to the Issuer shall be effective without the written consent of the Issuer. The Agent may waive payment of the fee required underSection 12.3.2 without obtaining the consent of any other party to this Agreement.
8.3 Preservation of Rights. No delay or omission of the Agent, the Issuer or the Lenders to exercise any right under the Loan Documents shall impair such right or be construed to be a waiver of any Default or Unmatured Default or an acquiescence therein, and the making of a Credit Extension notwithstanding the existence of a Default or Unmatured Default or the inability of the applicable Borrower to satisfy the conditions precedent to such Credit Extension shall not constitute any waiver or acquiescence. Any single or partial exercise of any such right shall not preclude other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, and no waiver, amendment or other variation of the terms, conditions or provisions of any Loan Document whatsoever shall be valid unless in writing signed by the parties required pursuant toSection 8.2 and then only to the extent in such writing specifically set forth. All remedies contained in the Loan Documents or by law afforded shall be cumulative and all shall be available to the Agent, the Issuer and the Lenders until the Obligations have been paid in full.
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ARTICLE IX
GENERAL PROVISIONS
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9.1 Survival of Representations. All representations and warranties of the Borrowers contained in this Agreement shall survive the making of the Credit Extensions herein contemplated.
9.2 Governmental Regulation. Anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, no Lender shall be obligated to extend credit to any Borrower in violation of any limitation or prohibition provided by any applicable statute or regulation.
9.3 Headings. Section headings in the Loan Documents are for convenience of reference only, and shall not govern the interpretation of any of the provisions of the Loan Documents.
9.4 Entire Agreement. The Loan Documents embody the entire agreement and understanding among the Borrowers, the Agent and the Lenders and supersede all prior agreements and understandings among the Borrowers, the Agent and the Lenders relating to the subject matter thereof.
9.5 Several Obligations; Benefits of this Agreement. The respective obligations of the Lenders hereunder are several and not joint and no Lender shall be the partner or agent of any other (except to the extent to which the Agent is authorized to act as such). The failure of any Lender to perform any of its obligations hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender from any of its obligations hereunder. This Agreement shall not be construed so as to confer any right or benefit upon any Person other than the parties to this Agreement and their respective successors and assigns,provided that the parties hereto expressly agree that each Arranger shall enjoy the benefits of the provisions ofSections 9.6,9.10 and10.11to the extent specifically set forth therein and shall have the right to enforce such provisions on its own behalf and in its own name to the same extent as if it were a party to this Agreement.
9.6 Expenses; Indemnification.
(i) PHI shall reimburse the Agent and the each Arranger for all reasonable costs, internal charges and out of pocket expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and time charges of attorneys for the Agent, which attorneys may be employees of the Agent) paid or incurred by the Agent or such Arranger in connection with the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery, syndication, review, amendment, modification and administration of the Loan Documents. Each Borrower agrees to reimburse the Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders for all reasonable costs, internal charges and out of pocket expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and time charges of attorneys for the Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders, which attorneys may be employees of the Agent, the Arrangers or a Lender) paid or incurred by the Agent, the Arrangers or any Lender in connection with the collection and enforcement of the Obligations of such Borrower under the Loan Documents (including in any "work-out" or
restructuring of the Obligations of such Borrower resulting from the occurrence of a Default with respect to such Borrower).
(ii) Each Borrower agrees to indemnify the Agent, each Arranger, each Lender, their respective affiliates, and each of the directors, officers and employees of the foregoing Persons (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties") against all losses, claims, damages, penalties, judgments, liabilities and reasonable expenses (including all reasonable expenses of litigation or preparation therefor whether or not any Indemnified Party is a party thereto) which any of them may pay or incur arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, the transactions contemplated hereby or the direct or indirect application or proposed application of the proceeds of any Credit Extension hereunder except to the extent that they are determined in a final non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the I ndemnified Party seeking indemnification;provided that no Subsidiary Borrower shall have any obligation with respect to any of the foregoing to the extent allocable solely to PHI or another Subsidiary Borrower. The obligations of the Borrowers under thisSection 9.6 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
9.7 Numbers of Documents. All statements, notices, closing documents and requests hereunder shall be furnished to the Agent with sufficient counterparts so that the Agent may furnish one to each of the Lenders.
9.8 Disclosure. The Borrowers and the Lenders hereby (i) acknowledge and agree that Bank One and/or its Affiliates from time to time may hold investments in, make other loans to or have other relationships with the Borrowers and their Affiliates and (ii) waive any liability of Bank One or any of its Affiliates to any Borrower or any Lender, respectively, arising out of or resulting from such investments, loans or relationships other than liabilities arising out of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of Bank One or its Affiliates.
