FIVE-YEAR CREDIT AGREEMENT
dated as of June 15, 1999,
by and among
JONES APPAREL GROUP USA, INC.,
the Additional Obligors referred to herein,
the Lenders referred to herein,
FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK,
as Administrative Agent,
THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK
and
CITIBANK, N.A.,
as Syndication Agents,
and
NATIONSBANK, N.A.,
as Documentation Agent
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS.................................................... 1
SECTION 1.1 Definitions............................................... 1
SECTION 1.2 General................................................... 15
SECTION 1.3 Other Definitions and Provisions.......................... 16
ARTICLE II REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY..................................... 16
SECTION 2.1 Revolving Credit Loans.................................... 16
SECTION 2.2 Procedure for Advances of Revolving Credit Loans.......... 16
SECTION 2.3 Repayment of Revolving Credit Loans....................... 17
SECTION 2.4 Evidence of Debt.......................................... 18
SECTION 2.5 Permanent Reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitment.... 19
SECTION 2.6 Termination of Revolving Credit Facility.................. 19
ARTICLE III LETTER OF CREDIT FACILITY.................................... 19
SECTION 3.1 L/C Commitment............................................ 19
SECTION 3.2 Procedure for Issuance of Letters of Credit............... 20
SECTION 3.3 Fees and Other Charges.................................... 20
SECTION 3.4 L/C Participations........................................ 21
SECTION 3.5 Reimbursement............................................. 22
SECTION 3.6 Provisions Regarding National Currency Units and the Euro. 23
SECTION 3.7 Obligations Absolute...................................... 25
SECTION 3.8 Effect of Application..................................... 25
ARTICLE IV [RESERVED].................................................... 25
ARTICLE V GENERAL LOAN PROVISIONS........................................ 26
SECTION 5.1 Interest.................................................. 26
SECTION 5.2 Notice and Manner of Conversion or Continuation of
Revolving Credit Loans.................................... 27
SECTION 5.3 Fees...................................................... 28
SECTION 5.4 Manner of Payment......................................... 29
SECTION 5.5 Crediting of Payments and Proceeds........................ 29
SECTION 5.6 Adjustments............................................... 30
SECTION 5.7 Nature of Obligations of Lenders Regarding Extensions of
Credit; Assumption by the Administrative Agent............ 30
SECTION 5.8 Joint And Several Liability Of The Credit Parties......... 31
SECTION 5.9 Changed Circumstances..................................... 32
SECTION 5.10 Indemnity................................................. 35
SECTION 5.11 Capital Requirements...................................... 35
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SECTION 5.12 Taxes..................................................... 36
ARTICLE VI CLOSING; CONDITIONS OF CLOSING AND BORROWING.................. 38
SECTION 6.1 Closing................................................... 38
SECTION 6.2 Conditions to Closing and Initial Revolving Credit Loans
and Letters of Credit..................................... 38
SECTION 6.3 Conditions to All Extensions of Credit.................... 41
ARTICLE VII REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE CREDIT PARTIES......... 41
SECTION 7.1 Representations and Warranties............................ 41
SECTION 7.2 Survival of Representations and Warranties, Etc........... 47
ARTICLE VIII FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND NOTICES........................... 47
SECTION 8.1 Financial Statements and Projections...................... 47
SECTION 8.2 Officer's Compliance Certificate.......................... 48
SECTION 8.3 Accountants' Certificate.................................. 48
SECTION 8.4 Other Reports............................................. 48
SECTION 8.5 Notice of Litigation and Other Matters.................... 48
SECTION 8.6 Accuracy of Information................................... 49
ARTICLE IX AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS......................................... 49
SECTION 9.1 Preservation of Corporate Existence and Related Matters... 49
SECTION 9.2 Maintenance of Property................................... 50
SECTION 9.3 Insurance................................................. 50
SECTION 9.4 Accounting Methods and Financial Records.................. 50
SECTION 9.5 Payment and Performance of Obligations.................... 50
SECTION 9.6 Compliance With Laws and Approvals........................ 50
SECTION 9.7 Environmental Laws........................................ 50
SECTION 9.8 Compliance with ERISA..................................... 51
SECTION 9.9 Conduct of Business....................................... 51
SECTION 9.10 Visits and Inspections.................................... 51
SECTION 9.11 Use of Proceeds........................................... 51
SECTION 9.12 Year 2000 Compatibility................................... 52
ARTICLE X FINANCIAL COVENANTS............................................ 52
SECTION 10.1 Interest Coverage Ratio................................... 52
SECTION 10.2 Minimum Net Worth......................................... 52
ARTICLE XI NEGATIVE COVENANTS............................................ 52
SECTION 11.1 Limitations on Debt and Guaranty Obligations.............. 53
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SECTION 11.2 [Reserved]................................................ 54
SECTION 11.3 Limitations on Liens...................................... 54
SECTION 11.4 Limitations on Loans, Advances, Investments and
Acquisitions.............................................. 56
SECTION 11.5 Limitations on Mergers and Liquidation.................... 57
SECTION 11.6 Limitations on Sale or Transfer of Assets................. 58
SECTION 11.7 Limitations on Dividends and Distributions................ 58
SECTION 11.8 Transactions with Affiliates.............................. 59
SECTION 11.9 Changes in Fiscal Year End................................ 59
SECTION 11.10 Amendments; Payments and Prepayments of Material Debt and
Subordinated Debt......................................... 59
ARTICLE XII DEFAULT AND REMEDIES......................................... 59
SECTION 12.1 Events of Default......................................... 59
SECTION 12.2 Remedies.................................................. 61
SECTION 12.3 Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Non-Waiver; etc........... 62
ARTICLE XIII THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT.................................... 63
SECTION 13.1 Appointment............................................... 63
SECTION 13.2 Delegation of Duties...................................... 63
SECTION 13.3 Exculpatory Provisions.................................... 63
SECTION 13.4 Reliance by the Administrative Agent...................... 63
SECTION 13.5 Notice of Default......................................... 64
SECTION 13.6 Non-Reliance on the Administrative Agent and Other
Lenders................................................... 64
SECTION 13.7 Indemnification........................................... 65
SECTION 13.8 The Administrative Agent in Its Individual Capacity....... 65
SECTION 13.9 Resignation of the Administrative Agent; Successor
Administrative Agent...................................... 65
SECTION 13.10 Syndication Agents and Documentation Agent................ 66
ARTICLE XIV MISCELLANEOUS................................................ 66
SECTION 14.1 Notices................................................... 66
SECTION 14.2 Expenses; Indemnity....................................... 67
SECTION 14.3 Set-off................................................... 68
SECTION 14.4 Governing Law............................................. 68
SECTION 14.5 Consent to Jurisdiction................................... 68
SECTION 14.6 Waiver of Jury Trial...................................... 69
SECTION 14.7 Reversal of Payments...................................... 69
SECTION 14.8 Injunctive Relief; Punitive Damages....................... 69
SECTION 14.9 Accounting Matters........................................ 69
SECTION 14.10 Successors and Assigns; Participations.................... 70
SECTION 14.11 Amendments, Waivers and Consents.......................... 74
SECTION 14.12 Performance of Duties..................................... 74
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SECTION 14.13 All Powers Coupled with Interest.......................... 75
SECTION 14.14 Survival of Indemnities................................... 75
SECTION 14.15 Titles and Captions....................................... 75
SECTION 14.16 Severability of Provisions................................ 75
SECTION 14.17 Counterparts.............................................. 75
SECTION 14.18 Term of Agreement......................................... 75
SECTION 14.19 Inconsistencies with Other Documents; Independent
Effect of Covenants....................................... 75
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EXHIBITS
Exhibit A - Form of Revolving Credit Note
Exhibit B - Form of Notice of Revolving Credit Borrowing
Exhibit C - Form of Notice of Account Designation
Exhibit D - Form of Notice of Prepayment
Exhibit E - Form of Notice of Conversion/Continuation
Exhibit F - Form of Officer's Compliance Certificate
Exhibit G - Form of Assignment and Acceptance
SCHEDULES
Schedule 1.1(a) - Lenders and Revolving Credit Commitments
Schedule 1.1(b) - Outstanding Letters of Credit
Schedule 1.1(c) - Outstanding Nine West Letters of Credit
Schedule 7.1(b) - Subsidiaries and Capitalization
Schedule 7.1(p) - Debt and Guaranty Obligations
Schedule 7.1(q) - Litigation
Schedule 11.3 - Existing Liens
Schedule 11.4 - Existing Loans, Advances and Investments
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FIVE-YEAR CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of the 15th day of June, 1999, by
and among JONES APPAREL GROUP USA, INC., a Pennsylvania corporation, the
Additional Obligors (as defined below), the Lenders who are or may become a
party to this Agreement, FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK, as Administrative Agent for
the Lenders, THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK and CITIBANK, N.A., as Syndication Agents,
and NATIONSBANK, N.A., as Documentation Agent.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
The Borrower (as defined below) has requested and the Lenders have agreed
to extend certain credit facilities to the Borrower on the terms and conditions
of this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by the parties hereto, such parties
hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1 Definitions. The following terms when used in this
Agreement shall have the meanings assigned to them below:
"364-Day Credit Agreement" means the Second Amended and Restated 364-Day
Credit Agreement of even date herewith by and among the Borrower, the Additional
Obligors, the Administrative Agent and the financial institutions party thereto,
as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
"364-Day Credit Agreement Obligations" means the obligations of the
Borrower under the 364-Day Credit Agreement.
"Additional Debt Securities" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
11.1(f).
"Additional Obligors" means, the collective reference to Jones Apparel
Group, Jones Apparel Group Holdings and New Nine West Group in their capacities
as co-obligors under this Agreement.
"Administrative Agent" means First Union in its capacity as
Administrative Agent hereunder, and any successor thereto appointed pursuant to
Section 13.9.
"Administrative Agent's Office" means the office of the Administrative
Agent specified in or determined in accordance with the provisions of Section
14.1(c).
"Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person (other
than a Subsidiary) which directly or indirectly through one or more
intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with,
such first Person or any of its Subsidiaries. The term "control" means
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the possession, directly or indirectly, of any power to direct or cause the
direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership
of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
"Agreement" means this Five-Year Credit Agreement, as amended, restated,
supplemented or otherwise modified.
"Alternative Currency" means (i) Pounds Sterling, (ii) any national
currency unit of Italy, Spain, the Federal Republic of Germany or the Republic
of France (in each case, so long as such national currency unit continues to be
available as legal tender for obligations of the same type and character as the
obligations set forth in this Agreement, is freely convertible and is not
subject to exchange controls), (iii) the euro or (iv) any other lawful currency
(other than Dollars) acceptable to the Issuing Lenders which, in the case of
this clause (iv), is freely transferable and convertible into Dollars in the
United States currency market and is freely available to all Issuing Lenders in
the London interbank deposit market.
"Alternative Currency L/C Commitment" means the lesser of (a) One Hundred
Million Dollars ($100,000,000) and (b) the L/C Commitment.
"Applicable Law" means all applicable provisions of constitutions, laws,
statutes, ordinances, rules, treaties, regulations, permits, licenses,
approvals, interpretations and orders of courts or Governmental Authorities and
all orders and decrees of all courts and arbitrators.
"Applicable Margin" means, for purposes of calculating (a) the Base Rate
and LIBOR Rate for purposes of Section 5.1(a), (b) the L/C Fee for purposes of
Section 3.3(a) or (c) the Facility Fee for purposes of Section 5.3(a), the
corresponding rate set forth below for the applicable rating of the senior,
unsecured, long-term debt of the Credit Parties, on a collective basis (the
"Debt Rating") publicly announced by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group ("S&P") and
Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moodys") as follows:
Applicable Margin Per Annum
---------------------------------------------
Level S&P Moodys LIBOR Base trade L/C standby Facility
Rating Rating Rate Rate Fee L/C Fee Fee
I >=A- >=A3 0.325% 0.000% 0.125% 0.325% 0.125%
II >=BBB+ >=Baa1 0.475% 0.000% 0.175% 0.475% 0.150%
III >=BBB >=Baa2 0.550% 0.000% 0.175% 0.550% 0.200%
IV >=BBB- >=Baa3 0.750% 0.000% 0.250% 0.750% 0.250%
V <=BB+ <=Ba1 1.075% 0.000% 0.300% 1.075% 0.300%
provided, that if both Moodys and S&P shall not have in effect a Debt Rating
(other than by reason of the circumstances referred to in the last sentence of
this definition), then such Debt Rating shall be deemed to be Level V. In the
event that the corresponding Debt Ratings publicly announced by S&P and Moodys
listed above differ by (a) one pricing level, the Applicable
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Margin shall be based on the higher of the two ratings, and (b) two or more
pricing levels, the Applicable Margin shall be based on the rating one rating
below the higher of the two ratings. Any change in the Applicable Margin shall
be effective as of the Business Day on which the applicable rating is announced
or is publicly available. If the rating system of S&P and Moodys shall change,
or if both of such rating agencies shall cease to be in the business of rating
corporate debt obligations, the Borrower and the Lenders shall negotiate in good
faith to amend this definition to reflect such changed rating system or the
unavailability of ratings from such rating agencies and, pending the
effectiveness of any such amendment, the Applicable Margin shall be determined
by reference to the rating most recently in effect prior to such change or
cessation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Applicable Margin shall be fixed
at the pricing level equal to the applicable pricing level as of the Closing
Date for a period of six (6) months after the Closing Date, unless a higher
pricing level would otherwise be applicable.
"Application" means an application, in the form specified by any Issuing
Lender from time to time, requesting such Issuing Lender to issue a Letter of
Credit.
"Assignment and Acceptance" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 14.10.
"Base Rate" means, at any time, the higher of (a) the Prime Rate and (b)
the sum of (i) the Federal Funds Rate plus (ii) 1/2 of 1%; each change in the
Base Rate shall take effect simultaneously with the corresponding change or
changes in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Rate.
"Base Rate Loan" means any Revolving Credit Loan bearing interest at a
rate based upon the Base Rate as provided in Section 5.1(a).
"beginning of the Third Stage of EMU" means January 1, 1999.
"Borrower" means Jones Apparel Group USA, Inc.
"Business Day" means (a) any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or legal
holiday on which banks in Charlotte, North Carolina, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
and New York, New York, are not authorized or required by law to remain closed
for the conduct of their commercial banking business, (b) with respect to all
notices and determinations in connection with, and payments of principal and
interest on, any LIBOR Rate Loan, the term "Business Day" shall also exclude any
day on which banks are not open for trading in Dollar deposits in the London
interbank market, and (c) with respect to all notices and determinations in
connection with, and payment of principal and interest on, any L/C Obligation
denominated in an Alternative Currency; the term "Business Day" shall also
exclude any day on which banks in London do not provide quotations for deposits
denominated in such Alternative Currency.
"Capital Lease" means, with respect to the Credit Parties and their
Subsidiaries, any lease of any property that should, in accordance with GAAP, be
classified and accounted for as a capital lease on a Consolidated balance sheet
of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries.
"Change in Control" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
12.1(h).
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"Closing Date" means the date of this Agreement or such later Business
Day upon which each condition described in Section 6.2 shall be satisfied or
waived in all respects.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and the rules and
regulations thereunder, each as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from
time to time.
"Consolidated" means, when used with reference to financial statements or
financial statement items of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries, such
statements or items on a consolidated basis in accordance with applicable
principles of consolidation under GAAP.
"Correspondent" means any financial institution designated by an Issuing
Lender to act as such Issuing Lender's correspondent hereunder with respect to
the distribution and payment of Letters of Credit denominated in an Alternative
Currency.
"Credit Facility" means the collective reference to the Revolving Credit
Facility and the L/C Facility.
"Credit Parties" means each of the Additional Obligors and the Borrower.
"Debt" means, with respect to the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries
at any date and without duplication, the sum of the following calculated in
accordance with GAAP: (a) all liabilities, obligations and indebtedness, in
each case for borrowed money including but not limited to obligations evidenced
by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments of any such Person, (b)
all obligations to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services of
any such Person, except trade payables arising in the ordinary course of
business, (c) all obligations of any such Person as lessee under Capital Leases,
(d) all Debt of any other Person secured by a Lien on any asset of any such
Person, (e) all Guaranty Obligations of any such Person, (f) all obligations,
contingent or otherwise, of any such Person relative to the amount of drawn
letters of credit not reimbursed as required by the terms thereof, including
without limitation any Reimbursement Obligation not reimbursed as required by
the terms hereof, and banker's acceptances issued for the account of any such
Person, and (g) all obligations incurred by any such Person pursuant to Hedging
Agreements.
"Default" means any of the events specified in Section 12.1 which with
the passage of time, the giving of notice or any other condition, would
constitute an Event of Default.
"Documentation Agent" means NationsBank, N.A., in its capacity as
documentation agent hereunder, and any successor thereto.
"Dollars" or "$" means, unless otherwise qualified, dollars in lawful
currency of the United States.
"Dollar Amount" shall mean (a) with regard to any Obligation denominated
in Dollars, the amount thereof and (b) with regard to any Obligation denominated
in an Alternative Currency, the amount of Dollars which is equivalent to the sum
of (i) the amount so expressed in
5
an Alternative Currency at the applicable-quoted spot rate on the appropriate
page of the Reuter's Screen as determined by the Administrative Agent at the
relevant time; plus (ii) any amounts owed by the Borrower pursuant to Section
3.5(b).
"EBITDAR" means, with respect to the Credit Parties and their
Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis for any period, the sum of (a) Net Income
for such period, plus (b) the sum of the following to the extent deducted in the
determination of Net Income: (i) income and franchise taxes, (ii) Interest
Expense, (iii) amortization, depreciation, extraordinary non-cash losses and any
other non-cash charges (including amortization of goodwill, transaction
expenses, covenants not to compete and other intangible assets, and non-cash
charges resulting from purchase accounting related to the Nine West Acquisition)
and (iv) Rental Expense less (c) any items of extraordinary gain which were
included in determining Net Income.
"Eligible Assignee" means, with respect to any assignment of the rights,
interest and obligations of a Lender hereunder, a Person that is at the time of
such assignment (a) a commercial bank organized under the laws of the United
States or any state thereof, having combined capital and surplus in excess of
$500,000,000, (b) a commercial bank organized under the laws of any other
country that is a member of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and
Development, or a political subdivision of any such country, having combined
capital and surplus in excess of $500,000,000, (c) a finance company, insurance
company or other financial institution which in the ordinary course of business
extends credit of the type extended hereunder and that has total assets in
excess of $1,000,000,000, (d) already a Lender hereunder (whether as an original
party to this Agreement or as the assignee of another Lender) or an Affiliate of
a Lender hereunder, (e) the successor (whether by transfer of assets, merger or
otherwise) to all or substantially all of the commercial lending business of the
assigning Lender, (f) any SPC solely to the extent permitted by Section
14.10(h), or (g) any other Person that has been approved in writing as an
Eligible Assignee by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
"EMU" means economic and monetary union as contemplated in the Treaty on
European Union.
"EMU Legislation" means legislative measures of the European Council (or
any duly authorized successor thereto) for the introduction of the change over
to or operation of a single or unified European currency (whether known as the
euro or otherwise), being in part the beginning of the Third Stage of EMU.
"Employee Benefit Plan" means any employee benefit plan within the
meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA which (a) is maintained for employees of the
Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or (b) has at any time within the preceding six
(6) years been maintained for the employees of the Borrower or any current or
former ERISA Affiliate.
"Environmental Laws" means any and all federal, state and local laws,
statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, permits, licenses, approvals, binding
interpretations and orders of courts or Governmental Authorities, relating to
the protection of human health or the environment, including, but not limited
to, requirements pertaining to the manufacture,
6
processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transportation,
handling, reporting, licensing, permitting, investigation or remediation of
Hazardous Materials.
"ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and
the rules and regulations thereunder, each as amended, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time.
"ERISA Affiliate" means any Person who together with the Borrower is
treated as a single employer within the meaning of Section 414(b), (c), (m) or
(o) of the Code or Section 4001(b) of ERISA.
"Estimated Net Worth" means the estimated Consolidated Net Worth as of
the Closing Date calculated in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent.
"euro" means the single currency to which Participating Member States of
the European Union have converted.
"euro unit" means the currency unit of the euro.
"Eurodollar Reserve Percentage" means, for any day, the percentage
(expressed as a decimal and rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next higher
1/100th of 1%) which is in effect for such day as prescribed by the Federal
Reserve Board (or any successor) for determining the maximum reserve requirement
(including without limitation any basic, supplemental or emergency reserves) in
respect of eurocurrency liabilities or any similar category of liabilities for a
member bank of the Federal Reserve System in New York City.
"Event of Default" means any of the events specified in Section 12.1,
provided that any requirement for passage of time, giving of notice, or any
other condition, has been satisfied.
"Existing Debt Securities" means the 6.25% Senior Notes due 2001 of Jones
Apparel Group.
"Existing Nine West Accounts Receivable Facility" means the Receivables
Purchase Agreement dated as of December 28, 1995 by and between Nine West Group
and Nine West Funding Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and the related
pooling and servicing, undertaking and purchase agreements, each as amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
"Extensions of Credit" means, as to any Lender at any time, (a) an amount
equal to the sum of (i) the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Credit
Loans made by such Lender then outstanding, and (ii) such Lender's Revolving
Credit Commitment Percentage of the L/C Obligations then outstanding, or (b) the
making of any loan or participation in any Letter of Credit by such Lender, as
the context requires.
"Facility Fee" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 5.3(a).
7
"FDIC" means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or any successor
thereto.
"Federal Funds Rate" means, the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if
necessary, to the next higher 1/100th of 1%) representing the daily effective
federal funds rate as quoted by the Administrative Agent and confirmed in
Federal Reserve Board Statistical Release H.15 (519) or any successor or
substitute publication selected by the Administrative Agent. If, for any
reason, such rate is not available, then "Federal Funds Rate" shall mean a daily
rate which is determined, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent, to be the
rate at which federal funds are being offered for sale in the national federal
funds market at 9:00 a.m. (Charlotte time). Rates for weekends or holidays
shall be the same as the rate for the most immediate preceding Business Day.
"First Union" means First Union National Bank, a national banking
association, and its successors.
"Fiscal Year" means the fiscal year of the Credit Parties and their
Subsidiaries ending on December 31.
"Fixed Exchange Rate" means the exchange rate for a national currency
unit into a euro unit set in accordance with EMU Legislation in effect from
time to time.
"Foreign Lender" means any Lender that is organized under the laws of a
jurisdiction other than that in which the Borrower is located. For purposes of
this definition, the United States of America, each state thereof and the
District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.
"GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles, as recognized by
the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Financial
Accounting Standards Board, consistently applied and maintained on a consistent
basis for the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries throughout the period
indicated.
"Governmental Approvals" means all authorizations, consents, approvals,
licenses and exemptions of, registrations and filings with, and reports to, all
Governmental Authorities.
"Governmental Authority" means any nation, province, state or political
subdivision thereof, and any government or any Person exercising executive,
legislative, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to
government, and any corporation or other entity owned or controlled, through
stock or capital ownership or otherwise, by any of the foregoing.
"Granting Lender" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
14.10(h).
"Guaranty Obligation" means, with respect to the Credit Parties and their
Subsidiaries, without duplication, any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of
any such Person pursuant to which such Person has directly or indirectly
guaranteed any Debt or other obligation of any other Person and, without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, any obligation, direct or indirect,
contingent or otherwise, of any such Person (a) to purchase or pay (or advance
or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Debt or other obligation
(whether arising by virtue of
8
partnership arrangements, by agreement to keep well, to purchase assets, goods,
securities or services, to take-or-pay, or to maintain financial statement
condition or otherwise) or (b) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any
other manner the obligee of such Debt or other obligation of the payment thereof
or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in
part); provided, that the term Guaranty Obligation shall not include (i)
endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business or
(ii) a contractual commitment by one Person to invest in another Person for so
long as such investment is expected to constitute a permitted investment under
Section 11.4.
"Hazardous Materials" means any substances or materials (a) which are or
become defined as hazardous wastes, hazardous substances, pollutants,
contaminants, chemical substances or mixtures or toxic substances under any
Environmental Law, (b) which are toxic, explosive, corrosive, flammable,
infectious, radioactive, carcinogenic, mutagenic or otherwise harmful to human
health or the environment and are or become regulated by any Governmental
Authority, (c) the presence of which require investigation or remediation under
any Environmental Law, (d) the discharge or emission or release of which
requires a permit or license under any Applicable Law or other Governmental
Approval, or (e) which contain, without limitation, asbestos, polychlorinated
biphenyls, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, petroleum hydrocarbons, petroleum
derived substances or waste, crude oil, nuclear fuel, natural gas or synthetic
gas.
"Hedging Agreement" means any agreement with respect to an interest rate
swap, collar, cap, floor or forward rate agreement or other agreement regarding
the hedging of interest rate risk exposure executed in connection with hedging
the interest rate exposure of any Credit Party, and any confirming letter
executed pursuant to such hedging agreement, all as amended, restated or
otherwise modified from time to time.
"Interest Coverage Ratio" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 10.1.
"Interest Expense" means, for any period, total interest expense
(including, without limitation, interest expense attributable to Capital Leases)
determined on a consolidated basis, without duplication, for the Credit Parties
and their Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP.
"Interest Period" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
5.1(b).
"ISP 98" means the International Standby Practices (1998 Revision,
effective January 1, 1999), International Chamber of Commerce Publication No.
590.
"Issuing Lender" means (a) First Union and The Chase Manhattan Bank, each
in its capacity as issuer of any Letter of Credit, and any other Lender mutually
acceptable and on terms satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative
Agent and (b) with regard to any Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative
Currency the Correspondent of any entity identified in clause (a); and Issuing
Lenders means all such Lenders.
"Jones Apparel Group" means Jones Apparel Group, Inc., a Pennsylvania
corporation.
9
"Jones Apparel Group Holdings" means Jones Apparel Group Holdings, Inc.,
a Delaware corporation.
"L/C Commitment" means Seven Hundred Million Dollars ($700,000,000).
"L/C Facility" means the letter of credit facility established pursuant
to Article III hereof.
"L/C Fee" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 3.3(a).
"L/C Obligations" means at any time, an amount equal to the sum of (a)
the aggregate undrawn and unexpired amount of the then outstanding Letters of
Credit and (b) the aggregate amount of drawings under Letters of Credit which
have not then been reimbursed pursuant to Section 3.5.
"L/C Participants" means the collective reference to all the Lenders
having a Revolving Credit Commitment other than the applicable Issuing Lender.
