Exhibit 10.9 |
Execution Version KINRO, INC. Guaranteed By: DREW INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED NOTE PURCHASE AND PRIVATE SHELF AGREEMENT FEBRUARY 11, 2005 $60,000,000 PRIVATE SHELF FACILITY
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TABLE OF CONTENTS |
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TABLE OF CONTENTS |
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TABLE OF CONTENTS |
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8E. | Title to Properties | 28 | ||
8F. | Taxes | 29 | ||
8G. | Conflicting Agreements and Other Matters | 29 | ||
8H. | Offering of Shelf Notes | 30 | ||
8I. | Use of Proceeds | 30 | ||
8J. | ERISA | 30 | ||
8K. | Governmental Consent | 31 | ||
8L. | Compliance With Laws | 31 | ||
8M. | Disclosure | 31 | ||
8N. | Hostile Tender Offers | 31 | ||
8O. | Investment Company Act | 31 | ||
8P. | Public Utility Holding Company Act | 31 | ||
8Q. | Foreign Assets Control Regulations, etc | 31 | ||
9. | REPRESENTATIONS OF THE PURCHASERS | 32 | ||
9A. | Nature of Purchase | 32 | ||
9B. | Source of Funds | 32 | ||
10. | DEFINITIONS; ACCOUNTING MATTERS | 34 | ||
10A. | Yield-Maintenance Terms | 34 | ||
10B. | Other Terms | 35 | ||
11. | PARENT GUARANTY | 54 | ||
12. | CONFIDENTIALITY | 54 | ||
13. | MISCELLANEOUS | 55 | ||
13A. | Shelf Note Payments | 55 | ||
13B. | Expenses | 55 | ||
13C. | Consent to Amendments | 56 | ||
13D. | Form, Registration, Transfer and Exchange of Shelf Notes; Lost Shelf Notes | 57 | ||
13E. | Persons Deemed Owners; Participations | 57 | ||
13F. | Survival of Representations and Warranties; Entire Agreement | 58 | ||
13G. | Successors and Assigns | 58 | ||
13H. | Independence of Covenants | 58 | ||
13I. | Notices | 58 |
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TABLE OF CONTENTS |
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13J. | Payments Due on Non-Business Days | 59 | ||
13K. | Severability | 59 | ||
13L. | Descriptive Headings | 59 | ||
13M. | Satisfaction Requirement | 59 | ||
13N. | Governing Law | 59 | ||
13O. | Severalty of Obligations | 59 | ||
13P. | Counterparts | 59 | ||
13Q. | Binding Agreement | 60 | ||
13R. | Jury Waiver | 60 | ||
13S. | Personal Jurisdiction | 61 |
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Schedules and Exhibits |
Information Schedule | ||
Schedule 3A(1) | — | Initial Subsidiary Guarantors and Pledgors |
Schedule 6A | — | Transactions with Affiliates |
Schedule 6C | — | Existing Liens |
Schedule 6D | — | Existing Indebtedness |
Schedule 6F | — | Subsidiary Indebtedness |
Schedule 8B | — | Material Changes |
Schedule 8C | — | Litigation |
Schedule 8G | — | Debt Agreements Which Restrict the Incurrence of Indebtedness |
Exhibit A | — | Form of Shelf Note |
Exhibit B | — | Form of Request for Purchase |
Exhibit C | — | Form of Confirmation of Acceptance |
Exhibit D-1 | — | Form of Parent Guaranty |
Exhibit D-2 | — | Form of Subsidiary Guaranty |
Exhibit E | — | Form of Intercreditor Agreement |
Exhibit F | — | Form of Subordination Agreement |
Exhibit G | — | Form of Pledge Agreement |
Exhibit H-1 | — | Form of Closing Opinion for Counsel to Credit Parties |
Exhibit H-2 | — | Form of Closing Opinion for Special Ohio Counsel to Kinro |
Exhibit H-3 | — | Form of Shelf Opinion for Counsel to Credit Parties |
Exhibit H-4 | — | Form of Shelf Opinion for Special Ohio Counsel to Kinro |
Exhibit I | — | Form of Officer’s Certificate |
Exhibit J | — | Form of Secretary’s Certificate for the Credit Parties |
Exhibit K | — | Form of Trust Agreement |
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scheduled Closing Day, notify the Co-Issuers in writing that such closing is to be canceled and the Co-Issuers are obligated to pay the Cancellation Fee as provided in paragraph 2H(3). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary appearing in this Agreement, the Co-Issuers may elect to reschedule a closing with respect to any given Accepted Notes on not more than one (1) occasion, unless Prudential shall have otherwise consented in writing. |
2H(1) Issuance Fee. The Co-Issuers will pay to each Purchaser in immediately available funds a fee (herein called the“Issuance Fee”) on each Closing Day in an amount equal to 0.10% of the aggregate principal amount of Shelf Notes sold to such Purchaser on such Closing Day. | |
2H(2) Delayed Delivery Fee. If the closing of the purchase and sale of any Accepted Note is delayed for any reason beyond the original Closing Day for such Accepted Note, the Co-Issuers will pay to the Purchaser of such Accepted Note (a) on the Cancellation Date or actual closing date of such purchase and sale and (b) if earlier, the next Business Day following 90 days after the Acceptance Day for such Accepted Note and on the Business Day following the end of each 90-day period ending thereafter, a fee (herein called the “Delayed Delivery Fee”) calculated as follows: | |
(BEY - MMY) X DTS/360 X PA | |
where “BEY” means Bond Equivalent Yield,i.e., the bond equivalent yield per annum of such Accepted Note; “MMY” means Money Market Yield,i.e., the yield per annum on a commercial paper investment of the highest quality selected by Prudential on the date Prudential receives notice of the delay in the closing for such Accepted Note having a maturity date or dates the same as, or closest to, the Rescheduled Closing Day or Rescheduled Closing Days (a new alternative investment being selected by Prudential each time such closing is delayed); “DTS” means Days to Settlement,i.e., the number of actual days elapsed from and including the original Closing Day with respect to such Accepted Note (in the case of the first such payment with respect to such Accepted Note) or from and including the date of the next preceding payment (in the case of any subsequent delayed delivery fee payment with respect to such Accepted Note) to but excluding the date of such payment; and “PA” means Principal Amount,i.e., the principal amount of the Accepted Note for which such calculation is being made. In no case shall the Delayed Delivery Fee be less than zero. Nothing contained herein shall obligate any Purchaser to purchase any Accepted Note on any day other than the Closing Day for such Accepted Note, as the same may be rescheduled from time to time in compliance with paragraph 2G. | |
2H(3) Cancellation Fee. If the Co-Issuers at any time notify Prudential in writing that they are canceling the closing of the purchase and sale of any Accepted Note, or if Prudential or any Prudential Affiliate notifies the Co-Issuers in writing under the circumstances set forth in the last sentence of paragraph 2E or the |
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penultimate sentence of paragraph 2G that the closing of the purchase and sale of such Accepted Note is to be canceled, or if the closing of the purchase and sale of such Accepted Note is not consummated on or prior to the last day of the Issuance Period (the date of any such notification, or the last day of the Issuance Period, as the case may be, being herein called the “Cancellation Date”), the Co-Issuers will pay the Purchasers in immediately available funds an amount (the “Cancellation Fee”) calculated as follows: |
PI X PA |
where “PI” means Price Increase,i.e., the quotient (expressed in decimals) obtained by dividing (a) the excess of the ask price (as determined by Prudential) of the Hedge Treasury Note(s) on the Cancellation Date over the bid price (as determined by Prudential) of the Hedge Treasury Notes(s) on the Acceptance Day for such Accepted Note by (b) such bid price; and “PA” has the meaning ascribed to it in paragraph 2H(2). The foregoing bid and ask prices shall be as reported by TradeWeb LLC (or, if such data for any reason ceases to be available through TradeWeb LLC, any publicly available source of similar market data as is then customarily used by Prudential). Each price shall be rounded to the second decimal place. In no case shall the Cancellation Fee be less than zero. |
3A(1) Prudential shall have received the following documents, each duly executed and delivered by the party or parties thereto and in form and substance satisfactory to Prudential: | |
(i) the Parent Guarantee Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, executed by the Parent in favor of Prudential and the holders from time to time of the Shelf Notes, in the form ofExhibit D-1 hereto (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Parent Guaranty”); | |
(ii) the Subsidiary Guarantee Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, executed by each of the Subsidiary Guarantors in favor of Prudential and the holders from time to time of the Shelf Notes, in the form ofExhibit D-2 hereto (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Subsidiary Guaranty”); | |
(iii) the Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Bank Lenders, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent for the Bank Lenders and as Collateral Agent, Prudential, each of the other holders from time to time of the Shelf Notes and the Security |
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Trustee, in the form ofExhibit E hereto (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Intercreditor Agreement”); | |
(iv) the Subordination Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Credit Parties, Prudential and each of the other holders from time to time of the Shelf Notes, in the form ofExhibit F hereto (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Subordination Agreement”); | |
(v) the Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, executed by the Obligors and the Subsidiary Guarantors (other than any Subsidiary Guarantors that are limited liability companies or limited partnerships) in favor of the Security Trustee, as secured party, for the benefit of the holders from time to time of Shelf Notes, in the form ofExhibit G hereto (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Pledge Agreement”), and the relevant Credit Parties shall have delivered to the Collateral Agent to be held on behalf of the Security Trustee in accordance with the terms of the Pledge Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement (x) certificates representing the Capital Stock pledged by such Credit Parties thereunder together with related undated stock powers (or other similar instruments) endorsed in blank, (y) Form UCC-1 financing statements in respect of all partnership interests and limited liability company interests in which a Lien is granted thereunder, and (z) instruments of consent, waiver, and recognition in the form of Exhibit B to the Pledge Agreement duly executed by each Credit Party that is (A) a partnership and by each partner therein and (B) a limited liability company and by each member thereof; | |
(vi) the Collateralized Trust Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between Prudential, each of the holders of the Shelf Notes from time to time and the Security Trustee, in the form ofExhibit K hereto (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Trust Agreement”); | |
(vii) such other certificates, documents and agreements as Prudential may request (including those referenced in paragraph 3B); and | |
3A(2) Opinions of Counsel. Prudential shall have received: | |
(i) from Bingham McCutchen LLP, a favorable opinion satisfactory to Prudential as to such matters incident to the matters herein contemplated as it may reasonably request. | |
(ii) from (a) Phillips Nizer LLP, special counsel to the Credit Parties and (b) Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP, special Ohio counsel to Kinro, favorable opinions satisfactory to Prudential and substantially in the forms ofExhibit H-1 andExhibit H-2, respectively, attached hereto. The Obligors hereby direct each such counsel to deliver such opinion and understand and agree that |
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Prudential and each Purchaser will and is hereby authorized to rely on such opinion. | |
3A(3) Representations and Warranties; No Default. The representations and warranties contained in this Agreement and each of the other Transaction Documents shall be true on and as of the Effective Date; there shall exist on the Effective Date no Event of Default or Default; and each of the Obligors shall have delivered to such Purchaser an Officer’s Certificate, dated the Effective Date, to both such effects substantially in the form attached hereto asExhibit I. | |
3A(4) Constitutive and Authorization Documents. Prudential shall have received from each Credit Party a certificate substantially in the form ofExhibit J attached hereto, certifying as to the incumbency of the Persons executing the Transaction Documents and other documents in connection therewith on behalf of such Credit Party and attaching copies of such Credit Party’s constitutive documents, as in effect on the Effective Date, good standing certificates, and the resolutions authorizing its execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party, and certifying as to such other matters as Prudential may reasonably request. | |
3A(5) [Intentionally Omitted] | |
3A(6) Payment of Existing Indebtedness. The Obligors shall have paid in full all amounts outstanding under the Existing Note Agreement and each other document, instrument and agreement relating thereto, and Prudential shall have received documentation or other evidence satisfactory to it that such amounts have been paid and such documents, instruments and agreements have been terminated. | |