9.9 Severability of Provisions. Any provision in any Loan Document that is held to be inoperative, unenforceable, or invalid in any jurisdiction shall, as to that jurisdiction, be inoperative, unenforceable, or invalid without affecting the remaining provisions in that jurisdiction or the operation, enforceability, or validity of that provision in any other jurisdiction, and to this end the provisions of all Loan Documents are declared to be severable.
9.10 Nonliability of Lenders. The relationship between the Borrowers on the one hand and the Lenders and the Agent on the other hand shall be solely that of borrower and lender. None of the Agent, any Arranger or any Lender shall have any fiduciary responsibility to any Borrower. None of the Agent, any Arranger or any Lender undertakes any responsibility to any Borrower to review or inform such Borrower of any matter in connection with any phase of such Borrower's business or operations. Each Borrower agrees that none of the Agent, any Arranger or any Lender shall have liability to such Borrower (whether sounding in tort, contract or otherwise) for losses suffered by such Borrower in connection with, arising out of, or in any way related to, the transactions contemplated and the relationship established by the Loan Documents, or any act, omission or event oc curring in connection therewith, unless it is determined in a final non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction that such losses resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the party from which recovery is sought. None of the
Agent, any Arranger or any Lender shall have any liability with respect to, and each Borrower hereby waives, releases and agrees not to sue for, any special, indirect or consequential damages suffered by such Borrower in connection with, arising out of, or in any way related to the Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated thereby.
9.11 Limited Disclosure.
(i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, each Borrower, each Lender, the Issuer and the Agent hereby agree that, from the commencement of discussions with respect to the credit facility established by this Agreement (the "Facility"), each Borrower, each Lender, the Issuer and the Agent (and each of their respective, and their respective Affiliates', employees, officers, directors, representatives, advisors and agents) are permitted to disclose to any and all Persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment (as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4) and the tax structure (as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4) of the Facility, and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to any Borrower, any Lender, the Issuer or the Agent related to such structure and tax aspects. In this regard, each of e ach Borrower, each Lender, the Issuer and the Agent acknowledges and agrees that the disclosure of the tax treatment and tax structure of the Facility is not limited in any way by an express or implied understanding or agreement, oral or written (whether or not such understanding or agreement is legally binding). Furthermore, each of each Borrower, each Lender, the Issuer and the Agent acknowledges and agrees that it does not know or have reason to know that its use or disclosure of information relating to the tax treatment or tax structure of the Facility is limited in any other manner (such as where the Facility is claimed to be proprietary or exclusive) for the benefit of any other Person.
(ii) None of the Agent, the Issuer nor any Lender shall disclose to any Person any Specified Information (as defined below) except to its, and its Affiliates', officers, employees, agents, accountants, legal counsel, advisors and other representatives who have a need to know such Specified Information in connection with the Facility. "Specified Information" means information that any Borrower has furnished or in the future furnishes to the Agent, the Issuer or any Lender in confidence, but does not include any such information that (a) relates to the tax treatment or tax structure of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (b) is published in a source or otherwise becomes generally available to the public (other than through the actions of the Agent, the Issuer, any Lender or any of their Affiliates, officers, employees, agents, accountants, legal counsel, advisors and othe r representatives in violation of this Agreement) or that is or becomes available to the Agent, the Issuer or such Lender from a source other than a Borrower, (c) without duplication with clause (b) above, is otherwise a matter of general public knowledge, (d) that is required to be disclosed by law, regulation or judicial order (including pursuant to the Code), (e) that is requested by any regulatory body with jurisdiction over the Agent, the Issuer or any Lender, (f) that is disclosed to legal counsel, accountants and other professional advisors to the Agent, the Issuer or such Lender, in connection with the exercise of any right or remedy hereunder or under any Note or any suit or other litigation or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any Note or to a rating agency if required by such agency in connection with a rating relating to Credit Extensions hereunder or (g) that is disclosed to assignees or participants or potential assignees or participants who agree to be bound by the provisions of thisSection 9.11.
(iii) The provisions of thisSection 9.11 supersede any confidentiality obligations of any Lender, the Issuer or the Agent relating to the Facility under any agreement between any Borrower and any such party.
9.12 Nonreliance. Each Lender hereby represents that it is not relying on or looking to any margin stock (as defined in Regulation U of the FRB) for the repayment of the Credit Extensions provided for herein.
9.13 Termination of Existing Credit Facility. Lenders which are parties to the Existing Credit Facility (and which constitute "Required Lenders" under and as defined in the Existing Credit Facility) hereby waive any advance notice requirement for terminating the commitments under the Existing Credit Facility, and the Borrowers and the applicable Lenders agree that the Existing Credit Facility shall be terminated on the date hereof (except for any provisions thereof which by their terms survive termination thereof).