"Lender" means each Person executing this Agreement as a Lender set forth
on the signature pages hereto and each Person that hereafter becomes a party to
this Agreement as a Lender pursuant to Section 14.10 other than any party hereto
that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to any Assignment and Acceptance.
"Lending Group Members" means the collective reference to (a) the Lenders
party to this Agreement and (b) the lenders party to the 364-Day Credit
Agreement.
"Lending Office" means, with respect to any Lender, the office of such
Lender maintaining such Lender's Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the
Revolving Credit Loans.
"Letters of Credit" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
3.1 and, on the Closing Date, shall also include the Outstanding Letters of
Credit and the Outstanding Nine West Letters of Credit (which shall be deemed to
have been issued hereunder for the account of the Borrower).
"LIBOR" means the rate of interest per annum determined on the basis of
the rate for deposits in Dollars in minimum amounts of at least $5,000,000 for a
period equal to the applicable Interest Period which appears on the Dow Jones
Market Screen 3750 (or on any successor or substitute page of such service, or
any successor to or substitute for such service, providing rate quotations
comparable to those currently provided on such page of such service, as
determined by the Administrative Agent from time to time for purposes of
providing quotations of interest rates applicable to dollar deposits in the
London interbank market) at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two (2)
Business Days prior to the first day of the applicable Interest Period (rounded
upward, if necessary, to the nearest one hundredth of one percent (1/100%)).
If, for any reason, such rate does not appear on Dow Jones Market Screen 3750,
then "LIBOR" shall be determined by the Administrative Agent to be the
arithmetic average (rounded upward, if necessary, to the nearest one-hundredth
of one percent (1/100%)) of
10
the rate per annum at which deposits in Dollars would be offered by the
Reference Group in the London interbank market to the Administrative Agent as of
approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two (2) Business Days prior to the first
day of the applicable Interest Period for a period equal to such Interest Period
and in an amount substantially equal to the amount of the applicable Revolving
Credit Loan.
"LIBOR Rate" means a rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to
the next higher 1/100th of 1%) determined by the Administrative Agent pursuant
to the following formula:
LIBOR Rate = LIBOR
------------------------------------
1.00 - Eurodollar Reserve Percentage
"LIBOR Rate Loan" means any Revolving Credit Loan bearing interest at a
rate based upon the LIBOR Rate as provided in Section 5.1(a).
"Lien" means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge,
charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset.
For the purposes of this Agreement, a Person shall be deemed to own subject to a
Lien any asset which it has acquired or holds subject to the interest of a
vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, Capital Lease or other
title retention agreement relating to such asset.
"Loan Documents" means, collectively, this Agreement, the Revolving
Credit Notes, the Applications and each other document, instrument and agreement
executed and delivered by any Credit Party, its Subsidiaries or their counsel in
connection with this Agreement or otherwise referred to herein or contemplated
hereby, all as may be amended, restated or otherwise modified.
"Material Adverse Effect" means, with respect to the Credit Parties or
any of their Subsidiaries, a material adverse effect on the business, assets,
operations or financial condition of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries
taken as a whole or the ability of any such Person to perform its obligations
under the Loan Documents, in each case to which it is a party.
"Multiemployer Plan" means a "multiemployer plan" as defined in Section
4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is making (or
has made), or is accruing (or has accrued) an obligation to make, contributions
either presently or within the preceding six years.
"national currency unit" means the unit of currency (other than a euro unit) of
a Participating Member State.
"Net Income" means, with respect to the Credit Parties and their
Subsidiaries for any period, the Consolidated net income (or loss) of the Credit
Parties and their Subsidiaries for such period determined in accordance with
GAAP; provided, that there shall be excluded from net income (or loss), the
income (or loss) of any Person (other than a Subsidiary of such Person) in which
such Person has an ownership interest unless received by such Person in a cash
distribution.
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"Net Worth" means, with respect to the Credit Parties and their
Subsidiaries, as of any date, the total shareholders' equity that would appear
on a Consolidated balance sheet of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries
prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP.
"New Nine West Group" means Jack Asset Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation,
to be renamed Nine West Group Inc. immediately following the Closing Date.
"Nine West Acquisition" means the acquisition of all of the outstanding
stock of Nine West Group by the Borrower, one of the Credit Parties or one of
their respective Subsidiaries.
"Nine West Acquisition Agreement" means the Agreement and Plan of Merger
dated as of March 1, 1999, among Jones Apparel Group, Jill Acquisition Sub Inc.,
a Delaware corporation and direct and Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Jones Apparel
Group, and Nine West Group.
"Nine West Group" means Nine West Group Inc., a Delaware corporation.
"Notice of Account Designation" shall have the meaning assigned thereto
in Section 2.2(b).
"Notice of Revolving Credit Borrowing" shall have the meaning assigned
thereto in Section 2.2(a).
"Notice of Conversion/Continuation" shall have the meaning assigned
thereto in Section 5.2.
"Notice of Prepayment" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
2.3(c).
"Obligations" means, in each case, whether now in existence or hereafter
arising: (a) the principal of and interest on (including interest accruing after
the filing of any bankruptcy or similar petition) the Revolving Credit Loans,
(b) the L/C Obligations, (c) all payment and other obligations owing by the
Credit Parties to any Lender or Affiliate of a Lender or the Administrative
Agent under any Hedging Agreement with any Lender or Affiliate of a Lender
(which such Hedging Agreement is permitted hereunder), and (d) all other fees
and commissions (including attorney's fees), charges, indebtedness, loans,
liabilities, financial accommodations, obligations, covenants and duties owing
by the Credit Parties to the Lenders or the Administrative Agent, of every kind,
nature and description, direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to
become due, contractual or tortious, liquidated or unliquidated, and whether or
not evidenced by any note, in each case under or in respect of this Agreement,
any Revolving Credit Note, any Letter of Credit or any of the other Loan
Documents.
"Officer's Compliance Certificate" shall have the meaning assigned
thereto in Section 8.2.
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"Operating Lease" shall mean, as to any Person, as determined in
accordance with GAAP, any lease of property (whether real, personal or mixed) by
such Person as lessee which is not a Capital Lease.
"Other Taxes" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 5.12(b).
"Outstanding Letters of Credit" means each letter of credit described on
Schedule 1.1(b) and outstanding as of the Closing Date.
"Outstanding Nine West Letters of Credit" means each letter of credit
described on Schedule 1.1(c) and outstanding as of the Closing Date.
"Outstanding Nine West Debt Obligations" means the collective reference
to (a) the existing 8-3/8% Series B Senior Notes due 2005 of Nine West Group
(the "Nine West Senior Notes"), (b) the existing 9% Series B Senior Subordinated
Notes due 2007 of Nine West Group (the "Nine West Senior Subordinated Notes")
and (c) the existing 5-1/2% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2003 of Nine West
Group (the "Nine West Convertible Subordinated Notes").
"Participating Member State" means each state so described in any EMU
Legislation.
"PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and
defined in ERISA or any successor agency.
"Pension Plan" means any Employee Benefit Plan, other than a
Multiemployer Plan, which is subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or
Section 412 of the Code.
"Permitted Lines of Business" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 9.9.
"Person" means an individual, corporation, limited liability company,
partnership, association, trust, business trust, joint venture, joint stock
company, pool, syndicate, sole proprietorship, unincorporated organization,
Governmental Authority or any other form of entity or group thereof.
"Pounds Sterling" means, unless otherwise qualified, pounds sterling in
lawful currency of the United Kingdom.
"Prime Rate" means, at any time, the rate of interest per annum publicly
announced from time to time by First Union as its prime rate in effect at its
principal office in Charlotte, North Carolina. Each change in the Prime Rate
shall be effective as of the opening of business on the day such change in the
Prime Rate occurs. The parties hereto acknowledge that the rate announced
publicly by First Union as its Prime Rate is an index or base rate and shall not
necessarily be its lowest or best rate charged to its customers or other banks.
"Reference Group" shall mean the Lenders party to this Agreement on the
Closing Date.
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"Register" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2.4(a).
"Reimbursement Obligation" means the obligation of the Borrower to
reimburse each Issuing Lender pursuant to Section 3.5 for amounts drawn under
Letters of Credit.
"Rental Expense" means, all obligations of the Credit Parties or any of
their Subsidiaries for payments under Operating Leases.
"Required Agreement Lenders" means, at any date, any combination of
Lenders whose Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage equals at least fifty-one
percent (51%) of the Revolving Credit Commitment or if the Revolving Credit
Commitment has been terminated, any combination of Lenders who collectively hold
at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the
Extensions of Credit.
"Required Lenders" means, at any date, any combination of Lending Group
Members whose Total Committed Percentage equals at least fifty-one percent (51%)
of the Total Committed Amount.
"Responsible Officer" means any of the following: the chairman,
president, chief executive officer, chief financial officer or vice president
and corporate controller of the Borrower or Jones Apparel Group or any other
officer of the Borrower or Jones Apparel Group reasonably acceptable to the
Administrative Agent.
"Revolving Credit Commitment" means (a) as to any Lender, the obligation
of such Lender to make Revolving Credit Loans to the Borrower hereunder in an
aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed the amount set
forth opposite such Lender's name on Schedule 1.1(a) hereto as such amount may
be reduced or modified at any time or from time to time pursuant to the terms
hereof and (b) as to all Lenders, the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment of
all Lenders to make Revolving Credit Loans, as such amount may be reduced at any
time or from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof. The Revolving Credit
Commitment of all Lenders on the Closing Date shall be Seven Hundred Million
Dollars ($700,000,000).
"Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage" means, as to any Lender at any
time, the ratio of (a) the amount of the Revolving Credit Commitment of such
Lender to (b) the Revolving Credit Commitment of all of the Lenders.
"Revolving Credit Facility" means the revolving credit facility
established pursuant to Article II hereof.
"Revolving Credit Loans" means any revolving loan made to the Borrower
pursuant to Section 2.1, and all such revolving loans collectively as the
context requires.
"Revolving Credit Notes" means the collective reference to the Revolving
Credit Notes made by the Borrower under this Agreement payable to the order of
any such Lender requesting such note, substantially in the form of Exhibit A
hereto, evidencing the obligation owed to such Lender under the Revolving Credit
Facility, and any amendments and modifications thereto, any
14
substitutes therefor, and any replacements, restatements, renewals or extension
thereof, in whole or in part; "Revolving Credit Note" means any of such
Revolving Credit Notes.
"Revolving Credit Termination Date" means the earliest of the dates
referred to in Section 2.6.
"SPC" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 14.10(h).
"Subordinated Debt" means the collective reference to Debt on Schedule
7.1(p) hereof designated as Subordinated Debt and any other Debt of the Credit
Parties or any Subsidiary thereof subordinated in right and time of payment to
the Obligations and otherwise permitted hereunder.
"Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person (the "parent") 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 in the parent'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 fifty percent (50%) of the equity or more than fifty percent (50%) of the
ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership, more than fifty percent
(50%) of the general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned,
controlled or held, or (b) that is, as of such date, otherwise controlled, by
the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or
more subsidiaries of the parent. Unless otherwise qualified references to
"Subsidiary" or "Subsidiaries" herein shall refer to those of the Borrower.
"Sun Acquisition Agreement" means the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated
September 10, 1998 by and among the Borrower, SAI Acquisition Corp., Sun
Apparel, Inc. and the Shareholders of Sun Apparel, Inc., as amended and modified
from time to time.
"Syndication Agents" means The Chase Manhattan Bank and Citibank, N.A.,
each in their capacity as syndication agent hereunder, and any successor
thereto.
"Taxes" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section 5.12(a).
"Termination Event" means: (a) a "Reportable Event" described in Section
4043 of ERISA, or (b) the withdrawal of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from
a Pension Plan during a plan year in which it was a "substantial employer" as
defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA, or (c) the termination of a Pension
Plan, the filing of a notice of intent to terminate a Pension Plan or the
treatment of a Pension Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 of
ERISA, or (d) the institution of proceedings to terminate, or the appointment of
a trustee with respect to, any Pension Plan by the PBGC, or (e) any other event
or condition which would constitute grounds under Section 4042(a) of ERISA for
the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension
Plan, or (f) the partial or complete withdrawal of the Borrower or any ERISA
Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan, or (g) the imposition of a Lien pursuant to
Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, or (h) any event or condition
15
which results in the reorganization or insolvency of a Multiemployer Plan under
Sections 4241 or 4245 of ERISA, or (i) any event or condition which results in
the termination of a Multiemployer Plan under Section 4041A of ERISA or the
institution by PBGC of proceedings to terminate a Multiemployer Plan under
Section 4042 of ERISA.
"Third Stage Cutoff Date" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 3.6(c) hereof.
"Total Committed Amount" means (a) as to any Lending Group Member, the
sum of (i) the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Lending Group Member (or, if
such Revolving Credit Commitment has been terminated, the aggregate unpaid
principal amount of all outstanding Extensions of Credit of such Lending Group
Member) plus (ii) the Revolving Credit Commitment (as defined in the 364-Day
Credit Agreement) of such Lending Group Member (or, if such Revolving Credit
Commitment has been terminated, the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all
outstanding Extensions of Credit (as defined in the 364-Day Credit Agreement) of
such Lending Group Member) and (b) as to all Lenders, the aggregate Total
Committed Amount of all Lending Group Members.
"Total Committed Percentage" means, as to any Lending Group Member at any
time, the ratio of (a) the amount of the Total Committed Amount of such Lending
Group Member to (b) the aggregate Total Committed Amount of all Lending Group
Members.
"Treaty on European Union" means the Treaty of Rome of March 25, 1957, as
amended by the Single European Act 1986 and the Maastricht Treaty (signed
February 7, 1992), as amended from time to time.
"UCC" means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New
York, as amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.
"Uniform Customs" the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary
Credits (1994 Revision), International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 500.
"United States" means the United States of America.
"Utilization Fee" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
5.3(b).
"Wholly-Owned" means, with respect to a Subsidiary, that all of the
shares of capital stock or other ownership interests of such Subsidiary are,
directly or indirectly, owned or controlled by any Credit Party and/or one or
more of its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries.
SECTION 1.2 General. Unless otherwise specified, a reference in
this Agreement to a particular section, subsection, Schedule or Exhibit is a
reference to that section, subsection, Schedule or Exhibit of this Agreement.
Terms defined in this Agreement and the 364-Day Credit Agreement shall be
construed consistently and no term defined herein shall be limited or restricted
by any similar definition in the 364-Day Credit Agreement nor shall any such
term herein limit or restrict any similar definition in the 364-Day Credit
Agreement. Wherever from
16
the context it appears appropriate, each term stated in either the singular or
plural shall include the singular and plural, and pronouns stated in the
masculine, feminine or neuter gender shall include the masculine, feminine and
neuter. Any reference herein to "Charlotte time" shall refer to the applicable
time of day in Charlotte, North Carolina.
SECTION 1.3 Other Definitions and Provisions.
(a) Use of Capitalized Terms. Unless otherwise defined therein, all
capitalized terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined meanings when
used in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any certificate, report
or other document made or delivered pursuant to this Agreement.
(b) Miscellaneous. The words "hereof", "herein" and "hereunder" and
words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this
Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement.
(c) Any reference or usage of the word "amount" herein as it pertains
to any Obligation denominated in an Alternative Currency shall be deemed to be a
reference or usage of the term "Dollar Amount."
ARTICLE II
REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY
SECTION 2.1 Revolving Credit Loans. Subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, each Lender severally agrees to make Revolving
Credit Loans to the Borrower from time to time from the Closing Date through the
Revolving Credit Termination Date as requested by the Borrower in accordance
with the terms of Section 2.2; provided, that (a) the aggregate principal amount
of all outstanding Revolving Credit Loans (after giving effect to any amount
requested) shall not exceed the Revolving Credit Commitment less the sum of all
outstanding L/C Obligations and (b) the principal amount of outstanding
Revolving Credit Loans from any Lender to the Borrower shall not at any time
exceed such Lender's Revolving Credit Commitment. Each Revolving Credit Loan by
a Lender shall be in a principal amount equal to such Lender's Revolving Credit
Commitment Percentage of the aggregate principal amount of Revolving Credit
Loans requested on such occasion. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof,
the Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow Revolving Credit Loans hereunder
until the Revolving Credit Termination Date.
SECTION 2.2 Procedure for Advances of Revolving Credit Loans.
(a) Requests for Borrowing. The Borrower shall give the Administrative
Agent irrevocable prior written notice in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B
(a "Notice of Revolving Credit Borrowing") not later than 11:00 a.m. (Charlotte
time) (i) on the same Business Day as each Base Rate Loan and (ii) at least
three (3) Business Days before each LIBOR Rate Loan, of its intention to borrow,
specifying (A) the date of such borrowing, which shall be a Business
17
Day, (B) the amount of such borrowing, which shall be in an amount equal to the
unused amount of the Revolving Credit Commitment, or if less, (x) with respect
to Base Rate Loans in an aggregate principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole
multiple of $250,000 in excess thereof and (y) with respect to LIBOR Rate Loans
in an aggregate principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000
in excess thereof, (C) whether such Revolving Credit Loan is to be a LIBOR Rate
Loan or Base Rate Loan, and (D) in the case of a LIBOR Rate Loan, the duration
of the Interest Period applicable thereto. Notices received after 11:00 a.m.
(Charlotte time) shall be deemed received on the next Business Day. The
Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders of each Notice of
Revolving Credit Borrowing.
(b) Disbursement of Revolving Credit Loans. Not later than 2:00 p.m.
(Charlotte time) on the proposed borrowing date, each Lender will make available
to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Borrower, at the office of
the Administrative Agent in funds immediately available to the Administrative
Agent, such Lender's Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the Revolving
Credit Loans to be made on such borrowing date. The Borrower hereby irrevocably
authorizes the Administrative Agent to disburse the proceeds of each borrowing
requested pursuant to this Section 2.2 in immediately available funds by
crediting or wiring such proceeds to the deposit account of the Borrower
identified in the most recent notice of account designation, substantially in
the form of Exhibit C hereto (a "Notice of Account Designation"), delivered by
the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or as may be otherwise agreed upon by
the Borrower and the Administrative Agent from time to time. Subject to Section
5.7 hereof, the Administrative Agent shall not be obligated to disburse the
portion of the proceeds of any Revolving Credit Loan requested pursuant to this
Section 2.2 for which any Lender is responsible to the extent that such Lender
has not made available to the Administrative Agent its Revolving Credit
Commitment Percentage of such Revolving Credit Loan.
SECTION 2.3 Repayment of Revolving Credit Loans.
(a) Repayment on Termination Date. The Borrower shall repay the
outstanding principal amount of all Revolving Credit Loans in full on the
Revolving Credit Termination Date, with all accrued but unpaid interest
thereon.
(b) Mandatory Repayment of Excess Extensions of Credit.
(i) If at any time the outstanding principal amount of all
Revolving Credit Loans plus the sum of all outstanding L/C Obligations exceeds
the Revolving Credit Commitment, the Borrower shall repay immediately upon
notice from the Administrative Agent, by payment to the Administrative Agent for
the account of the Lenders, Revolving Credit Loans and/or furnish cash
collateral reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent or repay the L/C
Obligations in an amount equal to such excess. Such cash collateral shall be
applied in accordance with Section 12.2(b).
(ii) Excess Alternative Currency Letters of Credit. If the
Administrative Agent shall determine that the outstanding principal Dollar
Amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit denominated in an Alternative
Currency exceeds one hundred and five percent (105%) of the lesser of (A) the
L/C Commitment less the sum of the outstanding principal Dollar Amount
18
of all L/C Obligations and (B) the Alternative Currency L/C Commitment, in each
case as of the last Business Day of any calendar month during the term hereof,
then not later than three (3) Business Days after notice of the amount of such
excess from the Administrative Agent to the Borrower, the Borrower shall deposit
an amount in Dollars equal to such excess with the Administrative Agent to be
held as cash collateral in accordance with Section 12.2(b).
(c) Optional Repayments. The Borrower may at any time and from time
to time repay the Revolving Credit Loans, in whole or in part, upon at least
three (3) Business Days' irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent with
respect to LIBOR Rate Loans and one (1) Business Day irrevocable notice with
respect to Base Rate Loans, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D (a "Notice
of Prepayment") specifying the date and amount of repayment and whether the
repayment is of LIBOR Rate Loans, Base Rate Loans, or a combination thereof,
and, if of a combination thereof, the amount allocable to each. Upon receipt of
such notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender. If any
such notice is given, the amount specified in such notice shall be due and
payable on the date set forth in such notice. Partial repayments shall be in an
aggregate amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $250,000 in excess thereof
with respect to Base Rate Loans and $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000
in excess thereof with respect to LIBOR Rate Loans.
(d) Limitation on Repayment of LIBOR Rate Loans. The Borrower may not
repay any LIBOR Rate Loan on any day other than on the last day of the Interest
Period applicable thereto unless such repayment is accompanied by any amount
required to be paid pursuant to Section 5.10 hereof.
SECTION 2.4 Evidence of Debt.
(a) The Administrative Agent shall maintain a register and a
subaccount therein for each Lender (the "Register"), in which shall be recorded
(i) the amount of each Revolving Credit Loan made hereunder, including each
Revolving Credit Loan evidenced by a Revolving Credit Note, and each Interest
Period applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and
payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder
and (iii) both the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent
hereunder from the Borrower and each Lender's share thereof.
(b) The entries made in the Register and the accounts of each Lender
maintained pursuant to Section 2.4(a) shall, to the extent permitted by
applicable law, be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the
obligations of the Borrowers therein recorded, absent manifest error; provided,
however, that the failure of the Administrative Agent to maintain the Register
or any such account, or any error therein, shall not in any manner affect the
obligation of the Borrower to repay (with applicable interest) the Revolving
Credit Loans made to the Borrower in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement.
(c) The Borrower hereby agrees that, upon the request to the
Administrative Agent by any Lender, the Borrower will execute and deliver to
such Lender a Revolving Credit Note of such Borrower evidencing the Revolving
Credit Loans of such Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit A.
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SECTION 2.5 Permanent Reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitment.
(a) Voluntary Reduction. The Borrower shall have the right at any
time and from time to time, upon at least five (5) Business Days prior written
notice to the Administrative Agent, to permanently reduce, without premium or
penalty, (i) the entire Revolving Credit Commitment at any time or (ii) portions
of the Revolving Credit Commitment, from time to time, in an aggregate principal
amount not less than $5,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess
thereof.
(b) Each permanent reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitment made
pursuant to this Section 2.5 shall be accompanied, if necessary, by a payment of
principal sufficient to reduce the aggregate outstanding Revolving Credit Loans
and L/C Obligations, as applicable, after such reduction to the Revolving Credit
Commitment as so reduced and if the Revolving Credit Commitment as so reduced is
less than the aggregate amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit, the
Borrower shall be required to deposit in a cash collateral account opened by the
Administrative Agent an amount equal to the amount by which the aggregate then
undrawn and unexpired amount of such Letters of Credit exceeds the Revolving
Credit Commitment as so reduced. Any reduction of the Revolving Credit
Commitment to zero (including upon termination of the Revolving Credit Facility
on the Revolving Credit Termination Date) shall be accompanied by payment of all
outstanding Revolving Credit Loans (and furnishing of cash collateral
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent for all L/C Obligations) and shall
result in the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitment and the Revolving
Credit Facility. Such cash collateral shall be applied in accordance with
Section 12.2(b). If the reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitment requires
the repayment of any LIBOR Rate Loan, such repayment shall be accompanied by any
amount required to be paid pursuant to Section 5.10 hereof.
SECTION 2.6 Termination of Revolving Credit Facility. The
Revolving Credit Facility shall terminate on the earliest of (a) June 15, 2004,
(b) the date of termination of the entire Revolving Credit Commitment by the
Borrower pursuant to Section 2.5(a), and (c) the date of termination by the
Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders pursuant to Section 12.2(a). If
any L/C Obligations remain outstanding on the Revolving Credit Termination Date,
the Borrower shall provide cash collateral satisfactory to the Administrative
Agent for all such outstanding L/C Obligations. Such cash collateral shall be
applied in accordance with Section 12.2(b).
ARTICLE III
LETTER OF CREDIT FACILITY
SECTION 3.1 L/C Commitment. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof,
each Issuing Lender, in reliance on the agreements of the other Lenders set
forth in Section 3.4(a), agrees to issue trade and standby letters of credit
("Letters of Credit") for the account of the Borrower on any Business Day
from the Closing Date through but not including the Revolving Credit
Termination Date in such form as may be approved from time to time by such
20
Issuing Lender; provided, that no Issuing Lender shall have any obligation to
issue any Letter of Credit if, after giving effect to such issuance, (a) the L/C
Obligations would exceed the L/C Commitment or (b) the L/C Obligations on
account of Letters of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency would exceed
the Alternative Currency L/C Commitment or (c) the aggregate principal amount of
outstanding Revolving Credit Loans, plus the aggregate principal amount of L/C
Obligations would exceed the Revolving Credit Commitment. Each Letter of Credit
shall (i) be denominated in (A) Dollars, if such Letter of Credit is a standby
Letter of Credit, or (B) Dollars or an Alternative Currency, if such Letter of
Credit is a trade Letter of Credit, (ii) be a trade or standby letter of credit
issued to support obligations of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries,
contingent or otherwise, incurred in the ordinary course of business, (iii)
expire on a date no later than (A) two hundred twenty-five (225) days from the
date of issuance thereof for trade Letters of Credit and (B) one (1) year from
the date of issuance thereof for standby Letters of Credit, and (iv) be subject
to the Uniform Customs and/or ISP 98, as set forth in the Application or as
determined by the Issuing Lender and, to the extent not inconsistent therewith,
the laws of the State of New York. No Issuing Lender shall at any time be
obligated to issue any Letter of Credit hereunder if such issuance would
conflict with, or cause such Issuing Lender or any L/C Participant to exceed any
limits imposed by, any Applicable Law. References herein to "issue" and
derivations thereof with respect to Letters of Credit shall also include
extensions or modifications of any existing Letters of Credit, unless the
context otherwise requires.