3A(7) Perfection of Liens. Prudential shall have received (a) copies of each certificate representing Capital Stock of the Co-Issuers and their Subsidiaries pledged pursuant to the Pledge Agreement, together with copies of appropriate instruments of transfer thereof, in each case in form and substance satisfactory to Prudential and certified by a senior financial officer of the Parent as being true, correct and complete copies thereof, (b) evidence satisfactory to Prudential that the Security Trustee (or any agent or designee thereof) is in possession of such certificates and instruments of transfer and (c) evidence satisfactory to Prudential of the perfection of its Liens in any uncertificated Capital Stock of the Co-Issuers and their Subsidiaries pledged pursuant to the Pledge Agreement (it being understood that delivery to Prudential of copies of the filed UCC-1 financing statements with the appropriate secretaries’ of state, naming the Security Trustee as secured party for the benefit of the holders from time to time of the Shelf Notes shall constitute satisfactory evidence). The Liens of the Security Trustee on the Capital Stock pledged by the Credit Parties pursuant to the Pledge Agreement shall be valid and enforceable and shall not be subject to any other Liens (other than Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent permitted by clause (viii) of the definition of Permitted Liens). |
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3A(8) UCC Searches. Prudential shall have received copies of Requests for Information or Copies (Form UCC-11) or equivalent reports listing all effective financing statements which name the Credit Parties or any of their respective Subsidiaries (under any present name and previous name) as debtor and which are filed in the offices of their respective jurisdictions of organization and any other states as reasonably requested by such Purchaser, together with copies of such financing statements. | |
3A(9) Payment of Closing Expenses.The Obligors shall have paid at the closing the fees, charges and disbursements of the special counsel to Prudential and the Purchasers as presented by such counsel in a statement on the Effective Date and for which the Obligors are responsible in accordance with paragraph 13B. | |
3A(10) Proceedings. All proceedings taken or to be taken in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and all documents incident thereto shall be satisfactory in form and substance to Prudential, and Prudential shall have received all such counterpart originals or certified or other copies of such documents as it may reasonably request. |
3B(1) Shelf Notes. Such Purchaser shall have received the Shelf Note(s) to be purchased by such Purchaser, dated the applicable Closing Day with respect to such Shelf Notes. | |
3B(2) Private Placement Number.Such Purchaser shall have received a Private Placement Number issued by Standard & Poor’s CUSIP Service Bureau (in connection with the Securities Valuation Office of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners) for the Shelf Notes to be purchased by it. | |
3B(3) Opinions of Counsel. Such Purchaser shall have received from (a) Phillips Nizer LLP, special counsel to the Credit Parties (or such other counsel designated by the Credit Parties and acceptable to the Purchaser(s)) and (b) Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP, special Ohio counsel to Kinro (or such other counsel designated by Kinro and acceptable to the Purchaser(s)), favorable opinions satisfactory to Prudential and substantially in the forms ofExhibit H-3 andExhibit H-4, respectively, attached hereto. The Obligors hereby direct each such counsel to deliver such opinion, agree that the issuance and sale of any Shelf Notes will constitute a reconfirmation of such direction, and understand and agree that each Purchaser receiving such an opinion will and is hereby authorized to rely on such opinion. | |
3B(4) Representations and Warranties; No Default. The representations and warranties contained in this Agreement and each of the other |
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Transaction Documents shall be true on and as of such Closing Day, except to the extent of (a) changes caused by the transactions herein contemplated, and (b) such changes or exceptions thereto as may be indicated in the Request for Purchase and are reasonably acceptable to Prudential. In addition, there shall exist on such Closing Day no Event of Default or Default; and each of the Obligors shall have delivered to such Purchaser an Officer’s Certificate, dated such Closing Day, to both such effects substantially in the form attached hereto asExhibit I. | |
3B(5) Constitutive and Authorization Documents. Such Purchaser shall have received from each Credit Party a certificate substantially in the form ofExhibit J attached hereto, certifying as to the incumbency of the Persons executing the Shelf Notes and other documents, agreements and certificates in connection therewith on behalf of such Credit Party and attaching copies of such Credit Party’s constitutive documents, as in effect on such Closing Day, good standing certificates, and, where applicable, the resolutions authorizing its execution of and issuance of the Shelf Notes, and certifying as to such other matters as the Purchasers may reasonably request. | |
3B(6) [Intentionally Omitted] | |
3B(7) Purchase Permitted by Applicable Laws.The purchase of and payment for the Shelf Notes to be purchased by such Purchaser on the applicable Closing Day (including the use of the proceeds of such Shelf Notes by the Co-Issuers) shall not violate any applicable law or governmental regulation (including, without limitation, Section 5 of the Securities Act or Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System) and shall not subject such Purchaser to any tax, penalty or liability under or pursuant to any applicable law or governmental regulation, and such Purchaser shall have received such certificates or other evidence as it may request to establish compliance with this condition. | |
3B(8) Payment of Certain Fees. The Co-Issuers shall have paid to Prudential or any Purchaser, as applicable, any fees due it pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement, including any Issuance Fee due pursuant to paragraph 2H(1) and any Delayed Delivery Fee due pursuant to paragraph 2H(2). | |
3B(9) Payment of Closing Expenses.The Obligors shall have paid at the closing the fees and disbursements of the special counsel to Prudential and the Purchasers as presented by such counsel in a statement on the Closing Day and for which the Co-Issuers are responsible in accordance with paragraph 13B. | |
3B(10) Proceedings.All proceedings taken or to be taken in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and all documents incident thereto shall be satisfactory in form and substance to such Purchaser, and such Purchaser shall have received all such counterpart originals or certified or other copies of such documents as it may reasonably request. |
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(i) within 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Parent, (i) its consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter (except in the case of statements of stockholders’ equity and statements of cash flows) and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case (except in the case of stockholders’ equity) in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year, all certified by one of its authorized financial officers as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Parent and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes, and (ii) consolidating balance sheets of the Parent and of each Co-Issuer setting forth such information separately for the Parent and for each Co-Issuer and related consolidating statements of operations of the Parent and of each Co-Issuer setting forth such information separately for the Parent and each Co-Issuer as of the end of and for such quarter and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or in the case of the balance sheets, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year, all of which shall be certified by the chief financial officer of the Parent as fairly presenting the financial condition and results of operations therein shown in accordance with GAAP consistently applied subject to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes; | |
(ii) within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Parent, (i) its audited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all reported on by KPMG LLP or other independent public accountants of recognized national standing (without a “going concern” or like qualification or exception and without any qualification or |
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exception as to the scope of such audit) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Parent and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, and (ii) consolidating balance sheets setting forth such information separately for the Parent and for each Co-Issuer as of the end of such fiscal year and consolidating statements of operations setting forth such information separately for the Parent and for each Co-Issuer for such fiscal year, such consolidating balance sheet and consolidating statements of operations to be certified by the chief financial officer of the Parent as fairly presenting the financial condition and results of operations of the Parent and each Co-Issuer as of the end of, and for, such fiscal period in accordance with GAAP; | |
(iii) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under clause (i) or (ii) above, an Officer’s Certificate of the Parent (i) certifying as to whether a Default or Event of Default has occurred and, if a Default or Event of Default has occurred, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto, (ii) setting forth reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating compliance with paragraphs 6C, 6D, 6F, 6H, 6I, 6J, 6K and 6L and (iii) stating whether any change in the application of GAAP in respect of the audited financial statements referred to in paragraph 8B has occurred and, if any such change has occurred, specifying the effect of such change on the financial statements accompanying such certificate; | |
(iv) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under clause (ii) above, a certificate of the accounting firm that reported on such financial statements stating whether they obtained knowledge during the course of their examination of such financial statements of any Default or Event of Default (which certificate may be limited to the extent required by accounting rules or guidelines), and promptly after receipt by the Parent, a copy of each management letter (if prepared) of such accounting firm (together with any response thereto prepared by the Parent); | |
(v) promptly (a) after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed by the Parent or any Subsidiary thereof with the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any governmental body or agency succeeding to any or all of the functions of said Commission) or with any national securities exchange, or distributed by the Parent to its shareholders generally, as the case may be; and (b) copies of any documents and information furnished to any other government agency (except if in the ordinary course of business), including the Internal Revenue Service; | |
(vi) promptly, a copy of any amendment or waiver of any provision of any agreement or instrument referred to in paragraph 6O; | |
(vii) not later than the time furnished to such Person, a copy of any certificate or notice given by any Credit Party to the Administrative Agent (as such term is defined in the Bank Credit Agreement) and/or the Bank Lenders, or received by any |
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Credit Party from the Administrative Agent or any Bank Lender in connection with the Bank Credit Agreement; and | |
(viii) promptly following any request therefor, such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of each Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof, or compliance with the terms of this Agreement, the Shelf Notes or the other Transactions Documents, as Prudential or any holder of Shelf Notes may reasonably request. |
5C(1) Notice of Default or Event of Default — promptly after a Responsible Officer becoming aware of the existence of any Default or Event of Default or that any Person has given any notice or taken any action with respect to a claimed default hereunder or that any Person has given any notice or taken any action with respect to a claimed default of the type described in paragraph 7A(iii) of this Agreement, a written notice specifying the nature and period of existence thereof and what actions the Obligors are taking or propose to take with respect thereto; | |
5C(2) ERISA— the occurrence of any ERISA Event that, alone or together with any other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability of any Credit Party and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding $250,000; | |
5C(3) Actions, Proceedings — promptly after the commencement thereof, written notice of the filing or commencement of any action, suit or proceeding by or before any Governmental Authority or arbitration board or tribunal against or affecting any Credit Party or any Affiliate thereof that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and | |
5C(4) Material Adverse Effect — prompt written notice of any other development that results in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect. |
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Each notice delivered under this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer or other executive officer of a Co-Issuer or the Parent setting forth the details of the event or development requiring such notice and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto. |