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ARTICLE X
THE AGENT
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10.1 Appointment; Nature of Relationship. Bank One, NA is hereby appointed by each of the Lenders as its contractual representative (herein referred to as the "Agent") hereunder and under each other Loan Document, and each of the Lenders irrevocably authorizes the Agent to act as the contractual representative of such Lender with the rights and duties expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents. The Agent agrees to act as such contractual representative upon the express conditions contained in thisArticle X. Notwithstanding the use of the defined term "Agent," it is expressly understood and agreed that the Agent shall not have any fiduciary responsibilities to any Lender by reason of this Agreement or any other Loan Document and that the Agent is merely acting as the contractual representative of the Lenders with only those du ties as are expressly set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. In its capacity as the Lenders' contractual representative, the Agent (i) does not hereby assume any fiduciary duties to any of the Lenders, (ii) is a "representative" of the Lenders within the meaning of Section 9-105 of the Uniform Commercial Code and (iii) is acting as an independent contractor, the rights and duties of which are limited to those expressly set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Each of the Lenders hereby agrees to assert no claim against the Agent on any agency theory or any other theory of liability for breach of fiduciary duty, all of which claims each Lender hereby waives.
10.2 Powers. The Agent shall have and may exercise such powers under the Loan Documents as are specifically delegated to the Agent by the terms of each thereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The Agent shall have no implied duties to the Lenders, or any obligation to the Lenders to take any action hereunder or under any other Loan Document except any action specifically provided by the Loan Documents to be taken by the Agent.
10.3 General Immunity. Neither the Agent nor any of its directors, officers, agents or employees shall be liable to any Borrower or any Lender for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it or them hereunder or under any other Loan Document or in connection herewith or therewith except to the extent such action or inaction is determined in a final non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have arisen from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Person.
10.4 No Responsibility for Loans Recitals etc. Neither the Agent nor any of its directors, officers, agents or employees shall be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into, or verify (a) any statement, warranty or representation made in connection with any Loan Document or any borrowing hereunder; (b) the performance or observance of any of the covenants or agreements of any obligor under any Loan Document, including any agreement by an obligor to furnish information directly to each Lender; (c) the satisfaction of any condition specified inArticle IV, except receipt of items required to be delivered solely to the Agent; (d) the existence or possible existence of any Default or Unmatured Default; or (e) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness, sufficiency or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other instrument or writing furnis hed in connection therewith. The Agent shall have no duty to disclose to the Lenders information that is not required to be furnished by a Borrower to the Agent at such time, but is voluntarily furnished by such Borrower to the Agent (either in its capacity as Agent or in its individual capacity).
10.5 Action on Instructions of Lenders. The Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, hereunder and under any other Loan Document in accordance with written instructions signed by the Required Lenders (or, when expressly required hereunder, all of the Lenders), and such instructions and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding on all of the Lenders. The Lenders hereby acknowledge that the Agent shall be under no duty to take any discretionary action permitted to be taken by it pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement or any other Loan Document unless it shall be requested in writing to do so by the Required Lenders. The Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action hereunder and under any other Loan Document unless it shall first be indemnified to its satisf action by the Lenders pro rata against any and all liability, cost and expense that it may incur by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action.
10.6 Employment of Agents and Counsel. The Agent may execute any of its duties as Agent hereunder and under any other Loan Document by or through employees, agents and attorneys in fact and shall not be answerable to the Lenders, except as to money or securities received by it or its authorized agents, for the default or misconduct of any such agents or attorneys in fact selected by it with reasonable care. The Agent shall be entitled to advice of counsel concerning the contractual arrangement between the Agent and the Lenders and all matters pertaining to the Agent's duties hereunder and under any other Loan Document.
10.7 Reliance on Documents; Counsel. The Agent shall be entitled to rely upon any Note, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telegram, statement, paper or document believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed or sent by the proper person or persons, and, in respect to legal matters, upon the opinion of counsel selected by the Agent, which counsel may be employees of the Agent.
10.8 Agent's Reimbursement and Indemnification. The Lenders agree to reimburse and indemnify the Agent ratably in proportion to their respective Commitments (or, if the Commitments have been terminated, in proportion to their Commitments immediately prior to such termination) (i) for any amounts not reimbursed by any Borrower for which the Agent is entitled to reimbursement by such Borrower under the Loan Documents, (ii) for any other expenses incurred by the Agent on behalf of the Lenders, in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration and enforcement of the Loan Documents (including for any expenses incurred by the Agent in connection with any dispute between the Agent and any Lender or between two or more of the Lenders) and (iii) for any liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind and nature whatsoever which may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the Agent in any way relating to or arising out of the Loan Documents or any document delivered in connection therewith or the transactions contemplated thereby (including for any such amounts incurred by or asserted against the Agent in connection with any dispute between the Agent and any Lender or between two or more of the Lenders), or the enforcement of any of the terms of the Loan Documents or of any such other documents,provided that (i) no Lender shall be liable for any of the foregoing to the extent any of the foregoing is found in a final non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Agent and (ii) any indemnification required pursuant toSection 3.5(vii) shall, notwithstanding the provisions of thisSection 10.8, be paid by the relevant Lender in accordance with the provisions thereo f. The obligations of the Lenders under thisSection 10.8 shall survive payment of the Obligations and termination of this Agreement.