SECTION 3.2 Procedure for Issuance of Letters of Credit. The Borrower
may from time to time request that any Issuing Lender issue a Letter
of Credit (or amend, extend or renew an outstanding Letter of Credit) by
delivering to such Issuing Lender at any Issuing Lender's office at any address
mutually acceptable to the Borrower and such Issuing Lender an Application
therefor, including, if applicable, the office of such Issuing Lender's
Correspondent, completed to the satisfaction of such Issuing Lender, and such
other certificates, documents and other papers and information as such Issuing
Lender may reasonably request. Upon receipt of any Application, such Issuing
Lender shall process such Application and the certificates, documents and other
papers and information delivered to it in connection therewith in accordance
with its customary procedures and shall, subject to Section 3.1 and Article VI
hereof, promptly issue the Letter of Credit (or amend, extend or renew the
outstanding Letter of Credit) requested thereby (but in no event shall any
Issuing Lender be required to issue any Letter of Credit (or amend, extend or
renew an outstanding Letter of Credit) earlier than three (3) Business Days
after its receipt of the Application therefor and all such other certificates,
documents and other papers and information relating thereto) by issuing the
original of such Letter of Credit to the beneficiary thereof or as otherwise
may be agreed by such Issuing Lender and the Borrower. Within fifteen (15)
Business Days after the end of each month, the Administrative Agent shall
report to each Lender the average daily outstandings for each day in such
month for all Letters of Credit during the previous month.
SECTION 3.3 Fees and Other Charges.
(a) The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the
account of each Issuing Lender and the L/C Participants, a letter of credit fee
(the "L/C Fee") (i) with respect to each trade Letter of Credit, in an amount
equal to the Applicable Margin for trade Letters of
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Credit times the average daily undrawn amount of such issued Letter of Credit as
reported by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 3.2 and (ii) with
respect to each standby Letter of Credit, in an amount equal to the Applicable
Margin for standby Letters of Credit times the face amount of such Letter of
Credit. Such fee shall be payable quarterly in arrears (x) for trade Letters of
Credit, within fifteen (15) Business Days after the end of each calendar quarter
and on the Revolving Credit Termination Date and (y) for standby Letters of
Credit, on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter and on the Revolving
Credit Termination Date.
(b) In addition to the foregoing commission, the Borrower shall pay
the Issuing Lenders an issuance fee of one eighth percent (1/8%) per annum on
the face amount of each standby Letter of Credit, payable quarterly in arrears
on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter and on the Revolving Credit
Termination Date.
(c) The Administrative Agent shall, promptly following its receipt
thereof, distribute to each Issuing Lender and the L/C Participants all fees
received by the Administrative Agent in accordance with their respective
Revolving Credit Commitment Percentages.
SECTION 3.4 L/C Participations.
(a) Each Issuing Lender irrevocably agrees to grant and hereby grants
to each L/C Participant, and, to induce such Issuing Lender to issue Letters of
Credit hereunder, each L/C Participant irrevocably agrees to accept and purchase
and hereby accepts and purchases from such Issuing Lender, on the terms and
conditions hereinafter stated, for such L/C Participant's own account and risk
an undivided interest equal to such L/C Participant's Revolving Credit
Commitment Percentage in such Issuing Lender's obligations and rights under each
Letter of Credit issued hereunder and the amount of each draft paid by such
Issuing Lender thereunder. Each L/C Participant unconditionally and irrevocably
agrees with each Issuing Lender that, if a draft is paid under any Letter of
Credit for which such Issuing Lender is not reimbursed in full by the Borrower
in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such L/C Participant shall pay
to such Issuing Lender upon demand at such Issuing Lender's address for notices
specified herein an amount in Dollars equal to such L/C Participant's Revolving
Credit Commitment Percentage of the Dollar Amount of such draft, or any part
thereof, which is not so reimbursed, such payment to be made by the making of a
Base Rate Loan in Dollars pursuant to Section 3.5(c) below.
(b) Upon becoming aware of any amount required to be paid by any L/C
Participant to any Issuing Lender pursuant to Section 3.4(a) in respect of any
unreimbursed portion of any payment made by such Issuing Lender under any Letter
of Credit, the Administrative Agent shall notify each L/C Participant of the
amount and due date of such required payment and such L/C Participant shall pay
to such Issuing Lender the amount specified on the applicable due date. If any
such amount is paid to such Issuing Lender after the date such payment is due,
such L/C Participant shall pay to such Issuing Lender on demand, in addition to
such amount, the product of (i) such amount, times (ii) the daily average
Federal Funds Rate as determined by the Administrative Agent during the period
from and including the date such payment is due to the date on which such
payment is immediately available to such Issuing Lender, times (iii) a fraction
the numerator of which is the number of days that elapse during such period and
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the denominator of which is 360. A certificate of any Issuing Lender with
respect to any amounts owing under this Section 3.4(b) shall be conclusive in
the absence of manifest error. With respect to payment to any Issuing Lender of
the unreimbursed amounts described in this Section 3.4(b), if the L/C
Participants receive notice that any such payment is due (A) prior to 1:00 p.m.
(Charlotte time) on any Business Day, such payment shall be due that Business
Day, and (B) after 1:00 p.m. (Charlotte time) on any Business Day, such payment
shall be due on the following Business Day.
(c) Whenever, at any time after any Issuing Lender has made payment
under any Letter of Credit and has received from any L/C Participant its
Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of such payment in accordance with this
Section 3.4, such Issuing Lender receives any payment related to such Letter of
Credit (whether directly from the Borrower or otherwise, or any payment of
interest on account thereof), such Issuing Lender will distribute to such L/C
Participant its pro rata share thereof in accordance with such L/C Participant's
Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage; provided, that in the event that any
such payment received by such Issuing Lender shall be required to be returned by
such Issuing Lender, such L/C Participant shall return to such Issuing Lender
the portion thereof previously distributed by such Issuing Lender to it.
SECTION 3.5 Reimbursement.
(a) Reimbursement by the Borrower. The Borrower agrees to reimburse
each Issuing Lender on each date the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower
of the date and amount of a draft paid under any Letter of Credit for the amount
of (i) such draft so paid and (ii) any taxes, fees, charges or other costs or
expenses incurred by any Issuing Lender in connection with such payment (other
than those payable pursuant to Section 3.5(b) below). Each such payment shall
be made to any Issuing Lender at its address for notices specified herein (i) in
Dollars if such Letter of Credit was denominated in Dollars or (ii) in Dollars
or the applicable Alternative Currency, at the option of the Borrower, if such
Letter of Credit was denominated in an Alternative Currency, and in each case,
in immediately available funds. Interest shall be payable on any and all
amounts remaining unpaid by the Borrower under this Article III from the day
immediately following the date such amounts become payable (whether at stated
maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) until payment in full at the rate which
would be payable on any outstanding Base Rate Loans which were then overdue.
(b) Exchange Indemnification and Increased Costs. The Borrower shall,
upon demand from any Issuing Lender or L/C Participant, pay to such Issuing
Lender or L/C Participant, the amount of (i) any loss or cost or increased cost
incurred by such Issuing Lender or L/C Participant, (ii) any reduction in any
amount payable to or in the effective return on the capital to such Issuing
Lender or L/C Participant, (iii) any currency exchange loss, in each case with
respect to clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), that such Issuing Lender or L/C
Participant sustains as a result of the Borrower's repayment in Dollars of any
Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency or (iv) any interest or
any other return, including principal, foregone by such Issuing Lender as a
result of the introduction of, change over to or operation of the euro in any
member state participating in the euro. A certificate of such Issuing Lender
setting forth in reasonable detail the basis for determining such additional
amount or amounts necessary to
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compensate such Issuing Lender shall be conclusively presumed to be correct save
for manifest error.
(c) Reimbursement by the Lenders. If the Borrower fails to timely
reimburse such Issuing Lender on the date the Borrower receives the notice
referred to in this Section 3.5, the Borrower shall be deemed to have timely
given a Notice of Revolving Credit Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.2 hereunder
to the Administrative Agent requesting the Lenders to make a Base Rate Loan on
such date in an amount in Dollars equal to the Dollar Amount (as of the date of
funding of such Base Rate Loan by each Lender) of such draft paid, together with
any taxes, fees, charges or other costs or expenses incurred by any Issuing
Lender and to be reimbursed pursuant to this Section 3.5 and, regardless of
whether or not the conditions precedent specified in Article VI have been
satisfied, the Lenders shall make Base Rate Loans in such amount, the proceeds
of which shall be applied to reimburse such Issuing Lender for the amount of the
related drawing and costs and expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing
in this Section 3.5 shall obligate the Lenders to make such Base Rate Loans if
the making of such Base Rate Loans would violate the automatic stay under
federal bankruptcy laws.
SECTION 3.6 Provisions Regarding National Currency Units and the Euro.
(a) Effectiveness of Provisions. To the extent that any provision of this
Section 3.6 relates to any state (or the national currency unit of such state)
that is not a Participating Member State at the beginning of the Third Stage of
EMU, such provision shall become effective in relation to such state (and the
national currency unit of such state) at and from the date on which such state
becomes a Participating Member State.
(b) Continuity of Contract. The Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the
Borrower agree that the occurrence or non-occurrence of EMU, any event or events
associated with EMU and/or the introduction of the euro in all or any part of
the European Union will not result in the discharge, cancellation, rescission or
termination in whole or in part of any agreement between the Administrative
Agent, any Lender and the Borrower or give the Administrative Agent, any Lender
or the Borrower the right to cancel, rescind, terminate or vary any agreement,
other than as specifically provided in this Agreement.
(c) Redenomination and Alternative Currencies. Each obligation of any party
under this Agreement which has been denominated in the national currency unit of
a Participating Member State shall be automatically redenominated into the euro
unit at the Fixed Exchange Rate on January 1, 2002 (the "Third Stage Cutoff
Date") and shall thereafter be payable solely in euro; provided, that if and to
the extent that any EMU Legislation provides that following the beginning of the
Third Stage of EMU, and prior to the Third Stage Cutoff Date, an amount
denominated either in the euro unit or in the national currency unit of a
Participating Member State and payable within the Participating Member State by
crediting an account of a creditor can be paid by a debtor either in the euro
unit or in that national currency unit, each party to this Agreement shall be
entitled to pay or repay any such amount either in the euro unit or in such
national currency unit; provided, however, any amount paid in a national
currency unit shall equal, at the Fixed Exchange Rate for that national currency
unit, the required amount stated to be due in euro units.
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(d) Payments. Those Sections of this Agreement providing for payment or
repayment by the Borrower in a national currency unit shall be construed so
that, in relation to the payment of any amount of euro units or national
currency units, such amount shall be made available to the Administrative Agent,
any Issuing Lender or any Lender, as applicable, in immediately available,
freely transferable, cleared funds to such account with each bank (in such
principal financial center) as the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Lender or
any Lender, as applicable, may from time to time nominate for this purpose.
(e) Payments by the Administrative Agent and Issuing Lenders Generally. With
respect to the payment of any amount denominated in the euro unit or in a
national currency unit, the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Lenders shall
not be liable to the Borrower or any of the Lenders in any way whatsoever for
any delay, or the consequences of any delay, in the crediting to any account of
any amount required by this Agreement to be paid by the Administrative Agent or
any Issuing Lender, as applicable, if the Administrative Agent or any Issuing
Lender, as applicable, has made reasonable effort to effect all relevant steps
to achieve, on the date required by this Agreement, the payment of such amount
in immediately available, freely transferable, cleared funds (in the euro unit
or, as the case may be, in a national currency unit) to the account with the
bank in the principal financial center in the Participating Member State which
the Borrower or, as the case may be, any Lender shall have specified for such
purpose. In this paragraph, "all relevant steps" means all such steps as may be
prescribed from time to time by the regulations or operating procedures of such
clearing or settlement system as the Administrative Agent or any Issuing Lender,
as applicable, may from time to time reasonably believe to be in effect for the
purpose of clearing or settling payment of the euro.
(f) Rounding and Other Consequential Changes. Without prejudice and in
addition to any method of conversion or rounding prescribed by any EMU
Legislation and without prejudice to the respective liabilities for indebtedness
of the Borrower to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Lender or any Lender,
as applicable, and the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Lender or any Lender,
as applicable, to the Borrower under or pursuant to this Agreement:
(i) each reference in this Agreement to a minimum amount (or an integral
multiple thereof) in a national currency unit to be paid to or by the
Administrative Agent, any Issuing Lender or any Lender, as applicable, shall be
replaced by a reference to such reasonably comparable amount (or an integral
multiple thereof) in the euro unit as the Administrative Agent may from time to
time specify; and
(ii) except as expressly provided in this Agreement, each provision of this
Agreement, including, without limitation, the right to combine currencies to
affect a set off, shall be subject to such reasonable changes of interpretation
as the Administrative Agent may from time to time specify to be necessary or
appropriate to reflect the introduction of or change over to the euro in
Participating Member States necessary or appropriate to reflect the
implementation of EMU to place the parties hereto in substantially the
position they would have occupied had EMU not been implemented.
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(g) Further Assurance. The Borrower agrees, at the request of the
Administrative Agent or any Issuing Lender, at the time of or at any time
following the implementation of EMU, to enter into an agreement amending this
Agreement in such manner as the Administrative Agent or such Issuing Lender
reasonably shall request in order to reflect the implementation of EMU to place
the parties hereto in the position they would have been in had EMU not been
implemented.
SECTION 3.7 Obligations Absolute. The Borrower's obligations under
this Article III (including without limitation the Reimbursement Obligation)
shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances and
irrespective of any set-off, counterclaim or defense to payment which the
Borrower may have or have had against any Issuing Lender or any beneficiary
of a Letter of Credit. The Borrower also agrees with each Issuing Lender
that no Issuing Lender shall be responsible for, and the Borrower's
Reimbursement Obligation under Section 3.5 shall not be affected by,
among other things, the validity or genuineness of documents or of any
endorsements thereon, even though such documents shall in fact prove to be
invalid, fraudulent or forged, or any dispute between or among the Borrower
and any beneficiary of any Letter of Credit or any other party to which such
Letter of Credit may be transferred or any claims whatsoever of the Borrower
against any beneficiary of such Letter of Credit or any such transferee.
No Issuing Lender shall be liable for any error, omission, interruption or
delay in transmission, dispatch or delivery of any message or advice, however
transmitted, in connection with any Letter of Credit, except for errors or
omissions caused by such Issuing Lender's gross negligence or willful
misconduct. The Borrower agrees that any action taken or omitted by
any Issuing Lender under or in connection with any Letter of Credit or the
related drafts or documents, if done in the absence of gross negligence or
willful misconduct and in accordance with the standards of care specified in the
Uniform Customs and/or ISP 98, as set forth in the Application or as determined
by the Issuing Lender and, to the extent not inconsistent therewith, the laws of
the State of New York, shall be binding on the Borrower and shall not result in
any liability of any Issuing Lender to the Borrower. The responsibility of each
Issuing Lender to the Borrower in connection with any draft presented for
payment under any Letter of Credit shall, in addition to any payment obligation
expressly provided for in such Letter of Credit, be limited to determining that
the documents (including each draft) delivered under such Letter of Credit in
connection with such presentment are in conformity with such Letter of Credit.
SECTION 3.8 Effect of Application. To the extent that any provision
of any Application related to any Letter of Credit is inconsistent with the
provisions of this Article III, the provisions of this Article III shall apply.
ARTICLE IV
[RESERVED]
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ARTICLE V
GENERAL LOAN PROVISIONS
SECTION 5.1 Interest.
(a) Interest Rate Options. Subject to the provisions of this Section
5.1, at the election of the Borrower, the aggregate principal balance of any
Revolving Credit Loans shall bear interest at (i) the Base Rate plus the
Applicable Margin or (ii) the LIBOR Rate plus the Applicable Margin; provided
that LIBOR Rate Loans shall not be available until three (3) Business Days after
the Closing Date unless the Borrower executes and delivers an indemnity in favor
of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in form and substance satisfactory
to them. The Borrower shall select the rate of interest and Interest Period, if
any, applicable to any Revolving Credit Loan at the time a Notice of Revolving
Credit Borrowing is given pursuant to Section 2.2 or at the time a Notice of
Conversion/Continuation is given pursuant to Section 5.2. Each Revolving Credit
Loan or portion thereof bearing interest based on the Base Rate shall be a "Base
Rate Loan", and each Revolving Credit Loan or portion thereof bearing interest
based on the LIBOR Rate shall be a "LIBOR Rate Loan." Any Revolving Credit Loan
or any portion thereof as to which the Borrower has not duly specified an
interest rate as provided herein shall be deemed a Base Rate Loan.
(b) Interest Periods. In connection with each LIBOR Rate Loan, the
Borrower, by giving notice at the times described in Section 5.1(a), shall elect
an interest period (each, an "Interest Period") to be applicable to such
Revolving Credit Loan, which Interest Period shall, unless otherwise agreed by
the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, be a period of one (1), two (2), three
(3), or six (6) months with respect to each LIBOR Rate; provided that:
(i) the Interest Period shall commence on the date of advance of
or conversion to any LIBOR Rate Loan and, in the case of immediately successive
Interest Periods, each successive Interest Period shall commence on the date on
which the next preceding Interest Period expires;
(ii) if any Interest Period would otherwise expire on a day that
is not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall expire on the next succeeding
Business Day; provided, that if any Interest Period with respect to a LIBOR Rate
Loan would otherwise expire on a day that is not a Business Day but is a day of
the month after which no further Business Day occurs in such month, such
Interest Period shall expire on the next preceding Business Day;
(iii) any Interest Period with respect to a LIBOR Rate Loan that
begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there
is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such
Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the relevant calendar
month at the end of such Interest Period;
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(iv) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Revolving Credit
Termination Date; and
(v) there shall be no more than six (6) Interest Periods in
effect at any time.
(c) Default Rate. Subject to Section 12.3, at the discretion of the
Administrative Agent and Required Lenders, upon the occurrence and during the
continuance of an Event of Default, (i) the Borrower shall no longer have the
option to request LIBOR Rate Loans, (ii) all outstanding LIBOR Rate Loans shall
bear interest at a rate per annum two percent (2%) in excess of the rate then
applicable to LIBOR Rate Loans, as applicable, until the end of the applicable
Interest Period and thereafter at a rate equal to two percent (2%) in excess of
the rate then applicable to Base Rate Loans and (iii) all outstanding Base Rate
Loans shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to two percent (2%) in
excess of the rate then applicable to Base Rate Loans. Interest shall continue
to accrue on the amount of Revolving Credit Loans outstanding after the filing
by or against the Borrower of any petition seeking any relief in bankruptcy or
under any act or law pertaining to insolvency or debtor relief, whether state,
federal or foreign.
(d) Interest Payment and Computation. Interest on each Base Rate Loan
shall be payable in arrears on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter
commencing June 30, 1999; and interest on each LIBOR Rate Loan shall be payable
on the last day of each Interest Period applicable thereto, and if such Interest
Period exceeds three (3) months, at the end of each three (3) month interval
during such Interest Period. Interest on LIBOR Rate Loans and all fees payable
hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and assessed for the
actual number of days elapsed and interest on Base Rate Loans shall be computed
on the basis of a 365/66-day year and assessed for the actual number of days
elapsed.
(e) Maximum Rate. In no contingency or event whatsoever shall the
aggregate of all amounts deemed interest hereunder or under any of the Loan
Documents charged or collected pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or
pursuant to any other Loan Document exceed the highest rate permissible under
any Applicable Law which a court of competent jurisdiction shall, in a final
determination, deem applicable hereto. In the event that such a court
determines that the Lenders have charged or received interest hereunder in
excess of the highest applicable rate, the rate in effect hereunder shall
automatically be reduced to the maximum rate permitted by Applicable Law and the
Lenders shall at the Administrative Agent's option (i) promptly refund to the
Borrower any interest received by Lenders in excess of the maximum lawful rate
or (ii) shall apply such excess to the principal balance of the Obligations. It
is the intent hereof that the Borrower not pay or contract to pay, and that
neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender receive or contract to receive,
directly or indirectly in any manner whatsoever, interest in excess of that
which may be paid by the Borrower under Applicable Law.
SECTION 5.2 Notice and Manner of Conversion or Continuation of Revolving
Credit Loans. Provided that no Event of Default has occurred and is then
continuing, the Borrower shall have the option (a) to convert all or any
portion of its outstanding Base Rate Loans in a principal amount equal to
$5,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof into one or
more LIBOR Rate Loans and (b), (i) to convert all or any part of its
28
outstanding LIBOR Rate Loans in a principal amount equal to $1,000,000 or a
whole multiple of $250,000 in excess thereof into Base Rate Loans or (ii) to
continue such LIBOR Rate Loans as LIBOR Rate Loans for an additional Interest
Period; provided that if any conversion or continuation is made prior to the
expiration of any Interest Period, the Borrower shall pay any amount required to
be paid pursuant to Section 5.10 hereof. Whenever the Borrower desires to
convert or continue Revolving Credit Loans as provided above, the Borrower shall
give the Administrative Agent irrevocable prior written notice in the form
attached as Exhibit E (a "Notice of Conversion/Continuation") not later than
11:00 a.m. (Charlotte time) three (3) Business Days before the day on which a
proposed conversion or continuation of such Revolving Credit Loan is to be
effective (except in the case of a conversion of a LIBOR Rate Loan to a Base
Rate Loan in which case same day notice by the Borrower shall be sufficient)
specifying (A) the Revolving Credit Loans to be converted or continued, and, in
the case of any LIBOR Rate Loan to be converted or continued, the last day of
the Interest Period therefor, (B) the effective date of such conversion or
continuation (which shall be a Business Day), (C) the principal amount of such
Revolving Credit Loans to be converted or continued, and (D) the Interest Period
to be applicable to such converted or continued LIBOR Rate Loan. The
Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders of such Notice of
Conversion/Continuation.
SECTION 5.3 Fees.
(a) Facility Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative
Agent, for the account of the Lenders, a non-refundable facility fee (the
"Facility Fee") at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Margin on the full
amount of the Revolving Credit Commitment, regardless of usage. The Facility
Fee shall be payable in arrears on the last Business Day of each calendar
quarter for the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the
Revolving Credit Termination Date. The Facility Fee shall be distributed by the
Administrative Agent to the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Lenders'
respective Revolving Credit Commitment Percentages.
(b) Utilization Fee. The Borrower shall pay a utilization fee (the
"Utilization Fee") at a rate per annum equal to 0.125% on the average amount of
outstanding Revolving Credit Loans (i) for the six (6) months following the
Closing Date and (ii) without duplication to clause (i), thereafter, during each
fiscal quarter that such average exceeds $350,000,000 (exclusive of any issued
and outstanding Letters of Credit). The average amount of Revolving Credit
Loans for any fiscal quarter shall be calculated by the Administrative Agent
(which such calculation shall be conclusively presumed correct save manifest
error) as follows: (i) the sum of the principal amount of outstanding Revolving
Credit Loans at the close of business for each day during such fiscal quarter,
divided by (ii) the total number of days of such fiscal quarter. The
Utilization Fee shall be payable in arrears on the fifteenth (15th) day
following written notification by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower of
the average for the preceding quarter and the resulting Utilization Fee. The
Utilization Fee shall be distributed by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders
pro rata in accordance with the Lenders' respective Revolving Credit Commitment
Percentage.
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(c) Administrative Agent's and Other Fees. In order to compensate the
Administrative Agent for structuring and syndicating the Revolving Credit Loans
and for its obligations hereunder, the Borrower agrees to pay to the
Administrative Agent, for its account, the fees set forth in the separate fee
letter agreement executed by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent dated
April 22, 1999.
SECTION 5.4 Manner of Payment. Each payment by the Borrower on account
of the principal of or interest on the Revolving Credit Loans or of any fee,
commission or other amounts (including the Reimbursement Obligation) payable
to the Lenders under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be made
not later than 1:00 p.m. (Charlotte time) on the date specified for payment
under this Agreement to the Administrative Agent at the Administrative
Agent's Office for the account of the Lenders (other than as set forth
below) pro rata in accordance with their respective Revolving Credit
Commitment Percentages (except as specified below), in Dollars, in
immediately available funds and shall be made without any set-off,
counterclaim or deduction whatsoever. Any payment received after such
time but before 2:00 p.m. (Charlotte time) on such day shall be deemed
a payment on such date for the purposes of Section 12.1, but for all other
purposes shall be deemed to have been made on the next succeeding
Business Day. Any payment received after 2:00 p.m. (Charlotte time) shall be
deemed to have been made on the next succeeding Business Day for all purposes.
Upon receipt by the Administrative Agent of each such payment, the
Administrative Agent shall distribute to each Lender at its address for notices
set forth herein its pro rata share of such payment in accordance with such
Lender's Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage (except as specified below), and
shall wire advice of the amount of such credit to each Lender. Each payment to
the Administrative Agent of the L/C Participants' commissions shall be made in
like manner, but for the account of the L/C Participants. Each payment to the
Administrative Agent of Administrative Agent's fees or expenses shall be made
for the account of the Administrative Agent and any amount payable to any Lender
under Section 5.9, 5.10, 5.11, 5.12 or 14.2 shall be paid to the Administrative
Agent for the account of the applicable Lender. Subject to Section 5.1(b)(ii),
if any payment under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be
specified to be made upon a day which is not a Business Day, it shall be made on
the next succeeding day which is a Business Day and such extension of time shall
in such case be included in computing any interest if payable along with such
payment.
SECTION 5.5 Crediting of Payments and Proceeds. In the event that the
Borrower shall fail to pay any of the Obligations when due and the Obligations
have been accelerated pursuant to Section 12.2, all payments received by the
Lenders upon the Obligations and all net proceeds from the enforcement of the
Obligations shall be applied first to all expenses then due and payable by the
Borrower hereunder, then to all indemnity obligations then due and payable by
the Borrower hereunder, then to all Administrative Agent's fees then due and
payable, then to all commitment and other fees and commissions then due and
payable, then to accrued and unpaid interest hereunder or under any other Loan
Document and Reimbursement Obligation (pro rata in accordance with all such
amounts due), then to the principal amount hereunder or under any other Loan
Document, Reimbursement Obligation and any termination payments due in respect
of a Hedging Agreement with any Lender or Affiliate of a Lender (which Hedging
Agreement is permitted hereunder) (pro rata in accordance with all such
30
amounts due) and then to the cash collateral account described in Section
12.2(b) hereof to the extent of any L/C Obligations then outstanding, in that
order.
SECTION 5.6 Adjustments. If any Lender (a "Benefited Lender") shall at
any time receive any payment of all or part of the Obligations owing to it,
or interest thereon, or if any Lender shall at any time receive any
collateral in respect to the Obligations owing to it (whether voluntarily
or involuntarily, by set-off or otherwise) in a greater proportion than any
such payment to and collateral received by any other Lender, if any, in
respect of the Obligations owing to such other Lender, or interest thereon,
such Benefited Lender shall purchase for cash from the other Lenders such
portion of each such other Lender's Extensions of Credit, or shall provide
such other Lenders with the benefits of any such collateral, or the proceeds
thereof, as shall be necessary to cause such Benefited Lender to share the
excess payment or benefits of such collateral or proceeds ratably with each
of the Lenders; provided, that if all or any portion of such excess payment
or benefits is thereafter recovered from such Benefited Lender, such purchase
shall be rescinded, and the purchase price and benefits returned to the
extent of such recovery, but without interest. The Borrower agrees that
each Lender so purchasing a portion of another Lender's Extensions of Credit
may exercise all rights of payment (including, without limitation, rights of
set-off) with respect to such portion as fully as if such Lender were the
direct holder of such portion.