(i) Without limiting paragraph 6P, the Obligors will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, comply with all laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property (including, without limitation, the USA Patriot Act), except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. | |
(ii) Without limiting the preceding paragraph, each Obligor will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to (a) comply in all material respects with, and use reasonable best efforts to ensure compliance in all material respects by all tenants and subtenants, if any, with, all applicable Environmental Laws; and (b) conduct and complete (or cause to be conducted and completed) all investigations, studies, sampling and testing, and all remedial, removal and other actions required under Environmental Laws and in a timely fashion comply in all material respects with all lawful orders and directives of all governmental authorities regarding Environmental Laws except to the extent that the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and the pendency of such proceedings could not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. |
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(i) (a) such merger, consolidation, conveyance, transfer or lease is with or to another Credit Party,provided that no Obligor may sell, convey, lease or otherwise transfer substantially all of its assets to any Person or fail to survive any such merger or consolidation related to it except as permitted by clause (b) of this paragraph 6B(i); or (b) the successor formed by such consolidation or the survivor of such merger or the Person that acquires by conveyance, transfer or lease substantially all of the assets of any Obligor or any Subsidiary of any Obligor, as the case may be (the “Successor Corporation”), shall be a solvent corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America or any State thereof (including the District of Columbia), and if such transaction involves any Credit Party and such Credit Party is not the Successor Corporation (x) such Successor Corporation shall have executed and delivered to each holder of Shelf Notes its assumption of the due and punctual performance and observance of each covenant and condition of each Transaction Document to which such Credit Party is a party, and (y) shall have caused to be delivered to each holder of Shelf Notes an opinion of nationally recognized independent counsel, or other independent counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Required Holders, to the effect that all agreements or instruments effecting such assumption are enforceable in accordance with their terms and comply with the terms hereof; | |
(ii) immediately prior to such transaction and after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and | |
(iii) immediately prior to such transaction and after giving effect thereto, each Co-Issuer (or any Successor Corporation pursuant to paragraph 6B(i)(b)) would be permitted by the provisions of paragraph 6D(vii) hereof to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness. |
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(i) Indebtedness created hereunder or under the other Transaction Documents; | |
(ii) Indebtedness of a Credit Party in respect of amounts outstanding (including all amounts due, contingently or otherwise, in respect of reimbursement obligations under letters of credit or similar instruments and all related reimbursement agreements) under the Bank Credit Documents, not in excess of the result of (x) $60,000,000 (subject to further increase of up to $30,000,000 pursuant to Section 2.06A of the Credit Agreement so long as no Event of Default is continuing at the time of any such increase), minus (y) the aggregate amount of any permanent reductions in the principal amount of the commitments under the revolving credit facility established thereunder; | |
(iii) Indebtedness existing on the Effective Date and set forth inSchedule 6D; | |
(iv) All renewals, extensions, substitutions, refinancings, or replacements of any Indebtedness described in clause (iii) above, in an amount not to exceed the amount so refinanced,provided that the terms, covenants and restrictions in respect of such renewals, extensions, substitutions, refundings or replacements are not |
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more materially onerous than the existing terms, covenants and restrictions of such Indebtedness; | |
(v) the Interest Rate Hedging Exposure Amount,provided such amount does not at any time exceed $2,000,000 in the aggregate; | |
(vi) Indebtedness of one Credit Party to another Credit Party (other than the Parent);provided that (a) there is adequate consideration for such Indebtedness and there is evidence of such Indebtedness on each Credit Party’s books, (b) all of the outstanding Capital Stock of each such Credit Party shall be owned 100% directly or indirectly by the Parent and a Co-Issuer, (c) each such Credit Party to or by whom such Indebtedness is owned, or who owns (directly or indirectly) any such Capital Stock, shall be a party to (1) the Subordination Agreement, (2) if such Credit Party is a Pledgor, the Pledge Agreement, and (3) if such Credit Party is a Subsidiary, the Subsidiary Guaranty, (d) such Indebtedness shall at all times be subject to the provisions of the Subordination Agreement as “Subordinated Debt” (as defined in the Subordination Agreement), and (e) such Indebtedness shall not be assigned or transferred by the obligee thereof to any Person other than another Credit Party (and only so long as, after giving effect to such assignment or transfer all the conditions of this proviso are met); and | |
(vii) to the extent not included above in this paragraph 6D, other Indebtedness incurred by any Obligor or any of their respective Subsidiaries;provided that, at the time of the incurrence thereof and after giving effect thereto and to the application of the proceeds thereof, Consolidated Indebtedness shall not exceed 55% of Consolidated Total Capitalization. |
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No Obligor will permit any of its Subsidiaries (other than the Co-Issuers) to, at any time, directly or indirectly, incur, create, assume, guarantee or become or be liable in any manner with respect to any Indebtedness or issue any Preferred Stock except: |
(i) Indebtedness of any such Subsidiary outstanding on the Effective Date and set forth onSchedule 6F or any refinancing, extension, renewal or refunding of any such Indebtedness in an amount not to exceed the amount of such Indebtedness immediately prior to the effectiveness of such refinancing, extension, renewal or refunding;provided that the terms, covenants and restrictions in respect of such refinancing, extension, renewal or refunding are not materially more onerous than the existing terms, covenants and restrictions of such Indebtedness; | |
(ii) Indebtedness of any such Subsidiary in respect of Guarantees delivered pursuant to the Bank Credit Agreement;provided that such Subsidiary has executed the Subsidiary Guaranty on the Effective Date or in accordance with the terms of paragraph 5K; | |
(iii) Preferred Stock of any such Subsidiary issued on or prior to the Effective Date; | |
(iv) Indebtedness of, or Preferred Stock issued by, any such Subsidiary to (or in favor of) a Co-Issuer or a Subsidiary of a Co-Issuer, so long as such Indebtedness is permitted pursuant to paragraph 6D(vi) hereof; | |
(v) other Indebtedness or Preferred Stock of any such Subsidiary,provided that such Indebtedness and Preferred Stock together with the aggregate amount of outstanding Indebtedness and the aggregate liquidation value of Preferred Stock of such Subsidiary previously incurred and outstanding under this paragraph 6F (other than Indebtedness incurred under clause (ii) hereof), does not at any time exceed 25% of Consolidated Net Worth determined as of the end of the fiscal quarter of the Parent then most recently ended; andprovided,further, that the aggregate Indebtedness of all Subsidiaries of the Obligors not secured by Liens does not at any time exceed 15% of Consolidated Net Worth determined as of the end of the fiscal quarter of the Parent then most recently ended. |
(i) no Default of Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; and |
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(ii) the Parent could incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to paragraph 6D(vii) hereof. |
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(i) terminate, amend, waive or modify its Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws, or Certificate of Limited Partnership, Certificate of Formation, Agreement of Limited Partnership, or Operating Agreement as the case may be, except for amendments, modifications or waivers that are not adverse in any respect to the holders of the Shelf Notes, or | |
(ii) amend in any material respect the Bank Credit Agreement or any of the other Bank Credit Documents entered into in connection therewith without the prior written consent of the Required Holders (it being understood that, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any increase in the aggregate amount of the commitments under the Bank Credit Agreement (including, without limitation, any increase in such commitments pursuant to Section 2.06A thereof) at any time when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing shall be deemed to be a material amendment). |
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(i) the Co-Issuers default in the payment of any principal of, or Yield- Maintenance Amount payable with respect to, any Shelf Note when the same shall become due, either by the terms thereof or otherwise as herein provided; or | |
(ii) the Co-Issuers default in the payment of any interest on any Shelf Note or any other amount due under this Agreement when the same shall become due; or | |
(iii) any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of any Credit Party defaults (whether as primary obligor or as guarantor or other surety) in any payment of principal of or interest on any other Indebtedness beyond any period of grace provided with respect thereto, or any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of any Credit Party fails to perform or observe any other agreement, term or condition contained in any agreement under which any such obligation is created (or if any other event thereunder or under any such agreement shall occur and be continuing) and the effect of such failure or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such obligation (or a trustee on behalf of such holder or holders) to cause, such obligation to become due (or to be repurchased by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of any Credit Party) prior to any stated maturity,provided that the aggregate amount of all obligations as to which such a payment default shall occur and be continuing or such a failure or other event causing or permitting acceleration (or resale to any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of any Credit Party) shall occur and be continuing exceeds at least $3,000,000 individually or $5,000,000 in the aggregate,provided,further, that for purposes of this paragraph 7A(iii), the principal amount of the Indebtedness of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of any Credit Party in respect of any Hedging Agreements at any time shall be treated as Indebtedness in an amount equal to the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that any such Person would be required to pay if such Hedging Agreement were terminated at such time; or | |
(iv) any representation or warranty made by any Credit Party herein or in any of the other Transaction Documents, or by any Credit Party or any of their respective officers in any writing furnished in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents shall be false in any material respect on the date as of which made; or |
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(v) any Obligor fails to perform or observe any agreement contained in paragraph 5 or paragraph 6; or | |
(vi) any Credit Party fails to perform or observe any other agreement, term or condition contained herein or in any of the other Transaction Documents, and such failure shall not be remedied within 30 days after any Responsible Officer obtains actual knowledge thereof; or | |
(vii) any Credit Party or any of their respective Subsidiaries makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors or is generally not paying its debts as such debts become due; or | |
(viii) any decree or order for relief in respect of any Credit Party or any of their respective Subsidiaries is entered under any bankruptcy, reorganization, compromise, arrangement, insolvency, readjustment of debt, dissolution or liquidation or similar law, whether now or hereafter in effect (herein called the “Bankruptcy Law”), of any jurisdiction; or | |
(ix) any Credit Party or any of their respective Subsidiaries petitions or applies to any tribunal for, or consents to, the appointment of, or taking possession by, a trustee, receiver, custodian, liquidator or similar official of such Credit Party or such Subsidiary, or of any substantial part of the assets of any such Person, or commences a voluntary case under the Bankruptcy Law of the United States or any proceedings (other than proceedings for the voluntary liquidation and dissolution of a Subsidiary) relating to any Credit Party or any of their respective Subsidiaries under the Bankruptcy Law of any other jurisdiction; or | |