10.9 Notice of Default. The Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default or Unmatured Default hereunder (except for failure of a Borrower to pay any amount required to be paid to the Agent hereunder for the account of the Lenders) unless the Agent has received written notice from a Lender or a Borrower referring to this Agreement, describing such Default or Unmatured Default and stating that such notice is a "notice of default". In the event that the Agent receives such a notice, the Agent shall give prompt notice thereof to all Lenders.
10.10 Rights as a Lender. In the event the Agent is a Lender, the Agent shall have the same rights and powers hereunder and under any other Loan Document with respect to its Commitment, its Loans and its interest in the LC Obligations as any Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Agent, and the term "Lender" or "Lenders" shall, at any time when the Agent is a Lender, unless the context otherwise indicates, include the Agent in its individual capacity. The Agent and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, and generally engage in any kind of trust, debt, equity or other transaction, in addition to those contemplated by this Agreement or any other Loan Document, with any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in which such Borrower or such Subsidiary is not restricted hereby from engaging with any other Person. The Agent in its i ndividual capacity is not obligated to remain a Lender.
10.11 Lender Credit Decision. Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Agent, any Arranger or any other Lender and based on the financial statements prepared by the Borrowers and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Agent, any Arranger or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
10.12 Successor Agent. The Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Lenders and PHI, such resignation to be effective upon the appointment of a successor Agent or, if no successor Agent has been appointed, forty-five days after the retiring Agent gives notice of its intention to resign. The Agent may be removed at any time with or without cause by written notice received by the Agent from the Required Lenders, such removal to be effective on the date specified by the Required Lenders. Upon any such resignation or removal, the Required Lenders shall have the right (with, so long as no Default or Unmatured Default exists with respect to any Borrower, the consent of PHI, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) to appoint, on behalf of the Borrowers and the Lenders, a successor Agent. If no successor Agent shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders within thirty days after the resigning Agent's giving notice of its intention to resign, then the resigning Agent may appoint, on behalf of the Borrowers and the Lenders, a successor Agent. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, the Agent may at any time without the consent of any Lender but with the consent of PHI, not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed, appoint any of its Affiliates which is a commercial bank as a successor Agent hereunder. If the Agent has resigned or been removed and no successor Agent has been appointed, the Lenders may perform all the duties of the Agent hereunder and the Borrowers shall make all payments in respect of their respective Obligations to the applicable Lender and for all other purposes shall deal directly with the Lenders. No successor Agent shall be deemed to be appointed hereunder until such successor Agent has accepted the appointment. Any such successor Agent shall be a commercial bank having capital and retained earnings o f at least $100,000,000. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Agent hereunder by a successor Agent, such successor Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the resigning or removed Agent. Upon the effectiveness of the resignation or removal of the Agent, the resigning or removed Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the Loan Documents. After the effectiveness of the resignation or removal of an Agent, the provisions of thisArticle Xshall continue in effect for the benefit of such Agent in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was acting as the Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents. In the event that there is a successor to the Agent (by merger or resignation or removal), or the Agent assigns its duties and obligations to an Affiliate pursuant to thisSection 10.12, then the term "Prime Rate" as used in this Agreement shall mean the prime ra te, base rate or other analogous rate of the new Agent. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of thisSection 10.12, the Agent may not be removed by the Required Lenders unless the Agent (in its individual capacity) is concurrently removed from its duties and responsibilities as the Issuer.
10.13 Agent's Fee. The Borrowers agree to pay to each of the Agent and each Arranger, for the Agent's or such Arranger's own account, the fees agreed to by the Borrowers and the Agent or such Arranger, as applicable.
10.14 Delegation to Affiliates. The Borrowers and the Lenders agree that the Agent may delegate any of its duties under this Agreement to any of its Affiliates. Any such Affiliate (and such Affiliate's directors, officers, agents and employees) which performs duties in connection with this Agreement shall be entitled to the same benefits of the indemnification, waiver and other protective provisions to which the Agent is entitled underArticles IXandX.
10.15 Other Agents. None of the Lenders identified on the cover page or signature pages of this Agreement or otherwise herein as being the "Syndication Agent" a "Co-Documentation Agent," a "Senior Managing Agent" or a "Managing Agent" (collectively, the "Other Agents") shall have any right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement other than those applicable to all Lenders. Each Lender acknowledges that it has not relied, and will not rely, on any of the Other Agents in deciding to enter into this Agreement or in taking or refraining from taking any action hereunder or pursuant hereto.