SECTION 5.7 Nature of Obligations of Lenders Regarding Extensions
of Credit; Assumption by the Administrative Agent. The obligations of
the Lenders under this Agreement to make the Revolving Credit Loans and
issue or participate in Letters of Credit are several and are not joint
or joint and several. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received
notice from a Lender prior to a proposed borrowing date that such Lender
will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender's ratable
portion of the amount to be borrowed on such date (which notice shall not
release such Lender of its obligations hereunder), the Administrative Agent
may assume that such Lender has made such portion available to the
Administrative Agent on the proposed borrowing date in accordance with
Sections 2.2(b) and 4.2, and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance
upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower on such date a
corresponding amount. If such amount is made available to the
Administrative Agent on a date after such borrowing date, such Lender
shall pay to the Administrative Agent on demand an amount, until paid,
equal to the product of (a) the amount not made available by such Lender in
accordance with the terms hereof, times (b) the daily average Federal Funds Rate
during such period as determined by the Administrative Agent, times (c) a
fraction the numerator of which is the number of days that elapse from and
including such borrowing date to the date on which such amount not made
available by such Lender in accordance with the terms hereof shall have become
immediately available to the Administrative Agent and the denominator of which
is 360. A certificate of the Administrative Agent with respect to any amounts
owing under this Section 5.7 shall be conclusive, absent manifest error. If
such Lender's Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of such borrowing is not
made available to the Administrative Agent by such Lender within three (3)
Business Days of such borrowing date, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled
to recover such amount made available by the Administrative Agent with interest
thereon at the rate per annum applicable to such borrowing, on demand, from the
Borrower. The failure of any Lender to make available its Revolving Credit
Commitment Percentage of any Revolving Credit Loan requested by the Borrower
shall not relieve it or any
31
other Lender of its obligation hereunder to make its Revolving Credit Commitment
Percentage of such Revolving Credit Loan available on the borrowing date, but no
Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make its
Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of such Revolving Credit Loan available
on the borrowing date.
SECTION 5.8 Joint And Several Liability Of The Credit Parties.
(a) Each of the Credit Parties is jointly and severally liable not
merely as a surety but as a co-debtor for each and every Obligation. Each of
the Credit Parties is accepting joint and several liability hereunder in
consideration of the financial accommodations to be provided by the Lenders
under this Agreement, for the mutual benefit, directly or indirectly, of each of
the Credit Parties and in consideration of the undertakings of each of the
Credit Parties to accept joint and several liability for the Obligations.
(b) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, each Credit Party
hereby waives promptness, diligence, presentment, demand, protest, notice of
acceptance of its joint and several liability, notice of any and all advances of
the Revolving Credit Loans and Letters of Credit made under this Agreement and
the other Loan Documents, notice of occurrence of any Default or Event of
Default, or of any demand for any payment under this Agreement and notice of any
action at any time taken or omitted by the Administrative Agent or any Lender
under or in respect of any of the Obligations hereunder. Each Credit Party
hereby waives all defenses which may be available by virtue of any valuation,
stay, moratorium law or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, any right
to require the marshaling of assets of any of the Credit Parties and any other
entity or person primarily or secondarily liable with respect to any of the
Obligations, and all suretyship defenses generally. Each Credit Party hereby
assents to, and waives notice of, any extension or postponement of the time for
the payment, or place or manner for payment, compromise, refinancing,
consolidation or renewals of any of the Obligations hereunder, the acceptance of
any partial payment thereon, any waiver, consent or other action or acquiescence
by the Administrative Agent or any Lender at any time or times in respect of any
default by any Credit Party in the performance or satisfaction of any term,
covenant, condition or provision of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents,
any and all other indulgences whatsoever by the Administrative Agent or any
Lender in respect of any of the Obligations, and the taking, addition,
substitution or release, in whole or in part, at any time or times, of any
security for any of such Obligations or the addition, substitution or release,
in whole or in part, of any Credit Party or any other entity or person primarily
or secondarily liable for any Obligation. If for any reason any of the Credit
Parties has no legal existence or is under no legal obligation to discharge any
of the Obligations, or if any of the Obligations have become irrecoverable from
any of the Credit Parties by reason of such Credit Party's insolvency,
bankruptcy or reorganization or by other operation of law or for any reason,
this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall nevertheless be binding on
each of the other Credit Parties to the same extent as if such Credit Party at
all times had been the sole obligor on such Obligations. The Obligations of
each Credit Party under this Section 5.8 shall not be diminished or rendered
unenforceable by any winding up, reorganization, arrangement, liquidation,
reconstruction or similar proceeding with respect to any reconstruction or
similar proceeding with respect to any Credit Party, the Administrative Agent or
any Lender.
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(c) If at any time, any payment, or any part thereof, made in respect
of any of the Obligations, is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or
returned by the Administrative Agent or any Lender upon the insolvency,
bankruptcy or reorganization of any of the Credit Parties, or otherwise, the
provisions of this Section 5.8 will forthwith be reinstated in effect as though
such payment had not been made.
(d) Until the payment and performance in full of all the Obligations,
none of the Credit Parties shall exercise and each hereby waives any rights
against the other Credit Parties as a result of payment by such Credit Party
hereunder, by way of subrogation, reimbursement, restitution, contribution or
otherwise, and none of the Credit Parties will prove any claim in competition
with the Administrative Agent or any Lender in respect of any payment hereunder
in bankruptcy, insolvency, or reorganization proceedings of any nature; none of
the Credit Parties will claim any set-off, recoupment or counterclaim against
any of the other Credit Parties in respect of any liability of one Credit Party
to another Credit Party. Each of the Credit Parties hereby agrees that the
payment of any amounts due with respect to any indebtedness owing by any of the
Credit Party to any other Credit Party is hereby subordinated to the prior
payment in full in cash of the Obligations. Each Credit Party agrees that,
after the occurrence and during the continuance of any Default or Event of
Default hereunder, none of the Credit Parties will demand, sue for or otherwise
attempt to collect any indebtedness of any other Credit Party to such Credit
Party until all of the Obligations of the Credit Parties hereunder shall have
been paid in full in cash. If, notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, any
Credit Party shall collect, enforce or receive any amounts in respect of such
indebtedness in violation of the foregoing sentence while any Obligations of the
Credit Parties are still outstanding, such amounts shall be collected, enforced
and received by such Credit Party as trustee for the Administrative Agent and
the Lenders and be paid over to the Administrative Agent on account of the
Obligations without affecting in any manner the liability of such Credit Party
under the other provisions hereof.
SECTION 5.9 Changed Circumstances.
(a) Circumstances Affecting LIBOR Rate Availability. If with respect
to any Interest Period: (i) the Administrative Agent or any Lender (after
consultation with Administrative Agent) shall determine that, by reason of
circumstances affecting the foreign exchange and interbank markets generally,
deposits in eurodollars, in the applicable amounts are not being quoted via Dow
Jones Market Screen 3750 (or on any successor or substitute page of such
service, or any successor to or substitute for such service, providing rate
quotations comparable to those currently provided on such page of such service,
as determined by the Administrative Agent from time to time for purposes of
providing quotations of interest rates applicable to dollar deposits in the
London interbank market) or offered to the Administrative Agent or such Lender
for such Interest Period; or (ii) the Required Lenders reasonably determine
(which determination shall be conclusive) and notify the Administrative Agent
that the LIBOR Rate will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to the
Required Lenders of funding LIBOR Rate Loans for such Interest Period; then the
Administrative Agent shall forthwith give notice thereof to the Borrower.
Thereafter, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that such
circumstances no longer exist, the obligation of the Lenders to make LIBOR Rate
Loans and the right of the Borrower to convert any Revolving Credit Loan to or
continue any Revolving Credit Loan as a LIBOR Rate Loan shall be suspended, and
the Borrower shall repay in full (or cause to
33
be repaid in full) the then outstanding principal amount of each such LIBOR Rate
Loan together with accrued interest thereon, on the last day of the then current
Interest Period applicable to such LIBOR Rate Loan or convert the then
outstanding principal amount of each such LIBOR Rate Loan to a Base Rate Loan as
of the last day of such Interest Period.
(b) Laws Affecting LIBOR Rate Availability. If, after the date
hereof, the introduction of, or any change in, any Applicable Law or any change
in the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority,
central bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or
administration thereof, or compliance by any Lender (or any of their respective
Lending Offices) with any request or directive (whether or not having the force
of law) issued after the date hereof of any such Authority, central bank or
comparable agency, shall make it unlawful or impossible for any of the Lenders
(or any of their respective Lending Offices) to honor its obligations hereunder
to make or maintain any LIBOR Rate Loan, such Lender shall promptly give notice
thereof to the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent shall promptly
give notice to the Borrower and the other Lenders. Thereafter, until the
Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that such circumstances no longer
exist, (i) the obligations of the Lenders to make LIBOR Rate Loans and the right
of the Borrower to convert any Revolving Credit Loan or continue any Revolving
Credit Loan as a LIBOR Rate Loan shall be suspended and thereafter the Borrower
may select only Base Rate Loans hereunder, and (ii) if any of the Lenders may
not lawfully continue to maintain a LIBOR Rate Loan to the end of the then
current Interest Period applicable thereto as a LIBOR Rate Loan, the applicable
LIBOR Rate Loan shall immediately be converted to a Base Rate Loan for the
remainder of such Interest Period.
(c) Increased Costs. If, after the date hereof, the introduction of,
or any change in, any Applicable Law, or in the interpretation or administration
thereof by any Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency charged
with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any of the
Lenders (or any of their respective Lending Offices) with any request or
directive (whether or not having the force of law) issued after the date hereof
of such Authority, central bank or comparable agency:
(i) shall subject any of the Lenders (or any of their
respective Lending Offices) to any tax, duty or other charge with respect to any
Revolving Credit Loan, Letter of Credit or Application or shall change the basis
of taxation of payments to any of the Lenders (or any of their respective
Lending Offices) of the principal of or interest on any Revolving Credit Loan,
Letter of Credit or Application or any other amounts due under this Agreement in
respect thereof (except for changes in the rate of tax on the overall net income
of any of the Lenders or any of their respective Lending Offices imposed by the
jurisdiction in which such Lender is organized or is or should be qualified to
do business or such Lending Office is located); or
(ii) shall impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve
(including, without limitation, any imposed by the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System), special deposit, insurance or capital or similar
requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit
extended by any of the Lenders (or any of their respective Lending Offices) or
shall impose on any of the Lenders (or any of their respective Lending Offices)
or the foreign exchange and interbank markets any other condition affecting any
Revolving Credit
34
Loan; and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the costs to any of
the Lenders of maintaining any LIBOR Rate Loan or issuing or participating in
Letters of Credit or to reduce the yield or amount of any sum received or
receivable by any of the Lenders under this Agreement or under any other Loan
Document in respect of a LIBOR Rate Loan or Letter of Credit or Application,
then such Lender may promptly notify the Administrative Agent, and the
Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower of such fact and demand
compensation therefor and, within fifteen (15) days after such notice by the
Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional
amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or Lenders for such increased
cost or reduction. The Administrative Agent and the applicable Lender will
promptly notify the Borrower of any event of which it has knowledge which will
entitle such Lender to compensation pursuant to this Section 5.9(c); provided,
that the Administrative Agent shall incur no liability whatsoever to the Lenders
or the Borrower in the event it fails to do so. The amount of such compensation
shall be determined, in the applicable Lender's reasonable discretion, based
upon the assumption that such Lender funded its Revolving Credit Commitment
Percentage of the LIBOR Rate Loans in the London interbank market and using any
reasonable attribution or averaging methods which such Lender deems appropriate
and practical; provided that no compensation shall be payable pursuant to the
above if the applicable Lender fails to demand compensation for such increased
costs within one-hundred eighty (180) days following the date on which such
Lender has actual knowledge of the event resulting in such increase. A
certificate of such Lender setting forth in reasonable detail the basis for
determining such amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender shall be
forwarded to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent and shall be
conclusively presumed to be correct save for manifest error.
(d) Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.
(i) If any Lender requests compensation under this
Section 5.9, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any
Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to
Section 5.12, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a
different lending office for funding or booking its Revolving Credit Loans
hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its
offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such
designation or assignment (A) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant
to this Section 5.9 or Section 5.12, as the case may be, in the future and (B)
would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not
otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay
all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any
such designation or assignment.
(ii) If any Lender requests compensation under this
Section 5.9, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any
Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to
Section 5.12, or if any Lender defaults in its obligation to fund Revolving
Credit Loans hereunder, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort,
upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to
assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the
restrictions contained in Section 14.10), all its interests, rights and
obligations under this Agreement to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such
obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a
35
Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (A) the Borrower shall have
received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (and, if an L/C
Commitment is being assigned, the Issuing Bank), which consent shall not
unreasonably be withheld, (B) such Lender shall have received payment of an
amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Revolving Credit Loans and
participations in Letters of Credit, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and
all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of
such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in
the case of all other amounts) and (C) in the case of any such assignment
resulting from a claim for compensation under this Section 5.9, such assignment
will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments. A Lender shall not
be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a
result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the
Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.
SECTION 5.10 Indemnity. The Borrower hereby indemnifies each of the
Lenders against any loss or expense which may arise or be attributable to
each Lender's obtaining, liquidating or employing deposits or other funds
acquired to effect, fund or maintain any Revolving Credit Loan (a) as a
consequence of any failure by the Borrower to make any payment when due of any
amount due hereunder in connection with a LIBOR Rate Loan, (b) due to any
failure of the Borrower to borrow on a date specified therefor in a Notice of
Revolving Credit Borrowing or Notice of Continuation/Conversion or (c) due to
any payment, prepayment or conversion of any LIBOR Rate Loan on a date other
than the last day of the Interest Period therefor. The amount of such loss,
cost or expense to any Lender shall be deemed to equal an amount determined by
such Lender to be the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest which would
have accrued on the principal amount of such Loan had such event not occurred,
at the LIBOR Rate that would have been applicable to such Loan, for the period
from the date of such event to the last day of the then current Interest Period
therefor (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, covert or continue, for the
period that would have been the Interest Period for such Loan), over (ii) the
amount of interest which would accrue on such principal amount for such period
at the interest rate which such Lender would bid, were it to bid, at the
commencement of such period, for Dollar deposits of a comparable amount and
period from other banks in the London interbank market; provided that no
compensation shall be payable pursuant to the above if the applicable Lender
fails to demand compensation for such increased costs within one-hundred eighty
(180) days following the date on which such Lender has actual knowledge of the
event resulting in such increase. A certificate of such Lender setting forth in
reasonable detail the basis for determining such amount or amounts necessary to
compensate such Lender shall be forwarded to the Borrower through the
Administrative Agent and shall be conclusively presumed to be correct save for
manifest error.
SECTION 5.11 Capital Requirements. If either (a) the introduction of,
or any change in, or in the interpretation of, any Applicable Law or (b)
compliance with any guideline or request issued after the date hereof from
any central bank or comparable agency or other Governmental Authority (whether
or not having the force of law), has or would have the effect of reducing the
rate of return on the capital of, or has affected or would affect the amount
of capital required to be maintained by, any Lender or any corporation
controlling such Lender as a consequence of, or with reference to any Lender's
Revolving Credit Commitment and other commitments of this type, below the rate
which the Lender or such other corporation could have
36
achieved but for such introduction, change or compliance, then within five (5)
Business Days after written demand by any such Lender, the Borrower shall pay to
such Lender from time to time as specified by such Lender additional amounts
sufficient to compensate such Lender or other corporation for such reduction;
provided that no compensation shall be payable pursuant to the above if the
applicable Lender fails to demand compensation for such increased costs within
one-hundred eighty (180) days following the date on which such lender has actual
knowledge of the event resulting in such increase. A certificate of such Lender
setting forth in reasonable detail the basis for determining such amounts
necessary to compensate such Lender shall be forwarded to the Borrower through
the Administrative Agent and shall be conclusively presumed to be correct save
for manifest error.
SECTION 5.12 Taxes.
(a) Payments Free and Clear. Any and all payments by the Borrower
hereunder or under the Revolving Credit Notes or the Letters of Credit shall be
made free and clear of and without deduction for any and all present or future
taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges or withholding, and all liabilities
with respect thereto excluding, (i) in the case of each Lender and the
Administrative Agent, income and franchise taxes imposed on (or measured by) its
net income by the United States of America or by the jurisdiction under the laws
of which such Lender or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) is
organized or its principal office is located or is or should be qualified to do
business or any political subdivision thereof, or in the case of any Lender, in
which its applicable Lending Office is located (provided, however, that no
Lender shall be deemed to be located in any jurisdiction solely as a result of
taking any action related to this Agreement or the Revolving Credit Notes or
Letters of Credit) and (ii) any branch profits tax imposed by the United States
of America or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction described in
clause (i) above (all such non-excluded taxes, levies, imposts, deductions,
charges, withholdings and liabilities being hereinafter referred to as "Taxes").
If the Borrower shall be required by law to deduct any Taxes from or in respect
of any sum payable hereunder or under any Revolving Credit Note or Letter of
Credit to any Lender or the Administrative Agent, (A) the sum payable shall be
increased as may be necessary so that after making all required deductions
(including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section
5.12) such Lender or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) receives an
amount equal to the amount such party would have received had no such deductions
been made, (B) the Borrower shall make such deductions, (C) the Borrower shall
pay the full amount deducted to the relevant taxing authority or other authority
in accordance with applicable law, and (D) the Borrower shall deliver to the
Administrative Agent evidence of such payment to the relevant taxing authority
or other authority in the manner provided in Section 5.12(d). The Borrower
shall not, however, be required to pay any amounts pursuant to clause (A) of the
preceding sentence to any Foreign Lender or the Administrative Agent not
organized under the laws of the United States of America or a state thereof (or
the District of Columbia) if such Foreign Lender or the Administrative Agent
fails to comply with the requirements of paragraph (e) of this Section 5.12 or
Section 5.9(d), as the case may be.
(b) Stamp and Other Taxes. In addition, the Borrower shall pay any
present or future stamp, registration, recordation or documentary taxes or any
other similar fees or charges or excise or property taxes, levies of the United
States or any state or political subdivision thereof
36
or any applicable foreign jurisdiction which arise from any payment made
hereunder or from the execution, delivery or registration of, or otherwise with
respect to, this Agreement, the Revolving Credit Loans, the Letters of Credit,
the other Loan Documents (hereinafter referred to as "Other Taxes").
(c) Indemnity. The Borrower shall indemnify each Lender and the
Administrative Agent for the full amount of Taxes and Other Taxes (including,
without limitation, any Taxes and Other Taxes imposed by any jurisdiction on
amounts payable under this Section 5.12) paid by such Lender or the
Administrative Agent (as the case may be) and any liability (including
penalties, interest and reasonable expenses) arising therefrom or with respect
thereto, whether or not such Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally
asserted. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability prepared
by a Lender or the Administrative Agent, absent manifest error, shall be
conclusive, provided that if the Borrower reasonably believes that such Taxes or
Other Taxes were not correctly or legally asserted, such Lender or the
Administrative Agent (as the case may be) shall use reasonable efforts to
cooperate with the Borrower, at the Borrower's expense, to obtain a refund of
such Taxes or Other Taxes. Such indemnification shall be made within thirty
(30) days from the date such Lender or the Administrative Agent (as the case may
be) makes written demand therefor. If a Lender or the Administrative Agent
shall become aware that it is entitled to receive a refund in respect of Taxes
or Other Taxes, it promptly shall notify the Borrower of the availability of
such refund and shall, within sixty (60) days after receipt of a request by the
Borrower pursue or timely claim such refund at the Borrower's expense. If any
Lender or the Administrative Agent receives a refund in respect of any Taxes or
Other Taxes for which such Lender or the Administrative Agent has received
payment from the Borrower hereunder, it promptly shall repay such refund (plus
interest received, if any) to the Borrower (but only to the extent of indemnity
payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Borrower under this Section
5.12 with respect to Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), provided
that the Borrower, upon the request of such Lender or the Administrative Agent,
agrees to return such refund (plus any penalties, interest or other charges
required to be paid) to such Lender or the Administrative Agent in the event
such Lender or the Administrative Agent is required to repay such refund to the
relevant taxing authority.
(d) Evidence of Payment. Within thirty (30) days after the date of
any payment of Taxes or Other Taxes, the Borrower shall furnish to the
Administrative Agent, at its address referred to in Section 14.1, the original
or a certified copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof or other evidence of
payment satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(e) Delivery of Tax Forms. Each Foreign Lender shall deliver to the
Borrower, with a copy to the Administrative Agent, on the Closing Date or
concurrently with the delivery of the relevant Assignment and Acceptance, as
applicable, (i) two United States Internal Revenue Service Forms W-8ECI or Forms
W-8BEN, as applicable (or successor forms) properly completed and certifying in
each case that such Foreign Lender is entitled to a complete exemption from
withholding or deduction for or on account of any United States federal income
taxes, and (ii) an Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 or W-9 or successor
applicable form, as the case may be, to establish an exemption from United
States backup withholding taxes. Each Foreign Lender further agrees to deliver
to the Borrower, with a copy to the Administrative Agent, a Form W-8BEN or
W-8ECI and Form W-8 or W-9, or successor applicable forms or
38
manner of certification, as the case may be, on or before the date that any such
form expires or becomes obsolete or after the occurrence of any event requiring
a change in the most recent form previously delivered by it to the Borrower,
certifying in the case of a Form W-8BEN or W-8ECI that such Foreign Lender is
entitled to receive payments under this Agreement without deduction or
withholding of any United States federal income taxes (unless in any such case
an event (including without limitation any change in treaty, law or regulation)
has occurred prior to the date on which any such delivery would otherwise be
required which renders such forms inapplicable or the exemption to which such
forms relate unavailable and such Foreign Lender notifies the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent that it is not entitled to receive payments without
deduction or withholding of United States federal income taxes) and, in the case
of a Form W-8 or W-9, establishing an exemption from United States backup
withholding tax.
(f) Survival. Without prejudice to the survival of any other
agreement of the Borrower hereunder, the agreements and obligations of the
Borrower contained in this Section 5.12 shall survive the payment in full of the
Obligations and the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitment.
ARTICLE VI
CLOSING; CONDITIONS OF CLOSING AND BORROWING
SECTION 6.1 Closing. The closing shall take place at the offices of
Cravath, Swaine & Moore at 10:00 a.m. on June 15, 1999 or at such other
location, on such other date and at such other time as the parties hereto
shall mutually agree.
SECTION 6.2 Conditions to Closing and Initial Revolving Credit Loans
and Letters of Credit. The obligation of the Lenders to close this Agreement
and to make the initial Revolving Credit Loans or issue the initial Letters
of Credit is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of each of the following
conditions:
(a) Executed Loan Documents. This Agreement and the Revolving Credit
Notes (to the extent requested as provided herein) shall have been duly
authorized, executed and delivered to the Administrative Agent by the parties
thereto, shall be in full force and effect and no default shall exist
thereunder, and the Borrower shall have delivered original counterparts thereof
to the Administrative Agent.
(b) Closing Certificates; etc.
(i) Officers' Certificate of the Borrower. The
Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate from a Responsible
Officer, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative
Agent, to the effect that all representations and warranties of the Borrower
contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents are true, correct and
complete in all material respects; that the Borrower is not in violation of any
of the covenants contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents; that,
after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, no
Default or Event of Default has occurred and is
39
continuing; and that each of the closing conditions has been satisfied or waived
(assuming satisfaction of the Administrative Agent where not advised otherwise).
(ii) General Certificate of the Borrower. The
Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of the secretary,
assistant secretary or general counsel of the Borrower certifying as to the
incumbency and genuineness of the signature of each officer of the Borrower
executing Loan Documents to which it is a party and certifying that attached
thereto is a true, correct and complete copy of (A) the articles of
incorporation of the Borrower and all amendments thereto, certified as of a
recent date by the appropriate Governmental Authority in its jurisdiction of
incorporation, (B) the bylaws of the Borrower as in effect on the date of such
certifications, (C) resolutions duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the
Borrower authorizing the borrowings contemplated hereunder and the execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which
it is a party, and (D) each certificate required to be delivered pursuant to
Section 6.2(b)(iii).
(iii) Certificates of Good Standing. The Administrative
Agent shall have received long-form certificates as of a recent date of the good
standing of the Borrower under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and
short-form certificates as of a recent date of the good standing of the Borrower
under the laws of each of California, Georgia, New York, North Carolina, Texas,
Tennessee and Virginia.
(iv) Opinions of Counsel. The Administrative Agent shall
have received favorable opinions of Ira M. Dansky, General Counsel to the
Borrower, Cravath, Swaine & Moore, special counsel to the Borrower, and Mesirov,
Gelman, Jaffe, Cramer & Jamieson, Pennsylvania counsel to the Borrower,
addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders with respect to the
Borrower, the Loan Documents and such other matters as the Lenders shall
reasonably request.
(c) Consents; Defaults.
(i) Governmental and Third Party Approvals. The Borrower
shall have obtained all material approvals, authorizations and consents of any
Person and of all Governmental Authorities and courts having jurisdiction with
respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents and as required in connection with the Nine West Acquisition.
(ii) No Event of Default. No Default or Event of Default
shall have occurred and be continuing.
(d) Financial Matters.
(i) Financial Statements. The Administrative Agent shall
have received the audited Consolidated financial statements of Jones Apparel
Group and its Subsidiaries for the Fiscal Year ended on December 31, 1998, the
unaudited financial statements of Jones Apparel Group and its Subsidiaries for
the fiscal quarter ended on April 4, 1999 and the audited financial statements
of Nine West Group for the fiscal year ended on January 30, 1999.
40
(ii) Financial Condition Certificate. The Borrower shall
have delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate, in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and certified by a
Responsible Officer, that (A) attached thereto is (I) a pro forma balance sheet
of Jones Apparel Group and its Subsidiaries setting forth on a pro forma basis
the financial condition of Jones Apparel Group and its Subsidiaries on a
Consolidated basis as of December 31, 1998, reflecting on a pro forma basis the
effect of the transactions contemplated herein and the Nine West Acquisition,
including all fees and expenses in connection therewith, and evidencing
compliance on a pro forma basis with the covenants contained in Article X hereof
and (II) a calculation of Estimated Net Worth and (B) the financial projections
(other than with respect to Nine West Group and its Subsidiaries, as to which
Borrower need not certify) previously delivered to the Administrative Agent were
prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the
time.