(x) any such petition or application is filed, or any such proceedings are commenced, against any Credit Party or any of their respective Subsidiaries and such Credit Party or such Subsidiary by any act indicates its approval thereof, consent thereto or acquiescence therein, or an order, judgment or decree is entered appointing any such trustee, receiver, custodian, liquidator or similar official, or approving the petition in any such proceedings, and such order, judgment or decree remains unstayed and in effect for more than 30 days; or | |
(xi) any order, judgment or decree is entered in any proceedings against any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of any Credit Party decreeing the dissolution of such Credit Party or Subsidiary and such order, judgment or decree remains unstayed and in effect for more than 60 days: or | |
(xii) any order, judgment or decree is entered in any proceedings against any Credit Party or any of their respective Subsidiaries decreeing a split-up of such Credit Party or such Subsidiary which requires the divestiture of assets representing a substantial part, or the divestiture of the stock of a Subsidiary whose assets represent a substantial |
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part, of the consolidated assets of any Credit Party and its Subsidiaries (determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles) or which requires the divestiture of assets, or stock of a Subsidiary, which shall have contributed a substantial part of the consolidated net income of any Credit Party and its Subsidiaries (determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles) for any of the three fiscal years then most recently ended, and such order, judgment or decree remains unstayed and in effect for more than 60 days; or | |
(xiii) one or more final judgments in an aggregate amount in excess of $100,000 is rendered against any Credit Party or any of their respective Subsidiaries and, within 30 days after entry thereof, any such judgment is not discharged or execution thereof stayed pending appeal, or within 30 days after the expiration of any such stay, such judgment is not discharged; | |
(xiv) (A) any Plan shall fail to satisfy the minimum funding standards of ERISA or the Code for any plan year or part thereof or a waiver of such standards or extension of any amortization period is sought or granted under Section 412 of the Code, (B) a notice of intent to terminate any Plan shall have been or is reasonably expected to be filed with the PBGC or the PBGC shall have instituted proceedings under ERISA Section 4042 to terminate or appoint a trustee to administer any Plan or the PBGC shall have notified any Credit Party, any Subsidiary of any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate that a Plan may become a subject of such proceedings, (C) the aggregate “amount of unfunded benefit liabilities” (within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(18) of ERISA) under all Plans, determined in accordance with Title IV of ERISA, shall exceed $1,000,000, (D) any Credit Party, any Subsidiary of any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate shall have incurred or is reasonably expected to incur any liability pursuant to Title I or IV of ERISA or the penalty or excise tax provisions of the Code relating to employee benefit plans, (E) any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate withdraws from any Multiemployer Plan, or (F) any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of any Credit Party establishes or amends any employee welfare benefit plan that provides post-employment welfare benefits in a manner that would materially increase the liability of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of any Credit Party thereunder; and any such event or events described in clauses (A) through (F) above, either individually or together with any other such event or events, could reasonably be expected to (x) result in liability of any Credit Party in any aggregate amount exceeding $150,000 in any year or $350,000 for all periods or (y) have a Material Adverse Effect; | |
(xv) any Subsidiary or the Parent shall fail to observe or perform in any material respect any covenant, condition or agreement contained in the Parent Guaranty or the Subsidiary Guaranty; | |
(xvi) the Pledge Agreement shall, for any reason, be terminated, cease to be in full force and effect or cease to create a valid, perfected, first priority security interest in the Collateral described in the Pledge Agreement or any party having granted any such |
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security interests (or any successor thereto or representative thereof) shall make any claim or assertion to such effect, or any Credit Party (or any successor thereto or representative thereof) shall claim or assert that this Agreement, the Parent Guaranty, the Subsidiary Guaranty, the Pledge Agreement or any right or remedy of any holder of Shelf Notes hereunder or thereunder shall not be enforceable in accordance with its terms; | |
(xvii) any of the Transaction Documents shall cease for any reason to be in full force and effect or any party thereto (other than the Security Trustee or any holder from time to time of a Shelf Note) shall purport to disavow its obligations thereunder, shall declare that it does not have any further obligation thereunder or shall contest the validity or enforceability thereof; or | |
(xviii) a Change in Control shall occur; |
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(i) The Obligors have heretofore furnished to Prudential (i) a consolidated balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, reported on by KPMG LLP, independent public accountants, and (ii) consolidating balance sheets of the Parent and its Subsidiaries setting forth such information separately for the Parent and each Subsidiary thereof and related consolidating statements of operations for the Parent and its Subsidiaries setting forth such information separately for the Parent and each |
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Subsidiary thereof as of and for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2003, and including in comparative form the figures for the preceding fiscal year, certified by its chief financial officer. Such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of the Parent and of its Subsidiaries as of such dates and for such periods in accordance with GAAP. | |
(ii) Since December 31, 2003, there has been no material adverse change in the business, assets, operations, prospects or condition, financial or otherwise, of any Credit Party. Except as disclosed onSchedule 8B annexed hereto and as complete and correct as of the Effective Date, the Credit Parties have no liabilities, contingent or otherwise, not disclosed on the financial statements referred to in paragraph 8B(i), other than in respect of goods and services arising in the ordinary course of business. |
(i) Each Credit Party and its Subsidiaries has good and marketable title (free of Liens except such as are set forth onSchedule 6C annexed hereto (which is complete and correct as of the Effective Date) or are otherwise Permitted Liens) to, or valid leasehold interests in, all its real and personal property material to its business, except for minor defects in title that do not interfere with its ability to conduct its business as currently conducted or to utilize such properties for their intended purposes. No Credit Party is a party to any contract, agreement, lease or instrument (other than the Transaction Documents) the performance of which, either unconditionally or upon the happening of any event, will result in or require the creation of a Lien (except in favor of the Security Trustee) on any of its property or assets (now owned or hereafter acquired) or otherwise result in a violation of any Transaction Documents. | |
(ii) Each Credit Party owns, or is licensed to use, all trademarks, tradenames, copyrights, patents and other intellectual property material to its business, and the use thereof by such Credit Party and its Subsidiaries does not infringe upon the rights of any other Person, except for any such infringements that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. |
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(i) Neither the sale of the Shelf Notes by the Co-Issuers hereunder nor their use of the proceeds thereof will violate the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, or any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) or any enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto. | |
(ii) Neither the Co-Issuers nor any of their respective Subsidiaries (a) is a Person described or designated in the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List of the Office of Foreign Assets Control or in Section 1 of the Anti-Terrorism Order or (b) knowingly engages in any dealings or transactions with any such Person. The Parent and its Subsidiaries are in compliance, in all material respects, with the USA Patriot Act. | |
(iii) No part of the proceeds from the sale of the Shelf Notes hereunder will be used, directly or indirectly, for any payments to any governmental official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for political office, or anyone else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any |
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improper advantage, in violation of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, assuming in all cases that such Act applies to the Co-Issuers. |
(i) the Source is an “insurance company general account” (as the term is defined in the United States Department of Labor’s Prohibited Transaction Exemption (“PTE”) 95-60) in respect of which the reserves and liabilities (as defined by the annual statement for life insurance companies approved by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (the “NAIC Annual Statement”)) for the general account contract(s) held by or on behalf of any employee benefit plan together with the amount of the reserves and liabilities for the general account contract(s) held by or on behalf of any other employee benefit plans maintained by the same employer (or affiliate thereof as defined in PTE 95-60) or by the same employee organization in the general account do not exceed 10% of the total reserves and liabilities of the general account (exclusive of separate account liabilities) plus surplus as set forth in the NAIC Annual Statement filed with such Purchaser’s state of domicile; or | |
(ii) the Source is a separate account that is maintained solely in connection with such Purchaser’s fixed contractual obligations under which the amounts payable, or credited, to any employee benefit plan (or its related trust) that has any interest in such separate account (or to any participant or beneficiary of such plan (including any annuitant)) are not affected in any manner by the investment performance of the separate account; or | |
(iii) the Source is either (a) an insurance company pooled separate account, within the meaning of PTE 90-1 or (b) a bank collective investment fund, within the meaning of the PTE 91-38 and, except as disclosed by such Purchaser to the Co-Issuers in |
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writing pursuant to this clause (iii), no employee benefit plan or group of plans maintained by the same employer or employee organization beneficially owns more than 10% of all assets allocated to such pooled separate account or collective investment fund; or | |
(iv) the Source constitutes assets of an “investment fund” (within the meaning of Part V of PTE 84-14 (the “QPAM Exemption”)) managed by a “qualified professional asset manager” or “QPAM” (within the meaning of Part V of the QPAM Exemption), no employee benefit plan’s assets that are included in such investment fund, when combined with the assets of all other employee benefit plans established or maintained by the same employer or by an affiliate (within the meaning of Section V(c)(1) of the QPAM Exemption) of such employer or by the same employee organization and managed by such QPAM, exceed 20% of the total client assets managed by such QPAM, the conditions of Part I(c) and (g) of the QPAM Exemption are satisfied, neither the QPAM nor a person controlling or controlled by the QPAM (applying the definition of “control” in Section V(e) of the QPAM Exemption) owns a 5% or more interest in the Co-Issuers and (a) the identity of such QPAM and (b) the names of all employee benefit plans whose assets are included in such investment fund have been disclosed to the Co-Issuers in writing pursuant to this clause (iv); or | |
(v) the Source constitutes assets of a “plan(s)” (within the meaning of Section IV of PTE 96-23 (the “INHAM Exemption”)) managed by an “in-house asset manager” or “INHAM” (within the meaning of Part IV of the INHAM exemption), the conditions of Part I(a), (g) and (h) of the INHAM Exemption are satisfied, neither the INHAM nor a person controlling or controlled by the INHAM (applying the definition of “control” in Section IV(h) of the INHAM Exemption) owns a 5% or more interest in the Co-Issuers and (a) the identity of such INHAM and (b) the name(s) of the employee benefit plan(s) whose assets constitute the Source have been disclosed to the Co-Issuers in writing pursuant to this clause (v); or | |
(vi) the Source is a governmental plan; or | |
(vii) the Source is one or more employee benefit plans, or a separate account or trust fund comprised of one or more employee benefit plans, each of which has been identified to the Co-Issuers in writing pursuant to this clause (vii); or | |
(viii) the Source does not include assets of any employee benefit plan, other than a plan exempt from the coverage of ERISA. |