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ARTICLE XI
SETOFF; RATABLE PAYMENTS
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11.1 Setoff. In addition to, and without limitation of, any rights of the Lenders under applicable law, if any Borrower becomes insolvent, however evidenced, or any Default occurs with respect to such Borrower, any and all deposits (including all account balances, whether provisional or final and whether or not collected or available) and any other Indebtedness at any time held or owing by any Lender or any Affiliate of any Lender to or for the credit or account of such Borrower may be offset and applied toward the payment of the Obligations of such Borrower owing to such Lender, whether or not the Obligations, or any part thereof, shall then be due.
11.2 Ratable Payments. If any Lender, whether by setoff or otherwise, has payment made to it upon the Outstanding Credit Extensions owed to it by any Borrower (other than payments received pursuant toSection 3.1,3.2,3.4 or3.5 and payments made to the Issuer in respect of Reimbursement Obligations so long as the Lenders have not funded their participations therein) in a greater proportion than that received by any other Lender, such Lender agrees, promptly upon demand, to purchase a portion of the Outstanding Credit Extensions owed by such Borrower to the other Lenders so that after such purchase each Lender will hold its ratable proportion of all of such Borrower's Outstanding Credit Extensions. If any Lender, whether in connection with setoff or amounts which might be subject to setoff or otherwise, receives collateral or other protection for the Outstanding Credit Extensions owed by it to any Borrower or such amounts which may be subject to setoff, such Lender agrees, promptly upon demand, to take such action necessary such that all Lenders share in the benefits of such collateral ratably in proportion to the Outstanding Credit Extensions owed to each of them by such Borrower. In case any such payment is disturbed by legal process, or otherwise, appropriate further adjustments shall be made.
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ARTICLE XII
BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT; ASSIGNMENTS; PARTICIPATIONS
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12.1 Successors and Assigns. The terms and provisions of the Loan Documents shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Borrowers and the Lenders and their respective successors and assigns, except that (i) no Borrower shall have the right to assign its rights or obligations under the Loan Documents and (ii) any assignment by any Lender must be made in compliance withSection 12.3. The parties to this Agreement acknowledge thatclause (ii) of the preceding sentence relates only to absolute assignments and does not prohibit assignments creating security interests, including any pledge or assignment by any Lender of all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement and any Note to a Federal Reserve Bank;provided that no such pledge or assignment creating a security interest shall release the transferor Lender from its oblig ations hereunder unless and until the parties thereto have complied with the provisions ofSection 12.3. The Agent may treat the Person which made any Loan or which holds any Note as the owner thereof for all purposes hereof unless and until such Person complies withSection 12.3;provided that the Agent may in its discretion (but shall not be required to) follow instructions from the Person which made any Loan or which holds any Note to direct payments relating to such Loan or Note to another Person. Any assignee of the rights to any Loan or any Note agrees by acceptance of such assignment to be bound by all the terms and provisions of the Loan Documents. Any request, authority or consent of any Person, who at the time of making such request or giving such authority or consent is the owner of the rights to any Loan (whether or not a Note has been issued in evidence thereof), shall be conclusive and binding on any subsequent holder or assignee of the rights to such Loan.
12.2 Participations.
12.2.1 Permitted Participants; Effect. Upon giving notice to but without obtaining the consent of any Borrower, any Lender may, in the ordinary course of its business and in accordance with applicable law, at any time sell to one or more banks or other entities ("Participants") participating interests in any Obligations owing to such Lender, any Note held by such Lender, any Commitment of such Lender or any other interest of such Lender under the Loan Documents. In the event of any such sale by a Lender of participating interests to a Participant, such Lender's obligations under the Loan Documents shall remain unchanged, such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations, such Lender shall remain the owner of the Obligations owing to such Lender and the holder of any Note issued to it for all purposes under the Loan Documents, all amounts payable by each Borrower under this Agreement shall be determined as if such Lender had not sold such participating interests, and the Borrowers, the Issuer and the Agent shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender's rights and obligations under the Loan Documents.
12.2.2 Voting Rights. Each Lender shall retain the sole right to approve, without the consent of any Participant, any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of the Loan Documents other than any amendment, modification or waiver which extends the Facility Termination Date for any Borrower or the final maturity of any Loan or Reimbursement Obligation in which such Participant has an interest or forgives all or any portion of the principal amount thereof, or reduces the rate or extends the time of payment of interest thereon or on any facility fees, utilization fees or letter of credit fees.