(iii) Payment at Closing; Fee Letters. The Borrower shall
have paid the fees set forth or referenced in Section 5.3(c) and any other
accrued and unpaid fees or commissions due hereunder (including, without
limitation, reasonable legal fees and expenses) to the Administrative Agent and
Lenders, and to any other Person such amount as may be due thereto in connection
with the transactions contemplated hereby, including all taxes, fees and other
charges in connection with the execution, delivery, recording, filing and
registration of any of the Loan Documents. The Administrative Agent shall have
received duly authorized and executed copies of the fee letter agreement
referred to in Section 5.3(c).
(e) Miscellaneous.
(i) Closing of the 364-Day Credit Agreement. The 364-Day
Credit Agreement shall be closed contemporaneously with this Agreement on terms
and conditions set forth therein.
(ii) Closing of the Nine West Acquisition. The Nine West
Acquisition shall be closed contemporaneously with this Agreement on terms and
conditions set forth in the Nine West Acquisition Agreement.
(iii) Notice of Revolving Credit Borrowing. The
Administrative Agent shall have received a Notice of Revolving Credit Borrowing
from the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.2(a) and Section 4.2, and a
Notice of Account Designation specifying the account or accounts to which the
proceeds of any Revolving Credit Loans made after the Closing Date are to be
disbursed.
(iv) Proceedings and Documents. All opinions,
certificates and other instruments and all proceedings in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be satisfactory in form and
substance to the Lenders.
(v) Investment Policy. The Borrower shall have delivered
to the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of the investment policy
referenced in Section 11.4(b) in form and content reasonably acceptable to the
Administrative Agent.
41
SECTION 6.3 Conditions to All Extensions of Credit. The obligations of
the Lenders to make any Extensions of Credit are subject to the satisfaction
of the following conditions precedent on the relevant borrowing or issue date,
as applicable:
(a) Continuation of Representations and Warranties. The
representations and warranties contained in Article VII shall be true and
correct on and as of such borrowing or issuance date with the same effect as if
made on and as of such date; except for any representation and warranty made as
of an earlier date, which representation and warranty shall remain true and
correct as of such earlier date.
(b) No Existing Default. No Default or Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing hereunder (i) on the borrowing date with respect to
such Revolving Credit Loan or after giving effect to the Revolving Credit Loans
to be made on such date or (ii) on the issue, extension or renewal date with
respect to such Letter of Credit or after giving effect to such Letter of Credit
on such date.
ARTICLE VII
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE CREDIT PARTIES
SECTION 7.1 Representations and Warranties. To induce the Administrative
Agent and Lenders to enter into this Agreement and to induce the Lenders to make
Extensions of Credit, the Credit Parties hereby represent and warrant to the
Administrative Agent and Lenders that:
(a) Organization; Power; Qualification. Each of the Credit Parties
and their Subsidiaries is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation, has the
power and authority to own its properties and to carry on its business as now
being and hereafter proposed to be conducted and is duly qualified and
authorized to do business in each jurisdiction in which the character of its
properties or the nature of its business requires such qualification and
authorization, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Ownership. Each Subsidiary of each of the Credit Parties as of
the Closing Date is listed on Schedule 7.1(b). As of the Closing Date, the
capitalization of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries consists of the
number of shares, authorized, issued and outstanding, of such classes and
series, with or without par value, described on Schedule 7.1(b). As of the
Closing Date, all outstanding shares have been duly authorized and validly
issued and are fully paid and nonassessable. The shareholders of the
Subsidiaries of the Credit Parties and the number of shares owned by each as of
the Closing Date are described on Schedule 7.1(b). As of the Closing Date,
there are no outstanding stock purchase warrants, subscriptions, options,
securities, instruments or other rights of any type or nature whatsoever, which
are convertible into, exchangeable for or otherwise provide for or permit the
issuance of capital stock of the Credit Parties or their Subsidiaries, except as
described on Schedule 7.1(b).
42
(c) Authorization of Agreement, Loan Documents and Borrowing. Each of
the Credit Parties and, if applicable, their Subsidiaries has the right, power
and authority and has taken all necessary corporate and other action to
authorize the execution, delivery and performance of each of the Loan Documents
to which it is a party in accordance with their respective terms. Each of the
Loan Documents have been duly executed and delivered by the duly authorized
officers of the Credit Parties and each of their Subsidiaries party thereto, as
applicable, and each such document constitutes the legal, valid and binding
obligation of the Credit Parties and, if applicable, each of their Subsidiaries
party thereto, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such
enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium
or similar state or federal debtor relief laws from time to time in effect which
affect the enforcement of creditors' rights in general and the availability of
equitable remedies.
(d) Compliance of Agreement, Loan Documents and Borrowing with Laws,
Etc. The execution, delivery and performance by the Credit Parties and their
Subsidiaries of the Loan Documents to which each such Person is a party, in
accordance with their respective terms, the borrowings hereunder and the
transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not, by the passage of time,
the giving of notice or otherwise, (i) require any of the Credit Parties or any
of their Subsidiaries to obtain any Governmental Approval not otherwise already
obtained or violate any Applicable Law relating to the Credit Parties or any of
their Subsidiaries, (ii) conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute a
default under the articles of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational
documents of the Credit Parties or any of their Subsidiaries or any indenture or
other material agreement or instrument to which such Person is a party or by
which any of its properties may be bound or any Governmental Approval relating
to such Person except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect, or (iii) result in or require the creation or imposition of any
material Lien upon or with respect to any property now owned or hereafter
acquired by such Person.
(e) Compliance with Law; Governmental Approvals. Other than with
respect to environmental matters, which are treated exclusively in Section
7.1(h) hereof, each of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries (i) has all
Governmental Approvals required by any Applicable Law for it to conduct its
business, each of which is in full force and effect, is final and not subject to
review on appeal and is not the subject of any pending or, to the best of its
knowledge, threatened attack by direct or collateral proceeding, and (ii) is in
compliance with each Governmental Approval applicable to it and in compliance
with all other Applicable Laws relating to it or any of its respective
properties; in each case, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(f) Tax Returns and Payments. Each of the Credit Parties and their
Subsidiaries has timely filed or caused to be timely filed all federal and
state, local and other tax returns required by Applicable Law to be filed, and
has paid, or made adequate provision for the payment of, all federal and state,
local and other taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it
and its property, income, profits and assets which are due and payable, except
(a) taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and
for which such Credit Party or Subsidiary, as applicable, has set aside on its
books adequate reserves or (b) to the extent the failure to do so could not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No
43
Governmental Authority has asserted any material Lien or other claim against the
Credit Parties or any Subsidiary thereof with respect to unpaid taxes (except
for taxes not yet due) which has not been discharged or resolved.
(g) Intellectual Property Matters. Each of the Credit Parties and its
Subsidiaries owns or possesses rights to use all franchises, licenses,
copyrights, copyright applications, patents, patent rights or licenses, patent
applications, trademarks, trademark rights, trade names, trade name rights,
copyrights and rights with respect to the foregoing which are required to
conduct its business except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No event has occurred which, to the
knowledge of the Credit Parties, permits, or after notice or lapse of time or
both would permit, the revocation or termination of any such rights, and, to the
knowledge of the Credit Parties, neither the Credit Parties nor any Subsidiary
thereof is liable to any Person for infringement under Applicable Law with
respect to any such rights as a result of its business operations, except as
could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(h) Environmental Matters. Except as could not reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect:
(i) The properties of the Credit Parties and their
Subsidiaries do not contain, and to their knowledge have not previously
contained, any Hazardous Materials in amounts or concentrations which (A)
constitute or constituted a violation of applicable Environmental Laws or (B)
could give rise to liability under applicable Environmental Laws;
(ii) The properties of the Credit Parties and their
Subsidiaries and all operations conducted in connection therewith are in
compliance, and have been in compliance, with all applicable Environmental Laws,
and there are no Hazardous Materials at, under or about such properties or such
operations in amounts or concentrations which could reasonably be expected to
interfere with the continued operation of such properties;
(iii) Neither any of the Credit Parties nor any Subsidiary
thereof has received any notice of violation, alleged violation, non-compliance,
liability or potential liability regarding environmental matters or compliance
with Environmental Laws, nor does any of the Credit Parties or any Subsidiary
thereof have knowledge or reason to believe that any such notice will be
received or is being threatened;
(iv) To the knowledge of the Credit Parties, Hazardous
Materials have not been transported or disposed of from the properties of the
Credit Parties or any of their Subsidiaries in violation of, or in a manner or
to a location which could reasonably be expected to give rise to liability
under, Environmental Laws, nor, to the knowledge of the Credit Parties, have any
Hazardous Materials been generated, treated, stored or disposed of at, on or
under any of such properties in violation of, or in a manner which could
reasonably be expected to give rise to liability under, any Environmental Laws;
(v) No judicial proceedings or governmental or
administrative action is pending, or, to the knowledge of the Credit Parties,
threatened, under any Environmental Law
44
to which any of the Credit Parties or any Subsidiary thereof will be named as a
party, nor are there any consent decrees or other decrees, consent orders,
administrative orders or other orders, or other administrative or judicial
requirements outstanding under any Environmental Law with respect to the
properties or operations of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries; and
(vi) To the knowledge of the Credit Parties, there has
been no release, or to the best of the Credit Parties' knowledge, the threat of
release, of Hazardous Materials at or from the properties of the Credit Parties
or any of their Subsidiaries, in violation of or in amounts or in a manner that
could reasonably be expected to give rise to liability under Environmental Laws.
(i) ERISA.
(i) Each of the Credit Parties and each ERISA Affiliate
is in compliance with all applicable provisions of ERISA and the regulations and
published interpretations thereunder with respect to all Employee Benefit Plans
except where any such non-compliance could not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect. Except for any failure that would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, each Employee Benefit Plan that is
intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has been determined by
the Internal Revenue Service to be so qualified, and each trust related to such
plan has been determined to be exempt under Section 501(a) of the Code. No
liability that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect has been incurred by the Credit Parties or any ERISA Affiliate which
remains unsatisfied for any taxes or penalties with respect to any Employee
Benefit Plan or any Multiemployer Plan;
(ii) No accumulated funding deficiency (as defined in
Section 412 of the Code) has been incurred (without regard to any waiver granted
under Section 412 of the Code), nor has any funding waiver from the Internal
Revenue Service been received or requested with respect to any Pension Plan;
(iii) Neither the Credit Parties nor any ERISA Affiliate
has: (A) engaged in a nonexempt prohibited transaction described in Section 406
of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, (B) incurred any liability to the PBGC
which remains outstanding other than the payment of premiums and there are no
premium payments which are due and unpaid, (C) failed to make a required
contribution or payment to a Multiemployer Plan, or (D) failed to make a
required installment or other required payment under Section 412 of the Code
except where any of the foregoing individually or in the aggregate could not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(iv) No Termination Event that could reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect has occurred or is reasonably
expected to occur; and
(v) No proceeding, claim, lawsuit and/or investigation is
existing or, to the knowledge of the Credit Parties, threatened concerning or
involving any Employee Benefit Plan that could reasonably be expected to result
in a Material Adverse Effect.
45
(j) Margin Stock. Neither the Credit Parties nor any Subsidiary
thereof is engaged principally or as one of its activities in the business of
extending credit for the purpose of "purchasing" or "carrying" any "margin
stock" (as each such term is defined or used in Regulation U of the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System). No part of the proceeds of any of the
Revolving Credit Loans or Letters of Credit will be used for purchasing or
carrying margin stock, unless the Credit Parties shall have given the
Administrative Agent and Lenders prior notice of such event and such other
information as is reasonably necessary to permit the Administrative Agent and
Lenders to comply, in a timely fashion, with all reporting obligations required
by Applicable Law, or for any purpose which violates, or which would be
inconsistent with, the provisions of Regulation T, U or X of such Board of
Governors.
(k) Government Regulation. Neither the Credit Parties nor any
Subsidiary thereof is an "investment company" or a company "controlled" by an
"investment company" (as each such term is defined or used in the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended) and neither the Credit Parties nor any
Subsidiary thereof is, or after giving effect to any Extension of Credit will
be, subject to regulation under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935
or the Interstate Commerce Act, each as amended.
(l) Burdensome Provisions. Neither the Credit Parties nor any
Subsidiary thereof is a party to any indenture, agreement, lease or other
instrument, or subject to any corporate or partnership restriction, Governmental
Approval or Applicable Law which is so unusual or burdensome as in the
foreseeable future could be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect. The Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries do not presently anticipate
that future expenditures needed to meet the provisions of any statutes, orders,
rules or regulations of a Governmental Authority will be so burdensome as to
have a Material Adverse Effect.
(m) Financial Statements. The (i) Consolidated balance sheets of
Jones Apparel Group (excluding New Nine West Group and its Subsidiaries) and its
Subsidiaries as of December 31, 1998, and the related statements of income,
stockholders' equity and cash flows for the Fiscal Years then ended and (ii)
unaudited Consolidated balance sheet of Jones Apparel Group (excluding New Nine
West Group and its Subsidiaries) and its Subsidiaries as of April 4, 1999, and
related unaudited interim statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash
flows, copies of which have been furnished to the Administrative Agent and each
Lender, are complete in all material respects and fairly present in all material
respects the assets, liabilities and financial position of Jones Apparel Group
and its Subsidiaries (excluding New Nine West Group) as at such dates, and the
results of the operations and changes of financial position for the periods then
ended, subject to normal year end adjustments. All such financial statements,
including the related notes thereto, have been prepared in accordance with GAAP.
(n) No Material Adverse Change. Since the later to occur of (i) April
4, 1999 or (ii) the date of the most recently delivered audited financial
statements of Jones Apparel Group and its Subsidiaries, there has been no
Material Adverse Effect.
(o) Liens. None of the properties and assets of the Credit Parties or
any Subsidiary thereof is subject to any Lien, except Liens permitted pursuant
to Section 11.3.
46
(p) Debt and Guaranty Obligations. Schedule 7.1(p) is a complete and
correct listing of all Debt and Guaranty Obligations of the Credit Parties and
their Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date in excess of $5,000,000.
(q) Litigation. Except for matters existing on the Closing Date and
set forth on Schedule 7.1(q), there are no actions, suits or proceedings pending
nor, to the knowledge of the Credit Parties, threatened against or affecting the
Credit Parties or any Subsidiary thereof or any of their respective properties
in any court or before any arbitrator of any kind or before or by any
Governmental Authority, which could reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect or which relate to the enforceability of any Loan Documents.
(r) Absence of Defaults. To the knowledge of the Credit Parties, no
event has occurred or is continuing which constitutes a Default or an Event of
Default.
(s) Accuracy and Completeness of Information. The Credit Parties have
disclosed to the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other
restrictions to which they or any of their Subsidiaries are subject, and all
other matters known to them, that, individually or in the aggregate, could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The written
information, taken as a whole, furnished by or on behalf of the Credit Parties
to the Administrative Agent or any Lender (other than with respect to Nine West
Group and any of its Subsidiaries and Affiliates) in connection with the
negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder (as modified or
supplemented by other information so furnished) does not contain any material
misstatement of fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial
information, the Credit Parties represent only that such information was
prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the
time.
(t) Year 2000 Compliance. The Credit Parties (i) have initiated a
review and assessment of all areas within their and each of their Subsidiaries'
material business and operations that could reasonably be adversely affected by
the "Year 2000 Problem" (that is, the risk that computer applications used by
the Credit Parties or any of their Subsidiaries (or limited to the Credit
Parties' inquiries, those disclosed by their suppliers, vendors and customers as
being in use) may be unable to recognize and perform properly date-sensitive
functions involving certain dates before, on and any date after December 31,
1999), (ii) have developed a plan, strategy or other approach for addressing the
Year 2000 Problem on a timely basis, and (iii) is in the process of implementing
that plan, strategy or other approach. Based on the foregoing and upon the
Credit Parties' reliance on (i) any Year 2000 consulting services, study, report
or any other information performed or provided by any Person other than the
Credit Parties or any of their Subsidiaries and (ii) any certification or
assurance of Year 2000 compliance provided by any vendor, supplier, servicer,
manufacturer, customer or other provider of any hardware or software product or
other computer applications installed at the Credit Parties or any of their
Subsidiaries, the Credit Parties believe, as of the Closing Date, that all
computer applications (including, limited to the Credit Parties' inquiries,
those disclosed by their suppliers, vendors and customers) that are material to
their or any of their Subsidiaries' business and operations are reasonably
expected on a timely basis to be able to perform properly date-sensitive
functions for
47
all dates before, on and after January 1, 2000 (that is, be "Year 2000
compliant"), except to the extent that a failure to do so could not reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 7.2 Survival of Representations and Warranties, Etc. All
representations and warranties set forth in this Article VII and all
representations and warranties contained in any certificate, or any of the Loan
Documents (including but not limited to any such representation or warranty made
in or in connection with any amendment thereto) shall constitute representations
and warranties made under this Agreement. All representations and warranties
made under this Agreement shall be made or deemed to be made at and as of the
Closing Date, shall survive the Closing Date and shall not be waived by the
execution and delivery of this Agreement, any investigation made by or on behalf
of the Lenders or any borrowing hereunder.
ARTICLE VIII
FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND NOTICES
Until all the Obligations (other than Obligations under Hedging
Agreements) have been paid and satisfied in full and the Revolving Credit
Commitment terminated, unless consent has been obtained in the manner set forth
in Section 14.11 hereof, the Credit Parties will furnish or cause to be
furnished to the Administrative Agent and to the Lenders at their respective
addresses as set forth on Schedule 1.1(a), or such other office as may be
designated by the Administrative Agent and Lenders from time to time:
SECTION 8.1 Financial Statements and Projections.
(a) Quarterly Financial Statements. As soon as practicable and in any
event within forty-five (45) days after the end of the first three fiscal
quarters of each Fiscal Year, an unaudited Consolidated balance sheet of Jones
Apparel Group and its Subsidiaries as of the close of such fiscal quarter and
unaudited Consolidated statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash flows
for the fiscal quarter then ended and that portion of the Fiscal Year then
ended, including the notes thereto, all in reasonable detail setting forth in
comparative form the corresponding figures for the corresponding period or
periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the
preceding Fiscal Year and prepared by Jones Apparel Group in accordance with
GAAP and, if applicable, containing disclosure of the effect on the financial
position or results of operations of any change in the application of accounting
principles and practices during the period, and certified by a Responsible
Officer to present fairly in all material respects the financial condition of
Jones Apparel Group and its Subsidiaries as of their respective dates and the
results of operations of Jones Apparel Group and its Subsidiaries for the
respective periods then ended, subject to normal year end adjustments.
(b) Annual Financial Statements. As soon as practicable and in any
event within ninety (90) days after the end of each Fiscal Year, an audited
Consolidated balance sheet of Jones Apparel Group and its Subsidiaries as of the
close of such Fiscal Year and audited Consolidated statements of income,
stockholders' equity and cash flows for the Fiscal Year then
48
ended, including the notes thereto, all in reasonable detail setting forth in
comparative form the corresponding figures for the preceding Fiscal Year and
prepared by a nationally recognized independent certified public accounting firm
in accordance with GAAP and, if applicable, containing disclosure of the effect
on the financial position or results of operation of any change in the
application of accounting principles and practices during the year, and
accompanied by a report thereon by such certified public accountants that is not
qualified with respect to scope limitations imposed by Jones Apparel Group or
any of its Subsidiaries or with respect to accounting principles followed by
Jones Apparel Group or any of its Subsidiaries not in accordance with GAAP.
SECTION 8.2 Officer's Compliance Certificate. At each time financial
statements are delivered pursuant to Section 8.1(a) or (b) a certificate of
a Responsible Officer in the form of Exhibit F attached hereto (an "Officer's
Compliance Certificate").
SECTION 8.3 Accountants' Certificate. At each time financial statements
are delivered pursuant to Section 8.1(b), a certificate of the independent
public accountants certifying such financial statements addressed to the
Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders:
(a) stating that in making the examination necessary for the
certification of such financial statements, they obtained no knowledge of any
Default or Event of Default or, if such is not the case, specifying such Default
or Event of Default and its nature and period of existence; and
(b) including the calculations prepared by such accountants required
to establish whether or not the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries are in
compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Article X hereof as at the
end of each respective period.
SECTION 8.4 Other Reports.
(a) Promptly but in any event within ten (10) Business Days after the
filing thereof, a copy of (i) each report or other filing made by the Credit
Parties or any or their Subsidiaries with the Securities and Exchange Commission
and required by the Securities and Exchange Commission to be delivered to the
shareholders of the Credit Parties or any or their Subsidiaries, (ii) each
report made by the Credit Parties or any of their Subsidiaries to the Securities
and Exchange Commission on Form 8-K and (iii) each final registration statement
of the Credit Parties or any of their Subsidiaries filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, except in connection with pension plans and other employee
benefit plans; and
(b) Such other information regarding the operations, business affairs
and financial condition of the Credit Parties or any of their Subsidiaries as
the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request.
SECTION 8.5 Notice of Litigation and Other Matters. Prompt (but in no
event later than ten (10) Business Days after a principal officer of the
Credit Parties obtains knowledge thereof) telephonic (confirmed in writing)
or written notice of:
49
(a) the commencement of all proceedings and investigations by or
before any Governmental Authority and all actions and proceedings in any court
or before any arbitrator against or involving the Credit Parties or any
Subsidiary thereof or any of their respective properties, assets or businesses
which in the reasonable judgment of the Credit Parties could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(b) any notice of any violation received by the Credit Parties or any
Subsidiary thereof from any Governmental Authority including, without
limitation, any notice of violation of Environmental Laws, which in the
reasonable judgment of the Credit Parties in any such case could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(c) (i) any Default or Event of Default; and
(d) (i) any unfavorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue
Service regarding the qualification of an Employee Benefit Plan under Section
401(a) of the Code (along with a copy thereof) which could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) all notices received by the
Credit Parties or any ERISA Affiliate of the PBGC's intent to terminate any
Pension Plan or to have a trustee appointed to administer any Pension Plan,
(iii) all notices received by the Credit Parties or any ERISA Affiliate from a
Multiemployer Plan sponsor concerning the imposition or amount of withdrawal
liability pursuant to Section 4202 of ERISA which could reasonably have a
Material Adverse Effect and (iv) the Credit Parties obtaining knowledge or
reason to know that the Credit Parties or any ERISA Affiliate has filed or
intends to file a notice of intent to terminate any Pension Plan under a
distress termination within the meaning of Section 4041(c) of ERISA.
SECTION 8.6 Accuracy of Information. All written information,
reports, statements and other papers and data furnished by or on behalf
of the Credit Parties to the Administrative Agent or any Lender (other
than financial forecasts) whether pursuant to this Article VIII or any
other provision of this Agreement, shall be, at the time the same is so
furnished, true and complete in all material respects.
ARTICLE IX
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
Until all of the Obligations (other than any Obligations under any
Hedging Agreement) have been paid and satisfied in full and the Revolving Credit
Commitment terminated, unless consent has been obtained in the manner provided
for in Section 14.11, the Credit Parties will, and will cause each of their
Subsidiaries to:
SECTION 9.1 Preservation of Corporate Existence and Related Matters.
Except as permitted by Section 11.5, preserve and maintain its separate
corporate existence and all rights, franchises, licenses and privileges
necessary to the conduct of its business, and qualify and remain qualified as a
foreign corporation and authorized to do business in each jurisdiction
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where the nature and scope of its activities require it to so qualify under
Applicable Law in which the failure to so qualify would have a Material Adverse
Effect.
SECTION 9.2 Maintenance of Property. Protect and preserve all
properties useful in and material to its business, including copyrights,
patents, trade names and trademarks; maintain in good working order and
condition all buildings, equipment and other tangible real and personal
property material to the conduct of its business, ordinary wear and tear
excepted; and from time to time make or cause to be made all renewals,
replacements and additions to such property necessary for the conduct of
its business, so that the business carried on in connection therewith may
be properly and advantageously conducted at all times.
SECTION 9.3 Insurance. Maintain insurance with financially sound
and reputable insurance companies against such risks and in such amounts
as are customarily maintained by similar businesses and as may be required
by Applicable Law.
SECTION 9.4 Accounting Methods and Financial Records. Maintain a system
of accounting, and keep such books, records and accounts (which shall be true
and complete in all material respects) as may be required or as may be
necessary to permit the preparation of financial statements in accordance
with GAAP and in compliance with the regulations of any Governmental
Authority having jurisdiction over it or any of its properties.
SECTION 9.5 Payment and Performance of Obligations. Pay and perform
all Obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and pay
(a) all material taxes, assessments and other governmental charges that
may be levied or assessed upon it or any of its property, and (b) all other
material indebtedness, obligations and liabilities in accordance with
customary trade practices; provided, that the Credit Parties or such
Subsidiary may contest any item described in clause (a) or (b) of this
Section 9.5 in good faith so long as adequate reserves are maintained with
respect thereto to the extent required by GAAP. It is expected that all
payments in respect of the Obligations, the Existing Debt Securities and
the Additional Debt Securities will be made by the Borrower.
SECTION 9.6 Compliance With Laws and Approvals. Observe and remain in
compliance with all Applicable Laws and maintain in full force and effect all
Governmental Approvals, in each case applicable to the conduct of its
business except where the failure to observe or comply could not reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 9.7 Environmental Laws. In addition to and without limiting
the generality of Section 9.6, (a) comply with, and use best efforts to
ensure such compliance by all tenants and subtenants with all applicable
Environmental Laws and obtain and comply with and maintain, and use its
best efforts to ensure that all tenants and subtenants obtain and comply
with and maintain, any and all licenses, approvals, notifications,
registrations or permits required by applicable Environmental Laws except
where the failure to comply could not reasonably have a Material Adverse
Effect, (b) conduct and complete all investigations, studies, sampling and
testing, and all remedial, removal and other actions required under
Environmental Laws, and promptly comply with all lawful orders and
directives of any Governmental Authority regarding Environmental Laws
except (i) where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to
51
have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) to the extent the Credit Parties or any
of their Subsidiaries are contesting, in good faith, any such requirement, order
or directive before the appropriate Governmental Authority so long as adequate
reserves are maintained with respect thereto to the extent required by GAAP, and
(c) defend, indemnify and hold harmless the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders, and their respective parents, Subsidiaries, Affiliates, employees,
agents, officers and directors, from and against any claims, demands, penalties,
fines, liabilities, settlements, damages, costs and expenses of whatever kind or
nature known or unknown, contingent or otherwise, arising out of, or in any way
relating to the violation of, noncompliance with or liability under any
Environmental Laws applicable to the operations of the Credit Parties or such
Subsidiaries, or any orders, requirements or demands of Governmental Authorities
related thereto, including, without limitation, reasonable attorney's and
consultant's fees, investigation and laboratory fees, response costs, court
costs and litigation expenses, except to the extent that any of the foregoing
directly result from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the party
seeking indemnification therefor.