As used in this paragraph 9B, the terms “employee benefit plan,” “governmental plan,” and “separate account” shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in Section 3 of ERISA. |
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“Remaining Average Life” shall mean, with respect to the Called Principal of any Shelf Note, the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth year) obtained by dividing (i) such Called Principal into (ii) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) each Remaining Scheduled Payment of such Called Principal (but not of interest thereon) by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth year) which will elapse between the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal and the scheduled due date of such Remaining Scheduled Payment. “Remaining Scheduled Payments” shall mean, with respect to the Called Principal of any Shelf Note, all payments of such Called Principal and interest thereon that would be due on or after the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal if no payment of such Called Principal were made prior to its scheduled due date. “Settlement Date” shall mean, with respect to the Called Principal of any Shelf Note, the date on which such Called Principal is to be prepaid pursuant to paragraph 4B or paragraph 4C or is declared to be immediately due and payable pursuant to paragraph 7A, as the context requires. “Yield-Maintenance Amount” shall mean, with respect to any Shelf Note, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Discounted Value of the Called Principal of such Shelf Note over the sum of (i) such Called Principal plus (ii) interest accrued thereon as of (including interest due on) the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal. The Yield-Maintenance Amount shall in no event be less than zero. “Acceptance” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2E. “Acceptance Day” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2E. “Acceptance Window” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2E. “Accepted Note” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2E. “Affiliate” shall mean, at any time, and with respect to any Person, (i) any other Person that at such time directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries Controls, or is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such first Person, and (ii) any Person beneficially owning or holding, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of any class of voting or equity interests of the Parent or any Subsidiary or any corporation of which the Parent and its Subsidiaries beneficially own or hold, in the aggregate, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of any class of voting or equity interests. Unless the context otherwise clearly requires, any reference to an “Affiliate” is a reference to an Affiliate of the Parent. “Agreement, this” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 13C. |
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“Anti-Terrorism Order” shall mean United States Executive Order No. 13,224 of September 24, 2001, Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions with Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit or Support Terrorism, 66 U.S. Fed. Reg. 49,079 (2001), as amended. “Authorized Officer” shall mean (i) in the case of the Obligors, each Obligor’s chief executive officer, its chief financial officer, its treasurer, any vice president of such Obligors designated as an “Authorized Officer” of the Obligor in the Information Schedule attached hereto or any vice president of such Obligor designated as an “Authorized Officer” of such Obligor for the purpose of this Agreement in an Officer’s Certificate executed by such Obligor’s chief executive officer or chief financial officer and delivered to Prudential, and (ii) in the case of Prudential, any officer of Prudential designated as its “Authorized Officer” in the Information Schedule or any officer of Prudential designated as its “Authorized Officer” for the purpose of this Agreement in a certificate executed by one of its Authorized Officers. Any action taken under this Agreement on behalf of any Obligor by any individual who on or after the date of this Agreement shall have been an Authorized Officer of such Obligor and whom Prudential in good faith believes to be an Authorized Officer of such Obligor at the time of such action shall be binding on such Obligor even though such individual shall have ceased to be an Authorized Officer of such Obligor, and any action taken under this Agreement on behalf of Prudential by any individual who on or after the date of this Agreement shall have been an Authorized Officer of Prudential and whom the Obligors in good faith believe to be an Authorized Officer of Prudential at the time of such action shall be binding on Prudential even though such individual shall have ceased to be an Authorized Officer of Prudential. “Available Facility Amount” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2A. “Bank Credit Agreement” shall mean that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of the Effective Date, by and among Kinro, Lippert Components, the Bank Lenders and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for the Bank Lenders, or any renewal, refinancing, refunding or replacement thereof, as any of the foregoing may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time. “Bank Credit Documents” shall mean the Bank Credit Agreement, the revolving credit notes issued thereunder and each document, agreement or instrument executed in connection therewith or related thereto. “Bank Lenders” shall mean the lenders from time to time party to the Bank Credit Agreement. “BankruptcyLaw” shall have the meaning specified in clause (viii) of paragraph 7A. |
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“Business Day” shall mean any day other than (i) a Saturday or a Sunday, (ii) a day on which commercial banks in New York City are required or authorized to be closed and (iii) for purposes of paragraph 2C hereof only, a day on which Prudential is not open for business. “Cancellation Date” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2H(3). “Cancellation Fee” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2H(3). “Capital Expenditures” shall mean, for any period, the sum of all amounts that would, in accordance with GAAP, be included as capital expenditures on a consolidated statement of cash flows for the Parent and its consolidated Subsidiaries during such period (including the amount of assets leased under any Capital Lease Obligation), less the net proceeds received by such Persons during such period from sales of fixed tangible assets as reflected on the consolidated statement of cash flows for that period. “Capital Stock” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any class of preferred, common or other capital stock, share capital or similar equity interest of such Person, including limited or general partnership interests in a partnership and units or membership interests in a limited liability company. “Capitalized Lease Obligation” shall mean any rental obligation which, under GAAP, is or will be required to be capitalized on the books of the Parent or any Subsidiary, taken at the amount thereof accounted for as indebtedness (net of interest expenses) in accordance with GAAP. “Change in Control” shall mean (a) the acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any Person or group (within the meaning of the Exchange Act and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder as in effect on the date hereof) of Equity Interests representing more than 25% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Parent; (b) occupation after the Effective Date of a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of directors of the Parent by Persons who were neither (i) nominated by the board of directors of the Parent nor (ii) appointed by directors so nominated; (c) the acquisition after the Effective Date of direct or indirect Control of the Parent by any Person or group; or (d) the ownership after the Effective Date by any Person other than the Parent of any Equity Interests of any Co-Issuer, or the ownership by any Person other than a Co-Issuer, or the Subsidiary of a Co-Issuer that is the owner thereof as of the Effective Date (or such later date on which such Subsidiary Guarantor becomes a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to the terms of this Agreement), of any Equity Interests of any Subsidiary Guarantor. “Closing Day” shall mean with respect to any Accepted Note, the Business Day specified for the closing of the purchase and sale of such Accepted Note in the Request for Purchase of such Accepted Note,provided that (i) if the Co-Issuers and the Purchaser which is |
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obligated to purchase such Accepted Note agree on an earlier Business Day for such closing, the “Closing Day” for such Accepted Note shall be such earlier Business Day, and (ii) if the closing of the purchase and sale of such Accepted Note is rescheduled pursuant to paragraph 2G, the Closing Day for such Accepted Note, for all purposes of this Agreement except references to “original Closing Day” in paragraph 2H(2), shall mean the Rescheduled Closing Day with respect to such Accepted Note. “Co-Issuers” shall have the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto. “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. “Collateral” shall mean the shares of Capital Stock of the Credit Parties in which a Lien has been created under the Pledge Agreement in favor of the Security Trustee for the benefit of the holders of the Shelf Notes to secure the obligations of the Credit Parties under this Agreement, the Shelf Notes and the other Transaction Documents. “Collateral Agent” shall mean JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as collateral agent for the Bank Lenders. “Confirmation of Acceptance” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2E. “Consolidated Indebtedness” shall mean, as of any date of determination, all Indebtedness of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as would be shown on a consolidated balance sheet of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as of such date prepared in accordance with GAAP (other than the undrawn amount of any letters of credit issued pursuant to the terms of the Bank Credit Agreement). “Consolidated Net Income” shall mean, for any period, the net income or loss of the Parent and its Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP after eliminating all offsetting debts and credits between the Parent and its Subsidiaries and all other items required to be eliminated in the course of the preparation of consolidated financial statements of the Parent and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, but excluding: (i) extraordinary gains or losses; (ii) net earnings and losses of any Subsidiary of the Parent accrued prior to the date it became a Subsidiary of the Parent; (iii) net earnings of any business entity (other than a direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Parent) in which the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries has an ownership interest unless such net earnings shall have been actually received by the Parent or its Subsidiaries in the form of cash distributions; (iv) any portion of net earnings of any Subsidiary of the Parent which for any reason is unavailable for distribution to the Parent; (v) earnings or losses resulting from any write-up or write-down of assets of the Parent and its Subsidiaries other than in the ordinary course of business; (vi) any reversal of any |
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contingency reserve to the extent such contingency reserve was taken prior to the date hereof; and (vii) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles. “Consolidated Net Worth” shall mean, as of the date of determination, (a) the sum of (i) the par value (or value stated on the books of the Parent) of the Capital Stock (but excluding treasury stock and capital stock subscribed and unissued) of the Parent and its Subsidiariesplus (ii) the amount of the paid-in capital and retained earnings of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, in each case as such amounts would be shown on a consolidated balance sheet of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as of such date prepared in accordance with GAAP,minus (b) to the extent included in clause (a), (i) all amounts property attribute to Minority Interests, if any, in the stock and surplus of Subsidiaries. “Consolidated Tangible Net Worth” shall mean, as of any date of determination, (a) the sum of (i) the par value (or value stated on the books of the Parent) of the Capital Stock (but excluding treasury stock and capital stock subscribed and unissued) of the Parent and its Subsidiariesplus (ii) the amount of the paid-in capital and retained earnings of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, in each case as such amounts would be shown on a consolidated balance sheet of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as of such date prepared in accordance with GAAP,minus (b) to the extent included in clause (a), (i) all amounts properly attributable to Minority Interests, if any, in the stock and surplus of Subsidiaries of the Parent, and (ii) the sum of the following (without duplication of deductions in respect of items already deducted in arriving at surplus and retained earnings): (A) cost of treasury shares, (B) the book value of all assets which should be classified as intangibles (but in any event including goodwill, research and development costs, trademarks, trade names, copyrights, patents and franchises and unamortized debt discount), and (C) any write-up in the book value of assets resulting from a revaluation thereof (other than any such write-up made in connection with the acquisition of an asset from a Person which is not an Affiliate of a Credit Party and so long as such a write-up is made in accordance with GAAP and is based on the Fair Market Value of the asset). “Consolidated Total Assets” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the total assets of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as would be shown on a consolidated balance sheet of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as of such date prepared in accordance with GAAP. “Consolidated Total Capitalization” shall mean, at any time, the sum of (i) Consolidated Indebtedness and (ii) Consolidated Tangible Net Worth, in each case determined as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Parent then most recently ended. “Control” shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “Credit Parties” shall mean, collectively, without duplication, the Obligors and the Subsidiary Guarantors. |