12.2.3 Benefit of Setoff. The Borrowers agree that each Participant shall be deemed to have the right of setoff provided inSection 11.1 in respect of its participating interest in amounts owing under the Loan Documents to the same extent as if the amount of its participating interest were owing directly to it as a Lender under the Loan Documents,provided that each Lender shall retain the right of setoff provided inSection 11.1 with respect to the amount of participating interests sold to each Participant. The Lenders agree to share with each Participant, and each Participant, by exercising the right of setoff provided inSection 11.1, agrees to share with each Lender, any amount received pursuant to the exercise of its right of setoff, such amounts to be shared in accordance withSection 11.2 as if each Participant were a Lender.
12.3 Assignments.
12.3.1 Permitted Assignments. Any Lender may, in the ordinary course of its business and in accordance with applicable law, at any time assign to one or more banks or other entities ("Purchasers") all or any part of its rights and obligations under the Loan Documents. Such assignment shall be substantially in the form ofExhibit Bor in such other form as may be agreed to by the parties thereto. The consent of PHI and the Agent shall be required prior to an assignment becoming effective with respect to a Purchaser which is not a Lender or an Affiliate thereof;provided that if a Default exists with respect to any Borrower, the consent of PHI shall not be required. Any such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Each such assignment with respect to a Purchaser which is not a Lender or an Affiliate thereof shall (unless each of PHI and the Agent otherwise consent) be in an amount not less than the lesser of (i) $5,000,000 or (ii) the remaining amount of the assigning Lender's Commitment (calculated as at the date of such assignment) or outstanding Loans and participations in LC Obligations (to the extent such Commitment has been terminated). Each assignment shall be of a constant, and not a varying, percentage of all of the assigning Lender's interests in the Obligations of, and Commitment to, all Borrowers.
12.3.2 Effect; Effective Date. Upon (i) delivery to the Agent of an Assignment Agreement, together with any consents required bySection 12.3.1, and (ii) payment of a $3,500 fee to the Agent for processing such assignment (unless such fee is waived by the Agent), such Assignment Agreement shall become effective on the effective date specified in such Assignment Agreement. On and after the effective date of such Assignment Agreement, such Purchaser shall for all purposes be a Lender party to this Agreement and any other Loan Document executed by or on behalf of the Lenders and shall have all the rights and obligations of a Lender under the Loan Documents, to the same extent as if it were an original party hereto, and no further consent or action by the Borrowers, the Lenders or the Agent shall be required to release the transferor Lender with respect to the percentage of the A ggregate Commitment and Obligations assigned to such Purchaser. Any Person that is at any time a Lender and that thereafter ceases to be a Lender pursuant to the terms of thisSection 12.3.2 shall continue to be entitled to the benefit of those provisions of this Agreement that, pursuant to the terms hereof, survive the termination hereof. Upon the consummation of any assignment to a Purchaser pursuant to thisSection 12.3.2, the transferor Lender, the Agent and the Borrowers shall, if the transferor Lender or the Purchaser desires that its Loans be evidenced by Notes, make appropriate arrangements so that new Notes or, as appropriate, replacement Notes are issued to such transferor Lender and new Notes or, as appropriate, replacement Notes, are issued to such Purchaser.
12.4 Dissemination of Information. The Borrowers authorize each Lender to disclose to any Participant or Purchaser or any other Person acquiring an interest in the Loan Documents by operation of law (each a "Transferee") and any prospective Transferee any and all information in such Lender's possession concerning the creditworthiness of the Borrowers and their respective Subsidiaries, including any information contained in any Public Reports;provided that each Transferee and prospective Transferee agrees to be bound bySection 9.11 of this Agreement.
12.5 Grant of Funding Option to SPC. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a "Granting Lender") may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle (an "SPC"), identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Lender to the Agent and PHI, the option to provide to any Borrower all or any part of any Loan that such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to make to such Borrower pursuant to this Agreement;provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment by any SPC to make any Loan and (ii) if an SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to provide all or any part of such Loan, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to make such Loan pursuant to the terms hereof. The making of a Loan by an SPC hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent, and as if, such Loan were made by such Granting Lender. Each party hereto agrees that no SPC shall be liable for any indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement (all liability for which shall remain with the Granting Lender). In furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereto agrees (which agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement) that, prior to the date that is one year and one day after the payment in full of all outstanding commercial paper or other senior indebtedness of any SPC, it will not institute against, or join any other Person in instituting against, such SPC any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceeding under the laws of the United States or any State thereof. In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in thisSection 12.5, any SPC may (a) with notice to, but without the prior written consent of, PHI and the Agent and without paying any processing fee therefor, assign all or a portion of its interests in any Loan to the Granting Lender or to any financial institution (consented to by PHI and the Agent) providing liquidity and/or credit support to or for the account of such SPC to support the funding or maintenance of Loans and (b) disclose on a confidential basis any non-public information relating to its Loans to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of any surety, guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPC.