SECTION 9.8 Compliance with ERISA. In addition to and without limiting
the generality of Section 9.6, (a) comply with all applicable provisions of
ERISA and the Code and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder
with respect to all Employee Benefit Plans, except where the failure to comply
could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (b) not take
any action or fail to take action the result of which would result in a
liability to the PBGC or to a Multiemployer Plan in an amount that could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and
(c) furnish to the Administrative Agent upon the Administrative Agent's request
such additional information about any Employee Benefit Plan concerning
compliance with this covenant as may be reasonably requested by the
Administrative Agent.
SECTION 9.9 Conduct of Business. Engage only in businesses in
substantially the same fields as the businesses conducted on the Closing
Date (including, without limitation, the apparel and/or footwear industry
generally) and in lines of business reasonably related thereto
(collectively, "Permitted Lines of Business"), or as otherwise permitted
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
SECTION 9.10 Visits and Inspections. Permit representatives of the
Administrative Agent or any Lender, from time to time upon reasonable prior
notice to visit and inspect its properties; inspect and make extracts from
its books, records and files, including, but not limited to, management
letters prepared by independent accountants; and discuss with its principal
officers, and its independent accountants, its business, assets, liabilities,
financial condition, results of operations and business prospects.
SECTION 9.11 Use of Proceeds. The Credit Parties shall use the proceeds
of the Revolving Credit Loans to (a) finance the Nine West Acquisition,
including the refinancing of indebtedness incurred as a result thereof, (b) for
working capital and general corporate purposes of the Credit Parties and their
Subsidiaries, including acquisitions and stock repurchases and (c) the payment
of certain fees and expenses incurred in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby.
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SECTION 9.12 Year 2000 Compatibility. Take all actions reasonably
necessary to assure that the Credit Parties' computer based systems are
able to operate and effectively process data which includes dates before,
on and after January 1, 2000. At the request of the Administrative Agent
or any Lender, the Credit Parties shall provide information to the
Administrative Agent concerning the Credit Parties' Year 2000 compatibility.
ARTICLE X
FINANCIAL COVENANTS
Until all of the Obligations (other than any Obligations under any
Hedging Agreement) have been paid and satisfied in full and the Revolving Credit
Commitment terminated, unless consent has been obtained in the manner set forth
in Section 14.11 hereof, the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries on a
Consolidated basis will not:
SECTION 10.1 Interest Coverage Ratio. As of the end of any fiscal
quarter, permit the ratio (the "Interest Coverage Ratio") of (a) EBITDAR for the
period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters ending on or immediately prior to
such date to (b) the sum of (i) Interest Expense paid or payable in cash and
(ii) Rental Expense, both for the period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters
ending on or immediately prior to such date, to be less than (i) 2.0 to 1.0 for
the period from the Closing Date through and including the fiscal quarter ending
closest to September 30, 2000; (ii) 2.25 to 1.0 thereafter for the period
through and including the end of the fiscal quarter ending closest to September
30, 2001; (iii) 2.5 to 1.0 thereafter for the period through and including the
fiscal quarter ending closest to September 30, 2002; and (iv) 2.75 to 1.0 for
all times thereafter; provided that (x) for the fiscal quarter ending October 3,
1999, the Interest Coverage Ratio shall be determined solely on the basis of the
single fiscal quarter immediately preceding such date, (y) for the fiscal
quarter ending December 31, 1999, the Interest Coverage Ratio shall be
determined solely on the basis of the two (2) consecutive fiscal quarters
immediately preceding such date and (z) for the fiscal quarter ending April 2,
2000, the Interest Coverage Ratio shall be determined solely on the basis of the
three (3) consecutive fiscal quarters immediately preceding such date.
SECTION 10.2 Minimum Net Worth. As of the end of any fiscal quarter,
permit Consolidated Net Worth to be less than eighty percent (80%) of Estimated
Net Worth as set forth on the Financial Conditions Certificate provided pursuant
to Section 6.2(d)(ii).
ARTICLE XI
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
Until all of the Obligations (other than any Obligations under any
Hedging Agreement) have been paid and satisfied in full and the Revolving Credit
Commitment has expired or been terminated, unless consent has been obtained in
the manner set forth in Section 14.11 hereof, the Credit Parties will not and
will not permit any of their Subsidiaries to:
53
SECTION 11.1 Limitations on Debt and Guaranty Obligations. Create, incur,
assume or suffer to exist any Debt, including Guaranty Obligations, except:
(a) the Obligations of the Credit Parties;
(b) the 364-Day Credit Agreement Obligations;
(c) Debt existing on the Closing Date (other than the 364-Day Credit
Agreement Obligations, the Outstanding Nine West Debt Obligations and the
Existing Nine West Accounts Receivable Facility), including the Debt as set
forth on Schedule 7.1(p);
(d) Debt in the form of additional credit facilities of the Credit
Parties or their Subsidiaries for borrowings denominated in currencies other
than Dollars; provided that the equivalent Dollar Amount of the aggregate
commitment thereunder does not exceed $50,000,000 on any date of determination;
(e) Debt of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries, not otherwise
permitted under this Section 11.1, incurred in connection with (i) Capitalized
Leases, (ii) purchase money Debt, (iii) Debt of a Subsidiary incurred and
outstanding on or prior to the date on which such Subsidiary was acquired by any
Credit Party or otherwise became a Subsidiary of such Credit Party (other than
Debt incurred as consideration in, or to provide all or any portion of the funds
or credit support utilized to consummate, the transaction or series of
transactions pursuant to which such Subsidiary became a Subsidiary of such
Credit Party or was otherwise acquired by such Credit Party) and (iv) any other
unsecured Debt of the Subsidiaries of the Credit Parties in an aggregate
outstanding amount (excluding any attributable Debt from the contemplated sale
leaseback transaction involving the Credit Parties' distribution warehouse at
South Hill, Virginia) not to exceed fifteen percent (15%) of Consolidated Net
Worth of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries on any date of determination;
(f) additional Debt of the Credit Parties, not otherwise permitted
under this Section 11.1, arising under or in connection with public or privately
placed notes, debentures, bonds, or debt securities or related indentures or
other agreements (the "Additional Debt Securities") so long as no Default or
Event of Default exists on the date any such Additional Debt Security is created
or arises as a result of any borrowing thereunder, except in connection with the
issuance of exchange securities in connection with any exchange offer registered
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, following a private placement of
Additional Debt Securities;
(g) other Debt of the Credit Parties, not otherwise permitted under
this Section 11.1, in an aggregate outstanding amount not to exceed $300,000,000
on any date of determination;
(h) Debt of the Credit Parties to any Subsidiary or any other Credit
Party and of any Subsidiary to the Credit Parties or any other Subsidiary;
(i) the Outstanding Nine West Debt Obligations, in each case, existing
on the date hereof;
54
(j) Debt incurred in respect of the extension, renewal, refinancing,
replacement or refunding (collectively, the "refinancing") of Debt incurred
pursuant to clause (a), (b), (c), (e) or (i); provided, that (i) such Debt is an
aggregate principal amount (or if incurred with original issue discount, an
aggregate issue price) not in excess of the sum of (x) the aggregate principal
amount (or if incurred with original issue discount, the aggregate accreted
value) then outstanding of the Debt being refinanced and (y) an amount necessary
to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums and defeasance costs, related
to such refinancing, (ii) the average life of such Debt is equal to or greater
than the average life of the Debt being refinanced, (iii) the stated maturity of
such Debt is no earlier than the stated maturity of the Debt being refinanced;
and (iv) the new Debt shall not be senior in right of payment to the Debt that
is being refinanced; and
(k) the Existing Nine West Accounts Receivable Facility and any
refinancing thereof;
provided, that none of the Debt permitted to be incurred by this Section shall
expressly restrict, limit or otherwise encumber (unless such restriction,
limitation or other encumbrance is a Permitted Encumbrance (as defined below)),
the ability of any Subsidiary of the Credit Parties to make any payment to the
Credit Parties or any of their Subsidiaries (in the form of dividends,
intercompany advances or otherwise) for the purpose of enabling the Credit
Parties to pay the Obligations. For purposes of this Section 11.1, with regard
to any Debt, a "Permitted Encumbrance" shall mean any restriction, limitation or
other encumbrance that applies solely if a default or event of default (other
than a default resulting solely from the breach of a representation or warranty)
occurs and is continuing under such Debt; provided further that, with respect to
any default or event of default (other than a payment default, including as a
result of acceleration, or a bankruptcy event with respect to the obligor of
such Debt), such encumbrance or restriction may not prohibit dividends to the
Credit Parties or any Subsidiary hereof to pay the Obligations for more than one
hundred eighty (180) days in any consecutive three hundred sixty (360) day
period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the limitation set forth in this
paragraph shall not be applicable to the Outstanding Nine West Debt Obligations
until the date that is ninety-one (91) days after the Closing Date.
SECTION 11.2 [Reserved].
SECTION 11.3 Limitations on Liens. Create, incur, assume or suffer to
exist, any Lien on or with respect to any of its assets or properties
(including without limitation shares of capital stock or other ownership
interests), real or personal, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, except:
(a) Liens for taxes, assessments and other governmental charges or
levies (excluding any Lien imposed pursuant to any of the provisions of ERISA or
Environmental Laws) not yet due or as to which the period of grace, if any,
related thereto has not expired or which are being contested in good faith and
by appropriate proceedings if adequate reserves are maintained to the extent
required by GAAP;
55
(b) the claims of materialmen, mechanics, carriers, warehousemen,
processors or landlords for labor, materials, supplies or rentals incurred in
the ordinary course of business, (i) which are not overdue for a period of more
than thirty (30) days or (ii) which are being contested in good faith and by
appropriate proceedings;
(c) Liens consisting of deposits or pledges made in the ordinary
course of business in connection with, or to secure payment of, obligations
under workers' compensation, unemployment insurance or similar legislation or
obligations under customer service contracts;
(d) Liens constituting encumbrances in the nature of zoning
restrictions, easements and rights or restrictions of record on the use of real
property, which do not, in any case, materially detract from the value of such
property or materially impair the use thereof in the ordinary conduct of
business;
(e) Liens of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders;
(f) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business securing Debt of
the Credit Parties permitted under Section 11.1 not to exceed $75,000,000 in the
aggregate outstanding in addition to Liens existing on the Closing Date;
(g) Liens existing on any property or asset prior to the acquisition
thereof by the Credit Parties or any Subsidiary or existing on any property or
asset of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary or is merged with or into the
Credit Parties or any Subsidiary after the date hereof prior to the time such
Person becomes a Subsidiary or is so merged;
(h) Liens in existence on the Closing Date (other than those relating
to the Existing Nine West Accounts Receivable Facility) and described on
Schedule 11.3;
(i) Liens securing Debt incurred in connection with Capitalized Leases
and purchase money Debt permitted under Section 11.1(e); provided that (i) such
Liens shall be created substantially simultaneously with the acquisition of the
related asset, (ii) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other
than the property financed by such Debt, (iii) the amount of Debt secured
thereby is not increased and (iv) the principal amount of Debt secured by any
such Lien shall at no time exceed one hundred percent (100%) of the original
purchase price of such property at the time it was acquired;
(j) Liens incurred to secure appeal bonds and judgment and attachment
Liens in respect of judgments or orders that do not constitute an Event of
Default under Section 12.1(m);
(k) Liens arising solely by virtue of any statutory or common law
provision relating to banker's liens, rights of setoff or similar rights and
remedies, in each case as to deposit accounts or other funds maintained with a
creditor depository institution;
56
(l) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts,
leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and
other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of
business;
(m) Liens arising in the ordinary course of business that do not
secure monetary obligations;
(n) Liens arising by the terms of letters of credit entered into in
the ordinary course of business to secure reimbursement obligations thereunder;
(o) Liens securing Debt or other obligations between the Credit
Parties and a Subsidiary or between Subsidiaries or Credit Parties;
(p) Liens granted to any bank or other institution securing the
payments to be made to such bank or other institution by the Credit Parties or a
Subsidiary of the Credit Parties pursuant to any Hedging Agreement; provided
that, such agreements are entered into in, or are incidental to, the ordinary
course of business;
(q) Liens on accounts receivable granted in connection with the
Existing Nine West Accounts Receivable Facility and refinancings thereof; and
(r) the refinancing of any Lien referred to in clause (g), (h), (i) or
(p); provided that, the principal amount of Debt (or, if incurred with original
issue discount, an aggregate issue price) secured thereby and not otherwise
authorized by clause (g), (h), (i) or (p) shall not exceed the principal amount
of Debt (or if incurred without original issue discount, the aggregate accreted
value) plus any fees and expenses, including premiums and defeasance costs,
payable in connection with any such extension, renewal, replacement or
refunding, so secured at the time of such extension, renewal, replacement or
refunding.
SECTION 11.4 Limitations on Loans, Advances, Investments and Acquisitions.
Purchase, own, invest in or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any
capital stock (other than capital stock of the Credit Parties), interests
in any partnership, limited liability company or joint venture (including
without limitation the creation or capitalization of any Subsidiary),
evidence of Debt or other obligation or security, substantially all or a portion
of the business or assets of any other Person or any other investment or
interest whatsoever in any other Person, or make or permit to exist, directly or
indirectly, any loans, advances or extensions of credit to, or any investment in
cash or by delivery of property in, any Person, or enter into, directly or
indirectly, any commitment or option in respect of the foregoing (collectively,
"Investments") except:
(a) Investments in Subsidiaries existing on the Closing Date and the
other existing loans, advances and Investments described on Schedule 11.4;
(b) Investments made in accordance with the investment policy of the
Credit Parties, provided that any material amendment or other material
modification to such policy shall have been approved by the Administrative Agent
and determined to be acceptable in its reasonable discretion;
57
(c) Investments by the Credit Parties or any Subsidiary in the form of
acquisitions, including acquisitions of all or substantially all of the business
or a line of business (whether by the acquisition of capital stock, assets or
any combination thereof) of any other Person, so long as (i) a Responsible
Officer certifies to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders that no
Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from
the closing of such acquisition, such certification to include, for any
acquisition involving a purchase price in excess of $50,000,000, either
individually or in an series of related transactions, a financial condition
certificate in the form required under Section 6.2(d)(ii)(A), and (ii) such
acquisition meets either of the following requirements: (A) such acquisition is
within a Permitted Line of Business, or (B) such acquisition is outside a
Permitted Line of Business but the price for such acquisition, together with all
other acquisitions outside the Permitted Lines of Business, does not exceed
$50,000,000 in the aggregate;
(d) the Nine West Acquisition;
(e) Investments (other than acquisitions) in the Permitted Lines of
Business;
(f) Investments (other than acquisitions) outside Permitted Lines of
Business not in excess of $50,000,000 in the aggregate;
(g) loans and advances to third party contractors in the ordinary
course of business and consistent with past practice not to exceed in an
aggregate outstanding amount $6,000,000 (excluding such loans and advances
consisting of prepayments or advances for inventory or services); and loans and
advances to employees of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries in an
aggregate outstanding amount not to exceed $4,000,000; and
(h) intercompany loans and advances among the Credit Parties and their
Subsidiaries so long as permitted under the terms of Sections 11.1 and 11.3.
SECTION 11.5 Limitations on Mergers and Liquidation. Merge, consolidate
or enter into any similar combination with any other Person or liquidate,
wind-up or dissolve itself (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution) except
so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, or
would result therefrom:
(a) any Credit Party may merge with or into any Person; provided that
(i) such Credit Party shall be the survivor of such merger or (ii) the survivor
assumes and succeeds to the Obligations of such Credit Party pursuant to an
assumption agreement in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent
and the Required Lenders;
(b) any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Credit Parties may merge with
or into any other Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Credit Parties;
(c) any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary may merge with or into the Person such
Wholly-Owned Subsidiary was formed to acquire in connection with an acquisition
permitted by Section 11.4(b), (c) or (d);
58
(d) any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Credit Parties may merge with
or into any Credit Party; provided that, such Credit Party is the survivor of
such merger; and
(e) any Credit Party may merge with or into any other Credit Party.
SECTION 11.6 Limitations on Sale or Transfer of Assets. Convey, sell,
lease, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its property, business
or assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired (collectively, "sale"),
except for the following:
(a) the sale of inventory or the factoring of accounts receivable in
the ordinary course of business;
(b) the sale of obsolete assets no longer used or usable in the
business of the Credit Parties or any of their Subsidiaries;
(c) the sale or discount without recourse of accounts receivable
arising in the ordinary course of business in connection with the compromise or
collection thereof;
(d) the sale of assets between the Credit Parties and any Subsidiary
or between Subsidiaries or Credit Parties;
(e) the sale of accounts receivable in connection with the Existing
Nine West Accounts Receivable Facility and refinancings thereof;
(f) the sale of any other assets of the Credit Parties and their
Subsidiaries outside the ordinary course of business so long as the total fair
market value for all such sales on an aggregate basis does not at any time
exceed thirty-three percent (33%) of Consolidated Net Worth; and
(g) the contemplated sale leaseback transaction involving the Credit
Parties' distribution warehouse in South Hill, Virginia.
SECTION 11.7 Limitations on Dividends and Distributions. Declare or
pay any dividends upon any of its capital stock; purchase, redeem, retire
or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any shares of its capital
stock, or make any distribution of cash, property or assets among the holders
of shares of its capital stock, or make any change in its capital structure
that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
provided that: (a) the Credit Parties may pay dividends solely in shares
of their own capital stock or other ownership interest (including dividends
consisting of rights to purchase such capital stock or other ownership
interest), (b) any Subsidiary may pay dividends or make distributions to
the Credit Parties or any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Credit Parties,
(c) any Credit Party may pay dividends or make distributions to any other
Credit Party and (d) as long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing or would be created thereby (i) the Credit Parties may
declare and pay dividends on shares of their capital stock or other ownership
interests, (ii) the Credit Parties or any Subsidiary may redeem shares of
their capital stock or other ownership interest pursuant to a plan approved
by the Board of Directors of the Credit Parties or such Subsidiary, as
applicable
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and (iii) the Credit Parties or any Subsidiary may take any action otherwise
prohibited by this Section 11.7.
SECTION 11.8 Transactions with Affiliates. Directly or indirectly
enter into, or be a party to, any transaction with any of its Affiliates,
except (i) on terms that are no less favorable to it than it would obtain
in a comparable arm's length transaction with a Person not its Affiliate,
(ii) as contemplated by the Nine West Acquisition Agreement or the Sun
Acquisition Agreement or (iii) for transactions between Credit Parties
or between Credit Parties and Subsidiaries of Credit Parties.
SECTION 11.9 Changes in Fiscal Year End. Change its Fiscal Year end,
except in the case of New Nine West to make such Fiscal Year end consistent
with the other Credit Parties.
SECTION 11.10 Amendments; Payments and Prepayments of Material Debt
and Subordinated Debt. Upon the occurrence and continuation of a Default
or an Event of Default, amend or modify (or permit the modification or
amendment of) in any manner materially adverse to the Lenders any of the
terms or provisions of any Debt in excess of $25,000,000, including without
limitation the Additional Debt Securities, if any, or any Subordinated Debt,
or cancel or forgive, make any voluntary or optional payment or prepayment on,
or redeem or acquire for value (including without limitation by way of
depositing with any trustee with respect thereto money or securities before
due for the purpose of paying when due) any Subordinated Debt.
ARTICLE XII
DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
SECTION 12.1 Events of Default. Each of the following shall constitute
an Event of Default, whatever the reason for such event and whether it shall
be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to
any judgment or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any
Governmental Authority or otherwise:
(a) Default in Payment of Principal of Loans and Reimbursement
Obligations. The Borrower shall default in any payment of principal of any
Revolving Credit Loan or Reimbursement Obligation when and as due (whether at
maturity, by reason of acceleration or otherwise).
(b) Other Payment Default. The Borrower shall default in the payment
when and as due (whether at maturity, by reason of acceleration or otherwise) of
interest on any Revolving Credit Loan or Reimbursement Obligation or the payment
of any other Obligation (other than any Obligation under any Hedging Agreement),
and such default shall continue unremedied for three (3) Business Days.
(c) Misrepresentation. Any representation or warranty made or deemed
to be made by the Credit Parties or any of their Subsidiaries, if applicable,
under this Agreement, any Loan
60
Document or any amendment hereto or thereto, shall at any time prove to have
been incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed made.
(d) Default in Performance of Certain Covenants. Any of the Credit
Parties shall default in the performance or observance of any covenant or
agreement contained in Article X or XI of this Agreement.
(e) Default in Performance of Other Covenants and Conditions. Any of
the Credit Parties or any Subsidiary thereof, if applicable, shall default in
the performance or observance of any term, covenant, condition or agreement
contained in this Agreement (other than as specifically provided for otherwise
in this Section 12.1) or any other Loan Document and such default shall continue
for a period of thirty (30) days after written notice thereof has been given to
the Borrower by the Administrative Agent.
(f) Hedging Agreement. Any termination payments in an amount greater
than $35,000,000 shall be due by any Credit Party under any Hedging Agreement
and such amount is not paid within thirty (30) Business Days of the due date
thereof.
(g) Debt Cross-Default. Any of the Credit Parties or any of their
Subsidiaries shall (i) default in the payment of any Debt (other than the
Revolving Credit Loans or any Reimbursement Obligation) the aggregate
outstanding amount of which Debt is in excess of $35,000,000, including, without
limitation the obligations under the 364-Day Credit Agreement, beyond the period
of grace if any, provided in the instrument or agreement under which such Debt
was created, or (ii) default in the observance or performance of any other
agreement or condition relating to any Debt (other than the Revolving Credit
Loans or any Reimbursement Obligation), including, without limitation the
obligations under the 364-Day Credit Agreement and any other documents executed
in connection therewith, the aggregate outstanding amount of which Debt is in
excess of $35,000,000 or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing,
securing or relating thereto or any other event shall occur or condition exist,
the effect of which default or other event or condition is to cause, or to
permit the holder or holders of such Debt (or a trustee or agent on behalf of
such holder or holders) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, any
such Debt to become due prior to its stated maturity (any applicable grace
period having expired).
(h) Change in Control. Any person or group of persons (within the
meaning of Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended)
shall obtain ownership or control in one or more series of transactions of more
than thirty three and one-third percent (33.33%) of the common stock or
thirty-three and one-third percent (33.33%) of the voting power of any Credit
Party entitled to vote in the election of members of the board of directors of
such Credit Party or there shall have occurred under any indenture or other
instrument evidencing any debt in excess of $35,000,000 any "change in control"
(as defined in such indenture or other evidence of debt) obligating the Borrower
to repurchase, redeem or repay all or any part of the debt or capital stock
provided for therein (any such event, a "Change in Control") other than any
Change in Control resulting under any Outstanding Nine West Debt Obligations.
Further, except as set forth in Section 11.5, Jones Apparel Group shall at all
times own 100% of the capital stock of Jones Apparel Group Holdings and Jones
Apparel Group Holdings shall at all times
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own 100% of the capital stock of the Borrower.
(i) Voluntary Bankruptcy Proceeding. Any Credit Party or any
Subsidiary thereof shall (i) commence a voluntary case under the federal
bankruptcy laws (as now or hereafter in effect), (ii) file a petition seeking to
take advantage of any other laws, domestic or foreign, relating to bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, winding up or composition for adjustment of debts,
(iii) consent to or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner any
petition filed against it in an involuntary case under such bankruptcy laws or
other laws, (iv) apply for or consent to, or fail to contest in a timely and
appropriate manner, the appointment of, or the taking of possession by, a
receiver, custodian, trustee, or liquidator of itself or of a substantial part
of its property, domestic or foreign, (v) admit in writing its inability to pay
its debts as they become due, (vi) make a general assignment for the benefit of
creditors, or (vii) take any corporate action for the purpose of authorizing any
of the foregoing.
(j) Involuntary Bankruptcy Proceeding. A case or other proceeding
shall be commenced against any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof in any
court of competent jurisdiction seeking (i) relief under the federal bankruptcy
laws (as now or hereafter in effect) or under any other laws, domestic or
foreign, relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, winding up or
adjustment of debts, or (ii) the appointment of a trustee, receiver, custodian,
liquidator or the like for any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof or for all
or any substantial part of their respective assets, domestic or foreign, and
such case or proceeding shall continue without dismissal or stay for a period of
sixty (60) consecutive days, or an order granting the relief requested in such
case or proceeding (including, but not limited to, an order for relief under
such federal bankruptcy laws) shall be entered.
(k) [Reserved]
(l) Termination Event. The occurrence of any of the following events:
(i) the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate fails to make full payment to an
Employee Benefit Plan when due (after giving effect to any applicable grace
period) of contributions in excess of $2,000,000 (ii) an accumulated funding
deficiency in excess of $2,000,000 occurs or exists, whether or not waived, with
respect to any Pension Plan or (iii) a Termination Event that could reasonably
be expected to result in liability in excess of $5,000,000 to the Borrower or
any ERISA Affiliate.
(m) Judgment. A judgment or order for the payment of money which
causes the aggregate amount of all such judgments to exceed $35,000,000 in any
Fiscal Year shall be entered against any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof
by any court and such judgment or order shall continue without discharge or stay
for a period of thirty (30) days.
SECTION 12.2 Remedies. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, with
the consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent may, or upon the
request of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent shall, by notice to
the Credit Parties:
(a) Acceleration; Termination of Facilities. Declare the principal of
and interest on the Revolving Credit Loans, the Reimbursement Obligations at the
time outstanding, and all
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other amounts owed to the Lenders and to the Administrative Agent under this
Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents (other than any Hedging
Agreement)(including, without limitation, all L/C Obligations, whether or not
the beneficiaries of the then outstanding Letters of Credit shall have presented
the documents required thereunder) and all other Obligations (other than
Obligations owing under any Hedging Agreement), to be forthwith due and payable,
whereupon the same shall immediately become due and payable without presentment,
demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are expressly waived,
anything in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents to the contrary
notwithstanding, and terminate the Credit Facility and any right of the Borrower
to request borrowings or Letters of Credit thereunder; provided, that upon the
occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Section 12.1(i) or (j) with
respect to the Credit Parties, the Credit Facility shall be automatically
terminated and all Obligations (other than obligations owing under any Hedging
Agreement) shall automatically become due and payable.