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“Delayed Delivery Fee” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2H(2). “Distribution” shall mean means in respect of any Person: (a) dividends or other distributions or payments on capital stock or other equity interest of such Person (except distributions in such stock or other equity interest); and (b) the redemption or acquisition of such stock or other equity interests or of warrants, rights or other options to purchase such stock or other equity interests (except when solely in exchange for such stock or other equity interests) unless made, contemporaneously, from the net proceeds of a sale of such stock or other equity interests. “EBITDA” shall mean, for any period, income before income taxes for such period, plus, to the extent deducted in determining income for such period, interest expense, depreciation, amortization of tangible or intangible assets, and any other non-cash charges, but excluding extraordinary gains (or losses) and any gains (or losses) from the sale or disposition of assets other than in the ordinary course of business; all on a consolidated basis for the Parent and its Subsidiaries and all calculated in accordance with GAAP. “Effective Date” shall mean February 11, 2005. “Environmental Laws” shall mean all federal, state, local and foreign laws relating to pollution or protection of the environment, including laws relating to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of pollutants, contaminants, chemicals, or industrial, toxic or hazardous substances or wastes into the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, ground water or land), or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport, or handling of pollutants, contaminants, chemicals, or industrial, toxic or hazardous substances or wastes, and any and all regulations, codes, plans, orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions, notices or demand letters issued, entered, promulgated or approved thereunder. “Equity Interests” shall mean shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person, and any warrants, options or their rights entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire any such equity interest. “ERISA” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. “ERISA Affiliate” shall mean any corporation which is a member of the same controlled group of corporations as any Credit Party within the meaning of section 414(b) of the Code, or any trade or business which is under common control with any Credit Party within the meaning of section 414(c) of the Code. “ERISA Event” shall mean (i) any “reportable event”, as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the 30-day notice period is waived); (b) the existence with respect to any Plan of an |
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“accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(d) of the Code or Section 303(d) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (d) the incurrence by any Credit Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (e) the receipt by any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (f) the incurrence by any Credit Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the receipt by any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA. “Event of Default” shall mean any of the events specified in paragraph 7A, provided that there has been satisfied any requirement in connection with such event for the giving of notice, or the lapse of time, or the happening of any further condition, event or act, and “Default” shall mean any of such events, whether or not any such requirement has been satisfied. “Excess Assets” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 6H(ii). “Excess Replacement Assets” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 6H(ii). “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. “Existing Note Agreement” shall mean that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of January 28, 1998, by and among the Co-Issuers, Shoals Supply, Inc. and each of the purchasers named on Schedule A thereto. “Facility” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2A. “Fair Market Value” shall mean at any time and with respect to any property, the sale value of such property that would be realized in an arm’s-length sale at such time between an informed and willing buyer and an informed and willing seller (neither being under a compulsion to buy or sell). “GAAP” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles as in effect from time to time in the United States of America. “Governmental Authority” shall mean |
(i) the government of |
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(a) the United States of America or any State or other political subdivision thereof, or | |
(b) any jurisdiction in which the Parent or any Subsidiary conducts all or any part of its business, or which asserts jurisdiction over any properties of the Parent or any Subsidiary, or | |
(ii) any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of, or pertaining to, any such government. |
“Guarantee” shall mean, with respect to any Person (the “guarantor”), any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person (the ”primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (d) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness or obligation;provided, that the term “Guarantee” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The amount of any Guarantee shall be equal to the outstanding principal amount of the obligation guaranteed or such lesser amount to which the maximum exposure of the guarantor shall have been specifically limited. “Guaranteed Obligations” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 11A. “Hedge Treasury Note(s)” shall mean, with respect to any Accepted Note, the United States Treasury Note or Notes whose duration (as determined by Prudential) most closely matches the duration of such Accepted Note. “Hedging Agreement” shall mean any interest rate protection agreement, foreign currency exchange agreement, commodity price protection agreement or other interest or currency exchange rate or commodity price hedging arrangement. “Hedging Exposure Amount” shall mean the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that the Obligors and the Subsidiaries thereof would be required to pay at any time if all of their Hedging Agreements were terminated at such time. “Hostile Tender Offer” shall mean, with respect to the use of proceeds of any Shelf Note, any offer to purchase, or any purchase of, shares of capital stock of any corporation or equity interests in any other entity, or securities convertible into or representing the beneficial ownership of, or rights to acquire, any such shares or equity interests, if such shares, equity |
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interests, securities or rights are of a class which is publicly traded on any securities exchange or in any over-the-counter market, other than purchases of such shares, equity interests, securities or rights representing less than 5% of the equity interests or beneficial ownership of such corporation or other entity for portfolio investment purposes, and such offer or purchase has not been duly approved by the board of directors of such corporation or the equivalent governing body of such other entity prior to the date on which the Co-Issuers make the Request for Purchase of such Shelf Note. “Inactive Subsidiary” shall mean, with respect to any Person, a Subsidiary of such Person (i) that conducts no business activities on the Effective Date nor on any date thereafter, (ii) the assets of which Subsidiary have a Fair Market Value less than the smaller of (x) $50,000 or (y) one-half of one percent (.5%) of the consolidated assets of such Person and its Subsidiaries; and (iii) the total liabilities of which are less than $25,000;providedthat if the assets of all such Subsidiaries that meet the conditions of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) (each, a “Specified Subsidiary”), in the aggregate, exceed either of the thresholds of clause (ii), then there shall be excluded from the term “Inactive Subsidiary” the Specified Subsidiary having the greatest assets, and, if necessary, the Specified Subsidiary having the next greatest assets, and so on, until the assets of the remaining Specified Subsidiaries, in the aggregate, no longer exceed either of such thresholds of clause (ii) (such remaining Specified Subsidiaries constituting the Inactive Subsidiaries);providedfurther, that no Credit Party shall be an Inactive Subsidiary. “including” shall mean, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, “including without limitation”. “Indebtedness” of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money or with respect to deposits or advances of any kind, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person upon which interest charges are customarily paid, (d) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person, (e) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding accrued expenses which are payable within one year or current accounts payable in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business), (f) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed, (g) all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others, (h) all Capitalized Lease Obligations of such Person (and excluding from the definition of Indebtedness leases of real property or personal property which are not Capital Leases), (i) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit and letters of guaranty (other than performance guaranties) and (j) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers’ acceptances. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor. |
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“INHAM Exemption” shall have the meaning specified n paragraph 9B(v). “Intercreditor Agreement” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 3A(1). “Interest Charges” shall mean, for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Parent,all interest expense of the Parent and its Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP. “Interest Rate Hedging Exposure Amount” shall mean the Hedging Exposure Amount attributable to Interest Rate Hedging Agreements. “Interest Rate Hedging Agreement” shall mean a Hedging Agreement between a Co-Issuer and an Interest Rate Protection Merchant which provides for interest rate protection. “Interest Rate Protection Merchant” shall mean a lender under the Bank Credit Agreement which provides Hedging Agreements to the Co-Issuers or either of them for interest rate protection. “Issuance Fee” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2H(1). “Issuance Period” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2B. “Kinro” shall have the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto. “LCC” shall mean Lippert Components of Canada, Inc., an Ontario, Canada corporation. “Leverage Ratio” shall mean, as of the end of any fiscal quarter of the Parent, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Indebtedness determined on the last day of such fiscal quarter to (b) EBITDA for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Parent ending on the last day of such fiscal quarter, each as determined on a Pro Forma Basis. “Lien” shall mean any mortgage, pledge, security interest, encumbrance, lien (statutory or otherwise) or charge of any kind (including any agreement to give any of the foregoing, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, and the filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of any jurisdiction) or any other type of preferential arrangement for the purpose, or having the effect, of protecting a creditor against loss or securing the payment or performance of an obligation. “Lippert Components” shall have the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto. |