12.6 Tax Treatment. If any interest in any Loan Document is transferred to any Transferee which is organized under the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States or any State thereof, the transferor Lender shall cause such Transferee, concurrently with the effectiveness of such transfer, to comply with the provisions ofSection 3.5(iv). |
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ARTICLE XIII
NOTICES
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13.1 Notices. Except as otherwise permitted bySection 2.14, all notices, requests and other communications to any party hereunder shall be in writing (including facsimile transmission or, subject toSection 13.3, electronic mail or posting on a website) and shall, subject to the last paragraph ofSection 6.1, be given to such party at (i) in the case of any Borrower or the Agent, its address, facsimile number or electronic mail address set forth on the signature pages hereof or such other address, facsimile number or electronic mail address as it may hereafter specify for such purpose by notice to the other parties hereto; and (ii) in the case of any Lender, at the address, facsimile number or electronic mail address set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire or such other address, facsimile number or electronic mail address as such Lender may hereafter specify for such purpose by notice to the Borrowers and the Agent. Subject to the last paragraph ofSection 6.1, each such notice, request or other communication shall be effective (i) if given by facsimile transmission, when transmitted to the facsimile number specified pursuant to this Section and confirmation of receipt is received, (ii) if given by mail, three Business Days after such communication is deposited in the mails with first class postage prepaid, addressed as aforesaid, or (iii) if given by any other means, when delivered (or, in the case of electronic mail, received) at the address specified pursuant to this Section;provided that notices to the Agent underArticle II shall not be effective until received.
13.2 Notices to and by Subsidiary Borrowers. Each Subsidiary Borrower (a) authorizes PHI to send and receive notices on behalf of such Subsidiary Borrower hereunder and (b) irrevocably agrees that any notice to PHI which is effective pursuant toSection 13.1 shall be conclusively deemed to have been received by such Subsidiary Borrower.
13.3 Limited Use of Electronic Mail. Electronic mail and internet and intranet websites may be used to distribute routine communications, such as financial statements and other information as provided inSection 6.1, and to distribute Loan Documents for execution by the parties thereto, but not for purposes of other notices hereunder.
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ARTICLE XIV
COUNTERPARTS
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This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one agreement, and any of the parties hereto may execute this Agreement by signing any such counterpart. This Agreement shall be effective when it has been executed by the Borrowers, the Agent and the Lenders and each party has notified the Agent by facsimile transmission or telephone that it has taken such action.
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ARTICLE XV
CHOICE OF LAW; CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL
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15.1 CHOICE OF LAW. THE LOAN DOCUMENTS SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS (INCLUDING SECTION 5.1401.7 OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW, BUT OTHERWISE WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAWS PROVISIONS THEREOF) OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, BUT GIVING EFFECT TO FEDERAL LAWS APPLICABLE TO NATIONAL BANKS.
15.2 CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. EACH BORROWER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY UNITED STATES FEDERAL OR NEW YORK STATE COURT SITTING IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENT, AND EACH BORROWER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN ANY SUCH COURT AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE AS TO THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN SUCH A COURT OR THAT SUCH COURT IS AN INCONVENIENT FORUM. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL LIMIT THE RIGHT OF THE AGENT OR ANY LENDER TO BRING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST A BORROWER IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING BY A BORROWER AGAINST THE AGENT OR ANY LENDER OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE AGENT OR ANY LENDER INVOLVIN G, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ANY MATTER IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR CONNECTED WITH ANY LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL BE BROUGHT ONLY IN A COURT IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK.
15.3 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. THE BORROWERS, THE AGENT AND THE LENDERS HEREBY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING INVOLVING, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ANY MATTER (WHETHER SOUNDING IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR CONNECTED WITH ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE RELATIONSHIP ESTABLISHED THEREUNDER.
[Signatures Follow]
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EXHIBIT B
ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT
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This Assignment Agreement (this "Assignment Agreement") between _____________ _____________ (the "Assignor") and __________________________ (the "Assignee") is dated as of ____________, 20__. The parties hereto agree as follows:
1. PRELIMINARY STATEMENT. The Assignor is a party to a Three-Year Credit Agreement (as amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Credit Agreement") described in Item 1 ofSchedule 1 attached hereto ("Schedule 1"). Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Credit Agreement.
2. ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION. The Assignor hereby sells and assigns to the Assignee, and the Assignee hereby purchases and assumes from the Assignor, an interest in and to the Assignor's rights and obligations under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents in the amount and Pro Rata Share specified in Item 2 ofSchedule 1 of all outstanding rights and obligations under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents. The Pro Rata Share of the Assignee and the Assignor, after giving effect to this Assignment Agreement, is set forth in Item 3 ofSchedule 1.