(b) Letters of Credit. With respect to all Letters of Credit with
respect to which presentment for honor shall not have occurred at the time of an
acceleration pursuant to the preceding paragraph, require the Borrower at such
time to deposit or cause to be deposited in a cash collateral account opened by
the Administrative Agent an amount equal to the aggregate then undrawn and
unexpired amount of such Letters of Credit. Amounts held in such cash
collateral account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to the payment
of drafts drawn under such Letters of Credit, and the unused portion thereof
after all such Letters of Credit shall have expired or been fully drawn upon, if
any, shall be applied to repay the other Obligations. After all such Letters of
Credit shall have expired or been fully drawn upon, the Reimbursement Obligation
shall have been satisfied and all other Obligations shall have been paid in
full, the balance, if any, in such cash collateral account shall be promptly
returned to the Borrower.
(c) Rights of Collection. Exercise on behalf of the Lenders all of
its other rights and remedies under this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and
Applicable Law, in order to satisfy all of the Obligations.
SECTION 12.3 Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Non-Waiver; etc. The
enumeration of the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders set forth in this Agreement is not intended to be exhaustive and the
exercise by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders of any right or remedy
shall not preclude the exercise of any other rights or remedies, all of which
shall be cumulative, and shall be in addition to any other right or remedy given
hereunder or under the Loan Documents or that may now or hereafter exist in law
or in equity or by suit or otherwise. No delay or failure to take action on the
part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender in exercising any right, power or
privilege shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial
exercise of any such right, power or privilege preclude other or further
exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege or shall
be construed to be a waiver of any Event of Default. No course of dealing
between the Credit Parties, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders or their
respective agents or employees shall be effective to change, modify or discharge
any provision of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or to
constitute a waiver of any Event of Default.
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ARTICLE XIII
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
SECTION 13.1 Appointment. Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably designates
and appoints First Union as Administrative Agent of such Lender under this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents for the term hereof and each such Lender
irrevocably authorizes First Union as Administrative Agent for such Lender,
to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement
and the other Loan Documents and to exercise such powers and perform such duties
as are expressly delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms of this
Agreement and such other Loan Documents, together with such other powers as are
reasonably incidental thereto. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary
elsewhere in this Agreement or such other Loan Documents, the Administrative
Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set
forth herein and therein, or any fiduciary relationship with any Lender, and no
implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or
liabilities shall be read into this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or
otherwise exist against the Administrative Agent. Any reference to the
Administrative Agent in this Article XIII shall be deemed to refer to the
Administrative Agent solely in its capacity as Administrative Agent and not in
its capacity as a Lender.
SECTION 13.2 Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may execute
any of its respective duties under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents
by or through agents or attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of
counsel concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. The Administrative
Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agents
or attorneys-in-fact selected by the Administrative Agent with reasonable care.
SECTION 13.3 Exculpatory Provisions. Neither the Administrative Agent
nor any of its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact,
Subsidiaries or Affiliates shall be (a) liable for any action lawfully taken
or omitted to be taken by it or such Person under or in connection with this
Agreement or the other Loan Documents (except for actions occasioned solely by
its or such Person's own gross negligence or willful misconduct), or (b)
responsible in any manner to any of the Lenders for any recitals, statements,
representations or warranties made by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or
any officer thereof contained in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or
in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided
for in, or received by the Administrative Agent under or in connection with,
this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or for the value, validity,
effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or
the other Loan Documents or for any failure of the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder. The
Administrative Agent shall not be under any obligation to any Lender to
ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the
agreements contained in, or conditions of, this Agreement, or to inspect the
properties, books or records of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.
SECTION 13.4 Reliance by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative
Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon
any note, writing, resolution, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter,
cablegram, telegram, telecopy, telex or teletype
64
message, statement, order or other document or conversation believed by it to be
genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person
or Persons and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including, without
limitation, counsel to the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts
selected by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may deem and
treat the holder of any Revolving Credit Loan as the owner thereof for all
purposes unless such Revolving Credit Loan shall have been transferred in
accordance with Section 14.10 hereof. The Administrative Agent shall be fully
justified in failing or refusing to take any action under this Agreement and the
other Loan Documents unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of
the Required Lenders (or, when expressly required hereby or by the relevant
other Loan Document, all the Lenders) as it deems appropriate or it shall first
be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Lenders against any and all liability
and expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to
take any such action except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct.
The Administrative Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in
refraining from acting, under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents in
accordance with a request of the Required Lenders (or, when expressly required
hereby, all the Lenders), and such request and any action taken or failure to
act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all the Lenders and all future
holders of the Revolving Credit Loans.
SECTION 13.5 Notice of Default. The Administrative Agent shall not be
deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event
of Default hereunder unless it has received notice from a Lender or the
Borrower referring to this Agreement, describing such Default or Event of
Default and stating that such notice is a "notice of default". In the event
that the Administrative Agent receives such a notice, it shall promptly give
notice thereof to the Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall take such action
with respect to such Default or Event of Default as shall be reasonably directed
by the Required Lenders; provided that unless and until the Administrative Agent
shall have received such directions, the Administrative Agent may (but shall not
be obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with
respect to such Default or Event of Default as it shall deem advisable in the
best interests of the Lenders, except to the extent that other provisions of
this Agreement expressly require that any such action be taken or not be taken
only with the consent and authorization or the request of the Lenders or
Required Lenders, as applicable.
SECTION 13.6 Non-Reliance on the Administrative Agent and Other Lenders.
Each Lender expressly acknowledges that neither the Administrative Agent nor
any of its respective officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact,
Subsidiaries or Affiliates has made any representations or warranties to it
and that no act by the Administrative Agent hereinafter taken, including any
review of the affairs of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, shall be
deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by the Administrative Agent
to any Lender. Each Lender represents to the Administrative Agent that it has,
independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other
Lender, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed
appropriate, made its own appraisal of and investigation into the business,
operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries and made its own decision to make its Revolving
Credit Loans and issue or participate in Letters of Credit hereunder and enter
into this Agreement. Each Lender also represents that it will, independently
and without reliance upon
65
the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, and based on such documents and
information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own
credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under
this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and to make such investigation as
it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, operations, property,
financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries. Except for notices, reports and other documents expressly
required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent hereunder or
by the other Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty or
responsibility to provide any Lender with any credit or other information
concerning the business, operations, property, financial and other condition or
creditworthiness of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries which may come into
the possession of the Administrative Agent or any of its respective officers,
directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact, Subsidiaries or Affiliates.
SECTION 13.7 Indemnification. The Lenders agree to indemnify the
Administrative Agent in its capacity as such and (to the extent not reimbursed
by the Borrower and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so),
ratably according to the respective amounts of their Revolving Credit
Commitment Percentage from and against any and all liabilities, obligations,
losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or
disbursements of any kind whatsoever which may at any time (including, without
limitation, at any time following the payment of the Revolving Credit Loans or
any Reimbursement Obligation) be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against
the Administrative Agent in any way relating to or arising out of this
Agreement or the other Loan Documents, or any documents contemplated by or
referred to herein or therein or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby
or any action taken or omitted by the Administrative Agent under or in
connection with any of the foregoing; provided that no Lender shall be liable
for the payment of any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses,
damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements
to the extent they result from the Administrative Agent's bad faith, gross
negligence or willful misconduct. The agreements in this Section 13.7 shall
survive the payment of the Revolving Credit Loans, any Reimbursement Obligation
and all other amounts payable hereunder and the termination of this Agreement.
SECTION 13.8 The Administrative Agent in Its Individual Capacity. The
Administrative Agent and its respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates may make
loans to, accept deposits from and generally engage in any kind of business
with the Borrower as though the Administrative Agent were not an Administrative
Agent hereunder. With respect to any Revolving Credit Loans made or renewed by
it and with respect to any Letter of Credit issued by it or participated in by
it, the Administrative Agent shall have the same rights and powers under this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents as any Lender and may exercise the same
as though it were not an Administrative Agent, and the terms "Lender" and
"Lenders" shall include the Administrative Agent in its individual capacity.
SECTION 13.9 Resignation of the Administrative Agent; Successor
Administrative Agent. Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor
as provided below, the Administrative Agent may resign at any time by giving
notice thereof to the Lenders and the Credit Parties. Upon any such resignation,
the Required Lenders shall have the right, subject to the approval of
the Credit Parties (so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing), to appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which successor
shall have minimum capital and surplus of at least $500,000,000. If no
successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed by the Required
Lenders, been approved (so long as no Default or Event of Default has
66
occurred and is continuing) by the Credit Parties or have accepted such
appointment within thirty (30) days after the Administrative Agent's giving of
notice of resignation, then the Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the
Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent reasonably acceptable to the
Credit Parties (so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing), which successor shall have minimum capital and surplus of at least
$500,000,000. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Administrative Agent
hereunder by a successor Administrative Agent, such successor Administrative
Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all rights, powers,
privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, and the retiring
Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations
hereunder. After any retiring Administrative Agent's resignation hereunder as
Administrative Agent, the provisions of this Section 13.9 shall continue in
effect for its benefit in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by
it while it was acting as Administrative Agent.
SECTION 13.10 Syndication Agents and Documentation Agent. Each Syndication
Agent and Documentation Agent, respectively, each in their capacity as
Syndication Agent and Documentation Agent, respectively, shall have no duties
or responsibilities and no liabilities under this Agreement or any other Loan
Document but shall be entitled, in each such capacity, to the same
protections afforded to the Administrative Agent under this Article XIII.
ARTICLE XIV
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 14.1 Notices.
(a) Method of Communication. Except as otherwise provided in this
Agreement, all notices and communications hereunder shall be in writing, or by
telephone subsequently confirmed in writing. Any notice shall be effective if
delivered by hand delivery or sent via telecopy, recognized overnight courier
service or certified mail, return receipt requested, and shall be presumed to be
received by a party hereto (i) on the date of delivery if delivered by hand or
sent by telecopy, (ii) on the next Business Day if sent by recognized overnight
courier service and (iii) on the third Business Day following the date sent by
certified mail, return receipt requested. A telephonic notice to the
Administrative Agent as understood by the Administrative Agent will be deemed to
be the controlling and proper notice in the event of a discrepancy with or
failure to receive a confirming written notice.
(b) Addresses for Notices. Notices to any party shall be sent to it
at the following addresses, or any other address as to which all the other
parties are notified in writing.
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If to the Credit Parties: Jones Apparel Group, Inc.
250 Rittenhouse Circle
Bristol, Pennsylvania 19007
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Telephone No.: (215) 785-4000
Telecopy No.: (215) 785-1228
If to First Union as First Union National Bank
Administrative Agent: One First Union Center, TW 4
301 South College Street
Charlotte, North Carolina 28288-0608
Attention: Syndication Agency Services
Telephone No.: (704) 374-2698
Telecopy No.: (704) 383-0288
With copies to: First Union National Bank
1345 Chestnut Street, PA4830
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107-7618
Attention: Syndication Agency Services
Telephone No.: (215) 973-6621
Telecopy No.: (215) 973-1887
If to any Lender: To the Address set forth on Schedule 1.1(a) hereto
(c) Administrative Agent's Office. The Administrative Agent hereby
designates its office located at the address set forth above, or any subsequent
office which shall have been specified for such purpose by written notice to the
Borrower and the Lenders, as the Administrative Agent's Office referred to
herein, to which payments due are to be made and at which Revolving Credit Loans
will be disbursed.
SECTION 14.2 Expenses; Indemnity. The Borrower will (a) pay all reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent in connection with (i) the
preparation, execution and delivery of this Agreement and each other Loan
Document, whenever the same shall be executed and delivered, including without
limitation the reasonable out-of-pocket syndication and due diligence expenses
and reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent
and (ii) the preparation, execution and delivery of any waiver, amendment or
consent by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders relating to this Agreement
or any other Loan Document, including without limitation reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent, (b) pay all reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent actually incurred in
connection with the administration of the Credit Facility, (c) pay all
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent and each Lender
actually incurred in connection with the enforcement of any rights and remedies
of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under the Credit Facility, including
to the extent reasonable under the circumstances consulting with accountants,
attorneys and other Persons concerning the nature, scope or value of any right
or remedy of the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder or under any other
Loan Document or any factual matters in connection therewith, which expenses
shall include
68
without limitation the reasonable fees and disbursements of such Persons, and
(d) defend, indemnify and hold harmless the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders, and their respective parents, Subsidiaries, Affiliates, employees,
Administrative Agents, officers and directors, from and against any losses,
penalties, fines, liabilities, settlements, damages, costs and expenses,
suffered by any such Person in connection with any claim, investigation,
litigation or other proceeding (whether or not the Administrative Agent or any
Lender is a party thereto) and the prosecution and defense thereof, arising out
of or in any way connected with this Agreement, any other Loan Document or the
Revolving Credit Loans, including without limitation reasonable attorney's and
consultant's fees, except to the extent that any of the foregoing result from
the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any indemnified party.
SECTION 14.3 Set-off. In addition to any rights now or hereafter granted
under Applicable Law and not by way of limitation of any such rights, upon and
after the occurrence of any Event of Default and during the continuance thereof,
the Lenders and any assignee or participant of a Lender in accordance with
Section 14.10 are hereby authorized by the Credit Parties at any time or from
time to time, without notice to the Credit Parties or to any other Person, any
such notice being hereby expressly waived, to set off and to appropriate and to
apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, including, but
not limited to, indebtedness evidenced by certificates of deposit, whether
matured or unmatured) and any other indebtedness at any time held or owing by
the Lenders, or any such assignee or participant to or for the credit or the
account of the Borrower against and on account of the Obligations irrespective
of whether or not (a) the Lenders shall have made any demand under this
Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or (b) the Administrative Agent
shall have declared any or all of the Obligations to be due and payable as
permitted by Section 12.2 and although such Obligations shall be contingent or
unmatured.
SECTION 14.4 Governing Law. This Agreement, the Revolving Credit Notes
and the other Loan Documents, unless otherwise expressly set forth therein,
shall be governed by, construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of
the State of New York.
SECTION 14.5 Consent to Jurisdiction. Each of the parties hereto
hereby irrevocably consents to the personal jurisdiction of the state and
federal courts located in New York County, New York, in any action, claim
or other proceeding arising out of any dispute in connection with this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents, any rights or obligations hereunder
or thereunder, or the performance of such rights and obligations. Each of
the parties hereto hereby irrevocably consents to the service of a summons
and complaint and other process in any action, claim or proceeding brought
by any other party hereto in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan
Documents, any rights or obligations hereunder or thereunder, or the
performance of such rights and obligations, on behalf of itself or its
property, in the manner specified in Section 14.1. Nothing in this Section
14.5 shall affect the right of any of the parties hereto to serve legal
process in any other manner permitted by Applicable Law or affect the right
of any of the parties hereto to bring any action or proceeding against any
other party hereto or its properties in the courts of any other jurisdictions.
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SECTION 14.6 Waiver of Jury Trial. THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, EACH
LENDER AND EACH CREDIT PARTY HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE THEY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE
THEIR RESPECTIVE RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL WITH RESPECT TO ANY ACTION, CLAIM
OR OTHER PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING, ANY DISPUTE,
CLAIM OR CONTROVERSY ARISING OUT OF, CONNECTED WITH OR RELATING TO THE LOAN
DOCUMENTS ("Dispute") IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, THE NOTES OR THE
OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, ANY RIGHTS OR OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER OR THEREUNDER,
OR THE PERFORMANCE OF SUCH RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS.
SECTION 14.7 Reversal of Payments. To the extent any Credit Party
makes a payment or payments to the Administrative Agent for the ratable
benefit of the Lenders or the Administrative Agent receives any payment
or proceeds of the collateral which payments or proceeds or any part
thereof are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or
preferential, set aside and/or required to be repaid to a trustee,
receiver or any other party under any bankruptcy law, state or federal
law, common law or equitable cause, then, to the extent of such payment
or proceeds repaid, the Obligations or part thereof intended to be satisfied
shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment
or proceeds had not been received by the Administrative Agent.
SECTION 14.8 Injunctive Relief; Punitive Damages.
(a) Each of the parties to this Agreement recognizes that, in the
event such party fails to perform, observe or discharge any of its obligations
or liabilities under this Agreement, any remedy of law may prove to be
inadequate relief to the other parties hereto. Therefore, each of the parties
hereto agrees that the other parties hereto, at such other party's option, shall
be entitled to pursue temporary and permanent injunctive relief in any such case
without the necessity of proving actual damages.
(b) The Administrative Agent, Lenders and the Credit Parties (on
behalf of themselves and their Subsidiaries) hereby agree that no such Person
shall have a remedy of punitive or exemplary damages against any other party to
a Loan Document and each such Person hereby waives any right or claim to
punitive or exemplary damages that they may now have or may arise in the future
in connection with any Dispute, whether such Dispute is resolved through
arbitration or judicially.
SECTION 14.9 Accounting Matters. 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
Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower requests 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 the Administrative Agent notifies the
Borrower that the Required Lenders 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
70
immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice
shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance therewith.
SECTION 14.10 Successors and Assigns; Participations.
(a) Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the Credit Parties, the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders, all future holders of the Revolving Credit Notes, and their respective
successors and permitted assigns, except that the Borrower shall not assign or
transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior
written consent of each Lender other than pursuant to Section 11.5.
(b) Assignment by Lenders. Each Lender may, with the consent of the
Borrower (so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing) and the consent of the Administrative Agent, which consents shall
not be unreasonably withheld, assign to one or more Eligible Assignees all or a
portion of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement
(including, without limitation, all or a portion of the Extensions of Credit at
the time owing to it and the Revolving Credit Notes held by it); provided that:
(i) each such assignment shall be of a constant, and not
a varying, percentage of all the assigning Lender's Revolving Credit Commitment
and all other rights and obligations under this Agreement;
(ii) if less than all of the assigning Lender's Revolving
Credit Commitment or Revolving Credit Loans is to be assigned, the Revolving
Credit Commitment or Revolving Credit Loans so assigned shall not be less than
$10,000,000;
(iii) the parties to each such assignment shall execute and
deliver to the Administrative Agent, for its acceptance and recording in the
Register, an Assignment and Acceptance in the form of Exhibit G attached hereto
(an "Assignment and Acceptance"), together with any Revolving Credit Note or
Revolving Credit Notes subject to such assignment;
(iv) such assignment shall not, without the consent of the
Borrower, on behalf of itself and the other Credit Parties, require the
Borrower, or any Credit Party, to file a registration statement with the
Securities and Exchange Commission or apply to or qualify the Revolving Credit
Loans or the Revolving Credit Notes under the blue sky laws of any state;
(v) the assigning Lender shall pay to the Administrative
Agent an assignment fee of $3,000 upon the execution by such Lender of the
Assignment and Acceptance; provided that no such fee shall be payable upon any
assignment by a Lender to an Affiliate thereof; and
(vi) no consents will be required for assignments where
the Eligible Assignee is an Affiliate of the assigning Lender.
Upon such execution, delivery, acceptance and recording, from and after the
effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance, which effective date
shall be at least ten (10)
71
Business Days after the execution thereof, (A) the assignee thereunder shall be
a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned in such Assignment
and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender hereby and (B) the
Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned in such
assignment, be released from its obligations under this Agreement.
(c) Rights and Duties Upon Assignment. By executing and delivering an
Assignment and Acceptance, the assigning Lender thereunder and the assignee
thereunder confirm to and agree with each other and the other parties hereto as
set forth in such Assignment and Acceptance.
(d) Register. The Administrative Agent shall maintain a copy of each
Assignment and Acceptance delivered to it and record the names and addresses of
the Lenders and the amount of the Extensions of Credit with respect to each
Lender from time to time in the Register. No assignment shall be effective for
purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as
provided in this paragraph. The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, in
the absence of manifest error, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and
the Lenders may treat each person whose name is recorded in the Register as a
Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement. The Register shall be
available for inspection by the Borrower or Lender at any reasonable time and
from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.
(e) Issuance of New Revolving Credit Notes. Upon its receipt of an
Assignment and Acceptance executed by an assigning Lender and an Eligible
Assignee together with any Revolving Credit Note or Revolving Credit Notes if
any have been issued pursuant to this Agreement, subject to such assignment and
the written consent to such assignment, the Administrative Agent shall, if such
Assignment and Acceptance has been completed and is substantially in the form of
Exhibit G:
(i) accept such Assignment and Acceptance;
(ii) record the information contained therein in the
Register;
(iii) give prompt notice thereof to the Lenders and the
Borrower, on behalf of itself and the other Credit Parties; and
(iv) promptly deliver a copy of such Assignment and
Acceptance to the Borrower.
Within ten (10) Business Days after receipt of notice, if requested by the
Eligible Assignee the Borrower shall execute and deliver to the Administrative
Agent, in exchange for the surrendered Revolving Credit Note or Revolving Credit
Notes, a new Revolving Credit Note or Revolving Credit Notes to the order of
such Eligible Assignee in amounts equal to the Revolving Credit Commitment
assumed by it pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance and a new Revolving
Credit Note or Revolving Credit Notes to the order of the assigning Lender in an
amount equal to the Revolving Credit Commitment retained by it hereunder. Such
new Revolving Credit Note or Revolving Credit Notes shall be in an aggregate
principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of such surrendered
Revolving Credit Note or Revolving Credit Notes, shall be
72
dated the effective date of such Assignment and Acceptance and shall otherwise
be in substantially the form of the assigned Revolving Credit Notes delivered to
the assigning Lender. Each surrendered Revolving Credit Note or Revolving
Credit Notes shall be canceled and returned to the Borrower.
(f) Participations. Each Lender may sell participations to one or
more banks or other entities in all or a portion of its rights and/or
obligations under this Agreement (including, without limitation, all or a
portion of its Extensions of Credit and the Revolving Credit Notes held by it);
provided that:
(i) each such participation shall be in an amount not
less than $10,000,000;
(ii) such Lender's obligations under this Agreement
(including, without limitation, its Revolving Credit Commitment) shall remain
unchanged;
(iii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the
other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations;
(iv) the Credit Parties, the Administrative Agent and the
other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in
connection with such Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement;
(v) such Lender shall not permit such participant the
right to approve any waivers, amendments or other modifications to this
Agreement or any other Loan Document other than waivers, amendments or
modifications which would reduce the principal of or the interest rate on any
Revolving Credit Loan or Reimbursement Obligation, extend the term or increase
the amount of the Revolving Credit Commitment, reduce the amount of any fees to
which such participant is entitled, or extend any scheduled payment date for
principal, interest or fees of any Revolving Credit Loan, except as expressly
contemplated hereby or thereby; and
(vi) any such disposition shall not, without the consent
of the Borrower, on behalf of itself and the other Credit Parties, require the
Borrower or any other Credit Party, to file a registration statement with the
Securities and Exchange Commission or apply to or qualify the Revolving Credit
Loans or the Revolving Credit Notes under the blue sky law of any state.
(g) Disclosure of Information; Confidentiality. Each of the
Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders agrees to maintain the
confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information
may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates' directors, officers, employees
and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being
understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of
the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such
Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory
authority, (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by
any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party to this Agreement,
(e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or any suit,
action or
73
proceeding relating to this Agreement or the enforcement of rights hereunder,
(f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as
those of this Section, to any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective
assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this
Agreement, (g) with the prior written consent of the Credit Parties, (h) to the
extent such Information (A) becomes publicly available other than as a result of
a breach of this Section or (B) becomes available to the Administrative Agent,
the Issuing Lenders or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis from a source other
than the Credit Parties or (i) to Gold Sheets and other similar bank trade
publications, such information to consist of deal terms and other information
(customarily found in such publications) upon the Credit Parties' prior review
and approval, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. For the
purposes of this Section, "Information" means all information received from the
Credit Parties or any of their Subsidiaries relating to the Credit Parties or
their business, other than any such information that is available to the
Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis
prior to disclosure by the Credit Parties; provided that, in the case of
information received from the Credit Parties after the Closing Date (other than
certificates or other information specifically required by the terms of this
Agreement), such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as
confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of
Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied
with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of
care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would
accord to its own confidential information.
(h) Special Purpose Funding Vehicles. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained herein, any Lender (a "Granting Lender") may grant to a
special purpose funding vehicle organized for the specific purpose of making or
acquiring participations or investing in loans of the type made pursuant to this
Agreement (a "SPC"), correctly identified as such in writing from time to time
by the Granting Lender to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, the option
to provide to the Borrower all or any part of any Extension of Credit that such
Lender would otherwise be obligated to make to the Borrower pursuant to this
Agreement; provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment by any
SPC to make any Extension of Credit and (ii) if an SPC elects not to exercise
such option or otherwise fails to provide all or any part of such Extension of
Credit, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to make such Extension of Credit
pursuant to the terms hereof. The making of an Extension of Credit by an SPC
hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same
extent, and as if, such Extension of Credit were made by such Granting Lender.
Each party hereto hereby agrees that no SPC shall be liable for any indemnity or
similar payment obligation under this Agreement (all liability for which shall
remain with the Granting Lender). In furtherance of the foregoing, each party
hereto hereby agrees (which agreement shall survive the termination of this
Agreement) that, prior to the date that is one year and one day after the
payment in full of all outstanding commercial paper or other senior indebtedness
of any SPC, it will not institute against, or join any other person in
instituting against, such SPC any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement,
insolvency or liquidation proceedings under the laws of the United States or any
State thereof. In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
in this clause, any SPC may (i) with notice to, but without the prior written
consent of, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and without paying any
processing fee therefor, assign all or a portion of its interest in any
Extension of Credit to the Granting Lender or to any financial institution
(consented to by the Borrower and Administrative Agent) providing liquidity
and/or credit support to or for the
74
account of such SPC to support the funding or maintenance of Extensions of
Credit and (ii) disclose on a confidential basis any non-public information
relating to Extensions of Credit to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer
or provider of any surety, guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such
SPC. This clause may not be amended without the written consent of each SPC.
(i) Certain Pledges or Assignments. Nothing herein shall prohibit any
Lender from pledging or assigning any Revolving Credit Note to any Federal
Reserve Bank in accordance with Applicable Law.