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“Material” shall mean material in relation to the business, operations, affairs, financial condition, assets, properties or prospects of the Parent and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. “Material Adverse Effect” shall mean a Material adverse effect on (a) the business, operations, affairs, financial condition, assets, properties or prospects of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (b) the ability of any Co-Issuer to perform its obligations under this Agreement or any of the Shelf Notes, (c) the ability of the Parent to perform its obligations under this Agreement or the Parent Guaranty, (d) the ability of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to perform their obligations under any of the other Transaction Documents, (e) the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents or (f) the Liens granted by the Pledge Agreement. “MinimumDebt Service Ratio” shall mean, on any date of determination, the ratio of (i) EBITDA for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters then most recently ended,minus Capital Expenditures made and dividends declared to the Parent’s shareholders during such period, to (ii) the current portion of Consolidated Indebtedness (as determined as of such determination date),plus Interest Charges for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters then most recently ended, in each case determined on a Pro Forma Basis. “Minority Interests” shall mean any shares of stock of any class of a Subsidiary of any Person (other than directors’ qualifying shares as required by law) that are not owned by such Person and/or one or more of such Person’s Subsidiaries. Minority Interests shall be valued by valuing “Minority Interests” consisting of preferred stock at the voluntary or involuntary liquidation value of such preferred stock, whichever is greater, and by valuing “Minority Interests” consisting of common stock at the book value of capital and surplus applicable thereto adjusted, if necessary, to reflect any changes from the book value of such common stock required by the foregoing method of valuing “Minority Interests” in preferred stock. “Multiemployer Plan” shall mean any Plan which is a “multiemployer plan” (as such term is defined in section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA. “NAIC Annual Statement” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 9B(i). “New Subsidiary” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 5K. “Obligors” shall have the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto. “Officer’s Certificate” shall mean, with respect to any Obligor, a certificate signed in the name of such Obligor by an Authorized Officer of such Obligor. “Other Party” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 11E. “Parent” shall have the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto. |
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“Parent Guaranty” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 3A(1). “PBGC” shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. “Permitted Liens” shall mean the following: |
(i) any Lien existing on the date hereof which is listed onSchedule 6C to this Agreement securing Indebtedness listed on such schedule and any extensions, renewals and replacements of such Indebtedness that do not increase the outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness secured by such Lien, provided that any such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secured as of the Effective Date(except that any such Liens on properties constructed, improved or acquired with the proceeds of industrial revenue or development bond issues representing Indebtedness of a Credit Party owing directly or indirectly to GE Capital Finance, Inc., and which Liens secure only such issues, whether such issues are outstanding as of the Effective Date or which are thereafter outstanding, may secure other such issues representing Indebtedness so owing to such obligee the proceeds of which have been used by a Credit Party to construct, improve or acquire other property, so long as such Liens do not extend to any property of a Credit Party not so financed and secure only Indebtedness represented by such issues); | |
(ii) any Lien created to secure all or any part of the purchase price, or to secure Indebtedness incurred or assumed to pay all or any part of the purchase price or cost of construction, of any fixed or capital assets acquired, constructed or improved by any Obligor or any Subsidiary thereof after the Effective Date (other than Liens on any Restricted Assets);provided that (a) such Lien secures Indebtedness permitted under this Agreement, (b) such Lien and the Indebtedness secured thereby are incurred within 180 days (and in the case of industrial revenue bonds, 360 days) prior to or after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement or the placing in service, as the case may be, of the asset which is subject to such Lien, (c) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not at any time exceed 85% (in the case of real property and the improvements thereon) or 100% (in the case of personal property, other than fixtures) of the cost of acquiring, constructing or improving such fixed or capital assets, and (d) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or assets of any Obligor or any Subsidiary thereof; | |
(iii) carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, repairmen’s and other like Liens imposed by law in an aggregate amount not exceeding $250,000 arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations that are not overdue by more than 30 days or are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been established therefor in accordance with GAAP on the books of the relevant Obligor or Subsidiary, as the case may be, and as to which the failure to |
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make payment during such contest could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; | |
(iv) pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations in respect of which adequate reserves shall have been established; | |
(v) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases (other than Capitalized Lease Obligations), statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business and not incurred or made in connection with the borrowing of money, the obtaining of advances or credit or the payment of the deferred purchase price of property; | |
(vi) easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way and similar encumbrances on real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of business that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the affected property or interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of any Obligor or any Subsidiary thereof; | |
(vii) Liens securing Indebtedness of one Credit Party to another Credit Party (other than Liens on any Restricted Assets); provided that (w) such Indebtedness is permitted under paragraphs 6D, 6F and 6I hereof (as applicable), (x) all of the outstanding capital stock or other equity interests of each such Credit Party shall be owned 100% directly or indirectly by the Parent, (y) each of such Credit Parties to or by whom such Indebtedness is owed, or who owns (directly or indirectly) any stock referred to in the preceding clause (x), shall have become party to the Subsidiary Guaranty and (z) such Indebtedness shall not be assigned or transferred by the obligee thereof to any Person other than another Credit Party such that after giving effect to such assignment and transfer all of the foregoing conditions are satisfied; | |
(viii) Liens securing Indebtedness outstanding under the Bank Credit Agreement so long as the Shelf Notes are secured equally and ratably therewith pursuant to such documents, instruments and agreements as shall be required by the Required Holders, including without limitation an intercreditor agreement by and among the Bank Lenders and the holders of the Shelf Notes in form satisfactory to the Required Holders; | |
(ix) Liens not otherwise permitted by clauses (i) through (viii) above (other than Liens on any Restricted Assets),provided that the aggregate amount of all Indebtedness secured by such Liens shall not at any time exceed 15% of Consolidated Net Worth (determined as of the last day of the then most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Parent); and |
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(x) Liens that extend, renew or replace Liens permitted by clauses (i) through (ix); | |
provided,however, that at no time shall Indebtedness secured by Liens described in clauses (i), (ii) and (ix) exceed 55% of Consolidated Total Capitalization at such time. |
Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Obligors acknowledge and agree that they will not, and will not permit any of their respective Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Liens in respect of any Indebtedness under the Bank Credit Agreement, except in accordance with clause (viii) above. In no event shall any Lien on any Restricted Asset be a Permitted Lien. “Permitted Loans and Investments” shall mean (i) subject to paragraph 6D(vi) hereof, investments, loans and advances by any Credit Party and any of its Subsidiaries in and to Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries; (ii) investments in commercial paper and loan participations maturing within 270 days from the date of acquisition thereof having, at such date of acquisition, a rating of A-1 or P-1 or better from Standard & Poor’s Corporation, Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or by another nationally recognized credit rating agency; (iii) direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of or interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by the United States of America (or by any agency thereof to the extent such obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America) (or by any other foreign government of equal or better credit quality), in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof; (iv) investments in certificates of deposit, banker’s acceptances and time deposits maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof issued or guaranteed by or placed with, and money market deposit accounts issued or offered by, any domestic office of any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or any State thereof which has (x) a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $100,000,000 or (y) assets of not less than $1,000,000,000; (v) fully collateralized repurchase agreements, having terms of less than 90 days, for government obligations of the type specified in (iii) above with a commercial bank or trust company meeting the requirements of (iv) above; and (vi) investments in addition to those permitted by clauses (i) through (v), including acquisitions of the assets or stock or other securities of any Person,provided, however, that the amount paid for any acquisition of the assets or stock or other securities of any one Person and its affiliates and subsidiaries shall not exceed $30,000,000 and the aggregate amount paid for any such acquisitions from all Persons on or after the Effective Date shall not exceed $125,000,000, and any acquisitions not satisfying all of the requirements of this proviso shall be deemed, in their entirety, not to be Permitted Loans and Investments. “Person” shall mean and include an individual, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a limited liability company, a trust, an unincorporated organization and a government or any department or agency thereof. |
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“Plan” shall mean any employee pension benefit plan (as such term is defined in section 3 of ERISA) which is or has been established or maintained, or to which contributions are or have been made, by the Co-Issuers or any ERISA Affiliate. “Pledge Agreement” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 3A(1). “Pledgors” shall mean, collectively, the Obligors and each Subsidiary Guarantor. “Preferred Stock” shall mean any class of capital stock of a corporation that is preferred over any other class of capital stock of such corporation as to the payment of dividends or the payment of any amount upon liquidation or dissolution of such corporation. “Priority Debt”means, as of any date, the sum (without duplication) of: |
(i) all outstanding unsecured Indebtedness of any Subsidiary of the Parent, other than: | |
(a) unsecured Indebtedness of such Subsidiary owing solely to the Parent or any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Parent, | |
(b) unsecured Indebtedness of the Co-Issuers, and | |
(c) unsecured Indebtedness of any such Subsidiary in respect of Guarantees delivered pursuant to the Bank Credit Agreement;provided that such Subsidiary has executed the Subsidiary Guaranty on the Effective Date or in accordance with the terms of paragraph 5K; | |
(d) unsecured Indebtedness of such Subsidiary under this Agreement, the Subsidiary Guaranty or any other Transaction Document to which it is a party; | |
(ii) all Indebtedness of the Parent and its Subsidiaries secured by Liens, other than: | |
(a) secured Indebtedness outstanding under the Bank Credit Agreement or in respect of Guarantees delivered pursuant to the Bank Credit Agreement, so long as (x) the Shelf Notes are secured equally and ratably therewith by the same collateral securing such other Indebtedness pursuant to such documents, instruments and agreements as shall be required by the Required Holders (and such other Indebtedness shall not be secured by any other collateral of any kind), (y) the Bank Lenders are parties to the Intercreditor Agreement, which shall be in full force and effect and shall have been amended, if necessary, to apply to such collateral pursuant to an amendment reasonably satisfactory to the Required Holders, and (z) with respect to any such Guarantee, the Person that provided such Guarantee shall have also executed the Subsidiary Guaranty on the Effective Date or in accordance with the terms of paragraph 5K, and |
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(b) secured Indebtedness outstanding under any other document, instrument or agreement so long as (w) the Shelf Notes are secured equally and ratably therewith by the same collateral securing such other Indebtedness pursuant to such documents, instruments and agreements as shall be required by the Required Holders (and such other Indebtedness shall not be secured by any other collateral of any kind), (x) the holder of such other Indebtedness shall have become a party to the Intercreditor Agreement pursuant to a joinder agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Required Holders and the Intercreditor Agreement shall have been amended, if necessary, to apply to such collateral pursuant to an amendment reasonably satisfactory to the Required Holders, (y) the holders of the Shelf Notes shall have received evidence reasonably satisfactory to each of them that the Shelf Notes are so secured (which evidence may be an opinion from counsel reasonably satisfactory to such holder or other evidence, so long as such opinion or other evidence is reasonably satisfactory to each such holder), and (z) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time such other document, instrument or agreement is entered into; and | |
(c) secured Indebtedness of the Parent under the Parent Guaranty or any other Transaction Document to which it is a party, and secured Indebtedness of any Subsidiary of the Parent under this Agreement, the Subsidiary Guaranty or any other Transaction Document to which it is a party; and | |
(iii) the greater of the liquidation preference of, or the amount payable upon the mandatory redemption of, all issued and outstanding Preferred Stock of Subsidiaries of the Parent. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the undrawn amount of any letters of credit issued pursuant to the terms of the Bank Credit Agreement shall not constitute Indebtedness of the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries for purposes of determining Priority Debt. “Pro Forma Basis” shall mean, for the determinations of “EBITDA”, “Consolidated Indebtedness”, “Capital Expenditures” and “Interest Charges” for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Parent for purposes of calculating the Leverage Ratio and the Minimum Debt Service Ratio, that such determinations shall be made on the assumptions that (a) each Wholly-Owned Subsidiary that was acquired by a Credit Party during such period from a Person that was not an Affiliate of a Credit Party and each disposition during such period of any Person that ceases to be a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary upon such disposition, occurred on the first day of such period, and (b) all Indebtedness incurred or paid (or to be incurred or paid) by all such Persons in connection with all such transactions (x) was incurred or paid on the first day of such period, as the case may be, and (y) if incurred, was outstanding in full at all times during such period and had in effect at all times during such period (or any portion of such period during which such Debt was not actually outstanding) an interest rate equal to the interest rate in effect on the date of the actual incurrence thereof (regardless of whether such interest rate is a |
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floating rate or would otherwise change over time by reference to a formula or for any other reason). “Prudential” shall have the meaning specified in the introduction hereto. “Prudential Affiliate” shall mean (i) any corporation or other entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, Prudential and (ii) any managed account or investment fund which is managed by Prudential or a Prudential Affiliate described in clause (i) of this definition. For purposes of this definition, the terms “control”, “controlling” and “controlled” shall mean the ownership, directly or through subsidiaries, of a majority of a corporation’s or other Person’s Voting Stock or equivalent voting securities or interests. |
“Purchasers” shall have the meaning specified in the introduction hereto. |
“PTE”shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 9B(i). “QPAM Exemption” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 9B(iv). “Request for Purchase” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2C. “Required Holder(s)” shall mean the holder or holders of at least 66 2/3% of the aggregate principal amount of the Shelf Notes or of a Series of Shelf Notes, as the context may require, from time to time outstanding and, if no Shelf Notes are outstanding, shall mean Prudential. “Rescheduled Closing Day” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 2G. “Responsible Officer” shall mean the chief executive officer, chief operating officer, chief financial officer or chief accounting officer of any Co-Issuer or the Parent, general counsel of any Co-Issuer or the Parent or any other officer of any Co-Issuer or the Parent, as the context requires, involved principally in its financial administration or its controllership function. “Restricted Assets” shall mean “inventory” or “accounts” or any “proceeds” thereof, as such terms are defined in Section 9-102 of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York from time to time. “Restricted Payment” shall mean: (i) any Distribution in respect of a Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party (other than on account of capital stock or other equity interests of a Subsidiary of a Credit Party owned legally and beneficially by such Credit Party or another Subsidiary of such Credit Party), including any Distribution resulting in the acquisition by a Credit Party of securities which would constitute treasury stock, and (ii) any payment, repayment, redemption, retirement, repurchase or other acquisition, direct, or indirect, by a Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof, on account of, or in respect of, the principal of any Subordinated Debt (or any installment thereof) prior to the regularly scheduled maturity date thereof (as in |
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effect on the date such Subordinated Debt was originally incurred) other than in respect of Subordinated Debt of one Credit Party to another Credit Party provided that no Event of Default exists or would exist after such prepayment. For purposes of this Agreement, the amount of any Restricted Payment made in property shall be the greater of (x) the Fair Market Value of such property (as determined in good faith by the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) of the Person making such Restricted Payment) and (y) the net book value thereof on the books of such Person, in each case determined as of the date on which such Restricted Payment is made. “Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. “Security Trustee” shall mean JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as security trustee for the holders of the Shelf Notes. “Series” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 1A. “Shelf Note(s)” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 1A. “Significant Holder” shall mean (i) Prudential, so long as Prudential or any Prudential Affiliate shall hold (or be committed under this Agreement to purchase) any Shelf Note, or (ii) any other holder of at least 10% of the aggregate principal amount of the Shelf Notes of any Series from time to time outstanding. “Source” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 9B. “Subordinated Debt” shall mean any Indebtedness that is in any manner subordinated in right of payment or security in any respect to the Shelf Notes. “Subordination Agreement” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 3A(1). “Subsidiary” shall mean, with respect to any Person (the “parent entity”) at any date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent entity in the parent entity’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date, as well as any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity (a) of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held by the parent entity, or (b) that is, as of such date, otherwise controlled by the parent entity or one or more subsidiaries of the parent entity or by the parent entity and one or more subsidiaries of the parent entity. Unless the context otherwise clearly requires, any reference to a “Subsidiary” is a reference to a Subsidiary of the Parent. |
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“Subsidiary Guaranty” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 3A(1). “Subsidiary Guarantor” shall mean (a) each of the Subsidiaries of the Obligors listed on Schedule 3A(1), and (b) each Person that hereafter becomes a party to the Subsidiary Guaranty pursuant to the requirements of paragraph 5K. “Succession Plan” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 5O. “Successor Corporation” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 6B. �� “Taxes” shall mean any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, charges or withholdings imposed by any Governmental Authority. “Transaction Documents” shall mean, collectively, this Agreement, the Shelf Notes, the Pledge Agreement, the Subordination Agreement, the Subsidiary Guaranty and the Intercreditor Agreement, and any and all other agreements, documents, certificates and instruments from time to time executed or delivered in connection therewith or related thereto. “Transfer” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 6H. “Transferee” shall mean any direct or indirect transferee of all or any part of any Shelf Note purchased by any Purchaser under this Agreement. “Trust Agreement” shall have the meaning specified in paragraph 3A(1). “USA Patriot Act”shall mean United States Public Law 107-56, Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act of 2001, as may be amended from time to time. “Voting Stock” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any shares of stock (or similar equity interests) of such Person whose holders are entitled under ordinary circumstances to vote for the election of directors (or members of a similar body that has management authority of such Person) of such Person (irrespective of whether at the time stock (or similar equity interests) of any other class or classes shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency). “Wholly-Owned Subsidiary” shall mean, at any time, any Subsidiary one hundred percent (100%) of all of the equity interests (except directors’ qualifying shares) and voting interests of which are owned by any one or more of the Obligors and the Obligors’ other Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries at such time. |
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“Withdrawal Liability” shall mean liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA. 10C. Accounting Principles, Terms and Determinations. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time;provided that, if the Co-Issuers notify Prudential that the Co-Issuers request an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the date hereof in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if Prudential notifies the Co-Issuers that the Required Holders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith. The Parent acknowledges its unconditional and irrevocable guarantee, made as of the Effective Date, in favor of Prudential and each holder of any Shelf Notes at any time outstanding, of the due and punctual payment of the principal of, Yield-Maintenance Amount (if any) and interest on said Shelf Notes and any other amounts owing by the Co-Issuers hereunder, all as more particularly set forth in the Parent Guaranty. For the purposes of this paragraph 12, “Confidential Information” means information delivered to Prudential or any Purchaser by or on behalf of any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the transactions contemplated by or otherwise pursuant to this Agreement that is proprietary in nature and that was clearly marked or labeled or otherwise adequately identified when received by Prudential or such Purchaser as being confidential information of such Credit Party or such Subsidiary,provided that such term does not include information that (a) was publicly known or otherwise known to Prudential or such Purchaser, as the case may be, prior to the time of such disclosure, (b) subsequently becomes publicly known through no act or omission by Prudential or such Purchaser or any person acting on their behalf, (c) otherwise becomes known to Prudential or such Purchaser other than through disclosure by any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries or (d) constitutes financial statements delivered to Prudential or such Purchaser under paragraph 5A that are otherwise publicly available. Prudential and each Purchaser will maintain the confidentiality of such Confidential Information received by it in accordance with procedures adopted by Prudential or such Purchaser, as the case may be, in good faith to protect confidential information of third parties delivered to it,provided that Prudential or such Purchaser, as the case may be, may deliver or disclose Confidential Information to (i) its directors, officers, employees, agents, attorneys and affiliates (to the extent such disclosure reasonably relates to the administration of the investment represented by its Shelf |
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Very truly yours, KINRO, INC. | |||
By: /s/ Fredric M. Zinn | |||
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Name: Fredric M. Zinn Title: Vice President |
LIPPERT COMPONENTS, INC. | |||
By: /s/ Fredric M. Zinn | |||
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Name: Fredric M. Zinn Title: Vice President |
DREW INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED | |||
By: /s/ Fredric M. Zinn | |||
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Name: Fredric M. Zinn Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
The foregoing Agreement is PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC. By: /s/ Christopher Carey |