3. EFFECTIVE DATE. The effective date of this Assignment Agreement (the "Effective Date") shall be the later of the date specified in Item 4 ofSchedule 1 or two Business Days (or such shorter period agreed to by the Agent) after this Assignment Agreement, together with any consents required under the Credit Agreement, are delivered to the Agent. In no event will the Effective Date occur if the payments required to be made by the Assignee to the Assignor on the Effective Date are not made on the proposed Effective Date.
4. PAYMENT OBLIGATIONS. In consideration for the sale and assignment hereunder, the Assignee shall pay the Assignor, on the Effective Date, the amount agreed to by the Assignor and the Assignee. On and after the Effective Date, the Assignee shall be entitled to receive from the Agent all payments of principal, interest and fees with respect to the interest assigned hereby. The Assignee will promptly remit to the Assignor any interest and fees received from the Agent which relate to the portion of the Commitment, or Loans and participations in Letters of Credit assigned to the Assignee hereunder for periods prior to the Effective Date and not previously paid by the Assignee to the Assignor. In the event that either party hereto receives any payment to which the other party hereto is entitled under this Assignment Agreement, then the party receiving such amount shall promptly remit such amount to the other party hereto.
5. RECORDATION FEE. The [Assignor/Assignee agrees to pay] [Assignor and Assignee each agree to pay one-half of] the recordation fee required to be paid to the Agent in connection with this Assignment Agreement.
6. REPRESENTATIONS OF THE ASSIGNOR: LIMITATIONS ON THE ASSIGNOR'S LIABILITY. The Assignor represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of the interest being assigned by it hereunder, (ii) such interest is free and clear of any adverse claim created by the Assignor and (iii) the execution and delivery of this Assignment Agreement by the Assignor is duly authorized. The parties hereto agree that the assignment and assumption hereunder are made without recourse to the Assignor and that the Assignor makes no other representation or warranty of any kind to the Assignee. Neither the Assignor nor any of its officers, directors, employees, agents or attorneys shall be responsible for (i) the due execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or collectability of any Loan Document, (ii) any representation, warranty or statement made in or i n connection with any Loan Document, (iii) the financial condition or creditworthiness of any Borrower, (iv) the performance of or compliance with any term or provision of any Loan Document, (v) inspecting any of the property, books or records of any Borrower or (vi) any mistake, error of judgment, or action taken or omitted to be taken in connection with the Loan Documents.
7. REPRESENTATIONS AND UNDERTAKINGS OF THE ASSIGNEE. The Assignee (i) confirms that it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of all financial statements requested by the Assignee and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment Agreement, (ii) agrees that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Agent, the Assignor or any other Lender and based on such documents and information at it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Loan Documents, (iii) appoints and authorizes the Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under the Loan Documents as are delegated to the Agent by the terms thereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incid ental thereto, (iv) confirms that the execution and delivery of this Assignment Agreement by the Assignee is duly authorized, (v) agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender, (vi) confirms that its payment instructions and notice instructions are as set forth in the attachment toSchedule 1, (vii) confirms that none of the funds, monies, assets or other consideration being used to make the purchase and assumption hereunder are "plan assets" as defined under ERISA and that its rights, benefits and interests in and under the Loan Documents will not be "plan assets" under ERISA, (viii) agrees to indemnify and hold the Assignor harmless against all losses, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys fees) and liabilities incurred by the Assignor in connection with or arising in any manner from the Assignee's nonperformance of the obligations assumed under this Assignmen t Agreement, and (ix) if applicable, attaches the forms prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service of the United States certifying that the Assignee is entitled to receive payments under the Loan Documents without deduction or withholding of any United States federal income taxes.
8. GOVERNING LAW. THIS ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS (INCLUDING SECTION 5.1401.7 OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW, BUT OTHERWISE WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAWS PROVISIONS THEREOF) OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, BUT GIVING EFFECT TO FEDERAL LAWS APPLICABLE TO NATIONAL BANKS.
9. NOTICES. Notices shall be given under this Assignment Agreement in the manner set forth in the Credit Agreement. For purposes hereof, the addresses of the parties hereto (until notice of a change is delivered) shall be the respective addresses set forth in the attachment toSchedule 1.
10. COUNTERPARTS: DELIVERY BY FACSIMILE. This Assignment Agreement may be executed in counterparts. Transmission by facsimile of an executed counterpart of this Assignment Agreement shall be deemed to constitute due and sufficient delivery of such counterpart and such facsimile shall be deemed to be an original counterpart of this Assignment Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the duly authorized officers of the parties hereto have executed this Assignment Agreement by signingSchedule 1 hereto as of the date first above written.
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