SECTION 14.11 Amendments, Waivers and Consents. Except as set forth
below, any term, covenant, agreement or condition of this Agreement or any
of the other Loan Documents may be amended or waived by the Lenders, and
any consent given by the Lenders, if, but only if, (a) in the case of an
amendment, waiver or consent for which a substantially similar corresponding
amendment, waiver or consent with regard to the 364-Day Credit Agreement
will be made effective thereunder contemporaneously, such amendment,
waiver or consent is in writing signed by the Required Lenders (or by the
Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders) and delivered
to the Administrative Agent and, in the case of an amendment, signed by the
Credit Parties and (b) in the case of any other amendment, waiver or consent
specifically impacting only this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, such
amendment, waiver or consent is in writing signed by the Required Agreement
Lenders (or by the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required
Agreement Lenders) and delivered to the Administrative Agent and, in the case
of an amendment, signed by the Credit Parties; provided, in each case, that:
(a) no amendment, waiver or consent shall (i) release any of the
Credit Parties, (ii) increase the amount or extend the time of the obligation of
the Lenders to make Revolving Credit Loans or issue or participate in Letters of
Credit, (iii) extend the originally scheduled time or times of payment of the
principal of any Revolving Credit Loan or Reimbursement Obligation or the time
or times of payment of interest or fees on any Revolving Credit Loan or
Reimbursement Obligation, (iv) reduce the rate of interest or fees payable on
any Revolving Credit Loan or Reimbursement Obligation, (v) reduce the principal
amount of any Revolving Credit Loan or Reimbursement Obligation, (vi) permit any
subordination of the principal or interest on any Revolving Credit Loan or
Reimbursement Obligation, (vii) permit any assignment (other than as
specifically permitted or contemplated in this Agreement) of any of the Credit
Parties' rights and obligations hereunder or (viii) amend the provisions of this
Section 14.11 or the definition of Required Lenders or Required Agreement
Lenders, without the prior written consent of each Lender; and
(b) no amendment, waiver or consent to the provisions of (i) Article
XIII shall be made without the written consent of the Administrative Agent and
(ii) Article III without the written consent of each Issuing Lender.
SECTION 14.12 Performance of Duties. The Credit Parties' obligations
under this Agreement and each of the Loan Documents shall be performed by
the Credit Parties at their sole cost and expense.
75
SECTION 14.13 All Powers Coupled with Interest. All powers of attorney
and other authorizations granted to the Lenders, the Administrative Agent and
any Persons designated by the Administrative Agent or any Lender pursuant to
any provisions of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents shall be
deemed coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable so long as any of the
Obligations remain unpaid or unsatisfied or the Credit Facility has not been
terminated.
SECTION 14.14 Survival of Indemnities. Notwithstanding any termination
of this Agreement, the indemnities to which the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders are entitled under the provisions of this Article XIV and any other
provision of this Agreement and the Loan Documents shall continue in full
force and effect and shall protect the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
against events arising after such termination as well as before.
SECTION 14.15 Titles and Captions. Titles and captions of
Articles, Sections and subsections in this Agreement are for convenience only,
and neither limit nor amplify the provisions of this Agreement.
SECTION 14.16 Severability of Provisions. Any provision of this
Agreement or any other Loan Document which is prohibited or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective only to the extent
of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remainder of
such provision or the remaining provisions hereof or thereof or affecting the
validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.
SECTION 14.17 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts,
each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and shall be
binding upon all parties, their successors and assigns, and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of any executed
counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy shall be effective
as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
SECTION 14.18 Term of Agreement. This Agreement shall remain in
effect from the Closing Date through and including the date upon which all
Obligations (other than obligations owing by any Credit Party to any Lender or
Affiliate of a Lender or the Administrative Agent under any Hedging Agreement)
shall have been indefeasibly and irrevocably paid and satisfied in full. No
termination of this Agreement shall affect the rights and obligations of the
parties hereto arising prior to such termination.
SECTION 14.19 Inconsistencies with Other Documents; Independent
Effect of Covenants.
(a) In the event there is a conflict or inconsistency between this
Agreement and any other Loan Document, the terms of this Agreement shall
control.
76
(b) The Borrower expressly acknowledges and agrees that each covenant
contained in Article IX, X, or XI hereof shall be given independent effect.
[Signature pages to follow]
Schedule 1.1(a)
(Lenders and Revolving Credit Commitments)
EXHIBIT A
to
Five-Year Credit Agreement
dated as of June 15, 1999
by and among
JONES APPAREL GROUP USA, INC.,
as Borrower,
the Additional Obligors referred to therein,
the Lenders party thereto,
First Union National Bank,
as Administrative Agent,
The Chase Manhattan Bank
and
Citibank, N.A., as Syndication Agents,
and
NationsBank, N.A.,
as Documentation Agent
FORM OF REVOLVING CREDIT NOTE
REVOLVING CREDIT NOTE
$_______________ ____________, 1999
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned JONES APPAREL GROUP USA, INC., a
corporation organized under the laws of Pennsylvania, (the "Borrower"), JONES
APPAREL GROUP, INC., a corporation organized under the laws of Pennsylvania,
JONES APPAREL GROUP HOLDINGS, INC., a corporation organized under the laws of
Delaware, and JACK ASSET SUB INC., a corporation organized under the laws of
Delaware (collectively, with the Borrower, the "Debtors"), hereby jointly and
severally promise to pay to the order of _________________________, (the
"Lender"), at the place and times provided in the Credit Agreement referred to
below, the principal sum of ______________________ DOLLARS ($_____________) or,
if less, the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Revolving Credit Loans
made to the Borrower by the Lender pursuant to that certain Five-Year Credit
Agreement dated as of June 15, 1999 (as amended, restated, supplemented or
otherwise modified, the "Credit Agreement") by and among Jones Apparel Group
USA, Inc., the Additional Obligors referred to therein, the Lenders who are or
may become a party thereto (collectively, the "Lenders"), First Union National
Bank, as Administrative Agent, The Chase Manhattan Bank and Citibank, N.A., as
Syndication Agents, and NationsBank, N.A., as Documentation Agent. Capitalized
terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned
thereto in the Credit Agreement.
The unpaid principal amount of Revolving Credit Loans from time to time
outstanding is subject to mandatory repayment from time to time as provided in
the Credit Agreement and shall bear interest as provided in Section 5.1 of the
Credit Agreement. All payments of principal and interest on Revolving Credit
Loans shall be payable in lawful currency of the United States of America in
immediately available funds to the account designated in the Credit Agreement.
This Revolving Credit Note is entitled to the benefits of, and evidences
Obligations incurred under, the Credit Agreement, to which reference is made for
a statement of the terms and conditions on which the Borrower is permitted and
required to make prepayments and repayments of principal of the Obligations
evidenced by this Revolving Credit Note and on which such Obligations may be
declared to be immediately due and payable.
THIS REVOLVING CREDIT NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND
ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO
THE CONFLICTS OR CHOICE OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF.
The Debt evidenced by this Revolving Credit Note is senior in right of
payment to all Subordinated Debt referred to in the Credit Agreement.
The Debtors hereby waive all requirements as to diligence, presentment,
demand of payment, protest and (except as required by the Credit Agreement)
notice of any kind with respect to this Revolving Credit Note.
[Signature Page Follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Revolving Credit
Note under seal as of the day and year first above written.
JONES APPAREL GROUP USA, INC.
By:___________________________
Name:_________________________
Title:________________________
JONES APPAREL GROUP, INC.
By:___________________________
Name:_________________________
Title:________________________
JONES APPAREL GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.
By:___________________________
Name:_________________________
Title:________________________
JACK ASSET SUB INC.
By:___________________________
Name:_________________________
Title:________________________
EXHIBIT B
to
Five-Year Credit Agreement
dated as of June 15, 1999
by and among
JONES APPAREL GROUP USA, INC.,
as Borrower,
the Additional Obligors referred to therein,
the Lenders party thereto,
First Union National Bank,
as Administrative Agent,
The Chase Manhattan Bank
and
Citibank, N.A., as Syndication Agents,
and
NationsBank, N.A.,
as Documentation Agent
FORM OF NOTICE OF REVOLVING CREDIT BORROWING
NOTICE OF REVOLVING CREDIT BORROWING
Dated as of: ______________
First Union National Bank,
as Administrative Agent
One First Union Center, TW-4
301 South College Street
Charlotte, North Carolina 28288-0608
Attention: Syndication Agency Services
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This irrevocable Notice of Revolving Credit Borrowing is delivered to you
under Section 2.2(a) of the Five-Year Credit Agreement dated as of June 15, 1999
(as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the "Credit
Agreement"), by and among JONES APPAREL GROUP USA, INC., a Pennsylvania
corporation (the "Borrower"), the Additional Obligors referred to therein, the
lenders party thereto (the "Lenders"), First Union National Bank, as
Administrative Agent, The Chase Manhattan Bank and Citibank, N.A., as
Syndication Agents, and NationsBank, N.A., as Documentation Agent.
1. The Borrower hereby requests that the Lenders make a Revolving
Credit Loan to the Borrower in the aggregate principal amount of $___________.
(Complete with an amount in accordance with Section 2.2(a) of the Credit
Agreement.)
2. The Borrower hereby requests that such Revolving Credit Loan be
made on the following Business Day: _____________________. (Complete with a
Business Day in accordance with Section 2.2(a) of the Credit Agreement).
3. The Borrower hereby requests that the Revolving Credit Loan bear
interest at the following interest rate, plus the Applicable Margin, as set
forth below:
Interest Period Termination Date for
Component (LIBOR Interest Period
of Loan Interest Rate Interest Period Rate only) (if applicable)
- ------- ------------- --------------- --------- ---------------
Base Rate or
LIBOR Rate
4. The principal Dollar Amount of all Revolving Credit Loans and L/C
Obligations outstanding as of the date hereof (including the requested Revolving
Credit Loan) does not exceed the maximum Dollar Amount permitted to be
outstanding pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement.
5. The Borrower hereby represents and warrants that the conditions
specified in Section 6.3 of the Credit Agreement have been satisfied or waived
as of the date hereof.
6. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have
the meanings assigned thereto in the Credit Agreement.
[Signature Page Follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Notice of Revolving
Credit Borrowing as of the ____ day of _______, ____.
JONES APPAREL GROUP USA, INC.
By:___________________________
Name:_________________________
Title:________________________
EXHIBIT C
to
Five-Year Credit Agreement
dated as of June 15, 1999
by and among
JONES APPAREL GROUP USA, INC.,
as Borrower,
the Additional Obligors referred to therein,
the Lenders party thereto,
First Union National Bank,
as Administrative Agent,
The Chase Manhattan Bank
and
Citibank, N.A., as Syndication Agents,
and
NationsBank, N.A.,
as Documentation Agent
FORM OF NOTICE OF ACCOUNT DESIGNATION
NOTICE OF ACCOUNT DESIGNATION
Dated as of: _________
First Union National Bank,
as Administrative Agent
One First Union Center, TW-4
301 South College Street
Charlotte, North Carolina 28288-0608
Attention: Syndication Agency Services
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This Notice of Account Designation is delivered to you under Section
2.2(b) of the Five-Year Credit Agreement dated as of June 15, 1999 (as amended,
restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the "Credit Agreement"), by and
among JONES APPAREL GROUP USA, INC., a Pennsylvania corporation (the
"Borrower"), the Additional Obligors referred to therein, the lenders party
thereto (the "Lenders"), First Union National Bank, as Administrative Agent (the
"Administrative Agent"), The Chase Manhattan Bank and Citibank, N.A., as
Syndication Agents, and NationsBank, N.A., as Documentation Agent.
1. The Administrative Agent is hereby authorized to disburse all Loan
proceeds into the following account(s):
____________________________
ABA Routing Number: _________
Account Number: _____________
2. This authorization shall remain in effect until revoked or until a
subsequent Notice of Account Designation is provided by the Borrower to the
Administrative Agent.
3. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have
the meanings assigned thereto in the Credit Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Notice of Account
Designation as of the _____ day of _______, ____.
JONES APPAREL GROUP USA, INC.
By:___________________________
Name:_________________________
Title:________________________
EXHIBIT D
to
Five-Year Credit Agreement
dated as of June 15, 1999
by and among
JONES APPAREL GROUP USA, INC.,
as Borrower,
the Additional Obligors referred to therein,
the Lenders party thereto,
First Union National Bank,
as Administrative Agent,
The Chase Manhattan Bank
and
Citibank, N.A., as Syndication Agents,
and
NationsBank, N.A.,
as Documentation Agent
FORM OF NOTICE OF PREPAYMENT
NOTICE OF PREPAYMENT
Dated as of: _____________
First Union National Bank,
as Administrative Agent
One First Union Center
301 South College Street, TW-4
Charlotte, North Carolina 28288-0608
Attention: Syndication Agency Services
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This irrevocable Notice of Prepayment is delivered to you under Section
2.3(c) of the Five-Year Credit Agreement dated as of June 15, 1999 (as amended,
restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the "Credit Agreement") by and
among JONES APPAREL GROUP USA, INC., a Pennsylvania corporation (the
"Borrower"), the Additional Obligors referred to therein, the lenders party
thereto (the "Lenders"), First Union National Bank, as Administrative Agent, The
Chase Manhattan Bank and Citibank, N.A., as Syndication Agents, and NationsBank,
N.A., as Documentation Agent.
1. The Borrower hereby provides notice to the Administrative Agent
that it shall repay the following [Base Rate Loans] and/or [LIBOR Rate Loans]:
____________________. (Complete with an amount in accordance with Section 2.3(c)
of the Credit Agreement.)
2. The Borrower shall repay the above-referenced Revolving Credit
Loans on the following Business Day: _______________. (Complete in accordance
with Section 2.3(c) of the Credit Agreement.)
3. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have
the meanings assigned thereto in the Credit Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Notice of
Prepayment as of the ____ day of _______, ____.
JONES APPAREL GROUP USA, INC.
By:___________________________
Name:_________________________
Title:________________________
EXHIBIT E
to
Five-Year Credit Agreement
dated as of June 15, 1999
by and among
JONES APPAREL GROUP USA, INC.,
as Borrower,
the Additional Obligors referred to therein,
the Lenders party thereto,
First Union National Bank,
as Administrative Agent,
The Chase Manhattan Bank
and
Citibank, N.A., as Syndication Agents,
and
NationsBank, N.A.,
as Documentation Agent
FORM OF NOTICE OF CONVERSION/CONTINUATION
NOTICE OF CONVERSION/CONTINUATION
Dated as of: _____________
First Union National Bank,
as Administrative Agent
One First Union Center, TW-4
301 South College Street
Charlotte, North Carolina 28288-0608
Attention: Syndication Agency Services
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This irrevocable Notice of Conversion/Continuation (the "Notice") is
delivered to you under Section 5.2 of the Five-Year Credit Agreement dated as of
June 15, 1999 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the
"Credit Agreement"), by and among JONES APPAREL GROUP USA, INC., a Pennsylvania
corporation (the "Borrower"), the Additional Obligors referred to therein, the
lenders party thereto (the "Lenders"), First Union National Bank, as
Administrative Agent, The Chase Manhattan Bank and Citibank, N.A., as
Syndication Agents, and NationsBank, N.A., as Documentation Agent.
1. This Notice is submitted for the purpose of: (Check one and
complete applicable information in accordance with the Credit Agreement.)
Converting all or a portion of a Base Rate Loan into a LIBOR Rate Loan
(a) The aggregate outstanding principal balance of such Revolving
Credit Loan is $_______________.
(b) The principal amount of such Revolving Credit Loan to be converted
is $_______________.
(c) The requested effective date of the conversion of such Revolving
Credit Loan is _______________.
(d) The requested Interest Period applicable to the converted Revolving
Credit Loan is _______________.
Converting all or a portion of a LIBOR Rate Loan into a Base Rate Loan
(a) The aggregate outstanding principal balance of such Revolving Credit
Loan is $_______________
(b) The last day of the current Interest Period for such Revolving Credit
Loan is _______________.
(c) The principal amount of such Loan to be converted is $_____________.
(d) The requested effective date of the conversion of such Revolving
Credit Loan is _______________.
Continuing all or a portion of a LIBOR Rate Loan as a LIBOR Rate Loan
(a) The aggregate outstanding principal balance of such Revolving Credit
Loan is $_______________.
(b) The last day of the current Interest Period for such Revolving Credit
Loan is _______________.
(c) The principal amount of such Revolving Credit Loan to be continued is
$_______________.
(d) The requested effective date of the continuation of such Revolving
Credit Loan is _______________.
(e) The requested Interest Period applicable to the continued Revolving
Credit Loan is _______________.
2. The principal Dollar Amount of all Revolving Credit Loans and L/C
Obligations outstanding as of the date hereof does not exceed the maximum Dollar
Amount permitted to be outstanding pursuant to the terms of the Credit
Agreement.
3. The Borrower hereby represents and warrants that no Default or
Event of Default (as defined in the Credit Agreement) has occurred and is
continuing.
4. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have
the meanings assigned thereto in the Credit Agreement.
[Signature Page Follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Notice of
Conversion/Continuation as of the ____ day of __________, ____.
JONES APPAREL GROUP USA, INC.
By:___________________________
Name:_________________________
Title:________________________
EXHIBIT F
to
Five-Year Credit Agreement
dated as of June 15, 1999
by and among
JONES APPAREL GROUP USA, INC.,
as Borrower,
the Additional Obligors referred to therein,
the Lenders party thereto,
First Union National Bank,
as Administrative Agent,
The Chase Manhattan Bank
and
Citibank, N.A., as Syndication Agents,
and
NationsBank, N.A.,
as Documentation Agent
FORM OF OFFICER'S COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
OFFICER'S COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
The undersigned, on behalf of JONES APPAREL GROUP USA, INC. (the
"Borrower"), hereby certifies to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, each
as defined in the Credit Agreement referred to below, as follows:
1. This Certificate is delivered to you pursuant to Section 8.2 of
the Five-Year Credit Agreement dated as of June 15, 1999 (as amended, restated,
supplemented or otherwise modified, the "Credit Agreement"), by and among the
Borrower, the Additional Obligors referred to therein, the lenders party thereto
(the "Lenders"), First Union National Bank, as administrative agent (the
"Administrative Agent"), The Chase Manhattan Bank and Citibank, N.A., as
Syndication Agents, and NationsBank, N.A., as Documentation Agent. Capitalized
terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned
thereto in the Credit Agreement.
2. I have reviewed the consolidated financial statements of Jones
Apparel Group, Inc. and its Subsidiaries dated as of _______________ and for the
_______________ period[s] then ended and such statements present fairly in all
material respects the consolidated financial condition of Jones Apparel Group,
Inc. and its Subsidiaries as of their respective dates and the results of the
consolidated operations of Jones Apparel Group, Inc. and its Subsidiaries for
the respective period[s] then ended, subject to normal year end adjustments for
interim statements.
3. I have reviewed the terms of the Credit Agreement, and the related
Loan Documents and have made, or caused to be made under my supervision, a
review in reasonable detail of the transactions and the condition of Jones
Apparel Group, Inc. and its Subsidiaries during the accounting period covered by
the financial statements referred to in Paragraph 2 above. Such review has not
disclosed the existence during or at the end of such accounting period of any
condition or event that constitutes a Default or an Event of Default, nor do I
have any knowledge of the existence of any such condition or event as at the
date of this Certificate [except, if such condition or event existed or exists,
describe the nature and period of existence thereof and what action the Borrower
has taken, is taking and proposes to take with respect thereto].
4. The Applicable Margin and information as to the debt ratings
necessary for determining such figure are set forth on the attached Schedule 1.
5. Jones Apparel Group, Inc. and its Subsidiaries are in compliance
with the financial covenants contained in Article X of the Credit Agreement as
shown on such Schedule 1.
[Signature Page Follows]
WITNESS the following signature as of the _____ day of _________, ____.
JONES APPAREL GROUP USA, INC.
By:
Name:
Title:
Schedule 1
to
Officer's Compliance Certificate
[To be provided by Borrower in form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative
Agent]
EXHIBIT G
to
Five-Year Credit Agreement
dated as of June 15, 1999
by and among
JONES APPAREL GROUP USA, INC.,
as Borrower,
the Additional Obligors referred to therein,
the Lenders party thereto,
First Union National Bank,
as Administrative Agent,
The Chase Manhattan Bank
and
Citibank, N.A., as Syndication Agents,
and
NationsBank, N.A.,
as Documentation Agent
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE
ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE
Dated as of: _________
Reference is made to the Five-Year Credit Agreement dated as of June 15,
1999, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified (the "Credit
Agreement") by and among JONES APPAREL GROUP USA, INC., a Pennsylvania
corporation (the "Borrower"), the Additional Obligors referred to therein, the
lenders party thereto (the "Lenders"), First Union National Bank, as
Administrative Agent, The Chase Manhattan Bank and Citibank, N.A., as
Syndication Agents, and NationsBank, N.A., as Documentation Agent. Capitalized
terms used herein which are not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned
thereto in the Credit Agreement.
(the "Assignor") and
(the "Assignee") agree as follows:
1. The Assignor hereby sells and assigns to the Assignee, and the
Assignee hereby purchases and assumes from the Assignor, as of the Effective
Date (as defined below), a ____% interest in and to all of the Assignor's
interest, rights and obligations with respect to its Revolving Credit Commitment
and Revolving Credit Loans (including such percentage of the outstanding L/C
Obligations), which percentage represents not less than $10,000,000, unless such
percentage equals 100% of such Lender's Revolving Credit Commitment, and the
Assignor thereby retains ____% of its interest therein. This Assignment and
Acceptance is entered pursuant to, and authorized by, Section 14.10 of the
Credit Agreement.
2. The Assignor (i) represents that, as of the date hereof, its
Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage (without giving effect to assignments
thereof which have not yet become effective) under the Credit Agreement is
____%, the outstanding balances of its Revolving Credit Loans (including its
Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the outstanding L/C Obligations); (ii)
makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect
to any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with
the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document or the execution, legality,
validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Credit
Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto, other
than that the Assignor is the legal and beneficial owner of the interest being
assigned by it hereunder and that such interest is free and clear of any adverse
claim; (iii) makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility
with respect to the financial condition of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or
the performance or observance by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries of any of
their obligations under the Credit Agreement or any other instrument or document
furnished or executed pursuant thereto; and (iv) to the extent it has received
Revolving Credit Note(s) from the Borrower, attaches the applicable Revolving
Credit Note(s) delivered to it under the Credit Agreement and
requests that the Borrower exchange such Revolving Credit Note(s) for new
Revolving Credit Notes payable to each of the Assignor and the Assignee as
follows:
Revolving Credit Note
Payable to the Order of: Principal Amount of Note:
______________________________ $_______________
______________________________ $_______________
3. The Assignee (i) represents and warrants that it is legally
authorized to enter into this Assignment and Acceptance; (ii) confirms that it
has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the most
recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 8.1 thereof and such
other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own
credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Acceptance; (iii)
agrees that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Assignor or any
other Lender or the Administrative Agent and based on such documents and
information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own
credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Credit Agreement; (iv)
confirms that it is an Eligible Assignee; (v) appoints and authorizes the
Administrative Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise
such powers under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents as are
delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms thereof, together with such
powers as are reasonably incidental thereto; (vi) agrees that it will perform in
accordance with their terms all the obligations which by the terms of the Credit
Agreement and the other Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as a
Lender; (vii) agrees to hold all confidential information in accordance with the
provisions of Section 14.10(g) of the Credit Agreement; and (viii) includes
herewith for the Administrative Agent the forms required by Section 5.11(e) of
the Credit Agreement (if not previously delivered).
4. The effective date for this Assignment and Acceptance shall be as
set forth in Section 1 of Schedule 1 hereto (the "Effective Date"), subject to
the consents referred to in the following sentence. Following the execution of
this Assignment and Acceptance, it will be delivered to the Administrative Agent
for, to the extent required by the Credit Agreement, consent by the Borrower and
the Administrative Agent and acceptance and recording in the Register.
5. Upon such consents, acceptance and recording, from and after the
Effective Date, (i) the Assignee shall be a party to the Credit Agreement and
the other Loan Documents to which Lenders are parties and, to the extent
provided in this Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a
Lender under each such agreement, and (ii) the Assignor shall, to the extent
provided in this Assignment and Acceptance, relinquish its rights and be
released from its obligations under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan
Documents.
6. Upon such consents, acceptance and recording, from and after the
Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments in respect of
the interest assigned hereby (including payments of principal, interest, fees
and other amounts) to the Assignee. The Assignor and Assignee shall make all
appropriate adjustments in payments for periods prior to the Effective Date or
with respect to the making of this assignment directly between themselves.
7. THIS ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT
UNDER SEAL AND SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF
THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICTS OR CHOICE OF LAW
PRINCIPLES THEREOF.
WITNESS the following signatures as of the ____ day of ______, ____.
ASSIGNOR: ________________________________
By: _____________________________________
Title: ___________________________________
ASSIGNEE: ________________________________
By: _____________________________________
Title: ___________________________________
Acknowledged and Consented to on behalf of the Credit Parties:
JONES APPAREL GROUP USA, INC.
By: ___________________________________
Name: __________________________________
Title: _________________________________
Consented to and Accepted by:
FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK,
as Administrative Agent
By: ___________________________________
Name: __________________________________
Title: _________________________________
Schedule 1
to
Assignment and Acceptance
1. Effective Date: ____________, ____
2. Assignor's Interest
Prior to Assignment:
(a) Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage %
(b) Outstanding balance of Revolving Credit Loans $
(c) Outstanding balance of Assignor's Revolving
Credit Commitment Percentage of the
L/C Obligations $
3. Assigned Interest (from Section 1) of:
(a) Revolving Credit Loans %
4. Assignee's Extensions of Credit
After Effective Date:
(a) Total outstanding balance of
Assignee's Revolving Credit Loans
(line 2(b) times line 3(a)) $
(b) Total outstanding balance of
Assignee's Revolving Credit
Commitment Percentage
of the L/C Obligations
(line 2(c) times line 3(a)) $
5. Retained Interest of Assignor after
Effective Date:
(a) Retained Interest (from Section 1):
(i) Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage %
(b) Outstanding balance of Assignor's Revolving Credit Loans
(line 2(b) times line 5(a)(i)) $
(c) Outstanding balance of Assignor's
Revolving Credit Commitment
Percentage of L/C Obligations
(line 2(c) times line 5(a)(i)) $
6. Payment Instructions:
(a) If payable to Assignor,
to the account of Assignor to:
ABA No.:
Account Name:
Account No.
Attn:
Ref:
(b) If payable to Assignee, to the account
of Assignee to:
ABA No.:
Account Name:
Account No.:
Attn:
Ref: